The Way We See It

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Vision is Everything

Failure to see the obvious and exploit the art in a moment is a problem that plagues even the most seasoned photographer. All too often, I think... "there's nothing to shoot... I've seen it all... it's been done before."

Rainforest in Black and White #2

Baru Beach, Hacienda Baru
Canon 40D + 17-40L

With our return trip to Costa Rica only 30 days into the future, I have decided to review past work and reflect on how I can make the familiar fresh. I love to shoot the rainforest, but am forever challenged by the streaky light, bright canopy, and the omnipresent shade of green. You'd think this cornucopia of biodiversity would make wildlife photography easy, but nothing could be farther from reality. The cryptic and shy creatures that inhabit a tropical jungle are invisible to those who know where to look and how to see. It is their "cloak of invisibility" that adds to the great challenge of rainforest photography.

Think Different -> See Different

Swish, swish, glide... swish, swish, glide... the pattern repeats on our journey to the sediment laden thickets. The river is glass and we're paddling towards Wisconsin. I can barely make out their prehistoric silhouettes against the orange glow of dawn; it's 5:20 a.m., Mothers' Day, and its us and the birds.

I can hear the mating chorus of the spring migrants, and I begin to dream about my options. I've been here before... it's my third opportunity. Do I play it safe, freeze the action, capture the portraits, push for detail, or do I take a risk? Swish, swish, glide... we're getting closer.

There's Always a Story

Landing Gear Down
Canon 7D + 300 f2.8IS L @ f3.5

Unfortunately,... you'll just have to wait until I find the time to share it. Until then, enjoy the warm light of a very early morning on the St. Croix River.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Rainforest in Black and White #1

Cecropia Flower in Black and White
Hacienda Baru, Costa Rica
Canon 40D + 100 f2.8 USM Macro

Sometimes its the little things that catch my eye, draw me in, and give me pause for thought. In this case, it was a spent flower. The pollen was transferred, the ovum fertilized, and the remains left to rot. Such is the way in nature. An elegant flowers advertises it receptivity, attracts the pollinator, and withers away. This balance between the need to reproduce and the dowry paid to a facilitator is elegantly displayed across the planet. Here, it is a little flower produced by a cecropia tree where the forest intersects with a meadow.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Spring is in the Air

What's this naturalist, photographer, and biologist to do when he's not hiking a trail or chasing the light? The answer I'm about to offer is likely to surprise you all... he's planning the high school prom. The life I live is a veritable hall of mirrors defined by both paradox and coincidence. I happen to be a one-time field ecologist who now finds both security and passion in educating future doctors, researchers, environmental activists, and citizens. The work that fulfills me each day, is fraught with a strange irony. I loathe opulence, and am likely to be one of the few who has ignored the royal display of wealth plaguing the media landscape throughout the week. Yet, here I am the co-coordinator of the most opulent event sponsored by my employer each year. Call me the prom guy, charged with organizing a self-indulgent event for the massess.

Kenya 2010 The Last Stand: New Book @ Blurb.com

The Last Stand by Bruce and Tamy Leventhal

Wildlife and nature photographs have become ubiquitous as the world embraces the digital revolution. There are so many beautiful images visible today that it is challenging, if not impossible, to produce any one picture that is truly unique or displays a level of excellence that separates itself from the work of others.

Rather than showcasing a series of bests that competes with the bests found throughout the web, this book seeks to tell a story with its words and images.

Our story is a story about place, conservation and process. "The Last Stand" is a compilation of blog posts I authored following our second trip to Africa. This book is a photo blog from a Kenyan Safari written from the perspective of an evolutionary biologist, teacher, conservationist and photographer.

We hope that our images and words inspire the adventurer in us all and the desire to protect our fragile natural resources.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Every Day

Today is Earth Day 2011.

For some New Years Day is the time for resolutions, but I've never been a resolution type of guy. In fact, I can't recall a single pledge to "change" or "do" that I have ever made on a New Years Day. I'd be a lier if Earth Day will bring out the resolutionist in me, but... I feel confident in claiming that I will continue to live an Earth friendly life and teach the ethics of sustainability to my students, friends, and family.

Moro Rock Sunset, Sequoia NP
Nikon D2H + Tamron 180mm f2.8 macro

Happy Earth Day... let's all try to save a little so that we can continue to enjoy the incredible biological and geological diversity on this third rock from the sun.

Tallest Trees, Redwood NP
Canon 20D + 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye

Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Desert Island

The scenario is a familiar one, and I’m nearly certain that you’ve been asked some permutation of this question before... You’re stranded on a desert island, what’s the one... (fill in the blank)... that you want, need, must have?

Today’s "blank" is brought to you buy the word L-E-N-S. That’s right, what is your one must have, couldn’t shoot without, gotta save from sinking boat lens? My inspiration for this post began at fredmiranda.com. FM is a photo community that I frequent for its interesting discussions about gear, amazing landscape photography, and occasional humorous post. During the week there have been a number of discussions about trading gear or saving for an elusive optic... my favorite focal length... a 300mm f2.8 lens.

Species Profile: Yucca brevifolia

When Mormon settlers crossed the Mojave in the mid-19th century they "saw" the hands of Joshua reaching towards the heavens... so goes the origin of this tree's colloquial name.