Gas explosion in Jackson, WY

There was a large propane gas explosion in Jackson Hole, WY today. Here are some pictures showing the huge smoke plume in from Amerigas on Gregory Lane and High School Road. All businesses around the area have been evacuated, including Bell Fitness and Smith Food King.

Please email me if you want to use the full resolution images in your news article. These are only cropped down samples.

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All of these photos are © 2014 Aaron Linsdau.

Lightroom Keywording Tips, Tools, & Suggestions

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Keywords are integral for managing and finding images in Adobe’s Lightroom program.

Lightroom includes many ways of assigning keywords, but a few of them are less obvious than others. The goal is to develop some quick methods to let you get back behind the camera. Keywords are simply identifying words or titles you assign to an image that allow the search and filter features in Lightroom find images. From there, you can organize, view, process, export and print results. This page includes a few of my “real life” methods and steps. I photograph a lot of moose here in Grand Teton National Park, so the huge number of images I have in my catalog work as a great example.

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Keywords on Import

Import boxYou can always include a set of Keywords on import, but I only use that feature if all incoming images are of the same subject matter. At least in my case, that seldom happens. A typical shoot might include animals of several different species and random landscapes. A wedding photographer, on the other hand, might include keywords on import including the name of the wedding, bride, groom, family members, location, and so forth since almost all of them would apply to the same wedding.

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Basic Method

Basic Method

Basic Method: Just click in the text entry box of the Keyword Tags menu and manually type in keywords, separated by a comma. You can also click into the large box above it and add, edit or delete words there. Once you click off the box, the keywords are added into the upper box. LR will ignore duplicate keywords. If you accidentally put in a few repeats like “gold and cottonwoods” in my example, it is no big deal. You can add the same keywords to a group of images at one time by selecting them first, than applying the keywords. (Note: The odd numbers and alphanumeric strings in this example are part of my US Copyright submissions)

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Keyword Sets

Keyword Set Blank

Keyword Sets: This one is SO powerful! Just below the middle of the panel on the right is a section labeled Keyword Set. To enter a bunch of keywords quickly into the empty circle, all I had to do was click into any of the nine boxes under Keyword Set. (Note, this is a Keyword Set I created for Moose. More on that in a second).

Keyword Sets After Clicking

By simply clicking the four circled boxes, all the words in the upper box were added. No typing involved! Once one of the boxes is used, text turns white.

Keyword Set Comments: When I first started using Keyword sets, I felt limited to only nine descriptive words. There were only nine boxes. Somewhere along the line, I discovered I could add a series of associated keywords into one box. For example, if I am ever entering “moose”, I also know it is an animal, mammal, wildlife, ungulate, fur, hooves. Those can be added along with “moose” in one click. Most of my moose images are taken inside Grand Teton National park, so that group is Grand Teton National Park, GTNP, Jackson Hole, WY, Wyoming. Most are taken during the “Fall” so that word and any other related words is another group in the keyword set. If the animal is a bull, it will also likely have antlers, and be somehow associated with the rut. You can organize the keywords into logical groupings within the Keyword Sets in any combination that makes sense to you! Again, all it takes is one click for each group.

Keyword Set Access

Lightroom includes some default Keyword Sets like Outdoor Photography, Wedding Photography, Portrait Photography and so forth. Click the up/down arrow to see a list of keyword sets. As you can see, I am currently working with “Moose”, a Keyword Set I created. Here’s how….

Creating a New Set

Creating a New Set: It seems strange Adobe didn’t include “create a new Keyword Set” in this list. Instead, pick any of the existing Keyword Sets, then click “Save Current Settings as a New Preset” and give it a new name of your choice. Then click Edit Set…

Keyword Set Editor

Edit the Boxes: In this frame, simply add any desired keywords in any or all of the nine boxes. (Don’t add a comma at the end) In this case, I am allowing for adding cow and/or calf and an occasional resting moose. Click Change.

