Sunset on Sandia Peak

Sandia Sunset                                          Sandia Peak with clouds at sunset

Photography "GURU"

For over a year, I have been submitting photos to the “Gurushots” Photography Challenges. It seems that I started on the challenge in the system’s infancy. In that time, the number of submissions have skyrocketed and the number of my achievements have tapered off. That says that I hit most of the requirements early in the history of the challenges.

When I started the challenges, I was not so much interested as “winning” by submitting my best photos. Instead I tried to submit the 4 (usually – some challenges had other requirements) photos that highlight the breadth of my skills for each of the challenges.

There are about 900 photos that I have saved/archived on my web site. Most are not view-able by on the web site. While selecting photos for the challenges, I ended up participating 160 challenges. For each challenge, my entree collections started hitting the “Popular”, “Skilled”, “Premier”, “Elite” and “All-Star” levels. Others participating in the challenges vote for the better photos. There were 3 winners in each of the challenges – Most Votes, Best Collection, and Guru’s Pick. Participants started as “Newbie”. Progressed to “Rookie”, “Challenger”, “Advanced”, “Veteran”, “Expert”, “Champion”, “Master”, and finally “Guru”.

Here are the requirements for achieving “Guru” status:

GuruShots Points – 150,000

Achieve “All-Star” level - 30 collections

Win the challenge – 1

Selected as “Guru Pick” - 5

As a “Guru” I will be able to create challenges. Not sure that I will do that. When I won the “RAW” Challenge, I was sent at camera trigger for smart phones.

It has been an interesting exercise. I looked at and judged thousands of photos. There were a lot of photos submitted, many are good, few are awesome, and some were not worth posting. Each time my collections hit the “All-Star” level, I posted my entrees on my photography blog.

I am not sure that I would take advantage on the opportunity to run a challenge. I am happy that I achieved “GURU” status. Think its time to spent the time in writing my memoirs and updating my web sites.

Panoramic Shots Challenge

I have been playing these Gurushot's challenges for some time.  A couple times, I have encountered the same/similar challenges.  Since I am getting close to the Guru level (144635 points, with 150,000 needed) I am anxious to complete the goal.  There have been numerous changes on the system and many more photographers in the challenge.  All this, I am getting tired of the challenges.  Some of the requirements for "Guru" I achieved early, not sure I could get those acheivements these days.  So, I am looking forward to finished the system.

This week, I achieved (for the second time, with the same photos) "All-Star" level for my collection of Panoramic photos.  Here are my entrees...

MonumentValpan3t           Monument Valley 2

MechanicsCorral    Ruins of the Mechanics Corral at Fort Union, NM

MonumentValPan4t      Monumnet Valley

NeedlesPano              Needles section of Canyonlands National Park

Shooting the State Fair Rodeo

My main interest in the New Mexico State Fair was to attend one of the rodeo performances.  It was the first time I attended the New Mexico fair.  Was not sure if the rodeo would be inside or outside. When I researched the venue, I found out the rodeo is being held in the Tingley Coliseum, and indoor venue.

The indoor venue meant I would he shooting under lower light conditions.  My cousin in Albuquerque accompanied me in the fair & rodeo.  Arrived early for the rodeo to check out the fair a little and grab some food.  We arrived just in time to see a couple dock jumping dogs (ALA David Letterman).  Walked around a little, but soon my left knee was giving me problems.  We staarted headed toward the coliseum for the rodeo.

Dock Dogs (DockDogs)

I brought my camera bag with my Canon 60D and Tamron 18-200mm lens.  As we were able to sit in the center of the coliseum seating, I realized that I would be able to shoot the whole rodeo with the one lens - no need to use any of the other lenses I had with me in the camera bag.

Dressed for the Rodeo (OutsideColiseum)

I set about to setting the camera for the shoot.  I realized I would need to use a high ISO setting.  Settling on ISO 3200.  Camera mode was Auto White Balance and Aperture Priority.  This gave me shutter speeds of 1/80 to 1/125 sec.

It was Military day at the State Fair. Both being veterans, my cousin and I got into the fair for $2 each.  The rodeo show was also geared to the military and veteran's.  Was a special tribute the us Vietnam Vets. 

Started using auto focus.  The camera could not keep up with the action.  I changed to manual focus.  This was the first time I shot so many photos with manual focus while also changing the lens focal length.

 Team Roping (TeamRoping)

The camera was shooting both RAW and JPG at the same time.  I have been doing this typically, so I can get quick edits for facebook, my blogs, and my web site.  When I want some for commercial uses or enlargements, I reprocess the photos from the camera RAW.

 Barrel Racing (BarrelRacing)

We enjoyed the rodeo.  The cowboys and cowgirls gave us a good show. The stock (calves, horses, and bulls) won the rodeo in our scoring.

Cowboy Faceplant (CowboyFaceplant)

I learned a lot of running my camera in low light conditions.  The camera and software preformed like a champ under these conditions.  All photos at the rodeo were processed by Photoshop Elements 9.  While I shot about 150 frames, there just under 100 that are worth posting on my web site.  Soon, the web site page will be created and photos will be posted.

Bull Riding (BullRiding)

These blog photos are available for sale.  Click on the "download" button under the photo.  You can order a full sized photo file without watermark.

Striking Compositions Challenge

Was not sure my photos would reach "All-Star" level in Gurushots "Striking Compositions Challenge".  With a day left in the challenge, my group of photos reached that level.  My selections are shown below.  As usual, photo files can be ordered by clicking on the "download" button beneath the photo.

AshlandOreDock             Now dismantled ore dock in Ashland, WI

TheWindow                Monument Valley Tribal Park, AZ/UT

ManyGlacierView                   Glacier National Park, MT

TetonBikeView                     Grand Teton Mountains view from the park's bicycle trail

Valles Caldera

Sunday, I made a return trip to Valles Caldera - New Mexico's Super Volcano.   My photos can be seen on my web site.  http://tomwinfield.com/new-mexico/valles-caldera.html

Scenic Mountains Challemge

My selections for the Scenic Mountains Challenge  has reached Gurushots "All-Star" level.  I have always enjoyed shooting mountain landscapes. To order a photo file of one of these or any of my other photos, click the "download" button under the photo.

BurrowsPark                     Along the Alpine Loop near Lake City, CO

ManyGlacierView    (one of Guru's Picks)            Glacier National Park, MT

LochVale                            Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

TetonView                        Grand Teton National Park, WY