All Cameras are NOT Created Equal

Well, it's going on two weeks without my Rebel and I must admit, I'm lost.  I've been using my Canon Power Shot S3 to take some pictures these last two weeks and I've noticed quite a bit of a difference.  My husband purchased this camera for me six years ago when our daughter was born.  It was my first digital camera and I took over 6000 pictures with it!

When I decided last fall that I wanted to bump up my camera to persue photography as more than a hobby, I started looking into cameras that I thought would accomplish what I desired.  It was a hard decision for me.  I really like my Canon and I decided I wanted to stick with that brand.

I finally decided on the EOS Rebel XSi.  It didn't have as many megapixels as the T1i, which was another camera I was looking at, or do video.  I didn't feel that those were important.  I had a video camera and the PowerShot did video, too.  Why did I need another camera to take video?  Plus, this was going to be my professional camera, not my family camera! So rather than spending the extra couple hundred dollars, I purchased the XSi. 

I loved the XSi.  I could tell a difference in my photos immediately.  For one, the prints were sharper, there was less noise and they could be printed in larger sizes.  I didn't really miss the video mode as I was more interested in getting my tack sharp photos.  I purchased with it the 70-200mm lens and found that I had a wide range to "play" with.  I was happy with my purchase.

Then one of the pieces inside the camera popped out and I had to send it in for repair.  Not a huge deal because I didn't have any appointments on the books yet and I wanted it to be in top notch condidtion.  We still had some family outings and so I decided to use my ole PowerShot. 

What I missed about the PowerShot was using the screen rather than the eyepiece to take pictures.  It seems so much simpler.  I also found that I missed the video function, too.  I found myself getting video of my son on the monkey bars, my kids singing and my husband shooting.  These are all memories that I wouldn't have captured had I had my XSi with me on those trips.

On the other hand, I noticed that my photos were not as sharp.  There was a lot of noise and I was actually disappointed with how they came out.  It's strange because before my XSi, I thought my PowerShot took awesome pictures.  But now that I've used the XSi, the PowerShot isn't what I thought she was. 

So, now I'm thinking that I might just vamp up to the T1i to get that extra boost of megapixels for larger pictures and to have that video option.  I do carry my video camera with me on trips, but then I have to take the time to put one camera away, get another out, get it started, push record, etc.  By then, the moment has passed.

My suggestion to anyone looking to purchase a new camera, or questioning whether you should, make sure you think about everything you use your camera for now and what you want to capture in the future.  And know that sometimes you'll question the output of cash, but the end result will be worth it!  You will notice a difference in your pictures, even if you're just using it to get little Susie in the parade twirling her baton.  And also know that you might not always make the perfect choice the first time. 

Unfortunately, unless you want to pay out a lot of money, you can't really "rent" a camera to try it out.  Each camera is unique and finding the one that suites you is what is important.  Not the cost.

Camping in St. Mary at Glacier National Park

What a GORGEOUS weekend in Northwest Montana!  The temps were in the 70s during the day and the high 40s at night.  The sun was bright and there was no rain in sight!  The perfect summer weekend for camping in Glacier National Park!

We decided last weekend that we were going to camp this weekend.  My six year old daughter, Hayley, chose the campgrounds, Rising Sun in St. Mary.  So the kids and I spent the day Friday packing up our camping supplies, hiking supplies, food and cooler and we headed out to the park when my husband got off of work.

Now, we've been in Montana almost a year now and it feels like home.  At first it kind of felt like we were on an extended vacation.  So, we kind of took ownership of the Glacier National Park as "our park".  We were pretty upset to find a bunch of tourists in "our park" Friday night!  Not really, but we did joke about it!  Believe it or not, by 6 pm, every campgrounds in the park was full.  That meant that everyone had the same idea we had. We decided to enjoy our picnic dinner at the picnic area at Rising Sun got to enjoy the company of an unexpected dinner guest!  

