Sony Photography

FIELD NOTES: Vol. 01 | Issue 03 by Craig Turpin

Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park



SANJYUU NICHI GA AKETE


Welcome to the third installment of Rising Sun Photog Field Notes — dedicated to my third annual “30 Days of Dawn” personal photo challenge or “sanjyuu nichi ga akete!” in Japanese.

Adding a Sony 200-600mm telephoto lens and DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone to my camera bag earlier this year gave me the chance to experiment with a variety of new photography styles, compositions, and perspectives. I was able to fly into locations I’ve never been able to reach before with an eagle’s eye view of rivers, forests, roads, and mountains. Beyond Aspen Snowmass, #30DaysofDawn 2021 also took me to three National Parks: Arches, Canyonlands, and Great Sand Dunes.

Just in time for the holidays, stop by the Rising Sun Photog Print Shop, where I offer bespoke, limited-edition artwork and stock prints with custom framing options — all shippable nationwide. Mention this e-newsletter for 10% off your order.

Whether you’re looking to spruce up your space or need event coverage, editorial imagery, or commercial content, I would love to hear from you to talk about how I can help tell your story. 

Adventure awaits, where will it take you?

Craig Turpin
Owner, Rising Sun Photog
@risingsunphotog


Watching CBS Sunday Morning is a Sunday morning tradition, so appearing on the October 10 episode to talk about photography was truly a career highlight. Click here to watch the segment.

“In Aspen, Colo., some fans of fall foliage go to extremes for a spectacular view – namely, jumping off a cliff above a sea of autumnal oranges, reds, yellows and golds. Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti reports on paragliding in a leaf peeper’s paradise.”

— Jane Pauly, CBS Sunday Morning


IN THE NEWS


In September, I was honored to cover the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen as a Meredith Corp. staff photographer. It was a triumphant return to the in-person event scene with celebrity chefs and pass holders alike gathering together again to discover wines from around the world, learn cooking skills from the masters, and taste-test gourmet bites. Click here for some of my favorite photos.

Our summer vacation took us home to Ohio for a long overdue visit with family and friends. But the real adventure was the journey across America and back while test-driving “van life” thanks to our friends at Rossmönster. One of the highlights was a stop at Bandlands National Park, where I captured the cover image for our quarterly travel feature in the Aspen Times Weekly. Read all about it in print or online.


CURRENT COFFEE

COPPER COW COFFEE

During a sunrise session at the Maroon Bells, a photographer friend busted out his Jetboil and expertly crafted a cafè latte using a single-serve pour-over setup I had not seen since I was in Japan. He tossed me an individually wrapped bag and offered me a cup. I’ve employed this quick and easy system almost every morning since.


PHOTOG FACTS

  • The first camera was imported to Japan by Dutch traders in 1848. Today Japan exports over 60 thousand units of photo and video equipment annually.

  • 25 years ago, Sony launched their first digital camera the DSC-F1. It had one-third of a megapixel, four megabytes of built-in memory, a 1.8-inch screen and a lens housing that could rotate 180 degrees.

  • The Monaco Grand Prix features the shortest circuit with a track measuring just 3.3 kilometers, but it has the most number of laps at 78.


Earlier this month, I was stoked to head down to Todos Santos — an authentic surfing village and artist community along the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Celebrating a friend’s birthday and relaxing on the beach for a few days was the perfect #30DaysofDawn reward. Click here to watch the highlight reel of the stunning scenery I captured during our stay at Villa Santa Cruz.


A fresh run of Rising Sun Photog stickers has just arrived for ski season! As a thank you for your support and reading all the way to the end, I’d love to send you one.

Follow Me on Social Media

VAN LIFE, FOR LIFE by Craig Turpin

The mobile movement of ‘van life’ gains speed

How the pandemic has inspired a new following of freedom-chasers

10 states. 4 campsites. 56 hours. 2 humans. 1 dog. 3,580 miles.

These were the stats from my summer vacation, which this year was spent driving across America’s Bread Basket to Akron, Ohio, for a long overdue visit and back. While not as exotic as a European holiday per se (I personally was still not ready to take flight, let alone overseas), my guy and I opted for “van life,” renting a rig from our friends at Rossmönster for the better part of August.
— Katie Shapiro, Aspen Times Weekly

FIELD NOTES: Vol. 01 | Issue 02 by Craig Turpin


Sony A7RIII GM 200-600mm | f6.3 | ISO 640 | 600mm | 1/2000 seconds



Rojō De!


