Tag Archives: nature

And the Winner Is…

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Boundary Bay Canada Snowy Owl Stare by Jay Goodrich

Heather told me I was crazy. No one was going to be able to guess the location from this last post. Yet the first comment from Robert Levy was pretty close. Then comment after comment got closer and closer. I was in fact in Canada, and in Vancouver earlier that day, but when the image of Jade and I was taken we were in the wetlands of Boundary Bay photographing snowy owls with our friend Art Wolfe. Jade was playing her usual hard to get, but amazingly she managed to sit next to me for close to an hour. Not bad for a six year old. I guess a weird looking white bird that can spin its head around three hundred and sixty degrees can grab the attention of even Princessa.

Reifel Refuge Barred Owl Napping by Photographer Jay Goodrich

Last Monday began in Vancouver, migrated to the Arc’teryx outlet store, then went to the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary where we discovered and photographed a barred owl, and finally finished in the marshes of Boundary Bay photographing snowy owls. Not too bad for a single day across the border. Jade has now traveled out of the United States over five times. Here first trip was when she was 11 months old and discovered that sand on the Caribbean in Mexico was not to be touched by bare feet.

Oh, and the winner…David Clumpner was the first person to successfully guess Boundary Bay. David, if you want to pick an image from our stock site or portfolio site, email that selection with your shipping address to me, we will get a 16 x 24 print out to you in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who commented. We will be thinking of additional ways to give more stuff away in the very near future.

 

E-books on Time and Processing Techniques – Great Gifts for Any Photographer

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I am friends with many professional photographers. Some of them are really famous, while others like myself, are in the process of making names for themselves. The amazing thing that transcends all of them is the fact that none of them believe they know it all and at the same time they are all willing to share the aspects of knowledge that they specialize in. I can actually say that I do not have a friend in the photography world that hasn’t inspired me at one point or another.

I have been traveling for a ridiculous amount of time. Pretty much non-stop since September. While this allows me very little time in the office it does afford me some time on airplanes and in hotels. Instead of sitting there and losing my mind, I tend to work my butt off. One of my missions is always to learn more and figure out how to implement what I have learned into my professional career and business. On a recent Alaska Air flight I managed to read two great e-books by two of my well respected friends and photographers.

Creative Processing Techniques in Nature Photography Cover

The first book is Creative Processing Techniques in Nature Photography by Guy Tal. As some of you might have read from a previous post, Guy’s first book was a personal favorite of mine explaining concepts and ideas that I didn’t even understand in a clear and concise way. Creative Processing Techniques continues Guy’s search for excellence. His images and writings connect the very place in which he lives to the very being of his existence. I understand why he is so successful at what he does because his surroundings give him the driving force and inspiration to do so.

Creative Processing Techniques not only explains how computer image processing works, but it dives into the often forgotten why. Guy defines why he uses one technique over another and suggests that you the reader define your personal goals for your images prior to even opening a photograph in Lightroom or Photoshop. Every chapter is followed by an exercise that will help you understand what was previously written about on your own. He also includes an extensive overview of how Photoshop works and how it is an integral part of his image making process. He walks you through using Curves, Saturation, and Layers. This book is packed full of explanations and techniques that not only the beginner, but the seasoned pro can benefit from, and like his previous book, I learned something–a new way to blend two different exposure valued images.

Photographing the 4th Dimension--Time Cover

The second book is by Jim Goldstein entitled Photographing the 4th Dimension–Time. Jim is one of the most intelligent people that I know. He not only understands the creative side of photography, but he truly grasps the technical side as well. I guess that is why I email him every time I need advice on social media and the way the web works in regards to photography. I was in California during my travels this fall and made some time one evening to have dinner with Jim in San Francisco. During dinner he told me about the book he was working on. It was one of those situations where my jaw dropped and the straw to my margarita fell out of my mouth. Now why didn’t I think of that great idea? Because Jay, you are a dumbass.

