MI Magic – 09.15.07

The DLWS Staff woke up and started out in a gentle rain heading up the coast to Elk Rapid. The rural landscape, barns and villages are so inviting and the land just sucks you in. In the top photo, we ventured to a great preserve that runs along the lake where some kid made this cool pattern. It was real easy to stroll out into the water and make the first capture. The B&W was even easier in Photoshop again using B&W Adj Layer with an additional Contrast Layer. The bottom image was taken along the Rapid River and is a simple straight capture. Walk up, click and continue to enjoy the grove. It was a great morning!

Photo captured by D200, 28f1.4AF on Lexar digital film

Great Lakes, Holly Cow! – 09.14.07

My good friend and DigitalPro creator David Cardinal has for a long time told me how gorgeous this region of the US is (and he leads workshops here) but not until today doing our scouting for our upcoming Great Lakes DLWS did I discover this for myself. This is a gorgeous, gorgeous place to come and shoot! We had a great time today cruising around, exploring, shooting, playing tourist and of course, finding all the good food in preparation for our start on Sunday. All I can say is, wish you were here!

Besides keeping track of our photographic pursuits on my blog this coming week, please check out other photographic visions of the same opportunities on Laurie blog and my assistant Josh’s blog. I selected my images to blog prior to seeing what Laurie & Josh posted just because I too wanted to see how we photographically communicated the uniqueness of the same locales. It’s what makes photography so special!

In regards to these two images, the top image was shot with a 10.5 because I had seen how the waves were breaking. They were curving up towards me kinda looking like a smile. To accentuate that curve, capture that vast, great sky and the expanse of Lake MI, the fisheye was the only lens to use. The horizon is straight because I kept it dead center in the frame. I than converted the image to B&W quickly using the Black & White curve in CS3. The lower image, I just happened to have lucked out to be in the right place at the right time when a spotlight of sun hit the farm. It was only present for a few minutes.

Photo captured by D200, 10.5 & 17-55AF on Lexar digital film

Hoodie you say?! – 09.14.07

Those who have been shooting with me of late know that my 200VR, 200-400VR & 600AFSII are all covered in the black LensCoat from LensCoat. Many have asked where I got though the cool “Hoodies” or better known as lens caps for those lenses as well as those on my 28AF and 14AF. They all come from LensCoat and they are VERY cool! They work really great and I highly recommend them. For example, those of your who own the 200VR know what a pain the factory lens cap is, especially when the shade is in its stored position. Well, their one Hoodie (Large) fits the shades when stored or in use and slips on and off with one hand tied behind your back.

I apologize for grabbing the screen shot from the LensCoat website, but I’m writing this from O’Hare Airport and I forgot to upload my product shot (this one doesn’t do this cool product justice). I can tell you though that Scott has a great product YOU should buy. I do know that Scott is right now working on the LensCoats for the new Nikon VR telephotos (might even switch to Nikon because of the D3(sorry Scott, just had to say it)) and he made a custom coat for my treasured 28AF which is great.

You want to take care of your gear and keep the eagle crap from getting in the cracks, this IS the way to go!

In follow up to many emails in regards to if I’m going to upgrade to the new 600VR. The new 600VR focuses 3 feet closer than the 600AFS II, that in itself makes it a must to me! The fact that my good friend Joe McNally says it’s a whole lot faster has me digging through the couch for pennies (and all my neighbors couches too!). Yeah, I plan on having the new 600VR & 400VR as soon as possible!

Nikon Sponsoring Base Camp – 09.12.07

We’re very excited to welcome Nikon as the official sponsor of our Wildlife Photographers Base Camp! Their sponsorship directly benefits one of you! Nikon will be sponsoring 1 “kid” (18-25yrs old) for each of our Base Camps. That’s all tuition paid by Nikon, that’s darn cool! We want to get you young kids involved in what we think is the greatest form of photography, wildlife photography so here’s your opportunity. Contact our office for details; we look forward to YOUR joining us! And if that’s not enough incentive to join us, there will be new tools (D3 & lenses) there with the latest “how tos” available to make the most of them.

And there’s more!

We’ll be starting our Pixel Packin’ Pleasure tour next month, sponsored by Nikon in conjunction with camera stores. We’ll starting with Service Photo and Penn Camera , bringing our programs to the DC area Oct 2&3, 2007. We’ll than be in MN & TX in the spring. What will we be presenting? The main emphasis will be wildlife and landscape photography in the medium of digital photography. We’ll go over what you should know behind the camera as well as the computer. We’ll be Pixel Packin’ Pleasure into YOUR photography! Come on out and say hello, we’re really looking forward to meeting all of you at these events!

