This is going to be fun! KelbyOne Gear Conference is talking camera gear baby and you’re invited to join the amazing instructors for a great two days! I’m creating two new classes for the conference, What Nikon Camera Should I Get Next and How to Pick the Right Nikon Lenses for You! Yeah, they might sound very Nikon-centric (because that’s what I shoot) but all that I’m covering applies to any and all camera or lens. We’re going to approach the answers to these questions from YOUR point of photography, not mine! In discussing the basics and applying those to specifics, you will find in my classes and the conference what you need to design and obtain the perfect kit for your photography. Join us, it’s going the be great!

When the Goose was hangared in November, it was “winterized” a process basically pickling the engines. That has to be removed to ready the Goose for summer flying. That’s what was going on Friday at the hangar. It’s a timely process, a heck of a checklist to get through so everything is carefully covered. Part of that is turning the engines over(not engaging, just the starter turning the prop) getting fluids out, fluids in, and checking for any leaks or issues. The prop barely turned, so slow that to show any motion I had to shoot at 1/5 as I leaned over the second floor railing to get the shot. I was concentrating on my hand-holding and framing intently as I knew they would only be turning over the engine for ten seconds max. Checked the shot, saw it was sharp, and went on with other shooting. Then I opened the image up on the computer.

That’s when I saw under the nacelle Carson was in the Goose at the window, having fun making a face like he was surprised by the whole thing. His dad, one of my favorite people and pilots, has flown Carson tons so it was no surprise to him. He was just having fun and now that I see his face, I can’t see anything else but it, and I just love that! Too much fun!!

You wanna photograph a bittern like this tiny Least Bittern, you gotta deal with them darn reeds. Many wading birds and waterfowl use the security of the reeds to avoid predators, and at times, photographers. Is there any cure for all those distracting lines? If they were all green, the mind’s eye tends to discount them and they are not a distraction. But just one brown / dead one and you’re toast! I know some who take the time in post to deal with them brown / dead ones but that’s not my style. So then, how to deal with them? The one way I know of is light. The brown / dead ones become bright highlights in our photograph and the mind’s eye goes to light & bright first. To remove that highlight then you need a soft light. Overcast and/or a saturated light is what you need to have any chance. The Least Bittern is worth the challenge, you just gotta remember the light and highlights.

And just as a reminder … practice your gentle touch with the swab PRIOR to cleaning. With the swab in its plastic sleeve, practice having a light touch by pressing down the swab/plastic sleeve so the end of the plastic sleeve BARELY bends with the pressure you’re creating. easy peasy!