Twin Peaks Trail - Eklutna Lake

A beautiful fall Saturday, winter fast approaching.  I decided to go hiking, thinking that I would get in some exercise and enjoy one of the last glorious days of an Indian summer before the cold grind of another winter set in.  Of course my camera would be at my side (or, more accurately, hanging around my neck).  I had two goals in mind – to enjoy the day, and to get in some more time working on my craft.

I decided to tackle the Twin Peaks Trail at Eklutna Lake.  “Moderate to difficult” the trail guide said.  1800 foot elevation gain over 2.6 miles.  Piece of cake I thought. 

As I started out on the trail, which quickly turned into a climb instead of a leisurely stroll, it wasn’t long before I was captivated by the patterns of the shadows that crossed the trail…

There were few people on the trail, and I made good time.  The grade increased, my breath quickened, and I was enjoying the open air, although I was wondering when I would see something other than the path before me and the trees to either side.  Soon, as I rounded a slight bend in the trail, I noticed an opening in the trees and a glimpse of Eklutna Lake below.  A few steps off the trail and the scene unfolded…

After a brief rest, and few photos later, I headed out again.  Here I must note that I had a plan when it came to the day’s photographic “goals”.  First, I was going to use only my 18-55 mm lens on the hike up to my final destination (wherever that may be), second, I would then switch to my 55-200 mm for the descent, and last, I would make a conscious effort to use my polarizing filter, which I has only played with once or twice. 

On the way up I took quite a few photos, as I rested at the halfway point overlooking the lake, walking up the trail, and finally at my final destination.  I got a few photos that I was reasonably happy with, including the two which I’ve presented already. 

Once I reached the end of the formal trail, 2.6 miles and 1,800 feet of elevation gain later, I decided to go further.  Although I had a great view of Twin Peaks and Goat Rock, I wanted to go higher, reach the crest of the ridge to my right, and look out over Eklutna Lake.  So, I headed up the smaller, steeper path, and made my way another mile or so until I reached the top of the ridge.  It was steep, slow going at spots, but well worth the view…

I spent about an hour enjoying the view, eating a snack, and taking photos.  I also had a few “learning experiences” that came to light when I reviewed the day’s work.  The clear, bright day lead to quite a few photos with lens flair or excessive haze in the background, then I picked-up some very noticeable dust specks that can’t be ignored (and the photos weren’t good enough to spend time cloning them out in Photoshop).  Lesson/s learned. 

I took my time coming down, because of the steep grade and unsure footing at spots, and because I was enjoying the scenery and comfortable weather.  I also stopped occasionally to take a few photos, and was rewarded in one area with an abundance of dried wildflowers that caught my attention.

When I reached the halfway point on the way back I stopped again and took a few photos.  The angle of the setting sun was perfect for using my polarizing filter to take a few shots of Eklutna Lake…

After resting a bit, I headed down the final stretch of trail, stopping to take a few shots of an old abandoned car I had noticed earlier…

…and a leaf wonderfully backlit in the late afternoon sun…

All in all, it was a good day.  The last couple of times that I had went out with the idea of taking a few photos and seeing what I could come up with, I was – quite frankly – discouraged, because I had come up empty handed.  Although I have a long way to go before I reach the technical proficiency that I strive for, and accepting that the photos I’ve presented here are o.k. but nothing spectacular, I know that what I can do today is better than what I could do yesterday…

Making The Best Of A Dreary Day

Last Saturday was much like the previous week or so.  Anchorage was cloaked in a low layer of fog that blocked out the sun that had so shortly before shone so brightly in a warm blaze of an Indian summer that had been a welcome relief from a long, wet summer season.  I had repeatedly heard that the one could escape the grips of this dense fog by going up into the mountains, breaking through the fog to the warmth of the sun, or by heading north towards the Matanuska Valley, which had been spared the grey days of late…  I knew that the parking lots for the upper trailheads near Anchorage would be full of other folks similarly seeking the golden sun, so I decide to head north, thinking that I could find my own escape from the dull grey days of September…

Thunderbird Falls was the destination.  About 25 miles northeast of Anchorage, the trail to the falls is an easy one mile, one-way hike, but considering that I had a nine year old with me I figured that the length would be perfect, and – of course – I brought my camera along. 

