“Ice”

Grand Prize Winner

Terri Hanshew, Phoenix, AZ

I am proud to announce the Grand Prize Winner and Finalists of our 1st Juried Photography Competition – the theme was “Texture” – we were so impressed with the beautiful and creative photos that were entered. Thank you to ALL of you who entered this 1st competition!

Below is a list of the Finalists as well as a short video of their Top 10 entries – they are gorgeous!

 Finalists:

“A Hard Life” – Mark Lagrange, Metairie, LA
“Badwater” – Aubra Franklin, San Antonio, TX
“Maple Leaf” – Gary Larsen, Northville, NY
“Feathered” – Mark Lagrange, Metairie, LA
“Rose” – Terri Hanshew, Phoenix, AZ
“Fern” – Wayne Anders, Marshall, NC
“Dotted Winter” – Mark Lagrange, Metairie, LA
“Window Leaves” – Fiona Keyes, Malvern, PA
“Frosty Leave”" – Wayne Anders, Marshall, NC

All photos are owned and copyrighted by the artists. Video music – “Magic” – David Arkenstone (You KNOW I love my Magic!)

Thank you to ALL who entered our 1st competition – you made it a success! You  can see more of Terri’s work on her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlhphotos/sets/

Bisti Texture

If there was EVER a PERFECT place to shoot photos for HDR it is Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness in NW New Mexico aka “The Bisti Badlands” another “gem” of the National Landscape Conservation System. I had seen photos of this otherworldly place many times but wasn’t sure where it was or if I could find it – I was specifically looking for a unique geological feature called “The Egg Factory” – the rocks in this one small area look like huge cracked eggs on Mars….or one of those other planets whirling around in our solar system but certainly NOT THIS planet! I had to see this place for myself and of course, I HAD to shoot photos of it.

Bistiscape

I searched online and found a few blogs and websites with somewhat nebulous directions to this unique phenomenon and it seemed that finding it would be a true Easter Egg Hunt…I mean I did go in April not long after Easter. I sure wish the Easter Bunny was at Bisti to guide me.  Essentially the directions that I found online went something like this; drive 25 miles south of Farmington, look for a marker, disregard “No Access” sign,  drive to the end of a dirt road, look for tire tracks, find barbed wire fence, follow said barbed wire fence east, turn left at the wash, then south then do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around and then jump up and down and rub your tummy while chewing gum…….oh my gosh…really…….is this how the Easter Bunny finds things????? Wow – that Easter Bunny must have one heck of a GPS – I on the other hand do not have a GPS….I know, you’re shocked right? Well I DO have a VERY good sense of direction and have never needed my own GPS….usually I am with someone who has one or we just don’t need it.

Bisti Shrooms

Anyway, the point of this blog post, and there is one but as always I might need a GPS to get to it. My point is to share with you some of the HDR photos that I shot while at Bisti. I do most of my photo posting on my Facebook page and then get comments like; “Can you show us the “original” photos that you used to make this HDR?”. The format on Facebook is not really set up to do that so I thought I would write a blog post and show you the photos that I used to create “Bisti Shrooms”, which is the photo that seemed to get more requests than the others.

Basically, I shoot 3 photos 2 stops apart for my HDRs – I use Photomatix HDR software to process them and then do my final touches in Lightroom 3 – I keep my work flow simple and fast since I would much rather be out shooting then sitting at my computer where I spend a ridiculous about of time already. Below are the 3 photos that I used to create “Bisti Shrooms” HDR Photograph:

Photo #1: 

Photo #2:

Photo #3:

Of course you can shoot more than 3 photos but I have and probably always will just shoot 3 for my HDRs – if it ain’t broke why fix it, right? The diversity of the landscape out at Bisti is amazing – we walked through dry cracked areas, tall hoodoos, big boulders, magical looking mushroom forms, tiny rock fields…..you name it..this is an awesome place to shoot those magical HDR photos and people will wonder where the heck you were. Just tell them you took the Space Shuttle into orbit for a few days!

If you are just learning about HDR and need some guidance, I offer an online HDR course entitled, “Turn your Photos into Fine Art” – you can take it at your convenience and it also comes with my new companion eBooklet; “Transform your Photos into Stunning Works of Art” – in my 43 minute class you will learn the basics of how to apply Photomatix HDR to your photos – here are the details:

BETTER than BASIC HDR BUNDLE - COST: Special price – $57  (for a limited time!)

Here’s what you get: click HERE to sign up! 

• My popular 43 minute “Turn Your Photos into Fine Art” Instructional HDR Video Class
• My NEW 23 page companion eBooklet; “Transform your Photos into Stunning Works of Art” (sent via email after log in)
• Your personal 30 day access code emailed to you
• FREE Photomatix HDR Software Trial Download
• A 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE to purchase the Photomatix HDR Software Full License
• Below is my newest “Cheyenne’s VERY Cool Life” video episode that I shot at Bisti – it will also show you the “otherworldly – ness” of this amazing place

Bisti Tumbleweed

In closing, I never did find “The Egg Factory”, I know I was close though after rereading some other directions and posts. I kind of always think of my 1st trip to any new location as a scouting trip anyway – so now I know. The light was getting low and to be honest I was concerned that I would not find the way back to my car as there are no trail markers and the landscape can be very disorienting out here – it seemed to change with every step. Back to the car we went and along the way I did find some diverse and beautiful places to shoot photos in my short time at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Next time I will be back either with the Easter Bunny or a GPS and I will find those eggs.  Something to look forward to for sure.

Let me know if you ever make it out to Bisti…..I’d love to see YOUR HDR photos – Happy Hunting - Cheyenne

The End

Cheyenne L Rouse

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – April 20th, 2012 – Fine Art Photographer, Author, Speaker and Photo Workshop Instructor Cheyenne L Rouse will have her Fine Art Photography on exhibit and for sale at two shows through July 2012. Rouse is the former owner of Ancient Light Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale and now travels the Southwest holding Speaking Engagements, Photo Workshops and Fine Art Photography Shows. She will be exhibiting her Fine Art Photography at Rare Earth Food & Wine located at 28190 N Alma School Parkway, #209 in North Scottsdale from April 21st – June 30th, 2012. There will be an Artists Opening Reception with live Jazz at Rare Earth Food & Wine on Saturday, April 28th 2012 from 4-6PM. Rouse’s 2nd Fine Art Photography show will be held in at the Santa Fe Café’ in Santa Fe, New Mexico from May 4th – July 31st, 2012. The Santa Fe Café is located at 504 W. Cordova Road and is not far from the famed Santa Fe Plaza.

