2017 Year in Review and 2018 Goals

2017 Year in Review and 2018 Goals

Wow 2018 is next week!!! Actually it is only in a couple of days. Can you believe it? I know that I am in shock! Serious shock! This year went by so fast.

Being able to do a year in review and goal setting is so much fun. I love looking back on the year and reminiscing on everything that has happened. It is amazing how we forget the little things and don't realize how much actually happened within the year until we actually stop and think about it. So, lets look back on what happened in 2017 for Bessie Young Photography.

2017 Year in Review

1. I split my website into 2!

The biggest thing that happened for my business is the fact that I split my websites. This was a huge endeavor, it took a lot of time, but I am so incredibly happy that I did this! So now, all my landscape images, behind the scenes, how I got the shot, and tips/tricks are on this website. All my everything pertaining to portrait photography is on www.bessieyoung.photography

2. I was able to go on so so so many adventures.

- Death Valley National Park and Badwater Basin

- Corrizo Plain National Monument during the California Super Bloom

- Olympic National Park

- Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington

- Snoqualmnie Falls in Washington

- Backpacking the Ansel Adams Wilderness

- Solar Eclipse in Oregon

- Finding Fall and the Alpine Loop, Utah

3. I started sharing Tips, Tricks, How To's, and Tutorials on my Youtube Channel!

Wowza right?! I mean holy moly man. Talk about a busy year, and that is just the landscape side of my business!

Ok, so now lets chat about 2018.

2018 Goals

1. Create a 2019 calendar and get it ready to sell by October 2018

2. Work on my Sierra Nevada Mountain Wildflower Guide Book.

Yep you read that right! I have been working on gathering content for years and years. Getting pictures of the wildflowers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains can be challenging as they only come out once a year. I finally have taken all the images of the wildflowers that I want in my book. Now, I need to compile all the data and create a book. This is going to be a big undertaking but I am so ready for the challenge and to be able to see one of my biggest dreams come true :)

Growing up I absolutely loved getting nature books. It was something that my parents got me for my birthday quite often. I loved going outside and trying to name all the bugs, birds, trees, and especially flowers. I always said that one day I will make a book, only better. One with good images. One where you can look at the picture and not have to guess. Well, that time has come my friends! That time is now and I couldn't be more excited.

3. Start my shop!

Ok so if you didn't watch the video I am going to be adding a section to my shop that includes coffee mugs, T Shirts, and more for photographers! I am so excited about this. Everything is going to be hand drawn, designed, and created by me. I will then get it printed and everything will be printed and designed in the USA. This was a huge thing for me and took me a little while to actually find a printer that was USA based; however, I found one and am so incredibly excited to start this section of my shop!

So that is everything. My 2017 in review and my 2018 goals. So what are you most proud of from 2017? What are your 2018 goals? Leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!

Wishing you Happy New Year and a wonderful 2018!

Bessie

Alpine Loop Utah - Finding Fall

Alpine Loop Utah - Finding Fall

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! I am obsessed with everything fall. ... the crisp air, the cooler weather, the gorgeous leaves changing colors, the holidays just around the corner, all of it! Plus to make it that much better, it means I get to wear my comfy sweaters, tall boots, and hats!

So naturally, I also love to take pictures of fall. As a landscape photographer, this is the perfect time to take pictures, at least in my opinion, because you get the gorgeous scenery with a bunch of color! How can you not love that?!

This Fall I was on a mission to find the beautiful fall colors. In early September I began researching where the best places were to see fall colors. The Alpine Loop was a place that kept coming up in my searches and to make it even better, it isn't that far from where I live. Well compared to places like Canada, New York, or Vermont, Utah is a hop skip and a jump from California. So I set my sights on Utah and never looked back.

What is the Alpine Loop?

This loop is a scenic drive that follows along Hwy 92 running through the American Fork Canyon. It is approximately 20 miles long. You travel through the Uinta National Forest and end along Hwy 189 in the Provo Canyon. The road is completely paved starting off as a two lane road with a double yellow line; however, it eventually changes into a windy, narrow one lane road.

The Alpine Loop scenic drive offers amazing views of a mountain called Mount Timpanogos along with views of various other peaks that were carved by glaciers.

The road is open from May to late October entirely depending on the weather. If you want to spend the day in the area, go on hikes, and so forth, you will need to purchase a $6 pass at the entrance booth; however, if you are just passing through there is no fee.

The Adventure

My trip started on the north end of the Alpine loop along Hwy 92. I traveled into the canyon taking in all the gorgeous views. Let me tell you though, I was not expecting the traffic. There were people everywhere, which made driving a little tense.

The road started off as a two lane road with a double yellow line; however, as you began to climb into the mountain the line went away and the road began to narrow. Eventually, there were sections that were only one car width wide.

This area offers so many gorgeous views and opportunities to take photos; however, pull outs are few and far between, plus with the amount of people on the mountain made it a bit more difficult. It can get a little frustrating when you see the perfect picture; however, you cannot pull over to get the shot. So, if you ever decide to travel along the loop, make sure that you are ready for alot of people, and also make sure that your patients are in check. In hind sight, I would say use ever pull out as an opportunity. Just take the pull out and then decide after you park if it is a good spot or not.

The entire area is gorgeous, the drive is gorgeous, and I loved everything about it.

An Unexpected Surprise

As I ended my journey along the loop and found myself driving down Provo Canyon. The light was fading fast, and I thought my adventure was over. All of the sudden as I looked to my left there was a huge waterfall!

Not knowing the area at all made it difficult to figure out how to get to the falls, but I had to get there! After all I most likely won't be back in the area for quite some time, if ever, so I had to make it happen!

After almost giving up on the idea of catching an image of this gorgeous waterfall, I found a spot to turn around! Finally!!!! Rushing back to the falls, there was just a few more moments of usable light. I set up my camera in a rush, got my settings just right, clicked the shutter button, and then took a big sigh of relief :)

Satisfied, overwhelmed with the gorgeous day, and excitement to edit my photos I headed back to my hotel room to get a bit of sleep and begin my adventure to June Lake, California.

I hope you guys enjoyed this blog and adventure. If you did don't forget to subscribe :)

Wishing you nothing but beautiful adventures,

Bessie

Top 3 Questions Photographer’s Are Asking

There are so many questions that I get asked from photographers or aspiring photographers. Many of them are the same, and I always have the same answer. This post is to answer the top 3 questions photographers are asking:

I’m brand new, where do I start?