As we drove to our destination the fog did not lift.  In fact, it got thicker.  Gloomier.  Colder.  When we arrived at the parking lot the fog hung thick, and did not abate during the two plus hours we were on the trail.  However, it wasn’t raining, there weren’t too many people on the trail, and the water level in Thunderbird Creek was relatively low so we were able to get pretty close to the falls.  The wet weather had yielded an explosion of different mushrooms and fungus, which provided the two of us with a constant source of “cool, look at those conversations.”  Despite the dull, grey skies, it was definitely worth the drive.

In terms of photography, it was another chance to get out, experiment, and fire off a few frames.  I haven’t had much experience working on a foggy, damp day, so I took the opportunity to do so.  Also, I left my trusty Nikon 55-200 VR in the car.  I’ve found that 99% of the time I use this lens.  Although it’s doesn’t have as wide a range as the Nikon 18-200 (or the new 28-300), it has quite a bit of versatility, which is why I love it.  Since I don’t have a wide angle lens (yet!), I find myself shooting quite a bit of my landscape work at 200mm, trying to get an interesting slice of a larger whole…  This day I set forth with the 18-55 kit lens that came with my Nikon.  I was determined to get to “know” this lens better…

So, here are four shots from that outing. 

No real winners, but they are somewhat representative of what how I was trying to familiarize myself with this lens’ capabilities.  Two things that I like about this lens are its ability to get fairly “wide” and its ability to get pretty close to a subject.  No true macro capability, but some nice close-up possibilities.  What did I learn that day?  That I need to be aware that I have a tendency to severely underexpose images on an overcast day, that I need to work more on grasping what is a good out-of-focus background, and that I need more practice, practice, practice…

Wasted Day?

One of the goals I have set for myself recently is to take more photographs, on a more consistent basis.  Since I bought my Nikon D40 I’ve taken 9,800 photographs.  Sounds like quite a few, and definitely well on my way to getting the first 10,000 out of the way, so I can start making true progress towards taking fewer “snapshots” and more “photographs”.   Then, I did the math.  I’ve had the D40 since May 2008.  850 days, give or take a day.  9,800 photographs divided by 850 days = 11.5 shots a day.  It takes about two seconds of thought to realize that 12 attempts at anything a day – photographs, free throws, free kicks in soccer, whatever, is nowhere near enough to develop a skill or find a voice or become so familiar with a process that it becomes second nature…


So, I’ve come to realize that I need to shoot more photos, more often.  Not to run up the number on the shutter count, not to fill up hard drives full of random shots, not to take photos for the sake of taking photos, but to take the time to experiment, look, visualize, to try and SEE the world around me differently, and to translate that into better photographs, on a more consistent basis.  To become better, I must practice and push myself, no different than when I literally shot hundreds of free throws, day after day, when I was 13 and trying to become a starter on the junior high basketball team…

I’m not talking about sitting in the living room every evening taking 200 “candid” shots of the cat sleeping on the back of the couch.  I’m talking about taking the camera along whenever I go for a drive (and, let’s face it, even in town who hasn’t had the “damn, I wish I had my/should have brought my” camera thought), on long walks with the dog, those everyday opportunities that we realize later would have been the perfect time to try and capture something different or unexpected…

Last Saturday was a perfect example.  Unseasonably warm weather, hardly a cloud in the sky, leaves turning into their autumn hues, gently falling to the ground.  Sun warm on the skin even if the slight chill of fall was in the air.  A perfect day for a long walk.  We decided to take advantage of this perfect day and headed to Eklutna Lake for a long walk and a picnic lunch, the first big “nature” outing with our semi-new dog.  A perfect opportunity to take the camera along and get some practice in…