Cheyenne L Rouse has been a professional photographer since 1989 and has had her photographs published in national and international publications as well as many ad campaigns. Her photographic specialty is “Celebrating the Legend, the Lore and the Landscapes of the Great American West & Southwest”. Cheyenne’s Fine Art Photographs hang in the homes and offices of numerous private collectors across the country. “There are very few artists in the world that evoke such emotion in me. Salvador Dali, Kenny G, Barbra Streisand, and now Cheyenne L. Rouse. I am truly your biggest fan.” Private Collector – Orlando, FL

Originally from Miami, Florida, Rouse relocated to Scottsdale in June 2010 after living and working in Park City, Utah for 12 years. “I love the desert and am so glad to call Arizona my home now. The Southwest is a photographer’s paradise and I love all of the beauty, history and magic that it holds, I am never at a loss for a good photograph.”

For more information or to contact Cheyenne L Rouse:

Cheyenne L Rouse
Fine Art Photographer
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(435)640-6880
Chey.Rouse@gmail.com
www.AncientLightPhotos.com

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"Cheyenne's Top 10 Photo Locations"

If you are planning or want to plan a trip to Southern Utah to shoot photos you will not want to miss my NEW “Cheyenne’s TOP 10 Photo Locations” Guidebook – Southern Utah Edition. My 31 page PDF Guidebook is packed with location facts, tips, helpful photo info, color photos for each location and GPS coordinates and website links so you can be at the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time to get the RIGHT photo at 10 of my all time favorite photo locations in Southern Utah. No need to circle the Southwest wondering where to be, how to get there and when to be there, I’ve done all of the leg work for you. So why not learn from my 23 years of traveling, exploring, writing about and photographing the region – I even give you one BONUS location! All this for only $5.99!

I provide you with a diverse selection of locations, from ancient ruins to rock art near Moab to sweeping red rock scenic vistas in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks to mystical rock formations in lesser known locations and much more - everything that makes this section of Utah so magical. It’s like a Photo Workshop in a book!

Milky Way Man

This is an excerpt from my upcoming Guide Book “Cheyenne’s TOP 10 Photo Locations” – Southern Utah Edition

#6 Double Arch – Arches NP – Utah

Double Arch – not to be confused with Double “O” Arch which is a much longer and more arduous hike – is a great spot for a nighttime photo session. Southern Utah is known to have some of the darkest skies in the USA so why not take advantage of the amazing show of stars just waiting to be photographed? And when I say it is DARK I mean it is DARK. It was so dark I almost felt like I was blind – I suggest getting all of the settings on your camera adjusted before you head out and I also suggest doing a nighttime shoot in the summer and not in the middle of winter when I did mine. It was a frigid December night when I shot the photo above, it had to be in the mid 20’s and my hands were frozen only adding to the challenge of shooting at night, so needless to say this was a quick photo session. All I could think about when I wasn’t standing in amazement at the scene before my eyes was getting back to the warmth of my hotel room in Moab. I knew that this frozen experience would pay off handsomely with some amazing photos and I was right.

This unique “Double Arch” is located at the northwest end of the parking lot at the Windows and the sandy trail is a short easy ½ mile long. So grab your camera, tripod and flashlight and hit the trail, be sure to use caution as you make your way along the trail you don’t want to trip over a rock or branch, even with a flashlight it is still blindingly dark.  Parking is easy and of course there was not a soul around this evening – I was the only numb skull crazy enough to brave the freezing temps. As I made my way toward the arch I noticed how it kept changing how it looked, at first it looked like a human bent over trying to squeeze out of this reality and into the cosmos with just their two legs sticking out which is why I named this photo; “Milky Way Man” and then as I rounded a corner and was almost underneath this huge rock formation it looked to me like Dino the Dinosaur from my childhood days. With his long Brontosaurus neck and round body I felt like I had stepped back to the Jurassic period and it freaked me out just a little in this extreme darkness.

As I contemplated what I wanted my photo to be, I decided that I liked the view of “Milky Way Man” better than “Dino the Dinosaur” so I wandered slowly and carefully back to my original spot and set up. I was armed only with my headlamp since too much light is not a good thing either, it is so dark that every time I turned on my headlamp to double check the settings on my camera it took too long for get my eyes to get readjusted to the pitch black. I found that if I kept the light off once I got to my shooting spot that my eyes actually started to pick up some light from the stars. And as I looked up I just couldn’t believe how many stars were in the sky – it was a spectacle that many will never get to see and I felt so fortunate to be able to witness this wonder of nature.

I aimed my camera, not that I could see anything but pitch black through my viewfinder, I hoped I was aimed at the right spot with Double Arch at the bottom of the frame with a vast sky full of stars at the top. I set my camera to ISO 1600 and opened my aperture to the widest f stop which was F.4 for the wide angle that I had on. I set my lens on the infinity setting for focus and got my cable release ready to rock and hoped for the best. I clicked off a few shots from 15 seconds to 30 seconds to see which would work best, I settled on about 20 seconds after looking at a few of the images. I was able to see a faint image in my LCD monitor and it helped me to make sure the horizon was straight in the shot and that’s about it. I can’t stress enough about how dark it was but it WAS SO DARK!

After shooting for about 30 minutes I could take no more of the cold, my fingers were frozen and I was shivering too much to even think. I slowly made my way back to the car and after I warmed up a bit I drove back to my warm and cozy room in Moab. After a nice hot shower and cup of tea to warm me up I decided to have a look at what I shot and was very happy with the outcome – the stars were bright and the images were crisp. It was worth all of the shivering and fumbling around in the dark. Nighttime photo sessions can result in the most magical images, it takes patience and determination but the rewards can be spectacular. So why not try something different on your next trip to Southern Utah but be sure to do it in the warmer months – I certainly will. Maybe you too can find your own “Milky Way Man”.

“Cheyenne’s TOP 10 Photo Locations” – Southern Utah Edition is the 1st in my series of “Cheyenne’s Top 10 Photo Locations” PDF Guidebooks – I will get you to the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time to get the RIGHT photo!!!! Also soon to follow will be Arizona and New Mexico Editions. 

Park City Truck - LIMITED EDITION

We are busting at the seams with Fine Art Photographs on Canvas!!!!! As I prepare for my upcoming show in Santa Fe I have to pick and choose which photos will be displayed for the 4 month show. As much as I would LOVE to take all of my ‘babies’ with me I cannot – so I have to be ruthless in my choices.

“Park City Truck” is one of my most popular LIMITED EDITION (1/150) photographs but due to some very minor wear & tear on the edges of the canvas I will not be taking this piece. It is stunning and the GOOD NEWS is that it can be YOURS! Like I said there is some very minor wear & tear on the edges of the canvas from being moved around in the gallery and taken to and from shows. In no way does the wear take away from the beauty and feel of this stunning photograph and it is sure to be a showstopper where ever it is hung in your office or your home.

Gallery Tag Price

I am offering this 26″x36″ Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas for a HUGE 60% discount – notice the Gallery tag with the original price of $895 – I am offering it NOW for the amazing price of $358 (+$47 S/H US) – this photograph is personally signed and numbered by me.

