Whatcom Peak North Cascades National Park

Whatcom Peak North Cascades National Park #61501 Purchase

Recently while filling an order for a client I came across a couple of images of Whatcom Peak North Cascades National Park in my archive that caught my attention. Both photos are from last year’s trip to Whatcom Pass in North Cascades National Park. Both are also good examples of what may be called pre-visualization and post-visualization.

Pre-visualization is being able to view a subject in the field and visualize how it may appear in its final form. Post-visualization, my own term, is fulfilling the vision during processing. Many times I have images in my files that haunt me in a way. Meaning I remember the pre-visualization, but I’m not seeing the processing solution to make it appear. However they keep catching my eye, beckoning me to keep trying.

In the field both of these images struck me as having all the elements of a compelling photograph. I also new at the time how they should appear in a final print. However, after initial processing and editing none of that pre-visualization came out. As a result I assigned them a lower ranking in the archive.

Whatcom Peak North Cascades National Park #61502 Purchase

Achieving the solution is sometimes only technical in nature. Other times it’s of a creative nature, or of course a combination of both. In this instance it’s the latter. Although I’m quite happy with the results you see here, it’s possible I’m still short of the original vision. In the future I may rethink the processing. Maybe they need just a tweak, or maybe something completely different. It’s all part of the creative journey.

To see more images from this trip read my two part blog, Whatcom Pass Tapto Lakes, North Cascades National Park.

All images are available as fine art prints, or for stock licensing. Feel free to comment on this post and share it with friends and colleagues. Thanks for visiting!

Whatcom Peak North Cascades National Park

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June 20, 2018February 24, 2019

Black and White Nature Study

Black and White Nature Study

Lady Fern #62430bw Purchase

This past month I’ve been working on a black and white nature study, which so far includes ferns and wildflowers. These are subjects I’ve always enjoyed photographing. Getting in close reveals wonderful patterns and details that aren’t always apparent in a quick glance. In the coming months I hope to add more images of a variety of natural objects to this group.

Spring is a great time of the year for photographing plants and flowers. For the most part the flowers fronds and leaves are fresh and undamaged by the elements. Although it is not apparent in these images, the colors are also very vibrant.

Dandelion Seed Head #62460bw Purchase

In this series I’ve processed the images in two fashions. The first is my standard method of applying a duotone to the image. This gives it a look and feel somewhat like selenium toning a traditional silver gelatin print. Having worked extensively with traditional film based materials I work to carry that look into my digital processing.

Digital Polaroid Type 55

The second method of processing seen in some of the images is a faux Polaroid/Antique look. When I was photographing with a large format view camera one of my favorite films was Polaroid Type 55. Sadly this film is no longer in production. However, die-hard fans can find some outdated packages on Ebay, sold at a very high price.

Lady Fern #62463bwp Purchase

Lady Fern #62461bwp Purchase

Since most people may not be familiar with this product a brief description is in order. Polaroid Type 55 film contains both a standard print and negative in the same peel apart package. Photographing with this film also requires a specially designed holder. The holder facilitates both exposure in the camera and developing the print negative. A darkroom is not needed for processing. However, you must treat the negative in a fixer solution afterwards.

Aside from the convenience of instant developing without a darkroom, photographers loved the printing qualities of the negative, and the always unique border the negative has. It is this negative pattern that I am digitally incorporating into these new images. The second part of processing these new images is to use a textured overlay and a warm sepia tone.

Bunchberries#62467bw Purchase

All of this comes together in a style which I plan to incorporate and expand on in future images. I hope you enjoy them, and of course feel free to leave comment, or purchase prints!

Lady Fern #62431bwp Purchase

Lady Fern #62432bw Purchase

Oak Fern #62452bwp Purchase

Black and White Nature Study

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April 4, 2018February 24, 2019

Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields

Skagit Valley Daffodils #61987b Purchase

Last Saturday I made my annual spring pilgrimage down to the Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields. Being the end of March means that the fields are in full bloom and the tulips aren’t too far behind. Like most years, I drove though most of the valley roads to see which fields have tulips and daffodils. Since the fields planted with bulbs change location every year it’s worth scouting out in advance where the best compositions may be.

