Sunday, June 29, 2008

Colorado Private Workshop Day 2: Great Light

OK, I am feeling almost 100% again and have been in the field almost constantly making images since yesterday afternoon. The light at sunset last night was amazing on Rollins Pass. We set up our cameras on a ridge looking out at mmmm Mountain, 30 -45 mile an hour winds pummeling us. The temps were downright freezing and it was very difficult obtaining a sharp image. I was forced to shoot hundreds of shoots in order to have just a few that were sharp.
At sunrise we headed back up to Mount Evans and spent 4 -5 hours shooting atmospherics and wildlife images. The light was awesome again and my client and myself came away with some really nice images. we are now in Rocky Mountain national Park and are actually getting ready to head up on Trail Ridge to hike out along the Ute Trail in hopes of some good light. Wish us luck !
Here are the top selects from day 2. Enjoy, Joe.







Click any image to enlarge !

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Colorado: Day 1

Hello Folks,

Well it has been an exciting 24 hours here in Colorado. We arrived in Denver after a long flight with a stopover in Houston. After getting the rental car and driving up to our motel in Idaho Springs, we were told we could not check in until after 4:oo. Not being one for just sitting around, I decided to head up to Mount Evans to photograph Mountain Sheep and scenic's for the day. Great Images, Big Mistake ! I should know better than to arrive in town from sea level and then 4 hours later be at 14,000 feet. Yep, you guessed it, I came down with a nasty case of altitude sickness and spent the rest of the day with the worst headache of my life. After falling asleep at 7:00 and snoozing through the night until 2:30am, I awoke feeling much better and we decided to head down to Garden of the Gods for a run at shooting sunset. Well worth the 21/2 hour drive !

Today we will be spending the day in the mountains near Rollins Pass shooting wildflowers and mountain scenes. the elevation is only around 11,000 and after sleeping at 7,500 and spending the morning at 6,000 feet, I should be fine.

Here are the first batch of images from the trip. Check back tomorrow, I will have more to share. Joe







Click on any image for a larger view.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Its off to Colorado !


I am leaving for Colorado tomorrow to lead a 13 day private workshop/tour in the Colorado Rockies. We leave Dulles at O"Dark-Thirty and should arrive in Denver around 10:00am. After picking up the rental car and luggage, its off to Mount Evans for 2 full days of shooting landscapes and Mountain Goats. After Evans, the rest of the trip will focus on Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. I will be updating the blog almost daily with trip reports and fresh images. Be sure to stop by often to get your Rocky Mountain High !

See you from Colorado, Joe.




Sunday, June 22, 2008

Introducing Mountain Trail Photo !

I am very excited to announce that I am part of a new website, Mountain Trail Photo (http://www.mountaintrailphoto.com/)! Mountain Trail Photo is your one-stop source for nature photography inspiration, education, and exploration. There you will find image galleries from the Mountain Trail Photo Team (which is made up of some of the nation's most talented nature photographers); how-to articles and trip reports; information on nature photography workshops; and links to purchase team members' books and calendars. Also, Mountain Trail Photo holds regular nature photography contests, giving participants the opportunity to win prizes and discounts on workshops, and to have their images displayed on the site. With regular updates -- including recent images, blog entries, and new articles every month -- there's always something new to discover at Mountain Trail Photo. Whether you are an avid nature photographer looking to sharpen your skills, or just someone who likes looking at beautiful photographs, this is the site for you!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Great Light at Big Stone Beach, Delaware

Finally back on the Blogosphere ! I have been far to consumed in the past 2 weeks with preparation for upcoming workshops this summer, image preparation a new website and shooting for an upcoming book project to post any recent work. So here we go !
I made these 2 images two nights ago with fellow Photographer Ian Plant and 2 others at Big Stone Beach, Delaware. We were there waiting for the Horseshoe Crabs to storm the beach at sunset and begin their ancient spawning ritual. Well, the crabs never made it, but a thunderstorm rolled through at sunset and pounded us with some of the coldest and heaviest rain I have experienced in may years of shooting outdoors. I hunkered down and waited out the weather in hopes of the sun breaking free before the light faded. Oh and it did break, and right at the most colorful and dramatic time. Here are 2 shots from that wonderful night.

