Death Valley Workshop

Posted this on my FB & G+ walls yesterday so we only have one opening. The dates are 6-10, Feb 2013. You would arrive on the 6th for our evening get together and plan on leaving after sunset (dark) on the 10th. The price is $1495 which includes the workshop packet, transportation once you at Death Valley and instruction. We’ve not decided on which lodge yet, once signed up you would get more info in those regards.

We are talking about a lot of photography (not a bunch of hiking) and some of the best and least known locations. If we’re really lucky, we’ll have the rains for a great wildflower display and a winter storm blow by for great clouds. We’ll photograph everything from rocks, mud, sand, ghost towns and critters, whatever stops in front of our lenses. We’ll spend time in the digital darkroom answering those kinds of questions and hopefully we’ll get an opportunity for star trails.

Hope you can join us, we look forward to sharing our decades of wanderings with you. To register, call Sharon at 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506 (9-5) PST. You will need to pay a deposit of 50% to reserve your spot!

Can You Make Money from Your Photography?

I think so and I want to help you find out if you can. Having just adding a new segment to our business, aviation, I have a fresh perspective to the old realm of business. The business of photography, it seems to mystify, frustrate and baffle most. This is especially true for editorial, magazines like you see above. I can understand why, there is a ton of really bad information out there! For a long time, we held a business course in our office but the response died so it stopped. Then with the web getting hot, the “need” seemed great again so we offered a class but it too soon died off. Now in the first half of this year we’ve been pounded with the question, “DO you offer a photography business course?”

We have help we want to offer you! The price will be $695 (the written materials you’ll take home are worth the price alone!) for two days of incredibly intense class time. You will have to come with a 1500 word article and 20 images to illustrate that piece. You will have to come with a list of 10 questions. Understand that the biz starts with the editorial market so we’ll be covering that quite a bit. It will have nothing to do with fine art, weekend craft show market. You will need an open mind and a willing heart because the business of photography is not for the faint of heart. If you really, really, really have a passion for photography and think you want to learn about the business, this is the place for you. The class will be limited to 20 and will be held Nov 17-18, 2012 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Want to sign up, call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506, NOW!

Favorite Questions from Short Lens Course

As I see it, when you pay for one of my workshops, you’ve paid to have your questions answered. The problem though is you don’t know (or remember) the question to ask to get the answer you need. So when you comes to our classes in Mammoth, you’re required to bring written questions. Here’s a sampling from the questions I received this weekend at our Short Lens Wildlife Course. It was a great weekend with great folks and we covered a lot of ground.

How many days does it take to get an animal familiar enough to you?

-If only there was such a formula! The best example I can think of are hummingbirds. You might find one that will have nothing to do with you, one that will tease you getting so close and another that will land on your lens, all in the same hour! Habituating wildlife is not a good plan. The best plan that you can apply over and over again is learning Basic Biology. This is something we go over quite a bit in class.

 

When using a flash on small animal, what is the optimum distance between the animal and off-camera flash?

-Flash is an essential tool in wildlife photography! One of the first basics we learn is the Inverse Square Law in which all flash, no matter size, model of make operates. Once we have a handle on this basic, you have your own answer. This is something we delve into, practice and put into action and solve during the weekend.

 

Is there any particular advantages to “camo” attire and accessories?

-You’re fashionable, to someone? Critters don’t seem to know the difference between a photographer in camo or out (we’re not talking hunting here). You basic critter could care less so spending hard earned money on this when Basic Biology knowledge that you can gain for free will get you closer, makes the most sense to me.

 

My equipment is capable of much better focus than I seem to be getting, can you speak to settings and techniques that might lead to better results

-You’ve gotta start with providing your camera a stable platform to operate from. Handholding is an essential tool! Then you have to maximize the settings for your particular camera body and lens to YOUR style of photography. This something we go over, practice and put into practice in class.

 

Do you recommend a sensor cleaning kit, if so which ones?

-I sure do, that from Copperhill!

 

I have a 300f4AFS and a TC-20eII, Would you use that combination? Is the TC-20eIII worth the investment?

