The affect light has on color varies by its intensity. The surfaces and shapes of natural objects can give out shades of beauty that illuminate the soul. It often has much to do with being in the right place at the right time. Or by bearing the cost and risk to put oneself in a position of the moment. To capture what the experience has to say.
Sometimes the best place to be is in an open field under the shade of swaying branches. While in a slight breeze and in the warmth of the sun. With just the whispering wind to vanish and reappear again. If you listen carefully, it speaks to you.
“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
― John Muir, John of the Mountains.
The Unpublished Journals of John Muir
Wild creatures completely reliant upon the land. Either up near people and towns or in the backcountry, they’re found in different forms of life. Either as herbivores, carnivores, or both. Such as this deer grazing on the forest floor, the time it took for this creature to mature and grow in the wilderness is an experience worth contemplating.
A short bit of experimentation with image processing. After learning somewhat more about place and context. To see further what bearing that would have. Rather than capture an image at face value, image processing has much to do with how you feel or sense the experience during the time while in a space of meaning. If there isn’t anything felt or valued, the composition and meaning can become flat or merely about technique. What you love and have passion for becomes lost in the repetition.
All those wilderness miles moved. Altitudes gained and lost. The wind, the cold, the wet, the color, and the beauty. All for the fear and the love of what comes by so much risk and hardship again and again. So what was the point? What is the drive and what do these seasons bring?
Far fared with far more to go. I fear it will never be enough and I’m okay with that.
Today’s time was spent at practicing the switch over from program to manual and back again with a one or two-stop change. Experimentation with various ISO settings, priority modes, and live-view. It was along about a 3-mile trail in Kings Canyon where the light was strong and unforgiving.
We went to Comstock Meadow where the forest beauty was complemented by the piercing light, even and pleasing temperatures, and strong aroma of the Sierra air. Today was time well spent to experiment, but to also again get a full immersion in these mountains I call home.
Today’s time was spent on blending practice. Several different images where some came out very hideous. This one was a final practice image for the day. Some photos I took quite some while ago.
Combined the same image across numerous layers to get an adjusted image with lens correction. Interwoven between two images a soft-light algorithm was applied with 50% opacity. Selective erasure and sharpening by an entirely different methodology. What you’re seeing are actually two copies of the same image combined and re-sampled together.
The depth of learning continues to better automate workflow through Actions. At least for photos that come together in quantity for outings. The manual process will stay indefinitely and with greater attention simply to get more from the creativity that follows. There is so much more to learn and practice.
The release of Adobe’s Creative Cloud had me signing up without any thought or regret. So went straight from CS3 to CC. Several leaps ahead among versions, but the results are absolutely impressive. Such a difference to support the work of inspiration and creativity. I really love the change.
Photoshop and Lightroom integration with my Nikon is far better than my prior set up with Bridge. I’ve learned a lot about my new Nikon full-frame set up with FX lenses. To compliment that with these tools gives so much more editing control over images captured. Where there is much more ahead for far better quality.
Here’s an example with a photo that I took not long ago. Notice the difference? A sort of deceptive way of compensating for a small over-saturated segment of the scene.
Were it not for the river in the wilderness, the wild places we visit just would not have any meaning or life. Rivers give life and they carve vast mountains and rock over a long range of time. The cascades, falls, streams, creeks, lakes, rivers or tributaries have all their own character and beauty. They give their host energy and renewal. They inspire and speak of a force unstoppable. They move swiftly and steadily at times. Highly perilous and terrifying while unmatched in beauty and attraction.
Unmoved and calm, the river still washes, cleanses, and reminds anyone of its haunting presence.
The Muir Grove Journal Entry is completed. Along with a series of updates elsewhere throughout the site.
MUIR GROVE
So, I have started to alternate entries from each side because there is no way I am going to stop or slow down.
1.) Updated Outings
These are outings with reformatted photos and code. Existing journal entries posted, but with updates for consistency, retrieval, and posting.
2.) Completed Outings
Pending journal entries listed where I have hundreds of photos and notes for each location, yet they do not appear at this site.
3.) Planned Outings
A renewed commitment that when I have completed an outing, that it goes up by priority before prior outings or updates. That way, I stay current and bring along the updates and previously completed outings along the way.
Today I saw more beauty in one day than ever before. But it came with a price. Completed 7-miles of trekking through the Trail of the Sequoias. I made it a goal to get through the heart of Giant Forest. And I accomplished that goal, but it was a rough 7 miles for some reason. I now have blisters, back pain, a headache, and overall soreness.
It was a lot of work getting this done, but the whole experience included views of Sawtooth Pass, Black Rock Pass, an encounter with a mother bear and two cubs at Circle Meadow, cross-country exploration jumping from one high meadow to another, coming upon a new all-time favorite meadow, and gathering hundreds of photos just like these.
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