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BLOG: Calm Before the Storm – Images by Art Wolfe
Last week I led a workshop in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fall color was spectacular as was the weather—and we all got out just in time before Hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern Seaboard.
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BLOG: Italy & Croatia 2012 – Images by Art Wolfe
My September/October European sojourn took me from London to Ireland, from Germany to France, and finally from Italy to Croatia.
The Italian Dolomites have always been one of my favorite locations & this time did not disappoint. The moody cloud formations only heightened the appeal of the mountains rather than obscured them. From there we headed off to the oldest national park in southeastern Europe, Plitvice Lakes.
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BLOG: Vive la France! – Images by Art Wolfe
The weather in the French Alps was so bad that we decided to head south to France’s Rhone Delta. There we photographed the spirited Camargue horses, and along the French Riviera. Now heading off to Italy’s Dolomites, where I am hoping for good conditions!
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BLOG: Ireland 2 (2012) – Images by Art Wolfe
Here are some impressions from Ireland.
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BLOG: Greece: Mykonos and Santorini – Images by Art Wolfe
And then I moved on to Greece to the islands of Mykonos and Santorini.
These countries may be struggling economically, but they are rich in beauty, visual treats and friendly people.
I have been using a Phase One camera system for my Human Canvas images over the past couple of years. At 60 megapixels the detail and resolution is so sharp I can enlarge the final images to life size and beyond, critical for this body of work. I have always shot with it in a studio, where the camera was mounted 16 feet above the floor in a warehouse ceiling and tethered to a laptop where it was triggered with a key-stroke. That was a collaborative experience, so I wouldn’t say I really got to experience the Phase One one-to-one.
So, that begs the question…what about using it outside of the studio setting?
I recently set out into the Cascade Mountains to find out. Even though it is a medium format camera system, the Phase One still fits into my same old camera bag. I just needed to move one little Velcro divider around to accommodate it.
It was far from an ideal day for photography – there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the sun was at its peak overhead, it was hot, mosquitos were out and nothing was really calling out to me. With lunch in mind I saw a large patch of snow in the distance with a stream running out from under it. Since I’d hiked above the tree line, this was the only potential shade within reach. In anticipation of dipping a handkerchief in the cold water and eating some lunch, I set out for the snow bank. And that’s where I saw it…
The stream and winds had carved out a large tunnel under the snow, and even from the entrance I could begin to see shades of blue, deep in the cave. I’ve been a mountaineer almost my entire life, climbing the volcanoes in the Northwest, crevassed glaciers, even climbing to the lower level camps with an expedition on Mt. Everest, so I knew this situation had “extreme caution” written all over it. Looking over the snow, wall thickness, and arch of the top, I decided to proceed as one would on a snow bridge over a crevasse – very cautiously.
I stuck very close to the side walls; if the roof was to collapse this would have been the safest place to be. Moving into the cave was like entering a cathedral. A reverence for the beauty of the unexpected display was overwhelming.
Immediately I saw the potential in abstracting the icy blue glow of the ceiling fueled by the direct sun overhead. I used a 55mm lens (34mm equivalent), my attention fully focused on the otherworldly qualities of the ceiling. Looking through the viewfinder of the Phase One, the patterns and lines abstracted into soft human forms, suggestive of the Rubenesque feminine ideal form.
At other times I was drawn to the lines within the form, like the layers of geological time recorded in a rounded stone found alongside a river. The colors varying between blues and yellows only added to the final composition.
Shooting and shifting my point of view I worked the ceiling as a subject finding more and different compositions with each new angle. I could have stayed with this subject for hours. It was so unexpected – a real treat for what had promised to be a rather bland day.
The Phase One system is very intuitive with a huge LCD and touchscreen menus. I was able to easily navigate the functions to set up the camera for the way I like to work, even in the cave. When you are talking about a medium format system, it’s all about image quality – and this one delivers. The system combination of superb Schneider Kreuznach leaf shutter lenses, 645 DF Camera body and IQ 160 digital back produce the sharpest and most detailed images I have ever shot.
