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    • Exploring limits

    African elephant photographed at pre-dawn with an ISO setting of 12800, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

    I admit it.  I am an ISO snob.  Most nature photographers are, especially if they started with film.  19 years ago I got my start in wildlife photography with a Nikon camera and a few rolls of film.  As an aspiring nature photographer, I read everything I could find on the subject and one piece of advice stood out above all others.  Real nature photographers use low ISO film.  Of course, I wanted to be a real nature photographer (even if my pictures were mostly blurry black blobs, it was the thought that counts), so I used low ISO film.  This was a time when Fuji Velvia had just hit the market and at 50 ISO, Velvia certainly qualified as slow speed film.  After a few years, I switch to Kodak 100VS, another saturated film that provided the lightning speed of 100 ISO.  For years I was happy shooting at 100 ISO.  On rare occasions I pushed the film to 200 ISO.  I even admit to once pushing it to 400 ISO, but I was dehydrated that day and not responsible for my actions.  The idea of using high ISO settings went against my very core as a nature photographer.  I either got a noise free image, or I didn’t get the shot.  It was that simple.

    Then things began to change.  In 2003 I purchased my first digital camera.  No, I didn’t rush out and immediately start using high ISOs, though I think I might have accidentally taken a picture at 800 ISO once.  The shift was gradual.  With film my default ISO setting was 50 or 100, so that is where I started with digital.  After a year or two, I learned that most digital cameras are optimized for 200 ISO, which contains less noise then the lower settings.  OK, no more low ISO settings.  From then on I started shooting fast on a regular basis.  Like 200 ISO fast.

    The erosion of my photographic principles continued over the next few years as newer and better cameras were created.  Noise reduction was one of the key advantages of these new cameras, but it just felt wrong to use those settings.  Then it happened.  I purchased a Canon 1D mark 4.  This camera was making headlines in the photographic world for the low noise at high ISO setting and the temptation was almost too much to ignore.  One morning on safari in Tarangire National Park, I decided to push the camera and see what I could do.  The morning was heavily overcast and dark.  When we came across a small herd of elephants, I decided to put the camera to the test.  The light was so low I could hardly even see the elephants, much less photograph them.  With nothing to loose, I changes the ISO setting to a heart stopping 12,800 and began to take pictures.  Fortunately the camera did not explode in my hands.  Above is one of the resulting images.  I don’t know about you, but I’m impressed.  Does the image contain noise?  Of course it does.  Is the noise a distraction?  Not even close.  Not only is this an acceptable photograph, but shooting with such a high ISO opens a world of opportunities that were not previously possible.

    As photographers we often fall into the trap of doing the same thing we have always done.  Taking risks is how we get better.  It is how we push the boundaries of our craft and create new photographic opportunities.  It took me 18 years to explore the limits of high ISO.  Don’t wait that long.  Find your limits and take a step past them.  You might like the results.

    Written on March 31st, 2011 , Africa, Photography Information, Tanzania
    Technique Tuesday – Color of light

    Light is not constant.  Not only does the quality of light and the angle of light change, but so does its color.  As the day progresses, the predominant color of light shifts.  In the early hours of pre-dawn, the world is covered in a veil of blue.  Photographing before the sun breaks the horizon produces a blue tint in our images.  As the day progresses, the light shifts.  Once the sun breaks the horizon, the world is flooded with the golden colors of sunrise.  This light provides a warmth that is radically different then the coolness of pre-dawn.  As the sun moves across the sky, the light looses its golden hue and becomes the “white” light we associate with daylight.  Once the sun reaches it zenith, the process reverses itself.

    Candle on a table at twilight, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

     

    Northern Gannett flying over the ocean at twilight, NewFoundland, Canada.

     

    Female lion (lioness) portrait at sunset in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

     

    Landrover stopped on road watching a herd of wildebeest blocking the road, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    As photographers, we can use these color shifts in a number of ways.

    • One fundamental use of color is how it alters the appearance of a subject.  If we photograph the same subject under different light we will get different results.  A lion’s fur does not look the same during sunrise as it does at noon.  By returning to photograph the same subjects under different lighting conditions, it becomes possible to create radically different images.  Try returning to the same subjects and photographic them in every possible lighting condition.
    • Color has a powerful impact on our moods, which in turn impacts how we interpret images.  Blue provides a sense of calmness.  Red has energy and is associated with violence.  Green is the color of nature and contains a sense of vibrancy.  Deliberately including specific colors in an image gives you an opportunity to push the viewer’s emotions in a specific direction.
    • People tend to find some colors more pleasing then others.  The golden rays of sunrise and sunset produce some of the strongest images, in part because most people prefer warm tones over cooler tones.
    • While colors can be used to compliment the subject, don’t ignore their ability to clash with a viewer’s expectations.  Depicting a clearcut forest in the golden rays of sunset would be one example of how the beauty of color could be used to contrast against the rawness of the situation in such a way as to make the viewer do a double take.

    Color is a powerful creative tool and we often overlook it in our daily lives.  As photographers, we spend a great deal of time looking at the world around us, and it is important that we take the time to consider how the color of light impacts that scene.

    Written on March 29th, 2011 , Photography Information, Technique Tuesday, Understanding Photography Series
    image of the day – white-bellied go-away bird

    White-bellied go-away bird perched on a branch, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    The White-Bellied Go-Away Bird is a difficult species to photograph.  During my repeated attempts the bird lived up to its name.  Whenever I approached, it decided to go away.  Seriously, it is a beautiful bird with a delicate crest on the top of its head and I was fortunate enough to come across a tolerant individual just as the sun was dropping below the horizon.

    The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 640 ISO.  The bird was photographed from a vehicle and the lens was supported on a beanbag.

    Written on March 28th, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    15% off print orders at MPix

    MPix is currently offering a great opportunity to get that print you have been dreaming about.  Between now and March 30th, MPix is offering 15% off all print orders.  To get the discount, enter promo code “prints15” at checkout.

    Written on March 28th, 2011 , Announcements
    Enjoy what you have

    Sunrise at Enchanted Rock State Park, Texas.

    I am finishing up my sixth year back in Texas and I am sorry to say that I have spent a good portion of that time lamenting what I gave up when we left Utah.  Utah is a beautiful state and within 30 minutes of my doorstep I had access to an unending supply of public land to explore.  The elk rut in Yellowstone National Park was only five hours away and the red rocks of southern Utah were only four.  The move back to Texas came as a photographic culture shock.  Over 98% of the land in Texas is privately owned and gaining access is often difficult.  The Valley Land Fund and other conservation organizations have made progress in openning up some of the private ranches for photography, but it really is a different world for the nature photographer.

    Yet the recent NANPA summit, coupled with a weekend camping trip with my family (it was Tristan’s first time sleeping in a tent) reminded me of the things I like about Texas.  The wildlife is extremely diverse and we have some of the most beautiful, rugged landscapes in the world.  Not to mention that I have never had to shovel snow since moving to San Antonio.  The lesson is that we can spend so much time thinking that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence that we forget to see the beauty in our own backyard.  Now, get out and shoot.

    The image above was captured at sunrise in Enchanted Rock State Park which is located in the Texas Hill Country.  The image was captured using a Canon 1Ds mark 3, 17-35mm lens (set to 17mm), at 200 ISO.  The camera was mounted on a tripod to provide stability in the early morning light.

     

    Written on March 25th, 2011 , Photography Information
    My Students won at TAPPS!

    Our school recently entered the annual TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) competition.  This is an art competition, with more then 20 different categories in which students from different schools compete against each other.  The Winston School San Antonio (where I teach) has done very well in the past, taking an overall first place last year along with many individual student winners.  Unfortunately, this year the judges liked the other student’s work more and as a school we ended up tying for 5th place.  We were understandably disappointed, but I was very happy to see that the three pieces that will be going on to the state level competition are all my students!  Yes, I feel like a proud father who’s child has completed a great accomplishment (which in a way they have).  So, without further a-due, let me share with you the three students and photographic pieces that will be representing The Winston School San Antonio at the state TAPPS competition.

    Shallow depth of field image of four water fountains.

    The water fountain image was taken by Saion Peterson during his first week in my photography class (great shot for a beginner).  I love the diagonal lines and the effective use of shallow depth of field to control the viewer’s gaze.  Obviously the judges liked it too as the image was awarded 1st place in the Traditional Photography category.

     

    Closeup of a baseball shot using high dynamic (HDR) range photography.

    The baseball image was a great surprise for both me and the photographer, Joel Corchado.  For me because Joel is not even in my photography class this year.  Joel took photography with me last year and I was happy to learn that he has continued to shoot.  A few months ago Joel brought me a shot of a baseball he had taken at his house.  The image had high contrast and limited detail.  Remembering how much Joel enjoyed creating artsy, abstract images, I decided to introduce him to HDR (high dynamic range) photography.  Joel then reshot the baseball image as part of an HDR series, brought them into PhotoMatix, and added the final touches in Photoshop.  With HDR grunge images, you never know if the viewer will love it of hate it.  Fortuantely, the judges loved it and awarded Joel 2nd place in the Manipulated Photography category.

