There are still a couple of weeks to sign up for the Utah photography workshop in October and get the 10% early  bird discount.  I focus on intensive personal attention and therefore limit attendance to just six.  We’ll be photographing in three of Utah’s most beautiful national parks – Zion, Bryce and Cedar Breaks.  The dates are October 17-22, 2009.  A $200 deposit holds your spot.

Click here for more information – 2009 Southwest Utah Photography Workshop with Ralph Nordstrom

When we got to our campsite in Grand Canyon North Rim I was a bit confused about the time zone.  We came from Southern California (Pacific Time) and Arizona is in Mountain Time.  The thing is California is in Pacific Daylight Time and Arizona doesn’t mess with that daylight stuff – it was in Mountain Standard Time.  So the times are the same.  But I set my cell phone clock ahead one hour anyway.  Oops.  Then I set the alarm for 04:30 to make a 05:00 appearance at Bright Angel Point exactly 45 minutes before sunrise.

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A wild fire was burning on the North Rim along the road to Cape Royal.  It started from a lightning strike.  The forest service fire crews were keeping an eye on it but letting it burn.  They figured it would continue to burn until the first rains or snows put it out.

This made for some fantastic early morning photography from Bright Angel Point – the fire with the Venus and Orion looking down.

Two sunrises this week were at Bright Angel Point.  It’s a short walk from the North Rim lodge.  I arrived both mornings nearly two hours before sunrise (the first time by accident, the second by design).  I immersed myself in the solitude and could feel the quite.  I got to experience the whole wonderful transition from night to day without any distractions. 

And then minutes before the sunrise people began to show up.  Many came with cameras, some brought just their eyes and hearts.  All were there for the joy of watching the sun majestically rise into the sky.

We all shared the experience while at the same time each had their own personal, individual experience.  We were quite and intent on the unfolding world around us.  And when we did speak to each other, it was in hushed, reverent whispers.  I don’t need to analyze why we did.  Just the fact that we did is enough.

Last year I published a post called “Be Careful Out There” after having a mishap early one morning in Joshua Tree National Park.  Fortunately it turned out OK and now I kind of laugh about it.  Here’s the post in case you missed it.

http://ralphnordstromphotography.com/wordpress/2008/03/04/be-careful-out-there/

But last week my good friend Jack Graham had a harrowing experience in Olympic National Park in Washington.  Fortunately he’s OK.  But he just posted an account on his blog.  Do yourself a favor and read it.  And then be careful when you head out.

http://jackgrahamphoto.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/a-word-to-the-wise-you-never-know-whats-around-the-next-curve/

I’ll be reporting soon on an emergency notifaction system the my wife and daughter insisted I buy.  Give me a chance to test it a little and I’ll report back here.

It’s official.  We are offering a five day photography workshop to beautiful Utah in mid October, 2009.  We’ll be photographing two days in Zion, two days in Bryce and a day in Cedar Breaks.  The dates are October 17-22.  Priced at $695, we invite you to compare this workshop with the others and you will find it’s a great value.

Besides great photography, our goal is intensive personal attention.  Therefore participation is limited to just six.

To learn more go to http://ralphnordstromphotography.com/workshops/2009_sw_utah/2009_sw_utah_announcement.html

For our 2009-2010 workshop calendar go to http://ralphnordstromphotography.com/workshops/workshop_home_page.html

Also, visit http://ralphnordstromphotography.com/

You can also join us on Facebook and become a fan.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ralph-Nordstrom-Photography/112254382772

Photography Tips – Your Digital Camera’s Program Modes

Modern digital cameras are in reality complex computers.  They have memories, processors, input and output devices.  And, like computers, their capabilities (read ‘processing power’) doubles every 18 months to 2 years. 

One of the advantages of all this progress is the program modes that are available.  In this photography tips article we’re going to take a look at some of these modes and get an idea of what they can do for us.

Often the program functions are accessed via a dial on the computer.  In other cameras they are accessed from the menu.  Or, some cameras use a combination of both.  Your camera manual will spell this out for you.

The modes are divided into three broad categories – automatic, semi-automatic and manual.  Let’s look at each beginning with Automatic. 

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I was surprised again last week to learn that one of my photographs received another award at the Orange County Fair.  Virgin River and the Watchman received a Purchase Award; that is, the fair purchased the photograph for its permanent collection.  Actually, I was more than surprised.

This is a shot that literally thousands and possibly tens of thousands of people take every year.  If you’ve been to Zion you are probably aware that photographers line up on the bridge over the Virgin River nearly every day at sunset to photograph the setting sun on the Watchman, the magnificent face that towers over the south entrance to the park.  It’s one of those places that has become an “Excuse me, may  I squeeze in here?” photography site.  From one end of the bridge to the other, photographers are set up with their tripods legs almost overlapping.

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I just set up a page for Ralph Nordstrom Photography in Facebook.  I invite you to become a fan and join in the adventure.  Here’s the link.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ralph-Nordstrom-Photography/112254382772