Things don't always go as planned - Backpacking Devils Bathtub Graveyard Trailhead

Things Don't Always Go As Planned....

Backpacking Devils Bathtub

Landscape Photography by Bessie Young

Earlier in July I set off for a 4 day 3 night backpacking trip into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The Graveyard trailhead starts at Edison Lake in Fresno California. The original plan was to stay at Devils Bathtub for a night and then head over to Graveyard lake for the remainder of the trip. Well let me tell you, things don't always go as planned.

The Trip to Devils Bathtub

The trip started off hot. The weather was calling for highs of 70 and lows in the lower 40's. The first day was a tad bit warmer than expected, but I started in the late morning so it wasn't too hot. I hiked from Edison lake to Graveyard Lake having to take quite a few stops to let Yota, my Boston Terrier, take a breather and cool off. We made it to the lake with plenty of time to enjoy the evening, set up camp, cook dinner, and just relax.

That night seemed incredibly warm, but I didn't think much of it. I didn't have my thermometer on, so I thought it was just my metabolism being heightened from the long walk in and the big pasta dinner I ate that evening.

Devils Bathtub Hike Details:

Distance: 4.5 miles one way

Elevation Gain: 1,551 feet

Trail Type: Out and back

Lake Elevation: 9,167 feet

Things don't always go as planned - Day 2

After packing up all my gear I headed off to Graveyard lake as planned. The day was getting hotter and hotter and with that I was getting a little concerned that Yota would be able to finish the hike.

About halfway to Graveyard I decided to take a break. You see Yota is a dog that will definitely out walk me, but not on this day. She wasn't panting hard, her tongue wasn't large, but she kept laying down every time I would stop. This was just weird. She is always out in front chasing lizards along the way. The break was the moment that I needed to make a decision. Was I going to head back to Devils Bathtub or continue on to Graveyard. As I sat there contemplating my day, Yota kept falling asleep. She was just so tired.

The Decision

I knew from the moment that I decided to take a break I was going to carry Yota. I might be overly cautious, but I couldn't imagine if anything happened to her. 

My choices were to hike to Graveyard which was all uphill, or head back to Devils Bathtub which was all downhill. Now Yota is 22 pounds and adding 22 pounds to an already 35ish pound pack is quite a big deal for me. So I decided to go with the flow, take it easy on myself, and head back downhill to Devils Bathtub.

Ultimately it ended up being a really nice day after accepting the fact that I wasn't going to be able to see all the pretty lakes that I wanted to see.

When I got back to Devils Bathtub I ended up taking a nice long swim in the lake and then relaxing on the beach for the afternoon. After my lazy afternoon I set up camp and started to scope out my area in order to get ready to take some pretty sunset images.

That night I made sure to turn on my thermometer to see how cool it got. It ended up only getting down to 58, mind you it was supposed to be in the low 40's. Ya, so much different that what was forecast.

So, the moral of the story is to really just go with the flow. If I wouldn't have gone back to Devils Bathtub I woudn't have gotten some really pretty pictures and early morning shots. I also wouldn't have been able to just relax and enjoy the moment, the breeze, the fresh mountain air, and just being in nature.

I hope you all enjoyed this blog. Have you been to Devils Bathtub or Graveyard lake? If so leave a comment below . I would love to hear about your trip!

Wishing you nothing but amazing adventures and pretty pictures!

Bessie

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Should I Quit? - Photography Tips

Should I Quit?

When is the right time to quit?

This is a question I have asked myself throughout this photography journey. Should I quit? I'm not the best at what I do, hell I'm only half decent to say the truth.

As I look at other photographers work I sit there is utter amazement and awe. I have so much to learn and so far to go before.... before I make it.

Am I a fraud? You know the saying is, fake it until you make it, but what if we never "make it"? What is making it anyways? When do you decide to stop? When do you decide to stop trying, to stop pursuing your dreams? When do you finally recognize that you won't "make it"?

I was talking with my dad the other day and asking him when do you decide enough is enough? When do you give into the pressures of society and just stop pursuing your dream? When do you decide that you are just wasting your time?

My dad just looked at me and smiled. He took a deep breath and said

“Oh sweet Bessa, you never stop. You are never wasting your time pursuing your dream. you never stop doing what you are passionate about, and you never stop doing what you love. Why would you? ”

So I ask you this my beautiful friends, why would you stop? Why do we believe this false idea that we aren't good enough? You are good enough. Let me just repeat myself on that... YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!

When should you quit? The answer is never. Not as long as you love what you are doing. You should never quit, never give up, and never stop trying. If you are loving what you do why would you quit? 

