Remaining Open to Possibilities

by Drake Fleege

Sometimes, something that I find to photograph provides an even better opportunity than what I had initially intended, for a completely different reason. This happened to me a few times while out in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado recently this summer.

This lone dead pine is just one such example, others included waterfalls and boulders, wildflowers and landscapes. On this particular morning, around 11am, the bright sun was now high in the sky. I just finished shooting distant mountain scenes of the mountain pine beetle infestation in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park.

Driving out of the area, I noticed this lone dead Ponderosa pine along the hillside. Being that it succumbed to the mountain pine beetle, I thought it somewhat represented the case for all pines within the park. While shooting the scene, a small wren kept singing from its branches. … Continue Reading

The Magic of Discovery: Karl Lindsay in The Canadian Rockies

Editors Note: we all photograph for our own reasons and one of the most common reasons for photographers is that drive to explore and discover and capture with the camera. That process of wandering with the camera  in search of meaningful compositions is a powerful driving force. Some day’s it all comes together and other days it does not, but one thing is certain for each and every one of us: it’s the Magic of Discovery that is our primary driving force. It’s that scene before the camera where you know immediately that you have captured something special, something magical, something that is possibly a first. It may not be the worlds top selling stock photo, it is the creation of the image that is magical for you, the creator. Beyond that, nothing matters because we, as photographers, must find personal reward in the work we do so we can continue to look and discover the magic out there.We will be running a series from time to time featuring the Magic of Discovery from a variety of photographers.

Karl Lindsay:

For a few weeks during 2010 my family escaped the Australian winter and headed to the US and Canada for a six week road trip. We wanted to discover as much magic as we could throughout some of the national parks of North America. While driving north on the beautiful Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper we stopped at many of the pullouts hoping to discover as much as we could of the beauty the area is known for. It has to be one of the most magnificent roads to travel in the world and holds a very different beauty from what we are used to in Australia. … Continue Reading

The Magic of Discovery: John Christopher’s Bear Encounter

Editors Note: we all photograph for our own reasons and one of the most common for photographers is that drive to explore and discover and capture with the camera. That process of wandering with the camera  in search of meaningful compositions is a powerful driving force. Some day’s it all comes together and other days it does not, but one thing is certain for each and every one of us: it’s the Magic of Discovery that is our primary driving force. It’s that scene before the camera where you know immediately that you have captured something special, something magical, something that is possibly a first. It may not be a the worlds greatest image or a potential top selling stock photo, it is the creation of the image that is magical for you, the creator. Beyond that, nothing matters because we, as photographers, must find personal reward in the work we do so we can continue to look and discover the magic out there.

John Christopher shares his Magic of Discovery:

I spent a few days in Yellowstone late Spring of 2010, pre-Memorial day.  A working vacation; some R&R with the wife but also a chance to add a few nature/wildlife  shots to my collection.  The big prize I was hoping for, of course, none other than Ursus Arctos Horribilis (a Grizzly).  … Continue Reading

The Magic of Discovery: The Owl

As nature photographers we love nature! Why we photograph nature is something special to each and every one of us. Our images show our connection with the earth and our interpretations of something beautiful displayed before us.

The cameras provides a pathway to seeing things we might normally miss in a busy and hectic life. It forces us to stop, look, and listen. It guides us to become better observers of the natural world.

Our images preserve what we saw at that moment and on that day and can last for eternity. It’s about discovery!

Photography is not just about the photograph, it’s about the journey to explore and discover.  … Continue Reading

Tips on Telling the Visual Story of Your Next Adventure

You are well into planning a photographic adventure of some kind and it could be a trip like rafting, backpacking, camping, climbing, an RV adventure, or maybe an African safari.

As a photographer, you plan on capturing the scenery and wildlife photo opportunities that this adventure is all about. But have you considered documenting the adventure itself?

From a marketing stand point, the images of people outdoors on an adventure are just as marketable as the scenic and wildlife images and may actually be more in demand.

