Just returned from speaking and teaching at a unique symposium, Shoot the West, in Winnemucca, NV. I didn’t know much about this area when I arrived, but what I found was a location rich with interesting history, ghost towns, cowboys, basque herders, historic buildings and some of the friendliest people you will meet. I taught a location lighting class with the help of Dave Erickson and Craig Moore who I met at a Manfrotto event a year ago, and also spoke at the conference about adventure sports shooting. For the lighting class we shot skateboarders and bikers at the local skate park, and these kids were really talented. All that was needed was huge power from the Elinchrom Rangers and we were set. The students got some great images! I also got to judge a photo contest that was part of the symposium, fantastic work documenting cowboy life and the West in general.
I had a little free time before the conference and drove out to Paradise Valley to a ghost town. I love exploring these areas, and the tilt shift lens seemed to be the right choice for adding even more mystery to the image. Tech: Nikon D3, 45mm tilt-shift, 1/800 at F2.8, ISO 200.