Infrared morning light, October 1, 2006

Infrared morning light on the trees in the Nebraska National Forest, October 1, 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

In early 2006, I tried my hand at infrared photography. The Nikon D70 is notable for not only being Nikon's first affordable digital SLR, but for having a weak hot mirror filter. Not as weak as the D2H, but weak enough to allow 10-second exposures through a Wratten 87C in decent sunlight. This scene at the Chadron Reservoir shows a pond-side tree lit by the early morning sun. In September 2006, the fall colors were out in force, so naturally I played with black and white photography. (I think I have some color photos from this trip too. I'm not a savage.) I like the fainter form of the tree in the left-hand background, plus the contrasting lines of the foreground trunk and branches against the glowing leaves.

Fall Colors in Chadron, Nebraska, September 30, 2006

Leaves, Chadron, Nebraska, September 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

In late September, 2006, the fall colors around Chadron were plentiful. I was drawn to these red leaves while hiking in one of the city parks with a friend. This is a pretty straightforward composition, letting the subject stay centered. There are some counterbalancing elements, both in the curves of the leaves, and the out of focus diagonal branches behind. Add the yellow-green background contrasting the intense red foreground and you've got some visual interest to keep your eyes entertained. The more I look at it, the more I want to do some retouching trickery and remove the thin, out of focus leaf at the bottom center.

Red Hoodoos at Toadstool Park, September 4, 2006

Sandstone formations at Toadstool Geological Park, lit by a red-gelled flash, September 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

I admire the work of Larrie Thomson, a night photographer who does colored light photos of structures in ghost towns. This night at Toadstool Park was a good opportunity to fire through some colored gels and see what I could get. You end up shooting several to make sure the exposure works; it won’t do to blow out the red channel here. I like the negative space the appears around the spires, and the motion-blurred stars within that space. The texture that appears within the spires is fun to explore.

Sunset Bleachers, Chadron, Nebraska, July 10, 2006

Evening light on bleachers in Chadron, Nebraska, July 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Evening light goes through the slats in the bleachers, creating strong diagonals upon more diagonals. The patina on the metal shows up too, illuminated by the ambient light. The leaves on the ground create a counterpoint of texture to go with the metal.

Sunset over Chadron, Nebraska, July 4, 2006

Sunset in Chadron, Nebraska, July 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

While up on the hill waiting for fireworks, I was treated to a great sunset. There’s a little reflection on Briggs Pond down at the bottom. I like the range of blues and oranges. This scene comes from a time before the Spotted Tail Wildfire. Look at the wonderful trees in the foreground, helping to frame the scene.

Rabbit Fights in Chadron, June 12, 2006

Rabbits in Chadron, Nebraska, June 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This round of fisticuffs seems to be a combination of the rabbits establishing dominance over a section of grass (Or maybe it’s a mating ritual. What do I know? I’m not a rabbit.) and my presence. What do you get when you can’t choose between fight or flight? The rabbit on the right would lunge forward, and the rabbit on the left would jump straight up. This went on for several minutes. This particular contact looks like a connecting punch. The light was low enough that I had to keep my shutter speed slow, but that helps to emphasize the rabbits’ motion.

Infrared Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 31, 2006

 

Infrared fenceline at Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared sign at Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared shoreline at Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared shoreline at Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared shoreline at Briggs Pond in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Scenes from C-Hill, March 2, 2006

 

Fenceline in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared view toward Crow Butte from C-Hill in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Cottonwood tree in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Infrared view toward Crow Butte from C-Hill in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Water treatment facility in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Fenceline in Chadron, March 2, 2006

Fenceline in Chadron, Nebraska, March 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This is a study in finding order in chaos. Even the man-made pieces have a rough character, though they remain more orderly next to the mass of tumbleweeds, while the tree in the background provides a different kind of order: fractal geometry! The loop of wire going into the upper-right corner is a bit a whimsical element. Without it, the scene just might feel a bit emptier.

Tree in the Breeze, Chadron, Nebraska, January 12, 2006

Infrared long exposure, Chadron, Nebraska, January 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

I spent the Spring of 2006 experimenting with infrared photography. The Nikon D70’s hot mirror filter was inefficient enough to allow for reasonable shutter speeds under sunlight. In this case, a bit more than 1 second at f/8 and ISO 200. It was a breezy day, and the long shutter speed allowed the branches to feather out, while the trunk stayed sharp. As usual with D70 infrared photos, there is plenty of tonal adjustment to increase the contrast.

Big Tree Up Front at Nebraska National Forest, January 7, 2006

A tree stands in a clearing near Dead Horse Road in the Nebraska National Forest, January 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Something about this tree drew me in, and I photographed it dead center in the frame (something outlawed by the Rule of Thirds), showing it flanked by nearby trees. The wide-angle perspective showcases the trunk as almost larger than life, and the background trees, although of similar size, become dwarfed. I also like the weight and stability implied by the large size of the tree, as it stands firmly planted. Kind of like an elephant's foot. I also wanted to convey details in the shadows, so kept the tones a bit dark.