tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36627989278185375102024-03-18T20:29:41.714-07:00Dustin Wong PhotographyDustin Wong's Fine Art Photography, Blog, Milky Way, Night Sky, Nature Landscapes, Photoshop Workshops, Tutorials, Prints, LicensingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-76699920450359717022016-04-23T09:37:00.000-07:002016-08-19T17:18:09.690-07:00Top 7 Dreamlike Landscape Photography Tips
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-9McmGbZ/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-9McmGbZ/3/M/Boardman%20Tree%20Farm%20-%20Trees%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" alt="Abstract photo of trees in oregon"></a>
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Through my photography work I aim to convey a sense of wonder and respect for nature, and I was recently asked by ViewBug to provide some tips on how to create dreamy landscape images. While I do often incorporate a sense of mystery or fantasy in my images, I prefer to stay grounded in reality while pushing the limits of creative post processing. Landscape photography has allowed me to explore the way nature evolves, grows, and adapts; I hope it is able to do that for you too. Without further adieu, here are the tips for creating dreamy landscape images:
<h2>1. Wait For The Light</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-DrFsk2j/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-DrFsk2j/0/L/Arizona%20Three%20Sisters%20Barrel%20Cactus%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Night photograph of barrel and cholla cactus in arizona superstition mountains"></a>
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Fine art landscape photography is all about capturing beautiful light in a scenic location. Photographing a stunning landscape in harsh light will unlikely yield a dreamy looking shot no matter how much post processing one knows. The light during golden hour, blue hour, and twilight is best for this. Often this means getting there earlier and staying later when most people are not around.
<h2>2. Have Everything Tack Sharp</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-FnRMD4v/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-FnRMD4v/3/L/Smith%20Rock%20River%20Vertical%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of a river and mountains at smith rock oregon"></a>
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This is a general tip for most landscape photography, but it’s worth including here because the details are what really makes the image stand out. Learn how to squeeze every bit of sharpness out of your equipment by learning basics such as shooting with a tripod, cable release, as well as advanced techniques such as maximizing depth of field using <a href="http://bit.ly/hyperfocaldistance"><font color="00aeff">hyperfocal distance</font></a>, and focus stacking.
<h2>3. Capture Periods of Time</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-NHrmNFq/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-NHrmNFq/1/M/Samuel%20Boardman%20Two%20Islands%20Night%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="night sky astrophotography photo of milky way and sea stacks along the oregon coast"></a>
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One of the techniques I love is using long exposures to capture extended periods of time, and compress it into a single image. A long exposure is beyond what is seen by the normal eye, so it has a sense of mystery and fantasy. I shoot a lot with a circular polarizer to enhance colors and cut reflections, but also this cuts down some light, making longer exposures possible. When I need to cut more light out I use neutral density filters. I recommend at least a 3 stop ND filter. Be aware that a 10 stop ND filter will allow you to take long exposures during the brighter parts of the day, but you probably won’t be able to see enough to focus or compose your shot with it on. I will also shoot well after the sun has dropped below the horizon when light levels are low and exposures times are extended.
<h2>4. Use the Orton Effect</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-h5Fb9K4/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-h5Fb9K4/0/L/Glacier%20St%20Marys%20Falls%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" alt="Photo of st. mary's falls, a waterfall in glacier national park montana"></a>
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If you haven’t heard of the orton effect, you’ve probably seen in used in images and not known it. It’s a technique in post processing that blurs the image slightly and adds contrast. This has the effect of making things appear to glow. It is very handy to create a dreamy look. There are many resources out there on how to do this in post processing. If you do start using orton, remember, less is more. Stay classy.
<h2>5. Travel to Interesting Places</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-887GGbL/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-887GGbL/0/L/Norway%20Horsebend%20Area%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of lofoten, norway, mountains, grass, stream water"></a>
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This one is challenging but also a bit obvious. This planet has so many fascinating natural phenomenons that feel like they cannot exist, but they do. So go take a trip and experience them for yourself. One of the best things about being passionate about landscape photography is that it naturally leads one to amazing places. It’s easier to create a dreamy looking shot when you are standing in front of something that is simply unbelievable.
<h2>6. Shoot in Strange Weather Conditions</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-W7Sv48W/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-W7Sv48W/0/M/Silverton%20Tree%20Dense%20Fog%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Solace"></a>
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Dreams and fantasies are weird, strange and unusual, so why not shoot in strange conditions? The stranger and more unique the better. I seek out interesting weather conditions to photograph, and plan my trips around the weather for this reason. Check the forecasts often and plan accordingly. Don’t be afraid to go in “bad weather” just be prepared and stay safe.
<h2>7. Get In Touch With Your Imagination</h2>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-kR6VWg2/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-kR6VWg2/0/L/Samuel%20Boardman%20Mystic%20Rock%20Night%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Night sky astrophotography of a sea stack along the oregon coast"></a>
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As we grow up we become conditioned by our society and culture, and for many of us this has the effect of stifling our creative imagination. A common theme is imagination is child-like, and to function (and succeed) in this world as adults, one must abandon imagination and instead get serious. This subtle social pressure over time erodes our ability to think wildly and creatively. I encourage you to get back in touch with your inner child and tap that youthful curiosity and playful imagination that all children have.
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If you want learn these techniques in great detail, join Dustin Wong for a seascape <a href="http://bit.ly/OR_Workshop"><font color="00aeff">photography workshop</font></a> down the Oregon Coast in May.
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-80144233985868135532016-02-17T17:25:00.000-08:002016-02-17T17:25:49.767-08:00Achieve Maximum Depth of Field - Understanding Hyperfocal Distance
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-CTs6KHb/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-CTs6KHb/0/M/Boardman%20Tree%20Farm%20-%20Tree%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<h2>Focus: How to Get it Right</h2>
The latest camera sensors and post processing software can compensate for many mistakes we make in the field, but there remains one thing you must nail in the field - Focus.
There are many tips out there to achieve tack sharp focus: put the camera on a tripod, shoot in live mode, shoot with a cable release, and use manual focus. Yet some of us still wonder if there is more... and yes there is!
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Just to make sure we are all on the same page, <b>Depth of Field</b> or <b>Effective Focus Range</b>, refers to the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in the scene that will appear acceptably sharp in an image.
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Beginner advice, states:
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<b>small apertures = large f-stop number = deep (longer) depth of field <br>
large apertures = small f-stop number = shallow (short) depth of field.
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Generally this is fact, but actually lens sharpness falls off at the extreme ends. Image quality is affected when the aperture is closed down (towards f/22) due to light diffracting around the aperture blades. Therefore a more useful understanding of sharpness is that the middle apertures are ideal. <b>On any given lens I try to shoot between f/8.0 and f/11 if I'm trying to get the whole scene tack sharp</b>. There are times where I will stretch that to f/16 but anything farther than that I expect to lose sharpness.
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That still leaves us photographers with the decision of what to set the manual focus to, since lenses can only be set to focus on a single precise distance. Sharpness falls off gradually from the selected focus distance in both directions (near and far, unevenly) so more than just objects at that distance can be acceptably sharp.
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For landscape photographers, often the goal is to create an image that has tack sharp detail in the foreground all the way to the distant background. What is the best strategy to achieve that?
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-b43xsH6/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-b43xsH6/1/M/Redwoods%20Sun%20Rays%20Path%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Redwood Forest, California"></a>
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<i>ISO 100 | 16mm | f/10 | 0.4 sec</i>
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Pacific Redwoods, California
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<h2>What is Hyperfocal Distance</h2>
The key to understanding where to target the manual focus is an optical quality called the hyperfocal distance. For a given focal length and aperture, there is a corresponding hyperfocal distance. When the lens is focused at this distance the maximum depth of field is achieved. The effective depth of field at the hyperfocal distance ranges from <i>half</i> the hyperfocal distance to infinity.
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For example: At 16mm & f/8 the hyperfocal distance is 3.5 feet (this applies to any lens at 16mm). If you were to focus on say a rock that was 3.5 feet away from the front of the lens, then all objects 1.75 feet to infinity would be acceptably sharp.
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<img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-z6xCR7P/0/L/i-z6xCR7P-L.png" alt="">
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<i>16mm | f/8 | focused at 3.5 ft</i>
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One interesting thing to note here is that if you focus closer than the hyperfocal distance than your depth of field will be cut short, not extending to infinity. Continuing the example above, if you focused to 3 feet, your depth of field would be from 1.82 feet to 21.02 feet.
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<img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-S3kJFdX/0/L/i-S3kJFdX-L.png" alt="">
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<i>16mm | f/8 | focused at 3 ft</i>
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If you focused beyond the hyperfocal distance you will still achieve focus out to infinity. Focusing at 4 feet results in a depth of field from 1.87 feet to infinity.
Even focusing at 8 feet results in a depth of field from 2.43 feet to infinity. This means that a <i>safe</i> strategy is to focus a bit beyond the hyperfocal distance. <b>Another way of thinking about it, is that the hyperfocal distance is the closest you can focus before you lose infinity</b>.
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<img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-KNQxNrh/0/L/i-KNQxNrh-L.png" alt="">
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<i>16mm | f/8 | focused at 4 ft</i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The screen shots you see above are taken from the "Depth of Field Calculator" app for the iPhone. I highly recommend this one because it allows you to visualize the range quite clearly. This app (and nearly any other app) allows you to select your camera which will account for crop factor multipliers.
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Alternatively you can use this <a href="http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html"><font color="00aeff">depth of field calculator</font></a> on the web to try out some focal length and aperture combinations.
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<h3>A couple other additional items and highlights:</h3>
- Note that the markings on the lens indicating focus distances are not precise enough to use as a guide.
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- Wide-angle focal lengths will allow you to achieve maximum depth of field on closer objects than a telephoto lens. If you happen to use a telephoto lens to focus on something quite close, your focus distance will be less than the hyperfocal distance and therefore your depth of field will be fairly short (this is also the reason why it is easier to create bokeh with telephoto lenses than with ultra wide angles lenses).
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- Hyperfocal distance is only determined by focal length & aperture.
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- Depth of field is effected by focal length, aperture, AND focus distance.
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- It helps to memorize some focal length and aperture combinations that you use often so that you can be confident in the field you are getting a deep depth of field.
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- Target your focus slightly farther than the hyperfocal distance to make sure you get a depth of field that includes infinity. Extending the focus distance past the hyperfocal distance will only lose a couple of inches of depth of field on the near side. Focusing closer than the hyperfocal distance could drastically reduce your depth of field and disastrously blur distance objects.
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- "Acceptably in focus" is a subjective term and you may be someone who desires incredibly sharp photos (like myself). Since focus falls off gradually from the focus point, this means that the depth of field given by the calculator is too loose. Using the DoFViewer app you can configure a tighter requirement for focus, and you will notice that the hyperfocal distance gets pushed farther out for each focal length and aperture combination.
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<h2>Wait, How Do You Get Objects That Are Super Close In Focus?</h2>
I'm sure you have seen those images that are tack sharp from front to back, but also include an object that is extremely close to the lens. Now that you understand hyperfocal distance, you know that objects closer than a couple feet won't be in focus if you want to focus to infinity. This problem is solved by a technique called focus stacking where several shots are taken at varying focus distances (more are needed at the near end) to get the very close objects sharp. The images are then combined and blended in post processing.
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The photo at the top of this post and also the photo below, both required focus stacking to achieve the depth of field that you see in the final image. In both images, the nearest object was not extremely close to my camera, so I only needed a couple of shots to cover the entire range. However, it is not uncommon for some shots with extremely near objects to require 7 or more focus stacked photos.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-887GGbL/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-887GGbL/0/L/Norway%20Horsebend%20Area%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Lofoten, Norway"></a>
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<i>ISO 100 | 16mm | f/9 | 1/50 sec | 4-shots focus stacked</i>
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Buff & Blue - Lofoten Islands, Norway
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If you found this tutorial helpful please share it with others! If you have any questions please email me or leave a comment! I cover this topic in depth during my workshops; click to learn more about my <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/p/instruction.html"><font color="00aeff">workshop offerings</font></a> and <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/p/instruction.html"><font color="00aeff">instruction</font></a>.
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-88582616697113047612016-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:002016-01-19T10:45:56.287-08:00Oregon Coast Workshop: May 7th - May 14th 2016<h2><a href="http://www.adventuresinlightphotoworkshops.com/oregon-coast-a-coastal-journey-photography-workshop">A Coastal Journey Photography Workshop</a></h2>
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I'm excited to announce that I have teamed up with Joseph Rossbach and the <a href="http://www.adventuresinlightphotoworkshops.com/meet-the-team/"><font color="00aeff">Adventures in Light team</font></a> to offer an Oregon Coast workshop this May. I'm honored to be included on a team with David Thompson, Kurt Budliger, Alex Noriega, and Alex Mody. They are all amazing photographers who have inspired me over the years.
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<a href="http://www.adventuresinlightphotoworkshops.com/oregon-coast-a-coastal-journey-photography-workshop"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-8DpGb59/0/M/Whaleshead%20Beach%20Logs%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Adrift"></a>
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Come join me as we explore hundreds of miles down the 101, photographing dramatic sea stacks, colorful moody skies, and of course Pacific Ocean wave action. If you are interested in the night sky there will be some opportunities for that as well! If seascapes are your thing, look no further than this amazing trip.
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<a href="http://www.adventuresinlightphotoworkshops.com/oregon-coast-a-coastal-journey-photography-workshop"><font color="00aeff">Book Now!</font></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-52148352046099427902015-12-30T21:52:00.000-08:002016-02-06T13:30:42.206-08:00Best of Instagram 2015
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<img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-wkMVd53/0/XL/i-wkMVd53-XL.jpg" alt="">
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Here are my most popular images on Instagram in 2015. I especially had a blast traveling to Norway and exploring the Pacific Northwest!
