There are some people who talk about what they call the “myth of talent.” Basically, they say there is no such thing, that hard work is all that is required to become good (or great) at something. Although I agree that hard work is important, I think it goes too far to call talent a myth. Although it is debatable whether talent is a product of nature or nurture (or both), like it [...]
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I’ve taken a break over the past two weeks from posting bear photos, but sure enough, I’ve got many more to share. In August, I co-led a workshop (with Richard Bernabe) in Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park to photograph brown bears fishing for salmon. We spent five days with our clients photographing bears searching for food, fishing in shallow water, sleeping, fighting each other, and engaging in all sorts of other bearish [...]
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The story continues from A Week in the Life: Glacier Bay Day 2 . . . Monday, August 15, 2011: The gentle drizzle that initially lulled me to sleep turns progressively more bellicose as the night passes. My tent, a Black Diamond Firstlight, was made for alpine ascents, and accordingly designed with low weight and sturdiness in mind—but not moisture protection. I’m used to my tent being a little bit leaky when it rains, [...]
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I probably get one or two emails a week from people asking me for advice on becoming a pro nature photographer. I often don’t have a satisfying answer. The bottom line is that it is very difficult to build a successful business as a nature photographer, and getting more and more difficult all the time. An economist might sum up the situation as follows: ”supply far exceeds demand.” In other words, there are too [...]
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I’ve got a few spaces open on some of my upcoming photo workshops. Hopefully you can join me in photographing some of the world’s most beautiful places! Click on the links below for more information and to register. Acadia National Park (October 10-14): We’ll spend five days photographing the stunning autumn landscapes and dramatic rocky seascapes of the Maine Coast. ONLY ONE SPACE AVAILABLE! Zion National Park (November 5-9): We’ll spend five [...]
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My latest post to the Outdoor Photographer blog, Get Low and Close, discusses a simple technique for implying a sense of depth and motion in your photographs. The image below of Virgin Creek Falls in Alaska illustrates the discussion. For this photograph, I donned my dry suit and got deep into the water, in an effort to get close to the foreground rapid without getting hypothermia in the cold rushing water. I carefully crossed [...]
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Shout-out (n.) Slang. 1. To acknowledge with respect. 2. A kind mention of a homey. 3. Like when rappers thank people when they make a CD. Source: Urban Dictionary The Saturday Shout Out is a weighty responsibility. Weighty for me, as I must choose deserving homeys with care and wisdom. And weighty for the Shoutee, as they must bear the SSO crown with dignity, poise, and grace. In other words, they cannot besmirch the honor of [...]
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Vanguard Tripods recently sent me their Alta Pro 284CT carbon fiber tripod for review. I’ve been meaning to do some extensive field testing, but have been swamped lately with travel, submissions, and work on my next series of video tutorials as well as my upcoming ebook on landscape composition. So in the meantime, I thought I’d offer some initial reactions until I get a chance to do some more extensive field testing this fall. [...]
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The story continues from A Week in the Life: Glacier Bay Day 1 . . . Sunday, August 14, 2011: Richard and I rise early in the morning to load our kayaks and gear onto the Baranof Wind, the tour boat that will take us into the heart of Glacier Bay (along with a boatload of tourists). The tour is a great way for most people to see Glacier Bay, but we’re eager to [...]
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Nine months ago I posted A Week in the Life on my blog, presenting an unvarnished snapshot of what can too often be the typical life of a nature photo pro. I thought it would be fun to do it again, presenting a day-by-day account of my recent kayaking trip with Richard Bernabe in Glacier Bay National Park of Alaska. Here it goes . . . Saturday, August 13, 2011: After [...]
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This is a fun image from my brown bear workshop in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska. We saw a lot of bear roaming the riverbank, occasionally diving into the deep water whenever they saw a fish. This shot is of one bear taking the plunge, caught in mid-leap. We worked hard to ensure that our workshop participants got many chances to see this kind of behavior, sometimes [...]
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I warned you that I had a lot of grizzly bear pictures from the workshop I co-led with Richard Bernabe in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska! This lovely female was giving me quite a look—I do believe she was considering whether I would be a tasty morsel for lunch. I made this photograph early in the morning as first light descended to a little cove frequented by bears. [...]
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Shout-out (n.) Slang. 1. To acknowledge with respect. 2. A kind mention of a homey. 3. Like when rappers thank people when they make a CD. Source: Urban Dictionary Okay, this one is going to be a bit on the brief and somber side—Hurricane Irene is heading this way, and although the D.C. area will hopefully only get a lot of rain and wind, the storm is cutting a swath of destruction in its path and knocking power [...]
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Don’t worry—the weekend is coming, which means everyone will get a break from bear photos. Today’s photo features a successful bear and his catch, a massive sockeye salmon. It is a real thrill watching these powerful animals splash through the water, sometimes diving beneath, and emerging with a brightly colored prize firmly clasped in their jaws. For this photo, the bear was backlit in soft light, adding some sparkle to [...]
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