Feb 2, 2015 | Wildlife Photography
There’s an old adage in wildlife photography that still applies. When there is nothing else for a background, throw something green behind the subject. Why Green? Well, referring to my own Psychology of Color, you find that green, “is the most restful color for the human eye. It’s the universal color of nature as well as represents fertility, rebirth and freedom.” The background is so important, in content and color when we want to tell our subject’s story. As with this Golden-naped Woodpecker from Costa Rica’s rainforest, that green not only talks about where the woodpecker lives, but makes its golden nap, pop!
Here’s the same subject with a different background color to illustrate my point. By switching from green to yellow, look at the impact it has on making the woodpecker (the male, the red top notch) visually pop as well as the overall feeling of the photograph. The manipulation of the background was done by shooting with the D4s / 800mm (w/TC-1.25) and physically moving the whole rig just two inches to the left. The primary reason I shoot with the 800mm is the total control of the background with ever so slight a physical movement. When working with wildlife, you don’t want to have to make big physicl moves. It tends to scare them off. Now to get the bigger images size in the vertical shot, I simply was closer, physically.
So you can get a sense of how the photo came to be, it was really rather simple. We had stopped on the road to photograph eventually the White-necked Puffbird (a rather rare bird). We stopped for one species and while walking toward the Puffbird, I saw the Golden-naped Woodpecker. With a couple of other shooters, I got as close physically as I could and started to shoot (the vertical). Since the woodpeckers were on the road and the female was on the same trunk, pretty safe bet the male wasn’t going anywhere. So with those close up shots in the can, I physically moved back and over. Why? Two things. Image size is not a priority in my photography and, I want to tell a story. By moving back and going horizontal, you now see more of the tree and that tells you the species of tree and its location on the globe (if you’re into trees). More importantly, I’m telling you in the frame the woodpecker is smaller rather than a larger species. Yep, all of that goes through my mind when looking through the viewfinder which permits me to compose all the elements in the viewfinder rather in post, later. Just remember, when there is nothing else …
Jan 28, 2015 | Wildlife Photography
Learning, it’s a constant process. Improving, even more so. And that challenge is one of the greatest reasons in photography and why I go out everyday with camera in hand. Building on past experiences, while that’s the goal, one has to remember the past to not repeat the failure and build on the success. So on the beach of Costa Rica as the raft after raft after raft of Brown Pelicans floated past us riding the waves, I searched back to the last time I photographed them and what I wanted to improve. On our recent K&M Adventure to Costa Rica, after our morning on the beach, I was asked, “What are you looking for?” The question was in regards to photographing the amazing flocks of Brown Pelicans floating by. Harry is smart, since he had never photographed Pelicans on the wing before let alone with his new 800mm, he asked a very good question. He had no previous experience to build on. It was all new which is so exciting!
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I knew exactly what I wanted. The Pelican when on a glide and riding so perfectly the ground effect of air it has trapped with its wings over the water, they are the most graceful creature on the sea. They sneak up on a wave as its about to curl and crash and ride the crest with expertise and beauty. And it’s that moment I was looking for in my viewfinder. Getting “the” shot, at least the one I had in my mind is not easy. With the D4s / 800mm perched on the Gitzo, I watched the raft after raft of Pelicans approach. I would look for the adult males, singles or with enough spacing that looked like they would ride the wave in my kill zone as they past. As they went by I panned with the selected individual hoping that moment would come together of light, wind and gesture expressing that grace. As you can see, there is only one in the six images here that comes close. One is the typical “tips and tails” and others simply don’t communicate the grace that moment they sail the crest exudes. I shot a couple of hundred images and only captured a couple that come close to my intentions. And that’s OK because I can think of no better way to spend the morning than on a beach in Costa Rica watching the pelicans float by.
Jan 26, 2015 | Landscape Photography
The sunrises in Costa Rica this last week were spectacular! From up at the lodge, we could look down the canyon and see in the darkness breaking over the Pacific. The heat and humidity combine to produce big, gorgeous puffies. While our goal was the wildlife, there is no way one could ignore these pillars to the heavens. So we hit the beach with gear for the sunrise and the birds. In my case, that was the 800mm and 18-35AFS on the D4s. Knowing how quickly the sunrises at the equator, the decision needs to be made just as quickly how to go. It comes down to color, depth and of course, light.
Both of these photos were taken prior to the sun coming up over the horizon. The D4s was set to minus 1 stop and WB set to Cloudy. Both photos taken east by south east with the 18mm shot at the top, the 800mm shot at the bottom. The 800mm is the lower left corner of the 18mm photo. The color and light are the key elements of both photos moving the eye around the frame. The gesture though is supplied by different elements. In one, it’s the clouds and the other, the waves. And the one very special element of this morning was, there was no wrong way, bad way, only great ways every which way you turned to shoot! It’s just another of the special aspects of the Osa Peninsula and the Costa Rican rainforest.
Jan 23, 2015 | Wildlife Photography
The Sandhill Cranes are an amazing part of our wild heritage. They winter many locations in North America, the most celebrated is at Bosque del Apache, NM. I ventured back in December and brought back this little video for your enjoyment. The D4s / 800mm. Enjoy!
Jan 21, 2015 | Wildlife Photography
I’m posting fast, have a weak signal but wanted to share this shot of a Red-legged Honeycreeper and sunrise over the Pacific. The Red-legged Honeycreeper was shot right on the Luna Lodge property and the sunrise on the way to the Lagoon for bird photography from sea kayaks. The Honeycreeper “glows’ because the SB-910 with a Better Beamer on the D4s / 800mm. The sunrise thunderhead is a two image pano shot with the Nikon V3 and assembled in Photoshop. It’s humid, it’s hot and the photography has been amazing!
Jan 19, 2015 | Wildlife Photography
The Bald Eagles of Haines, AK is a very magical part of our wild heritage. I felt very fortunate to finally be able to venture there in the fall of 2014. Shot the Bald Eagles mainly with the D4s / 800mm which includes the video that follows. Hope it leaves you with a sense of the wonder.
