Landscape, Nature And Travel Photography

Back in late August I got a chance to walk through the Central Library in downtown Seattle. I would have missed this had Chase Jarvis not been so emphatic in pointing out to me that it was a must visit. During my walk through I worked my way up to the highest point that I could and found a small platform to look down to the first floor. If I recall correctly it was about 8 stories up and looking down at the 1st floor book displays I could hardly make out a single book. The only truly recognizable forms were the large bookshelves.  It made me realize how much information resided in the building. Where am I going with this allegory? 

Starting off a new year and seeing ones future as it relates to individual goals is very much like trying to read a book in a library from 8 stories up. It’s impossible, but the first step is knowing what you want to find and/or achieve. The next step is to plan and chart a course to find or get what you want. So what lies ahead for you in 2009?

 

Technorati Tags: Seattle, Central Library, public library, travel, photography, photo, stock photo

It’s been a great year for photography, perhaps even better than last year, and as 2008 nears its end I thought it would be fun to select my favorite photos from the year. I had a tough time narrowing things down so here they are…

Honorable Mentions:

	Honorable Mention #5: Pike Place Market One thing I love about taking travel photos is the constant challenge to find a new perspective. While I got odd stares from passerbys I knew as soon as I set up for this photo it was going to work. With a little creativity even a location you’d think can’t yield a new perspective can surprise you.
	Honorable Mention #4: Sea Otter Portrait (Enhydra lutris) This year I’ve made it a project of mine to photograph California Sea Otters and introduce as many photographers to them as possible through my photo tours. This particular otter was enjoying a rare spot of sun with a dry and groomed face. The foreground is his slick wet stomach. It just goes to show you how different their fur can be wet and dry.
	Honorable Mention #3: Zip Line Adventure – Maui, Hawaii Maui proved to be full of photographic opportunities. Documenting the Maui Zip Line Adventure was a blast and one of the major highlights of the trip. As if the zip line wasn’t enough to get the adrenaline flowing, securing a 1Ds Mark III to your chest in addition was a guarantee to get the heart racing.
	Honorable Mention #2 Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Yosemite II I’m not sure I could have coached this wild Bobcat to pose any better for me. To be honest it was hard work tracking this cat and getting into position well before it would reach me… all while not disturbing it. This was definitely one of the best wildlife encounters I had during the year.
	Honorable Mention #1 Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2008 – Happy Easter Adventure seeking adults +  plastic wheeled tricycles + a very steep and winding San Francisco street = hilarity This event has proven to be one of my favorite to photograph. I can’t wait for BYOBW in 2009. Featured in Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2008 Photo Highlights

My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2008:

#10: Cable View Panoramic, Golden Gate Bridge

Featured in EXIF and Beyond: Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography this panoramic photo taken with a 24mm Tilt-Shift lens has proven to last the test of time. I find myself drawn to this image as much today as I had been the day I took it. The fresh perspective, textures and scale of the scene are elements of the photo that continue to draw me in.

#9: Say Cheese!

Portrait of a Swiss Cow in a Pasture with Mount Eiger in the background.
For the record no tongue ever touched my lens, but it was close. Fortunately for me this bovine was quite docile and didn’t push me down the hill or pull me into an electric fence I was straddling.

#8: California Sea Otter & Pup (Enhydra lutris)

This quick bonding moment between mother and sea otter pup occurred shortly after an over amorous male tried to “divide and conquer”. The female otter was able to simultaneously fend off the male otter while protecting her pup. It was high drama with a happy ending.

#7: Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Yosemite

The sight of wildlife in the snow at Yosemite always amounts to dramatic imagery. With out a care in the world this Bobcat was trekking through a snowy meadow. As mentioned this was likely the wildlife encounter of the year for me. While I got much tighter photos of this cat I find this environmental photo to be my favorite of the set.

#6: California Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

The last California Sea Otter photo of my Top 10 set is a portrait of a feeding Sea Otter. This otter made fast work of this crab, but seemed to pause momentarily (in reality a split second) so as to pose for me. What makes this photo special to me is the detail of the otter’s features including the fur, ear, whiskers and paws.

#5: Heron Pond Reflection – Grand Teton National Park

Morning hikes at Grand Teton National park are among my favorite both for the ethereal beauty of the landscape and the awe inspiring encounters with elk. If you’ve never been, Grand Teton National Park should be on your short list of places to visit. The mountains are incredibly beautiful, but the surrounding lakes and rivers are rich with life and intimate nature photo opportunities. This pre-dawn photo attracted my eye both because of the pastel hues of the fog filled sky and the layers of vegetation filling the frame.

#4: Mavericks Surf Contest 2008 – Long & Sterling

The biggest wave of the day at the 2008 Mavericks surf contest was no doubt the most dramatic. The sheer size of these waves is amazing, the surfers are incredibly skilled and the event is a blast to photograph. While this photo highlights the scale of the wave to an individual surfer, it will unfortunately never relay the earth rattling roar of the water.

