by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Feb 12, 2024 | Flower Photography, Flowers, Garden Photography, Longwood Gardens, Nature Photography, Photo Technique, Photo Workshops, Uncategorized
Light & Flowers
The first image captures the center of the pink lotus flower beautifully lit by soft diffused light. As opposed to bright sunlight, soft light preserves the individual pastel colors of the flower.
Side light when it creates light shadows and tonal gradient on the petals defines the shape of the flower making it appear three dimensional as with the second lotus blossom.
Back light coming from behind the subject and passing through petals and other flower parts can be dramatic and reveal details not easily apparent otherwise like the fuzz on the sepals of the lady slipper. The shadowed background made this detail more apparent. However, the pink part of the lady slipper was shaded. To improve the image, I used a white card to reflect light into the shadows.
Like all photography patience is required. I searched for a perfect Bird of Paradise flower to photograph but had difficulties finding one that did not fade into the background. Finally I found what I was looking for, an individual flower that was backlit with the orange color portion of the flower glowing against a dark background.
The last flower in this series, was lit by the setting sun from behind. It seemed to glow with a beautiful transition of colors from red to yellow.
Problem Background & Solutions
When the background is extremely distracting, consider selecting an angle of view where it is in shadow like the image above.
With some problem backgrounds I have resorted to using an artificial one behind the subject as with this Himalayan Blue Poppy.
One way to create such a background is to I select a scene outside, set the camera to a low F-stop for a shallow depth of field and defocus the lens before taking the photo. Then I print the image, mount it on a stiff background and hold it behind the subject. Another option is to select an image that you already have in your photo files and use Adobe’s Photoshops blur filter and possibly other adjustments to create a suitable backdrop.
Composition
Before taking a photo decide what attracted you to the subject. Ask why did it catch your attention? What made it special?. Simplicity is the key to success. In the case of this orchid, it was the center of the flower that fascinated me so I filled my frame with the most interesting part, the lip and pollinia where the pollen is located.
The commonly discussed rules of composition are guidelines that can be broken if the situation warrants it. The next flower was centered in the frame, breaking one of the primary rules for good composition, don’t center the subject since it is likely to create a static image.. With the next flower, the center was the key feature that attracted my attention so I put it in the center of the frame. The image almost feels like it is pulsing..
To emphasize patterns like the petals of this Blue Hyacinth, I selected an area of the flower that was flat. I took the photo with the face of the lens parallel to that surface so all the petals were equal distant from the lens (surface of the internal sensor).
Artistic Expression
Blue Hyacinth abstract
For wall displays & interior design, images do not have to represent reality. The two photos below were created by altering images using an Adobe Photoshop mask plus filters (blur and liquify). For the second image, I used double exposure with one photo image liquified and placed over the original photo.
Macro Lenses
Macro lenses are designed for close-up photography and can focus closer than normal lenses of the same focal length. They are often able to reach 1:1 magnification. These lenses are sharp edge to edge and have low perspective distortion. They come in several focal lengths usually varying from 50 to 200 mm. The longer the lens, the more working distance you have from the subject helping you to avoid your shadow falling on your flowert. Also due to its narrower angle of view, you are more able to control what background is behind the flower.
Framing – required moderately soft light
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Aug 6, 2022 | Bird behavior, Photo Workshops, Tangier Island, Uncategorized, Virginia
Work boat in Tangier Harbor at sunrise.
Over the last 9 years, I have visited Tangier Island a number of times and have conducted photo workshops there in the spring. It lies the middle of the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Maryland line and is famous for its off-shore crab shacks and waterman that harvest crabs and oysters as did their ancestors. Although I enjoy interaction with the community and waterman, I most love photographing the birdlife on the island. I visit the island as often as possible since scientists believe that Tangier will become uninhabitable in the near future as waves and erosion eat away at its margins.