-The 300f4AFS is a great lens I still use a lot! While it works well with the TC-20eII, the TC-20eIII rocks! The TC-20EIII is one of the finest teleconverters I’ve ever owned! What happens though to your f/stop and effective f/stop when you attach a converter? That is something we go through thoroughly in class because if is such an important tool.

 

A word on cropping would be appreciated

-That is easy for me, I don’t crop. Doesn’t mean you have to adopt that standard but for my, getting it right, right in the frame is what it means to be a photographer. It’s also how you obtain the highest quality from your file. How to you photograph critters and not have to crop? That’s why you’re here in class.

 

Interested in fill flash primarily for birds

-this is a primary and great tool for photographing birds, flash! But we’re not using flash for exposure the majority of the time but for color. The exercises we do in class help you find the answer to this question for your photography which might not be the same for myself or other participants. Even better, you’ll leave with the tools to constantly improve on your own settings.

 

Would love to see a demo of flash feathering

-and that you will! The basics though is real simple, we don’t use the center hot spot of our flash, but just the edges. Understanding of the inverse square law permits you to use this essential technique with confidence.

 

On your blog you were talking about the no-brainer that was the D800E when it was first announced, yet you seem to have gone with the D800, what changed for you?

-darn good question! If you’re going to have a damn big ass file camera, might as well go all the way! That’s until you have that big ass file camera and you realize you don’t even need that much. While the D800e is a great tool and for its application, rocks, I just don’t experience in my photography that application so I saved the extra pennies and went with the D800.

 

 

 

Moose Crits

Ever since I did The Crit at the B&H Event center a couple of months back, we’ve been flooded with requests to look at folk’s images. I’m honored that folks want to hear my $.02 worth when it comes to their photography. The one issue, kind of a big one is time. There’s all of you out there and just little ol me here. I’ve already had over two dozen folks ask to meet with me at the upcoming Photoshop World for this sole purpose. But that’s one place I don’t have extra time. Many come to our office for a Private Tutoring but that requires some more of your time and expense. How to help?

I’ve done a few Crits using Hangouts on Google+ and they work out pretty well. They are not free, I charge for my time. At this point in time it’s the only solution I have to help folks that works. So if such help would be useful to you, give Sharon a call at 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506 (9-5PST) to see if we schedule a time.

Just had a call from someone who just read this and asked if we’d have a class here in Mammoth just looking at images. Never thought about it but that might work too. If that would be of interest to you, give Sharon a call and we’ll make a list and if there is enough interest, will make it happen.

Tundra Nesting Birds ’13

K&M Adventures is heading to Churchill, Canada, 27 May – 01 June, yeap, shorebird mecca is our spring/summer destination! You’ll fly into Churchill the 27th and fly out the 2nd and in between you will be welcomed by some of the best bird photography on the planet! I’ve not been there for breeding season since ’98 but prior to that, I was there for years! My “worst” trip was 60 difference species of birds, photographed! While world renown for Polar Bears (and we’ve had those in the summer as well), Churchill is not as well known for summer bird photography but that might just change. We are taking only 6 folks with us, the price is $2795 which includes once you arrive in Churchill, transportation, guides and instruction.

The top photo is of a great bird you just don’t see elsewhere like this, the Hudsonian Godwit, and this isn’t a perfect looking male as the full, brick, red breast isn’t fully in. Then there is the Pacific Loon you see here, a sweetie that for four years nested in basically the same place and would pose for us all day. Then there is the bird that nearly no one knows who it is when I throw it up on the screen, that’s because we only see it in its winter drab colors. This is the spectacular Dunlin, another of the great birds of Churchill.

Of course, there is no guarantee of any species or birds at all because, well, weather and life is what it is. But my worst day in Chruchill with birds blows away my best day ever in the lower 48! Here’s just a couple of other species I photographed in Churchill in years past.

Don’t know who these species are, or better yet you do know and want to photograph them yourself? Well then, you need to join us. Worried you need a big lens (because you do) but don’t own one? Well, we’ve arranged with BorrowLenses.com for a special deal for you so you won’t miss out! Give us a call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506 to register or to find out more!

You Did Hear – There is a Bi$ Class!

