Fall road trip extravaganza is screaming up on the schedule & I want to get familiar with my camera again before that happens so I figure I’ll revisit the 21 day challenge.
The Focus / Rules
1) Shoot each day but I’m going to give myself some wiggle room on the processing. I know it’s going to be tough just to shoot daily never mind process.
2) Key on landscape / wildlife shots as that will be the subject matter of the upcoming trip.
3) Pay attention to in camera crops, exposure, etc (the technical stuff). I’ve been a little sloppy with that lately just taking extra frames quick-quick run-run.
4) I know I can’t force creativity but getting those juices flowing before the trip is what I really want out of this.
***Post to comments if you're going to join in***
Day 01 (Sept 25, 2009) 
4:53pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/100 | f 6.3 | iso 200 | 40mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure (bump up) | b/w preset
Backstory: I had literally five minutes between packing for Three Hills & catching my ride. Thought the b/w was a nice save.
Day 02 (Sept 26, 2009)
4:46pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/1000 | f 4.0 | iso 200 | 25mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure (bump up) | sepia preset
Backstory: Break between volleyball games in Three Hills. Ironically I was doing this in the spring when we were in Three Hills for basketball. Hard to find subjects on a windy fall day with crap light.
Day 03 (Sept 27, 2009)
2:03pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/250 | f 10 | iso 200 | 18mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure (bump up) | crop | preset autumn
Backstory: No excuse not to have a good shot today. Might have punched the color too much in the processing though.
Day 04 (Sept 28, 2009)
7:44pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/6 | f 4.0 | iso 200 | 27mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure (reduce) | crop | preset PH city
Backstory: A dog walk shot. I liked what the preset did to the colors. Otherwise I should have gone with a higher ISO (think McFly) & ideally a tripod.
Day 05 (Sept 29, 2009)
7:31pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/8 | f 3.5 | iso 200 | 18mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): shit show
Backstory: Headless chicken... slightly better than the 'out the truck window' shot which was the alternative. If I was processing daily I'd at least have bumped up the iso. That said this process is working. If I am not able to shoot I'm at least plotting & scheming about it. Look at this shot as the low point of the process (lets hope so at least)
(Note: Day 01-05 processed before shooting day 06)
Day 06 (Sept 30, 2009)_020.jpg)
7:26pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/15 | f 5.6 | iso 200 | 55mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): Crop | Preset "Dramatic Ocean" | Exposure (bump up)
Backstory: About a kilometer north of High River, there wasn't much color in the sky as I was hoping for. I need to revist some tutorials on how to deal with this one better.
Day 07 (Oct 01, 2009)
4:58pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/400 | f 13 | iso 200 | 24mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): preset 'Green Door' | fairly heavy crop
Backstory: Was in the field all day surveying but tight schedule so it came down to another five minute shoot before bolting for volleyball. Shooting into the sun gave this shot an interesting contrast combined with the preset. I like this one.
Day 08 (Oct 02, 2009)
7:25pm | Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 0.6 | f 3.5 | iso 800 | 18mm | flash DNF | Tripod |
Processing (Lightroom): none
Backstory: Clouded over, spitting, and quite dark compared to other days at a similar time. I struggled with making these selections as it works as a b/w too. Wasn't crazy about the dead leaves.
Day 09 (Oct 03, 2009)
9:41am| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/3 | f 16 | iso 200 | 33mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): none
Backstory: Trying to get the soft blurred effect hand held. Tripod would have been good for these shots but also had to keep up with my hiking partners. Branches aren't as sharp as I'd like.
(Note: Day 06-09 processed before shooting day 10)
Day 10 (Oct 04, 2009)_020.jpg)
5:38pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/50 | f 5.0 | iso 200 | 28mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure | crop | Preset 'Fort Knox'
Backstory: Snowy rainy schleppy day... a few shots around the garden. Like the color, little else, & not happy that I couldn't at least get the exposure & crop in camera. Sigh...
Day 11 (Oct 05, 2009)_001.jpg)
7:05pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/30 | f 3.5 | iso 200 | 21mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure | crop & straighten |
Backstory: One of my favorite 'walk in the woods' type places. Notice the crop & exposure. Yup, I see a trend developing.
Day 12 (Oct 06, 2009)_001.jpg)
6:48pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/125 | f 5.0 | iso 200 | 145mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure | dust spot removal (for metal post) |
Backstory: Didn't quite capture the feel of the clouds etc (argueably a little late getting to a suitable spot) & the wind was gusting to 100kmph so shooting from the cab using the door to stabalize the shot... well, it was timed between buffets. Used the dust spot removal tool to kill a metal post that was ruining the shot. It was either that or no cows & I wanted the cows. Without getting out of the truck. Now isn't that more than you really needed to know? Anyway, a nice western theme I thought.