This Limited Edition Fine Art Photograph is printed on heavy weight Museum Quality Canvas with archival inks and a UV coating to protect it for years to come. This is the 1st in a series of 150 photographs that were printed and as such it is the MOST valuable – and it can be yours for this amazingly low price.

This old delivery truck has been sitting along what is known as the Rail Trail in my former home of Park City, Utah – it is a wonderful piece of nostalgia that time has only made more beautiful. Please contact me via email if you would like to own this piece of nostalgia at chey.rouse@gmail.com or you can call me at 435.640.6880. We can complete the transaction via PayPal and the Giclee will then be securely boxed and shipped to you ASAP – it’s that simple.

Thanks – Cheyenne

The Journey Back to Creativity

Today I am so excited to announce the release of my NEW Ebook on Amazon.com – “The Journey Back to Creativity – How HDR Photography Changed my Life” - It was the beauty of an old red truck and the magic of HDR that “inspired” me back in the the world of photography after an extended hiatus and I have never looked back. I was a prolific and successful photographer shooting adventure sports stock photography for over 17 years and when the world started going digital I decided I was done. I put my camera back in my bag and didn’t pick it up again until years later – this time of course I broke down and went digital. Learn how I achieve the look and feel of my HDR photos and how this “High Dynamic Range” journey changed my life. I share with you simple tips and tricks that work for me and why the HDR process is so perfect for me and my photography. I now embrace a digital world that I went kicking and screaming into with open arms and what an amazing journey it has been. If you are curious how HDR can make your photos come alive you won’t want to miss this ebook – who knows maybe HDR will change your life too.

You can view and read my new ebook on your iPad, Kindle, Nook or other E-reading device  - if  you don’t have one of those new fangled E-reader things (and I don’t either) you can download the FREE Kindle reader program right to you PC or MAC desktop and read it from there – that is what I do. Just click on the link for the FREE download - http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=dig_arl_box?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771 or go to my “BOOK” page here on my blog for more ebookstore locations and information and to see my other published books.

I hope you will write a review once you are finished….I would REALLY appreciate it! Thank you and ENJOY!

April 25th at midnight Pacific time!

I am excited to announce the start of my NEW Juried Photo Competitions. I plan to hold the competitions a few times a year with a new theme each time! So you might ask yourself; “Self, what’s in it for me?” - besides your work being seen by THOUSANDS of eyes from around the world – here’s what else is in it for YOU!

The GRAND PRIZE winner receives ALL of the following prizes:

*A CASH PRIZE if you are the CHOSEN one!

*My popular ”Turn our Photos into Fine Art” ONLINE Photomatix HDR Class 

*BONUS! Get my NEW Just Released eBook; “The Journey Back to Creativity – How HDR Changed my Life“ – now on iBooks, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

*Be the FEATURED Photographer on my Blog with one brief interview article that will include links (if available) to your website and/or social media outlets

*Your PHOTO will be FEATURED on my Facebook page with over 3000 fans to date and growing! (2 times in a one month period and possibly again for promotion when I do the next competition)

*Your PHOTO will be posted to both my Twitter and Google + pages for added exposure in addition I will post the link to our blog interview on DIGG for even MORE exposure!

*Your PHOTO will also be FEATURED in my May 2012 E-Newsletter that goes out to subscribers all over the world.

* PLUS a Tamrac MAS Padded Lens Case – the Pro 200 for long lenses

* PLUS a coupon for a FREE 16×20 Metallic Print mounted on black Foamcore from McKenna Pro Labs

*Gain EXPOSURE for your name and photography – you never know who will see your photo. Every time I post YOUR photo YOUR visible name/copyright will be on the photo and will be SEEN – more eyes to see you with my dear!

*And to top if off  - it’s FUN to WIN something and who doesn’t need a little extra $ these days not to mention a pat on the back from the photo community!!

*This is a GREAT opportunity to get NOTICED and who knows this could kick start that photography dream you have been thinking about pursing for years. My photography career was kicked off by winning the GRAND PRIZE in a photo contest way back in 1991 – winning gave me the encouragement and push that I needed – it can happen to you too!

Are you ready to get started???

Our 1st theme is TEXTURE! It’s everywhere – texture in the natural world or the man made world – I want to see YOUR BEST TEXTURE photos. (Please be tasteful – NO Nudity – aggggg…can’t beleive I even have to say that but I do) Submissions are being accepted NOW - the DEADLINE is Wednesday April 25th, 2012 – THE WINNER will be announced on my NEW Facebook page on Wednesday May 16th, 2012. (Please feel free to share the link to my blog with your photographer friends – for this contest, the more the merrier!) 

Texture in Nature

Journey Back to Creativity - eBook

New Low Price! Photoshop Lightroom 4 will now be sold at a new lower base price than previous versions. CLICK on the PHOTO above to get THE DEAL!!!!!!

Full Version:
Old Price: US$299
New Price: US$149!

Upgrade Version:
Old Price: US$99
New Price: US$79!

Top new features in Photoshop Lightroom 4:

• Highlight and shadow recovery – Bring out all the detail that your camera captures in dark shadows and bright highlights. Now you have more power than ever before to make great images under challenging lighting conditions.
• Photo book creation – Create beautiful photo books from your images with a variety of easy-to-use templates included in Lightroom, and then upload your book for printing with just a few clicks.
• Location-based photo organization – Find and group images by location, easily assign locations to images, or plot a photo journey. Automatically display location data from GPS-enabled cameras and camera phones.
• Extended video support – Organize, view, and make adjustments and edits to video clips. Play and trim clips, extract still images from them, or adjust clips with the Quick Develop tool.
• White balance brush – Get more consistent color across your image in scenes with mixed lighting sources. A flexible brush lets you refine and adjust white balance in targeted areas of your shot.
• Additional editing brushes – Expand your creative control by targeting particular areas of your images using new local editing brushes for noise reduction and moire removal.
• Video publishing – Easily share video clips in HD format on Facebook and Flickr. Or save HD clips formatted for phones, tablets, TV, and more.
• Soft proofing – Save time and ink and help ensure your prints meet your expectations. Soft proofing lets you preview how an image will look when printed with color-managed printers.
• Enhanced online sharing integration – Easily post images to more social media and photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr. With selected sites, online comments about your images are visible within Lightroom.
• Emailing from Lightroom – Email images directly from Lightroom using the email account of your choice.

·  Importing libraries from other software – Bring the power and elegance of Lightroom to all your images, new and old. Easily import photos from other applications.

WOW – sounds AWESOME……looks like it’s time to upgrade!

*I wrote this article over 15 years ago when the world was still using film and the internet was in it’s very early days, so keep that in mind as you read….enjoy!  

