Postcard from Leavenworth

Recently, I told a friend of mine that I really miss seeing Iris growing all over town. She replied that if I want to see Iris, just go down to Trader Joe's. Sorry, not the same thing. Now don't get me wrong, I love the variety of flowers that grow here, but I do miss certain flowers that flourish up north...and of all those, its the Iris I miss most.

Fortunately, I have a very large collection of Iris photos taken over the years...a few of which you may have seen here in past issues. But I wanted to publish another one with a little bit of a twist. Since the Iris is so tall and slender, I decided to crop the picture in a long and slender mode. I think it turned out well. 

I found a poem about the Iris, oddly enough written by a member of the Tucson Area Iris Society (I guess that means there may be some Iris flowers somewhere around here besides Trader Joe's). It says pretty much how I feel about this beautiful Spring flower.

Iris, Most Beautiful Flower

Iris, most beautiful flower,
Symbol of life, love, and light;
Found by the brook, and the meadow,
Or lofty, on arable height.
You come in such glorious colors,
In hues, the rainbow surpass;
The chart of color portrays you,
In petal, or veins, of your class.
You bloom with the first in Winter,
With the last, in the Fall, you still show;
You steal the full beauty of Springtime,
With your fragrance and sharp color glow.
Your form and beauty of flower,
An artist's desire of full worth;
So Iris, we love you and crown you,
MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER ON EARTH!
 

- Edith Buckner Edwards

 

 

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com. 

 

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Postcard from Las Vegas

For me, Las Vegas is good for two things these days...drinking Manhattans and taking night photographs. I stopped gambling years ago and there are very few floor shows that interest me. So, I would rather sit with a good friend and drink a quality Manhattan and catch up. 

Now, I am fussy about Manhattans as I make the best one ever found on the planet. I seldom order them at bars or restaurants because few bartenders know how to do it right. But, I found a couple of places in Vegas that do one heck of a good job. 

All this is to say that I am worn out with this city that never sleeps. I have been here countless times, mostly for trade shows, so there is not much I have not seen. And I always feel like someone is trying to lift my wallet to get more money out of me. So, I never go unless absolutely necessary.

But, as for photography, I love wandering up and down Las Vegas Blvd at night photographing the amazing sites that make up this unique city. You may have seen some of my other night photos here before. I've also had some fun photographing on old Fremont Street with my camera in the day. But night, is still my favorite time to shoot.

Fortunately, I use one of the best lenses on the market for anti-shake so I can shoot in low light without image blur...not always true, but most of the time it works. Of course I could use a tripod, but that is quite a challenge on busy Las Vegas Blvd. But, we do what we must to get the quality photo.

This, of course, is Caesar's Palace, an older facility that has been remodeled a few times to stay up with some of the new spectacular casinos like, Paris, New York New York, the Bellagio, Venice and others. This photo is a great example of a photo has a foreground, middle ground, and background. Your eye moves smoothly from each section to the next, just like it is supposed to. Having the red underwater lights in the very front of the photo is the first thing your eye seeks, and from there it is an easy flow to throughout the entire image. 

Sorry for the photo lesson here...I do that sometimes.  So best to just sit back and enjoy this night shot of a Las Vegas landmark. Better yet, sip on a Manhattan and see how the photo gets even better.   

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

 

Postcard from Zion

Two months ago, I published a blog here that showed a photo I took at the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion National Park. In that blog, I explained how most of the sunrise was blocked by a bank of clouds and my photo only had one little section of the mountain lit by the sun.

Well, while waiting for the super sunrise that never came at the Court of the Patriarchs, I glanced off to the left and saw another mountain that did get a bit more of light…and that is what you see here. I swung my camera around and used my longest lens setting to capture this photo. Also managed to capture a little Autumn foliage that helps enhance the overall image. So while I didn’t capture the image I really wanted at the Patriarchs (although what I did get was pretty good), I managed to get a nice bonus image that cold November morning.

Like the image from two months ago, I took five quick images in succession at different exposures and blended the best of them into one image using the Exposure Fusion method.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

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Postcard from Oxford

This image laid buried for seven years among many I shot on a trip to Europe. It is the first time it has been seen by anyone, other than myself. This is the entrance to the Keble College Chapel. Keble is one of 38 colleges that comprise Oxford University. It is also one of the newer colleges, having only opened its doors in 1870.

You see, Oxford is a very old university, founded perhaps in 1096 (no one is sure of the exact date). It is the second oldest surviving university (the University of Paris is #1). The university really kicked into high gear around 1167 when King Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. In 1209, after many disagreements between scholars and city residents, many academics moved further north to found Cambridge University.

So, looking at the dates, you can see Keble’s founding in 1870 is quite new. And, in fact, there are several newer colleges than Keble…and there is actually a college in Oxford called “New College.” It can’t be called really new as it was founded in 1379…but it is still called New College. You had to be there…

Of course, it was the light coming through the windows that caught my attention. It’s a lovely sight and I often wonder if the architect planned it this way to capture the afternoon light…the way the light leads you right to the chapel doors...and the patterns of light and shadow is just wonderful.

As if you could not guess, the original image was shot on film…slide film to be exact. Over time, you will see more and more of my best images from the days of film.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

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Postcard from Along the Merced River

Rivers hardly ever run in a straight line.
Rivers are willing to take ten thousand meanders
and enjoy every one
and grow from every one.
When they leave a meander,
they are always more
than when they entered it.
When rivers meet an obstacle,
they do not try to run over it.
They merely go around
but they always get to the other side.
Rivers accept things as they are,
conform to the shape they find the world in,
yet nothing changes things more than rivers.
Rivers move even mountains into the sea.
Rivers hardly ever are in a hurry
yet is there anything more likely
to reach the point it sets out for
than a river?

(James Dillet Freeman, Rivers)

Postcard from Tucson

Yes, it’s that time of year in the Sonoran Desert…when cactus varieties of all kinds start to bloom. It’s wonderful to walk on desert trails and see the cacti in full bloom. The colors are bright and vivid and it still is a great site for me to enjoy.

Three years ago I came here, never having seen a cactus in bloom. I was used to the spring flowers of the northern climes…daffodils, petunias, snapdragons, pansies, and the unforgettable iris, just to name a few.  And we do have some of those here.

But seeing the desert in bloom for the first time is an unforgettable experience…I still enjoy it even after three years. Those who know me know that I understand very little about horticulture or the names of plants. But, I believe this is a small barrel cactus with multiple blooms. Please correct me if I got it wrong.

Soon, the biggest of them all, the Saguaro cactus, will start to bloom. Definitely a site worth seeing, especially on my side of town where there are hundreds, if not thousands on the hillsides all around me.

April is not a bad time to come to Tucson, if you are in the mood.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

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Postcard from a Rain Forest

I have a few photos, not many, but a few, that I don’t remember taking or where exactly I was when I photographed the scene. All I know for sure is that it is a small creek on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

No doubt I was inside the borders of the Olympic National Park. The west side of the Olympic Range faces the ocean and catches all the storms that come in off of the Pacific. Of course, this is where the rain forests are located as the area gets 140-170 inches of rain per year. That’s a lot of rain! It’s the wettest part of the continental United States. Only the island of Kauai in Hawaii gets more rain than here.

