by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jun 22, 2016 | Bird photography, Brazil, Canadian Rockies, International photo tours, Nature Photography, Photo Workshops, Travel
Tips for International photo tours. Preparation.
Arctic Tern
Documents
If you don’t have a passport you will need to apply for one to visit countries outside the U.S.. If you have one already, check the renewal date several months before departure to be sure it covers the dates of travel. For passport info visit https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html
For visa requirements for the country to be visited, go to the country’s consulate website for requirements and fees. In the past I have successfully used a visa service called Travisa, www.travisa.com in the past and recently recommended them to a friend who also employed their service. In all cases, they were quite helpful answering questions about the visa process and application and review your application before delivering them to the respective embassy. Since you are sending your passport to them to hand-carry to the country’s embassy in Washington, D.C. and returning the documents to you, it is critical that the service is reliable.
Travel Alerts
Check the following websites, US State Department website (www.state.gov), the CDC http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel and the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int) for travel advisories for the regions to be visited. The state department site has passport forms and other travel info as well as a convenient travelers check-list https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html. Be sure to photo copy travel documents and store separately from your originals in case the originals are lost or stolen.
Consider signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). They send travel and security updates about your destination and being register can help them contact you in the case of an emergency. https://step.state.gov/step/
Credit Cards:
Notify your credit card company either on-line or via phone of your upcoming travels so your charges from your new location will not be rejected as suspicious. I recommend carrying a travel wallet with protection from theft and with RFID blocking in the lining so scanners can’t read the radio-frequency tags embedded in your credit cards and passport. Distribute you cash in several locations in the event that you loose or have your wallet stolen.
Whale off shore of Iceland
TSA Pre-check
If you travel frequently, you may want to consider enrolling in TSA pre-check. Go to the TSA’s website www.tsa.gov to begin the enrollment process on-line. Afterwards you will have to go to a TSA center to participate in a 10-minute interview and fingerprinting. TSA pre-check status allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to go through an expedited TSA screening process if available. Those travelers will be allowed to leave on their shoes, light outerwear, and belt. You can keep your laptop in its case and compliant liquids or gels in your carry-ons. When registered, you receive a TSA number that you report when you purchase your airline tickets. In most cases, TSA pre-check will be printed on your boarding pass allowing you to use the TSA pre-check line at the security check- point at the airport. At the airport, a TSA pre-check line may or may not be available depending on availability of staff and security level of alert. If available, the TSA security check is expedited — lines are shorter and passage through TSA security screening is faster.
Currency exchange
Check common policies for acceptance of credit cards in the areas to be visited and the tipping policy. It is best to carry some local currency for tips, small purchases, taxis, sometimes airport taxes, etc. You can exchange dollars at the local airport when you arrive at your destination or at local banks, or money exchange centers but there is usually a higher service charge and less favorable exchange rates than if you can obtain the currency in the U.S. If you belong to AAA, they have a service whereby you can obtain foreign currency before your trip for a reasonable fee or no fee if $200 or more is exchanged. In Italy when we were running out of local currency and had problems finding a bank willing to exchange US dollars for Euros.
Health check-up
Several months before traveling overseas, it is a good idea to investigate what is required in terms of inoculations, etc. I visit Johns Hopkins Travel Clinic in Baltimore for needed shots, medication, and health adversaries. Locally you can obtain similar services through organizations such as Passport Health, https://www.passporthealthusa.com/travel-medicine. In some cases, you may have to be given multiple injections over a period of time. Some malaria medicines require taking pills several weeks prior to travel. With Johns Hopkins, they maintain a record of my visits and prepare a shot record to take with me. Also they provide a summary of the health concerns for the area. Note: Some countries require documentation indicating that you have received certain vaccinations, for example Yellow Fever.
Atlantic puffin.
Prescription medicines
Make sure have enough of your prescription medicines to cover trip and any delays. Keep them in your hand-carry baggage. Have had meds stolen from check luggage. If you need an item refilled in a foreign country, you may have difficulties and may be required to visit a local doctor for a prescription.
Emergency evacuation related to health
MedjetAssist is a global and domestic medical transport company with several membership programs. https://medjetassist.com/ It’s not a health insurance program for travelers but if you are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet will arrange air medical transport back to your hospital of choice in your home country — all you pay is your basic plan membership fee.
You might wish to consider purchasing basic travel insurance offered by companies such as Travel Guard http://travelguard.com. Depending on the program, they cover costs related to in-hospital medical care, lost luggage, travel delays, trip cancellation, etc. Prices and plans vary according to benefits and the cost of the trip. It is best to check with your personal health insurance company for their policy regarding paying for overseas treatment and hospitalization.
oystercatcher
On the plane
Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. Walk or exercise your legs when possible to maintain good circulation and avoid possible blood clots. There are compression socks that are supposed to help.
