I’ve been enjoying the cooler air at night photographing Nightscapes and Starscapes. Today’s high was 107 here in Sedona, Arizona. Decided to lay low during the day!
Platypod tripod
I’ve been playing with the Platypod Ultra making some time-lapse videos for them. I bought the Platypod about a year and a half ago and wasn’t using it very much. But when they asked me to work it a little more I’ve been finding more and more uses. In addition, it now hangs off my small Think Tank Mirrorless – 20 camera pouch when I go hiking. I’m finding it gives me a stable platform while adding very little weight to my kit.
I spent a couple nights car camping, AKA boondocking, in my RAV 4 during the last full moon. Here’s a time-lapse I made of the moon for Platypod getting up off the horizon. See more of the boondocking story here.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
For those who are viewing this in the Successful-Photographer email notification here’s a link.
https://youtu.be/eDZ22rnivdk
•• The reason I use the Think Tank MM 20 is that it is small but robust. I’ve been using this bag for about five years and it is only starting to show some wear. Know that I am a mirrorless shooter with Lumix and Olympus gear so It’s just the right size. They make larger models such as the MM 30 for larger camera gear
Living in Sedona, I have been privy to lots of beautiful changing scenery due to changing light conditions. The most interesting images happen on the edges of light when sunrise or sunset occurs. Or, when you find the edges of light where light spills through a window or under an overhang. Storms arriving or clearing are often wonderful ways to capture a different look.
Red rocks with a square crop. A path leads into the scene from the corner.
Car camera
Light as this is often fleeting in a landscape. I always keep a “car-camera” available for moments such as these. It’s a Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 — an all-in-one camera that can go from 25mm wide to 480mm zoom. It has lots of features including the ability to capture up to seven stops of exposure on a single button push (and can bracket focus as well, but that’s another post).
Different landscape compositions
Photographing a scene can be composed in many different ways. And, each individual way tells a slightly different story of the scene. I’ve found over the years that whatever grabs my interest in a passing landscape is just a starting point and any car stop should include exploring the area just a bit more.
A vertical crop gives an entirely different feel to the scene.
Learn more
I wrote a bit more in-depth on this subject on the Photofocus blog. Learn more here.
Travel in China – Xi’an – Part Two
Guest Post – Ken MacAdams
Ken’s continuing images and stories from Xi’an, China. See the last post here.
“For this blog edition, let me introduce you to some background of this interesting locale.
This is Fengqing Park, one of the many beautiful parks within the city.
It’s a quiet place where the locals come from dawn to dusk.
Wild Goose Pagoda with the statue of the monk credited with bringing Buddhism to China.
Woman dressed in Period costume at the Little Goose Pagoda.
In the history of China, Xi’an has played a large and significant role – one that stretches longer in time than perhaps any other city in China. It acted as the capital of China for over 1,100 years, and has never fallen out of importance. Archaeological and art discoveries in and around the city tell a tale of China’s development from prehistoric times until the height of the imperial period. Many tombs and sites remain un excavated to this day. Xi’an is geographically located in the center of present day China.
Pit 1. This is the first pit that was discovered and where excavation began.
It is estimated there are 6,000 soldiers buried here.
Note the armor detail and remaining paint pigment. The sole of his shoe even has tread detail!
Xi’an lies on the Wei River in the Shaanxi Province, and served as capital at different times for the Zhou, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. The origins of Xi’an can be traced to the 11th century BC, when rulers of the Zhou dynasty founded a city about 10 miles from present day Xi’an. In 221 BC the King of Qin conquered the other feudal kingdoms in the region to become the First Emperor. During his rule, he extended various sections of the Great Wall to keep out the fierce northern tribesmen, but perhaps more notable was his standardization of the Chinese written language, coinage, and weights and measures. It was Qin who was responsible for another of the greatest wonders of the ancient world – his army of terracotta warriors.
This is the bronze chariot for the Emperor. It weighs almost 2,000 lbs., and silk fabric was found inside.
More from Ken’s adventures next week!
Ken has always loved to travel, so when he made a common connection with the fact that either a long day pounding the streets of some foreign city, or shooting the last dance at a wedding, a good part of his physical weariness came from lugging around his big heavy DSLR. That’s when he started looking at alternatives – and ended up selecting Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds gear.
Ken is rarely without a camera, and the next great photo travel experience – whether local or abroad – is always in the back of his mind! A longtime resident of the Four Corners, and when he’s not out on the road, he enjoys some of the great outdoor opportunities found there – mountain biking, hiking, and Jeeping.
Ken has been traveling in China and settling in for long periods. His last visit was for quite a while in Xi’an. Enjoy his images and commentary.
