Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Chasing Rainbows

RAINY DAY PHOTOGRAPHY


Spring offers many of the best choices for outdoor photography, whether it is landscape, wildlife or macro. The climate is warmer, days are longer, and nature’s alive with color and activity. The main factor that can spoil an adventure out with the camera is spring rain. We tend to receive more precipitation during the spring season because of the changing weather patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere the weather becomes unstable when warm air flows over landmasses where the air has been cooled from the Polar Regions. This may produce moisture in the form of rain or fog. The jet stream in spring also plays a significant role in the weather, giving us severe, unstable patterns. It is formed when air masses of different temperatures meet, and the greater difference in temperature, the faster the wind velocity inside the jet stream.

 

Where I live, in the Great Basin Desert of the United States, spring rain can create favorable conditions, which add drama and excitement to a photograph. Rich vibrant colors are muted and contrast is made softer, giving a calm or moody feeling to the landscape. Reflections in pools of water or raindrops create mirror images that add interest to the scene.


 Clouds will always enhance a photograph by giving detail to a solid gray sky
or adding patterns to a plain blue sky. 



I’m a fan of rainy weather, so when the clouds move in, I pack up my gear and head out. My major concern in rainy day photography is keeping myself and my equipment dry. I use a waterproof jacket that is large enough to wear it over my camera. If I get wet, I’ll eventually dry; however water is detrimental to cameras. A waterproof backpack cover keeps my camera bag dry from the falling rain and wet surfaces when I set it down to change equipment. A small water absorbent towel tucked in my jacket pocket is handy to wipe away excess moisture. To protect my camera and keep it dry, I use the plastic elastic kitchen lid covers that come in different sizes, and are usually found in the “food storage bag” section of the store. The cover fits snuggly over my camera and if needed, I can poke a hole for the lens to extend through. Shower caps will also work, but they aren’t available in different sizes or as flexible. A lens filter helps to keep out moisture and protects the glass.


The techniques for shooting on rainy days are similar to clear weather photography, with one exception, and that is shutter speed settings. To catch the raindrops in a scene, the shutter speed should be faster than 1/60 a second. At slower speeds, they will either blur or not show up at all.

Out here in the southwestern United States, one moment it is overcast diffused lighting, and then the sky opens with a brilliance of colors. If you happen to be standing with your back to the sun when there is falling rain, you might be rewarded with an elusive rainbow. Rainbows occur when the sun shines in the direction of the raindrops, thereby illuminating them. Since the rainbow will only form opposite the sun, a tip on where to look for one is in the direction of the shadow of your head. In order to see a rainbow, the sunlight must be at angle, less than 42 degrees. When the sun is overhead, the rainbow will form below the horizon and will not be visible to the human eye.



I don’t shoot rainbows any differently than other landscape scenes. With landscapes, I will have the aperture set between f/8 and f/11 for best depth of field. The shutter speed will depend on the available light, and I usually meter toward the sky and away from the dark foreground. In most cases, a wide-angle lens is needed to frame the dome of the rainbow. On all of my rainbow scenes, I have used a Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens. I have also found that polarizing lenses are not needed to bring out the colors. Most of my lenses have sky filters on them and I do not want to expose the lens to the precipitation by changing it.



A gentle rain can enhance the scene with nature’s special effects, but when thunder cells move in, beware. Photographing thunderstorms is very exciting and one of my favorite subjects. I will cover the details on this topic at a later post.




What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!


Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.


 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 




Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall


No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.














Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part III

THE WILD HORSE CONTROVERSY


As inspiring as it is to witness a herd of wild horses enjoying their freedom, it is just as disheartening to hear of the controversy surrounding these majestic creatures.




Many groups consider the present day wild horses as nothing more than feral offspring that were turned out to fend for themselves because they were no longer useful.




Others see the wild horses as nuisances who destroy the fragile desert eco-systems and unlike cattle, provide no benefit to humanity.



However, some researchers are starting to question the theories and documented history of the wild horse. For example, did the horse become entirely extinct in North America, or were there any survivors? Was it the Spanish who brought the horse back to the Americas, or were they returned earlier by the Norsemen or Chinese Explorers? Has the horse always been with some of the Native American tribes as mentioned in their oral histories?




On January 5, 2007, a statement was introduced to the 110th Congress, entitled Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife, by Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. and Patricia M. Fazio, Ph.D., which supports evidence through DNA analysis that the modern horse is genetically equivalent to a horse, that according to fossil records, represented the most recent specimen prior to extinction in North America. In summary, Kirkpatrick and Fazio conclude that native status for wild horses would place these animals, under law, within a new category for management considerations. As a form of wildlife, embedded with wilderness, ancient behavioral patterns, and the morphology and biology of a sensitive prey species, they may finally be released from the “livestock-gone-loose” application.