Q: "I'm new, like I just bought my camera kind of new. I don't really know how to use it, I don't have any clients or a portfolio. What should my first step be? Where do I start?

A: Let me tell you Friend, I have been there. When I first started I had an old Canon T2i and a kit lens. I only had pictures of my family as my portfolio. I typically shot in auto while dabbling in manual mode.  I focused on the business side of things and worked hard on setting up systems that would be not only sustainable but profitable.

Starting a photography business isn't all about photography or how good you really are. WHAAATTTTTT? Yes, I said it, a photography business isn't all about the pictures. Weird right? The truth is, you have to know how to run a business or you will most likely not be able to make a living being a photographer. So, honestly, and I know it isn't what you want to hear, but you are going to have to learn the business side of things. Invest in this.

As a photographer the art is our passion. We want to be better, we challenge ourselves as artists, and we are always motivated to improve because it is what we love. Learning the strategies that keep your business afloat is the difficult part and a place that you need to focus your energy on.

Now with all that being said, have you gotten your FREE photography basics cheat sheet? Make sure to head on over to my Freebie section and download yours for free today.

How can I build my confidence up?

Q: "How do I build my skills and my portfolio so I can feel confident in charging money, running my business, and pursuing my dream? Do I really have what it takes?”

A: Fear is taking over your thoughts. You need to allow your self to pursue your passion. Listen to that little voice inside your head, your intuition. The voice is telling you a photography business IS possible; therefore, it is! Make it happen!

When I first started my business I only a handful of family portraits. Yes, these family portraits were of my sisters and their families. That is it. Now, with that being said, the experience you create is just as important. You want to make the people you are serving feel important and valued. I know that I am not the best photographer out there, but I treat my customers like they are the absolute top priority for me (because they are and always should be!).

Don't let your fear and what you think is 'rational reasoning' to stop you from starting your dream. Just start it. You have to start somewhere right? A few things I did when first starting out is I reached out to a few friends and family, set up a few styled shoots, and began building my portfolio. I even did a few shoots for free in order to build up my portfolio. Create work you are proud of and that will build your confidence. Also, let go of all your worries and stop stopping yourself.

I’m afraid to put myself out there…

Q: I am afraid to put myself out there. I don't want to be rejected and I don't want people to judge me. I want to reach my ideal customer, but when I put up my images I feel like a fraud, like I'm not a 'real photographer'. I feel stuck...

A: This is where the pep talk comes in! In order for people to love your work, they have to love you. Your work is your art, and there are so many photographers out there it is unbelievable, but there is only one you in this world and that is your power. Don't believe the lie that you are "just another photographer, and oh all those photographers are just the same, just pick the cheapest one." NO! Let me say it again, there is only one you in this world and that is your POWER. You need to share a bit about yourself before people can trust you. You need to be present in your business, and not just show your portfolio. People need to learn more about you, and get to know you before they can trust you.

So my question to you, is are you showing up on your feed? Can I find a picture of you? The more people can connect with you, the more they will know, like and trust you. Once you get this, then you can focus on serving and then providing content.

Before you post something anywhere (blog, social media, email, etc ) make sure to ask these questions...

1. Who is this serving? Is it my client?

2. How are you telling the story with the image? You want to be personable.

3. Does this sound like me, or am I hiding behind the image. Would people know that this is me talking, or just a robot? Does it others connect with me?

Hopefully this helps a little bit with addressing your fears.

Now Go Get Em!

Bessie

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers | $500 and above

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment is for if you want to go all out for that special someone in your life! This list is featuring the best gifts above $500 for the photographer or the photography lover.

If you haven't seen the other Holiday Gift Guides make sure to check out the

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500+ | Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers:

1. A full frame camera! Yes!!

So this would be the mother of all presents for a photographer. I don't really know if you can get any better than this. There are so many different full frame cameras out there, but I am going to only give you two suggestions... make sure to do your research as this present will be over $3000.

 Sony A7rii or the Canon 5d Mk iv

2. Wide angle lens

So many photographers by themselves one nice lens and typically that is a documentary lens or a portrait lens; however, a wide angle lens is much needed for those epic portrait shots, or for the landscape photographer. Again, there are many different types of wide angle lenses. So make sure that it works with the camera. I am going to add the 2lenses that will fit the 2 cameras mentioned above.

Sony 16-35mm f2.8 or the Canon 16-35mm f2.8

3. Zoom Lens or a Telephoto Lens.

Zoom lenses are great for wildlife photography. You would want to make sure that it is 100mm+ . In my opinion you need something that will reach the 400mm range.

Sony G Master 70-200mm f2.8

4. Portrait lens

So if your photographer friend is looking at getting into portrait photography they need a 50mm or an 85mm lens.

Sony 85mm f1.4 , Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 85mm 1.2 , Sigma Art 50mm 1.4

5. Filters

Filters filters filters! Do I need to say it again? Ok Filters!!! Seriously though, filters are something that are not necessary but truly make all the difference! ND filters, Gradient Filters, Polarizers, etc. They are awesome! So what filter should you get? Well, honestly, this one might be a better gift card option. It really depends on what your photographer friend shoots. If you were to choose one I would say a polarizer filter hands down. This is my go to filter for landscape photography.

6. Landscape Fine Art Prints

All photographers love photographs! Plus, it is always awesome to have inspiration hanging on your walls throughout your home in order to help inspire you to get outside and shoot :)

7. Amazon Gift Card

Sometimes gift cards are just better. This way you are insuring that they are getting the exact thing that they have always wanted and needed. Now amazon is an amazing place to get a gift card; however, for photography lovers you can also go to places like B&H Photo, Adorama, Horn Photo and so forth.

8. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;) I had to add this one :)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Make sure to check out the other gift guides here:

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

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please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers | $100 - $500

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment is for if you want to spend a little more money on that special someone featuring the best gifts between $100 - $500 for the photographer or the photography lover.

$100 - $500 | Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers:

1. A portrait lens (50mm lens)

So depending on what you shoot, the canon 50mm f1.8 lens is a steal of a deal. It is actually called the nifty fifty. So, if you are a canon shooter, or have an adapter this lens is amazing coming in at under $130. That is craziness for a lens. But, the lower the f stop the better the lens, and then the more expensive. There is the Canon 50mm F1.4 which comes in at under $400 and then there is the f1.2 that comes in at over $1200. So the lens ultimately depends on your budget.

