Archive for the ‘Photographer Spotlight’ Category
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Name a distant corner of the world associated with photography, chances are E.J. Peiker has been there, or is heading there soon. Born in 1960 in Augsburg, Germany, and moving to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1969, E.J. became an American citizen in 1975.
E.J.’s photographic journey started when he received his first camera at age 7, while still in Germany – a square-format, Kodak 126 Instamatic. He still has it. At age 12, he graduated to a Yashica 35mm rangefinder and began to take photography more seriously. His favorite subject matter was landscape photography.
In 1990, E.J.’s photographic aspirations came to a sudden stop. While skiing, E.J. suffered such a serious injury that he was diagnosed as unable to walk again, possibly even losing a leg. As it appeared that E.J. would not be mobile without assistance, he sold all his camera gear. However, determination, resolve, several surgeries and painful physical therapy resulted in E.J.’s full recovery 3 1/2 years later.
Even though he did not photograph, E.J. put his recovery years to good use. His interest in aviation took over and provided him motivation during that tough time. He earned his Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Multi-engine Pilot and Commercial Pilot certificates, and became heavily involved in advanced flight simulation. He even logged time in American Airline's full motion flight simulators where he learned to fly a Boeing 727!
After his full recovery, E.J. returned to the world of photography, starting out again with Olympus gear, and migrating to Nikon equipment. His choice of Nikon was heavily influenced by John Shaw's photography, and E.J. concentrated primarily on Southwestern landscapes and captive species animal photography.
In 1999, E.J.’s photographic world expanded when he was introduced to the beautiful bird photography of Arthur Morris through Arthur’s book "The Art of Bird Photography". As with many of today’s nature photographers, this book prompted both a keen interest in avian photography, and a switch to Canon equipment for image stabilized lenses.
E.J.’s previous career path took him through the field of electrical engineering, working for the Intel Corporation in California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Arizona, where he engaged in the production of microprocessors, chip-sets, and communication chips. During that time, he studied photography at the University of New Mexico, the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, and participated in photography seminars and workshops led by renowned photographers including John Shaw, Arthur Morris, and Charles Glatzer.
E.J. began planning his career move into professional photography in 2000, with a target of 2004 for his change. Investment volatility and an unstable economy changed the plans of many Americans, and E.J. had to adapt and extend his plan. He finally made the change to full time professional nature photographer in 2010. Today, E.J. is a Nikon shooter, having made the switch from Canon gear that same year.
Artistic images of ducks are E.J.’s photographic specialty, and he teaches others duck and bird photography through his DuckShopTM photographic workshop series. E.J. has also expanded his love for landscape photography and is heavily engaged in creating artistic landscape images of world's great scenic wonders. Well traveled, E.J. has been fortunate enough to photograph 6 of our planet's 7 continents.
Why the concentration on ducks? In E.J.’s words:
“I have often been asked why I like to photograph ducks so much. Ever since I was a young boy, I have loved their ungainly waddle when on land and their graceful ability to cut through water and air as if they were defying gravity and friction. Some of the most incredible patterns in nature are found in the plumage of ducks. Their colors range the entire spectrum and in one case, every color in the spectrum is contained in one bird – the male Mandarin Duck. Another intriguing thing about them is the ability to completely transform from a drab brown bird into an incredible array of colors in just a few weeks. Finally, ducks have a lot of personality and are much more intelligent than most people realize. There are a number of individual ducks that come back year after year to the Phoenix area that immediately recognize me from the previous years and become very tame around me while they stay away from people that they don’t know. There is a familiarity and a knowledge on their part that this particular human won't hurt me.”
Now an accomplished professional nature photographer, E.J.’s images have been published in many nature, agriculture and photography magazines and books including Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, Birding Magazine, Audubon Society publications, National Geographic, and Barron's. The US National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Department and many zoos use his images in their brochures and for their identification displays. You’ll find E.J.’s images in different places such as on T-shirts, wine labels and in iPhone apps. E.J. also stays active on the net, not only with his own website, facebook and his ebook, but with nature photography forums such as NaturePhotographers.net and Naturescapes.net.
When he’s not flying around the world in pursuit of landscapes and ducks, E.J. resides in sunny Chandler, AZ with his two sons, Nicholas and Gregory.
You can view E.J.'s website, with wonderful images and workshop information here: www.ejphoto.com
Check out E.J.'s new ebook in the store here: Ducks of North America
Find E.J. on Facebook here: link
Tags: Avian, ducks, E.J. Peiker, Landscape, Photographer Spotlight
Posted in Landscape, Photographer Spotlight, Wildlife | No Comments »
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Bursting on to the scene of professional nature photographers just a few short years ago, Canadian born nature photographer Glenn Bartley has quickly established a reputation as one of the best bird photographers on the market. With books, articles, workshops and of course wonderful images, Glenn stays busy pursuing his career in nature photography.
Glenn has been enchanted by nature and wildlife for as long as he can remember. Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Glenn, like many of us, spent many hours with National Geographic magazine and natural history books. Glenn's favorite TV show at the time was David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things". Glenn says "It may have all started in the backyard of my childhood home. I'd spend hour after hour lying underneath a hummingbird feeder trying to capture an image of one of these amazing birds with a simple point and shoot camera".
Glenn obtained his first “real” camera in college….A Canon Elan 7 film SLR.
In college, Glenn had an incredible extended travel opportunity. He took part in an exchange program that had him swapping places with a student from Brisbane, Australia.
Australia kicked Glenn's nature photography interest into full gear: "I was obsessed with exploring the land down under and taking pictures, experimenting, and above all else learning. Being in a different country with so many exciting things to photograph was wonderful. it was a phenomenal place to really dive into the world of nature photography".
Returning home to college, Glenn managed to get a job running the school's darkroom and got to spend 3-4 hours a week experimenting with exposing film and making prints. Glenn is grateful for the time he spent with film: "Looking back, and reflecting upon the fact that nowadays now every new photographer goes straight to digital, it was a fantastic opportunity to really master the basics of photography and create a more stable foundation upon which to build".
After completing his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, Glenn took a year off to travel to Costa Rica. It was Glenn’s first big photography trip and it was an eye opening experience that revealed his career choice:
"Leaving the distractions of every day life behind and focusing on nothing but nature photography changed me and made me certain that there was nothing else I wanted to dedicate my life towards. I knew that I still had a lot to learn, but I had a plan for how to do so".