Antelope Canyon Self-Portrait

There are rare jewels hidden throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah called slot canyons. To my knowledge this beautiful and sacred phenomenon occurs in very few other places on earth. These meandering labyrinths of light scream to be photographed — the trick is how to capture them as you see them.

Slot canyons are challenging to photograph since they are usually very dim, dark places with occasional beams of light that shine down in laser-like rays. Film does not see, as much as we would like it to, the same way our eyes see. It sees mid-tones, and the canyons are painted with a palette of very bright and very dark tones; this is what makes it tricky to get a good exposure with the wide variation of tones.

My first trip to photograph a slot canyon was several years ago, but one I will not soon forget. It was magical and sacred to me. I had seen an image in a magazine showing one of these things. At the time I did not know what they were called, I just knew that I had to find this location and photograph it for myself. So the detective work began. I asked around and showed the picture I had pulled from the magazine and I got a few leads. Then Bingo, I saw another photo with a caption that read, “Somewhere outside of Page, Arizona.” I figured the hard part was over  all I had to do was get to Page and I should be able to find a slot canyon from there.

I added Page, Arizona, to my list of stops on my annual summer whirlwind road trip. I lived in San Diego at the time, so when I finally got out on the road, I crammed as many photo opportunities and locations as I could into my trips. I lost a few travel partners. “Slow down, can’t we stay here another day?” they would say. I would reply, “No, I have to get all of these pictures shot before I go home.”

Standing in the Light

So, traveling alone became the norm for me. I had a strict itinerary and I ended up dropping more than one unhappy and tired travel partner at the airport when we reached a major city. I could see their eyes spinning in their head as they gathered their bags from the car and headed into the airport. I guess my warning wasn’t strong enough, Only the hardy need apply. I guess an indication that I was in too much of hurry was when I would clear their breakfast plates from under them and they weren’t even done yet! Hey, Ive got places to go and people to see. Only over the years have I learned that good pictures take time and getting to know a place.

When I did get to Page, I saw quite a few brochures and posters for slot canyon tours. Oh no, I thought, someone else knows about these things. The word was just starting to circulate in the photo industry about slots and I was in on the bottom floor.

The slot I wanted to photograph is called Antelope Canyon and it is on the Navajo Reservation, so a permit or guide is needed. I called around and the tours were kind of pricey and on my photographers road trip budget, pricey tours weren’t included. I made one more phone call and spoke to a real nice guy who was also a photographer and we struck a deal for the next day. It was a 3-mile hike or 4WD ride into the canyon. I did not want to hike in, lugging all of my equipment, and my car did not have 4WD. My guide said he had a big beefy Suburban with AC and good stereo, so I figured this was gonna be fun!

Usually I am up at crack of dawn when on the road to catch that great sunrise shot. My guide said; “Sleep in, we don’t have to be in the canyon until around noon.” Yippee, I can get a bit more shuteye… NOT! Those of you who camp a lot know that the minute the sun starts its climb into the sky the whole world, in the campground anyway, wakes up. So much for that, I used my time wisely and got my road warrior vehicle all straightened up and organized.

I met my guide and his Suburban at 11:00 at the agreed upon location; I climbed in and off we went. We drove outside of town for about 15 minutes and stopped at a gate where a Navajo man and my guide exchanged a few words before he opened the gate. In we drove, arriving at a vertical slit in a rock wall.

UT Outdoors Magazine Cover

Walking in, my first impression was that I was in a holy place, it was so beautiful. The temperature outside was in the high ’90s. When we got inside the Cathedral Room, as it was called, it was in the ’70s. My guide had told me to bring pants and a long sleeve shirt. Good suggestions. It got cooler the further back into the slot we went.

I was in such awe of this amazing place that I just wandered back through the canyon, running my hands along the soft, cool sandstone walls. My guide motioned me over and said, “Wait until you see this.” I got my camera (28-70 mm lens) out and put it on the tripod and he told me to focus on a spot of light that was in front of me on the ground. Then he stood to the side and threw some of the red sand over the hot spot. It was magical. A mystical beam of light appeared as if a flying saucer was over the canyon beaming its searchlight down. I was so struck by it that I forgot to shoot. So he did it over and over and I pushed the shutter button for as long as the beam lasted.

I tried all sorts of speeds and exposures for this one and the best one was f/16 at 10 seconds. When in doubt, bracket your exposures. Remember, film is cheap. Coming back to the slot is not.

I use Fuji Sensia 100 ASA almost exclusively and was very happy with the results. I am sure Velvia would have done a very nice job but most of my shots are of action sports so I need that extra stop on my film. I found the best lens was my 28-70mm although with a long lens (300 mm) you can aim up and capture some of the very dramatic curves with the light reflecting off of them. Exposures varied from f/16 at 20 seconds to f/22 at a half second. Exposures certainly depend on the time of day that you are in the canyon, as the light is constantly changing.

Tamrac ad

My guide left me alone and said he would be back in a couple of hours. Now I could just wander and enjoy the beauty and solitude. I felt like I had to whisper while I was in the canyon; this particular canyon is very sacred to the Navajo people and I did not want to be disrespectful. Was I wandering around in their church? Sure felt like it. I saw maybe one or two other photographers. I was there on a good day. My guide said he has seen the Cathedral Room with photographers tripod legs overlapping each other, especially in the late afternoon when the western light hits the entrance wall and bathes the entire room in a warm orange glow. So I guess the secret was out about the slots and they forgot to tell me.

Speaking of the Cathedral Room, that was our next stop. My guide had returned and said it was show-time. We made our way through twists and turns to the main room; it was alive with every color of orange you could imagine, so warm and inviting. The photo gods were smiling on me that day — we were the only people in the room.

I wanted to get a shot of someone standing with a pack on in the middle of the room. I looked around to see who that someone would be. I didn’t have much choice and I fit the model/victim profile better than he did. So I set my camera on my tripod again and got it all situated with the auto timer on, since I was going to be the victim.

My guide suggested that I meter off the highlights on the wall and with his years of experience photographing these canyons I took his advice. I threw my camera pack on my back and pushed the shutter button and had 10 seconds to get into place and hold very still. My exposures were at 10-20 seconds so any movement would make my image blurry. I held my breath when I heard the shutter click. I did this over and over with backpack, without backpack, sitting, standing, jumping you name it. “Ok, I’m pooped, we can go now,” I said.

The light was fading fast as we walked out of the canyon. What a special day I had and I couldn’t wait to see my images. My guide was great and so helpful with tricky exposures. We climbed back into his beefy SUV and back to Page we went, all the while I was chatting about the amazing day I had just experienced. I thanked him and we went our separate ways.

The images that I got back from the lab were better than I had ever imagined. I was so excited as I spilled each box onto the light table, gasping and screaming as each colorful slide appeared. The fact that I experimented with different exposures and made sure to bracket made all the difference in the world. . . Remember, film is cheap so shoot a lot of it!