Because this is a temperate rainforest, as opposed to a tropical one like the Amazon Rainforest in South America, it is dominated by dense coniferous timber, including Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Coast Douglas-Fir and Western Red Cedar and mosses that coat the bark of these trees and even drip down from their branches in green, moist tendrils.

There are plenty of lovely hiking trails in this area, but be prepared to get wet…even on the rare sunny day. When I hiked these trails, the woods were filled with impromptu lakes overflowing streams and lots and lots of mud…and it was a sunny day. Still, I am glad I did get to hike here and see it all for myself as it is certainly the exact opposite of where I live now.

Oh…just for your information, the eastern part of the National Park, the part separated from the west by the Olympic Mountains, only gets about 16” of rain per year. What a huge difference a mountain range can make.   

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

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Postcard from Devil’s Garden

About 17 miles down Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a small area of interesting rocks known as Devil’s Garden. Now, if you are wondering where Hole-in-the-Rock road is located, it is just east of the town of Escalante along the famous Utah Highway 12, so often mentioned here before…and goes 62 miles south the northern shores of Lake Powell.

The road is well known to backpackers and photographers, but not to many other people. It is not a well traveled road as all 62 miles of it are unpaved and a bit rough. Lots of washboard spots for drainage and lots of mud after a rain. Of course, it is covered in snow during the winter.

If you wonder where it got its name, you will find that answer down at the end…a hole in the rock that looks out over the lake. The road was built by Mormon settlers in the area. It originally went down into Glen Canyon, but since Lake Powell now occupies that space, the last 300 feet of the road are underwater. The road itself has little scenery to recommend it to most folks, but there are a few spectacular places along the route that make it worth doing.

My friend and fellow photographer Dave Forster and I headed down that road on our last trip to southern Utah. Our destination was Dance Hall Rock, about 40 miles down the road. We were about halfway there when we ran into a ranger. He told us we would never make it all the way as there was lots of mud ahead because of a rain and snow storm two days earlier. He suggested a stop at Devil’s Garden on our way back to Highway 12.

Dave had been there once before, but it was new to me. So we headed back and took the side road into Devil’s Garden. It is an interesting collection of large eroded rocks, quite similar to Goblin Valley with fewer formations on a bigger scale. There is a picnic area, a short loop path and two interesting arches. The photo above is one of them. That is Dave in the photo to help give scale to the size of the rock formations…and yes, that is snow on the ground and on top of the arch.

It was an interesting place and I have a few more photos of the area I will share in future. We didn’t spent much time there as we decided to head back west along Highway 12 in order to be in Zion National Park by sunset.

And while I was glad to see this Devil’s Garden (there is another place by that name in Arches National Park, shared here before), we both were disappointed we did not get to make it to Dancehall Rock. There was a special photo opportunity there we both badly wanted to make. Hopefully one day in the future.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Leavenworth

Bavaria in Washington

Not only have I written before about this little Bavarian-style town in Washington, but I have also showed you this photo before(a few years ago)…except that I made it better…much better. Sometimes I look back at photos I did a few years ago and wonder what was I thinking.

But no artist should beat himself up too much over past work. We grow, we change, and we get better. We learn new tricks, acquire new tools, and make our work better. While a painter or sculptor cannot go back and update past work (other than a touch-up here or there), a photographer can…even a photographer in the age of the darkroom. We can make improvements to past works, and I have routinely done so. And in a few years, I will probably come back to this one and make it better.

For those of you not familiar with Leavenworth, it is a Bavarian-style town on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Everything, including McDonalds and Starbucks must be done in a Bavarian Style. In the stores, employees wear Bavarian-style clothing…and of course, there are Bavarian and not-so-Bavarian festivals all year long. My favorite, of course, being Oktoberfest.

If you haven’t figured it out already, Leavenworth is a tourist town. People come from all over the world to visit and partake in this unique atmosphere. If you like German food, you will find some good restaurants here to satisfy your cravings. Pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and all the other kinds of food you find in the outside world are also abundantly available.

Every weekend during late Spring, Summer, and Fall, you will find an art show in the downtown park. I did that show for a few years, off and on, when I wasn’t doing shows in other West Coast cities. I have fond memories of this little town in the mountains, and I must say, I do miss it. But, that was from a different chapter in my life.  

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Red Cliffs

About 12 miles north of St. George, Utah and around 30 miles west of Zion National Park, lies a protected wilderness area known as Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. It is well know to locals who frequent the area to hike, picnic and camp out…but not so well known to the rest of the world.

On my last trip to Zion, I took a side trip to this lovely spot in the desert and found a few interesting places to photograph. I hiked into the wilderness area along the Red Reef Trail. It was here that I found this lovely scene of a cascade flowing from one quiet pool above, into another quiet pool below the falls.

The trail first leads you along Quail Creek to the lower pool…then it goes up on top of the rock to give you this elevated view. While the falls are lovely, the rock walls and their contours have an almost surrealistic appearance, making the scene quite unique. What I found out later is there is a water-carved cave underneath where I am standing.

From here, the trail continues on to a beautiful slot canyon that I will show here soon. I could only hike into it so far as it had rained a couple days before I got here, so Quail Creek was pretty high.  Often there is no water in the creek and one can hike through the canyons where the creek usually flows. I hope I can do that someday. Again, this is one of those areas where you have to watch the weather forecasts to make sure you don’t get caught in a flash flood.

So if you make a trip to Zion and have the time, be sure and visit this lovely, relatively unknown spot in the Utah desert. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Zion

This is one of the few photos of Autumn colors that I was able to capture in Zion’s high country. The reason…most of Autumn was finished up high. The real Autumn colors you’ve seen before from my last trip were from down in the Zion Canyon itself.

I titled this photo, “In the Crevice.” Sadly, it is hard to determine how narrow this crevice actually is as you can’t see the rest of the mountains. Trust me…when seen as a whole, this crevice is very small…and as you might determine, these trees are very tall.

But for me, the joy of this photo is the colors…and the survival of the yellow tree in such a small place. I found a few places in Zion where trees were growing under the most adverse conditions. But, as I heard somewhere once in a movie, life always finds a way.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Southeastern Utah

This is an arch in the making. If we come back in several thousand years, or longer, it will be completed…and if we wait even longer, it will be gone…collapsed into ruble by gravity and the forces of nature. Its like most all things in nature…they are born, they live, they die….they just take a little longer than humans.

But for now, it is just a lovely alcove carved into a huge rock by combinations of water, wind, and hot and cold temperatures. High above the alcove you will most likely find sinkholes, holding rainwater. Eventually, those holes will deepen and break through the back of the alcove…then let the real arch begin to form!

The alcove’s beautiful shape and layers are enhanced by the black desert varnish (aka “rock varnish” and “desert patina”). You find this material in many locations in the Southwest. It is mostly composed of clay, which arrives by wind. Clay, then, acts as a substrate to catch additional substances that chemically react together when the rock reaches high temperatures in the desert sun. Wetting by dew is also an important part of the process.

