————-If you like this blog, leave a comment, otherwise I am going to abandon it when the contract expires.—————————————–
The primary purpose of this blog is landscapes taken at the major western national parks and scenic areas.
View my icon series for a guide to western national parks.
But I also want to share tips on gear and post processing and some unorthodox photo philosophy.
Latest images
Grand View point, Canyonlands NP
Dead Horse point Sunrise
Courthouse Towers, Arches NP
Colorado River along Potash Road Moab
Balanced Rock sunset Arches NP
Sunrise at Dead Horse Point Ut.
Mesa Arch sunrise
Monument Valley illuminated by moonlight alone
Sunset at Monument Valley
New essay’s
Vignetting with 24-70 f2.8 mk2 when using filters
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1600
I like it, nothing more is required.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1562
Gear is my salvation.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1558
The proof is in the print.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1550
5D-mkIII evaluation. (updated)
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1502
More on critique
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1493
Being true to the place
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1464
The benefits and limits of critique
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1455
Travelog landscape photography
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1425
New years resolution:
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1413
Upgrade to 5D3 6D?
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1382
The effect of image size.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1375
On being a gear head
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1359
Solo shooting.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1356
Travelers lament.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1303
Dealing with critique
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1293
What makes a great picture, new essay.
http://ben-egbert-photo.com/?page_id=1008
To all visitors. Please read my bucket list and give me some suggestions.
Hi, Ben,
Thank you for your hard work. I like landscape photography, every time I go out taking pictures, I take EF 24mm f/1.4L II, EF 50mm f/1.4 and EF 135mm f/2L(sometimes EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS).Because image quality is my first concern. The redesigned EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II is the latest update and it’s a hard choice for me, I’m not sure it can replace the 24mm and the 50mm prime lenses or not. From your 24-70/f2.8 II test, I get my answer, so I plan to sell the prime lenses and get this. Thank u for your efforts.
Jin
(From Shanghai China)
You are welcome, but I would advise getting your lens first before selling the primes. That’s what I did. My copy is very good and I think most are, but I have one friend who had to exchange the first copy he got. Now he is very happy. Let me know how you do.
Ben –
I appreciate your commentary and photos. I hope you do not abandon this website.
Thanks Jim, your replies are very much appreciated, more than you know.
very good
Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.
Ben, came over here after seeing reference to your site in a discussion at FM. I have seen your contributions to discussion at FM and DPR over the years. Thank you for sharing what you have learned.
Thanks for leaving a reply. I really appreciate it. I get lots of hits, but so much of it is spam that I have no idea who is really reading it.
Hello Ben,
like Paul I just discovered you and your site after a reference to you on the FM forum.
I am getting back into photography after many years away and am finding the whole digital thing and what can now be done overwhelming.
Thanks very much for sharing your views and philosophy on photography, gear, your art and why you do what you do. You have inspired me to remember to take a camera everywhere I go and take photos of the things that I find there.
Thanks for your reply, I am really happy to get them. Just be aware that I am sort of a maverick and if you listen to my comments on composition, you will end up an outsider.
Testing reply-
Katie
Thanks for the test reply, works fine. I will probably remove it in a week or so.
I was easily able to find the site, here is my reply as proof!
Thanks for the reply. this is the way it will look.
Testing
Got it, thanks, in fact got both so I will delete one.
Hi Ben.
I really do enjoy your site. I read a lot of photography forums, blogs etc. but your writings are what really make this site entertaining for me. I like the touch of cynicism or bluntness would be another way to read it but either way I can identify with your thoughts.
I do enjoy your photography of all the iconic spots but I’ve seen them all before. You do a very good job with the photo’s though.
Hope you keep your site.
Mike
Thanks for the reply, which is the only feedback I get for the work I put into it. Some of it is cynical, a way to blow off steam. but some is a serious intent to share what could be valuable information about when and where to go.
Everytime you post a series, the new series looks noticeably better than your previous work. I especially like the Grand View image. I was lucky enough to stand on the overlook while thunderstorms rolled by underneath me. It is a grand view even on a plain sunny day. Looks like you really got lucky with the weather.
Thanks Jim. Shooting with zooms allows a bit more compositional freedom. The shot mentioned was shot while it was raining, something my prime/ND grad/tripod shots make difficult. This one was shot with the excellent 16-35 with its attached hood, hand held in the rain using one of the fence posts as a steady rest. Live view AF allowed focus without needing to get my eye to the eye piece. The grids allowed me to level it although I had to rotate a bit in post. When the rain stopped, I got out the tripod and grads and took some more, but the drama was missing by then.
I have debated showing this as the forum. Not sure it would fly.
I do like shooting without a tripod, but of course that means you need good light and pretty fast shutter speed.
I know you are usually very careful with leveling your camera, but the Grand View image has a definite tilt – downward on the left side.
It does and I fixed one for print but not this one. The fix requires a crop that cuts part of the canyon on the right side. Something I get right when using a tripod.
You could cheat. Use the liquify tool to raise the horizon line on the left side so that the overall horizon appears level. This will cause some small distortions that would not be noticeable especially if you make the adjustment so that the distortions occur in the shadow areas.
Yep. many ways to skin a cat in Photoshop.