Goodbye Bosque - Be Back Next Year

December 09, 2011 in Bosque del Apache, California Photo Workshops, Digital Photography, Wildlife photography tours

Photograph © Rick Sammon

Today was the last day of the workshops that Juan Pons and taught at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.

Our group was treated to an amazing "blast off." (That's mist at the bottom of the frame.)

For those of you new to Bosque, the "blast off" usually lasts for less than one minute.

As in all photo situations, I had two camera bodies with two lenses handy, so I could shoot both wide-angle and telephoto shots – with the goal of "telling the story."

I had my Canon 400mm DO lens on my Canon 7D. I had my 25-105mm IS lens on my Canon 5D.

Photograph © Rick Sammon

On the workshop we talked about the importance of setting goals. My goal this morning was to show the incredible number of birds that take off at the same time. The photograph directly above shows just how close the birds are to each other when they take off all at the same time. The photo looks chaotic! I know. But that is exactly what I was trying to convey.

My question: how come they don't crash into each other? :-)

Juan and I will be back in Bosque in 2012 for another set of workshops. I'll have some Canon lenses on hand for the students to use: 100-400mm, 500mm and few more. If you want to join the fun, shoot me an email.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Here's a close-up of two snow geese flying by the moon. Yes! I created the image in Photoshop. I can show you how to do this on my workshops - as well as how to enhance your images.

Plug-ins Can Help Create Painterly and Cool Effects

December 07, 2011 in Adobe Photoshop, Bosque del Apache, Lightroom, Photoshop plug-ins, wildlife photography

Think like a painter." That's what I suggested to the students who are attending the Bosque del Apache photography workshop that I and Juan Pons are currently teaching.

When you start to think like a painter, you might produce more artistic images.

Last night, while we were freezing our buns off at sunset, I was thinking like a painter. I wondered how a painter might capture the scene, which included sandhill cranes, the moon and a clear sky.

I took a few shots of the moon with my Canon 400mm DO lens w/1.4x converter which was mounted on my Canon 7D. Then I started to photograph the sandhill cranes with the same setup. I was looking for groups of three birds, following the "rule of odds" composition rule. (My composition class on Kelby Training will be up on December 12.)

Back in my toasty room, I created a montage in Photoshop CS5.

I used two plug-ins to remove some of the photographic reality from the scene.

On the sandhill crane layer, I first used the Midnight filter in Nik Color Efex Pro. Then, on the same layer, I used the Crisp filter in Topaz Adjust.

You can get a discount on Nik plug-ins (and some of the other plug-ins I use) and save on bundle on Topaz Labs bundles on my Creative Plug-ins page.

I added the drop shadow as a Layer Style in Photoshop.

I teach all this stuff on my workshops - shooting and using Photoshop (and Lightroom).

Above is photograph I took at the "golden hour." I enhanced the color with the Bi-color User Defined filter in Nik's Color Efex Pro.

HDR plug-ins and programs can help you create cool images, too.

Above: I used Photomatix Pro to create this cool image. Earlier this week I posted an HDR image of the same scene - minus the snow.

You can save 15% on Photomatix by using this code upon checkout: ricksammon.

Explore the light and think like a painter,

Rick

Pros: If You Have the Chance to Be Right Or Kind, Be Kind - Please

December 06, 2011 in Portfolio reviews, pro photogrpahers

Buddhist proverb: "Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child." Photo © Rick Sammon

Readers of my blog know that 99 percent of the time I write for amateur or part-time photographers - and for photographers who want to someday turn pro. I also write for folks who simply love photography, who tell me all the time, "Photography is my passion."

This post is for professionals, but it's also for passionate photographers. Here goes.

Last night, I met a young, talented and enthusiastic photographer who was very hurt and crushed during a portfolio review at a big photo convention by a very well-known photographer.

The pro, who of course, like all pros, started out an amateur, basically told the young photographer that his work sucked.

Man o man. The pro's comment got my Italian blood boiling. I could not believe that the pro was so downright mean to the aspiring photographer. Even if the did not like the photographer's work, he could have at least considered the expression: If you have the chance to be right or kind, be kind.

Why not be kind? Why not sandwich a criticism with compliments? Sure, be honest and truthful, but don't hurt someone's feelings and come off like a pompous (fill in the word).

I have seen the "amateur's" work and he has some great shots. Look for them here on my blog in the coming months.

Explore the light - and be kind,
Rick

One Of The Best From Bosque

December 05, 2011 in Bosque del Apache

Alex Morley, one of the participants on the workshop that Juan Pons, Chris Klapheke and I are leading here in Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, got this amazing shot - and I just had to share it with you.

If you are looking for a great photographer (and heck of a nice guy) to follow on Google+, add Alex to your circles.

Explore the light,
Rick

Bosque Workshop Day IV: Shooin' Silhouettes

December 04, 2011 in Aperture, Bosque del Apache, California Photo Workshops, Lightroom, Travel Photogrpahy, silhouettes

Why do we like silhouettes? I would like to hear your suggestions here on my blog – or on Google+.

Maybe it's because silhouettes are more dramatic than photographs in which we can see details, as illustrated in the image below.

Maybe it's because millions of years ago we looked for prey and predators at sunrise and sunset . . . when there is a changing of the guard between the nighttime and daytime animals . . . and when there is the greatest danger of being eaten. Actually, that is my theory. Subconsciously, we are always on the lookout for danger. Another theory: silhouettes can simply be pretty. :-)

Whatever the reason, silhouettes are fun to take and create. Here are a few tips:

– Slightly underexpose your image. That will darken the shadows for a more dramatic image.

– Shoot toward the sun.

– Increase the contrast and color in Lightroom or Photoshop.

– Increase the saturation in the digital darkroom.

– Look for a clean background.

Here's another tip: Think color. If the background has little or no color, add color. In all of these images I added a touch of color with Nik Software's Color Efex Pro. To get a discount on all Nik plug-ins, as well as some of the other plug-ins I use, click here.

I am returning to Bosque with Juan Pons in December 2012 for another workshop. If you are interested, shoot me an email.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. You'll find more photo tips in my apps.