So what if you aren't the best. So what if you don't make if... for whatever that might mean to you. If you have passion to create then just freaking create. If you love what you are doing then never stop doing.

Never quit my beautiful friends. Never stop creating.

Bessie

 

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Camera Gear for Backpacking

Camera Gear for Backpacking

What's in my bag

Recently I was out backpacking on my first trip of the year and I thought what better time than to make a video about camera gear for backpacking!?

I'm not going to lie, I debated on making this video because I was freaking exhausted. Yes... I had just hiked a bunch in the heat and all I wanted to do was zone out, but I got my lazy booty outta my chair and made this video just for you!

So, here are all the Camera Gear for Backpacking Things:

1. Camera and Lens:

• Sony A7rii
• 18mm Batis f2.8.
• 24 - 70mm G master f2.8

2. Filters:

• 10 stop ND filter
• Heliopan Circular Polarizer

3. Cleaning Kit

• Rocket Blower!
• cleaning cloth
• Q-tip
• lens cleaner

4. Spare lens cap

5. Batteries:

• Sony batteries
• Anker Battery pack

6. SD Cards: Bring all the SD cards :)

7. Tripod

8. Peak Design Clip and foot

That's it!

Let me know what camera gear you take backpacking in the comments below.

Wishing you a beautiful day and dust free photos!

Bessie

 

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How to Photograph Waterfalls - Glenn Alpine Waterfall South Lake Tahoe

How to Photograph Waterfalls

Glenn Alpine Waterfall South Lake Tahoe

Landscape Photography

If you don't know by now, I am completely obsessed with waterfalls. I love going to new places and searching for waterfalls. They are so much fun to photograph and just amazing to be around. The rush of the river, the sound of the water, and the creative touch that you can add to each photo is beyond awesome.

So a few weeks ago I just so happened to find myself in South Lake Tahoe for an amazing Destination wedding. You guys, it was freaking awesome! I ended up going up the night before, and like I always do, I had to get out of the hotel and find a pretty landscape image. I am always saying "take advantage of where you are".

I have been to South Lake Tahoe a bagillion times; however, I have never been to the Glenn Alpine Waterfall near Fallen Leaf Lake. To be honest I didn't even know it existed. So off I went to catch a pretty waterfall landscape photograph during sunset.

The drive took about a half our from the boarder of California and Nevada. The road was pretty much a one lane road and quite rough, but the waterfall was beyond beautiful!

Let me tell you, I could have stayed here all night just sitting by the water, but the mosquitoes were out in force. They weren't your average mosquito either. They were like pterodactyl mosquitoes. So unfotunately I had to leave before I became one big mosquito bite.

If you get a chance, make sure to stop by the Glenn Alpine Waterfall along the Glenn Alpine creek in South Lake Tahoe. It is right off the road only about 200 feet and totally worth the trip.

How to Photograph Waterfalls:

1. Use a low shutter speed for smooth water
2. F 6.3 - F11 for a good depth of field
3. Keep your ISO low (like always)
4. Shoot when there is soft light (best at sunset or sunrise)

These steps will get you a nice smooth beautiful waterfall image.

Have you ever been to Glenn Alpine Falls or are you also obsessed with shooting waterfalls? Leave me a comment. I would love to hear about your trip and see your tips for shooting wateralls :)

Wishing you nothing but the very best!

Bessie

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5 Things Every Beginner Photographer Needs

If you are debating on getting into photography, but aren't quite sure where to start then you came to the right place! Photography can get overwhelming. When you first get started, it seems like you are going to have to spend an arm and leg to actually get set up. Well, you could actually spend all that money, but what are the essential things that you need to get you going? Lets talk about only the necessities:

5 Things Every Beginner Photographer Needs

1. A Camera

Alright I know what you are thinking... DUH. Well hold on just a minute. You don't want to get just any camera. You want to get a camera that allows you to use manual mode plus change lenses.

2. Memory Cards and Batteries

SD cards for capturing your image and batteries because everything takes batteries. When purchasing an SD card make sure you get fast SD cards in order to allow you to use the burst mode on your camera.

3. Camera Bag

Let's face it, you spent alot of money on your gear. Make sure you protect it with a nice camera bag. Now, don't do what I did and buy the cheapest one out there, because sure as can be you will eventually realize that it sucks and you want / need the nicer one.

4. A Tripod

Seriously though, you need a good sturdy tripod. Don't go cheap on this one either. Buy once cry once. Seriously, you will spend more money buying the cheap stuff over and over until you eventually buy the expensive one. Just buy the nice one and call it good. You will have it for a very long time.

The tripod is going to allow you to be creative as well as get some incredibly beautiful crisp images.

5. An Editing Program

The two main editing programs are Lightroom and Photoshop. These programs are great and very flexible.

