CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-02-25 23:30:54 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

If you are in the Seattle area I am teaching a one day workshop at BlackRapid Headquarters this weekend, March 2nd!!  Here are the details...http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2354903580

2013-02-16 20:45:30 (28 comments, 48 reshares, 129 +1s)

A Winters Night Dream 

Hi All,  Sorry for my lack of time on G+ lately.  This shot was taken a few days ago while leading a private workshop to Iceland.   The Northern Lights went crazy for us and this is one of my new favorite shots.   Incredible country!!

Speaking of workshops, my 2013 workshops are now online and filling fast!    I love teaching and can't wait to start the season!

http://danballardphotography.com/Photography-Workshops

2013-02-15 23:13:48 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

* Google+ Hangout on Air instructions: *
Link to view the event will be available here and on the Google+ Nik Software page on the day and time of the event. Please check back at that time. (If you are not a Google+ member, you will need to sign-up.)

(Note: This is not a ‘training webinar’ but rather a forum to share ideas and inspiration from the Pros. To see a list of our webinars, visit www.niksoftware.com/learnmore)

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Fireside Chat: How to shoot with Black and White in Mind with Dan Ballard (Google+ Hangout on Air with Host Scott Sheppard)

Knowing when to go black and white and when to go color can be a difficult decision, both in the field and on the computer.  Most people simply take the approach of always thinking in color, and then maybe converting afew ... more »

2012-12-13 00:35:59 (35 comments, 14 reshares, 178 +1s)

"Dream of Fire"    Dream Lake, RMNP Colorado.

2012-09-19 23:32:12 (32 comments, 8 reshares, 138 +1s)

*Power of Beauty*  Grand Tetons

An incredible ray of light on the last night of a five day workshop I was leading in the Tetons.   I am not sure who was more excited and having more fun, me or my participants.  Nothing like the teacher running around yelling trying to make sure everyone was capturing this insane light, hitting the button on my own camera as I ran past:)

2012-09-05 18:41:45 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

COLBY'S PHOTOGRAPHIC CIRCLE OF 500 INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPHERS

This is an update to the 1st circle of inspiring photographers that I shared earlier this year. I have removed a few individuals that no longer were active on the network and added a few new faces. Nearly every genre of photography is represented here. These are individuals that are constantly providing photography work that speaks to me. They are hand picked and all active on G+ (last I checked). It includes full time professionals and amateurs alike...and all that create compelling photography.  Please enjoy...I know I have!

If you like what you find in this circle, consider sharing it with your followers to help these individuals reach a wider audience.I am already working on my 2nd share of Inspirational photographers on Google+. More to come in the coming weeks.

Here is a link to a follow up postof ... more »

2012-07-28 00:30:32 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 25 +1s)

Had a great time speaking and shooting in Russia!   Got a little advertising from National Geographic Russia for the event.   Just found it.   Kinda cool.   Will post some images soon!

2012-07-09 23:40:30 (38 comments, 13 reshares, 127 +1s)

Devils Horns

The Alaskan Range as seen form Denali State Park. WOW!!! Some of the craziest, most dramatic peaks I have seen.....

We almost didn't sleep for two weeks working for a shot with only a little luck, so when the fog rolled in to this awesome area and the sky lit up it was a great feeling!!

2012-06-28 15:48:00 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 39 +1s)

Ice bergs from the the Vatnajokull glacier wash up on the black sand beach opposite the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in southern Iceland.

This area in Iceland was probably the highlight of my 2+ week trip. The ice bergs would float in the lagoon, (loudly with splashes and ripples) break apart into smaller chunks and then get washed out to the ocean via a small channel when the tides changed (sometimes they would move slowly to the ocean and sometimes very quickly). Eventually they would be break apart a few hundred feet from the shore and wash up on the beach in smaller ephemeral chunks that would melt away within a few hours.

2012-06-06 13:43:03 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

North to Alaska!!

I am headed north this afternoon for a two week trip to AK!

