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Greetings,
I've got some announcements, a home projects report, and probably a picture of Sydney.
Below is an example of hand-held close-up fun. Just use any close-up gear you have and a fast shutter speed. "Focus" is obtained by looking through the viewfinder while leaning in and out until something looks in focus and then hitting the shutter release frequently. Using your motor drive helps. You'll get some fun and unique results. This was made using my 105mm macro lens with one of the new Maven diopters (see below).
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Early bird sign-up available for Sitka Whales and Palouse
I have dates for my 2006 Sitka Bubble-net feeding and Palouse workshops.
 The Sitka trip is March 18-22 and revolves around three days on Sitka Sound photographing Humpback whales bubble-net feeding. A cooperative feeding behavior that is truly one of natures spectacles.
For more information on the tour, visit my Sitka Whales page on my Workshops website.
To take advantage of the early-bird pricing, visit this page The password is WHALES2026.
And you can read my tour report from the 2023 tour here.
The Palouse workshop is June 16-21. The
 Palouse is one of my favorite places to photograph. You'd think I'd be tired of it after close to 30 years of visiting. But no. I always find something new, and even the old reliable sites like Steptoe Butte or Dave's Old Truck Rescue always seem to present new finds and new ideas.
You can find out more by visiting my Palouse page.
To take advantage of the early bird pricing, visit this page. The password is PALOUSE2026.
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Maven Wave 3 Kickstarter announced
Maven Filters (affiliate link) have announce the starting date of the Wave 3 Kickstarter.
For those wanting to get into Maven filters, this will be an opportunity to get started (Wave 1 and 2 filters will also be available during this Kickstarter campaign) and for those who already own and love their Maven filters, this is the time to add on.
As you’ll see in the announcement, among new filters and adapters, there will be diopters and a ring light, both of which I’ve been testing. The diopters will turn a regular lens into a close-up lens. These are probably best used with a mid-range telelphoto such as a 70-200, but I’ve been testing with my 24-120 and 100-400 lenses as well as attaching them to my 105 macro lens for extra closeup goodness. They make for a compact close-up kit if you either don't already own a macro lens or if you just don't have room for it but you still want close-up capability.
The other piece of gear I’ve been testing is a ring light. This unique light has magnets on both sides (back and front) and will attach to 82mm adapter rings. You can then attach any other 82mm filter to the front, such as the +2 and +4 diopters.
The light itself is remarkable. It can be used as a full ring light or you can control the light so that only one half is lit. And since it’s attached with magnates and can rotate, you can light your subject from the left or right, top or bottom, or all angles in between.
Not only that, but the brightness level of each side can be adjusted. And to top that, you can adjust the color temperature from cool to warm.
But wait, there’s more. You can also have one half be warm and bright while the other side is dimmer and cool. Or any combination of color temperature/brightness.
It really is clever. With this light, you can control the direction of light and the contrast on a close-up subject, essentially sculpting shadows. It can also be used as a ring light for Zoom calls or any video content you may be creating.
For the image of a dahlia above, I was using my 105mm f/2.8 macro lens focused to around 1:1 magnification with the Maven ring light and a Maven +2 diopter. The image is a GIF made from three images, The exposure remains the same, the only difference is the lighting with the ring light. If I remember correctly, one image is with flat lighting (or without the ring light on) and the others are with the top half light on and then the bottom half light on. As you can see, this gives you the ability to "sculpt" shadows.
Imagine the possibilities and the endless combination of top/bottom/left/right/dim/bright/warm/cool.
It's very cool. And, from what I understand, it will be very affordable.
The Kickstarter begins on Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. Pacific time. I'll be sending out a reminder email at least a day before.
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Olympic National Park and Bandon workshops
Back in May of 2021, when we were all still a little stir-crazy from Covid, I was able to do a pair of workshops: Olympic National Park and Bandon, OR.
Maybe it was the joy of being able to get back to Olympic and being with groups, but those two workshops were fantastic. Great people, great conditions, and just all around very enjoyable.
 Next May I’ll be co-leading another pair of trips to Olympic and Bandon and I’m really looking forward to these workshops too because I’m teaming Margo Pinkerton a long-time and well-traveled photographer and workshop leader. She also goes by the moniker of The Barefoot Contessa (no, not the cook; Margo received the nickname way back in 1970). Margo has garnered a dedicated and loyal following for her personable hands-on approach.
I first “met” Margo several years ago through The Turning Gate’s (website building software for photographers) online forum. I answered some questions she had and ended up helping her with her website. Since then, we’ve become good friends despite never having met in person.
Well, it’s finally happening, and I am really excited about it.
 Our Olympic National Park workshop is May 18-22, 2026 and the Bandon workshop is May 25-29, 2026.
Click on the workshop links for more information. Sign up will be through Margo’s Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures site and there are discounts available, including her Alumni discount for those who have previously traveled with either her or me, a two-fer discount for those adventurous souls who want to brave back-to-back workshops, as well as an Association discount (NANPA, ASMP, etc.). See her site for details and restrictions.
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Nikon Z8 Firmware Update
For my fellow Nikon Z8 owners, in case you haven't heard, there's been a significant firmware update (3.0.0) to the Z8. And today, there's been a minor update to address a problem with the camera not working with some lenses.
Here's the link, if you need it.
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Around the house
 This could become a regular feature. Maybe an HGTV series…
I mentioned above a home project. I’ve actually completed two! (Ah, I made it three while I was working on this newsletter!)
For years, my wife has wanted a trellis over our garage, and I finally built it. Yay for me!
And since our previous firewood storage area has been taken over by the RV, I’ve built woodshed that will hold a cord of wood. I’ll probably need to refill it by mid-winter, but at least we now have a covered and halfway decent looking place to store wood.
The third project was just a mini-project: modifying and attaching a pair of trellises that we bought from a local nursery. They went on one end of the deck to provide a privacy screen and a place for more vines to grow.
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A pre-announcement
Here's the teased-at picture of Sydney. She has a few friends with her.
I'm also in the process of creating a new on-line shop for prints and other stuff. I'm hoping to make the grand opening announcement next month, but if you want a sneak peak at what's happening, you can visit my new shop here. It's open for business 😉
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