Relief for long delays between flights
On occasion, I have had excessive delays between flights If you belong to an airline club such as United’s, at some airports they have a lounge with personalized travel assistance, Wi-Fi, beverages, snacks, and most important, it is a much more pleasant environment in which to wait than sitting in the public areas of the airport terminal.
For my upcoming trip to Brazil, I have approximately a 10-hour delay between my domestic and international flight heading back to the U.S. I discovered that within the airport there is a “hotel” with small sleeping quarters where you can rest in privacy while waiting for your flight. At Sao Paulo airport, it’s called “FastSleep” and you pay by the hour.
Equipment check
I typically have my camera cleaned and serviced at least twice a year if used heavily particularly before a major trip. Since I am a Nikon user and Nikon Professional Services member, I send my cameras to Nikon’s New York Service and Repair Center. Using my NPS number, I receive expedited service. It may cost a bit for a “once over” on your camera periodically but it is worth it when you have invested several thousand dollars in a trip. Note: I always carry at least one spare camera. (If camera sent for cleaning, check your setting when the camera is returned. Often set to defaults.
Carry-on luggage
I travel on the airlines with my camera gear loaded in a Gura Gear light-weight backpack and place my computer in a rolling computer bag. Chargers, power strips, filters, tripod ball head, etc., I place in my checked luggage with the more delicate items placed in a small padded backpack that can double a field pack. TSA locks may help against in experienced thieves but do not guarantee absolute protection from others and less reputable TSA inspectors. I have had items removed from my luggage more than once.
Hummingbird
Saving digital files while traveling.
I carry my Apple laptop computer, card reader, and two potable Seagate 2 T drives. When possible, I transfer image files from my compact flash cards each evening after shooting to my portable drives. I don’t save the files on the computer itself since they consume too much room. When possible, I quickly review the images on Adobe Lightroom. Once assured that the camera is working properly and my technique is solid, I then put the cards aside for reformatting in the camera. I usually carry a number of compact flash cards and cardholders to store cards in case transfer of images is not possible. I have card-holders color coded for cards needing to be transferred and others of a different color for cards where the images have been transferred and are ready to be re-formatted in the camera where they will be used. Any scheme that works for you is fine.
International calling plans
I add an international calling/data plan to my cell phone for the month I will be traveling. This provides an economical way to communicate the event of an emergency, delays in travel, urgent business, etc. If you have the Whatsapp application on your phone, you can make long distance calls or send text messages via Internet for free. Recently I used it for the first time and was impressed that the transmission was so clear.
Common Gallinule
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Dec 17, 2015 | Autumn photography, Canadian Rockies, Digital Photography, Fall photography, Nature Photography, Photo Tour, Photo Tours, West Virginia, Wildlife Photography
Two of my favorite locations for autumn photography are the mountains of West Virginia and the Canadian Rockies.
Aspen on hillside, Canadian Rockies
With the arrival of fall, to the delight of photographers, leaf color changes, birds migrate, and animals move from the high country to lower elevations. But also rain and overcast skies often accompany the seasonal change as temperatures fluctuate and the weather becomes less stable. Such conditions can render images dull and flat, but can also be an asset.
Rain – the Sliver Lining
In the Canadian Rockies this September, we had 2 days of continuous hard rain, so much that rock slides blocked the main highway. We just took the time to relax, read, and work on images. Although being driven inside by the rain was disappointing, the following morning was spectacular with beautiful fresh snow on the mountain tops.
Snow Peaks, Canadian Rockies
Rain can be a both a blessing and a curse. With rain, the grass becomes greener, rainbows appear, water droplets adorn leaves and spider webs, pools of rainwater reflect the colors around them, and waterfalls and cascades flow more swiftly. The color of vegetation becomes more saturated. By using a polarizing filter to remove shine on surfaces, you can make colors even more intense.
Tangle Falls after rainfall.
Ok, so the next image is not related to fall photography but it makes the point that rain can be a good thing. My photos that I shot in Costa Rica of hummingbirds in the rain, were some of my favorite from that trip. (A cheap kids poncho or large plastic bag will keep your gear dry in case of an unexpected downpour.)
Fiery-throated Hummingbird in the rain, Costa Rica
Fog & Overcast Skies
Overcast skies, low cloud banks, and fog generated by temperature changes in the fall can present photographers with unique photo opportunities. When I rise in the morning, I let the light direct my activities. On a foggy morning, I will head to a nearby lake, pond, or low area where the fog creeps along the ground and slowly rises with the heat of day to reveal interesting ghost-like silhouettes of trees, bushes, and mountains ranges. If in Shenandoah National Park, I am likely to go to a high point to photograph the fog hanging in the valleys between the mountains. (Note: Be careful when exposing foggy scenes. Depending on your camera, if your light meter is reading off of the fog layer, then it will adjust the exposure to render the fog mid-tone gray. This will often result in an underexposed photo. Add more exposure to compensate).