6. BONUS: A wide aperture lens

The wider the aperture (the lower #) will give you much more flexibility when it comes to your photos. It will allow you to get those beautiful image where the background is completely blurred. It will also allow you to get star images! Think about getting an F2.8 lens.

Now get out there, get your gear, and get to shooting those amazing images that you have dreamed about. If you have any questions just leave a comment below. I would love to chat!

Wishing you nothing but beautiful pictures and fun adventures,

Bessie

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How To Create Better Composition

So you aren't happy with your photos. That's ok! We are all learning and growing; however, there are certain things that can really help our photos stand out from the crowd. Today I want to talk about one rule that will change it all...

How to create better composition:

 Fill your frame with what you love... Simplify!

That's it! Sounds easy right? Well it is, but sometimes we just get too caught up in trying to add so many elements into our image, that we create a jumbled mess. Don't try to put everything into your picture.

If you find yourself having trouble deciding on what the main subject is take a deep breath, stop, and then pay attention to what your eyes are doing. Wherever they keep going back to, shoot that. Make sure that you remove all the distracting items in your image, simplify, and only shoot what you love.

Now get outside and go shoot that amazing image that you have been wanting to get. Try out this one tip and let me now how it went by leaving a comment below!

Wishing you nothing but beautiful pictures and fun adventures,

Bessie

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Desert Landscape Photography - Red Rock Canyon State Park

Desert Landscape Photography

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Landscape Photography

The sunset was like none I have never seen before. Let me tell you it was amazing....

There is a part of me that is obsessed with the desert. It is strange since I grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; however, when I travel into the desert I feel as though I am going home. I am not quite sure what that is all about, but ever so often my heart and soul aches for the desert. This adventure was one of those times. One of those times that I needed to fill my soul with desert goodness.

So, off I went into the desert for a fun sunset image. I decided to head over through Tehachapi and into Red Rock Canyon State Park. The reason I chose Red Rock Canyon was because I have only driven through there one time on my way to Mammoth Lakes. I wanted so desperately to stop there and wait for sunset; however, I wasn't on a Desert Landscape photography trip at that time, I was on a Mammoth trip :)

When I arrived in Red Rock Canyon State Park it was incredibly windy. This created a little bit of an issue as far as creating a video, but wasn't going to be an issue for any photographs as my plan was to get a large image of the beautiful red rocks and the sunset. There wouldn't be any movement issue with the photograph that I wanted. The only concern I had was that my tripod not fall over while my camera was mounted to it :)

I arrived with plenty of time to scope out the area and find a good location for sunset, ending up in the Red Rock Canyon campground also known as the Ricardo Campground.

My ultiamte goal was to get a vast image with beauitful red mountains and a sunset. As I walked around, it was difficult to find my composition. I ended up finding a nice wash / dry creek that I could set up in and use as a leading line to the sunset.

Then it was all about waiting for sunset to arrive. As I waited, I found more and more compositions that I wanted to shoot. Everyway you looked there was a beautiful photograph.

The sky began to change color, so I took my 'safe shot'. Then I waited. Waiting for the best moment... the best color... the best shot. As the sky continued to change the clouds continued to move. This sunset seemed to last forever. Pretty soon, every way I looked there was an amazing sunset image. A different composition. A beautiful desert landscape photograph

As time went on, I decided to pick up and move my camera. Now, this is where I want to pose a question to you. Why stay in one position? Why stay in one composition shooting the same image over and over and over again?

I am all about planning out your trip, planning for one shot, and getting that one shot; however, once you get that shot, why do we keep taking the same photograph over and over and over again? STOP! Just stop taking the same image. Take advantage of where you are. Get your one image. Get that shot and get it right, but once you get it right, move your feet. Move around and get another composition if you have the time to do so.

This particular sunset and landscape was amazing. There were so many different compositions and the sunset seemed to last for hours (even though it really didn't last for any longer than normal). I decided, that I got the shot I wanted, so moved around and got additional images of the area around me.

This place is definitely going to be a place that I head back to. During this trip I did not have any time to hike around the trails, I was only able to stay along the established roads to find a composition. In my opinion, this area has endless potential.

Wishing you nothing but fun adventures, beautiful sunsets, and amazing memories.

Bessie

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Lake Tahoe Sunset - Incline Village Landscape Photography

Lake Tahoe Sunset - Incline Village

Landscape Photography

Spontaneous trips are seriously the best trips!

To Go to Lake Tahoe or Not?

I was sitting at home in my living room trying to decide what to do for the day. I have been longing to go to Tahoe, but haven't been able to find the time. Tahoe kept popping up in my head as something I should go do; however, it was about 10am and Tahoe is 5 hours from me.

