Desert Ride

Landscape photography in Texas is an endurance sport, especially for your vehicle. The best locations are far from any major cities and in many cases, far from civilization itself. Having a dependable ride like the Subaru Forester is essential to your success and your survival.

My 2010 Forester has a little over 103,000 miles on it and still runs like a champ. I’ve taken it all across Texas from Houston to Amarillo, Dallas to El Paso and Harlingen to Nacogdoches with not a single breakdown to its credit. We’ve traveled the dirt roads of Big Bend National Park, the two track trails of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the back roads of twenty different Texas State Parks and the dirt roads of over 150 Texas counties.

Man, what a ride!

Desert Ride – Salt Flat, Texas
Copyright © 2013 Jeff Lynch Photography

Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III with GP-E2 unit attached, set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens and tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/16 for 1/20th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter and 2-stop, soft, graduated neutral density filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 4.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

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Workshop Preparation Post #6: Shoot What You Love

The Spring 2013 Texas Landscape Safari is less than a week away and I know the folks that plan to attend are anxious to get out with their cameras after a long and cold winter. So for the next few days I’ll be posting tips to help folks get the most out of their workshop experience.

The first rule of photography that I was taught thirty five years ago was to “shoot what you love”. There is no better piece of advice I can give to an enthusiastic amateur than that. When you truly “love” the subject that you’re photographing, that “feeling” is reflected in the images you capture. Monet painted many different scenes during his career but none stand out nearly as much as those of his beloved garden’s water lilies.

Folks attending photographic workshops are often searching to discover what subjects they connect with the best. For some it’s big game wildlife in Africa, while for others it’s the unique water fowl found in southern Florida. For many younger landscape enthusiasts it’s the majesty of Yosemite or Yellowstone while for others (like myself) it’s the simple, rugged beauty found in the rural areas of Texas.

The key to getting the most out of any workshop (or your own photography in general) is to discover what you love to shoot and make it your goal to learn how to shoot that subject as creatively as possible. Don’t worry about what others in the group are concentrating on. Take a good look around you at each stop and see what catches your eye. If it’s water, shoot the water. If it’s wildflowers, shoot the flowers. If it’s rocks and trees, then explore the rocks and trees with your camera. Approach each new location during the workshop with an open mind, a curious demeanor and a courageous attitude and I promise you’ll soon learn what you “love” to shoot just as I have.

And remember to enjoy yourself out there. We’re all here to learn and have some fun exploring the Texas panhandle together. Learn to shoot what you love and to love what you shoot and I promise you’ll walk away with some great images and some wonderful new friends. But don’t take my word for it; just ask Angel, Darrell or Ralph when you meet them in Canyon, Texas in a few days.

Caprock Canyon in Summer – Quitaque, Texas
Copyright © 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 40mm, f/16 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer and two-stop, soft graduated neutral density filter. Post capture processing was done entirely in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

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Workshop Preparation Post #5: Packing for Landscape Photography

As I’ve posted before, gear selection and packing for a landscape photography trip is a cumbersome task. Each time I set out for a few days or a few weeks I begin by putting together a shoot list and hiking schedule. I also check the weather forecast for the area of Texas I’ll be traveling though and pray for any cold fronts approaching from the north or west. The last thing I want is a cloudless sky.

Pulling together a shoot list is a common enough task for most commercial photographers but I find few landscape or nature shooters that follow this discipline. I like to maximize my time in the field but I can’t carry fifty pounds of cameras and lenses on each hike so a shoot list is essential.

So here is a list of what I pack for a typical landscape outing.

• Canon 5D Mark III with EF 17-40mm f/4L USM zoom attached.
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L zoom with lens hood.
• Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt & Shift Lens.
• Gitzo Traveller Tripod & RRS Ballhead.
• Singh-Ray CP, Vari-ND & ND Grad filters.
• Black Rapid R-Strap & Clips.
• Bubble level, CF cards, lens cloths.
• Garmin GPS on one strap.
• Motorola MR350 Two Way Radio on the other strap.
• Emergency Thermal Mylar Blanket.
• Hiker’s First Aid Kit.
• LED Flashlight & Hunting Knife.
• Emergency Bail-Out Rope.
• Water, typically three 24oz bottles.
• Trail Snacks (for energy).