Photographing the 4th Dimension not only explains the techniques in a simple vocabulary, but it explains how the human perception of time works. The how-to for star trails, time-lapse, and a technique that I have never even heard of–Cinemagraphs are covered with great detail. Cinemagraphs are a way of using Photoshop to illustrate a motion sequence within a still photograph. Really cool. Jim’s book also gave me a script for a technique that I am currently using to create star trails. This is going to help me speed up the process of creating those images ten fold now. The last two pages of the book include a folding field checklist that you can print and take with you to make sure you remember everything while you are out in the wilds at night. Yet again, life made easier by reading.

I am hoping that you have yet to purchase a holiday gift for yourself or someone you know because both of these e-books will keep your bank account full while giving you the knowledge to take your photography skills to the next level. Again, beginner through pro there is something here for each and every one of us to utilize.

Well, what are you waiting for…begin downloading.

Duality – China

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Shanghai China at Night by Jay Goodrich

There is this heavy metal band that I listen to on a regular basis named Slipknot and they have a song titled “Duality”. This song alternates between the heavy metal that most would dub “noise” and a calmer, completely comprehendible singing, hence the name. I have been thinking of this song for most of the last thirteen days of my travels throughout China. There is a capitalist economy here where people shop at malls purchasing name brands like Chanel, Fendi, and believe it or not Mercedes, while outside of the mall there are tribes people selling their homemade wears. This place is bordering on the bizarre. Beautiful, natural places are engineered to highlight the most spectacular viewpoints, which are then packed with…well one billion Chinese. I finally found a place in the world where the traffic is worse than Seattle. I know, I know, there are tons of places like that, but I am here now.

Huang Shan China at Sunset by Jay Goodrich

In the same breath, I love and completely hate this place. Experiencing another culture is always amazing and the trip has been just that-an experience. We started in Shanghai studying and photographing the amazing modern architecture that seems to transform before your eyes. Things change very quickly here, I guess when you have so many people willing to put forth an effort, change is inevitable. Then we headed for Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain) that holds an almost indescribable beauty, which is ruined by the cigarette smoke of tens of thousands daily visitors. With all those people comes tremendous ingenuity too, which has allowed me to visit stunning viewpoints with a network of walkways and trails that highlight the best surrounding stone features.

The Walkways of Huang Shan China by Jay Goodrich

Then on to the rice terraces near Yuang Yang, a place whose history dates back thousands of years. There are 6000 foot peaks completely terraced out for crop growing. This creates some of the most dramatic, abstract, reflective landscapes out there. Again, with areas constructed to take advantage of the best viewing platforms that are again, shared with a billion Chinese photographers. Nature has never felt so crowded? God I can only imagine what this place was like twenty or thirty years ago. I did experience a local market here too which had me filling flash cards like no tomorrow.

People Walking Near the Bund in Shanghai by Jay Goodrich

I definitely fought the same red pill and green pill decision that Neo had make in the first episode of the Matrix when I decided to travel to China. I honestly had mixed emotions, mainly because of the 17 day trip away from my family. The positive side of this is that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I am experiencing that first hand right now. God I would kill for a turkey burger from Larkburger in Edwards, Colorado with a 5 dolla’ strawberry milkshake. “That is pretty good fuckin’ shake,” and worth every penny too. Yes, that does mean the food leaves a lot to be desired. That was the other thing I heard from those who have come before me. “Good luck, the food sucks.” I have now had six good meals in thirteen days of breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is what it is I guess. Luckily I had the brain power to pack enough ProBars to last the entire trip. A little taste of home in a not so homey place.

Rice Terraces in Yuang Yuan China by Jay Goodrich

There is a drive to push China past the 21st century, but even with all their technological advances there is an uber wealthy class followed by a completely poverty stricken class. You can be staying in the nicest, cleanest hotel in the dirtiest city, eating the worst food, and meeting the most interesting people, while putting up with twenty chain smokers, drinking the best beer, riding in the slowest bus, watching the most modern freighter pass you heading up river, while getting cursed out by a local tribes person for taking their photo, while their neighbor invites you in for tea, as you fill up the last flash card in your camera pack, before trying to fall asleep on a mattress made of solid wood.

