CHRISTMAS DAY

IT'S CHRISTMAS - Here's hoping you have tons of Christmas presents under the tree. May God bless you and yours. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos.com Fine Art Photography

CHIANG MAI ADVENTURE 2010

LARRY ELKINS PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS ALERT - I'll be leaving in late January 2010 for a 12 day photo expedition to Chiang Mai, Thailand, the old northern capital of Siam. Chiang Mai, a 700 year old walled and moated city lying near the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, is home to approximately 300 Buddhist temples. While in Chiang Mai, I will hopefully be posting a daily journal at this site. This will be my first trip to S. E. Asia. I am looking forward to this new adventure and am planning on taking a minimum of 10,000 photographs. Upon my return to Bisbee, I will begin preparing a major gallery show - ADVENTURE IN CHIANG MAI. I'll be posting additional details on this site in the coming weeks. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com

SEASON'S GREETINGS

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SEASON'S GREETINGS AND WHATEVER ADDITIONAL GREETINGS ARE NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. Seriously, I wish you and your loved ones my best. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com

ELKINSPHOTOS - YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE

STAY INFORMED. Check out my website www.elkinsphotos.com featuring multiple fine art photography galleries as well as other interesting and informative photography related features. Also, take a peek at our sister blog site history of photography-elkinsphotos. Larry Elkins - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHANNELING REMBRANDT

When shooting landscapes, try to think like a painter. Take the time to completely explore your surroundings. Decide what angle allows you to capture the aspects of the scene you would want to include in a painting while not including objects that distract from the scene. When we take in a scene, we normally don't see it as a camera would. We tend to filter out certain aspects of a scene. For instance, if there's a metal sign in view stating "NO DUMPING HERE", we might barely notice its intrusion into the scene. However, a painter would probably choose not to include the sign in a painting of the scene because on canvas or paper, it would prove quite distracting. The same applies to a photograph. One major difference between painting and photography is that the painter's primary challenge is to decide what to include. The challenge for the photographer is to decide what to leave out. However, the thought process is essentially the same. The artist, be he painter or photographer, must look at the scene in a different way than the average viewer. He (or she) must assess all aspects of the scene to a much fuller degree than the casual viewer. Then, utilizing the rules of composition, tonality, etc. common to both the painter and photographer, the shutterbug makes various choices. This then, constitutes the major difference between the snapahot and the well thought out artistic photograph. The casual viewer does not notice the tree seemingly growing out of the old man's head. The discerning photographer, on the other hand, notices the problem, then moves around himself, or re-arranges aspects of the scene to rid it of the distracting element. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL SNAPSHOTS

This self assignment works best with an SLR or other camera where the line of sight is through the camera lens. The goal is to make super close-up snapshots of relatives and friends Focus in so close that only portions of the subject's face is included in the frame. Don't expect the results to be great art. Chances are though that you will wind up with a few interesting shots. The real purpose of this exercise is to force you to view your surroundings in an entirely new light. Try it and see what happens. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Here's a fun personal project that will help supercharge your creative side. The wide vistas of the American West provide an engaging photographic subject. However, the smallest of details can have at least as much, if not more, impact. Take the prickly pear cactus for instance. Tiny drops of dew on a cactus pad can reflect a world in miniature. Cactus needles, back lit by the sun, glisten like icicles. Try pointing your camera at a bee resting on an apple blossom or a slice of lemon lodged between cubes of ice in a glass of club soda. An unopened sunflower can provide a world of possibilities. Larry Elkins - elkinsphotos.com

VERTICAL FORMAT

PHOTO TIP - Because of the way most cameras are designed, it just seems natural to photograph in the horizontal mode. But don't forget that shooting in vertical format is also an option. It's a simple concept, yet one we often overlook. LARRY ELKINS - elkinsphotos.com

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS - BISBEE AZ

BISBEE AZ ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - An event took place here in Bisbee on Black Friday evening over the Thanksgiving weekend that offered a unique opportunity for shooting lots of wonderful holiday pictures. The event, Bisbee's annual Festival of Lights, features a series of colorful seasonal happenings culminating with the arrival of Jolly Old St. Nick (Santa Claus) in an old antique fire engine.Santa is then joined by Mrs. Claus and the two of them distribute Christmas stockings to the children of Bisbee. So did I take lots of wonderful pictures? Well, not exactly. Sometimes, even for an avid photographer like me, there are things more important than getting the photographs. In this case, for instance, I was the one in the red and white suit riding on the back of the old fire engine. So, although I wound up with no photos of the event, I had a wonderful, if rather exhausting time, hoisting what seemed like a couple hundred children up on my lap. My point, I guess, is that while getting the photos is important, we shouildn't forget that it is also important to enjoy the event we're photographing. If you attend the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, shoot away. However, at the same time, enjoy the fact that you've been afforded the opportunity to attend this wonderful event. LARRY ELKINS - elkinsphotos.com

