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NatureScapes.net Monthly Newsletter - March 2012

Long-tailed Duck by Alan Murphy

"Male Long-tailed Duck in breeding plumage flying over an arctic pond in Barrow Alaska."

Equipment Used: Nikon D3, Nikkor 600mm lens, Wimberely gimbal head, Gitzo GT3540LS tripod, ISO 1000, f7, 1/3200.

BEHIND THE LENS: This month's photography tip, interview, and trip report
  Copyright Alan Murphy PHOTOGRAPHY TIP Red-winged Blackbird

To get this image of the Red-winged Blackbird in flight, I filled a very thin tray feeder (pencil box) with seed. The Blackbirds would fight for position on this small feeder, and would explode in the air fighting. I pre-focused on the thin feeder using manual focus. Once focus was locked, I raised my lens so the feeder was at the bottom of the frame. When I saw the Blackbirds start to squabble and fight, I just started firing at 10 frames per second. It took a lot of empty frames and many frames with bird parts, but every now and then a nugget would show up in the form of a great flight pose that was razor sharp.

–Alan Murphy
Forum Moderator, Birds Forum
 
  Alan Murphy NSN INTERVIEW Alan Murphy

Birds Forum moderator Alan Murphy is no stranger to the bird photography scene. Over his many years of observing and photographing songbirds, Alan, who has been with NatureScapes.Net from the beginning, has perfected the art of photographing birds using a number of creative techniques. He is often regarded as the expert in perched bird setups and shares his secrets through his popular instructional workshops and top selling ebook, Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography. In this interview, Alan tells how he first got into photographing birds and shares a number of tips. Continue reading »

 
  Copyright Alan Murphy WORKSHOP TRIP REPORT St. Paul Island, Alaska

One of my fondest memories of St. Paul is sitting on the rocky cliffs with my group of workshop participants while Fur seals played below in the crystal clear waters of the Bering Sea. Surrounded by ocean mist and arctic flowers, we photographed both Horned and Tufted Puffins as they flew by at eye level. With so many species flying up to the cliffs to feed their young, it was tough to decide which one to point your lens at. Thick-billed and Common Murres were nesting just a few feet below where we sat and the coming and going of Least, Parakeet and Crested Auklets kept the scene in front of us a bird photographers paradise.

I was able to do setups for all the songbird species on the island and capture them in all their splendor. Besides all the wonderful birds, we also managed many close up images of Arctic Fox and their cubs, Fur seals and a large herd of Reindeer. The rolling grassy hills and steep cliffs made for many great landscape images, and there were numerous arctic wildflowers for the macro shooters.

For 2012, Greg Downing and I will be leading a group there in early August to coincide with the birds bringing fish back to their young. This will provide incredible flight shot opportunities as the birds return to their nests with beaks full of fish. Since Greg and I have been there before, we know of every location to get the best possible images of every species. With only a few spots open, I hope to see some of you there.

Learn more about this workshop or register »

 
Around the World in Black and White - Silver Efex Pro Webinar with host Greg Downing
  Featured Articles  
  Copyright Jessy C. Eykendorp Beautiful Kawah Ijen: The World's Largest Acidic Volcanic Crater Lake
by Jessy C. Eykendorp

More than 450 volcanoes sit along the Pacific Ring of Fire, stretching in a horseshoe like arch from just north of New Zealand, up and around the Pacific coast to Peru and Chile. Scientist estimate that between 100-150 of these volcanoes are still active, containing 75 percent of… Continue reading »

 
  Copyright Tim Grey Why Camera Settings Don't Matter
by Tim Grey

In a recent edition of my daily Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter, I addressed the following question posed by a reader: "If I photograph in both RAW and JPEG, is the histogram reading the RAW or the JPEG?" Continue reading »

 
  Copyright Piper Mackay Nature's Other Element: The Art of Photographing Extraordinary Subjects
by Piper Mackay

As nature photographers and artists, we are enthralled with world. Though most of us shoot a rich variety of subjects, we are each drawn to special subjects that particularly inspire us. Humans are as much a part of nature as the animals and plants especially those living in rhythm with the earth. The Omo Valley, home to some of the most ornate tribes in Africa, is an area such as this and one that has… Continue reading »

 
  Copyright Greg Russell The Need for Wilderness
by Greg Russell

It is my fourth morning waking up in the desert. Red dirt fills my pores, and has combined with sweat to form a sort of "desert varnish" over most of my body—a strangely welcome feeling that instantly evokes memories of summer on the Colorado Plateau during my youth. I climb out of my sleeping bag, fetch my tripod and camera and walk up the ridge. Below me, a deer moves… Continue reading »

 
  Copyright Carolyn E. Wright Venice Rookery
by Carolyn E. Wright

Love is in the air at the Venice Rookery. The birds (and the bees) are there doing the thing they are so famous for, and you can take pictures of it! Seriously, though, the Venice Rookery is an ideal spot to photograph birds mating, building their nests, fighting for territory and feeding their chicks. It's a requisite for bird photographers, and sheer delight for the rest of us. Continue reading »

 
  Featured Workshops  
  St. Paul Island, Alaska Lake Clark, Alaska  
  Due to a cancellation we now have spots open in each the April 14-17, 2012 Rookeries by Boat and the April 18-21, 2012 Osprey by Boat Series in Florida!  
  Copyright Greg Downing   Copyright Greg Downing   Copyright Greg Downing   Copyright Greg Downing  
  Sarasota, FL West Coast Bird Rookeries By Boat Register Now   Vero, FL Osprey by Boat Series Register Now   St. Augustine, FL Historic Coast Technical Series Register Now   Costa Rica Hummingbirds & Toucans Workshop Register Now  
 
April 10-13 6 max (1 open)
April 14-17 SOLD OUT
May 8-11 SOLD OUT
 
April 18-21 6 max (2 open)
May 4-7 SOLD OUT
  April 30-May 3
10 max (3 open)
  July 14-23
8 max (2 open)
 
  Loons and More - Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada  
  Featured Events  
  Join Judy Bingman Photography at Regale Winery and Vineyards March 11, 2012 Regale Winery and Vineyards  
  Judy Bingman About Judy:

Judy began her professional career as a wildlife photographer in 1996 after discovering her talent and passion for the art during photography safaris and trips to as wildly diverse areas as Africa, Antarctica, the Arctic Wilderness, South America, and Europe, Northern Canada's Churchill, Florida, Yellowstone—in winter, Arizona, and Yosemite.

Judy Bingman has been a long-time NatureScapes supporter and workshop attendee with her next workshop being St. Paul Island this summer with Greg Downing and Alan Murphy. Her exhibit will include 2 large metal hummingbird prints from her last NSN workshop.

Learn more about Judy on her blog and be sure to check out her gallery.

 
10th Annual Florida's Birding & Photo Fest - April 25-29, 2012
  Store Specials  
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