In the Field

Foggy Kootenay Sunrise. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. September 8, 2007.

This scene is one I photograph regularly. It's visible from our property in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. I see it almost every day - and it's always a little different. On this early and chilly autumn morning I was presented with a valley-bottom layer of fog, a wispy cloud, and a subtle magenta sky. And, of course, layers of mountains.

I've added this photo to this website because it brings to mind a dilemna I'm always battling: Should I spend my time exploring new photographic "horizons" or should I focus on familiar areas close to home and learn everything I can about their visual nuances (such as exactly when the light is just right, etc.). There's no single answer to this question that will work for everyone. What works for me is to spend the bulk of my time close to home and to continue to study and photograph familiar environments and then venture away to more distant locales two or three times per year. I find this combination helps me hone my eye (by forcing myself to see familiar things in new ways) but keeps me fresh and enthused about photography.

Behind the Camera

Foggy Kootenay Sunrise. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. September 8, 2007.

Digital Capture; Uncompressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D2Xs with with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 400 mm supported on Gitzo 1348 carbon fibre tripod with Wimberley head. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/350s @ f8; -1.0 stop exposure compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Foggy Kootenay Sunrise. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. September 8, 2007.

RAW Conversion to 16 bit TIFF, including first-pass sharpening using Phase One's C1 Pro.

Further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and LightZone 3. Minor tonal adjustments performed in LightZone (using the ToneMapper/Relight tool). Photoshop adjustments included selective application of cooling filter and magenta filter and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Foggy Kootenay Sunrise. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. September 8, 2007.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

This shot was taken in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. While much of the East Kootenays seems quite pristine at first glance, many ecosystems within this region face development pressure, including pressure from logging operations. Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.