The future of the wild horse is still uncertain. However, with new scientific methods and research, plus the efforts from a number of preservation and conservation groups, the survival of an American legend is starting to look more promising.



Nevada's Wild Horses
Part III





What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!


Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.


 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 




Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall


No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.














Friday, March 13, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part II

WILD HORSES AT COLD CREEK, NEVADA


The wild horses at Cold Creek enjoy an open area supplied with numerous natural streams, ponds, an abundance of desert grasses and other foliage. Joshua trees and creosote bushes are native to this area, along with an occasional cottonwood tree. Most of the time you can find a number of wild horses grazing close around the creek beds.


Cold Creek is located with in the Toiyabe National Forest, approximately 40 miles north of Las Vegas, and 14 miles west of US-95. Being at a higher elevation than Wilson Tank/Bird Spring, the area has cooler temperatures and gets more snow in the winter.


When I am out in the wild and locate a group of horses, I park my truck at a distance. I then walk quietly with camera on tripod, getting as close as possible, without being noticed, to hide behind a creosote bush. In my photo entitled “Wild Horses at Cold Creek”, the horses had all quenched their thirst and started walking toward me. When they became aware of my presence in the distance, they lined up to investigate what was in the bush ahead. I managed to take one good frame before they turned and started walking around me.

 


I am often asked if I ever feel afraid of the horses when I am out in the desert, and away from my vehicle. Since I normally use an 80-200mm Nikon lens and tripod, I can stay away from the horses, but still be able to frame them up close in the camera. So far, I have never been threatened by any of the horses because I believe that if they are aware of my presence, then I’m too close. However, a few times I have had curious horses come up close to check me out. One time, a foal walked right up and sniffed my hand.




A large number of wild horses in the Cold Creek area have been rounded up and relocated or placed for adoption by Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The reason stated for these round-ups is that the wild horses are so numerous and there is too much competition for food and water source. It is believed that the wild horses are in part responsible for the reduction of many native plant and animal populations, including the Bighorn Sheep.
BLM claims to manage around 42,000 wild horses that roam the Western United States on public lands under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Under this law, wild horses are protected at population levels that ensure a thriving ecological balance.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part II









What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!


Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.


 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 




Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall


No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.














Saturday, March 7, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part I

Wild Horses
at
Wilson Tank, Nevada



Exploring in the Southwestern desert for photo opportunities has always been one of my favorite activities; most times I am rewarded with new sights and interests to frame in the camera. The scene that thrills me the most is to come upon a group of wild horses in one of the colorful red sandstone canyons of Southern Nevada.



What a picturesque sight to see the lead stallion standing out in front with his head held high and ears at attention. Because the lore and attraction of the wild horse is so intriguing, visitors to my state of Nevada often asked me where they could be found. Having spent 25 years in Las Vegas, with much of that time wandering the 4-wheel drive trails throughout the desert, I have become familiar with areas where the wild horses roamed.



Some of my best photographs of the wild horses were taken in Southern Nevada, from 1995 to 1998, when the climate was receiving more moisture from monsoons and El Nino. Conditions were good for the wild horses since the streams were full and vegetation was plentiful.




One of my favorite places for tracking the wild horses was within the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located 17 miles southwest of Las Vegas, the wild horses were free to roam the areas around Wilson Tank and Bird Spring. As the names suggest, both places had natural water sources, plus a wide variety desert grass and foliage that the horses could easily digest. 



These areas offer natural habitats for horses to sustain themselves in the wild. The terrains are open with gentle hills, and have recesses with rock shelters that offer protection from the elements.



In addition to the natural springs, these locations tend to receive moisture from cloud formations.




Joshua trees and creosote bushes grow proficiently, providing camouflage for the horses and shade in the hot summer months. 

To get my photographs, I just had to quietly wait, obscured by one of the tall plants, with camera on tripod and click away. 


At Wilson Tank, on any given day, as many as 10-20 horses, including paints, buckskins and roans would gather for water. Another occasion at Wilson Tank, I was waiting in the shade of a Joshua tree when I heard some noise behind me. I turned around and saw at least seven horses walking slowly in my direction. All I had to do was pivot my camera on the tripod and click the shutter.

Many of the wild horses that roamed the Wilson Tank/Bird Spring area have been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and relocated. Since the wild horses compete for limited water and food resources, evidence from studies by wildlife biologists suggest that the proliferation of wild horses in Nevada is responsible for the destruction of many native plants and animals. Each year, the BLM captures and places a large number of wild horses up for adoption through its National Wild Horse and Burro Program.


Nevada's Wild Horses
Part I









What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!


Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.


 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 




Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall


No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.