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I hope you enjoyed this blog post from my trip so long ago. Unfortunately most of my images of this amazing trip were damaged and some were lost through no fault of my own. It is bittersweet that this location has been discovered by the masses and I know I will NEVER experience this scared place like I did back then. As much as I would like to go back to Antelope and shoot photos again I think it might be too upsetting to see it so crowded – so I might just treasure my memories and the photos that I have left of it and be happy with that. If you have never been then this is certainly a magical place to add to your shoot list – just be prepared to see LOTS of other photographers!

Happy shooting – Cheyenne

My 1st camera

So what was it that made you pick up a camera for the 1st time? I get asked this question so many times that I started thinking about how random things in our young lives can have such an effect on our adult lives. With those thoughts running through my head I thought this subject might make a good blog post.

My photo journey began when I got a Minolta 35mm SLR camera for Christmas in 1975 or 1976 – I don’t remember asking “Santa” for a camera and don’t recall even having a strong interest in photography but “Santa” must have known something. Seemed liked the only thing that I had an interest in was making sure my tan was perfect (I grew up in Miami) and making sure I always had a cute boyfriend! Yikes….such standards I set for myself. Anyway, I took to that new camera like a fish to water and the next semester in the 10th grade I chose Photography 101 as my elective and as they say, the rest is history…

My Alma Mater Class of '78!

Mr Summers and Mr Farnsworth were my photography teachers at Palmetto Sr High in Miami and they changed my life forever. I had one “bestie” in school who’s parents were photographers, her father a very well known NY photographer, I remember having kind of a crush on him – he was so tan and handsome and SO cool. And her Mother a wonderfully talented artist in her own right. I remember going on a shoot with my friend and her Mother and I loved the vibe she had – so free and creative and strong! I wanted to be like that – little did I know that seeds of who I would be “when I grew up” were being planted.

Now that's TEXTURE!

I think back to the subjects I would go out and shoot in Miami…..it mostly involved beaches and birds and all of the “Florida things” that people photograph. But I do remember being drawn to TEXTURE – I remember an old park bench at the beach that had washed onto shore in a storm and it was covered in barnacles – it would have cut me if I touched it but I remember LOVING the texture of it. OMG – that was over 35 years ago and I still remember that so vividly and I can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Wow – those barnacles are totally opposite of the “texture” that I now shoot in Arizona. But what I really loved more than actually taking the photo was spending endless hours in the darkroom seeing how perfect I could get each print – time stood still and I was finally “interested” in something that school had to offer – it only took 10 years of school for me to find it but hey, better late then never. I was SO bored in school – I just didn’t see the point of sitting through all of the endless chatter, tests, cliches, proms, drama, angst, you know – ALL of the things that high school was and probably still is. I was a master of skipping school – come on the beach was only a few miles away – kids don’t try this at home – I don’t want your parents yelling at me. But, and yes there is a BUT, when I found photography I couldn’t wait to get to school so I could immerse myself in the magical darkness of the chemical filled room that captured my imagination. Now that I think about it, was it the smell of the “brain cell killing” chemicals that made it so magical or the creative process………hands down, for me it was the creative process…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! )

That's my Daddy!

To this day I truly believe that my Minolta camera was the best gift I ever received and I have my Dad and my Step Mom to thank for that! THANK YOU for seeing something in me that I didn’t know was there. That’s a photo of my Daddy when he was in High School – I love that photo! Anyway, my life as a photographer has not been an easy one but it has been a magical journey that has brought me riches that money could never buy – the sights and places I am fortunate to witness take my breath away on a continual basis. I see and feel things that most people will never experience in their live time and for that I am grateful.

So there you have it….that is how my journey started. How did yours start? I wish you the BEST Photographic Journey – I still have a TON of photos to shoot and look forward to the next place that will take my breath away -

Happy shooting – Cheyenne

A Magical Alcove in the SW

Agua Fria Skull

I recently had a rare opportunity to go deep into the Agua Fria National Monument here in Arizona. The
“Agua Fria”, as it is known locally, is just a stones throw (kind of) from my home in Scottsdale but I felt like I was hundreds of miles from the civilized world and that is very OK with me. Not only was the Agua Fria – or as I now call it the “Ahhhhhhhgua Fria” – VERY beautiful but it was also very “Fria”…….which means cold in Spanish. A bit of a cold front had gone through Arizona a few days earlier and the cold wind was howling up on this windswept mesa. It sure lived up to it’s name…brrrrrr!

Agua Fria Prickly Pear

If you aren’t already familiar with this amazing unit of the BLM and National Landscape Conservation System just a quick 40 miles north of the Scottsdale/Phoenix area – let me enlighten you.  If you have driven north on I-17 towards Flagstaff then you have no doubt passed right through this amazing and rather “shy” Monument – there is a sign along the highway but this rugged and remote 71,000 – acre environment doesn’t scream out at you to come in and play unless you have an adventurous soul…..which luckily I do.

The city lights of Phoenix from my tent

I ventured into “The Agua Fria” with a group of adventurous souls for a night of camping and then a day of rugged exploring into what turned out to be a virtual “Garden of Eden” in the middle of an arid prickly pear landscape. As we made our way down into this amazing canyon on our morning hike we passed by archaeological finds that boggled my mind – grinding stones just left in the grinding holes as if these people suddenly vanished off of the face of the earth. Archaic petroglyphs pecked into large stones that have stood the test of time for some 2000 years – WOW! So much to see and think about as I hiked – rock hopping from boulder to boulder down the wash and deep into the canyon. While many of the monuments archaeological sites are in remote and inaccessible areas damage and looting has occurred at some of them. As part of our nation’s heritage it is imperative that these prehistoric and historic sites remain untouched and protected – PLEASE help protect them! Remember, it’s BAD karma, not to mention it’s illegal, to take anything…..just sayin’!

Mano & Metate

Suffice it to say this was an amazing and quick trip but such a RICH trip. The photo opportunities were everywhere and I could go on and on about this national treasure but I won’t bore you with words. Below are more photos of the beautiful “Agua Fria” – I hope you have a chance to explore for yourself one day. I am sure you will agree that the name “Ahhhhhhhhgua Fria” is a perfect fit when you return home relaxed and recharged…..Ma Nature has a way of doing that. Thanks for letting me tag along….I will be back for MORE explorations into this land of rugged beauty and awe-inspiring archaeological wonders!

Agua Fria BLM boys

Dramatic Wild West Landscapes

Happy Campers

For more information about Agua Fria National Monument click here - now get out and enjoy those WILD places and don’t forget to take your camera. Remember to take only photos and leave only footprints!

Fine Art Prints are available at Ancient Light Gallery – just click HERE!