When Glenn returned home to Canada he took a job as the lead photographer for a research project in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. His job for three months was to hike up mountains and take pictures. It was a dream job for Glenn, and it afforded him yet another opportunity to continue to learn and master his craft.
Glenn spent the next three years taking his photography to the “next level”. He immersed himself in books and online forums, met and learned from other professional photographers, and spent copious amounts of time in the field.
Glenn moved out to Canada’s West Coast to pursue his Master’s of Science Degree in Ecological Restoration as a backup plan. But his backup plan was more than that. Glenn's project was working on restoring habitat for migratory birds. A big part of his research was field work, And every time he went out monitoring his study site, his camera was never far away.
As Glenn entered his final year of grad school the tropics tugged at him again. As soon as he defended his thesis, he headed off. This time his destination of choice was the bird-rich country of Ecuador, where he spent 5 months traveling around the country and photographing many of the amazing tropical birds that live there.
Today Glenn is perhaps best known for his intimate portraits of birds in their natural habitat, with specific focus on tropical birds and hummingbirds.
In the past year Glenn has published two books in his "photographic journey" series:
"Birds of Ecuador" highlights some of the most beautiful birds of this small Andean nation. One of Glenn's major goals for this book was to raise money for habitat conservation in Ecuador. Because of this goal, 50% of the proceeds from this book are being donated to the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation in Ecuador.
"Birds of Vancouver Island" celebrates the birds of his home area in the pacific northwest.
Glenn writes a column for the Canadian magazine Photolife, called “The Joy of Bird Photography” where he shares tips, locations and information about bird photography.
Glenn's small group workshops travel to fantastic destinations such as Ecuador, Costa Rica, Churchill and Vancouver Island. Glenn’s workshops are almost completely sold out for 2011.
Where to Find out More about Glenn
You can learn more about Glenn’s books, workshops and articles at: www.glennbartley.com
Find out more about Glenn's Workshops here.
Glenn's Blog with many informative articles and videos is here.
Glenn is on Facebook here and on YouTube here.
Tags: Avian, Glenn Bartley, spotlight
Posted in Articles, Photographer Spotlight | 2 Comments »
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Editors' note: We thought for this Holiday Season we'd poll our photographer friends to see what would be on their wish lists. From our local pals to worldwide celebrity shooters, here are their picks. We're sure you'll find some great ideas here!
Rick Sammon
Rick is a Canon Explorer of Light and probably the most famous guy we know, so we'll start off with him! You can check out Rick's blog with a new address at www.ricksammon.info.
- Signed 19×20 inch print of Chris's Fire Mist Crane shot at Bosque
- "I Shoot RAW" t-shirt. XL. Funny!
- PowerEX 8 Cell battery charger. I need to keep charged at all times.
- Dust-Aid Sensor Cleaner Keep clean. Enough said.
- AquaTech Sensory Gloves XL Up here in New York, a necessity.
James Shadle
James is the Publisher of Birdphotographers.net, an extensive resource site and lively forum for bird, nature and wildlife photographers. When James isn't working on BPN, you'll find him leading workshops on his boat, the Hooptie Deaux. You can check out James's site here.
- Lensbaby Composer for Nikon. Makes me see in a different way.
- Datacolor LensCal. You'd be surprised how many of your lenses need calibration.
- Think Tank Hydrophobia for 300-600mm Lenses. The best raincover made!
- Nikon SD-9 High Performance Battery Pack. Makes my flashes recharge much faster than I do!
- AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4 ED VR. The big gun. Nothing else to say.
John Batdorff
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John is a frequent contributor to our blog, and we run photo contests with him as well. Splitting his time between Montana and Chicago, John is an active blogger and conducts workshops. You can view his site here.
- Gura Gear Kiboko Bag. I’m going to Africa in January and I need a big bag for the 400mm I’ll be renting. Plus, I thought it would be a cheap way to bring my kid along as a carry on…;)
- Hoodman EyeCup. I lost my last one and now my eye feels naked without my HoodEye.
- Nik Software HDR Efex Pro. My trial version finally ran out so I guess if I don’t get it for X-mas I’ll be buying it. I love this software. If you’re into HDR this is the way to go.
- Hoodman Super HoodSkin screen protectors. These are great stocking stuffers and one pack will last you a while.
- Any book by this wonderful author! Wait, is that shameless self promotion?
Rob Knight
Rob is an Atlanta native and an award-winning tattoo artist by day. Part of the DPE gang and OPG blog author, Rob is a certified Adobe instructor and conducts workshop as well. You can check out Rob's site here.
- Benro Travel Angel. I got one of these last spring and I love it. It is really light weight and it folds to 14'! A bigger heavier tripod is great unless you leave it at home because don't want to lug it around.
- Nik Software HDR Efex Pro. The new HDR software from NIK is my go-to software for creating realistic HDR images without having to jump from one plug-in to the other.
- Think Tank Retrospective 20. This bag holds a pro size DSLR with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens attached AND two other lenses. There are plenty of other pockets for accessories and even a second camera body. This is my "daily driver" camera bag.
- X-Rite Color Checker Passport. If you're not calibrating your camera with a tool like this, you should be. The included software makes the Color Checker Passport easy to add to your workflow.
- Better Beamer Flash Extender. If you shoot wildlife you've probably heard this before. I don't know another tool under $40 that will improve your photos as much as a Better Beamer.
Jim Caldwell
Jim is the publisher of the popular and informative podcast The Fotobug. The Fotobug covers all kinds of photography subjects with both audio and video podcasts. You can also view Jim's Specialty Media site here.
Ok Santa, get ready – I think I've been a good boy this year and although the coal I received last year was thoughtful, perhaps this year I deserve something a bit more practical!
Well, I love my photo vest, but it can be hot and in many instances I found it to be impractical. So this year, I would really like a Think Tank Steroid Speed Belt. In addition, I really want to be comfortable, so how about throwing in the Think Tank Pixel Racing Harness as well to distribute the weight nice and even. Finally, the belt does me little good without the pouches to carry all my cra… er, I mean my photo equipment – so how about the Large Lens Drop In, the Multimedia Wired Up 20 for my DSLR, the Multimedia Mic Drop In for my podcast microphone and recorder, and why not the Speed Demon Beltpack as well?