I have been wanting to photograph the beauty of the state for years and will finally get the chance!

2012-06-06 13:40:22 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 52 +1s)

Into the Inferno

It’s official!  I’ll be heading back to the Whitefish/ Glacier National Park area from mid-July to the second week in August!  Six more weeks and I’ll be back in one of my favorite mountain paradises!   Here’s one from last year--- easily the most intense sunrise I’ve ever witnessed…

2012-05-19 00:31:28 (22 comments, 8 reshares, 123 +1s)

The World's Flow

Happiness has to do with reason, and only reason earns it. What I was given was the thing you can't earn, and can't keep, and often don't even recognize at the time; I mean Joy.
Ursula K. LeGuin

The Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

2012-05-17 23:41:55 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I have been invited to be a guest pro instructor on a workshop to North India and Nepal. This workshop will be focused on getting the best images possible in two incredible countries, and I will be sharing everything I know about image making.

http://danballardphotography.com/Photography-Workshops

Mention this post and get $250 off!!

2012-05-10 23:09:21 (39 comments, 6 reshares, 150 +1s)

Fire in the Valley

An incredible evening while shooting with student turned friend Mark Brodkin in Arizona. I spent a long, long time before this light show started looking for the perfect composition, and then waited for the clouds to get into position. After a few minutes they started to light up and I was fairly certain had something I would love. Check out Mark standing in the very center of the frame.

2012-04-18 22:52:21 (62 comments, 42 reshares, 197 +1s)

I was recently invited on a little night time adventure with follow CO photographers +Mike Berenson, and +David Kingham. Wow! Between Mike's extensive planning and getting lucky with the right amount of clouds it made for a great shot and a great time!

2012-04-11 22:07:07 (23 comments, 2 reshares, 81 +1s)

Shine Through!

This was one of those situations where I almost called the game due to rain. It was 100% cloudy, raining and I felt my chances of getting an image were 0. I deceided to wait it out, and just at the last minute the clouds broke at the horizon and let the sun shine through the peaks.

2012-04-09 23:39:54 (143 comments, 157 reshares, 544 +1s)

"Light on the Moon" Mt. Bromo, Indonesia

One of those moments........Wow......sometimes I am very happy to be a photographer!

2012-03-30 21:03:40 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

There are still spaces left at the Moab Symposium coming up this May! Three days of workshops, speeches and great fun!

http://www.moabphotosym.com/

2012-03-26 23:48:55 (30 comments, 8 reshares, 100 +1s)

Lost in Time

Traveling to this small remote Chinese village truly felt like traveling back in time. The misty weather which would normally have made for a bad day of exploring only added to the magic.

2012-03-25 17:24:25 (25 comments, 3 reshares, 82 +1s)

The Song of the Wind

This image was taken recently during a private workshop at the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. The combination of very high winds and great light make for some excellent (and intense) shooting ops.

2012-02-29 00:32:57 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 28 +1s)

The application for the 2012 Colorado Photography Festival is now up at http://www.coloradophotographyfestival.com!

This festival will offer instructor from nine leading photographers, including Google + photographers +Colby Brown, +Marc Muench, +Dan Ballard, +Stephen Weaver, and myself +Grant Collier. It will take place over the weekend of August 11-12, 2012, with optional classes and workshops on August 10 and August 13-16. Some of the classes could fill up fast, so those who join now will have their choice of workshops. Find out more or sign up at: http://www.coloradophotographyfestival.com

2012-02-17 15:57:27 (25 comments, 3 reshares, 86 +1s)

Tornado Sirens?? Grab the camera!!!

For +#DAFT Friday and a late #damnneardiedthursday

I have found when there is a great chance of a Tornado......there is also a great chance of a stunning photograph. The storm chasers and I were going nuts following this system around a couple years ago.....everyone else was underground for some silly reason......

