Check out my new Macro Critter Contest http://www.pbase.com/mgm123/macro_contest
Send me your best macro critter shots to win
1st Place wins a Fuji Finepix F80 EXR Camera
12 MegaPixels – 10X Wide Zoom – 3.0″ LCD
2nd Place, wins a Interfit 5 in 1 reflector from Outdoor Photo Gear
3rd place, wins one year subscription from Outdoor Photographer Mag
Four Runner-ups each win one of my E-Books
The Spring 2011 Macro Boot Camps are on my storefront and ready for those wanting to sign-up. Here are the offerings
Register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Quality Inn, Carlsbad, California (north of San Diego) February 4,5,6.
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Courtyard Marriot, Farmington Hills, Mich. (southeast Michigan)March 11,12,13
2011 Macro Boot Camp – New England’s largest photo retailer “Hunt’s Photo” presents this workshop at the Courtyard Marriot, Woburn, MA (near Boston) March 25, 26, 27.
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Hampton Inn, Skokie, Illinois, (near Chicago) April 1,2,3
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Courtyard Marriot, Farmington Hills, Mich. (southeast Michigan) April 29,30,May1
Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography.
Sponsored by
Tamron – Lensbaby – Nik Software – Hunt’s Photo – Think Tank Photo – Helicon Focus – PhotoFlex – Outdoor Photo Gear – Outdoor Photographer Magazine
This will be an in depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment. It is for the beginner to the intermediate photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.
Times:
Friday 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 10th 9:00am – 2:00pm
Mike will cover cameras,lenses,tripods,heads and special macro accessories. How to create artistic images using a Lensbaby. Focus Stacking images with Helicon Focus. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind box for shooting flowers. Shooting high magnification with a focusing rail. How to control lighting with diffusers, reflectors, and a plamp. Most new to macro photographers stuggles with depth of field, but Mike will make this easy to understand.
Learn the rules of composition for composing and framing your subjects. Mike will show you how to choose the perfect flower out of a grouping. With all the chaos in nature you will learn how to define the interesting subjects from the clutter. Choosing the right shooting angles for the proper background that compliments the main subject. Creating artistic compositions with flowers. How to create art combing subjects in nature.
Learn Mike’s techniques for processing images with photoshop and Nik software programs
Bring your camera, lens, tripod, because Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.
Lensbaby will be providing lens for you to try out.
You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.
Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered by Hunt’s Photo and Outdoor Photo Gear.
Cost $149.00
For more information call Mike at (586)770-3992.
Register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
The Fall September Macro Boot Camp in Rochester Hills, Michigan is SOLD OUT, so I’ve added a new boot camp in Lansing, Michigan. Details below.
LANSING, MICHIGAN MACRO BOOT CAMP
Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography.
Sponsored by
Tamron – Lensbaby – Nik Software – Hunt’s Photo – Helicon Focus – PhotoFlex – Outdoor Photo Gear – Outdoor Photographer Magazine
This will be an in-depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment. It is for the beginner to the intermediate photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.
Where: University Quality Inn, Lansing, Michigan
Hotel just a short distance from Capitol City Airport, with shuttles service from hotel.
Special room rates for workshop participants.
Dates and Times :
October 8th 5:00pm – 8:00pm
October 9th 9:00am – 5:00pm
October 10th 9:00am – 2:00pm
Mike will cover cameras, macro lenses, Lensbabies, the best tripods and heads for macro, special macro accessories, stacking images with Helicon Focus, composing, and learning how to see the artwork in nature. Learn how to control depth of field. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind shield for shooting flowers. Camera positioning for that perfect background. When and how to use reflectors, diffusers, plamps, focusing rails, and more. Mike shows his image processing using Photoshop and the latest Nik Software.
Bring your camera and lens because Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.
Lensbaby will be providing lenses for you to try out.
You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.
Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered in a Hunt’s Photo flyer.
