MooseNewsBlog

While shooting on Saturday with Jake and Jeff, we had the perfect opportunity to answer a very common question asked in response to this post. “Please tell us how to take big pictures with short lenses.” I more than understand that the price of the 600VR puts it out of range for many, it did for me for the first four years of my career. My 400f5.6 EDIF taught me many an important lesson those early years, the biggest one was to learn basic biology and use it to get close physically.

We had a Greater Roadrunner on a killer perch out in not so great light. No matter, it made for a great shoot because of what the roadrunner is doing. It’s not just sunning itself, it has flared its feathers on its back so the sun can kill the feather lice. The roadrunner wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere unless we gave it one. Knowing this basic biology permitted the three of us to make some cool images using big and small glass. See if this Moose Cam helps you make the most of your small glass (if it does, share it with your friends!).

All of us at WRP wish everyone a great Happy New Year!

Photo captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Moose Cam by HF10 on Lexar UDMA digital film.

We were incredibly lucky to experience this past summer an adventure long in the making. It was so special, so amazing, we have dedicated an entire  issue of the BT Journal to it, just one piece running its entire 28pgs, The Greatest Grizzly Bear Viewing in the World! Wanta small taste, you can read a very small portion of it here. It will go in the mail shortly, we don’t think you’re going to want to miss it.

RC and I finally got our calendars to match, the next YCDIT will be 16-19 April, 2009 held at our office in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Just what happens at YCDIT? We take pictures, we talk about the business of photography revolving around the editorial marketplace (where it all begins) and how to exploit the web in your business plan. To quote one of our last participants,

“Thank you very much for opening up your office and home to us. As with all you do, you provided more information than I ever thought could be presented in just four days, my head is still spinning. The ideas and approaches you use in your business are so obvious, once you spelled them out to us. No wonder you’ve been so successful! And that RC, his presentation on blogging and using it as a business tool was simply mind blowing! I now see why’s he’s part of the team. Thanks so much!”

If you’re wondering about what it takes to get into the biz, you’re about to get into the biz or you’re already in it and want to know how to expand during these times, there is no other photographic business workshop like this one. The price is $925 and is limited to six participants. You can register by calling Sharon at 760.924.8632.

We were blessed with a gorgeous Sunday morning so we headed out early to another favorite locale. Jeff wanted to do a water & ice type photo and there is no better place for this than Lee Vining Canyon (4 wheel drive required in winter). After breaking trail through the snow we reached the falls and they were beautiful. On the down side, there was full sun breaking through the canopy here and there. That called for a little extra camera and computer craft. Well, here….

Photo captured by D3, 14-24AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Moose Cam captured by P6000 on Lexar UDMA digital film

My friends at Adorama managed to get me a GP-1 after what seems like an eternity for Nikon to deliver them. I thought I’d have one back in August, but you know what they say, good things are worth waiting for. The first thing that impressed me is its size, it’s much smaller than I thought it would be. As you can see here, it’s much smaller than the prism of the D3. At first I thought the cord was a bit too long for my taste. Once I attached it to the camera and put one loop in it, the stiffness of the cord took care of the length problem. Nikon includes with the GP-1 the GP1-CL1 which is a cool clip that securely goes onto your camera strap so you can attach the GP-1 there rather than the hot shoe. That’s pretty cool.

The next thing you’ll notice is there is no On/Off switch on the GP-1. It turns on and off via the camera’s actuation. With your GPS Auto meter off Enabled in the settings for the camera, you conserve battery power but you must make sure the GPS icon appears in the camera’s LCD prior to shooting to record the GPS info. The GP-1 has a red light (means no satelite signal) and green light (blinking means 3 sates, solid  green means 4 or more sates found). If you have a red light on the back, no GPS data will be recorded; a green light, good to go. I have to admit, I’m impressed by the GP-1’s speed of acquisition as well as ability. I’m sitting at my desk in the corner of our office and while the other GPS units I have cannot find a signal, the GP-1 has blinking green light in 5secs, a solid green light within 15secs.

