NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND VIRGINIA: DAY 3

The morning of Day 3 found us in a lovely state park in Maryland. 

Many of the trees hadn't leafed out yet, but the dogwoods were in bloom. Seeing dogwoods blooming in 'the wild' was a treat for me. Most of us are familiar with ornamental dogwoods, covered in the spring with big, showy flowers. Wild dogwoods are more delicate, softer in appearance. They get your attention without the need to shout.

One of our goal was to take photographs of reflections. Jim Clark, our instructor, also said, for those interested, that a nearby pool was home to toads. Hmm... Photographing dogwoods or reflections versus toads? Tough decision. I headed toward the water while the rest of the group made tracks to see toads.

I am not entirely thrilled with this photograph. It doesn't feel quite right. I think I should have shot it in 'portrait' aspect rather than 'landscape'. As every photography instructor I've ever had has said, "When shooting your subject, always use different exposures, apertures, angles, aspects, etc." 

Canoe Reflection  

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Original photograph. 

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Nice reflection, but a bit dull. What can I do to make the photograph 'pop'?

Voila!

April Morning At The River

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I really wish I could paint. Yeah, I know it's never too late to learn. Thing is, I don't think there are enough years left in my life to become a truly proficient painter. There are, however, amazing editing programs that convert photographs into 'paintings'. So with a bow of deep admiration & respect to my friends who are genuine painters, I give you my 'painting'.

April Morning At The River: A 'Photographic Painting' 

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NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND VIRGINIA: DAY 2

During my week on Chincoteague Island, the weather was lovely. The days were mild & sunny. After a long, wet, gloomy Seattle winter, a taste of spring was delightful. 

On the second day of the workshop we were in the marshlands of Chincoteague Island. We shot from a road crossing the marsh. This was the view to the east.

Sunrise Over Marshlands, Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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This was the view to the west.

Moonset Over Marshlands, Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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After a couple of hours shooting, it was time for breakfast in the field. I had taken my camera off the tripod when someone in the group noticed elk crossing the marsh. The elk were moving at a brisk pace, so I had to shoot from the hip. 

Here is one the original photographs. Way overexposed. In the rush to get the shot, everything I ever learned about photography flew out of my head. The composition, surprisingly, was not too bad. 

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Fortunately, I was shooting in RAW. In Lightroom, I was able to salvage the photograph. It is not perfect technically. That said, I had my first wildlife photograph! Yay!

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NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND VIRGINIA: DAY 1

In April I participated in a weeklong nature and wildlife photography workshop on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. The workshop was through Road Scholar.

When I was in elementary school, I read Misty of Chincoteague Island by Marguerite Henry, a book about the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island. As a kid, I was crazy about horses. I hoped during my week on Chincoteague Island I might see some of the wild ponies I had read about so many years ago.

The workshop began at 5:30 AM when we boarded a bus which took us to a site to do sunrise photography. Jim Clark, our instructor, warned us the first day would be a tough one. We would fight our equipment and wonder what the hell we were doing. He was absolutely right. I fought with my camera, wondered what the hell I was doing, while managing to lose a lens cap & an expensive polarizing filter.  

At the end of the workshop, everyone participating in the workshop presented their eight photographs.

Here is my first photograph. Sunrise Over Atlantic, Assateague Island VA (Assateague Island is the barrier island that protects Chincoteague Island.)

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I never thought I had much interest in nature or wildlife photography. A week with Jim Clark shifted my thinking. Jim shared with us a wealth of information about the birds of the mid-Atlantic coast and marshlands gathered from a lifetime of study & photography. Bird calls, mating plumage and behavior, etc.   

Unfortunately, my bird photographs left much to be desired. Jim, however, successfully planted a seed of interest about wildlife photography. 

I was much more pleased with my photographs of inanimate objects. 

Chincoteague Island Lighthouse

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I used an filter to give the photograph an faded, aged look. Remember that trip to the beach with your family back in 1967?