2. Tripod

I used to hate tripods. I was definitely that person that thought I never needed to own a tripod. Boy was a W R O N G!  A tripod is a necessity to any landscape photographer. You just have to have one. No questions asked. If you disagree, I challenge you to give me a good reason in the comments below ;) . My tripod is a Vanguard Tripod; however there are multiple brands to choose from. I have found that the Vanguards aren't cheaply built, and still somewhat reasonable. (no I am not a sponsor, I am not that cool).

Basically, you want a sturdy tripod, that will withstand wind. Depending on the quality of the tripod, and the functionality, this will cost you around $400.

3. Landscape Fine Art Prints

All photographers love photographs! Plus, it is always awesome to have inspiration hanging on your walls throughout your home in order to help inspire you to get outside and shoot :)

4. Leica Sofort Instant film camera

Seriously what better than instant photos!!! Especially if you are buying for the little ones. This way there is no transferring photos to the computer, editing, or worrying on how to print. You just snap and boom! There it is! This is around $300.

p.s. don't forget to buy the extra film... just saying :)

5. Bose headphones

So these bad boys can range anywhere from $99-$400 ! When photographers edit photos, alot of the time they want to listen to music to put them in the creative mood. Same thing on blog posts, and just anything creative in general. Also, they are fantastic for talking on the phone. This way you can be hands free and ready to go! I am obsessed with my Bose headphones. I personally bought the wired earbuds that come in at $99 and I love them; however, some don't want to have a wire (it can be a hastle sometimes).

6. One Year Creative Cloud Subscription

So this is the new super awesome thing from Adobe. Ok, it actually isn't that new, but it is getting more and more popular as time goes on. This subscription allows you to edit your photos on the go! You don't have to be at your computer where you have photoshop downloaded... you can edit anywhere that has internet. Umm... pretty awesome. I don't even have this!

 7.  Lightroom

Every photographer, in my opinion, needs Lightroom to edit their photos. Enough said. This is going to cost about $150.

8. Photoshop Elements

So what you can't do in lightroom to edit your photos you sure as heck can do it in photoshop! Photoshop elements is perfect for any photographer, professional or not.

9. Amazon Gift Card

Sometimes gift cards are just better. This way you are insuring that they are getting the exact thing that they have always wanted and needed. Now amazon is an amazing place to get a gift card; however, for photography lovers you can also go to places like B&H Photo, Adorama, Horn Photo and so forth.

10. Heliopan polarizer filter

This filter is hands down my most favorite filter. It is my go to filter for ANY landscape photo! Basically this is a must have for any landscape photographer.  Now, it doesn't have to be a Heliopan polarizer. It can be any brand; however, I want to warn you.... do not buy the cheap ones. You get what you pay for. These are going to run you anywhere from $200-$400.

11. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;) I had to add this one :)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Make sure to check out the other gift guides here:

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500++ Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

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please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers - Under $100

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment features the best gifts under $100 for the photographer or the photography lover.

Holiday Gift Guide for the Photographer:

Under $100

1. A good photography book :

So there are a few different Photography books that I love. For landscapes it is hands down the Landscape Photography On Location by Thomas Heaton.

For Portraits it is Boudoir Photography Cookbook by Jennifer Rozenbaum. This book is great not only for Boudoir, but for posing and understanding how to pose women.

2. External Hard Drive:

I personally think the more memory the better. Now days our digital files are huge and the space fills up fast. I personally like the 1 TB Passports.

3. Battery Packs / Portable Chargers:

The worst thing that can happen to a photographer is you run out of battery. Whether that be your phone battery or your camera battery. You are sitting there, on location, with a beautiful scene in front of you, and then the red battery symbol starts blinking. Your heart sinks, you begin to become frantic, but that isn't needed when you have a battery pack on hand!

Check out many different options here.

4. Monitor Color Calibration

If your monitor isn't calibrated your colors will be completely off. I mean your skin tones will be bright orange when you print the image even though they look beautiful on your screen. These are essential. I have heard good things about the Spyder but that one was almost $200. I ended up choosing the ColurMunki which has worked awesome for under $100.

5. Creative Live Classes

In today's world of technology things are always changing. Whether you are brand new to photography or you are a professional, continuing education is important. These classes range from $19 to $300+.

Find photography classes here.

6. Peak Design gear

I am seriously obsessed with all things Peak Design. All there things are high quality and just make life easier. My all time favorite is the Peak Design Clip for $60. This thing is amazing for backpacking and adventuring.

Check out all peak design gear here.

7. Camera Strap

Growing up, my mom would make me camera straps almost every year. Actually, she would do it whenever I asked, or whenever she found an awesome fabric. Talk about lucky! I was always so excited to switch up my camera strap and have a different style. Then I could change it out whenever I felt like having a little bit of a different vibe. It was awesome! So I know that alot of people do not have this luxury. Let's just say my mom is extra ordinarily creative and awesome at all things. So, if your special someone is anything like me, they will looovveeee a camera strap. Typically photographers just keep the same boring black camera strap on their camera (you know the one that came with the camera) and never buy a special one for themselves. There are so so many neat handmade camera straps for under $50.

8. SD Cards

Again, the more memory the better. SD cards only last a certain amount of time, and photographers are constantly needing it. My personal favorite is the SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB.

9. Landscape prints to decorate your home:

Photographers need inspiration and not just their own photographs. I have many different photographers images hanging on my walls and it inspires me to get better and get outside to shoot.

You can always find my Images for sale here.

10. Rocket Air Blaster

This thing is seriously amazing especially for mirrorless cameras like my Sony. I love this thing as it cleans your sensor with no touch and at under $10 it is a no brainer.

Get yours here.

11. Fujifilm Instax mini 9 Instant Film Camera

My very first camera was an instant film camera. These are amazing. You take the picture and BOOM there it is in your hands, printed right there! It is amazing. These come in at under $100; however, if you get the full package it is $110 .

12. Lens coffee cup

Ok so I just think these are the coolest! If you love coffee and photography then this is like two of the best things combined and under $30 !

13. An Awesome Coffee Cup

So photographers work long hours! We stay up late for sunset and star images, but then we get up early for sunrise images. This means coofffeeeeee!!! Coffee is seriously a must. One of my favorite coffee cups is this one:

Plus it is a small business company 100% made in the USA!

14. Joby Gorilla Pod

These are just fun! They make it possible to have a tripod anywhere and for under $50 I am obsessed. This was actually my very first tripod and It was awesome. It will grip tree branches, sit on the ground, hang from a railing, and so much more :)

Check it out here.

15. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Maker sure to check out the other gift guides here:

 $100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500++ Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

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please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

What do you need? How can I help you?

Please take just one minute for me, because this is for you....

I am working on creating a few Freebies for my website! One of my main goals in my Landscape photography is to help you! I want to serve you, but first I need to know exactly what you need.

What are you wanting? What are you needing? Where are you stalling on? What questions do you have? How can I help?
So, I have a few ideas on Freebies to offer, but first I wanted to see what all your thoughts were. Please vote!

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Survey: What do you need? How can I help with a free gift?

These are just some of my ideas that I think would help you. Please make sure to leave a comment to let me know what exactly you need :) Thank you so so much for participating!

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Thank you so so very much for taking the time to participate in this quick survey. I truly appreciate it!

Also, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know about new freebies when they come out!

Wishing you nothing but beautiful days and fun adventures!

Bessie

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Bessie Young

While on an adventure to find fall I found myself staying in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I already knew that Idaho Falls was famous for a waterfall in town; however, I had no idea where it was or how to get to it.

After booking my hotel room, I lay there googling Idaho Falls. Much to my surprise I was staying right next to the falls! Seriously?! How much more convenient could that be?

Ultimately I decided to sleep in, get some breakfast, and then stop by the falls before I continued south to Utah. It was quite cold that morning, the snow had fallen the previous day, and things were a little frozen over; however, that wasn't going to stop me from getting a beautiful picture.

There is a nice trail that follows the falls the entire way. I drove along the road to scope out where exactly I wanted to get my shot, parked, and then walked along the trail. Ultimately, I ended up at the most Northerly side of the falls and the most Southerly side of the falls.

If you want to read a little about walk along the river check it out here.

How I got the shot:

Note: Make sure to watch the video first.

First shot (on the top of this blog):

1. Use a Wide Angle Lens. I used my Sony 16-35 mm f4
2. It was quite bright that morning, almost 9am, so I had to use a 10 stop ND Filter in order to get the smooth water.
3. Tripod - This is to allow for a long exposure
4. Adjust settings as needed. My settings were based around my shutter speed as I wanted smooth water. My settings were: ISO 80 | Shutter speed 2.5 seconds | Aperture F 6.3

Second Shot (right below):

1. Same technique as above
2. Settings were: ISO 64 | Shutter speed 8 seconds | Aperture F 11

I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and don't forget to share with your friends!

Wishing you nothing but fun adventures and beautiful photos.

Bessie

My Gear

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out my Gear list or check it out here:

Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 4 Backpacking

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 4 Backpacking

by Bessie Young

The Start of Day 4

Well the last day of the trip consisted of waking up fairly early to get a beautiful smooth Rosalie Lake picture, eating my breakfast, drinking my coffee, and then packing up for the hike out. It is a bitter sweet moment when you are packing up your things for the last time and going on the journey out, back to reality. As you walk down the trail you think about all the fun experiences you had, all the beautiful moments, and of course the gorgeous scenery.

The Hike Out

My photography goal for the hike out was really just to capture the beautiful scenery along the way. I didn’t have a set point to be or a picture that I just had to take. I just wanted to be able to take pictures. The gorgeous wildflowers were out which made me oh so happy and made the trail so beautiful.

The end destination was Agnew Meadows trail head to get picked up by the shuttle which would take me into Reds Meadow for a delicious lunch. After stuffing my face with a big ole juicy burger, I hopped on the shuttle which took me into Mammoth Lakes.

The hike out can be a bit emotional for me. It is a happy moment and a sad moment. Excited to get back to the world yet sad to get back to the world at the same time; however, every time I hike out I always say, man I should have scheduled one more day. Leaving the wilderness always leaves me wanting more.
 

Day 4

Trail Details:

Rosalie Lake to Agnew Meadows Trail Head

• Distance: 7.43 miles
• Elevation gain / loss: 1,876', -2,896'
• Max Slope: 50.2%
• Agnew Meadows Trail Head Elevation: 8319'
• Rosalie Lake Elevation: 9,363'
• Max Elevation: 9,473'

The Day isn't Over

My plans for the evening was to get some dinner and a nice ice cold beer. I was unaware that dinner would consist of a huge BBQ festival in the middle of Mammoth. There were so many people it was quite strange, as I had just been in the wilderness alone for basically 4 days. Coming back to a crowd was a bit of a shock, but it was a super fun evening as I got to try out a few different BBQ items and then headed over to the Mammoth brewery for the beer that I had been craving for the last day or so.

On the way back to my hotel room, the BBQ festival was still going and the music was getting loud. As I got closer I realized it was one of the bestest songs, Free Bird by Lynard Skynard. Thinking that it was a cover band, I stood over with the crowd to enjoy the song. Much to my surprise, it was actually LYNDARD SKYNARD! No Joke! The actual band was there. Talk about the perfect way to end the perfect trip J

I hope you all enjoyed following along with me on this journey. If you are just popping in make sure to check out days 1, 2, and 3.

Wishing you all gorgeous pictures and fun adventures!

Bessie

p.s. if you haven't seen days 1 - 3 check them out here

Day 1 , Day 2 , Day 3

My Gear

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:
Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

How To Take A Panoramic Picture | Minaret Summit | Landscape Photography

How To Take A Panoramic Picture

on location at the Minaret Summit

Mammoth Lakes, California

After my adventure to find fall throughout Montana, Utah, and California, I ended up in Mammoth Lakes. While searching around Mammoth for fall colors I stumbled upon this beautiful lookout, the Minaret Summit. When I saw the amazing views this lookout had to offer, the first thing that came to my mind was I need to get a Panorama! I mean, what better spot to take a panoramic picture than when your staring at one of the most iconic ranges in the Sierra?!

I decided that this was also the perfect spot to talk a bit about how I take panoramic pictures :) So....

How to take the perfect panoramic picture:

Step 1:

1. Set up your tripod.
2. Level your tripod.
   • This is key! Make sure that the bubbles on your tripod are spot on.
3. Point your camera to the left side of your scene. This will be your first image.
   • Make sure to add a little extra space to each side of your panorama as you will loose a little bit in post processing.
4. Lock your tripods adjustments in place.
5. Double check your camera settings and fine tune the focus.
6. Put your camera on at least a 2 second timer for an ultra clear shot.
7. Take the picture.

Step 2:

1. Unlock your pan on your tripod.
2. Pan to the right about a third of the way from your previous frame.
   • This means you want to have approximately two thirds of your previous image in your second image.
   • Why? This way your images have enough data for stitching them together in post processing and will guarantee a clear image with no seams.
3. Lock your tripods adjustments in place.
4. Take the picture.

Step 3:

1. Repeat step 2 until you pan across your entire scene. I have found that I typically take 4-5 frames.

Hopefully this helps you to capture those beautiful panoramic pictures that you have always dreamed of!

Wishing you nothing but the best!

Bessie

P.S. Wondering what gear I used? Check out my gear list here.

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 3 Backpacking

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 3 Backpacking

by Bessie Young

 

Day 3

The sun kissed my face and the cold air surrounded me. Day 3 has officially started. I stretched out, opened my eyes, and couldn't stop thinking about the image I got last night at 2 in the morning! The Milky Way over Mount Ritter. Wow!

Once again, I didn't get up early, but I felt like I had a pretty good excuse since I got up at 2 in the morning for night photos. As I lay in bed my tummy started growling and all I could think of was coffee, food, and water.... in that order.

Time Flies

I crawled out of bed and was quite shocked with realizing that it is already day 3! Wow, where does the time go.

Garnett lake was a beautiful view to start off my morning. I sat on a ledge and gazed over the lake, drank my coffee, and ate my oats. As always the morning flew by and it was time to pack up and start my day 3 adventure.

A Challenge

The hike to Rosalie was nothing but beautiful. I traveled down the JMT from Garnett Lake and made it to the T. This would take me back to the Trail head or to Rosalie. I turned right crossing the river and heading to Rosalie for the night.

I wasn't prepared for what was ahead of me. You see, at the map didn't have any information on the distance from Shadow to Rosalie. I could make my guesses, but I wasn't sure. As I walked past shadow lake, the trail began to switch back. I knew that I would be climbing a hill, but..... 22 switch backs later I made it to the top, red faced and sweaty. My mind mentally wasn't ready for this kind of mountain. Talk about a challenge.

But hey, I made it and it was more than worth it.

Trail Details:

From Garnett Lake to Rosalie Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness

• Distance: 6.75 miles
• Elevation gain / loss: 2727', -3111'
• Max Slope: 56.8%
• Garnett Lake Elevation: 9,747'
• Rosalie Lake Elevation: 9,363'
• Max Elevation: 10,126'

A Relaxing Evening

I was so excited that I could have a fire at Rosalie lake. There is nothing better than having a camp fire out in the wilderness when it is a bit chilly.

The night consisted of taking photographs of the lake at sunset, enjoying a beautiful campfire, trying to eat all my food so I wouldn't have to pack it out, and then getting some night shots.

After the starts came out and I got some satisfying shots of my tent, the camp fire, and the stars, I scurried off to bed to get some shut eye before my adventure out.

Wishing you nothing but amazing adventures! Stay tuned for day 4!

Bessie

p.s. if you haven't seen day 1 check it out here. You can find day 2 here.

My Gear

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:
Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Hope Valley, California | Autumn is here!

Hope Valley, California | Landscape Photography

by Bessie Young Photography

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The colors are beautiful, the weather is perfect, and you start to get that feeling that winter is coming and all the fun holiday festivities are just around the corner. It is the beginning of the end of the year, and for some reason it adds a sense of peace. Everything begins to slow down a bit, and we start thinking about the things that really matter such as friends, family, nature, and our true creator. It brings a peace of mind knowing that life isn't all about hustle. Throughout the year we forget to stop... take a deep breath.... and enjoy what truly matters. We are so busy with our day to day lives that the year flies by, but then fall comes around and for some reason it helps us to stop and think. It helps us to look back on the year, and to look forward to the rest of the year. We get a sense of peace. A sense of meaning and understanding.

“The spring, summer, is quite a hectic time for people in their lives, but then it comes to autumn, and to winter, and you can’t but help think back to the year that was, and then hopefully looking forward to the year that is approaching. Enya”

Hope Valley is one of my absolute favorite places in California. Growing up, we would always head over to Hope Valley in order to bring in the Fall season. Sometimes we would hit the aspen's changing at just the right moment. Other times we were either a little too early or a little too late. No matter when we got there, it was still amazing. The sound of the aspen leaves fluttering in the wind, the picnic and family laughter, and the beautiful melody of the creek. It brings everything together. It is funny how some of us cling to certain traditions and if we happen to not be able to accommodate that tradition we feel slightly lost inside. A little piece of our year is missing.

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.
Elizabeth Lawrence”

This year, we hit the Aspens just right. The colors were amazing! There were oranges, yellows, greens, and reds. It was absolutely beautiful! Heading over to Hope Valley we decided to take Hwy 88. This Hwy is beautiful and is mainly forest. If you need gas make sure to gas up in Jackson before making your long journey to Hope Valley.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Albert Camus”

The Aspens seem to change in early October, depending on the weather. Since Hope Valley is so close to South Lake Tahoe it is the perfect weekend adventure. Not to mention that South Lake Tahoe has an amazing Oktoberfest that occurs during the first weekend of October :) Talk about perfect timing! Fall is my favorite time of year. Not only the colors make fall the best, but all the festivities that happen during this season. Oktoberfests, Harvest festivals, Halloween parties, and Thanksgiving to only mention a few things. How can you not love Fall?!

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
George Elio”

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did don't forget to subscribe to my blog :) This way you will get an email whenever I post something new.

Please leave a comment! I would love to talk to you.

Wishing you nothing but amazing adventures and beautiful days.

Bessie

20 Inspiring Photography Quotes

20 Inspiring Photography Quotes

by Bessie Young

There are so many famous photographers throughout history that have provided some amazing images; however, it wasn't just their images that were inspiring... it was their actions, the way that they looked at life, and the way that they spoke about it. Their insights into the creative process have guided generations of photographers and guided the way for how we see photography today.

Many creatives get stuck in a creative void. Their inspiration leaves them one night while they are sleeping. When they wake up... they find a black hole. An empty spot in their mind and belly. Something that could last for days, weeks, or even years. This can be a fear of many creatives. Something that comes naturally to them vanishes at the blink of an eye. We, as creatives, have to feed the fire that burns inside us. If we don't feed it, we end up going a little bit crazy. We lose our sense of being... our sense of life... our sense of value.  I have had this happen to me, but luckily it only lasted just a few days. During that time, I felt a little lost. What do I do? Where do I go from here? When I begin to feel this way with photography there are a few things that I do to bring the inspiration, the fire, back:

• I head out into nature

• I schedule a creative shoot

• I review other peoples gorgeous photos (photography forums, facebook groups, and of course Pinterest :)
• I read quotes!

