The other day I was rearranging my stuff, and found this really nice digital camera. It was dusty. It was sad. It hadn't been picked up in months. This was not good.
This is a tough time for us nature folks in Colorado, isn't it? So I suppose the question is, what do you do in this odd time between winter shooting and wildflower season? Do you read about photography and learn new techniques? Do you stare at photos and discover new compositions? Do you photograph other things, if at all? Or, do you go find those local rare scenes to stay active?
Thanks everyone; just looking for a little inspiration as my photographic interests have once again diminished...
Posted by Doug Koepsel on April 27, 2011 at 2:59 PM
Sandstone. Aside from the spring winds, places like the Paria Plateau are nice before it gets too hot in summer.
I guess it depends on what you find inspiring. Personally, winter is my favorite season, after fall. I would never have thought to see winter as having a dearth of photographic opportunities. I'm in a minority of people who don't get all that worked up over wildflower season. I'd much rather put on some snowshoes and hit the trail. Sunrise is late, sunset is early - good for getting out on weekends without a 2am wake-up call. Or, if snow isn't your thing, you can head east and explore the grasslands. Lots of stuff that would give a dusty DSLR a sense of purpose.
I agree with others above..there is no off season if you are willing to get out. This is a great time for southwest, but even locally there is a ton to shoot.
Winter is my 'off-season', save for the warmer days when I can hit the desert. I find it a good time to clean and maintain equipment, and go through my archives looking to improve upon past 'development' of certain images using newly acquired skills.
I love the question. Here's my thought process for these "off season" months. I do love the Utah idea for April/May. That idea doesn't make me as tired and sore, than lets say, climbing a mountain... since I'm out of shape.
Knowing a beautiful area intimately helps visualize what it's like in different times of the year. I feel pretty good about my knowledge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Here’s my thinking.
The climbing sites are reporting and confirming what I already knew...the west side of the Sangre De Cristo Range is already melting out. The lack of snow in the Sangres this season is downright scary. So, I'm heavily researching that range again, and again and again. Now it's about locating a route that gets me to 12,000-ft, without having to carry snowshoes; that means a southern exposure route. Lord knows we all carry a lot of gear, no need to carry “slow”shoes right?
I want a crusty (so I don't posthole...which is May) snowscape above 12,000-ft, that has a killer view to shoot at sunset. I’m just not ready yet for 6:00am sunrises. Also, I'm not too concerned with post holing in snow above 11,000-ft in May because of the night/day, freeze/thaw cycle, plus it's so dang windy up there. It stays cold and the snow up there will hold my weight with all my gear.
I need the snow because the tundra is not anywhere close to green yet. Nobody wants to buy an image with brown tundra, thus the need for snow to cover that nasty brown stuff. I'll need light; of course that side of the range gets you some of the best light in Colorado at sunset year round.
So that's my off season thing. Find an area you feel a connection too, regardless of the time of year...then embrace all seasons. I can say the same thing about the Lost Creek Wilderness. But that's a totally different story.
When is Off Season? Was there a seaon I was not supposed to be shootin?
Posted by Doug Egging on April 29, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I take photos during the off season. I got into photography because I had an off season when I had to put away my bow. I felt photography was a great excuse to keep going out to the places I love and people wouldn't think I was crazy for not sleeping in. I am noticing that even during my "on" season, I find the camera in hand more than the bow. This is a great time to photograph strutting turkeys as well as waterfowl. I enjoy my off season more than my on season.
Discussion
18 repliesThis is a tough time for us nature folks in Colorado, isn't it? So I suppose the question is, what do you do in this odd time between winter shooting and wildflower season? Do you read about photography and learn new techniques? Do you stare at photos and discover new compositions? Do you photograph other things, if at all? Or, do you go find those local rare scenes to stay active?
Thanks everyone; just looking for a little inspiration as my photographic interests have once again diminished...
I love the question. Here's my thought process for these "off season" months. I do love the Utah idea for April/May. That idea doesn't make me as tired and sore, than lets say, climbing a mountain... since I'm out of shape.
Knowing a beautiful area intimately helps visualize what it's like in different times of the year. I feel pretty good about my knowledge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Here’s my thinking.
The climbing sites are reporting and confirming what I already knew...the west side of the Sangre De Cristo Range is already melting out. The lack of snow in the Sangres this season is downright scary. So, I'm heavily researching that range again, and again and again. Now it's about locating a route that gets me to 12,000-ft, without having to carry snowshoes; that means a southern exposure route. Lord knows we all carry a lot of gear, no need to carry “slow”shoes right?
I want a crusty (so I don't posthole...which is May) snowscape above 12,000-ft, that has a killer view to shoot at sunset. I’m just not ready yet for 6:00am sunrises. Also, I'm not too concerned with post holing in snow above 11,000-ft in May because of the night/day, freeze/thaw cycle, plus it's so dang windy up there. It stays cold and the snow up there will hold my weight with all my gear.
I need the snow because the tundra is not anywhere close to green yet. Nobody wants to buy an image with brown tundra, thus the need for snow to cover that nasty brown stuff. I'll need light; of course that side of the range gets you some of the best light in Colorado at sunset year round.
So that's my off season thing. Find an area you feel a connection too, regardless of the time of year...then embrace all seasons. I can say the same thing about the Lost Creek Wilderness. But that's a totally different story.