Volunteer in Parks (VIP, in park service-speak)
Been doing this since 2005 – drafted by the head district ranger
Donated thousands of images during that time
In reward, the park service has used many of them
Often as the main posters for their biggest events such as
75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and
Shenandoah National Park’s 75th anniversary
As well as newsletters, brochures & visitor center displays
Following in the footsteps of other park service volunteers….
Some guy name Ansel something-or-other was one
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Click for full screen
Timber Hollow Overlook Panorama
Nikon D800E, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 @ 70mm
11 images, vertical orientation, stitched
Full resolution – 90″ x 23″ at 300 dpi
More recently did this with the 70-200 @ 200mm
22 images, vertical, should double the size/res of the above
15 feet wide at 300 dpi – that’s big
Zooming shows windows in buildings down in the valley 
I’ll post this latest one another day
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Shooting panoramas (well) -
Tripod
Everything level (tripod & camera)
Everything manual (exposure, focus, WB, ISO…. EVERYTHING)
Set it for the 1st exposure and do not change ANYTHING
NO polarizer
Something like 1/3 overlap from exposure to exposure
Do all of that, use any decent stitching software, and you’ll have a seamless panorama like the above.
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Shenandoah NP is in the midst of a 3-year project to redo all of their signage.
One such signage are large displays at overlooks along Skyline Drive
Their camera (which I decline to use) is a 43 MP Hasselblad
I offered to shoot a test shot for them with my D800E
This is the first one I tried (purely a test, not great photography)
Terrible day with haze across the Shenandoah Valley
The nearest mountain range, barely visible, is only 5 miles away
Unfortunately this pollution is getting more & more common
Since it’s 90 minutes travel time for me, getting here on a clear day is going to be a problem
It requires more than clear sky
I don’t know how to predict “haze free” except to go look
Did I mention – 90 minutes one-way (and park service doesn’t pay, even for gas)
Gotta’ figure something out since I try NOT to go to the park on clear days and doing this “just in case” isn’t going to happen much
Needless to say, after the park service processed it, they were enthused
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SNP 75th Anniversary Poster
CCC 75th Anniversary
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Tags: Art Photography, Nik Software, Photography, Photography Composition, Photography How To, Photography Tips, Photography Tutorial, Visual Design
