Weekend Flash Back - Air force Academy, Co. Springs. 11/13/07

                                                   "X-Shot" Information

                                        Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II

                                        ISO - 400

                                        Shutter - 1/250 sec.

                                        F/stop - 16 /35 zoom

It was a nice sunny mid-November day as I drove to a funeral being held at Colorado Air Force Academy. The remains of an Air Force pilot were found in South Vietnam, sent home and would be buried on this day. We had good photo access, and could move around freely at the burial site. Noticing a cadet up on a small hill who would be playing Taps soon, I moved in his direction. The plan was to shoot him, back lit, with a wide angle lens. Pre-setting my exposure to the bright sky, I waited for him to play. When the song started I moved in low, putting my camera on the ground in the shadow of his head and pointed it at him. Having the camera in the shadow made sure there would be no lens flair and using auto focus took care of the rest. Shooting only a couple of frames was all it took to make this image. 

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

For more information on this picture, contact e-mail address below.

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Trail Ridge Road - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

                                              "X-Shot" Information.

                                          Camera -Canon EOS 5D

                                          ISO - 100

                                          Shutter - 1/200

                                          F/stop - 13

                                          Lens - 16/35 zoom

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

 It had been a number of years since I had gone to the traditional media coverage of the snow removal from Trail Ridge Road. As we caravanned up the closed road, the number of media taking part surprised me. It was the largest group I had seen. We came to a stop next to some huge snow drifts and everybody got out. This is where I found my "X-Shot". The caravan stopped right next to the cut-out-drifts, pretty much eliminating the use of any long glass. My 16- 35 zoom would let me get between the cars and the drifts, making it a cleaner shot. Without a blue sky it was important to find an angle that would show separation between the snow and the grey sky. Now all I had to do was wait for someone to come into my scene and that didn't take long. We continued onto the snow removal area. The pictures were ok but without that blue sky and some sunlight, they didn't pop. Weather started to move in as we headed to the Alpine Visitor Center, which still had snow up to its roof. Parking at this location, again everybody left their vehicles. By this time the wind was howling and the snow was heavy. I trailed behind and waited until a couple of shooters climbed the snow bank and made their way to the almost covered buildings. I now had something to use in my photos with the structures.

"X-Shot" location information.

1. Drive time from Denver is about two hours.

2. The park hopes to get Trail Ridge open by this weekend, depending on the

    weather.

3. When open, Trail Ridge is the highest continuous paved highway in the

    United States.

4. This year construction continues on the road and you can expect delays.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

Weekend Flash Back - Silt, Colorado - 5/24/10

                                               "X-Shot" Information

                                              Camera - Nikon D2H

                                              ISO - 400

                                             Shutter - 1/125 second.

                                             F/stop - 5.6

                                             Lens - 70/200 zoom.

Mineral Rights, that was the reason for being in the Rifle/Silt area taking pictures. When people bought land in this area, some didn't buy or couldn't buy the mineral rights. Usually it's not a big deal unless natural gas is discovered in the area. The next thing you know, a drilling rig is running 24/7 in your back yard. I found this home around 2pm and waited until dusk to shoot because the rigs are lit from dusk till dawn, I knew it would show up better when the lights were on. The light reading was taken from the white rig using a big piece of glass. Then switching to my zoom and using the same settings, I took this image. 

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Pine Valley Ranch Park - Pine, Colorado.

                                                   "X-Shot" Information

                                      Camera - Canon EOS-1 Ds Mark III

                                      ISO - 400

                                      Shutter 1/500 sec.

                                      F/stop - 11

                                      Lens  - 16 - 35 zoom

Division Of Wildlife hired me to cover their Outdoor Skills Day in Pine, Colorado last Saturday. Leaving my home in Evergreen, with snow and slush on the ground, I expected the worst at Pine Valley Ranch Park, the events location. To my surprise the ground was dry and the weather was perfect for shooting. The day offered participants a chance to gain hands-on knowledge in archery, fly fishing, pond fishing, hiking and shooting a .22 rifle. Trying to get a photo of a kid's reaction after catching a fish, sent me to many different locations on the lake, with no luck. The fish where always being caught someplace else. Finally I parked myself on the lake's bank right under a fishing pier, the location where the fish were netted after being caught. My 16 - 35 zoom lens was on my Mark III camera with the "X-Shot" settings.  After one boy caught a fish, the man who netted it asked him if he wanted to come down to check the fish out. The kid said yes, grabbed the fish and gave it a kiss. I'm not sure why he did that but I moved in close and shot away. The two men's reactions really helped this picture. 

