PANORAMIC MERGER IN DEPTH: TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE

View in HD: The depth and enlargeability of an ultra-hi-rez panoramic-merger.

Panoramic Mergers. I stumbled across the technique a decade ago when I was wishing for a wider angle lens for my medium format film camera.

On an amazingly calm Patagonian morning last month this scene could have been easily captured with a single frame with my Nikon D810, but by instead making a panoramic-merger from 8 images I created this highly-enlargeable, 80-megapixel image. Have I mentioned that I love this stuff?

Check out this gallery of select panoramic mergers. You can view this image full screen there.

NEW PRINTS AVAILABLE

I just posted some new images to the print gallery. Here are some new ones from Patagonia.

Patagonia Time-lapse: Cerro Torre While We Slept...

We had an amazing star show as we slept at Lago Torre in Argentina. Even more rare -- calm water in these wind ravaged mountains. It was a rare opportunity and I left both my Nikons (D810 and D750) running as we tucked into our tent that night. Watching this video makes me long to get back there.

Patagonia Slideshow: Cerro Torre

The legendary Cerro Torre in argentinian Patagonia

El Chalten, Argentina is the jumping off point for two of Patagonia's biggest and most famous mountains: Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. A quaint little adventure town, El Chalten has more backpacker hostels than houses, only a few paved streets and no less than 4 outdoor gear shops and 2 microbreweries. Think Mos Eisley from Star Wars; this is a jumping off point for adventurers and climbers from all over the world. It's my kind of place.

As Stacey and I arrived, our rented VW van (a.k.a. Home) conveniently broke down. There's really no place I'd rather be stuck for a few days. The weather forecast was for a night of calm before the next storm rolled in, so we packed up the tent and stove and headed up the nine kilometer trail to Lago Torre at the base of Cerro Torre.

Any concern about Stacey being six months pregnant dissolved as we started the trek. What a trooper! It was a blast climbing alongside waterfalls, under high alpine forest with fresh spring leaves, through a burned section of woods and finally into the high alpine ice and snow below Cerro Torre.

If the surrounding peaks look like Patagonia's teeth, Cerro Torre is the fang. Standing at it's base you have no doubt why mountaineers believed it unclimbable for so long. The sheer granite walls rise thousands of feet only to be capped by a crazy ice mushroom formed from the relentless southern winds. One thing is for sure: it is spectacularly beautiful.

We had an incredible time. The mountain gave us a rare calm night up there. The lake reflected, the stars put on a show, clouds came in the morning, we met a Magelanic Woodpecker in the woods and got out right before the next storm rolled in. Perfect. 

First Light

Dawn lights Cerro Torre at Lago Torre

Rock Water & Ice

Cerro Torre relfects at dawn with new ice on Lago Torre.

On The Edge

At the edge of Lago Torre

Clouds Roll In

Ultra-Hi-Resolution Panoramic Merger of Lago Torre.

Cerro Torre

An enigmatic mountain

Taking it in.

One of my favorite places I've ever sat.

Cerro Torre's Top

No easy way up.

A View to Remember

Close Encounter

I was glad I had my camera close when we stumbled upon this male Magelanic Woodpecker.

Here comes the storm

Looking back that night... We timed our trip perfectly.

Cerro Torre Pink

Cerro Torre at dusk

F-Stop Sukha

My Pack was loaded for Timelapse and Stills

Stacey in the woods

Stacey carried more precious cargo

Patagonian Woods

Spring leaves in the Patagonian trees

Stacey at Lago Torre

Stacey's First sight of Cerro Torre

Icebergs and Reflections

Cerro Torre reflected in Lago Torre

Rock and Ice

Lago Torre

Stars above

Stars over Cerro Torre

First Light

Dawn lights Cerro Torre at Lago Torre

Rock Water & Ice

Cerro Torre relfects at dawn with new ice on Lago Torre.

On The Edge

At the edge of Lago Torre

Clouds Roll In

Ultra-Hi-Resolution Panoramic Merger of Lago Torre.

Cerro Torre

An enigmatic mountain

Taking it in.

One of my favorite places I've ever sat.

Cerro Torre's Top

No easy way up.

A View to Remember

Close Encounter

I was glad I had my camera close when we stumbled upon this male Magelanic Woodpecker.

Here comes the storm

Looking back that night... We timed our trip perfectly.

PATAGONIA SLIDESHOW: 1) TIERRA DEL FUEGO TO TORRES DEL PAINE

I've seen a lot of gorgeous mountains, but Torres Del Paine? It's something special... (self portrait @ dawn)

This first week here has been absolutely incredible. We flew into Punta Arenas with John & Yva, got our TDI VW vans, built makeshift mattress platforms out of plywood and plastic soda crates. To test the system out we hopped a ferry and road tripped south to see a new King Penguin colony on Tierra Del Fuego before heading north through Puerto Natales to the mind bending mountains, lakes and skies of Torres Del Paine (Pine-nee) National Park. We are in some very wild country here. Data is limited and I'll have few opportunities to write and upload. I'm putting a slideshow of a few favorite moments below and will try to do more of the same as access allows.

