White Pocket Sunset - Bret Edge

"White Pocket is a remote section of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument that is accessed via a network of sandy 4 wheel drive roads. It is an alien landscape, unlike anything I have ever seen. Crossbedded sandstone, colorful swirls, Seussian domes, and huge potholes that fill with water after heavy rains make visiting here a completely surreal experience. I photographed this remarkable scene on a cold February day in the ethereal afterglow of sunset."

Equipment Used: Canon 5DII, 17-40mm lens @ 17mm, f/16 exposed for 6 seconds @ ISO 100, no filters.

Workshop Instructors: Greg Downing · Tim Grey · Deb Sandidge

We're excited that we'll have the world renowned Tim Grey along with Greg Downing and Deborah Sandidge for a fun-filled and education-packed event at the Macey Center in Soccorro, New Mexico. The success of our last event there in 2008 has prompted a repeat - and we hope to make it even better this time!

Friday night we will kick off the fun with a reception, Italian style buffet dinner, and a cash bar - giving everyone the ability to mingle with the speakers and attendees. An intro to the refuge will be presented by a member of the refuge staff and lots of cool door prizes will be given away to some lucky random attendees. Then Tim will present the keynote entitled "The Journey" where he shares insights into what has inspired him as he travels around the country and around the world making photographs and helping photographers improve their images.

We will offer a great mix of educational classroom workshops scheduled over Saturday and Sunday. All of the classroom sessions are included in the low basic ticket price. On top of that we will have the opportunity for attendees to sign up for one or more field workshops with our pro instructors for some hands-on small group instruction! These workshops are designed to compliment the classroom instruction!

NatureScapes will also have some of the latest and greatest gear and gadgets on display at the event.

Remember space is limited so reserve your spot today!

Planning the Perfect Photo Vacation
by Bret Edge

I'm a serial planner. In the weeks leading up to a trip I obsess over maps and guidebooks, and I spend inordinate amounts of time on Google searching for photos and information about my chosen destination. Some call it a sickness. I call it, well... a sickness. But if anything good may come of this disease, it's that I know how to plan a photography trip. And now, I'm sharing my hard won knowledge with you so that your next trip will be the best one ever. Read full article >

Meet Bret Edge - NatureScapes’ Newest Contributing Writer!

Bret Edge is a nature and adventure photographer in Moab, Utah. His interest in photography evolved as an extension of his life long passion for the outdoors. He is an avid hiker, backpacker, mountain biker and canyoneer. A visit in 1999 to an exhibit featuring photographs by Ansel Adams, Jack Dykinga and David Muench stoked Bret’s creative fire such that he immediately purchased his first SLR camera, a Canon Rebel. In the years since, he has traveled extensively throughout the American West creating a diverse portfolio of dynamic images.

Bret’s work has appeared in magazines, calendars, travel guides and advertising campaigns. His clients include Backpacker magazine, Popular Photography, the Utah Office of Tourism, Charles Schwab & Co. and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.

While Bret enjoys seeing his work in print, he receives the most satisfaction by helping others realize their potential as photographers. He accomplishes this by leading several group workshops each year and guiding photographers on private photo excursions. For information about his workshops and guided excursions, visit www.moabphotoworkshops.com. To view a collection of Bret’s images, visit www.bretedge.com.

Bret lives in Moab with his wife, Melissa, their son Jackson, and two All-Terrain Pugs named Bierstadt and Petunia.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
by Carolyn E. Wright

The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be easily seen in one place in Tucson, Arizona. Known as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, this gorgeous and convenient site is host to a cornucopia of plants, birds and animals native to the desert. Home to more than 300 animal species and 1200 plants in natural settings, it is a photographer's paradise.

Located in the Tucson Mountain Park just a few miles outside of Tucson, the Desert Museum was founded in 1952. The private, nonprofit organization, dedicated to the conservation of the Sonoran Desert, offers a zoological park, a botanical garden, an art gallery and a geology museum. Read full article >

From the Archives:
Increasing Depth of Field through Focus Combining
by Christina Evans

One of the frustrating facts of photographic life with which macro shooters learn to deal is that depth of field drops as magnification increases. When I began trying to capture images of insects, I found that my dragonflies, for instance, could have sharp heads but not sharp tails, or vice versa - unless I was able to get a perfect side angle (and then I could forget about the wing tips). For some subjects, I'd need to sacrifice a smooth, clean background or forget about using attractive natural lighting in order to get the depth of field I wanted. The trade-offs involved were often not to my liking. Read full article >

Check out what’s NEW in the NatureScapes store:

NANUK Hard-Sided
Protective Cases

INDURO Dual-Action Ballheads

AquaTech Water Imaging Photo Gear

UPDATED: Help Wildlife Impacted by the Gulf Oil Spill
There is no other important topic than what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico with the oil disaster. This thread contains discussion as well as some important links for finding out how you might be able to volunteer or donate toward the cleanup effort. Read topic >

Help Wildlife Impacted by the Gulf Oil Spill Learn More >

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