<h2>Connect Here</h2>
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You can find me <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dustinwongphotography/"><font color="00aeff">@dustinwongphotography</font></a>
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(was previously @natureformspirit)
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-54311265750953438082015-12-07T18:32:00.000-08:002016-02-06T14:09:56.107-08:00The Abundance of the Pacific Northwest Pt 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-b4vbRkp/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-b4vbRkp/1/M/Wyeth%20Ferns%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of ferns and the mossy forest in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon"></a>
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<h2>Great Green Oregon</h2>
Welcome to part 2 of my pacific northwest travel update. This year I got to spend quality time photographing the Pacific Northwest, and my favorite state to photograph to date has been Oregon. This state has so many natural beauties from the coastal areas, mountains, forests, waterfalls, and even deserts - I barely scratched the surface. I found the coast so enjoyable I will be leading a photography workshop there spring of 2016!
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View <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-abundance-of-pacific-northwest-pt-1.html"><font color="00aeff">Part 1</font></a> the best of Washington.
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<h1>The Columbia River Gorge</h1>
The well traveled Columbia River Gorge located just a short drive east of Portland is a waterfall lovers paradise. With several easily accessible majestic waterfalls within a couple miles of road it's no surprise visitors flock here during the summer months. The surrounding forest typically gets so much rain that it is lush and filled with mossy trees and plant life. I've heard stories of many off the beaten path spots that I hope to explore one day. Even though this was my 5th time here, I still felt compelled to hit some of the main spots.
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Years ago while trying to find this spot I mistakenly took the wrong trail. I returned to broken windows in my car and many possessions missing. Don't be careless with your belongings - keep them out of sight. Sadly, Oregon has a history of trail head break-ins such as this. My return this year was much more pleasant, beating the crowds that have begun to visit this spot in droves, probably due to the popularity of the photographs of this pristine spot. The hike in involves walking over large fallen trees a.k.a the log jam, that have gotten stuck in the canyon opening. Then a wade through chest high icy cold water to reach the falls - it's lovely.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-M3V8QGj/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-M3V8QGj/0/M/Oneonta%20Falls%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of Oneonta Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Oneonta Gorge</i>
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Oneonta Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
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On another short trail through the mossy forest one can stumble upon Emerald Falls. A small cascading section of the Gordon creek that often has green foliage popping up all around.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-8XhRxwQ/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-8XhRxwQ/0/L/Wyeth%20-%20Emerald%20Falls%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of Emerald Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Emerald Spring</i>
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Emerald Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
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<h1>The Cascades</h1>
The testament of how awesome this state is that I still haven't made it to the iconic Mount Hood or Trillium Lake, but hopefully I will soon. There are yet more waterfalls in this area, and this one is slightly less traveled than the Columbia River Gorge spots. A very pleasant hike follows the river underneath wooded forest until opening up to the jaw dropping Tamanawas Falls. Water pours over a 150 foot drop in a natural amphitheater made of columnar basalt. I made this trip with Peter Coskun and I remember him telling me that this was his favorite of them all.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-KpGxD6q/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-KpGxD6q/0/L/Tamanawas%20Vertical%20Wide%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of Tamanawas Falls in the Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon"></a>
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<i>The Falls</i>
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Tamanawas Falls, Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
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Abiqua Falls has been on my list to visit mostly due to the "Waterfall Whisperer" Tula Top, who has shot this place like no other. In fact he has shot all the Oregon waterfalls in ways I could only dream of. I could go on an on about how amazing my experience here was, but that would only serve to make this spot more crowded, which would adversely impact the magical experience of solitude at this haven. So don't go it sucks!
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-Gsjn52t/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-Gsjn52t/0/L/Abiqua%20Falls%20Vertical%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of Abiqua Falls, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Harmony</i>
<br>
Abiqua Falls, Oregon
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<h1>Central Oregon</h1>
The next area of the state that is covered with scenic hot spots is Central Oregon. The main city here is Bend, Oregon and is a lovely place to spend a couple of days. Year round outdoor activities draw people and there are too many places to list. Here were some of my favorite images from my time in this outdoor playground.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-J9rnf6k/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-J9rnf6k/2/L/Smith%20Rock%20Ravens%20Nest%20Sunset%20Vertical%20edit%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of sunset at Smith Rock, Oregon"></a>
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<i>The Raven's Nest</i>
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Smith Rock, Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-FnRMD4v/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-FnRMD4v/1/L/Smith%20Rock%20River%20Vertical%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of crooked river at Smith Rock, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Torrent</i>
<br>
Smith Rock, Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-6QGjDtX/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-6QGjDtX/1/M/Proxy%20Falls%20Green%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of Proxy Falls a waterfall in central Oregon"></a>
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<i>Mossy Harmony</i>
<br>
Proxy Falls, Oregon
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<h1>The Oregon Coast</h1>
The Oregon Coast stretches for over 360 miles and runs the entire length of the state. As one would expect for such a large area, there is plenty of diversity. Sea stacks are common up and down the coast, but each region has various types of forest, cliffs, and sand dunes butting up against coastline areas. The north end is very beautiful. Cannon beach, a top beach destination in the country, is a very long beach with several interesting sea stacks visible from shore. It also has highly refined, clean sand making it desirable for just about anybody, photographer or not.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-CvGn54w/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-CvGn54w/1/M/Cannon%20Beach%20Rock%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of sea stacks at Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast"></a>
<br>
<i>Ocean Stone</i>
<br>
Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-f3mhrzK/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-f3mhrzK/0/M/Cannon%20Beach%20Single%20Stack%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of sea stacks at Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Sanctuary</i>
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Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast
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A visit to the coast would not be complete without a stop at the notorious and legendary, Thor's Well, which has knocked photographers flat on their ass, and damaged countless cameras. To get up close to this naturally occurring lave tube, which spews forth water washed up by large waves and drains it at rapid rates, is a bit like tracking bears. Getting too close and falling in would amount to a near certain death. Not all days are crazy, but to get a good shot it often will be a little hair raising.
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The day that I visited, a rising ocean swell of 12 foot faces (6 foot Hawaiian scale) was rolling in on the incoming tide. It was burly! The occasional extra large wave, or set waves, would inevitably wash through and soak us all standing around the well. I would raise the tripod above my head to keep it from getting wet, while trying to keep my footing and balance. One eye on the ocean and one eye through the view finder. This has to be photography at it's most exciting (well shooting an aurora storm is pretty exciting too)! This image is the result of several bracketed shots for dynamic range amidst the chaos that is Thor's Well.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-pDd9pXN/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-pDd9pXN/6/M/Thors%20Well%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of water draining in Thor's Well along the Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Pacific Cauldron</i>
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Thor's Well, Oregon Coast
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Further down the coast the crowds disappear and beaches go on and on. Bandon Beach has very interesting sea stacks including one that looks like a wizard hat. Good shooting conditions were tough to get here though, so return trips will be in my future.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-fSjWnm2/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-fSjWnm2/0/M/Bandon%20Beach%20Sunstar%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of sunset at Wizards Hat at Bandon Beach, Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Wizard's Jewel</i>
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Bandon Beach, Oregon
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This remote southern Oregon beach once again, stretched on for miles. I didn't get more than 100 yards from the parking area before I spotted this rock and waves in the sand. I wanted to explore more the beach, but I just loved this rock that was deflecting wind around it leaving a comet like wake around it.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-V52Hr4L/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-V52Hr4L/0/M/Meyers%20Beach%20That%20Rock%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of rock on Meyers beach, gold beach, along the Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>The Roamer</i>
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Remote Oregon Coast
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The marine layer lit up the sky briefly at another spot along the coast.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-VDGgPv3/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-VDGgPv3/1/M/Meyers%20Beach%20Seastack%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo at sunset of sea stacks on Meyers beach, gold beach, along the Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Radiant</i>
<br>
Remote Oregon Coast
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I could watch the waves wash up on the shore for hours. Anticipating the next pulse, each one slightly different.<p></p>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-F7t4Pqw/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-F7t4Pqw/0/L/waves-L.gif" alt=""></a>
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<i>Current</i>
<br>
Remote Oregon Coast
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-NHrmNFq/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-NHrmNFq/1/M/Samuel%20Boardman%20Two%20Islands%20Night%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of the Oregon coast sea stacks at night"></a>
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<i>Timeless</i>
<br>
Remote Oregon Coast
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-8DpGb59/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-8DpGb59/0/M/Whaleshead%20Beach%20Logs%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of drift wood on whaleshead beach along the Oregon Coast"></a>
<br>
<i>Adrift</i>
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Whaleshead Beach, Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-dJp2fDS/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-dJp2fDS/0/L/Whaleshead%20Beach%20River%20Glow%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of whaleshead beach along the Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Midnight Lights</i>
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Whaleshead Beach, Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-5cstfwF/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-5cstfwF/1/M/Whaleshead%20Beach%20Morning%20Flow%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of waves at whaleshead beach Oregon Coast"></a>
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<i>Myst</i>
<br>
Whaleshead Beach, Oregon
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Thanks for making it this far along my photographic journey, as you can see this part of the country has more places to visit than one can do in just one trip. I really enjoyed my quality time in Oregon this year, and I hope you get to see it yourself soon.
<p></p>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-33708238308548603882015-10-06T16:29:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:14:17.922-08:00The Abundance of the Pacific Northwest - Pt 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-vm6jsv7/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-vm6jsv7/0/M/Liberty%20Bell%20Horizontal%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="photo of liberty bell in Washington state"></a>
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<h2>Lush, Rugged, & Wild - This is Washington</h2>
My intention for 2015 was to spend some quality time photographing the Pacific Northwest. Oregon and Washington, after all, are inhabited with outdoor enthusiasts for good reason. The land is incredibly diverse, having beautiful coastal areas, mountains, forests, waterfalls, and even deserts, and accessibility ranges from very easy to experts only. Staying close to my home base in Seattle was a nice benefit as well. This post will feature the Washington Spots, and look for <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-abundance-of-pacific-northwest-pt-2.html"><font color="00aeff">Part 2</font></a> featuring the best of Oregon.
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<h1>The Washington Coast & Olympic National Park</h1>
The Washington coast is a favorite among locals who have often spent childhood vacations out there. Located over 5 hours away from Seattle by car, or a bit less taking the ferry, it is still quite a trek to get there. The beaches are fairly rugged, sea stacks rise from the sand to create strange structures that are habitats for rugged trees that can lay roots in the precipitous rock.
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One of my favorites was Second Beach, accessed by a short hike in, this hidden gem opens up to a huge area with silky fine sand and large rocks to explore. The forest extends right up to the beach so campers struggle to find space to pitch a tent that won't get washed out by the incoming tide.
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Clear nights are extremely rare along the coast. I was blessed to be able to capture the stars and the Milky Way at this idyllic spot.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-vTF2QDT/A" title="Milky way at second beach Washington Coast"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-vTF2QDT/0/M/Second%20Beach%20Milky%20Way%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Milky way at second beach Washington Coast" alt="Photo of the milky way galaxy stars and night sky at second beach on the Washington Coast"></a>
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<i>The Gift</i>
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Second Beach, Washington Coast
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Another great beach is Ruby Beach with an allure of a simple setting that can be quite dynamic. This image was captured at blue hour, well after the sun had dipped below the horizon. Venus shown brightly even as the last rays of the sun were filtering through the atmosphere.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-hZ6JcGJ/A" title="Venus hangs in the sky during twilight along the Washington Coast"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-hZ6JcGJ/0/M/WA%20Coast%20Ruby%20Beach%20Stars%20HOR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Venus hangs in the sky during twilight along the Washington Coast" alt="Photo of stars and Venus in the night sky ruby beach along the Washington Coast"></a>
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<i>The Siren's Call</i>
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Ruby Beach, Washington Coast
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Venturing inland from Ruby Beach, the legendary Hoh Rainforest awaits. One could do a short hike, or explore 20 miles deep into the wilderness. Moss grows abundantly here, nearly as abundant as the energy and mystery that is present in this land.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/A" title="Hoh Rainforest, washington state Olympic National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/7/M/Olympic%20Hoh%20Tree%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Hoh Rainforest, washington state Olympic National Park" alt="Photo of the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park washington state"></a>
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<i>Enchanted Dimension</i>
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Olympic National Park, Washington
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Along the hike there seem to be things that resembled faces: a gnome like mushroom, and a tree stump with the profile of a lady. I captured this being in our campfire late that night.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Abstracts/i-4skvZg4/A" title="Elemental"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Abstracts/i-4skvZg4/2/M/Olympic%20Fire%20Abstract%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Elemental" alt="photo of an elemental being in fire"></a>
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<i>Elemental</i>
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Olympic National Park, Washington
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One of the pleasant waterfalls in this area is Sol Duc Falls - I remember a simple photo of these falls that I bought at the visitor center years ago. It has served as inspiration to me for many years so I decided I had to go see it for real this time. Nothing fancy here. Just a beautiful cascading flow and a lovely walk through the forest.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-TktPgTg/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-TktPgTg/0/M/Sol%20Duc%20Falls%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of sul duc falls in Olympic National Park, Washington state"></a>
<br>
<i>Sol Duc Falls</i>
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Olympic National Park, Washington
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<h1>Mount Rainier National Park</h1>
This dominant volcanic mountain in the Cascade mountain range can often be seen from Seattle on a clear day. However it's true majestic qualities must be appreciated up close. The park is large and the road basically routes one around the mountain, as if to show off each of its intricate faces. A popular vantage point from the south is Reflection Lake. My time at Rainier was a lot of early mornings and late nights. With sunrise at 5:30am, being in position here meant setting the alarm clock at a brutal 4am.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-X5vjhp4/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-X5vjhp4/0/M/Mt%20Rainier%20Reflection%20Lake%20Sunstar%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of wildflowers and the sun rising at reflection lakes at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington state"></a>
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<i>Reflection Lake</i>
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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
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The mountain has become quite popular for night photographers to get a shot of the milky way and the mountain, and with clear skies showing on the weekend weather forecast, it was sure to be busy. Such is the state of nature photography these days! Another photographer, Victor Poon, who was visiting from Hong Kong, and I kept running into each other around the mountain. It seems we had similar ideas of where to shoot each day. We convinced each other that hiking in to look for a night shot was a good idea so at 1am we were on the trail passing many photographers taking up positions near the parking lot. The hike was worth it and we got there just in time for the alignment (as we had planned). Instead of dealing with massive crowds we shared a spot with four other chill photographers who were shooting a timelapse sequence. The magic of the mountain and the heaven's was in full on display--I couldn't have been happier to share this experience with a small group of photographers.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-fPz8rr8/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-fPz8rr8/0/M/Mt%20Rainier%20Burroughs%20Milky%20Way%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of milky way galaxy, stars, night sky at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington state"></a>
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<i>Heaven's Gate</i>
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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
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Victor and I decided make it an all-nighter and stay for sunrise. We had hiked in to the spot in dark so we didn't really know what the surrounding area looked like. As first light began to fill in we were gifted a most incredible reveal in 360 degrees of the glory that is Mount Rainier National Park.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-9rCqhfx/A" title="Mount Rainier, Washington"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-9rCqhfx/0/M/Mt%20Rainier%20Burroughs%20Morning%20Selfie%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Mount Rainier, Washington" alt="Photo of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington state"></a>
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<i>Burroughs Selfie</i>
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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
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<h1>The Northern Cascades</h1>
The most rugged part of the state is located in the Northern Cascades. Mountains and alpine lakes dominate the scene here, but roads are scarce and trails involve a fair amount of distance and elevation gain. I had driven up here for the night as conditions looked promising. As I neared the location in the afternoon rain clouds began to form which were totally not in the forecast! I arrived to gloomy looking conditions and decided to wait it out the van. I periodically checked outside to see if it was getting better, but it wasn't. At some point near sunset I decided it was time to go out and setup regardless of what it looked like. To my surprise the weather was rapidly changing, a full brilliant rainbow was forming over me! I grabbed all my gear and ran out of the van. I was a flurry of mixed emotions: full of shame for missing this moment sitting inside waiting for the rain to stop, and so excited that this was actually happening! Pumped full of adrenaline and a side order of anxiety flowing through me, I setup at the first spot that looked any good. The scene was so big that I had to go with a pano and reeled of this sequence. I will be back for more from this part of the state for sure!
