Home Donate New Search Gallery Reviews How-To Books Links Workshops About Contact
Death Valley
01 02 03 February 2013
02 February 2013, Saturday
Ryan was all excited about getting up in the dark at 5:45 AM and meeting our group at 6AM to caravan to Zabriskie Point for sunrise at 6:49AM (at the horizon).
We actually set an alarm clock per Ryan's request, the first time for him. He didn't wake up, so I had to prod him. At first he wanted to go more night-night, but quickly he popped up and said "hurry up, Dad, let's get dressed and get going!"
Today would also be the first time Ryan had ever watched the sun rise.
Once there, Ryan wanted to go exploring. We walked up the paved path to the stone altar, walked past all the photo hobbyists lined up in the same spot as they always have for the past hundred years taking the same pictures as everyone else, and hiked down towards the wash.
Ryan hiking at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 6:25 AM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II at 35mm, AUTO ISO 20,000, 1/125 at f/3.2, Perfectly Clear and dodged in Photoshop CS6.)
VIDEO, 6:39 AM: Ryan Goes Hiking! (iPhone 5 emailed-video.)
Dada and Ryan hiking at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 6:47 AM. (Nikon D300, 18-135mm at 135mm, AUTO ISO 1,800, 1/30 at f/14.) Photo by Chris Stone.
Dada and Ryan coming back, 6:49 AM. (Nikon D300, 18-135mm at 135mm, AUTO ISO 1,400, 1/30 at f/14.) Photo by Chris Stone.
The Manifold As Seen From Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 6:52 AM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II at 59mm, AUTO ISO 100, 1/60 at f/2.8, Perfectly Clear. What it looked like before Perfectly Clear.)
Well, it turns out that it was mostly overcast. The sun rose, but you couldn't really tell. The photo above exaggerates the light; it was actually all gray — thus my choice to shoot my M3 with Kodak T-MAX 100.
Ryan at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 6:53 AM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70mm f/2.8 L II at 50mm, AUTO ISO 250, 1/125 at f/2.8.)
Man, look at how the 24-70mm f/2.8 L II isolates the subject at f/2.8 and how the background just melts away. Whoo hoo!
At 7:20am, a lady says "Hi" to Ryan and asks where he lives. Ryan says "in a hotel," which was where we stayed last night. I suggest he ought to say where we usually live, and he answers "at home."
Manly Beacon, Death Valley, California 7:22 AM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 25, 1960 LEITZ SUMMICRON 90mm f/2 with Tiffen Red 25 filter held over lens, f/8 at 1/2 second, casual use of tripod, NCPS process and scan, cropped from right side of negative, Perfectly Clear, edge-burned and split-toned print.)
Ryan photographing under overcast skies at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:24 AM. (iPhone 5, ISO 50, 1/167 at f/2.4, Perfectly Clear and dodged in Photoshop CS6.)
And here's the picture he made:
Manly Beacon as photographed by Ryan at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:24 AM. (VTech 1227 KIdizoom with extreme digital zoom, processed with Perfectly Clear.)
I got Ryan to try out his camera. He wasn't that excited by it, but at least he knows more innately about making a simple composition than most hobbyists.
Ryan was far more excited to play with my LEICA, which he thought was hilarious:
Ryan adjusts the LEICA M3 atop Novoflex Mini Magic ball atop Dolica ZX600B300 at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:29 AM. (iPhone 5, ISO 50, 1/128 at f/2.4, Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan shoots the LEICA M3 atop Novoflex Mini Magic ball atop Dolica ZX600B300 at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:31 AM. (iPhone 5, ISO 50, 1/198 at f/2.4, Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan shoots the LEICA M3 atop Novoflex Mini Magic ball atop Dolica ZX600B300 at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:36 AM. (Ryan was shooting my LEICA, so I shot his VTech 1227 KIdizoom. Processed with Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan shoots the LEICA M3 atop Novoflex Mini Magic ball atop Dolica ZX600B300 at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:36 AM. (Ryan was shooting my LEICA, so I shot his VTech 1227 KIdizoom. Processed with Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan shoots the LEICA M3 atop Novoflex Mini Magic ball atop Dolica ZX600B300 at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:36 AM. (Ryan was shooting my LEICA, so I shot his VTech 1227 KIdizoom. Processed with Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan looks like he's a skilled photographer here, but in fact he's no better than most of today's snapshooters who have no idea how to focus or to set exposure manually, either. That will be another trip; today, Ryan loved pointing the LEICA, setting the self-timer and letting it fire. Hee hee, just try setting the self-timer on a DSLR without looking at the camera; you can do it by feel on a real camera so you don't need a cable release.
Here's the snap he made of me snapping him:
Dada photographing Ryan photographing Dada, Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California 7:32 AM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 25, 1960 LEITZ SUMMICRON 90mm f/2 with 48mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/8 at 1/10 second, casual use of tripod as seen above, NCPS process and scan, split-toned print.)
After our early morning out, Ryan wanted to go back to our room and take a bath. Mom did a great job packing everything, especially plenty of snacks and water, but to Ryan's chagrin, didn't pack any bath toys. Ryan survived, and spent an hour or so in the bath.
After Ryan's leisurely bath, we went swimming in the warm spring-fed pool.
After swimming, we cleaned up and waited for the 4e9r Cafe to open for lunch at 11:30:
Ryan waiting for the 49er Cafe to open, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 11:22 AM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 20, 1957 LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 mit near-focusing range with 39mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/5 at 1/100 second, 1.03 meters, NCPS process and scan, cropped from horizontal, split-toned print.)