#photoextract

2012-02-11 00:55:11 (45 comments, 27 reshares, 171 +1s)

Sky of Fire

Wild fires burning In British Columbia helped to create possibly the most amazing sunrise I've ever seen.

Healy Pass, Banff National Park, Canada

#photoplusextract

2012-02-11 00:25:03 (39 comments, 14 reshares, 109 +1s)

"A Tale of Near Death in Tibet" Car + Cliff + Ice = Scary as Hell!!

For #damnneardiedthursday !!! Share your stories, long, short, scary, funny, adventurous or stupid!!!

The story below may just be scariest thing that has ever happened to me while traveling. I have been robbed at gun point twice, was almost thrown in jail in Syria, spent several crazy days in Iraq during the height of the conflict there, slept on the street most nights while hitchhiking through Europe and the Middle East, amongst other things and this was by far the closest I felt I have come to dying.

"A tale of near death in Tibet"

The mountainous area of western Tibet is a rarely explored mix of dizzying heights, culture, religion and often tragedy for those who choose to explore its upper reaches. For a landscape photographer it is heaven. Peaks reaching to over... more »

2012-02-09 23:07:23 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

"What Almost Killed You!?!?

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to create a place to share stories of dangerous, daring and flat out stupid adventures in Photography! This is it! Let me know if you have any ideas or thoughts to make this better. I am stilling leaning what I'm doing with this as well, so let me know about any mistakes.

We have all been there......hanging over the edge of the cliff to get the angle just right. Camera in one hand, minuscule branch in the other. Left foot in the air for balance. Significant other screaming somewhere in the background. But talk about great light!

The Rules are Simple:

Share images and short stories about that time when you almost "kicked the bucket" (or were at least kinda scared) while in hot pursuit of an image.

Use #DamnNearDiedThursday in your post.

2012-02-08 23:23:44 (42 comments, 14 reshares, 161 +1s)

Enchanted Land!

China's amazing landscapes are among the most dramatic in the world. These karst formations go for hundreds of miles!

#photoextractplus

2012-02-08 18:49:01 (14 comments, 7 reshares, 35 +1s)

+Zenfolio asked me to write a guest blog post on taking better images. I poured out a lot of info that I have learned over the last 8 years. Let me know what you think!

2012-02-08 01:48:57 (23 comments, 5 reshares, 78 +1s)

Delicate Sky

#photoextractplus

My girlfriend and I hiked in to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park a while back for this shot. It was really incredible being there at night.

I lit this with a small flashlight for about a minute. 20 min exposure F 6.3 ISO 640

2012-02-07 23:38:48 (10 comments, 7 reshares, 54 +1s)

2012-02-04 00:02:10 (46 comments, 40 reshares, 161 +1s)

"Eruption Under the Stars"

Photographing Mt. Bromo erupting at night was an incredible experience. The trip up to the look-out point was fun in itself, but seeing this shot on the LCD after a one minute exposure at 2.8 when I all I could see was a blanket of darkness in reality was amazing!

Mt. Bromo, East Java, Indonesia.

2012-01-27 02:03:36 (23 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

COLBY'S PHOTOGRAPHIC CIRCLE OF INSPIRATION

I have finally put together my 1st circle of photographers that I personally find inspiring. Nearly every genre of photography is represented here. These are individuals that are constantly providing photography work that speaks to me. They are hand picked and all active on G+. It includes full time professionals and amatures alike...all that create compelling photography. Everyone in this circle has less then 30k followers (although a few are very very close) and many have just a few hundred. Please enjoy...I know I have!

If you like what you find in this circle, please share it with your followers to help these individuals reach a wider audience. I will share more circles of those I find Inspiring in the future.

2012-01-26 14:34:01 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Selected Nature & Landscape Photographers (update v6)

Here's an update of the Nature & Landscape Photographers circle. I have reviewed 350 new requests and re-checked the existing 450 and selected the 400 photographers I liked best.

Want to get in? Leave a comment or contact me directly, if you feel you meet the criteria: an on-line portfolio with good images + posting nature and landscape work regularly on G+. Feel free to re-share!