Snow covered peaks near Canmore, Canadian Rockies
Morning fog over river, Jasper, Canadian Rockies
Blackwater Falls State Park, Fog over Pendleton Lake.at dawn.
If instead of fog, I wake to a sky that is lightly overcast, I will head to a location where the soft light complements the scene, e.g. to a waterfalls, cascade, stand of trees, woodland trails, flowing streams, delicately colored wildflower, etc. On a bright sunny day, photographs of these subjects will often be disappointing with distracting backgrounds, hot spots, and deep shadows that hide important details. (If the sunlight becomes to bright for your subject, you can sometimes get acceptable results by waiting until the light is diffused by a passing cloud.)
Linde Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, view down Blackwater Canyon. Soft light reveals details.
The Wonders of Backlighting
Backlighting and side lighting bring out the vibrant color of autumn leaves. By using a polarizing filter you can intensify the effect by removing glare from the surface of vegetation. Even towards mid-day, polarizers can sometimes help you achieve satisfactory results. Take note that flare can be a problem when pointing the camera towards the sun. Flare appears as unwanted bright spots across the image or a bright wash over the photo. Flare spots are created by the sunlight reflecting off of glass surfaces within the camera lens or filter. How can you reduce flare? Your lens shade can help but you may need more assistance. You can shadow the lens with a jacket, hat, card, umbrella, or person’s shadow. You can also stand in the shade of a tree or building. Sometimes you can reduce flare by aiming your lens such that the sun is blocked by an object such as behind a cloud or tree limb.
Pond at Canaan Valley State Park. Fall color reflecting in a pond. (For reflections in ponds and lakes, you may capture better color in the water from the surroundings trees by moving to a higher vantage point where more of the water’s surface is visible.)
Backlit fern
Backlit Tree, Canaan Valley
Dolly Sods. Leaves from blue berry bushes turn red in the fall and glow when struck by the late afternoon sun.
Isolation and macro landscapes
Instead of using your wide-angle lens for all landscape photos, consider isolating portion of the scene using a telephoto or macro lens. (Be careful when using wide-angle lenses for landscapes. They alter perspective and shrink the size of items in the background; thereby, lessening the impact of a photo. The mountains you emotionally reacted to are reduced to bumps on the horizon.)
For any photo, identify what attracted you to the scene. Then chose your lens , angle of view, lighting, etc. to emphasize what initially impressed you. Concentrate on the key elements and simplify the image, eliminating the non-essential components. Instead of capturing a broad landscapes all the time, look for patterns and portions of the scene that have high visual impact. These are what I call macro landscape. Little things such as bubbles in a stream, water droplets on a fallen leaf, lichen covered rocks, distinctive patterns on tree bark, colorful reflections in a pond, the flow of water across a rock, etc. can be perfect photo subjects.
Bubbles in stream
Fallen leaves floating in pond, fall color, Canaan Valley
Iceland cascade.
Bark Patterns
Slow Shutter Speeds
For streams and waterfalls, its fun to experiment using low ISOs, small apertures, and neutral density filters, achieving slow shutter speeds to blur the motion of the water for an artistic effect. With flowing streams, slow shutter speeds can add sense of motion which can be sometimes enhanced by swirling patterns of colorful leaves, bubbles, or foam. There is no way to perfectly predict what the final results are going to be, so take a number of shots with different settings. Use your camera’s playback mode to judge results.
Slow shutter speed. Photo of cascade. Canadian Rockies.
Swirling water in a stream.
Roadside cascade, Canadian Rockies. Slow shutter speed to show action. Soft light to avoid hot spots.
Location, Location, Location
If the leaf color is not good in one area, don’t give up. It might be spectacular a short distance down the road. Autumn colors vary with temperature, rainfall, and altitude. The arrival of peak color in any one location varies from year to year.
Fall color reflected in a stream, West Virginia, Near Elkins, WV. Spotted the possibilities as I was crossing the bridge where I took this photo.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 5, 2015 | Canadian Rockies, Nature Photography, Photo Tour, Photo Tours, Sunrise, Wildlife Photography
Fog Lifting
Photo Tour of the Canadian Rockies – a brief trip report of our adventures
This is far from a complete review of the photo opportunities in the Canadian Rockies. Just some highlights from my recent trip this fall. Summer is the high tourist season and to my mind, not the best for photography and reasonable cost for lodging.
