On Birds and Bees, a TED Talk

Although a fragment of this file was shared on YouTube, I thought the entire video was more important to share. The opening message is important to hear, although the “real show” starts later on. Also keep in mind that this kind of videography and related photography would have been impossible to create and share before the advent of digital imaging technology.

Here is the TED presentation by Louie Schwartzberg in its entirety.


Webinars

The Web is full of useful information and many of the photography equipment and software companies provide extensive programs as Webinars. One of our sponsors, X-Rite has a series of them coming in February, take a look at their programs and catch the ones that catch your interest.

PocketWizard has been a brand name associated with remote flash triggers. Their new series of devices are quite interesting indeed, compact to boot. Their Web site has a bunch of videos that inform the viewer about their line of products and how to use them. They also have a Webinar coming on February 7, 2012. If you are interested in remote triggering flash gear you may enjoy the presentation.

Thanks Mike DiStefano for bringing these to my attention.

It Gets Better!

The KillI have just learned that another PSRI member, Syed Rizvi also placed in top 250 in 2011 “Share the View” International Nature Photography juried competition. Congratulations Syed.

You can see his entry on the contest page in context, alphabetically sorted.

Member Photo in Top 250

Cedar WaxwingI have the pleasure of announcing another member achievement. One of Steve Tierney’s photographs, Cedar Waxwings, was placed among the top 250 in 2011 “Share the View” International Nature Photography juried competition. By the admission of the announcement Steve received, “the competition was fierce and placing in the top 250 is quite an achievement.” Congratulations Steve. Although you can see the photograph here, you may want to see it in context on the competition site. The photographs are listed alphabetically by photographers’ last name.

Member Wins HM in Contest

Dennis Goulet Wins NWF Honorable MentionPSRI member Dennis Goulet’s image was selected as one of 75 honorable mentions in the 2011 National Wildlife Federation’s photography contest.  The annual contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers.  The entry period is typically April – July each year.  Check the NWF website Photozone for details.

Congratulations Dennis!

Now Open for Entries

One of the most, if not THE most, prestigious nature photography competitions, the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 competition, is now open for entries. Closing date for entries is 23 February 2012.  In addition to 11 categories (including B&W and creative visions) special awards include the Eric Hosking Portfolio Award for a young wildlife photographer 18-26 years old, the Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Species, the World in Our Hands, and the Wildlife Photojournalist Award for a series of six images telling a story.

Complete description, rules, instructions, and digital guidelines are available here.

 

Be Inspired

Judy Malloch, National Wildlife Magazine First Place, Amateur

We’ve spent much of the last five weeks learning about nature photography and how to make better nature images.  Here are the winning images of two prestigious nature photography competitions which should offer inspiration.  Don’t be discouraged by a thought that ‘I’ll never take great images like that’.  These images will give you a notion of the quality of work that is chosen, that way when you are standing in from of something truly spectacular, you’ll know not only  to capture the image, but to enter the competition.

Veolia Environment 2011 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winning images.  New contest starts 5 Dec 2011.

National Wildlife Magazine 2011 Photo Contest wining images.

Rolling Iceberg

Camille SeamanAn award winning and widely published photographer, Camille Seaman photographs her environment as she travels to Arctic regions of Svalbard, Greenland, and Antarctica. The scenery is wild, foreign, inspiring, frightening, tranquil, all at once and she has captured what she saw with her sensibilities in a compelling way. During a part of her presentation you will see a remarkable event of an iceberg apparently gently rolling. I can only imagine the forces created by the rotation of a massive iceberg.

You can see more of her photography on her site

Raptor Preview Photo Session

(This message is a copy of the e-mail I received from Bora Lee of Audubon. Please direct your questions to him at the phone or e-mail below)

Calling all photographers – Audubon will offer a rare photo session with our birds of prey on August 20, 2011. 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, giving you plenty of time to snap many pictures. As a BONUS – Photographers that participate will get a free pass to Audubon’s Raptor Weekend. Details and fee is given below.

Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

August 20, 2011
10:00 am-12:00 pm
Program Fee: $65/member, $75/non-member
Ages: Adult.
Course Number: 164333-101
To register: Call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.

Photographer Jailed for Baiting Wildlife

For nature photographers, beware of the local laws when photographing. One photographer found out the hard way in Montana and got sentenced for 10 days in jail and $1,035 in fines. The details are on the PDN Web site.

A Montana wildlife photographer has been sentenced to 10 days in jail and fined $1,035 for illegally feeding bighorn sheep, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department. The agency said 35-year-old Ryan Molde of Big Sky, Montana fed the sheep “for the purpose of drawing the animals in to photograph them with Lone Peak in the background.”

Montana state law prohibits the feeding of wildlife “or knowingly providing supplemental feed attractants to game animals.”

Read the rest of the story