I photographed this alcove inside Long Canyon, along the Burr Trail, off of Highway 12 in Utah. In the past, you have seen other images from Long Canyon…one of Utah’s most beautiful spots. It is one of my favorite places in the state and hope I can get back there again…especially just after a rainstorm, which is when I photographed here. Enjoy.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from my iPad

 

This may be the most boring, inartistic photo of mine ever published. And I apologize for that…but this is the first photograph ever taken with my new iPad (aka iPad 3). It is completely unretouched…no Photoshop, Lightroom, iPhoto, or any other software was used here. It went from my iPod to this blog (via Flickr).

If you read my Rants and Raves tech blog yesterday, you know the full story of how I wound up at my local Apple Store on Sunday and surprise myself by buying this remarkable tablet. The highlight is its amazing Retina display…2048x1536. It has a million more pixels than an HDTV so its resolution is stunning. So, if you think the quality of this photo is good, it is even more amazing when seen on the iPad.

Included with the tablet is a 5 megapixel camera with advanced optics, auto white balance, image stabilization and more. Now, it is definitely weird to hold a tablet up to take a photograph…and I probably won’t do it very often…but as with all new toys, I had to try it out. I was surprised by the full range of light that I was able to capture here…from the blue sky with white clouds all the way to shadows with great clarity across the board.

By the way, the photo is of the swimming pool area in my apartment complex in Tucson. The fellow in the picture is trying to retrieve his basketball which you see floating in the pool. Happens a lot here as the basketball court is off to the left of the photo.

But wait, there’s more! The new iPad will take 1080P movies as well…and I did shoot a short 12 second movie of the pool’s waterfall which was pretty good, once I moved my finger away from the lens. Still learning here.

I don’t mean for this blog to be a commercial for Apple, but I love this new iPad and all that it does. I doubt you will be seeing any more photos taken with it, but from now on, I bet you will see more and more people using one as a camera. I’ve seen a few already, one of which was during my last photo trip to Zion in November.

A new trick I learned just today, is I can automatically transmit all future photos from the iPad directly to my desktop computer via Apple’s iCloud…even though I use a Windows PC. Now, I can’t do all the other things that Apple computer and iPhone users can do with the iCloud…wish I could. Microsoft really needs to get with the program here.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Alba

I did this digital engraving from a photograph I took a few years ago in the charming medieval town of Alba…located in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. If you look on a map, you will find it located about an hour south of the major city of Torino (Turin). This area is known for its white truffles, peaches, and most especially, its fine wines. I know because I have downed many a glass of their fine reds (squisito!).

The city is an old one, dating back before the rise of the Roman empire. During the days of the empire, the city was known as Alba Pompeia. Although most of the Roman ruins are gone, you can find a few here and there. 

Back in medieval times, Alba was once known as the “city with a hundred towers.” Some are still left. This image shows one side of the Piazza Duomo (known as a “Portici” in Italian). On the other side of the piazza is the Alba Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which was built in the 12th century and has been “remodeled” several times over the centuries. In Italian, Duomo means dome, hence the name of the piazza.

I love simple scenes like this one, and one of my favorite all-time art forms is wood engravings. Very simply, an image is carved by the artist on special type of wood, then used to make a print. Almost all engravings are printed in black and white, but there have been a handful done in color.

Is been fun for me to try and recreate the art form digitally, and this image is one of my very few successes. But I will keep plugging away.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Highway 12

As Highway 12 climbed higher and higher toward Boulder Mountain, I left the September summer behind and entered Autumn. The first aspens were just beginning to turn, but the the higher I ascended, the more the colors grew in intensity…until I reached the summit when most of the trees had achieved their full Autumn glory. It was a very special and unexpected sight.

Soon, I would start back down again toward Capitol Reef National Park, and summer would return. But, on that highway, I saw the fall season begin, then peak, then disappear until a later date, all in one morning.

Highway 12 in Utah is one of the most beautiful byways in America, as I have documented here before. I did this digital painting in an impressionist style to show the light and the colors up on Boulder Mountain that early September day. I do so much like to experiment with digital paints using different techniques...and the original photo seemed so right for a painting.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Tucson

I am just back from the the annual Tucson Book Festival. It is arguably my favorite event in Tucson. Too bad it only happens once a year. This was the 4th year and it is now in the top 3 book festivals in the US. This year, well over 450 published authors, such as J.A. Jance, Elmore Leonard, T. Jefferson Parker and many more, came here for the two day celebration of books of all types…from mysteries to history…from thrillers to cookbooks, all genres were represented.

As you can see, there were a boatload of tents all over the University of Arizona Mall where you can purchase books, attend seminars, eat lunch, meet authors, get your books autographed, and visit many other publishing-related vendors. The photo above shows you just some of tents outside…there are many more off to the right.

For me, the best part of the festival are the author talks and workshops that occur in classrooms, auditoriums and tents on the U of A campus. There are hundreds of them, but sadly you can only do five a day as they are held in the same time slots. When the lists come out, I spend hours going over them and narrowing down the ones I want to see…then finally make my final selections. Sadly there are always two or three events held at the same time and I have to make a hard choice. As always, I carry the list on my smartphone so I knew where to go for each event.

One of the other fun things, at least for me, is discovering new authors. While researching events, I look up their names in Amazon and Wikipedia to see what kind of books they write. This year, I made many new discoveries and have started reading their books. It always makes the book better after you have attended an interview or panel discussion with the author.

The events I attended had such diverse titles as, “Nasty Nazis, “Queen Elizabeth I and her World,” “Books in High Gear,”and “The O.K. Corral Gunfight and the Alamo in History and Legend,” just to name a few.

Like last year, C-Span 2 was also here showing live book talks on both Saturday and Sunday. I attended two of those and got on camera as I was one of the questioners during the discussion of the OK Corral. I hope I sounded intelligent.

In such a short space as this, it is difficult to explain how much I love this festival. If you are an avid reader such as me, look for a festival like this somewhere near you.  Or next year, plan to come down to Tucson and see this one.  By the way, the weather was perfect, in the mid 70’s.

Postcard from the Oregon Coast

I mentioned in a previous blog that I am in the middle of a major Website update…and it is going quite well. One of the benefits of doing that is discovering photos that have been overlooked. What you see here is one of those photos.

I took this image in June of 2007, and although it was on my hard drive and cataloged in Lightroom, I never did anything with it…in fact I pretty much ignored the whole catalog from that shoot. How great it was to find it.

Another thing I found in redoing my site was I had never posted any photos from the Oregon Coast. Of course, that was immediately rectified and now you can see some of my best photos from those various expeditions. There are also some other new galleries on the site, and of course new photos in older galleries that have not been posted before. More on that in future editions.

I was lucky on this 2007 expedition to get this photo. It was taken in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, OR...one of my favorite spots on the fabulous Oregon Coast. I know we have fabulous sunsets here in Arizona, and you have seen a few of them over the years. But, a good sunset photo on an ocean beach is worth its weight in gold. I am so happy to have “rediscovered” this work.

