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January 29, 2014
The home studio
There are some things in our world, unseen, small, unnoticed and unique, all waiting to be explored, captured and shared. We would like to invite you to a journey to discover such things, surprisingly - in your own home.
Posted by Ronny89 at 9:49 AM
The Nikonians Eagle Expedition
Location, location, location. That's one key to for success when you plan on opening a new business, and it also applies to wildlife photography. Once you know the best location to capture outstanding and rare images of wildlife, you share it with your friends in the Nikonians community and before you know it, you have a Nikonians mini-event.
Nikonions Moderating Team member (and Photo Contest Director) Dave Summers (dm1dave), shares his story of one such event last week in Iowa:
I live near the Mississippi river where each winter we have a large influx of bald eagles that gather at the dams to take advantage of the open (unfrozen) fishing water below each dam. We are lucky to be close to Lock and Dam 14 (near Le Claire, Iowa) that just happens to have the best waterside access of all of the upper Mississippi river dams.
Some of the other dams may have more eagles but you are restricted to a small viewing platform looking over the locks making it impossible to get images of the eagles fishing.
At L&D 14 there is a small island with a public park between the shore and the dam. The Corps of Engineers has a maintenance lock between the shore and the island. This creates a nice little cove with a walkway right along the water’s edge. The island has a couple of big trees that the eagles like and just behind the walkway and parking lot is a nice stand of trees. Part of that stand is a refuge area where a large number of eagles roost.
The eagles will fly directly over our heads when going to and from the dam. Many eagles will also fish in the little cove just in front of our shooting area. This is a unique opportunity to see and photograph eagles as they catch fish.
Of course, the place has become quite popular over the last few years. There can be a couple hundred photographers there during the weekends. The weekdays are much less crowded but if the weather is good there will be some photographers around.
We have a handful of Nikonians that shoot eagles here regularly most notably Dave Engeler (edf123), Scott Sternburg (Bumb57) and myself. We have had quite a few out of town Nikonians travel out to shoot the eagles.
This year both John Roach (jdroach) and Gary Pool (gpool) happened to make plans to come to L&D 14 during the same week after seeing some shots that I had posted from the previous weekend.
The weather forecast was good that week with frigid temps and sunshine predicted. The eagles are active in the super cold weather so Scott and I made plans to meet John and Gary at noon on Thursday.
We all got together, bundled up to keep warm, and spent four hours shooting eagles and talking. It was a great day with plenty of eagle activity. Some of the eagles were coming so close that John was even shooting with a D700 and a 70-200mm lens for a while.
Below are links the posts about this get together in the wildlife forum. There is a group shot in the first link (just scroll down). The other links are images from shooting at L&D 14.
• Nikonians in the news @ L&D 14
• Thursday's Eagles
• A good day at the Dam
• Some Better Days On The Mississippi
• The Transfer
Posted by flashdeadline at 1:58 AM
Winter beckons Nikonians Academy photo adventure
Winter. It may be colder this year than usual for some areas, but it is also a source of amazing images. Yosemite
Join Michael Mariant (Feb. 20 – 23) for his signature Yosemite in Winter: A Season of Contrast workshop.
Michael explores the park's best features while showcasing the area's austere winter beauty.
Wintertime in Yosemite is peaceful serenity at its best. This is when you find the least number of tourists, while a blanket of white snow covers the valley, dotting the trees and providing great contrast to the stark granite walls. This workshop will focus on the numerous locations in the valley that are complemented by the snow season.
Death Valley
In March, Michael is running a unique photo workshop to
Death Valley that highlights this park's amazing landscapes, beautiful
astrophotography and graphic sand dunes. His 4-day Death
Valley in the Spring workshop begins on March 13.
Michael Mariant is a master at helping photographers realize their full potential in the field.
His workshops to North America's National Parks have been praised as some of the best in the country.
New 2-Day Workshops
Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen tells us a popular workshop series has led to new offerings:
"Building on the success of our Urban Photography 4-day workshops, we've just posted a brand new series of 2-day workshops from Rick Hulbert.
The first is our Mastering Architectural and Urban Photography 2-Day Workshop. The second is the Mastering Composition in Photography 2-Day Workshop.
These two workshops are designed to be taken as a series, but you can also take them one by one. The price of each two-day workshop is $525, but if you sign up for both at the same time, we will send you a rebate of $155 which lowers the total price from $1,050 to $895."
Alaska
The Alaska! - Whales, Bears, and Ice Fields Wildlife Photography Adventure is selling quickly.
Join Jim Stamates for this one of a kind tour through southeast Alaska to photograph its amazing wildlife and landscapes.
The week-long adventure begins July 18 and features the opportunity for Nikonians to venture out in their own private boat to find Humpback and Killer Whales, seals, and other marine mammals, and travel to remote areas to photograph the largest of the grizzly bears, the Alaskan Brown Bear.
