The Way We See It: swans

Showing posts with label swans. Show all posts

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Impressionism III

The Drake and The Swan (Anas platyrhyncos & Cygnus buccinator)
Canon 5D mark iii + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Winter Diary (Post II)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) - Minnesota
Canon 5D Mark III + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS w/ Canon 1.4x vi

Many nature photographers and enthusiasts take a hiatus during the winter months. To be honest, I can't blame them. Years of shooting in the bitter cold takes its tole on the extremities. My fingers, toes and tip of my nose now fears the frost. It's hard not to question my own sanity, yet... I persevere. I console myself with the naive belief that I am unique in this craft and that few are willing to capture the harsh months like I do.

In a few days I turn 48. As I approach 50, I am increasingly curious about how these experiences impact my longevity. Does the solitude during a winter shoot save me as many years as the cold takes away? I doubt I'll ever know, just like I doubt I'll ever stop.

In my last post, Fool Me Twice, I shared a treasured experience with otters that emerged from an ephemeral break in the ice. During the next five posts I spare you my words and just share some of what I've seen this winter. It's been a good year so far, now I'm looking forward to what follows 47.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Tip #59: It's About the Light

Sunrise Swan (Cygnus buccinator) - Crex Meadows, WI
Canon 5D MarkII + Canon 300mm f2.8IS L @ f3.2

Jim Brandenburg’s Chased by the Light, is the one photo-essay to have transformed the way I view nature and pursue photography. A body of work that still resonates with me in this rapidly evolving digital era, Brandenburg’s accomplishments continue to model the importance of willpower and vision. A pre-digital experiment in nature photo-journalism, the book is an seminal example of how a personal journey can produce a rich story about a time and place. Not just any photo-a-day project, the author shot a single frame of Velvia slide film per day, in his study of the transition from the Autumnal Equinox to the Winter Solstice. Most striking is his juxtaposition of imagery with prose that conveys deep thoughts of conflict, confidence and fear throughout the photographic project.

Sunrise Swan II (Cygnus buccinator) - Crex Meadows, WI
Canon 5D MarkII + Canon 300mm f2.8IS L @ f3.2

A must read, for those seeking inspiration or fresh start, Chase by the Light reminds us about the importance of perseverance, being there, and the good light.