Tim Fitzharris

I decided to check out our textbook author's website www.timfitzharris.com. I have to admit I was not entirely impressed with everything I found on there. It was a learning experience though, as now I know what a bull elk's penis looks like. Also, his bighorn sheep herd photos are blurry and upon further viewing I found that he intended to make them blurry for an artistic appeal, because the photo was also in the Reverie limited edition print section. To each their own, I guess. I like the photos where he pans with a moving animal and blurs out the background, like he did with the baby bison, but the all blurry approach I don't find appealing. The fine art print section was pretty spectacular, I especially liked the Alpine Vistas and Reflection landscape photos. The colors are breathtaking. Overall most of the photos were great he captures different colors extremely well. I think he's an amazing landscape photographer, but I was more moved by Tom Mangelsen's animal photos than Tim's.

Exposure

Exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium (film or digital image sensor) during the process of taking a photograph. Getting the perfect exposure isn't as easy as many think. There are many variables involved with getting a perfect exposure, such as aperture size and shutter speed.

Aperture is the size of the hole letting light in or the intensity of the light during the photo. A wide aperture results in a sharp image around what the lens is focusing on, which is good for wildlife or sports photography. A narrow aperture lets in less light and is useful for landscape photography because it creates a sharp focus on all the objects within the frame.

Shutter speed is the exposure time of a photograph. A fast shutter speed will capture a moving image quickly and combined with a wide aperture focusing on a subject, will create a sharp image of a moving athlete or animal. A slow shutter speed (obviously) takes longer for the exposure, and wouldn't be ideal for sports or animals where there is constant movement. This would make the image look blurry. A slow shutter speed and a narrow aperture are the setting ideal for a landscape because with the narrow opening you get a sharp focus on the entire image and the slow shutter speed allows enough light to get in through the narrow opening to catch the image.

The general rule of thumb is the wider the aperture the faster the shutter speed and a narrower aperture calls for a slower shutter speed.

Digital cameras have made this easier on photographers in many ways. One thing that you get with digital is the histogram which can give you instant detailed feedback on the accuracy of the exposure for your photos. The histogram graphs the luminance values in the frames and will give you advice on how to adjust the aperture or shutter speed if need be. Practicing on landscapes until you get this down is advised because if you are trying to capture wildlife such as a flying bird you may not get a second chance for a shot. Knowing how to use your equipment and what you want to shoot are also very important for getting the perfect exposure.

Tom Mangelsen

I went to Tom Mangelsen's website, www.mangelsen.com, after he was brought up in class to see what kind of photography he was into. His accolades are quite impressive he was named by BBC as "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" in 1994 and the North American Nature Photographer's "Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year in 2000." Most recently in 2005 he was named "One of the 100 Most Important People in Photography" by the American Photo Magazine, and was only one of two wildlife-environmental photographers selected for the list. Having got this introduction to him in his about Tom tab needless to say I was intrigued to see some of his work. I checked out his Spring 2009 limited edition section first and was wowed and not just because of the cost of some of his photos but by how great they are. The detail is amazing, I'm sure he has some ridiculously amazing camera and lenses to get that fine detail. He is an amazing landscape photographer but he has a real skill for capturing wildlife. His photos aren't just pictures of animals, they show the emotion, humor and lifestyle of the animals he captures. I didn't know who had shot the photo, but I've seen the the Peek-a-boo Polar Bear photo before. His photos are amazing and you could spend hours getting lost in his collection.

Super-telephoto Lenses

I don't have a DSLR camera yet, so I have no need for a super-telephoto lens at this point in time, but the advise given by Tim Fitzharris in his book "Nature Photography" proved to be very helpful. I don't know a whole lot about photography equipment, I just use my little point and click Nikon camera right now. I like to research things before I buy them, so all the advice I can get is helpful. I like his statement that if you're restless, not terribly big and like to get off the beaten path, then the 500mm is your focal length. This is good advice from an expert on the 500mm vs 600mm debate. Although, I am a long way away from purchasing a super-telephoto lens it is good to have this kind of input. I prefer to go off the beaten path and, while I'm not a sissy, I am also not the biggest bloke around, so the smaller lens will suit my amateur ambitions just fine. He has me sold on Canon lenses for their diffractive optical elements that eliminate chromatic aberrations and reduces the size and weight of the lenses by three-quarters and two-thirds respectively, now I just need to increase the size of my salary so I can afford one. Also, being one of the two companies that have image stabilization in their super-telephoto lenses makes Canon even more desirable. I don't pretend to understand all the technical advice he gives, but I guess I'll figure that out when I get new equipment that utilizes everything he is talking about.