Limited availability, so don’t wait long to register or you may miss out. September boot camp sold out in a few weeks.
If you register and pay before July 1st, you will receive free, Mike’s e-book, “Running A Successful Nature Photography Business” ($39.00 value).
Cost $149.00
Register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
For more information, call Mike at (586)770-3992. Visit Mike’s website at, www.tinylandscapes.com
Anything goes in this macro contest, send me your artistic nature abstracts, processed images using any photoshop filters or software programs you can get your hands on, soft focus abstract flowers, lensbaby shots, blurs, spins, multi exposures, whatever, just make it cool looking to win.
Winner gets a $250 gift from Canvas On Demand
2nd place, wins $50 gift from Hunt’s Photo
3rd place, wins $25 gift from Outdoor Photo Gear
4th place, wins one year subscription from Outdoor Photographer Mag
Four Runner-ups each win one of my E-Books
FREE TO ENTER
Contest running now thru May 18th, winner announced on May 20th, 2010
Submit three of your best macro nature abstract shots for a chance to win.
The best image from each photographer’s submission will be posted along with their name and tech info on my website during the contest. Images will be posted at (www.tinylandscapes.com)
I will be judging for the most unique looking image.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit only three images, jpegs at 200kb or less.
Winning images from my past contest may not be entered
Open to amateurs or those with some photo income / excluded full time pro photographers
Contestant represents and warrants that he or she is the sole and exclusive owner of each image entered.
The Mike Moats Macro Abstract Contest will not claim any rights or use of any image without the permission of the contestant.
Please include, name, camera make and lens.
Send images to Mike Moats at, mgmoats@yahoo.com
GOOD LUCK!
Last Thursday I spent a few hours at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s an amazing indoor botanical garden of tropical and desert eco systems. The month of March and April are “Butterflies In Bloom”. They release tons of butterflies for the two months. I happen to be in the area and thought I would check it out.
I was more interested in the plants then the B-flies, but you can’t ignore them. The problem during these two months is they don’t allow tripods because of the crowded conditions. I’m not happy when I’m shooting in a crowd and during these two months the butterflies draw a good crowd, so I had to shoot with lots of people. NO TRIPODS! this sucks because I suck at hand holding shots.
I was shooting with the Tamron 180mm macro on an overcast day and limited light. I shot everything at f/3.5 and 1600 ISO to get the shutter speed up. Even with the higher shutter speeds in the 180/sec range I still scraped most of the images because of camera movement. The lighting in the images was fine, but my hand holding destroyed most of the images.
I ended up with a few images that I was okay with. I had only two butterfly images that were border line keepers as the sharpness was not what I wanted and the comps were just okay. It’s tough shooting when you only have one angle from the walkway. You can’t walk into the garden and explore different views of the subject. In most cases you have one position and that’s it. Here’s a few images that worked out okay.
One day I will go back but it will be when the butterflies are not there and you can bring your tripod in.
LANDSCAPES/ CLOSE-UPS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DESIGN
Take your Nature Photography to the Next Level……………
With, Bill Fortney, Mike Moats and Jack Graham
______________________________________________
Townsend, TN (Great Smoky National Park)…….
July 29 – Aug 1st $ 1050.00
_______________________________________________
Photography is a medium that is heavily reliant on lots of equipment. Though having competent equipment and properly using it will give you the chance to make a great photography, there are certain rules, practices and concepts that one must adhere to in order to be able to produce consistently good images. In many ways consistency is what separates the professional Nature photographers (and non nature photographers as well!) from the pack
Poppy Abstract ©Mike Moats
When the format of this workshop was in its formative stages, we talked about wanting to bring you a different kind of workshop. Rather than photographing in a location, coming back to the classroom and talk about why the image was photographed at F8 at 1/ 125 sec etc… the main focus for these 3 days will mainly consist of what goes into the thought process in making winning photographs. Though there will be some of that, the emphasis will be more on the concepts of thinking and photographic Design than what F stop you might have used.
This workshop will be conducted in a classroom environment as well as some time in the field. Learning from three established, award winning nature photographers is invaluable. Both Close up photography and Landscape photography will be covered, as much of the subject overlaps.
Rarely will you find three photographers, all in one workshop at the expertise of Bill, Mike and Jack. We hope you can attend this practical as well as inspirational workshop.
Blue Door, Santa Fe NM © Bill Fortney
We will spend time discussing the basic’s that we’ve all come to know the importance of, however we will cover some of the more challenging aspects of making quality nature photographs.
Foggy Sunrise in the Marsh ©Jack Graham
Finding inspiration will also be part of our workshop. Experiences that Bill, Mike and Jack have all learned from will be included in this discussion. Nature photography is not just about what F-stop to use or what ISO to shoot at. It’s about dealing with artistic nuances, getting motivated when frustration jumps in and how you grow as a nature photographer.
Foothills, Bill Fortney
We won’t guarantee that you’ll walk away and become the next Galen Rowell in one weekend, but the theories and thoughts that you’ll be exposed to will allow you to go home, practice your craft and take your photography to the next level.
These topics and more will be covered by Bill, Mike and Jack
>how to put yourself in the proper frame of mind, preparing
>how to find subject matter, learning how to look and see
>elements of a great photograph, tonalities, emotional impact, balancing, framing and more
>how to compose a great photograph
>how to choose the right lens and perhaps filters
>how to properly “work” the scene
>developing your personal style
>how to evaluate your images
>yes, we will discuss both compositional & proper exposure technique as well
…………….. and more
You will be able to view many of our images; we will go into depth on how each image was made. In addition we will be doing critiques of images we’ll be asking you to bring along.
Blue Hen Falls, Cyuahoga National Park, Ohio ©Jack Graham
In addition, we will take time in the mornings, and late afternoon/ evenings to escape into The Great Smoky National Park where will apply all we have been learning. You will work side by side with Bill, Mike and Jack and be able to ask questions, set up scenes and continue the classroom discussions, there I the field. We will then look at your images back in the classroom and offer our input.
This is not a post processing seminar; however we will touch on how to use post processing to your advantage to take your image to the next level.
LOGISTICS etc…
HOTEL LOCATION
The workshop will be based in Townsend TN
Nearest Airport: Knoxville, TN
Townsend, TN
Valley View Lodge
865-448-2237
A TYPICAL DAY
Daily itineraries will be sent out a few weeks prior to the workshop
Thursday: July 29 — Meeting at the hotel about 7PM
Friday July 30 ——– Morning shoot, morning classroom Lunch Break, Afternoon Classroom, late Afternoon/evening shoot/ evening classroom session
Saturday, July 31——– Morning shoot, morning classroom Lunch Break, Afternoon Classroom, late Afternoon/evening shoot/ evening classroom session
Sunday, Aug 1st——– Morning shoot, morning classroom.
The workshop will end around Noon-1pm for those who need to travel home on Sunday.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
1) You can go to http://jackgrahamphoto.com/tours.php?osCsid=85cdf891db7905a0a82cc8c6c83282da
And click on the registration document link towards the bottom of the page
2) You can contact Jack Graham (information below) and I’ll email you
For more information, please feel free to contact Jack Graham at jack@jackgrahamphoto.com
Or at 503-625-1430
A deposit of 250.00 is required to reserve your space. Checks and credit cards are accepted, Deposit refund information can be found on the registration form as well.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ABOUT BILL, MIKE AND JACK
BILL FORTNEY
Bill Fortney is a professional photographer of 38 years experience. Bill has been a newspaper and magazine photojournalist, & sports photographer, (He was the official photographer for the Washington Redskins in their strike shortened Super Bowl Championship season). Bill has done medical photography, commercial, annual report work. For the last fifteen years Bill has been one of America’s leading nature photographers, founding the Great American Photography Workshop Company.
A much sought after speaker, Bill was once called in a newspaper article, “the Will Rogers of Photography”. His best selling books include; The Nature of America, America From 500 Feet, American Vision, and Bill Fortney’s Great Photography Workshop, “Getting Serious About Outdoor Photography.” Bill’s book sales well exceed 100,000 copies, making him one of the top photographer/authors in America. America From 500 Feet was one of the largest selling aviation photography books of all time. Six years ago Bill joined Nikon as a Nikon Professional Services technical representative. He covers the Southern U.S. and is Nikon’s liaison representative for the natural history market for all of America. Bill lives in Corbin, Kentucky, (when he is not on a Delta jet), with his wife Sherelene. He has three adult children and six grandchildren.
MIKE MOATS
Mike Moats is an award winning, professional Nature Photographer from Sterling Heights, Michigan. I started shooting as a hobby in 2001 and it quickly grew into a full time business. To date Mike has had articles and images published in, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, Natures Best Magazine, PC Photo Magazine, Nature Photographer Magazine, Photo life, Whisper In The Woods, Michigan Game Finder, NANPA’s Expressions Books, Pure Michigan Book, and Fujifilm’s Newsletter (Cable Release),write for Tamron’s blog, and two images on front covers.
Mike has won numerous local and international awards, and in 2006 was asked to join the Fuji Pro Talent Team. In 2009 Mike was added as a Macro Master on the Tamron Website.
Mike moderates the Macro galleries at www.naturephotographers.net and www.birdphotographers.net
In 2006 Mike began offering Close-Up/Macro Photography Workshops.
Mike’s first book was released in Oct 2008 and is called Tiny Landscapes. Mike now has authored
Three e-Books sold through on his website. www.tinylandscapes.com
The bulk of Mike’s income comes from sales of my prints which I market through art shows, art consultants, exhibits, and online through my website. http://www.tinylandscapes.com www.MikeMoatsBooks.com & www.MikeMoatsBlog.com
Jack Graham
Jack Graham began photographing nature in the mid seventies while living in the New York City/ New Jersey metropolitan area. While attending Indiana University Jack began to explore the rural landscapes of Southern Indiana. Here is where the appreciation of the natural world began. The rolling hills of Southern Indiana became the integral backdrop and formation of what would lead establishing the vision that is present within Jack today.
Jack now resides near Portland Oregon, in the heart of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Jack has led his own photo tours in California, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, the Midwest as well as the Pacific Northwest. He has been a field instructor with numerous seminars and photo tours led by many famous nature photographers. By photographing and learning, from such photographers as John Shaw, Jack Dykinga, Art Wolfe, Galen Rowell, Frans Lanting, David Muench, Bill Fortney and others, both his inspiration as well as technique has, and continues to be cultivated.
Jack now leads his own “Photo Classroom in the Field®” workshops throughout the United States as well as others for the Great American Photography Weekend organization. Recently Jack and Mike Moats have joined forces in developing the Macro & More photo workshops stressing both macro as well as landscape photography in some of the best locations around. Jack also offers single day, workshops for extensive one on one instruction. Jack’s workshops are sponsored by Nikon, Really Right Stuff, NIK Software, Think Tank, Lensbaby, Digital Foci Photograph America Newsletter and NANPA.
Jack has been successful in publication and stock photography as well. Credits include Outdoor Photography, Nature’s Best Photography, NANPA”S Expressions 2009, California Wild, Current’s (NANPA) and many DNR publications, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Chicago Wilderness and Sierra Club publications as well as many calendar credits. Corporate work includes prints and stock applications for internal as well as publication use.
Jack is a member of NANPA( North American Nature Photographers Association), and serves on NANPA’s Awards Committee; FNAWS (Federation for North American Wild Sheep, Mono Lake Committee, & SUWA (Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance). Jack can be contacted for workshop as well as speaking engagements via E-Mail at jack@jackgrahamphotography.com
Winter in the north for macro photographers can be a bit challenging. Basically every thing is colorless which doesn’t sell very well for me. Once every thing gets covered in snow it really limits what you can shoot. This is the time of year when I do my scouting for the spring. I get out and hike areas I haven’t been to before and make notes based on the terrain and any possible hot spots for the spring. It’s good to be out and connected to the outdoors, keeps you in shape hiking for a couple hours a few days a week, and you may find a great new location. I don’t carry my camera as I want to travel light during these scouting trips. If I would happen upon something that would be worth shooting I can always come back with the camera.
THINK SPRING!
I have photographers that email me asking about my print sizes. One thing you need to consider when creating your sizes is will they fit a standard size frame that can be purchased economically. Not everyone wants to spend the money on custom framing. Custom framing can be costly but it will add an artistic overall look that will enhance the artwork. What I have found is the majority of my customers at the art shows are going to Michael’s crafts, Hobby Lobby, etc. to buy their frames. How do I know this, I ask them. Nothing will make a customer madder than when they go to the store and can’t find a frame to fit your artwork, and now have to pay the price for custom framing.
Here are the four sizes I use.
8 x 10, 11 x 14, 18 x 24, 24 x 36
Always check the local stores to see what sizes they carry before you decide what will work best for your customers.
Ckeck out the Pro Advice link in the top right of this blog.
Only a few spots left for the Macro Boot Camp in March.
Dig out and dust off your old light table and put it to use as backlighting for macro subjects. When I started in photography in 2001 I bought a few nature magazines and noticed all the pros were using Velvia slide film, so I used slide film which required me to buy a light table to view the slides.
I only shot film for three years and then made the change to digital. The light tables has been dark until I found a use for it. It works great for backlighting which creates a special look to your images. You need subjects that are somewhat transparent for the best results.
Here is a group of Beech leaves I arranged on the light table and below is a Turkey feather I found in my local park. I added a drop of water to the feather to add a little interest.
See my new Pro Advice link in the top right side of the this blog.
In marketing the word “branding” is something that every business wants and needs. If you’re driving down a road and see golden arches you immediately think of McDonald’s, and when you hear someone say “just do it” you think of Nike.
Companies use these logos and slogans over and over in their advertising, product packaging, etc, to tatoo their company name or product into your brain.
Can branding work for photographers?
Yes I believe that you can brand yourself by shooting with a unique stlye that sets you apart from other photographers. Your images are your logo that people will connect to you the photographer every time they see them.
Have you ever seen a photograph that by its style alone you can idenifly the photographer that produced it?
When people view a black and white photo of a landscape from Yosemite they tend to think of Ansel Adams. People in the art world can identify painters by a certain style they’ve created or even the type of brush strokes they use.
Finding a certain look or style that sets you apart from the rest of the photographers will put your brand in the viewers mind.
I was looking over my images from 2009 and decide to pick my ten favorite images.
They are in no order as far as which ones I like best.
#1) I’ve seen this type of shoot done before and went out one dewy morning with this image in mind. I was lucky to find an interesting combination of grass and dew. Placed the oxeyed dasiy in the background.
#2) We didn’t have a lot of frosty mornings this year, but I did catch one morning of frost and got this nice comp.
#3) I found this stump that had this interesting pattern and a hole that I liked, but I thought it needed a little color so I added these tiny flowers which I believe are called Morning Stars. They are only about three quarters of an inch and the area you see is maybe five by seven inches.
#4) This flower is from a May Apple plant. The top is like a big leafy umbrella and a single flower grows under the umbrella. I like the way this looks with a soft focus.
#5) Shot this bee on golden rod with the new Tamron 60mm macro lens, very nice fast shooting wide aperture lens.
#6) Shot this while co-teaching a workshop with Jack Graham in the Eastern Sierras. It’s a trunk of a Briste Cone Pine tree.