     

    Panoramic image of a jungle gym with cutouts that look like a puzzle.

    Finally, we come to Caleb Smith’s panoramic image.  Caleb actively petitioned the administration at our school to let him take photography this year.  I am very glad he joined my class as he has a creative eye and has expressed an interest in becoming a professional photographer.  Caleb’s panorama consists of seven images which were taken at the local park while standing inside a dome jungle gym.  The images were then stitched together in Photoshop and strokes were applied to the pieces to create a puzzle like effect.  The end result is pretty cool and the judges liked it enough to award it 4th place in the Manipulated Photography category.

     

    Written on March 24th, 2011 , Announcements, Student Work
    Technique Tuesday – Try Something Different

    Northern Gannet flying over the ocean waves from above.

    Everyone looks up to see birds fly.  If you want your photographs to stand out, be different.  Find a perch on a cliff and watch the birds fly below you.  Not only will this give you a different perspective, but the patterns in the backgrounds can really stand out compared to the traditional blue sky commonly seen in flight photography.

    The key to standing out is to do something different from everyone else.  having said that, don’t be different just to be different.  You still need to create captivating images that present your message clearly.  Put the time and effort into developing novel ways document the unique aspects of your subject’s lives.  Such creativity  takes time and energy, but the results are a style that is totally yours.

    The Northern Gannet in the image above was photographed at Cape St. Mary’s in NewFoundland, Canada.  The image was taken while I was sitting atop one of the huge cliff’s, looking down on the birds as they searched the ocean waves for fish.  The image itself was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 400 ISO.  The camera was mounted on a Gitzo tripod with a Wimberly tripod head.

    Written on March 22nd, 2011 , Technique Tuesday
    Image of the Day – Pied Kingfisher

    Pied Kingfisher perched on a log, Lake Manyara, Tanzania.

    Does your life follow a certain pattern?  Do you get up in the morning, go through the same routine, leave for work at a predictable time?  If someone was looking for you, would they have a good chance of knowing where to look?  Like humans, wildlife often repeats patterns.  The more you know about these patterns, the better your chances of capturing the image you are after.  Lets take Kingfishers as an example.  Kingfishers are one of the the most difficult birds to photograph.  They are extremely cautious and usually respond to the unknown by flying away.  Chasing after a Kingfisher is bound to end in disappointment rather then a success.  The world is full of images of Kingfishers flying away.  Our goal is to capture something better.

    So, how did I capture the Pied Kingfisher in the image above?  I watched from a distance and found the Kingfisher’s favorite perch.  It was a lone stick next to the water.  Ever few minutes, the bird would fly over and perch as it looked for fish.  After seeing two landings, I set myself up for the next pass.  Staying in the vehicle (this was in Africa where lions are a reality), I focused my lens on the empty stick, leaving enough room for the Kingfisher at the top.  In less the 10 minutes, the bird returned and the image was complete.

    Can you thing of a time when preplanning helped you get the image you were after?  If so, please share your story in the comments section.

    The Pied Kingfisher image was created at Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 2x teleconverter attached, at 800 ISO.  The image was taken from a vehicle with the lens supported using a beanbag.

    Written on March 21st, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Heading to the NANPA summit

    After work today I am getting in the car and heading out to the North American Nature Photography Association’s annual summit in McAllen, Texas.  On Thursday I will be presenting two breakout sessions on Wildlife Filmmaking for Still Photographers.  If you will be attending, make sure to say hello.

    Written on March 8th, 2011 , Announcements
    Image of the Day – Elephant Trio

    Three young African elephants walking together, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    Anytime an elephant herd approaches you know there are going to be a ton of photographic opportunities.  On just such an occasion, these three young elephants walked pasted our vehicle acting as if we weren’t there.  It is a great feeling when an animal is so comfortable with your presence that they just go about their business.  Of course, the fact that we were surrounded by the entire herd might have had something to do with it.

    The image was captured in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 200 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle  with a beanbag used to support the camera.  The low angle was created by photographing out of the side window rather then the roof opening.

    Written on March 7th, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
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    Through the lens with Chris Gamel

    Musings of a photographic educator.