Costa Rica Photo Tour

Sometimes ya just gotta do what needs to be done to get the photo.

While scouting locations for an upcoming October 2014 Costa Rica Photo Tour, the clouds begin to clear over dinner at the Smithsonian Observatory Lodge near Mt. Arenal, one of Costa Rico's more active volcano's. Almost always shrouded in cloud's, it's rare to see the volcano. So, it was a treat to see it at night, backlite by the resorts on the opposite side of the mountain and stars ablaze all around. The real kicker, she was smoking! A photo had to be made of this.

So, why was I mad?  Well, I was kicking myself because I brought a minimal amount of gear for this trip. I knew if I brought my normal assortment I'd be working the whole time and miss scouting opportunities because I'd run outta time. But, this was too good to miss.

The elevated deck overlooking the jungle beneath offers a lovely panoramic view of the volcano just steps from the dining room. It's a large deck with a skinny walkway that runs the parameter of the dining area. I knew a night shot of the mountain would require me to move as far away from the dining area as possible. The light streaming on the jungle below would surely be overexposed during a 30 second exposure. Getting ground level was useless because the canopy would hide the mountain.

And adding to the complictions, I had no tripod!  I left it home with lots of other gear. The thin metal railing would not support a camera and tables and chairs were the wrong height to clear the middle railing. However, there was opening near the bottom of the railings approx. three feet up. I went back to my room to find objects I could use to make a sturdy makeshift tripod. I grabbed the end table next to the bed, my flips-flops, and an extra sock and returned to the deck.

I went all the way to end of the walkway away from the open deck area. It was darker over there and not many people ventured over that way. This was good because vibrations of people walking during an exposure could ruin the shot. I set the camera down, used the flip-flops to elevate the 14-24mm so it would point slightly upward giving me more sky and stars, and then slipped the dirty sock underneath to hold the lens snug. Focusing on infinity, I shot wide-open for thirty seconds. The shutter clicks, exposes. I bent over and glanced at the monitor....WOW!  You could even see steam rising from the volcano. Thirty seconds was perfect. I tend to start there when I want to see stars and not star streaks. To get stars streaking you need to go at least two minutes. Thirty seconds will get you stars.

I snapped a few more frames, people would look over and wonder what in the heck is that freaky dude up to over there. Then, the clouds moved in and I adjourned for the evening with a grin.

Equipment?  Naw, A dirty sock will do.

LIGHT OVER ICELAND • Photography At 66º NORTH

It's always exciting when a new book comes out.
(Copy and paste the below link to see the entire book)

http://www.blurb.com/b/4993386-light-over-iceland

The newest book from our office is now out there to review.

LIGHT OVER ICELAND • Photography At 66º North 

Links is below for the Hardcover version. While there, you will also see the eBook version just above it. Just click on the title below.

This book is a project for photographers and those interested in the vast opportunity for visual artists that exits in this incredible location. It will be immediate to the reader that Iceland is a special place for the photographer.

Iceland is filled with a rich culture, fine people, and a landscape that must resemble the LIGHT OVER ICELAND • Photography At 66º North origins of Earth, it will tantalize the desires to visit this land of fire and ice.

Enjoy!

Galapogos-Under The Surface

Sometimes its just for fun!

There is no real story line to these clips taken with a GoPro while conducting a photo trek for the Mentor Treks in June in the Galapagos Islands. They are simply a fun collection of moments captured while swimming with the sharks.

It takes a while to get to those fun projects that are meant simply to share.
But, its always worth it!

Click the link below to watch.

Galapagos-Under The Surface

Chicago Sun Times Fires Photography Staff

Lets see, fire all the photographers, give reporters iPhones for cameras, then sell ONE OF A KIND PHOTOS from the archives to the pubic.

Hello..................idiots.

http://jimromenesko.com/2013/10/15/sun-times-sells-photos-taken-by-photographers-it-laid-off/

Photography In Bad Light

Forget the hassles of shooting in snow, rain, wind.  It's worth chasing bad light.

Early morning rainstorm provided a lovely sheen on the wet tracks.

 For whatever reasons this summer, the weather gods seem to have it out for photographers.

Sure, we've seen sunshine off and on. But, rarely that lovely light that inspires us to grab the lenses, go out and shoot. For the most part, its just been hot & humid or dark & rainy.

Like most shooters, I always find something to photograph in poor weather. In fact, I see it as a challenge and embrace the concept that fewer photog's will be out there. Thus, offering more opportunities to capture something no one else will get. Still, day after day of dank weather takes a toll. When the light finally breaks, you feel energized. But, the wasted time digging deep for treasures in that awful darkness that produced minimal rewards.

