----- Original Message -----
From: "Bogdan Karasek" <bkarasek@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 7:04 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Shooting in the desert
Hi all,
I hope this isn't considered off topic and I come seeking
photographic advice. This June 18th, I'll be going to
Death Valley, California, for 8 days. The question I
have concerns how I should adapt my shooting to the harsh
and contrasty light in the desert. I live in Montreal,
which is in the higher latitudes and we also get a fair
amount of humidity, so the light is always much more
diffuse and I have gotten used to shooting in those
conditions. I have been to the desert in Anza Borrego
and the Salton Sea several times in the past ten years and
have always had trouble with the light, especially between
10am and 5pm. Sometimes I feel that it should be sunny 18
instead of sunny 16. i got into the habit of getting up
before sunrise and ready to shoot at first light to avoid
that harshness, but still, the air is dry and the light
very quickly gets very harsh, at least, that 's the way it
seems to me, coming from the climate that I live in.
Anybody have any suggestions of how I can deal with that
harsh light. I usually use yellow, orange and even red
filters but still it's harsh.
I'll be shooting 120 APX 25 ( the stuff has been sitting
in my freezer) and 120 Tri-X at 200 iso.
I'm open to all suggestions.
In passing, if any of you have been to Death Valley and
are familiar with the place, I would welcome suggestions
as to places that I should go and visit in particular.
I'll be renting a 4x4 Rav-4, so that'll get me off the
paved roads and into the hinderland.
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
bogdan
You've already gotten some good advice from others. I
haven't been to DV for several years but used to go
frequently. The weather is highly variable so its worth
checking. A good source is the National Weather Service atL
I checked just now and the current conditions are hot
but not super hot, around mid to high eighties peak and cool
at night. RH is very low, varying from about 7% in the
daytime to maybe 12% at night. That makes the heat more
bearable.
There are lots of sources of information and advice
about the valley. The AAA publishes a guide and the National
Park Service has several. They will give you the current
advice about how to dress, what to take with you, what to
avoid and what to see. I certainly concur with the advice of
carryign lots of potable water. In general, dress lightly
but in clothes that protect you from direct sunlight. A big
hat is a good idea. You can get sunburned pretty quickly
without realizing it although not as fast as in the high
mountains (less UV). I can get _very_ quiet.
The danger from rattlesnakes is exagerated. Watch out
for sleeping snakes, they sun themselves to help digestion
because they are cold blooded, awake ones will rattle at
you. Rattlers are not agressive, they just want to be left
alone. Most people who are bitten by them have been abusing
the snake. If the snake rattles just walk away from it.
Despite the heat of the day it can get quite chilly at
night and the temperature will drop quickly after sunset.
So, take a warmie with you in case you are out later than
you plan.
I don't know how good cell phone coverage is in the
valley, probably the park service can advise. If its
reliable I would have the right emergency numbers available
case of an accident.
I have always been fond of the desert, but many people
hate it. DV is a relatively civilized area, not quite like
wandering off into the Gobi alone but some precautions and
understanding are still necessary. Most areas are accessible
by normal two-wheel (really one-wheel) drive cars. Actually,
the virtues of 4x4 are somewhat exagerated, if you can't get
to a place using a normal car you probably need a mule.
As far as filters the problem is different than in the
mountains because there is not the problem with lots of UV.
For B&W any blue cutting filter will probably increase
contrast by reducing the effectiveness of skylight fill.
Also, there will not be the problem with blue shadows found
in the mountains. IR film can produce interesting pictures
there.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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