I’ve long wanted to produce a calendar featuring my images but haven’t had  a venue for selling them in sufficient quantities until I opened The Edge Gallery.  I was recently approached by my good friend Todd Caudle, who proposed a collaborative effort to create a 2013 Utah calendar featuring my photography and the amazing imagery of photographer David J. West, whose home base is just outside Zion National Park.  One look at David’s website and I was sold on the idea.

Our 2013 wall calendar, simply titled “Utah”, will be available around mid-June.  Each month features a beautiful, full color photograph from a variety of stunning locations in Utah, including Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion National Parks.  The calendars will be on sale in my and David’s galleries this summer.  Not planning a trip to Utah this year?  Order one online!  I’m accepting pre-orders now and will ship your calendar as soon as they’re delivered to me in June.  The 2013 Utah calendar will retail for $11.95 and can be shipped to you for an additional $2.00.

To pre-order your calendar just send me an email (or bret (at) bretedge (dot) com) with your name, shipping address, phone number and the quantity of calendars you’d like to order.  I’ll respond with an order confirmation and payment instructions.

There is no finer ballhead for outdoor photographers than those made by Acratech, Inc.  I’ve used their Ultimate Ballhead for seven years without a single catastrophic failure.  Acratech ballheads are lightweight, easy to use, incredibly durable, simply designed and feature a velvety smooth action – without being overpriced.  They are a company who cares about their customers and consistently delivers superior customer service.  For these reasons, I didn’t hesitate for a second when they offered me a sponsorship.

That’s right, I’m now sponsored by Acratech, Inc.!  I genuinely believe their ballheads are the very best in the industry.  Those who know me know that I will not endorse or support any product I don’t personally use.  In the case of Acratech, I’ve been using and endorsing their Ultimate Ballhead for years as my own extensive experience with it has been overwhelmingly positive.  I’m excited to officially be a part of their team and I look forward to developing a lasting relationship with their fantastic crew.

As part of my sponsorship terms I’ll have a couple Acratech ballheads to loan out to guided and workshop clients interested in seeing just how well they perform in real world conditions.

Huge thanks to Chrys at Acratech for responding so quickly to my proposal and to Scott, the company founder, for the generous sponsorship offer!

Today I’m starting a new feature on my blog called “Archive Dive”.  Every once in a while I’ll find an unloved, unprocessed photo just sitting on my hard drive waiting to be shared with the world.  Usually, these are photos that didn’t make the initial cut and were forgotten when I moved on to other projects.  Once in a while, typically when I’m digging through my files for a submission, I’ll come across one of these photos and I’ll wonder, “How did I miss this one?”  A little Lightroom love and those long lost photos are ready to be introduced to the world.  Here is the first one and a brief history of the image.

Two years ago I led a summer workshop in the Tetons.  I decided to take the scenic route from Moab and drove along the western edge of the Tetons through Driggs and Tetonia into Targhee National Forest before turning east into Yellowstone National Park.  I had hoped to photograph sunset on the Tetons from Idaho, which was something I’d never done.  The weather had other ideas.  I never even saw the Tetons from Idaho as they were socked in with boring gray clouds.  I saw Upper and Lower Mesa Falls on the map and as is common with me, I turned off-route and headed into the unknown.

The falls were both impressive but difficult to photograph well, especially in unrelenting rain.  Back on the road I rounded a bend just in time to see a cow moose and her adorable calf cross the road.  Mama stepped right over a fence while the baby stopped, then began to panic because it couldn’t get over or through.  The cow kindly stepped back over the fence and stood watch while her baby figured out a way to get through the fence, followed shortly thereafter by Mom.  I drove on, and right around the next bend in the road a steep, rugged hillside covered in evergreen trees came into view.  Clouds wafted lazily down the slope.  It was still raining so I pulled over and photographed the scene before me from the driver’s seat with the window partially rolled down.  Thank God for image stabilization.

Of course, the image was originally photographed in color.  That version didn’t grab me and I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me then that it would make a fantastic black and white photograph.  When I saw it sitting on my hard drive tonight, my first thought was “monochrome!”  I did the initial processing in Lightroom 3 (I’m not cool enough to have a machine that will run LR4) and used Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 to do the conversion.  I also used Nik Color Efex Pro 3 to add a little contrast to the highlights and mid-tones.  I finished the process with Nik Sharpener Pro after sizing the image for the web and converting to jpeg.

So there you have it, the whole story behind today’s “Archive Dive” image, Evergreen Trees and Clouds, Idaho.

Don’t forget, use coupon code “BEDGE” at the Nik Software store to receive a 15% discount off the retail price of their amazing Lightroom plug-ins.