Tangier channel and crab shacks
Tangier Island was once 3 times its current size and included other nearby land masses such as Port Isabel and the area across the channel referred to as the Uppards. On this part of Tangier, there were several populated towns but in the 1920s the island became uninhabitable as the land eroded away and was transformed into mash, mud flats and waterways. Today’s Tangier Island consists of only 3 ridges barely above sea level and subject to frequent flooding. On each ridge there are narrow roads which are connected by bridges spanning tidal guts and brackish marsh. At the far end of the island is a narrow hook shaped undeveloped sand beach with ponds and a large lagoon. The configuration of the Tangier is ideal for wildlife photography with birds feeding in the channels and marsh adjacent to the roads and bridges. In addition, they were used to being undisturbed by local traffic.
Black Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese nest on Tangier Island. Once spotting me, this family headed towards the water. They turned with their back to me and I no longer had the view I desired.
American Oystercatcher flying over grasses on Tangier’s beach. Used animal eye tracking to keep it in focus.
For these American Oystercatcher images, I used my Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera with animal eye tracking to follow the birds’ movement. To lighten my load when hiking across Tangier’s sand beach, I used my Z 70 to 200 mm, F2.8 Nikon zoom lens with a matched Z 2 X teleconverter. The lens/camera combination was light enough for me to get sharp images while handholding it with the help of the camera’s image stabilization. (Most of today’s zoom lenses and teleconverters for mirrorless cameras are far superior to those produced for D-SLR camera systems.) With the 70-200 mm lens fully extended and the camera sensor set to the DX mode instead of full frame, the image size in the frame was comparable to that produced by a 560 mm lens. Because of the large maximum aperture of the 70-200 mm lens (F2.8), even with the 2X teleconverter in place, I still could shoot at fast shutter speeds without outrageously high ISOs. (2X teleconverters reduce the amount of light coming into the lens by 1/4 of the original.)
Oystercatcher pair flying together. Demonstrates the flying precision of this species.
Glossy Ibis feeding in one of the tidal guts. The touch of sunlight brought out the beautiful colors of breeding plumage. With an highly overcast day, the ibis would almost look black.
Photo opportunities on Tangier vary with the tide, season, and weather. When the tide is low and channels are nearly drained of water, Glossy Ibis with long curved bills appear and probe the mud and feed on organisms beneath the surface. Secretive rails which are usually hidden deep within the marsh venture into the open. Supported by their long toes, they easily can walk across the mud snatching up snails, crabs, and other invertebrates. (Their cackle is often heard before the rail is seen.)
Clapper Rail at a standoff with blue crab.
Same Clapper Rail carrying the crab into the marsh in order to eat it.
When the tide shifts and the channels fill with water, egrets and herons fish from the shoreline, the rim of sunken boats, and abandoned crab traps. There are few natural perches along the waterways.
Immature Night Heron fishing from an abandoned crab trap.
Many ospreys nest locally on man-made platforms, channel markers, old duck blinds and abandoned docks. They are often seen flying overhead carrying sticks to reinforce their nests or carrying fish to feed their mate or young.
Osprey carrying fish in its talons with the fish oriented in such a way as to reduce wind resistance.
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron taking flight. Photographed from my porch at The Brigadune Inn where I was staying.
This May I was on Tangier when a high tide combined with a strong stationary off-shore low flooded portions of the island for 4 days. Not able to travel in the high water, I took advantage of the situation and photographed herons and shorebirds from the porch where I was staying. When the water receded, I captured images of migrating shorebirds feeding in the remaining roadside pools of water and neighboring backyards.
Dowitcher taking off after feeding in the yard of the inn where I was staying.
Dunlin is still mainly in winter plumage feeding in neighbors front yard after flooding.
This year in mid-May I was treated to the arrival of migrating songbirds and warblers. Following the Chesapeake Bay northward, sometimes they stop for a few days on Tangier Island to rest and refuel before continuing their journey. Many were attracted to the bushes outside the office of Brigadune Inn. So I concentrated my photography in this area and close-by locations. It was a good strategy since I was able to capture images of 8 species of birds from fairly close distances. I used a 200-500 mm Nikon lens with my mirrorless Z9 camera. Frequently, I shot from the cover of my golf cart where I had a tripod and beanbag mounted. At other times due to the birds location, I took photos by handholding the lens. Image stabilization set on “Sport”definitely helped.