Day 13 (Oct 07, 2009)_001.jpg)
5:33pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/250 | f 10.0 | iso 200 | 24mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): crop |
Backstory: On the way to Strathmore (volleyball). To fully appreciate this shot you have to imagine Shannon in the passenger seat screaming at me for a full stop on the hiway with water on either side of the road. Like I'm going to drive into the water...
Day 14 (Oct 8, 2009)_001.jpg)
7:06pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/8 | f 3.5 | iso 200 | 24mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): none |
Backstory: Frigging cold snowy day. Looks like old George could use a heavier coat. Got the exposure & crop this time.
Day 15 (Oct 09, 2009)_001.jpg)
4:29pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/2000 | f 4.5 | iso 200 | 33mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure |
Backstory: The 'insurance shot' but nothing backed it up since I worked until almost dark. This is the story with most of the fall color this year. It was so warm nothing turned & then got slammed by the cold weather. Some leaves have dropped while still mostly green.
Day 16 (Oct 10, 2009)_001.jpg)
11:30am| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/60 | f 5.6 | iso 200 | 39mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): exposure (slight) |
Backstory: Liked the colors & textures in the flash frozen chard. A cold snowy day in the garden freezing my fingers off digging carrots etc out of the half frozen ground, busting into the rainbarrels with a hammer... good times.
Day 17 (Oct 11, 2009)_001.jpg)
6:33pm| Canon Rebel EOS 300D | 1/15 | f 3.5 | iso 200 | 18mm | flash DNF | Handheld |
Processing (Lightroom): crop | preset Dramatic Ocean (liked what it did to the colors) |
Backstory: Yet another shot in my garden. Cold & blah.
Day 18 (Oct 12, 2009)
*FAIL*
Backstory: I was out in the morning for at least an hour & half with Tessa (nice and sunny for a change). Saw a coyote, muskrats, ducks, geeze, neat frost formations etc. Lots of shots framed in my head where the exposure & crops were spot on!
(Day 13 -17 processed Day 19)
So that's a bit short of 21 days but I'm setting the brake on this project. By way of a summary it was middling effective in terms of results (mostly due to lack of time & or crappy light) but I think on objective #4 I was successful. I'm ready to go shoot in the sunny south. Especially since there is now a good 4" of snow on the ground!
Friday, September 25, 2009
21 Day Shoot’n Challenge (fall ‘09)
Fall? Really???
Wow September went fast! Blinkity blink and it’s officially fall. Circumstances at work have me pinned down playing 'office boy' full time which puts me in a generally foul mood but I’ve got some fun planned for the weekend so it’s all good.
Remind me when it snows that I should have just put the machine on and gone surveying this week… that’ll make me feel better about ‘wasting’ a week of +30 weather inside.
Pyramid Lake & Peak
Sept 20, 2009 | Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Peak (Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho Selkirks) 2242m | +-12km | +-600m gain
Jumping the border into Idaho for this hike was a great idea. My sister joined me & she kept up pretty good despite her short legs ;-) When I say 'joined me' I was pretty much at her mercy with no map, only a description of the hike to the lake & a general idea of how to summit Pyramid Peak. Straightforward enough though as these things go.
Huckleberries!!!
There was also a ton of beargrass ... I'd love to come back here in June/July.
We attained the ridge circling south of the lake then circled around the ridge up & down until eventually reaching Pyramid Peak (center right). Supposedly this peak is visible from Creston.
Pyramid peak far right.
A wind blasted pine I thought was worthy of the 'Hardrocker' preset.
I found a trip report online after the trip which names some of the peaks. This one is supposedly 'Chimney Rock'.
& this one refered to as 'Lions Head'.
On the summit. 360 degree views.
Some wee boulders on the descent.
Bushwhack back to the main trail.
It was 2:30 am before I got home... had to have a nap part way. A Peanut Buster Parfait & Mountain Dew will only get you so far it seems...
Kootenay / Goat River Kayak
Sept 19, 2009 | Kootenay River, Goat River (Creston BC) | up & back a ways...
Avast yeh scurvy scum!… in t' spirit o' talk like a pirate day this post be in pirate speak so y’ll be tickled t' know that’ll make ‘er a short one as pirates be more fer swashbucklin' than writ’n flowery stories. 
This adventure takes place on t' shores o' t' mighty Kootenay river near Creston BC. Our craft for t' day were wee ocean goin' kayaks, me first time kayakin' with a rudder. Not much room on board for big Canons, used me Powershot (since we don’t much care should it be sent t' swim with t' fishes)
Narry another craft did we see so t' pirate’n be slow but we did spy into t' depths for t' mighty Sturgeon seen by me fellow pirates on a previous voyage. Thirteen feet t' monster be if she was an inch but she eludes our search hidin' in t' depths o' t' Goat river. Lots o' birds thar be – Kin'fishers, Herons, Canada Geese & lots o' Raptors circlin' t' fields for some juicy bilge rats no doubt. 
With gatherin' clouds, billowin' winds & shallow waters we turns for t' pull out t' go and pillage t' local diner.
T' day be ended with an inland foray up Goat Mountain t' t' site o' t' old hang glidin' launchpad. She be abandoned for years after a swashbuckler landed on t' roof o' t' Creston arena & spoiled t' fun for t' rest o' t' scum.
Bow Glacier Falls
Sept 18, 2009 | Bow Glacier Falls (Banff NP) 2090m | 9km | 150m gain
Top down: Bow Glacier, Iceberg Lake, Bow Glacier Falls, Bow Lake as seen from Cirque Peak.
Good morning from Bow Lake. Windy, rainy, cold morning but who's complaining. 
My breakfast spot by the falls, not too shabby.
This is a BUSY hike in season but I had it pretty much to myself this day.
Peyto Lake, Bow Lookout
Sept 17, 2009 | Peyto Lake, Bow Lookout (Banff NP) 2315m | 6km | 235m gain
After Cirque Peak it was a little too early yet to hit the campsite so I headed for Peyto Lake...it's on every postcard rack in the Rockies...BUT seldom with the aged look. Hey? Hmmm? Too bad the view is a cliché because it is stellar. I didn't get to tell any tourons that it gets it's tourquoise color from the painted bottom. So sad.
Bow Lake from Bow Summit Lookout.... used to be home to a firelookout. It's gone but the road remains & if I hadn't been spoiled earlier by the view from Cirque Peak I would have been more impressed. 
It is a great view for relatively minimal effort.
Spent the night at Ramparts Creek Campsite. Got all worked up about my can of clam chowder I THOUGHT I had for supper that turned out to be corn chowder. Hate it when that happens.
Helen Lake, Cirque Peak
Sept 17, 2009 | Helen Lake 2372m, Cirque Peak (Banff NP) 2993m | 18.5km | 1050m gain.
Cirque Peak reflected in Helen Lake. NE of Bow Lake on the Icefields parkway (Hwy 93). One of my premier hikes/scrambles of 2009. One of the hardest to narrow down the photos from at any rate.
If you open this shot full size you'll see two figures. They became my improptu hiking partners for a short while after I spotted a grizzly bear digging in the cirque just short of Helen Lake. Besides a large group of Japanese tourists they were the only other hikers I saw that day.
Once up a little higher from the cirque I was able to watch the mother grizzly with her two cubs running circles around her playing. A rare treat & thankfully it was thru my binoculars.
Dolomite Peak
Cirque Peak kept cycling in & out of the clouds. I decided to attempt regardless & was glad I did. I got chased off prematurely by a thunderstorm but had good views while I was there & it didn't begin to rain until I was almost back down to Helen Lake.
Part way up Cirque Peak I met the second half of the Japanese group. The first had better english & warning of the bear seemed to go ok. With this group I had to finally pull my bearspray & show them the picture of the bear on it & point to the cirque. THEN they got excited.
They were quite concerned for my welfare. Pointing at the peak they said "Very cold, very cold." then looked pointedly at my legs. Must have though I was nuts to be wearing shorts. We parted ways each amused in our own way from the encounter.
I love days like this for shoot'n. The clouds add so much to the drama of the scene. 
Dolomite Peak again. Cool looking mountain.
I recall thinking "I should be at my desk right now" & then laughing manically.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Castle Mountain
Sept 5, 2009. Castle Mountain (Banff NP). 2766m. 26.2km. 1400m gain.
This first shot is of Eiesenhower Peak reflected in Tower Lake.
I didn't take the classic photo from hwy 1 so you can click here for more info as it is an easily recognizable peak from the highway. We summited from the cirque behind the peak.
Rockbound Lake from summit.
Spot the ptarmigan (there are two).
A rather unique experience was hearing music from the summit and later once further down in the bowl it turned out to be a man from France playing an Alpenhorn at the lake. Great location for it as the notes were echoing off the vertical rock walls around the lake. Made for a very cool effect.
A great (albiet long) day in the mountains.
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