Outdoor Tips

During one particular winter snowstorm in Yosemite, however, the wind was not a problem. Because the lighting was so muted, Gale and his photo-tour group did some time exposures--some were so long that the falling snow didn't even record in the images. Unlike some bright days with harsh lighting conditions, the group was able to take advantage of the soft light most of the day: "We could shoot anywhere we looked; there were no shadows." They did macro shots of frosted oak leaves, and enjoyed other photo opportunities that don't present themselves in good weather. As Gale was shooting digitally, he could see results immediately, which enabled him to give advice to the group on the spot.

Aspens in Maine.	A view of Big Sur, on California's central coast.

Cameras, Lighting & Filters
Gale says that in the days when he shot predominately film, his 35mm SLR used to be his backup camera. His primary film cameras in the studio were the medium-format Mamiya RZ67 and RB67. "Now, all I'm shooting with is my Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro digital SLR," he says, adding that he uses his digital camera about 80% of the time these days, and his film camera (the Nikon N90) is his backup. Of the 6.1-megapixel S2, he says, "The results are amazing." This camera is built on the Nikon platform, and utilizes interchangeable lenses. For years, Gale used Nikon SLR bodies and Tamron lenses, and uses his Tamron lenses today with the S2. He also enjoys the S2's video-out feature, which enables him to show his work immediately to students--he can send images to a TV set or computer monitor.

Although it appears to be in the wild, this lizard was photographed in Gale's studio.

In the wilderness, Gale says he uses available light most of the time. But when working with close-up subjects like flowers, he sometimes uses reflectors. At times, he's even used white t-shirts, mirrors, or white paper ("anything you might have with you while traveling"). There are times when he also utilizes his Nikon SB-26 flash, or a Quantum Qflash with a TTL module for Nikon "with up to 400 watt-seconds." Gale says he uses flash when he wants to illuminate dark foregrounds that could present a contrast problem in the final image. Whenever possible, he'll also use flash for nearby wildlife that "needs a little light." Gale uses specialized adapters with flash, such as a telephoto adapter that increases his flash's light output by a couple of stops. "Having a studio lighting background made the transition to serious outdoor photography much easier," Gale observes.

You can take pictures in bad weather if you protect your camera gear--Yosemite's Half Dome shrouded by clouds.

Filters are also tools that he finds indispensible in scenic photography, "but not the gimmicky stuff." (Gale likes Lee filters and its adapter system.) He says that his most important filter is a polarizer, which he uses in about half his photos. Besides yielding bluer skies and reducing reflections, he finds the polarizing filter useful for intensifying the color saturation in foliage. Another important filter for Gale is a split neutral-density filter to reduce the contrast in a scene. Traditionally, this filter is used to darken a too-bright sky or foreground, although he says he sometimes positions the split ND on its side to correct bright sidelight in unusual situations, such as bright light reflecting off a rock.

Last summer, he led a photo trip that traveled via horseback from Mammoth Lakes to a camp on the John Muir Trail. Gale and his group planned to photograph the beautiful Thousand Island Lake with Banner Peak looming above it. "We were there for four days, but there was only good lighting on one morning," he recalls, so the group took advantage of shooting in a brief, half-hour window of time. Gale used a graduated warming filter in an inverted position to warm up the lake and the foreground foliage. He also used a three-stop graduated ND filter to dramatize the sky, as well as a polarizer--three filters stacked in all. "You wouldn't have known that any filters were used in the end result," he says. "I use filters only to help with technical problems, not to add something that wasn't already there."

Gale used three filters for this shot of Banner Peak reflected in Thousand Island Lake, Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Rock Steady
"Something that outdoor shooters tend to overlook is a really good tripod," Gale emphasizes. He uses a Bogen carbon-fiber model ("very sturdy and lightweight"), with a ball head and quick-release for easy composition. He says his photos are much sharper when he uses a tripod, "and it allows me to use a smaller aperture for greater depth of field, even in bright light." Tripods and cable releases are imperative for long time exposures, but as Gale says, "People sometimes blame their camera or lens for image softness when in reality, it's because of that slight bit of camera movement they get when they don't use a tripod."

He also stresses the importance of doing research before traveling to a spot you want to photograph--"It really stacks the cards in your favor." For example, he says he doesn't have the luxury of living in Yosemite and being there for great light. Instead, Gale relies on books and other guides for information on where to go and advice on when to be there for good photographic conditions. Doing Internet searches and contacting the local chamber of commerce near your destination are good sources too, he says. "There are a lot of Websites with recently downloaded pictures of places to go for flowers in bloom during the spring, and where you can find the best fall colors in autumn." Another way he finds out more about scenic, lesser-known areas is to talk to the locals. "When they realize that you're a serious nature lover," he points out, "they're often happy to share their knowledge."

In Conclusion
Don Gale concludes by saying that his goal is "to keep photography fun." Outdoor photography and digital imaging keep him from getting bored, he says. "There's no end to this thing."

For more information on Don Gale's workshops and to view his work, visit www.photographybydon.com.