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-CGbx5sb/A" title="A full rainbow at Liberty Bell"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-CGbx5sb/0/M/Liberty%20Bell%20Rainbow%20Pano%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="A full rainbow at Liberty Bell" alt="Photo of a full rainbow at Liberty Bell in the northern cascades, washington state"></a>
<br>
<i>Once Upon a Time</i>
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The Northern Cascades, Washington
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<h1>The Enchantments</h1>
Each year there is more demand for the amount of permits they offer to camp in the backcountry of the famed Enchantments. My buddy, Fadi, and his lady Reham, were fortunate to secure a lottery backcountry pass and invited Megan and myself along. The pass was for Stuart Zone, which is not ideal for visiting the Core Enchantments Zone because the distance is still formidable for a day hike. I won't bother to go into too much detail about this, but the distance proved too much for our group and we made it halfway up Asgard Pass and turned back. Rounding out the day with 11.5 miles and returning to camp at dusk exhausted.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-SLnhNkW/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-SLnhNkW/0/M/Enchantments%20Asgard%20Pass%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" alt="Photo of hikers on asgard pass overlooking colchuck lake in the enchantments, washington state "></a>
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<i>Half Way Up Asgard Pass</i>
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Enchantments, Washington
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<h1>Panther Creek Falls</h1>
Located at the south end of the state near the Oregon border is the magnificent Panther Falls. A slippery descent drops one into a verdant garden of may apple and moss. The ever flowing water at this location keeps the vegetation healthy and the visitors glistening wet. However with an increase in traffic, much of the plant life is struggling and a muddy mess is starting to form at the base of the falls. If you do visit this location please do be careful where you step as to not damage the plant life any further. This falls unique mossy tendrils make it one of the best waterfalls in the state.
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So there are some of the wonderful places I visited this year! All of my above images are available for prints and licensing. If you enjoyed this post please take the time to share it - it really does means the world to me - much love and gratitude!
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<a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-abundance-of-pacific-northwest-pt-2.html"><font color="00aeff">Part 2 - Great Green Oregon</font></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-95nwPL3/A"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-95nwPL3/0/L/Panther%20Falls%20Pano%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" alt="Photo of Panther Falls, Washington"></a>
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<i>Panther's Claw</i>
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0Washington, USA47.54687159892238 -120.629882812544.793813598922377 -125.7934568125 50.299929598922382 -115.4663088125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-76359736683988257472015-06-27T10:18:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:14:08.959-08:00Cosmic Forces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-StSmfRq/A" title="Phosphorescence"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-StSmfRq/3/M/Norway%20Skagsanden%20Beach%20Aurora%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Phosphorescence" alt="Photo of Aurora Borealis over Skagsanden Beach, Norway"></a>
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<h1>Photographing the Aurora in Norway</h1>
I joined rock star landscape photographers <a href="http://www.lofotentours.com/"><font color="00aeff">Arild Heitmann</font></a> and <a href="http://www.ryandyarphotography.com/"><font color="00aeff">Ryan Dyar</font></a> for their Lofoten & Senja Arctic Workshop/Tour for 10 days in March (<a href="http://www.lofotentours.com"><font color="00aeff">www.lofotentours.com</font></a>). Our group was there primarily to see the aurora borealis (a.k.a the northern lights) and photograph the cosmic spectacle in the majestic setting of the Norwegian Fjords.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-Wh6k76q/A" title="Sunrise at the Bend"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-Wh6k76q/1/M/Norway%20Horseshoe%20Bend%20Sunrise%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Sunrise at the Bend" alt="Photo of a sunrise at a river bend in Norway"></a>
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The Lofoten Islands are an archipelago located within the Arctic Circle around 68 and 69 degrees north latitude--a hot spot for viewing aurora during the winter. The islands consist of rugged mountain peaks that form right up against the shore. Snow melt flows regularly down the mountain peaks so creeks and waterfalls are very common. After countless turns, bridges and tunnels along the one road that traverses the island chain, the landscape continues to impress and left me in awe of how many opportunities exist in this small corner of the world. There are rocky shorelines and soft-sand beaches that nearly always have an impressive view of some snow-covered mountain on the next island. I found it quite unusual to be at a beach where straight offshore another large mountain can be seen. I suspect there are few places on earth where this condition exists.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-9rzCrRW/A" title="Fjord Storm"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-9rzCrRW/0/M/Norway%20Hallstad%20Beach%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Fjord Storm" alt="Photo of a beach and mountain in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
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We arrived at our cabins in the scenic fishing town of Hamnoy just outside of Reine. This quaint fishing town has become world famous for it's photogenic qualities.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Cityscapes/i-sXHnSdR/A" title="Reine, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Cityscapes/i-sXHnSdR/0/M/Norway%20Hamnoy%20Morning%20HOR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Reine, Norway" alt="Reine, Norway"></a>
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The second night we spent the evening at Skagsanden Beach, a well known location with an iconic mountain across the water. The skies were clear and around 9pm we started seeing some mild activity. After an hour the night sky had turned into a full blown spectacle.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-d9M2gPr/A" title="Awash in the Night"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-d9M2gPr/1/L/Norway%20Coastal%20Aurora%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Awash in the Night" alt="Photo of the Aurora Borealis over a rocky beach coast line in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-zBWH5Jj/A" title="Mystique"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-zBWH5Jj/0/L/Norway%20Aurora%20Vulva%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Mystique" alt="Photo of the Aurora Borealis"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-3jtjvGx/A" title="The Magician"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-3jtjvGx/0/L/Norway%20Aurora%20Selfie%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="The Magician" alt="Photo selfie under the Aurora on a beach in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-QfVmCbF/A" title="Cosmic Forces"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-QfVmCbF/0/M/Norway%20Aurora%20Square%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Cosmic Forces" alt="Looking straight up in the heart of the aurora borealis"></a>
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A typical day on the workshop would start early for a sunrise, then back to our cabins for a nap and food. Some days we would scout out a place during the mid day, or just wait until sunset. We followed nature's schedule (constantly checking weather conditions) and when there were chances for good light we were out shooting something. The region has so many scenic locations.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-887GGbL/A" title="Buff and Blue"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-887GGbL/0/M/Norway%20Horsebend%20Area%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Buff and Blue" alt="Photo of a river bend and grass in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-RPpJHMG/A" title="Mount Rulten"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-RPpJHMG/0/M/Norway%20Mountain%20Zoom%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Mount Rulten" alt="Zoomed in photo of Mount Rulten"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-rc7xxvk/A" title="Blue Hour in Reine"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-rc7xxvk/0/M/Norway%20Reine%20Blue%20Hour%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Blue Hour in Reine" alt="Photo of the fishing town Reine during blue hour"></a>
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We had some great lighting conditions.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-zfSsVqw/A" title="Lofoten, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-zfSsVqw/0/M/Norway%20Hauklandselva%20Beach%20Sunset%20Light%20Rays%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Lofoten, Norway" alt="A photo of a stormy sunset in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-42tHKSW/A" title="Lofoten, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-42tHKSW/0/M/Norway%20Varied%20Beach%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Lofoten, Norway" alt="A photo of a wave flowing over rocks during sunset at Vareid Beach, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-BwWP8SF/A" title="Ragnorok"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-BwWP8SF/0/M/Norway%20Reine%20Cloudy%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Ragnorok" alt="A photo of a stormy sunset in Reine"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-TWV5VPz/A" title="Lofoten, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-TWV5VPz/0/M/Norway%20Solstadvatnet%20Lake%20Ice%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Lofoten, Norway" alt="Photo of ice in frozen Solstadvatnet Lake during sunset in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-BC65GsT/A" title="Skagsanden Beach Lofoten, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-BC65GsT/0/M/Norway%20Skagsanden%20Beach%20Wave%20Sunrise%20Combo%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Skagsanden Beach Lofoten, Norway" alt="Photo of waves at Skagsanden Beach Lofoten, Norway"></a>
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The aurora was a frequent occurrence for us, (half of the nights) each display presenting very different conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling through this mystical land abound with photogenic opportunities. The fellow participating photographers were all very inspiring to be around, and our guides Arild and Ryan were always in great spirits and very open to helping teach their craft. I left wanting to return to explore more of the idyllic scenery.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Recent-Work/i-GzZ6dGm/A" title="Midnight Fairytale"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-GzZ6dGm/0/M/Norway%20Crater%20Lake%20Aurora%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Midnight Fairytale" alt="Photo of Aurora Borealis over a mountain lake in Norway"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-wwdShSt/A" title="Road to Aurora"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-wwdShSt/0/M/Norway%20Leknes%20Aurora%20Selfie%20Angel%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Road to Aurora" alt="A selfie on a road under the aurora borealis"></a>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-MC7JM6P/A" title="Mount Rulten"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-MC7JM6P/1/M/Norway%20Mountain%202%20BW%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Mount Rulten" alt="A black and white photo of Mount Rulten"></a>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0Lofoten, Norway68.31814602144938 14.458007812567.569015021449374 11.8762208125 69.067277021449385 17.0397948125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-91359112134666415992015-04-07T09:08:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:13:54.522-08:00In Focus: People in Beautiful Landscapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Recently I got asked by <a href="http://www.mediadrumworld.com/"><font color="00aeff">Media Drum</font></a>, a UK based editorial photo agency, to feature images with people in beautiful places on their site where they market to publications around the world. To go along with this they asked me a series of questions that I'm sharing with you here.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-gNsMGk9/A" title="Key's View at Joshua Tree, California"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-gNsMGk9/0/M/Joshua%20Tree%20View%20w%20Legs%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Key's View at Joshua Tree, California" alt="Photo of Key's View at Joshua Tree, California"></a>
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<b>How did you become involved in photography? Can you tell me a bit about yourself?</b><br>
My interest in photography grew when I started traveling to places like the Dominican Republic, Central America, Vietnam, Fiji, and Australia. I would also take a camera with me on backpacking trips in Hawai’i, where I grew up, to capture natural scenery and the beauty of the islands. I currently live in Seattle, WA and do photography full time. Last year I traveled all over the west coast of the US living out of a van for 5 months, visiting as many national parks as I could. This year I will be focusing on the Pacific Northwest.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-p4mzx56/A" title="Glacier National Park, Montana"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-p4mzx56/1/M/_C1A6475%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Glacier National Park, Montana" alt="Photo of couple riding a kayak on bowman lake. Glacier National Park, Montana"></a>
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<b>Can you tell me how you first got the idea to incorporate people into your images?</b><br>
I had been traveling to places to photograph nature landscapes, and for those photos, the worse thing one could have is a person or a man-made creation in the frame because the goal is to create a sense of the pristine natural world without human interaction. I then started to see images featuring a single person in a beautiful landscape. It help provide a sense of scale and also helped the viewer relate to the landscape in a visceral way. It was then that I started experimenting with using people in my landscapes. When I’m all alone, I use myself in the photo. I still take photos without people in them too.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-3jtjvGx/A" title="The Magician"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-3jtjvGx/0/L/Norway%20Aurora%20Selfie%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="The Magician" alt="Photo of man and the Aurora Borealis on a beach in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
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<b>Please describe what we see in your images in your own words?</b><br>
The images depict people interacting with the environment and enjoying themselves in the outdoors.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-Bx3LhB9/A" title="Tapping into Flow"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-Bx3LhB9/0/L/Naomi%20Yoga%20Nu%27uanu%20Stream%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Tapping into Flow" alt="Photo of girl doing yoga by a stream"></a>
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<b>How were you able to find these places and place people perfectly in them - can you tell me your method?</b><br>
I am always searching for amazing scenery. I particularly pay attention to places that have a special quality to them, a place where nature has come together to form something very appealing and pleasant. I will often wander through a space, keeping an opening mind, that way I can sense when something interesting is going on. I also make sure I’m out photographing when the light is good. With regards to placing people in them, some of the shots are posed--where the person and I were working to create images, some are candid and spontaneous.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-dsGtd5S/A" title="Angie"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-dsGtd5S/0/M/IMG_8944-Edit%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Angie" alt="Underwater photo of girl "></a>
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<b>Were there any problems you had to overcome?</b><br>
It’s difficult to point to a specific event or issue that I came across. From a traveling perspective, I had car maintenance issues which had to be dealt with whenever they came up. This can be a drain financially and quite frustrating when the same thing breaks that was just fixed. From a photography perspective, it has been a process of trial an error. Reviewing my work and making steps to improve the quality of the images. I feel like every time I go out and shoot or edit a new set of images I learn something new. That’s a good feeling.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-7Rdgz87/A" title="Chaos, Hawaii"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-7Rdgz87/0/M/Ke%20Iki%20Standing%20Kid%20in%20Wave%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Chaos, Hawaii" alt="Underwater photo of man standing in wave"></a>
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<b>What do you love about this type of photography?</b><br>
I really enjoy being able to travel to incredible places. This world has so many locations where the scenery is majestic. Every now and then the light will get really good, sometimes there are people there to witness it, sometimes there won’t be. It's very similar to the question, "If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around, does it make a sound?" I often visualize places having epic conditions—"going off" is what I like to call it, and I figure if I’m out in the field enough I will encounter something spectacular.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-qzD3f9Z/A" title="Star Trails at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-qzD3f9Z/0/M/Bonneville%20Salt%20Flats%20Startrails%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Star Trails at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah" alt="Photo of Star Trails and selfie at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah"></a>
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<b>Is there a particular message you want to convey?</b><br>
I have a desire to experience the natural world and to let those feelings inspire me. I find the idea of nature evolving and thriving on this planet for millennia, incredibly humbling and satisfying. Life on this planet is older than any of us can comprehend, and there is a beauty in that history and power. However, these days our natural spaces are being encroached upon by human development. Through my images I try to convey a sense of awe of the incredibly intricate and diverse world we share. I want to encourage people to interact and experience nature for themselves. I think this way more people will care about protecting and preserving natural environments.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-RHG3WNf/A" title="Lofoten, Norway"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-RHG3WNf/0/L/Norway%20Waterfall%20Mountain%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Lofoten, Norway" alt="Photo of man sitting on rock in Lofoten, Norway"></a>
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<b>What do people say when they see this with their own eyes? What's the reaction?</b><br>
Many times people are at a loss for words. Truly majestic scenery takes people’s breath away. They often stare wide-eyed and stumble to find a way to express how they are feeling. On the other hand, people who get outside a lot, can’t stop talking about how this and that is so amazing. I like to be around that too.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-JHDhrb9/A" title="Sometimes We Need a Little Magic"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-JHDhrb9/0/L/_C1A6790-Edit%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Sometimes We Need a Little Magic" alt="Photo of couple shooting fireworks at night in a winter forest"></a>
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<b>Please feel free to include any other information:</b><br>
My favorite environments to photograph involve water and the night sky. I love to surf so my relationship with the ocean is very powerful. Water is incredibly dynamic and also rejuvenating. The stars and the night sky help me contemplate our place in the universe on a grand scale. So many provocative thoughts are instigated by wondering about the cosmos.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-4RX2s8T/A" title="Water Dance"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-4RX2s8T/0/M/Ke%20Iki%20Couple%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Water Dance" alt="Underwater photo of a copule"></a>
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<b>A few quick facts:</b><br>
<b>Please list the countries you visited:</b> Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Italy, Norway, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji, & Australia (18)<br>
<b>How many air miles was this:</b> I would guess around 60,000 <br>
<b>How many months/years did this take:</b> I’ve been traveling internationally for 15 years.