And, I did.  25 shots or so at Eklutna Lake, then another 35 or so later at home, trying to capture a shot of fireweed gone to seed, thinking the cottony tendrils backlit by the sun might make an interesting shot.  After the sun faded and as the evening was winding down, I downloaded the day’s work to the computer and took a look.  What did I have?  Nothing.  Not one shot that I would show someone else, not one shot that I would say “huh, that turned out alright”.  A big zero.  Was it the subject matter?  Was it my technique?  My vision?  Or lack thereof?  I honestly don’t know.  I would like to think that it was just one of those days where things just didn’t click.  But, to be honest, I would tend to think it’s more a reflection on my present skill set and lack of creative vision…

So, back to the title of this post.  Wasted day?  Not at all.  I learned a tad bit more about myself as a photographer, tried a thing or two that didn’t work (and that I’ve tucked away in memory).  Most importantly – and this is the true lesson of the day – I got to spend a wonderful day with my family and our semi-new, lovable (and exhausted) rescue pup…

Sometimes, It's The Little Things...

First Fridays

For several years local art galleries, cafes, and restaurants have hosted “First Friday”, where visual artists (painters, photographers, mixed media) are in the spotlight the first Friday of each month.   Anchorage art galleries stay open late to celebrate new works by local artists.  A map of participating venues is included in the Anchorage Press (a local, independent weekly newspaper) the Thursday before the event.  Art lovers and curiosity seekers roam from venue to venue, often sampling appetizers and enjoying a glass of wine while taking in the work of local artists.  The displayed work typically stays up until the following month’s First Friday event, giving the artist a full month to show their talents.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to participate in a First Friday showing, I did have a selection of photographs on display at Borders Books during the month of July.  I can say that leading up to that I was nervous, apprehensive, and - quite frankly – wondering what the heck I was doing!  As the month unfolded I generally got positive feedback, and it turned out to be a rewarding experience.  Which leads me to…

One of the Division Directors at work has decided that she would like to display art by office staff in one of the hallways.  Our own little “First Friday” if you will.  I was approached to be the first “artist” to have their work on display.  After some goading, I agreed, and now several of my large prints (16 x 20) are hanging in the hallway downstairs for the month of September.  Why do I mention this?  Because this is more nerve wracking than a public showing at Borders!  Knowing that nameless strangers are looking at your work is one thing, having to cross paths with co-workers in the hallway while they stare at your prints is another!  I never would have guessed that, of the two, this would be the one that I'm truly nervous about...

What Is Inspiration?

Inspiration: 1) inspiring; 2) an inspiring influence; 3) a sudden brilliant idea

Inspire: 1) to stimulate (a person) to creative or other activity or to express creative ideas; 2) to fill with or instill a certain feeling; 3) to communicate ideas etc. by a divine agency – both definitions from the Oxford American Dictionary

What is inspiration?  What is it to be inspired?  Is it tangible?  Can you put a finger on it, does it have a pulse?  Is it something out in the ether, something intangible, a spark, a flash, a bolt of divine intervention?  Is it something you can prepare for?  Is it a culmination of years of study and practice until the mechanics of the craft become second nature and true unconscious energy begins to flow out of you?  Is it being so familiar with the process and the medium that “it” flows forth in a stream of consciousness?  And, where does Keith Richards hearing the riff from “Satisfaction” in a dream fit it?

Like many people I’ve had varied interests in my life.  I’ve always been fascinated by people with a singular talent, artists who manage to push beyond the ordinary and excel at their craft.  Painters, writers, musicians, all I have admired and been moved by the beauty of their work.  Over the years I’ve painted, written, strummed a guitar – badly.  I’ve spent years picking up and tossing aside various things, trying to find something that moves me, something that inspires me, something that pushes me and causes me not to give up but to redouble my efforts and become better. ..

