Someone to Watch Over Me

I took this photograph last week on a ridge overlooking Lehi, Utah. I found the location a few days earlier and thought it would make a nice location to try some long exposure night shots. Even though I am not entirely pleased with how this image turned out, I thought it was worth sharing how it was done.

The shadowy figure looking over the city was created entirely in camera with a simple technique. I set the exposure for a shutter speed of ten seconds and put the camera into self-timer mode. I started the timer and took a stance in front of the camera standing as still as possible. Once I heard the shutter open, I counted to five and then quickly exited the frame. The result is the transparent outline of my body in the image.

This technique is similar to the way I created the Weeping Angels image last year (though I like that result MUCH better).

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 10 seconds, f/4, ISO 100

Eclipsed

Last night's lunar eclipse as it transitioned from the penumbra to the umbra stage.

Canon 30D, Canon 70-200 f/4L with 1.4x extender - 1/50 second, f/11, ISO 100

Bueller? Bueller?

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 3.2 seconds, f/22, ISO 100

Low Earth Orbit

The annual Riverton Town Days have begun in my city and with that comes the amusement rides. I grabbed my tripod and headed over just before closing last night to catch a few time exposures.

The method I use for this type of shot is simple and straightforward. I put my camera on APERTURE PRIORITY mode (AV on a Canon) and then stop the lens down to its smallest aperture. With the camera on a tripod I compose the shot and trigger it with a remote release, letting the camera's auto function handle both focus and shutter speed. A low ISO will ensure a longer shutter speed.

This technique permits me to be fairly mobile, not staying in one place too long. I don't like to draw too much attention to myself when photographing in a crowded area and keeping on the move helps.

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 4 seconds, f/22, ISO 100

Night On The Overpass - Take 2

Here's another capture from the nighttime shooting I did last week. I was particularly attracted to this composition by the many lines created by the fencing leading to a common vanishing point. Another feature I really like is how the curve of the chain-link fencing follows the vignette on the top of the photo.

Setting the exposure was a bit of a guessing game based upon experience. After some spot metering with the camera's meter and some quick math, I arrived at a shutter time of 280 seconds (6 minutes, 40 seconds) at f/11. This preserved most of the details and allowed the city-lit sky in the background to come through.

I was honored to have this image featured Thursday on the front page of the New West Network website. It's always cool when they opt to use one of my shots.

To really see the details, click here for a larger version of this capture on a black background.

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L IS lens - 280 seconds, f/11, ISO 50

Night on the Overpass

I have been shooting quite a bit of stock photos lately for addition to my iStock portfolio. While this is mostly an enjoyable exercise, it can get a bit stale after awhile. I mean, there are just so many different angles you can shoot a credit card reader from before it gets a little mundane.

Feeling the need to spend some time outdoors being creative, I headed to a local pedestrian overpass this past Monday night with my gear. There is something therapeutic about sitting in the dark waiting for a time exposure to be captured. The sensation of being alone while literally hundreds of people pass directly below is pretty cool.

This image is one of the captures I made that night. What made this shot a bit more challenging was that the tripod had to be extended to its maximum height of over 7 feet to overcome the safety fence. This forced me to guesstimate the alignment of the shot since I couldn't look through the viewfinder. Note to self: "Next time bring something to stand on".

Overall, I give this shot a solid "B". But the feeling of hanging out in the dark on an overpass earns an "A+".

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L IS lens - 399 seconds, f/16, ISO 50

Main Street Plaza, Salt Lake City

Hey, two days before Christmas so why not a Saturday post?

This capture is of downtown Salt Lake City on the Main Street Plaza. I opted for a shot from behind the Nativity Scene to show the hustle & bustle of the people and the busy-ness of the whole scene at Temple Square.

Again, Merry Christmas!

Temple Square at Night

Regardless of your religious views, there is no denying that the Mormon Pioneers are an integral part of Salt Lake City history. At the center of that history is Temple Square. During the Christmas season the downtown area is decorated with lights and the locals flock there to see the displays. As a photographer, the temple is an intriguing subject. Since the building is photographed so much, it is difficult to capture a shot that feels unique. I sought to make that shot last night.

To make this capture, I extended my tripod to its full 7' length and perched it precariously on a short 2' wall. Placing the camera at this height was required in order to get the full reflection of the building in the pool. Since I was unable to look through the camera's viewfinder (I'm not 9 feet tall), I had to line the shot up with a bit of guess work. After having the camera lined up, it was just a matter of reaching up to set off the shutter and waiting to catch the camera in case it fell during the 10 second exposure. I am quite pleased with the resulting image.

Merry Christmas!

Utah Olympic Oval

Olympic Oval, originally uploaded by LeggNet.

The Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.

This building was the site of the speedskating events in the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is now used as a recreational facility for such things as indoor soccer, hockey, public skating and, of course, speedskating. The unique architectural features of the structure make it a prime subject for nighttime photography.

SLC Departure

SLC Departure, originally uploaded by LeggNet.

I captured this light trail of a departing airliner at Sale Lake City International Airport. In shooting the planes, I discovered that there are several variations of lights on the aircraft. This configuration , non-blinking wingtip lights with blinking fuselage lights, made for the best photograph.