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Thanks <a href="http://www.mediadrumworld.com/"><font color="00aeff">Media Drum</font></a> for the thoughtful questions!
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-rpc2LSZ/A" title="Pau Hana"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-rpc2LSZ/0/M/Gas%20Chambers%20Sunset%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Pau Hana" alt="Photo of sunset from water on the North Shore of O'ahu"></a>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-3288589417579673272015-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:002016-02-06T14:13:44.590-08:00Best Photos of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<h1>2014 Was a Big Year</h1>
It was fresh and exciting, full of transition, and adventures. I left my engineering job and took a 6 month road trip through the West coast of America visiting California, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Washington & Oregon. During my travels I took 50,000 still images, 20,000 timelapse images (which I have yet to release any of), and 200GB of video clips (which I sadly won't have time to get to). I did my best to select the 10 best images from my trip to share with you all.
<h1>Without further adieu my 10 best photos of 2014</h1>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-h5Fb9K4/A" title="St Mary's Falls Glacier National Park, Montana"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-h5Fb9K4/0/L/Glacier%20St%20Marys%20Falls%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="St Mary's Falls Glacier National Park, Montana" alt="St Mary's Falls Glacier National Park, Montana"></a>
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<i>Montana Harmony</i>
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St Mary's Falls, Glacier National Park, Montana
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-9McmGbZ/A" title="The Endless Forest, Oregon"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-9McmGbZ/1/M/Boardman%20Tree%20Farm%20-%20Trees%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="The Endless Forest, Oregon" alt="The Endless Forest, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Tranquil State of Being</i>
<br>
Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-G3dQhSS/A" title="Japanese Red Maple Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-G3dQhSS/4/M/Portland%20Japanese%20Garden%20-%20The%20Tree%20HOR%2024x36%20print%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Japanese Red Maple Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon" alt="Japanese Red Maple Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon"></a>
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<i>Elemental Vision</i>
<br>
Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-qDjk6h4/A" title="Spirit Falls, Washington"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-qDjk6h4/4/M/Spirit%20Falls-Edit%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Spirit Falls, Washington" alt="Spirit Falls, Washington"></a>
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<i>Into the Mystic</i>
<br>
Spirit Falls, Washington
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-qzD3f9Z/A" title="Star Trails at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-qzD3f9Z/1/M/Bonneville%20Salt%20Flats%20Startrails%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Star Trails at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah" alt="Star Trails at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah"></a>
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<i>Tune In</i>
<br>
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-SLHFtp3/A" title="Star trails over sand dunes, Death Valley National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-SLHFtp3/1/M/DV%20-%20Mesquite%20Dunes%20Stars%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Star trails over sand dunes, Death Valley National Park" alt="Star trails over sand dunes"></a>
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<i>Desert Mystery</i>
<br>
Death Valley National Park, California
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-JxPhjQf/A" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-JxPhjQf/5/L/Bryce_Fairyland%20Sand%20Dunes%20Stitch%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
<br>
<i>Fairyland Mountains</i>
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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-hdGBXXC/A" title="Grand Canyon - North Rim, Arizona"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-hdGBXXC/3/M/Grand%20Canyon%20Cape%20Royal%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Grand Canyon - North Rim, Arizona" alt="The view from Cape Royal Grand Canyon, North Rim, Arizona"></a>
<br>
<i>Sunrise at Cape Royal</i>
<br>
Grand Canyon, Arizona
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-c8scH7F/A" title="View from Swiftcurrent lake, Glacier National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-c8scH7F/2/M/Glacier_Swiftcurrent%20Lake%20Pano%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="View from Swiftcurrent lake, Glacier National Park" alt="View from Swiftcurrent lake, Glacier National Park"></a>
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<i>Glistening Waters</i>
<br>
Swiftcurrent Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-5vXtGtP/A" title="Monument Valley, Arizona"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-5vXtGtP/0/M/Monument%20Valley%20-%20Sunset%201%20-%20cropped%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Monument Valley, Arizona" alt="Monument Valley, Arizona"></a>
<br>
<i>Native Land</i>
<br>
Monument Valley, Arizona
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<h1>What's Next?</h1>
While I will still be traveling to great photo locations in 2015 (including Hawai'i, Norway & Iceland), I'm shifting my focus to <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/p/instruction.html" target="_blank" title="Teaching & Instruction"><font color="00aeff">teaching</font></a> the camera shooting techniques as well as post processing techniques that I use to create all my images. One of the best things that I did this year was taking the time and learning from other photographer's whom I admire. I bought training videos and asked for constructive criticism. It really helped me advance my craft and progress as an artist. I only wish I had taken this training years ago!
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So if you are like me and feel like your <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf7QIj9Qiy0" target="_blank" title="Ira Glass Nobody Tells Beginners"><font color="00aeff">work should be better</font></a>, then I encourage you to seek out people to learn from.
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Stay tuned for workshop announcements as well as new <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/p/introduction-to-lightroom-getting.html" target="_blank" title="Video Tutorial"><font color="00aeff">video tutorial</font></a> releases. I will also be holding group online editing sessions where I will walk through my digital workflow process and show you how to make the magic happen in post.
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I'm always open to scheduling <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/p/instruction.html" target="_blank" title="Teaching & Instruction"><font color="00aeff">one-on-one training</font></a> as well so if you are interested in that please contact me directly.
<p></p>
<b>Want to Connect?</b> <br>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-35807262334182448222014-12-16T23:36:00.000-08:002016-02-06T14:13:35.247-08:00How to Create Panoramic Images
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-c8scH7F/A" title="Swiftcurrent Lake Panorama"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-c8scH7F/2/M/Glacier_Swiftcurrent%20Lake%20Pano%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Swiftcurrent Lake Panorama" alt="Swiftcurrent Lake Panorama Photograph"></a>
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<h2>Using Adobe Photoshop, creating panoramic images is astonishingly simple</h2>
Panoramic images are created by shooting multiple shots and <a href="http://youtu.be/6pTz9d8nq0Y" target="_blank" title="How to Create Panoramic Images"><font color="00aeff">stitching them together in post</font></a> to create an elongated field of view. Wide-angle lenses are commonly used in panoramic photography, however techniques discussed here can be applied to telephoto lenses as well. Panorama's are usually found in the horizontal orientation, however the same concepts can be applied in the vertical direction.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-VJNmBcX/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-VJNmBcX/5/M/Tuba%20City%20Panoramic%204a%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt="Photograph of the remote Southwest Desert - Arizona"></a>
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<h1>Shooting the images</h1>
Here are some guidelines for shooting the images that will help you get consistent results.
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<h2>Image Overlap</h2>
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<a title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-fcKhntT/0/M/i-fcKhntT-M.jpg" title="" alt="example of overlapping images"></a>
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Pan from left to right (or vise versa) and take a row of overlapping images. When shooting your scene it is critical to include at least 20% overlap between your images. This redundant information is what the software will use to match the images together. When first experimenting with this technique I recommend including nearly 50% of overlap. As you become more comfortable with the process you can reduce the amount.
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<h2>Keep it Level</h2>
Try to pan level to the horizon as best as you can.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-mDLTrQN/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-mDLTrQN/0/M/Ojai%20Moon%20Panorama%203-1%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt="Photography of Moonrise in Ojai California"></a>
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<h2>Include a buffer zone</h2>
Through the stitching process, there will often be elements at the edges that will not fit into the final image. When you shoot your scene keep that in mind, and give your self a buffer zone in each direction.
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<h2>Using a Tripod</h2>
I recommend using a tripod with a nice ball head to make lining up your shots a bit easier. It is possible to stitch images that were shot hand held, but results are better when a tripod is used.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-Tjf584N/A" title="Grand Prismatic Spring - Yellowstone, Wyoming"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-Tjf584N/2/M/Yellowstone%20Grand%20Prismatic%20Pano%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Grand Prismatic Spring - Yellowstone, Wyoming" alt="Photograph of Grand Prismatic Spring - Yellowstone, Wyoming"></a>
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<h2>Shoot in Manual Mode</h2>
It is important that all the images being stitched together have the same exposure settings. Figure out the exposure you want by taking a couple of test shots. Additionally you may want to consider using manual focus to maintain a consistent focus point (I have also had success adjusting focus in each shot, so play around to see what works best for you).
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<h2>White Balance</h2>
Ideally, every image you are stitching together should have the same white balance. If you shoot in auto white balance mode the camera may select different settings for your shots. Shooting in RAW allows you correct this in the post-processing stage.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-X3c5Mg3/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-X3c5Mg3/0/M/DV%20-%20Saline%20Valley%20Mountain%20Panorama%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt="Photograph of Death Valley"></a>
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<h2>Shoot in Live View</h2>
Use the display screen on the back of your camera to help you line up your images. Determining your overlap is is much simpler this way.
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<h1>Stitching the Images Together</h1>
If you shoot your images with process I outlined above, Photoshop will do a fantastic job automatically stitching them together to create a single image. There is some cleanup involved but it is fairly straight forward. I go over all that in this video tutorial.
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<iframe width="725" height="408" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6pTz9d8nq0Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<i>Watch the Tutorial Video</i>
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<h2>Eliminate Image Parallax (advanced)</h2>
To help you illustrate what image parallax is, visually line up your index finger with an object in your room. Close one eye and observe what happens, then switch eyes and observe once again. Viewing the objects through your dominant eye should change nothing, however viewing the objects through your less dominant eye should reveal a shift. This shift, or parallax, is what happens when you don't rotate the camera and lens about the optical center, aka nodal point. The nodal point, varies for each lens and focal length, however it is typically located a small distance behind the end of the lens. Rotating the camera and lens about the nodal point will eliminate image parallax.
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There are some fancy tripod mounts that allow you to rotate the camera around the nodal point of the lens, reducing any shift in optical perspective, however that level of precision is generally not needed. Rotating around the nodal point becomes increasingly important when using an ultra-wide angle lens and including subjects that are very close to the camera.