I visited the Canadian Rockies 13 – 26 Sep 2015. Early in the trip, I stayed in the town of Canmore which is bisected by the Trans-Canadian highway and located 50 miles west of the City of Calgary. It is within a 15 to 20 minute drive to Banff National Park and is located in the Bow Valley near the park’s Southeast boundary. It served as a good base of operation to explore Banff NP and the surrounding area. It was a peaceful town with reasonable hotel rates and not as crowed and filled with tourists as the town of Banff. A variety of good restaurants are found on Main St including an Argentine Grill. Impressive mountains are nearby for early morning photography that could be done from right outside your hotel. Local hiking trails offered access to other scenic views of the mountain range along the Bow River.
A friend and I visited Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, and Jasper National Parks on this trip. Banff NP, with more than 25 peaks over 9800 ft was my favorite with regard to scenery. I loved its snow-capped mountains and beautiful lakes such as the elongated, turquoise colored Peyto Lake. Like many lakes and rivers, its color is attributable to an influx of the fine particles of glacial flour. Near Lake Minnewanka, my friend spotted our first black bear. Unfortunately, like the one we saw later in Jasper, it stayed just inside the protection of the forest making photographing it impossible. Lake Louise was impressive but the crowds and heavily overcast sky made the experience less enjoyable. In one photo, I featured a person sitting alone by the lake implying he was enjoying the solitude of the wilderness. If you were there and looked behind him at the crowds of people, you might doubt he found the location is as peaceful as the image suggests. I preferred nearby Lake Moraine where a path leads you to a high overview of the lake and large boulders could be used as the foreground of your photos.
Horse with aspen in fall
One day we took the 48 km long Bow Valley Parkway which paralleled the Trans Canada Highway leading from of the town of Banff. We took photos of the golden aspen along the way and Steller’s jays in a garden at an inn just before the Parkway ended. We also checked out Mount Norquay where a small group of bighorn sheep grazed and where we could photograph the Vermillion Lakes below with fall color. (Also shot the lakes from below. Beautiful reflections). We stayed at the Lake Louise Inn and then Saskatchewan Crossing on our way to Jasper to give us more time to explore the areas. (Note: The Crossing hotel (the only hotel in this area) closes early Oct. The Icefield Parkway heading to Jasper is not maintained once winter comes. Significant snows can begin as early as the beginning of October and sometimes before that date. Snow is possible in any month. The road from Edmonton through Jasper is maintained and open year-round since it is a major route for trucks moving cross country. Flying into Edmonton may be a better choice for visits to Jasper in October.
Ground Squirrel staring at me hoping for food.
In Kootenay NP, the Marble Canyon was a worthwhile stop with water running through a deep crevice. But the best part was the friendly squirrels who played hide-and-seek beneath the cars in the parking lot. In Yoho NP, we checked out the tall Takakkaw Falls reached from the main highway by a road that climbs to the falls parking lot with extreme switchbacks. The flow of the falls was slow and photos uninteresting, so we retreated to a bridge down-stream of the falls for some interesting slow motion photography. (There is always an alternative photo opportunity if you look hard enough.)
Jasper offered the best opportunities for wildlife photography with salt licks that attracted goats and bighorn sheep and open areas where elk grazed. The mountains were not as snow covered as those in Banff but were still beautiful. They were spaced farther apart than those along the Tans Canada Highway and Icefields Parkway allowing light to strike meadows and lakes earlier and later in the day. Therefore, the geography made it easier to spot wildlife while in good light. (Note: Due to the northern location of the parks, the sun was never directly overhead even at noon. Therefore the light was softer and at a lower angle to better accent the topography and illuminate the wildlife.) In September, it was rutting season for the elk with the males gathering their females and bugling. (Love the sound). In terms of small animals, some Columbian ground squirrels, red squirrels, and chipmunks were still above ground busily eating and gathering food for the winter.
It rained and often poured constantly for two days mid-way through the trip. This was a good time for a little scouting and working on images but not for photography. The situation was a bit disappointing until we woke on the morning of the third day and saw that the rain had stopped and fresh snow covered the surrounding mountain peaks. What was perceived as a negative event initially, offered us great opportunities to photograph locally and as we moved north. Even the waterfalls benefited from the fresh supply of water and were more photogenic. The change in color of the aspen leaves from green to gold even seemed accelerated. (The leaf color seemed to peak during the 2nd half our trip, particularly on the southern part of our journey back to Calgary to catch our flight home.)
NOTE: In late Sep and early Oct, crowds thin out, animals are more visible, and snow coats the mountain peaks. However, the chance of bad weather increases, possibly hindering travel.
Sunrise near Canmore Alberta Canada
