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!).
Observation #322
Every year of my 6 decades of life I have spent at least three months living in winter, real winter- ice, snow, cold winds, etc.- and yet in this past 24 hours I have thrice been told, "it is cold outside. You should wear a hat and gloves." Do they think I have not mastered the complex relationship between low temperatures and low numbers on the...
Projects for 2016
One of the things that I really like to do with my photography is to work on a project or two. This gives my photography some direction and purpose and keeps me from shooting the same things over and over again and then wonder what to do with all the images. You can pick any project but it is best, I think, to pick one you can do locally. If project is too...
2016!
Happiest of New Years to all both of you who read these musings! Wasn't just 1990 something? When did we get into the 2000's? I turned around and it's January 2016...What happened? I'm not much for resolutions, never have been. I don't need to make public proclamations to help me not reach unattainable goals. I can do that quite quietly all by myself. I do...
What a difference a day makes
Same place, same phone, same pano, pretty close the same composition. Notice any difference? No matter how sophisticated our cameras are (or aren't) and no matter how clever our processing there is nothing more important to photography than the quality of the light. Nothing. Not talent, not equipment, not location, not reputation, not blah, blah, blah....
My Favorite Photos of 2015
It's that time of the year when I look back and review and evaluate that past twelve months of my photographic year. I do this by taking a look at all the pictures I have kept and picking those that are my favorites. I define 'favorite' by those images that I like the most and that were the most meaningful to me. This isn't rocket science, this is just...
Phone Photography
There was a time not so long ago that I pooh-poohed a smart phone as a tool for photography. Boy, what an idiotic thing to say! As many of you all already know, the beauty of phone photography is that the phone/camera is always with you! And with today's newer phones the image quality and size are good enough that the images can be used for most...
The 4 Essential Traits
About 25 years ago I got my last great photographic teaching idea- to do your best photography you must have the proper subject, background, light and conditions. I have been harping on these 4 essential qualities of a successful photograph for so long that now I have heard it echo back to me by former students who are now teaching and it has even been...
The Pail and the Funnel
I go to Abbott's General Store every day on my way home from doing my chores at the farm. It is where I get my newspaper, my news of Danby and my daily affirmation that being part of a community is good. A week ago, as I was paying for my paper Cindy who manages the store said to me, "I think that fellow out there could use your help. He's the driver of...
Magic in the Trash dump
It has been ridiculously warm in Vermont this November and December- 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal- and so with afternoons in the upper 40's and low 50's I haven't been spending much time with my computer. Part of the reason I have spent so much time in my woods is that I magically acquired 80 new acres! (Well, it was only magical if you consider it...
Good bye, Old Friends
It is time to say good-bye to several old photography friends who have been solidly with me for many years- my trusty 70-200 f2.8, my indulgent 300 f4 and my rock solid, pound nails with it Nikon D4. Bye-bye, see you later, hasta la vista, so long bucko, ta-ta, adios. The criteria for me to sell my gear is if I have used it in the last year or two or if...