Patagonia, here I come!

Flying out today to an Ian Plant workshop in Patagonia...this will consist of two weeks of shooting in Argentina and Chile at the National Parks.  I have always wanted to see Fitz Roy and finally will have that chance.  The lens selection has been driving me crazy:  was only bringing three lenses but now it has increased to five..had to have the fisheye..you never know what can happen with that lens...Was originally leaving my 17-40mm behind and taking the 24-105mm but I love the wide angle lens..it is my favorite lens;  a 7mm gap doesn't seem like much between 17 and 24 but it makes a big difference in images..at least to me it does.
Hoping for great light and fascinating skies..that's all I want...is that asking too much?

new lens: Canon 24-105mm L IS

This image was taken with my new Canon 24-105mm lens...I had read varying reviews about this lens...I was hesitant to purchase it after finding that some photographers said it was soft and had some barrel distortion...this is a test image taken at a brook behind my house:  this was shot at max extension of 105mm.  I am very pleased with the clarity of this lens; the results at 24mm were also excellent. Using a Cokin P filter holder presents a problem at 24mm with vignetting of the corners...but it is something I can correct with Photoshop.
The reason I purchased this lens was simple:  traveling.  I usually take my 17-40 and 24-70 with me along with the 70-300 or 70-400 but if I can leave the first two lenses at home and just take two it would be much lighter in my backpack. I'm not getting any younger and carrying three lenses plus my little Fisheye is tough in the mountains.
I will be taking this lens with me to Patagonia next month after a thorough test beforehand...but so far,  it seems to be just what I need.

December already?

This is a mirror image made using a technique learned in an Andre Gallant seminar. There isn't much to shoot around here outside until we get a little snow:  the trees are bare and drab in December.  Will have to go down to coast some evening.
The image above was taken using the Canon 100mm macro lens on  Canon 5DII.

Andre Gallant seminar

                            These two images are the result of attending a seminar by Andre Gallant. His creative techniques are liberating to me as a photographer...because of his dreamscape, panning, and moonlight dreamscape techniques, my work has suddenly become more fun and exciting. Viewing his creative images changes my whole point of view about photography...now it is fun for me to combine images using textures with amazing results and some failures...but the challenge of pushing my creative envelope is never dull...I highly recommend anyone with the ability to attend one of his presentations to not hesitate;  it will open doors in your mind.

November beginnings

Here are two images taken the other day...the left one is a pattern shot; the right is about light and shadow...I used a softening filter on the grasses to blur them a little and give it a more abstract feel...these were taken on my morning walks with Ralph; although, now that it is shotgun season for deer, I have to be cautious and walk a little later in the day...

Coastal Oregon

Here is an image from Bandon Beach taken at sunset...there were some great opportunities on that beach, but also a lot of people...it was hard to find a composition that didn't involve someone in the shot.  The Oregon coast was not what I expected;  it is very congested along the coast highway:  the only place that was really beautiful was Ecola state park..rainforest and pristine views...but photography is what you make of it and sometimes it involves a lot of work to find a composition...used the Singh-ray blue/gold polarizer at times with varied results. The blue image was taken with the polarizer.