Finally, I while working on a recent PBS TV show in the Everglades, I really fell in love with the little GoPro Hero HD Camera. This clever little camera is a full HD video camera, 5 Megapixel still camera, comes with an underwater case that is good to 180' underwater and is so small, it can be mounted anywhere! The base unit with case, mounts, battery and cables is only $259! The entire camera is smaller that a business card and should easily drop into one of those Think Tank pockets!
Thanks and enjoy the milk and cookies!
Mike Moats
Mike is a familiar face around Outdoor Photo Gear, and he contributes to our blog and comes town for presentations and his Macro Boot Camp workshops. Mike also has several ebooks in our store. Check out Mike's beautiful macro images here, and read his blog here. Mike has also started a great new Macro Forum!
- Gitzo Fleece Photo Jacket for the cold winters up here in Michigan.
- Strobies Remote Trigger, as I've always used my cameras self timer and on occasion the remote would come in handy.
- Genus ND (Neutral Density) Fader Filter for those longer shutter speeds for that silky look on waterfalls.
- A new Hoodman HoodLoupe 3.0 for the larger LCD on my new Nikon 7000.
- Upgrade to a AquaTech SS-Zoom Sports Shield rain cover, as I now use extra large ziplock storage bag!.
Missy Brown
Missy is a local wedding and event photographer and organizes the Louisville chapter of SmugMug. Thanks to Missy, we have some great monthly meetings with speakers from around the country. You can view Missy's website here.
David A. Fisher
David was the Brand Manager for Gitzo tripods for the past few years, and just moved Panasonic to be the Product Manager for Panasonic's popular Lumix line of cameras for the US market. David has been a friend and supporter of Outdoor Photo Gear from the start!
- Lensbaby Scout with 12mm Fisheye – because if I can't capture within 186 degrees, it probably wasn't worth it anyway.
- Wimberley Gimbal Version II – because shooting with a lensbaby on my Panasonic GF1 is giving me a complex
- Nik HDR Efex Pro – because who has time for zone metering when I'm busy filling up 8GB cards.
- Panasonic VT25 54" Full 3DHD Plasma – because I've been shooting with pre-release samples of the Panasonic GH2 and 3D lens, but can only view the images at work. Oh, and AVATAR, baby!!
- Peace on Earth and the safe return of our U.S. Service personnel.
Theodore A. Stark
Residing in Denver Colorado, Ted is a Web Usability Engineer by day, and a serious photographer every other minute. Ted contributes to our blog quite a bit, and always with a bit of humor! You can view Ted's website here.
Dear Santa, As your big day rapidly approaches, I thought I would take the guessing work out of what it is I want this Holiday Season and just send you my top gift ideas. This is a good faith, and some may even say noble, gesture on my behalf so you can focus your attention on other, more import things.
I have received word from your Naughty/Nice department that there is some question as to if I am going to end up on the “good” list this year. Without knowing any real details, I would like to take the proactive approach and “clarify” an incident, which may (emphasize, may) have been brought to your attention…
When I went to the mall, THREE WEEKS before Halloween and saw Christmas decorations up, I will admit I may have been slightly… how do I say this…. peeved at said notion. Some may have interpreted my actions towards several mall employees… a couple of security guards… oh, and that guy in the banana costume as hostile. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was simply trying to preserve the true meaning of the Holiday Season and prevent these money grubbing capitalists from ruining it. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I don’t care what that bus full of nuns may have told you…
So now on to the purposes of my letter… (yes, I know… just roll with itl):
I would like a Tenba Black Label Shoulder Camera Bag – Large bag because my current shoulder bag has simply seen better days. I would like the Induro CT414 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod because I am trying to slim down on the weight I lug around. Because I have been super good, I would also like the Promote Control – Remote Control to assist in my creating of realistic looking HDR images. Next on my list is the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport because getting accurate color is important to any photographer. The Lightroom integration makes this a slam-dunk for me. Lastly, I would like an Annual Subscription to Kelby Online Training. We never stop learning.
So there’s my list, big man. Fairly simple. No subscriptions to the Jelly of the Month club or Red Ryder BB guns… just photo gear.
I hope you have a wonderful trip. I promise this year, the original batch of cookies will not need to go through my strenuous “quality control” inspection and hence, my wife won’t have to bake you a second batch.
We just got the chimney cleaned, especially for you. See you soon!
Martin Bailey
Residing in Japan, Martin is head of our Tokyo bureau. Martin's site and podcasts are chock full of detailed info for all photographers. Martin also leads incredible workshops in Japan, providing photographers with a uniquely Eastern experience. You can get all the info on Martin here.
Jobu Designs Single Axis Bubble Level
I hate wonky horizons! These little baby are an inexpensive essential item in your camera bag. I don't own one of these Jobu Designs Bubble Levels myself, but I'm lusting after one.
No photographer should be without an X-Rite Color Checker Passport. These are not just about White Balance. They will make your colors pop into place even when you've been shooting under predictable light. Use it — love it!
I have had two for years, and wouldn't like to be without them. I use them to hold flowers still on a breezy day, and I also use them in the studio to hold reflectors in awkward positions. Very flexible — in a number of meanings of the word!
With more cameras allowing you to fine tune the focusing of your lenses now, these LensAlign Focus Calibration tools are essential, especially if you shoot with your lenses wide open, when depth-of-field can be razor thin.
OK, so this is the big-ticket item. Gitzo not only make world class camera supports, their Four Seasons Photo Jacket is a killer product all unto itself. It's getting tougher and tougher to get your gear onto a plane, but with one of these you can fill your pockets with gear! They come into their own in the field too of course. Very durable, warm (with a fleece underneath if necessary) and you can keep everything you need at your fingertips. This is my top recommendation for the Outdoor Photographer with deep pockets, literally!
Scott Goldsmith
National Geographic, LIFE, TIME, Fortune, Business Week. Sports Illustrated, US News & World Report, The New York Times and People. Just naming a few publications where Scott's images have appeared. A Pittsburgh resident but based worldwide, Scott is a fabulous photographer and a close friend. You can view his website here.
1) I just found out that OPG has gift certificates. The first thing on my wish list would be a 10 thousand dollar gift certificate from Chris Klapheke, the owner of OPG. Chris is such a wonderful, kind, interesting, smart, important, celebrated, acclaimed, revered, passionate, dedicated, accomplished and most talented photographers I have ever met. Honest Chris. Really. I mean it.
