Fall 2019 trip to the National Parks with My Olympus Micro 4/3
by Christian Delbert
Hello Steve,
After having looked at your new review of the Olympus EM5 MKIII, I figured some of your readers might be interested in seeing some B & W images that I took in early Oct. Same company, different models. Actually, I think the new Olympus would be an even better travel camera. Same features but smaller and lighter.
My travel kit was the tried and true EM1 and EM1 MK II. Plus the beautiful triumvirate of lenses, the 7-14mm, 12-40mm and 40-150mm, all f/2.8. A bit heavy but light compared to my old ( but still good! ) Kodak DCS 760. If I really think about it, I could have taken the same photos with my lighter and slower Olympus lenses. But, I carried around the beautiful trio for that just in case moment.
Fall is a good time for the national parks that I went to. Zion, Brice, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon, all in 12 days. Too many parks, too little time. Next time I might do a park a week. This time it was just reconnaissance trip to see what was there. The weather was perfect, 75 degrees during the day and 45 at night. Not one day of rain and hardly a cloud in the sky ( too bad, I hate to let a cloud go to waste! ).
Drove 2000 miles in a rented Ford Fusion that I acquired a fondness for. I even did the 17 mile Monument Valley drive with it. I was surrounded by SUVs but the sedan had just enough ground clearance. It also had a top speed of 135 mph, which I tested against a big diesel pick up truck on one of those deserted mile long straights. He stopped at 125 mph.
The following are quick B & W images that I made for another purpose. The color images are for another time or you can see them on the link provided: https://cdelbert.zenfolio.com/p71791628 I brought too many memory cards but better safe than sorry. No mechanical failures of any kind.
And for those interested, hotels went for $ 75 to $ 250 a night. The rent a car was $ 28/day. Lots of convertible Ford Mustangs driven by white-haired baby boomers. About $ 75/day.
And lastly, the crowds were not too bad. Few children because they were in school. Mostly seniors like myself and foreign tourists. Never had to wait more than 5 minutes in the parking lots for a spot. Overall, very impressed with the scenery, having travelled to Patagonia and New Zealand. We can hold our own in the nature department!
Well, til maybe a month from now when I will submit some of my color photos and more miscellaneous ramblings!
Take care,
Christian
Thanks all for the nice comments! As some have mentioned, these national parks are first and foremost color vistas. When I got there, I said to myself, ” what would Ansel Adams and Edward Weston do in 1938?” Different mindset is required for B & W. But being a film photographer for 30 years of my life, I was able to ” pre-visualize ” some of the scenes that would make it in B & W. I learned from my past trial and error!
Absolutely awesome work. I’m a big fan of B&W photography, and the Oly M4/3 system. Your talent makes a brilliant case for both. Congratulations!
I love that third image. It feels 3D. Now off to your color photos.
I find the B&W images arresting and really like the tonality you have chosen. I then went over to the color versions and enjoyed them, but it is still your B&W conversions I find the most satisfying.
Awesome shots! I’m not sure I would have chosen your style of processing on a few of these but I love the compositions and feel of the photos.
Very enjoyable set of images, black and white & colour – I must visit this part of the world one day. Cheers AK (London UK)
Nice images. I really enjoyed the ‘travelogue’ aspect though!
Wow. The images on the color site are simply stunning.
Love this series. The first and the last two photos really caught my eye.
Any chance of let us know the exposure settings and/or postprocessing to get these wonderful images?
Exposures and setting were all over the place. I tried to do mostly f/5 and even f/22 when shooting directly in the sun……to create a star burst effect. Let diffraction be damned! I only watched out for shutter speeds on my fantastic 40-150mm f/2.8. As it turned out, Olympus’s excellent IBIS solved all my potential motion problems. That’s one of the main reasons I went to Olympus…….I love contrast and the strong S curve is my friend.
Very nice. I’ve traveled the area extensively. Love the B & W; however, a few shots of color would be nice for those who have never been or contemplating going to see the rich orange rocks and deep blue sky.
Color coming in about a week………
Love the pics, have traveled that area extensively. Love the B & W…….however, a few color shots would be nice to show others who have not been the beauty of the orange rock and deep blue sky.
Interesting and very cool photos. Instead of colors you have processed the pictures with a focus on textures and contrasts. I like it! The third landscape from the top is my favourite!
Cheers, Stefan
Interesting. But weirdly over-processed. Especially apparent in your color version. Some of the images look really weird due to that.
But good framing.
I’m a weird kind of guy, what can I say. Straight is for other people.
Over-processed in what way ?? Color versions look amazing !
For landscapes and wild life I prefer colors. Cheers
I think they come out rather well in b&w, particularly like that Bryce shot (#3). Each to their own, you might have to wait a month for him to publish the colour ones. Cheers
Amazing
Parks are known for their colorful qualities. Black and White seems odd.
Wait until Ansel Adams hears this.
Ansel did go to some of these parks but none of those images made it as some of his best. Maybe a bad hair day?
Re: Your “odd” comment, Ansel Adams and Edward Westin must be rolling in their graves. Look ’em up and learn where this beautiful style came from!
I think Ansel Adams might disagree…
Tell that to Ansel Adams and Edward Weston………