Happy exploring – Cheyenne

Cheyenne speaking in Tucson

Ever since I made my way back into the world of photography in 2008, after what I thought was my “retirement” that unbeknownst to me turned out to be a 6 year break, I have been told that my story is not only a compelling one but serves as inspiration to many. Then Outdoor Photographer Magazine got wind of “my story” and asked if I would write an article detailing my journey. Well, YEA, of course I would! My article; “Stoking The Flame” was published in the June 2011 issue of the magazine and then “my story” seemed to take on a life of it’s own.

The Journey Back to Creativity

In my article I detail how a beautiful old Dodge truck that I found in Southern Utah “inspired” me back into a business I thought I was ALL but done with. I never even imagined that my story could help other photographers and people of all walks of life feel inspired to follow their passion or pursue a path in life that they had only been dreaming about.  I was then asked by several camera clubs and groups to come in and share my story.  I now speak on a regular basis at camera clubs, groups and organizations throughout the West and Southwest and present my “The Journey Back to Creativity” program.

I love haring my story and feel if I can inspire even one person to begin to follow their dream or to pick up their camera and see the world in a different way then my job has been done. I am continually humbled and encouraged by the kind and positive energy that I get back from the people that attend my presentations. I have several speaking engagements booked and am available to speak at your camera club, company or organization. Please contact me at chey.rouse@gmail.com for more information or to book me for an engagement.

Land of The Ancients

Join Fine Art Photographer and Southwestern Guide, Cheyenne L Rouse in magical Southern Utah for this Exclusive Limited Engagement Photo Workshop & Tour! These exclusive tours will be limited to no more than 2 participants per tour and will only be held TWICE in 2012 – so only a very lucky 4 people will get to get to experience the magic and mystery that Cheyenne has been experiencing with her photos and exporlations over the last 22 years. Please visit our Photo Workshop page to learn more about this exciting offering and see our new 2012 Photo Workshop & HDR Class schedule. Don’t miss this magical workshop!

Scottsdale Cowboys

Below is a recent feature that I did for Groupon – I only offer this “Photo Walking Tour” for a few dates during the winter……it’s a fun way to learn some interesting history, get some photos of quaint and very western Old Town Scottsdale and see the town at the same time not to mention talk “shop” along the way. Choose your “deal”, click the “PayPal” button and viola you are done! Oh….as a “Thank you” for joining me on the “Walking Photo Tour” I offer participants 10% off any one of my Photo Workshops or HDR Class (excluding my online HDR class).

GROUPON: (oh and this was written by their writers, not by me…just in case you were wondering)

Taking a compelling photo can be tricky, especially when documenting high-speed action shots or proving that the Washington Monument is not made of powdered sugar. Ensnare some snapping savvy with today’s Groupon from Cheyenne Rouse Photography in Scottsdale. Choose between the following options:

• For $56, you get a photography walking tour of historic Old Town Scottsdale for one (a $125 value).
• For $99, you get a photography walking tour of historic OLd Town Scottsdale for two (a $250 value).

• Tours meet at 4 p.m. on the following dates: (Be sure to include the tour DATE that you would like to be booked on in your PayPal payment instructions.)
• January 14 and 28 – Sold out!
• February 4 – Sold out!
• March 3 and 24 – a few spots left!
• *Each tour has a minimum of 3 participants with a maximum of 8

• Meeting location: We meet in the plaza in front of Casa de Artistas Gallery on the NW corner of Main St and Marshall Way in Scottsdale’s bustling Arts District.
•  7052 E Main St.
• Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

• Professional photographer Cheyenne L. Rouse leads troupes of aspiring shutterbugs in search of riveting images through photo-taking excursions in Old Town Scottsdale. Tours convene in the plaza out front of Casa de Artistas in Old Town Scottsdale for one-on-one discussions about each student’s photographic vision and favored shutter finger, allowing Cheyenne to focus her internal lens on planning camera parade routes. Armed with their own equipment, attendees then merrily romp for approximately 1/1/2 hours, exploring western details, architecture, and natural light. Shutters chatter away, elegantly immortalizing the interest and beauty of the scenery’s simple details as Cheyenne dispenses expert guidance on choice locations and the way to get drive-thru cashiers to say “cheese.”

Walking Tour for One: $56

Walking Tour for Two: $99

Please contact me, Cheyenne for additional information or any questions: chey.rouse@gmail.com or you can call me at 435.640.6880 – Thank you!  

“I really enjoyed Saturday’s walking tour of Old Town Scottsdale because the focus was on possible shots vs. messing with all the controls. Your experience with the area was very helpful in pointing out photo opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have seen.”

Cheryl B. – Phoenix, AZ

Wasatch Valley Winter

This week I decided to dig through the archives of some of the “Photo Tips” columns that I wrote for Utah Outdoors Magazine when I lived in Park City, Utah. I thought with Christmas only a few days away and the snow falling around the country that this one would be fitting. I lived at 7,000 feet for 12 years and while it was stunning on a sparkling bright blue bird morning after a fresh blanket of powder fell over night, I can say that I do not miss shoveling that stuff! I am very happy to now be living in Scottsdale, Arizona for the last 1 1/2 years and while I do have to content with extreme heat in the summer I never have to “shovel” sunshine. So this is to all of you that either live in the Snowbelt or visit it on vacation, which is the only way I will ever deal with snow again. Keep in mind that I wrote this column about 10 years ago and as you know the world of photography has changed considerably, but there are still some tried and true winter photo tips that remain helpful even in today’s fast paced ”techie-fied” world. Happy Holidays…………

Teton Winter

Now that old man winter has a firm grip on the west you might think that it is time to tuck your camera away until the first Daffodils pop up from the frozen ground next spring – wrong! Being a native Floridian with coconut milk running through my veins, I did not know what winter was until I moved to Utah in 1998. Winter for most of my life meant turning off the air conditioner and the humidity being 50% instead of 110%. What a wonderful change having 4 distinct seasons is and what a wonderful variety of images we can shoot all of those seasons, it is like living in 4 different places…such diversity and splendor right out of our own backdoor.

Skiing Action

Shooting photos in winter does require a bit more effort but the rewards are great! Winter sports and snowy scenics make great pictures if you know the tricks of ‘snow exposures’. Exposure on snow can be a challenge since our camera meters have been calibrated to see everything in mid-tones, a recurring problem and source of disappointment for many winter photographers is incorrect exposures. Unless you compensate somehow all of your snow images will be gray with no texture and all of the brightness will be gone. It might seem that with all of the bright light hitting your cameras meter that the natural thing to do would be to ‘stop down’ or close down the lenses aperture but it is the opposite you will need to ‘open up’ your aperture. Usually once you meter you would then open up two stops but this is not always the case. To insure a proper exposure keep the word ‘mid-toned’ in mind, look for those mid tones and use them for metering purposes. Ask yourself, which area of the final image you are most concerned with. Do you want the snowy bridge to be exposed correctly, or is it more important for you to have the running water exposed correctly? Successful exposure is achieving the results that YOU want…remember this is YOUR hobby and YOUR time…yes it IS all about YOU!!! We like that!