BISBEE SHOPPING GUIDE

BISBEE AZ NEWS ALERT -The following isn't directly photography related. However, for those of you who may be planning a photo expedition to Bisbee AZ, this should prove helpful. My website, elkinsphotos.com now contains a BISBEE SHOPPING GUIDE. Please check it out. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINS PHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY elkinsphotos.com

TIP FOR DUMMIES

An excellent resource for photographers are the books FOR DUMMIES. Whether your choice is DIGITAL ART PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DUMMIES, DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DUMMIES, PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS FOR DUMMIES or numerous other titles, you're bound to find what you need. And no, I'm not being paid by the dummy publishers. LARRY ELKINS - elkinsphotos.com

GREAT LOCATION - LOUSY WEATHER

"I traveled 1200 miles to get here. The location's great. Oh, no! The weather's lousy. What do I do Now?" How do you save yourself from this travel photo shoot nightmare? Here are six quick tips. #1 - Protect your camera. If you have weatherproofing cover for your camera, use it. If not, try a clear plastic zipper lock bag with a hole cut for the lens to go through. This is not as safe or as convenient as weather proof housing. However, in a pinch, it will probably work. #2 - Go for the mood. Rain, snow, lightning can make for great photos. Use the inclement weather to your advantage. Remember though, safety first. #3 - Come in out of the rain. Get under a shelter. Or go inside a building and shoot out a window. If it's raining outside, the light differential between inside and outside will be much less than on a sunny day. #4 - With your camera adequately protected, shoot close ups of water drops on flowers, or icicles as they begin to melt. #5 - Shoot reflections. If it's raining, shoot reflections of parts of buildings, passersby etc. in the rain puddles. This can produce some quite interesting semi-abstract compositions. #6 - Shoot indoors. Maybe tomorrow, the sun will come out. Remember; if you're given lemons, make some lemonade. LARRY ELKINS - elkinsphotos.com

JOY OF A TOY CAMERA

Hey! Did you hear about the latest Nikon 18 megapixel pro SLR with a new image stabilization system that allows you to shoot handheld at a shutter speed of 1/2 second? And what about that new software that allows you to take blurred shots and turn them into tack sharp photos with a single click of the mouse? With all of the fancy, high tech equipment available today, it's easy to succumb to the idea that somehow the camera makes the photographer. Here's a self assignment that can re-open the door to your innate creativity. Sacrifice the flexibility offered by the high tech equipment available today. Go buy a toy digital camera, meant for a young child. Then spend a week photographing everything around you. The idea here is not that you'll come up with the world's greatest photos. Hopefully though, you'll find yourself looking at your world in a different light. The goal is to turbocharge your creativity. Let the lessons learned in this little experiment infuse your photography once you take up your fancy mancy camera and return to serious shooting. Remember, it's not the camera that makes a photographer any more than a hammer and saw make a carpenter. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINS PHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

SELF ASSIGNMENT

Here's an idea for an interesting idea for a self assignment. create a photo essay, a story told with pictures. The catch is that you cannot travel more than five miles from your home in any direction. Try it and see what happens.

MADONNA - THE NUDE PHOTOS

In this day and age, when nude, or nearly nude, photos of celebrities don't merit a blip on the radar screen, it's difficult to realize that there was a time when the emergence of a single nude photograph could turn a famous celeb into an instant pariah. When, at a pivotal point in Madonna's career, nude photographs of her which she had posed for when a nude modeling job meant food on her plate, suddenly surfaced, the conventional wisdom was that the photos would do irreparable harm to her reputation. In fact, one prominent critic was heard to exclaim that the effect on the young singer's career would be like to throwing a bucket of cold water on a fire. Well, at fifty years old, Madonna is still too hot to handle. The prominent critic was asked several years ago if he still stood by his earlier statement. He answered that he did - with one small change. When asked what that would be, he stated that he would substitute the word gasoline for the words cold water. In this post full Demi age, it takes a lot more than a nude photo to raise the public's eyebrows.

