|
|
|
|
Greetings,
First of all, happy holidays to you all! I know that this time of year you probably have lots of emails vying for your attention (and that may be the first time I've ever used the word "vying" in a written sentence), so I appreciate you opening and reading this email.
And if you missed the November newsletter...well, there wasn't one. Let's just say that November was...it was a tough month.
Anyway...This newsletter is probably extra long. So bonus points to you if you manage to read it to the end.
|
|
New big boy phone
 I just got my first big-boy phone. These last few years I’ve been using the small iPhones, but both my wife Tracy and I just updated to the new iPhone 16 Pro Max. I was envious of those using the latest phones being able to use them to photograph auroras. And even videos of auroras!
Over the Thanksgiving holiday I had more of a chance to use the camera in the phone. The size certainly is something to get used to but now I can make wide angle pictures like this!
We took our RV to Cape Lookout State Park in Oregon. Sydney really enjoyed seeing and chasing birds, digging in the sand, smelling all the smells, and carrying a crab shell around.
 At low tide there were interesting formations in the sand. And of course, there was always Sydney running, sniffing, digging, wading, sniffing, running, and getting her leash wrapped around our legs.
As a side note, we’ve been learning more and more about RVing. Like the importance of having a dehumidifier in the rig, especially during cold weather. The last couple of trips, we’ve woken to a considerable amount of moisture on the inside of the windshield, so we purchased a small electric dehumidifier. Because of that, over the recent holiday trip we had no moisture on the inside glass at all, despite the nighttime temperatures getting down around the freezing point.
|
|
Maven filters make great stocking stuffers
I seriously like my Maven filters. Over the past couple of years, they have become my favorite and most used photo gear accessory. I can safely say that once you go color-coded magnetic, you’ll never want to go back.
The Maven filters are high quality, ultra-thin, and durable. And because they are so easy and quick to mount, you’ll likely find yourself experimenting and expanding on your creativity. I know I did. (the photo above was made at 20 seconds using a Maven Dark CPL filter)
Take their neutral density filters for example. Being able to swap out or stack filters will open up all sorts of options with long time exposure photography.
One of my favorite things to do is to use one of my Maven Dark CPL filters (a circular polarizer with built in neutral density) and then add the linear polarizer to create a variable ND polarizing filter. The linear polarizer can add from 1.3 to 5 stops of neutral density when paired with one of the Dark CPLs, making it easy to dial in the ND you need for the shutter speed you want.
The stack shown above is my go-to landscape stack. It consists of 3, 6, an 10-stop Dark CPL plus a linear polarizer and a regular circular polarizer. (I need a circular polarizer in case I'm using a DSLR in addition to, or instead of, my Z8 mirrorless.)
Maven sells a set that consists of three Dark CPLs (3, 6, and 10-stop) along with the Linear Polarizer. And if I was buying my first set of ND filters, I might opt for this combination, especially if I only had a mirrorless camera. Check it out here.
Another filter I’ve been experimenting with is their IR720 Infrared Filter. I’ve appreciated the infrared photographs shown by many workshop clients, but I didn’t want to have to convert a camera to IR. This filter is a cost-effective way to dip my toes in the world of infrared photography.
If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for yourself or a photographer friend (or if you’re good at dropping hints to your significant other), the Maven filters are an excellent choice.
And if you’re not sure which set or which individual filter you should get, just drop me a line. I’ll happily help you spend some money!
To explore the Maven filters, click here.
Be warned, these are affiliate links. If you buy something I get a commission, and you get some great filters!
|
|
A composition tip
 Just about every landscape or close up photo I make, I make with the camera securely mounted on a tripod. There are several advantages to this. Just to name two: you can use much slower shutter speeds if needed; and, you have more time to study and fine tune your composition and eliminate distractions or other flaws.
But that’s not today’s tip. The tip is to NOT use your tripod. That is, don’t use your tripod while figuring out your composition. Find your composition with a handheld camera.