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If you have any questions please send me a message at <a href="mailto:dustin.t.wong@gmail.com?subject=RE:How to Create Panoramic Images"><font color="00aeff">dustin.t.wong@gmail.com</font></a>.
<p></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-46799604323513839472014-11-15T11:28:00.000-08:002016-02-06T14:13:25.656-08:00What You Need To Know Before Buying Your Next Lens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a> <img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-gRBmg3g/0/M/i-gRBmg3g-M.jpg" title="Canon DSLR Lenses" alt="photograph of four canon DSLR lenses"></a>
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For photographers just getting started in the world of DSLR photography, picking out which equipment to invest in can be quite daunting and overwhelming. I often get asked by aspiring photographers for recommendations on which lenses to use, so I decided to put my thoughts down here. There will be no <i>one solution</i>, since everybody’s photographic intentions and aspirations are different. Always remember that your vision is your own to create, and that journey starts with your gear selection.
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<h2>Look Ahead</h2>
<em>Buy the gear for the quality of photography you aspire to create</em> - When selecting gear, remember to think forward at least a couple of years since the equipment will probably last you at least that long. Try to imagine what kind of images you want to produce within that timeframe. When starting off, it’s good to have gear that matches your ambitions; that way you won’t have to reinvest just to get yourself to where you want to be. If you want to be taking high-quality, professional level shots in the next 2 years, buy the good stuff. If this is a hobby and you are using it primarily for documentation of your life and vacations, then you probably don’t need to buy the expensive stuff. In other words, if you don’t see yourself selling large prints of your images, or creating high-resolution, super crisp, noise free imagery, then buy the entry level gear or possibly a more compact, simpler system.
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<h2>Research What Professionals are Using</h2>
If you are trying to achieve a certain shooting style, research work that you admire in order to learn which focal lengths were used. A seasoned photographer will have selected a lens kit that helps them bring their artist vision forward. This is a great place to start narrowing down which focal lengths are for you. Many photographers publish shooting info on shots indicating which ISO, focal length, and shutter speed were used. If exif data is available for the digital image, it should contain all this good stuff too. Additionally, many photographers, like myself, share their gear info on their website. You can see my full <a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/About"><font color="00aeff">gear list</font></a> at the bottom of the “<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/About"><font color="00aeff">About</font></a>” section of my website.
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<h2>What is Focal Length?</h2>
Focal length, often measured in millimeters (mm), is an optical quality of a lens indicating how light rays will be bent onto the focal plane of the camera sensor. Basically it indicates how much of the scene will appear in the image and how much the scene will be magnified. I like to categorize focal length in 3 areas. <em>Wide-Angle</em>, <em>Standard</em>, and <em>Telephoto</em>. However, the effective focal length is not always just what is marked on the lens, it depends on your camera...
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<h3>How to Determine Effective Focal Length</h3>
Before entering into a detailed discussion on focal length, let's begin with crop sensors, crop factors, or crop multipliers (they all refer to the same thing). This is an aspect of DSLR camera systems that can overlooked. Image creation is dependent on the optical qualities of the lens AND the lens distance to the focal plane (film or a camera sensor). <b>The focal length that is listed on a lens is the focal length if it were mounted to a “full-frame” camera.</b> Full-frame refers to a full sized sensor, however every non-professional DSLR camera has a crop sensor which alters the effective focal length.
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Find out the "crop factor" or "crop multiplier" of your camera by looking up the technical specifications. Many cameras will have a crop factor of 1.6x (a Full-Frame camera will have a 1.0x crop factor) so I'll use that as an example. Multiply any listed lens focal length by 1.6 to determine the effective focal length of the lens with that camera. A 50mm lens, for example, would have an <em>effective focal length</em> of 80mm (50mm x 1.6 = 80mm). <b>The key take away here is that the effective focal length is a function of the lens AND the crop factor of the camera it is mounted to.</b>
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<h2>Wide-Angle</h2>
<em>Everything is in, sometimes even your feet or tripod legs</em> -
Focal lengths of a small number in the range of 24-35mm are considered <b>wide-angle</b>, while even smaller numbers in the range of 14-24mm are considered <b>ultra-wide-angle</b>. As the names suggest, these lenses will capture a wide field of view, bending light from the sides, above, and below onto the camera sensor. Wide-angle lenses are often used in landscape photography for their ability to capture large scenic vistas. I used one of my favorite lenses, Canon’s 16-35mm f/2.8 II lens, to capture this vast scene that unfolded during sunrise at Bryce Canyon
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-DMLbbNt/A" title="Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-DMLbbNt/1/M/Bryce_Sunrise%20Point%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Photograph of Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
<br> <i>"Majestic Morning" ISO 100, 17mm, f/16, 4 sec</i>
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Ultra-wide-angle lenses bend the light so much that if one tilts the camera down a bit, it is easy to get one's feet in the frame. When finding a composition, you are in control of what is in the frame and what isn’t. Including elements that are not visually important or appealing can take away the impact of the overall image. From that perspective, ultra-wide lenses increase the need to pay attention to the corners of the frame since so much of the scene is included. One thing to note about wide-angle and ultra-wide lenses is that they add distortion, which is more significant at the outer edges of the frame. For nature scenes the distortion is not that noticeable; generally you don’t want to distort people’s faces so this should be considered when shooting portraits.
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Getting up close to this tree with an ultra-wide-angle lens, I was able to create this perspective and get everything in the frame.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/A" title="Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/6/M/Olympic%20Hoh%20Tree%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington" alt="Photograph of Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington"></a>
<br><i>"Enchanted Dimension” ISO 100, 16mm, f/11, 5.0 sec</i>
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The inside of a wave is a small and dynamic space, and a wide angle lens can be used to capture everything that is going on. Using a wide-angle lens in a small confined space has the effect of actually making the space look bigger than it is (this is not to say that I’m magnifying the wave because technically I’m doing the opposite). For this reason, interior architecture photography is often shot with wide angle lenses, not only to capture the full room, but also to make the space look roomier and more expansive.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-S23MFQM/A" title="Inside of a wave"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-S23MFQM/0/M/IMG_0848-Edit%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Inside of a wave" alt="Photograph of the inside of a wave"></a>
<br><i>“Greenroom” ISO 640, 24mm, f/14, 1/1000 sec</i>
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<h2>Standard</h2>
<em>What the eye sees</em> - The classic way to learn photography is with a fully manual camera and a 50mm lens. You will often find this advice for a beginner. I did not learn this way and I don’t think it’s important, yet in most photography classes it's how people are taught. It is said that the natural lens of the human eye has an approximate focal length of 50mm. So if you use a 50mm lens it’s what your eye sees without distortion or magnification. In my opinion the “standard” focal range includes anything from 40-65mm. Occasionally I will shoot video with a 50mm lens just to mix things up creatively for me, and to give the feel that the viewer is right there. In general, these focal ranges are not priorities in landscape photography and are better suited for portrait, wedding, street photography, and of course videography.
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<h2>Telephoto</h2>
<em>Think telescope</em> - Telescopes are used for looking at objects in the distance, magnifying them so one can see the detail as if one were closer. Telephoto lenses work the same way. Any focal length larger than 70mm, will magnify the subject and exclude the wide angle objects. At high focal lengths, say 300mm, one is taking a photo of a scene far away, or isolating a very small area of a scene. There are a couple of notable affects that using a telephoto lens will have. One is that it will allow you to be far away from your subject while isolating a particular area of detail. For this shot I was standing on the river bank and isolating a section of the water running over the rocks.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-pRXV4wM/A" title="Glacier National Park, Montana"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Water/i-pRXV4wM/0/L/Glacier%20McDonald%20Falls%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Glacier National Park, Montana" alt="Photograph of River, Glacier National Park, Montana"></a>
<br><i>“Whispering River” ISO 50, 70mm, f/22, 2.5 sec</i>
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These buttes on the far side of the Grand Canyon were pretty far away so I used a telephoto lens to get this composition.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-5Htf94M/A" title="Grand View, Grand Canyon, Arizona"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-5Htf94M/1/M/Grand%20Canyon_Grandview%20BW%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Grand View, Grand Canyon, Arizona" alt="Photograph of Grand View, Grand Canyon, Arizona"></a>
<br><i>“Monuments and Valleys” ISO 100, 70mm, f/10, 1/80 sec</i>
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Another effect of a telephoto lens is that the light isn’t being bent like in wide angle lenses, so distortion is minimized. Minimizing distortion is actually preferred for portrait photography, so focal lengths of 70mm, 85mm, or greater are often used. When it comes to landscape photography, a large telephoto focal length, say 300mm, has the effect of compressing the space between distant objects. What this means is that objects appear to be closer to each other than they actually are. In this shot, the effect is illustrated by the perceived closeness of the mountain ranges to one another.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-SZpvw8s/A" title="Death Valley, California"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-SZpvw8s/0/M/DV%20Dante%27s%20View%20Sunrise%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Death Valley, California" alt="Photograph of Death Valley, California"></a>
<br><i>“Deep Horizons” ISO 400, 300mm, f/6.5, 1/15 sec</i>
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<h2>Different Focal Lengths</h2>
<em>I get it, so what?</em> - Given that there are different effects created with lenses with different focal lengths, how does one decide on a focal length or focal range? In the world of photography there is definitely value to the old “KISS" adage, “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. In order to have all of the focal ranges covered, you will need multiple lenses. Because carrying around multiple lenses can be cumbersome and complicating to your creative process, I recommend beginning with no more than two lenses. This means you should be determining which lens will be your primary lens and which will be a solid secondary lens. Your primary lens--the work horse--will be on your camera most of the time. Because of this, it should perform well in the shooting situations you want to do your best work in. By concentrating on your primary focal range, you can develop a feel for the lens and bring out it’s potential. The secondary lens should allow for a different type of shot than captured with the primary lens, functioning well in situations that you often find yourself in. For landscape shooters, an ultra-wide angle would be a good primary lens and a telephoto a solid secondary lens.
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<h2>Landscape Ultra-Wide Recommendations</h2>
<i>
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens <br>
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF Lens (one of the best lenses available for any camera system on the market) <br>
</i>
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<h2>Landscape Telephoto Recommendations</h2>
<i>
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens (This lens is super sharp and the poor f-stop numbers don’t factor in much since most shooting is done between f/10 and f/16) <br>
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens (aka the safari lens, this is the go-to lens for wildlife enthusiast--a new edition of this lens is being released by Canon soon) <br>
Nikon AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (wide range and decent sharpness makes this lens a great secondary lens to have) <br>
</i>
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<h3>If the ultra-wide focal range is too specific then middle range zoom lenses should be considered</h3>
<i>
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens <br>
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens <br>
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens <br>
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED <br>
Nikon AF-S DX18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II <br>
</i>
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<h2>More Key Lens Features to Consider:</h2>
<h3>f-stop</h3>
<em>(f/2.8, f/4, f/3.5-5.6 etc)</em> - The f-stop number in the lens description indicates the largest aperture that lens supports. The smaller the number, the larger the aperture, the more light comes in. An f-stop range only appears on zoom lenses. The first number refers to the maximum aperture at the wide side of the zoom and the second number indicates the maximum aperture when the lens is zoomed in. Some high end zoom lenses will have only a single f-stop number indicating that the aperture is available throughout all focal lengths.
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Lenses that are capable of letting in a lot of light (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2, f/2.8) are commonly referred to as “fast lenses”. This quality is technically harder to achieve and therefore these lenses are usually heavier and more expensive. However, this can also be an indication of quality. Fast lenses are typically higher quality than slower ones. Night sky photography is generally shot at f/2.8 to let in a lot of light. So if you are interested in shooting under these conditions, you will certainly want a lens that has the f/2.8 aperture.
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There are other considerations to f-stop value. The lower the f-stop value the better the lens is at producing background blur or “bokeh". This creative effect is used often in portrait, street, and product photography but rarely in landscape images.
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<h3>Reducing Camera Hand Shake</h3>
Modern lenses are often equipped with a system that helps mitigate camera shake that's introduced when holding the camera in your hands. Since getting the shot in focus is so important, this system can be a great feature to have on your lens.
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IS = Image Stabilization <br>
VR = Vibration Reduction <br>
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These terms are equivalent and either system allows you to shoot slower shutter speeds while maintaining focus. However, this should not be treated as a crutch--learning solid exposure guidelines to keep images sharp should be practiced and given a lot of attention. Remember to turn this feature off when mounting to a tripod, as it will actually add blur if left on.
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<h3>Weight</h3>
A heavy lens can really be uncomfortable to use without a tripod. Your primary lens should be a weight you are capable of carrying anywhere and often. In my experience anything around 1.5 lbs is just fine, and anything over 2 lbs can get uncomfortable after prolonged use.
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<h3>Why Not Prime Lenses?</h3>
Even though prime lenses are almost always sharper, have better image quality, and let in more light than zoom lenses, they don’t perform well in the conditions a landscape photographer encounters. For landscapes, you want a zoom lens because you are often unable to get to just the right spot due to natural obstacles or you're already at the edge of the cliff. You compensate by adjusting the focal length. Prime lenses are best used when you can more fully control the distance to your subject. The best prime lenses are usually of the 24mm, 35mm, 85mm, and 135mm variety and these focal lengths are generally suited better for portrait and street photography. The one exception here is Canon’s EF 14mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens which is the best way for Canon users to get an ultra-wide focal length. A cheaper alternative, Rokinon's 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle f/2.8 IF ED UMC Lens for Canon has good image quality but doesn’t have autofocus. The Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 Distagon T* ZE Lens, I hear, is quite spectacular.
