by Fire Girl Jess on December 16, 2012
It’s been a busy week, and as I just started a photo upload this morning, I realized I had pictures from a ski resort, a fish hatchery, a fitness center, and various scenic and wildlife sessions on one memory card.
It’s a fun way to review the week.
Yesterday I headed up to White Pine Ski Resort – our local mountain, and the Wind River Mountain’s ski resort, to shoot some stock. It was a surprisingly balmy day – low 20s and little wind.
I’m still getting used to seeing people who know me in this small town. Most of them I also recognize, but I had several people greet me yesterday on the lifts who I, honestly, had no idea who they were. Ski helmets and goggles don’t help matters. But it’s part of the charm of smalltown Wyoming. Heading back down from the mountain, I had to stop no fewer than five times for nice, healthy mule deer to cross the road, and there were arguably more animal tracks on the mountain than ski tracks.
At one point I saw a dog chasing his owner down the mountain, show balling into his fur.
White Pine is family resort, something that is readily apparent as you walk up the lodge. Kids sip hot chocolate, warming up from a chilly day on the slopes, while their parents kick back with a cold one from the local Wind River Brewing Company. Lift attendants are friendly and most everyone knows everyone else. This isn’t a cutthroat destination resort… people come here to kick back, shred some pow and have fun.
I’m looking forward to shooting up at White Pine more, and many thanks to the resort crew – especially the awesome lift guys – who let me bum around for the day.
by Fire Girl Jess on December 12, 2012
by Fire Girl Jess on December 7, 2012
Yesterday was one of those great days where I got to run away from the office for a bit and get out into the field.
This round, getting out of the field was comprised of running up Jackson Hole Mountain Resort runs in a snowmobile and photographing the opening of the resort’s new Casper lift. This was my first go at any kind of skiing photography, and while this was more documentary work for the Roundup, I’ve gotten a glimpse of a whole new world I want to pursue!
Thanks much to the JH crew, who let me tromp around and get the shots I needed.
A few more shots were posted this morning on Chi Wulff… head on over and check them out! I’m also doing quite a bit more writing for the CW team, so keep an eye on the blog for the latest goings-on in Wyoming.
by Fire Girl Jess on December 4, 2012
Reduced ISO in a dark room creates motion blur.
I’ve had several emails come in lately asking for a technique post. So here we go, into the wonderful world of intentional blurriness.
Typically when I’m looking to have on object blur, it’s a fast-moving object that I’m tracking with the camera, ideally hoping to capture the object in crisp clarity while blurring the background. Fast shutter speed and the ability to pan steadily along is key here. More on that later.
Tonight, however, I want to look more at shots that are intentionally shot completely blurred, whether to add mood or to create patterns unto itself. Typically this is achieved either by playing with the ISO (in the case of the top image here, I intentionally shot in a dark building at an ISO 100, knowing the image would blur, capturing the motion of the twirling flags). Usually in low-light settings like this I’d bump the ISO higher than normal, as I ended up doing later in the performance.
Long exposure in low light.
Blurred images can also be created with a lengthened shutter speed, as in the second photograph. With the camera held on a secure surface – a tripod is ideal, though I often have used a backpack or the hood of a car in a pinch – set the camera for a long exposure. This technique often works well in low light situations, creating “light play” as in this photograph. I focused on the young man on the left-hand side, and as a result it almost looks like he is rising from the watercolor blur.
It’s December, and we’re in the season of reduced daylight. Get creative, have some fun with it. I’m shooting several outdoor nighttime Christmas events for the newspaper this weekend, and after I get my cover shots I plan to shoot b-roll with these techniques. I’m hoping the lights will make for a fun night.
by Fire Girl Jess on November 27, 2012
Braydon Martin and his dad Billy, a professional MMA fighter, pose after their “match” at the Sublette County Fairgrounds.
After receiving several emails along the lines of “where the hell have you been?” I realized I’ve let the blog go for a week without posts. Apologies. What can I say? Life is crazy.
Inside Jackson artist Bronwyn Minton’s studio.
Ran up to Bozeman to spent time with Chi Wulff Jake for the Thanksgiving holiday. My heart pitter-pattered as a I crossed the Montana state line between the Henry’s Fork and West Yellowstone. What can I say… there really is no place like home.
I did come back to Pinedale with a space heater, which I’m throughly convinced may be the single best purchase (other than camera gear and maybe my Glock) I’ve ever made.
Work at the newspaper has been busy; covering everything from town meetings to native trout studies. I’m trying to mix in enough trout-related work in to make the rest palatable.
And somehow I still get a kick out of writing for a living, no matter how mundane the topic.
So here’s to working on the run.
A horse at the Jackson Hole Horse Rescue enjoys a day in arguably one of the most scenic places on earth.
by Fire Girl Jess on November 20, 2012
The vast open expanses of Wyoming’s Red Desert. Adobe Town site.
I’ve just filed my final story for the week here and am putting the fishing gear together for a trip up to Bozeman for Thanksgiving. ChiWulff Jake and I are planning a Halo and turkey marathon, apparently.
Jake has to work Friday and Saturday and I plan to hit Hyalite and the Gallatin for some quiet time on the water. Somehow it seems most appropriate to celebrate a holiday of thankfulness enjoying quiet moments doing something that seems to take me down to life’s basic goodness.
So happy Thanksgiving, all. Catch you next week.
by Fire Girl Jess on November 18, 2012
Last night was the first-ever sanctioned MMA fight in the state of Wyoming. I had eyed the event to cover freelance – something new, hey why not – but when the paper decided to send me I was excited.
My basic training in Krav Maga came into play as I could understand the lingo and “talk the talk” with coaches and fighters. All the guys were excellent to work with and I made some new friends along the way.
While most of the images will be appearing in this week’s edition of the Roundup, here are a few of my personal shots from the event.
Thanks, Rocky Mountain MMA for putting on such a stellar event! I’m excited to see the sport develop in the state of Wyoming.