In my experience one of the best fields for photography is the one appearing in this blog. The row of poplar trees always adds a great compositional element, with the rows providing nice symmetry to the composition. A few years ago this field was planted with beautiful red tulips, however this year it’s yellow daffodils. Next year it’s most likely going to be fallow.

Skagit Valley Daffodils #61960b Purchase

Photographing Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields can be a bit more challenging than photographing tulips. This is mostly because daffodils bloom earlier in the season. In late March the weather is still winter-like with rain and cold winds. Since daffodil blossoms stand higher on thinner stalks than tulips, they sway easily in a slight breeze. So, if you’re lucky enough to have good light you may be hampered by windy conditions.

Most photographers know that it pays to get up before dawn to take advantage of blue hour light and sunrise light. Here in the Skagit Valley, another good reason to arrive early is to beat the crowds. On a sunny weekend the roads will be gridlocked like Seattle on a Friday afternoon. At the height of the bloom it may seem like everyone on the entire West Coast is here to get a photo of their loved ones in the tulip fields! So go early, and preferably on a weekday.

Other Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields Attractions

Besides photographing Skagit Valley daffodil fields and tulips the lower Skagit Valley also boasts some other worthwhile attractions. Foremost among these are the snow geese and trumpeter swans. Every winter through early spring these beautiful white birds come to the fields to rest and feed before resuming their long journey north. They move among the fields every day, so it can be a challenge to photograph them in the best location. If you plan on photographing these birds please refrain from alarming them. While it’s a magnificent sight to see an entire flock in flight, it also cause undo stress on them.

Skagit Valley Snow Geese #59742 Purchase

Another attraction I rarely miss out on is Snow Goose Produce, located on Fir Island Road. Aside from local produce, seafood, and crafts, their ice cream cones are outstanding. A single scoop in a freshly made waffle cones is a must have. I swear that a single scoop translates into nearly a pint of ice cream!

Of course a visit to the lower Skagit Valley wouldn’t be complete without stopping by LaConner, a self-described artist enclave and boater’s paradise. Aside from browsing the quaint shops and having a bite to eat, photographers can come away with some great travel photos from this picturesque town. Hint, photograph the red bridge and sailboats in evening light!

Skagit Valley Daffodils #61982b Purchase

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March 13, 2018February 24, 2019

Oregon Desert Photography

Oregon Desert Photography

Warner Lakes Wetlands, Oregon #60942 Purchase

Oregon Natural Desert Association is a grassroots organization that promotes awareness and protection of unique environments of the Oregon Desert. Several years ago I was approached by Jim Davis, one of the founders of ONDA, to contribute photos for their yearly promotional calendar. Until then I wasn’t even aware of ONDA, but I quickly jumped at the chance to have my photography help with their conservation efforts. Being a lifelong landscape and nature photographer I always look for opportunities to give something back to the environment, and also help others appreciate the natural world we live in.

So when ONDA asked if I was interested in sharing some desert photography tips for their blog I didn’t hesitate to join in. The post has numerous tips from a variety of photographers that have contribute to the ONDA calendar. Many tips can apply to all landscape and nature photography subjects, but some are specific to desert environments.

You can check out the article here: How to Take Better Images of Oregon’s High Desert

Below are a few more tips I’d like to share.

Oregon Desert Photography Tip: Lighting

Full moon over Warner Lakes Wetlands, Oregon #60939 Purchase

The two photos above illustrate two important tips for all landscape photography. The first being, make sure to scout out locations with potential for good compositions in advance. That way you’ll know just where to go when the light gets good later on. Here at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge I wanted to find a good spot to make some photographs of Warner Lakes. While spending the afternoon hiking the slopes of hart Mountain, I looked an elevated view along with a foreground that included some features native to the area. Here I included ubiquitous sagebrush and basalt boulders.