This particular weekend, was a long weekend which made it more feasible. For some odd reason, I just couldn't make up my mind. Do I stay home and have a lazy weekend, or do I head to Tahoe with an adventure filled weekend? Tough decision right? To be honest with you, I wasn't being able to decide. I was weighing out the pros and cons, but my lazy bone was just getting the better of me. It is a little funny, but I ended up texting my mom and asking her for her opinion. "Tahoe of course!" 

So it was decided... a spontaneous Tahoe trip was in my weekend plans :)

Will there be a Lake Tahoe sunset?

I already knew where I wanted to go for a sunset image. It is a small hike up a paved road to an old fire lookout. So, there was no planning needed there other than making sure I allowed myself enough time to head up the mountain for sunset.

The entire drive there were clouds in the sky which made me super happy. I was thinking that the sunset was going to be on fire; however, the closer I got to Tahoe the more cloudy it became. After driving a ways, I ended up needing gas and finding a hotel room online.

I booked my hotel in Truckee, California and got there with plenty of time to eat dinner and plan out my evening. So naturally I had to try out the local Thai food place (my new obsession) and grab a beer at the local brewery before heading out. As I was eating dinner, I began to wonder... is there going to be a sunset? It sure didn't look like it. The clouds were getting thick and it actually started to look like rain again. Long story short... I debated for awhile on whether I should go for the hike or not. I decided to go for it. I mean after all I drove all the way up there just for a picture. Plus I had been sitting in the car all day so I needed to move a bit.

The Lake Tahoe Sunset - Incline Village Fire lookout hike

The drive was about a half our from my hotel and the hike was all uphill. It took a little over 10 minutes to get there, so lets just say 15 minutes. As I was almost to the top, the sun started to peak through the clouds. Man, my heart fluttered, and my hopes sky rocketed! Is there going to be a Lake Tahoe Sunset tonight? Oh please oh please oh please!

As I finally made it to the top, the clouds were completely broken up! Plus, I made it just in time for sunset! Plenty of time to scope out the area, find a good composition, enjoy the view, and get a good shot.

So the moral of the story is to just go! Just do it. You will never regret an adventure. Even if there wasn't a sunset the entire trip was super fun. Yes, it would have been nice to sit on my couch, in my Pj's, and watch something on Amazon Prime, but you know.... the adventure is way more worth it. The memories... the stories... all of it.

Next time you are debating on getting out and trying to get that sunset, go and try. The worst thing is that there may not be a sunset, but believe me, the time isn't wasted time. It is time making memories, enjoying nature, and being outside.

I hope you all enjoyed this blog. Make sure to watch the video at the beginning to see a bit of the behind the scenes and how I got the shot.

Wishing you nothing but fun adventures, beautiful sunsets, and amazing memories.

Bessie

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What Camera Strap To Get - My Favorite

Camera straps are super important, but how do you know which one to get? Well today I am going to chat a little bit about camera straps and also share my favorites.

So What Camera Strap to Get:

Wrist Straps:

So I just started checking these out. I typically hold my camera with no strap while I'm out on a shoot, but I started to think of how bit of a bummer it would be if I accidentally dropped it. Then I was talking to a fellow photographer, Danyelle Dee, and she was saying that she stepped on a bee during a shoot, got stung, and dropped her camera; however, she had a strap which saved everything! Then and there, I figured I needed to purchase one, so I ended up getting the Peak Design Wrist Strap: I will let you know what I think of it as I use it more. I chose the peak design one because of how easy they are to switch back and forth with their clipping system. There are also some leather Ona Wrist Straps that I saw which look pretty neat.

Traditional Camera Straps:

So there are a bagillion different camera straps out there, so how do you decide? For me, I like them to be a bit wider of a strap. I have found that the smaller, thinner straps seem to dig in to my shoulder and neck too much . Another think I like is if there is a little bit of a cushion on the shoulder area. My favorite so far is this peak design camera strap. I love the color options, how thin and light they are, and how easy they are to switch between cameras. Another option are these beautiful leather camera straps by Ona. I have heard great things. The only con to buying leather is taht it will stretch overtime.

Harnesses:

These are awesome if you are a wedding or portrait photographer. They have the option of holding two cameras, one on each side. I haven't ever tried them; however, I have seen them in action and they are amazing!

Clips:

Ok not really a camera strap but a clip is totally an option and something I use for all my backpacking adventures. I absolutely love the Peak Design Clip.

