Thursday, December 30, 2010

Hiatus

Eclipse Montage
Digital compilation of the 20 December 2010 lunar eclipse. Canon 7D, tripod, 70-200 f2.8L IS (IS turned off), 1.4tc, varying shutter speeds, ISO, and f-stop.


Yes, yes, I know, its been months and months since I posted. For some mix of reasons I've been lacking in photographic inspiration. I think I made fewer images over the course of this summer and fall than I have in many years. Not all the reasons are clear, but one in particular is crystalline. Since my return from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean last February, I have been training for an Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a full 26.2 mile marathon). I completed that Ironman in Cozumel, Mexico on 28 November. While the experience has nothing to do with photography (aside from the fact that I recorded video during parts of the race which I am currently editing), it was by far one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Since it's off the subject, I won't go into the details here, though I may post a link at some point to the race report and video. 

Now that I've put that behind me, at least for the time being, my cameras have started to whisper to me again. My computer keyboard is more enticing and sparks of creativity (not yet a fire) are starting to flicker around in my head.

Which leads me to this entry. I'm hoping to start posting here again with greater regularity, show off not just my new work but some older images that I'm rediscovering. All of this, to come in the not too distant future. Keep your eye's open.

The image here was made during last week's lunar eclipse. I was fairly unprepared that night, as I'd failed to remember that I no longer possessed a tripod foot for my 500mm. Thus I couldn't use my big glass for the shots. I'm still kicking myself over this, as I'd envisioned crisp, frame-filling shots. Instead I did the best I could with my 70-200 and 1.4TC. It works in the smaller sizes but isn't crisp enough for publication. Lesson learned, and I'm ordering a new tripod foot today.