by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
I just returned from a photo workshop that I taught in West Virginia. Snow at the beginning of Oct. caused the leaves to change color early, so colors in Canaan Valley & Blackwater Falls were a bit disappointing compared to years past. However, that did not dampen our enthusiasm. We took advantage of dramatic skies and had a wonderful morning photographing frost covered vegetation. Leaf color improved dramatically as we traveled south and east of Canaan Valley for some great fall shots of Seneca Rocks.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
My recent photo tour in South Dakota late September reminded me of what a fantastic destination it is– overflowing with both landscape and wildlife photo opportunities. This is the third workshop I conducted and from this experience, there are bound to be more. The trip included the Badlands, Black Hills, Wind Cave, Needles, Spearfish Canyon, and Rushmore.
With regard to photographing wildlife, here are some tips to help you spot animals in the field. Look for:
Out of place colors, tones, and forms (Bighorn Sheep & badger)
Movement (Coyote)
Noise (Prairie rattlesnake)
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Aug 24, 2012 | Uncategorized
Just taught a digital editing class for Norfolk Botanical Gardens on Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 (3, three hours sessions in the evening). It’s a perfect photo editing program for majority of amateur/intermediate photographers who wishes to edit images for the web, e-mail and prints up to 16X20. It’s inexpensive costing less than $100 compared to the professional program, Adobe Photoshop CS (>$600) which is used by graphic designers. It is relatively easy to learn and students were amazed at the power of this program which allows you to crop, lighten/darken images, add saturation, add contrast, sharpen images, cover defects, and manipulate images with layers and layer masks. If it has any short-comings, it is that it’s a 8 bit program with less detail available for editing compared to a 16 bit. For most people, this will not matter. The program can be used in combination with Lightroom 4.
There will be a refresher digital editing class in the winter 2013. Also for fun shooting, join me at Tangier Island in September or West Virginia for fall colors in Oct. See my web site www.ospreyphoto.com
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Aug 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Last weekend I had an opportunity to speak at the Art In Nature Photo Festival Education Conference sponsored by the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury. The conference was very informative with great people, an abundance of information, and a photo contest with more than 1,000 entries. Speakers were enthusiastic and very knowledgeable, plus there were outdoor hands-on workshops as well. Topics included close-up, wildlife, and landscape photography, lighting, photo editing and more. I spoke on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, discussing its habitats, the animals, and photo opportunities. The program was based on my book, “Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, An Ecological Treasure.”
I suggest you make a note on next year’s calendar to attend this event. Check out my schedule for other programs including Tangier Island in September with the Ward Museum and Bill Wallen as the second instructor, West Virginia Autumn in October, and Chincoteague & Assateague Island in May. See my web site for details on these and other offerings: www.ospreyphoto.com
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jul 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
It’s fun finding multiple ways of photographically intrepreting a single subject. It increases your creative ability and is just fun. In this case, I selected the surf as my topic.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jul 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
Nature Photography Workshop
August 10 – 12, 2012
Led by: Irene Hinke-Sacilotto
August 10, Friday evening orientation (7:30 PM-9:30 PM) @ the Best Western Motel in Chincoteague
August 11, Saturday (Sunrise – Sunset)
Sunrise to sunset photography @ Chincoteague NWR, Assateague Island, and the town of Chincoteague, VA. Mid-day break to edit and discuss morning images @ the Best Western Motel. Afternoon photography until sunset.
August 12, Sunday (Sunrise to 2 PM).
Photography @ Chincoteague, Assateague Island, and surroundings (Sunrise to 10 AM).
Slide editing and lunch break (10 AM – 12 PM). Discussion/Critique of workshop images @ the Best Western Motel (12 – 2 PM).
Description
This class is designed for those with a basic knowledge of the operation of a 35 mm SLR digital camera and an interest in nature. Learn how to improve photographic skills and optimize the use of your camera. Class includes an orientation slide program followed by photography sessions on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island and in the town of Chincoteague. Critiques of participant images are mixed with field practice.. Topics discussed include 1) equipment selection and operation, 2) composition, creativity and perspective, 3) metering and exposure, 4) lighting, 5) digital media and image storage, 6) basic image manipulation and 7) locating, approaching and photographing wildlife. Potential subjects include sand dunes, shells, the surf, flowers, fishing boats, fisherman, the lighthouse, and local architecture plus wildlife including sika elk and whitetail deer, fox, otters, raccoons, ponies, herons, rails, swans, geese, ducks, shorebirds and other resident and migratory species. Sponsored by the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University. www.ospreyphoto.com