Do you have a favorite camera strap? Leave a comment below and let me know :) I am always on the look out for good things :)

Wishing you the best,

Bessie

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How To Use Leading Lines - Tips for Better Composition - Photography Tips and Tricks

How To Use Leading Lines

Tips for Better Composition

Photography Tips and Tricks

There are so many different rules of composition, but leading lines is one of my favorites. So, what is a leading line and how do we use it to create a beautiful jaw dropping image?

So what are leading lines?

Leading lines are one of the most simple composition tips yet one of the most powerful. They grab the viewers eye and bring it into the image to a main point of focus.  Basically they are a line that leads some where, hence where it got it's name. The world is full of leading lines. Thing of things such as rivers, piers, railroad tracks, roads, foam on a beach, so on and so forth.

So what is the key to using them?

It is best if the lines flow into your images. This creates a visual pathway and ends at the main point of focus in your image. In order to successfully use leading lines, you have to position yourself in the correct place. You need to move your feet!

Find your key subject and then position yourself to point the lines to that key subject. Make sure to avoid straight vertical or horizontal lines because that is going to split your image into 2 and also cause your viewers eye to flow off your image.

Here are some examples of How to Use Leading Lines for Better Composition:

Really study the image. Pay attention to what the line is doing, where it is going, and how your eye follows the line through the image.

Now go out there and try this rule. Pay attention to the lines that the world creates and think about how to use them to create a jaw dropping image.

Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite rules of composition are. Don't forget to share this with all your shutter bug friends!

Wishing you nothing but a beautiful day!

Bessie

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Yosemite National Park Sunset at El Capitan - Landscape Photography

Yosemite National Park Sunset at El Capitan

Landscape Photography

Yosemite, you stole my heart...

This year has been lacking when it comes to landscape photography, behind the scenes, and how I got the shot videos. Well, I got done fed up with that so I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Yosemite for sunset.

I packed myself a delicious pasta to have a picnic, my backpacking stove to make the pasta of course, all my camera gear, and off I drove. When I approached the booth I handed the ranger my year pass and she looked at me... "oh no this is a free admission day sweetie". I politely said oh sorry, thank you and drove into the park. The entire way to the valley I debated on turning around. Typically free admission days mean ALOT of people. I just wanted a nice trip to Yosemite, a yummy picnic, and a beautiful photo. I didn't want to be bombarded by people.

Ultimately, I decided to keep driving and to my surprise the park wasn't too busy. Yay! I drove around the park just enjoying the afternoon as I got there a few hours early. I knew exactly where I wanted to take my sunset photos so I wasn't in too big of a rush to find that perfect spot. My plan was to get an image of El Capitan and the Three Brothers with their reflection on the water of the Merced River.

California has received quite a bit of rain lately, so this hindered my sunset image as the Merced river was incredibly full and flowing quite quickly. So a reflection image obviously wasn't going to happen with a full swiftly running river, but it still was an incredible spot to be.

There were no clouds in the sky, so when golden hour rolled around my plans changed ever so slightly. With no clouds in the sky, means no color, which means the ultimate goal would be for the granite to turn a beautiful golden color. This happens well before sunset which actually worked out perfectly. I was able to capture El Capitan during the golden hour, and then drive the Yosemite Valley Loop to get these additional images.

The day was so incredibly peaceful. It was wonderful to get out and about on my first real landscape photography adventure of the year.

I hope you all enjoyed this one. Have you ever been to Yosemite? Leave me a comment with your favorite spot in the comment section below.

Wishing you nothing but fun adventures and beautiful photos.

Bessie

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How To Clean Your Camera Sensor

How To Clean Your Camera Sensor

The One Tool You Need

So I wanted to let you in on a little secret of mine and that is a tool that I use on a regular basis. When I switched to a mirrorless camera I was coming across the issue of constantly having dust on my sensor. Now, this rarely happened with my Canon DLSR camera so I wasn't sure what to do.

Now, with a mirrorless camera everytime you change out a lens you expose your sensor to the wide open world. This allows all the tiny little dust bunnies to attach to your sensor in a heart beat. No matter what I did to try to protect my sensor from dust, it seemed as though it always collected dust when I changed a lens.

You don't notice the dust while you are out on location. You look at your LCD screen, think the shot is amazing, and move on. Then you get your images in home and notice all the tiny little dust spots scattered throughout your image completely ruining it. Talk about incredibly frustrating!

I was doing quite a bit of research and I found what is known as the Rocket Blower! OMGEEEE you guys this changed

E V E R Y T H I N G!

It actually has enough force to clear the sensor of the majority, if not all, dust and better yet it does it with out having to touch your sensor!

Now, how did I not know about this before, don't ask me. I guess I just never really needed it, but with a mirrorless camera you need this in your life! You seriously need this in your life! Like right now! Plus it is only $12 so it is a no brainer ; )

Alot of you might be like, DUH Bessie, but I figured that if I didn't know about it, some of you didn't know about it as well. If I can help at least one of you to save the frustration and the ruined images then I did my job.