Welcome to being a photographer!

The diner lighting was great, but the people were in deep shadow. Over exposing allowed room for post-processing dodging and burning and not letting a wonderful street portrait get away.

 There is no perfect life, just life. Those difficult challenges are usually the ones you remember most anyway, right?  When you capture something worthwhile in poor conditions you learn a lot. New ways to see, how to protect your gear, where to go in poor conditions, ect.

Terrible mid-day light, a white colorless sky and black frigate birds flying over.....Hmmmm, what can I shoot? A perfect situation for a silhouette. Already mostly monochromatic, nature's design pops off the page.

 Next time its pouring, snowing like a blizzard, tree whipping in the wind, grab the cameras and get out there. Cool stuff awaits you.

Raining outside, but the softened light gave this still life inside the kitchen of the Grand Portage National Monument a wonderful glow. Natural poor light can be really effective at times.

Using your umbrella, walking around in the rain with the camera around your neck provides opportunities in inclimate weather you won't find on sunny days. Its real life and worth the hike out-n-about.

Tornadoes, Global Warming & Photographers

A tornado touches down May 19th, 2013 near Elmore, Kansas

As a young photographer, something Ansel Adams did as a photographer first, conservationist second, had a profound impact on how I view our medium. It stuck to me like a view camera on a tripod.

The joy one obtains from creating photographs can't be lost in the persuasive power photography has to push forth ideas. Adams used his marvelous prints of the Sierra's as a tool to convince lawmakers in Washington that wilderness needed protection. Certianly, it was easier and more cost effective sending prints to persuade members of Congress than to take the long journey to the mountains of California to witness the wilderness on their own. Let's face it, that could've backfired. What if it rained or snowed the whole time? Sending beautiful prints was a brilliant idea.

I've been lucky to be able to participate in a similar circumstance here in my own regional neighborhood. Wisconsin resident and wilderness advocate Martin Hansen loved the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. The archipelego of 21 islands is designated as a National Lakeshore and is managed by our National Parks. Hansen loved these islands and wanted to prevent any further development from compromising their wilderness status. Hansen hired writer Jeff Rennicke and myself to do a book on the Apostle Islands. Hansen then took copies of the book to Washington D.C. to use just as Adams had, as a vehicle to persuade lawmakers to protect the islands.

It worked. Once again, my belief in the medium as an art form and instrument for change was confirmed.

Today many of my peers are working on projects to further their photography but also use their work as a voice for change. James Balog's incredible film CHASING ICE, documenting the receding glaciers of the world, Karen Kuehn is working on protecting our waters, Daniel J. Cox is documenting the rapidly changing arctic. Personally, I'm very interested in global warming and the effects it's having on weather patterns especially here in the Midwest.

Over the last decade I've experienced warmer winters here and our summers are producing more violent storms, especially those involving straight-line winds. Those selective and damaging storms have tripled in numbers in recent years. The issue of global warming is indeed controversial. The debate over its causes shifts constantly between science and politics. However, the bottom line is, it's happening. A warmer planet is changing our weather.

Rain released over Oklahoma/Texas border

Since the Midwest is here, it makes financial sense for me to cover this area. So, I've decided to embark on covering storms and weather patterns here as they affect people, crops and landscape. As time allows I will chase storms, photograph crops, drought, floods, wildlife, all I can to shape together an era of changing weather through photographs.

Green color indicates hail inside super cell storm, Oklahoma

This May, 2013, coverage continued by joining Melanie Metz, a veteran storm chaser/educator based in Minneapolis. We followed storms in Tornado Alley in both Kansas and Oklahoma. A few of those images can be seen here. Photography is such a valuable tool in educating people in an instant. A good caption carries the purpose one step further.

Wall Clouds forming near Elmore City, Oklahoma

I'm not saying as a photographer you have the responsibility to promote and document causes. I'm saying, you have the opportunity to if you wish. And it can be accomplished on any scale. A blog, a magazine article, a gallery exhibition with a specific theme. Your art and vision can carry a message. In a world crazy for instant visual gratification, this is an exceptional time to let your visual voice be heard.

Listening To Your Vision

"If you listen carefully, you can hear your vision speaking. 

It's good to stop and hear what it has to say."

I recall coming upon this foggy curve in the road in the mountains of West Virginia. What a moving scene it was. Getting out of the Jeep, grabbing the glass and acknowledging the joy of the moment made for a nice capture.