PROMOTE YOUR WORK #2

A second great way to promote your work is to donate samples of your work to charity fund raising events. For instance, I recently donated two photographs to be auctioned off at a fund raiser for a local museum. A good number of people got a chance to view the photographs. An additional bonus was that one of the photographs was purchased (at auction) by the police chief and the other by a very prominent businesswoman. The eventual publicity I will garner from this can't really be measured. However, it's probably way more than I would get through traditional advertizing.

PROMOTE YOUR WORK

This image was one that I used several months ago in a presentation I prepared for the Kiwanis Club of Bisbee's annual prayer breakfast. I made a CD containing Biblical quotes illustrated with my photographs. I gave the group a short program, then passed around a CD to each person present. More recently, I presented programs featuring photographic essays compiled from my photographs of Ecuador made during a week long photo shoot last May. The first of these programs was presented to the Kiwanis Club of Bisbee as a featured program at a regular weekly meeting. The second, and more elaborate, presentation was one I presented to the S.E ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE ARIZONA PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS ASSOCIATION. As a result of that program, I have been invited to make a similar presentation to the employees of the Cochise County Dept. of Highways & Floodplains. My point is that Rotary, Kiwanis and other similar organizations are constantly looking for interesting programs and presentations. I can't think of a better opportunity for a local photographer to promote his or her work. In my next blog, I will discuss another great promotional tool, that of donating your work to raise funds for charitable causes.

PRESERVING MEMORIES

My mother passed away just two days ago. One of the things we will probably be doing in the next few weeks will be going through old family snapshots. I am sure we'll come across photos we cannot identify insofar as subject, location or time period. If we had taken time to go through the photos with my mother and document the information, we would be in a much better situation in attempting to preserve these memories. Don't make the same mistake. It's easy to put things off. Then, suddenly, it's too late. LARRY ELKINS

HAVE FUN!!!

Some morning soon, take your camera, walk around your neighborhood and shoot whatever

LARRY ELKINS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

YOU CAN VIEW MY PHOTOGRAPHY AT elkinsphotos.com. ENJOY. LARRY ELKINS

DYNAMIC DIAGONALS

Today, I'm going to cover a basic photographic rule of composition that is often overlooked. That is the rule of diagonals. Diagonal elements in your composition will tend to impart a dynamic quality to your images. Diagonals in landscapes, for instance, will lead your eye through the scene. Horizontal and vertical elements usually lack this quality. I took a photo of railroad tracks several years ago in which the tracks led the eye from the lower left corner of the image to the upper right corner. To add to the feeling of depth, I composed the photo so that the tracks almost met at a vanishing point in the distance. As you view the image, you have the feeling that you could literally walk through the photograph and arrive at the vanishing point. Whether it be a road, a stream or the shoreline of a beach scene, a strong diagonal element will add punch to your image.

WHERE HAS ALL THE FILM GONE - PART 2

The late Herbert Keppler, a man renowned for his extensive knowledge of all things photography, stated in his column in the Sept. 2007 issue of Popular Photography & Imaging that film was in no danger of disappearing. As he put it, "...(there's no danger that) we duffers are going to fade away...clutching the last rolls of Kodachrome to our breasts". And yet, a scant two years later, Kodachrome is as extinct as the dodo bird. In June of 2009, Kodak ceased production of Kodachrome. The truth is, film is on its way to becoming an alternative photographic process. That probably won't happen tomorrow, but it well might in the next decade. As they say, "Life moves on".

THE GOLDEN HOUR

In photography, the term the golden hour refers to the hour following sunrise and the hour preceding sunset. These two times of each day are considered to be quite special by many photographers. One of the two major effects of the golden hour relates to the angle at which light hits objects as well as the angle at which the light strikes the earth itself. During the golden hour, light travels almost horizontally across the lanscape. This creates pronounced shadows. The effect can be quite advantageous, particularly when shooting landscapes. The second major effect of the golden hour is the warm color temperature that exists at this particular time of day. It is from this warm, richly hued palette that the term golden hour is derived. Shoot during the golden hour and you will be rewarded with a singular beauty that is worth waiting for. It is also worth getting up early for, though you might not think so as you're listening to your alarm clock's shrill wail at 4:30 in the morning. Visit the ;Journey Through Ecuador gallery page on my website http://www.elkinsphotos,com and take a look at my photo of an Ecuadoran boy playing kickball on the beach just as the sun is setting over the Pacific. Imagine how different this shot would be had it been taken at high noon.

elkinsphotos.com

VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS BY LARRY ELKINS AT elkinsphotos.com FEATURING EIGHT GALLERIES OF PHOTOIMAGES INCLUDING WILDLIFE/NATURE, TRAVEL, PORTRAIT/FINE ART NUDE, IMAGES OF ECUADOR, VINTAGE BASEBALL PHOTO ESSAY AND MORE.