The Rice Terraces of Yuang Yuan China at Sunrise by Jay Goodrich

Now I am riding in our tour bus for ten hours to get on a plane for two more additional hours to Guilin to explore the Li River area. This is where my friend and co-leader Art Wolfe photographed his popular “Night Fishermen” image. I have decided I am going to copy that shot, because I have brainwashed him into thinking it would be a good idea. I am wondering how this area will be perceived by me? Probably not much different than everything so far–Duality.

  • Powder Skiing by Jay Goodrich

    Mark Kogelmann makes some powder turns in the backcountry near Mt Herman.

Work–Workshops–and Travel

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Many of you have been wondering where the heck I have been. It has been how many weeks since my last post? I know, I know, inconsistency is not good for Google, SEO, PPO, CPS, NPS, LLC, INC, and whatever other abbreviations you can come up with. Seriously though, I have been working like a crazy man. 21 days of photographing skiing, 14 days of teaching workshops, and then image mastering–tons of mastering, keywording, descriptions, titles, and headlines. And let’s not forget the proposals for upcoming projects. Days are just flying by, I can’t believe it’s almost April?

I have put together submissions to Patagonia, Powder Magazine, Black Diamond Equipment, and a major calendar company. I taught a workshop with my dear friend Art Wolfe in Seattle on the art of composing images, then I taught two HDR workshops at this year’s NANPA Summit in McAllen, TX, and the whole time in-between working to create the best ski portfolio ever. This is where I need to add a special thank you to all of the athletes who have been working with me–Mark Kogelmann, Owen Dudley, Peder Bottheim, Tyler Hatcher, Nick Marvic, Colin Poff, Pat Tolton, and Ian Burge. The images would be nothing without them. Now, I would also like to thank the Academy…I think it just feels good to complete missions and projects. It’s like adding another notch to the bedpost. Or something like that. Laugh. Oh and there will be a film highlighting all this work sometime this spring, with an interview with ah…me. We are thinking of calling it life | SENTENCES, what do you think?

I have been to Seattle, Texas, Canada, and now as you read this China. Yep, JG Inc. is going international–again, this time crossing the monster pond. If I can sort out an internet connection while there, (which I am hoping I can do) I will post some of the work I am creating while there.

As if that wasn’t enough, l have managed to fill all but 2 of my workshops. China–FULL, The Olympic Peninsula–FULL, Zion–FULL, Lightroom 3–space left, and Alaska–space left. The Alaska trip is being co-lead with Art Wolfe, so why wouldn’t you want to go? I mean it is not everyday that you get to drink really good Tequila and Bourbon with really good photographers. Right? And in the future, I promise to try and enlighten the world at least once a week with something intriguing, if not, it will at least be completely off the wall, humorous, and as misdirected as a Jack Russell Terrier.

  • Fir Silhouetted Sunset Colorado by Jay Goodrich

    Fir tree is silhouetted against a crimson red sunset sky in Colorado.

The Valley

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I took my dog for a walk tonight, as I do almost every night, on a trail that we’ve walked probably a hundred times. Tonight was different. There was a crispness to the air. Winter was on its way. The grasses were tall. Dry. Sidney closed his eyes as his face pushed them out of his way. He was a big dog. 100 pounds. A malamute and as ornery as they get. He was not one to mess with. I was safe no matter what, even if that bear was back. We walked for miles and miles. Up over the rock outcropping. Into the forest. Douglas fir and Colorado Blue Spruce surrounded us. Many turning brown from the beetles. We ducked through their branches. We crossed the streams that were now slivers of water. All of last year’s snow gone. Evaporated in the dry mountain air.

The flowers were dry and gone too. Not even a lone soldier at this point. The aspens were beginning to change. I love this time of year. It is a point where color finally returns to the valley. Every thing cooked from the long, hot, dry, summer. Soon though. Soon I would be in splendor. With camera in hand at every dog walking, on every hike. I would get up before the sun and sleep well after its journey through the sky. Work? Funny.