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<h3>Looking for Prime Lenses for Portrait or Street Photography? Here Are Some of the Best</h3>
<i>
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM Lens <br>
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Lens (image stabilization makes this better for video) <br>
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM Lens <br>
Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM Lens <br>
Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G <br>
Nikon 135mm f/2 DC <br>
</i>
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<h2>Yikes, These Lenses Are Expensive!</h2>
If you’ve looked up prices of the lenses I recommended above, you will find that they are all fairly expensive. That is what it takes to get “good glass"-- lenses with great image quality, are weather sealed, and durable. Overall sharpness and image quality are the most compelling reasons why one should go with the pricier option. Many believe that if you are going to spend the money, spend it on the lens rather than the camera. Once you experience a high quality lens it can be frustrating to use a lens that has mediocre image quality. If you are on a budget, I would recommend getting one high-quality primary lens and rocking it out.
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<h3>Using the Second Hand Market</h3>
As long as high-end lenses are taken care of, the second hand market price will only depreciate 20% or so per year (save the original packaging for shipping purposes). Many people are afraid of using the second hand market when it comes to cameras and lenses. However, I believe that there is good gear available at reasonable prices. There are many others out there who take care of their lenses as well as you do (or rarely use them). These are the pieces you are looking for on eBay. Durability testing on camera bodies have proven that they can take a beating and keep on ticking. With lenses, on the other hand, you need to be a bit more careful. You want scratch-free front and rear elements, smooth operation of the focus and zoom rings, functioning autofocus and electronics, and no moisture present inside the lens. Always engage the seller on eBay with a question (even if they’ve explained everything in the description) in order to get a sense of who you are buying from (it doesn’t hurt to clarify the things I listed previously). Check past reviews and only buy when it “feels right.” If you don’t have a good feeling about it, pass on it because there are always multiple options on eBay at any given time. I recently purchased two lenses off eBay with good results.
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<h2>Do I Need Filters?</h2>
You don’t need filters to take good pictures. However, if you have a very expensive lens, at a minimum, I suggest a filter to protect the front element. UV-Haze filters are good for this. You don’t want to by a cheap filter because it would defeat the purpose of buying a nice lens in the first place! Get a decent brand, Hoya and B+W are excellent choices.
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<strong>Polarizing Filter</strong>
<br>
If you are shooting landscapes, a polarizing filter will undoubtedly be useful. A polarizing filter, or “polarizer", reduces light being reflected off shiny surfaces such as water, vegetation, skin, glass, and the sky. It allows more natural color and detail to come through in the image. It does reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor, so your exposures will need to be longer than if shot without a polarizer. In low light conditions, a tripod will be needed. The other benefit of having a polarizer is that you can begin to play with long exposures taken on a tripod which can smooth out waterfalls and water surfaces.
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<strong>Neutral Density Filter</strong>
<br>
Neutral Density (ND) filters, reduce the amount of light coming through without affecting color. This is used primarily to slow down shutter speeds. Some practical applications of an ND filter are to get that silky look in a waterfall, water surface, or sky, as well as shoot a place with people moving around but not have the people appear in the image. A 3-stop (0.9 optical density) ND filter is a good place to start. If you know long exposure technique is going to be a big factor in your photographic work, then you may want to get a 10-stop ND filter as well.
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<h2>Lens Compatibility</h2>
The mounting systems used to connect lenses to camera bodies are specific to the camera design. In general mounting systems differ between brands, for example, Canon & Nikon lenses are not compatible with the other company's camera bodies. This means that you cannot use your Nikon lens with your Canon body without an adaptor. If you want to use a Sigma, Tamron, Sony, Zeiss, or Rokinon lens, make sure the mount is compatible with your camera body. Additionally, even within the same camera brand, lenses are not necessarily compatible. For example Canon's EF-S lenses are only compatible with certain Canon cameras while Canon's EF lenses are compatible with all Canon camera bodies. Nikon DX and FX lenses can be used by any modern Nikon camera body. However, DX lenses, if used on an FX camera, experience a 1.5x crop factor. Be aware that lens compatibility is an issue and should be verified before purchasing your lens.
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<h3>Here are great resources for specific, technical lens reviews:</h3>
<a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/"><font color="00aeff">For Canon Gear - The Digital Picture</font></a>
<br>
<a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm"><font color="00aeff">For Nikon Gear - Ken Rockwell</font></a>
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As always, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at <a href="mailto:dustin.t.wong@gmail.com?"><font color="00aeff">dustin.t.wong@gmail.com</font></a> if you have any questions!
<br>
Cheers, Dustin
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-59463044442413082292014-10-03T01:41:00.000-07:002014-10-09T18:21:53.634-07:00Fall Canvas Sale!<strong>One Week Only!</strong>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Other/Site-Files/n-WZn4d/i-s8fC6hG/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-s8fC6hG/0/M/i-s8fC6hG-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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To welcome the changing of the seasons and this beautiful time of transition, I'm offering a "Canvas Only" sale. Order any image displayed on the website as a 20"x30" (16"x48" if the image is a wide panoramic format) gallery wrapped canvas for only $225 plus tax ($246.38).
To place your order, send your request to <a href="mailto:dustin.t.wong@gmail.com?subject=Fall Canvas Sale"><font color="00aeff">dustin.t.wong@gmail.com</font></a> by including the <strong>URL</strong> AND <strong>TITLE</strong> of the image you would like. Free shipping to the US is included!
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So head over to the <a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/"><font color="00aeff">website</font></a> and pick yours out now!
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I apologize for not being able to include those images that are in a 1:2 or 9:16 aspect ratio in this sale.
Feel free to ask me any questions via email, or in the comments below.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-3786969570958250412014-10-01T19:22:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:12:58.184-08:00The Stairway to Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night I bet they would live a lot differently"</strong> <br> Calvin & Hobbes, Bill Watterson
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-dnSngz2/A" title="Grand Teton National park, Wyoming"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-dnSngz2/0/L/Tetons%20String%20Lake%20Stars%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Grand Teton National park, Wyoming" alt="Grand Teton National park, Wyoming"></a>
<br> <i>Starlight</i>
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It is a quiet and still night. A cool breeze gently brushes by; the milky way blazes in the sky above, the stars sparkle like jewels in the black satin sheet of night. Our true place in the Universe is revealed. We are undeniably small, surrounded by millions of stars in our own galaxy, which is just one of millions of galaxies. The experience of photographing the wonders of the night sky is a special one. There is nothing quite like standing alone in a desert, on a lake shore, or on a mountain top as the stars twinkle and make their way across the sky. On a clear night one can easily see shooting stars, satellites, and if one knows what to look for, the space station orbiting the planet. I want to showcase for you some of my favorite night sky images over the past couple months. May you never cease to wonder.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-jwTPxHf/A" title="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-jwTPxHf/0/L/Racetracks%20Stars%20Rock%203%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park" alt="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park"></a>
<br> <i>Origin</i>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-SLHFtp3/A" title="Death Valley National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-SLHFtp3/1/M/DV%20-%20Mesquite%20Dunes%20Stars%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Death Valley National Park" alt="Death Valley National Park"></a>
<br> <i>Desert Mystery</i>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-CNbLPhs/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-CNbLPhs/0/M/Wenatchee%20Trees%20Stars%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
<br> <i>10,000 Stars</i>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-FM56kJ8/A" title="Joshua Tree National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-FM56kJ8/0/M/IMG_1632%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Joshua Tree National Park" alt="Joshua Tree National Park"></a>
<br> <i>Venus</i>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-4J26Z3Q/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-4J26Z3Q/0/M/Mount%20St%20Helens%20ML%20Square%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
<br> <i>Eternal</i>
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All of the above images are available for purchase as beautiful high quality Metal Prints. Just click on the image and look for the "Buy" button in the lower right corner. If you have any questions about the work please email me or leave a comment below.
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-31360034714084765772014-09-29T11:34:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:12:48.601-08:00Why Every Photographer Should be Playing with VSCO Filters<strong>Hoh Rainforest - Olympic National Park, WA</strong>
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Venturing into the vast wonderland known as the Hoh Rainforest, one encounters all sorts of unusual sights. Moss drips down arching trees branches, fungi grows on fallen trees, while ferns cover the forest floor. There are not definitive "spots" to photograph in the Hoh, which is located on the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The main trail meanders into wilderness territory far from any roads or human establishment. Along this 17 mile trail (with trail branches that lead further in) there are no clear nor obvious destinations where one should take pictures, instead opportunities are all around, the challenge is to listen to the forest and be drawn in. If one is open to it a composition like this can reveal itself.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/A" title="Hoh Rainforest, WA - Olympic National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Forests-and-Fauna/i-hprTTXG/3/M/Olympic%20Hoh%20Tree%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Hoh Rainforest, WA - Olympic National Park" alt="Hoh Rainforest, WA - Olympic National Park"></a>
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Go ahead and click on it to view it large; the smaller details just cannot be appreciated in this small frame.
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A friend had told me about Visual Supply Company's (VSCO) film presets for Lightroom that make images look like they were processed in the film days using various procedures that are completely mysterious to me. In browsing the list of film presets I came across one that made the image above. This prehistoric look and feel is not something I would have been able to achieve using the color correction methods that I know of. The presets are finely tuned to recreate the analog experience of film and in doing so open a whole new world of opportunities when it comes to look and feel. This is why I think every photographer, even the "pros" who do advanced photoshop color correction, should be playing around with VSCO filters - you just never know what you're going to discover!
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VSCO also has a great free mobile app which is quickly becoming a huge force in the Instagram, "add a filter and it makes it cool," world.
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I wanted to show you the full affect of the the VSCO filter so I'm showing you the pre-filter version below, which was processed using my standard method; highly saturated and bright green the details of the moss and fall colored leaves come out nicely. I was actually pretty happy with it because so much detail was popping out, but something looked off.
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<html> <img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-NkRhtMH/0/M/i-NkRhtMH-M.jpg" title="" alt=""> </html>
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Technical details: 3-stop HDR image produced in Phototmatix then digitally blended in Photoshop with the original three images. ISO 100, 16mm, f/11, centered at 2.5 seconds.
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I would love to hear from you in the comments below about which version you like better! Also, if you have any personal experience with using VSCO filters please share!
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0Hoh Rainforest Ranger Station, Olympic National Park, Forks, WA 98331, USA47.8578529 -123.932139747.7725734 -124.09350119999999 47.943132399999996 -123.7707782tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-15780840634741681432014-09-17T14:43:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:12:32.728-08:00Walls of The Virgin River Narrows - Zion<strong>Zion National Park, UT</strong>
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The Virgin River Narrows is one of the most popular hikes in the park for good reason.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-w8WZpS3/A" title="Zion, UT"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-w8WZpS3/0/L/Zion_Narrows%20Rock%20HDR%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Zion, UT" alt="Zion, UT"></a>
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Walking through the shallow river between towering sandstone walls--weathered by years of erosion--is quite a mystical and beautiful experience. During the peak summer months, thousands of people come here each day. So I made sure that I was up dark and early for this hike, first on the trail. I also wanted to be there for the soft morning light in order to take a great shot. This giant rock in the middle of the narrows was quite peculiar and the soft lighting through the narrow walls made this scene particularly interesting. Using a polarizer and a tripod, I bracketed 5 stops to capture the full dynamic range. There was quite a contrast between the bright light at the top of the canyon and the shadows along the floor. The result is this HDR image, processed in Photomatix and digitally blended in Photoshop with the original 5 bracketed shots. Thanks to Dave Morrow for the tips on how to process this!
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-LpvqHfL/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-LpvqHfL/0/M/_C1A6260%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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In the late morning the masses descend on The Narrows, and it can feel like a busy theme park rather than a pristine nature preserve. On my way out, I encountered a girl who took a rock out of this natural shelf in the wall and used it to scratch "I WAS HERE" in the wall. I couldn't believe I was seeing this act of vandalism first hand literally 10 feet from me while I had my tripod and camera set up. She paused and looked as if she was thinking about what else she could write when I decided to speak up. I got her attention and said to her, "Would you mind not doing that? I think it's a little disrespectful to others." She retorted, "It won't last." I shrugged my shoulders. She repeated her words, as I stared at her. She paused, threw the rock back into the shelf, and walked towards her mother in the river. The mother said something to her then continued on, but the girl stayed put. During this whole exchange I was ready to take a shot up the canyon, hoping that my neutral density (ND) filter would filter out the people as long as they continued to move. The girl remained gazing upwards at the walls, slowly looking left, then right. It was as if she was noticing the walls for the first time--perhaps she was appreciating the grand spectacle of where she had traveled to. At that moment, I decided to snap a shot of her. 35mm, ISO 100, f/22, 6 seconds, 3-stop ND filter.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-zMPjg3r/A" title="Zion National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/People-and-Travel/i-zMPjg3r/1/M/Zion_Narrows%20Girl%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Zion National Park, Utah" alt="Zion National Park, Utah"></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com2Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767, USA37.322817 -113.045716436.918747 -113.69116340000001 37.726887 -112.4002694tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-35255617572049845932014-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:12:00.133-08:00The Road Ends at Black Rock City<strong>Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV 2014</strong>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-bfVKvPx/A" title="Burning Man 2014 Canavansary"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-bfVKvPx/0/M/IMG_4490%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014 Canavansary" alt="Burning Man 2014 Canavansary"></a>
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Burning Man, the final stop of my 4-month long road trip brought me to the harsh living conditions of the playa, aka Black Rock City, about 100 miles north of Reno, NV. I had just come off a photography segment which included Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons. I was physically exhausted, which is not a good way to start Burning Man. After spending a couple of days in Reno gathering some supplies and getting some rest I was ready, and I made my way into the festival.
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For those of you who aren't familiar with Burning Man, it is a week long art festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. People who attend, or "Burners," must bring everything one needs to survive (including water) and then pack everything out. Radical Self-Reliance & Leave No Trace are two of the festival's
<a href="http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/about_burningman/principles.html#.VBYyAWRdW7s"><font color="00aeff">ten principles</font></a>.
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Because some 70,000 people come to the event on a two lane highway, getting in and out of the festival is often a challenging experience. From where the road ends and the playa begins, the Man can be seen miles away on the approach to Black Rock City. This year I was lucky to enter on Sunday morning just after gates officially opened with only an hour delay in line! This is very smooth compared to the nightmare delay burners had the next day where rain caused the roads to be closed sending people through a 22 hour ordeal involving being sent back to Reno and standing in an epic multi-hour line for will call. Yikes! Tip: get paper tickets - always.
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Our camp's theme was "Love Alway" which is inspired by Charles Bradley, a funk/soul/R&B singer (think James Brown) who lived a vagabond life in poverty and was discovered in his 50s. His gut wrenching lyrics and soulful style demonstrate what a heart that remains pure through struggle is capable of. After his performance at Sasquatch Music Festival he spoke to the crowd and reminded us to always choose love. Being illiterate, he signed my friends shirt "Love Alway" and the rest is history.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-QQx7Wc3/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-QQx7Wc3/0/M/IMG_5030%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<strong>Love Alway</strong>
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This being my second year, the initial shock and awe of the event was not present, but I was excited to return and have an entirely new experience. Similar to last year I shot with my 5D mkII and 16-35mm f/2.8 lens. Protecting one's gear is a must out there, but it's not that difficult. Some gaffer's tape and a camera rain bag does the trick quite nicely. I also try to keep it in a backpack when I'm not using to it. Also if you are riding around on a bike, make sure there is adequate padding for your camera in case the bag falls out of the bike basket. If you have a DSLR, never change lenses outside. In fact try not to change lenses at all. Even in the relative calm of a clean RV there is still a ton of dust floating around that can fall on the sensor. If you must change lenses, you should plan on sending your gear in to be professionally cleaned after.
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It was a visually stunning event yet again with just about every scene at any given time of day worthy of taking a picture. The lighting conditions change through the week so each day brings new opportunities. I took out the camera when I could but I tried to preserve my energy to last the whole week. I ended up coming down with a head cold (like many others) on Friday and the dust was so bad that I felt I had to get off the playa. I left before the Man burn and Temple burns. Even though I missed those two great events, I still had a complete experience at Burning Man this year. The highlight was meeting and making a connection with a group of three ladies who randomly asked to join our camp. In the end, it's the people who make the journey that make the event what it is. Here are some snaps that I got off while making my way around the festival. I hope you enjoy them, and I encourage you to share this blog post with anyone who might find these pictures inspiring.
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Click on any photo to view the larger versions. Or check out my updated minimalist
<a href="http://dustinwongphotos.tumblr.com/"><font color="00aeff">tumblr</font></a>
page for a smoother viewing experience.
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And my friends, remember "Always Choose Love"
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-Rn8HwXk/A" title="Embrace BurnBurning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-Rn8HwXk/0/M/IMG_5119%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Embrace BurnBurning Man 2014" alt="Embrace BurnBurning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-42fzGKP/A" title="A lot of LOVE in Black Rock City"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-42fzGKP/0/M/Buring%20Man_Love%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="A lot of LOVE in Black Rock City" alt="A lot of LOVE in Black Rock City"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-fLFdTSf/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-fLFdTSf/0/M/Burning%20Man_Temple%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-cfhhVWG/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-cfhhVWG/0/M/IMG_4930%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-kSq8LBW/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-kSq8LBW/0/M/IMG_5199%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JNhNhD8/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JNhNhD8/0/L/IMG_4621%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-DTfkcd9/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-DTfkcd9/0/M/IMG_4659%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-SpVLTxK/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-SpVLTxK/0/M/IMG_4675%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RxmPT4H/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RxmPT4H/0/M/_C1A0763%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RrrXgRC/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RrrXgRC/0/M/IMG_4971%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-gGd2Lz4/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-gGd2Lz4/0/M/IMG_4943%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qBVThLK/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qBVThLK/0/M/IMG_4369%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qx4RqxV/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qx4RqxV/0/M/IMG_4734%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-PmR24xd/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-PmR24xd/0/L/IMG_5179%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-2z5BbB9/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-2z5BbB9/0/M/IMG_5007%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-FSCv3NP/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-FSCv3NP/0/M/IMG_4480%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-VL5LDV5/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-VL5LDV5/0/L/IMG_4503%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-gTfgKxs/A" title="El Pulp Mecanico"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-gTfgKxs/0/L/IMG_4350%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" title="El Pulp Mecanico" alt="El Pulp Mecanico"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qCrFZbb/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qCrFZbb/0/M/IMG_4694%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-H6fBntK/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-H6fBntK/0/M/IMG_4887%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-ZhMZtwD/A" title="Burners Chill out in the Mouth of this glowing fish art car"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-ZhMZtwD/0/L/IMG_4894%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-L.jpg" title="Burners Chill out in the Mouth of this glowing fish art car" alt="Burners Chill out in the Mouth of this glowing fish art car"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RtjbDwt/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-RtjbDwt/0/M/IMG_4993%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-bhW3nhP/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-bhW3nhP/0/M/IMG_4809%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-2XM7xZz/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-2XM7xZz/0/M/IMG_4566%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JtVmSDw/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JtVmSDw/0/M/IMG_4548%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JM3rC24/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JM3rC24/0/M/IMG_4554%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-hkHBp8C/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-hkHBp8C/0/M/IMG_5009%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
<p></p>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-QHzjGsp/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-QHzjGsp/0/M/IMG_4997%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
<p></p>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-jfF43Wn/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-jfF43Wn/0/M/IMG_4519%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
<p></p>
<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-Xj5hb39/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-Xj5hb39/0/M/IMG_4562%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
<p></p>
<p></p>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0Black Rock City, NV, USA40.7886448 -119.2030177000000340.7886448 -119.20301770000003 40.7886448 -119.20301770000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-54096452576969337052014-09-14T17:53:00.001-07:002015-04-07T13:37:17.142-07:00Bringing Luz to Burning Man<strong>Luz = Light (in spanish)</strong>
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Burning Man, the week long art festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada explores the limits of the human imagination. People who attend, or "Burners," must bring everything one needs to survive (including water) and then pack everything out. Radical Self-Reliance & Leave No Trace are two of the festival's
<a href="http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/about_burningman/principles.html#.VBYyAWRdW7s"><font color="00aeff">ten principles</font></a>
. Besides building fully equipped 10,000W+ sound stages and throwing massive dance parties in the desert, Burners also bring art projects to install around camps and out in the open playa. Burners are free to wander the expanse either by foot, bicycle or art car, enjoying incredible art that is spread throughout the open playa.
<p></p>
I was lucky enough to camp with a team of architects from Red Deer (UK) who designed and built this impressive pyramid structure on the playa near 6:00 in between Center Camp and the Man. At night LED lighting cycles through changing mosaics, illuminating the sturdy, transparent, acrylic structure. The design supported climbing burners all week long and it seemed that there was always a constant presence of people enjoying the art piece. A sound system consisting of 3 speakers placed at the base of each side focused an impressive, dialed-in, sonic field in the center of the pyramid. Carefully selected electronic music filled the space at night and many were seen joyfully dancing inside the structure.
<p></p>
If you have questions about the art piece you can email the designers here:
<a href="mailto:lionel@reddeer.co.uk"><font color="00aeff">Lionel@RedDeer.co.uk</font></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qBVThLK/A" title="Luz - Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-qBVThLK/0/M/IMG_4369%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Luz - Burning Man 2014" alt="Luz - Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-3mv7fCN/A" title="Burning Man 2014"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-3mv7fCN/0/M/IMG_4408%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="Burning Man 2014" alt="Burning Man 2014"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JjpKgqJ/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Burning-Man/i-JjpKgqJ/0/M/IMG_4781%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb%20-%20S-Med-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<strong>Luz @ Burning Man 2014</strong>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0Black Rock City, NV, USA40.7886448 -119.2030177000000340.7405538 -119.28369870000003 40.8367358 -119.12233670000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-81493941706924170382014-07-14T20:59:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:11:43.786-08:00My Adventure in Fairyland
<strong>Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah</strong>
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After about 10 weeks on the road I arrived in Bryce Canyon National Park, exhausted and drained of creative energy; to be honest, I was hardly excited to be there. Going through the motions, I set up camp and then stopped by one of the main view points of the Bryce Amphitheater. As I peered over the rim on the iconic view I was awestruck.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-QCjTpRx/A" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-QCjTpRx/0/M/Bryce_Sunset%20Point%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
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<strong>Sunset Point at Sunset</strong>
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This place is spectacular and vast! At the same moment I was also hit with feelings of anxiety and fear, "How am I going to photograph such a place and do it justice?" I snapped off a couple of mediocre shots and began to plan my days (the shot above was taken on a following day). Since Bryce Canyon faces east, sunrise is the best time to view the structures. The late evening light seen above is still beautiful but fairly flat and certainly less dramatic than the morning.
The first day I went to Sunrise Point to witness purple and pink clouds lining the sky and the yellow glow of the sun illuminating hoodoos in the amphitheater. This is why I get up at 5:15 in the dark...
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-DMLbbNt/A" title="Sunrise Point - Bryce Canyon National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-DMLbbNt/0/M/Bryce_Sunrise%20Point%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Sunrise Point - Bryce Canyon National Park" alt="Sunrise Point - Bryce Canyon National Park"></a>
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<strong>A Majestic Morning</strong>
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Following that epic sunrise, a walk through the Queen's Garden, Peek-a-Boo Loop and exiting through the Wall Street section of Navajo Loop rounded out the full morning. The Wall of Windows was particularly impressive with intricate towering walls.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-jq7r9d9/A" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-jq7r9d9/0/M/Bryce_Wall%20of%20Windows%20HDR%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
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<strong>The Wall of Windows</strong>
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The summer monsoons came rolling in as expected and rained out the afternoon. The evening cleared up for a visit to Bryce Point where a storm to the south was brewing. Soon lighting strikes began to happen nearly every minute! As the light levels dipped I was able to capture some of these bolts which I've stacked together to create this composite image.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-WqT4z5S/A" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-WqT4z5S/0/M/Byrce_Bryce%20Point%20Lightning%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
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Feeling like that would be hard to top, the next morning I ventured into Fairyland at dawn. Duly named, this part of the canyon is a fantasy land. Tall Juniper & Pine, desert flowers, hoodoos, and sand dune-like-mountain ridges make up Fairyland Canyon. While wandering this solitary trail it's so easy to imagine one has been transported to another land. The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon are spectacular and deservedly get many photographers' attention, but what I really love at the park are the sand dune hills--the remains of fully eroded hoodoos--that have orange, pink and white hues. This off the beaten path trail lived up to its name. Here is a vertically stitched telephoto shot of a hillside as the morning light was dancing with it.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-JxPhjQf/A" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-JxPhjQf/2/L/Bryce_Fairyland%20Sand%20Dunes%20Stitch%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah" alt="Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah"></a>
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<strong>Bryce's Fairyland Mountains</strong>
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This is my favorite scene of the trip so far, and I would love to see Bryce display this shot in their visitor center--blown up huge! What do you think? Needless to say I had a great time in Bryce.
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-9585884055129672392014-07-14T15:15:00.000-07:002014-07-14T15:16:31.298-07:00How to Think Happier Thoughts<strong>The Power of Positive Thinking</strong>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Other/Inspiration/n-hTBDr/i-zprGFX5/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/photos/i-zprGFX5/0/L/i-zprGFX5-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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A friend of mine introduced me to this idea through the mantra of "Thoughts Become Things." The practice involves first, thinking powerful thoughts, in order to manifest them in one's life. When this process is applied to the realm of happiness we find that thinking positive thoughts will lead to positive and happier emotions, while negative thoughts will lead to negative emotions.
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The mantra is further explained by T. Harv Eker in his book
<a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=Secrets+of+the+Millionaire+Mind%3A+Mastering+the+Inner+Game+of+Wealth"><font color="00aeff">"Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth"</font></a>
as "Thoughts >> Become Emotions >> Become Actions >> Become Things." Don't be put off by the title of the book as I was at first. This is a great book to read on the power of positive thinking as he focuses the discussion around our personal wealth, which we could all use some direction in.
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About 3 years ago I started to take this philosophy seriously. Persistent refocusing of my thoughts towards positive thinking and away from negative expressions, at first, took a lot of effort. But over time the effort has fallen away and things flow on. Things in my life that caused me stress and anxiety started to fade away having been replaced with reasons to enjoy life and to be happy about my current situation. I implore any soul who is motivated for personal growth, or to bring positive change to one's life, that this philosophy be at the core of daily life. Try it out for while and see how you like it.
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Another helpful tool that I used to keep me motivated was Pinterest, another social network that focuses on sharing images from around the web. There is a culture on there to create "inspiration boards." You can view mine here:
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/DWongPhotos/inspiration/"><font color="00aeff">"Dustin's Inspiration Board"</font></a>
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and the
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/14918242486910879/"><font color="00aeff">"pin"</font></a>
of the quote above
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-50520380695650157262014-07-07T11:04:00.000-07:002016-02-06T14:11:24.607-08:00Top 10 Lessons From The Road
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I just crossed the 10 week mark of my road trip, and in celebration of that milestone I wanted to share with you some of my lessons from the road. In many ways ten weeks feels like a long time, yet in other ways not so long. I guess what I'm really feeling is that this trip has been like no other time in my life and that is a great thing. I've been through many new experiences that have touched me and changed me. So far I've visited about 20 National Parks and wilderness areas, attended 2 music and art festivals, and spent time with old friends in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I continue to meet awesome people everyday and connect with them on various levels. Being on the road, there are many challenges to overcome, and here are some tips of making life out there a bit easier.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-MspF6HM/A" title="Life On the Road"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-MspF6HM/0/M/_C1A0125-M.jpg" title="" alt="Life On the Road"></a>
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<strong>1. You can camp for free. </strong>
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I've paid for 7 campsites in 10 weeks. There are various places where one can find free camping. National Forests generally allow free dispersed camping, as does the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Most of these free campsites do not have facilities but in a camper van it works out great. I've also stayed up all night shooting the stars and went to sleep as the sun was rising which is not considered camping at a national park. Some of these free sites are rarely used and would be a great place to bring a small group and have it to yourselves. Oh, and any Walmart across the country will not hassle you if you sleep in your car in the parking lot.
