Remembering Galen Rowell

Impact And Inspiration

My life changed on a Saturday afternoon in the late 1990s. While visiting the Carnegie Museum Of Natural History in Pittsburgh, I noticed a sign announcing a photography exhibition. I recognized the name of the photographer, Galen Rowell. I had read articles about him, but I had never seen prints of his work in person. It was an experience that I'll never forget.

I had never seen photographs like this before. The compositions were wonderful, but it was the color, the detail, and the creamy smoothness of the prints that struck me most powerfully.

I remember feeling puzzled, even bewildered. What I was seeing seemed beyond the capability of what a camera could produce. It was as though I had witnessed a magic trick that made me question things that I thought the I understood.

I came away from the exhibition with a strange fascination. I didn't just want to understand how he captured photos that looked like this, I wanted to be able to product images with a similar look. It became an obsession, albeit one with a positive purpose. My fascination kicked off a decades long journey of discovery.

-

Galen Rowell was a skilled climber and mountaineer who traveled the world photographing remote places for National Geographic. He climbed Everest and El Capitan. He photographed Nepal and Machu Picchu.

I didn't spend much time in wilderness areas. I lived in a heavily populated area and commuted into a large city for work every day.

Nevertheless, I believed that if I could study and learn Mr. Rowell's style of photography, with its brilliant colors, dramatic skies, and awe-inspiring light, I could adapt that style for use in urban areas. Sunsets happen everywhere; we don't have to venture into the wilderness to see one.

Sadly, Galen Rowell and his wife died in a plane crash on August 11, 2002, twenty years ago today. I am now the age that Galen was when he passed away.

I never had the chance to meet Galen Rowell or attend one of his workshops (which were always sold out!) but his creative vision, his artistry, and his masterful craftsmanship have inspired me since the day I first saw his prints.

Camera:    Fujifilm GFX 100S

Lens:        GF 45mm f/2.8

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2022 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
www.instagram.com/dansouthphoto

All Rights Reserved

Fountains At The Met

Dancing In The Dark

Fountains At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

I love watch these fountains on a warm summer evening.

Camera:    Fujifilm GFX 100S

Lens:        GF 23mm f/4

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2022 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
www.instagram.com/dansouthphoto

All Rights Reserved

Metal - The East River Roundabout Sculpture by Alice Aycock

Public Displays Of Art

Sometimes you know exactly what you want to photograph. You plan your shoot in advance and set it up to control as many variables as you can.

Sometimes you have no idea what you might photograph. You wander around until your eye spots something interesting, and then you use your skills to create an image in your style using the things that you have discovered.

Most often, photography is a hybrid of these two approaches. We have an idea of what we want to shoot, but we end up incorporating elements and conditions that we could not have foreseen.

East River Roundabout by Alice Aycock (Detail)

When I ventured out for a walk on a clear afternoon in late May, I had no idea that Alice Aycock's 'East River Roundabout' sculpture existed. My intention was to walk along the river on the jogging path on the East River Greenway.

Unfortunately, after a few blocks, I found that the path was closed for construction and completely impassable. I doubled back across the footbridge and pondered where to go next.

Footbridge To The East River Greenway - New York (2021)

I decided to walk toward the Queensboro Bridge. I noticed that a barge with a large yellow crane was moored near the bridge. I thought that I might be able to find an interesting composition combining the crane, the bridge, and perhaps a passing cable car.

Bridge, Crane, and Cable Car - New York (2021)

As I was looking for viewpoints, I noticed that I was standing in a space covered by a large, open metal structure.

The structure didn't appear to have a clear purpose. It looked as though it might have been the skeleton of a building that was being assembled. Parts of it looked like gears or tracks that might have been part of the machines that drove the cable cars.

East River Roundabout Sculpture by Alice Aycock - New York (2021)

People were hanging out under the sculpture, talking, reading the paper, browsing their phones. Some took in the view, took selfies and group shots. Families with children were playing ball. Every few minutes, the Roosevelt Island Tram would pass silently overhead.