2) Kata Pro-Light FlyBy-74 Organizer/Rolling Case This is on my list for several reasons. The orange details and appointments of the exterior are subtle yet powerful enough to stop Mr. I.M. Dumb from taking the wrong black bag at the airport. This bag is small and big at the same time. It holds a lot of stuff. Most importantly it is versatile. The extra stabilizing leg with longer rollers when needed is perfect for people like me who want to stop on the spot for a photo with minimal disaster. The light colored interior dividers make it easier to see my gear, which is mostly dark. In an emergency you can put this baby on your shoulder and run full speed. It’s all I need for most assignments since it will hold my tripod, laptop and tons of gear.
3) Rogue FlashBender Small Positionable Reflector I have tried over 50 different types of flash modifiers. This one is the best because you can make over 50 different types of lighting modifiers with it. It takes up almost no space in your bag. This is a must have item for portable flash work.
4) Neos Villager Superlite All Season Overshoes We just got our first snow in Pittsburgh. Slush,snow and rain are on the way. These boots are lightweight and water tight. I love them because I can take them off when I go inside and my shoes are already on my feet.
5) A lightweight collapsible assistant that will fit into my Kata Pro-Light Flyby-74 organizer Rolling Case.
Glenn Bartley
Glenn is a nature and avian photographer hailing from beautiful Victoria, Canada. He conducts workshops around the world and has some very nice books to his name. You can see his website here.
- Benro Travel Angel – When out hiking long distances with landscape photography in mind often a full size tripod is just too much to pack and carry. Because of this I've had my eye on a small, lightweight, yet capable tripod for a while now. This Benro travel angel seems ideal.
- Pelican Memory Card Case – This little case is sure to keep my memory cards safe and dry. And better yet all in one place so that I don't lose them!
- LensCoat Hoodie Lens Cap – Packing the 500mm in a backpack is always a tight squeeze. The Hoodie lens cap should save some space while still keeping the front element safe.
- Aquatech Sensory Gloves – For those cold days in the field when a thin pair of gloves is just not enough.
- Wildlife Imaging Bean Bag – I actually used to own one of these…until I left it on top of my car and drove off that is! A great product and one that I need to replace.
Ryan Armbrust
Attend any event in Louisville, and chances are you'll see Ryan and his camera, snapping images for a national publication, or just for himself. Take a look at Ryan's Sniper Photo to see what we mean. Plus, Ryan has a thriving Pinup and Boudoir Photography business, and his site is full of fun retro photos and videos!
1.) Hoodman Hoodcrane – Now that I am using a DSLR to shoot behind the scenes videos of some of my photo shoots, I am realizing the importance of having a true viewfinder instead of just watching the lcd screen. The Hoodman Crane rigs a Hoodman Loupe to the back of your camera, giving it a viewfinder effect. The continuous auto focus tends to hunt and peck for a focus point. With this, I can use manual focus and get all "Scorsese" on it!
2.) Eclipse Cleaning Solution & Sensor Swabs – You can have all the fancy equipment you want, but if you have a bunch of sensor dust on your final images, you are a total goof!
3.) Think Tank Hydrophobia – I have a few rain covers, but THIS one is by far the easiest to use. The design is pretty awesome. I can whip it out of my bag and slap it on my camera in seconds. Some of the assignments I receive require me to get the shots regardless of weather conditions. I'm not made of sugar, my my camera gear kinda is! It's nice to know it is safe.
4.) Benro Travel Angel Tripod – I am so sick and tired of lugging around my humongous metal tripod! I want a super compact carbon fiber tripod that can hold my Nikon D700 with a 70-200 2.8 lens. Looks like this will do it just fine. The best part? Chris told me he was giving me one for Christmas! What a great guy! Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink…
5.) World Peace – Just kidding, I want a Leica M9. World Peace will never happen, but I'll probably buy a Leica M9…
Scott Flaherty
Scott is a Senior Software Architect in Ohio with a passion for outdoor photography. Scott was one of OPG's earliest supporters! You can see Scott's website here.
Richard Peters
Based in London, Richard's main photographic interest is wildlife, but he shoots all kinds of images, including shooting for Sky News and Channel Five. Richard has also been on the judging panel for BBC Countryfile. You can view Richard's site and blog here.
1) Nikon 14-24
Wide in both field of view and price tag! The ultimate wide angle zoom is one lens I'm hoping Santa will leave under my tree this year.
2) ThinkTank Photo airport International V2.0
With a trip to Yellowstone coming up in January, one of these would come in handy for getting all my gear through the airport without giving me back ache!
3) Manfrotto 501HDV Fluid Video Head
Having recently started my journey in to the world of shooting video with the Nikon D3s, I can already see that a fluid head will help get me to get smoother panning shots of the wildlife subjects I encounter.
4) AquaTech Sensory Gloves
Keeping my hands warm AND being able to use my gear is always a challenge. But these will fix that problem nicely.
5) Nikon D7000
Nikons latest DX camera has fantastic high ISO performance, and after having a play with one recently I'm very tempted to replace my backup D300 with one.
Juan Pons
Juan hardly needs an introduction. A contributor to our blog, a great gear reveiwer, and a business sounding board, Juan runs The Digital Photo Experience podcast with RIck Sammon, and conducts workshops throughout the year.
- X-Rite Color Checker Passport
- Think Tank Photo Streewalker Hard Drive
- X-Rite Color Munki
- Genus Neutral Density Faders
- Gitzo GT2540LLVL Leveling 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs
Bob & Travis Peltz
Bob and Travis run Essential Photo Gear, the manufacturers of the Kwik Camo, the Pod Pad, the Apex Bean Bag and other great products we carry. You can follow Travis on Twitter here.
Tags: gifts, photographers, wish list
Posted in Articles, Equipment Review, Featured Products, Photographer Spotlight | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Hey Gang,
I first met Chris Klapheke, founder/owner/operator of Outdoor Photo Gear, during a workshop I was co-leading in December 2008, in Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. We met during the event that Chris eloquently describes below, and exquisitely illustrates above.
I was new to the area, but Chris had been there several times before.
Day one of the workshop: Not only was I freezing, but I needed some help with finding the best shooting locations. Chris took me under his wing, so to speak, and helped me, and all the members of the group, get some knockout images.
Chris is a humble dude. You never hear him brag about his photographs, yet he is one of the best outdoor photographers I know. Recently, I asked him to jot down a caption for the image you see here. Well, Chris is the kind of guy who goes above and beyond in everything he does (most recently when it comes to customer service at Outdoor Photo Gear). Below is the “caption” that Chris sent me.
