Speckled Aspen

Caught this on my photo walk with the super wide angle lens (12-24mm).

I need to use that lens more often.

  • http://daddyscratches.com DaddyScratches

    Wow. That’s beautiful. Is the sky really that blue there? (I took a similar shot for my Photo of the Day last week … but by similar I mean, “Looking up at a tree covered with snow.” Mine looks awfully pedestrian against this one.)

    And if I can pick your brain a little more on photography once again: In the EXIF data, does “exposure: program (auto)” mean everything—white balance, iso, f-stop, etc.—is all auto? Point and shoot only, don’t mess with settings? (I keep thinking I need to go with manual settings to get stuff that looks as good as what you get.)

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      I like to shoot in “P” mode on the Canon. It lets you have some control, but takes care of other stuff. I’ll generally use the Auto White Balance, because I’ve been mostly satisfied with it. Depending on how I’m shooting and what I’m shooting, I’ll look at either f-stop or shutter speed, as those are adjustable in P mode. I’ll adjust the f-stop if I want a more deep or shallow depth of field.

      As for the blues, yes, it can be that blue. Similar to my other work, I like to push sky hues around, so this was a matter of bumping up the saturation.

      You’d be surprised at what some curve/level/contrast work will do to even the most pedestrian shots. Add a touch of saturation and sharpening. The tools just keep getting better and if you shoot RAW, the ability of the image to take all this tweak is really astounding. I can’t recommend shooting in RAW enough.

      • http://daddyscratches.com DaddyScratches

        You know, I haven’t been shooting in RAW; just hi-res JPEG. I take so many shots, I’ve been afraid of filling up my hard drive … but I’m going to give it a try on your recommendation. I usually do a fair amount of Photoshopping to touch things up, and if RAW holds together better for that, then I’m sure I’ll prefer it. (This is the tree one I mentioned earlier … and it gave me very little wiggle room in PS before blowing apart. Wasn’t much I could do with it.) I’ll just have to be more selective about what I shoot … or do a better job of clearing all of the non-keepers out of iPhoto when I’m done.

        Thanks again for the info, Jon. I appreciate it.

  • http://kristanhoffman.com/ Kristan

    GOD that’s amazing!

    Winter can be so beautiful when you don’t actually have to go out into it… (I’m definitely having one of those days. Don’t you love it when you spend 30 minutes digging out your car, another 10 getting out your driveway, and you call your boss but no one answers, and then when you give up and drive to work and you’re 5 min away, they call back and say stay home? Yeeeeeah.)

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks!

  • http://www.thatcupoftea.com zan

    Another fantastic one. I’ll add a question to the pile: do you use the Tokina or the Sigma 12-24mm? I tried the Tokina and couldn’t get results as crisp as I’d wanted, but maybe I was too impatient with it.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks! I use the Sigma. It got better reviews on the sites I researched. Plus, it was in stock when I bought it for Heather’s Christmas last year. ;-)

      My results: you need a lot of light. Doesn’t do as well as I’d like in low light. A good flash will go a long way…

  • http://gourmeted.pip.verisignlabs.com/ Joy

    Gorgeous shot! Really loving the bright white and blue here.

  • http://amholen.wordpress.com/ Amber

    I never comment about the photos, but this is just, wow.

    I wish I understood photography more, I think it’s one of those rare artforms where the more you know and understand about the technical aspects of the medium, the more deeply you can actually appreciate the art itself.

  • http://www.digitalcatharis.com themightyjimbo

    how much photoshopping in this? it’s super crisp! sigma? tokina? canon? i have the 10-22 from canon and generally not all that pleased with it. this one just rocks!

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Sigma. Lots of light needed for good results. :-)

  • http://www.digitalcatharis.com themightyjimbo

    WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT

    @#$%ing WAIT.

    5d mark *2*?

    mark TWO? somebody went shopping!

    lucky bastard!

    i have total camera envy.

    spill it. i demandhumbly request a complete review!

    i admit i have a bit of buyers remorse after picking up the 50D and not sucking up the pain and dropping the extra coin for the 5D.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Shhhhhh!!!

      It was an early Xmas for both of us. We didn’t really exchange gifts.

      We got lucky and got to the shop in time to purchase. It’s really nice. More solid, More megapixels (great for cropping) and video. The video is tricky. Still working on it.

      Dude. I’m no DPReview.com. You are probably smart to have avoided the original 5D and could easily sell your 50D and pick up the 5D MkII :-) . Just saying.

      Still figuring some of the niceties and getting her dialed.

  • http://www.greystreetgirl.com greystreetgirl

    What an awesome blue sky. I’m going to be in SLC next week and I can’t wait to take pictures of the snow. It’s a work trip, but I’m packing all my gear and planning some down time. You’ve inspired me!

  • mscyndi

    Awesome photo! It makes me wish that I was still living in Utah. We don’t get the snow and blue skies here that we do in Utah.

  • djsteveoid

    Oh no! It’s the Crystalline Entity!

  • Maiken

    Please add this to your Etsy shop. It would be the perfect addition to a triptych of your photos I am ordering as my tax return present to myself!

  • Lesley

    It’s ALIVE!!!!!!!!! [insert scary music]

    Something about this made me think of an octopus, a rigid one, but nonetheless.

    Beautiful shot.

  • Randi

    I second the Etsy shop motion! That is breathtaking. Do you ship to Canada?

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks and yes, I do ship to Canada.

  • http://www.greeblemonkey.com Aimee Greeblemonkey

    gorgeous.