I Can’t Find Anything to Photograph

Oct 26, 2015 | News

Hogwash!  Just be patient. Sometimes it takes going to a quiet place, sit down and wait with camera in hand. Or, bring a folding chair and go to a designated place like a pond, lagoon, forest, flowering garden and just wait.  The opportunity will come to you if you are patient. Dragonflies Mating This shot was taken at El Dorado Park near Long Beach, CA.  I was sitting on the ground just waiting for the dragon flies to land on a reed. I let the situation come to me rather than roam around trying to find an opportunity. This was a gift shot. Very hard to get this quality of shot. Working the Lily Pond I sat down next to a lily pond and just waited. Once, again the situation came to me. I did not pursue the opportunity. You can do the same thing. Sometimes when you get photographers block, you have to just get out of the house and go, sit and wait and be observant.  A side benefit of fresh air and some exercise is a plus....

The “P” word- Things are not always Perfect

Oct 23, 2015 | News

I know, I know, trust me I live it every day as a photographer. Mistakes happen, settings are wrong, you missed “The Shot”, the sun set too fast, I got up late, etc.. It is a humbling experience and it happens more often than we like to admit. The pro pros most likely don’t have the same frailties as we regular photographers but they too have problems. Now here are two beauties worthy of the damn missed the shot category or, oh well , tomorrow is another day. Or how about the back end. So when someone asks me if I got any good shots, my stock answer is I won’t know until I put them in the computer. Next blog will be on macro or close-up shooting. It will be most...

Get the EYE in Focus or your Toast

Oct 19, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography

Another Word of Wisdom or WOW tenet. The eye has to be in focus, especially when photographing birds for competition, or your toast.  If the bird’s-eye is not in focus you might as well just trash it, forget it and move on. Pretty Boy One of my favorite shots. The more you look at the wolf’s eyes the more they bore right through you. Keep looking if you don’t see what I mean. This is a difficult shot because of the depth of field between the end of the nose and the eyes. The nose is closer to the lens than the eyes. What to do? That is another blog down the road. Morning Sip This photo just seems to have a calming effect. Very simple, it’s a rabbit, but it has done well in competition earning awards and recognition from local, state and international competition. How do you think it would have done if the eye was a little off? Catch of the Day Remember competition bird eyes have to be in focus. This photo won Professional Photographers of America International Photographic Competition recognition. It was what is called a Loan Photo. The best of the best and was on loan for display through-out the USA. In another blog, I will show you the importance of getting the “catch light” in the eye of the subject. Click here for a definition of “catch light”. A photo with animal eyes which includes birds can be considered deficient if they don’t have a catch light.   Click Here to see more bird shots and Click Here to see more award-winning photos....

Anticipation and Patience

Oct 15, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography

These two words will help you get THE SHOT.  For most it does not come naturally. You have to train your self to anticipate what the subject will do. Plus a little patience helps too. Yes, I always wonder if I had just stayed a little longer could I have made a better shot. Coulda woulda and shoulda are always sitting on my shoulder. Red Wing Black Bird- Cape May, NJ I watched the red wings flying and landing on the cattails. It was a clear windy day. The birds would not stay long on the cattails in addition to the cattails swaying in the steady breeze. I had no time constraints so all I had to do was anticipate the movement of the bird and the sway of the cattail and be patient.  One trick that I used is to set my camera up on a particular cattail that seemed to be a favorite of one of the red wings. When the bird is just approaching as well sitting start firing away. You have a good chance of getting a winner shot. Caveat- get your settings set before the action starts. I also used a tripod with a gimbal head for ease of movement. Dinner on the Run- Marina del Rey, California I watched the squirrel and the young inexperienced hawk play cat and mouse. The squirrel knew just how far he was to his tree escape.  The hawk would swoop/glide down from a distant tree when it thought the squirrel was far enough away from the tree.  The trick was to catch the two in action. Hence, anticipation of what...