When photographing elsewhere on the island, I often used a golf cart as a mobile blind. The birds ignore the cart since they are used to seeing them traveling the roads. Over the years local folks have gotten use to seeing me with a camera and long lens. Many will wave or nod as they go by. At times they stop and ask questions about what I was photographing or tell me about a bird they had seen. It is great to see them interested in learning more about the wildlife they see every day.
Northern Parula warbler sitting in bush resting during migration
Black and White Warbler perched on the roof of a nearby building.
Immature White ibis feeding in a pond with a third young bird and 2 adults..
When planning a photographic trip involving wildlife, I typically research my subjects in order to locate them and predict their behavior. I check the web and bird guides for information but also find it valuable to talk to locals who know the area well. For instance, I found these immature White Ibis after receiving a tip from a resident of the community of Canton on Tangier. He told me that often in the morning large numbers of herons landed in a pond near his house. So one day, I checked out the location. I photographed these two immature White Ibis feeding along with 2 adults and another young bird. According to local birdwatchers on the island, this was the first time this species nested on Tangier. Two adults had been seen together earlier in the summer in a nearby yard and I suspect they were a nesting pair responsible for these chicks. (In the last couple of years, large numbers of White Ibis have been seen on the barrier island of Assateague, where they now nest. In years past, this species like the Brown Pelican have extended their range farther to the north, possibly in response to climate change and warming temperatures.}
American Oystercatchers on nest with eggs.
Willets and American Oystercatchers nest each year on Tangier’s beach placing their eggs directly on the sand or on low dunes with scattered grasses. This year the high spring tide flooded the Oystercatcher nests but they re-nested later in the spring. This is not unusual for them since they tend to build their nests early and close to the water. Unfortunately, I never got shots of the hatchlings. They were nearly full grown when I returned to Tangier in September. At that time, they were gathering together in groups preparing for their migration south.
Young oystercatcher with adults photographed on the Uppards across the channel from the main portion of Tangier.
The Oystercatchers are fascinating to watch as they react aggressively to each other and other intruders entering their territory. If they feel threatened, they lower their heads, utter a high=pitch squeal, and run at whatever they believe is a threat. This includes Black Skimmers which are much larger.
Oystercatcher aggressively attacking another oystercatcher that landed in their midst.
Black Skimmer fishing.
Black Skimmers are beautiful to watch as they slice through the water in the tidal guts and beach lagoon with their lower mandible submerged. When encountering a fish, the top bill snaps shut capturing it.
Willet landing on post in the marsh.
If anywhere near a willet’s nest they will issue a constant high pitch cry and try to drive you out of their territory. Most of the time, I have no idea where the nest is located so it is hard to out-maneuver the birds.
During a boat ride out to the beach, I photographed these young terns resting on floats associated with oyster aquaculture, a new enterprise on the island.
This year I was disappointed that Black Skimmers, Fosters Terns, and Royal Terns did not nest on Tangier’s beach as they have in the past. Folks with ATVs driving along the beach have discouraged nesting. The hope is that signs will discourage people from disturbing the nesting birds. Today, due to development, erosion, and sea level rise, undisturbed beaches suitable for nesting birds are few but yet critical to the survival of many species.
Royal Tern flying with a fish. Birds are attracted to the waters around Tangier since food is plentiful locally.
In late September or early October, Monarch Butterflies often stop on Tangier Island on their way to Mexico. This year was the first time I got to witness this spectacle. Groups gather in trees around the island. But photography was difficult because it was very windy when they arrived and keeping them focus was difficult. The butterflies spent the night in the tress and when the sun rose and warmed them, they flexed their wings once or twice and took off. I choose my camera angle carefully so all members of a group were in sharp focus. I had to use a moderately large F#, high ISO, and fast shutter speed to capture all of the individuals in the cluster.
One of the plants they were attracted to was goldenrod. In order to add variety to my photos, I walked down the beach in search of blooms with butterflies clinging to them. In the case of this image, since I was magnifying the butterfly a great deal, I had limited depth of field. Therefore I had to be careful to line up the face of the lens parallel to the wing’s surface and butterfly’s eye.
Monarch resting on a goldenrod bloom.