Jim is eager to share his knowledge from 30 years as a professional wildlife photographer and his countless trips to Alaska.
He will teach his 3 Keys to Great Photos, and how to get those stunning images of wildlife while using ‘low impact field techniques’.
Master Series
The Academy's famous Masters Series workshops for Nikon Cameras and Lightroom 5 will be running all around the USA.
These workshops include classes on cameras such as the Nikon D600, D610, D7100, D7000, D800/D800E, D4, and the brand new Nikon Df.
Currently, our workshops are scheduled for:
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Dallas
• New York
• Houston
------------------- and many more to come.
Posted by flashdeadline at 12:40 AM
January 23, 2014
Organize your laptop case in 2014
Our friends at Think Tank Photo just announced a limited special offer. Between now and February 6, 2014, when you purchase a Retrospective® Laptop Case or a Retrospective® Camera/Laptop Bag you will receive for free your choice of a PowerHouse Air or a PowerHouse Pro clear organizer.
These customizable clear cases fit power adapters, plus AC cable, pens, small cables, USB drives and other small items. Easily configure the dividers to suit your needs and stay organized. Secure each item in its own dedicated space for easy access. Keep chargers organized with divided space for the power adapter and the cable inside a clear zippered pocket. Zippered organizer pockets on the back of the case hold small adapters and cables.
Posted by Ronny89 at 10:37 AM
Director adds workshop support for Nikon Df and D610
Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen reports the newest DSLR cameras in Nikon's inventory now have corresponding workshop support coming in March, April and May.Mike and Steve Simon will be covering the USA in:
New York (Mar 26 – 30), Los Angeles (Apr 1 – 6), Fairfield NJ (Apr 3 – 6) - hosted at Unique Photo Super Store, Chicago (Apr 8-13), Dallas (Apr 29 - May 4) and Houston (May 6 – 11).
Mike tells us he will continue to add cities to the schedule and he's very close to opening up new workshops for the summer.
Looking ahead:
The Urban and Street Photography workshop is sold out for San Francisco but we have two remaining spots available for Dallas, Texas (Feb 20-23).
This workshop series led by Richard Hulbert is designed to improve your photography regardless of whether you consider picture taking a hobby, or you are a serious enthusiast, or a professional photographer, or earn your living as a member of the global real estate, design, and construction industries.
There are rules for photographing buildings and other man-made structures, and knowing these rules will make you a better photographer. Mastering these rules will allow you to learn how “break” them in a deliberate, meaningful way.
You will learn how a basic understanding of street photography will assist in your architectural and urban photography. You will discover how the fundamental principles of travel photography will enhance your architectural and urban imaging.
Richard will also bring this series to Berlin, Germany and Cambridge, UK. The Berlin workshop (starting March 20) is down to its final two seats remaining and we still have a few available seats for the Cambridge, UK workshop (starting March 27).
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Klamath Falls - Bald Eagles of Klamath Basin – Down to the final three seats
Jim will share the low impact field techniques that have helped him capture thousands of amazing photographs published worldwide. Jim will use his 35 years of experience and knowledge of wildlife, birds, and the natural environment to help you express your uniqueness through your photography. He will also share a little known secret on how to find and get close to wildlife.
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Yosemite - Yosemite in Winter: A season of Contrast - Few seats remaining
This workshop led by Michael A. Mariant will focus on the numerous locations in the Yosemite Valley that are complemented by the snow season as well as timed for one of the few rare scenes in Yosemite that happens only once a year for about 10 days in only the perfect conditions: the backlit illumination of Horsetail Fall by the setting sun, called 'The Firefall' as immortalized by the original 1973 Galen Rowell photo.
All three sunset opportunities of the workshop will devoted to capturing this elusive visual phenomenon. The 4-day workshop begins February 20th.
This workshop focuses not only on the "where" to take the pictures, but also on the "how" to take pictures, incorporating photographic education throughout the workshop at each location.
By building on the previous location's techniques and lessons, this allows for culmination in a comprehensive lesson in pre-visualization, composition, modified exposure and light controls.
Coming to a city near you
Check our Nikonians Academy schedule by city area
for details on workshops coming to your area.
Posted by flashdeadline at 1:44 AM
January 16, 2014
The glowing fog: How to achieve interesting photographs in foggy weather
In this short article, our new author, Ján Štimel, will explore some methods on how you can achieve interesting, and hopefully appealing, photographs in seemingly dull weather conditions like the thick fog he experienced.
Posted by Ronny89 at 9:15 AM
January 14, 2014
New cities added to Nikonians Academy curriculm
Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen has just finished his first 2014 workshop series in Orlando, Florida and he reports sold out classes and high energy. "It's obvious our people are excited to learn all about their cameras," reports Mike.
