Tag: US National Forest

Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado, September 25, AM Part 1

I walked from my campsite a little after 7AM, going down the utility right of way for a short distance, then ventured into the forest for a morning shoot.  A good thing about shooting in a fall forest is that one does not have to be in the woods before daybreak, unless one has a definite location in mind that requires one to be on location at a specific time.   It seems that the morning light in a forest can be good from early morning until almost noon, or even later if it is overcast.  So just wandering about in the forest looking for photographic opportunities, getting a later than pre-sunrise start is fine.

Aspen Forest Morning. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 3200.
Towering Aspens. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 1600.
Aspen Forest Morning. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 1600.
Aspen Forest Morning. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 500.
Aspen Forest Morning. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm (before crop), 1/200s, f/11, ISO 1600.

I’m making so many images of the tree trunks and wide angle forest views, that I’m again thinking that these kind of photographs are getting redundant, so I spend more time looking for little details, like the small, colorful plants on the forest floor that are highlighted by morning sunbeams filtering through the forest.

Fall Forest Floor. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm (before crop), 1/125s, f/11, ISO 1600.

Still I can’t resist getting starbursts (this one is too large and distracting) through the tree trunks

Aspen Forest Starburst. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm, 1/320s, f/11, ISO 640.

and zoomed in images of a mass of Aspen tree trunks

A dense batch of Aspen trunks in Rio Grande National Forest. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm (before crop), 1/125s, f/11, ISO 400.

or a wide angle image that makes the trees appear to lean towards the center, as if they are huddling to plan their day.

The Huddle. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-14mm @ 24mm, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 500.

But the forest floor is not to be ignored.

Stump. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm @ 24mm (before crop), 1/80s, f/11, ISO 800.

To be continued,

Ken

 

 

Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado, September 24, 2020, Part 2

September 24, 2020, AM, continuing my wandering around in the Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado:

Fallen. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 640.
Forest Clutter. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 40mm, 1/160s, f/11, ISO 640.

For landscape images it is best to make simple images with no distracting clutter.  In a forest it is virtually impossible to avoid clutter.  Trees and grasses grow in a mass of seeming disorder.  Limbs and twigs stick out everywhere, the forest floor is covered with all kinds of natural debris, grasses and low growing plants, fallen trees and limbs.  Still, I try to carefully consider what is in my composition.  Sometimes I can exclude something that I consider particularly distracting, many times I just have to accept what is there and try to compose so that a viewer can get the intended message.

Star Burst Aspens. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 26mm, 1/200s, f/11, ISO 200.

Sometimes, isolating details, either via zooming in or cropping in post processing, works to eliminate clutter, but context may be lacking, if that matters.

Aspen Leaves. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/100s, f/11, ISO 250
Cradled. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/80s, f/11, ISO 500.
Forest Floor and Shadows. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/100s, f/11, ISO 250.

The chaotic nature of a forest may be the message.

Geometric Shadows. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 500.

Sometimes there appears to be a natural geometry within the chaos or just a simple highlight that catches the eye.

Aspen Twig. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/2000s, f/11, ISO 400.

I do not claim to be an expert or accomplished photographer, so maybe I need to move on now.

Until next time stay well and safe,

Ken

 

Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado, September 24, 2020, Part 1 – Edited to correct an error in the last paragraph.

I ventured back into the forest on the morning of September 24, 2020, initially taking a similar path to the route I had taken the previous afternoon, wanting to see how the light and forest scenes would differ in the morning light.

Intersecting Aspens. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/6s, f/11, ISO 200.

Sometimes I photographed essentially the same scenes, which looked a little different with the light coming from a different direction.

Aspen Trunks and Shadows. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 34mm, 1/8s, f/11, ISO 200.

There is something magical about being in a forest with sunlight filtering through the leaves and the tree trunks creating bands of shadow and light and

Evergreen with Aspen Leaves. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 46mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 2500.
Forest Light. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 48mm, 1/400s, f/11, ISO 2500.

fallen tree trunks creating an array of geometrical shapes.

Triangle. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, 1/160s, f/11, ISO 1600.
Aspen Forest. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 38mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 2000.
Fall Starburst. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 48mm, 1/160s, f/11, ISO 250.
Forest Starburst. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200.
Star Burst Aspens. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 26mm, 1/200s, f/11, ISO 200.

With all the big trees, back lighted leaves and starburst effects, it is easy to overlook the myriad small details.  There are often interesting little things that make good images.

Aspen Leaf on Log. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/100s, f/11, ISO 2000.
Aspen Leaf on Log. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/160s, f/11, ISO 2000.

The juxtaposition of color and texture in small items can be as intriguing as a wide angle image of the forest.

Grain and Veins. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  I like the colors of fall and the crispness and smell of fall.  Yet it is also a strong reminder of our mortality.  I’m wondering, do we become more colorful in our autumn or just wrinkled and weathered?

To be continued,

Ken