Friday, March 11, 2011
The Colors of The Bahamas
One of the most amazing things about our photo shoot in the Bahamas in January were the colors of the Bahamas. To me, and I think a lot of people the vivid colors and textures of the Bahamas are the most striking thing. I could do an entire book, just about the wonderful array of colors and textures of the Bahamas.
I am posting just a handful from our most recent trip. Let me know your thoughts.
I am posting just a handful from our most recent trip. Let me know your thoughts.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Outdoor Adventure Photo Shoot
Photo Shoot at Deep Water Cay Lodge
My photo shoot at the newly renovated Deep Water Cay Lodge in the Grand Bahamas was jam-packed with various outdoor adventure photo shoots. We had models out fly fishing for bonefish, barracuda and early permit, snorkeling, blue hole diving, deep sea and reef fishing. Of course, it was not just about outdoor adventures, I also had to catch them relaxing in hammocks and around the infinity swimming pool, biking, playing tennis, hiking and shelling on the beach, and even sharing drinks around the Tiki Bar. In addition, the beautiful new interiors of the vacation houses at the lodge had to be photographed. I know, rough duty, but like they say, someone had to do it.
If you like your vacations to be outdoors, and like outdoor travel with endless things to do, than Deep Water Cay is a great place to go. You will need to bring plenty of outdoor gear with so many different activities right at your finger tips. Probably the only outdoor gear you won't need here is your rock climbing gear. The island and the other islands that make up Grand Bahama Island are only a few feet above sea level. White sand beaches, coral, and a few beautiful palm trees are surrounded by the some of the most beautiful aqua and emerald colored waters you will find anywhere on this earth.
If you live in northern climes, and you are in desperate need of warm temperatures, and an outdoor world where you can get a head start on spring, Deep Water Cay in the Bahamas is a great place for a little adventure travel.
Our photo shoot needed to take place in mid January so the team at Deep Water could use the photos for their new brochures and advertising. It was a little early in the season, but still very nice, even though the weather in the Bahamas this time of year can be a little unsettled, so I spent a bit of time dodging rain showers, dealing with winds and looking for dramatic skies. But temperatures in the mid-seventies were very welcomed in January.
Navigating Customs with all the outdoor gear, photography gear, and lighting equipment was interesting, but otherwise a smooth trip. All in all, a great resort photo shoot, and great place to spend a week or so in mid-winter.
Go to the Deep Water Cay website at deepwatercay.com and their Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Deep-Water-Cay to see more of my images from the shoot, and to get a sense of the wonder of this island tucked into the Bahamas.
One last thing, the staff and hospitality at Deep Water Cay are absolutely first class, lead by Dana and Jane Dibben who manage this little island paradise.
My photo shoot at the newly renovated Deep Water Cay Lodge in the Grand Bahamas was jam-packed with various outdoor adventure photo shoots. We had models out fly fishing for bonefish, barracuda and early permit, snorkeling, blue hole diving, deep sea and reef fishing. Of course, it was not just about outdoor adventures, I also had to catch them relaxing in hammocks and around the infinity swimming pool, biking, playing tennis, hiking and shelling on the beach, and even sharing drinks around the Tiki Bar. In addition, the beautiful new interiors of the vacation houses at the lodge had to be photographed. I know, rough duty, but like they say, someone had to do it.
If you like your vacations to be outdoors, and like outdoor travel with endless things to do, than Deep Water Cay is a great place to go. You will need to bring plenty of outdoor gear with so many different activities right at your finger tips. Probably the only outdoor gear you won't need here is your rock climbing gear. The island and the other islands that make up Grand Bahama Island are only a few feet above sea level. White sand beaches, coral, and a few beautiful palm trees are surrounded by the some of the most beautiful aqua and emerald colored waters you will find anywhere on this earth.
If you live in northern climes, and you are in desperate need of warm temperatures, and an outdoor world where you can get a head start on spring, Deep Water Cay in the Bahamas is a great place for a little adventure travel.
Our photo shoot needed to take place in mid January so the team at Deep Water could use the photos for their new brochures and advertising. It was a little early in the season, but still very nice, even though the weather in the Bahamas this time of year can be a little unsettled, so I spent a bit of time dodging rain showers, dealing with winds and looking for dramatic skies. But temperatures in the mid-seventies were very welcomed in January.
Navigating Customs with all the outdoor gear, photography gear, and lighting equipment was interesting, but otherwise a smooth trip. All in all, a great resort photo shoot, and great place to spend a week or so in mid-winter.
Go to the Deep Water Cay website at deepwatercay.com and their Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Deep-Water-Cay to see more of my images from the shoot, and to get a sense of the wonder of this island tucked into the Bahamas.
One last thing, the staff and hospitality at Deep Water Cay are absolutely first class, lead by Dana and Jane Dibben who manage this little island paradise.