“I’ve been in Xi’an for nearly two months now. Living like a local has great rewards. In my apartment complex, I play on the jungle gym with the little kids (who come running and squealing to me – babbling away in Chinese that I can’t understand) when they spot me walking by! I go to the local street market to purchase my fruits and vegetables with my neighbors. I ride the bus with university students, businessmen and secretaries going about their daily lives. And nothing is more rewarding than the toothless old granny who bursts into a smile when I say “Neho” (hello) as we pass on the street!
The drawbridge over the moat with the archers tower behind.
This wall is the only ancient city wall completely intact in China.
This is one of the archers towers over the drawbridge. Besides longbows, they had crossbows capable of reaching 1/4 of a mile. It would have been deadly to try to gain entrance uninvited!
The lights at nighttime are magic!
As a tall Westerner, I stand out, but I find the Chinese people very warm and welcoming, even if there is a huge language barrier! The “translator” app on my phone gets a daily workout, but many of the younger folks have studied some English, and although bashful about using it, they’ll often come to my rescue!
This is a temple on the ancient wall.
Guard towers stationed along the top of the wall. Note the smog in the atmosphere.
Entrance way along the wall.
Although I concentrate most of my time in Xian, I travel out to photograph in provinces to the east and west. China continues to expand routes serviced by their high speed “bullet” train, the futuristic aerodynamic trains that travels at 200 MPH. Travel between major cities is quick, quiet, and competitive with air travel. To me, traveling on the train, is just part of “living like a local.”
More from Ken and Xi’an, China Next Friday!
Ken has always loved to travel, so when he made a common connection with the fact that either a long day pounding the streets of some foreign city, or shooting the last dance at a wedding, a good part of his physical weariness came from lugging around his big heavy DSLR. That’s when he started looking at alternatives – and ended up selecting Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds gear.
Ken is rarely without a camera, and the next great photo travel experience – whether local or abroad – is always in the back of his mind! A longtime resident of the Four Corners, and when he’s not out on the road, he enjoys some of the great outdoor opportunities found there – mountain biking, hiking, and Jeeping.
The Chinese take their tea seriously – and to be invited to a tea ceremony is a wonderful experience!
When we returned to Beijing, we walked down to the Forbidden City. Once the residence of the Emperor, and strictly off limits to the public, this treasure has been opened up to the public in recent years. It’s a walled city within itself, complete with a moat surrounding it. Within the walls, the Emperor, his wives, concubines, and children all had their appointed places. Only dignitaries or men on official business would be allowed into the great hall just inside the gate, where they could transact business with the Emperor. To facilitate trade from without the city, the Emperor had a canal dug, of which part is still accessible today.
The Grand Canal and ancient bridge dating back to 1154 A.D.
A little Beijing Info
About 1100 A.D. Beijing became the new capital of China, and has remained so until today. The original city wall and gate, along with many other old historic landmarks were destroyed during Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Today, the city’s population approaches the 30 million mark, and high-rise business and apartment buildings stretch as far as the eye can see. Smog presents an issue here as the government struggles to clean up the old smokestack industries. The mass of automobiles often overpowers the capacities of the highway system and long traffic jams are the norm at morning and evening rush hour. Public buses, taxi’s, and subways do their part to move the masses, and many resort to electric bicycles and scooters as a means of short haul commuting.
Even though we’d been busy hitting the streets, the effects of jet-lag was beginning to set in. We welcomed the quiet of our hotel room as the door clicked closed behind us. A good rest would help us move on to our next destination, the the adventures ahead.
Ken has always loved to travel, so when he made a common connection with the fact that either a long day pounding the streets of some foreign city, or shooting the last dance at a wedding, a good part of his physical weariness came from lugging around his big heavy DSLR. That’s when he started looking at alternatives – and ended up selecting Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds gear.
Ken is rarely without a camera, and the next great photo travel experience – whether local or abroad – is always in the back of his mind! A longtime resident of the Four Corners, and when he’s not out on the road, he enjoys some of the great outdoor opportunities found there – mountain biking, hiking, and Jeeping.
For infrared conversion of my cameras I use LifePixel. Infrared allows you to put an older camera to use and opens up a new time time of day for productive image creation.
Fotopro tripods are well worth checking out. You can learn about the ones I use and recommend by clicking on the Fotopro Tripods link at the top of this page. If you want to see what other tripods might fit your needs check out the Fotopro.com website. Check back with me before you buy as a Fotopro Ambassador I’m able to get you discounted pricing including complementary continental USA shipping for my followers that you won’t find through retail outlets.
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A High Speed Smart Camera Remote
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Platypod has become a great resource for being creative in getting your camera gear easily into unusual places. As an Platypod Pro I get to work/play with the gear even before it comes out. Head over to Platypod, subscribe to the newsletter and you will get special discounts reserved only for subscribers.