After that we decided to drive through a few of the campgrounds just to make sure they were actually full.  We even hit one of the primitive ones on Cut Bank Road.  We were out of luck on the campsites, but got to see a beautiful sunset over the mountains!   

So we made it up to the park by noon on Saturday and secured a nice campsite at Rising Sun.  There were quite a few that we liked that were already taken, but, we did get a nice one.  It had lots of room for the kids to romp and was close to the bathrooms.  My husband would have preferred something more secluded, but he was out-voted.  After getting the site all set up and having lunch, we just kind of relaxed for while.  We took advantage of the ranger led activities that evening and just enjoyed the outdoors!

On Sunday, we took down camp and decided to venture the Going to the Sun Road.  This is proabably my favorite part of Glacier and not to be missed by visitors.  I love the views, waterfalls and wildlife we see along the journey.  I only wish there were more places to "get out".  On this venture we saw many waterfalls.

 

And of course, the Weeping Wall.  I love this!  It is amazing.  One of theses days I'm going to get out and run under it : )

There is still snow in the higher elevations, obviously melting to give us these amazing natural water vessels. 

We stopped off at a few places along the road to let the kids play and to enjoy the scenary.  We also checked out some of the campgrounds on the West Side to see if there were some other areas for us to venture to.  The kids got their Junior Ranger Badges (a must for the kiddos) at the Visitor's Center in Apgar, we had a bite to eat at Eddie's and head towards home.

On the way we stopped off a Goat Lick (where the mountain goats lick the minerals off the rocks) in the hopes of seeing some of these beautiful creatures up close.  I did get to see a few, but they were pretty far up.  I keep hearing of people seeing 20 or 30 goats up there and that they are right by the road.  However, I've not been lucky enough to catch them on those days.  One day, perhaps!  But, the best shot I had at Goat Lick was this butterfly!

We've already started planning our next hike through the park!  We're thinking of hitting Iceburg Lake on a Saturday without the kids.  It's a pretty tough climb up for little legs and is a heavily bear inhabited area.  Plus, it's an all day hike.  Not sure the tikes would make it. 

But, it's been such a beautiful time of year for Glacier National Park!  Sometimes being 70 miles away isn't close enough!

Senior Portraits Near Glacier National Park!

Senior Portrait Special! Attention Seniors! It's almost time for school to resume! Just think, by this time next year you'll be preparing for college! Rule the school this year with amazing senior pictures with nature as your background!


You receive 2 hours of my time to create your ideal photos! Bring a favorite pet, car, instrument or any prop you want! Have a special place you want to go to? No problem! You control the shoot! You also receive 15 4x6 proofs and one yearbook photo.

Braces can also be removed for $8 per image!

Plus, when you book your senior portrait session with a friend by August 25th, you both receive 20% off the photo session price AND a FREE 8x10 composition!

Evenings and weekends are available!

Storm coming out of Glacier National Park

I have to say that our weather this summer has been less than desirable.  It's been cool and rainy and pretty windy.  While the rain is good for the farmers (so we think anyway), I've had quite enough, thank you!  And as I sit at my computer tonight, I hear the pitter pat of raindrops on the roof.

I've been frustrated because the lack of good weather has put a damper on my photography this summer.  When the winds are gusting at 25-60 mph, it's hard to shoot ANYTHING, especially with a tripod!  And the rain, well, let's just say I don't want to have to buy a new camera because mine got wet inside.  The cold I can usually deal with because I just dress with a few extra layers.

Well, the other day I got brave! A gal who grew up completely afraid of storms decided that it was high time I grew up and faced my fears.  No more hiding under tables when the thunder rolls!  While sitting at my computer, I heard some faint rumblings.  At first I didn't think anything of it, because I can often hear the rumbles coming from the UPS depot nearby when the trucks come in to load/unload.  Then they got a little deeper and a little longer, so I decided to investigate. 

Upstairs I looked out the bathroom window and saw an amazing storm rolling in off the mountains.  My husband had gotten a phone call from an employee who stated that there was actually hail in Browning and it could be coming our way.

