Image of the Month: April 2010 Morning Buck

April 3, 2010 by paul | 1 Comment

I am going to be up in the Smoky Mountains in a few weeks and this image was created on my last trip, in October 2009. This was taken in Cades Cove, on a nice chilly morning. The fog and deer couldn’t have cooperated better, and as the sun rose, it helped define the distant mountains and cast a nice warm glow over everything. For April only, this image is available at discounted prices. The image will be printed on Epson Lustre Paper with Epson Ultrachrome K3 inks. These are guaranteed not to fade for over 100 yrs when properly cared for.

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2 Moods

March 26, 2010 by paul | 1 Comment

I recently came across an image from my trip up to Hillsborough River State Park last summer. I had overlooked it because I had taken a much bolder and “better” image the following day. This first image was forgotten but as time has distanced the experience, I feel both hold their own, for their separate moods. Some may consider one too strong and prefer the subtle cooler tones of the other. I just figured I would put both up and show the contrast of moods and how light affects a scene.

This first one was taken in the late hours of the day. It was mostly shaded and thus the light was cooler in tone.

This second image was taken just after sunrise with a nice fog hanging in the air. It was a much harder image to process and manage the light, but the effort was worth it in my opinion. As you can see, there is a lot more warmth to the image. Both images are limited editions of 100 and can be purchased on several surfaces.

For a current Pricelist

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Scenes from the Swamp

March 11, 2010 by paul | 10 Comments

The cypress swamp is an amazing ecosystem in the Everglades. Maybe the more typical type of scenery when people think of the Everglades, dark and mysterious. The water is usually almost crystal clear, filtered by all the plants, or yellow stained with tanins from fallen leaves.

A small “collection” I have mentally kept in mind to develop will eventually be called “Scenes from the Swamp”. The idea was to show the details. My go to lens typically was the ultra-wide. The wide angle scenics certainly have appeal, but I got tired of them. They became easy and predictable.  Many photographers do very well with only one type of photography, but I want to have strong images at all ends of the millimeters. You also can’t tell the whole story with just one focal length.

So here are some images from the slowly developing collection. Enjoy!

The Architect

Alligators are sometimes referred to as the Architects of the Everglades, because they actually help create the cypress domes by moving around the soil. By pushing it up, they create deeper holes for water, and deeper soil around the hole. This in turn allows the cypress more nutrients and they can grow larger.This image was taken with the ultra-wide, but very close to the alligator, to get a close-up with some habitat in the background.

The Puddle Hunter

In the dry season, it can be a time of plenty for the predators. The fish and frogs are all bound to the water, which is shrinking in size. This Water Moccasin was takin advantage of the newly concentrated food supply in this small puddle.  This was taken with my 400mm and extension tubes to allow for closer focus.

A Good Father

A Barred owl also uses the time of plenty to raise some owlets. This one was keeping an eye out as its fledgelings were hopping about. Also taken at 400 mm.

Looking For Light

A more intimate shot at about 28mm.

Secret of the Swamp

Not the shot I sell as a fine art print, but one that shows how hard it would be to find a ghost orchid when not in bloom. It is a leafless orchid, so for 11 1/2 months of the year, you would have to look for a few roots, hidden among the mosses. My 180mm macro was used here.

A more recent shot to add to the set. Wild Grape on a cypress trunk.  This was taken at 75mm.

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In the Swamp with the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW

March 9, 2010 by paul | 6 Comments

If you know me at all, you know I spend a lot of time in the Everglades and Big Cypress. This means my feet are wet a lot.

As a photographer, this can pose some problems: digital camera equipment and water don’t mix well. There are many types of dry bags and hard case that are completely water proof, and they have their uses, but for hiking(wading) in the swamp, I have found one bag that really works well for me.

The problem with all the waterproof gear arises when I want to swap something out. I only have 2 hands and when there is water everywhere, it becomes a fun little juggling process. You may find a stump to rest things on, but that’s never a guarantee. After some research, I found the Lowepro Flipside 300 AW. Perfect! What sets it apart is that it unzips from the “back”. To clarify, the part that faces your back is what would open up. So, combined with a waist strap, you can take off the shoulder straps and swing it around to the front, and have a “table” to rest things on in front of you. This allowed me to rest my camera, lens, filters, whatever on the back and have a free hand to switch out whatever I needed.

When I purchased the Flipside 300, it was the largest Lowepro made. It was a bit cramped for my gear, but I made do. Then the 400 came out. It was pretty much the same bag, but a bit wider, allowing for more lenses, and now an extra pocket on the “front” of the bag.

This pocket is really a huge upgrade, as the 300 was a bit sparse on storage for the little stuff and extras. This pocket on the 400 will usually be packed with a rain jacket, compass, snack bars, head lamp/flashlight, and notepad. It can really hold a lot. Another thing I consider and upgrade is dual water bottle holders. The 300 had 1 and a zip pouch on the other side for memory cards and small stuff.

Lastly, the 400 now comes with  padded waist straps, which, given its larger capacity, was a necessity. I have done 7 miles through knee to waist deep water with the 400 and it stays moderately comfortable when the waist straps are cinched in tight. I would never imagine doing that with the unpadded straps of the 300. Oh, and the AW in both means you get a packed and attached rain cover that can be deployed pretty quickly when the inevitable summer storm hits. Both also have a tripod strap on the back, its adequate, but not perfect.

Here you can see the 400 packed. Clockwise from top left is the Tamron 180 macro: then Canon 100-400, empty slot sometimes with cable release,  extension tubes, 50 1.8, 5d2 with 16-35, 1.4x, and Tamron 28-75. This is what I regularly take with me. Hope this is helpful, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

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Image of the Month: March 2010-Wild American Flamingo

March 1, 2010 by paul | Leave a comment

Sometimes said to be the same as the Greater  Flamingo, most taxonomists now regard it as a separate species.  Sightings in the Everglades and Southern Florida are rare and many are considered to be escapees from the Hialeah Race track. One specimen banded in the Yucatan Peninsula was sighted in the Everglades, so I like to believe these were birds of wild origin. Regardless, this specimen and 4 of its friends were found in the Everglades in the winter of 2008.  The whole trip is written about here. For March you can purchase this image at discounted rates.

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