As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing

“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can”.”
― John Muir

The Sierras can either stop your heart or remind you that it is there. On the way to Bishop, California I was blessed with this scene.

Rich Smukler specializes in Landscape and Fine-Art Photography from his studio in South Florida. His works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. You can see more of his works at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com. (Kick back and stay awhile).

San Diego Museum of Art Show

Sierra was taken in the Alabama Hills just outside Lone Pine, California.

Sierra will be presented at the upcoming San Diego Museum of Art‘s Documents and Pictures Show with exhibition dates running from February 1 thru February 28 at The Poway Center for the Performing Arts located at 15498 Espola Road, Poway, CA 92064. An Artists’ Reception will be held on February 4, 2-4 PM. The show is sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art’s Artist Guild and is open to public. You can call (858) 668-4693 or email sdmaag@gmail.com with any questions about the show.

Rich Smukler specializes in Landscape and Fine-Art Photography from his studio in South Florida. His works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. You can see more of his works at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com. (Kick back and stay awhile).

Night Photography Tip

Alabama Hills, California

Fenix HL21 Headlamp

Low light Photography creates some extra challenges. One tip I learned the hard way is to have adequate lighting to set up and adjust your equipment. It sounds so basic, but if you shoot long enough, you are bound to make every mistake in the book. As I have mentioned in the past, preparation prior to going out into the field is a must. But recognizing that there is always more to do once you get out there is the essence of this recommendation. It seems so simple, but a standard flashlight will not free both hands up  (unless you place the flashlight in your mouth)!  Aha! Consider a headlamp!!!! They are relatively inexpensive (around $30.00), are light weight, take up little space, and are extremely effective. The light follows your eyes! I have had luck with a company called Fenix, but I am certain there are others out there.

The dawn shoot above was at The Alabama Hills, just outside Lonepine, California. It is near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley. I was facing east (slightly to the south) which set up this silhouette with the morning sun’s rays coming from behind the image and slightly to the right.

Rich Smukler specializes in Landscape and Fine-Art Photography from his studio in South Florida. His works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. You can see more of his works at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com. (Kick back and stay awhile).

Crowley Point, Death Valley

The majestic scenic overlook at Crowley Point is nothing less than breathtaking. It is located at the west entrance to Death Valley National Park and provides a wide variety of panoramic photographic landscape possibilities.

Crowley Point, Death Valley National Park

Rich Smukler specializes in Landscape and Fine-Art Photography from his studio in South Florida. His works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. You can see more of his works at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com. (Kick back and stay awhile).

Lost in the Sierras

Lost in the Sierras

I stumbled upon this quirky image in the prairies outside Bishop, California. The tires serve as a marker to a farm hidden back in the brush. Mountains from The Inyo National Forest serve as a backdrop and curiously mirror the contours of the tires.

For those who are unaware, the Inyo National Forest covers part of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. The forest covers 1,903,381 acres and includes nine designated  wilderness areas which protect over 800,000 acres.

 Rich Smukler specializes in Landscape and Fine-Art Photography from his studio in South Florida. His works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. You can see more of his works at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com. (Kick back and stay awhile).

If you’ll be in Alexandria, Louisiana, see Rich Smukler’s works at The Alexandria Museum of Art

Alexandria Museum of Art’s 27th Annual September Competition Exhibition

Date: September 5 – November 22, 2014
Location: The Alexandria Museum of Art, 933 Second Street, Alexandria, LA 71301

Rich Smukler, from Boca Raton, Florida,  will exhibit his stunning black and white piece. “Tea Time”  which was captured in Rhyolite, Nevada, about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Las Vegas near the eastern edge of Death Valley. The town started in 1905 is response to the discovery of gold in the nearby hills. It is reported that the population rose to near 5,000. Unfortunately, by 1911 the mine closed and the town soon died out. Smukler’s works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally. This piece was recently exhibited at The von Liebig Art Center in Naples, Florida.

