Exp: 1/640s @ f/5.6, ISO 200
Gear: Canon 40D, 300F2.8L

Sitting here watching it snow made me think about being in sunny and warm Alaska last July.  This shot was taken on the bear viewing trip that I went on.  We were on location in the middle of a partly sunny day so the lighting for furry critters was less than desirable.  Alas, I was there with the bears so not much else to do other than make photographs.  I did get a lot of shots I’m very happy with.  For this one I used Lightroom’s adjustment brush to bring the bear’s face out of the shadows and darken down the grass in the background.  Without these adjustments the image was very flat and the bears face was lost.  Hope you enjoy this shot, it was a blast making it.

(click the image above for the wallpaper size image)

Exp: 1/100s @ f/8.0, ISO 200
Gear: Canon 40D, 70-200F4L @ 70mm

Well I’ve taken a little break from photography since the Alaska trip but I’ve gone back and started processing some more images.  This is a shot that I saw while I was out on a walk without my camera and I liked it so much I walked 2 miles back to get my camera.  I’m glad I did.  I processed this image with the demo of Lightroom 2.  The localized adjustments you can make with this version are great.  I was able to bring out more of the detail of the rocks that would have been otherwise lost in the shadows.  This is a testament to the Canon 40D being able to record and retain the detail.

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Exp: 1/5sec @ f/10, ISO 100
Gear: Canon 40D, 17-40F4L, CPL, Tripod

Well I’ve been home for a week now and I’m traveling to Washington D.C. for work again.  I’m slowly working through processing all the images I shot in Alaska.  The image above is of Horsetail Falls on the Richardson highway outside of Valdez.  The weather was working with me on this day, as we drove out to photograph this fall and bridal veil falls the clouds were low on the hills which made for a heavy overcast so I was able to get a nice slow shutter to get the nice flowing water.  I use the polarizer to cut the reflections from the rocks and leaves.  I took quite a few compositions of these falls but this is the one I liked the most.

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Thanks for the correction Ray!

Exp: 1/1000sec @ f/7.1 ISO 400
Gear: 40D, 400F5.6L, Handheld

It’s been a few great days here in Alaska.  Thursday I went bear viewing, had an amazing time and today’s whale watching tour was worth every penny.  On our way back in from the point we came across a female and a calf that put on quite a show.  The calf is pictured breaching above.  I’ve updated the Gallery with the images from the bear viewing and the whale watching.

Widescreen wallpaper of the whale

Here is one of my favorite bear shots:

Exp: 1/1000sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200
Gear: 40D, 70-200F4L @ 200mm

Exp: 1/125s @ f/8.0, ISO 200
Gear: Canon 40D, 70-200F4L @ 109mm, tripod

Well we’ve been in Alaska for a couple days now.  The weather has been a little much to be desired but it is still fun.  I’ve started an Alaska Gallery for the pictures so you can click the image above or the link.  We are traveling to Homer tomorrow from Valdez across Prince William Sound so hopefully we will get to see some wildlife.  So far I’ve just seen a young moose and a couple bald eagles from a long ways out.

The image above is blue ice in the Worthington Glacier near Valdez, AK.  The blue color comes from the light absorbing properties of the glacier ice.  Click the link below for a wallpaper sized image.

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