David’s Blog
My Native Habitat
Blackburnian warblers are niche trackers- they keep to the same ecological niche- cool, damp, diverse, mature forests- whether they are in South America during the winter, on migration or nesting in North America. Same applies to me except my niche is much simpler (and more delicious!).
Reflections
Reflections are a very popular subject to photograph- our eye is attracted to the odd nature of seeing part of the world upside down! While it seems very straight forward to take a picture of a reflection it is more difficult than you think if you want to get everything you see in focus. this is because, optically, the reflection doesn't sit on the...
Milkweed
All is not lost when the colorful autumn leaves fall to the ground- there is still much to photograph. One of my favorite things to photograph in late fall is milkweed. The exploding seed pods are endless fascinating and encourage lots of playful photography. Pick some pods that are full of the delicate seeds so you can try lots of different...
Gideon’s Light
This is Gideon, Gideon Owour. He lives in far western Kenya near the shore of Lake Victoria in the small rural village of Pap-Onditi. ‘Pap’ means a flat, dry place in the Luo language; ‘Onditi’ is a name of a local family — Onditi’s flat, dry area. Gideon is in 7th grade at the Konditi Primary School. Most days he sits in the front row, far right, under...
All About the Light in Kenya
One of the main reason I went on this trip to Kenya was to follow-up on the Luci Lights I had sent over to Konditi Primary School a year ago. Lucy Lights are small but very bright solar lights that my non-profit, All About the Light, gives away to people living without electricity. I gave lights to every 6th, 7th and 8th grader at the school to help them...
Teachers of Konditi Primary School, Kenya
One of the tasks I had on my trip to Kenya was to get nice photos of each teacher at the Konditi Primary School. I was shooting to support the non-profit, I-Kodi, whose mission is to support the Konditi Primary School, so nice pics of the teachers were essential and important. How do you go about getting these shots? The teachers are actively teaching so...
Back from Africa
I had a great trip to Kenya yet I didn't see a single iconic animal or beautiful vista. I was well off the tourist track in far western Kenya near the shore of Lake Victoria visiting a small impoverished village called Pap-Onditi. While most people in the village struggle for food and water they have a wonderful generous, friendly spirit that I fell in...
What am I Bringing to Africa?
This is what I am bringing to Africa on the trip to photograph for the non-profit I-KODI: Remember, this isn't a typical African safari trip- I will not be going to any parks and probably won't be seeing any of the iconic Africa animals. A few birds here and there but that's about it. I will be spending all my time in the town of Pap Onditi photographing...
Off to Kenya!
I am off to Kenya tomorrow on a trip to support a friend's non-profit organization, I-KODI. I will be taking the photos they need to more effectively tell their story and to energize their donors. I will also be following up on the Luci Lights I sent to I-KODI last year to see they are being used, how they are holding up and what effect they are...
Indian River, Sitka Alaska
This is Indian River in Sitka, Alaska. There are huge old-growth Sitka spruces off to the right of this scene (see previous posts) and pink and dog salmon in the river. Just past the huge spruces there is an active bear trail where Grizzlies walk to avoid the people on the the trail on the other side of the river. If you stopped to listen you would here...
Photograph a Forest
Forests are one of the very hardest environments for me to photograph. I have decades photographing in forests of all kinds on several continents but my struggles continue. The part that I struggle with is to try to make some sense out of the visual chaos that is characteristic of a natural forest. There are trees on the ground, trees going straight up,...