Nevada

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).

Filed Under: Black & White, Lightroom 4, Nevada, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D7000, One Click, Processing Notes, Travel

Planning An Adventure

February 19, 2013 by Justin Balog 10 Comments

If you’re a regular visitor here, you know I believe that everyone has their own unique story that’s not only worth sharing, but adds to the beauty of this world. Following that logic, I try my best to talk to people hoping they might be willing to share it. I shared the story of my man Jay (read it here), last year. However, in this photo he is helping us plan an adventure across the Nevada desert. Yep, we dialed up Google Maps and plotted it all out on my iPhone. The rest of this week I’ll be sharing images from that adventure. I hope that stories like this will encourage you to engage someone in conversation and see what their world is all about. I bet it’s pretty cool!

You don’t know how tempted I was to order a pair….

Filed Under: Nevada, Tips, Travel

The Layers Of Sunset

October 30, 2012 by Justin Balog 2 Comments

I shot this sunset outside of the small town of Elko, NV. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again….zoom or telephoto lenses will often make better landscape lenses than wide angle lenses. There’s no way I could have achieved the tonal recession in the image with a wide angle lens. I was using one of my favorite all around lenses, the Nikon 18-200 VR. If you are interested, I posted an image heavy review of this lens here.

Photographer’s Note: This is a single image processed using Lightroom 4.

Filed Under: Elko, Nevada, Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikon D7000, One Click, Sunsets, Tips, Travel

Life @ 24 1.4 – Part III

October 10, 2012 by Justin Balog 6 Comments

Meet Marcus. Remember yesterday I mentioned that the Nikon 24mm 1.4 is a people lens. That’s really where it shines. Had I not been exploring the streets of Nevada with it, I would have never met Marcus. He’s a local barkeep that invited me to learn about the history of his pub. Here are a few things I would have never learned had I not been photographing with this lens.

There are two local biker gangs in town.
The tile trough along the bar was used by patrons that didn’t want to walk all the way to the restroom.
I’d wouldn’t stay at that hotel, the 3rd floor is haunted.
This town is littered with underground tunnels.
If you see someone under a pool table in that bar, they’re either dead or passed out.
This town has a large transient ranching population.
Until recently, the train ran right through town. It was rerouted because people were idiots and tried to beat it across the tracks.
I wouldn’t call this town, ‘Vegetarian Friendly’.