Having just adding a new segment to our business, aviation, I have a fresh perspective to the old realm of business. The business of photography, it seems to mystify, frustrate and baffle most. I can understand why, there is a ton of really bad information out there! For a long time, we held a business course in our office but the response died so it stopped. Then with the web getting hot, the “need” seemed great again so we offered a class but it too soon died off. Now in the first half of this year we’ve been pounded with the question, “DO you offer a photography business course?”

We have help we want to offer you! The price will be $695 (the written materials you’ll take home are worth the price alone!) for two days of incredibly intense class time. You will have to come with a 1500 word article and 20 images to illustrate that piece. You will have to come with a list of 10 questions. Understand that the biz starts with the editorial market so we’ll be covering that quite a bit. It will have nothing to do with fine art, weekend craft show market. You will need an open mind and a willing heart because the business of photography is not for the faint of heart. If you really, really, really have a passion for photography and think you want to learn about the business, this is the place for you. The class will be limited to 20 and will be held Nov 17-18, 2012 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Want to sign up, call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506, NOW!

Photography Biz Class

The business of photography, it seems to mystify, frustrate and baffle most. I can understand why, there is a ton of really bad information out there! For a long time, we held a business course in our office but the response died so it stopped. Then with the web getting hot, the “need” seemed great again so we offered a class but it too soon died off. Now in the first half of this year we’ve been pounded with the question, “DO you offer a photography business course?”

Sharon & I are willing to give it a go again because we feel anyone can succeed in the photography business. But to put it simply, it’s gotta make business sense for us to offer it. The price will be $695 (the written materials you’ll take home are worth the price alone!) for two days of incredibly intense class time. You will have to come with a 1500 word article and 20 images to illustrate that piece. You will have to come with a list of 10 questions. Understand that the biz starts with the editorial market so we’ll be covering that quite a bit. It will have nothing to do with fine art, weekend craft show market. You will need an open mind and a willing heart because the business of photography is not for the faint of heart. If you really, really, really have a passion for photography and think you want to learn about the business, this is the place for you. The class will be limited to 20 and will be held Nov 17-18, 2012 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Want to sign up, call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506, NOW!

Essential Gear or What’s Just Too Cool to Live Without – B&H Event Center

Short Lens Wildlife Course – What is It?

Short Lens Wildlife Photography Course 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506

iPad vs BT Journal 15.4 Now Available!

Yeap, the next issue in your subscription is waiting for you! Open the Newstand, tap on the BT Journal and you’ll be asked to download. Don’t have a subscription, here’s where you can get one.

K&M Adventures – Churchill ’13

K&M Adventures is heading to Churchill, Canada, 27 May – 01 June, yeap, shorebird mecca is our spring/summer destination! You’ll fly into Churchill the 27th and fly out the 2nd and in between you will be welcomed by some of the best bird photography on the planet! I’ve not been there for breeding season since ’98 but prior to that, I was there for years! My “worst” trip was 60 difference species of birds, photographed! While world renown for Polar Bears (and we’ve had those in the summer as well), Churchill is not as well known for summer bird photography but that might just change. We are taking only 6 folks with us, the price is $2795 which includes once you arrive in Churchill, transportation, guides and instruction.

The top photo is of a great bird you just don’t see elsewhere like this, the Hudsonian Godwit, and this isn’t a perfect looking male as the full, brick, red breast isn’t fully in. Then there is the Pacific Loon you see here, a sweetie that for four years nested in basically the same place and would pose for us all day. Then there is the bird that nearly no one knows who it is when I throw it up on the screen, that’s because we only see it in its winter drab colors. This is the spectacular Dunlin, another of the great birds of Churchill.

Of course, there is no guarantee of any species or birds at all because, well, weather and life is what it is. But my worst day in Chruchill with birds blows away my best day ever in the lower 48! Here’s just a couple of other species I photographed in Churchill in years past.

Don’t know who these species are, or better yet you do know and want to photograph them yourself? Well then, you need to join us. Worried you need a big lens (because you do) but don’t own one? Well, we’ve arranged with BorrowLenses.com for a special deal for you so you won’t miss out! Give us a call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506 to register or to find out more!