Update Set

Update Set: You might notice the word “edited” next to the Keyword Set “Moose”. Lightroom will allow you to work with an edited set without any repercussions, however if you were to choose a different Keyword Set, those changes will not be saved. To make permanent changes to the Keyword Set (preset), click the up/down arrow one more time and click “Update Preset Moose”. (Your preset name will likely be something else).

That’s it! You can create as many Keyword Sets as you need. I deleted a bunch of mine so I could show the lower set of commands in this post. They are easy to make, so it wasn’t a big deal to lose a few. Once a Keyword Set is created and saved, it is only a matter of hitting the up/down button and selecting it.

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Painter

Painter

Painter: I believe that’s what Adobe calls the tool. I think of this as a spray can for applying a keyword or group of keywords to random images while in the grid view. I recently created a Feature Post called Resting Moose: A Collection of Less Seen Lifestyle Images.  For the post, I needed to find resting moose images…lots of them! My folder of Moose currently has 20,000 images in it. If I had been diligent in my keywording over the past eight years, I could have easily brought up only “resting” moose. In fact, I did just that, but I also knew there were lots of them that didn’t appear in the search results. All I had to do was assign the word “resting” to the spray can, then go through the moose images and “spraying” the new keyword onto random images. Later, I searched for resting moose and produced the post using those images.

New Keywords

Spray Paint Keywords: For this example, I clicked on the paint can, then entered several associated keywords into the text field. You can see I already had the base keywords from the shoot using some of the Keyword Sets described earlier. But on this shoot, I had some images with the bull simply feeding alongside the other moose plus I captured some where the bull was doing a “lip curl”. Once the new keywords were set, all I need to do is click on any image while in the grid view.

Using the Paint Can

Spray Paint Keywords in Action: I clicked in three of the four thumbnails while the Paint can was active. Lightroom added all three keywords into each of the three images. This nifty little tool can come in very handy! As another example, a wedding photographer could include the basic keywords on import, then use the Spray Can to quickly add “John Smith, groom” to any photo he is in. You get the idea!

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Hybrid Methods

Manual Entry

Hybrid Entries: Just a quick reminder that entering the keywords is not an either/or option. It is more of an AND/AND/AND option! You can build the keyword list by using any of the methods I illustrated, including manual entries like the one above, or by simply copying and pasting keywords into the text entry box or into the large keyword box. You can also enter keywords into one image, then select additional, similar images and use the SYNC command. It’s located in the lower left of the large panel. If you look at the screen grab just above, you’ll see a list of grayed out keywords in a panel called “Keyword Suggestions”. Once you begin to add keywords to an image, Lightroom starts automatically modifying the words in the list based on your previous keyword entries. At any time, you can simply click on any of them and LR will add them to the current or selected group of images. Very nifty!

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The Wrap-Up

Both Photoshop and Lightroom offer multiple ways of completing similar tasks. Some methods may be faster or take less steps, but the results are usually the same. Most people find one way, get used to it and never learn of the faster method. Hopefully, some of the tips above will help. I am certain there are ways of accomplishing some the same tasks that are faster than the ones I presented, too. The tips above affect the portion of the program Lightroom calls the “Library” module. You might also hear companies call this segment “Data Asset Management” (D.A.M.). Lightroom does a great job with Data Asset Management, but it can also handle the processing of your images plus a long list of output options.

Lastly…Why use Lightroom? I wrote this page assuming readers already own and use Lightroom. But, for anyone not using it already, I highly recommend the program. If you take very many photos, you’ll quickly learn how difficult it can be to find specific images based on what folder you stored it in, or the date you think you took the image. Lightroom will allow you to find images stored in any of your folders and on any of your attached hard drives. Keywords are necessary to make the search results successful. For example, I could search for “Bull, Moose, Velvet, GTNP, 2012″. Results would eliminate moose in Yellowstone or moose with stripped antlers and only focus on the images I took that year. That’s what this post is all about…getting the keywords into your catalog so they can go to “work” for you!