"X-Shot" Location information.

1. Drive time from Denver is just about an hour.

2. Take Hwy. 285 to Pine Junction, turn south on CR - 126, go about 6 miles,

     follow signs to Pine Valley Ranch Park.

3. The park is part of Jefferson County Open Space.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Weekend Flash Back A-Basin, Colorado - 5/13/08

                                                   "X-Shot" Information

                                       Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II

                                       ISO - 400

                                      Shutter - 1/500 sec.

                                      F/stop - 2.8

                                      Lens - 700 - 200 zoom

It was a late spring snow storm in the mountains and I was going up to A-Basin to get some shots. My ski equipment was not with me, so shooting at the base was my only option for the day. After walking around for awhile, a guy and his dog showed up and started playing with a Frisbee. The dog got great air when going up for his target. Wanting the subjects to stand out from the background, a small f/stop was picked. The man had to be in the photo to show the height of the dog's jump, so I shot loose with my zoom.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com 

"Balloons -N- Varoooms Festival" - Ridgway, Colorado.

                                                "X-Shot " information.

                                  Camera - Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

                                  ISO - 400

                                  Shutter - 125

                                  F/stop - 18

                                  Lens - 16 - 35 zoom

Ridgway was having its "7th Annual Balloons -N- Varoooms Festival", a gathering of 24 hot air balloons and 100 classic automobiles over a three day weekend. The balloons flew early each morning and I was there for two of the three. My "X-Shot" occurred on Sunday under a brilliant blue sky. Hearing the sound of a burner in one of the balloons behind me, I turned around to check it out. Not more than 15 feet above me was a beautiful balloon. I had already taken my light reading from the sky, setting the f/stop for maximum depth of field. One of my cameras had my 16 - 35 zoom on and was ready to go. So all I had to do was focus on the larger balloon and wait for the perfect composition as the hot air balloons passed by.  

"X-Sot" location information

1. Ridgway ( yes that's the way it is spelled).

2. Ridgway is located at the junction of Hwy. 550 and Hwy. 62.

3. This area is centrally located with good access to Telluride, Dallas Divide,

     Montrose and Ouray. 

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

Weekend Flash Back - Loveland Ski Area, Colorado - April 18, 2006.

                                                 "X-Shot" Information.

                                       Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II N

                                       ISO - 400

                                       Shutter - 1/250

                                       F/stop - 8

                                       lens - 70 -200 zoom

Loveland Ski Area is hit with many spring snow storms and this day was one of them. Arriving in the parking lot around 10 am, a nice snow was falling with very little wind. It was like being in a gigantic snow globe, with big soft flakes. The problem was white falling snow on a predominantly white background doesn't photograph very well on a cloudy day. The solution for me was to locate a dark background which would make the snow flakes stand out. Finding a black building nearby, I positioned myself about 20 yards away and took a peek through my lens. It looked really nice. The above settings were used to get a good depth of field and a fast enough shutter to stop the snow and a skier, who I hoped would be walking past soon. It didn't take long before that image was captured. 

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

City Park - Denver, Colorado

                                                 "X-Shot" Information.

                                    Camera - Cannon EOS-1Ds Mark III

                                    ISO - 200

                                    Shutter - 1/800

                                    F/stop - 8

                                    Lens - 500 mm

I spent the afternoon taking photos of Comarants building nests in the trees at Duck Lake in City Park. The winds out of the west were very strong, making it difficult for the birds to land in the trees while building their nests. Due to the severe wind conditions, the Comarants would come in low from the east carrying their nesting material. Setting myself in a good position with my 500mm lens on a mono pod, I started shooting the birds on their approach. After awhile a few clouds came in and cast a shadow over the trees causing the nests to really stand out. This looked really cool and the best candidate for my "X-Shot," I thought! When it became completely overcast and stormy, I lost my light and left.  Looking through my take in the editing tool called Photo Mechanic, I came across a shot of a bird with a knife on a string in its beak.  Finding an unexpected image like this is one of the reasons I enjoy downloading my flash cards after a shoot as soon as possible. There was nothing special I did to get this shot except the fact that I was there shooting. Having a blog gets me out to capture many photo opportunities as they come my way. 

"X-Shot" information

1. City Park is between Colorado Blvd., York St., E. 17th Ave. and 

    E. 23rd Ave.

2. Once the leaves come out and cover the tree tops, these nests will be

    hidden.

3. Duck Lake is being drained to clean it up and I think that's where the 

    Comarant found the knife. That's going to be one sharp looking nest.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

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

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring