Several Images from a recent trip to Costa Rica where we focused primarily on photographing hummingbirds using multiple high speed flash techniques. I will be offering a workshop in Costa Rica where you can learn this technique for yourself while visiting one of the premier places in the world for bird photography.

Details will be announced soon.

Adobe has officially released their new version of Lightroom (Lightroom 4).

There have bee quite a few improvements made to this version of LR particullarly it’s ability to work with video files.   Here is Adobe’s list of new features.

New Features in Lightroom 4

• Lightroom 4 is a major release, adding significant new capabilities and innovations. New adjustment controls maximize dynamic range from cameras, recovering exceptional shadow details and highlights. The software features new and improved auto adjustments to dynamically set values for exposure and contrast, and additional local adjustment controls including Noise Reduction, Moire and White Balance.
• Lightroom 4 provides photographers the tools to create beautiful photo books with text controls and a variety of easy-to-use templates, as well as a direct link for photo book creation from within the new Book module. A new intuitive Map module displays images already assigned a location, provides location tagging and reverse geo-tagging controls and saved locations for easy assignment of a photographer’s common locations.
• Now, native video support gives photographers the capability to play, trim and extract frames from video clips shot on DSLRs, point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones. Video-specific presets and
  many standard Lightroom image adjustment controls can be applied to video clips, and adjusted videos can be exported as a H.264 file or published directly to Facebook or Flickr*.
• In the Develop module, presets fully utilize new processing technology and the addition of soft proofing helps photographers tune images in a destination color space to ensure content looks its best. In addition, customers can now email images directly from Lightroom using an email account of their choice.

Adobe has dropped the price of Lightroom significantly. The full version (which used to cost $299) will now be $149. The upgrade version will cost $79.

You can download it here:  Adobe Lightroom 4

The cause of irruptions is usually a serious drop in the populations of lemmings, a small rodent that is a primary food source for the owls. However, this year lemmings were born in huge numbers which allowed many more young snowy owls to survive the first months of their lives.  This influx in the snowy owl population means increased competition for food and has caused many owls to push from their home ranges in search of food.  All across the US from the Oregon to New Jersey people are experiencing these rare birds personally.

Here are some images from a bird in Minnesota I have been lucky enough to photograph.

Alaska coastal brown bear photographic workshop.

Alaska Brown Bears 2012
July 16th-21st 2012
Workshop is limited to a maximum of 5 participants

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Join us in Lake Clark National Park, the premier destination for Coastal Brown Bear photography.

We are excited to offer an unparalleled opportunity to photograph coastal brown bears in their natural habitat along the coastline of Cook Inlet in Lake Clark National Park. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in wildlife photography while learning tips and techniques to inform your photographic practice as well as understanding of brown bear behavior and habitat.

Lake Clark National Park is a pristine setting, home to a large population of coastal brown bears drawn here by the fishing and foraging opportunities provided by the tidal marshes, beaches, streams, and meadows nestled between the Chigmit Range and the western shore of Cook Inlet in the Gulf of Alaska.

For the duration of the trip we will stay in a comfortable lodge located in the midst of this habitat. In fact, brown bears are common visitors to the lodge property and can be found on any given day grazing, resting, or playing in the front yard. To reach this idyllic destination we will fly in on a small aircraft from Anchorage, landing on the beach in front of the lodge where we will be greeted by our hosts and quite often the bears themselves.

We will spend our days working the coastal terrain, photographing bears fishing for salmon, grazing in the meadows, digging for clams, and caring for their cubs. We will enjoy the services of an expert professional bear guide whose knowledge of bear behavior and the local terrain will be invaluable as we seek the best photographic opportunities possible. Our guide will also drive us between sites via ATV, in a comfortable trailer that will provide us the necessary mobility to provide maximum photographic opportunity.

This trip will be an immersion in brown bear photography: we will spend our days in the field photographing cubs, females, and male brown bears in a range of behaviors and habitats. Photographic instruction and guidance by Nathan will be available at all times to insure that you are able to make the most of your time in the park. Due to the nature of the setting, there will also be opportunities for landscape photography.

During downtimes, when we are not in the field, we will focus on image processing techniques, photo sharing, and constructive critique designed to help you improve your technique and master the techniques necessary to bring home great images of brown bears as well as inform your future photographic experiences.

As an added bonus we will be joined by award winning author, naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela. He will be on hand to lend his expertise in bear behavior, ecosystems and natural history. This is a great opportunity to learn from one of the best and we are extremely lucky to have Stan be a part of this trip.

This is the adventure of a lifetime: from the beginning boarding a small plane in Anchorage and landing on the beach, to viewing mother brown bears and cubs up close, no moment will disappoint.

To make the most of your trip we recommend the following photographic equipment:

• Laptop – a laptop will be necessary for photo sharing and image processing, an essential component of digital photography and the learning process
• 100-400mm range lens for wider shots including full bear shots and landscapes
• 500-600mm range lens with tripod for full frame shots and close ups.
• Full list of gear including clothing will be provided with registration packet.

Home cooked meals will be prepared in the lodge kitchen by resident staff. If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance and we will be happy to accommodate.

Dates: July 16th-21th 2012 (5 days, 5 nights)
Cost: $3900
Deposit: $500
Participants: 5 Maximum

Price includes:

• Round trip flight to and from the lodge via Anchorage, AK
• All lodging (double occupancy -limited single supplement additional $500)
• All meals throughout our stay
• Transportation at the site
• Boat charter to Puffin Island (weather permitting)
• Guide services, in the field instruction and bear viewing
• Tips for the guide and the lodge staff
• Permits and park fees

Not Included:

• Travel to Anchorage, AK and lodging or meals for any nights in Anchorage.

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Alaska is one of the best places in the world to photograph wild brown bears and we are excited to be able to offer a photographic adventure to do just that.  Join us July 16th-21st 2012 for our Brown Bear instructional workshop in Lake Clark National Park for 5 days of amazing photographic opportunities and in-field instruction.

Learn more here.

Alaska is one of the best places in the world to photograph wild brown bears and we are excited to be able to offer a photographic adventure to do just that.  Join us July 16th-21st 2012 for our Brown Bear instructional workshop in Lake Clark National Park for 5 days of amazing photographic opportunities and in-field instruction.

Learn more here.

http://welcometothearctic.org/

You can also watch a video of Florian in action.  It is fantastic.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/polar-bears/polar-bear-video

Here are a few of the specs:
Full Frame Sensor
18.1MP
Dual DIGIC 5+ – 17 Times The Processing Power of DIGIC 4
ISO 100-51200 Native
100,000 Pixel RGB Metering Sensor
EOS iSA (Intelligent Subject Analysis)
61 Point AF
21 f/5.6 Cross Type Sensors
20 f/4 Cross Type Sensors
5 f/2.8 Cross Type Senors
EOS iTR AF (Intelligent Tracking & Recognition Auto Focus)
12 Frames Per Second
14 Frames Per Second JPG Only
400,000 Shot Rated Shutter
Ethernet Connection
March Availability

Check out the official Canon press release here.

Canon EOS-1D X Front

Canon EOS-1D X Back

Canon EOS-1D X

Black Bears With Cubs 2012
June 8th-10th 2012
Workshop is limited to a maximum of 5 participants

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“The best place in North America to photograph black bears and their cubs in their natural habitat.” – Len Rue Sr.

Join us in Orr Minnesota for a unique opportunity to photograph wild black bears and their cubs in the Northwoods of Minnesota.  Our primary focus will be on the newly born spring cubs who call these woods their home.  They are highly inquisitive, always playful and with more than 50 bears who are known to visit the sanctuary it is a one of a kind wildlife experience.

As well as photographic instruction you will gain first hand knowledge of bear biology, behavior and habitat.  All instruction will occur in the field to give each photographer as much time as possible with the bears.

“This is a unique experience that provides outstanding opportunities for intimate bear photography.” – Stan Tekiela

$1295 includes photographic instruction, and all sanctuary fees.

$500 deposit is required with the balance due 60 days before
date of workshop.

Black Bear With Cubs Workshop 2012

Deposit $500.00 Pay in full $1,295.00 Pay balance less deposit $795.00