Torres del Paine, Chile
I came across this article from a link on Facebook. The article is from 2014 but it is still a great list.
The 50 Best Places in the World to Photograph
Wise Words From Dewitt Jones: “Stay This Moment”
Dewitt Jones
Dewitt Jones is a world class photographer who spent much of his life working for National Geographic. His articles in Outdoor Photographer and his movies and videos have been a source of inspiration for me for a long time. If we have a rainy night at one of my photography workshops (it is hard to photograph stars in the rain) I show his movie Celebrate What’s Right with the World.
This Made My day!
Photo of Jim Doty, Jr. by Winnie Johnston.
I did a photo workshop in Northern Michigan June 8-11. The workshop registrar, Winnie Johnston, captured this image of me on a workshop field trip, and she wrote this:
Continue reading
POTD: The Edge Between Twilight and Night
Venus and the stars over Lake Michigan. Click for a larger version.
Twilight hangs on for a long time in June in the far northern reaches of the United States. I captured this image a few days ago while leading a photography workshop in northern Michigan.
The Best National Parks to Photograph in Summer
Pika, Rock Cut, Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
What are the best national parks to photograph in the summer? Here are my choices, grouped by state from west to east. This list includes the favorites I have been to and want to go back to again, plus the ones I haven’t seen and most want to photograph.
One Photographer and Eleven Outdoor/Travel Writers Pick the Best National Parks for Summer
Royal Arches, North Dome, and Washington Column from Stoneman Meadow. Yosemite National Park. California.
Summer is the most popular time to visit the national parks. With so many to choose from, where should you go? Which national parks will provide the best photographic opportunities in the summer?
Memory Cards and Lost Photos
What do you do when you lose photos from your memory cards?
Warning! Fake Memory Cards at Amazon
Memory Cards in Think Tank Memory Card Holders
Fake memory cards have been a problem at Amazon for several years. The biggest problem with fake cards is card failure and the permanent loss of the photos on the card. Just think about how you would feel if you lost precious, once in a lifetime photos on your memory card. And to make matters worse, you find out data recovery software can’t recover the lost photos from a fake memory card. They are gone forever. Continue reading
Total Immersion Nature Photography Weekend in Beautiful Northern Michigan
UPDATE, June 3: Due to a last minute cancellation we have one slot open this weekend. This is your chance to register. Go here.
Are you ready to take your nature and wildlife photography to the next level? Are you ready to learn the professional secrets that make the difference between good images and great images? Are you ready for a high intensity, action packed, total immersion photography weekend? Come to Park of the Pines on beautiful Lake Charlevoix June 8-10, 2018.
Memorial Day
U.S. Flags at Sunset, Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa
From Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.
In Remembrance
Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Washington D.C. Click for a larger version.
Richard Duane Klug (the name just above the rose) was born January 26, 1946. He died in Darlac Province, Vietnam, November 14, 1967 at the age of 21. He is one of over 58,000 American soldiers that died in Vietnam, and one of over 1.1 million American soldiers that have died in all American wars (almost half of them in the Civil War). It is with a profound sense of gratitude that I reflect on the lives of those who “gave the last full measure of devotion” on behalf of their country.
Video: Every Person has Infinite Worth, Kent Hoffman, TEDx Spokane
This 20 minute video is not about photography. It is about you and your value as a human being.
Video: Into the Wild with Thomas D. Mangelsen
“Catch of the Day”, © Thomas D. Mangelsen
Tom Mangelsen is a world class wildlife photographer. His image Catch of the Day has been called the most famous wildlife image of all time. His book Images of Nature has pride of place in my photography library. In this 12 minute video at 60 Minutes you go out into the field with Mangelsen and Anderson Cooper.
Photo Gallery: Graceland University Choirs
Gallery
This gallery contains 28 photos.
The Graceland University Choirs in Concert. Grove City Community of Christ, Ohio. Click any photo to view the individual images.
Total Immersion Photo Safari in Gorgeous Southwest Colorado
Southwest Colorado in the Fall.
Come spend four exciting days on a total immersion photo safari in beautiful southwest Colorado. Colorado is magnificent in the fall as the aspen turn gold. The safari is September 28-October 1, 2018. Registration is limited and this photo safari is filling up. Detail are here.
The Depth of Field Series
Whites Sands New Mexico
Controlling depth of field is one of a photographer’s most powerful creative tools. That is why my photography book devotes two chapters and 40 pages to tools and techniques you can use to control depth of field.