Farther and Farther up. We see an elk. Just a cow. Higher still. The cars and the houses are beginning to shrink. Tinier and tinier. Sidney’s heart keeps pulling me. His life is about the tow. I oblige. Less work higher up. The valley is beginning to unfold before us. The sky speckled with soft puffy clouds. The remainder of the heat of the day. They too will dissipate as the sun folds once again. We reach the out cropping. An overhanging piece of sandstone, deep maroon in color. Lime green lichen clinging to it. I sit and over look the valley before me. Sid lays by my side, paw extended. The hand grasp to the chest. Nothing beats a little attention in the late afternoon. The sun is approaching the horizon warming our faces. A breeze send chills down the spine. Goosebumps all over. The clouds are beginning to change–white, to yellow. Sid sniffs the air. Unseen creatures. I am safe.

The surrounding peaks turn golden with intermittent shadows. If only had a…The sun heads for other worlds. The sky now yellow and then the catapult. Hyperdrive to orange, pink, red, purple, blue, grey, then back to white as the sun leaves us for another day. I revel in it. The last light. We sit. It’s almost dark. We watch the cars turn their lights on well below us. The grasses drift ever so softly in the breeze. There’s a crinkle and a cracking as they touch each other. Soon there will be snow. Soon it will be different. Now the air begins to cool as the light drifts away. I stand. Scan the valley on more time. Sid’s bright blue eyes gaze up. Not a blink in sight. I look down. As if he read my mind. Up. We start to walk back home. Ah, the valley.

  • Sunset Over Martha's Beach by Jay Goodrich

    The crimson red of a late evening sunset over Martha's Beach highlights the turning on of lights in residents houses across the water.

February 2010 Photo of the Month

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I have had a really good week. Colleague John O’Conner inspired me with a few super simple image compositions that he posted to his facebook page. I drew more inspiration from a video of urban trials rider Danny MacAskill. And, was able to witness an amazing light display at my own private beach that allowed me to utilize everything I learned – hint go to my facebook page. I was going to post the beach image that I had on facebook earlier this week as the photo of the month, but I figured it was out in the world already, so why not something new. This month’s photo was taken from the same location. For what ever reason, the sun always seems to come out right around sunset, it doesn’t matter if it is howling, pouring, or foggy and overcast. This is really good for me because I love to take the kids and the dog down there to explore – with my camera of course. The evening pictured here was standard operating proceedure –  it rained all day and then bam, magic. That is the beauty of nature, it is ever changing. This image was captured with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, Singh-Ray 3-stop Daryl Benson reverse grad filter.

All of these positive events have generated a new idea – the experience. A new category on this blog beginning Tuesday. You will have to wait until then to find out more.

One more – I just realized that Singh-Ray has posted an article by me on their blog. Let me know what you think. They used this image as their lead-in.

  • Mount Moran in Spring by Jay Goodrich

    Mount Moran at Sunrise with clearing storm and clouds in Grand Teton National Park Wyoming.

A New Year’s Post – Resisting is Futile

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I have taken close to a hundred black and white images in 20 years of photographing. Yep, 100. That is it. I don’t even think it’s a recognizable percent of my total images to date. My old excuse was that I didn’t want to house another film in a fridge that was already packed with Velvia, Provia, and some straggling Kodak packages. An excuse which has been busted for five years now – the timeframe I have been shooting with a digital camera. So what’s the deal? Am I one of those guys who scoffs at imagery with a lack of color? Am I ignoring all of the founders of modern photography? Did Ansel Adams’ son steal my girlfriend in high school? I think I am a little bit of a creative? Or am I? Can I not walk my talk? What’s my major malfunction? Maybe I am a stubborn shit who thinks color is the nectar of the gods, and believes that you can have my saturation slider when you pull it from my cold dead fingers?

Without being able to come up with a viable reason as to why. I have decided to throw caution into the wind and “Go for it”. “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” As Clark Griswald stated in the movie Vacation, just before jumping into the pool with Christi Brinkley. Do you hear the tires screeching to a hault? Well maybe I shouldn’t take it that far. My wife reads this thing from time to time you know.