Sadly, it may be quite a while before I see the Oregon Coast again, if ever, But I have great memories of trips down Highway 101, all the way from Astoria to the California border. I remember one trip that took almost four days…the last day being Super Bowl Sunday…driving in the rain, trying to find a radio station so I could listen to the game. I finally got a hotel room in Gold Beach and watched the 4th quarter there. I don’t know why that memory sticks in my head…probably because it is the only Super Bowl I nearly missed.

But, I do know that I have more pictures squirreled away on hard drives and backup CD’s that I will get to one day and post on my Web site…so stay tuned.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Yosemite

I’ve been fortunate in the last few years to visit Yosemite in May, especially in those years when they had record-setting snowfalls during the preceding winter. Of course that means a lovely green Springtime with full waterfalls, streams and rivers.

Such was the case in the Spring of 2007 when I took this photo. This is Bridalveil Creek, which flows directly from the famous and beautiful Bridalveil Falls. This section of the creek is just below the falls. I love how the light plays on the moss on the trees and how full the creek is. Even if you’ve never been here, I think you can feel how fast the creek is flowing.

This picture was taken along the trail that goes from the parking area to the falls. That year, I never got near the falls as there was so much mist created by the massive amounts of water pounding the rocks at the bottom of the falls. One would have been drenched in seconds. Not a great idea for someone with expensive camera equipment.

I’ve also been in Yosemite in late Autumn, when the rivers are low and many famous waterfalls don’t even exist…Yosemite Falls for instance. But Bridalveil never seems to dry up, although I have seen it pretty low.

I’ve been working hard of late posting new photos on my Web site. The current galleries have now been updated with new photos…and I have a few more new galleries to add.  This particular photo has only gone up in the last few days as well as other photos from Yosemite being seen for the first time. I hope you will stop by and take a look at the Yosemite photos as well as the other galleries.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Port Townsend

In my last blog, I wrote about that moment of creation when an artist completes a work that he knows is exactly right. Well, just like the special image of Chicago in the last blog, the same can be said of this work. It is a photo I took a few years ago while spending part of a day in Port Townsend, WA.

Such a lovely town on the Northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula, across the Puget Sound from the cities and countryside just north of Seattle. At first, I thought this unique structure might be a bed-and-breakfast. But I could find no mention of it anywhere, so it may just be a private residence.

But it made for a lovely photograph…or so I thought until I looked at it on my computer during post processing. It had some nice artistic qualities to it, but it just sort of laid there, if you know what I mean. So I did nothing to it for a couple of years…occasionally looking at it and trying some things, but none very successful.

Finally I realized there was just not enough color to make it interesting and the light left something to be desired. So, I converted it to black and white, then started using some of my other Photoshop plug-ins to enhance the sharpness while still giving it a bit of a sketch quality. Again, when I got it right, I knew it immediately. But, like most of my work, I let it sit for a while, occasionally going back and taking a look to see if I still liked it.

Well I did…and still do. In fact it is hanging on the wall opposite from where I write this blog. It is one of the “chosen few” photos that adorn the walls of my home. Maybe that is the ultimate proof of whether or not I really love one of my works.

And speaking of Port Townsend, you can view all my six of my best photos from that charming little city at my Website. In fact, I have been working on a major revision of my site for some time now. A long ways to go, but several of the revised and updated photo galleries are now on-line and I invite you to pay a visit. Several new works have been added and more are on their way. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

There is a unquantifiable trigger in the mind of an artist when they know immediately they have created something special. It is a special feeling that overwhelms one’s state of mind and is impossible to put into words. So it is with this image.

I started with a concept based on a sketch I had done previously. And although the final image turned out to be different than what I had originally envisioned, the original concept was fulfilled. In fact it was fulfilled way beyond my original expectations.

I recently watched a film called “The Prestige” about magicians and their tricks. In it, one of the characters said that to reveal the secret of a trick is to give away its value, and something very special becomes quite ordinary and unspectacular. I thought about that line in depth and how it applied to my photography and paintings.

So for that reason, I won’t go into detail about the creation of this image…except to say it started from an original photograph I took in Chicago that I turned into a sketch. You have probably seen photos of the Chicago Theater on State Street as it is one of great landmarks of the “Windy City.”

Unlike a magician’s illusion, this illusion is real. I created it out of my own artistic voice and it hit an artistic home run, at least in my mind. I titled the image, “The Old Chicago Scrapbook.” But it is not a photograph of a real book. It is the pure invention of an artist.      

Thank you for letting me puff out my chest and brag a little…I hope you understand. I would be interested in hearing your views on this image, if you care to share them.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)
To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tucson

Spring is bustin’ out all over…to paraphrase an old, old song. It also describes perfectly what is happening now, here in Tucson. The wildflowers are out in abundance. I live in the western foothills above Tucson, and the hillsides are carpeted in yellow and pink. On Monday, I ran an errand…and there they were. Surprised the heck out of me! I was out and about two days before and didn’t see a one. 

Frankly, I am surprised to see any this year. I wasn’t sure we had enough winter rain to make it happen. Last year, we had no wildflowers to speak of. But, it all must have come together because we are loaded this year.

I will let you in on a little secret…this picture is from 2010 when we had a banner wildflower year. But, right now, it looks just about the same. I haven’t been out with my camera yet, but will shortly.

Spring is a special time in southern Arizona. Not only are the wildflowers in bloom (and soon the cactus flowers), but the temperatures are just perfect…it was 72 yesterday and will be 77 today. Baseball has already started, college games are underway; major league teams are in camp and will start the Cactus League games shortly. Even though we don’t have any teams training here anymore, there will be three major league spring training games played in Tucson in March.

In a couple of weeks, we have the Tucson Book Festival, one of the largest of its kind in the nation. And of course concerts and lectures continue. The UofA Jazz Festival will be in two weeks. Spring is an amazing, wonderful time here in Tucson, and you can bet I will be taking it all in…in shorts and a t-shirt of course. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

Now admit it…when was the last time you saw a speech made in 1893 spelled out in lights on a grand staircase? Well here it is. This is inside the Chicago Institute of Art. Here you see just one of the staircases. There are others, all with parts of the speech spelled out in lights. It was quite a sight to behold for the first time.

The speech was given in 1893 by Swami Vivekananda at First World Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in conjunction with the World’s Columbia Exposition. The Parliament was the earliest attempt to create a global dialogue of religious faiths, and Vivekananda, eloquently addressing its 7,000 attendees, argued for an end of fanaticism and a respectful recognition of all traditions of belief through universal tolerance. A great idea.

The staircase was the brainchild of Indian artist Jitish Kallat. His goal was to connect two historical moments: the First World Parliament of Religions held on September 11, 1893, and the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that very date, 108 years later.

The work is called Public Notice #3 and is a comment on the evolution, or devolution, of religious tolerance across the 20th and 21st centuries. I think the latter is more the case. I personally find religious intolerance to be intolerable, but once more, we find ourselves steeped in fanaticism throughout the world, even among religions that supposedly have their origins in the same place.

It’s ironic that this staircase, representing a speech on religious intolerance, leads up to some of the most beautiful paintings in the world. I guess the Swami’s speech fell on deaf ears.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Utah

It seems there is no end to the beauty of southern Utah…and there may not be. This image was taken in Long Canyon, a fantastic part of the Burr Trail. The Burr trail is a side road that comes off of Utah’s famous Highway 12, maybe one of the most beautiful highways in America.

The Burr Trail begins in Boulder, UT and is clearly marked. It winds for 68 miles, of which only the first18 miles are paved. I must admit that I never went past the point where the paved road ends, mainly because it has just rained.

The complete road runs down through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument into Capital Reef National Park and then to Bullfrog in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Almost the entire road can be called “scenic,” to put it mildly.

Long Canyon is 12 miles from Boulder and is 7 miles long…hence the name. It is absolutely beautiful as you might guess from this photo. You approach the canyon from up on high which gives you a spectacular view of the first section of it. When I got there, a rain storm was just ending, so I had fabulous clouds all the way through the canyon. I got lucky that day!

The narrow canyon itself is enclosed by sheer walls of Wingate sandstone which tower hundreds of feet above the road. The sandstone has fractured and eroded, forming alcoves. Some of the dark red sandstone has been leached by water to a whitish shade, and black desert varnish stains some of the vertical walls. There is even a small arch, if you look closely.

If you ever make it down that way, be sure and take a drive down this amazing road…or even part of it. Be sure and stop often in Long Canyon to appreciate all of its treasures. A word of caution…if you want to do the entire drive, make sure it has not rained for a few days. The dirt section of the road can become impassable, even for all wheel drives.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

Wouldn’t you just love to sit by yourself at this spot to watch the sun go down and contemplate your life, nature, and how good it is to be at a place like this? Actually, so would I. When you are at this spot at sunset, especially in Autumn, you are not alone. You are usually surrounded by many photographers…in fact if you want a good spot, you better get there at least an hour early.

Zion National Park is an extremely popular place in November because of the Autumn colors, of course. And this spot is probably the most popular spot in Zion at sunset…or really any time of day.

It easy to find. Its only a couple of miles from the south entrance to the park…and its on the only automobile bridge that crosses the Virgin River. One must stand on the sidewalk on the bridge because if you don’t, you run the risk of being yelled at by a park ranger. And it’s a narrow sidewalk, which is another reason to come early.

The large mountain formation in the photo is called The Watchman. To get a good shot, it needs to be at sunset, so you get a red glow off of the the Watchman and the other nearby rock formations…and you definitely want some clouds. This is probably not the best collection of clouds ever seen here, but it was by far the best of the 4 days that I tried to get the right shot. My friend Dave, who was next to me on the bridge, says he has come here for 10 years and has only been satisfied with one photo over all that time.

So me, I will have to settle for this shot, but I do like it as I captured the sunset glow off the mountains as well as a few clouds. Like some of the other Zion photos shown here, this was a five exposure shot, reduced into one using the Exposure Fusion method.

By the way, if you turn 180 degrees and walk to the other side of the bridge, you will see this view:

  

Not a bad spot to spend sunset at, eh?

(To see a larger version of either photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

In this blog, I am going to give you a chance to compare an HDR photo with an Exposure Fusion photo. In my last blog, I talked about the differences between HDR and Exposure Fusion…without showing you the differences. Today, I am going to give you the chance to compare two similar images.

Back on December 12, I shared a similar image in this blog. The difference between that one and this one is I used the Exposure Fusion method on this latest image. In the December image, I used HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Both shots were originally done using five exposures at the same location, then blended down into one shot using one of the two methods.

You can click on the above link and see the HDR image in the original December blog. But a better method would be to click on this link in one tab of your browser (this image), then click on this link (the Dec. 12 image) in a second tab. What you will see are the two images in a larger size to give you a chance to compare each method side-by-side.

In my opinion, the newest version done with Exposure Fusion image gives a better photographic rendering and is less painterly. But, you decide which is better. I would definitely love to hear your opinion.

If you would like a little more detail on the differences between the two processes and why they differ, I recommend this short article from the Digital Photography School Website. Don’t worry, it isn’t too technical.

Again, please drop me a note a share your impressions.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

This photo was taken early one morning at the Court of Patriarchs inside Zion National Park. It only shows part of the “Court,” but that is fine. Turns out this is the only shot I got this morning with any semblance of the dawn’s early light. My friend Dave, who was with me on this expedition, arrived before dawn and set up our cameras and tripods.

Dave chose a spot further down the Virgin River, while I was a little further upstream on a sandy beach. We had preselected our spots the day before. This location is difficult to find the right spot as there are a ton of trees on both sides of the river. I don’t mind the ones on the other side, as you see here, they enhance the scene. The ones on this side of the river block the view, making it difficult to see the Court in all its splendor. Shooting through trees seldom renders any quality photo.

After setting up, we patiently waited for dawn…and waited…and waited. Oh,  the sun came up right on schedule, but it was behind a cloud. Then, for one brief moment, it partially broke through just enough for me to get this shot. Then hid itself once again while I patiently wait for another breakthrough. It never happened.

Still, I like this photo with its little bit of sunlight and, of course, the setting moon sneaking into the picture. A little pink in the clouds doesn’t hurt either. Sadly, Dave came away with nothing. Such is the photographer’s life.

For those interested in the technique, I exposed this scene in 5 rapid shots, each with a slightly different aperture setting. My original plan was to use and HDR software program to combine the images, then finished the final image off in Photoshop.

But by the time I got to finally work on this image, I discovered a new technique called “Exposure Fusion.” It works the same way as HDR, but (without boring you with details), it combines the images in a different manner. My experiments show that most Exposure Fusion photos come out with a more photo-realistic image, less painterly than HDR.

I will continue to experiment with both processes and see which will win out in the long run. But right now, I am pretty excited about this new process. Stay tuned…and you be the judge.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Oakland

I photographed this image back in May last year while cruising downtown Oakland for architectural masterpieces…something I love to do in big cities This image is from inside the Catholic Cathedral, appropriately named “The Cathedral of Christ the Light.” I titled this image, “A Not-So-Divine Mystery.”

Now I thought that was pretty clever on my part. But to explain, the Catholic Church has a term called “Divine Mysteries”…and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “This term signifies in general that which is unknowable, or valuable knowledge that is kept secret.” That would be things like communion, where the host turns into the body of Christ…or Christ’s ascension into heaven. In other words, mysteries that cannot be explained in logical, scientific terms. (Apologies to any Catholics or Christians if I get this wrong)

But the not-so-divine mystery here is…what the heck is this thing I photographed? Well, I won’t hold you in suspense. This architectural oddity is above the the rear of the church, where one enters or exits. It appears to be convex on the inside, but outside it is concave. So directly behind this structure is downtown Oakland…and the diagonal lines you see is light coming through. I think it works well as a black and white photo.

Interestingly, there is an exact replica of this structure in the front of the church, over the altar. But this one has a very large projection of Christ that appears to be behind it. It is quite striking, to say the least.  