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If this post helps you, please take the time to share it by clicking on any of the Social Media icons below and help spread the word about this site. Cheers, MJ

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Resting Moose: A Collection of Less Seen Lifestyle Images

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Moose spend much of the daylight hours bedded down after grazing during the pre-dawn and first light periods.

Over the past 8 years or so, I’ve taken thousands of shots of moose bedded down in various locations and under most conditions and light. Resting moose images probably aren’t as popular or romantic as ones crossing a stream or in some sort of rut behavior. I enjoy trying to capture them—but then, I also take photos of metal rusting and paint peeling! For viewers not around moose that often, this Feature Post should enlighten you about some of their lifestyle and behavior when they are not “posing” for us in the other classic shots. This page is loaded with some of my favorite resting moose images, along with some comments about them.

Custer Watching

Moose usually bed down within an hour of the first light hitting the valley floor. They may continue to graze at the edges of the forest or move to the relative safety of the willow trees, but you’ll seldom them find them standing in the sagebrush during the heat of the day. To get resting moose shots, all you have to do is stay with them in the morning until they go down. It’s a given.

blade of grass

After feeding and going through their morning rut behavior, moose move to a cool, shady spot. They do a good job of bedding down in a place with small stems or branches in front of them. You’d almost think they do it to annoy photographers! Since I live here and get plenty of opportunities, I typically don’t photograph one with stems in their face unless the rest of the scene is outstanding.

blade of grass removed

It is possible to remove small imperfections in Photoshop. The “content aware” healing brushes can work wonders. It all depends on how much of a purist you are and how many days you can spend photographing them.

removing branch

It doesn’t happen that often, but occasionally a moose will reach out and chew off a branch or stem, cleaning up the scene the natural way!

cleaned scene

Perfect! No Photoshop needed on that pesky branch!

Moose in Sagebrush

I’d like to get more of this kind of image showing some of the distant mountains. Normally, I am out with a 200-400mm lens. It takes something wider like a 70-200mm lens to include much of the environment. Ideally, I’d be about 10 feet from the moose with a short lens to let them fill the frame—but that would be illegal and dangerous. They never seem to be alarmed or concerned with me at 35-40 yards out. Most moose in GTNP were born here and have grown up with photographers and tourists around them. As long as people don’t abuse the privilege, GTNP moose appear to view us no differently than any other grazing pronghorn, elk, or bison they see in the same areas. Back country moose “might” be less tolerant and either run or charge.

Moose in Sagebrush

Early morning or late evening light always help “romance” an image. A little “catch light” in the eyes helps most images, too.

The little bull

While this little bull has a lot of character, it is more of novelty shot for me. My rule of thumb is “shoot now” and try to decide if it has any long term value later. This particular image makes a great addition to this post, but who knew in 2008 I’d be writing a blog post in 2014. I didn’t know what a blog was in 2008.

Washakie

I tend to spend more time following the larger bulls and taking their photos—even the resting versions. They are wonderful subjects with a lot of expression and character! A bull will typically yawn once or twice after lying down. They also stretch their neck once or twice before settling into an extended nap.

Flat Out

Most “sleep” with their head up.  They can close their eyes, yet listen for threatening sounds by swiveling their ears in any direction. It is not uncommon to watch a moose’s head bob from semi-consciousness to full sleep like I used to do in a 7:00 am art history slide show back in college. Sometimes they roll over on their side, as seen above.

Completely out

Occasionally, one of the big bulls will fall asleep…all lights out! The fall rut can drain their energy.

awake

This bull woke up with snow stuck to his antler. He slept for roughly 15 minutes.

legs showing

This bull bedded down in an open area, revealing his folded legs. This kind of shot isn’t too common.

Two Bulls

If one resting bull is good, then two resting bulls must be even better!

Six bulls

Then again, if two bulls are good, six bulls are much better!

Bull and Cow

During the fall rut, bulls stay fairly close to the prime cows.