I honestly don’t know if photography is going to be “it” for me, the one thing that I follow wherever it may lead.  I do know that – for the first time – I’ve taken up a “hobby” and felt like I’ve made that first step, that step from A to B.  A small step, with the long journey from (hopefully) B to Z (and beyond?) to follow.  But, for me, that AHA!, that flicker of a moment when I got my first image that I was truly happy with, was the first step…

I’ve read that, as an aspiring photographer, you have to get the first 10,000 frames out of the way before you make any real progress.  I looked, and I’ve taken 9,700 photos with my Nikon since May 2008, and I realize two things: 1) that not nearly enough in that time span if I’m going to truly learn anything, and 2) I can’t wait to take the next 9,700…

"You have to put in the hours and log the time.  These dreams are not going to chase themselves."  - David duChemin

The Purpose

In the previous post I briefly discussed the evolution of my interest in photography, how I've become enamored with the idea of taking fewer "snapshots" and more "photographs".  What is the purpose of this blog?  I've never had the urge to share my thoughts with the world, to climb up on my soapbox and shout into the wind...  And I certainly don't think that I am a particularly good writer, brilliant photographer, or someone possessing a unique voice in this world of countless blogs...  What I have found, when discussing photography with other "newbies" that I've had the pleasure to meet in the past year or two, is that we all share a common ground of curiosity, discovery, a ton of questions, plenty of discarded shots, countless near misses, and the occasional "damn, that turned out nice" that makes the process of learning all worthwhile... 

So, the purpose of this blog is for me to share my own discoveries and thoughts as I try to become a better photographer.  I'll be sharing thoughts, pointing out books, websites, blogs, etc. that I think are interesting or that have helped me understand photography better, have inspired me, challenged me, pushed me to work harder, think differently, become better...

I may post every day, several times a day, or once a week.  I won't post for the sake of posting, but I will post whenever I come across something that I think is worth sharing.  I can only hope that someone else draws some inspiration or gains a bit of knowledge as this "newbie" shares his journey of discovery...

The Plunge

May 2008. Money burning a hole in my pocket. I'd always enjoyed dragging a camera along when I went fishing, camping, on a vacation. Cheap film cameras, then years of using throwaway cameras. If you drop 'em in the water, drive over 'em, whatever, you're out $5 and a couple of snapshots...

Then, December 1999, my first digital camera. A Polaroid PDC 700. 750k resolution, 16 MB memory card! The snapshots weren't any better than the throwaway cameras (actually, they were worse), but I could take a lot of them. I could get 120 pics on that 16 MB card. Tons of snapshots came, nothing special, but when I hit the road, that brick of a camera came with me.

October 2004 was the first small turning point. I got an Olympus C-765 Ultra-Zoom 4 megapixel camera for my birthday. Now I had access to "dummy modes" - Sports, Landscape, Night, Portrait, etc. Plus, I got my hands on a 2 GB memory card. 500, 600 shots before I had to download them from the card. A lot of snapshots came, and some experimenting as well. Some of my snapshots got a little better, and I started to see some things a little differently. Started to think about things like "framing the subject" or "moving closer." Nothing revolutionary, but just a subtle shift in thinking. I had started buying small accessories for that Olympus when I decided to take the plunge, to take things to the next level (to borrow a sports cliché).

So, back to May 2008. I spent the better part of two months reading about DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras. I wanted to get a "real" camera, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money for what could turn out to be a passing fancy. Thus, after careful consideration, a compromise was reached. I bought a Nikon D-40 that came with a 18-55 mm kit lens. Soon after came a second lens, the 55-200 VR. The D-40 is an entry level DSLR but it has served its purpose beautifully. It has ignited a passion in me that I didn't know was there. Soon I was walking around downtown Anchorage, camping out at Potter's Marsh, braving the cold of a December evening on Turnagain Arm at sunset, all in the pursuit of trying to take fewer "snapshots" and more "photographs." When I hit the road, along came the camera bag. When I hopped on a plane, underneath the seat in front of me went the camera bag.

I started reading all I could about digital photography, bought a couple of books, began following a couple of professional photographer's blogs. Experimenting followed, turning dials, changing settings. Thousands of frames under my belt. A few, I thought, weren't too bad. I started printing the occasional 8 x10, started asking some people whose opinion I trusted for input. Some positive feedback followed, so I pressed on...

So, it's been a little more than two years since I took the plunge, and it's been worth every penny and every minute spent. In July 2010 I had my first Solo Exhibition at Border's Books in Anchorage, and just this past week I got an "Honorable Mention" at the Alaska State Fair in the "Digital Modified Art" category...