Winter Barn

Once again you will see that photography is all about experimentation and trial and error. There is nobody looking over your shoulder so have fun and do what you want…just keep that word ‘mid-tone’ in mind. Bracketing (trying different ones) your exposures is another way to insure that you will hit the nail on the head. A little ‘tripod warning’, metal tripod legs get very cold in the winter. You would be amazed at what can stick to cold tripod legs; let’s just say it could make for an unpleasant shooting day. I wrap my tripod legs in plumbing insulation and secure it with duct tape not only does it make the legs ‘touchable’ but it cushions them so when you carry the tripod on your shoulder it doesn’t get sore. I keep the insulation on year round. Gentle reminder: if you don’t take your tripod with you and USE IT I will send the tripod police after you! You didn’t think they existed now did you….well they do and You MUST use your tripod if you want tack sharp images and no holding your breath and leaning up against a tree while you shoot does not count…..USE YOUR TRIPOD!

Winter Bridge

A good rule of thumb is to carry a second set of batteries (or charged battery) with you and store them in a warm pocket inside of your jacket. Batteries can get very temperamental in the winter, it is strange, we can store our batteries in the fridge but take them out in the real cold and they die, what is that all about? Or do what I do, duct tape (I call it wonder tape) a hand or toe warmer to the battery compartment on my camera. It keeps my battery warm and my right hand while I am shooting stays pretty toasty too.

Frosty

A fun way to get back to those scenic backcountry locations is by snowshoe. I am a huge fan of this resurrected mode of winter transportation. I am sure that an image of Yosemite Sam with those big old clunky showshoes just popped into your mind…snowshoeing has come along way, it has become very high tech, and you’d be amazed. If you can walk/hike you can snowshoe it is that simple, just strap those babies on away you go. What a fun way to capture those sparkling winter scenics and get a great workout at the same time.

Now that we have covered exposures, transportation, tripods and batteries let’s talk proper attire. Dressing properly is key to enjoying your winter photo excursion if you are too cold or too hot you will not be eager to repeat your outdoor experience. Layering to be ‘comfortably cool’ is the way to dress. Yes, it’s snowing like crazy and the temperature is 5 below…but you will be working up a sweat especially if you decide to snowshoe. Choose clothing that is specifically designed to insulate and move the sweat away from you, it is called moisture management, did you ever think we would have to manage our moisture? Cotton is not an option as it holds moisture and will drain your body of its needed heat, garments made of polypropylene or similar fabrics are better choices. Make sure you have a good hat, warm socks and toasty gloves and have fun!

Now you are already for your winter photo excursion. Enjoy the peace and solitude that a lovely snowy day has to offer. And when that first Daffodil pops up in spring you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you had a very productive winter and shared in her gifts. Whether you are in the Snowbelt or the Sunbelt I want to wish you a very Happy Holiday season and much joy, laughter and adventure in the New Year.

Best wishes….Cheyenne

Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheyenne.rouse

Online Gallery: http://gallery.ancientlightphotos.com/

Waitin' for Santa in AZ!

The holiday rush is on and orders for my Fine Art Photographs are coming in fast and furious. There is still time to order Matted and Signed 5×7′s from my Gift Shop and get them in time for Christmas! To sweeten the pot I am offering FREE SHIPPING (within the US) on any size order. I also have my “Ghosts of the West” book available to order in the Gift Shop – it makes a great stocking stiffer.

Another great gift idea for that photographer in your life – how about a Photo Workshop or HDR Computer Class? Have a look at my Photo Workshop page to see the most up to date schedule of workshop and class offerings. Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to purchase a class for someone special in your life! You can email me at chey.rouse@gmail.com

Please join us on Facebook for all of the latest photos and updated news on Photo Workshops and HDR Classes. Also be sure to visit our online Portfolio as well to view our collection of Fine Art Photography.

We want to wish you all a very Happy and Warm Holiday Season!

Lomaki Sunshine

Being born and raised in sunny Miami and spending the first 30 years of my life there, it is hard to say where my fascination and “connectedness” to the Ancient Cultures of the Southwest came from. I have been out west for 21 years now and with each passing year my yearning to get deeper into the Land of the Ancients in the Four Corners region of the Southwest gets stronger and stronger. In 1991 I went back to school to get my certificate in American Indian Studies with my focus being the Ancient Southwest, I was so thirsty for knowledge about this amazing culture and couldn’t wait to get to class each Tuesday and Thursday. I was totally the teachers pet and sat in the very front row, I didn’t want to miss a thing. The other students hated me and my over enthusiastic attitude, I would have hated me back in school too, what a goober! If only something had held my interest like this in grade school my parents would have been much happier with my performance.

Ancient Canyon Pictographs

I just returned from another amazing photo journey deep into The Land of the Ancients. I was in the Four Corners region of the Southwest which includes SE Utah, NE Arizona, SW Colorado and NW New Mexico, hence the tag “Four Corners” has been given to it. I went to one place that I have been dreaming about shooting photos for many years. Upon my return home with hours on the drive home to think about and process the experience in my head, I have decided to be a bit mysterious about this particular location. Namely due to the fact this one is not on the map nor is it well known and I don’t want to add to any traffic that could harm these archaeological wonders. Of course there are many, mainly photographers, who know where this magical place is and just like I did anyone can do their research and find it.  So what I am saying is I am going to make you work to get your own photographs from some of these places, it’s more rewarding when you have to work for it, right?

Hisatsinom Dreams

Armed with a full pack – it felt reminiscent of my mountain climbing days – I carried 2 Tamron lenses, a 10-24mm and 18-270mm, a lightweight tripod, food, water, a down bag, camp chair, sleeping bag as well as lots of warm clothes. We made our way down into the canyon into what was to be an amazing 12 hour shoot that left us both in awe. This location was one that I could not wait to lay my eyes on, to see what the Ancient Ones had seen hundreds of years ago and feel the ancient spirits that were still present. We were prepared to stay the night if need be, it was a treacherous trail in the day light so we figured once we got up into the ruin we were there until the sun rose. I knew temps were going to drop into the high 20′s and me being more of a warm weather desert girl was hoping that having every fleece and down product on that I owned (ok not EVERY one) would keep me warm.