In the fall and winter, waterfowl flock to the waters around Tangier. I have never visited in the winter but hope to this year. Thousand of waterfowl spend the colder months of the year in the Chesapeake Bay, with many in the waters surrounding Tangier Island.
No matter when you visit Tangier Island, there is always something wild to photograph.
Tundra Swans, Swans, Snow Geese and a variety of ducks arrive in the late fall and stay through the winter.
TRAVEL TIPS
Access to the island is primarily by “passenger only” ferries from Crisfield, MD or Onanock, VA. Be sure to check out the ferry schedules and make reservations. The dates and times vary with the season and days of the week.
Overnight accommodations in Tangier are limited to a few B&Bs. This spring and summer I stayed at the Brigadune Inn with very comfortable accommodations. Currently there are only two restaurants on the island and kiosk where you can purchase hamburgers, etc. However hours of operation and opening dates vary each year and can be effected by local events. There is a grocery store on the island that in the recent past has not been well stocked. But it has a new owner, so this may change.
To travel around the island, you can walk, rent bikes or kayaks. You can rent a golf cart but there only a few available.
Particularly in the spring and summer, bring insect repellant. A head net and insect jacket can be handy since gnats, mosquitos, and biting flies can be can be annoying
Snowy Egret taking flight.
Snowy egret taking flight. Because I shot with continuous auto-focus and at a high number of frames per second, these two images captured very different wing positions.
PHOTO TIPS
Using continuous auto focus, animal eye tracking, and a high number of frames/second you can capture that perfect shot. As above, this technique resulted in two very interesting views of the bird.
When photographing, try to be as close to the subject as you can without disturbing them. The farther you are away, the more likely that heat ripple, dust, pollen, moisture, etc. can soften the image quality.
Try to capture behavior and the bird’s unique features.
Stretching wings, shifting weight, bending knees, nervous chatter, or stretching the neck upward, may indicate the bird is ready to fly.
This Peregrin Falcon is stretching wings on top of Tangier’s water tower. For a number of years, a pair of falcons have returned to this high perch. Since the top of the tower was far away, getting. this photo required high magnification. For a sharp image, I needed a windless day, sturdy tripod, and a cable release to fire the camera without touching it.
If your camera system has image stabilization, check what setting should be used if the camera is mounted on a sturdy tripod. This varies with the camera model and lens.
Walking through the marsh and crossing ponds and lagoons can be dangerous. The bottom often consists of soft mud. You can easily sink down to your knees in the mud and lose your balance as well as your equipment.
To photograph flying birds, image stabilization and animal eye tracking on newer mirrorless cameras increases your keeper rate. For a flying bird, it is best to use a shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second or higher if the bird is a fast flier or is close. Start focusing on the bird at a distance using continuous auto focus. Follow it until it is close enough for the image you have in mind. Shoot a burst of shots at a high number of frames/second.
I typically shoot a short burst of shots at a high number of frames per second even if I have a stationary animal to capture the best image with the eye open, best pose and sharp focus.
It is helpful to remember that birds typical take off and land into the wind. Choose your camera position and angle accordingly.
Photograph subjects at eye level for a smooth, blurred, distant background, less distortion, and a more intimate photo. Of course this is not always possible or wise. Always look to avoid distractions behind your subject — bright branches, shiny leaves, a cluttered shoreline, etc. Soft light can minimizes background distractions, with fewer hots spots and dark shadows. Shooting from a low angle is not always good if you are trying to capture reflections. A higher angle may be better.
The more you photograph, the better your images.
Pelicans stacked up on the tip of Tangier’s beach. Most afternoons they are found there.
If you lie on the ground and shoot, look for grasses and other objects that your focus will lock on instead of on your subject. You may have to manually focus. The subjects eye must be sharp or the whole image is compromised. Also if you are shooting at a low angle and there is a rise in the land in front of your subject, it may be out of focus and distracting. Or it may undesirably hide the feet or other critical part of your subject. On the other hand, it can create a soft vignette or frame around your subject.
Refine your images. If the subject is still present, explore alternate camera angles, magnifications, backgrounds, lenses, etc. Look for ways you can improve and vary your approach.
