MooseNewsBlog

This is total trivia, but this is the MooseNewsBlog 1001 posting. Thanks for sticking around and reading all the trivia I have to share.

We were in my favorite bookstore in Missoula last week and came across this new release, Some Like it Hot!. Some of you will recognize the cover, some won’t. It’s the thermals in Yellowstone and this marvelous book by Susan Neider celebrates them beautifully. As a fellow photographer who often gets lost in photographing these amazing patterns, textures and colors of the thermals, I truly appreciate what Susan has brought to light in her book.

I bring it to your attention because many of you are heading to Yellowstone this summer. There are times when the light is hard or the crowds just too much to bare for the big pictures. You might want to pick up a copy of this inspiration for photographing the little things that make Yellowstone unique. Just like the title suggest, some like it hot!

Holly cow…where does the time go? Back in the office after a killer, killer time at the Reno PRS (Pylon Race School). While the new pilots learn the Reno Air Race coarse (just north of Reno at Stead Airport), 25 of the best aviation photographers are brought in to photograph the whole event. I’m incredibly fortunate to get in as a volunteer working the Nikon NPS booth who are there to support the photographers.

This is the GREATEST bunch of photographers! Besides the fun, quotes from every airplane movie ever made, they are the most sharing group of photographers I’ve ever run into. Thanks to each and everyone of them, especially my dear friend Richard who keeps pushing me by giving me a new technique to attempt (bastard) that he knows I just gotta master. Even had a newbie to tease this time, my dear friend Joe Glyda who kept texting me just saying OMG!!!! Then there are the guys, Bill Pekala, Bill Fortney and my long time friend Scott Diussa from NPS who just make it all possible. Thanks guys!

It was a great week, Jake came back with 2034 (and is totally hooked like dad), I 5165 images (after editing). I only kept 62% of what I shot, in part because of Richard and his “new” technique I was determined to master (I didn’t) and trying to do a Moose Cam. It was a giant sail in the wind and along with slinging the lens, just didn’t work in capturing sharp stills.

Here’s a little gallery (37) of images of my favorites from the week. I approach this whole thing with the romance of flight in mind. I look then for clouds for the background and not just any clouds. I’m constantly turning the camera body so the planes are lined up in the frame how I want and not plumb to the earth and I shoot in Shutter Speed Priority at 1/180 or slower to blur the prop (jets are back to Aperture Priority at f/8). Then it’s just pan, pan, pan, pan and more panning. I was quite thrilled to not only have Jake & Brent shooting beside me, but to hear their arms were sore on day two as well.

I can’t recommend the Reno Air Races enough. To see my 2008 images from Reno, click here. Whether you’re a shooter or not, the fun and excitement just rocks. The Blue Angles will be at the even this Sept along with some other aviation surprises I can’t announce other then to tell you, you should be there! Nikon & I will be.

Photos captured by (flight) D3, 200-400VR  (static) D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film

Ah, in Reno for the photography flight school for the air races. We had a great morning on the flight line, have just a moment to post before heading out to the pylons. More to come

Here’s what I’m thinking, I have a little bit of firsthand knowledge on different locales across North America where to photograph both wildlife and landscapes. I would like to get that info out, but to be honest with ya, someone has to pay for my time to sit down and put it in writing. Hence the poll. I’m interested what you think. Thanks!

Wildlife Photographers Base Camp is heading to Bosque del Apache Dec 07-11, 2009. Our very rewarding, hard hitting, tiring and incredibly educational wildlife photographer business course is going to one of my favorite places and using it as the backdrop for launching the photographic careers of others.

“What is Base Camp” is a common question. It is like nothing else out there. The guys who just finished Base Camp Glacier I think would all tell you there eyes are opened, the minds full and hearts pounding just waiting to get out and put all they’ve learned about being behind the camera, computer and desk to work.

Bosque is an amazing place, filled with thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. Birds is by far the main photographic target of our week. We will limit this Base Camp to just six campers, a 400mm lens or longer required. Look forward to shooting with you and sharing with you what I think is the greatest profession on the planet!

Often going unnoticed is the vast amount of work and education that occurs daily on behalf of our wild heritage. Our involvement with endangered species with various projectsis no secret but we don’t even scratch the surface of all that is being done. Nor is it a secret our wanting to get you and your photography involved in the same way.

There are many publications out there that can help you along, the Endangered Species Bulletin is such one. We’ve been involved with it for decades, it going to mainly congress originally. It takes little imagination seeing how you can lend a hand when you read it.  Well it’s now readily available as a downloadable PDF. Check it out, you’ll be surprised what you find between the covers (or on the cover itself).

This headline caught my attention. Besides the clouds looking really cool, the fact that in this day and age there could be a new cloud type out there is rather facinating. It’s kind of a light topic to start the weekend.

This is kinda a cool look into a type of photography we normally don’t get to experience, at least I don’t. I found it interesting, you might as well (once you get past the commerical).

I saw the TV spots advertising this thing, but just now found the link for the final results. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, click on this link and give it a spin for yourself. All I can say is, glad I wasn’t running the computers, but this is how they did it. It is amazing what technology can do but I don’t think we can adapt this to wildlife photography.

The MP-7 was originally released two years ago and designed basically for owners of the 200VR, assorted lenses and flash. Since the only photographers who seem to fit this profile was Joe and myself, it was not the best of marketing plans. Despite that, it has been a real popular photopack. But its original design didn’t take into account the basic photographer who didn’t have a 200VR. So we’ve brought the MP-7 design in line with our other very poplar photopacks with the trademark three compartment design. It still works with the 200VR but now with the more common 70-200VR attached to the body. You can see all I pack in it here.  They are now in stock and you can learn more and order them here.

I’m working on a new project with my bud RC. Part of the project was trying out this new company that RC just loves, APC, Artistic Photo Canvas. I sent off a file using their very simple and slick upload and went off to TX to shoot for a week. While I was gone a 30×24 print, canvas print was delivered back at the office. I popped that puppy open and was simply awed but what I saw. Yeah, I like the image but more to the point, I really loved the amazing quality of the print.

To be honest with you, I’ve never been a canvas fan. The “test” file I sent APC I knew would push that feeling because canvas has a texture look that is unique. The quality of the work by APC jsut set me back so much so, I instantly sent them the image you see above. The upload no sooner finished than I had an email confirming the files recipt and how they looked forward to the challenge of making the print I would love. RC passed along the idea to me, I’m passing it along to you. Check them out, your prints will be happy you did!

And the story behind the photo, well, you’ll find that here.