• • •
My alarm clock went off at 4:30 am in the Super 8 motel in Socorro, New Mexico. A sleepy little town about an hour south of Albuquerque, Socorro is the gateway town to the Bosque del Apache national wildlife refuge.
At 4:30 in the morning in Socorro in December, it’s darn cold. Fumbling awake, I checked the temperature: 12 below zero. Great. No, wait a minute—Great! Yesterday was a nice warm day in Bosque, with plenty of sun. That means, with this brutally cold morning, that any water that was shallow enough to warm up would be emitting a rare substance in the desert winter—steam.
When you get a nice warm day and a shivering cold morning, you can have steam rising from some of the ponds in Bosque. And when you get that steam and a clear sunrise, you have a chance to capture one of the “holy grail” shots from Bosque —birds in a golden mist of light.
Bosque del Apache has an avian cycle that repeats itself daily during the winter. Tens of thousands of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes spend the winter in Bosque. Each night, all those birds seek out water as a resting place for the night, where they are safe from predators such as the coyote. In the morning, through some hidden communication, the birds will start taking off out of the lakes and ponds. If you’re lucky, they will all take off at once, in what is called a “blastoff”. The sky becomes so thick with birds that sometimes the sky is nearly blocked out. It’s noisy, and you better wear a hat.
To experience this blastoff, and to get some fantastic images, photographers start setting up and jockeying for position in the cold dark. Depending on the wind and the light conditions, photographers scramble for the best views. You can glance down the road and it looks like the Olympics or a Space Shuttle launch—hundreds of long lenses pointed in the same direction.
But that’s not the shot I was after. Soliciting a few hardy members of our workshop, we were going to gamble. In trying for the golden mist shot, you are far away from the action of the refuge blastoff. Many conditions have to fall in place: a warm previous day, a cold cold morning, a clear sunrise, and of course, birds have to be in your chosen pond. You either get the shot, or you come away with a big fat nothing.
To have a chance at this shot, we would have to get off the road and crunch across frozen swampy grass to get close enough to a small pond. Leaving the road is strictly forbidden in the refuge. So, we scraped our windows, cracked open our chemical hand warmers, grabbed some coffee and headed in the dark to a pond along the road just outside the park.
Pulling off at the exit for the pond, we knew two of our four conditions—the warm day and the cold morning. Now we had to check the other two conditions in the pitch dark. Looking up, we could see the Milky Way spill across the sky. Good. A clear sunrise. As to the birds, it was too dark to see them. So we stood still and listened. We could hear their honks and grunts. The birds were there. All the conditions were in place, so if the birds hung around for sunrise, we’d have about a 60 second window, when the sunrise was just right, to try for the shot.
With hikers’ headlamps on, we carried our gear across the frozen ground toward the pond. We did not want to get too close, for fear of spooking the birds. Enough other things could do that, like coyote, leaving us with nice steam and no subjects. We used a compass to point where the sun would rise. Then we waited in silence (except for chattering teeth) for the sun to rise.
As the eastern sky lightened, our main concern was for the birds to stay put. They like to fly off at sunrise, and we needed them to stay long enough for the sun to pour over the hills and rushes to light the steam coming from the water.
The steam slowly gained color. In looking at my images in sequence, you can see:
Black gray gray gray gold gold GOLD! gold gray gray gray, all in a small amount of time.
Happily, the birds stayed, and the sun lit up the steam like flames. We snapped like maniacs. And only a minute later, it was over. Lots of LCD checks confirmed that we indeed had some good chances. We headed back to the hotel, freezing on the outside, but excited and warm on the inside.
I hope you enjoyed this "Story Behind the Shot"
Explore the Light,
Rick
Check out my blog here.
Tags: Bosque del Apache, Chirs Klapheke, learning, mist, photography, Rick Sammon, Travel Photography
Posted in Articles, Commentary, Photographer Spotlight, Vision, Wildlife | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 16th, 2010
 From books, to iPhone apps, to podcasts, Facebook and Twitter, Rick Sammon is everywhere. A Canon Explorer of Light, Rick is also everyman’s photographer. One of Rick’s basic photography tenets is that he “Specializes in not specializing”.
When we talked to Rick for this article, his opening comment to us was “I never thought, in 1969, when I was 19 and dancing naked in the mud at Woodstock, I’d have 36 books and a bunch of iPhone and iPad apps”. We knew we were in for a good story.
After Woodstock, Rick attended the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, receiving his formal education in Arrangement and Composition. He wanted to play jazz, and play he did. Late night shows and jam sessions over the next few years left him plenty of free day time, so to stir his creative juices, he began shooting images and submitting them to publications.
In 1978 Rick submitted an image and article to Studio Photography Magazine. On this first submission, the magazine invited him to be their editor. Rick traded in one keyboard for another, and entered the publication world.
Good editors get noticed, and the giant (at that time) Minolta Corporation’s main ad agency came in and snapped Rick in 1980 up to head up Minolta’s ad campaigns. Rick now had to wear a suit and tie, and was nested high up in Rockefeller Center. In the 80’s, life as Minolta ad manager was good—Minolta was rocking, the photo industry was exploding, and yes, Rick went to Studio 54 now and then.
Rick’s desire to capture images and get them published still burned. But as an ad man for a camera line, Rick wasn’t allowed to publish, at the peril of his job. Rick’s solution? Submit his images under made-up names! No, we can’t disclose those names. Suffice it to say that Rick continued to be published.
Rick had always had a passion for scuba diving as well as photography, and in 1985 he developed a specific five-year plan for a career change. For the next five years, whenever possible, and on every vacation, Rick dove and stocked his portfolio with underwater images. Five years later, in 1990, Rick had amassed enough images to leave his advertising job and publish underwater photography books. Going from an office 70 stories up to a studio 70 feet under, Rick published five underwater photography books while traveling the world over the next few years. He became a full time photographer, albeit a wet one.
In 1998, in Rick’s own words, “the world had seen enough images of a Clownfish”. Rick crawled back on land, and began to capture images of the people and of the cultures he had encountered in his travels while diving. That trajectory, from specialization to not specializing, has propelled Rick to the worldwide photography stage.