Subjects present, bird behavior, and coloring changes with the season and year. Check field guides and locals for advice.
Get the image right in the camera and don’t depend on post processing to fix it. Many problems are not fixable.
The more you observe wildlife, the more able you are to anticipate what they will do next.
Tri-Color Heron canopy feeding. It creates a shadow that attracts fish. I had to time the shot and choose the camera angle carefully to avoid the heron’s face from being shaded or blocked by the wing.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 7, 2020 | Bird behavior, Bird photography, MD, Nature, Nature Photography, Photo instruction, Photo Technique, Photo Workshops, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Urban Wildlife Photo Project
Raccoon Eyes
Overview
As mentioned in my last newsletter, in recent months I have reconnected with an old friend who has been allowing me to photograph on her property. She lives nearby and owns several acres of land with an open area, vegetable garden, flower beds, woods, and a pond by the house with aquatic plants, dragon flies and frogs. She has two permanent bird feeder locations that are near bushes and tall trees. One is located at the far end of the yard with the other near her house. Bushes and tall trees were nearby both. They provide cover from which the animals could safely approach the feeders as well as escape if threatened by hawks, foxes, or other predators. When the weather allowed from late April until today, I would spend several hours early in the morning or late in the afternoon photographing in her yard. In July when, temperatures soared into the mid to high 90s and humidity rose feeder activity slowed and was limited to the cooler times of the day and after sunset. The drop in activity seemed to continue into September.
Red Fox emerging from woods.
Initial setup
In late April, I began photographing at the bird feeder nearest the house. It was close enough that I could photograph from my friend’s dining room window. In addition to standard bird seed and suet feeders, we hung a thistle sock on a branch to attract gold and purple finches. The non-melt suet, that could withstand the summer heat, attracted the small woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. At times we added meal worms to the mix, which seemed to be a favorite of the Carolina Wrens. The bird feeder at this location was elaborate with arms and multiple hooks from which to hang a variety of feeders. I added a few natural perches for the birds to land on, but to my disappointment, they seemed to prefer sitting on the iron appendages of the feeder stand. After several days shooting, I concluded that the way the sunlight hit the area was not ideal for it cast unwanted shadows on the birds. In addition, the bushes behind the feeders were very close making it difficult to blur the background even with the lens wide open and a shallow depth of field. It became even more distracting when hit by bright sunlight.
Raccoon eating apple put out to attract deer.
Second location
Adaptability, perseverance, and patience are all keys to successfully photographing animal behavior. When I failed to get satisfactory results at my first location, I shifted my attention to activity around the permanent feeder at the far end of the yard. Nearby, there was a bird bath and kiddy pool filled with water to attract wildlife on hot dry days. Since I did not want to photograph the birds at the feeder, I created what I have affectionately call my animal jungle jim. With logs, tree roots, branches, other items that I collected roadside and from nearby woods, I created a setup where I hung additional feeders and provided a safe place for the birds to perch. At key locations on the logs, I smeared peanut butter and suet. For the squirrels, raccoons, and jays, I added unsalted, raw peanuts to the wildlife buffet. After watching squirrels for an extended period of time, I am convinced that they are smart and agile and that very few bird feeders are squirrel-proof.
Black-capped Chickadee with the sun breaking through trees behind it.
Post to attract woodpeckers and the birds with suet block nearby.
Urban Wildlife Photo Project (cont.)
Periodically, I changed the arrangement to vary the background in my photos. For variety, I added a vertical 4-foot-long tree trunk cemented in a bucket that I could move to different locations. I baited it with a peanut butter/suet mix and placed a cage filled with suet nearby hoping woodpeckers and other birds would first perch on the trunk before jumping to the feeder. I added a small tree to the mix for birds to perch in, hoping to vary the appearance of my images.
Carolina wren on post.
Downey woodpecker on side of tree trunk.
Frog escaping from backyard pond.