Now here’s the ticker to me. I was hoping 1 of the 3 connectors seen in the original product shots from Nikon, one would turn out to be a connector for the MC-36 remote. Nope, that’s not the case. You need to buy the MC-DC2 remote to use the GP-1 and remote at the same time. Even with this little goofy, the GP-1 is by far the best GPS unit I’ve have for my cameras in 30yrs so I’m quite pleased to finally have it.

We left early Saturday morning looking for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, new snow and grand views. Had along Jake and good friend Jeff as we headed south. This particular canyon was new to Jeff so we took our own sweet time exploring it. We even got up to the mine where the caretaker provide us with a real cool, 20min history lesson.

Coming back down the mtn, stopped at a favorite place of mine to shoot. The sun was just coming over the ridge when we arrived at the spot. The range of light on the scene was too great for a single click so I used the technique I’ve been working on (and presenting at Photoshop World) adding the new twist of trying to shoot it handheld.

Just so happens I had the Moose Cam going, a little learning to start the week

Photo captured by D3, 14-24AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Moose Cam captured by P6000 on Lexar UDMA digital film

Jake, our good friend Jeff Cable & I got out early this morning to check out the snow at the lower altitudes. We had a cold snow over xmas so it dumped snow where snow normally doesn’t make it. We had a great morning, I have a couple of image with Moose Cam to post on Monday. In the meantime, wanted to post this B&W of a favorite road of ours.

It’s a gorgeous place in the summer and fall and today with the snow and clouds, it made for a cool B&W image. The image is a simple run through Silver Efex Pro and then a Contrast Curve, painting in a little contrast in a couple of places in the photo.

Photo captured by D3, 14-24AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

It was a whirlwind of a day today dealing with snow, end of the year sales, stuff! As I buzzed from one thing to another I noticed Jake setting up his 600mm out the corner door. I looked over to see our friendly neighborhood Brown Creeper was busily working the tree in front of his lens. They disappeared from the yard for a long time this year and than came back in big numbers about a month ago, but I hadn’t made time to work them.

While Jake was playing with one of his xmas games, I decided to take a short break and set up my 600mm to see if I would get lucky. Sure enough, a creeper stopped by. Well, actually came up the tree and stopped for only a moment to grab a seed and than keep moving up. Creepers start at the bottom of a tree and move their way up as they search for food, their long bills probing the cracks of the bark inch by inch. They are a really cool bird that is smaller than a mouse and just about as secretive.

Hope you’re able to get out this weekend and find a secret in your viewfinder!

Photo captured by D3, 600VR w/TC-14e on Lexar UDMA digital film.

We woke up this morning to a grogeous, warm sun bouncing light off the new snow. We had a pretty good xmas day storm that left another two feet of snow. With new snow comes new icecycles and my annual quest to make something photographic of them. Jake just happened to have his new 70-300VR from xmas lying around so I grabbed it and hung out the window.

The trick for me is to find the right background. What’s the right background? It’s gotta be dark, have some hint of color that translates through the icecycle and gives a sense of place. So finding a good looking icecycle, the drip and the background are what I stalk out the windows.

Photo captured by D700, 70-300VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

While I was in FL, my bud Scott asked me, with two minutes notice, to be the first guest cohost on Photoshop User TV. I couldn’t say no. I even did a lesson which you can watch. So when you have a moment this holiday week, check ‘er out!

We’re heading back to NYC and in just a couple of months. We’ll be presenting in the Adorama Theater on Thursday night 23 April and than taking folks shooting all day on the 24th. This event is sponsored by Adorama and Nikon. Both days have limited available space so if you’d like to join us, please contact Adorama sooner rather than later. Heck, might just make the perfect gift for this week. Where will we go shooting on the 24th? At this moment, no clue but we’re working on either the Bronx Zoo or a Central Park shoot, either case we should have Nikon gear for you to play with. When I know, I’ll post it. Hope you can join us!