Photo Friday: Morning Relaxation

Morning Relaxation

Taken the morning of the second day of the DeSoto show, the sun’s light was filtered by some interesting cloud patterns. For just a few seconds at a time the rays would cut through.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/9, 1/10 sec., Singh-Ray 2-Stop ND Grad, Singh-Ray 3-Stop ND Grad Reversed
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Morning Relaxation - Sunrise Over DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Returning to One’s Roots by Using a Point and Shoot

Over the Sea of Grass
Over the Sea of Grass

When I was a young lad I had a 35mm Kodak camera that I had won at a contest in Montana.  About once a year my family and I would go on a trip, usually to a national park and I would be sure to pack the camera.  I would take several rolls of film and I would ultimately end up exposing most of it in the first couple of days and then I would have to ration the rest for the remainder.  During the time I was scurrying up on rocks and running up to lake shores to snap a quick photo, I had no idea that one day that would turn into something greater.  My only goal in those days was to capture the beauty around me so that I could be reminded of it later.

As time has progressed, so has my equipment.  During college I used a completely manual Pentax K-1000 to capture almost solely black and white images.  I did quite a bit of dark room work in those days, rolling and exposing my own film, and creating prints until the dead of night with only a singular red light for illumination.  I learned of different lenses, apertures, and shutter speeds.  I first used a tripod and a medium format camera.  Needless to say, the quick point and shooting slowly morphed into more deliberate, careful shooting, I had become a “serious” photographer.   Besides, now I had a grade depending on it.

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A Post Show Thank You

Under the Skies of Fall
Under the Skies of Fall

Over the weekend, I was setup at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” show near Missouri Valley, Iowa. I want to thank everyone who stopped by and saw all the artists’ great work. It was so nice to visit with everyone and I had some great conversations. I look forward to attending again next year.

Additionally, I did get a couple of opportunities to grab a couple of new images. This particular image was taken in the parking lot with a leaf that I found on the ground. The sky was so beautiful I had to capture it in the background. The contrasting colors work well with this centrist composition.

Technical Details:
Canon G10, 6.1mm, f/3.5
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Under the Skies of Fall - An Autumn Leaf Against a Blue Fall Sky

Photo Friday: Graceful Glide

Graceful Glide

This is the time of year that migrating birds of all sorts make their way south for their yearly sojourn. Since most things are losing their color and going to earthy muddy tones, I like to take the opportunity to see some colorful, beautiful birds. This graceful Blue Heron is a prime example of some of the birds that make their way through this part of the country.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/640 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Graceful Glide - A Blue Heron Glides Effortlessly Through the Air

Fall’s Final Curtain Call

Fall\'s Final Curtain Call

This is an image of the same tree from Autumnal Brillance, close to sunset with the sun low in the sky. The leaves were completely gone in a matter of days after this photograph was captured.

Technical Details:
Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/16, 1/60 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph can be viewed on my website at: Fall’s Final Curtain Call - A maple tree bursts forth into glorious autumn colors.

Moody Monday - Winter Contrasts

Winter Contrasts

As winter comes upon us quickly, the vibrant colors of autumn give way to earthy tones, the time before white snow blankets the landscape and creates a scene of purity. This is an abstraction, a composition of this in-between time; branches devoid of leaves darkly contrasting in the moody blue colors.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/640 Sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: Winter Contrasts - Tree branches contrast in a moody blue scene.

Photo Friday: Autumnal Brillance

Autumnal Brillance

Although autumn was fleeting in Nebraska and Iowa this year, there were some hold outs after the snowfall. This maple tree turned brillant warm oranges and reds two weeks after the storm and managed to hang on to a majority of its leaves during some pretty gusty times. I couldn’t help but stop and capture the vibrant colors with the setting sun filtering through the leaves.

Technical Details: Canon 5d Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 17mm, f/14, 1/80 sec.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: Autumnal Brillance - A Maple Tree Bursts into Vibrant Oranges and Reds

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” Show

New Heights

I will be displaying my work for sale at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge’s “Art of the Wild” show on November 21st and 22nd. I am offering a diversity of different size prints with mats and some with frames. I will also be selling and signing my new book, “The Quiet Beauty of Nebraska“. If you are in the area, stop by and say “Hello!”.

Information about the refuge:
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located 25 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska on U.S. Highway 30, between Missouri Valley, Iowa and Blair, Nebraska. The visitor center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except federal holidays. For more information contact
712/642-4121 or look us up on the web at http://midwest.fws.gov/desoto.

Technical Details:
Canon 50d, 300mm f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec.
Double Breasted Cormorant, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa Side

This photograph is available on my website at: High Flying - Double Breasted Cormorant Takes Flight

Using Photoshop to Lose Weight and Look Great!

Harvest Moon

Back on June 6th I wrote an article entitled Photoshop Ethics in Digital Nature Photography that posed the question, “Where do we draw the line in regard to photoshop usage in nature photography”. It seems that this is a question that is plaguing other industries as well and is even prompting governments to get involved. This is not a new issue, in fact, since the invention of the camera, there has been evidence of manipulation.  A recent set of articles have been written that focus on the extreme photoshopping that has been taking place in the fashion industry, one at the New York Times and one at the New York Daily Post.

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DeSoto Show, Postcards, and Screen Savers



Today is the first day of my show at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. This is going to run until the end of May, if you get an opportunity to visit this beautiful refuge be sure to take in a few (39) photographs as well. In addition to the show, I have produced 2 postcard designs and a screen saver that will be sold in the gift shop. These are nice 5×7 cards as shown above.

Directions and more information on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is available at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/desoto/

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