Some of the above ideas are easy to do, but finding inspiring quotes... not so much. I wanted to provide an easy page to provide some inspiration, some quotes that will help you get your creative mind back. It took a bit of research to find inspiring quotes. There are so many quotes out there, but most don't resonate with you. Most are some odd thing that someone said at a moment in their life. But to find a truly inspiring quote can get you back into action. Here are 20 inspiring quotes that I have documented throughout my creative luls:

1. It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter - Alfred Eisenstaedt

2. Wherever there is light, one can photograph - Alfred Stieglitz

3. The best images are the ones that retain their strength and impact over the years, regardless of the number of times they are viewed - Ann Geddes (1956)

4. You don't take a photograph, you make it - Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984)

5. There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer - Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984)

6. A good photograph is knowing where to stand - Ansel Adams

7. Photography helps people see - Berenice Abbott (1898-1991)

8. Photography is a love affair with life - Burk Uzzle (1938)

9. Photography for me is not looking, it is feeling. If you can't feel what you are looking at, then you are never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures - Don McCullin (1935)

10. Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still - Dorothea Lange

“One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you’d be stricken blind - Dorothea Lange”

12. A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera - Dorothea Lange

13. A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it - Edward Steichen (1879-1973)

14. There are only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are - Ernst Haas

15. Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I am going to take tomorrow - Imogen Cunningham

“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are - Philip Jones Griffiths”

17. The eye should learn to listen before it looks - Robert Frank (1924)

18. Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future 0 Sally Mann (1951)

19. Only photograph what you love - Tim Walker - 1970

20. When you photograph people in color you photograph their clothes, but when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls - Ted Grant

And one of my absolute all time favorites:

“When you take a photograph of someone, you take a portrait of their soul - Winna Efendi, Refrain”

I hope that some of these quotes inspired you to get back out there and take pictures.

Wishing you nothing but inspiration and creativeness

Bessie

Some of these quotes were found on petapixel.com

and Brainy Quotes

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 2 Backpacking

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 2 Backpacking

by Bessie Young

 

Waking up in the wilderness

Ugh.  The night had been restless as it always is for me on the first night out in the wilderness. Typically it takes me a night to get used to the new sleep environment no matter how many times I go backpacking.

My goal was to wake up for sunrise and catch the sun illuminating the peaks above camp. Ya right. That wasn't happening what with the star photos last evening and the first nights restlessness. Once I finally crawled out of my tent I was greeted with the sounds of birds chirping, the beautiful hum of the creek, and the amazing high Sierra crisp morning air. You cant get much better than that!  Even if i did miss the sunrise.

Breakfast consisted of oatmeal with almonds, protein powder and freeze dried fruit, with a big ole cup of coffee. I enjoyed a long lazy morning basking in the incredible views surrounding me. I was in no hurry to pack up and hit the trail. The cost of my laziness would be hiking during the warmer part of the day.  Oh well, Garnet Lake here I come.

Up and Over

The hike to Garnet Lake was less than 4 miles although if felt like much more. The sun was extracting payment for my mornings laziness and my usually trustworthy day 2 hiking legs were nowhere to be found. I must have left them at the truck. The views however were absolutely gorgeous and I captured a fewalong the way.

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As I reached the pass I found snow! A lot of snow. I carefully walked down the snow covered north side of the pass, trying my darndest not to slip and fall on my face. I slowly made my way to an overlook where I could see Garnet Lake! Yay! Perfect spot for lunch and a quick power-nap.

Glicading? What?

Laying at the top of the mountain, I heard a group of hikers cresting the pass. They were as concerned with the possibility of doing a snow face plant as I was. Then one hiker laughed and said 'we can just glisade'. My ears perked up as I had no idea what glisade was. Come to find out you just plain sit down in the snow and slide.

With a near 200% snowfall I guess all the backpackers are doing it these days :) Naturally I was determined that I had to try it before the trip was over.

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Garnett Lake

Nap complete I continued down the trail to Garnet lake where I came upon my first opportunity to try out this so called Glisading. I sat my booty on that cold snow and pushed off. Whoosh! Down the mountain in a blink of an eye. It was so much better than trying to walk down the slippery slope. At the bottom I popped up and realized the downside of glisading... an ice cold and quite wet bottom side. It took awhile to dry, but it was so worth it! Next time you get the chance to glisade down a mountain you need to do it, but be prepared to have a wet booty after.

Garnett lake obviously didn't disappoint. It was beautiful!

The Moon Doesn't Care About your Night PHOTOS

The evening came on quickly. I was incredibly excited as I expected the Milky Way to be directly over Mount Ritter. 9 O'clock rolled around and the moon was high in the sky and extremely bright robbing me of any chance to get star photos. Bummed but undeterred I decided I would stay up until 10 to see if the stars would get brighter in spite of the moon.

10 o'clock rolled around and the stars were unable to outshine the moon. At 10:30I decided to go to bed, disappointed to say the least. The Milky Way was was in fact over Mount Ritter, but it's true beauty was overpowered by the glow of the moon.

A chill woke me just before 2 in the morning... As I laid there, I began an argument with myself. I could tell that the moon had set indicating the stars should be shining bright. If only I would crawl out into the cold I could capture the image I was dreaming of. After fighting with myself for about 15 minutes I finally got my lazy booty out of bed.

I headed down to the lake hoping to get the perfect composition.  In the cold I set up my camera and clicked the shutter button. The exposure was 15 seconds, a long cold 15 seconds. My screen went black, and then boom! There it was! The most awesome night photo I have ever taken. Excited and no longer feeling the cold I had to take a few more.

I had finally captured the Milky Way over Mount Ritter.  I gathered my things and ran back to the tent hoping for some decent sleep the remainder of the night. As I shut my eyes my mind lingered on the images I had just captured.   Sleep was not quick as I lay there thinking about the shots and the amazing adventure that I had ahead of me for day 3....

Wishing you nothing but amazing adventures! Stay tuned for day 3!

Bessie

p.s. if you haven't seen day 1 check it out here.

My Gear

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:
Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 1 Backpacking

Ansel Adams Wilderness Day 1 Backpacking

Mammoth Lakes, CA

by Bessie Young

This year’s backpacking trip took me onto portions of the Pacific Crest and the John Muir Trails within the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It was such an awesome adventure and I am so excited to share the images with you all.