Gentle Prodding

It’s rewarding to be able to capture behavioral shots, too! This bull was prodding the cow to get up for a little “action”.

stacked calf and bull

This little frisky calf bedded down on a sand bar. The bull walked up, got a drink and bedded down next to the water. I shot this scene from several angles, but liked this one best.

curious young bull

Large bulls are often amazingly tolerant of a smaller bull. During the heat of the rut, you’ll seldom find two of the large bulls that friendly around each other.

after the rut

After the rut, bulls often reassemble in small groups. One year, quite a while back, I counted 28 antlered moose in one area, plus several I was sure were bulls that had already lost their antlers. I haven’t seen that many since, and reports indicate moose populations have been on the decline. Once moose bed down in the sagebrush, they can be difficult to spot, made worse once their fur gets covered with snow.

Lost Antler

By mid-December, some of the bulls shed their antlers. This bull had apparently just lost one of his. The off-balance effect of having only one antler must be hard on them. This bull was following a group of around 6 bulls but was constantly bedding down to rest while the others continued to graze.

On lost antler

I’ve heard it said the largest bulls lose their antlers first, but I am not so sure that is a correct statement. I don’t really see much of a pattern to it at all.

Washakie

Most tourists visit Jackson Hole during the Summer and Fall and never get to see moose in snow like this.

getting up

What goes down, must come up! Newton didn’t exactly say it that way, I guess. If you are willing to wait him out, a resting moose will eventually get up. They almost always do a unique “stretch” of their back and neck before being ready to continue with the rut or feeding again. Click this image to see it much larger!

cow with calves

I typically don’t take that many shots of resting cows. In the early part of June, moose are shaggy and not too “pretty”—and that’s being polite! Early June is also about the time the cows show up with newborn calves. Exceptions have to be made!

Cow in the river

This is another example of capturing a resting cow moose while doing something unique. By mid-August, afternoons can get warm enough to bake their dark fur.

Youngster

This young calf was just too cute to pass up!

in the pool

Okay, I would have photographed this bull in velvet whether he was in the sagebrush, willows, or grass, but catching him in a cool pool was a a treat.

with a rope

Once a bull’s antlers get to a point the velvet is ready to scrape off, they rub their antlers against just about anything they can find. Apparently, this bull found a worthy tent or clothes line. The line must have affected his desire to finish the velvet stripping. Luckily for the moose, both antlers would be falling off in December and he’d be ready to start over next year. Bulls start stripping their velvet a few days either side of Labor Day, but not all begin at the same time.

Scratching

Bull Moose seldom spar until they have had a chance to strip off all of their velvet. Once stripped and their antlers polished, they become a multi-purpose tool. When bedded down, they often use their antlers to scratch their back. By late December and into early January, he’ll lose his back built-in scratcher.

Washakie

This venerable bull moose (I call “Washakie“) has been one of my favorite subjects. I first photographed him with a digital camera in 2006. He was an impressive bull even back then, but each year, his antlers have been getting larger and more distinctive. He’s in quite a few of the images in this post above. He spends much of August near the big pull out along the Gros Ventre river feeding on fresh willow leaves and stems. During the rut, he can roam along the Gros Ventre all the way from the highway to the town of Kelly. As the willow leaves wain, moose begin to switch their diet to bitter brush, which grows alongside sagebrush in the open flats. This shot, taken in mid-November (only a few days ago), will probably be one of the last images I get of Washakie this year. He has snow on his face from pushing snow away to get to the low bitter brush. Their long legs allow them to pass over high snow and tall sagebrush. Their thick fur allows them to tolerate -30°F temps and heavy winds. They can sometimes be found near the roads near Ditch Creek road, but eventually, they move on West and out of range for most people.

Frozen Water Source

During the coldest periods of winter, finding water might be a moose’s biggest challenge. This irrigation ditch originates at the Kelly Warm Springs and travels towards the Mormon Row barns. Most parts of Ditch Creek freeze solid, but I believe moose move away from the roads and towards this irrigation ditch for the chances to break through the ice. Once an opening is found, other moose drink from the same spot. While this isn’t a resting moose photo, it goes with the preceding image and caption.