Resisting is futile. Like a two finger glass of Don Julio 1942, once it hits your lips…It’s 2010 now. Next item up for bid is a…brand new desaturated image, make that 101 baby.

  • Deception Pass Sunset Washington by Jay Goodrich

    A clearing winter storm over the western waters of Deception Pass State Park in Washington State.

December 2009 Photo of the Month

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Last week the rain that we have been engulfed in for over six weeks just decided to up and clear one afternoon. I was so shocked that I almost didn’t grab my camera and head out. I was “too busy working on the computer”,”in a van, down by the river” and did not want to leave. I swear I was on drugs or something, again. I should have learned my lesson a week prior when I led a private workshop student out into the rain forest of all places, during what else-a crazy rain storm to shoot, and the images that we returned with were pretty stunning. Maybe one day I will get the hang of this stuff? Probably not, it is just like trying to be a good husband, no matter how hard I try, that crazy side of my man brain always clouds my judgement and I do exactly what I shouldn’t. Isn’t the first step to fixing a problem, actually realizing that you have a problem? Well honey, I am almost there. It took me 13 years to get to here, so maybe in another 13 I will achieve the next level of my manhood.

All joking aside, I decided to head out to a state park that is about 13 miles from my house, as the crow flies it would be about 3 miles. And if you calculate in the lovely Washington traffic, it only took about 2 hours to get there. Yes, I almost missed it! I am joking about the traffic, it was only an hour. Yes, still joking. I shouldn’t have had all of that coffee today. Those of you who know me best, know that I never touch the stuff. Used to never touch the stuff-double shot mochas are now my favorite. It’s like throwing jet fuel on a bonfire. Sorry, enough of this train-of-thought stuff.

I went out to Deception Pass State Park in Anacortes, Washington. I remember when Heather and I went there for the first time, we were wondering why there would be a mountain pass by us? We quickly realized that “passes” near the ocean are for water and not the easy way through a mountain range. I figured last week was a good time to give this place a try during a sunset and it was SPECTACULAR! There are two bridges that travel between the water passages and you can walk across both of them and underneath them for that matter. I hit it just right, the tide was on it’s way out and I was able to capture these spiraling whirl pools that were being created by the moving water. The fact that the sunset was amazing didn’t hurt either. This image was created with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm f2.8 II lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, a Singh-Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter, and a Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer. Mastered as always in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Bjarke Ingles-Architect and Naturlist

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Some of you have noticed that I have not been adding content here for quite a while now. Well, I have been offline for a bit, traveling, working, and in general living like a caveman with the basics of fire and shelter-stay tuned for more on that in some up coming posts. Some of you also know that a main staple of my income is generated from commercially driven architecture photography. Many people ask me, “How does a nature photographer cope with the seemingly opposite professions, capturing images of nature that make a statement for its rescue, while also shooting structure imagery that shows nature being turned into something that is man-made?”

Let’s begin with the fact that I was an architect and a builder for close to two decades before actually realizing my dream of becoming a photographer. I have been responsible for the design of close to 50 projects, over half of which I personally built. The design and construction industry do not have to be professions that are against nature, they can peacefully coincide with and actually create nature as Bjarke Ingles demonstrates in the above TED video. When I was building, I always made a point to recycle as much material on a job site as possible and create a home that utilized as few natural resources as possible.

Now as a photographer, I recycle everything in my home and office, as well as live and work from a home that is set up to use less water, gas, electricity and is insulated extensively to eliminate heat loss and gain. I am also looking to work with clients that have those same ideals in mind. I have a client right now who is producing wood products for houses that are completely recycled from the downed beetle kill forests surrounding Vail, Colorado. We need to proceed with our lives and careers with a thought process that allows us to save, recycle, and generate nature. If we do and think in that manner for multiple aspects our planet will grow more profitable then ever imagined.

I love to see people like Bjarke pushing the boundaries when it comes to work. In the video he discusses how every idea leads to another idea and that nothing is ever thrown away. This is a great way to succeed as any creative individual, I don’t care what profession you working in, architecture, graphic design, photography, painting, etc. The more you expose your mind too, the more successful your creative journey will become and the more you will build on your past.