~~~~~~~~~P-E-N-G-U-I-N-S~~~~~~~~~

I have officially added another destination to my list of places I would like to visit. South Georgia Island. We wanted to go there on our South America trip, however there simply was not enough time. It looks absolutely amazing and the animals are so photogenic. (probably because they out number all of the humans combined!) Art is extremely lucky to travel to all of these places; lucky and talented I might add. He definitely earned his job yet I don't quite understand how people end up with such great careers.

Anyway, it absolutely blows my mind that there can be such a large densely populated island filled with seals, penguins, albotras and whales in the surrounding waters! This would be a great experience, somewhat similar to what I would imagine Antarctica to be like except that the weather is much more mild in South Georgia.

Animals in action

Plan, be early, be smart about angles, use time wisely, and study up on the surroundings and the behavior of the animals. Do some research to find the best times to photograph certain animals and begin from there. Maybe take a test run and explore the area so that you know how far and where exactly you want or need to be. If possible study the animals behavior, even if only online. Get there early so that you have time to get the equipment ready and capture the beautiful lighting that comes with sunrise. Be careful of the angle that you shoot certain animals. A photo will seem more personal and have more of draw in more attention if you feel like you are on the same level looking directly at the animal. The whole excitement with animals is that we generally do not get to interact or even see many of the animals around the world, so the photographs shape the way we interpret the animals. Try to capture this in the picture. For instance, if you are shooting baby cubs, try and get their playful side. Try to portray their distinct and unique behaviors. I personally would love to shoot penguins, especially after watching the video. They are so little! My sister is obsessed with penguins and has had millions since I was little. In all of the pictures that I had seen they looked huge. I thought they were at least my size haha!

getting CLOSE

(Techniques to draw within camera range of wild subjects)
Step 1.
Do your homework.
Know that it is the right season for the wildlife you are shooting to likely be seen. Understand some of the animals' behavior so that you can capture the great shot of a full wing spanned or an elk bugling, etc. Find an area that will complement your wildlife shot. For instance, make sure that the background will not outshine or distract from the wildlife itself.
Step 2.
Be smart, use common sense.
Respect the wildlife. If they are uncomfortable and move away from you, do not follow. For instance, once when I was on a drive through the back roads of Harlowton, MT, I spotted a porqupine. We traveled off of the road so that I could get a photo of it. It took off running the other way, and was actually much faster than I would have imagined. The right thing to do would have been to give the animal its space, but I really wanted a picture. I snapped a quick picture and left the porqupine alone. On the other hand, if this animal was in a zoo, it would have been much more comfortable around me. Animals have very good instincts and are aware of humans.
Step 3.
Whether or not an animal will let you near, depends on your stalking strategy. You can directly approach the animal which may be a bit intimidating to some animals. You can slowly approach while looking in the opposite direction, avoiding eye contact and pretending you are not aware of the animal. Or, you can be very quiet, slow and attempt to remain unseen. I would be terrible at the last strategy. I would probably get amazingly close and just when I go to reach out my camera, snap a nearby twig, scare the animal, and miss a perfect opportunity. Plus, with knowing how aware the animals are as it is, I would not trust this way to be the most effective. When stalking, for lack of a better word, avoid trapping them or making them feel uncomfortable. Again, just be aware and acknowledge their behavior.
Step 4.
The planning may take long than the actual photography, but if you are patient and have set up the shot to your best ability, it will most likely be worth it in the end!

Analysis of a photo

In the chapter on modifying light Tim Fitzharris states that "filters are used primarily to reduce subject contrast and enhance color." It is best to get filters that fit all of the cameras that you use, or one that is large enough to be used on them all. The following photograph, taken by Dave Shumway will be my example that I will discuss and use to describe the rest of the chapter. http://www.shumwayphotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-of-Glacier/8882313_9DbJa#588934475_3HXgJ

I would bet that Dave used a neutral density filter on the photograph to balance the picture "retaining the richness of the sky and the detail in the foreground." Although color enhancing filters can be used, I doubt that any were because he would be able to adjust the color on the computer seeing that he shoots in digital. The closest part to the viewer in the photo is the trees which are still quite some distance away, so using a portable light would not be necessary, although it may be for other photos that need a little help illuminating the foreground.

There is definitely dominance in this picture and I find it to be the ray of sunshine in the lower mid range of the photo. Establishing this area of dominance is important in capturing and keeping your viewer's attention. When looked at from a distance it is more visible that there is a lighting bolt design starting with a sharp diagonal at the top with the clouds then coming back with the sunshine and again back with the treeline. These three things work together to make jagged yet flowing lines for the eye to follow.

Color is an important part of appeal and is drastically captured in this photo. Throughout the frame are dark greens, dark blues and greys, yet in the middle is this exquisite orange streak...very appealing, making it the center of interest as well. As mentioned earlier, the center of interest lies in the bottom middle or the lower most portion of the rule of thirds grid.

Annie Leibovitz...a true American master

READ HER STORY!! http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/life-through-a-lens/16/

She has amazing photographs, shot numerous celebrities and made her name well known for her beautiful work across the board. If you don't have time to read the story at least take some time to look at some of her work!

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to get to visit my family in Butte. My niece and nephew are six and four and I absolutely adore them. Here is a picture that I think depicts their crazy little personalities. I love being an aunty!!