Across the Southwest » Rio Grande River

Rio Grande Kayaker

Adam Schallau — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:50:02 +0000

A kayaker navigates the rapids on the “Race Course”, a section of rough water on the Rio Grande near Taos, New Mexico.

~Tech details~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 50D and EF70-200 f/4L IS USM lens

Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 second and ISO 320

Filters: Hoya HD circular polarizer

Notes: Shot hand-held.

Rio Grande Vision

Adam Schallau — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:20:06 +0000

Often, we photographers have blinders on, and as a result, we miss out on other opportunities due to a narrow field of vision. I’m someone that believes that there is always a photo, it may not be the subject or scene that you were hoping for, but it’s important to keep an open mind (and an open eye) to other possibilities.

This photo is a perfect example. I created this image yesterday while sitting on the bank of the Rio Grande waiting for clouds that never materialized. It was a beautiful late-afternoon, so I spent sometime wandering along the river until I came across this wonderfully textured boulder with the river rushing past.

~Tech details~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Exposure: f/11, 0.8 seconds and ISO 400

Filters: Hoya HD circular polarizer

Notes: I was using a Gitzo 3540 tripod, but the rushing water was still beating against the tripod and I needed to have a long enough shutter speed to blur the water. After a little experimentation I decided on just under 1 second for the exposure which was enough to blur the water and still keep the boulder sharp.

Rio Grande Gorge with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Adam Schallau — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:25:29 +0000

When it comes to getting new toys, there’s nothing better than getting a new lens. Sure, a new camera body can be great but it doesn’t necessarily change the way you see the world like a new lens does.

I recently purchased a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II ultra-wide angle zoom lens to replace my EF 17-40mm f/4L lens. You might ask yourself, what’s the difference? Let me start by saying that the 17-40/4L is a great lens and is definitely the better deal of the two in terms of the cost-to-performance ratio. The 17-40/4L is half the price, takes a slightly smaller filter, and is both lighter and shorter than the 16-35/2.8L II. Wait, now I’m having second thoughts about selling my 17-40/4L and getting the 16-35/2.8L II. Should I have done it?

After one day out shooting with the 16-35/2.8L, I can say “yes”, it was the right move for me. The advantages of the 16-35/.8L II are a brighter viewfinder thanks to the f/2.8 maximum aperture which helps with manual focusing in low light and allows for faster shutter speeds when trying to stop motion. This lens is also capable of producing stunning sunstars which I hope to have sample to share soon.

On to the photo. One of the first places I usually visit to test a new lens is the Rio Grande gorge just west of Taos, New Mexico. For the shot shown above, I shot from the bridge with camera on a tripod and the lens set to its widest setting to include as much of the gorge as possible while not cutting-off the top of the clouds. One of the biggest problems with shooting from the bridge is the vibrations that rattle across it everytime a vehicle crosses the bridge. You have to hope that there will be very little traffic and you have to time your shot between the vehicles. I got lucky and was able to capture a few frames when there was absolutely no vibration from passing cars.

On the Rio Grande – the book!

Adam Schallau — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:48:42 +0000

I’m excited to announce that I have completed the layout and design for my limited edition book, On the Rio Grande ~ A Photographic Exploration of Santa Elena Canyon. This book takes the viewer on a photographic journey through a corner of the land not often seen or experienced by most people. The photographs represented in the book chronicle three days spent canoeing the Rio Grande on its course from Lajitas, Texas, through Santa Elena Canyon, to its mouth in Big Bend National Park.

This book contains 63 pages, and 31 images printed on premium paper, including several images not show in my portfolios. This is a hardcover book measuring 13″x11″ in landscape format and is complete with a beautiful full color dust jacket.

The first proof of the book has been printed and after a few minor adjustments were made, I can proudly offer the book for sale. This book has been created as limited-edition of 25 copies. Each copy will be numbered and signed. The first 10 books are available for $225, with the second batch of 10 selling for $325, and the last 5 will be held in reserve. Please note: as of early February 2009, 6 books have been spoken for. Please contact me to order your copy.

For collectors that are interested in both the book and fine art prints, I would like to extend to you a special offer of $100 off the cost of your prints when ordered with a book.

To see a selection of images from my project, please visit my Big Bend galleries on my website. If you would like to know more about my project and the Luminous Landscape Endowment, please visit the Santa Elena Canyon Project page on my website.

Black Mesa Panoramic

Adam Schallau — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:38:31 +0000

Black Mesa, New Mexico

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Taos Panoramics

Adam Schallau — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:59:57 +0000

Here is a pair of panoramic photos I shot yesterday at sunset from the west rim of the Rio Grande River Gorge near Taos, New Mexico. This was our first storm of the season as it lifted off the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and cleared out of the area.

Both images were created using a Canon 5D full-frame camera and a 45mm tilt shift lens. Each scene required capturing three exposures as I shifted the lens from left to right, with the final image being assembled with Photoshop. I also used a Singh-Ray 3-stop, hard-step, graduated neutral density filter, hand-held in front of the lens to control the range of contrast represented in both scenes.

