Not exactly a "nature photography" discussion, but it's not too far afield.
My employer is having a photo contest for all employees, world-wide. There are only two rules: You must own the photos you submit. The photos must be related to the theme of "Green".
Since I'm on the environmental side of the company, I'm thinking that one interpretation of that theme would be a wind farm. I haven't been up close and personal to any wind farms here in Colorado, but I know there's one going up near Pawnee Grasslands, and there's another that's visible off to east of I-25 near the WY border.
Has anyone tried to shoot these? I've read the post by Paul Wegeman back in May, and am wondering how close can you get to the turbines. Any ideas/pointers on access, timing, or whatever would be appreciated.
Posted by Todd Caudle on August 21, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Rich, there's some windmills in SE Colorado near Two Buttes, too. With the weather that's returning this week, might be interesting to try getting some lightning shots with the giant windmills silhouetted against it. It's a shot I've been considering.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on August 21, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Rich Voninski has a nice wind farm shot. Not sure where it was taken but maybe he'll chime in
This is a 6-7 shot (I cant remember) pano that I made up near the Pawnee Buttes earlier this year. I have made a very nice 16x40 pano from the stitch. The clouds were wild that day! You can see dozens of the windmills as little sticks in the background.
Rich, it's not really a wind "farm", but the wind research center has several windmills where I think you could get the Flatirons as a backdrop. They're on Hwy 128, about 1/2 way between Hwy 93 and Indiana.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on August 21, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Yep, that's the shot, Rich. Nice clouds, and subtle foreground. Thanks for posting it!
Posted by Rodney Jack on August 22, 2007 at 11:12 AM
If you ever make it to Idaho their is a wind farm just off I-15 near Idaho Falls. They are up on the hills to the east on some farm ground. I have some pictures I took with my wife's P&S camera I could email you if you want.
My ideas were to try to create the sense that the windmills were receding into the distance, for depth, as well as to capture a sense of their motion. I wasn't pleased with the fact that I took this in November and the crops beneath the windmills had been harvested. I'm hoping to get out to this location (about an hour west of Madison, and twenty hours east of you!) when the crops are high this year...
Oh, and this was shot with a Fuji G617...
I also tried to shoot with a long lens, to get the sense of compression along the line of the windmills, but I don't recall those images turning out too well. I liked the idea, but I just didn't execute it well...
Rich if the theme is "Green", I would work to make sure you get some green folliage (grass or trees) in the shot. Just to convey the sense of a healthy environment.
Just wanted to say thanks again to all who chimed in, and point you toward a sample of my results. When I picked up my film at Qube, Brent pointed out that the NPN Weekly Challenge is currently "Barns and Windmills", so I posted a shot over there.
It's not exactly nature, but if you feel like shooting wind turbines (photographically speaking), I highly recommend the "Peetz Table Wind Farm" which will have 266 turbines up by the end of the year. It about 15 or 20 miles NNE of Sterling, and about 4 miles south of Nebraska.
Discussion
10 repliesMy employer is having a photo contest for all employees, world-wide. There are only two rules: You must own the photos you submit. The photos must be related to the theme of "Green".
Since I'm on the environmental side of the company, I'm thinking that one interpretation of that theme would be a wind farm. I haven't been up close and personal to any wind farms here in Colorado, but I know there's one going up near Pawnee Grasslands, and there's another that's visible off to east of I-25 near the WY border.
Has anyone tried to shoot these? I've read the post by Paul Wegeman back in May, and am wondering how close can you get to the turbines. Any ideas/pointers on access, timing, or whatever would be appreciated.
Is this the one you mean? Windmill Shot
This is a 6-7 shot (I cant remember) pano that I made up near the Pawnee Buttes earlier this year. I have made a very nice 16x40 pano from the stitch. The clouds were wild that day! You can see dozens of the windmills as little sticks in the background.
RichieV
Rodney Jack
rjtri@tetonretinal.com
Here's an example of what I've done with a wind farm:
http://www.timmulholland.com/places/wisconsin/Windmills.html
My ideas were to try to create the sense that the windmills were receding into the distance, for depth, as well as to capture a sense of their motion. I wasn't pleased with the fact that I took this in November and the crops beneath the windmills had been harvested. I'm hoping to get out to this location (about an hour west of Madison, and twenty hours east of you!) when the crops are high this year...
Oh, and this was shot with a Fuji G617...
I also tried to shoot with a long lens, to get the sense of compression along the line of the windmills, but I don't recall those images turning out too well. I liked the idea, but I just didn't execute it well...
Good luck,
Tim!
Rich if the theme is "Green", I would work to make sure you get some green folliage (grass or trees) in the shot. Just to convey the sense of a healthy environment.
John
It's not exactly nature, but if you feel like shooting wind turbines (photographically speaking), I highly recommend the "Peetz Table Wind Farm" which will have 266 turbines up by the end of the year. It about 15 or 20 miles NNE of Sterling, and about 4 miles south of Nebraska.