It's Harder than it Looks

Wildlife photography, I discovered, is much more difficult than one might think.  Not only does it require some specialized equipment, but it requires a great deal of patience and time.  This past year or so I started to explore this type of photography in more depth taking the relatively easy tweety birds at the feeder approach.  I don't know...that just didn't seem adventurous enough...so I began to expand my territory and that's when I discovered just how difficult it really was. Often, while I was waiting for something to appear, I kept wondering how the pro's were able to get those great wildlife shots...close up.  It wasn't that I didn't see anything interesting...it was just that everything I saw was too far away to take effective wildlife photos...even with my relatively large 500mm lens.

I quickly came to the conclusion that luck played a big part of it.  On one such occasion, luck played a big roll in one of the best wildlife shot's I've taken to date.  I arrived one spring day at Shanty Hollow Lake well before sunup and paddled my canoe to the upper end, about three quarters of mile, hoping to catch the sun rising over the lake.  After the initial morning program played out, I tried a little fishing eventually drifting  into one of the many coves found on the north end of the lake.  A green heron flew across the cove and sat down  behind some tangled snarls along the bank.  It was maybe 50 yards away, so I cautiously paddled in that direction hoping to get close enough for some photo's.

Green herons are interesting birds...rather small about the size of a crow...and have the ability to extend their neck out about twice its sitting length to grab a tasty morsel in the shallows.  As I drifted closer to the bank, I grabbed my camera from the dry box.  I couldn't see the heron at first then spotted him behind some cover next to the waters edge.  I was about 15 yards away when I started snapping photo's...but eventually was able to close that distance to about 10 to 12 feet.  I was able to follow the heron from that distance for the better part of a half hour.  Oddly enough, he never seemed too concerned that I was there.  Maybe, he just never thought that any threat would come from the water.

A few of the shots were decent but nothing all that great...then he hopped onto a partially submerged log and walked along its length.  A few feet later he stepped out of the shadows into the sunlight and cast his reflection on the surface.  I fired off a couple of shots before his head and neck extended way out in a quick jab where he managed to snare a minnow.  Unfortunately, he turned away from me and I was unable to get the shot.

I drifted a few feet closer and he raised the hackle on the back of his head, squawked, and off he went.  It wasn't until later after I downloaded the images did I discover just how special the reflection shot turned out.  It's one of the best wildlife images I've taken...only because of a bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time.  I suppose what I learned was that luck is simply being able to take advantage of a good opportunity when it arrives.

Seeing Photographically - Framing Light

I once said to a class of high school journalism students, "...the difference between taking a snapshot and capturing photo's that stir the imagination is understanding how to see photographically."  Seeing photographically is a complex and instinctive subject, but one of the most important and often overlooked elements is the understanding of and using composition effectively.

Light is the key ingredient for all photographs, but composition is the frame upon which light is stretched to build those amazing shots.  A simple blog could never fully cover the subject of composition...so what follows is a basic primer on a few of the fundamentals.  Using these simple fundamentals help to build the foundation of your photographic skill.

One of the best tools for learning about composition is to use one of those simple point and shoot disposable film cameras.  The only thing you can control with that kind of camera is the composition so you can spend more time concentrating on framing the image as opposed to worrying about the exposure.  Learning about composition is an ongoing adventure, but lets start with one of the most basic of the concepts:  The Rule of Thirds.

Divide your image into a tic-tac-toe grid with nine squares covering the scene.  In the middle you will see four points where all the lines intersect.  These points are important subject position locations within the frame.  You see, in order to generate more visual appeal, your subject should be placed somewhat off center.  These four points provide a good position reference.  You will also notice that your image is also divided into three separate sections both vertically and horizontally.  Generally speaking your image should also be divided into thirds with the foreground material located in the bottom third, middle ground in the middle third, and background in the top third.  You can of course use any number of variations on that theme, but the idea is to break apart your image to create a visually appealing composition.

Along those same lines of thought, framing your subject also generates strong points of interest within a scene.  Almost anything can be used...like overhanging tree limbs, fences, barn doors, clouds...even light and dark areas...you get the idea.  Just think a little creatively and let your imagination take control...the idea is to look for those things that help define the subject.

When you are out photographing, think in terms of angles...or in other words, don't always shoot from eye level.  Kneel down or sit low to the ground or rotate the camera.  Simple things like that will often give your composition a fresher look.

In an earlier blog entry I wrote about Simplicity of Purpose...or simplifying your composition by making sure that everything in your image is there for a reason and contributes to the overall effect.  It does not mean that an image may lack for complex detail, just that it tells one story.

Creative composition is vital to being able to capture memorable moments.  The trick is to look for the key elements and then place yourself where you can capture the moment effectively by placing the subject inside the view where it generates a high level of interest.

