[dcstep]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Bonneville Salt Flats

Another major car guy bucket list item from my road trip back in August/September. We actually went over to the lookout off of I-80 (where this shot was taken) as well as to the entrance of the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway. The salt flats were more picturesque from this location, though. I was afraid to blow out the highlights since there was too much white around and ended up underexposing most of my shots there. Thanks to the 6D picking up shadows is no big deal. I processed this for noise (mostly in the sky) in DXO 11 and then LR CC for the rest.

Classic shot. Well done. I like the white-whites vs. the rich blues. Of course, the textures make this work. Of course, a super-duper lens always helps!

[jmg]

From the RISE festival this past weekend:
20161008_RISE_6D_5847_E_100 by JMG, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I'm not familiar with auto AF. Does it select the number of points based on subject, or what?

The entire AF area is used to focus. When you press half way, or back button or whatever you have setup, the AF points that have achieved focus will light up. It will tend to focus on the nearest thing, so for me, it's really only useful for birds in the sky. With AI servo on, you can set the first point, and the camera will try to track the subject.

I have this function setup on the * button next to the AF On button which is my normal focusing button, so If I am using my normal single point and the bird takes off, I just mash that with my thumb so the camera will hopefully lock onto the bird and track it. It has worked pretty well in limited applications.

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Classic shot. Well done. I like the white-whites vs. the rich blues. Of course, the textures make this work. Of course, a super-duper lens always helps!

Thanks Dave -- Yeah I love this lens!

Here is another Antelope Canyon shot; working with light and shadows to showcase the beauty of the place, trying for different than the usual from there.


Twin Beams by Dmitriy Khaykin, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

The entire AF area is used to focus. When you press half way, or back button or whatever you have setup, the AF points that have achieved focus will light up. It will tend to focus on the nearest thing, so for me, it's really only useful for birds in the sky. With AI servo on, you can set the first point, and the camera will try to track the subject.

I have this function setup on the * button next to the AF On button which is my normal focusing button, so If I am using my normal single point and the bird takes off, I just mash that with my thumb so the camera will hopefully lock onto the bird and track it. It has worked pretty well in limited applications.

That sounds very useful. I've got a MkIV loaner coming in from CPS in a week or two. I'll try it.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Thanks Dave -- Yeah I love this lens!

Here is another Antelope Canyon shot; working with light and shadows to showcase the beauty of the place, trying for different than the usual from there.

Great slot-canyon shot. I need to get out there.

I vacillated over your lens and the EF 14mm f/2.8L II and ended up going with the wider lens, particularly after the Series II fixed most of it's distortion issues. Still, your lens is hard to beat.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by jmg

From the RISE festival this past weekend:

Impressive shot. The way that the lanterns seem to get denser as you get further away is perfectly captured.

[dcstep]

Urban Buck Jumps Fence by David Stephens, on Flickr

I live in a building, just out of the frame, to the upper left. This explains, partly, why you see me shooting so much wildlife.

[M_Six]

And I think that building on the left is the hotel where you met me? Or very close to it.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Impressive shot. The way that the lanterns seem to get denser as you get further away is perfectly captured.

Very impressive shot indeed. Nicely done.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

And I think that building on the left is the hotel where you met me? Or very close to it.

Close, but not quite. That's a condo. Your hotel is behind that.

Dave

[ddk632]

Upper Antelope Canyon, one of my first shots in there.

I did a "photography tour" meaning the 4 other people I was with (5 of us total; strangers to me at first, but more like comrades that had been in battle together by the end of the experience) had priority to get clean shots over the other 200 or so people in there. It is, quite literally, insane in Upper Antelope Canyon. Thus, if you go, pay for the "photography tour" - it is 100% worth the money. As a humorous aside, they make you actually show them your DSLR and tripod when singing up... and of course, if you do not have a tripod, they will happily rent you one for $30


Waves of Rock by Dmitriy Khaykin, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Dmitriy, do have the URL for the guide company that you used?

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Dmitriy, do have the URL for the guide company that you used?

Haha, I wish. I found info on a forum to go look for a parking lot somewhere outside of Page, AZ... found that and it was booked solid, so they sent me to another parking lot further up the street. It was kind of a miracle I ever made it in there. That being said I know they advertise and I will likely be able to recognize the company after some basic googling. I will get back to you on this later today.

[ddk632]

This is what it looks like in there ... actually this was pretty tame ... essentially, 3 tour companies, no more than 70 people at a time per company in Upper Antelope Canyon - meaning, 210 people can be in there at once. We had to be pretty close. There were times where we had to go to another part of the canyon because we could not actually make it past the other groups of people! It's like juggling sheep for these tour guides.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Haha, I wish. I found info on a forum to go look for a parking lot somewhere outside of Page, AZ... found that and it was booked solid, so they sent me to another parking lot further up the street. It was kind of a miracle I ever made it in there. That being said I know they advertise and I will likely be able to recognize the company after some basic googling. I will get back to you on this later today.

What color was their van?

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by dcstep

What color was their van?

Lol.

It was a gray old suburban-like SUV

I found their website:
https://www.navajoantelopecanyon.com/index.html

This is the company that is the most photographer-oriented. You can't bring a non-photog friend with you, even if they want to pay.

I did Tour 2 mostly due to the fact I got there at 9:25am and it was starting in 5 minutes and had one spot left! -- this takes you to Rattlesnake canyon (which I believe only this company goes to) and Upper Antelope Canyon.

We were alone in Rattlesnake Canyon for about an hour, before heading over to Upper Antelope for the light beams and crazy crowds.

I would venture to guess that any of their tours 1-5 would be excellent. I'd love to come back there and do the slot canyons at night.

[lpshikhar]

You can only get this shot, when everything is perfect, location of milky way, no clouds, no moon and lots of other stuff. Glad I made it that night to get this amazing composition.

[jpnh]

Great photo

[Itsed65]

Very nice!

[Itsed65]

Checking his ACME trap

Coyote Crossing by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Checking his ACME trap

Come to think of it, I've never seen a coyote chase a roadrunner. I have seen one leap after a pheasant (one of my dream shots).

Great shot.