Working in the Field, Winter Photography, Nature Photography's Year

I was happy to read in "Nature Photography" by Tim Fitzharris that the equipment I've gathered and used throughout the years will be able to cross over into my photography needs. I've always been an avid outdoors man and have quite a bit of outdoor clothing and gear. The first thing I thought of when he said invest in a vest was my fly fishing vest. While it isn't as rugged as the one he describes it has an incredible amount of pockets for all sorts of fishing gear and can easily be used for holding different camera equipment. I just need some money to fill those pockets with camera equipment.

I like Tim's use of every day household items for gear, especially the plastic bag rain cover. It's light, compact and best of all for my budget cheap. He has a lot of useful little tips for trimming down the amount of stuff you bring and ways to organize, which I like because as a backpacker I can understand the need for trimming down weight and keeping things simple and efficient.

I have gathered a whole wardrobe of clothing for hiking, backpacking and ice climbing over the years which will work well for photography in any season. I like how straight forward he is about cold weather, it can kill you. You need to be prepared for any outing in cold weather. Having a waterproof and windproof shell is invaluable. My Arcteryx shell is my favorite piece of gear. I climbed up a frozen waterfall that was dripping icy cold water on me throughout the climb. I came down coated in ice, but I was dry and comfortable underneath thanks to my shell.

One can not underestimate the need for wicking and warm base layers like capilene during the winter months either, having wicking clothing is great so long as, like Tim says, you vent properly. Wicking material is pointless if you trap that moisture in under your outer shell. I don't recommend forgoing the shell but like he suggests get one with armpit vents. Venting and regulating your temperature in these cold conditions is not just a good idea but can save your life. If you start feeling too warm remove a layer if you have to or take a moment to rest so you don't overheat. Hypothermia is a very real threat if you start sweating heavily while hiking and stop for a moment to shoot some photos or rest.

My camera takes lithium ion batteries and I always bring two in cold weather. It is vital that you do, with one kept next to your body for warmth. You will learn quickly that batteries are not made for extreme cold. I wasn't outside for more than a half hour before my camera said my battery was dead on an ice climbing trip, but if you just continue to swap the warm one with the cold one you can continue on. Something I didn't know but was glad to learn was the advise to bring a trash bag to put your camera equipment in to prevent moisture damage from condensation.

I think the winter months are a great time to take photos the light and dark contrasts are great and snow and ice can make for very dramatic photos.

His chapter "Nature Photography's Year" was a good reference for when to visit certain places throughout the year, if you have the time, money and vacation time to do so.

After mentioning that I was a fan of Andy Goldsworthy my professor suggested I check out Edward Weston. I went to his site http://www.edward-weston.com/ and found some amazing photographs. I've always admired Ansel Adams for his black and white nature photographs and Edward has a similar style. I especially liked his photographs of strange looking vegtables and fungus. I've always found mushrooms, fungus and lichens to be interesting topics for photos because of the variety of color that they provide. Weston's photos are great because they present a more dramatic picture than you get with color. Some of his family members followed him in the photography tradition and have pictures posted on the site which are also interesting .

Tripods

I was trying to find a reasonably priced, stable, light and durable tripod and found one that I think fits my budget and needs fairly well. The Slik PRO 700 DX is made of titanium, weighs 7 lbs, and costs $139.95 (before shipping). It can be raised to over 6 ft which is far more than my stature of 5'9" needs and can hold a load of 15lbs. It doesn't have quick release but I think I can forgo that feature until I have more money to spend on better equipment.

http://wize.com/tripods/p20732-slik-pro-700-dx