The Way We See It: April 2012

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Tip #70: Step Away From Yourself

Aquatic Flowers - Costa Rica
Canon 5D markII + Canon 180 f3.5L Macro @ f4.0

It is comforting to hide behind a false construct like “writer’s block” and “creative deficits.” At a moment of despair, we might claim to have lost the ability to be unique, to say something new, or to see differently. These, I fear, are simply excuses that reward our inherent desire to be lazy.

Bamboo Orchid (Arundina bambusifolia) - Costa Rica
Canon 5D markII + Canon 180 f3.5L Macro @ f4.0

Nature Photo Tip #70 falls within the despair I have just described. I am tired after a long week of work, I am bored with my library of images, and I fear that I am losing my capacity to “see.” Does this sense of loss sound familiar to you? I experience these feelings regularly, and eventually break free from the self-doubt. Fortunately, research is on my side. While the crutch may be a comfortable one, writer’s block and creative lapses do not exist. What exists is the resistance to do the hard work of writing or being creative. It is not easy to write with clarity, to see differently, or to create something new. However, at the core of our humanity is a complex brain that continually invents and creates. New ideas from old unfold, twist about, and scream to be released. Yet, we are faced with the challenge of articulating this infinite creativity into something real... something that others can see.

Sepia Bromeliad Bloom - Costa Rica
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS @ f4.0

When I find myself mired in a creative funk, I work harder instead of less. I reflect on my past work and abandon it like a freed prisoner. I step away from myself and try something new. The images presented are departure from my norm. These are not my typical subjects nor do they reflect my signature image processing style. Don’t let yourself hide behind a false construct, there is no lapse of creativity. Step away from yourself and do the hard work.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tip #69: Shoot your Home

Historic Stillwater Bridge - Stillwater, MN
Canon 1DsII + Canon EF28mm f2.8

You are the expert when it comes to your home. Only you, the lonely photographer, will recognize the character of the light that accompanies you to work each day. Leverage the knowledge you possess and shoot close to home.

While there's nothing like shooting an exotic location, a good photographer can make great images wherever the opportunity arises. When I’m not on the road shooting something novel, I'll wake up early and hit the hotspots in my backyard.

Historic Stillwater Bridge - Stillwater, MN
Canon 1DsII + Canon 17-40mm f4.0L

Welcome to the scenic St. Croix River and historic Stillwater bridge. This rusted beauty connects Minnesota to Wisconsin... a commuter nightmare. Crisp nights and summer days produce a morning fog that only locals might be able to predict. Advantage ME!, ...I shoot close to home.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Tip #68: You Can Never Be Too Close

Young Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Canon 7D + 300mm f2.8L IS

The title says it all.

If you have enough money, you can buy your proximity for about $14,000, ...the cost of a 600mm f4.0 lens, converters and pro-body. Alternatively, brilliant feather detail is the reward for your patience during a sunrise in the hide (blind). Sadly, I am neither rich nor patient, thus I rely on my skills as a naturalist and the serendipity that accompanies my persistence. Whatever your method, move in and capture those mesmerizing avian patterns.

Preening (Cygnus buccinator)
Canon 7D + 300mm f2.8L IS

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Tip #67: Birds in Flight? Check the Wind!

Nest-bound (Ardea herodias), St. Croix River
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8IS L

BIF (birds in flight) is a popular sub-genre of the avian specialist. Expert BIF photog’s capture striking images with detail and action that this nature generalist can only dream about. In my endless effort to “unsuck,” I discovered (stolen) two key secrets that can increase the number of BIF keepers.

Birds face the wind and defecate prior to “take-off.”
Birds fly into the wind in order to land.

Flight Light (Ardea herodias), St. Croix River
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8IS L

So, if you want to “Chase the Flight,” hold a finger to the wind and you too can predict where your flyers are heading.

Landing Gear (Ardea herodias), St. Croix River
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8IS L

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Tip #66: Birdscapes that Captivate

Lesser Flamingos in a Row (Phoenicopterus minor) - Lake Navaisha, Kenya
Canon 7D + 300mm f2.8IS L

Bird photography is one subset of the broader nature genre I pursue. In keeping with the philosophy of a nature generalist... “take what you can get when you can get it,” I am always looking to make serendipity happen. For many, the wildlife landscape is the pre-shoot or safety image. It is the picture to get before the picture you want. A healthy fear of predation makes our subjects skittish, even during a patient approach. As such, experienced photographers have learned to shoot a “safety” first, make the “I got it shot,”...and then move in for a “best.”

My approach to the wildlife landscape is dramatically different. A bird in its environment tells an ecological story about a niche, interactions, and biology. The interesting “Birdscape” is not a safety, it is a thoughtful photograph created with the intent to illustrate a sense of place and time.

Sandhill Cranes at Dusk (Grus canadensis) - Crex Meadows, WI
Canon 7D + 300mm f2.8IS L with a 15 second exposure

To make a birdscape consider the following suggestions...