Every spring I get restless.  I fantasize about warm days, cool nights, wildflowers and waterfalls and nights under the stars, road trips and hikes and adventures with my family.  We spend each winter huddled in the warmth and convenience of our house, with a comfortable bed and a down comforter to ward off what little chill may intrude in the middle of the night.  When the sun goes down, we turn on the lights and life continues uninterrupted late into the evening.  The rhythm of nature ceases to exist.

Like clockwork, every spring I find myself craving tent time.  I want to lie on my back on a thin Thermarest, the nylon walls of my tent stretched tightly around aluminum poles with a million stars sparkling through mesh skylights.  I long to hear a coyote yip echo through a midnight canyon.  I need to go to sleep when it gets dark, wake up when the sun rises and bask in the warmth of early sunshine.

Getting away from all our modern conveniences instantly makes life simpler, if only for a short time.  It also reminds us to appreciate the things we take for granted every day: warm running water, a cozy couch on which to relax during a storm and a refrigerator stocked with a variety of fresh food.  A toilet.  A real, honest to God toilet – not a hole in the ground and a log to squat on.

But it isn’t just about getting away from all the niceties of modern society.  It’s about spending the night at the base of a big mountain or hidden in a deep canyon, surrounded by nature in all her glory and violence.  It’s about not being at the top of the food chain.  It’s about being an insignificant speck in a vast landscape, surrounded by the sights, smells and sounds of a wild and rugged place.  We need this to remember our place in the universe.  We are not in control.

Last fall I spent an eventful evening in a tent in Capitol Reef National Park.  Rain poured from the sky accompanied by fat bolts of lightning and thunder that echoed off the sandstone walls.  I laid on my back with my eyes wide open, watching the tent walls glow brightly with each lightning strike.  When the thunderstorm finally passed I fell asleep only to be awakened in the early morning hours by the horrific sounds of a rabbit becoming a meal to a coyote or mountain lion.  The next day, with nerves frazzled by an all-night adrenaline high, I swear the sky was bluer, the air smelled sweeter and life was just a little bit better.

My friend Jim Goldstein, whose e-book “Photographing the 4th Dimension – Time“, was reviewed right here on my blog a few months ago, is releasing a new video course titled “Mastering Star Trail Photography“.

“Photographing the 4th Dimension – Time” is a great resource for photographers who want to gain new skills and knowledge in the photography of star trails, light painting, time lapses and more.  Jim’s “Mastering Star Trail Photography” video course will delve even further into the exciting art of star trail photography.  The course is designed to be useful for photographers working at any level, from beginners to pro’s.  Jim will cover all aspects of creating stunning astronomy landscapes including gear selection, camera technique, post-processing tips to make the most of your capture and more.

Jim is offering a live webinar of “Mastering Star Trail Photography” from 9:00 to 10:00 AM PST on March 26 – 29, 2012.  Visit the Inspired Exposure website to register for the free webinar.  If you can’t make it, or if you want to purchase the video course, you can also do that at the Inspired Exposure website.  Jim is offering the full 4 hour course at a discounted rate of $74.99 until March 26, at which time the price will increase to the full rate of $99.99.  Everyone who purchases a copy of the video will also receive Jim’s “Photographing the 4th Dimension - Time” e-book.

If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with night photography but weren’t sure where to start, Jim’s “Mastering Star Trail Photography” video course will have you making masterful astronomy landscapes in no time.

Hey folks, just a quick post to let you all know that Adobe Lightroom 4 is now available in final form (non-beta). B & H Photo has the full version priced at $149 and the upgrade at $79.  Pretty sweet pricing when compared to prior versions that cost twice as much.

Some of the new features in Lightroom 4 include:

• The highlight and shadow recovery tools have been significantly improved.  They work pretty well in Lightroom 3 but it looks like Adobe has made them even more powerful in Lightroom 4.
• Hallelujah! Soft proofing! I’ve been waiting for this for a long time and it’s finally here.  I’ll no longer have to export my images to Photoshop prior to making a print, which means my workflow just got that much faster.
• A new white balance brush that makes it possible to selectively change white balance within an image. Very cool.  This has so many applications.  For example, I often find that selecting the correct white balance for the landscape causes a brilliant blue sky to lose some of its luster.  With the adjustment brush this is now a very easy fix.
• Additional brush controls that allow you to remove noise and moire patterns locally. I’m particularly excited to have the ability to remove noise locally without affecting the rest of the image.  Noise likes to creep up in shadows and expansive areas of color, like the sky, and in traditional noise removal it was an all or none proposition.  Lightroom 4 fixes that problem.
• Easy photo book creation. This isn’t something I’ll use often but when I do want to create a book it’s nice to know that the entire process will be a little more streamlined.
• Adobe realizes that a lot of photographers are now shooting video and Lightroom 4 adds a few features to make it easier to work with and publish video.
• Those of us who like to share our work online can now do so easier with the ability to publish directly to Flickr, Facebook and more.  You can also email photos from within Lightroom 4, which will make it much easier for pro’s to make stock photo submissions.  This will streamline my workflow and save valuable time.