I am working on another Feature Post containing a collection of “unique” moose activities, similar to the one above. Now’s a great time to sign up to follow this blog if you haven’t done so. You’ll receive an email notifying you of any new feature posts. This photo makes me smile. It reminds me of a story about one of my young nephews. His mother had quoted the line from the Bible that goes something like, “And, Jesus walked on the water”. My nephew pondered it a minute…then said, “Must have been damned cold”.

Shooting Info

Most of these shots were taken with a Nikon 200-400mm lens at a range of around 40 yards. Most have a little cropping. The early images were taken with a Nikon 300 and later shots were taken with either a Nikon D4 or a Nikon 800. Resting moose seldom move their head too fast, so shutter speeds are not much of an issue. The distance from the tip of the nose to his ears is close to 2 feet. Lower shutter speeds and smaller apertures normally work fine. If looking at me, I typically focus on their eyes and let their muzzle go out of focus slightly. When at a 3/4 pose, most of the face will be sharp.

depth of field

Shooting Comments

For this Feature Post, I went through around 20,000 moose images and found around 1500 resting moose shots. No telling how many thousand additional resting moose shots I took and deleted. I included way more images on this page than some might think is appropriate for a blog post, but I tried to find images with some sort of unique nature or quality. When you are out in the field, it is way too easy to set up on a tripod and shoot 300-400 images of essentially the same pose of a resting moose. That just means you spend a lot of time having to cull a bunch of them. Over the years, I shoot less of them and cull more of them. I’d probably be much more discrete if I had to change rolls after every 36 captures.

If I find a nice bull moose in the morning and stay with him until he beds down, I typically head home or go somewhere else during the middle of the day. Moose sometimes get up in the middle of the day, but usually only to switch sides or move to a new shady spot. If I go back in the afternoon, they are seldom more than 50-70 yards from where I left them in the morning. I will usually be more tempted to go back in the afternoon if I left them bedded down somewhere near the river. They usually go to the water once a day, sometimes crossing after taking a good drink. Wild mustangs, elk, and pronghorns males “herd” their harem, usually away from other males. During the rut, bull moose normally just follow the “hot” cow wherever she goes instead of trying to keep her in a specific area.

Maybe you’ll agree—even when they are just resting, moose are incredibly captivating animals.

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Please note: Images on this page are fully protected with an official copyright at the US Copyright Office.  No unauthorized use is granted.

If you like this post, please take the time to click any of the Social Media icons below and share the page with your friends and associates. Hope you enjoy the images and comments. Cheers! Mike Jackson

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Post-processing symposium

DSC03347smThis weekend the Teton Photography Group is hosting their 3rd symposium, Post Processing for Digital Photography in the Black Box theater at the Art Center in Jackson Hole.

If you have taken many photographs but aren’t sure how to process them to get them to the next level, this is the event to attend.

Many photographers take shots and then just email/print/post them as is and they receive a tepid response. Why is this? Because they aren’t sure what their final image was going to look like when they took the shot. Visualization of what the final product is going to look like is of the utmost importance when photographing. Otherwise you end up with shots looking like they were taken in a parking lot.

You will be motivated and excited by the speakers, as all of us have experience in how to make images better. But it’s not about our ability to make images better, it’s about us teaching you how to make YOUR shots better. All of the speakers are entertaining, educational and, most importantly, accessible. We do our best to answer questions and to help guide you through the labyrinth of photo editing.

9 panel, 3-d panorama stitch

9 panel, 3-d panorama stitch

This symposium will cover some shooting and composition with respect to post processing, that is, what you do after you click the shutter. How do you use Lightroom, what’s the best way to edit your shots, and more advanced techniques for:

  • Panorama multi-image shooting
  • HDR (high dynamic range) images
  • Focus stacking
  • Black and white processing

These symposiums have been very well received because attendees get a lot of education for their time and the nominal cost. If you have ever wanted to learn the basics of how to make your photographs look better, this is the event to attend.

Click here for the symposium link and become a better photographer today.

Jackson Hole Daily news article about the symposium

Jackson Hole Daily news article about the symposium