Let me know what you use to clean your sensor in the comments below.

Wishing you a beautiful day and dust free photos!

Bessie

 

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Essential Filters for Landscape Photography

Essential Filters for Landscape Photography

What Filters I use

Oh Filters how I love you...

Camera filters are truly an amazing thing. They help you really create a photo in the field rather than create the photo in your post processing. There is something about creating the photo at the moment that you took it. As you know, I am not a huge fan when it comes to post processing. I want to create the image in camera rather than add different effects in post processing. My goal is to reduce my time at the computer and increase my time taking pretty pictures ;)

So, here are a few filters that I have and love:

1. Heliopan Circular Polarizer

This is my go to filter for everything Landscape Photography! I love this filter and a filter I consider a must for any landscape photographer.

2. 10 Stop ND Filter

This filter has truly allowed me to get some amazing shots during the middle of the day. It is like sunglasses for your camera.

3. UV Filter

This filter is a must to protect your gear! That is pretty much all I have to say about this. If you end up dropping your lens, you will crack your UV filter rather than your lens glass. These UV filters are insanely expensive, but worth it in the long run. A lens can be thousands upon thousands of dollars. It is worth the extra $100 for that just in case... it is a security blanket in my opinion.

Leave a comment below and let me know what your essential go to apps are. I am always looking for awesome apps when it comes to photography and adventure.

Wishing you the best,

Bessie

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New Photography Work Space - I Made A Desk - Inspiration for Photographers

New Photography Work Space

I Made A Desk

When I first started my photography business I bought a plastic desk from Walmart. You know, one of those fold up white picnic desks. Well, I have had that desk for a few years now; however, it just wasn't doing it for me anymore. Ultimately, it wasn't very inspiring. It was bland, white, uncomfortable, and just not all that awesome. Now, it worked for the time I had it. It was a great desk and functioned just as it should. It is just that I got to a point where I needed a nice pretty desk. Something that would inspire me to be creative. Something that I wanted to sit at rather than had to sit at.

I began my search for a new desk during the Black Friday madness last yer. I thought that I could get something for somewhat reasonable. Well, let me tell you.... I was wrong. I guess I just have way too expensive of taste :? Everything seemed to be about $1,000 after taxes, shipping, etc so I began thinking that I would just make my own.

If you don't know this about me, I used to run an Etsy shop that was a rustic home decor shop. I created all sorts of fun wood things from log tables to kitchen items. I haven't ever made anything as complex as a desk, but I was up for a challenge.

When I started, all I knew is I wanted it to be rustic yet fit my current living room vibe which made shopping super easy. I went to Lowe's and Home Depot for all my supplies.

I am so incredibly excited for the way that it turned out. It took a few days to make and a few days for the stain to actually dry.

There is something to say for an inspired space. If you are a creative you completely understand. You need to be somewhere that is going to inspire you, somewhere that you are going to want to be, and somewhere that will get your creative mind going. This space is exactly that for me. As I sit at this desk, I just smile. I smile knowing that I made it, because it is beautiful, because it is exactly what I wanted, and because it just makes me happy.

Now, with this new beautiful desk, I will be able to create the Free Stock Images that you all have been asking for! Yay!

I hope you all enjoyed this blog. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Wishing you a very beautiful day!

Bessie

2 Essential Apps for Landscape Photography

2 Essential Apps for Landscape Photography

Let's get real here for a minute. There are so many dang terrible Apps out there to download. The struggle is real! It seems as though there are more bad, not helpful, clunky apps than there are good ones. Now I have downloaded, played with, and unistalled more apps than I can count. I'm talking probably over 100. I have been looking and searching for helpful Apps for Landscape Photography and I have finally found 2 really awesome ones!

2 Essential Apps for Landscape Photography:

1. Photo Pills

This App is awesome! It is everything you need to schedule your landscape photography trips. It will tell you when sunset is, when sunrise is, where the galaxies are in the sky, what the moon is going to do, so on and so forth.

It is a one time payment of $10, but it is totally worth it. This app is what made this image possible:

2. Backcountry Navigator

This app is definitely for navigation and safety. It is always a must to be able to know where you are at any given moment. When you are out in the wilderness you never know what the wild is going to through at you. There is no reception, no internet, no nothing so you need to make sure you have all the right equipment.

Backcountry Navigator is a must! You can download quad maps, topo maps, aerial images, and so much more. This app will show you where you are and help you navigate your way to your destination, or your way to safety. I love this app. It is another app that costs $10 one time, but its necessary.