At $79 to upgrade or $149 for a new purchase, Lightroom 4 is well worth the investment to gain access to several powerful new features.  I’ve been a user of Lightroom since version 1 and it’s been really cool to watch the software mature with each new release.

Purchase the full version of Lightroom 4 at B & H Photo

Purchase the upgrade version of Lightroom 4 at B & H Photo

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a gearhead. Something new comes out, whether it be a camera, a motorcycle or a backpack, and the well-trained consumer in me starts plotting a way to buy the latest and greatest. When the Canon 5D Mark II was announced I knew I had to have it.  I was using a 1D Mark II at the time and while it was a good camera, the 5D Mark II was light years ahead of it with regard to image quality and the technology packed inside that beautiful black body.  Naturally, I bought it.  I’ve been happily using it since and honestly, I can find very little to complain about.

When rumors of the 5D Mark III started rolling in I honest to God thought mine would be one of the very first pre-orders at B&H.  I had visions of a full-frame sensor packing 30+ crystal clear megapixels with magical noise control and crazy dynamic range.  Oh, the prints I would make!  And then the Nikon D800 hit shelves with a whopping 36 megapixels residing on it’s sensor and sample images started showing up with some serious issues resolving detail.  Surprising?  Not really.  Sure, the files are bigger but if they aren’t full of rich detail what good are they?

Tonight, Canon announced the 5D Mark III with a 22.3 megapixel sensor. Yep, 1 lousy megapixel more than the 5D Mark II.  Big deal, right?  Actually, I think Canon was smart not to engage in the War of the Megapixels.  I’ve not seen any sample images from the 5D Mark III but I’d bet my Gitzo that they’ve got much more detail than those 36 megapixel whoppers from the D800.  But this isn’t a Canon vs. Nikon thing.  Unless Canon cut some kind of deal with the devil I’m fairly certain 36 megapixel files from a Canon full frame camera would be equally mushy.  It’s just a matter of math.  You can only cram so many megapixels into a full frame sensor before something has to give.  What’s the solution? A bigger sensor.

And that brings me to why I won’t be buying a Canon 5D Mark III, at least not any time in the near future.  I don’t need a faster frame rate, or built in HDR, or the capability to use ISO 25,600.  I need a bigger sensor.  My clients aren’t asking me to shoot 6 frames per second.  They’re demanding ever larger prints.  Currently I’m only comfortable enlarging 5D Mark II files to 32″ x 48″, and then only when they’re freakin’ perfect files to begin with.  Of course, every time I press the shutter I’m generating a perfect file so that really isn’t an issue but you know, maybe, once in a while, something happens that isn’t my fault and perhaps a hyperfocal point was missed, or something like that.  But seriously, the Canon 5D Mark III just isn’t a worthwhile investment for me to make at this time.  In no way am I smack talking the camera, though.  I’ve read the specs and the reviews of those lucky souls who got their hands on pre-production models while the rest of us sat around the interwebs sucking up the fumes from the rumor mill.  The camera has a damn impressive feature set.  I’ve no doubt the files will be even more impressive than those from my now ancient 5D Mark II.  And while I might not need 6 frames per second, it never sucks to have it.  But really, as a landscape photographer, I saw nothing in the specs that make me tingle all over.

What’s the answer to my dilemma?  Digital medium format.  I’m now plotting the purchase of a Pentax 645D.  By the time I’m actually able to afford one Pentax will likely be pushing out the 645D Mark III, but that’s neither here nor there.  The fact remains that I need bigger files for bigger, detail rich prints and I’m not going to get them out of the 5D Mark III.  And that, my friends, is why I’m not buying one.

If you don’t think you can live without a 5D Mark III, B&H is already accepting pre-orders.

My favorite local artist, Jacci Weller, is showing several of her gorgeous paintings at the Bighorn Gallery at Dead Horse Point State Park from March 3 through April 27, 2012.  You really shouldn’t need any extra motivation to want to visit the park but if you do, Jacci’s show is more than enough to reason to do so.  I only discovered her work last year during one of the regular Art Walks in Moab.  In an art scene so overwhelmed with typical southwestern themes, Jacci’s paintings are a refreshing departure from the norm. 

Her primary subjects are the varied desert flora so commonly overlooked by most of us – sagebrush, cactus, yucca – plants she brings to such vivid life with her brush.  Jacci loves the desert and her passion for it is clearly evident in her work.  It isn’t easy to choose just one favorite piece, so I’ve selected two: “Yucca Bursts Out Laughing” and “Heart of the Matter“. 

