Tag Archives | wilderness

Mile By Mile

Today was a new day in Yosemite with the wonder and inspiration that goes with it. Always a new perspective and place to explore. Step after step and place by place we were out and about to experience the absolute and incredible beauty of this place.

Tomorrow is a new day and a day of renewal. A time redeemed because these days will one day be gone. As all the others that went before them, but only in these places of beauty. Today I smiled and laughed more than I ordinarily do. Not because of those I’m with, but because of what and Who is here.

So what did I do with this time given? And with the decisions about how I choose to think and believe. Mile by mile and one step at a time.

Tomorrow, a new day. A fresh start with anticipation about what’s next. Up at dawn, tomorrow we go higher in elevation.

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Piercing Light

By James Austin in Photography, Wilderness

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.

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Road to Elysium

By James Austin in Wilderness

“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.”
-Maximus Decimus Meridius

Further lessons and practice today centered upon sharpening and retouching techniques. Not so much about the outcomes but largely about the controls, tools, panels, and dialog to better understand limits and best practices. To get more thoroughly familiar with Bridge, Photoshop, and Lightroom and their relationships with each other.

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Spin & Balance

By James Austin in Photography, Wilderness

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.

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Sway & Persuasion

By James Austin in Photography, Wilderness

More than once today, I’ve thought about our time in the mountains for all these years. A blessing and a privilege, or a gift because of unmerited favor. Whether by grace or circumstance, did we really orchestrate circumstances to see what we have seen, feel, and understand what was upon us? What I am very much grateful for is common for some, I suppose.

Yosemite’s inspiration and awe are just as strong today as it was well over 15 years ago. I can remember hiking back from Harden lake in Yosemite and taking a rest under a tree. It was an overnight backpack, and I was exhausted, but not quite back to the trailhead. Under the tree with my back at rest against the trunk, I looked up at the leaves and branches swaying in the breeze straight above me. I could feel the same breeze with my eyes closed, but while soaked and in over my head with where I was at. The breeze didn’t just make its way over me but through me. And I think just maybe it was more than the wind of nature but something more where the wind reaches the soul, with its sway and persuasion.

Something happened that day right then and there. Something changed and that is when it all began.

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Narrow Course

By James Austin in Wilderness

A slide show above for our recent time in Kings Canyon. The River Trail for quite some while. Enjoy the photos of route and the area.

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Winter Treasure

By James Austin in Wilderness

Today was a very rewarding time in Sequoia to explore a well-known meadow to get away, open the spirit, and see what the time might bring. It didn’t take long to get separated from visitors, and in no time, I had the meadow to myself some distance away. Quiet, still, and cold, I saw beauty in the wildness of this place.

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A Day in Tokopah

By James Austin in Wilderness

Today we spent time exploring Tokopah Canyon. We haven’t been along this route in Winter, so we thought it worthwhile to give it a try. The visit was largely to accomplish a few objectives and the wilderness was a benefit on top of it all. It was mostly to check ourselves, our gear and equipment for further outings scheduled ahead.