Or...
This:
Looking forward to catching up with my man Jason Beakes and his crew! Here's to a little whitewater action!
Depending on the results you desired--more contrast, less contrast, warmer tones, cooler tones--you needed to decide before hand which film or films you'd bring along. For instance, Velvia with its deep, rich blacks and vivid colors and strong contrast looks amazing on an overcast day in Autumn when the trees are peaking. But might not work quite as well for a nice soft portrait of the family. Several rolls of film designed for portraits and another designed for landscapes at the very least would be in the bag.
Today, all those emulsions are in the camera! Well, more accurately, they're in the computer. But the RAW information gathered on the CCD of your camera and written onto the CF or SD card therein provides the information needed for the computer program to make the best image, to realize the final photograph you envisioned.
When I saw this fellow walking along the rocks, in my mind's eye I saw a silhouette with dramatic clouds as backdrop. But as you can see in the first photo the tone is rather soft, and the silhouette weak.
It took a little fiddling in Nikon Capture NX to get the image I really wanted. (below)
It went from being a somewhat low-contrast Kodacolor print to a strong contrast Velvia slide. At least for me it did. What do you think?
It was an amazing experience. Very much looking forward to working with them again.
Photo by Rachel Klein-Kircher
Happy New Year, everyone!
Rob was wounded in Iraq. For months he wore a brace on the lower part of his right leg, utilizing a cane as well. The doctors were hoping that in time the nerve endings would regenerate in his leg and the feeling would come back. If not, they'd have to amputate.
Rob has been training long and hard to become a serious paddler. Totally driven man. He had an email signature that once read, "Soon to be world class athlete." He eventually changed it to, "Soon to be one-legged world class athlete." This October he became just that. Below the knee amputation. And despite a few setbacks (a recent fall broke his good ankle and one of his wrists!) he is indeed a world class athlete.
This is a shot from an outing in May of this year. He's surfing at Rocky Island waves on the Potomac. I noticed the Heron on the rocks across the way and scrambled to get in position to include it with whichever kayaker I could get. (there were several out there that day.) Turns out Rob got the best spot with the sun and the bird and the wave all coming together perfectly. He held this position for several seconds before getting tossed out! For a variety of reasons it's one of my most favorite shots ever.
To not get in the way, but still be a part of it all, is the real challenge. These attempts to bring a little understanding, maybe a little meaning to some event is never easy, but it is rarely unenjoyable. I'm truly lucky to be doing what I do!
The other evening Rachel followed me down to the river with her Nikon D40 and did an her photojournalistic best documenting my assignment. I was there to do the final shoot for National Parks Magazine. They needed a couple portraits for the opening spread in the upcoming Winter issue.
Now, I have always wondered if people I cover are really able to tune me out, forget I'm there. I always do my best to get in there without being in there. To become part of the scene without taking it over.
The other night I think I remember being aware of Rachel's camera shutter on maybe two occasions. She came back with about 40 images. I was so wrapped up in what I was supposed to be doing I completely forgot her photographic presence. Good to know this. Gives a little perspective.
At any rate, below are a few choice images from that shoot.
All photos by Rachel Klein-Kircher (copyright 2008).