Dragonfly at pond
A couple days when activity at the feeders was low, I switched my attention to smaller subjects, dragonflies and frogs. But I only had my Nikon 200 to 500 mm lens with me instead of my 200 mm macro lens designed for close focusing. When I moved forward towards the subject to increase magnification to what I desired, the autofocus could not lock on it. Remembering a similar situation in the past, I switched to manual focus and discovered I could get closer to the subject and still keep it in focus. For the dragonfly, I had to avoid my shadow falling on it. I took advantage of the fact that if it flew away, it typically returned to the same spot. For the frog photos, I had to be careful to stay low and move slowly. The biggest problem was finding a camera angle where the background was satisfactory.
Gray squirrel peaking around tree trunk.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 27, 2019 | Mc Neil River State Game Sanctuary, Nature, Nature Photography, Uncategorized, Wetlands, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Passion for Wildlife Photography
Inspiration
Why is wildlife my favorite subject to photograph? To begin, I inherited love of animals from my father. He lived in the Baltimore’s inner city in a row home with 12 siblings, but escaped whenever possible, walking great distances beyond city limit into the woods with his dog by his side. I am grateful for the knowledge he shared and reserving free time to take me for walks in the woods turning over logs looking for salamanders and in treetops for squirrels. He instilled in me an appreciation for nature and love of animals, no matter how common or unusual.
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is commonly found on the east coast of the U.S. They are known for their acrobatic skills. With specialized feet that you can see here, they can hang upside-down on trees trunks, run along the top of a fence, and gain access to the most sophisticate bird feeders.
Engagement & Mindset
I am curious by nature and love the challenges that wildlife photography presents to include locating animals and anticipating behavior. For me, the pursuit of wildlife photography has a calming influence in my life. I call it “Photo Yoga”. When observing animals, my attention is totally focused on the subject. Negative thoughts, worries, and concerns disappear. Immersed in moment, I often instinctively sense what is going to happen next as my subconscious recalls past encounters and visual cues. Even if I never take a shot, each encounter provides me with a mental database that helps me take better images in the future and with stories to share. The observations are often interjected in my presentations for camera clubs and entertain friends. For some photographers, post processing is the favorite part of rendering an image. For me, my greatest joy is capturing images in the field.
Humor is infectious. I had to laugh when watching this young Black-tailed Prairie Dog playing with the tail of its sibling.
Patience & Perseverance
Patience and perseverance are critical for capturing great images of wildlife behavior. Maybe nothing is happening at the moment. But if you wait, conditions may change. Stay focused but be open to other possible images, different than those you originally had in mind.
This wallaby mom and her joey hung out near my room at O’Reily’s Guest House in Australia. I looked for the pair each day when I walked passed the area. One day, both were in the open and allowed me to capture this and other images.
I spent a long time with this pair of wallabies and took a number of photos of them. This one shows the size of the joey. I suspect junior may shortly be too large to be fit in mom’s pouch.
Knowledge, the Key to Success
The more you know about your subject, the better your photography. Careful observation of animal behavior and research are crucial. Now web searches make gathering information much easier than years ago. Talking to researchers, hunters, fellow photographers, and birders can be quite helpful understanding what you are observing and making it easier to anticipate action.
I saw this Great Egret beginning to stretch after sitting on this branch for a long time. It extended its wing and then stretched its leg. I was lucky to capture this image at the exact moment that the bird’s leg was extended with the wing behind.
After this Belted Kingfisher caught a crab, it shifted the position of the crab in its bill a number of times trying to eat it. By taking a series of photos in rapid succession, captured this shot at the exact moment that the crab’s claw showed against the background.
Relax and Let your Imagination Soar
Give up preconceptions or labels. Keep an open mind with child-like curiosity and enthusiasm. Be flexible and experiment. Move and change your camera angle. I might lie on my back for an interesting point of view or shoot while lying on my belly. Zoom out for wider views of the surrounding or increase magnification to capture detail. Sometimes I give myself assignments designed to stretch my imagination. I go into the field with a single lens or shoot only with slow shutter speeds.
Ribbon Snake photographed while lying on my belly for a unique point of view.
Identify the Attraction
When photographing, it is important to identify what initially attracted you to the subject. Is it rim-light, texture, patterns, repeating elements, reflections, detail, surprising behavior, unique appearance, etc.? Once you realize what attracted you, then select the lens, approach, and lighting that best captures that feature. Look for shots that tell a story and unique behavior.