Related lists: http://gpc.fm/l/nlpg and http://www.group.as/nature+and+landscape+photographers/

2012-01-24 16:09:32 (20 comments, 3 reshares, 67 +1s)

Webinar with Nik Software and Zenfolio!

Tomorrow at 10am pst I will be giving a free webinar on how I use Nik Silver Effex Pro 2 and present images in Zenfolio. Nik is limiting this webinar to 1000 people and it is almost completely full!

If you are not using Silver Effex to process Black & White images you are missing out.....it is incredible!!

I hope you can make it!

http://www.niksoftware.com/learnmore/usa/index.php/webinars/signup/12091

2012-01-22 23:35:30 (37 comments, 6 reshares, 106 +1s)

TETONS RISING!

In an extreme effort to capture the Grand Tetons in a different way (and because it was so foggy in Jackson we couldn't even see the Tetons), my friend Joe Roybal and I deiced to go above the clouds and look back down. It took optimism to believe such a vantage point even existed, lots of convince store crackers and good snowshoes, but we made it happen. It was -23 degrees.

Sorry for not being around on G+ lately. It has been a crazy month and I have been out of town for a couple weeks. After snowshoeing in the Tetons I flew directly to New Orleans to speak at a trade show for Zenfolio and I just got home.

A big thanks to BorrowLenses.com, who helped me out in a big way last minute with some gear for this trip! They are really in the photographers corner.

The Grand Tetons rising from the clouds from Sawtooth Range.

2011-12-17 16:34:40 (65 comments, 13 reshares, 128 +1s)

The Shape of the Wind / Photography Tip

Know what you are looking for and go after it!!!!

One of the most important elements in photography is to know what you want to show or "say" in your photograph. At the Great Sand Dunes a few weeks ago I knew exactly what I wanted. Strong curving lines. Clean simple composition. The form of the dunes. Next step. Go find what you want! When the light started to become more and more brilliant I had the urge to stop many times to take a picture but the elements were not all there. I knew that if continued to look for the exact conditions I wanted, I had a decent chance of finding them.

This is basically how I go about shooting in general even on a global scale. What areas not only inspire me, but have the elements that I am looking for? When I choose an area and visit, I then ask the same question at a... more »

2011-12-14 14:29:10 (12 comments, 5 reshares, 56 +1s)

I was very inspired this morning reading +Mike Shaw's post from a while back and so I have decided to share a portrait of mine from a recent trip to Indonesia. Check out Mike's post, it is really worth the read and something I also feel very strongly about. https://plus.google.com/102518365620075109973/posts/aXTFNfngwUH

2011-12-14 00:20:46 (68 comments, 25 reshares, 145 +1s)

I had lunch today with fellow Colorado photographer and friend +Colby Brown (you've probably never heard of him). Great guy and great photographer! He incourged me to get a G+ account months ago and he is the reason I am on here now. I am extremely glad he did. Great community, and great place to be inspired!

Moraine Lake

Shot with the new Nikon D4!!

(kidding)

2011-12-13 15:41:30 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

Purely Landscape V 1.0

Landscape photography is what I do. It's what I love and it is my passion. I have the beginning of what I feel are some of the best Landscape photographers on Google+.

I want to purify my circles and everyone has a place, it's a matter of which one everyone belongs in. This is the new beginning, it will grow but it will be done selectively and with intent.

What is the criteria?

- Approximately 95%+ of your images are Landscape photography (yes I include Seascape)
- Your posts consist of primarily landscape or related topic
- Nature is your passion


Now I know I have missed a few of you and this will be seen to in future versions as the circle is updated. I may need my memory updated ;-)

Is landscape photography your passion?

Please share to your circles.

2011-12-12 17:21:32 (21 comments, 3 reshares, 66 +1s)

Here is my offering for #MountainMonday

2011-12-11 22:29:51 (27 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Wow!!! Really going to have give this some thought......Talk about crazy high ISO!!! The D800 will be 36MP, which is great for landscapes but this thing will be incredible in low light.

