Ken Papaleo: X Marks the Shot

Shrine Pass, Vail, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/250 sec.

F/stop - 16

Lens - 16 - 35 mm

Location.

1. Shrine Pass Road is about 2 hours from Denver.

2. Get off at the rest area on the top of Vail Pass (I-70), entrance to Shrine Pass is there.

3. Shrine Pass will take you to Red Cliff, hwy 24.

4. The dirt road is pretty good, but does get rougher towards Red Cliff.

Challenge.

Last week I decided to put off my shoot on Shrine Pass until I went back and climbed up to Shrine Ridge. I heard the flowers where "Killer" up there. But the challenge for me on this shoot would be climbing up the 2 mile trail to the top. I'm not a spring chicken anymore, so I got the help of my daughter Kelley.

Solution.

We arrived at the parking lot early in the morning, only two other cars parked. I figured out what gear I needed, didn't want to have a heavy packs. We split the gear, carried water, energy snacks and rain gear. I would have preferred to go up late afternoon, for the better light, but the monsoon season is in full swing. You don't want to be up there in the open, during a late afternoon thunderstorm. Lightning is the number one killer, weather related, in Colorado. We took our time on the trail, stoping many times to catch our breaths, mostly me! The trail is well marked and easy to follow. When we reached the top, we turned right. Flowers were everywhere, the hike to the shrine was flower filled. Paintbrush and lupine were the most predominate. Being up there gives you a great 360 degree view. Around 11 am we started to make our way down. Now I like greeting people on trails, but we must have crossed paths with about 100 people, going up. When we got down, the lot had over 5o cars in it with more parked on the road and this was a week day. The flowers should still be very nice, but if your going to go, go soon. The nights are getting colder. I suggest you start you hike early morning or you could be spend your time with a lot of people. Make sure you check out the weather forecast before heading out.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Nature Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend Flash Back - Sand Dunes Swimming Pool, Hooper, Colorado, 4/18/2005.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Nikon D2H

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/500 sec.

F/stop - 5.6

Lens - 24 mm

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Homegrown Flowers, Evergreen, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/4000 sec.

F/stop - 4.5

Lens - 100 macro

Challenge.

I wanted to post my last weeks shoot of wildflowers, on Shrine Pass, but I did get it finished. I ran out of light and never made it to the top. Hearing that the flowers up there were great, my post wouldn't be complete without getting photos from that location. My daughter, Kelley, and I are heading back tomorrow morning. Shrine Pass will now be next Monday's post. Now a quick new shoot was needed.

Solution.

Every year, my wife Pam, and I grow flowers at our Evergreen home. Staying with the flower theme, this would be my blog. Even though our home is at 8,400 feet in the foothills, it doesn't lend itself to scenic shots of these flowers. A macro lens was the only way to go.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Nature Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend Flash Back - Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado, 7/13/2007.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - EOS-1Ds Mark III

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/500 sec.

F/stop - 5.6

Lens - 70/200 zoom

Crested Butte Wildflowers, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/250 sec.

F/stop - 11

Lens - 24/70 zoom

LOCATION.

1. Crested butte is about 5 hour drive from Denver.

2. Wildflowers should still be great.

3. Areas to check out are Lake Irwin, Slate River Road, Washington Gulch, Gothic Road and Brush

Creek Road.

4. A great place to stay is the Old Town Inn.

CHALLENGE.

I checked Crested Butte's weather report for my up coming trip. Every afternoon had a good chance of thunderstorms, just the way I like it, some clouds always add to the photo. When I shoot flowers, I try not to have the images all look the same, there are ways that will prevent this from happening.

SOLUTION.

1. Try to use every lens you have, I went from a 24 mm lens to a 500 mm, on this shoot.

2. Use each lens with minimum and maximum depth-of-field.

3. Shoot flowers back-lit, make shore you have a hat or something to block the sun.

4. When shooting with a macro-lens on a windy, use a real slow shutter speed, letting the flowers be

blown around, during the exposure.

5. Go out in all weather and times of day. I went out in the rain and got a nice shot, just dress for it.

6. Use your strobe! One early morning shoot, the background was nicely lit (mountains, clouds) but

the foreground (flowers) were in a deep shadow from a mountain. I used a off camera strop to light

the flowers.

7. Use both low and high angles.

8. When shooting, don't get tunnel vision and only look for flowers. Keep you eyes open for anything