Cherry Blossoms
If you have never been to Washington, D.C. when the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom around the Washington Monuments, then you are missing a great sight. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival will take place this year in D.C. around the weekend of April 1.
It is also a great opportunity to take in the other great sights like the Washington, D.C. Museums and Monuments.
Don't forget there is also some great dining within walking distances of the monuments and museums. While there look up events in Washington, D.C. and things to do. It can be a great day or weekend for the family or a group.
It is also a great opportunity to take in the other great sights like the Washington, D.C. Museums and Monuments.
Don't forget there is also some great dining within walking distances of the monuments and museums. While there look up events in Washington, D.C. and things to do. It can be a great day or weekend for the family or a group.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Cherry Blossom Time
Spring is actually very close at hand. It has to be. The National Park Service in Washington D.C. has announced that the Cherry Blossoms will be at their peak this year between March 27 - April 4. It is a little earlier than most years, but they are usually right on the money.
You have to try to spend a couple of hours during the peak of cherry blossoms in the tidal basin of D.C. It is
spectacular. They only negative is that there are also thousands of others taking in the amazing show of blossoms.
Here are a few from spring 2010.
You have to try to spend a couple of hours during the peak of cherry blossoms in the tidal basin of D.C. It is
spectacular. They only negative is that there are also thousands of others taking in the amazing show of blossoms.
Here are a few from spring 2010.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Painting with Light
Photography for me is more than just capturing an image. To me photography is about responding to emotions, passions, light, atmospheric conditions, a desire to create images that are in essence, Works of Art. I want to capture and present to the world the beauty that I see in this amazing world we live in.
Of course every photograph we take will not be a "Work of Art". But the more I shoot these days, the more I see artistic images presenting themselves to me to capture. The Mockingbird in Audubon Light below is a prime example. The instant I saw this bird surrounded by the soft brown-amber leaves and dusty blue sky background, I immediately felt like I was seeing an Audubon painting in real life. Fortunately I was able to capture that same mood and artistic sense in this image.
I am not sure why I see more images in "Artistic Light" these days, but I think it comes down to the very simple principle of being open. Not just visually, but emotionally. Giving yourself the freedom of an open mind to see and feel the beauty that surrounds us, and can be found virtually anywhere.
I see and feel beauty everywhere. Because of that, I see things that most people never see, things that we walk by everyday, and essentially never see, or even sense the beauty that lies within the worlds within our world.
Of course every photograph we take will not be a "Work of Art". But the more I shoot these days, the more I see artistic images presenting themselves to me to capture. The Mockingbird in Audubon Light below is a prime example. The instant I saw this bird surrounded by the soft brown-amber leaves and dusty blue sky background, I immediately felt like I was seeing an Audubon painting in real life. Fortunately I was able to capture that same mood and artistic sense in this image.
I am not sure why I see more images in "Artistic Light" these days, but I think it comes down to the very simple principle of being open. Not just visually, but emotionally. Giving yourself the freedom of an open mind to see and feel the beauty that surrounds us, and can be found virtually anywhere.
I see and feel beauty everywhere. Because of that, I see things that most people never see, things that we walk by everyday, and essentially never see, or even sense the beauty that lies within the worlds within our world.
Bird Songs
This is another excerpt from my wife Kate's latest book; Joy of Birding.
Over the years, I have started to listen to the sounds of my backyard with more purpose. Who is already out and about? How many birds are at the feeder? Are there any squabbles going on yet? Has someone seen a cat or sent up an alarm about a hawk? Do I hear any new voices? Is there a new bird in the forest preparing to set up housekeeping? Are they commenting on the weather?
Over the years, I have started to listen to the sounds of my backyard with more purpose. Who is already out and about? How many birds are at the feeder? Are there any squabbles going on yet? Has someone seen a cat or sent up an alarm about a hawk? Do I hear any new voices? Is there a new bird in the forest preparing to set up housekeeping? Are they commenting on the weather?
I work in an urban area. One evening, I left my office especially late, my head full of worries and concerns over “office stuff”. As I reached my car, I heard a sound in the vicinity of a tree near by. A beautiful heartfelt song was coming from the branches. I walked over and listened for a few moments. No need to see him, I knew who he was. A lovesick male mockingbird, still unmated a little late in the season. In the moonlight, in a pine tree surrounded by highways, skyscrapers and steel, he was pouring out a beautiful song, hoping against hope that somewhere in the concrete jungle a female was waiting for him. For a few moments we shared the evening together, two beings sharing a common understanding. When I got into my car, my office worries had been replaced. My head, as my daughter used to say, was full of birds.