Lunch at the 49er Cafe, Death Valley, California 11:41 AM. (iPhone 5, ISO 800, 1/15 at f/2.4, Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan's loving this trip! So what if Dada can't focus an iPhone; I caught the feeling of the moment, which is the most important part of photography.
Dada (mit LEICA M3) and Ryan at the Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 12:54 PM. (iPhone 5, ISO 50, 1/379 at f/2.4, Perfectly Clear.)
After lunch, we looked at the Borax Museum:
Diesel Engine Co., Borax Museum, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 1:08 PM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 20, 1957 LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 mit near-focusing range with 39mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/4 at 1/50 second, 1 meter, NCPS process and scan, Perfectly Clear, split-toned print.)
Wagon Wheel, Borax Museum, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 1:23 PM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 20, 1957 LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 mit near-focusing range with 39mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/6.3 at 1/50 second, 1.57 meters, NCPS process and scan, split-toned print.)
Baldwin Locomotive, Borax Museum, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 1:29 PM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 20, 1957 LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 mit near-focusing range with 39mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/5.6 at 1/50 second, 1.595 meters, NCPS process and scan, edge-burned and split-toned print.)
Ryan outside the Borax Museum holding his new magnetic hematite rocks gotten inside, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 2:30 PM. (1955 LEICA M3 loaded with Kodak T-MAX 100, LEICAMETER MR-4 at EI 20, 1957 LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 mit near-focusing range with 39mm LEITZ Yellow 1 filter, f/4 at 1/100 second, 1.8 meters, NCPS process and scan, Perfectly Clear, split-toned print.)
After getting Ryan's magnetic hematite rocks, we returned to our room to take a nap. Actually, Ryan enjoyed playing with his magnetic hematite rocks he got in a little "Death Valley" bag at the museum most of the time.
After our nap, we didn't go shooting because it was overcast, and because Ryan preferred to enjoy the resort, which I've never done before. Instead we played badminton, shuffleboard and golf.
As it got dark, Ryan wanted to go swimming again! I let Ryan swim while I stayed out and watched:
Ryan in the warm spring-fed pool, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 5:31 PM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 70-200mm f/4 L IS at 200mm, AUTO ISO 20,000, 1/160 at f/4, Perfectly Clear.)
This is about 15 minutes after sunset on a very grim day. The 5D Mark III eats this stuff for lunch; shooting effortlessly at ISO 20,000 with an IS lens hand-held in the dark.
The pool is fed at about 475 GPM from a warm spring, heating it to about 30º C (85º F).
Deck chairs by the warm spring-fed pool, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 5:32 PM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 70-200mm f/4 L IS at 200mm, ISO 800, hand-held for 1/4 second at f/8 , Perfectly Clear.)
Get that? Hand-held for a quarter second at 200mm, no problem.
At 5:47 pm while in the pool, Ryan says to another family "did you know that my dad is a genius? He's super smart. If you go on KenRockwell.com you can learn all about cameras, and of you go to RyanRockwell.com, you can see all my pictures."
Deck chairs by the warm spring-fed pool, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 6:05 PM. (Canon 5D Mark III, 70-200mm f/4 L IS at 70mm, ISO 1,600, hand-held at 1/6 second at f/5.6 , Perfectly Clear.)
After swimming, time for a shower and dinner.
Ryan heading out for dinner, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:09 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, ISO 1,600 at 1/12 hand-held, Perfectly Clear.)
Fuzzy picture, but I caught it. The M9 is poor camera for use at high ISOs in the dark; ISO 1,600 is about the maximum ISO you'll ever want to use. If I had wanted to hump the 5D Mark III to dinner, these all would have been sharp since the Canon is clean all the way up to ASA 25,600 — sixteen times more sensitive than the M9 at ASA 1,600.
Ryan walking in the dark guided by the Super Flashlight, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:11 PM. (Lupine TL Piko Mini, 2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, hand-held for two seconds at ISO 1,600.)
Wow: exotic German lights and camera and lenses, and one crummy American photographer is all it takes to make all this fancy gear crank out a fuzzy picture! In any case, this two-second exposure caught the feeling of the moment.
Night Labyrinth, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:17 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, hand-held at one second at ISO 1,600, Perfectly Clear.)
I was right: the different kinds of artificial lighting render as violently different colors on film, thus this picture takes advantage of all the crazy colors. To our eyes this scene was all gray.
You don't realize how fast a six-year-old moves unless you have one, so I'm lucky to have caught this shot, a one-second hand-held shot made from the standing position, as we walked to dinner.
Courts, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:19 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, hand-held at one second at ISO 160, Perfectly Clear.)
I braced my M9 on the wooden fence for this shot, which obviously helps keep it sharp and let me shoot at ASA 160 instead of ASA 1,600.
Ryan and the Baldwin Locomotive, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:20 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, ISO 1,600 hand-held at 1/8 of a second.)
Ryan of course wanted to walk through the museum on the way to dinner. He asks a million questions about how each and every object there works.
Baldwin Locomotive, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:22 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, ISO 1,600 hand-held at 1/24 of a second.)
Ryan waiting for dinner, 49er Cafe, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California, 7:38 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, ASA 1,600 hand-held at 1/16 of a second, Perfectly Clear.)
Ryan enjoys his pickle, 49er Cafe, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 7:45 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/1.4, ISO 1,600 hand-held at 1/24 of a second, Perfectly Clear.)
Rooms 901 to 921, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California 9:10 PM. (2009 LEICA M9, 2012 LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH (floating element) at f/2.4, ISO 40 hand-held at 1/30 of a second, Perfectly Clear.)
That's all for today. NEXT ->> Sunday
Home Donate New Search Gallery Reviews How-To Books Links Workshops About Contact