This image shows Great Egret fighting over something. In this case, the squabble was over a pool of water filled with small fish. Apparently, the third bird wanted no part of the disagreement.
Sanderlings are small shorebirds that feed along the shoreline. When waves retreat, the birds follow and feed on mole crabs and other organisms as wet sand is exposed. With incoming surf, they run ahead of it to avoid being swamped.
This photo of this Long-billed Dowitcher yawning, shows that the bill is not rigid. The tip with tactile receptors can be manipulated as it feeds making it possible for it to locate prey by touch.
Refining your Images
In the field, I continuously refine my images. Typically if there is time, I take a series of photographs attempting to make each one better than the last. I examine the composition, carefully scan the edges of the frame, and look for potential flaws and distractions. I also consider alternative points of view so I can take full advantage of each situation. I look for lines, contrast, color, etc. that can lead to the subject and keep the viewer’s eye engaged and within the frame. I may spend hours with one subject or return day after day.
Red Fox image captured with an expression that suggests the saying “sly as a fox”. I took several shots of the fox at the time but this was the only one with this look.
Red Fox standoff with mouse at Chincoteague, NWR. Every day during this trip I looked for fox in same area where I first saw it. Eventually I spotted it toying with a mouse and moved in to take this photo.
Background Control
Sometimes I squint my eyes when looking at a scene to exclude less important details and see what stands out (including lines, forms, etc.) or could present a problem. For example, I use this technique when photographing a subject as a silhouette to be sure its shape does not blend with other unlit portions of the scene and that the animal is recognizable by outline alone.
Silhouette of heron with fish in bill.
For close-up photography, I sometimes shift my camera’s focus off the subject and focus on the background for an instant. This technique allows me to more easily see if strong forms, bright highlights, or other distractions are in the background and may be a problem. Then I refocus on the subject with this information in mind.
The longer the focal length of the lens, the narrower angle of view. So, these telephoto lenses can help you exclude a something distracting in the background. Small shifts in the camera position can dramatically control what appears behind your subject. In some situations where the subject is in sunlight but the background is distracting, I position camera so that a shadowed area falls behind my subject. This approach creates a dramatic image, as is if the animal is lit by a spotlight.
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron after catching soft crab. The bird was in sunlight but the background was in shadow. I made the image a bit more dramatic by darkened the backgound even more during post-processing .
Shooting from a position level with your subject is often desirable, producing less distortion of the image and suggesting a more intimate relationship between you and your wildlife subject. The lower angle can also help isolate the subject if the background is distant and well out of the depth of field.
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog family
Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs nose to nose.
Capturing the Unusual
I love capturing the unique aspects of an animal’s morphology and behavior. I look for the unexpected, humor, or the emotion evoked by the scene. Every situation is unique, for the behavior, environment, and lighting is never the same. Don’t pass up on an opportunity expecting it to be there tomorrow. It won’t!
Unique photo of Atlantic Puffin using wing for balance while scratching.
Atlantic Puffin eating flowers. This was so unexpected, that I took a number of photos at the time but only one best showed what the puffin was doing. The distant background and relatively shallow depth of field helped make the bird bird and flowers standout.
Imaginary Gallery
To judge the impact of a photograph, I sometimes imagine it hanging on the wall in a gallery. I examine the photo as if seeing it for the first time. Then I ask myself, have I conveyed the thoughts and feelings I experienced while taking the photo? Is the composition static – perhaps with the subject centered or with the horizon in the middle of the frame? Is the viewers eye drawn into the scene? Does it convey a story?
This is a humorous shot of a young Brown Bear struggling to hold onto a slippery salmon at McNeil State Game Sanctuary in Alaska. I love the story.
I always am learning something new from magazine articles, youtube, experiences in the field, and from other photographers. I keep my workshops small so I can provide individual attention to each person, no matter their skill level. No one should ever be embarrassed to ask questions. I typically learn something each time I conduct a program. If you have an open mind and see disappointments as opportunities, you will gain from your experiences. Everyone has his own unique vision. This becomes very obvious during my workshop image reviews. Even though the photographers are at the same location at the same time, the resulting mages are normally quite different.