The variety in bird vocalizations is remarkable. It is a complex and astoundingly beautiful form of communication. Bird sounds take many forms and perform many functions—to attract mates, to warn away others, to communicate with their own species and to announce the boundaries of their territory. It may seem impossible to try to decipher the seemingly endless variety of sounds, but there are a few basic principles that can help you to understand what birds are saying.
The Song Songbirds make up over half of the world’s bird population. Bird songs are a series of notes, both short and long, that have a pleasing musical sound. These are the sounds of spring and summer. The male songbird uses a song to attract a mate. The mating song tends to be complex and elaborate, often with many variations. The nightingale, it is said, has over 300 different love songs at its disposal. Still others, like the cowbird, have been recorded using over 40 different notes. In most species, females listen, but do not respond to these songs.
Males also use their songs to tell others that this is their territory. These songs tend to be shorter and simpler. They are meant to tell rival birds where they are and what the boundaries of their property are. There are gaps in these songs, when the male pauses to listen for answers from possible rivals.
Though songs are used mostly by males, some species, like the Northern Cardinal, use songs to communicate with each other throughout the season. Both the male and the female sing. Some birds have multiple versions of their song, while others repeat certain phrases over and over. Still others have single noted songs.
Dawn is a busy time for birdsong. Maybe it is because the air is relatively still and the sounds carry better than later in the day. Songs sung at dawn tend to be clearer and more elaborate than songs performed later in the day. There are also songs sung sotto voce, whispering songs that are often soft renditions of the bird’s regular song, sung during migration, on the nest or in inclement weather.
The Call Calls are short vocalizations that are used by all birds, both male and female. They are used year ’round and have a very specific purpose. The most common use is to make contact, either with a mate, with other members of their species or with the mixed flock that they are migrating with.
Flight calls are used by some birds during night migrations or even when they are just flying from perch to perch.
Alarm calls warn the presence of a predator. Some alarm calls are just louder, more urgent versions of the standard contact call, while others are high-pitched and repetitive sirens.
Begging calls are whiny cries performed by juveniles still looking for a handout from their parents.
Some birds can be distinguished from their similar counterparts by their call. We have a mixed flock of Black-Capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees. Their appearance is virtually identical. But we can identify them by their different call notes. The Carolina Chickadee has a higher pitch and a faster pattern than the Black-Capped. Their songs are different too.
On the other hand, our finches are a hopeless blur to us. If we don’t actually see them, we usually have a hard time figuring out who is in the trees. Is it the House Finch or the Purple Finch? Or could it be a Warbling Vireo?
Mimicry Some birds have a remarkable ability to simulate other bird sounds and even non-bird sounds. The catbird mimics a number of different birds, giving a rival the impression that the territory is already full. The Blue Jay does a great imitation of the Red-shouldered hawk, a skill designed to send his rivals at the bird feeder running for cover. Starlings, mockingbirds and goldfinches are also excellent mimics.
Non-vocal Communications Birds are not limited by their vocal skills. Some birds, like the Downy Woodpecker, drum with their beaks to attract females. Clicking noises made by snapping bills and thrumming sounds made by loud wing clapping are also used by males to elicit attention. The Ruffed Grouse beats the air with his wings and the American Woodcock’s wings make a twittering sound when it flies.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Spring is in the Air!
And now that the weather is improving, early morning is where it’s at for photography. Birds are busy in the morning, and if you can get yourself out there with them, you may be rewarded with beautiful lighting.
Full sun conditions can be great for capturing the vibrancy of brilliant plumage and illuminating darkened forests. But bright sun can also produce unacceptable glare on reflective surfaces, high contrast and backlighting when the subject is facing the wrong direction. Full sun can also produce strong shadows that play havoc with your composition. Filtered sun or flat lighting conditions like overcast days are often more conducive to good photography.
While it might seem easier to photograph in the middle of a bright sunny day, more often than not you will be disappointed with the final images you download to your computer. Bright sun produces high contrast photos with deep shadows and areas of light that have blown out all color. Reflections and bounced light can ruin the shot, and colors will be less saturated.
Make the effort to photograph early and late in the day. Birds are more active in the early morning hours and often late in the day as well. Get out on overcast and even drizzly days. This can often be the best light because it is even. There are fewer shadows, less reflective light, and the colors will be much more saturated. Make specific trial shoots in these different conditions in the same place and see for yourself.
Birds are often very active before, during and after storms. This year’s surprise 28” snow storm is a good example. Needless to say, here in Virginia, both we and the birds were ill-prepared for it. The birds in our yard never stopped feeding throughout the day and we kept going out to clear off the feeders and replace food for the ground foragers. But as the snow subsided and the sun came out, the photos were glorious.
Bottom line; to dramatically increase your success photography birds, get to know your birds, their habitat, and the environmental conditions where you can best capture them. And then get out there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)