Any questions concerning the exhibition can be directed to Megan Valentine, museum curator and registrar. phone: 318-443-3458 or email at megan@the museum.org

 

Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts honors Rich Smukler

As recently announced, for the third consecutive year Rich Smukler will be exhibiting at The Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts’ annual juried exhibition. The opening reception and award presentations will be Thursday,  June 26th from 6PM to 8PM.  Artists whose works are exhibited for three shows are bestowed with the honor of elected member.

“Given the quality of the art in the CAFA exhibitions, I am extremely honored.”

 

 

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If you’ll be in Naples, Florida, see Rich Smukler’s works at The Von Liebig Art Center

Naples Art Association ‘s 50th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition

Date: June 09 – July 25, 2014
Location: The von Liebig Art Center

On view in The von Liebig Art Center from June 9 through July 25, 2014.

The fine art exhibition will be installed on the ground floor and second level of The von Liebig Art Center in six galleries and will be on view from June 9 through July 25, 2014. The von Liebig Art Center is located in Naples, Florida in the heart of the 5th Avenue South shopping, dining and arts district. The Naples Art Association’s Founders Exhibitions are a long-held tradition honoring the founding members of the Naples Art Association. The exhibition will feature recent work in all media by Naples Art Association members.  Erin Wright, Director of Artist Initiatives and Special Projects for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will serve as juror. Wright will travel to Naples to discuss and share her projects at LACMA. She will give a free lecture entitled “Reinventing a Museum: How I Learned to Move a 340-Ton Boulder” at The von Liebig Art Center at 5:30 pm on June 4, 2014. Erin Wright received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and English from Simmons College and completed additional studies at the Courtauld Institute in London. She has been an advisor for the LEF Foundation and a member of the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association. The film A Brief History of John Baldessari, which she commissioned and produced for LACMA, Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, earned a nomination of Best Documentary Short from South by Southwest Film festival in 2012.

 

Rich Smukler, from Boca Raton, Florida,  will exhibit two stunning black and white pieces. “Tea time and “Guardian” were each captured in Rhyolite, Nevada, about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Las Vegas near the eastern edge of Death Valley. The town started in 1905 is response to the discovery of gold in the nearby hills. It is reported that the population rose to near 5,000. Unfortunately, by 1911 the mine closed and the town soon died out. Smukler’s works have been featured in numerous museums, galleries and private collections internationally.

See more of Rich Smukler’s work at http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

 For more information about the show, call 239-262-6517

 

 

 

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art introduces Rich Smukler’s SWAMP’S EDGE

Swamp’s Edge will be introduced at MARINMOCA / The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art

as part of the 2013 Summer National Juried Exhibition located at 500 Palm Drive, Novato, California.

Show opens: Saturday, June 01, 11am-4pm

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 01, 5-7pm

Show closes: Sunday, July 14 (4pm)

This image was taken in Delray Beach, Florida.

Against the Traffic: Rhyolite, Nevada – The Ghost town

It’s been a long hard week in Death Valley and it is time to pack it in. I only introduced you to some of the many wonders that the area has to offer. It is really something that needs to be experienced personally and in your own way. On a great tip, I headed towards Rhyolite, Nevada on my way back to the airport in Las Vegas. I have an affection for architectural decay and this old town does not disappoint.

Located in the Bullfrog Hills in Nye County, Rhyolite is about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Las Vegas near the eastern edge of Death Valley. The town started in 1905 is response to the discovery of gold in the nearby hills. It is reported that the population rose to near 5,000. Unfortunately, by 1911 the mine closed and the town soon died out.

With a few more shots in my pocket, it is time to head home. Thanks for joining me

Happy Shooting!

