Travel

Cisco Utah – Part III

May 2, 2013 by Justin Balog 5 Comments

This will be the final look at the forgotten town of Cisco, UT. It’s actually not completely forgotten, that house is occupied. There is usually a light on in it and apparently they rock Dish Network. It is usually quiet in town, but the day we visited some Troopers (pronounced Troopahs) pulled up and arrested a couple of fugitives. Dave Wilson thought they were there to arrest him, so he hid inside the post office.

Photographer’s Note – If you enjoyed this series and would like to know how I processed these photos, I shared my NIK CEP 4 Recipe. Click Here to download it.

Filed Under: Cisco, Nikon 45mm PC-E, Nikon D700, nXnw, nXnw2013, Travel, Utah

Cisco Utah – Part II

May 1, 2013 by Justin Balog 3 Comments

Brace yourself for some more Americana. I have decided to dedicate the week to a few more images of Cisco Utah. It’s such a unique place, that very few people of know of. Even less consider it a photographer’s paradise. If you ever pass by, make sure to take the scenic byway into Moab and stop at Cisco along the way.

Photographer’s Notes – This week’s series of images were all shot handheld using a Nikon 45mm PC-E and processed in Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4.

Filed Under: Americana, Cisco, Nik Software, Nikon 45mm PC-E, Nikon D700, Travel, Utah

Cisco Utah – Part I

April 29, 2013 by Justin Balog 6 Comments

I apologize to you for missing yesterday’s post. Over the last three days, I’ve only gotten about 7 hours of sleep. The rest of the time was spent photographing the areas around Moab Utah with some incredible photographers who are also my good friends. More on the second annual North by Northwest Photo Jamboree (aka #nXnw) in a later post. I need to get some sleep!

As for this image, which was one of the first images I shot on the trip, I decided to experiment and try to evolve my creativity and process. Having photographed Cisco Utah many time, I wanted to bring a style of Americana that I have worked on over the last couple of years. For this style I’m developing, I use a single lens. It is the Nikon 45mm PC-E (get the full specs at B&H -af link). At 45mm, it conveys close to a normal focal length, much like your eye would see. Which I like for my style of Americana because it provides a very familiar feel to the viewer. However, because it tilts, I’m able to mange the element of focus in a much more creative way.

Filed Under: Americana, Cisco, Lightroom 4, Nik Software, Nikon 45mm PC-E, nXnw, nXnw2013, Tips, Travel, Utah

The Fuji X100

April 25, 2013 by Justin Balog 0 Comments

I was recently in Tucson photographing the my Team’s training camp. I often get asked about camera recommendations to take with you on the bike. To be honest, most of the time for quick snaps, I’m shooting an iPhone (feel free to check out my books about iPhone Photography), but if I’m carrying a camera with me on fun little gigs like this, I’ve been shooting the ubersexy retro Fuji X100 (check it out at B&H). Our bikes take us to some beautiful places, so make sure you grab a photo or two! One thing I dig about the Fuji is that it can fit into my cycling jersey pocket. Plus, when you take it out to shoot a photo you feel very old school European for some reason. All good qualities for a cycling camera.

Filed Under: Arizona, One Click, Travel, Tucson

Not Your Typical Treehouse

April 24, 2013 by Justin Balog 0 Comments

Having never stayed in the jungle, let alone a treehouse in the jungle, I surely wasn’t expecting this. But when it comes to treehouses, the Belize Treehouse offers some quality ones. They are well off the valley floor and nestled high in the jungle canopy. At night you can hear the howler monkeys call to one another as they migrate overhead to the river below. It truly is a magical experience.

Filed Under: Belize, HDR, Nikon 14-24mm 2.8, Nikon D700, Really Right Stuff, RRS Versa 24, Travel