When you see Rick talk in person, or when you watch his video podcasts, his enthusiasm for photography—all types of photography—is infectious. Although he knows the technical side of photography and processing inside out, he doesn’t bog down on those minute details. He stresses the basic values of photography: preparation, planning, vision, awareness, and applies them to facets of our craft too numerous to mention, be it HDR, panoramas, processing, gear and more. One basic theme permeates all his thought, tips and tricks: photography is your hobby, your avocation, so make sure and have fun!
Rick’s list of accolades and achievements are almost too numerous to mention. His books have won the Golden Light Award and the Ben Franklin Award. He’s a Canon Explorer of Light, has been nominated to the Photoshop Hall of Fame, and is a member of the elite Explorer’s Club. Rick has photographed in nearly 100 countries around the world, and gives dozens of workshops each year.
Rick has embraced new technology and the current trend of social media. He’s actively producing apps on iTunes for the iPhone and the iPad, and you can find Rick on podcasts, Twitter, Facebook and more. As always, Rick is not sitting still. Who knows what his next five-year plan will be?
Editors note: Speaking of workshops, I’m pleased to be assisting Rick this October in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, at the St. Augustinescapes Workshops. Come join us! For more info see www.staugustinescapes.com.
You can learn more about Rick’s books, workshops, apps and more at www.RickSammon.com
Catch Rick with Juan Pons on their website The Digital Photo Experience at www.dpexperience.com
Follow Rick on Twitter at @ricksammon
Rick is on Facebook here.
Tags: books, Photographer Spotlight, Rick Sammom, Workshops
Posted in Articles, Photographer Spotlight, Vision, Workshops | No Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
From the top of the world to the bottom of the ocean, Emmy award winning photographer and videographer Art Howard has brought forth images from 25 countries and both poles. Art has covered an incredible range of events and environments in his career so far, and continues to work worldwide at a breathtaking pace.
Art got his first camera at the age of 9. He says it was “love at first touch”. In the seventh grade, he was introduced to the darkroom, and the power of the image emerging. Art loved photography but disliked the wet darkroom. The advance of a digital future was tailor-made for Art.
In high school, Art joined Explorer Post 5, a division of the Boy Scouts of America geared toward careers. Art says “Explorer Post 5 changed my life”. Post 5 exposed Art to the moving images, sound and stories of television. With cooperation from a local TV station, Post 5 produced a weekly TV show. Art became firmly planted in what would be a lifelong career.
Art got a job at that TV station and started out shooting the “weather shot”—the 30 second scene behind the weather stats. But Art had his heart set on being a news photographer. He applied (and re-applied) many times at that station and at others. He still keeps his rejection letters from that time. Underscoring the importance of mentors in photography, Art’s mentors kept him motivated until he landed a news job.
Given that chance, Art ran with it hard. It’s best to use Art’s own description of his news photography period: “I covered everything from A to Z. Klan rallies, Gulf War, poverty, NASCAR, the first international live shot by a local TV station. I got spit on, kicked, run off, threatened, and shot at. My cohorts were visionary people and they let me play along side them. I learned how to do good work fast. I had to shoot and edit, in very good and bad conditions. Always got instant feedback. You always knew where you stood. I learned how to make do with great gear and not so great gear. I learned how to shoot out of helicopters. How to fix gear, work hard, and have fun.”
During that time, Art’s photography was featured in “Every Fourth Child”, a documentary about children and poverty. His photos won acclaim from the Associated Press, and were recognized for excellence by the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards.
In 1993, after a stint in television in California, Art went out on his own. His career ramped up from there, full of awards and adventures. His subject matter broadened globally, including hurricanes, deep-sea exploration and climate change. Art’s customers included broadcasters, non-profit organizations, government agencies and corporations.
Forging ahead of the pack, in 2000, Art broke new ground in television technology by lensing first High Definition program in the country for use in a public science museum. Art won the Telelvision Industry’s IRIS award, the first High Definition program to do so.
From 2006 to 2008, Art told the stories of earth scientists studying climate change for Poar-Polozza and the National Science Foundation. This work took him from pole to pole, and has produced some of Art’s most fascinating images.
Today his clients include ABC, World News Tonight, Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, CBS, HBO, Real Sports, ESPN, PBS, Nickelodeon, HDNet, The Discovery Channel and National Geographic. His award list is just as long, including Emmys, Tellys, Auroras, and Film Festival Awards.
Art continues his encompassing travel schedule and image production all year long. In fact, this article was a long time in the making, as Art was always off somewhere remote, most lately at the bottom of the ocean.
From a local weekly TV program as an Explorer Scout, all the way to National Geographic, Art has been forging the intersection of still photography with video, long before the recent releases of video DSLRs. Art is on the leading edge again!
Art has kindly provided us with his Top Ten Tips on shooting video in this article on the OPG Blog: link
In addition, we’ve posted one of his deep-sea exploration videos, Below the Surface, which you can see here: link
To learn more about Art and see more of his images, visit Art’s website here: link
Posted in Articles, Photographer Spotlight | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Congratulations to macro master Mike Moats, an OPG blog regular and the author of best-selling ebooks in the OPG Store!
Mike just had an article published in the June edition of Outdoor Photographer magazine, which was delivered to subscribers this week and should hit the stands soon.
Mike's article is titled Diversify Your Macro Portfolio and is full of tips and Mike's inspiring images.
You can read the online version of Mike's article here: Outdoor Photographer
You can see Mike's ebooks in the OPGStore here: Mike Moats
Check out Mike's images here: Tiny Landscapes
Tags: Macro Composition, Macro Tips, Mike Moats
Posted in Articles, Macro, Photographer Spotlight | No Comments »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
From Houston, Texas to the wilds of Africa, Andy Biggs makes a living as a professional photographer. Andy’s diverse business interests mix photography, safaris, workshops and print sales with his newest venture—camera bag designer. More impressive still is the fact that Andy only started taking photos ten years ago.
Andy picked up his first camera and started his journey in photography in 2000. At the time, he was employed in the software industry, implementing accounting systems. In a short two years, he honed his skill and made the decision to become a full time pro. Since 2002, Andy has put both his business skills and his photographic vision to use, creating a diversified professional photographic business.
Andy started building his business with stock image sales and worked toward fine art sales, two areas of business he still pursues today. However, as Andy's business interests have diversified, his stock and fine art images have narrowed to his favorite subject: Africa. This specialization in his images has served him well. Andy's stock sales have continued to be strong in today's environment of stiff competition and falling prices.
