Arkansas Wildlife Blog and Gallery
Buffalo National River and NW Arkansas
I am fairly certain that back-lit frost is just about as challenging as anything one might photograph. Add to that a black bluff wall and your metering just goes nuts.
Today I shot over 500 photos and many of them were under these conditions. As hard as it is, the rewards when you occasionally get it right are amazing. I shot these photos under exposed 2/3rds of a stop, aperture priority in RAW.
In post-processing in Photoshop, I ran noise reduction, burned in the frost some, and dodged the elk a bit to bring up the dark details.
The photo to the right is one of those scenes I really like. An affectionate bull is looking over his flock. I was really going for the steaming breath and it took a lot of attempts to get it right. This is a little story of affection by the herd bull. He was making the rounds checking out his little group of cows and calves. Note the cow peeking out under his chin. That was some big exhale.
Today I shot over 500 photos and many of them were under these conditions. As hard as it is, the rewards when you occasionally get it right are amazing. I shot these photos under exposed 2/3rds of a stop, aperture priority in RAW.
In post-processing in Photoshop, I ran noise reduction, burned in the frost some, and dodged the elk a bit to bring up the dark details.
The photo to the right is one of those scenes I really like. An affectionate bull is looking over his flock. I was really going for the steaming breath and it took a lot of attempts to get it right. This is a little story of affection by the herd bull. He was making the rounds checking out his little group of cows and calves. Note the cow peeking out under his chin. That was some big exhale.
Shameless Self-Promotion Department
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
Boxley Valley Update -- 10/29/08
Stuck on You Ponca, Arkansas 10/29/08
Below: Another scene from the series of photos I shot this morning. All backlit, with streamy breath everywhere. I like the rimlit elk. Often you will see frost on their backs on days like this.