"From Here to Eternity" - Faith Bible Chapel - Arvada, Colorado

                                                 "X-Shot" Information.

                                      Camera - Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

                                      ISO- 1250

                                      Shutter - 1/6 sec.

                                      F/stop - 2.8

                                      Lens - 200 mm

I haven't shot a theatrical performance for some time but that was about to change as I drove to Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada. They were putting on an Easter performance called "From Here to Eternity" and needed some nice still images. Shooting a complete dress rehearsal is the way to go in this situation.   

Everything is exactly the same but there's no audience. This gave me the opportunity to walk all around to get the best shots without bothering anyone.

The show's lighting was tungsten and I set my camera's white balance accordingly. During the performance the exposures were continually changing so I had to keep up with it. When shooting fairly tight, auto exposure worked pretty good. The problem of washed-out images came when using a wide angle lens with auto exposure. To correct this, manual exposure was needed to get a good reading, if I had the time before the light changed again. So for the most part I used my 70-200 zoom or my 300 f/2.8 on a mono pod, with auto exposure. Everything I shot was with an f/stop of 2.8, giving me the highest shutter speed possible for that situation. Even though it is a play, there are still true moments to capture. My "X-Shot" came when I was shooting the performer for Jesus carrying the cross. The light was totally red and very low when shooting this scene. I saw the shutter speed was down to 1/6 second but shot anyway, because you never know what will work out. This image had some movement in it but the overall mood was what I liked. The performance was outstanding and I'm going back Friday to sit back and enjoy it with my family.

           "X-Shot" Information.

1. Faith Bible Chapel is at 62and and Ward Road in Arvada.

2. The performances are free.

3. Show times are Wednesday (3/31) - Friday (4/2) 7pm.

                              Saturday (4/3) - 5pm

                              Sunday (4/4) 8:45 and 11 am

4. Get there early, this is a hot show and they will fill up fast.

5. Web Page - http://www.fbci.org

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

All photographs for sale, contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Weekend Flash Back - Monte Vista Wild Life Refuge - 3/3/2008

                                                    "X-Shot" Information

                                            Camera - Canon EOS 1D Mark II

                                            ISO - 200

                                            Shutter - 1/500 sec.

                                            F/stop - 5/6

                                            Lens - 840 mm

When covering the sandhill cranes in 2008 I brought with me a 600 mm lens and a 1.4 extender, giving me a focal length of 840. My goal was to get a nice tight shot of a crane landing. These birds don't let you get to close so the long class would be needed to fulfill my task. The set-up was heavy so it was put on a mono-pod while shooting. Waiting for late afternoon light, I set myself up on a dirt road where the cranes were coming in from the west to feed in a field. At this location the birds would be coming right at me when landing and be nicely lit by the setting sun to the west. Shooting for a-couple of hours gave me plenty of opportunities to capture the desired image

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

For information on this photo contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

"The Beach" - Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

                                              "X-Shot" Information 

                                          Camera - Canon EOS 5D

                                          ISO - 100

                                          Shutter - 1/250

                                          F/stop - 16

                                          Lens - 20mm

Thousands of people come to the mountains of Colorado for spring break, but no ski resort has the "Beach" like Arapahoe Basin. The "Beach" is a stretch of the lower parking lot that backs right up to the snow with access to three chair lifts. Here skiers and boarders back in their vehicles and set up chairs, grills, and what ever else they brought with them.  By 11:00 am the activity at the "Beach" starts to pick up for lunch. That's when I showed up. It was a great day with extremely sunny skies and temperatures near 40 degrees. Traveling light with two cameras and just two lenses, a 16 - 35 zoom and a 70 - 200 zoom, I made my way down the beach.  My "X-Shot" came when I spotted a dog sitting on a large pillow in the snow. She was just enjoying the sun and was waiting for her owner to return. Using a wide angle lens worked the best to show the dog on her pillow and in the mountain surroundings.  After setting the needed exposure my shooting started, moving around the dog, looking for the best angle.  I worked the "Beach" for a couple of hours and from shooting a guy sitting in a chair on top of his car to somebody's beer stash under a truck, I was finished. Don't use auto exposure when shooting subjects in the snow on a day like this, because most likely your subject will be very dark due to the light reflection from the snow. It's best to use a reading somewhere between the bright white snow and that of your subject. 

             "X-Shot" Location Information

1. Drive time from Denver should be a little over an hour, if you don't go 

    on weekends, holidays and spring breaks (rest of March - first week of April).

2. Take I-70 from Denver to the Loveland Pass exit, go up on over the pass until

     you come to A-Basin         

3. If coming from west of the Divide, take Loveland Pass out of Dillon up to

     A-Basin. 