We Ended Like We Started – Perfection!

You look to the west and you have a gorgeous sunset. Turn to the east and you have a magical thunderhead lit up by the setting sun. Wow…what and ending to a perfect day!

Small Detail, Small Lesson

With the 18mm back on the D4, it was time to talk small details. Here’s a perfect example of the little things we talk about at K&M Adventures. If you look in the lower right corner of these two images, you’ll see one includes the distance ridge and the other one doesn’t. Now Ron & Phil on the peak is essential in this whole thing since they provide the scale. The visual depth is provided with that little slice of ridge in the background. Now there is no right or wrong way here, it all depends on how you want to tell your story. But if you’re not looking for that little detail, then it will go missed and perhaps, the story of your photo!

Fishy Clouds

To say we lucked into great clouds during our K&M Adventure SD is an understatement. The trick was not finding the clouds but rather, what to put with them. That’s where visiting a location over and over again really pays big dividends. I’ve been to Custer dozens of times so when the afternoon thunderheads piled up, I knew where I wanted to go. What I didn’t know that the 16Fish would be the lens that would be the funniest to shot with. Kevin first got it out and I peaked through his lens and then grabbed mine. I then played with the peaks and valleys to make the designs that would go with the shapes of the clouds. It was so much fun taking the D4 and just pointing and blasting with the great light and shapes!

K&M Adv – Custer Sunrise

Custer is such an amazing place! Long ago a dear friend shared a secret with me, a place to greet the new day. It’s a place I share with all I bring to Custer because as you can see, it is a glorious spot. There are a couple of key ingredients required to make this happen. The first is getting up early and as you’ll see, we had a great group who had NO problem with this first one. Next was knowing the place to go. Check. Finally, set your WB to Cloudy to capture the color. After that, the rest are in the hand of the photo Gods. The arrangment of elements then just worked the clouds to bring the up up, around down and over to the sun over and over again. One thing I learned this week in regards to the D4 is it does a GREAT job with this kind of scene with one click. With the D3, I would have gone to HDR to bring this image to life. These are single clicks out of the with the 24-70AFS attached with images just processed in ACR.

Just Gotta Stop For Clouds!

We had driven past it a couple of hours earlier, but it was in full sun with bald skies. Yuck. When we came back by, the thunderstorm was building and the aperture in the clouds let enough light in to bring drama while providing a great background. So was required was an illegal U turn as we were shooting.

The only real question was, what lens to use? There was actually no right or wrong answer because everyone could make up and tell their own story. I went with the 18AF for a couple of reasons. One was its angle of view, the other is because it’s rectilinear (that’s not a PC). With that, it was simply a question of getting in the right place to relate the three buildings the way I like in concert with the clouds. So, I danced a little as the clouds and the aperture in them moved about.

The bottom image is the one I like the best, then the color version and finally the top image. When I stopped, I saw this at a B&W image but the clouds were changing and that made me move changing how I wanted to actually arrange the three buildings. Then a burst of sunlight came out when made me think color. All of these images are a handheld, 7 image HDR finished with Photomatix Pro and Photoshop.

K&M Adv hits SD!

We’re up in the Blackhills of SD and man, it’s gorgeous! We headed out to a gorgeous sunrise only to find the thunderstorms from the night before still hanging about. Now it’s really no secret, I love clouds, they call me Mr Clouds so we had to stop! The thermal action kept them on the move, shape and density constantly changing while we stood there and all day long. The key to me in making the shots are the subtle shades of gray along with some element to give them scale. In these examples I used HDR and landscape to capture those elements. Photographically, the D4 and 18AF worked their magic. I’m finding though with the D4 and its new sensor that single click cloud photos along with ACR is producing more cloud shots that I like then HDR. mtc…

A Moment with an American Oystercatcher

I spent last week playing more and more with the D4 video. This segment I shot while lying on the sand which made watching the LCD nearly impossible and panning a real challenge. It was fun and the results have some good moments. I then further went and edited the clip in Photoshop CS6 which makes it SOooo easy to do.

« Previous Page — Next Page »