The Story behind the Camera

 

 Snow Tree at La Madre Springs

During the month of June, 2012, Reno Open Studios is featuring a preview of the 2012 visual artists with an exhibit at the Truckee Meadows Community College Main Art Gallery beginning on June 1st, through June 25th.  The art work that I selected for the exhibit is entitled "Snow Tree at La Madre Springs".  Since I have been asked many times how I got this photo, I decided to give some background information in this blog post.

The weather always seems to take a turn for the worst over Thanksgiving weekend out here in the Southwestern U.S.  And this was sure the case when I happened upon the image that I named the Snow Tree at La Madre Springs.  I was living on the west side of Las Vegas which was just a quick drive from the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area when I noticed dark, moisture laden clouds moving in over the Spring Mountains.  I grabbed my camera gear and rushed out for possible photos. 

It had been snowing at the higher elevations of Red Rock Canyon and the patterns on the cacti made for nice macro photos. I was using a Nikon 50mm macro lens when I saw the outline of the bare trunk of an old dead piñon pine in the distance.  A number of factors were involved which forced my decision to take the landscape scene with the macro lens.  Heavy, dark clouds were moving in fast, it was snowing harder and I had wandered a good distance from my other camera gear in the Jeep.  Realizing that I had just seconds to capture the image, I clicked the shutter with an aperture of f/5.6.  I was allowed just two frames before it became so dark I could hardly find my way back to the safety of my vehicle. 

When the film was processed and I saw the one frame that turned out well, I was both delighted and surprised at the outcome.  The snow was accenting the outline of the tree and the shutter speed just happened to be fast enough to freeze the action of the falling snow but also create a blurred, Monet effect. 

For more information on Reno Open Studios Preview Exhibit:

 http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2012/06/tmcc-main-art-gallery-reception-for.html

"Snow Tree at La Madre Springs" is available for purchase, please visit my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/CUSTOM/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10_11&products_id=85

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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.

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TMCC Main Art Gallery Reception for Reno Open Studios

Meet the Artists at the Preview Exhibit

The art season in Reno is just about ready to move in to high gear and to kick start the events Reno Open Studios is featuring a preview of the 2012 visual artists with an exhibit at the Truckee Meadows Community College Main Art Gallery beginning on June 1st, through June 25th.  There will be an open reception on June 20th. from 5 to 8 p.m.  Everyone is invited!

"Snow Tree at La Madre Springs" is my selection for the exhibit at the TMCC Main Art Gallery:  The 18"X24" limited edition Ilford Colorluxe Photographic Print is framed with Fleckstone finish, picture quality glass, multi-layer matte, gray suede wrap, and wood fillet.  Asking price as shown, $775.00. 

Reno Open Studios, aligned with Art Touring,  is comprised of the top visual artists from Northwestern Nevada who open their studios on September 7-9th to the public for demonstrations and educational opportunities about their various creative processes, including ceramics, glass blowing, gourd art, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, printmaking, sculpture, weaving, and wood turning.  The most exciting part is that original art is available for purchase right from each individual artist. 

Along with promoting the artists, Reno Open Studios also provides a college scholarship through a raffle of donated original art works by the 45 participating artists.  More information will be posted featuring my donated photograph with additional information in a later blog. 

For additional information on Reno Open Studios:

 www.RenoOpenStudios.com. 

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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.

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Photography in Weather Extremes

 Worse Weather Makes for Good Photographs

I was commenting on a photo that I recently saw on Facebook where the wind was blowing so hard that the photographer had to take the photo from inside her car.  The photo was a scene of a beach on the east coast that was accented with snow, waves were crashing to shore and dark clouds hung overhead.  This gave me inspiration for a new blog topic, since a number of my most popular photos were taken during some of the worse weather.  

I have always been a weather watcher and growing up in the southern U.S., I've seen my share of interesting types.   The trick with photography is to use adverse weather to enhance the scene while keeping yourself and the camera safe and out of harm's way.  

One of my first adverse weather photos was "Snow Tree at La Madre Springs".  It was during Thanksgiving weekend and a major winter storm brought cold temperatures, rain and snow to the Las Vegas Valley.  I ventured out to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation area for photos.  When I turned on the La Madre trail to get some macro photos of cacti in the snow, I noticed the trunk of a bare tree standing out in the distance.  I decided to take my chances with the macro lens and managed to get two exposures before the low clouds covered the outline of the tree.  My shutter speed just happened to be fast enough to catch the falling snow and create a Monet effect. 

Cold weather can be a very harsh extreme for photography and so can the heat.  I was at White Sands National Monument in June to get a sunrise and even in the early morning hours there was no relief from the blistering heat.  Hiking up and down on the white sand dunes became a major chore, but when I noticed the pyramid shaped dune with the setting moon I had to get closer for a better camera angle.  My effort was rewarded with one of my most popular photographs, the "Morning Moon".

I love the rain and enjoy being out in it, however moisture is not good for the camera.  For this reason, I always carry plastic bags to protect my equipment.  During one of my autumn photo shoots in Zion National Park, I noticed the trees in the picnic area with the leaves covering the ground.  There was a mist in the air and I had just taken a few exposures when the rain started pouring down.  Grabbing my camera and tripod, I managed to get back to my truck without getting soaked!

Lightning has always fascinated me and even more so when it occurs in the desert.  When I saw thunder cells develop over the near by Spring Mountains in the early evening, I decided to go out and take my chances on filming some strikes.  I positioned the camera and tripod next to my truck door just in case I needed to quickly jump in.  Luck was with me when I got a two minute exposure in the photo titled "Summer Storm", right before the storm moved in my direction.   

El Nino can bring a lot of rain to the southwestern desert. That January, the weather had been exceptionally cold and wet.  One morning, I received an early call from the ranger station in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation area that there was a huge waterfall flowing at Lost Creek Canyon from the rain and snow melt and they did not know how long it would last.  Rushing out with camera in tow, I made the 400 meter hike, scrambling over the rocks and cold frosty trail as fast as possible.  Setting my camera and tripod in the water at a low angle, I was able to slow the fast moving "Waterfall at Lost Creek" to a gentle flowing stream. 

 

As soon as I heard that the last full moon of the 20th Century would also fall on the Winter Solstice, I knew that I had to get photos.  Since Red Rock Canyon has always been one of my favorite places for the full moon, this was where I decided to do the photography.  Well, the best laid plans are always conginent on the fate of the weather and on this special night the winds were forecast to be very strong!  For a low light photo, my shutter speed was going to be slow and more susceptible to camera shake.  After finding the right location, I positioned my truck to block some of the wind while trying to time my shutter release in between the gusts.  

Maybe it's my sense of adventure or love for a challenge, but being out in the elements and getting that once in a lifetime photo makes the effort even more rewarding.  

If you are interested in reading about more of my adventures in weather photography, please check the links below. 

http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2009/07/weather-tales-of-alpine-lake.

http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2010/11/cold-weather-photography.html

http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2009/10/national-weather-service-weather.html

http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2009/03/chasing-rainbows.html

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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.

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