Exploring the Oaks up Metcalf Rd

[dan swiger]

This an area, near home, that I frequently cycle through.
I am always looking for image possibilities.
I have actually entertained bringing camera & tripod, but it becomes unweildly on a road bike
I had another tree in mind last night, but when I looked through the viewfinder, no joy.
When I looked back up the valley, into the harsh light, the intersection of the foreground hill & the background caught my attention. The haze in the distance, while stealing contrast, added some more tones.
I knew this would be a B&W. It would have been nice to have some clouds & maybe different light.
So I will keep an eye on this throughout the seasons. Maybe with softer light & the oaks leaves in spring, might even work in color.
5DMkII, 70-(200)mm. Silver Efex conversion.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like this scene - simple but quite effective with the emphasis on the large oak.

Not game for packing a med/large format camera/tripod on your road bike? No sense of adventure

 

[JimFox]

Hey Dan,

Thanks so much for posting this here, it looks so much better here then it did on FB, and it looked nice on FB.

I really like how you worked the light, and B&W is definitely the way to go with this. I have a thing for a single tree on a hill like this but seem to rarely come across them. I know you talked about coming back and shooting this again, what would be great is if you could come back to the exact same tripod marks and shoot this not only in different conditions but in different seasons. I think it could end up being one of those spots where a Triptych could look really nice.

 

[JimFox]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Post Dan!

 

[lionking]

Beautiful.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

I love it, I like the brighter sky, it really brings out the shadow of the tree. I am assuming this is in California...every time I am in the Bay area, driving through the area, I want to go wander on the hillsides there, looking for trees like this. Very nice image.

 

[Mike Mancil]

Good eye to recognize the possibilities. Well done in b/w.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Congratulations on featured post, and a very nice image. I love those oaks and the rolling hill country they grow in.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Nicely done. You are right on the haze lending a nice softening to the tones in the background. I really like the diagonal lines of light on the grass around the tree, and the way you've left the tree dark which emphasizes it's grand shape. B&W was certainly the ticket here.

From your comments on not bringing a tripod on your road bike I assume this was shot hand held at the long end of your zoom - to my eye the tree is just a bit soft, but that could just be the web conversion etc. (I often seem to see softness where others don't on this forum).

 

[Kyle Jones]

Nice light in this scene - looks like home to me.

 

[dan swiger]

I like this scene - simple but quite effective with the emphasis on the large oak.

Not game for packing a med/large format camera/tripod on your road bike? No sense of adventure

Alan, is it an adventure if you know the outcome? With just a camera back-pack, the inertia of it was very unsettling on climbs.
I haven't given up on the concept. Probably a monopod and some velcro to include the bike in the platform.

 

[dan swiger]

I love it, I like the brighter sky, it really brings out the shadow of the tree. I am assuming this is in California...every time I am in the Bay area, driving through the area, I want to go wander on the hillsides there, looking for trees like this. Very nice image.

If you know you are in the area, let me know. There are several places within 1/2 hour of home.
Thanks

 

[AlanLichty]

Alan, is it an adventure if you know the outcome? With just a camera back-pack, the inertia of it was very unsettling on climbs.
I haven't given up on the concept. Probably a monopod and some velcro to include the bike in the platform.

I will confess to having tried various ways to carry an SLR camera bag on road bikes but the effort was a far cry from successful. That was over 45 years ago and I haven't even considered trying again since. I have carried various point and shoot digital cameras and of course iPhones in more recent years but nothing in the DSLR category.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I will confess to having tried various ways to carry an SLR camera bag on road bikes but the effort was a far cry from successful. That was over 45 years ago and I haven't even considered trying again since. I have carried various point and shoot digital cameras and of course iPhones in more recent years but nothing in the DSLR category.

I have a park nearby that opens at 8am - too late for sunrise. I have found a place where I can park outside the gate, take out my bike, and ride the 3 or 4 miles to the trailhead. Worked OK with my fstop bag and tripod. Kind of a pain though.

 

[dan swiger]

Hey Dan,

Thanks so much for posting this here, it looks so much better here then it did on FB, and it looked nice on FB.

I really like how you worked the light, and B&W is definitely the way to go with this. I have a thing for a single tree on a hill like this but seem to rarely come across them. I know you talked about coming back and shooting this again, what would be great is if you could come back to the exact same tripod marks and shoot this not only in different conditions but in different seasons. I think it could end up being one of those spots where a Triptych could look really nice.

Jim, I like that idea but it was on a dirt shoulder. I would have to drive a stake or something.

I did think this was one my better comps, but I wait for the esteemed jury to rule
Am a bit humbled.
I do confess, I would have liked to do this on B&W film to get the feel/grain personality.
The trouble is the focal length. My Mamiya's longest available is 210mm (105)
I had an RZ67 with a 360(180)mm. Just about right for most landscape-telephoto work

A DSLR or 35mm film camera has the most focal length range/affordability.

 

[dan swiger]

I have a park nearby that opens at 8am - too late for sunrise. I have found a place where I can park outside the gate, take out my bike, and ride the 3 or 4 miles to the trailhead. Worked OK with my fstop bag and tripod. Kind of a pain though.

Kyle, that wouldn't be Sycamore Grove would it? I've only visited there a few times w/BIL but seems full of photo opportunities

 

[JimFox]

Alan, is it an adventure if you know the outcome? With just a camera back-pack, the inertia of it was very unsettling on climbs.
I haven't given up on the concept. Probably a monopod and some velcro to include the bike in the platform.

Hey Dan, as I am not a monopod fan myself, check out this tripod. It’s my travel and backpacking tripod. Super lightweight and because of the 4 section legs and inverted folding it is so compact. There are others similar but this is the best one in my opinion. So it may be a viable option to Velcro on to your bike, or it is so small it easy folds up into most day packs.

https://www.amazon.com/Sirui-2204-C...rui+tripod&dpPl=1&dpID=41rQFjv6GeL&ref=plSrch

 

[Kyle Jones]

Kyle, that wouldn't be Sycamore Grove would it? I've only visited there a few times w/BIL but seems full of photo opportunities

Sunol Wilderness. For whatever reason I've never made it to Sycamore Grove even though I could ride there from home.

 

[JohnC]

Very nice Dan. I know what you mean about trying to ride a camera backpack and tripod on a road bike. I just ordered an inexpensive folding bike to use for camping trips and I'm already thinking about how to use that bike while carrying camera gear on my back. The key to the folding bike is the 20" wheels. I think it provides (I haven't received it yet) better stability due to the different geometry from a road bike. I wouldn't try to ride a century on it, but I think it would handle shorter trips with camera gear much better than my road bike would. At least that's my theory. Hopefully I'm right.