Articles from June, 2011

Goodbye 35mm…Hello Medium Format

Written on June 24, 2011 Posted in Photo Gear


Discovering the Light: An evening photograph from Discovery Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Please click the images to see larger versions. I’m moving away form 35mm digital photography and embracing medium format (MF).  For the past week, I’ve been using the Pentax 645D, a weather-sealed digital MF camera with a whopping 40MP sensor.  I’m not completely abandoning 35mm, but the majority of my landscapes from now on will be shot with the Pentax 645D.  I can’t begin to describe how fantastic the image quality is.  It’s not just the resolution.  The colors, the dynamic range, the micro-contrast, and the sharpness of the files produced are like nothing I’ve ever seen.  Here are just a few shots I’ve taken this week.  You can’t totally appreciate the fine detail in these small web photos, even if you click the images and see the larger versions.  I’ve made several large (24″ x 36″ and 30″ x 40″) prints, and that’s where the detail really comes through.

Bright Lights, Big City: A long exposure from the Rizal Bridge, in Seattle. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Nature's Reach: Wallace Falls State Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Flowing Away: Wallace Falls State Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

  • 11 Comments

Conrad: Amazing!!!

linda lin: Dito!! Conrad's comment :)

Chris: Mahesh, there was absolutely nothing deficient in any of your 35mm work!

Barb Michieli: Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

sm: "starving photographer" no more! btw, awesome images...

Alan Grose: Mahesh, I'm glad you're still "starving" for more and better images. You go, man!

Gary C.: Always wanted to move up to medium format.....but then, you know, it's not the camera that takes great pieces of art like yours. Exceptional work!

Bev: Mahesh, awesome work, you are a true artist with light and motion.

John Behrends: Having gone from shooting with the Pentax 6x7 for many years to now using a Pentax 200d with mostly limited primes for the last 3 years , frankly the shots I get with the "old" 6x7 still blow away most of the digital shots. Your work here has me tempted to look into the 645d. Beautiful shots and comps!! JB

Amy: The Discovery Park photo is stunning!

Randy Lau: Hey Mahesh, I have questions about graduated density filters. If I want to play around with these, what will I need? I saw filters and filter holders on sale on b and h. Do the filter holders attach to the lens or do you have to manually hold the filter in place?


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The Magic of Lime Kiln Lighthouse

Written on June 18, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials


Stars Above Lime Kiln Lighthouse: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

The above is an image from an overnight trip to San Juan Island.  I wanted to capture the sunset and night moods in a single photograph. For those who are interested, here’s how I “made” this photograph.

1. At ISO 80, I took 5 bracketed exposures (-4, -2, 0, +2, +4) about 20 minutes after sunset to capture the warm glow in the sky and detail in the foreground rocks afforded by the the ambient light.

2. From the same spot, I took a single, 30-second exposure several hours after sunset at ISO 6400 to capture the stars.

3. In photoshop, I combined the 5 bracketed images to obtain proper detail in the foreground and sunset sky.

4. For the last step, I placed the image with starts as a separate layer on top and used blending mode “Lighten”. This allowed the bright stars to “show through” while leaving the sunset colors intact.

While on the island, I also came across a few foxes.  Below are a couple of snaps of them.  I hope you enjoy the shots!

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Pentax, K-5, Pentax DA* 60-250mm f/4

The Black Fox: Pentax, K-5, Pentax DA* 60-250mm f/4

  • 14 Comments

Bev: Just great; love the sky and the stars.

Joel: Beautiful lighthouse picture and starry sky. Thanks for sharing how you brought out the stars without disrupting the exposure for the remainder of the picture. The foreground rocks are great - dark enough to feel the time of day, but detailed enough to visualize, with their scattered lighter areas adding texture and interest.

Naveen: Love the lighthouse picture. Thanks for sharing the technique...

Julie: Really love the light house picture, its gorgeous!! you are talented with the foxes...

linda lin: Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JoAnn: In awe of the litehouse! ..and love seeing the foxes. Were they tame or were they going to eat you?

linda: amazing...and a little freaky. It's so unlikely to get stars so clearly, it seems like it must be pinholes in the paper. And water in foreground by dark rocks manages to look like 'fog' rolling in...but only by land. thank you.

Alan Grose: You beat me to Lime Kiln. I'll be there in July. Awesome lighthouse photo! I'm going to look for more on your site.

Chris Budech: Mahesh, thanks for the composing tips and great pics. So is combining bracketed images recommended when you have a big contrast in light and dark in your image in general? Or best for eve shots such as this one?

Rachael: The way he sits, it looks like you got to know the little black fox. he probably watched you for a while. He is soooo cute!