Use a tripod to lock down the camera and reduce vibration.
Level your horizon before you begin to shoot.
Scan the edges of your frame as you consider the final composition. This prevents the inclusion distracting elements that seem to appear from nowhere.
Consider the whole landscape and the story you want to tell.
Seek dramatic and flattering light by shooting your wildlife landscapes during sunrise and sunset.
Plan ahead. Make your bird landscapes a viable choice rather than the safety shot.
Make this an opportunity to experiment with long exposures or telephoto landscapes.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Tip #65: Make Eye Contact

Downy Great horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) - Minnesota
Canon 1D markII + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS + Canon 2x Converter

Eye contact makes an impact. Be patient when working your avian subjects and wait for the fleeting moment when their eyes lock onto your lens. This type of image resonates with our primate brains. Like most birds, we are a visual lot and eye-to-eye moments feel like a direct encounter. If you're seeking to captivate your viewer, the eyes have it!

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) - St. Croix River, Minnesota
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS @ f3.2

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Tip #64: Be a Bird, Go Where they Live

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) - St. Croix River
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS @ f3.2

Above average, that's how I'd rank my skills as a bird photographer. I'm not a bird specialist, just a nature generalist who will pursue birds when the opportunity presents itself. Because I'm not very good at calling in song birds and lack the bling to buy the type of telephoto that can extract them from a busy background, I tend to photograph the mega-fauna in this class of vertebrates. If I've described you, then you might find my next five tips to be useful.

Tip #64: Be a Bird, Go Where they Live

Nest Bound Heron (Ardea herodias) - St. Croix River
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS @ f3.2

To make these photos, a canoe was my most important piece of kit. The birds pictured are traveling to and from a riverine rookery situated on an island. While the nests are visible, they could not be easily photographed from shore. By using a canoe in the late afternoon, we were able to paddle ourselves to the wildlife. If you are going to be a bird in the pursuit of a unique image, it is important that you respect the subject. These animals were constructing nests, courting, and incubating eggs. The reproductive imperative reduced their fear of intruders, but do not confuse this temporary tolerance with domesticity. Be sensitive to their bubble, as no one photograph is worth a failed nesting season.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Tip #63: Keeping up with the Joneses

Sharp-tailed Grouse Drumming (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
8MP of Old Canon Goodness + Sigma 300 f2.8 w/ Sigma 1.4x Converter

Don’t look now, but the guy next door has a new camera! That new bauble probably takes great picture, but don’t be fooled by its curvaceous form, it actually requires a photographer to make images.

Short Flight after the Drums (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
8MP of Old Canon Goodness + Sigma 300 f2.8 w/ Sigma 1.4x Converter

Captivating photographs are produced by artists who study their subject, understand light and make the time to be there. Do not succumb to the limits of your technology... the best camera is the one in your hands today!

Sharp-tailed Grouse Displaying (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
8MP of Old Canon Goodness + Sigma 300 f2.8 w/ Sigma 1.4x Converter

New tools come and go, but real talent resides within. I say, wear those blinders, follow your passion, and embellish the inner artist.

Time out at the Lek (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
8MP of Old Canon Goodness + Sigma 300 f2.8 w/ Sigma 1.4x Converter

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tip #62: Find a Friend

Morning on Baru Beach - Dominical, Costa Rica
Image by T. Leventhal - Canon 40D + 17-40L @ 17mm & f16

While I consider myself to be the solitary type, preferring the company of a rock to a conversational companion (see prior INTP post), I do relish the photo-adventures I take with my wife and partner. Although she is not the techno-geek that I profess to be, Tamy is the “Grape-nut girl” that works well with this “Grape-nut guy.” Often the first to suggest a new location or plan a road trip, she enjoys the field, working a new species or shooting an exciting landscape. There are days when we work side-by-side and others where there may be hours between conversations. Whatever the pattern, I find these experiences to be among the most fulfilling when traveling abroad.

Oophaga pumilio "Blue-jeans" Poison Dart - Selva Verde, Costa Rica
Image by T. Leventhal - Canon 40D + 100mm f2.8 Macro USM

A partner adds so much value to the shooting experience. They offer...

a different perspective in a common location.
the opportunity to have eyes in the back of your head.
the chance to get the ONE shot you missed.
an opportunity to download, review and discuss what comes next.
a chance learn something new or see differently.

Velvet Elk (Cervus canadensis) - Yellowstone National Park, MO
Image by T. Leventhal - Canon 40D + 100-400L f4.5 IS @ 360mm

Bottom line, find a compatible shooting partner, hit the road and expand your vision.

Spring Falls in HDR - Osceola, WI
Image by B. Leventhal - Canon 5D markII + 17-40L @ 17mm & f16
My Friend Watched the Gear Bag as I wandered off to take this shot... always good to shoot with a friend!