This is an incredible adventure in the early spring of these southern wilds. It's often cold and extremely windy. Sometimes it's tough to get out of the van at 5:30 for sunrise. But the hot coffee Stacey brews for me when I return is so amazing; it's those little things that I love most in life... Stacey is enjoying this trip to the hilt. We're a couple of days from the 3rd trimester and she's the worlds greatest trooper. Maybe a little slower than normal on the hikes (or a lot slower), but a total rockstar with nary a complaint despite sleeping in crazy mountains with sub-polar-freezing winds roaring outside our dusty uninsulated van.

I have nearly 200GB of panoramics and photos to edit just from this first week. We plan to move slowly northeast from Chile into Argentina to see the legendary mountains of Cerro Fitzroy, Cerro Torre and the towns and glaciers around them. Then we'll likely head back to Torres Del Paine to see baby Guanacos as they are born before heading home in 3 weeks. 

Did I ever mention that I love this stuff...???

ON THE PLANE TO PATAGONIA

I'm writing this with Stacey beside me on the first of three long flights that will take us from fall color in the Northwest to spring flowers in Punta Arenas near the southern tip of Chile. The Sub-antarctic! Several rows behind are our friends the incomparable photographers John Eastcott and Yva Momatiuk who have travelled these southern granite mountains and glaciers many times over the past 3 decades. If you haven't explored their website's galleries and read Yva's stories from the road, then you really should. Over the years John and Yva have evolved from friends to mentors and then become family to Stacey and I.

This adventure is exciting for a number of reasons. Of course it is a photographic journey I've dreamed of for years, but it is also a very special family trip. Stacey and I are bringing a new little life along inside of her. We are expecting our first child in February. A boy. 

Stacey and I can't think of a better way to season our new little guy for his arrival than by living for a month in rented vans driving through some of the planet's most spectacular mountains, lakes, and glaciers with his Uncle John and Auntie Yva. So... with our doctor's "arched-eyebrow-blessing" we are off. These four duffles are in the hold. My brand new F-stop Sukha bag is overhead with the D810, D750 and a lot of glass. Tripods, cookstoves and warm clothes are in the hold. I'll share as much as data connections in the wild allow.

Let the Adventure begin...

EUROPE 2015 SLIDESHOW PART II: ITALY (Stromboli & Amalfi)

Stromboli Fire

Strombolian eruption just after sunset. Those are boats on the Mediterranean below.

Stromboli Hydrofoil

The boat that took Stacey and I from Naples to Stromboli.

Stromboli Sunset

We arrived just in time to watch the sun set behind the island volcano.

Stromboli Bluehour

Sailboats anchored off Stromboli at dusk.

Mediterranean Sunrise

Sunrises behind two sailboats anchored off Stromboli with clouds.

Climbing Sromboli

Stacey heads up the dusty volcanic trail. Boots like this are available to rent on the island.

The Fast Way Down

A motorized paraglider launches off Stromboli

Perfect Timing

Stacey watches Stromboli erupt as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.

Stromboli Smoke

Stromboli blows smoke as the sun rims down.

Stromboli Fire

Strombolian eruption just after sunset. Those are boats on the Mediterranean below.

Our Pad

Our cute Airbnb flat on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

The Beach Itallian Style

The beach at Amalfi

Hiking the Amalfi Coast

We loved hiking the ancient trails above Italy's Amalfi coast.

The spectacular Amalfi Coast

Looking West high above Italy's Amalfi Coast toward Positano. Ridge after glorious ridge.

Atrani Sunrise

The sun rises over Italy's Amalfi Coast. The chairs are set for the day's beachgoers.

Amalfi Kittens

We found these adorable little cats in Amalfi, Italy.

Leaving Italy

Boarding the plane for Paris.

I'm writing this from a cozy rooftop Airbnb flat across the street from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Italy is in the rear view mirror.

What a fabulous time Stacey and I had there. The beauty, the craziness, the food... Pizza in Naples, adventures on busses on insanely narrow mountain roads, climbing Stromboli, the shellfish linguine in Amalfi, hydrofoils and hiking the Sentieri Degli Dei (Pathway to the Gods). Looking back -- the past week feels like a lifetime; it will take more than 1000 words to tell the tale. Instead I'll leave you with these snapshots while we explore France...

-Hudson

EUROPE 2015 PART I: TURKEY AND GREECE

We have to leave the windmill tomorrow... Stacey and I've spent most of the past week in this amazing windmill high on the Island of Mykonos in Greece. The view is breathtaking. How amazing is Airbnb? We have so loved staying here; it will not be easy to leave behind.

Above is a short slideshow of the trip so far.

Tomorrow we head off to climb Stromboli, the constantly erupting island volcano off Sicily. We take a hydrofoil from Naples! I hope you’ll join us for this adventure on Facebook and/or Instagram. I'm posting updates daily.

-Hudson

MY GEAR FOR EUROPE

View fullsize

Yep, this is taken in my new studio with the big epson in the background.

Stacey and I are gearing up for a Europe trip to Turkey, Greece, Italy and France next week while working on a book about the art of travel photography. It’s always a balance between traveling light and comfortably and having the gear you really need get the images you envision. For this trip I’m limiting myself to a 10kg carryon and 20kg checked bag. Here’s the list of what makes the cut.

CAMERA:

• Nikon D810

LENSES:

• Nikon 14-24mm F2.8
• Zeiss 35mm ZF.2
• Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VRII (may switch to Nikon 70-300mm F4-5.6 VR to save weight)
• Nikon 50mm F1.8
• Nikon 24-120mm F4 VR

SUPPORTS:

• Gitzo GT3542XLS  with Acratech GV2 ballhead
• Really Right Stuff Omni Pivot Pro panoramic adaptor.

BAG:

• F-Stop Tilopia BC with Large Pro ICU

STACEY’S GEAR:

Sony A7s with Sony 24-70mm F4 

Stacey will be shooting video and stills with this little lowlight monster. I may play with it in some dark situations as well... :-)

-Hudson

TO THE EDGE: A MOUNT SAINT HELENS SLIDESHOW

Portland Lights Siberian Haze

I wanted to photograph stars this night, but instead haze from Siberian forrest fires were lit by Portland's city lights. It was a cold night.

Not much snow this year

Stacey packs her skis up Monitor Ridge

Backlight

Andy Adkins in the sun's extreme backlight.

Skinning Up

Stacey Guggino puts skins on her skis in preparation for an ascent of Mount Saint Helens.

My pack

I adore my F-stop Satori pack for it's ease of camera access and great harness, but I wish it was a tiny bit bigger for this type of trip...

Setting up the Splitboard

Film-maker extraordinare Andy Adkins readies his split board to climb.

Waxing the skins

Waxing my climbing skins to keep them from absorbing water and balling up with fresh snow.

Headed up

Stacey puts her bindings in climb mode and starts the ascent.

Ridges far below

Andy takes in the big Alpine evening.

Climing in the last light

We hurry for the summit to catch sunset.

Crater Sunset

The view to the west as we rolled up on the Crater. Cornices are a deadly hazard here.

Sunset crater Panoramic

Ultra-hi-rez, ultra-wide panoramic-merger West to the Left; East to the right behind Andy's small figure.

Afterglow

The crater rim fills the foregroud while countless ridges stretch to the last light.

Siberian Haze

Me looking out at Portland lighting haze from Siberian wildfires from my summit bivy on Mount Saint Helens.

Dawn at the Crater Rim

Yeah, 2nd copy of this Panoramic. This is my favorite image from the trip and its the first I created this morning.

A Day At The Office

I love waking up to work in a place like this. Photo of me by Andy Adkins

Steaming Dome & Spirit Lake

Fumerols rise from the growing dome inside the crater. Spirit Lake is still covered with logs from the massive eruption more than 3 decades ago.

Sunstar

Here's Stacey with a sunstar. I love how these look with Alpine skies.

Panoramic of Crater and Camp

This shot shows Andy and work and our camp in the foreground for scale. It's another big Panoramic-Merger

On The Edge

Andy Adkins doing his film-making magic in one heck of a spot.

Crater Abstract

I ljust love the swirly patterns of snow and rock inside the crater.

Breakfast Bivy

Camped at the crater rim of Mount Saint Helens, Andy Adkins boils water for breakfast as the sun rises behind him.

Looking to Rainier

The view from the crater rim out over the dome and Spirit Lake to Mount Rainier.

Below The Rim

Andy hiking below the edge of the crater gives the scene needed scale.

The Best Way Down

There is nothing like descending on Backcountry Skis. If only there was more snow this year.

Well Deserved Cold Ones.

It's always good to bury a treat in the snow for your return to the car...

End of a Great Trip!

Can't wait for the next adventure!

What a trip! A couple of weeks ago I skied Mount Saint Helens with Stacey and my friend Andy Adkins. Andy and I bivyed overnight at the crater rim. Not only did we create a bunch of great photos and video, but we also had a really fantastic time.

Like any mountain expedition, we had surprises. Knowing there was little snow this year, we were still shocked at how little there was down low. Temperatures at the rim were a lot colder than forecast and haze from Siberian wildfires obscured the Milky Way, but gave us a crazy light-show all it's own.

At the top is a 26 image slideshow of the trip. I've briefly captioned each slide to tell the story. Hope you enjoy the adventure.

If you haven't already, I hope that you'll sign up for my free newsletter with tales of adventures, prints, workshops, tips, tricks and all things photographic.

Special thanks go out to Outdoor Research, Black Rapid, and F-Stop for helping us make this trip possible with their amazing gear and support. These guys make incredible gear that shines in demanding expedition use. Also thanks to Andy and Stacey for the shots with me in there...

-Hudson