Roosevelt Island Tram Cable Cars - New York (2021)

Art encourages new perspectives. Surprises make the journey fun.

Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S

Lenses: GF 80mm f/1.7 

            GF 45mm f/2.8

            GF 23mm f/4

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
www.instagram.com/dansouthphoto

All Rights Reserved

GFX 100S - Impressions and Discoveries - Week Two

Sophomore Hijinks

Here are my impressions after my second week of daily shooting with the GFX 100S.

Classic Dodge - 1/280 @ f/8 ISO 160 - ASTIA Simulation

- The more I use the camera, the more I enjoy it and the more I respect the engineers who designed it. 

- The shooting experience is a joy. The camera becomes a part of you. You don't just use it, you love it.

- Lens firmware update are critical to getting the most out of your gear. Some of the softness that I had blamed initially on the shutter speed has been corrected.

- I have gotten sharp results handheld down to 1/30s. It's not guaranteed, because unexpected body movement can have an impact, but if you're disciplined and steady, you'll get more hits than misses at slow shutter speeds.

Renting A Citibike - 1/240 @ f/5.6 ISO 400 - ASTIA Simulation

- My favorite film simulations have been ASTIA (which surprised me), PROVIA, and VELVIA. Nostalgic Negative and Classic Negative have been useful in some cases, but I use them sparingly.

- Sometimes the simulations look better than Adobe presets, but in other cases, I'll use Adobe Color, Landscape, or Vivid, or their suite of B&W presets. There's no clear preference. I apply them on a case by case basis.

- The GF 30mm f/3.5 is the sharpest lens that I have ever used on any camera. It's also wonderfully small and lightweight.

- The 32-64mm zoom is a more satisfying walk-around lens than I expected given its size and limited range of focal lengths. It's quite flexible.

- The battery drains faster than on my Sony full frame cameras, but I have now changed the image stabilization feature from "Always" to "While Shooting Only." I'll have to see over the next week whether that makes a difference.

Crop To Show Detail - Full Image Below

Church With A Red Door - 1/100 @ f/5.6 ISO 2500 - Adobe Vivid

Hello Doggie! - 1/55 @ f/5.6 ISO 500 - VELVIA Simulation

Barrels Of Chaos - 1/120 @ f/5.6 ISO 500 - Nostalgic Negative Simulation

Art On The Move - 1/950 @ f/4 ISO 400 - Adobe Color

Red Mini Cooper - 1/110 @ f/5.6 ISO 800 - Adobe Vivid

Camera: Fujifilm GFX 100S

Lenses: Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4, GF 30mm f/3.5 

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
www.instagram.com/dansouthphoto

All Rights Reserved

Hungarian National Gallery

Buda Castle - Budapest

Camera: Sony a7R IV
Lens:     Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2019 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Young Woman In An Evening Gown

Sisters At An Exhibition

I am proud to announce that my sister, Laurie, has had one of her oil paintings selected for display in a juried exhibition at the historic Merrick Art Gallery in Western Pennsylvania. 

It was an honor to be there for the successful and well-attended opening. My other two sisters were on hand, as well (a full set!). We live far apart and don't see each other very often; being together at the opening made occasion all the more special.

Merrick Art Gallery in Western Pennsylvania

Historic Placard

Young Woman In An Evening Gown by Laurie South Fillinger

Sisters At An Exhibition - Mimi, Laurie, Marne

Exterior of the Historic Merrick Art Gallery

Chandelier - Merrick Art Gallery - New Brighton, Pennsylvania

Camera: 
                Sony a7R III
Lenses:
                Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
                Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM


Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2018 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Winter Light Show - Madison Square Park

Happy New Year 2018!


It's been a great year. The next one can be even better!

Be true to yourself, keep your eyes and your heart open, and never hesitate to take a shot.

Winter Light Show - Madison Square Park

Wishing you fulfillment, fun, and fabulous photos in 2018!


Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens:     Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Bubblegum Factory

Things To Do With A Camera When Your Wife Isn't Looking

Bubblegum Factory

Just don't get caught! And if you do, it wasn't my idea. ;-)


Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Happy Birthday, Vincent!

Wheatfield with Crows - Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Today we celebrate the birthday of Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, whose ingenious visionary legacy is treasured and adored by art fans around the globe.

I was first exposed to Vincent's work by, of all things, a jigsaw puzzle. My mom bought the puzzle (a painting of a farm with fields and fencing) when I was about ten years old. I remember us sitting at the kitchen table working to put it together.

Van Gogh's unique style jumped out even from a flat reproduction. Those magical brush strokes! I'm filled with wonder every time I look at one of these incomparable masterpieces.

Thank you for sharing your art with us, Vincent. You brought great pleasure into this world during your tragically short life. We are forever in your debt.



Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Van Gogh In Paris

The City Of Light

Van Gogh's self-portrait, pictured below, is one of my favorite paintings in all the world. 

Every time I visit Paris, I make time to stop by the Musée d'Orsay. Once inside, I race to the top floor and stand in awe of Vincent's genius.

It is my sincere hope to visit Paris again in the near future. I love this beautiful city in so many ways.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Happy Easter, Holy Week, and Passover

Wishing everyone a joyous and meaningful Easter, Holy Week, and Passover.

Renaissance Painting, Zagreb, Croatia

Camera: Canon 5D Mark II
Lens:     Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Rudolph Shares His Tips On Originality

Stand Out From The Crowd

Rudolph knows what it means to be unique.

If you'll recall his well-known story, at first he tried to blend in and be like everyone else. That didn't work out so well.

Although he always had a few special friends who believed in him, Rudolph didn't prosper until he embraced his own unique gifts and leveraged them to the fullest. Eventually, he went on to save Christmas and gain acceptance by his peers and his community.

Waiting To Cross - Times Square

Santa and Rudolph stopped by earlier this week during one of their test flights over New York. I asked Rudolph if he would share his tips on originality. He accepted graciously and added specific recommendations for artists and photographers.


1. Accept that you are unique

No one else sees the world in the way that you do. As long as you stay true to your own vision, your work will trend toward uniqueness.

2. Do what you find appealing

Create the images that YOU want to see. Avoid trends and conventions. One day, you'll look back over your portfolio. Will it express what you wanted it to say? Or will it be a clone of what everyone else was doing at the time?

3. Innovate actively

Always look for your own shot, your own interpretation, your own composition. The world is full of photographers who stand behind other photographs in order to "get the same shot". Don't be one of them.

Avoid the herd. Don't take the "postcard shot" that everyone else is taking. Scout aggressively to find your own viewpoint, and make an image that really means something to you.

4. Work every day

Set aside time each day either to go out and take pictures, or to organize and processes images that you've taken in the past. (If you're like me, you probably have a bit of backlog.) Inspiration finds you when you're working, not when you're sitting on the couch.

Christmas comes only once a year, but the people behind the scenes (you know who they are) work every day to make sure that when the day comes, it's really special. If your portfolio means something to you, then you should be working on it constantly, not only when it's convenient.

5. Stay fresh

Mix things up. Vary your approach now and then. If you shoot landscapes, try events or still life. If you shoot portraits, try shooting sports or macro or doing some light painting. Do things differently. Try shooting in light that you would normally avoid.

Some of your experiments will fail. Congratulations! Thomas Edison would be proud of you. Learn what you can, revise your plan, and shoot some more.

6. Be patient

Give yourself time. Don't be too hard on yourself, especially when you're trying something new. Your creative style will emerge at its own pace. If you chase it, it will just move further away. As long as your are working, you are improving. Results will appear, not right away, but soon.

Photographer With Tripod - Times Square

I would very much like to thank Rudolph and The Big Guy for stopping by at this most busy time of year. I enjoyed their valuable insights, and I hope that you'll find inspiration in their advice.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to dash off to the store to pick up some more milk and cookies, because I appear to have run out.

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2013 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved