Spruce Flat Falls

Spruce Flat Falls.

 

Don’t worry, I’m not violating any laws or orders by visiting the Great Smoky Mountains right now. I am simply going through my calendar of images for April and reviewing them. Often I find images I did years ago, in this case 4 years ago, and think about what I would do differently if I could go back today (if it were possible). Sometimes if it is close and the conditions are good, I go and see if I can improve on an image. I may be totally happy with an image but I may feel I have learned something new or technology may have progressed to help me make it better. So many places to revisit…

 

Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Canon 5Diii, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 2 seconds, Circular Polarizer to reduce glare, Sirui tripod and ballhead, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron2470, #SiruiUSA, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography

18 Years

18 Years.

 

18 Years ago, I sat at my desk, processing images, having a cup of coffee, just normal things I do every morning. When I am working I usually have a TV on as background noise. I remember sitting and hearing a plane had hit one of the World Trade Centers. I stopped working and started watching. I was thinking to myself, “How can you fly into such a large building in daylight”? How could you not see it? I was thinking it was a small private plane at first. The news had conflicting stories as to the size of the plane. Then the second plane flew into the other tower. I remember sitting and staring at the TV in complete shock. It took me what felt like an hour, even though I know it was just a minute or so, to stand up and tell Evelyn and then Eric what had happened. Eric knew right away what it was and who had done it, and why. Evelyn and I were more in shock. The events of that day 18 years ago are etched in my mind like it was yesterday. Today as I sit and work on my computer, it seems for me many things are still the same, but I know in my mind they aren’t. Almost 3,000 people were on their way to work or simply doing what they did every day, but would never see their tomorrow. Since that day many more have died as a result of those attacks in NYC, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. It didn’t end for some that day, or even that week, depression, injuries sustained that day, Serviceman and women have died helping to keep us safe, and cancer has taken many more from us. Things can never be the same as they were that morning before that event.

 

Never Forget, we owe it to all of those people who perished on that day and each day since in keeping us Free.

 

This was an image I made of the Manhattan Skyline in 2017, an image very different from 18 years ago.

 

Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Nikon D-750, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 400, shutter speed of 114 seconds, Sirui tripod, processed in Lightroom. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2470, #SiruiUSA, #NeverForget, #BearWoodsPhotography

The drive to St George Island

The drive to St George Island

 

I truly didn’t know what to expect on the drive down to Apalachicola yesterday. I had heard that the damage to the small towns along the way in south Georgia and northern Florida were pretty devastating. As we drove down Hwy 27 through Bluffton, GA you could really start to see the destruction from the winds of Hurricane Michael. So many trees were uprooted and snapped, Blue tarps visible on top of roofs, and the several barns collapsed or without their roof. The pecan groves had many trees uprooted as well. When we got to Colquitt the devastation was even worse. Our route took us through the outskirts of Bainbridge and then eventually Quincy, FL. The farther south we went the more damage. Streets in Quincy were lined with piles of limbs and trees waiting to be picked up. We saw several Relief Centers set up in the towns and the recovery seems to be going well. We boosted the local economy a little outside of Bainbridge with a fill up and a snack box of fried chicken livers.

 

The last little town we passed through before arriving to the Apalachicola Bay was Sumatra. Damage was pretty bad, but it seemed there was a line of different damage that we could see. It was almost possible to see whether damage was done by the leading edge of the storm vs the backside of the storm by the direction the trees fell or were snapped. The closer we got to the Bay, we could see the results of swollen rivers and creeks from the storm surge. Debris scattered along the edges and on the roadsides. Once we arrived in Eastpoint storm surge was very apparent wiping out most of the boat docks that lined the shoreline. I didn’t stop and photograph yesterday but will get out today and do a little. The one obvious thing we saw was how these communities work together to overcome the challenges they have faced. That is one of the reasons we love this area so much. Not only is it beautiful down here, but the people add to the lore of the Forgotten Coast. This image was one I did several years ago of the St George Lighthouse during a full moon. To me, it represents the spirit down here that the folks find light in any way they can and that light serves the purpose needed to survive but also thrive.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD lens on a Nikon D-800, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 1/250th of a second, processed in Lightroom. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #BearWoodsPhotography

Eastpoint

Eastpoint.