The planning of the trip was a bit difficult as California received quite a winter with over 200% of normal snowfall and I wanted to be there when the flowers were in bloom. As a result of all the snow this caused me to postpone the trip until late July.  It also made for some last minute travel changes as certain areas of the trail still had quite a bit of snow. Luckily the permit gods smiled upon me and everything worked out perfectly.

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Starting the Day

The day started off in the early morning with packing things up into the truck and heading off into the unknown. I traveled through Yosemite, over Hwy 120 to the Visitor Center in Lee Vining. This is where I picked up my wilderness permit. As I talked to the rangers they requested my planned camp locations for each night. I was so excited to tell them Ediza Lake for the first night as I had really been looking forward to taking photos of the sun setting over the Minarets. The ranger looked at me with a bit of confusion and said “Ediza lake is frozen over". Honestly, I had no idea how to respond so I just said ”Oh”. As I left the ranger station I figured I could just wing it if Ediza Lake was actually frozen over.

After picking up the permit I headed down into Mammoth Lakes, CA for lunch before hitting the trail. My permit was for the Shadow Lake Trail out of Agnew Meadows Trail head. In order to get there you have to take a shuttle bus from the ski resort which costs 7 dollars.

Getting on the Trail

Once I got on the trail all my packing worries from the day before went away. Do I have all my stuff? Did I get the water filter? Did I grab all my camera gear? It’s quite funny how when you are preparing for backpacking you think you need everything and the kitchen sink; however, once you get out there all the worry, questioning and anxiety goes away. Once you set your feet on the ground and start walking, you begin looking around, enjoying the scenery and just living thin the moment.

The trail started off fairly easy along the Pacific Crest river trail. The destination for night 1 was Ediza Lake, which is about 7 miles in. As I walked through the wilderness I swear I could have taken 1000 more pictures than I did, but I had a long journey ahead of me. The trail takes you along the Middle fork of the San Joaquin river and up to Shadow Lake. The climb to this lake is steep, rocky, and in the full sun. Shadow was a beautiful sight to see after the hot, steep climb up the mountain.

Making it to the First Lake

As I walked along Shadow Lake I saw a couple sitting on some rocks with their little one in their arms. I looked closer and yelled "Becky?" with a questioning voice. She looked up, a little startled and dismayed, and replied 'Bessie'? It was so amazing to see Becky out on the trail. You see, I went to high school with Becky and we worked together at Baskin Robbins in Sonora for about 4 years! This area is so remote and over 5 hours from home. It just goes to show how small the world truly is. We chatted for a few minutes and then I went on my way to reach my destination before nightfall.

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Continuing on

Continuing on I talked with some fellow hikers asking where they have been and what they had seen. My main question was about Ediza Lake as I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to make it. Everyone I passed assured me that there was no snow on the trail; however, they did say that the bridge which crossed the river to get to the lake had been washed away due to the heavy winter that California saw.

As I traveled, I found this gorgeous meadow along the river.

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Making it to Ediza

It was a difficult meadow to leave as it was absolutely amazing. I could have sat there all day, but I needed to make it to the lake. Right before the lake I had to boulder hop along the river since the bridge was gone. This was a bit difficult but let me tell you, it was completely worth it!

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There wasn't alot of camping spots at this lake. All the good spots were already taken; however, some reason this didn't bother me at all. I was able to see the lake, get some amazing images andcamp at the beautiful meadow I passed along the way. The total mileage for the day was just shy of 9 miles.

Home for the night

The meadow along the river made for the perfect evening. Unfortunately, there was a requirement of no camp fires in this area so instead of sitting around watching the fire I star gazed. As I sat there looking up I noticed the Milky Way just above the mountain tops.

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Day 1 was a huge success for hiking and getting beautiful photos. Let me know if you have been to this area by leaving a comment below. If you want to see days 2-4 make sure you subscribe to my blog.

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Wishing you nothing but absolutely amazing adventures!

Bessie

My Gear

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:
Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Solar Eclipse 2017 | Landscape Photography

Preparing for the Solar Eclipse 2017:

Let's just say that I had planned to go see the Solar Eclipse 2017 since 2016. I was so excited about it and had a plan to travel to Wyoming to witness the natural phenomena. The plan was to watch the Solar Eclipse in Wyoming, and then adventure into Yellowstone National Park. This seemed like an awesome plan to me. As the Solar Eclipse started getting closer some unsettling stories began to surface. Small towns worried about not being able to handle the crowd, running out of gas, sewers not being sufficient.  Some small towns were preparing for the eclipse the same way they would prepare for a natural disaster. Word was every small town in the path of totality was going to become a parking lot.

One week before I left for Wyoming, I decided to change plans. My new plan was to head up the California Coast and into Oregon. This took a bit of research in order to find places to camp along the way as everything seemed to be full the closer you got to the path of totality. I ultimately decided that not seeing totality was going to be good enough. I opted for a less stressful adventure, less people, and hopefully less traffic. Honestly, I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to get a good photograph of the eclipse (yes I was nervous and doubted my capability), so going into the path wasn't something that was a must for me. I wanted to get as close as I could get without sitting in traffic for hours.

Ready to Photograph the Solar Eclipse?.......Not really:

Leading up to the Solar Eclipse, let me tell you, I did my research when it came to how to photograph it. I knew I had to get the series of images. You know the one that shows all the different phases of the Solar Eclipse. Everything I read was that an ND filter would be sufficient to take Solar Eclipse photographs. I read it on the internet so it must be true, right?  Um, no.  PLOT TWIST!

The night before the solar eclipse I read an article on the Sony website - why didn't I go their first? Then another article and another, explaining that an ND filter wasn't sufficient.  Using one would reduce my camera to a paper weight. I needed to have a Solar filter. I had the wrong filter! Obviously I couldn't find a solar filter the night before the Solar Eclipse. What was I going to do? Was this it? Did I travel all this way to not get the picture?

After doing a bit more research I found out that I could use a welders lens. That is right a welders lens! You know the lens that welders use in their helmets. The search was on. Where could I get one? Where could I find this, last minute, in the little ocean town of Bandon on a Sunday evening? Nowhere, that's where. I feared I might not be able to capture the solar eclipse but hey, least I found out before I ruined my camera.

Undeterred I made a plan.

Up before the sun:

My goal was to make it as close to the zone of totality as I could without getting stuck in the crowds. I was aiming for Roseburg but if I could get further North I would. I woke up early but that wasn't the difficult part. The difficult part was not having coffee :( that's right... I hit the road without a drop of coffee. Who does that anyways?

