Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
John NYC
What's the best month (or months) of the year to visit there? (Assuming I want warm, cool or chilly, but not hot or cold weather)
Dear John,
Thank you... :)
Since you desire warmer weather compared to the cooler, colder weather, our summers are quite pleasant and temperate, but when a Chinook Wind decides to blow into town during the winter months, our daily temperatures can change from minus twenty Celsius to plus twenty degrees Celsius in a few hours. The Chinook winds are a welcome change during the winter.
That said, summer can be best described as occurring between midnight July 31 through to noon on August 1, and where every other temperature extreme occurs before and after that summer window. I do enjoy the calendar's late spring and early summer months, because the weather patterns are very boisterous at this time of the year, and although we do receive a few thunderstorms during the spring and summer seasons, they do not compare to the stronger more dramatic storm cells that develop to the east in the Province of Saskatchewan. Alberta's weather is always very diverse and predictably unpredictable, but the sun surely abounds above our heads for most of the year. June tends to be Calgary's wettest month of the year, but then again that statistic depends on what part of the province you happen to be in, and how close you are to the leeward side of the mountains.
I do have my favourite times during the year, and that happens to be every day, but I must do some research to answer your question more effectively. I will send you a note that should give you a few windows of opportunity to explore, where you should be able to enjoy the mountains, the foothills, the prairies, and our ingenious western culture without having to wear your long johns, but then again, I would still bring them. If you golf, then bring your sticks, because there are too many fabulous mountain golf courses, just across the line to the west in another great province called British Columbia.
jim k
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Tree detail in Carmel, CA.Calumet C-1 8x10, 240mm G-Claron, fp4+, PMK, 4990 Scan
http://www.pbase.com/cloudswimmer/im...3/original.jpg
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jim kitchen
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your comments... :)
Alberta surely has its fair share of fabulous cloud formations.
jim k
I'm a native of neighboring Saskatchewan, and I know first hand how incredible those prairie skies can be - it's probably what I miss most. I only ever seem to make it back in winter anymore, but i'd love to photograph during the summer again some time.
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Large Format Landscapes
In the Olympic Mountains, Washington.
Across the strait is British Columbia.
I skipped a rock across the clouds, got dizzy, and hiked back down.
Tachi 4x5
Jurassic-era Fuji Pro 160s
Fuji A 240mm/9
Epson 4990/Epson Scan
Re: Large Format Landscapes
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/...21266487_z.jpg
Ice and Grass, Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
Tachihara 4x5, Caltar II-N 150mm f/5.6, Fuji Provia 100F
This is a perfect example to me of how much I suck using my Large Format camera. At the time I began framing this the patch of grasses in the bottom left were lit by the low sun, and the surrounding grasses were in shadow. 20 minutes later, or whatever it takes me, when I was finally ready to fire the shutter the light had shifted several feet and what I was left with wasn't what I had in mind... oh well. :) I still liked the blue reflections (a polarizer helped to emphasize the reflection).
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MumbleyJoe
This is a perfect example to me of how much I suck using my Large Format camera. At the time I began framing this the patch of grasses in the bottom left were lit by the low sun, and the surrounding grasses were in shadow. 20 minutes later, or whatever it takes me, when I was finally ready to fire the shutter the light had shifted several feet and what I was left with wasn't what I had in mind... oh well. :) I still liked the blue reflections (a polarizer helped to emphasize the reflection).
Hey, it happens to everyone! I have a few pictures with the "last afterglow of the sun on the mountains", because I was just a tiny bit too slow for a picture with the real "afterglow". I've always wondered if those pictures of "clearing winter storm" would actually have been planned as "full grown grizzly winter storm", but then the ground glass fogged up under the dark cloth (which was pushed around by the wind and trying to pull the tripod down), the dark slide was frozen shut and the shutter had to be pre-fired 2 or 3 times to get going, so ... it became "clearing". :-)
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sascha Welter
Hey, it happens to everyone! I have a few pictures with the "last afterglow of the sun on the mountains", because I was just a tiny bit too slow for a picture with the real "afterglow". I've always wondered if those pictures of "clearing winter storm" would actually have been planned as "full grown grizzly winter storm", but then the ground glass fogged up under the dark cloth (which was pushed around by the wind and trying to pull the tripod down), the dark slide was frozen shut and the shutter had to be pre-fired 2 or 3 times to get going, so ... it became "clearing". :-)
Oh, I laughed many times while reading that - I love the idea that Clearing Winter Storm was meant to be Full Grown Grizzly Winter Storm. :) And yeah, it happens all the time (in fact, it happened with the ~4 or so shots I took that day) but all you can do is try, right? Maybe you'll come away with a winner you hadn't envisioned.
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MumbleyJoe
This is a perfect example to me of how much I suck using my Large Format camera...
Try photographing under the redwoods or similar forest with a light overcast (and no wind). Best time is from about 10am to 2pm. Lots of contrast, and one can take their time as the light is pretty constant. Very relaxing LF photography. Well, hiking with 60 pounds of 8x10 for a couple miles or so is not too relaxing, but there are lots of opportunites from the road or just a few feet from the car if one does not want the exercise.
Vaughn
PS -- now, photography under the redwoods with the sun streaking in is another kettle of fish altogether! One needs to study the trees around oneself and guessimate how the light will be moving over the next 15 minutes or more. Dramatic shifts of light!
Re: Large Format Landscapes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vaughn
Try photographing under the redwoods or similar forest with a light overcast (and no wind). Best time is from about 10am to 2pm. Lots of contrast, and one can take their time as the light is pretty constant. Very relaxing LF photography. Well, hiking with 60 pounds of 8x10 for a couple miles or so is not too relaxing, but there are lots of opportunites from the road or just a few feet from the car if one does not want the exercise.
Vaughn
PS -- now, photography under the redwoods with the sun streaking in is another kettle of fish altogether! One needs to study the trees around oneself and guessimate how the light will be moving over the next 15 minutes or more. Dramatic shifts of light!
Vaughn is right. It is heaven! The 8x20's that I have from my October trip are great. No wind for 20+ minute exposures and you get to watch the light dance through the forest and your image. Does not get much better!
Jim
Re: Large Format Landscapes