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

 

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Against the Traffic: Death Valley – Badwater Basin

It’s 4:30am.  I am completely alone in Badwater Basin, the lowest place in the western hemisphere. It seems like the dark side of the moon. Still bleary eyed, I slowly, contemplatively set up my tripod. A steady and warm breeze waltzes across the salt flats. I have never been to nor experienced anything remotely like this place. I quietly await the dawn. I notice someone apparently crawling from a sleeping bag several hundred yards off into the basin. I now notice their tripod already set and ready. I muse, a kindred spirit.

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In the parking area I noticed a painted stripe on the rock cliff indicating the sea level mark, 282 ft above me. Ironically, Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states, while Badwater is the lowest and the eighth-lowest spot in the world. Along with Salton Sea, south of Palm Springs (-227 feet), it makes the United States the only country to have two locations among the world’s lowest places. This gives you a rough idea how explosive this area was millions of years ago.

Walking out onto the salt flat you hear the crunch under your feet. Repeated freeze–thaw and evaporation cycles gradually push the thin salt crust into hexagonal honeycomb shapes. The accumulated salts of the surrounding basin make it undrinkable, thus giving it the name.

The sun starts to poke up. It goes fast and catches a sparkle from the zillions of salt crystals that surround you. My impression is that my camera’s sensor is able to receive and articulate this action better than the human eye. A friend of mine once referred to the area as “Badlight Basin”. I’m shooting with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and select my 24-105mm lens.

Pay close attention to your exposure. As in shooting snowscapes, your camera can be fooled. There are several points of view as to how to handle this issue. I recommend Jim Zuckerman’s discussion in his book “Techniques of Natural Light Photography” if you are not comfortable with the subject.

If you go to Death Valley, DO NOT MISS THIS!!!

Happy Shooting!

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

Against the Traffic: Death Valley – Dante’s Peak and Zabriske Point

It’s 4:30 AM and a few hearty photographers are starting to set up their tripods and await the dawn. It is quiet, very quiet. It is windy and cold. I struggle to keep the tripod steady. I’m already dreaming of my first cup of hot coffee. I attach my headlamp to see the way. I’m fearful that my lens or camera has seized up. Without my gloves this would be a fool’s errand. I panic, return to my car and reset. I do not want to miss the sunrise. It comes and goes so fast. Maybe 30 minutes tops, then it is over. This can be said for both Dante’s View and Zabriske Point, though Dante’s Point was much colder. I shoot them on consecutive days, but will discuss them each in today’s Post. They are both magnificent and should not be missed.

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Dante’s Peak, Death Valley is a viewpoint terrace at 1,669 m (5,475 feet) height, on the north side of Coffin Peak, along the crest of the Black Mountains, overlooking Death Valley. Dante’s View is about 25 km (15 miles) south of Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. This spectacular view is named from Dante Alighieri, who wrote the Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), in which there are described the nine circles of Hell, the seven terraces of Purgatory and the nine spheres of Paradise. For those of you who might be Star Wars junkies, it is a filming location in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Zabriskie Point is a part of Amargosa Range located in eastern Death Valley Valley and noted for its erosional landscape. It is composed of sediments from  which dried up 5 million years ago, long before Death Valley came into existence. This location was used to represent the surface of Mars in the film Robinson Crusoe on Mars.

The photographers line up on their selected vantage points and wait. An occasional test shot to see where the light is. Then it sneaks up slowly and BANG!!!! The cameras jump to life, like a bunch of fishermen waiting for a strike. And here it is. Have everything ready to go. No room for mistakes. The slowly awakening sun kisses the landscape, rises, and the majesty soon disappears, hidden for another day.

That’s it! Off to find some coffee and breakfast. I have a couple of afternoon locations in mind, so stick around.

Happy Shooting!

Rich Smukler

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

See Rich’s Work at the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art

Against the Traffic: Stovepipe Wells and Mesquite Flat Dunes

For the rest of the week we will be bunking at The Hotel at Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley. This is not The Four Seasons Hotel, make no mistake! In fact, the movie “Mad Max” comes to mind. The rooms are clean, large and extremely basic.  Wifi is spotty at best. Telephones are non-existent in the rooms and there is essentially no cell-phone coverage (calls must be made from the spare number of phone booths on site). There is a restaurant and bar. I will be polite about the food in the restaurant. The burgers and beer at the bar are just fine, especially if you want to shoot a game of 8-ball. Across the road is a general store and gas station where you can stock up on water, snacks, food and fuel. If you are truly looking for top-notch accommodations, consider The Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort around 26 miles down the road. You will pay substantially for this luxury, however.

A brief thought on the issue of no phone or computer service: It can make you a little nervous at first, especially if you are addicted to these electronic toys, as I am. But after you get over the fear that the world will somehow come to an end if you are not tuned in, the world gets more serene and beautiful. You can see better. Your photography will soar, if you allow it to do so.

Just down the road is Mesquite Flat Dunes. These dunes are the best-known and easiest to visit in the national park. They are located in central Death Valley and accessed from Highway 190 or from the unpaved Sand Dunes Road. Although the highest dune rises only about 100 feet (compared to 680 feet at Eureka), the dunes actually cover a vast area and provide quite a different subject matter. Many first time visitors to Death Valley are surprised to find that it not covered with a sea of sand. Less than one percent of the desert is covered with dunes. It just so happens that the first two locations of our tour of Death Valley are duned areas. The benefit of Mesquite Flat over Eureka is its proximity to your room back at Stovepipe Wells. It allows you to make return visits to shoot based on your decisions over lighting, cloud-layer, etc. The remote location of Eureka Dunes pretty much kills off this flexibility, unless you are willing to set up camp. The suggestions I made about dune-shooting at Eureka in my prior post applies similarly to Mesquite.

Happy Shooting

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

Against the Traffic: Preparing for Death Valley

Getting ready for your trip into Death Valley is no simple matter. It requires careful thought and preparation.  Our first stop will be to Eureka Dunes, but we need to be on top of our game. There are plenty of good reasons. Death Valley is no simple jaunt to your neighbor’s garden party!

 

Death Valley is located in Eastern California and situated within the Mojave Desert. It is the lowest and driest area in North America. It holds the record for the highest reliably recorded air temperature on earth (134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913). The previously-claimed world record air temperature, 136 °F (57.8 °C) was in Libya. Badwater Basin, which will be another of our stops, is the point of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. This point is only 84.6 miles (136.2 km) east-southeast of Mt. Whitney  (which was briefly mentioned in my previous post) and is the highest point in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).

 

You may want to rent a high clearance vehicle. Be sure your rental car has a good spare tire. I know that when I first landed at the airport in Las Vegas and went to select my vehicle, I was so anxious to get on the road that I didn’t give as much thought to the process as I should have. Fortunately, my Jeep withstood the punishment meted out. The last 10 miles into Eureka Dunes are very rough; there is essentially no cell-phone service; no service stations for many many miles; you may drive for long stretches and never see another vehicle; you are pretty much on your own so give yourself the best chance to avoid chaos.

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Camera Equipment you will need includes but is not limited to: a backup camera body (always a good idea, but a must if you intend to use a second lens),  your camera manual, spare batteries, extra flash cards, a tripod and a polarizing filter. You may want a headlamp (exceptionally handy for your early morning shoots). I was introduced to a rubber eyepiece cup (only around $10) which clips over your LED and makes viewing under glare conditions so much more manageable. It has become an indispensible part of my travel pack.

 

Field Equipment suggested includes sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottles (2 quarts minimum; you should drink about 1 gallon/day to avoid dehydration), any food or meds that you might need that day (I always pack several energy bars and fruit for snacks), and extra layers of clothing.  You will need a lightweight pack to hold your field gear. 