This much gear weighs in a little under 20 lbs and fits comfortably in my pack. The nice thing is, the weight decreases during the hike as I consume my water supply and trail snacks. I caution folks about carrying too much weight in their packs. I’ve done these hikes and climbs several times in the past few years and every extra ounce of weight you carry takes that much more energy. When you’re out shooting in nature, the last thing you need to be thinking about is how sore your lower back is from lugging around all that gear.

In fact, during my spring workshop (Texas Landscape Safari) I may carry only one lens (24-105mm) on my 5D3 and a few filters in my pockets. I load my pack up with as much water as I can carry along with some apples for energy. One thing I tell all my attendees; if it’s a choice between a lens or a bottle of water, always take the water. The Texas sun can be a relentless companion and folks that don’t respect its strength soon find themselves dehydrated and exhausted. Not a great combination for a budding landscape photographer during a workshop.

Texas Landscape Safari Spring 2013

The Spring 2013 Texas Landscape Safari will be held April 21 – 24, 2013 in Canyon, Texas deep in the heart of the panhandle! That’s right folks, the TLS will be moving from the Hill Country to the Texas High Plains & Canyons this year.

This not your usual photography workshop or tour. It’s more like a bunch of friends getting together to share their love of landscape photography and help each other grow as serious photographers. It’s a chance to visit and photograph some of the most beautiful spots in the Texas panhandle and to learn some techniques to enhance your landscape photography behind the camera and in the digital darkroom.

South Prong Canyon in Caprock Canyons State Park

Our Base Camp will be in Canyon, Texas and we will be shooting at both Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Caprock Canyons State Park as well as other key locations during the three day workshop. Many of the panhandle locations are “drive up and shoot” opportunities and there are literally thousands of great spots within 90 miles of our base camp!

Click on the image above to see our Google map for the TLS

What You’ll Learn

• Some of the best landscape photography locations in the Texas Panhandle.
• Basic landscape techniques for your DSLR, lenses & tripod.
• How to compose your landscape shots for maximum impact!
• How to correctly use a circular polarizer filter.
• How to correctly use a graduated neutral density filter.
• How to create special effects with a neutral density filters.
• Basic post-capture processing techniques in Adobe Lightroom.
• How to correctly prep your images for printing.
• Where to have your images printed and why!

Registration Opens Now!
Just drop me an email via this blog with your name, mailing address and email address and I’ll add you to the mailing list. Our class size is limited to the first fifteen people, so don’t wait too long!

Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas

One of my favorite views in Caprock Canyons State Park deep in the heart of the Texas panhandle. An easy spot to photograph right next to the park road but hundreds of miles from the nearest “big city”. Caprock Canyons State Park is one of the best venues for landscape photographers in all of Texas but is getting there takes a bit of time, lots of gas and good directions!

Caprock Canyons Ridge – Quitaque, Texas
Copyright © 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 23mm, f/16 for 1/20th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.
Click on the image above for a larger version.

Follow @jefflynchphoto

Workshop Preparation: Shoot What You Love

The Spring 2011 Texas Landscape Safari is less than two months away and I know the folks that plan to attend are anxious to get out with their cameras after a long and cold winter. So for the next few weeks I’ll be posting tips to help folks get the most out of their workshop experience.

The first rule of photography that I was taught thirty five years ago was to “shoot what you love”. There is no better piece of advice I can give to an enthusiastic amateur than that. When you truly “love” the subject that you’re photographing, that “feeling” is reflected in the images you capture. Monet painted many different scenes during his career but none stand out nearly as much as those of his beloved garden’s water lilies.

Folks attending photographic workshops are often searching to discover what subjects they connect with the best. For some it’s big game wildlife in Africa, while for others it’s the unique water fowl found in southern Florida. For many younger landscape enthusiasts it’s the majesty of Yosemite or Yellowstone while for others (like myself) it’s the simple, rugged beauty found in the rural areas of Texas.

The key to getting the most out of any workshop (or your own photography in general) is to discover what you love to shoot and make it your goal to learn how to shoot that subject as creatively as possible. Don’t worry about what others in the group are concentrating on. Take a good look around you at each stop and see what catches your eye. If it’s water, shoot the water. If it’s wildflowers, shoot the flowers. If it’s rocks and trees, then explore the rocks and trees with your camera. Approach each new location during the workshop with an open mind, a curious demeanor and a courageous attitude and I promise you’ll soon learn what you “love” to shoot just as I have.