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Other great resources are <a href="http://freecampsites.net/"><font color="00aeff">FreeCampsites.net</font></a>
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And this great app called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ultimate-us-public-campground/id698323700?mt=8"><font color="00aeff">The Ultimate Campground Project</font></a> that shows all available campsites paid and free even in offline mode.
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<strong>2. Be prepared</strong>
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I've run into several people on the road who have needed assistance and could have benefitted from being better prepared. One pair of hikers was lost in Canyonlands - Needles because they had left the trail map in the car, but more importantly forgot what the trailhead was called where their camp site was. I ran into the desperate bunch around sunset and helped them get out. Luckily it was a fairly painless lesson for them. It's good to have a plan when venturing out in the wilderness, know where you're going and how you are getting out. Then have a backup plan. I carry a light weight space blanket ($2 on amazon) and a flash light with extra batteries whenever I go out in case I just stuck out after dark. There are many other safety things that you can bring, for example I carry my inReach Delorme satellite text messenger for emergencies when the trail is isolated and it's not guaranteed to see others.
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<strong>3. When you need something, others will help you</strong>
The two hikers I helped get off the trail at Canyonlands had a campsite in the full campground which they offered to share with me. (Yes, I could have driven to another campsite outside of the park, but it was nice be there) Sometimes things just end up working out in ways that one could never has predicted. Just be open to the possibilities around you and when meeting other people.
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<strong>4. You can get most things on the road simply and quickly</strong>
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The areas around parks and wilderness are generally setup to handle travelers. Filling my water tank at RV campgrounds is sometimes free but never more than $5. Dumping grey water at do it yourself car wash places is an interesting way to empty a grey water tank but many parks and campgrounds have free dump sites. Get the <a href="http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasBuddyiPhoneApp.aspx"><font color="00aeff">Gas Buddy App (iPhone & Android)</font></a>, it's free and it reliably tells you where fuel stations are with current prices. This is essential if you have a diesel vehicle.
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<strong>5. Be early or stay late to find a moment of solitude and bliss</strong>
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At many of the big attractions sunrises and sunsets can be quite popular for good reason. However in the morning many people show up late (after the really good light is over) or leave after the sun dips below the horizon. At the Grand Canyon after everybody had left, nearly 40 minutes after the sun had dropped below the horizon, seven California condors swooped up from below the rim right in front of me, took up a formation and sailed off into the sunset. It was an epic park moment that I treasure.
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<strong>6. Get off the beaten path </strong>
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The main attractions at parks are amazing, but don't assume that the places not as heavily pushed by the rangers and park brochures are not good. Many low traffic trails are magical places to find some amazing moments. In Joshua Tree they allow wandering off marked trails, which more of the wilderness experience. I took unpopular trail at the busy Barker Dam area and never saw anybody all afternoon. Instead, I found a special small, lush canyon that had a naturally maintained trail running through it where a desert tortoise lived. The top entrance of the canyon I now call "Tortoise Canyon" was blocked off with heavy brush except for a small slot in the rocks. The lower entrance, guarded by two lone Joshua Trees (The Gatekeepers), looked certainly unappealing surrounded with desert scrub. Nature tends to thrive in places where it's left alone.
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<strong>7. It gets really hot in the desert</strong>
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This may be an obvious one, but it is something I didn't think about when I planned my trip. The California lowlands, Arizona and most of Utah are large desert areas with temperatures teaching over hundred in the day.
Waking up early and starting hikes at dawn is the best way to beat the heat. Also prepare to carry 4 liters of water for a long day hike, yikes!
Take time to check weather conditions before and throughout your trip.
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<strong>8. Don't rely on cell service</strong>
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Many of these areas do not have cell coverage which means if you are counting on being able to look up trail information once you get there you could end up unable to find it.
Email yourself the text of the webpage so that it is available offline.
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<strong>9. Use the Google maps cache for offline navigation</strong>
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Google maps downloads map data as you zoom in and move around the map, it then stores that information in memory and can use it when you lose cell coverage. As long as wifi is turned on your location will still accurately be displayed.
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Before going into an area, take some time when you have coverage to zoom in and scan around the map. Park roads as well as forest roads are usually shown and sometimes even labeled. I discovered this in Death Valley where I as traveling dirt roads for 3 days, and many of the roads were not signed. Google helped me navigate through this with confidence that I was on the correct road.
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<strong>10. Have a reliable renewable power system</strong>
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This one is primarily for photographers but would be a convenience for anybody. In order to charge your camera batteries, cell phone, and upload data from your memory cards to a laptop takes time and more importantly power. It is great to have power with you in your vehicle. A portable battery along with an inverter can run a laptop and most of your electronics. While you drive the car you can charge the portable battery so it's ready when you need it. This way you don't accidentally kill your starter battery and get stranded.
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There are various size batteries depending on how much capacity you will need. The salesmen at batteries plus are great resources for figuring out a solid power system.
A solar charge panel on the roof of your car is the best way to get a charge during the summer.
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Traveling to national parks and wilderness is an amazing experience that I highly recommended. I hope I've covered some key tips that can make that experience much more enjoyable and manageable so that you are more eager to get out there and discover some cool stuff.
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The classic way to camp in a tent will work, but getting a vehicle that you can sleep in is better for long trips, and a camper van with power, a refrigerator, and water tank, is indispensable for working while on the road. You can see more details of my Sportsmobile van in <a href="http://dustinwongphotos.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-rig-aka-sportsmobile.html"><font color="00aeff">a recent post here.</font></a>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-69359388190753433092014-07-07T09:42:00.000-07:002014-07-07T09:43:26.824-07:00The Pink Wall<strong>Rattlesnake Canyon, Utah</strong><br>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-n9rHRcT/A" title="Rattlesnake Canyon, Utah"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-n9rHRcT/0/M/Antelope%20Canyon_Wall%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Rattlesnake Canyon, Utah" alt="Rattlesnake Canyon, Utah"></a>
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<strong>The Pink Wall</strong>
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Enjoy some vibrant color!
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This canyon, which is located in the same area as the heavily traveled Antelope Canyon, has beautiful sculpted walls that radiate color in the early morning light. The shapes and textures are all made by years of water running along sandstone.
The colors have been enhanced a bit, however I feel they take nothing away from nature's brilliance and creativity.
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As the only group shooting this canyon it was very pleasant compared to the downright chaotic Antelope Canyon. Having the space here allowed me to find my own shot and get a little more creative.
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Let me know what you think, and thanks for viewing!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-6068996517875471912014-07-03T15:17:00.002-07:002014-07-14T17:17:22.761-07:00A Fixture in the Night<strong>Canyonlands National Park - Islands in the Sky</strong><br>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-DFHSX9J/A" title="A Fixture in the Night"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-DFHSX9J/0/L/Canyonlands_Mesa%20Arch%20Stars%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="A Fixture in the Night" alt="A Fixture in the Night"></a>
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<strong>Mesa Arch & the Milky Way</strong>
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Here is the heavily photographed Mesa Arch shot with light painting. I met up with a fun couple to go here at night and there was only one other photographer out. The sunrise here is absolute chaos with about 40+ people lined up to take basically the same shot.
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I tried a vertical composition here to get the milky way and the arch in a more pleasing composition. What you can't see here at night is that this amazing arch sits on the edge of a cliff with a several hundred feet drop into a canyon below.
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Seeing these places at night is like going to a whole new site. It's a great place to make something new and refreshing.
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Thanks for viewing!
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Prints for this image can be ordered through the website, just click on the image above.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-64684367172507216382014-05-28T22:15:00.000-07:002014-10-10T15:32:08.022-07:00Just Add Color<strong>Death Valley National Park</strong><br>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-SZpvw8s/A" title="Death Valley, CA"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-SZpvw8s/0/M/DV%20Dante%27s%20View%20Sunrise%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Death Valley, CA" alt="Death Valley, CA"></a>
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<strong>Deep Horizons</strong>
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Here is another shot from Death Valley. It was an early wake up call to be in position at Dante's View before the sun came up that morning but it was totally worth it. The camera is incredibly sensitive to color, more so than the human eye, so the moments before the sun rises above the horizon are critical to capture these splashes of color in the clouds and mountains. Compositionally, the lines of the continually distant mountains invite a deeper look. Only simple edits for contrast and saturation were made in Adobe Lightroom 5.
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Thanks for viewing!
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Prints for this image can be ordered through the website, just click on the image above.
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-9092575129356422342014-05-20T11:24:00.001-07:002014-11-07T11:50:33.073-08:00The Magic of This Place<strong>Yosemite National Park</strong><br>
May 15th
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-BdmZZwc/A" title="Valley Fantasy"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-BdmZZwc/0/M/Yosemite%20-%20Omsted%20Point%20Night%20Sky%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Valley Fantasy" alt="Valley Fantasy"></a>
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<strong>Valley Fantasy</strong>
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This scene was shot in the evening just before moonrise. The colors at the horizon are from the moonlight illuminating the area behind the mountains, but the moon had not yet risen in this valley. The cloud streaks are from airplanes that frequent overhead Yosemite Park.
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Even though the park is incredibly crowded the rare moment where one finds solitude can still be achieved. This is one of those treasured times. The valley is filled with natural wonders and photographic opportunities, which is why the crowds flock to the park each year. I hope this image conveys some of the magic of this place.
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662798927818537510.post-58158787556698143832014-05-09T12:24:00.000-07:002014-10-10T15:34:46.561-07:00Entering Death Valley and Coming Out Alive<strong>Death Valley National Park</strong><br>
4/26 – 5/2
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-Ts7Vszc/A" title="The Valley of Death is quite beautiful"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-Ts7Vszc/0/M/DV%20-%20Dante%27s%20View%20w%20Me-M.jpg" title="The Valley of Death is quite beautiful" alt="The Valley of Death is quite beautiful"></a>
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It's like being on another planet. The landscape is filled with rocky crags carved out over centuries. Sediment layers create mysterious colored horizontal lines in the rock, sand dunes rise hundred of feet out of nowhere, and even a warm springs desert oasis can be found here (yes, it has palm trees). There are also vast salt flats and valleys of Joshua Trees that grow so naturally, perfectly spaced and distributed. If there is one thing here that is constant, it is nature's spectacular display of creativity. And that is before going into what I found at The Racetrack.
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Every area seems to glow in the morning and evening light. There is never a time where it feels like there is an absence of life. In fact it is thriving here, in its own way of course.
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<i>Off The Beaten Path</i><br>
I spent the first three days here in isolated sections of the park, traveling dirt roads often requiring 4x4 driving at 10 miles an hour. I would encounter only a handful of other travelers each day. There is a bond shared between souls who venture to distant places in search of something off the beaten path. The quest for solitude and an immersive experience is quietly acknowledged.
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<i>Moving Rocks</i><br>
Focusing on where I wanted to explore and photograph at sunset, I traveled to The Racetrack, a large, remote desert playa that is flat, hard packed (when dry), and home to the legendary moving rocks. These rocks mysteriously travel across the playa leaving distinct carved out tracks. For a while, how these rocks (some are 2 feet across) made their way hundreds of feet was unknown – but it seems science has found the answer: a combination of freezing conditions on the surface and wind over the years allows the rocks to travel. It’s really a shame that at some point people visiting the site have removed some of these rocks, but there are still plenty there to discover if one seeks them out.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-SBJnDzW/A" title=""><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Photography/Photos-From-the-Road/i-SBJnDzW/0/M/Racetracks%20Sunset%20Rock%204-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
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<i>The Night Sky</i><br>
Being very far from any major city makes this park ideal for viewing the stars at night. The warm temperatures make it quite comfortable to walk around for several hours at night.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-jwTPxHf/A" title="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Twilight-and-Night/i-jwTPxHf/0/L/Racetracks%20Stars%20Rock%203%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-L.jpg" title="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park" alt="The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park"></a>
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"Origin"
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Wandering the epic (and remote) Eureka Sand Dunes for sunset and twilight was truly a mystical experience. The sand was clean, and pristine, it invited me to spend an intimate evening with it. Rising quickly to over 680 feet, it has a presence all its own. Knowing that I was standing only on a tip of this ancient beast, which stretches over a couple square miles, was humbling. After the sun set behind the mountains, the soft light that fell on the dunes was like silk.
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-84RmK88/A" title="Eureka Dunes"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-84RmK88/0/M/Eureka%20Dunes%201%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Eureka Dunes" alt="Eureka Dunes"></a>
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<a href="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-GcmqFK5/A" title="Eureka Dunes"><img src="http://www.dustinwongphotos.com/Fine-Art/Deserts-and-Sky/i-GcmqFK5/0/M/Eureka%20Dunes%202%20full%20size%20limit%2050mb-M.jpg" title="Eureka Dunes" alt="Eureka Dunes"></a>
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The ability to pull up to a site in the Sportsmobile, explore all night (returning in the dark), cook food, and download photos to my computer is almost a necessity. It helps save my energy for photo expeditions and gets me solid rest. Waking up next to an epic sand dune is pretty awesome as well.
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<strong>Locations visited</strong> (View the official
<a href="http://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=deva&parkname=Death%20Valley"><font color="00aeff">Death Valley National Park Service Map</font></a>)
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Waucoba Mountain <br>
Saline Warm Springs <br>
Hunter Mountain <br>
Hidden Valley <br>
The Racetrack <br>
Ubehebe Crater <br>
Eureka Sand Dunes <br>
Salt Mine <br>
Scotty’s Castle <br>
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes <br>
Zabriskie Point <br>
Artists Drive/Palette <br>
Devils Golf Course <br>
Badwater <br>
Golden Canyon <br>
Dantes View <br>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04942257724434155491noreply@blogger.com0