The slats you see coming into both sides of the structure are louvered slats that run the entire length of the church that can change the amount of light being fed inside. The entire structure is quite innovative and ingenious and I encourage you to make a visit if you are ever in Oakland. It is open every day for visits and tours…and non-Catholics are welcome. After all, they let me and my camera come in. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Yosemite

This is Mirror Lake, although its closer to being a pond these days. It is located at the lower end of Tenaya Canyon, just below the famous Half Dome. I’ve been coming to this spot since I was a little boy. Although I have taken its picture many times, this photo was shot in May of 2011 on my most recent trip. The mountain reflection you see is Mt. Watkins.

In the old days, you could drive right to it. Today, you have to take one of the shuttle buses that drops you off at the trail head to the lake. From there is a mile walk to this spot. Actually, it is not a trail…it is the old paved road my family used to take back in the 50’s. I am not sure when they shut the road down for regular traffic. No matter. It’s a lovely, easy walk along Tenaya Creek directly below the face of Half Dome.

If you would like to see it, I recommend you do it sooner rather than later. You see, Mirror Lake is disappearing.

Mirror Lake is about the last remnant of the Old Yosemite Lake that once filled the entire Yosemite Valley. The lake was created by the melting of the last glacier that helped carved out this magnificent landscape. The original lake was anywhere from 300 to 600 feet deep, but was eventually filled in by the process of sedimentation. But a few remnants of it can be found throughout the National Park.

Today, Mirror Lake is fed by Tenaya Creek, which flows out of Tenaya Lake up in the high country. Over time, the creek deposits sediments from the lake and from its long journey down the canyon, thereby eventually displacing the water. For years, the National Park Service went in to remove the debris in order to keep Mirror Lake in a more pristine state for the tourists.

Eventually that policy was changed so Mirror Lake will one day disappear. A sad ending for me personally as this place is one my sacred icons. But our planet is always changing. The old expression, “Let nature take its course,” is perfectly suited for Mirror Lake.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Virgin

Yes, my friends, there really is a town called Virgin, and its in Utah (of course). This small town, located near Zion National Park, has less than a thousand people, and is known for two things…first and foremost, the town passed a law that requires every homeowner to keep and maintain a firearm, which includes ammo for it. There is a $500 fine for not complying with this law. The town council passed the ordinance in the year 2000 after residents expressed fear that their Second Amendment right to bear arms was under fire (no pun intended).

Exceptions have been made for the mentally ill, convicted felons, conscientious objectors and people who cannot afford to own a gun. I for one am happy about those exclusions as I passed through Virgin several times in November when driving to and from my hotel to Zion Park.

The second thing that makes the town interesting is this old west village just outside of town. I think it is a museum of sorts. What you see here is just part of it…these rather strange-shaped buildings that make you think you are in the Twilight Zone. There is very little info about it on the Internet…even the town’s official Website doesn’t even mention it.

In some shared photos, tourists have incorrectly identified it as a ghost town. I don’t think there ever was a town in the old west that looked like this! Some of the buildings have signs on them like,”Undertaker,” the “OK Corral,” “The Wild Ass Saloon,” and, of course, “The Virgin Jail.” 

Sadly, I never went in to explore the place…the only time I stopped was to take a few pictures. It looked like a tourist trap to me.

As a side note, I hope someone someday will explain the obsession that Utah folks have with the term, “Virgins.” There is the town Virgin, located on the Virgin River, which runs by the Towers of the Virgins mountain formation inside Zion Park. With no disrespect meant to any religious faith, its just a little eerie…that’s all. But each to their own.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Glacier

This is Avalanche Creek, a lovely, normal creek that flows out of beautiful Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park. It’s normal, that is until it hits this rocky narrow canyon, then it becomes what is commonly called “rapids” as it rips through these narrows on the final part of its  journey to Lake McDonald.  

To get to this lovely view spot, just take the trail to Avalanche Lake. Shortly after leaving the parking area, you will see a bridge off to the left of the main trail. Just walk over to it and enjoy the beauty you see here.

But, if I were you, after viewing this lovely scene, I would rejoin the trail and keep going until you come to Avalanche Lake. It’s only about 3 miles round trip and well worth it. I showed photos of it here some time ago…it is a beautiful lake surrounded by steep high mountains with several waterfalls pouring into the lake. It is spectacular! And the scenery along the trail (and the more quieter parts of the creek) are also very enjoyable. Take your time and breathe it all in. Its well worth the journey if you are ever in Glacier National Park.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Lassen

This is Mt. Lassen as seen from Kings Creek Meadow. The creek meandering through the picture is (surprise!) Kings Creek. This meadow is at 7,400 feet elevation and about 4,000 feet below the Lassen Summit.

Nothing tricky about getting here as this scene was shot from alongside the road that traverses Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.  But it will involve a substantial drive, elevation wise. It is not far from the road’s highest point. But it is worth the drive as there are many rewards along the road including some lakes, meadows, rivers, steam vents, and of course, some tremendous views of this magnificent mountain.

It was pretty evident when I shot this photo that I would render it in black and white. The scene was perfect for it as it rendered the visual elements far more persuasively than if I had left it in color. Being so high in altitude, the light was crisp and clear of any negative elements like haze.

For your information, Lassen Park is in Northern California and is part of the Cascade Range, not the Sierras. The Cascades run from just north of Redding, California into Oregon, Washington, then on into Canada. It is a range of volcanoes, many of them considered active. Besides Lassen, the mountains include Shasta, Hood, St. Helens, Adams, and, of course Rainier… to name a few.

Of all the volcanoes in the Cascades, several of them are classified as active. We all know about St. Helens, but did you know that Lassen erupted during the years 1914-17? In all, 11 of the 13 volcanoes in the U.S. portion of the Cascade Range have erupted at least once in the past 4,000 years, and 7 have done so in just the past 200 years.

It would be a major catastrophe if a Rainier or Hood blew their tops as they are so close to major cities like Seattle and Portland. Vancouver, BC would be devastated if Mt. Garibaldi blew. In all, over 10 million people live around these three volcanoes.

But, after eruptions, over many years, and long after they quiet down, Mother Nature heals the damage, leaving behind some spectacular scenery…such as Kings Creek Meadow.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Quartzite, AZ

Colors Colors Colors

Colors colors colors
Give them to me
Full sky and spaces
My longing to see
Fill every dream way
Of its inside food
Let harp strings play
Their songs hued

Colors colors colors
Come here to be
Vast as the ocean
Tinctures explosions
The rivers of dreams
Inside their reams
Calling out the fire
Of spring come desire

Colors colors colors
Never be empty
With shading in places
Their tone so free
With nature in bright
And greenery lay
And in summer's night
With coming of May

Peter S Quinn

 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

I’ve talked about the “El”, aka the Elevated Railway that runs throughout the great Chicago area, but I don’t believe I‘ve ever shown a photo of it. To be more precise, this section of the El is known as “The Loop” in downtown Chicago.

The El is Chicago’s Rapid Transit System, the second longest system in the US, smaller only to New York’s subway system. It began operations in 1892 and now consists of 8 separate lines, each designated by a color. It is run by the Chicago Transit Authority. All the lines, except the Red Line converge into the Loop, make a giant circle, then head out again on their various routes. The Loop is circular, but is actually shaped in the form a giant rectangle in the downtown area. This, of course, lets people from all over greater Chicago enter and exit into and out of the downtown area.

