Video Blogs are Back!

I've been busy the past few evenings editing my video diaries from my trip to California. I have the first three days ready to go and they are posted below.

Being an artist has its challenges along with its blessings. Being a photo artist meant that my sister had to constantly stop for me to take pictures or shoot video. I felt bad slowing down our various travels the first three days but capturing my vacation and its various elements was really important to me. I am really thankful for Jennifer's understanding, because the pictures turned out nice and the videos have been surprisingly fun.

Days 4-6 were more video-heavy because I was by myself exploring Southern California's high desert and southern coast and only had to worry about slowing down myself!


Here's Day 1-3 for your enjoyment.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

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A Photographer's Lessons

My last few trips have been very photo-heavy and I have taken a few "lumps" along the way to becoming a better photographer. Mistakes can teach if you let them and I badly want to learn. Here are a few things I have discovered lately about photography.

1. Always save your best pre-planned shots for the 25 minutes surrounding sunrise and the 25 minutes after sunset. The lighting and colors at these times cannot be recreated at noontime. I have found in recent weeks that sunlight gets to be too harsh within 30-45 minutes of sunrise to make for great photography. Sleeping in is good... if you don't plan to take photos!
   
2. If you're going to shoot into the sun, be prepared to receive lens flare as a result. I've used a "lens hood" before, which is a little shell that attaches to the end of the lens, and it usually works. Usually.
   
3. Always study the road map before you head out to take photos at a particular place. I set out this morning to capture the sunrise at a wind farm, just outside the refuge. But the highway i thought went straight north towards the farm instead took a surprise left, away from my photo target. By the time I worked my way back towards the wind turbines it was too late and the sun had risen too high.
4. Pick one good photo target per sunrise or sunset. Time is limited and sky color doesn't usually last very long. Also, the time spent traveling can frustrate the wannabe photographer, leading to missed opportunities.
5. Always keep your eyes open for new ways to shoot familiar settings. I saw five or six lake dams this weekend, each one was unique, but who can handle a bunch of boring dam photos? So I worked on zooming in to sections of the dam, changing the camera angle, over and underexposing, and a few other ideas. While I missed more than I hit, it made photographing dams an artistic challenge for me — and a fun one, at that!

More lessons learned as they come up......


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Roughing It

I just got home after spending the weekend at one of my favorite places: the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in SW Oklahoma. Located just northwest of Lawton, the WMNWR (err... Refuge) is a marvel to behold — buffalo and longhorn cattle roaming free between 2000-foot rugged mountains. I pitched a tent for the weekend and "roughed it," cameras in hand as always. I took well over 400 photos in the 48 hours I was there. Here are a few. I'll post video and more pictures later.

-- Brother John

A beautiful waterfall was found off the beaten path in Medicine Park, a small town next to the refuge. This photo was taken at about 9pm with an lengthy exposure, creating so-called "silky water."

I love sunsets not only for the color of the sky but also for the shadows and shades the setting sun creates. Who would've thought that 2,000-plus-foot peaks could rise from the plains of Oklahoma?

Late at night on Quanah Parker Lake. Just because the sun sets doesn't mean the time for beautiful photography has to end! I love shooting at night because of the colors and shades.

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Day 4: Survivorman

A tribute to one of my favorite Discovery Channel shows, Survivorman, and its host Les Stroud. There are just a few differences, however...

(I guess another part of "growing young" is having fun!)

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Day 4: A Video Blog

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Well, I'm finally back in North Texas -- just in time to go on another adventure! This afternoon I am headed to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma, for a three-day solo camping trip. Of course, I plan to take along my cameras with me and document the whole thing. It should be fun. I love the history, eccentricities, and geography of the Refuge.

But for today I have posted my first offering of video blogs (not the first one I did, however) from my California trip. Monday morning, August 3rd, I traveled an hour west of Riverside to the Coachella Valley area, where Palm Springs and the San Andreas Fault meet. It's a beautiful, yet very arid place. This blog was about the sunrise. I'll post more blogs when I have time to edit.

Enjoy!

-- Brother John

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