 

This weekend is the 55th Annual Seafood Festival in Apalachicola. I am so glad to see they are still having it after Hurricane Michael. It is going to be a welcome break for the locals and all the workers in the area. We have our photography workshop in Apalachicola in just under 2 weeks and I have been in constant communication with the Chamber of Commerce, hotels, rental homes and friends down there to make sure of 2 things. First, our coming down won’t infringe on their recovery efforts at all and secondly, making sure we put money into the local economy to help with the recovery of the local businesses as well. Everyone I have talked with is so excited that we are committed to coming down and showing off how resilient the people of Apalachicola and Franklin County are in life.

 

One of the areas we spend time in photographing and visiting is Eastpoint, the area between Apalachicola and St. George Island. We photograph sunrise and sunsets there often as well as just sitting and talking with some of the local and long time residents there. The area was hit hard earlier this year when a “controlled burn” got out of control and burned many homes, then throw the Hurricane in and it has been a tough year for them. This all on top of a struggling Oyster industry, partially to blame because of the lack of fresh water that should be coming down from Georgia and Alabama. Last year we met Carson, one of the locals who had just returned home from many years up north. Carson told us his life story and was actually very familiar with photography, and I think enjoyed talking photography with us. Carson was living a tough life trying to help with keeping alive the family’s legacy in the area. Conditions are tough, good paying jobs are tougher. The information Carson shared with us about some local areas to photograph was great and he even modeled for us for a few images. We explained that if he had been a guide or model for us he would be paid for his services. He laughed at first, but on our insistence accepted our fee. Carson, and the other locals, are what make the area special. These visits are what often make our trips special as well. The food is great down there, the people are even better. I look forward to sitting, talking, and sharing a beer with my friends down there soon. You may be the Forgotten Coast, but you are always in our thoughts.

 

Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Canon 5D Mark III, Manual Exposure mode, f3.2, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/40th of a second, handheld utilizing the Vibration Compensation feature of the lens, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureinFocusPhotographyWorkshops

The Rock Factory

The Rock Factory.

 

A little TBT (throwback Thursday for you folks my age) from outside Page, AZ a couple years ago. I have been going through some images preparing for my presentation to the Booth Photography Guild next Saturday the 11th and came across some images from the Rock Factory. A long time great friend, Stan Burman, was kind enough to take Cecil Holmes and I out to this incredible location for sunset. He even made a mysterious phone call and got us some beautiful clouds and color for sunset! I would love to get back out to this location and spend more than one evening to see all of the varieties of clouds and light that appear. I have never witnessed sunsets like they regularly have in Arizona anywhere else in America. It does get a little warm for my liking though too. Earlier in the day we were going to walk out to Horseshoe Bend, but we stayed in the air conditioned car when we saw the current temperature was 108 degrees! Thank you Stan for sharing this beautiful location with us.

 

Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Canon 5DIII, Manual Exposure mode, f11, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/5th of a second, Sirui N3204X tripod and K30X ballhead, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional

One lesson…”stop taking pictures”!

One lesson…”stop taking pictures”!

 

For many years I have been asked to speak to groups in clubs, at conferences and during workshops, and I am asked for that one piece of advice that will help them with their photography. My answer is this, stop taking pictures, start creating images. These 6 words can improve your photography more than anything else. Why? A picture is nothing more than a moment in time, meaning the shutter speed simply captures that moment in our life. It is a snapshot of an event or a place, where an image is a memory of that moment in time. When I go out to create an image, I slow down, choose a place, a lens, an angle of view, shutter speed, filters, in other words, there are lots of decisions that I make. I arrange the elements within the frame to visually lead the viewer through the frame. I want the viewer to be there with me, to feel what I felt as I stood in that spot. Every image I have ever made, I can remember vividly the circumstances of that moment.

 

So if you could ever learn anything from me or my images, I hope it is to stop taking pictures and start creating images. Your love for photography and the World around us will simply get better.

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Nikon D-700, Aperture Priority mode, f8, ISO 200, resulting in a shutter speed of 1/13th of a second, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster

Nature’s Insecticide

Nature’s Insecticide.