#3: In Time

Taken in Switzerland this past fall I found myself irresistibly attracted to the fall color of the trees. The jagged form of the bare tree branches juxtaposed against the backdrop of fall color was one that I enjoyed exploring. This particular photo is one I find myself returning to view over and over again.

#2: Matterhorn Reflections, Switzerland

Unequivocally this day was the most beautiful of all my days spent in Switzerland. High above Zermatt I enjoyed taking in the morning light as it illuminated this alpine lake. This scene was too beautiful to confine to one frame so I created a 3-photo panoramic using my 24mm Tilt-Shift lens.
Note: For those in the U.S. unlike North American conifers those in Europe turn golden before their needles are shed. This took some time getting used to this. I kept thinking the trees were being killed by a bark beetle.

#1: Behind the Veil, Snake River – Grand Teton National Park

When Mother Nature puts on a light show in Wyoming she goes all out. This photo was taken after a substantial storm moved through the area. As the storm began to clear a hole opened in the clouds far beyond the horizon. This opened a path for the last rays of sunlight to paint the clouds and peaks of the Grand Tetons with amazing red light. Even more impressive to me was the unusual phenomenon of low lying clouds creating a thin veil conceiling the mountains. All around this was a magical scene to take in and one I’ll cherish for a long time to come.

Technorati Tags: landscape, photography, wildlife, stock photo, travel, photo, best of 2008, favorites of 2008, best of,   Mavericks, surf, Grand Teton National Park, Switzerland, Matterhorn, San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Seattle, Pike Place Market, Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris, Maui, Hawaii, zip line, Lynx rufus, bobcat, Yosemite, Yosemite National Park, BYOBW, Bring Your Own Big Wheel, fall color

My latest travels this past week took me to Seattle where I had a chance to photograph some of the more iconic locations around town including Pike Place Market, arguably one of the two most recognizable Seattle landmarks. One of the many highlights during my brief trip was having the chance to meet several talented photographers at the opening night of the International Conservation Photography Awards (ICP Awards) gallery.  I also had the pleasure of crossing paths with local photographer Chase Jarvis who was incredibly hospitable going out of his way to recommend great restaurants for my wife and I to try. All-in-all it was a very fun trip. With a little luck I’ll be swinging by Seattle again sometime soon.

Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington

Technorati Tags: Seattle, Pikes Place Market, Washington, photography, stock photo, travel

It’s been a great year for photography and as the year closes out I thought it would be fun to select my favorite photos from the year. I had a tough time narrowing things down so here they are…

Honorable Mentions:

	Honorable Mention #6: Los Angeles Sunrise This was one of the most dynamic cityscape I took this year, but as much as I liked it compared to some other photos taken this year it didn’t make the top 10. Mentioned in Dueling California Sunrise Photos
	Honorable Mention #5: Last Light On Half Dome, Yosemite This was one of the few super-telephoto landscape photos I took this year. The dramatic atmosphere and lighting made this a standout for me. Mentioned in Last Light on Half Dome, Yosemite and EXIF and Beyond: State of the Podcast
	Honorable Mention #4: Out of the Gloom II Strangely this photo caught my eye the second time looking through the results of my photo shoot. In retrospect for the year its nearly one of my top 10 favorites. Mentioned in Always Check Your Seconds: Out of the Gloom II: Golden Gate Bridge and Fog
	Honorable Mention #3: San Francisco Oil Spill This was the last thing I wanted to photograph this year, but this photo struck a nerve with a lot of people not just myself. It’s been picked up by the Sierra Club and couple of other local publication. Lets hope 2008 is a better year for the environment. Mentioned in Rodeo Beach Sunset, A San Francisco Oil Spill Casualty
	Honorable Mention #2 San Francisco With the right combination of weather and lighting I was able to capture this view of San Francisco just after sunset. I still can’t believe this didn’t make the top 10, but it’s still one of my favorites from the year.
	Honorable Mention #1 Refinery I As soon as I started to drive past this refinery I knew the exact shot I wanted to capture. I didn’t quite get it the first time out, but the second time passing through the area I got it thanks to the perfect weather and lighting conditions. Mentioned in Photographer’s Rights: Know Them When In The Field

My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2007:

#10: Rodeo Beach Sunset

Mentioned in Rodeo Beach Sunset, A San Francisco Oil Spill Casualty

#9: Reflecting Art, Crown Fountain

Mentioned in More From Chicago – Reflecting Art

#8: Speed – Blue Angels, San Francisco Fleet Week 2007

Mentioned in Blue Angels, San Francisco Fleet Week 2007 – Part III

#7: American Kestral (Falco sparverius)

Mentioned in American Kestrel in Flight

#6: Aspen Canopy & Horsetails

Mentioned in Horsetail and Aspen Fall Color View

#5: Chicago, A Beans Eye View (Cloud Gate Reflection)

Mentioned in Chicago, A Beans Eye View

#4: Snowy Trees Yosemite

Mentioned in Snowy Trees, Yosemite National Park

#3: Between You, Me and the Trees

Mentioned in Morning Sunlight & Fog – Between You, Me and the Trees

#2: Coyote (Canis latrans) III

Mentioned in Coyote Encounter

#1: Yosemite Sunset Breaking Light

Mentioned in EXIF and Beyond: Yosemite Winter Photos
and Yosemite Sunset Breaking Light

Thanks for checking in on my Top 10 Favorites for 2007. The photos are only half the equation of what has made this a great year for photography. The other and most important half has been everyone’s support whether you read my blog, like you do, or have to put up with me on a daily basis like my friends and wife have… this year wouldn’t have been nearly as great with out you. Thanks and have a great 2008!

Technorati Tags: photography, landscape, nature, wildlife, cityscape, travel, photos, Yosemite, coyote, fog, snow, trees, Chicago, cloud gate, aspen, fall color, kestrel, birding, blue angels, fleet week, San Francisco, crown fountain, rodeo beach, environmental, environment, refinery, oil spill, smokestack, Golden Gate Bridge, Los Angeles, skyline, cityscape, Half Dome

No matter what type of photography interests you, whether its landscape photography, nature photography, street photography, people photography or any other type of photography its essential to always be prepared. Over the years I’ve learned that being prepared is itself an art form. The art of preparedness is seldom just a generic chore and can require quite a bit of creative thought. Read more…

Sometimes the most generic scenes can surprise you with how photogenic they can be. Case in point is this fence lined with buoys on a very drab overcast day. This scene did not grab my attention initially, but at the urge of a friend we explored this a little further. I’m glad we did. Being pushed a little to explore helped me see something that I would have otherwise missed.

Technorati Tags: buoy, fence, photo, shipyard, Washington, San Juan Islands

There’s not an exotic story behind this image. Fond of the color, textures and lines I decided to photograph these rocks. In post-processing I decided, as much as I liked the color, it was the textures and lines that carried this image.

Technorati Tags: river, rock, black and white, B&W, conversion, digital, photography, photo

This weekend, while on my way to the San Juan Islands with friends, I had a predictable run in with security while photographing a refinery in Washington state. Post-9/11 it’s pretty well known that as a photographer you’re likely to be harassed by “security” when photographing certain subjects such as refineries, bridges, airports, etc. Mind you during this incident we were on public property and hardly looked menacing. Three white yuppies with expensive looking cameras and tripods pointing up towards a smoke stack about 300 yards from the refinery’s main gate.

With in 5-10 minutes a security truck pulled up with a lone security guard asking what we were doing. Clearly we were taking photos, but I didn’t have a chance to spout off that remark. Before I could, the question that surprised us and pissed us off the most was, “Can I see your ID please?” Mind you this was asked while the security guard noted the cars license plate number and began circling our vehicle.

So why did we get so aggravated? Clearly the security guard is just doing his job. I’ve been told on my travels, thanks to airport security / TSA, that the security level is now orange. The constant reminder of a “High Risk of Terrorist Attacks” has been ample reason to justify a variety of changes in how and what we must do to travel. The reason for the aggravation is that increasingly in the name of security photographers are harassed and pressed in ways that increasingly prey on the uninformed… all for doing their job or the pursuit of their hobby. I’m not sure I can think of another profession or hobby that endures the same level of scrutiny and harassment.

Most frustrating is that those harassing photographers in the name of security are often rude, act like bullies, are trained to intimidate photographers into providing information that is illegal to demand and have an unchecked ability to exploit security paranoia to bring authorities into the mix for completely legal activity.

In this case there was no escalation of conflict. We knew our rights and we refused to provide our ID. Why would we possibly offer that up? We were on public land, photographing a structure clearly seen from afar and confronted for ID by someone that was not authorized to. As before with my article on Copyright protection a photographer must educate themselves to the law. As it stands the law still protects the rights of photographers, but only so far as a photographer’s knowledge of those protections.

By the time we were approached we had nearly completed our spontaneous shoot of a very interesting smoke stack. Out of principle we didn’t stick around photographing the refinery as we had a ferry to catch. We did swing by for a second shoot on our way back and we saw our “friend” the security guard again. This time only in passing as we were heading in opposite directions and randomly stopping to photograph a gigantic group of herons on the surrounding mud flats along with another perspective of the very photogenic refinery smoke stacks.

With all that being said… learn your rights, be professional and get your shot.

Photographers Rights Pamphlet – A Downloadable Flyer Explaining Your Rights When Stopped or Confronted for Photography

No Photography – No Common Sense! – An entertaining rant by Jeff Schwartz on posted signs “No Photography” in New York city and Washington D.C.

Technorati Tags: security, photography, photographer’s rights, photo, photograph, refinery, TSA, 9/11, paranoia, terrorism, terror