Nikon 18-200 VR

So Many Stories

May 13, 2013 by Justin Balog 2 Comments

I hope everyone had a great weekend and Mother’s Day. We spent the day planting flowers and it was awesome…because my mom is awesome!

Today’s Photo

I will often go through these little mental exercises where I try to imagine all the stories of the world both past and present. In all honesty, it freaks me out a bit. It’s overwhelming to think we have our own story to tell that is just as cool as every other story being told. Billions of stories happening simultaneously. Each one as genuine as the next. The exercise feels a bit like Leibniz’s feeling he described about standing on the precipice of infinite greatness and infinite smallness (paraphrased). I wonder what this gentleman’s story is. I photographed him in a local Belizean market where he was trading vegetables with another farmer. Sure, we could say he is a framer…but life, his life, your life, our lives are much more than that.

Filed Under: Belize, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D7000, People, San Ignacio, Travel

Orchids Of Belize

April 22, 2013 by Justin Balog 0 Comments

I have always thought orchids are kind of cool, but I really don’t know much about them. When visiting Belize I found out that there are close to 300 varieties of Orchids in Belize alone. We actually saw an orchid that was smaller than the tip of a pencil. If you ever visit Belize, make sure to visit the Belize Tree House. On their property is a greenhouse which is home to nearly 100 types of Orchids. This was one of them. You can find the a bunch of information in my free ‘Photographer’s Guide To Belize‘.

Photographer’s Note – I shot this photo with my walk around travel lens, the trusty Nikon 18-200 VR. (Click Here for my complete review). Although it is not a lens with a big classic fast aperture. You can use the focal length of the lens to create some nice bokeh. Just step back a bit from you subject, rake the lens out to 200mm, and viola….a beautiful portrait!

Filed Under: Belize, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D700, Tips, Travel

Welcome To Belize

February 25, 2013 by Justin Balog 0 Comments

Belize is a diverse country. Not only in population, but geography. You have small costal islands to the east and the Mayan Mountains to the west. These two photos are from the mellow little town of Hopkins in Southern Belize. I should have more traditional Caribbean photos for you tomorrow as we make our way to the famous Salt Water Caye. A small island about 20 miles off the shore of Hopkins. Again, I’m sticking with my experiment of 1 lens/ camera and Snapseed for the iPad. Keeping it simple and letting the moments flow.

I’ll have all this outlined in a new Travel Guide I’m working on here in Belize. If you’d like to catch up on some my other travel guides just click here .

Filed Under: Belize, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D7000, Tips, Travel

Further South of Currie Nevada

February 21, 2013 by Justin Balog 3 Comments

These are two of my favorite images I made in that great grass valley between Currie and Ely Nevada. Surprisingly, they were shot at the exact same spot. One was facing south, the other facing west. I always find it fascinating how many photos can be made from the same location. We each bring our own perspectives that are shaped by the unique story of our lives. I often wonder what my images say about me.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s short little adventure. The goal was simple. Share a few images I made by asking a friend which way we should travel. The lesson is straightforward and I’m sure many of you know it better than I. The world is a big place. Asking friends and strangers to share their story will enhance your experience of this world. So next time you are out, ask someone…’which way do you think I should go?”. You might be surprised what you find.

Photographer’s Note – I’m pretty sure all the images that I have shared from this adventure were shot with my Nikon D7000 and a used 18-200mm lens. A fairly modest rig compared to some. Each images was processed in Lightroom 4. Again, another modest post processing tool. I guess the other lesson to be had is one that is the theme of this site…”It’s not about the gear…it’s about recognizing the creativity that I know is in each one of you and applying it to your own adventure”.

Filed Under: Lightroom 4, Nevada, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D7000, Tips, Travel

Just South of Currie Nevada

February 20, 2013 by Justin Balog 4 Comments

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the rest of this week is a look at the images I made on an adventure planned via my iPhone with the help of a longtime prospector. The goal was simple…we asked Jay to find us some ghost towns. That he did…The adventure took us from the town of Crescent Valley, NV to Elly, NV by way of Currie and Cherry Creek.

This image was shot just south of Currie, NV at what used to be a Pony Express stop. Years ago this was rocking rail line transporting ore from the areas around Elly, NV. Now…well, you can see what it has become.

Photographer’s Note - I shot this photo with a Nikon D7000 and 18-200 VR Lens. I processed it using Lightroom 4. To achieve the selenium look I used a ‘Duo-Toning’ technique to add some blues to the shadows. If you are interested in this lens, I have a full review of it here (Click Here).