For instance, the Green Line starts way down on the Southside, comes into the loop, then heads due west to places like Oak Park. The Blue Line takes you out to O’Hare Airport while the Orange Line runs from the Loop out to Midway Airport.

This photo, looking north, shows the Loop as it runs on top of Wabash Street, near Adams. To get to a train, you would climb one level up from the street. The second level you see is just a bridge above the tracks to take you to the other side, if your train comes in there.    

I mentioned that the Red Line does not go into the loop. When I took this photo, I was standing on top of the Red Line as it comes into the downtown area underground. However, most of the Red Line is elevated above the city. FYI, the Red Line runs north and south and goes by both baseball stadiums…US Cellular Field on the Southside, and Wrigley Field to the North.  

In my trips to Chicago I rode on several of the lines and always found it to be an enjoyable experience. The El got me where I was going as fast as it could. I will never forget my first view of Wrigley Field was from the car of a Red Line train coming into the Addison Street Station. WOW! Chicago is definitely a very special place.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tucson

This is one of those images that started out as one thing and turned into something entirely different. Let me explain.

My camera and I were wandering around the University of Arizona campus looking for different architectural elements. You have seen some of these photos in past blogs. I saw these interesting steps that were wide at the bottom and nearly converged at the top. I tried photographing them at different angles and thought I might find something of interest.

Later, when looking at photos in Lightroom, they were all duds! And I mean really boring duds. I almost erased them when I started playing with one of them and narrowed down the point of view to just the end of the steps and the rail. And for some reason, I liked what I had.

As you can see, there are lines that are straight, then take off in right angles and a rail rising up at and angle that gave the image depth. A little more cropping and some more Photoshop magic and I had a special image. Of course it is in black and white as there is no color to distract your eye (there was not much color to begin with).  So, you see the elements of the image as they are meant to be seen. 

Unlike some of my photos, I never tire of seeing this one. I hope you enjoy it also. If nothing else, it is a good lesson on the value of cropping and never giving up on an image until you have explored all the possibilities.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Yosemite

Back in May of last year, I showed you a photo very similar to this one. In fact it was taken on the same day and nearly at the same time. In going through my photos the other day, I found that I had a better composition of this same scene.

This one has much more emphasis on the reflections in the water. I must admit I am surprised I missed this image when reviewing the photos from my May trip to this great National Park. I am glad I went back and looked again.

Like the previous one, this can be classified as an HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo. I shot 5 successive photos instantaneously at different exposures, then combined them into one shot in post-processing…plus a little touch-up in Photoshop. I must say I love experimenting with HDR as it puts one’s photographic skills to the test like none other. But, in many cases, like this particular shot, it is the only way to go.

Here’s why:

This was photographed at the last waning moments of sunset where only Half Dome and the sky are lit up. The Merced River and the surrounding forest are in deep, deep shade. There is no way a single exposure with today’s camera could capture this scene…even using graduated neutral density filters (that is a topic for another day). I would love to thank the person or persons who came up with the concept of HDR…it adds new dimensions to what is capable with digital photography.

For your information, this was taken on the bridge that leads to Yosemite Village, just past the chapel. Trust me…you can’t miss it. It’s a good place to bring your camera (and tripod if shooting at sunset) to photograph this wonderful scene.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Ellensburg

There is a special little section of Washington State where I used to go every October to photograph when I called that state home. It is located just south of Ellensburg and yielded some wonderful Autumn images over the years. It had country roads loaded with trees, small farms, a river, ponds, nature trails and more. A few images from there became best-selling paintings and one photo even showed up on the cover of a music CD.

As I approached the area early one October Sunday morning, I saw a ground fog had enveloped the area and I knew some special images might just come my way. What you see here is one of them. The newly risen sun was filtered by the fog enough that I didn’t get any lens flare and the filtered light let me capture everything in the photo. I have a few more images from that morning that I will share with you in the future. As you might guess, the fog burned off fairly quickly so I had to move pretty fast to capture what I could.

Living here in the deep Southwest, I don’t get to see very much of Autumn. In November, I had to travel up to Zion to see those colors again. So I hope that those of you who live where Autumn shows all its glory can appreciate how special you have it.

On a personal note, I enjoyed my time away from blogging during the Christmas holiday, but am happy to be back. My wonderful son surprised me on Christmas day with a brand new high speed computer system with a large 23” monitor. Now, I can do my post processing and painting work at vastly accelerated speeds and they look better than ever before. I am a lucky guy.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

This image, from last month’s trip to Zion, shows the “Great White Throne” (left) and a large rock formation known as “The Organ.” Barely visible at the bottom of the image is the Virgin River. I am not sure of the significance of all the names used in Zion National Park. You would have to ask someone with knowledge of the Book of Mormon…and that is not me. Obviously, since it is in Utah, the names make sense.

All I know is that it is one of the most spectacular places on the planet and I love going there. By the way, the location of these two rock formations is nearly at the end of the canyon. I photographed this image in the later part of the afternoon at a place nicknamed “Photo Point.” It is located on a short trail, down below a small parking lot. There is a plaque on a rock that talks about photography…hence its name. Trust me, it is easy to find. Let your eyes be your guide.

I would love to go back in late spring or summer and capture this scene in sunlight. In November, the sun is lower in the sky and circles around the back of these two monoliths. Of course, I would not be able to capture the Autumn colors then. Stayed tuned for more photographs of Zion and other great places I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Winterhaven

Free!!! Here is another photo for you to use to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. Another Christmas gift for you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

Just like my last blog, this photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. This home may not be as spectacular as the last one I showed you, but its hard to pass up a good reflection. See…it does rain in Tucson!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Winterhaven

Free!!! Use this photo to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. My gift to you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

If you have a good memory and read this blog on a regular basis, you know I used this photo last year at Christmas time. A year ago I didn’t have a free e-card solution…which is why I published it again…so please make use of it.

This photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. I hope to go back again this year before Christmas and do it again.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Kolob Canyon

This photo is of the Kolob Canyon in Utah. Never heard of it? Actually it is in Zion National Park. If you have spent any time in Zion, you are probably scratching your head wondering why you have never seen these mountains.

Well, they are not in the back country on some long arduous trail.  No, no. I took this photo from the road. Actually, Kolob Canyon are in the northwest section of Zion National Park. To get there, you must leave the main section of the park, head west about 30 miles to Interstate 15, then go north for about 17 miles to the Kolob Canyon exit. You will also gain in elevation from about 3,500 to approximately 6 ,000 feet (hence the presence of snow).

There is a visitor center right at the exit where you will pay your fees if you haven’t already done so at the main entrances to Zion. From there it is a short drive up and along the canyon viewpoint road where you can see views like the one here. It is a beautiful section of the park with some interesting trails to explore.