It hadn't started to rain yet, so I left the kiddos with my husband, grabbed my camera and a couple lenses and set off to see what I could see.  To the south, there were still blue skies and white clouds.  However, from the northwest was the grayest looking blanket of clouds I had seen in quite a while.  Off in the distance I could see the rain (or hail) just pouring down.  The storm was so big and the clouds were so dark, you couldn't even make out an outline of the Rockies and usually you can see them clearly on an average day.

As I stood there checking out the storm, several lightning strikes hit to the west.  Now, normally, that would have been enough to send me cowering to the basement.  However, I suddenly got excited with anticipation that I just might be able to catch some lightning shots.  Now, I'm pretty good with my camera on the pre-settings, but admit that I am still a student on manual ones.  So, because I was already a little anxious about the storm, I didn't have my tripod and plus, it had started to sprinkle, I just decided to try my action setting shooting in triplicate hoping to get lucky.

I shot about 150 pictures and only three came out with visable lightning shots.  This one was the clearest of the three.

So, although it wasn't "sale" quality, I was still pretty excited and proud of myself for catching lighting under the circumstances.  I don't think I'll be making a habit of storm chasing or anything, but I'm seeing storms through a whole new perspective!

Mountainview Calendar from Glacier National Park

Well, I've been thinking for some time about putting together some of my favorite images into a calendar but wasn't quite sure how to go about it.  I didn't really want to make it myself for several reasons including time and professionalism.

However, I did some research and found a company that will print them at a relatively resonable price and with a good quality.  So, I've decided to give it a try!

The calendars will begin with September 2010 and include 13 high quality photos that I have taken in or around Glacier National Park.  Each calendar costs $18.00 and includes shipping!  They can be ordered on my website by visiting http://vaneppsphotographymt.webs.com/apps/webstore/.

Also available are notecards featuring Covered Bridges from Ohio and Iowa AND my Print of the Month!  So be sure to check those out as well!

Badlands in South Dakota and Devils Tower in Wyoming

After leaving the beautiful sunrises and farmtowns of Iowa and the Bridges of Madison County, we ventured west! 

                                 

South Dakota was our next stop!  We had rented a cabin in Wall and it was wonderful! After a good night's sleep that was in a bed and not the van, we took the fam to Wall Drug to spend some time and then headed out to the Loop at the Badlands! One word...AMAZING!  I can't figure out how ANYONE could have ventured through this territory OR set up house.  It was beautiful beyond belief, but not wagon or cattle friendly.  Although there were some areas of grass and trees, most of this area was rock.

We even saw some sheep venturing through the rock.  There was a herd of about eight.

We also were able to see LOTS of prarie dogs!  They look very similar to our ground squirrels in Montana, but definately can see differences.  The kids thought they were pretty darn cool, though!  The bison were also out in the Badlands, but I couldn't get close enough to them to get off any good shots.  I was willing to get out and head to the herd, but my husband and mother-in-law protested stating I was going to get attacked.  One will never know, now!

From South Dakota we went to Wyoming.  And what a beautiful state!  Dave, the kids and I had been through there before, but it was at night.  This time it was day, well, dusk.  It was still light enough to see the rock formations.  This is one of my favorite shots I took during vacation.  And honestly, I took it while we were in the car.  Luck, I suppose : )

One of the places my husband requested to see was Devil's Tower.  It's pretty cool to see this GIANT rock formation just out in the middle of nowhere.  There are Indian stories of how it was formed and geologist say it was made from lava.  But whatever the truth may be, it was pretty neat to see.

Covered Bridges of Madison County, Iowa

Believe it or not, I never thought much about covered bridges being anywhere else but Ohio.  I remembered a movie being released called The Bridges of Madison County, but, admit I've never seen it.  And, I've just recently learned that the movie was based on a book, which I have only recently read. 

