new website + new blog

Newest blog entry at my redesigned website. Enjoy.
http://travisbechtel.com/?page_id=107

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

 

One of my most favorite landscape photographs that I have ever taken, not sure if I could tell you exactly why......its not the best sunrise, sunset, etc..... that I have ever seen. I'm not sure if it could even hold up in a photo contest but it speaks to me. In the field, I did not think I would like it as much as I do. I was walking back after shooting a sunrise over the hill in the background of this image and was thinking that I was done shooting this morning, time for coffee! The clouds kept holding my attention although, and finally decided that I needed to continue shooting. This is taken about a hour after sunrise, there is a ridge to the right and as I am shooting a couple different compositions, the sun rises high enough over the ridge to catch the tops of the grasses, that are blowing in the howling wind. Hope you enjoy.

Time for Coffee

The Roasterie's Kansas City Dark Blend

Water Conservation

So I decided to start collecting rain water, and the first thing everyone asks is, "what are you going to do with all the water?" My response is to water the few herbs that we planted, which might take 5 gallons every couple days and the rest of the water in the 55 gallon barrel............any ideas?

weed-b-gone

The grass in my yard is a mess, but the dandelions and other rogue elements are doing very well. My motivation to dumps bags of money into the yard has left, seeing as how I have done this in the past with no apparent results. Our lawn might be the only one on the block that has those wonderful yellow thriving flowers. So, instead of grabbing the weed-b-gone, I grabbed the camera and went to work. I took this image using the Lensbaby (f4 ring) hand held with the macro kit, the +10 and +4 rings attached, needless to say it was a fairly still day. Enjoy.

3 silos

A new image from a drive into northwest Iowa. As usual, I am paying more attention to what is along the road or clouds in the sky than my driving on the highway. These three silos caught my attention pretty much right away. I am not sure of the attraction, if its because I grew up in an small agricultural community, the simplicity of form and function, their iconic nature. I really like the scale, relationship of the silos to the the field behind them and convenience to the highway - you can call me a "photography poacher"! I was thinking black and white right away because I knew the silos contrast in relationship to the rest of the image would highlight the subject matter.

My friend has a nice video tutorial regarding black and white images similar to this, http://acjphotoworkshops.com/after-the-shoot-episode-2-singh-ray-bluegold-polarizer

Enjoy.

Spring almost here!

The winter weather has finally broke in the mid-west and we can venture outside shielding our eyes from the blazing sun. I thought this shot would get us in the mood for spring flowers, many of which are starting to come up around the area. This flower was shot in captivity on our kitchen table; the light was nicely filtered in the afternoon so I grabbed the Lensbaby and bent it. Also, I think this flower was my wife's spelling bee championship word in grade school.