So what’s next? I’m currently on tour through Europe visiting familiar landscapes as well as some new ones. I have the Phase One with me and I can hardly wait to see the results when I get home and begin enlarging these images to prints. This camera system is able to capture the grand scenic landscapes in unprecedented detail and clarity. If only I could have had my hands on one since 1978.
When it comes to the big picture, Phase One wins out.
~Art Wolfe
Join me on the Phase One Digital Artist Series (PODAS) Workshop in Kimberley, Australia in June, 2013. >>MORE INFO
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BLOG: On Location in Ireland – Images by Art Wolfe
A few Images around Dingle Town, a small sea coast town on the SW Corner of Ireland. The seascapes are indicative of this rugged wind washed landscape. In a small town in Ireland one does not have to walk far before encountering an Irish Pub.
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BLOG: Art on the streets of London 2012 – Images by Art Wolfe
I came to London to give my seminar on The Art of Composition to a sold out crowd at the RGS (Royal Geographical Society) on September 8.
Yesterday, I strolled around London and took a few shots with my iPhone. This city is still very much alive even after the Olympics were just here.
I took about 15 iPhone photos walking through London, among the images you will see are the Old Globe theatre, interior of the Modern Tate Museum, Kings Cross train station, Soho and a few additional photos around the city.
Photos from the talented photographers who joined us on the Olympic Workshop in January. The weather presented some challenges, but the group was adaptable and made the most out of the situation. Even a foggy wet beach was transformed into a beautiful serene environment. We were impressed by the variety of images this group was able to capture!
Vicki Braden
Jane Herzog
“What a transformative 3 days in my world of nature and photography. The instructors are outstanding, each with his/her unique perspective and skills, and it is really a privilege to learn from Art. His vast experience, humor and sensitivity are inspiring…I look forward to participating in more of Art’s adventures in the future!”
Steve Kidd
“The Art Wolfe Olympic Peninsula workshop was fantastic. Art and all of the instructors were extremely approachable and always offered great advice. I came away with much better photographs than if I had just gone to the locations myself. A very worthwhile trip!”
Roland Kilcher
Yolanda Moreno
Sheri Pascual
“Art Wolfe is so unbelievably talented and creative and very willing to share his expertise with his students. The Olympic Peninsula’s forests and beaches gave us very diverse photo opportunities. We started our day before the sun came up and ended when the sun went down. I learned more in two days about composition and technique than I have learned in the last three years. Art also has an amazing group of accomplished photographers to help and advise as well. I was always able to get help when I needed it. Thank you Bill, Jay, and Libby! I can’t wait to go on my next workshop!”
Once again we experienced tremendous photographic opportunities with the bears at Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park. Here are some of the picks our fellow travelers and photographers took!
Next year the workshop will be led by Jay Goodrich & Gavriel Jecan. If you are interested in getting on their mailing list, please contact info@jaygoodrich.com.
Jim Waterbury www.jimwaterbury.com
“Thanks for a terrific workshop! What a treat to see the magnificent coastal brown bears up-close, interacting with each other in a natural setting, and seemingly oblivious to the presence of humans. As usual, I found Art’s artistic vision, passion, and vast experience photographing wildlife to be both inspiring and educational … a real privilege to have been able to spend 4 days with Art and Jay, in the wilds of Alaska, yet in a very comfortable environment. Looking forward to the next opportunity! Thanks!”
Dale Moses
Hanspeter Leupin
“Taking pictures of the bears was an absolutely amazing and breath taking experience. With the input I got from Art and Jay I learned to enhance my skills in taking pictures.”
Lake Clark Bears August 2012 – Images by Art Wolfe
We just completed a tremendous photo tour in Alaska’s gorgeous Lake Clark National Park. Access to brown bears here is unequaled.
Next year the workshop will be led by Jay Goodrich & Gavriel Jecan. If you are interested in getting on their mailing list, please contact info@jaygoodrich.com.
