Jun 7, 2018 | Landscape Photography
After an afternoon looking for the rare forest endemic bird species of Kauai, we came back down from the mountains to spend some time in the gorgeous Waimea Canyon. There are a number of turnouts and overlooks in which to take in this incredible view and the one I select normally is dependant on the rainbow. That’s because, in the afternoon, there is usually at least one rainbow, if not more.
The gear part was a snap. The D850 with the 70-200f4 and 8-15Fish was all that was required. This permitted both the tight horizontal and vertical shot of the canyon and the rainbow. And with the huge vista, the 8-15Fish took that in oh so elequently. That took care of the arranging of elements, then there were just a few settings to finish it all off.
I shot in Vivid, underexposed by -1/3 stop and set the camera to Cloudy WB. That was it, easy peezy and the memory is saved to share with all. Cause this kind of natural beauty is meant to be shared with all!
Jun 6, 2018 | Wildlife Photography
Giant Frigatebird
captured by D5 / 300PF
We jetted from Florida and Photoshop World directly to Kauai for a Pacific paradise birding adventure. We really love Kauai having come here many times but this is the first with the express purpose of photographing birds. We started off with birds I’d seen before but not spent time photographing, they are grouped under the big heading of pelagic birds. That’s a term used for a group of birds that spend their life at sea except for nesting season. Amazing flyers, watching them catch and soar in the trade winds is a thing of beauty. That’s what I wanted to bring to my photographs.
Red-tailed Tropicbird
captured by D5 / 300PF
The birds dart about in the winds as they perform courtship to aerial chases with incredible speed and ease. There was only one option as far as I was concerned for gear, the D5 / 300PF with the D5 set to Auto Area AF. I started with the TC-14eIII because of the old adage, “Go out with your longest lens or come back short,” but it was too long as the birds were WAY too close for that much lens.
Laysan Albatross
captured by D5 / 300PF
The biggie to making the photos was the background. For example, didn’t want gray skies in the background. With the intermediate rain showers, the can be a challange. Next was the horizon line, you need to be sensitive to where it is in the frame and how prominent. Then if shooting down on the waves, the amount of placement of white when the subject is a white bird. Then there is the gesture of the birds themselves in flight and the ease and elegance that they fly. We were there shooting until the wind burn on our faces drove away. But we’ll be back because there is simply nothing like photographing birds in paradise!
May 23, 2018 | Wildlife Photography
American Black Bear
captured by D5 / 800mm
One of the great passages of spring is spring babies! Mother Nature knows how to celebrate when it brings us the kiddies to celebrate in our photographs! Yellowstone this past week was full of kids, especially with calf Wolf, Elk & Bison. But we had special moments with like Griz Cubs and others as well. When you are invited into the home of these critters and you can be a good guest and bring back the photographic memories, well then you simply count your blessing and share the stories!
Up by Tower were a Black Bear and her cub. We were told that there were three cubs, but we only saw and photographed the one. Now it was your basic Yellowstone Bear Jam scenario which can drive some mad, and ugly. We avoided that by simply standing further back and longer glass. Shooting with the D5 / 800mm and picking the spot I wanted to photograph the bears on my terms. Living literally with black bears, I had a good guess where they might go and what they might do. After waiting twenty minutes, the show began. The cub so full of life bounced of rock, tree, plant, mom and then rock and tree again. It simply brings tears of joy watching the spirit of spring.
The Badger was a real happy find, a den with what we were told four pups, We only saw two and the pup’s reaction to spring was much different from the bears. Still using the same technique of standing further away and shooting with the D5 / 800mm, we watched as the pups did their usual, try to get mom to wake up and play. Mom doesn’t do that but it doesn’t stop them from trying.
It’s so good for your soul, so good for your photography and is, well, just how we should celebrate Mother Nature everyday!
May 21, 2018 | Wildlife Photography
Yellowstone Griz
captured by D5 / 800mm
Probably one of the biggest reasons I love being a wildlife photographer is because no matter how well I plan, how well equipped I might be, critters always surprise me. In that moment of surprise there is delight, learning, bewilderment and sometimes, a photograph to record the memory. Of course the pitfalls are monsterous but equally the rewards are staggering. So it was this afternoon in Yellowstone when we came around the corner and there were two 2-3year Griz siblings enjoying the afternoon sun. There was a small bear jam and since I’ve enjoyed griz many times, I took a vantage point where I could only see them through a small hole in the pines. Not even a good shot, just a fun shot to preserve the joy and fun of watching life unfold. It is essential in our photographic pursuits as we strive to do our best, to have fun and be open to all of life’s surprises!
I want to tip my hat to the Rangers and Techs at the bear jam. There were not only very professional but friendly and courteous to a crowd who at times was downright stupid. They are too often thought of as an obstacle so I wanted to commend and thank them for helping all those today enjoy our wild heritage!
May 18, 2018 | Landscape Photography
White Balance, the relationship of the light falling on the subject and how it is captured, sets the stage for so much that we communicate photographically. In its simplest use, creating a “gray day” or “warm moment” is only the difference of 3000k. But that can make all the difference in the story you want to tell!
I went with a real simple portrait setting to make my point. The Boys as always were just hanging out and more than willing to be models. The photograph above was taken when we first arrived at Mt Rushmore. The bottom photo was taken 45min later just as the sun was disappearing. The mood set with the “cold” or “blue” light is dramatic compared to the “warm” or “orange” light. And this difference directly affects how the viewer of your photograph “feels” about the subject. And while this is easy and obvious, like anything in photography, White Balance tends to perplex photographers. I can pass along to you what I tell most photographers when diving into learning White Balance. Use Auto White Balance for everything (Auto Natural Auto on D850) except when you see red in the sky, then use Cloudy. And if you see a change that you like, then delve into it even further.
May 16, 2018 | Wildlife Photography
Many think of Bison when they think of the great American West, my mind often goes to the Pronghorn. The fastest mammals in North America, this speedster is elegance on four hooves. But often you only see photos of the distinctive male with its “heart-shaped” horns. The female or doe lacking these often get little or no love. So when the opportunity to put them in the limelight to give them a little love.
In these examples of love, I used light and background to bring drama and story to the females. The first light of the day is gorgeous in The Black Hills so being up early and finding a doe was the only challange. We could easily roll up on this browsing doe and with the rim light on her and the dew, easy click for the D5 and the 300PF. Then later, beddin down to chew her cud, the far-off burnt hillside made a dramatic out of focus background that the D5 / 800mm easily brought together in the viewfinder. The only other thing I look at is the ears, I always want the ears forward, not back. And now you have ideas how to so love to the “other” Pronghorn.