And remember to enjoy yourself out there. We’re all here to learn and have some fun exploring the Texas Hill Country together. Learn to shoot what you love and to love what you shoot and I promise you’ll walk away with some great images and some wonderful new friends. But don’t take my word for it; just ask Glenn, Leslie or Josh when you meet them in Lampasas in a few weeks.

Caprock Canyon in Summer – Quitaque, Texas
Copyright © 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 40mm, f/16 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer and two-stop, soft graduated neutral density filter. Post capture processing was done entirely in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

Canon’s Secret Weapon for Shooting Panoramas

Every lens manufacturer has a few secret weapons in it’s arsenal. For landscape photographers shooting panoramas with Canon DSLRs one of these is the TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II tilt & shift lens introduced in early 2009. As I’ve said before, the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is quite possibly the sharpest lens Canon has ever released. It’s certainly the sharpest lens I’ve ever owned. If you’re interested in all the technical details I recommend reading the in-depth review at The-Digital-Picture.com.

Caprock Canyons Panorama – Quitaque, Texas
Copyright © 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using a TS-E 24mm f/4L II USM lens tripod mounted. The three exposures were taken at 24mm, f/16 for 1/15th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer and 2-Stop (Soft) ND-Grad filter. Post capture processing was done in Photoshop CS5 using the “Merge to Panorama in Photoshop” command in Lightroom 3.

One of the areas that a tilt & shift lens really excels in is panorama photography, Shooting pano’s is something I’ve always wanted to try but never did due to the cost of the special panning components required to turn your tripod and ball head into a pano rig. Once I bought the TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II tilt & shift lens for my commercial work I found a much simpler method for a three or five shot landscape panorama that requires no additional hardware.

In-Camera Technique
This simple technique is based solely upon the “shift” capabilities of a tilt & shift lens and almost completely eliminates parallax (uneven overlap) and distortion.

1. Setup your camera & lens on your tripod, taking care to ensure the camera is level. I use a simple $25 bubble-level to accomplish this in seconds.
2. Focus on your subject manually and take your first exposure with the lens “unshifted”.
3. Shift the lens to the left as far as it will go without creating vignetting, and take your second exposure. Be careful not to refocus or to change the exposure settings too much.
4. Shift the lens to the right as far as it will go without creating vignetting, and take your third exposure. Be careful not to refocus or to change the exposure settings too much.

Lens Images Courtesy & Copyright © The Digital Picture

1. Lens Shifted Left

2. Lens Centered

3. Lens Shifted Right

Post Capture Processing
Once you return home simply process all three shots in Lightroom 3 keeping the exposure and other settings as similar as possible between all three. Then select all three images and select “Edit In” from the “Photo” menu. The choose “Merge to Panorama in Photoshop …”. Once Photoshop opens just select the default options and in a few minutes your three-image panorama will appear. Save this file to Lightroom and complete your post-capture processing as normal.

The results? Well, see for yourself by clicking on the image above.

Further Reading
Canon’s Digital Learning Center – Tilt & Shift Lenses.
Canon’s Digital Learning Center – An Introduction to Canon’s New Tilt-Shift Lenses
Really Right Stuff’s – Panoramas Made Simple

Desert Trail

Even a cloudless sky can become an interesting background is your subject is a beautiful as the scenery at Caprock Canyons State Park in Quitaque, Texas. Standing here on a warm fall evening, looking over miles and miles of pristine desert and colorful canyons is one of life’s simple pleasures.

Caprock Canyons State Park is one of the states most beautiful and least explored parks. Many folks visiting the Texas panhandle miss this wonderful park situated on the southwestern rim of Palo Duro Canyon, well away from any major highways and cities. Those that find their way there are greeted by miles and miles of desert trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The geology of the area is incredible and behind every one of those buttes seen in this image is another and another, just waiting to be explored.

Desert Trail – Caprock Canyons State Park in Quitaque, Texas
Copyright © 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using a TS-E 24mm f/4L II USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/16 for 1/30th of a second at ISO 100 using a Singh-Ray warming polarizer and 2-Stop (Soft) ND-Grad filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.