To get to the point, when we asked my mother-in-law if there were any particular things she was interested in seeing as we made our journey from Ohio back to Montana, she asked if we were going to be going through Iowa.  That wasn't our first choice, but when I inquired why, she said she'd like to see the Bridges of Madison County because she loved the book and movie so much.  Okay.  Let's do it.

So, although I had NO idea what she was talking about at the time, I made sure our route home included some time to visit these covered bridges.  While visiting, we stopped at a gift shop that sold, among other things, copies of the book that made these bridges so popular.  So, along with some postcards my daughter wanted to send to friends and family, I bought the book.

I photographed the bridges as I would any other covered bridge, without knowing the significance of them.  However, that night, I started reading the book while on vacation and staying in a cabin near the Badlands and was pleasantly surprised to find that one of the main characters was a photographer!  Ironic?  When I finally got home, I dove into the book and finished it in only a matter of hours.  Now, I'll have to see the movie.  I guess I've done it a little backwards...I think most people read the book, saw the movie and then visited the bridges.

Our visit to Madison County didn't allow us to see ALL the bridges.  My mother-in-law picked the ones she wanted to see most, based on the book and movie, of course!  So, here they are...

And I also put together a composition of the bridges we saw as well!

Covered Bridges of Ashtabula County, Ohio

Wow! Our trip to Ohio was a busy one!  We were able to see almost everyone, but, as always, there were a few people we missed.  Hopefully we'll catch them next time!  And although it was a busy trip, I still tried to find some time to shoot some things.

Some of my favorites were of the covered bridges.  You know I lived in Ashtabula County, Ohio for 32 years and never really paid much attention to the covered bridges there.  I knew they existed and the county had a huge festival to celebrate them each year in October.  People would come for all over the world to see our bridges, but they didn't mean a lot to me until about two years ago when we decided to take "the tour".  There is a driving tour through the county that takes you to each bridge.  Most of the bridges are still in use with the exception of two (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ashtabula_County_covered_bridges). 

One of the bridges is the longest bridges in the US, the Smolen Gulf Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolen%E2%80%93Gulf_Bridge).  It's relatively new and Matthew's favorite. So we took a day during our vacation to take the kids to a couple of the bridges to play, for them and me!

Here is the Smolen Gulf Bridge.  Below is the bridge in color, but I also tried it in black and white.  I like covered bridges in black and white because it gives a feel of age.  However, since this bridge is only about 2 years old, it seems kind of silly to age it.  I did however turn the internal picture to black and white because it just felt right.  We did take advantage of the walkways on the sides of the bridge as well.  Very awesome!

This is the Benetka Road covered bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benetka_Road_Covered_Bridge).  I love looking through the bridges and wondering about the people who traveled through these bridges.  This bridge was built around 1900 and has seen horses, buggies and a plethera of automobiles.

This is the State Road covered bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Road_Covered_Bridge).  Here, the outside of one view is in color while the other is in black and white.  I also looked at the inner bridge in black and white.  For some reason this bridge drew me in and I found so many photo opportunities.  It was almost posing, I think : )  Here are just a couple of my favorites!

While the Root Road covered bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_Road_Covered_Bridge) was not my favorite, I still was able to get one good shot.  This bridge was hard to shoot for a couple of reasons.  First, the time of day was not good.  The sun was too bright and at the wrong angle.  But, that was the time we had to see the bridges so I had to work with what I had.  Second, the clearing signs in front of the bridge kind of take something away from the nastalgia of the bridge.  But, I still think it came out pretty good.

The last bridge we saw in Ohio was the Caine Road covered bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caine_Road_Covered_Bridge). 

Each bridge is very similar, but yet they each have their own, personality.  I enjoy looking at the bridges in both color and black and white.  The color pictures give it a modern, current look.  But the black and white give them a more "olden days" appeal.  In black and white I can picture the buggies crossing the bridge on a Sunday afternoon visiting family or neighbors.  Who would have known these "antique" bridges would be such a renowned success?  Something that was built for necessity of travel so many years ago is now regarded as somewhat of a monument.  Something many people will never experience, or understand.