#7) This shot was inspired by my photographer friend Jack Graham. I had seen this comp done by Jack and liked it enough to shot my own.
#8) This was from a dewy morning when the fall color was pretty much gone, so I brought these flowers out with me with this comp in mind. I like the contrast of the color against the muted leaves. The dew adds a nice touch on the leaves.
#9) The color and condition of the Sumac bushes this year was awesome. I’ve shots these many time with a lot of focus, but this year I decided I wanted a more soft abstract feel. The early morning sun was the bright backlighting.
#10) Here’s a cute beetle in some grass.
I was pretty happy with many of images I shot last year so had a tough time picking ten, Hope you liked them.
When December rolls in the cold weather here in the north I start getting excited to shoot abstracts in ice. The first ice is when these abstracts form. I find small streams in the woods where I live and follow the edges in search of this interesting artwork. It happens in the first ice formations at the edges of the streams. As the ice starts to thicken you lose the patterns. I shoot these using a longer focal length macro lens like the Tamron 180mm. You will be shooting from the bank and need the extra reach of the longer focal length. I shoot these in the highest f/stops to bring in all the details. Very cool stuff.
Once the stream ice thickens and I lose the cool patterns, I move to the lakes. Search out the edges of frozen lakes where fall leaves have blown into the lake and froze. On a warm sunny days you will get melted patterns in the ice above the leaves. You can shoot these with any macro lens as you will be nice and close and you’ll be shooting a flat subject so just position your tripod directly over top of the leaf and shoot in the F/8 range.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post on my blog called So you want to be a nature a photographer. I also posted it on two online nature photography sites, NaturePhotographers.net and BirdPhotographers.net which I moderate the macro forums. The view counter on the post has soared to almost 900 views while most posts attracted well less than five hundred views with a few highly controversial subjects that have reached this high or slightly more. The amount of people commenting was also very high compared to the other posts. The one thing I’ve learned in over twenty-five years in three different businesses is you listen and pay attention to what going on in that business. The attention and curiosity of this post made me think that there are a lot of photographers interested in the business side of nature photography. I will post more on this subject and sometimes it will be subjective and controversial, but hopefully a learning experience. So stop back and check it out and hopefully post your opinions. It’s okay to disagree with my opinions as long as you do it in a civil way, if not I have the delete button. 🙂
This e-book is designed as a guide to help you with composition in your macro photography. It will cover image placement, how to use contrast, depth of field, light, visual weight, textures, lines, and color to enhance your images. Tips on seeing the images in the field. Cost only $9.95. To purchase go to www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography. www.tinylandscapes.com
Sponsored by
Tamron – Lensbaby – Photoflex – Hunt’s Photo – Helicon Focus – Nik Software – Outdoor Photo Gear
This will be an in depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment. It is for the beginner to the advanced photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.
Where; The Embassy Suites Hotel, Livonia, Michigan (just outside Detroit)
Dates and Times :
March 26th 5:00pm – 8:00pm
March 27th 9:00am – 5:00pm
March 28th 9:00am – 2:00pm
Mike will cover macro lenses, Lensbabies, the best tripods and heads for macro, special macro accessories, stacking images with Helicon Focus, reversing lenses. Composing, and learning how to see the artwork in nature. Learn how to control depth of field. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind shield for shooting flowers. Camera positioning for that perfect background. When and how to use reflectors, diffusers, plamps, focusing rails, and more. Mike shows his image processing using Photoshop and Nik Software.
Bring your camera because Tamron and Lensbaby will be providing lens for you to try out. Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.
You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.
Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered in a Hunt’s Photo flyer.
Each participant is encouraged to bring five prints of their best macro shots to share
The Embassy Hotel will offer special room rates for this event.
Lunch on Saturday and Sunday included in the price of workshop.
Limited to forty participants, so don’t wait to register or you may miss out.
If you register and pay before January 1st, you will receive a free PDF of Mike’s e-book, “Running A Successful Nature Photography Business” ( $39.00 value).
For more information or to register by credit card, call Mike at (586)770-3992 or (586)264-7100
Or register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
Lensbaby introduced its new fisheye attachment today. I had a chance to play with this lens last month and found it very interesting and a creative tool. I only wish I had more time to spend with it but hopefully this month things slow a little so I’ll paly some more. Check it out at www.lensbaby.com
This top image made it on the lensbaby website (fisheye images) to promote the new lens.
Back from the workshop in the Eastern Sierras, had good weather and everyone had a good time shooting. Shot at mono lake, and if you every get a chance to visit the ghost town of Bodie, it’s very cool and a great place to shoot some intresting macro images in the old buildings. We also got to visit and shoot the bristle cone pines that grow on the top of a mountain at 11,000 feet. Haven’t had time to process any of the images I shot but hopefully this week I will have time to post some.
Yesterday I was at the Rock Financial Showplace for the Great Lakes Fine Art Show. It also runs today and tomorrow from 10:00am till 6:00pm and is located in Novi, Michigan. Anyone in the area stop by and say hi.
The fall color in lower Michigan is starting to turn. So far the color looks really good. The last couple years the leaves have been blotchy and lacking good colors. This years the leaves have great color and no blotches. So looking for some great opportunities for images.
I’ve been shooting with the new Tamron 60mm macro and Tamrons new 17-50mm lens and will post a review and some of the images.
In 2010 I will be offering a photoshop workshop that will also feature the Nik software programs. They will be one day workshops held in Rochester Hills, Michigan. No dates set yet, but will I will post info as I put them together.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/onlinecourses/ will be starting their new online workshops on November 1st. I will be teaching the macro workshop.
The Nature Photographers Network™ is pleased to present its series of online nature photography courses. NPN online courses are conducted in “virtual classroom” private forums and are instructed by today’s top nature photography professionals. Students are granted access to the virtual classroom for the duration of the course. All lessons and interaction with the instructor – and other students – take place in the virtual classroom.
Each course includes six lessons, which are presented in publication-quality PDF format. Each lesson is allotted one week for completion and includes a shooting assignment. The student may post questions in the virtual classroom at any time during the week for the instructor to answer. Once the assignment is completed, the student will post their work in the virtual classroom for instructor and peer review. At the completion of the course, each student will receive a personalized Certificate of Completion.
You can pay for the course via your PayPal account or directly with a credit card. We are so confident that you will enjoy and benefit from any of our online nature photography courses that we offer a no-hassle, no-questions-asked 100% satisfaction guarantee. Once the course commences, you have 14 days to cancel and receive a full refund.
We look forward to your participation!
Any one looking to sign up for the macro course go to http://www.naturephotographers.net/onlinecourses/
I’m writing this from my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. In town to do the St. James Court Art Show. This art show is rated in Sunshine Artist magazine as the second best art show in the county. Draws around 250,000 people over three days and has over seven hundred artist from across the county. Stop in and say hi if you’re in the area.
Over Labor Day weekend I was in Harrisville, Michigan exhibiting at an art show. I arrived Friday morning to set up, and I had the afternoon off to go out and do some shooting. I was staying at a friends home during the show and we planed to head to an old light house on Lake Huron, where I wanted to shoot some of the colorful rocks off the point of the lighthouse. We waded out into about a foot of the cold clear water and began shooting abstracts of the rocks. The wave action that was hightlighted by the sunlight create interesting patterns as it distorted the colorful rocks. I was shooting some macro images earlier with my Tamron 90mm macro and decide to use it when I ventured out for these images. My settings for the three images were, f/8. shutter 1/2000, and ISO 1600. The high shutter speed stop the movement of the waves and captured some interesting lines in the rocks. In the last image I caught a wave that was just entering the frame.
Mike Moats 