Raptor Photo Session

Raptor Preview Photo Session
September 4, 2010

Calling all photographers – Audubon offers a rare photo session with birds of prey on September 4. Take advantage of this special opportunity to spend time behind the lens and get up close with a Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Screech Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, and Barred Owl. Each bird will be placed in a natural setting for that perfect shot. No tents, no crowds, no jostling for camera position. Each bird will be taken out one at a time, providing plenty of time to snap many pictures. As a BONUS – Photographers that participate will receive a free pass to Audubon’s Raptor Weekend.

Location:  Audubon’s Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI;
Date/Time:  September 4, 2010; 10:00 am-12:00 pm;
Program Fee: $65/member, $75/non-member; Ages: Adult.
Course Number: 164333-101

Registration is required. Call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.

Kristen Swanberg
Senior Director of Education
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Tel: 401-245-7500 ext. 3111
Fax: 401-245-9339
kswanberg@asri.org

PSReye Focus Final Call 50% Off Sale

I wrote about the morning sale, there is another and final 50% off sale on the PSReye Focus Magazine. The following is from the MagCloud Web site:

Final Flash Sale–7pm Tonight! (PDT) 20 Jul 2010

Last chance for 50% off production costs on all full-price magazines. Final “flash sale” starts at 7 pm (PDT) until 9 pm.

(Remember the Pacific time in the sale notice.)

Manipulated Photographs – Adams’ Take

During one of my presentations at NECCC last weekend I expressed my view that Ansel Adams never made realistic photographs. Every photograph he took never ended at the point of releasing the shutter, never. He exposed for a particular vision, then developed the negative in different developers, sometimes in multiple developers with water baths in between. Then in the printing stage he exercised utmost control to produce the print that he had in mind. Then I added “if manipulation was OK for Adams, why is it not OK for digital photographers?” I think the answer lies in the accessibility of the tools for control. In the old days only the most skilled, master craftsman, the most patient could either do it in the darkroom or those who could afford hire the skilled people to do it for them. Today, the tools are well within the reach of everyone interested. That is the good part, but there is the rub; not all are skilled enough to produce the desired results and the technique becomes too visible, and it comes to the forefront.

I stumbled upon an interview with Adams just a few minutes ago where he clearly states that his pictures are not meant to be realistic and always had manipulation. Later in the interview he also talks about the then future electronic imaging. It is worth viewing and contemplating.

(You can see my presentation notes on my site, read from bottom up.)

PSRI Magazine Sale – Very limited time

MagCloud, the printer of the PSReye Focus Magazine is running very limited time sales with 50% off the production cost. The next one will start in less than 15 minutes and will run for 2 hours. To be exact, the 50% off sale will be between 7 am – 9 am Pacific time (10 am – 12 pm Eastern time) on July 20, 2010. The magazine is now available with perfect binding rather than saddle stitched; it will look more like Popular Photography or other magazines that has a spine. If you were waiting for a sale to get your copy, this is the time. I understand that after this sale there may be (may be) other 2-hour sale periods. If you miss this one just visit MagCloud.com and see if there is another one coming. I believe today is the last day of the sale.

Visit PSReye Focus Magazine to view and to purchase on sale. Regular price $16, on sale under $10.

A Rich Collection Of Photographs

I have a new post about a rich collection of photographs. I am placing a link to it here to avoid duplication.

View the post at KeptLight.com

Splash – The Video

We all know what our friend Mike “Splash” Marceau can do in his basement with plenty of patience and tons of experience; recently Deb and Holly have also entered this magic domain. There are others who seek the same kind of beauty that may exist only for a split second. One of them is Martin Waugh and his collaboration with the Discovery Channel has recorded the dance of the droplets in motion.

Watch!

Sharpening Presentation

As you may recall, I had a workshop on sharpening strategies in Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom a few months ago. Not everyone could make it due to its timing. Since then the Quinebaug Valley Photo Club invited me to present an abridged version of it on April 15, 2010. They are located in Putnam, CT. If anyone is interested to attend we should let them know ahead of time. Also, if anyone wants to go, I would like to hitch a ride if possible.

On another note, “water” has been the subject of conversations, clean up, repair, basements, etc. I have been taking so many water and water-related photographs for the last 4-5 days, I almost feel bloated. Some are documentary, others the result of my photographic pursuit of a subject. If you care to see them, point your browsers to RI Flood on my blog.

PSReye Focus on Sale until March 21, 2010

The PSRI magazine, PSReye Focus is on sale at 25% savings. In case you did not get a chance to purchase your own copy, or want to purchase additional ones for yourself or friends, the sale is offered directly by MagCloud and will end on March 21, 2010.

Shipping charges depend on the delivery speed, the lowest cost option at $1.40 per magazine arrives within about one week. MagCloud accepts PayPal or credit card payments and you will receive your copy in your mailbox within about one week although they indicate 1-2 weeks.

A Different Kind of Photography

Flickr has millions of photographs; now I don’t know the exact number but it seems to house a huge volume of photographs. Many, obviously not all by any stretch of imaginations, are similar photographs of places people have visited, friends having good time, animals caught in interesting and cute poses, and so on. In that haystack, I have stumbled upon a photographer and his unique work that both amazed and very pleased me.

Michael Paul Smith combines his mastery of model building with his photography and the result is akin to some kind of time-travel. His affinity to mid 1950s automobiles and his roots still strong in his hometown compelled him to build models of the era, cars, trucks, diners, car dealerships, country roads, and so on. I find his model building skills are extraordinary and his photography quite original and exacting. I have his permission to use these couple of photographs to give you a taste of what awaits you. I encourage you to visit his flickr collection and have a trip down the memory lane. Thank you Michael for your vision, and for your permission to use the photographs in this post.

An Oldie Made Available Again

I moderated two panel discussions on the meaning, practice, and art of photography in the past. One of them was recorded and a streaming video of the program was available. However, in between server transfer and PSRI Web platform change, that video never made it to the new site. Now, through the use of newer technology and services that episode of the discussions on photography is available here again. It is over an hour long, and unlike most (if not all) programs we have had, there are no photographs shown, no PowerPoint slides, nor techniques; just conversation among four people with varying backgrounds and interests in photography.

Here it is, Conversations on Photography.

Next Page »