Secondly, photograph in the best light. There are many types of lighting conditions to work with and not all are suitable for every subject. I already photographed both of the above images the previous evening. However clouds had diminished the quality of light. The next morning I awoke early, ready to work in the soft saturated light present during the Blue Hour. Many photographers pack it in as soon as the sun goes down, but it’s worthwhile to keep working. The hour following sunset can offer a soft colorful glow with low contrast. Not all Blue Hour light is equal though. Wispy high clouds directly above can reflect warm light down on your subject. However, those same clouds can cancel out any color if they are situated on and below the horizon where the sun set or rises.

Oregon Desert Photography Tip: Be Patient

Sunset over Owyhee Canton, Oregon #56352 Purchase

The photos above and below illustrate another important tip, be patient. Watch the weather, and wait it out until the light is gone. In both photos I experienced good light at the last minute. The weather had been dismal and grey for the entire day, and it didn’t look good for evening light. Both locations were very remote, especially Owyhee Canyon. Meaning there was no cell signal, so I couldn’t check weather forecasts. With nowhere else to go it just made sense to wait and see what happened, in these instances I was lucky.

When photographing the immensely popular Painted Hills, I was the only photographer that stayed. Everyone else gave up on the light and left. I also had my doubts until a tiny clearing in the clouds opened up on the horizon. Fortunately this clearing was were the sun would be setting. When the sun poked through this clearing I had less five minutes of good light to work with, but it was enough.

Painted Hills, Oregon #44747 Purchase

Oregon Desert Photography Tip: Midday Light Creativity

Another tip, and one that many photographers scoff at, is don’t neglect midday light. While not as common, making good photos during the middle part of the day is possible. Interesting cloud formations or approaching storms can add an often overlooked dimension to a landscape. Also, this is a good time to get a bit creative. Experiment with minimalism, low saturation or black and white. The image below of Alvord Lake may not have the dramatic qualities to make it on the cover of Landscape or Outdoor photographer, or garner thousands of likes on Instagram or 500PX. However, it does illustrate the barren aspect of the Alvord Desert.

Painted Hills Oregon #44704 Purchase

Clouds over Alvord Lake, Oregon #60973 Purchase

Oregon Desert Photography Tip: Enjoy Your Surroundings!

If you’re photographing in the Oregon Desert, and especially the southeast corner, check out the many hot springs. After a job well done there’s nothing like a soak in a natural hot spring. Just sit back and enjoy the view!

Willow Creek Hot Spring, Oregon #61026

Oregon Desert Photography

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February 2, 2018February 24, 2019

New Website

Hello, and welcome to my new website! I’m Alan Crowe and I believe you will find this site simple, clean, functional, and easy to navigate, with a high degree of usability. I also hope you will find many images that will inspire you to place my photography in your home or office!

Some of you out there may recognize many of my photos from social media, such as Facebook or Instagram. Or you may have seen them on my other website, Alan Majchrowicz Photography. To clarify, Alan Crowe and Alan Majchrowicz are the same person. Alan Crowe is a somewhat distilled version of my name. I just removed the first and last syllables and added an e to the middle syllable. In case you are wondering, Majchrowicz is pronounced muh-CROW–vitch.

New Features

Since this new site focuses solely on fine art prints I want to make a clear distinction between the two. My other website still exists under the same name and will continue to offer photography for commercial stock licensing, along with fine art prints.

On this new website there are several features which aim to improve the user experience. First is a more streamlined method of purchasing prints. All photos are no more than a click away from purchasing. There is now a Lightbox feature where you can add photos selected for later review and purchase. A new page called In-Situ helps you envision what my images look like in several different interior scenarios. Another new features is the FAQ page. Here you can find on one page answers to common questions, such as shipping and print materials. Bringing the site together is a clean uncluttered look with photos organized into galleries with distinct categories.

Take a few minutes to browse through my new website, and feel free to contact me if you see anything that isn’t functioning properly or needs correction.

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