As a long-distance New England Large format Photography Collective (NELFPC) member, Marie Messina Curtis invited me to take the Steve Sherman initiated Seven days Facebook Landscape Challenge. I posted these images and my comments there. What a great opportunity to participate and view great large format photographer friends’ exquisite works during the transition to the and in the New Year. Wishing to All of You a very happy, peaceful, and prosperous 2016!
Day 1: Thanks for nominating me for the 7 day Landscape Challenge. I would like to start Day 1 with my first large format landscape image, photographed with my first large format film camera, received for 2007 Christmas from my wife Lexi.Toyo Field 45-AII-L camera, 210 mm Apo-Symmar lens. I photographed this image on our 2007 winter trip to Santa Fe-Taos-Chama area, near Ghost ranch.
Day 2: This is my Day 2 Landscape Challenge image, photographed with my Toyo Field 45A-II-L camera at Desert View, Grand Canyon National Park in 2011 late afternoon, just before the Winter Storm hit the Canyon and The National Park Services closed all of the roads. I would like to nominate my LF mentor, Emile Foisy to take the 7 day landscape challenge.
Day 3: As an Honorary New Englander, I have to celebrate New Year an hour earlier, following Eastern Time Zone, so I placed my Day 3 Landscape Challenge image accordingly. Waiting for the sunrise on a foggy early morning, nearby Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I was impressed by the fine tonal range of the layered mountains and I clicked the Copal 3 shutter of the Apo-Tele-Symmar 400 mm lens on my Linhof Master Technika Camera. I would like to nominate ultra large format photographer, Susan Harlin to take the 7 days landscape challenge.
Day 4: On Day 4, I will take you to the Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, for a short hike to Nymph Lake. I set up my large format film camera at the outflow of the lake, where few water grass like vegetation grew, and focused to the Silver Dollar like shiny Water Lilly leaves “floating” in the reflecting sky and pine trees. I nominate Paul Gallagher to take this 7 days landscape challenge.
Day 5: This is my Day 5 landscape Challenge image, taken at Giant Sequoia National park CA at sunrise. I set up my 8×10 Deardorff film camera and waited a little bit more, hoping the light will give some painting. Sure enough, the rising sunlight painted a light barrier on the grass and wildflowers covered foreground, giving me the message, do not step into the territory of the giants. When I clicked the shutter, a Japanese photographer stopped his car and seeing my setup, gave the thumbs up sign of his approval…
Day 6: On Day 6, let’s visit Great Smoky Mountains NP, at Tennessee side, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. I photographed Mill Creek there, under the small bridge setting up my large format camera on my tripod close to the water. The low angle of view and the amplified acoustic effect of the gurgling running water made me strongly connected to it. I felt the power of the small rock falls and the importance to keep it clean. I wish to nominate Carol Miller who is not just the doctor of the old and new large format shutters, but she is a photographer and protects our fragile nature.
Day 7: This is my Day 7 Landscape Challenge image. Thanks to Marie Messina Curtis for nominating me. I photographed this image on one of our photography trip to the Gunnison National Forest, Colorado. We drove many times on the winding dirt road between Lost Lake and Lake Irwin looking for Aspens different time of the day. However, I always look for something special. On one of our late afternoon drives I found a hidden trailhead and we stopped. I hiked not too far from the dirt road, when I found my spot. I loved the three pine trees standing in the Aspen forest. I set up my 4×5 large format film camera and I just imagined the light on the tree trunks. I waited and watched the changing light. When the setting Sun almost disappeared behind the mountain ridge, light beam shined on the Aspen trunks. I recorded that moment, and then the light faded out. I received a special gift from Mother Nature. I was happy with my exposed two sheets. I wish to nominate Tim Layton for the landscape challenge.