Photographing any adventure trip is best done when the photographer is a participant on the adventure. This in itself allows for a unique perspective of the event and activities taking place. … Continue Reading

Quick Tip: The 3-D Rule of Thirds

by Ralph A. Clevenger

You all know the rule of thirds and how this two-dimensional grid looks when laid on a flat surface like a print or computer monitor.  But the world is three-dimensional, so lay the grid down in your scene.

Look for a foreground, middle ground, and background subject.  If one area of the grid is empty or boring try re-composing or chose a different angle to compose the scene.

Composing with the 3-D rule of thirds helps create a sense of depth in your photographs, translating the three dimensions of reality into the two dimensions of our image. … Continue Reading

Why The Debate Over Image Manipulation Is Mostly a Waste of Time

The debate over whether or not image manipulation should be done and whether it is ethical or not rages on and in my opinion, much of it is unnecessary.

The opinions vary widely over disclosing what is real and what is not and some question whether any digital photograph can be believed. There are now even attempts to set ethical standards for digital photography manipulation.

Images have been manipulated since photography was invented and some of the most recognized photographers in history were heavy manipulators, like Ansel Adams among many others. You have probably already heard this argument. His and many others works are celebrated today as the Master’s of the medium.

Magazines, ad agencies, and other end-users routinely manipulate both stock and assignment photos. Most of the time the viewer never knows, unless a poor manipulation lands the image on the Photoshop errors sites. Rarely does anyone cry foul, unless of course the photographer did the poor job or cheated some rules.

… Continue Reading

What is Success in Nature Photography?

Do you feel successful as a nature photographer? Are you getting out and shooting regularly and satisfied with the results? If you are in the business of nature photography, do you have enough business to make you feel successful?

Success is measured in many ways and is different for each of us. Some might measure success with the creation of an image they find beautiful while others measure it in dollars every time they license an image or sell a product.

With the markets for photography tougher than they have ever been, you may not feel very successful in the current business climate. There may not be enough image licensing opportunities or product sales to stay in business let alone feel successful. But if your success is measured solely on the monetary benefits of nature photography, then you may feel more like a failure than a success. … Continue Reading

Self Assignments Are One Way to Create Better Selling Images

One way to create outdoor stock imagery that might be in better demand is to try some self assignments. Try acting like a photo buyer looking for an image and give yourself the assignment.

In many areas of stock photography, clients are looking for pretty pictures for their calendars and cards, but in more commercial markets clients look to buy images that have concepts like Teamwork, Perseverance, Challenge, Longevity, and so on.

It is a little more challenging to apply concepts to nature photography but think about what the Bald Eagle represents: America, strength, sharpness, patriotism, and more. I also shoot people outdoors and find the application of concepts much easier, but the demand for the same in nature is there from time to time.

Keeping this in mind when you travel and photograph you will shoot as you normally do, but simply keeping an eye out for subjects and details that fit concepts can create images that might be more in demand.

… Continue Reading

Seeing Through My Dogs Eyes

by Drake Fleege

Different lenses, different angles and different experiences offer us each a different perspective on how we visualize the image prior to clicking the shutter.  But perspective alone does not yield great photography – at least not for me.

When in the field, I have an absolute need to be connected with the environment.  No doubt this same feeling is shared by many, if not all nature photographers.  Alone, no other person with me, my phone buried deep in my camera bag.   I need to become totally aware of my surroundings and only then do I start to see images before me.

Have you ever been standing on a lake shore, hiking deep in the woods, or sitting among wildflowers, only to have a ‘creative block”?   I have.  Despite my best attempts, nothing presents itself for further study.

When caught in this situation, I begin to wonder how my golden retriever would view this same environment.   He wouldn’t stand around passively observing the world go by.  Rather he’d be in a state of active curiosity, seeking out the sticks in the woods, the fish swimming in the shallow waters along the shoreline, or trying to catch butterflies as they wing from one wildflower to the next. … Continue Reading