This is not one of my artsier photos, rather much more of a postcard. It was an overcast day, so the light was not good…and while Autumn was flourishing in the main part of Zion, it had long since passed here. I hope someday to go back and see it in sunlight with clouds. But, I went anyway this day as I had never been here. I am glad I did.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Zion

Travel Haiku - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
my eyes rolling round
and round autumn

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
the colours of fall loosen
my frazzled nerves

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
my pressure drops and
trails the leaves

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
i am a mirror to
nature's allure

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
I help nature
admire itself

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
i feel as colourful as
the leaves

by: john tiong chunghoo

Postcard from Bryce Canyon

This is Inspiration Point, or should I say the trail leading up to Inspiration Point. Its an easy walk from the parking lot to this point, then a fairly steep climb to the top. Well, maybe not so easy as it sits at 8,000 feet. You will do a fair amount of huffing and puffing when you take this walk.

But as you can see, on this cold November day, it was snowed and iced over. There was absolutely no way I was doing this trek this day, especially as it was somewhere between 12 and 15 degrees. Still it made for a fine photograph, which was my goal on this frozen day.

Inspiration Point is close by Sunset Point where I photographed the “first light of day” image I shared with you a couple of weeks ago. Although the parking lot sign says “Inspiration Point,” it really isn’t. The point itself is at the end of a long climb up this trail. Look close (click on the image to see an enlargement) and you will see a railing where you can stop, catch your breath and take a photo or two. But that is not Inspiration Point either! It’s only about halfway there. If you look real, real close, you can see a second rail way above this rail. That is Inspiration Point. Not today, thank you very much.

Even if I had made it to the top, I would have to come down again…and I could just see myself slipping on the ice and sliding all the way down…to the bottom of the canyon. It’s OK as I have already been up there and managed to get some wonderful photos on another trip in friendlier weather.

With all that said, I still like this shot very much.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free. You can also order Christmas Cards using this or any other of my images.

Postcard from Zion

There is a bridge in Zion National Park where knowledgeable photographers gather toward sunset to hopefully capture a fantastic autumn photo of the Virgin River, some beautiful trees along its banks and a mountain known as “The Watchman”…and with some luck, some lovely pink-shaded clouds. Well, I was among the photographers for two nights waiting to capture the perfect image (The other nights the light and clouds were not good, so I did not stop).

One has to go early to get a good spot as the bridge fills up fast. Well, I was there for well over and hour both nights and did not get lucky. It looked especially good on one night, but the clouds disappeared just as the sun set. Anyway, I did capture a good image (but not great) that I will share with you soon.

But, while waiting for the sunset, I turned my camera around 180 degrees, set up on the other side of the bridge, and caught this image.  It is looking north into Zion Canyon. The river is, of course, the Virgin River. The mountain on the right is called The East Temple, and the two mountains that look alike are called "The Twins.”

I just wish I could have moved those clouds behind me near the Watchman. Then I would have had a image to die for. But this one is not bad on its own. I am just glad the photo gods gave something good to shoot that night.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

Here and there in Zion National Park, one finds these small groves of trees with phenomenal color. Obviously, this is one of them. It is located a short way up the Narrows Trail. To get to these groves, one has to go off trail to take the photo. Of course, this kind of color only lasts a few days, so one must plan an Autumn trip to Zion with great care. For your information and future planning, this photo was taken on 11/14/11.

In Zion, during the height of the Autumn season, yellow is by far the most predominate color. Believe it or not, it actually becomes boring to the senses. Yellow is everywhere, so it is easy to become jaded by so much of one color. So when one comes across a grove of orange and/or red trees, one immediately wants to photograph it.

In this case, I climbed a small hill to get to this grove. Once inside it, it was very difficult to find the correct location to make a photograph because there were some many possible locations…all within a few feet of each other. So, as you might imagine, I have several shots of this place. This was the first one I developed in the digital darkroom.

Next time, I promise to show you a photo of some of the sweeping vistas of Zion. Trust me, I have lots of them. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

This photo shows the reason why my friend Dave and I chose to go to Zion National Park in November….color, color, color…Autumn colors mixed in with the range of colors of the Zion mountains.

This was one of the early photos I took along the Virgin River at a rock formation named “The Organ.” In a future photo you will see why it got its name. The other rock formation in the upper left part of the photo is the lower portion of “The Great White Throne.”

Here is something you can stick in your future file if you ever plan to visit Zion in Autumn: the best colors are located at the north end of the canyon where the road ends at the beginning of “The Narrows” trail. From the parking lot all the way up the narrows, the colors are absolutely amazing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, all of Zion Canyon is beautiful in November…and there are special places of intense color everywhere…some more hidden than others. But the highest concentration of red, orange, yellow and green are at the end of the canyon.

When we arrived on Zion on November 11, we came through Carmel Junction, which means we arrived in the high country of Zion, then descended into the canyon. By this date, most of the color in the high country was pretty well played out. So keep that in your file also.

Now, if you remember the last blog I did, the photo of Bryce Canyon in the snow, you may wonder why there is snow  in Bryce, but not in Zion. The answer is simple: even though the two National Parks are less the 100 miles apart, Bryce is at 8,000 feet while Zion sits at 3,500 feet.

I took lots and lots of photos on this trip, so I will be showing more of them here as time goes by. When you see color as amazing as this, you can’t stop shooting. So, I have lots of work ahead of me in the digital darkroom. So stay tuned…

Postcard from Bryce Canyon

I was not supposed to take this picture…but obviously I did. My friend and fellow professional photographer Dave Forster were on our way from Tucson to Escalante, Utah on an eight day photo road trip. To say it was a great trip would be an understatement. But, I digress.

We spent the first night in Flagstaff, AZ, as we had a late start from Phoenix (Dave flew in there from Seattle). In Flagstaff, there was a fair amount of snow on the ground from a storm that morning. It was clear when we arrived in the evening, but temps were down in the low teens. A weird event for a guy like me who was in shorts that morning in Tucson.

Anyway, we drove north on day 2, from Flagstaff to Page, AZ, then across Lake Powell into Utah. A bright sunny day, but still cold. From there we went west, then north on Highway 89, running into snow on the ground here and there. From 89, we took Utah’s most beautiful highway, 12 east heading to Escalante. By now it was sunset. We drove through Red Canyon then climbed up to the turnoff to Bryce Canyon. At this point, there was snow all over the ground.

Originally, we had made the decision to skip Bryce as we both had a ton of sunrise photos.  But, with snow all over the ground, we changed our plans to come back to Bryce before dawn the next morning to see what we could capture with our cameras.

We spent the night in Cannonville, about a 25 minute drive from Bryce. Sure enough, we rose before sunset and headed back west to Bryce Canyon, which is at an elevation of 8,000 feet. It was cold of course, but we set up our cameras and waited for the sun to break the horizon. This was my first trip ever to see Bryce in the snow.

And obviously, I wasn’t disappointed. An as the sun broke the horizon, I took this photo. If you look on the far left, you will see a little lens flair from the first light of the sun. This was one of those five shot fast exposures, all taken a different apertures, then combined into one shot. I think it turned out rather well. I have more photos of Bryce in the snow that I will share with you over time.   

From there we went a couple of miles down to Ruby’s Inn for breakfast, then headed east again for Escalante and the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Much more to come so stay tuned.

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To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.