Leave a comment below and let me know what your essential go to apps are. I am always looking for awesome apps when it comes to photography and adventure.

Wishing you the best,

Bessie

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Batis 18mm Lens vs Sony 16-35mm Lens

Batis 18mm Lens vs Sony 16-35mm Lens

Photography Gear

I switched lenses! Yep, I sure did! So ultimately why did I choose the Batis?

1. Weight Savings (saved about a half a pound)

2. Wider Aperture (f2.8)

3. Cheaper (saved about $1100)

Weight Savings:

As you all know I do a bit of adventuring where I have alot of weight on my back. During the summer days you can find me on road trips, hiking long trails, or backpacking. I love being outside and being out in the high country is where I get some of my best landscape images.

Wider Aperture:

Ever since I started getting into astro photography, I wanted to get a wide angle lens with a wider aperture than what the Sony 16-35 mm has. The Sony is an F4 and I wanted to get an F2.8. So the research began.

Price:

The Sony 16-35mm F2.8 came out and man it is drool worthy; however, it is expensive  coming in at $2100+ and a heavy pig. Then there is the Batis 18mm F2.8. This one comes in at about $1400 plus it is significantly lighter than both Sony lenses. See specs below.

One day I was in my local camera shop and there just so happened to be a Batis in the used gear section. Hmm.... do I buy a used lens? So I asked about the history of the lens and it just so happened that this lens was like brand new. The guy started out with... "well, funny story". You always know you are in for a treat when that is the very first comment. This lens was bought and returned within a few months due to its size hahaha! So, I was basically going to get a new lens for a used price..... SOLD!

“Just for kicks... here are a few specs of each lens:”

Batis 18mm F2.8:

Filter ThreadFront: 77 mm

Dimensions (DxL)Approx: 3.94 x 3.15"

Weight: 11.64 oz

Price: $1400

Sony 16-35mm G Master F2.8

Filter ThreadFront: 82 mm

Dimensions (DxL)Approx.: 3.48 x 4.79"

Weight: 1 lb 8 oz

Price: $2200

Sony 16-35mm F4

Filter ThreadFront: 72 mm

Dimensions (DxL)Approx. 3.07 x 3.88"

Weight: 1lb 2oz

Price: $1250

So that is it! I am excited to begin sharing images that come from this lens, and am equally excited for how light my entire set up is! Yay!

What lens is your favorite? Leave a comment below. I would love to chat!

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Bessie

P.S. Did you love this post? Want to see more photography tips and tricks? Check this out here:

4 Things All Great Photos Have in Common - Photography Tips and Tricks

4 Things All Great Photos Have in Common

Photography Tips and Tricks

Have you ever wondered why your photos aren't as good as the 'Pro's'? Have you ever just felt a little down about your images knowing that you can do better, you just don't understand why the image didn't turn out the way you wanted? Well, then this blog is for you!

Here are 4 things all great photos have in common:

1. Interesting Subject

You have to love your subject. If you don't like your subject then that is going to reflect in your image.

2. Good Composition

You need to show off your subject using good composition . Stop, take a look around, and figure out what you think is neat in the scene and then compose your image to show that off. There are many different tips on composition such as leading lines, the rule of thirds, and so forth.

3. Good Technique

Figure out what the most important part of your scene is. Then use good technique to emphasize that. You will need to learn manual mode and be able to tweak your shutter speed, aperature, and ISO to be able to accentuate what you like in the scene.

4. Good Light

Basically I love shooting during golden hour. This creates some beautiful soft light, no harsh shadows, and the images are just dreamy.

If you are stuggling with figuring out what is good light, I would suggest looking at other photographers images. Really study the image and the light. Where is the light coming from, what time of day was it taken, how did they use light to get the final result?

I hope you all enjoyed this one. Make sure to share it with all your buddies :)

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Bessie

P.S. Did you love this post? Want to see more photography tips and tricks? Check this out here:

Sony A7riii Review - 2 Things No One Tells You

Sony A7riii Review

2 Things No One Tells You

So as you all know I got the Sony A7riii. I take forever to decide on actually purchase new gear. I research it, ask around, and then research it some more. Let me tell you, I looked everywhere (or so I thought) on the internet to see if the Sony A7riii was something that was going to be a good purchase for my photography and my business.

Every site that I found had raving reviews. It has faster burst mode, longer battery life, better LCD screen, recognizes skin tone better, better continuous focus mode, so on and so forth. Everything sounded beyond amazing.

I thought I knew exactly what I was getting; however, there were 2 things that no one ever talked about. These two things were a pretty big deal in my opinion.

1. No More PlayMemories!

This is no joke. All the apps you purchased for your previous cameras, you cannot use any more.