The reason is simple: you’re much more flexible without the tripod. It’s easier to move the camera side to side, back and forth or up and down so you can find the best spot from which to make the photo you really want.
So instead of fitting your composition to where you set up your tripod, set up your tripod to fit the composition.
Frankly, this is where the challenge begins because the terrain and your tripod legs are often at odds with one another. But it’s worth the struggle and I find it kind of fun solving that problem.
Note: the above image is over thirty years old. It was in the process of making this image that I realized finding the composition first, before reaching for the tripod, makes for better results.
|
|
Small group workshops
First, I want to thank everyone who joined me this year for a workshop or a tour. You have lots of choices and I truly appreciate that you chose to come along with me.
I’ve led and co-led a lot of photo workshops. Back when I was working for Great American Photography Workshops, we would often have 20 (or more!) attendees.
Some of you may have experienced such large workshops. And while they’re still fun, and you get to meet new people, the large groups have their downsides. Like taking until the last day to finally get everyone’s name right. Or nearly always having one of your new best friends wandering into your shot. Or missing great opportunities all together because there’s that one best spot from which to photograph and by the time you can wriggle in, the light has changed, and the opportunity lost.
And with large groups, unless there are multiple leaders, it can be hard to get the help you might need. And critique/sharing sessions are often limited to a few images with large groups. With a smaller group there’s more time to look at more images.
And frankly, there have been some great locations on workshops that we’ve had to skip simply because we knew there was not enough room for either parking, or the location wasn’t photographically conducive to a large group.
For all these reasons, I really like smaller groups. So that’s why I limit the workshops I lead on my own to six or seven participants.
Another bonus: small groups are easier to fit into cafes and restaurants, making more opportunities for shared meals and group bonding.
If you’re looking for a more intimate workshop/tour experience, please consider joining me for one of my trips.
These trips still have space! (more in the works)
Humpback whales bubble-net feeding in Sitka (an amazing wildlife experience)
Olympic National Park (Olympic is practically my back yard)
The Palouse (Two decades of workshops and counting)
Faroe Islands (remote, rugged, and beautiful)
|
|
Westport Winery
While talking with one of my frequent workshop participants (and good friend) about our new RV and places we might go, she told me about a Harvest Hosts location at the Westport Winery in southwest Washington (thanks Kathy!!).
It’s one of the top wineries in the state and has a magnificent garden. It’s quirky and eclectic. And was full of fall colorful when we visited. (I’ll have to add this location to my waphotoguide.com site).
In addition to the winery there’s a distillery, a restaurant with great food, and the International Mermaid Museum. We had a great time tasting wine and chatting with others.
 One of the best parts about this place is that there were lots of things for Sydney to see and sniff. Even a small stream to wade in. We had plenty of walkies in the garden. And this being November, we had the place to ourselves.
 I didn’t bring my Nikon cameras with me on this trip, but I had fun with my iPhone (now wishing I had my new phone for this trip).
If you live in Washington or Oregon, this place is well worth the visit. In addition to the four Harvest Hosts RV sites, they also have two guesthouses. Plus there are traditional options in nearby Aberdeen or Westport.
|
|
Yellowknife auroras
There is currently only one opening left in the second of two Yellowknife aurora tours (Sept. 25 - Oct. 2, 2025) that I'm leading with my friend John Barclay.
Except for the two Covid years, I've been going to Yellowknife for auroras since 2014. That's nine visits to the capitol of Canada's Northwest Territories. And in all those visits, I've always seen and photographed auroras: I've never been skunked. And every year I was able to get great shots, even in those years at the low-ebb of the sun cycle.
But besides auroras, there can be some pretty good fall color too as well as an outdoor mining museum, Old Town, and the fantastic Prince of Wales Heritage Center.
For more information and to sign up (or get on the waiting list for either of the two tours), visit my Yellowknife auroras page.
|
|
A Hopeful and Happy New Year
Here's wishing everyone a happy holiday and a hopeful and joyous New Year.
I'll see you down the beach!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