4. To park at the "Beach" you better get there early.

5. There are some spots at the "Beach" that you can rent ahead of time.

6. Their web address is http://www.arapahoebasin.com  - ph # 888-ARAPAHOE

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

All photographs for Sale, contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Weekend Flash Back - Monte Vista - 3/20/01

                                                                 "X Shot" Information

                                                                 Camera - Nikon D1H

                                                                 ISO - 400

                                                                 Shutter - 1/125 sec.

                                                                 F/stop - 5.6

                                                                 Lens - 16 mm

This photo was shot near the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge. It was warm for that time of the year and there was a lot of open water. The reflection in the mirror-like pond was great. I took my light reading off the brightest spot in the clouds and made sure my f/stop was big enough to get everything in focus. Many sunsets get even better when the sun actually sets and then the sky lights up. You should always stick around and see what happens.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

Photo information contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Runnin of the Green - Denver, Colorado

                                                "X-Shot" Information

                                   Camera - Canon EOS - 1DS Mark III

                                   ISO - 640

                                  Shutter - 1/20 sec.

                                  F/stop - 22

                                  Lens - 70 - 200 zoom.

Running out of time for shooting this week's "X-Shot", I decided to go to the Volunteers of America 22nd Annual Runnin' of the Green in Denver. There was a chance of snow or rain, either one would have made the shoot more interesting, but it turned out to be only cloudy and cold. Walking around before the race started provided many photo opportunities. Once the race was underway, a city worker had to stand in the middle of 17th Street to prevent runners from going over a manhole cover releasing steam. What a job he had standing there facing thousands of runners coming at him!  I decided to work this situation. First thing was to set my camera with a slow shutter speed to make the runners blurry. The auto focus was turned off and I manually focused on the worker standing in the street. As runners passed by they became blurred, leaving the non-moving man standing sharp in the image. Many runners, dogs and spectators dressed in green for the St. Patrick's Day holiday race, making it easier to find nice images. With this being an annual event, you will have to wait until next year if you want to try your luck shooting it.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

All photographs for sale, contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Weekend Flashback - Fort Collins, Colorado - 2/14/07

                                                    "X-Shot"Information

                                          Camera - Canon EOS 1D Mark II

                                          ISO - 250

                                          Shutter - 1/500 sec.

                                          F/stop - 5.6

                                          Lens - 300

This shot of a Bald Eagle was taken at the Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins as part of a package on eagles. This raptor cannot be returned to the wild because of a wing problem, so he lives at this center. When the eagle was brought outside by a handler for some fresh air, I noticed the look in the bird's eyes and decided to go tight with a 300 mm lens. Eventhough this great creature is disabled, it demands respect, as seen in this image. 

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

Photo information contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge - Monte Vista, Colorado

                                                                                      "X-Shot" Information

                                           Camera - Canon EOS DS Mark III

                                           ISO - 400

                                           Shutter - 1/500 sec.

                                           F/stop - 5.6

                                           Lens - 500 mm

Sandhill Cranes have been stopping in the San Luis Valley in late February for thousands of years. This is where they fuel up on their trip north. The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge has the pleasure of their visit each year about this time. I picked up fellow photojournalist Dennis Schroeder at 5:30 am in Monte Vista, for my annual photographing of these birds. The previous night we had some bad weather and our shoot was good but not what we wanted. At night the birds roost in open water until after sunrise. We pulled into a spot, with our lights off, that we had checked out the night before.  It had open water. As we were quietly getting out of my jeep, the birds were disturbed and began moving away from us. So we moved to another spot, this time we parked down the road and walked towards our new subjects. We had 500 mm lenses on mono pods. This didn't seem to bother them as much so we settled in waiting for sunrise. I have shot this migration many times and have a great collection from over the years. The one shot missing from this group was an image of the dancing birds, so that was my main goal. These creatures mate for life and the dance strengthens their bond. When the light came over the mountains to the east, the birds started to get active. As I took pictures of one couple dancing, the light hit them perfectly and my goal was completed. Most of these shots were made with my 500. The birds don't let you get very close most of the time so I would recommend using a big piece of glass, if you want some close-up photos. This is something I will always come back to. It's one of my favorite things to watch and photograph.

          "X-Shot" location information

1. Take hwy. 15 south out of Monte Vista until you come to the refuge office 

    on the left.

2. You can get a map here of places to go for viewing.

3. Mid-week would be best with less people around.

4. If you don't have a big lens, you might be able to rent one.

5. Best time for taking pictures is in the morning and evening.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

All photographs for sale, contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com