Notes from the field
This is the place to check for news of interest to all of us that enjoy landscape photography. It's our way to f-8 and be there! I encourage your contributions, stories, and notes. email Steve:f8andbethere@cableone.net
What to contribute images and articles to our website? Here's how to f-8 and be there.
December, 2005
If there is a way to get in a couple of days of photography before the new year .... Now is the time!
Seasons greetings and happy holidays to all. We look forward to another great year of sharing the passion for landscape photography. I want to share this thoughtful wish list.
Currently...Read the NWP interview of Steve Kossack on NWPphotoforum.com
How we see composition differs greatly. Sometimes all that is needed in the field is to simply Turn Around.
A new series of filters are about to be released. I've been testing them for quite some time. My review is now available. These are are new LB series from Singh-Ray Filters.
Reminded by the participant images from our most recent workshop, Brian Lee revisits a tapestry of memories from last year.
November, 2005
Once again it's with great pride that I present participant images from our workshops. This time from our very exciting Landmarks of the Southwest workshop of October, 2005.
Same place, different day! Working through a sunrise and sunset is the topic of help me make it through the light.
The excitement of Glacier NP is captured by this great image of Glacier Goats
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
How does Glacier National Park sound next August? Come join us. The workshop has just been posted!
How was the fall color season? Brian Lee shares his travels and some marvelous photography while chasing fall color.
Our Canyonlands workshop of last month was exciting and produced some stunning landscape photography. I'm proud to present the participant images and again thank all of you that were along.
Need a quick and easy way to level your tripod? Here is a review of a new QR plate that has a bubble level built right into it.
I am very proud to be interviewed by James Morrissey on his very popular website NWP-Photo Forum Part one of the interview can be read here. Part two is here and the interview is now complete with part three. I hope you will enjoy reading it and I welcome your feedback.
October, 2005
Is a workshop for you? Tim Bloomquist says A Workshop Changes Everything.
Want to use your credit card directly to purchase the Yosemite in Winter DVD? You can now do so.
If you are in the Moab Utah area the La Sal mountains have some very nice color this week.
Out doing fall colors? Now is the time. Former workshop participant Brian Lee reports on 10-2 from the eastern Sierra:
"There were brilliant patches of yellow and orange on the June Lake Loop. Further south, Rock Creek was awash in bright yellows and oranges, but no reds. About 1/4 of the trees in this area remain green. Around Bishop, North lake is very close to peak with deep oranges and some reds. Around Lake Sabrina, the hills were covered in yellow and orange with a few patches of bright red. As I write this, probably the best colors are along Bishop Creek heading to South Lake. We're probably heading back up there tomorrow. Lots of yellow and orange, but the reds have not hit yet. So, if anyone is planning to catch the colors in the Eastern Sierras, now is the time to do it! It's been pretty windy and a lot of the leaves are dropping before turning fully red."
September, 2005
Filters? We don't need no stinking filters! Well, some think we do and I'm one of them! Including graduated neutral density filters!
A return visit to Yosemite and a swing through Death Valley bring new images found in the Yosemite summer 2005 and Death Valley galleries.
A day in Yosemite is better than a day anywhere else! Yosemite Summer 2005 in words and pictures.
August, 2005
Thinking about a landscape workshop this year? The last place for this year is still available on our Canyonlands in the fall workshop. C'mon along!
Learning to see is a long and difficult process. Of most help to me is viewing fine art photography by others. Shows and galleries are a delight as well as a valued tool. If you are in the Seattle area I recommend seeing Fine Art Photography By David Silver.
"Steve- Got your DVD and thought it was great. Very well produced and a pleasure to watch" ... The reviews have been great! See some short clips and get a copy of Yosemite In Winter.
The Photo Gallery has a new look and some new images. The easy of use will make it possible to move images in and out. Please check back often.
Get a preview of next year's soon to be announced Yosemite Winter workshop by ordering your copy of the DVD Steve Kossack: Photographing the Great American Landscape ... Yosemite In Winter and watch for the workshop posting soon!
The Page Arizona area is always a rewarding visit. Some new photographs were the result of a recent stop.
July, 2005
Thanks for your patience. You may now order your copy of the new DVD series Steve Kossack: Photographing the Great American Landscape NOW!