If you are interested in ordering a print of either image, please give me a call or contact me using the contact button at the top of this page.

Please click on any image for an expanded view.

An aerial view of the Rio Grande River near Albuquerque

Adam Schallau — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:11:57 +0000

This is from my flight back into Albuquerque as we made our turn for final approach into the Sunport. We were passing over the Rio Grande River a few miles south of Isleta Pueblo and the bridges that span the river on I-25. Can you tell that we’ve had a lot of rain in New Mexico? The monsoon has been very generous and has provided some insanely green crops, pastures and trees along the Rio Grande. Please click on the image for an expanded view.

It’s in the bag. How to protect your gear on a river trip.

Adam Schallau — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:50:47 +0000

On my recent river trip down the Rio Grande River through Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park I carried with me my Canon 5D along with 4 lenses, the 17-40mm f/4L, 24-70mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/4L IS, and the 300mm f/4L IS. In addition I had numerous filters, extra batteries, and of course memory cards. My biggest concern on the trip was water. I was going to be surrounded by it for three days navigating through rapids and hopefully I wouldn’t capsize the canoe.

The guide service that I hired would be providing dry bags for my clothing, tent, and sleeping bag, but I needed something more to protect my camera gear. I contacted Lowepro and told them what I was going to be doing and they graciously provided my with a DryZone 200 AW camera bag.

If you’re not familiar with the DryZone series of bags let me give you a quick run-down. The DryZone bags are soft sided camera backpacks that feature a waterproof inner compartment known as a drypod that is sealed with a TIZIP™ zipper. This bag will float even when fully loaded!The real test of the DryZone bag came on the last day of my trip as we made our way into the deepest section of Santa Elena Canyon. Allow me to set the scene for you.

I have experience canoing on day-trips, but not on multi-day trips when the canoe is loaded down with lots of gear and it’s not as easy to maneuver. Strike 1!

The river makes several sharp turns in this part of the canyon where the water runs right up against the canyon wall, what our guide Billy referred to as a “wall shot”. You have to be prepared and position your canoe in advance for the “wall shots”, otherwise you’ll be in for a rough ride. Strike 2!

Santa Elena Canyon is strikingly beautiful. Everywhere you looked, up to the left, up to the right, and even behind you there was something new and magnificent to see. Strike 3, you’re out!

I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that we went right into the canyon wall. I guess I should have paid attention to where we were going. We slammed into it broadside and even though we leaned into the wall it wasn’t enough to keep the canoe from rocking back towards the current. In the process we took on a lot of water eventually filling the canoe and submerging the DryZone. I have no idea how we stayed afloat, but we did. The canoe spun around 180 degrees with us going backwards through some fast water. I was having a blast and best of all I didn’t have to worry about my equipment because it was securely packed away in the DryZone. We eventually got everything under control and pulled the canoe up against a gravel bar to bail the water out.

There are some drawbacks to the DryZone such as the TIZIP™ zipper takes more force to open and close, but I can live with it seeing as how it is a waterproof zipper. It’s also very deep which moves the center of gravity farther from your back. I wouldn’t use the DryZone as an everyday pack, but then again it’s not meant to be used that way.

I feel that the pack saved the day and was happy to use it. I consider it mandatory equipment for any future river trips or a hike up the Zion Narrows.

I’d like to thank Lowepro for their sponsorship and for making a great product.

The Luminous Landscape Endowment Fund

Adam Schallau — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:05:26 +0000

I’m excited to announce that I’m one of eight recipients of the 2007/2008 Luminous Landscape Endowment Fund!

About the endowment with text from LuminousLandscape.com:

In August 2007 The Luminous Landscape Inc., created a fund designed to provide financial assistance to photographers to help finance worthwhile photographic projects. A call for submissions was made, with a deadline of Feb 11, 2008.

This fund was financed by readers like you through purchases of our download video tutorials, and also by individual donors and corporate sponsors. In all $20,000 was raised during our initial funding period. (You can read about the program and application process here.)

More than 200 applications were received, and our panel of judges found selecting just a handful of photographers and their projects a most difficult task. The applications selected were, in each case, put forward by at least two of the judges.

My photographic project:

A photographic exploration of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park located in west Texas. The exploration will focus on the intrinsic beauty and solitude of this remote canyon of the Rio Grande River. The trip will require using local river guide services to safely navigate the waters of the Rio Grande from the put-in point near Lajitas to the take-out point 5-miles upstream of Castolon. The trip will cover a distance of 20 river miles over three days.

The anticipated outcome is to create 20+ fine art quality photographs representing the journey of the river through the desert canyon environment. These images will be used to create a limited-edition portfolio and book with a print run limited to 25 of each.

I’ll keep everyone posted of my progress here on Across the Southwest.

Today’s Image ~ The View

Adam Schallau — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:43:34 +0000

The View
Canon 5D, 24-70/2.8L, Singh-Ray graduated ND filter

I’m often asked why I moved to New Mexico, and more specifically Taos. My answer is the same every time, the view.