In 2008, Banana Republic used thirteen of Andy's photographs as the cornerstone of their Urban Safari campaign, and his images were seen in all 750 stores around the globe, as well as in their billboards, catalogs and annual report. Andy was also the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the 'Wild Places' category in 2008.
How did Andy become attracted to Africa? He can't quite pin it down for sure. Maybe, he says, it was the movie Out of Africa, with its romantic portrayal of life on that continent. In any case, after his first trip, he was hooked. Today, Andy's photographic safari business thrives, with Andy spending two to three months a year out on safari.
Andy sees the photographic safari business as one of teaching and also as one of hospitality. To merge these two businesses takes a special personality. Andy has that slant down pat. In his own words, he says he was born with the ‘gift of gab' and that he loves interacting with people. Hosting safaris in far-off places comes naturally.
Traveling internationally and in the bush comes with severe weight limits. After numerous times of having to leave equipment at home due to heavy camera bags, Andy decided to design and make his own bag. After spending 2 years with many prototypes, the Gura Gear Kiboko bag was born. Andy launched Gura Gear in 2008, redefining the lightweight camera backpack market. The Gura Gear Kiboko bag has been a runaway success worldwide.
Andy names his photographic influences as Ansel Adams for his larger than life black and white images, Galen Rowell for his passion for the outdoors and for conservation and Art Wolfe for his ability to come away with wonderful photographs in challenging circumstances.
Through diversification and dedication, Andy has been able to successfully weave his photographic vision and his business interests together, using the one common thread that ties it all together: Africa.
When not traveling, Andy enjoys good food, good wine (he's an expert wine connoisseur) and good family time with his wife and two sons in his native Houston.
You can find out more about Andy, his safaris, his blog and his images at his website: www.andybiggs.com
Learn more about the Gura Gear Kiboko Bag in the Outdoor Photo Gear Store here: Kiboko
Tags: Andy Biggs, Photographer Spotlight, safari
Posted in Articles, Photographer Spotlight | No Comments »
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
If you read Outdoor Photographer magazine, chances are you’ve seen William Neill’s landscape columns.
William writes a regular column, On Landscape, where he conveys his images, techniques, and viewpoints on landscape photography.
William attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a BA degree in Environmental Conservation in 1976. The connection between William's formal education and his images is pervasive. During summer breaks from college, he worked in Glacier and in North Cascades National Parks. William spent those summers backpacking extensively and began to carry a camera to record his treks. A year after graduation, he began working in Yosemite, and never left.
Yosemite’s deep, spiritual beauty inspired William to convey what he sees and feels in Nature. Neill's award-winning photography has been widely published in books, magazines, calendars, posters, and his limited-edition prints have been collected and exhibited in museums and galleries nationally. In 1995, Neill received the Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography.
Neill's work has been prolific. He balances assignments from magazines such as National Geographic and Smithsonian, special edition books published by The Nature Company, his own books and ebooks with work for corporate clients such as Sony, Nike, and Hewlett Packard.
William has several portfolio style ebooks in the Outdoor Photo Gear store: Impressions of Light, Meditations in Monochrome, and Landscapes of the Spirit. You can see them here.
And as if producing wonderful images is not enough, William has taught photography since 1980. Currently, he teaches online courses for BetterPhoto.com and conducts one-on-one workshops in his home studio near Yosemite National Park.
What drives William to constantly produce stellar images, write columns and books, and teach others?
It’s best to read William’s own words:
“The reason I photograph is to experience the beauty of Nature, of wild places. I explore the essential elements of rock and tree, of cloud and rushing water to discover the magic and mystery of the landscape. My search for beauty is romantic and idealistic. It is the spirit of the land I seek- be it in a small piece of urban wildness or in vast wilderness.
Photography is a quiet, intensely meditative activity for me. When the light and the subject inspire me, I am compelled to compose an image. The images that I enjoy making the most are those that rely on emotional response and perception rather than the spectacle of the scene. I enjoy isolating the details of a scene, often to the point of abstraction. By creating photographs where the content or orientation is not obvious, an intimate and enigmatic feeling can come through. I would rather make an image that asks a question than answers one, one that intrigues and arouses curiosity in the viewer.
Photographing wild landscapes, depicting an image of pristine beauty, absent of the intrusions of man, is a dangerous proposition bordering on creating a false mythology. Yet wild places do still exist. What little is left will be lost if we don't develop a new and enlightened stewardship of our earth where Nature and Man are not considered separately. Perhaps the only way the world will change is for people to go through some kind of a profound aesthetic experience that makes us aware that we are personally accountable for our actions and how we affect the environment.
I can only hope that my photographs convey an enduring sense of wonder, a deep appreciation of the magic, beauty, and mystery of the natural world."
Lastly, a landscape photography tip from William: "My BIG tip is not to focus on tips and tricks! Focus on seeing deeply and feeling more."
William Neill's website and blog can be found here: http://www.williamneill.com/
You can connect with William on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/wgneill
See William's ebooks in the Outdoor Photo Gear Store here: William Neill
Tags: Ebooks, Landscape, Photographer Spotlight, William Neill
Posted in Ebooks, Landscape, Photographer Spotlight | No Comments »
Friday, March 26th, 2010
The journey to become a professional nature photographer can be as unique as each individual. As photographers we find it fascinating how each of us makes that choice. Mike Moats made the transition from painting contractor to nationally known macro photographer later in life, when circumstances dictated a change, and gave him an opportunity. During the economic turmoil that hit the Detroit area several years ago, Mike was forced to reinvent his career, and decided to follow his passion. He has never looked back.
Here is Mike's story in his own words:
In 2001, at forty seven years old, and a painting contractor from Sterling Heights, Michigan, I purchased my first SLR camera and lenses off ebay.
I had spent most of my life pursuing outdoor activities, and during the many hours of hiking in the local park systems, I observed all the interesting artwork in nature that would later become the subjects for my photography. As I would hike and admire all that nature had to offer, I thought it would be fun to pick up a camera and photograph some of these intimate scenes.
I spent the first few years of photography traveling to some of the national parks shooting landscapes, as many photographers do. But as I stood alongside forty other photographers shooting El Capitan, it hit me that this great scenery such as this is photographed everyday of the year by thousands of people. Those special images that I’d traveled so far to shoot, would lose their mystique. I didn’t want images that everyone else had–I wanted images that I could call my own.