As I traveled along Hwy 42 towards Roseburg I passed through the small town of Coquille and guess what... they had a little drive through coffee stand. You don't even know how excited I was.  With a new vigor I continued on to Winston.  As I pull into town I see a hardware store.  Surely they would have a lens, right?  Wrong.  Sold out.  Now where?  NAPA!  That's where.

I called Napa not realizing it was right around the corner from me.  When they said they actually had a couple I about lost it.  Pretty sure I was yelling at the guy on the phone when I said I'd be right over. You guys have no idea how excited I was to hear this. I could actually get the pictures of the Solar Eclipse! Now to find the perfect secluded spot to photograph the eclipse.

The set up:

I found a spot along a country road that would work perfectly. I was at a location that was about 97% totality (meaning 97% of the sun would be covered by the moon).  The ideal spot to capture the photo I have always dreamed of capturing.

The Solar Eclipse 2017 began around 9 am. There are various phases of the Solar Eclipse and I wanted to capture them all. At 10 am it started to get darker and the temperature started to drop. The darker it got, the cooler it got.  Eventually I needed my jacket. 10:21 was the full solar eclipse and at 10:23 it was over. It got about as dark as dusk and then began to slowly get brighter and warmer.

The Final Image:

I got it, I did it and I was able to document to Solar Eclipse 2017! Ultimately, I stayed at my location until about 11:40 because I wanted to make sure to capture the all the different phases of the event. Doing so I was able to create this image:

Although I didn't get the one image with full totality, I am absolutely excited with the way that this turned out! How awesome is this?!

If you want to read a little more about the solar eclipse, how it happened, where it was, and so forth check out this article here.

Note: The solar eclipse image is available for sale on my website here.

Wishing you all nothing but beautiful adventures,

Bessie

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:

Kit Used:

Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Chetco Bar Fire | Brookings, Oregon

Chetco Bar Fire

This summer's road trip took me up the coast of California and into Oregon. I traveled along Hwy 1 in California and then made my way to Hwy 101 continuing into Oregon. The further I traveled North, the more smokier it got. Ash eventually started falling close to the border of Oregon and California.

Once I reached Brookings, Oregon the sky began to get dark. I looked out over the ocean and the sky was nothing but a deep gray. As I continued North on Hwy 101 the sky got darker and darker,  eventually requiring me to turn on my headlights.  The feeling was eerie and surreal at the same time, like nothing I have ever felt before.  The colors in the smoke began to change from gray to blue, to purple, to red, to orange, and then to yellow.

Incredible overlook

Just outside of Brookings I saw a sign for a lookout so I decided to flip the turn signal and check it out.  As I parked got he car and walked up the stairs to the lookout I could already tell this was going to be an incredible sight.  It was a beautiful disaster. I created a little video and took these images to document this powerful moment in time.

The Chetco Bar Fire

To read a little more about the fire and get some detailed information check it out here.

So many people are currently dealing with being evacuated, thinking about the possibility that their home may be lost.  My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to each and every individual dealing with this fire.

Wishing you all nothing but the best,

Bessie

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:

Kit Used:

Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 smart phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
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Nelson Lake Trail | Sierra Wildflower Hike

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Sierra National Forest - Dinkey Wilderness

This year in California we had quite the winter which was great, but also meant that the trails would be closed for hiking for quite some time. I have been wanting to go up to Nelson Lake since about April, but haven't been able to due to road closures, trail closures, and all the snow.

This past weekend I was finally able to get up there! Yay!

The hike itself is beautiful, somewhat challenging, and made for the perfect day. It took about two hours to get to the trailhead from Fresno. The hike to the lake is 5 miles (so 10 miles round trip). It was beautiful weather to go on the hike, but one thing I must warn you about is the mosquitoes. They were out in force and I forgot my bug spray :( Let's just say I stopped counting all the mosquito bites I had when I got home cause there were just too many.

Trail Details / Access / Etc. :

• Name of Trail-head: Cliff Lake Trail-head

• Access: The road is paved the entire way. You can get a 2 wheel drive car to the trail-head. The trail-head is gravel. It will take you about 2 hours to get to the trail head from Fresno, CA

• Dogs are allowed

• Permits are required for backpacking

• Distance: 10 miles

• Elevation Gain: approximately 1,025'

• Highest Elevation Point: 8,942'

• Trail type: There and back, one way

• Skill Level: Moderate

• Duration: Day hike

• Season: Best July - October (bring mosquito spray)

• Area / Location: Sierra National Forest, Dinkey Lakes Wilderness - Fresno, California

The Flowers though!

Now it is July and that means High Sierra Wildflowers!  The flowers were blooming which is what I was hoping would happen. Here are some flower pictures I got :)

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Then while driving home the sky decided to put on a beautiful show:

I hope you all enjoyed this blog and adventure. Leave a comment below if you have taken this hike before and don't forget to subscribe!

Wishing you all beautiful adventures!

Bessie

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:

Kit Used:

Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Best Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
LG G3 Smart Phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Photography Tips and Tricks | Introducing Light | Learn to shoot manual mode

Hey Guys! This is the first video and blog in my fundamentals of light series in order to help you learn to shoot manual mode. Within this series we will be discussing Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO. With this series I also created a super handy Photo Basics Cheat Sheet! You can find it off to the right of this page. All you have to do is enter your information and the cheat sheet will be available for instant download. Super neat right?! This is all free and will help you along your journey in learning photography.  For this first post I want to introduce light and exposure. After all what is photography without perfect light?

Every photo has a story. In order to create that story many elements have to come together. One of the key elements is light. it sets the mood, creates depth, or highlights your subject. Light can make or break a photo. So what are the fundamentals of seeing light? There is exposure, quality, direction, and then there is shadows and highlights.

Exposure is the amount of light that falls on the sensor of your camera resulting in the overall brightness of your image. In photography it is very common to hear exposure refered to as a stop of light. The difference between one stop can be significant. Here is an example:

This image goes from three stops under exposed to three stops over exposed. So how do you get the correct exposure? Exposure is controlled by three elements called the 'holy trinity' of exposure. These elements are Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO. I will explain these three elements in three future blog posts. This way we can dive deep into each element.

If you are wanting to learn photography I am on a mission to make photography easy to understand and help teach as many people as I can. Make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel or to my blog in order to get updates when I post something new.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and beautiful photos,

Bessie

P.S. wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:
Kit Used:
Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Best Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
LG G3 Smart Phone

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos