Sometimes finding your way through an obscure direction takes guesswork. This photo was taken several miles out on a trail that faded in and out along the way. With enough persistence and curiosity, the effort can completely pay off without having to turn back or check the maps. You just have to pay attention to what the forest and wilderness are telling you.
This is a photo I took of Castle Rock with the midday sun bearing upon it. After taking some more advanced lessons in Photoshop, I learned how to paint with light. That is what it took to say something visually more than what the harsh light washed out. Not completely satisfied with the results, but it is a learning experience nonetheless. I am getting better at handling my images with light and color composition.
The character and reach of the Sequoia really make the forest by how they stand in their prominence. It is not enough to merely witness them in their stature but to feel and experience their being by all your senses. By sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.
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.
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.
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.
© 2026 James Austin. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress. Designed by 
