Layer upon layer for as far the eye can see.

Telephoto photography has opened up so many compositional opportunities that I can't believe I went without it for so many years.

I may not often reap the rewards of lugging about that dead weight, but on those odd occasions when the big guns are required.

If you'd like to see more of my work, please take a look at my book www.fototripper.com/chasing-awe-landscape-photography-boo...

Thanks for looking
Gavin

Tags:   telephoto sunrise mist layers misty trees morning spring

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I thought this would be a great place to pitch tent and make camp.

All day I was feeling pretty smug about the idyllic location so I got comfy and sprawled out all of my gear to bed down for the night.

As soon as I got snug in my sleeping bag, exhausted from a long day of climbing and shooting with multiple muscle cramps, I realized my error.

We picked this spot not just because of the spectacular view but also because it was right next to a snow melt pond that we could use for drinking water.

The frogs also used it as a nightclub.

It starts with one ''croak'' just as I began falling asleep.

He continued several more times and seemed to give up.

I then began to fall asleep until he started again.

This eventually gets answered by a female not too far away which triggers multiple responses from other males.

And so, the alpine nightclub begins.

I got 13 minutes of sleep and I did have a face like a burst appendix during the morning sunrise shoot - but that's another story...

Thanks for reading.
Gavin

Tags:   wildflowers heather vancouver island summer sunset mist clouds frogs

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It takes a pretty special event to lure me out of my hermithood and brave the crowds.

This day was one such event.

Shore Acres in Oregon is famous for the monster waves that pound this stretch of coast line. As soon as word got out that there would be some big waves there was also a wave of photographers descending on this very spot.

Fingers were clicking, shutters were melting and memory cards were bursting at the seams.

I reckon everyone walked away with some amazing images that day. For certain I'm not the only one to have captured this moment.

Almost everyone who studies this image wonders who that crazy person was to be so close to that dangerous explosion of power.

From where I was standing I could taste the ocean spray, feel the rumble under my feet and had to keep a strong hold on my tripod lest it sail off in the wind.

I wonder if what he could feel was a warm yellow trickle down his leg?

Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   waves power pacific ocean wind storm crashing crash explosion thunder shore acres oregon coast Fototripper

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Having photographed Mono Lake countless times, I headed there with the F4 crew in January to see if I could find a new way of photographing the spectacular tufa mounds.

While Nick, Adam and Thomas were busy working the beach with wide angle lenses, I opted for a different approach.

I felt that our landscape photography courses needed some diversity in the type of images we created so I decided to walk away from my subject.

After a short but steep hike in the fresh snow, I finally found the perfect viewpoint to survey those glorious sculptures as the morning light set them aglow.

Using a 100-400mm lens I had just enough reach to frame up this composition.

I had to use a ten-stop neutral density filter to force a long exposure of thirty seconds. This made the surface of the water smoother and less detailed which simplifies the composition and paints the scene with a relaxing mood.

As the sun rose over the horizon, the coyotes began their dawn chorus to usher in the new day and I breathed a very contented sigh.

Watch detailed videos showing exactly how I shot and processed this image by downloading the F4 ROAD TRIP over at f4roadtrip.com

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   mono lake snow winter cold sunrise morning california f4roadtrip gavin hardcastle long exposure

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While I'm more drawn to the natural world, I'm not above enjoying a well manicured stage of nature that's been shaped by humans.

The forms and colours of The Butchart Gardens almost look artificial in their vibrancy but I can assure you that every leaf and blade of grass is real.

Back in the days when tripods were allowed, I had a heyday with the delightful Japanese garden section one sunny October day.

The contrast of the light was so extreme that I had to bracket three exposures to capture all of the detail I needed for the highlights and shadows.

Using a circular polarizer also helped remove the glare from the leaves, giving them deeply rich colours.

I did feel a bit like a big kid at an amusement park. Instead of dashing from rollercoaster to rollercoaster I was just as gleeful wandering from ornate tree to flower bed.

God I'm old.


Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   butchart gardens autumn fall Photography vancouver island bc colours maple trees reflections

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