If you find yourself in Moab while Jacci’s paintings are on exhibit I strongly encourage you to take a trip to the Bighorn Gallery at Dead Horse Point State Park.  Pack a picnic lunch, take in the extraordinary view of the Colorado River and canyons below, and spend some time enjoying Jacci’s fabulous paintings.

The Bighorn Gallery at Dead Horse Point State Park is hosting an exhibit of paintings by my favorite local artist, Jacci Weller.  The exhibit begins on March 3 and will run through the end of April 27, 2012.

In less than two weeks we’ll open the doors to The Edge Gallery for the first time.  I’m excited to finally have a retail space in which to display my work but I’m also looking forward to using the gallery to host events such as mini-workshops, slideshows and presentations.  This is where you come in: I’m looking for photographers who have something they’re dying to share.  Maybe you’re releasing a new book, or you’re working on an exciting project, or you just want to help others learn a few tricks for making better photographs.  Perhaps you just returned from a month of trekking in Patagonia or photographing grizzlies in Alaska and you’ve got an interesting story to tell.  Whatever it is, I’m all ears.

The tourist season in Moab runs from March through October, occasionally even reaching into November.  I would like to offer an event once a month in-season, although I’m getting started too late to host anything in March or April of this year.  March through June and September through November sees primarily domestic (American) tourists.  Europeans and Asians flock here in June through early September.

Here’s how it works:

All events are free to the general public.  I’ll promote them in the local publications, at the gallery, on my website and blog, through social media and in my e-newsletter.  I provide the space and all necessary furniture, a projector and screen (laptop too, if needed) and light refreshments on the evening of the event.  You provide the entertainment.

What’s in it for you:

I’m not gonna lie – I can’t pay you.  Sorry, just had to get that out of the way and I wanted to be as blunt as possible so as to avoid any misunderstanding.  I’ll probably buy you a coffee, a beer or maybe even lunch, though. You are encouraged to bring copies of your new book, greeting cards, matted prints, calendars, business cards, brochures, etc. on the night of the event as you will have a place to display them.  You keep 100% of the profits on all of your sales.  I also encourage you to promote your products and services before, during and after the event – so long as you don’t sound like an infomercial the entire time.  Importantly, you’ll gain exposure to a highly engaged audience.

What’s in it for me:

One word: traffic. Your amazing presentation will bring people into the gallery who may not otherwise have paid us a visit.  That’s it.

Additional details:

I’m not interested in hosting an event that is politically motivated.  I’ve got to tread the middle ground as I am running a business and it makes no sense at all to alienate or offend a segment of the population.  As we all do, I have my own political and environmental beliefs but I choose to keep them private for the aforementioned reasons.

I expect that most topics will be rooted in photography but if you’ve got something unrelated and interesting to present, I’d like to hear from you.

If you plan to bring items to sell please also be prepared to handle all payments whether they be cash, check or charge.  Square is a brilliant way to accept credit cards without the hassle and expense of a merchant account.

Serious inquiries only, please.  No flakes. If we schedule an event and I go through all the trouble to market and prepare for it only to have you back out at the last minute because your fingernail hurts, it’s gonna suck for everyone involved.  Don’t be that guy (or girl).

What to do next:

Email me your proposal.  Let me know what you’d like to present and when.  As of this post I’ve got every month available except October. I look forward to hearing your ideas!

I’ve purchased a few of the Craft & Vision e-books in the past and every one of them has been well worth the $5.00 investment.  I just got an email from them announcing the publication of their latest e-book, “Exposure for Outdoor Photography” by Michael Frye.  I immediately downloaded it but haven’t yet had a chance to give it a thorough virtual thumbing through on my iPad.  Michael covers a variety of topics, beginning with the basics of obtaining a proper exposure and moving into more complicated techniques like exposing for high contrast scenes and blending exposures for increased dynamic range.  If you struggle with nailing exposures, are new to digital photography and the word “histogram” brings on a panic attack, or even if you’ve been shooting for many years and just want to bone up on the latest and greatest techniques, “Exposure for Outdoor Photography” is a worthwhile purchase.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Michael and his work, he’s an incredibly talented professional photographer and instructor whose Yosemite work is among the best you’ll ever see.  I encourage you to visit his website to view his inspiring photography.  I’m also a regular reader of his blog, where you’ll find he frequently posts on various topics related to photography including lots of tips on how and when to photograph various scenes in Yosemite National Park.

To learn more about “Exposure for Outdoor Photography” by Michael Frye please visit the Craft & Vision website.  While there you’ll find an abundance of other fantastic e-books covering almost every aspect of photography.  Enjoy!