One of the biggest mistakes novice photographers make is when they shoot sunsets or sunrises.  By their dramatic lighting, all of us are attracted to those events, but I can't count the number of times I've looked at photo's of a great sunset that was made mediocre because of the composition.  Most of the time the sun is placed in wrong location...square in the middle of the picture...and the horizon splits the image down the middle.  Shots like that rarely work well.  Usually what you want to do is offset the sun area to one side...remember the tic-tac-toe grid...and then raise or lower the horizon somewhat.  Shooting over water offers great reflections and sometimes you can split the image down the middle in those circumstances...but those are rare exceptions.

Composition, like so many other standard rules of photography, is always open to interpretation.  Two of the most important things you can do is ONE: Learn about as many of those rules as you can...and TWO: Never be afraid to break them.

Keith

Adventurous Nature

I was talking to someone the other day who asked me if I was a big outdoorsman...she had stumbled onto my blog site.  Well...I'm certainly bigger than I used to be, but I must admit I don't get out as much as I used to.  I suppose age and other obligations do deplete not only my ability to get out, but the available time to do so....plus this thing called 'work' tends to interfere with all the things I'd rather be doing.  Even so, I still find time for some adventure and throwing in a photo trip or two...it's just more compressed and maybe not quite as adventurous as what I did in my younger days.

Speaking of my younger days, this week I discovered a website many of you probably already visit called Hulu that offers full episode viewing of old television programs and movies.  I've enjoyed watching some of my old favorites.  My generation grew up at the beginning of and during the golden years of the television explosion.  I suppose that gives us a unique perspective on the medium.  Can't speak for others, but it just seems to me that the old programs were a lot better than most of what you find on television today.  There are exceptions of course as programming today tends to be more sophisticated and have more of a biting edge to it...they're also way to explicit in my opinion. Even so, the science and nature programs available today do a good job of not only entertaining, but educating the ordinary viewer with outstanding footage and insight.

When I look back on those early days I realize just how influential many of those programs were to the development of that adventurous nature I seemed to have over the years.  Take for instance one of my favorites of all time 'Sea Hunt' staring Lloyd Bridges (Beau and Jeff's dad).  The main character was guy named Mike Nelson who ran into all kinds of underwater scuba diving adventures.  This program played an important roll inspiring me to take up scuba diving once I was old enough to make that choice for myself...(my parents would never have allowed such a thing...heaven forbid I might actually drown or maybe even have too much fun or something).  And how many of you remember  'Rip Chord'?  A great adventure show where the two main guys sky dive into all kinds of dangerous exploits.

Now here's another good one...do any of you remember 'The Whirlybirds'.  What a great show about a couple of guys who flew into and out of all kinds of adventures using a helicopter.  No I never took up skydiving nor did I ever learn how to fly a helicopter...not that I didn't want to...just never had an opportunity to pursue those things, (and I haven't been scuba diving in quite some time).  I guess there are some adventure quests best left to the 'Walter Mitty' hopes and dreams most of us have tucked away someplace.

What was important was not so much that I did or did not pursue those kinds of adventures...what really counts is the ideals and spirit of adventure that were nurtured because of them.  I probably would never have taken up hunting and fishing or hiking and canoeing..even photography.  I more than likely would have never  attempted competing in triathlons at the age of 40, nor would I have thought about or enjoyed those two summers as a lifeguard and swimming instructor way too many years ago to admit to.  The idea of jumping ship after three years of college looking for adventure by joining the United States Coast Guard and getting involved in search and rescue operations crashing through twenty-five foot breakers along the Oregon coast would never have happened...nor would time spent maintaining an old historic lighthouse.

Those old adventure shows from years ago were not the only things that nurtured the desire for adventure in my life, but they certainly must be included in the conversation because they created a visual point of reference that a young mind grasp onto...and dreamed about doing.

If you just stop and think about it though, one thing my generation...the Baby Boomers...learned how to do was to dream big...seek out the unknown...and challenge ourselves.  Those traits have served our generation well as we became the most productive and innovative generation in history.  We didn't just use technology, we invented it.  We stretched our imaginations well beyond the ordinary and challenged the status quo and reached for...well..the moon.

Even though I've slowed down as I've gotten older, the dreams of adventure from my youth still resonate in my heart.  I may never again be able to pursue those things at the same level I once did, but the desire still burns to get out and explore.  Maybe that is why I started this blog...so I could experience again and share many of those memories with the few people who may actually visit these pages.

You know...I've only just slowed down a bit...I ain't dead yet...there are still plenty of adventures yet to chase after and I hope to share more with you as time goes by...I hope you join me.

(Would love to hear about some of your own adventures)