That excitement generates a need for more workshops and he has already arranged for six new cities to the Nikonians Academy calendar for the first quarter and will be adding many more soon.
• New York, Mar 26 - 30
• Los Angeles, Apr 1 - 6
• Fairfield NJ, Apr 3 - 6 (hosted at Unique Photo Super Store)
• Chicago, Apr 8-13
• Dallas, Apr 29 - May 4
• Houston, May 6 - 11
Mike Hagen and Steve Simon will be hosting Masters Series workshops on the Nikon D800, Df, D4, D600, D610, D7100, D7000, and the Passionate Nikon Photographer. Did you notice the "Df" in that last sentence? Yes, it's true -- The new Nikon Df has been added to the workshop schedule.
Looking ahead:
February brings four great workshops to the USA:
San Francisco - Urban and Street Photography - 1 seat remaining
This workshop series is designed to improve your photography regardless of whether you consider picture taking a hobby, or you are a serious enthusiast, or a professional photographer, or earn your living as a member of the global real estate, design, and construction industries.
There are rules for photographing buildings and other man-made structures, and knowing these rules will make you a better photographer. Mastering these rules will allow you to learn how “break” them in a deliberate, meaningful way.
You will learn how a basic understanding of street photography will assist in your architectural and urban photography. You will discover how the fundamental principles of travel photography will enhance your architectural and urban imaging.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Klamath Falls - Bald Eagles of Klamath Basin - Few seats remaining
Join Nikonians Academy at the Winter Wings Festival with professional wildlife photographer Jim Stamates for this action filled 2 day field workshop photographing the many birds of the Klamath Basin including Bald Eagles, Hawks, Owls, and waterfowl. We will focus our attention and our cameras on the hundreds of Bald Eagles that winter at the Klamath Basin NWR along with thousands of Swans, Geese, and Ducks. This is the place to be for wintering waterfowl, bald eagle and birds of prey photography.
Jim will share is low impact field techniques that have helped him capture thousands of amazing photographs that have been published world wide. Jim will use his 35 years of experience and knowledge of wildlife, birds, and the natural environment to help you express your uniqueness through your photography. He will also share a little known secret on how to find and get close to wildlife.
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Dallas - Urban and Street Photography (course description above)
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Yosemite - Yosemite in Winter: A season of Contrast - Few seats remaining
This workshop will focus on the numerous locations in the Yosemite Valley that are complemented by the snow season as well as timed for one of the few rare scenes in Yosemite that happens only once a year for about 10 days in only the perfect conditions: the backlit illumination of Horsetail Fall by the setting sun, called 'The Firefall' as immortalized by the original 1973 Galen Rowell photo. All three sunset opportunities of the workshop will devoted to capturing this elusive visual phenomenon.
This workshop focuses not only on the 'where' to take the pictures, but also on the 'how' to take pictures, incorporating photographic education throughout the workshop at each location.
By building on the previous location's techniques and lessons, this allows for culmination in a comprehensive lesson in pre-visualization, composition, modified exposure and light controls.
Posted by flashdeadline at 7:20 PM
January 13, 2014
Composition: The Rule of Thirds – Why?
Although a generally accepted composition rule, we are seldom -if ever- explained why. Nikonians co-founder J. Ramon Palacios (jrp) revisits in his article the concept and its origin.
Posted by Ronny89 at 10:31 AM
January 8, 2014
Academy kicks off 2014 schedule
Our Nikonians Academy instructors are on the road with a full schedule of workshops and photo adventures ahead of them.
Academy Director Mike Hagen will be in Orlando, Florida this weekend leading two workshops:
Master Adobe Lightroom 5 In Depth 1 on January 11 and Master Adobe Lightroom 5 In Depth 2 on January 12.
Rick Hulbert takes his 4-day Urban and Street Photography workshop to San Francisco (February 6-9) at the Fisherman's Wharf and Dallas, Texas (February 20-23). In March he brings the same workshop to Berlin and Cambridge.
For a taste of the wonderful student testimonials that Rick has been consistently receiving for his teaching efforts, have a look at his website.
Jim Stamates' Bald Eagles of Klamath Basin Photography Workshop in Oregon (starting February 12) will be held in conjunction with the Winter Wings Festival with other photographers like Rick Sammon and Bill Thompson. You will have the opportunity to focus your attention and cameras on the hundreds of Bald Eagles that winter at the Klamath Basin NWR along with thousands of Swans, Geese, and Ducks.
Posted by flashdeadline at 5:40 AM
January 7, 2014
Selecting a Nikon Speedlight Flash Unit
Getting ready to buy a Nikon Speedlight, the extensive lineup of options could be a little overwhelming. This concise article may help in your selection.
Posted by Ronny89 at 12:45 PM