Feb 3, 2011 | Random Thoughts
Being skunked, just what does that mean in the realm of photography? Most interpret it as coming back empty handed almost to the point of being a looser. What self respecting photographer goes out with a camera and comes back with no photograph? So with that mind set, some go out and try to force a photograph when in fact, there are none to be had. We all fall into that trap at one time or another and not until you’ve moved down the road a while do you realize that, it just happens. Now a days, when that happens for example when shooting landscapes, I simply say, “I’m not feeling the love.” Today was a totally different scenario but with the same outcome. You might have heard the weather is a bit wild across the country. Wind is just not a good thing for wildlife or aviation photography and most photography in general (except when storm chasing when you want the wind). Jake & I arrived yesterday to the desert east of Las Vegas to 50mph winds and bloody cold temps. When we went out this morning, we knew we weren’t going to make any clicks and sure enough, no clicks were made. At the end of the day, I was asked why we drove six hours knowing that all odds were against us ever making a click? It’s real simple, there have been way too many times when I went out against the odds and was greatly rewarded for going out. Not every time, but enough times to know it’s worth it to give it a try. To me the odds of being skunked are so slim that nothing ventured is nothing gained.
Jan 27, 2011 | Random Thoughts
photo by Jake Peterson
and don’t have the tripod plate attached to your new D7000 and you wanna shoot video, you improvise. I don’t recommend this, but I had to come up with something in a pinch. I used the hot shoe ballhead I use for the Moose Cam (using the P7000) for the D7000. It was not a great solution but it got the job done. This is how I shot the Finale. But it looked really strange!
Jan 25, 2011 | Random Thoughts
The Black-shouldered Kite is a great bird, one thing I miss not being on the Central Coast much. I’ve seen this a number of times with a number of species. It always makes me scratch my head. Can’t help but think they were better off before we littered.
Jan 25, 2011 | Random Thoughts
I mean really, even the most lonely outpost of civilization is feeling the pinch. What’s happening in your backyard, or, what’s disappearing in your backyard? I always wonder when I post these snippits of news how many actually read the whole article or simply blow by it. It makes me wonder what can we do about it with our cameras?
Jul 1, 2010 | Random Thoughts
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2640.swf, 404, 600 [/swf]
I’ve done a whole lot of interviews of late and one common question is, “What’s your favorite image?” The honest answer doesn’t ever seem to satisfy the interviewer but it’s the truth. My favorites tend to be ones that I’ve recently captured and for one reason or another, fascinate me. The Corsair I posted earlier today is a good example. While I didn’t recently capture it, the elements of design the ass shot presented just stuck with me until I figured out how I wanted to finish it to bring that out.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPNAFB1481.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Here are two more examples. The Crested Caracara above was taken just a couple of weeks ago in TX. Why is that a favorite right now? It’s the same reason the photo of the A-10 Warthog taken in Feb at the I understand where the interviewer is coming from when they ask the question, but what might be my favorite most likely will not be other’s favorites for one simple reason. I have an emotional investment in the photo. Favorites IMHO don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize winning photos, not even ones you want to put on your livingroom wall. They are simply clicks which represent to you, that moment in time the best and stretch your imagination and passion. And more then likely, tomorrow I might just be locked onto some other image I find in my files while pulling images for clients and that will become a favorite. I just don’t see how, if you shoot a lot like you should be, you can have just one favorite. If that’s the case, I think there is something really wrong. I mean, if you didn’t like the photo, why did you take it in the first place?
Jun 9, 2010 | Random Thoughts
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Bison 1903.swf, 585, 431 [/swf]
A real common and very valid question is, “Why don’t you have photo business stuff on your site?” Encouraging folks to get in the business is something we do all the time. I mention “the business” quite a bit here on the blog. So why isn’t there pages and pages and blog after blog of business on the site? We have taught a number of business workshops over the years, the current being Base Camp. They all have been 4-5 day long workshops. Four to five days because it takes that long to just get through the basics of getting a wildlife photography business going. Looking at the stats and receiving the questions asking questions just answered a week prior on the blog, we know the vast majority of folks don’t search the site for past information. The bottomline is, I could put the information here but it one, wouldn’t get read in order and completely and two, would be obsolete so fast I would be constantly updating something that isn’t getting read except by the one person pointing out it was obsolete.
This doesn’t mean for a heartbeat I don’t think YOU can make it in the business. If I can, any body can which is why we have conducted business workshops for the last twenty years. But if you want to learn this stuff from me, you’re going to have to spend some time with me and that for many is more scary then going into business. I sure wish I could right a couple of eloquent postings and give you all the answers, but its just isn’t that simple.
