Making Lemonade: Red Cliff Recreational Area
This week I took a few friends up to Red Cliffs Recreational Area, a very interesting “park” near Leeds, Utah. This area is administered by the NPS. There wasn’t much happening at the waterfalls since the summer draught has already dried up the water flow. Rather than waste the trip, I separated myself from the others to produce these HDR images.
Valley of Fire – HOT, HOT, VERY HOT!
Last week, I went on an overnight shoot to the Valley of Fire, Nevada’s “first” state park.
Sunrise Panorama
Looks more like the valley of the moon, no?
Print of the Month #1 Announced
Print Of The Month Program
Anza-Borrego Scrub Hills
Bob Kulon’s Print of the Month #1 – April, 2009
This piece is presented as an 11×14 fine art print, matted and framed to 16×20 dimensions. During the feature month, the price is reduced 20% with shipping and handling included. After that, remaining stock is sold at prevailing price plus shipping and handling.
What that means to you is that you can acquire this piece during April, 2009 for only $120, shipping and handling included. Normally, this edition would be priced at $150 plus $30 shipping and handling. That is a 33% saving when you order it during the feature month.
About this Particular Image
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is located in Southern California. I went there on a shoot in mid-March, 2009 seeking desert wildflower macros for my catalog. When you have a decided goal, it pays to keep and open mind. This particular image appeared at the summit of the Carrizo Badlands Overlook. It was late afternoon and the group decided to wait out sunset. In the angular light this soft rendition of the hills emerged. The scene was visibly hazy and blah; most overlooked its inner beauty. I was immediately struck by the fact that by simply expanding its tonal range, a subtle glow would emerge. The mood is intended to be soothing and imaginative.
This particular shot was captured on my Canon 5D Mark II camera using a 70-200mm f/2.8 L lens set at f/16. As always, my trusty Gitzo tripod held everything stable in the stiff wind.
The print is made to 11×14 dimensions using the very latest Epson 7900 Ultrachrome HDR pigment inks. These exhibit extraordinary permanence and tonal detail when paired with my paper of choice, Ilford Galerie Gold Fiber Silk.
The presentation is matted with white Archival Bainbridge stock. The mat will be signed in pencil on the left and the numbered edition will be indicated on the left. It is conservation mounted (hinged) to acid-free foam core. Finally, it is glazed in acrylic (no breakage) and delivered in a black Nielsen gallery frame that is consistent for all Prints of the Month (should you wish to acquire a collection over time). A certificate of authenticity will be included.
Shipping & Handling
The framed print, as prepared, is quite durable. No glass is used. The frame is metal. It will be securely packed and protected and shipped in a flat container via UPS ground. The shipment will be insured.
Ordering
Remember, this is a limited time offer. Contact me first to discuss the order. I can take your order over the phone if you want to use a charge card. Alternatively, open my order form, print it and snail mail it to:
Robert Kulon
1031 N 1300 West #1
St. George, Utah 84770
Phone: 435.687.3817
Email: bob@bobkulonphoto.com
Payment
Payment can be made by check or credit card and should accompany your order.
HDR Comparison
It has intrigued me that the clamor increases regarding the potential and benefits of using HDR methods to compress dynamic range. As an experiment, yesterday I shot in Snow Canyon atop some sandstone atolls that have “water tanks”, the local moniker for “pools”. I present to you, for discussion and comment, both HDR versions and my traditional renditions of two of these scenes. I used Photomatix Pro 3.1 in Detail Enhancer mode. I will withold my opinion just yet. Please let me know what you think of the results.
Photomatix HDR
Traditional Photoshop
Photomatix HDR
Traditional Photoshop
Snow Canyon
Today, I spent a few hours at the Petrified Dunes in Snow Canyon State Park.
High Desert: The exploration begins
I just spent a few days with my buddy Jerry Emery guiding me to some of the scenic treasures around home. There is an amazing place called Snow Canyon State Park about 5 miles north of me. Slick rock, sandstone spires, high desert flora, lava beds, amazing geography. No real photography yet; just getting oriented and marking the GPS. I plan to make these places repeated, persistent haunts to capitalize on “being in the right place at the right time”. Tomorrow there may be a light dusting of snow in the canyons.
My first series of field workshops will entail the treasures of the High Desert.
Zion: After the Storm
Rainbow in Zion Canyon
Basalt on Slick Rock
Snow Canyon Palette
Slick Rock | Slick Jerry
White Sands NM – another 2-hour tour
On my way back to Ohio, I took the boring southern route to avoid weather in the Rockies. Along the way I made a quick stop at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. (I missed this on my last trip to Bosque Del Apache.) I plan to return when I have more time to do a decent job.
B&W Vista
The Tribunal
Snow on the Sahara
Yucca Polaroid