Havasu Fall wrap up – 09.10.07

Back in the office for a day so I had a moment to finish a couple of images from our Havasu Falls adventure. Russell Brown (of Adobe fame) and Tom Ruark (also of Adobe fame) and I hiked down prior to Photoshop World for an amazing time. This photo was captured our second morning prior to sunrise.

The photograph is two images blended together into one exposure. The exposure range between dawn’s early light and the falls was too great for a single capture. Two photographs were taken and than merged in Photoshop into one exposure. Thanks to Russell for taking time to talk me through a new technique for doing the blending that I’ll be teaching in the months to come. And in case you’re wondering, the water isn’t this color blue in real life. It’s MUCH bluer!

Russell just sent me a link for one of his cool videos he created at the falls. Check this out!

Off tomorrow to Great Lakes for our DLWS event starting this weekend. I’ll be blogging as the week unfolds, looking forward to killer images. In answer to the many, many, many, many, many (did I mention many) emails in regards to the D3. Yes, I will have one within a month it sounds like. Once in hand & I have some shooting time with it, I will post a shooter’s report and settings recommendation list. The D3 has some revolutionary problem solving tools that I’m really looking forward to digging into. I had a hands on preview at Photoshop World during our Nikon Safari. In a word….schweeeeeeeet!

Photo captured by D2Xs, 14AF on Lexar digital film

Photoshop World – 09.08.07

With voice almost gone, heart overflowing with well wishes and with damp eyes, we said good-bye to all our friends at Photoshop World Las Vegas. Wow, what a great week! Got caught up with old friends, made a whole bunch of new ones, inspired and got inspired. You simply can’t ask more from life and Sharon & I want to thank one and all who made this such a special event for us.

The above photo was taken during our Nikon Safari Pre-Con a few days ago. Nikon was present with the new D3 (yes, D3), D300 and 24-70AFS. Participants had a great time (as did the instructors) photographing at Red Rock State Park and with our model Randy. We got back to the resort just after 9PM and a truly rewarding day. Thanks to all!

Photo captured by D2Xs, 200VR on Lexar digital film

And what happened to the kidnapper? – 09.04.07

Here lies Russell Brown, he’ll never take me to the Roadkill Cafe again!

Undescribable Beauty – 09.04.07

What an amazing, amazing, amazing three days! This is a photo of Havasu Falls at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Not the best shot, but I’m just getting back to functioning in the electronic world again. Russel Brown, Tom & myself hiked down the 10 miles (which meant of course hiking 10 miles back up) just to spend a couple of days at this location. It was just spectacular! We had everything from scenery, Bighorn Sheep, birds, bats, lightning, great clouds and a ton of fun. i visited this locale when I was 15, glad I had the opportunity to see it again. I’ll try to get some other images up, but Photoshop World starts tomorrow with the pre-con Nikon Safari so we’ll see.

Photo captured by D2Xs, 17-55AFS on Lexar digital film

I've been Kidnapped! – 09.01.07

There we were, standing in the valet parking at the Luxor, minding our own business when I was kidnapped by a mad doctor (pictured here)! Sharon is still safe & sound at the Luxor, I on the other hand have been driven to Seligman, AZ. Where the hell is Seligman, AZ? I’m being treated very well, had a great steak at the Roadkill Cafe but I’ve been told I have to be ready to go at 5AM. I was told I won’t be able to talk to the world until the 5th. Wish me luck, I’m in the hands a crazed mind!

Photo captured by D200, 28f1.4AF on Lexar digital film

I’ve been Kidnapped! – 09.01.07

There we were, standing in the valet parking at the Luxor, minding our own business when I was kidnapped by a mad doctor (pictured here)! Sharon is still safe & sound at the Luxor, I on the other hand have been driven to Seligman, AZ. Where the hell is Seligman, AZ? I’m being treated very well, had a great steak at the Roadkill Cafe but I’ve been told I have to be ready to go at 5AM. I was told I won’t be able to talk to the world until the 5th. Wish me luck, I’m in the hands a crazed mind!

Photo captured by D200, 28f1.4AF on Lexar digital film

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