2011-12-11 17:47:44 (35 comments, 10 reshares, 101 +1s)

In Search of Light

It is really quite incredible how much time we spend looking for a mere instant of magic.

What an indescribable feeling when we find it.

2011-12-11 15:11:07 (4 comments, 5 reshares, 37 +1s)

Soon I will re-edit some older pix, this one I did recent. It is NOT from a plane :)

2011-12-11 13:35:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Share Sunday
Earlier this week, I started a thread about what I missed from Twitter. (you can find it here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/112022983294967948367/posts/VRJMksfTMSD)

Basically, while I like the entire organization or metaphor for organization of circles, I still miss the #FF on Twitter each week.

So, I decided I would create a circle that I call Share Sunday. In that circle, I would collect the people that I have:

- Enjoyed interacting with
- Who's work or posts I enjoy
- Who I look forward to hearing from
- Who helps build the G+ Community

Each week, I decided I would share that list. Why a list..? as opposed to a circle..??

Well, one of the things I dislike about circles, is that when you add them all, you have some clean-up work to do. And if you get one with 500 in it, going through all of them prior to... more »

2011-12-10 00:41:47 (19 comments, 2 reshares, 61 +1s)

Colorado Storm

This was seriously one of the coolest skies I have ever seen. I almost killed myself trying to get over the very new, very wet barbed wire fence that separated me from putting this tree in front of it.

2011-12-08 01:27:30 (31 comments, 18 reshares, 102 +1s)

"Erupt!" Mt. Bromo, E. Java, Indonesia

To capture a moment in time when all the elements come together in perfect harmony is an amazing feeling. I had to be out of bed at 3:45am for a week straight to finally find these conditions, and I feel very, very lucky that I saw them at all. Even when Bromo is active, it can go for hours without erupting, and then it can go for days, erupting so often that visibility is zero. When I arrived in the area I never imagined I would get an image with Bromo erupting right at the peak of the morning light in perfectly clear conditions, with fog in the valley below. Out of the seven days we were in the area this was the only morning the fog rolled in.

2011-12-08 01:23:22 (41 comments, 26 reshares, 110 +1s)

"A Path to Wonder" Photography Tip

Never underestimate just how much detail a RAW image may have in an apparently blown-out (white) sky. This shot set on my computer unnoticed for about four months because the sky was so white it really didn't catch my eye as a good image. After I learned about the digital Grad ND Filter in Lightroom a couple years ago I went back and looked at all the images that just might have a great sky that I just couldn't see. You can imagine the shock when I pulled the filter over the top of this image and saw this sky/mist. It is now one of my favorite images, and it almost went unnoticed forever. I used a real Grad .9 ND filter for this as well which really saved the detail, just not detail I could see. If you think an image is completely lost and blown out, you very well my be correct,but I highly advise that you take a closer look at your... more »

2011-12-06 17:32:09 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 10 +1s)

Well, here it is. I've been talking about it for a while, but it's now ready for prime time!
My 2012 Morocco Tour: Rockin' the Kasbah is now open for registrations!
Click here for more information: http://younesbounhar.com/assignments-workshops/

Please share with your friends and circles. Thank you!

2011-12-06 17:21:54 (17 comments, 9 reshares, 51 +1s)

Here is a #TreeTuesday contribution....
hosted by
+Christina Lawrie

2011-12-08 01:22:57 (30 comments, 6 reshares, 88 +1s)

"Landscape Photography Tip" Using a Telephoto lens for landscape photography.

Amazing Karst formations in China. What a morning! I used a telephoto lens to compress and simplify this image. Using a tele lens is a great way to add something different to your landscape photography and pull something interesting from a busy scene. A wide angle lens is great, and most commonly used, but I find myself going for the tele at least 25% of the time.

2011-12-04 21:04:57 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Scrapbook Photos