 

Clothing.  Typical temperatures will range from possibly below freezing (it can be as much as 25 degrees colder than the valley at 5500 feet in the early morning wind at Dante’s View, (another of our locations), to an average daily maximum of 72-80 F and an average daily minimum of 46-53 F in Death Valley in late February.  Dressing in layers will allow you to adjust to a wide range of conditions.  I suggest a fleece jacket (or two), a fleece vest, gloves (see prior post), a warm hat, a sun hat, lightweight, loose fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirt, light hiking boots and hiking socks, and a parka or windbreaker that can fit over all your layers. Long underwear for early morning and high altitudes is a good idea.

 

Some stray tips. The park service provides a helpful Morning Report which has the daily weather forecast, yesterday’s temperatures and current road conditions; Death Valley National Park’s seasonal newspaper will help you make the most of your visit, and if you are without prior knowledge of the area or are not travelling without someone familiar with Death Valley, you can enhance your experience of Death Valley by joining a ranger guided tour.

 

 

OK OK! I know you are anxious to get out there and burn some gigs, so saddle up pardner as we are pulling up to Eureka Dunes! Yeehah!

 

 

Happy Shooting!

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com

 

Against the Traffic: Alabama Hills, California (the iconic western movie set)

The Alabama Hills are located just west of Lone Pine, California and easily accessible. Lest you think your humble reporter has just discovered them, they have been used for many years to represent the iconic American West. Nearly 400 films have been shot here. The list of famous directors and actors that have been a part of this ongoing set is just too long. Just to names a few: directors William Wyler, John Ford, George Stephens and William Wellman; and actors John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Barbara Stanwyck and Jeff Bridges.

High Sierra with Humphrey Bogart, culminates with a shoot-out between Bogart’s character and the police at the foot of Mt. Whitney. The 1955 classic Bad Day at Badrock starring Spencer Tracy and Anne Francis was also filmed in and around the Lone Pine area. The first Lone Ranger ambush was filmed here, and it was here that Roy Rogers found Trigger. I could go on and on.

It is no accident that these hills have been chosen time and time again to produce so many films. Mother Nature has much to do with this. Geologically speaking:

      “The high and low temperatures of the Sierra, and the freezing, expanding, and thawing of rain and snowmelt created the “chiseled”   splintering of their granite. But down in the relatively moist and soil-covered region of the Alabamas, this process did not occur. Instead, the soil gradually eroded away, exposing the oddly-shaped piles of boulders that stand here today. There are two main types of rock exposed at Alabama Hills. One is an orange, drab weathered metamorphosed volcanic rock that is 150-200 million years old. The other type of rock exposed here is 82-85 million year old biotite monzogranite which weathers to potato-shaped large boulders, many of which stand on end due to spheroidal weathering acting on many nearly vertical joints in the rock.”

There are dozens of natural arches, always a sucker shot for those of us bitten by the camera bug, easily accessible by short hikes. Among the notable features of the area are: Mobius Arch, Lathe Arch, the Eye of Alabama and Whitney Portal Arch.

Typical of landscape photographic technique, I strongly recommend three things.

1.  The use of your tripod is critical! If you are not comfortable with its use, get comfortable! Practice with it before you go out to shoot, or when you have time to dawdle away. It can get finger-numbingly cold out there. That is NOT the time to figure which end is up.

2.     Bring gloves that you can shoot with. There are a variety of gloves that work well for photographers. I found that the gloves that work best for me allows you to free your finger tips while allowing you to access your camera’s controls. Shop around. As usual, B & H is a good place to start.

3.     Be prepared to shoot early and grab the glow that only the first light can give you. It doesn’t last long, so get out there, set up and get to work. The late afternoon also provides beautiful long and warm shadows. Sleep is merely an illusion.

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If you are staying in Lone Pine, you will get a kick out of the western motifs. Movie paraphernalia is everywhere in celebration of this fantastic location. Get some sleep, as tomorrow we head down to Death Valley to shoot Eureka Dunes!

 

Happy Shooting!

Rich Smukler

http://www.richsmuklerphoto.com