Welcome to the second installment of Rising Sun Photog Field Notes — dedicated to getting back “on the road” or “rojō de” in Japanese.

After receiving my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in March, I was more than ready to get out of town and taking that first trip was oh so sweet. Over the course of the spring season, I was lucky to visit two national parks, three national wildlife refuges, 12 national forests and seven states throughout the Wild West.

My return to travel started with a trek down to Taos, New Mexico for incredible “Christmas style” eats and epic spring skiing. Then it was on to Spokane with an exploration of Grand Teton and Yellowstone on the way there and back — cold weather camping included. I watched wildlife up close from a herd of bison steps away from my Tepui tent to moose, coyotes, foxes and birds of prey.

In between trips, I’ve made some updates to my website and am excited to announce the official launch of the Rising Sun Photog Print Shop, where I offer bespoke, limited-edition artwork and stock prints with custom framing options — all shippable nationwide. 

Whether you’re looking to spruce up your space or need event coverage, editorial imagery or commercial content, I would love to hear from you to talk about how I can help tell your story. And I still have a few more spots remaining on the summer and fall schedule for personalized photo tours and camera skills workshops.

Adventure awaits, where will it take you?

Craig Turpin
Owner, Rising Sun Photog
@risingsunphotog


In the News


Our first post-pandemic adventure took us on a drive to discover the “Soul of the Southwest” for the Aspen Times Weekly. Downtown Taos was a delight, but when a spring snowstorm moved in, the mountains called. I was thrilled to capture this cover image and more during our much-anticipated getaway.

Earlier this year, the Sony World Photography Awards announced its 2020 winners. Have a look at some awe-inspiring images shot on the Sony Alpha system.


Current Coffee


DUR FERES | ETHIOPIA
METHODICAL COFFEE

Ice cold mornings at campgrounds in Grand Teton and Yellowstone required a robust and refreshing brew. My favorite from Greenville, South Carolina’s Methodical Coffee was a welcome treat and features fruit-forward flavors of blueberry and cherry with a chocolate velvety finish. The perfect morning perk.


I stumbled across this beautiful pair of Sandhill Cranes grazing in the soft muddy flats during the early hours of day one in Grand Teton National Park.

This was one of only a few sightings of the monstrous Grand Teton peak shrouded in a sea of clouds throughout the day.

Due to grizzly activity in the area, the Grand Prismatic Geyser overlook was closed, but I was able to capture a tranquil image of an otherwise very volatile ecosystem.

Snow showers and constant clouds crowded my capture of the massive waterfall in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.


Fun Facts


  • Yellowstone National Park is an active volcano and considered to be one of the largest volcanos on earth with a caldera rim that is 45 × 30 miles wide. As a result, there are between 1,000-3,000 earthquakes every year in the park.

  • White House switches from Canon to Sony. Chief White House photographer Adam Schultz works with a trio of Sony A9 II bodies and over a dozen Sony lenses.

Not only were these the first White House [Presidential] portraits shot on Sony, they were also the first White House portraits shot on mirrorless cameras instead of DSLRs.” Digital Camera World

  • I’ve never made Rhubarb Pie. Send me your recipes & rhubharb.


Podcast Pick


TIMESUCK WITH DAN CUMMINS

Comedian Dan Cummins takes listeners on a unique deep-dive into “historical events, enduring mysteries, paranormal encounters, conspiracy theories, cryptozoology and more. I listened to a dozen of Dan’s episodes while on the road and really enjoyed the content and presentation, especially the “Timesuck Timeline.” He shares no shortage of stories to enthrall the mind while the wheels are spinning.


Parting Shot


Car camping in Yellowstone National Park, May 2021.

Look to the night skies this summer for amazing celestial events. Space.com has all the info for stargazers and shutterbugs. Here are a few dates to save:

June 10
Annular Solar Eclipse

August 2
Saturn at Opposition

Auggust 11-12
Perseid Meteor Shower

September 14
Neptune in Opposition


Sony Alpha Universe by Craig Turpin

The good people at Sony Alpha Universe recently asked me to share some info with their readers on exactly what I pack to shoot some of the landscape and action photography. With a few new items recently acquired it was the perfect time to share what I pack and why. Have a look at what I carry in this blog post over at the Sony Alpha Universe

Featured Photog - Sony Alpha Universe by Craig Turpin

An early Christmas present arrived in the form of a feature from Sony Alpha Universe earlier this week when they included me in a list of fellow photogs capturing the winter scenery we see through the lens. It was an honor to be included among the likes of some incredibly talented photographers and I’m stoked to see one of my favorite winter photos featured too.