How To Use a Kaidan KiWi-L Panorama Adapter
Camera and lens mounted on a Kaidan KiWi-L panorama rig.
If you are looking for an excellent, inexpensive panorama adapter, the Kaidan Kiwi-L is an excellent choice. It has been discontinued which means you can find it for around $30 – $40 on eBay and other sites that sell used camera gear.
Your Camera Does NOT Capture Reality! (and what to do about it)
O’Haver Lake, Mt. Ouray, Colorado.
You have heard it said a lot, and maybe said it yourself: “This picture doesn’t do the scene justice.” That is often true and for several reasons. One is that digital cameras do not capture reality. No matter how fancy or expensive, digital cameras simply do not capture what your eyes see. That is also true with film cameras. All color photographic films have different color characteristics. Some have better reds, others have better greens or blues. Some are more saturated and others less saturated. But none of them are totally color realistic. So why don’t digital cameras give you realistic images and what can you do about it?
Originally posted December 16, 2015. Revised, expanded, and re-posted May 4, 2018.
Video: Ansel Adams, Master Photographer (BBC)
Ansel Adams, BBC Master Photographer Series (1983).
Video: The Story Behind Ansel Adams’ “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico”
“Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico” is probably Ansel Adams’ most famous image. This YouTube video is by Swann Auction Galleries.
The Ansel Adams Series
Ansel Adams. Photo © Yousuf Karsh. Used with permission.
Ansel Adams is the best known American landscape photographer and he has had a profound influence on a lot of photographers. Many of his images have become icons of the American west. He is one of my favorite photographers and I periodically dive into one of his books for inspiration. I have written several articles about Ansel Adams plus articles inspired by the concepts he taught. There are several YouTube videos, including an excellent full length documentary by PBS. The links follow.
The “Monkey Selfie” Copyright Case is Over, Court Rejects PETA’s Claim
Naruto, Photo by David Slater
The Monkey Selfie copyright case case is finally over. In 2011, Naruto, a crested macaque, took David Slater’s camera and took several selfies. In 2015, PETA filed a suit claiming Naruto owned the copyright to the photos, not Slater. The 9th Circuit found in favor of Slater. Continue reading
Happy Birthday, John Muir!
John Muir
John Muir was born April 21, 1838. He had a profound influence on how Americans viewed our wild lands and his influence led to the establishment of many of our National Parks and other protected lands. He was nicknamed The Father of our National Parks. This is National Parks week. Go explore somewhere this week, or make plans to visit sometime this year.
Here are photos from some of my favorite National Parks along with quotes from John Muir.
The Best National Parks to Photograph in Spring
Ocotillo. Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Believe it or not, spring has finally arrived in areas of the country that were dealing with a lingering winter. Which national parks are at their photographic best in the spring? Here are my choices, grouped by state from west to east. This list includes the favorites I have been to and want to go back to again, plus the ones I haven’t seen and most want to photograph. Don’t forget, this is national parks week and many of our national parks are having special activities all week long.
National Park Week (and Fee Free Day), April 21-29, 2018
National Parks Collage. Click for a larger version.
April 21-29 is National Park Week and April 21 is a fee free day! The National Park Service is partnering with the National Park Foundation to celebrate our national parks. It is time to head to one of our national parks.
Free David Muench Photography eBook!
Photo by David Muench.
You can get a free 122 page photography ebook if you subscribe to the Muench Workshops newsletter (the newsletter is also free). David Muench is a world class photographer. His work has inspired me for years.
How to Be A Better Wildlife and Nature Photographer
Great Egret. Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Fremont, California.
When I posted this photo on one of my Facebook pages, a friend posted this happy comment:
“I LOVE this egret photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at the right wing trailing in the water. How DO you capture these?!”
Good question.
My Two Favorite Introductions to Landscape Photography
My two favorite introductions to landscape photography.
How to Photograph Landscapes by Joseph Lange and Digital Landscape Photography by John and Barbara Gerlach are my favorite introductions to landscape photography.
David Muench Picks His Favorite National Parks
Sunset, “The Window”, Big Bend National Park, Texas.
David Muench is a world class landscape photographer. So when he recommends his favorite national parks, I pay attention.
Winter Photography Hot Spots
Last Light on El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California.
I know, April seems like an odd time of year to write an article on winter photography hot spots. But I was going through old photography magazines before consigning them to the recycling bin and found a great article on winter photography hot spots.
Posted April 3, 2018. Updated April 9, 2018.