 

My post yesterday touched on our approach to insect control. Each and every insect has a role in nature’s decomposition of things. From mites, to beetles and other insects to earthworms. Through my studies, I learned how important it was to leave dead flowers standing so insects can start the breakdown process. Eventually the insects are large enough to support the predators that feed on them, in this case the Worm-eating Warbler. Prior to this past year I had only seen a Worm-eating Warbler a handful of times. This past year though, I spent many mornings photographing this spectacular bird. Hundreds if not thousands of frames. They became one of my favorites with their nearly daily visits. If you are wanting to increase the number and variety of birds you see and photograph, plant some tall flowers, like sunflowers and let them die off and dry out after blooming. The variety of Warblers gleaning the foliage for insects alone is worth it!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 6400, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

Why being a Birder will improve your Nature Photography

Why Being a Birder will improve your Nature Photography.

 

Before I start I should also say it will improve your life as well. I was always interested in nature as a kid. I had field guides and spent every free minute wandering in the woods. My greater appreciation for birding took hold when I became a professional Nature Photographer. My mentor, John Shaw, didn’t accept my identification of a Herring Gull as a Seagull. He pushed me to learn the identifications of birds and their habits as well. In 1995 a trip to the Galapagos Islands for a workshop was a check mark off of my bucket list. Then later that month I attended the first NANPA Nature Photography Forum held in Ft. Myers, FL. During that event I was a co-leader on a trip to J. Ding Darling NWR and was lucky enough to be joined by Roger Tory Peterson. My birding took off like wildfire from that point. A few years later my wife Evelyn registered me for continuing education classes at Cornell Lab of Ornithology for a Christmas gift. During that time I found how much more I wanted to spend outside learning and observing birds and nature. In doing so, my exposure to sunrises and sunsets took new meanings in the respect that it became more than just light, it became an event to observe and learn. The more time I spent outside, the more I photographed, and my craft improved. It has changed how I do yard work even. Instead of pesticides, I let the Scarlet Tanagers glean Japanese Beetles from the trees and shrubs. In turn, I watch and photograph.

 

I will always consider myself a photography teacher, but it is such a great feeling when one of my fellow photographers express how my passion for birding has influenced them as well. It is a great feeling when someone captures an image of a bird and they want to learn what the bird is and ask questions of its behavior as well. Nothing bad comes of educating someone about the natural world. We all become better photographers, and better people as well. Learn that “bird” isn’t just a noun, it can be a verb as well.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1000, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #BirdNirdvana

Get Ready for Night Skies!

Get Ready for Night Skies!

 

Obviously we can photograph night skies and the Milky Way at any time during the year, but the peak of the season is considered from mid-April to the end of July. That is when the galactic core is visible the longer during the night. It is when I like to photograph it to be able to place an object into the bottom of the frame and improve the composition. A few settings I use for my starting point are: Manual Exposure, 30 seconds, f2.8, ISO 3200, and infinity focus on my lens set to manual focus as well. I prefer the Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens. A good sturdy tripod, like my Sirui N3204X tripod, is a necessity. These settings are a starting point and some adjustments will be made to optimize your image exposure. All you need to do is get to a really dark place and then check Apps like Photopills to see where the core will align and the optimum time to shoot and then have fun! The lighting in the image on the rock and tree was done by a passing car as it rounded the curves in the road.

 

Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Canon 5Diii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 30 seconds, manual focus set to infinity, Sirui N3204X tripod and K30X ballhead, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #TamronUSAMagazine, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

My Fascination with Bald Eagles

My Fascination with Bald Eagles.

 

It may be hard for some folks to understand why I have this fascination with Bald Eagles. It started in my youth. I never saw one until 1976. It wasn’t until my first trip to the Grand Tetons that I saw our Nation’s symbol. It is why I read and thing everyone should read “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson. One of the first studies of the numbers of Bald Eagles showed that there were only 487 nesting pairs in the lower 48 States in 1963! Because of the widespread use of herbicides and pesticides, primarily DDT, Eagles and other Birds of Prey, were almost eliminated. Rachel’s book helped to bring attention to how DDT effected the birds. It was prohibited to use and as of 2006 our nesting population was up to 9789 pairs. We have a long way to go to reach the numbers of the 1700s and 1800s. I am fascinated with them because I never thought or dreamed they would survive. I find them so majestic in flight. I only hope that people who are growing up seeing so many never take them for granted and will always appreciate their comeback.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Canon 7Dii, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 200, 1/200th of a second (Sunny 16 Rule), Sirui N3204X tripod and PH20 Gimbal Head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLenseUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional