Scott Prokop Photography

Vesna Festival

Scott Prokop — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:28:31 +0000

People celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Vesna Festival at TCU Place in Saskatoon on May 11, 2013. Ukrainian folk art, food, souvenirs, music and dancing were showcased at the event. The Vesna Festival is one of Canada’s largest and longest running Ukrainian cultural festivals.

Visit them online for more information or check out their Facebook page.

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Sand Dunes

Scott Prokop — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:00:07 +0000

Sand Dunes At Death Valley National Park, California, USA.

I ventured out for the last hour of sunlight at the end of the day and then again for the first hour of light the next morning. I wanted some key shots that defined the size and beauty of the Mesquite Dunes at Death Valley.

I set up this shot by finding the right light to have the contrast between white and black. I was already seeing the final shot in black and white so I made sure that the S-curve in the crests of the sand dunes would have the drama on each side. I shot this with my Canon 60D with a Sigma 70-200mm lens and processed the image using onOne’s Perfect Black & White.

Tips for Photographing Sand Dunes

The key to getting dramatic sand dunes is to shoot in the early morning or just before the sunset when the light is low and casts nice shadows across the landscape.
Have your key photos you are looking to capture and make sure you don’t leave your tracks in these areas so that you have a clean, natural look. Avoid the most common areas where the tourists are for the same reason.
The wind will blow dust on you and your equipment so don’t change your lens or avoid putting your camera bag down so that you can keep your gear clean. Prepare for the wind and sand to be in everything.
Look for creative lines in the dunes such as the S-curve or use layering effects using the dunes with the background such as the mountains.
Do not collapse the legs of your tripod until you get back to your vehicle where you wipe them down first. The sand will act like sandpaper on all the moving parts.
Bring plenty of water and keep hydrated. I was shooting for only 1 hour the first evening at almost 120F and it was hot and this heat will dry you out.
Wear lightweight pants, sunglasses, taller hiking boots to keep the sand out and put on that sunblock to protect your skin.

Gear Used:

Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM for Canon
Oben CT-3400 4-Section Carbon Fiber Folding Tripod w/ BB-0T Ball Head
Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack

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The Silk Road

Scott Prokop — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:01:42 +0000

Photos and video from the Desert Beats Belly Dance presentation of “The Silk Road”. I shot this event with my wide angle lens sitting in the front row center to make sure I could get the best shots without any audience members in my shots.

Check out the Desert Beats Belly Dance website for more information about joining up or watching their next performance.

Special thanks to Anastasia, Michelle and the rest of the beautiful dancers who made the show amazing.

Digital Photo Album for your iPad, iPhone or Android Device

I have selected 40 of the best photos from the performance that you can take with you on your device. Share it!

Open this web page on your mobile device.

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http://moblalbum.com/0hvSoyJw7L/gallery/70427

If you get this prompt, tap Increase to save your album for offline viewing.

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Bridge City

Scott Prokop — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:14:04 +0000

The Victoria Bridge and Broadway Bridge in Saskatoon, Canada. The city is nicknamed Bridge City for the many bridges found here. This is my last shot of the Victoria Bridge before the city turned out the lights on the bridge and scheduled it for decommissioning.

Buy a copy of this print for your home.

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Mana Cirque

Scott Prokop — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:14:04 +0000

A collection of photos from the Mana Cirque et Illusion Performance from last summer at the city fair. All of these photos have an edgy high contrast look created in Adobe Lightroom.

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