Next week its off to Colorado for 13 days to lead a private tour of Rocky Mountain National Park and Mount Evans. Check back often, as I will be writing trip reports and sharing new images form the field.

Click the image to enlarge !

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Featured Workshop Client: Debbi Koplen

Name: Debbi Koplen
City: Vienna
State: Virginia
Country: USA
Website:http://www.debbik.smugmug.com/

BIO:

My name is Debbi Koplen and photography is my passion, which I manage to work into a hectic schedule of being a single Mom with a full-time job. I live in Northern Virginia and work for the federal government as a Contracting Officer. When I get a break the first thing I do is grab my camera! I am interested in all kinds of photography and I try to keep it fresh by frequently attending workshops, lectures, and trying new things. Although intrigued by photography most of my life, I never pursued it much. My real interest was spawned by a brief illness in 2001, which forced me indoors during most of the summer. That led to a craving to be outdoors again, so when I was finally able to get out, the first place I headed was deep into woods-deeper than I’d ever been before. From there, I took up day-hiking which created my desire to capture the beauty that I was seeing for the first time on film. I’ve not been able to put a camera down since then. My father’s lifelong interest in photography made him a natural teacher for me and I am still learning from him. I currently shoot with a Nikon D300 and various Nikon lenses.

Workshop Experience:

I introduced myself to Joe at the Meadowlark Expo and was very impressed with the time that he took with me on that very busy day to explain his teaching technique and how it could satisfy my requirements at my skill level. I signed up for his class on Abstract Photography at Meadowlark and took his Great Falls weekend workshop. Between the two classes, I learned so much not only conceptually but I also developed new hands-on skills in the field. What makes Joe Rossbach stand apart from other instructors is his obvious desire for his students to come away with more skills than when they entered. He pours a tremendous amount of energy towards his students’ needs and unlike many of the other area instructors; he spends very little time behind his camera while out in the field with his students and very little time selling the class on gear and equipment. I look forward to taking many more workshops with Joe in the future.





All images and Text Copyright Debbi Koplen. Click on any image for a larger view.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Shenandoah National Park Blooms and Vistas Workshop - Finished

Just got back home this afternoon from leading our Shenandoah National Park Summer Blooms and Vistas Photo Workshop. The conditions were rather challenging with lots of haze and an early summer heat wave. None the less we all endured and managed to have a great workshop with lots of colorful sunrises and sunsets. On Saturday a thunderstorm rolled through and really cooled things off for about 2 hours and we took advantage of the soft light and hiked down along Mill Prong and shoot for about 2 hours. The rest of the workshop was spent shooting in 4 hour blocks in the morning and afternoon. We visited some of the more scenic overlooks and hiked up to Hawksbill Summit and Little Stony Man Cliffs for sunsets. Sunrises were all spent at various overlooks and shooting in Big Meadows. We also managed to hike down to Dark Hollow Falls in the morning, before the light penetrated the forest, and shoot waterfalls and cascades.
We ran into Jim Clark and his group from GAPW and had a chance to chat in Big Meadows for a while. What a nice guy and great photographer Jim is ! Check out his website at http://www.jimclarkphotography.com/ . Jim will also be working with Mountain Trail Photo Workshops w/ myself and a few other top select nature and landscape photographers this year and in 09. Look for his new book entitled " Between Ocean and Bay: A celebration of the Eastern Shore " . Visit the Mountain Trail WEBSITE to order a copy.
On a side note, I still have 2 spots left for the Photographing Wild Water One Day Workshop this weekend in Great Falls and Scott's Run Parks. Visit my website for registration details and more information or email me at rossbachphoto@hotmail.com to reserve your spot today.
Between instruction and field demonstrations I managed to make some very nice images in the Park. Here is a small gallery of work that I have processed so far. Here ya go, Enjoy.

Click on any image for a larger view !