Dona: I am such a sucker for starry skies! This is really a gorgeous picture. I also appreciate knowing how you did it.

shanter: It is impossible not to look at the black foxes eyes--mezmerizing. Love it.

tiffany: I am in complete awe of your pictures. That first image with the stars is probably one of my favorite landscape pictures I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing the photoshop info, I would love to improve my landscape photography.


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Spring in The Palouse

Written on June 12, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


Palouse Wildflowers: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Please click on images to see larger versions. Spring is probably my favorite time to visit The Palouse.  The last week of May and/or the first week of June is usually best, with slight variation from year to year.  The greens of the early wheat fields are almost fluorescent under the right lighting conditions, and the lupines at Steptope Butte are magnificently abundant.  In addition to the obligatory scenes from Steptoe, this year, I drove around quite a bit looking for interesting compositions of farms. barns, and trees.  I hope you enjoy these images.  I plan to go back in the late summer when the wheat is golden brown.

In Between: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Old Friends: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Nestled in the HIlls: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Wheat Patterns: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Lone Tree: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

A Fixer-Upper: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Follow the Fence: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Still Standing: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Whitman County Growers: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Tree in Wheat Field: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Bucolic: : Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS. This is a stitch of 7 portrait oriented images (file size over 100 MP). The detail captured is pretty ridiculous. Below is a 100% crop to give you an idea.

100% crop from above panorama

  • 19 Comments

Ray Still: Hey Mahesh Cool takeaways went by that way last week and yep Steptoe Butte has a Moose finally saw one of the offsprings right on the road on the way off Steptoe

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Ray. Wow...a moose at Steptoe! That's awesome! How great would it have been to capture that with the wheat fields in the distance? I hope you got a good shot.

Aaron Cowan: Very nice images Mahesh. I've just spent the past 10 months in Moscow finishing my Masters (EE) and now I'm living in Pullman for work so I'm very familiar with the areas you took these images. The clouds in the B&Ws are excellent.

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Aaron! I think I remember your mentioning your studies in Moscow before. How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place.

Bev: Great composition and light.

Lisa: These landscapes are amazing, I love the bright colours and the clarity!

Ann: All of them are so beautiful, but the b/w fence leading to the barn w/stunning clouds behind really drew me in. thanks for sharing, Ann

Gary C.: Met you once at the ebike store.....I'm part time there. Eric sends along you're photo's. You have amazing talent. I have a photo interest also but alas no artistic eye. Greatly enjoy your work!

Karen: I hope this finds you well. : ) Oh my, they are all awesome. The wildflower one is amazing. Thank you SO very much for sharing your beautiful work with us. You are truly gifted. Take care. Peace & Love, Karen

Tim ONeill: Lovely images Mahesh. I recognize some of the structures. I started looking in FM back in 2002 when you were indeed a starving student.

Rachael: i want to marry "tree in wheat field!"

linda lin: soooo peaceful!

Alan: Amazing photos, Mahesh! Great work!

colleen parker: thank you for sharing your zen-like images! i will be moving to Moscow Idaho soon and plan to explore the area with your images for photographic inspiration!

Sally Allison: Your photos always feed my soul! Love them! Thank you for sharing!

Tim ONeill: Great images Mahesh. I recognize a lot of scenes. I've been following your work in FM since 2002.

Ryan: Wonderful photos as always. It's impossible to pick a favorite. -- Which areas or roads over there do you find the most photogenic?

Charles Duncombe: I grew up in Moscow, ID and these are as lovely a set of images from the Palouse as I have seen. Brought me fond memories of my childhood. Thanks.


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Flower of the Forest: Redwood National Park

Written on June 1, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


Flower of the Forest: Panasonic Lumix GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

Please click on the images to see larger versions. My friend, Mike, and I recently spent a few days at Redwood National Park, in northern California.  We stayed in Crescent City and took several day hikes into the forest.  The Rhodies were out in full bloom in the northern part of the park but somewhat scarce further south.  The weather was hit and miss, but we tried to make the best of it.  I hope you enjoy these images.

Forest from the Trees: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

The Tree Cave: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 7-14mm

Florescent Green: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 7-14mm

Pretty in Pink: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

A Slug's Life: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

Leaf Trail: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

Forest in Bloom: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

Heavy is the Head: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 100-300mm

Battery Point Light: Panasonic GH2, Panasonic 14-140mm

  • 6 Comments

mariann: love them

linda: CA is my 'Home State', where I was born. Seattle is my current, much-loved home. Yet your photos have managed to truly capture, and convey, a state that still has much beauty. Thank you.

Chris Budech: I'm also from Cal. and have been many times along the North Coast and through the redwoods--enjoyed the photos--Battery Point B/W is very cool.

Bev: Love the photos. As a resident of Ca, I feel the natural beauty should be celebrated.

Salim: Amazing photos as usual Mahesh. Love how you control that GH2 of yours. Well done

Rachael: The rhodies look more delicate than ours. Great shots! -r


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