I opened up my camera, inserted the battery, and began looking through the menu. It looked different, but that is expected since it is a new camera. As I started to change my settings and preferences the thought popped in my head 'oh I need to download my apps! How do I do that? Where is the symbol?"

The symbol was no where to be found. No Where! I thought that it must be in a different part of the menu, so I headed to trusty ole Google to see how to get my apps on my camera. Low and behold.... there is no PlayMemories App. Let me tell you, I was in disbelief. Seriously. Why would Sony decide to remove the PlayMemories? What is the purpose?

So, what I gathered is that Sony asked it's Professional Photographer users and the result was that the professionals do not use the Apps as a whole so Sony decided to remove the feature. To me this is just silly. I would think that the majority of Sony users are Amateur photographers. Wouldn't they want to cater to the majority of their customers?

For me, the two Apps that I used the most were the smart phone remote and the time laps app. Sony did create a smart phone remote feature in the menu so we are good to go there. There is also a work around for the time laps as well, so even though you don't get the goodness of the app you can at least still get a little bit of a time laps.

Now you are warned. All the apps that you purchased previously you cannot use on your new A7riii.

2. Your Desktop Lightroom Does Not Work!

This is such a big deal! Ok, so what am I talking about....

Adobe has indicated there will be no more updates for Lightroom 6. This means that Adobe will not be adding any additional camera's to the list of recognizable camera files. It just so happens that the Sony A7riii is not on the list. You read that right. So now what?

You will have to upgrade to Lightroom 7. The only way that you can upgrade to Lightroom 7 is by purchasing the Creative Cloud subscription. So now you will be renting Lightroom by the month.

Even though these two things are pretty big things, I still would have eventually purchased the Sony A7riii, but I might have had to think about it for quite a bit longer than I did.

Hopefully this article helps you with you decisions.

Wishing you nothing but the best,

Bessie

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Testing the Sony A7riii and Batis 18mm- My First Impressions

Testing the Sony A7riii and Batis 18mm

My First Impressions

As you all know by now I got the Sony A7riii and the Batis 18mm F2.8. Yas!

When I got home, I had to charge the battery before I could take it for a test run. Talk about a bummer. They really should come with fully charged batteries, just saying...

So there I sat on my couch watching the battery charge. I tried to walk away and do something, but I wanted to play with it so much that I just couldn't help but check on it every 10 minutes. Charging... charging... charging...

Finally, the battery was charged and I could begin playing with it! Yay! My very first impression, was that yes, it is just like the Sony A7rii. Now, the menu is a little different, and there was a surprise to the menu that I wasn't ready for. Read here to see more about that.

I decided to head over to Millerton lake for sunset. I figured it would be a good hike, and an awesome sunset opportunity. Now, if you don't know about this trail, you should really check out my blog post about it here. It is gorgeous.

For this trip I decided to only bring my new Batis 18mm F2.8 lens. The whole point of this adventure was to try out my new gear. Typically, I use my peak design clip, and this day was no different. I wanted to see how my new set up worked with my backpacking set up. Let me tell you it was a dream! Super light and amazing! The Batis 18mm F2.8 is so incredibly light you barely feel it on your hip! This is exciting for my upcoming backpacking trips.

As the sun began to set, the colors in the sky began to change. Let me tell you it put on quite a show.

My First Impressions - The Good:

1. The colors that come out of this camera are amazing!
2. The images seem to be much crisper and cleaner than with the Sony A7rii
3. The continuous focus feature on the Sony A7riii is amazing
4. The low light Autofocus worked wonders! Seriously it is so much better in low light that the Sony A7rii.
5. The entire set up is so incredibly light you barely feel it
6. The camera is so similar to the A7rii it doesn't take any time to begin using. There isn't a 'learning curve' per se.
7. The Batis lens is such an incredibly wide lens. The prime lens is going to take a bit of getting used to as I typically shot with the Sony 16-35mm f4; however, for the weight savings, I think it is going to work out perfectly.
8. I know that the F2.8 on the Batis is going to come in handy for my backpacking adventures and astro photography.

My First Impressions - The Bad:

1. Check out this blog for the 2 things no one tells you about the Sony A7riii
2. I can be lazy, so the 18mm prime lens is going to take a minute to get use to as I am going to have to move around quite a bit to get the perfect composition.
3. That's It! So far, this set up is BadA$$

I can't wait to share all the amazing images that come from this new set up. I will do an update on what I think about the set up in a future blog just to keep you guys in the loop : ) ; however, I don't think my impression is going to change much because wow! Just Wow!

I hope you all enjoyed the blog. Make sure to leave a comment below!

Wishing you the very best,

Bessie

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