High Plains Highway to Sturgis

On the road to Sturgis.  Riding Highway 385 North.  The High Plains Highway.

Across Colorado and Nebraska the plains reach to the horizon.

Small towns with unique buildings along the road.  Ripley's Believe It or Not.  A house build from 150,000 year old petrified wood.

Fields of sunflowers smiling and reaching for the sun.

Wind on my back, thump of my Harley, the road is mine.  Seems as if I am floating across the landscape.

Ride safe,  Carlan

Flash Fundamentals - Putting Light and Life into Your Photographs:

Have you ever heard photographers say, "I don't use flash, I only shoot available light"?  Maybe that actually translates to "I don't have a clue about using flash with my camera".  Or, "how does this thing work and when in the world would I want to use it"? Sound familiar?  If it does, I may have  just what you are looking for.

On July 19 -20 I am teaching a Flash Intensive Workshop at the Santa Fe Workshops.  In two days we learn to take the mystery out of using flash. Adding light and life to our photographs without the "look" of flash.  Beginning with on camera flash and quickly moving to speed lights we learn to soften, diffuse, bent, direct, shape, and otherwise control the light we add to our photographs.  Shooting outside in bright sun light?  Maybe you need just a touch of additional light to put life into your photograph.  We will learn to do that.  TTL, iTTL, TTL BL, manual, remote, commander, we cover it all.  All along the way making it easy to understand and use creatively.

Flash intensive.  That is what this workshop is all about.  In two days you may actually hear your self-mumble, "wow…this flash thing is pretty cool"!  Let's get together for this exciting, fun, and informative workshop.   Look forward to seeing you there!

Ride safe, Carlan

Landscape or Objects on the Land?

When we think of the word "landscape" in relationship to photography quite often a specific type of image comes blazing into our minds eye.  Our friend "Webster" provides the following definition:  1. A view of scenery on land.  2. A picture depicting such a view.

To complete the definition "scenery" is: 1. A landscape.  With these thoughts in mind, I always enjoy discovering and exploring what might be called the "non-traditional" subjects of landscape.

One of the best things for me when traveling the back roads of America is to slow down and look at the "landscape".  What are these things?  Why are they here?  Who did this...and what were they thinking?

Ride safe, Carlan

It all starts with some maps.

I think we all may do this.  It's winter, maybe cold.  Spring is just around the corner.  You're feeling restless.  The open road is calling.  You need to feel wind in your face.  You can't wait to strap the camera bag on your bike.   

That's when I pull out the maps.  Something about a paper map...just unfolding it gets all the thoughts and feelings moving.  I look for the "Blue Highways".  Before interstates, the highways across America were printed in blue.  Today...red.  OK...I'm looking for the red highways.  I find Highway 50.  It runs coast to coast through the heart of America for 3,200 miles from sea to shining sea.  Time magazine devoted an entire issue in 1977 to Highway 50, calling it the "backbone of America".  Heading west to east it provides a reverse time line of how our country developed.  Studying the maps it looks like Highway 50 passes through literally hundreds of small towns lost in time.

OK, I'm hooked.

Ride safe, Carlan