Timeless Vision at Night

We arrived at the ruin in the late afternoon and my travel partner let me walk in a few minutes ahead of him – I think he knew that I needed to view it for the 1st time in silence and by myself. It took my breath away – it was everything and MORE than I had envisioned in my mind and I thought about this place numerous times. All I could think was “WOW” – it was amazing and I knew that I was here to get the photos that I had seen in my dreams. I silently found a spot to unload my pack and quickly but reverently I set up my tripod and got my camera with the Tamron 10-24mm ready. This ancient alcove screamed for a wide angle lens so this lens was perfect. We set up and watched the magic happen for almost 12 hours – the clouds swirled and moved off to the east, the sun set and then the in the clear cold night the stars came out for a show, it was one of the darkest nights I had ever seen. We worked fast to get some great star shots before the moon came up which we knew would happen around 9:30PM. Then the glow of the moon was slowly making it’s way into the canyon – it was amazing to watch it all happen just like it had been doing for thousands of years. It is amazing for me to think that all of this beauty is always here – year after year – whether anyone sees it or not – it is here – words like strength, power, consistency and resilience came to mind as I looked out over this ancient land and listened to the silence that at times was deafening. I loved it!

Big Horn Family

At about 2AM I decided that all of my down products were not going to insulate me until the sun came up and I was COLD and all I could think about was the warm bed waiting for me. With the bright moon light we decided to give the hike out a try. It was a bit dicey in places and luckily my travel partner was a master at trail finding in the dark. It took us about an hour to get out with the moon guiding us – it was a beautiful hike back to the car. We knew that we had just witnessed something so amazing and we would not only need to process the experience but we couldn’t wait to process our photos. At 4AM my head hit the pillow in my very warm bed and I drifted off into a magical slumber dreaming about ancient times and what it must have been like.

Box Canyon Ruin

On my way to and from The Land of the Ancients I made a few stops to shoot some petroglyphs (pecked into the rock) and pictographs (painted on the rock) that I knew about. I used my Tamron 18-270mm to shoot the rock art – I love the up close detail of these ancient messages and this lens made it easy to zoom right in. I also stopped at Wupatki National Monument just north of Flagstaff – I wanted a well rounded and full “Ancient Experience” as far as my photos went and I am happy to say that I felt like I achieved my goal.

One Happy Photographer

In closing, I feel so fortunate to have realized a dream of mine – there are times when I am totally in awe and so amazed at the life that I have created for myself. It’s not an easy life at times, as anyone who makes a living as an artist can tell you. I have had some of the richest experiences of anyone that I know and feel SO lucky that I am able to live in an area of the country that speaks to my soul and do what I love for a living. With the world going seemingly mad these days it is nice to know that I can quickly escape to my magical world and feel transported back to a time when ancient people walked on this quiet Earth and lived simply. What also makes it so special for me is that I get to share my photos and my world with so many people thanks to Facebook, I have legions of loyal “friends” who are there every step of the way with me from around the globe, it is mind boggling at times. I get emails and Facebook messages from people telling me how my work and passion have inspired them to start shooting photos again. It is so humbling and satisfying to hear that, I feel like I have done my job if I can inspire just ONE person to follow their passion and create the life that they have only dreamed of. If I can do it then anyone can do it….now go live the life of your dreams and be sure to take your camera with you! Thank you for letting me share with you!

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t do just a little business here - Join my “Land of the Ancients” Exclusive Photo Workshop in May 2012! 

—Sponsored Content

Hot Air Balloons at night

Who knew that you could have so much fun with Hot Air Balloons without ever leaving the ground? Well I guess I already knew that but it made for a good title for this blog post didn’t it? Of course the “Gold Standard” for any Hot Air Balloon gathering is in Albuquerque, New Mexico every October, which I was fortunate to go to over 15 years ago. “Back in the day” I shot gobs and gobs of slide film and photographed the spectacle from every angle that you can imagine, the only angle I didn’t get was from the air! I would shoot “gobs and gobs” of film as insurance that I might have gotten a few good shots. This time I would be shooting with pixels and thanks to the digital age, able to instantly see the shots that I was getting. Also I know (after shooting gobs and gobs for years and years) that sometimes less is more and now I don’t need to go hog wild shooting tons of images – I had a vision in my mind and that is what I was going to focus on.

Zia Balloon

This past weekend a friend invited me to go with he and his two young boys to a local “Fall Balloon Festival” here in Scottsdale. Having seen “The Best of The Best” in Albuquerque years ago I thought to myself; “How good could this be?” Well I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived and I saw an entire football field filled with deflated Hot Air Balloons just waiting to come to life. When fall arrives here in the desert the outdoor events are too numerous to count and are very popular since people are more than ready to be outside after such a long hot summer of being stuck in their air conditioned houses.

The festival was very crowded which concerned me a bit since I would have my tripod in tow and that would make me a 5-legged creature and 5-legged creatures generally don’t fare well in large crowds. I opted for my lightweight tripod with carbon fiber legs and quick-release ball head that doubled as my backpacking tripod for years. I quickly realized that if I worked “smart” here at the festival it would not be a problem, I would make this work.

"Fill'er up!

In addition to my tripod I was “armed” with my small “day” camera bag to carry my Tamron 10-24mm as well as my Tamron 18-270mm, so I had all of my bases covered for an event that called for both wide and detail shots. As the sun sank below the horizon the magic was about to happen – the glowing balloons were capturing everyone’s attention. The night was shaping up to be gorgeous, the stars starting to shine with a beautiful crescent moon elegantly hanging in the sky. The light fall breeze felt so good after such a hot summer and now it was “Show Time” for me and the balloons! I moved easily through the crowds, in and out of bumble bee balloons, a spider pig balloon and a butterfly balloon – I felt like Alice in Wonderland walking through this colorful “forest” of magical balloons. I staked out my first shooting spot and started with some wide angle shots with the Tamron 10-24mm then switched to the Tamron 18-270mm to move in for some detail – both of these lenses were perfect for this occasion; lightweight and they gave me all of the variety in focal lengths that I needed.

Wide Angle Fun

I found that the crowds of people that I was so concerned about ended up working out well for my photos, except of course when one gentlemen so mesmerized by the glow of the balloons ran right into me….oppss…no harm done, we both laughed it off.  The people helped add scale and interest to my photos in addition to some fun  shadows and movement. It was a great evening and I was really happy with the photos that I came away with. Best of all I kept my gear to a lightweight minimum and that enabled me to get in and out of crowds more quickly and get to the places that I needed to be. There’s definitely something to be said for keeping it simple when it comes to camera gear and those of you that know me know that I am ALL ABOUT keeping it simple! Oh and I am happy to report that I didn’t go hog wild with the pixels either, I shot about 260 frames over the course of a couple of hours and came away with many keepers!

Enjoy the great fall weather wherever you are even though some of you have already gotten that “pesky white stuff” aka SNOW over the weekend……at least I don’t have to shovel sunshine and I will take that any day! And speaking of snow, that means “you know what”, yup “The Holidays” are right around the corner. For a limited time I am offering FREE SHIPPING on all of my Matted & Signed 5×7 Fine Art Photographs in my Gift Shop – there are over 30 to choose from and ordering is so easy….just click a few buttons and “viola” you can cross a few names off of your holiday shopping list!

—-Sponsored Content