With macro photography, I realized that the images I was photographing would only last from hours to a day or two, and would then be erased by the environment. I would be the only one to witness that image, and the only one to photograph it. It gives me a good feeling when I show and sell my images as they are my own original artwork, just as a painter creates an original painting.
A huge benefit of macro photography is that I can do 90 percent of my shooting within twenty minutes from my home and at local parks. The macro subjects are endless and forever changing with the four seasons.
In 2005, I came to the decision to develop my photography into a full time business. I now sell images at art shows, do macro workshops, provide images for publications, and write both hard copy books and instructional eBooks. Perhaps my painting background gave me my eye for color and composition. My decision to become a full time photographer has been a rewarding experience.
Mike has authored three ebooks which are available in the store:
Running a Successful Nature Photography Business
How To Sell To Art Galleries
Macro Workshop
As a pro photographer, Mike gives successful business strategies applicable to any photographer wanting to obtain or increase income through their craft.
In Mike's Macro Workshop ebook, Mike brings his yearly sold-out Macro Workshop to you, with all the details, tips and tricks of Macro photography.
A prolific photographer, writer and workshop instructor, Mike has had articles and images published in Outdoor Photographer Magazine, Nature's Best Magazine, Nature Photographer Magazine, Photolife, Whisper In The Woods, Michigan Game Finder, NANPA’s Expressions Books, Pure Michigan Book, Fujifilms Newsletter and Tamron’s “Angle of View” Blog. Winner of numerous local and international awards, Mike is a member of the Fuji Pro Talent Team and a "Macro Master" for Tamron Lenses.
You can visit Mike's blog here: Tiny Landscapes
Tags: Macro, Photographer
Posted in Articles, Macro, Photographer Spotlight | 6 Comments »
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When the Sun Ignites the Steam by Rick Sammon
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010Hey Gang,
I first met Chris Klapheke, founder/owner/operator of Outdoor Photo Gear, during a workshop I was co-leading in December 2008, in Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. We met during the event that Chris eloquently describes below, and exquisitely illustrates above.
I was new to the area, but Chris had been there several times before.
Day one of the workshop: Not only was I freezing, but I needed some help with finding the best shooting locations. Chris took me under his wing, so to speak, and helped me, and all the members of the group, get some knockout images.
Chris is a humble dude. You never hear him brag about his photographs, yet he is one of the best outdoor photographers I know. Recently, I asked him to jot down a caption for the image you see here. Well, Chris is the kind of guy who goes above and beyond in everything he does (most recently when it comes to customer service at Outdoor Photo Gear). Below is the “caption” that Chris sent me.
• • •
My alarm clock went off at 4:30 am in the Super 8 motel in Socorro, New Mexico. A sleepy little town about an hour south of Albuquerque, Socorro is the gateway town to the Bosque del Apache national wildlife refuge.
At 4:30 in the morning in Socorro in December, it’s darn cold. Fumbling awake, I checked the temperature: 12 below zero. Great. No, wait a minute—Great! Yesterday was a nice warm day in Bosque, with plenty of sun. That means, with this brutally cold morning, that any water that was shallow enough to warm up would be emitting a rare substance in the desert winter—steam.
When you get a nice warm day and a shivering cold morning, you can have steam rising from some of the ponds in Bosque. And when you get that steam and a clear sunrise, you have a chance to capture one of the “holy grail” shots from Bosque —birds in a golden mist of light.
Bosque del Apache has an avian cycle that repeats itself daily during the winter. Tens of thousands of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes spend the winter in Bosque. Each night, all those birds seek out water as a resting place for the night, where they are safe from predators such as the coyote. In the morning, through some hidden communication, the birds will start taking off out of the lakes and ponds. If you’re lucky, they will all take off at once, in what is called a “blastoff”. The sky becomes so thick with birds that sometimes the sky is nearly blocked out. It’s noisy, and you better wear a hat.
To experience this blastoff, and to get some fantastic images, photographers start setting up and jockeying for position in the cold dark. Depending on the wind and the light conditions, photographers scramble for the best views. You can glance down the road and it looks like the Olympics or a Space Shuttle launch—hundreds of long lenses pointed in the same direction.
But that’s not the shot I was after. Soliciting a few hardy members of our workshop, we were going to gamble. In trying for the golden mist shot, you are far away from the action of the refuge blastoff. Many conditions have to fall in place: a warm previous day, a cold cold morning, a clear sunrise, and of course, birds have to be in your chosen pond. You either get the shot, or you come away with a big fat nothing.
To have a chance at this shot, we would have to get off the road and crunch across frozen swampy grass to get close enough to a small pond. Leaving the road is strictly forbidden in the refuge. So, we scraped our windows, cracked open our chemical hand warmers, grabbed some coffee and headed in the dark to a pond along the road just outside the park.
Pulling off at the exit for the pond, we knew two of our four conditions—the warm day and the cold morning. Now we had to check the other two conditions in the pitch dark. Looking up, we could see the Milky Way spill across the sky. Good. A clear sunrise. As to the birds, it was too dark to see them. So we stood still and listened. We could hear their honks and grunts. The birds were there. All the conditions were in place, so if the birds hung around for sunrise, we’d have about a 60 second window, when the sunrise was just right, to try for the shot.
With hikers’ headlamps on, we carried our gear across the frozen ground toward the pond. We did not want to get too close, for fear of spooking the birds. Enough other things could do that, like coyote, leaving us with nice steam and no subjects. We used a compass to point where the sun would rise. Then we waited in silence (except for chattering teeth) for the sun to rise.
As the eastern sky lightened, our main concern was for the birds to stay put. They like to fly off at sunrise, and we needed them to stay long enough for the sun to pour over the hills and rushes to light the steam coming from the water.
The steam slowly gained color. In looking at my images in sequence, you can see:
Black gray gray gray gold gold GOLD! gold gray gray gray, all in a small amount of time.
Happily, the birds stayed, and the sun lit up the steam like flames. We snapped like maniacs. And only a minute later, it was over. Lots of LCD checks confirmed that we indeed had some good chances. We headed back to the hotel, freezing on the outside, but excited and warm on the inside.
I hope you enjoyed this "Story Behind the Shot"
Explore the Light,
Rick
Check out my blog here.
Tags: Bosque del Apache, Chirs Klapheke, learning, mist, photography, Rick Sammon, Travel Photography
Posted in Articles, Commentary, Photographer Spotlight, Vision, Wildlife | 1 Comment »