The Colorado Plateau, images from a scouting trip for the Canyonlands in the Fall workshop are featured.
Thank you to everyone that has inquired about purchasing the Steve Kossack Photographing the Great American Landscape DVD. We are working very hard to get the shopping cart online. It should be done this coming week. Thanks for your patience and we hope you enjoy it.
Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra is a hikers paradise and hidden along the Great Western Divide is the little jem of a high camp ... Bear Paw.
Somewhere over the rainbow has always been the Yosemite for me. Paul Sumi finds his Yosemite Rainbow after an absence of many years.
A Yosemite Summer day hike and workshop is now available. Only 2 places remain!
Man, the elements and habitat are the subjects in Patience is Rewarded. A photo essay by Joel Bartlett.
June, 2005
One of my favorite images continues the discussion of my work that is presented in the Singh-Ray Gallery.
I'm again proud to announce the inclusion of some of my images in a new and very attractive map package of the Colorado Plateau. For those of you that are joining us on the October Canyonlands workshop or those that are in need of a great map of the area ...... check this one out. This is an adventure map and directory and I am proud to have my photography workshops represented on it. The site is under construction and will be up and running in about six weeks, however you can order now. When the site is completed it will feature the map and can be scrolled. It will also be on the mapz.com website soon.
Contrast is an old problem with many solutions. Sometimes a short, quick, simple and easy contrast mask can bring you up to the starting gate in no time.
Some great photography from the participants of the 2005 Grand Canyon Expedition can be seen by clicking on the Group photo or by going directly to the image page.
The 2005 Grand Canyon expedition is reviewed in 3 parts.
Part One ..... The 25 Year Dream
Part Two ..... On The River
Part Three ...The expedition Images
Where better to do star trails than the Grand Canyon, especially if you are living
Have you always wanted to photograph Grand Canyon as I have? Here is the story of how I learned to Share a 25 year dream with others.
The participants of our Grand Canyon 2005 rafting workshop will have a lifetime full of images to treasure. Dr. Jeff Johnson explains his approach to composition in Where to put the house.
Digesting an experience as overpowering as an expedition through the entire length of the Grand Canyon might well be done in little bites, as Paul Beiser suggests in Becoming Water.
Our Grand Canyon rafting expedition was a huge photographical success. I'm now sorting through more than 1,000 digital and film images of the 8 day voyage. I'll have articles and images, including our participants, very soon.
May, 2005
Our f-8 and be there Grand Canyon expedition and workshop is May 20-28. Enjoy the articles on the website until then. Look for images and stories when I return.
Want to know more about my images featured in the Singh-Ray filter Gallery? Here is the first of a series of articles called Grand Canyon Rainbow, as we warm up for next week's f-8 and be there Grand Canyon Expedition and workshop 2005.
If you think that dedicating some time to a workshop will pay dividends, the proof is here. See the excellent participant images from our f-8 and be there Death Valley Spring workshop.
It is with great honor and privilege that I announce my inclusion into the Singh-Ray filter image galleries. My addition to this prestigious list of the best nature and landscape photographers is simply thrilling! I've long admired companies that build a quality product with the input, advice and continued support of people that use them. Singh-Ray filters has been, and continues to be a leader in innovative quality photographic filters. My knowledge, use and admiration of their filters goes back many, many years. Working with both the filters and the personnel continues to be a joy and a valuable, if not indispensable, part of my photographic experience. As with all products that I find helpful to my photography, I am always happy to discuss any aspect of my use of these quality filters.
You work endlessly producing your images but now what? This thought provoking and beautiful display of greeting and holiday cards may answer that question.
Death Valley is a wonderland of light and geology. It's one of the hottest, driest and windiest places on the planet. Our Spring f-8 and be there workshop was all we had hoped for.
April, 2005
A great Death Valley workshop 2005 produced a successful lightning image. Read about our sunset and the bolt out of the blue.
I've taken a break from spring to spend a couple of days photographing in Bryce Canyon Utah. I enjoyed my Spring Break.
David Levy shares with us a magical Stitch In Time.
It's just not possible to stop photographing now. Everywhere one looks, there's More Spring!
Two new f-8 and be there workshops are now available!
Yosemite High Camp Backpack in August.
Landmarks Of The Southwest in October.
