Virtual Antarctica and High Arctic Photo Workshop - Trip Planner

Here's a cool idea for all those going to Antarctica and the High Arctic: take a virtual photo workshop, online, with me. I’ve been to Antarctica five times and the High Arctic twice, and I can share photo and travel info with you to help get the most out of your adventure – and come home with great shots!

What's included:
• One-hour Skype session before your trip where we discuss your trip and I review your photographs and offer travel tips.
• I need your Skype name and a link for a gallery of your best images.
• Half-hour Skype session after your trip where I review your new photographs and offer composition, exposure and processing suggestions.

Cost for the virtual photo workshop is $199 payable via paypal. Shoot me an email to arrange your virtual photo workshop. One-hour sessions are available for $99.

I also give virtual photo workshops to Iceland, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons, Oregon Coast, Botswana and Kenya.

In preparation for your trip, check out my KelbyOne classes and latest books.

Here’s a look at my recent High Arctic images.

Here’s a look at my recent Antarctica images.

Explore the light,
Rick

Day 4: Six Days of Canon EOS 6D Images From Route 66

It's Day 4 in my blog series: 6 Days of Canon 6D Images from Route 66. Each day I will post a few of my favorite images along with some photography tips - from the "Mother Road." Hope you enjoy the "ride."

Location: Gallup, New Mexico.

In the previous posts in this series I have not talked too much about the Canon EOS 6D. So today I thought I'd share with you a cool – and quite impressive – feature: the detail that's in the camera's RAW files (a.k.a. digital negative).

I made the image above from the file below. ​Once again, I used my Canon 17-40mm lens.

Because the train was very underexposed and the sky was bright,  I thought this would be a good image to test the camera's RAW file capture capability –  because rescuing shadow detail (without getting a lot of noise) and preserving highlights is important to photographers.

Low noise in low light at high ISO setting is important, too. That's another feature I like about the camera. See the first post in this series to see the quality of my low light/high ISO images.

Back to my train image. I work in Photoshop more than in Lightroom. In Photoshop, I pulled out the shadow detail (without adding noise) – while retaining detail in the sky and clouds. Kinda cool, don't you think?

Tip: Always keep in mind the end-result image that you can create in the digital darkroom.​ Don't be so quick to delete a file.

​I like black-and-white pictures of trains (and clouds), so I converted my color file to black-and-white using Nik Silver Efex Pro. All my plug-ins are listed on my Save on Plug-ins page. While you are there, check out the great deal on all the Nik plug-ins.

Speaking of clouds, we also had great clouds at Red Rock State Park, not far from Gallup.​

I used a Tiffen Polarizing filter to darken the blue sky and whiten the white clouds in the image.​

Tip: ​Don't cheap-out on a polarizing filter, or any filter. Sames goes for tele-converters. You always get what you pay for.

Here's a fun behind-the-scenes iPhone shot of me shooting by the tracks later in the day. My ears are still ringing from the sound of the train's blaring horn.

If you are interested in buying a Canon 6D, check out Adorama. If you want to rent one, perhaps for a road trip, check out BorrowLenses.com.

All the gear I've packed for this trip is listed here.

Okay, it's time to get back on the road.

Explore the light,
Rick

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Day 2: 6 Days of Canon EOS 6D Images from Route 66

It's Day 2 in my blog series: 6 Days of Canon EOS 6D Images from Route 66. Each day I will post a few of my favorite images along with some photography tips – from the "Mother Road." Hope you enjoy the "ride." ​

A general tip before we get going: Use plug-ins and image-editing software to remove some of the reality from a  scene, as well as to create a mood.​ I used Nik's Snapseed to add a retro look to all these images. All my plug-ins are listed on my Save-on Plug-ins page.

Location: Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Opening image: ​Tucumcari Trading Post. Canon 17-40mm lens. HDR was needed because I was shooting into the sun, which is hidden behind the clouds. I created the image from seven bracketed exposures.

Tip: Use your camera like a spaceship. My camera, mounted on my Really Right Stuff tripod, my camera was positioned about a foot above my head for this shot. I used Live View on the Canon 6D to compose the shot.

Above: Tucumcari Trading Post. Canon 17-40mm lens.

Tip: Tell the whole story. Take close-up shots in addition to photographing the wide view.

Above: Best Mexican Food in Tucumcari? Maybe at one time. Canon 17-40mm lens.

Tip: Expose for the highlights and compose carefully. Watch the background, too. Learn about light and composition in my Kelby Training classes.

​Above: Fast wireless and $23 bucks night. Color TV, too! What could be better? Canon 17-40mm lens.

Tip: The name of the game is to fill the frame. Hey, that composition rule worked for this image. But remember, negative space can be good, too.

Above: "You can trust your car . . . . " If you don't know that slogan, you are much younger than I am. Canon 17-40mm lens.

Tip: As you can see, I used one lens for all of the images in this post – even though I have several other lenses in my camera bag. The tip here: Keep it simple and have easy and fast access to your gear when you are on the move.

If you are interested in buying a Canon 6D, check out Adorama. If you want to rent one, perhaps for a road trip, check out BorrowLenses.com.

All the gear I've packed for this trip is listed here.

Okay, it's time to get back on the road.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Want to join my 2014 Route 66 Photo Caravan/Workshop? Shoot me an email for info. All my workshops are listed on the Workshop pages on the left.

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Day 1: 6 Days of Canon EOS 6D Images From Route 66

It's Day 1 in my blog series: 6 Days of Canon 6D Images from Route 66. Each day I will post a few of my favorite images along with some photography tips - from the "Mother Road." Hope you enjoy the "ride."

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Opening image: dining room, Route 66 Diner.​ Canon 14mm lens. HDR was needed due to the high contrast range. I created this image from seven bracketed images.

Tip: When the contrast range is high, shoot for HDR.

Above: counter: Route 66 Diner. Canon 17-40mm lens. ​

Tip: Shoot at an angle to create a sense of depth in an image.

Above:​ Robert Randazzo in his awesome Absolutely Neon store.

Tip: Put a person in a scene to add some personalty to the photograph. Also, shoot fast (which means being prepared). The last thing you want to do in a situation like this is to waste the subject's time. Thank you Robert for hanging out with us for a bit.

Above: Outside the Route 66 Diner. ​Canon 17-40mm lens.

Tip: Make pictures, just don't take pictures. These streaking taillights, coming in at an angle, are not there by accident. :-)

Above: Here's a shot of our hot wheels for this awesome road trip. It's a Dodge Challenger RT - one of the cool cars in the Hertz Adrenaline Collection.

Tip: Twilight is a great time to photograph city lights because you still have some light in the sky.

If you are interested in buying a Canon 6D, check out Adorama.​ If you want to rent one, perhaps for a road trip, check out BorrowLenses.com.

​All the gear I've packed for this trip is listed here.

Okay, it's time to get back on the road.​

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Want to join my 2014 Route 66 Photo Caravan/Workshop? Shoot me an email for info.​

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