Steve Kossack now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, which enables him to reach many of the most iconic natural wonders in the American West within just a few hours of driving. “What I have found amazing is how differently I respond to a scenic area after exploring it many times. This is especially true for those locations I have explored to the point that I wonder if I have exhausted all their visual possibilities. Of course the landscape does not …
For a change of pace, shoot ABOVE the surface of Hawaii’s coastal waters
To follow the ventures of nature photographer Jon Cornforth over the past couple of years, you would need a boatload of scuba and underwater photogear. “Photographing the lives of all the various whales and other underwater wildlife has demanded almost all my time and attention. But there are those brief occasions when I have time to use my Canon 5DmkIII with Zeiss lenses and Singh-Ray Filters to capture some impressive scenes above water. Here are four recent examples. I photographed …
Shooting the beauty of Kauai Island from a helicopter, Capturing a more revealing perspective
Kauai is the oldest of the four main Hawaiian Islands and it is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and charming places I’ve ever been. During a recent anniversary trip to Kauai with my wife, I made a half-hearted commitment to keep the camera out of the way for the most part (much easier said than done in such a beautiful part of the world!). To not shoot from the helicopter, however, was never an option. If you’ve …
Using Singh-Ray Polarizers to enhance digital images for B&W image conversions
I find the light in New Mexico to be magnificent almost everywhere I go. So when I arrived in Albuquerque and found that the surrounding National Parks were closed, I quickly decided to explore the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. And I am really glad I did. See my blog story from November 3. But after a full day of balloon watching, we moved on to the historic area of Taos, New Mexico. I was really anticipating this visit to the UNESCO …
Visiting NYC with Singh-Ray Mor-Slo ND filters to shoot very long exposures
Living in Colorado, I don’t always have opportunities to do urban photography, so when I get a chance to go back east, I always bring along my creative filters. When I was in New York City for the Photo Plus Expo, I brought my two newest filters, the Singh-Ray 5-stop and 10-stop Mor-Slo filters. The image above is a good example of how these filters let me capture very long exposures even in broad daylight. Singh-Ray Mor-Slo filters are a …
Using Singh-Ray polarizers to enhance hot air balloon images in Albuquerque’s early morning light
There is no doubt that New Mexico is blessed with a multitude of dramatic natural areas and inspiring historical architecture, but what really stirs the soul of this photographer is the magnificent light to be found in the state. This is particularly true of the northern areas around the Sangre de Cristo and Sandia mountain ranges. During this most recent visit, I found all the national parks to be closed, but nobody had been able to turn off the light. …
Photographers of all ages and stages of mobility should bring their cameras to the American West
I love to show other folks what I think is available to see and visit without straining their budget or their back. Born and raised in Ohio, I have long since adopted the life we photographers have in Colorado and the American West. For the many photographers who don’t live out here, however, I would advise you to come visit us soon. Bring your camera, a sturdy tripod and all your filters. The photos I’m including here are intended to …
Tracing the path to the home of dreams
Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer and Graduated ND Filter Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer and Graduated ND Filter I think to fully explain how I arrived here, I am going to have to take you back to where it all began. I grew up in the proverbial ‘center of the universe.’ Exactly 30 miles from the GWB (George Washington Bridge linking New York and New Jersey for you non-east coasters) Exit 52 off of Interstate 80. Nature existed there, but has greatly …
Capturing the Ice and Fire of Icelandic sunsets
One of the most sought after locations for both travel and landscape photographers is Iceland — the land of ice and fire. Iceland is a Nordic island country bordered by the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, plus the island is geologically active with many volcanoes, so the weather varies between different parts of the island. Generally, the south coast is warmer, wetter and windier than the north, and the central highlands are the coldest. As a veteran photographer from a tropical …
Taking the new Mor-Slo 15-stop ND Filter for an initial test shot
I would go as far as to say it saved my trip! The way the 10-stop neutral density filter expanded my creativity was beyond my expectations. I love this filter, but imagine my surprise when I came home one day and saw the 15-stop Mor-Slo filter sitting there on my counter (insert exploding head noises here). As soon as I saw THIS little gem, I was eager to find the time to get out and play with it. When I’m …