Challenge

What do you think of a photography challenge?  Want to try one?

Bob Hitchman has been publishing the Photograph America Newsletter travel newsletter for photographers since 1989. Each issue of the 12-page newsletter describes in detail where to photograph North American landscapes, wildlife, hidden waterfalls, remote beaches, slot canyons, wildlife migrations, and much more. Learn where, when, and how to discover the best nature photography in America.  Now numbering 120, these newsletters are wonderfully detailed with places to photograph (often including GPS coordinates), places to stay, equipment to bring and much more.

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Winter Fun

Well, I’m going a little off topic.

This Saturday my daughter and grand-daughter as well as our niece and her daughter came over for a play-date.  The two little girls (age 2 and 5) had a great time running around the house, chasing the dogs and playing the piano (my head is still ringing!)

As luck would have it, we also had one of our biggest snowfalls of this overly-warm winter.  With several inches of snow on the ground, the girls and Kringle (dog) went out to play.  Snow Angels, sled-riding and general horseplay kept the girls busy for about an hour until the temperature and wind forced them back inside for hot chocolate.

It was wonderful having the girls (big and small) around for the day

Now…back on topic.  See attached photos.

Keep clickin!

Lucky Finds

Okay, so what do you think of these photos?

I was out hiking when I found this beaver pond.  Then on my way back to the car, I saw a grouse drumming on a log.  I thought I was really lucky until a rattlesnake appeared, ready to strike.

Honest!

All right, the truth is I had to make a trip to Cabalas on Friday and remembered to take a camera.  For anyone who has not been to a Cabalas or Bass Pro Shop, these stores are a lot more than just a retailer.  Streams and waterfalls, mountainscapes and deserts make up displays of animals in natural habitats.  Full body mounts and heads of various record animals are on display in the “Hall of Horns.”

These make for interesting places to photograph.  Lighting is good and the climate is great.  Although they might complain if you set up a camp and tripod, the people who work there are usually accommodating and friendly.

Just remember to be truthful about where the photos were taken!

Keep clickin!

Winter Shoots

Okay, so it’s winter time and we want to take some photos.  Where do we go?  Especially this winter.   It’s finally getting cold outside but we don’t have any snow.  Most of the ground, trees and backgrounds are brown and drab looking.  No pretty colors, no spring flowers & no fall leaves. So where can we go to get some photos in this off-season?

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New Year

So we made it into 2012.  I looked outside the other day and was surprised to realize two things.  First, it’s January and there is no snow.  As a matter of fact, it’s 53 degrees out, about 20 degrees above average for Western PA.  Now I love the seasons and usually find something to photograph in each but right now everything is brown and muddy;  not very photogenic.

Which leads me to the second thing I realized:  Spring isn’t far away!  At least not calendar wise.  Spring is a great time to be out.  Wildflowers, trees in bloom, waterfalls have nice flow and so much more is just waiting for you to discover it.  I can’t wait!

While I still like to photograph winter scenes, I sometimes think the Photography Gods created winter for us mortals so we can get caught up with the past year’s accumulation of images and to get prepared for the new photo season.  I’m currently working both angles at the moment.

As I have for many years, I created my new year’s calendar featuring images from my last year’s travels.  This year’s 2012 calendar features Rhode Island, Arizona, Columbus, OH, as well as some local Pittsburgh images.  I have also started compiling images for my coffee table book, In Reflection, that I have done for the past several years.  I am also updating my file backup system with larger drives.

In preparation for the new year, equipment maintenance tops the list.  One body is already back from Canon service and 2 more will head out soon for minor tuning and cleaning.  I clean the Gitzo and Manfrotto tripods here as well as the ball heads.  Cleaning out the accumulated debris from the camera packs is usually last.  I am also updating my handouts and samples for a new basic photography class.

It’s a busy time of year getting past work organized and processed and the equipment ready for the upcoming year.  Spring is just around the corner and will start off with a trip to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park with Palm Springs and Italy to follow.

Anyone interested in photographing with a great group of experienced photographers, check out http://allaboutmpeg.blogspot.com.  The group travels throughout Western PA, Ohio and WV to some great photography spots.  If you want to try it out before joining, any member can take a guest to a shoot.  Contact me if you’re interested and we can review the 2012 shoots planned so far.

Take off the lens cap and get shooting!