March, 2005
As the season changes, it's time to once again f-8 and be there ... it's SPRING!
Personal achievement is featured both in mountaineering and photography in Paul Beiser's Go Tell It On The Mountain.
Like soldiers of fortune, a lot of us were in Yosemite last month looking for a chance to photograph Horsetail Fall. Mellisa Hughes checks in with her image and story called Tripods? ... We don't need no stinkin' tripods!
While some of us are chasing wildflowers, Bill Langton had much bigger wild things in his viewfinder. Witness the thrill of Whale of a Tale.
Some very nice images from our Yosemite Valley winter workshop done by the participants are on display here.
Our Yosemite Valley winter workshop was everything we hoped for, including a great view of Horsetail Fall at sunset.
A more traditional image of Horsetail Fall from workshop member Tim Bloomquist.
February, 2005
I'm in the field doing our annual Yosemite Valley winter workshop. Reports, stories, and images coming soon.
Showcasing the area you live in is the subject of my latest Notes from the field column titled Your Own Backyard.
It is so nice when any of my f-8 workshop family are recognized for their photographic talents. Alain Trinckvel sends word that he has won a very prestigious French photo contest!
The French magazine which organized the competition is "Réponses Photo." (There are 2 very good photo magazines in France: Réponses Photo and Chasseurs d’images); they announced the results in the February issue released 2 days ago. The theme of the competition was "Light in the Landscape." In the article giving the result, they say they received more than 1200 images!
Alain explains that the main reason why they chose his portfolio is "homogeneity", in spite of differences of locations: Ireland, Death Valley, Normandy, Auvergne (center of France), Horseshoe Bend. They said also that light is subtle, but really present. They also appreciated the quality of the inkjet prints (“at last good inkjet prints”). The prize is an 18 day photo travel (pardon my French) in Indonesia (value: 3070 €uros), dedicated to volcanoes with a renown photographer, Olivier Grunewald. The trip will bring them to different islands (not touched by the Tsunami): Java, Bali, Lomboch. We’ll see and climb on many volcanoes: Krakatau, Mé rapi, Bromo, Semeru, Kawah Ijen and Rinjani. Several nights under the tent!
Congratulations Alain! See the portfolio Alain submitted that won!
Abstract and reflection images. Fiamma Zanelli shows off her Autumn Palette.
Kanab, Utah is reporting fresh snow. That means Zion, Bryce and possibly parts of the Colorado Plateau region. Clearing has begun in Sedona but it does not look like much stuck from this weak storm.
A review of the Lightning Trigger has been added to the Tips & Reviews page.
An article about fill flash in the field has been added to the Tips & Reviews page.
Looking to replace or add a new NP-E3 battery for your Canon 1D or 1Ds? Jeff Johnson has tested the Canon against the Delkin. See the test results.
A column about f-8 and be there ... again and again. Revisiting a photographic location can be a key element in understanding your image. Old Friends brings this subject into focus.
There is great news from Lower Antelope Canyon near Page Arizona. Kenneth Young, the architect that built the steel staircases and administrator of the site, has been hard at work repairing the staircases and pumping water from the recent storms. They have just reopened! This is a great time of year for photography. Time to f-8 and be there!
January, 2005
Greg Parker shares his thoughts and image On The Way in the Coyote Buttes wilderness.
I've often felt that if you put six photographers side by side you will get six different images. California photographer Laura Hughes was in Zion a week before I was and sends us her image. I was struck by how similar our images are in approach. See both compositions in Same Place, Different Day.
California photographer Paul Sumi joins the ever growing list of people that like to share stories of misfortune in the field. Here's one about the one that didn't get away! Lessons hard learned are usually the ones that last the longest. Thanks Paul for sharing.
A review of the Black Widow gimbal head is found on tips & reviews.
A new years postcard greeting and pictorial from The Grand Canyon.
I've always thought of photo equipment as simply tools for the job. Being out there is everything for me. That's why the f-8 and be there tag. However, when a good tool comes along, such as the Singh-Ray Vari-Density filter, seeing results as Tim Bloomquist sends along, becomes everything. So like Don Quixote, we tilt at windmills.
The new year begins with a heart felt story from Dr. Jeff Johnson.
There are two kinds of landscape photographers ... those of us that have done this, and those of us that will!