PAPARAZZI

Wouldn't it be great to live the glamorous, glitzy life of the paparazzi? Why even the name paparazzi has a certain ambiance, a certain cachet that simply reeks of champagne and caviar. That is until you realize that paparazzi is French for blood sucking mosquitos. What's worse is that most celebrities use what they consider an even more apt nickname when referring to the paparazzi; cockroaches. Paparazzi can, and often do, make a great deal of money. However, reputation wise, they are low men on the totem. Like Rodney Dangerfield, they don't get no respect. Like sleazy P.I.s, they live in a world of long, boring stakeouts, confrontational ambushes and hiding for hours in prickly, thorn riddled hedges. And for what? To obtain a grainy, almost unrecognizable shot of an over-the-hill celeb' s plump bared butt. Or, perhaps a full color photograph of a glamorous movie star's upraised middle finger. Or, even worse, an image in the camera's lens of Sean Penn's fist about to impact with your jaw. So, if your goal is to become a professional photographer, just remember this: a career as a member of the paparazzi may well net you lots of cool cash. However, a glamorous lifestyle and the respect of your peers most likely won't be yours.
























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SHARING THE EXPERIENCE

I just want to say a few words today cocerning the need for photographers to share their experience and knowledge with others A friend asked me yesterday to look over some photos taken by a young man just starting out in photography. I will, of course do what I can to encourage the young man. This got me to thinking though, about how important mentoring can be. I guess that's one reason, probably the main reason, I'm publishing this blog. I'm trying to share my thoughts and experiences. I hope you will consider doing the same.

A MADE PHOTOGRAPHER

Here's a quick update on another Bisbee photographer, the late Herb Faris. Herb, when I first met him, was a retired Hollywood cinematographer. Not surprisingly, he was also one heck of a photographer. Herb told me one time that he had never taken a picture. He made pictures. What hwe meant is that he controlled every aspect of the photographic process. Nothing was left to chance. While most of us are less exacting than Herb, we can still learn a lot from his approach. So, nthe next time you're out shooting, try making a photograph rather than just taking one.

OPT FOR OPTICAL - ZOOM THAT IS

I was recently asked by a friend to clarify the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom. He had been told by a mutual acquaintance that the two terms were essentially the same. In short, zoom is zoom. Well, not exactly. In fact, there are very important differences. Basically, optical zoom is zoom. Digital zoom is not. Say you have one dozen flowers. You want to zoom in on a single flower. With optical zoom, you essentially magnify the image until the single flower fills the sensor. On the other hand, with digital zoom, what you are actually doing is cropping the image. So what's the problem with that? Cropping the image, assuming that the final result is printed at a given size, degrades the image.So, it's a no brainer. Opt (no pun intended) for optical xoom.

WHERE DID ALL THE FILM GO?

AT SOME POINT VERY SOON, I'LL FINISH THAT LIST OF BISBEE PHOTOGRAPHERS. I PROMISE. However, right now I'd like to share a few thoughts with you concerning the evolution, read that revolution, that photography has undergone in the last two or three decades. I'd like to share a few incidences that illustrate just how far we've come. The first concerns two female co-workers. This incident occurred about twenty to twenty five years ago. A gentleman (read that geek) from what passed as an enformation technologies department came into the office with a camera. When he attempted to photograph the two ladies, they protested that they did not want their pictures taken. The geek's response was that there wasn't even any film in the camera, The lady's promptly began playing to the camera, reassured that they weren't really being photographed. Now the fact is that it probably seems incredible to you that these two women wouldn't have caught on that a camera held by a computer geek was quite capable of taking their picture without film. The fact is that digital photography at that time was such a novelty that these two women never considered the possibility. On the other hand, a friend of mine was recently photographing her grandson with a film SLR when he ran up to her asking to see his picture on the LCD screen. When told that there was none such, the little guy was quite disappointed. What kind of phony baloney camera didn't have an LCD screen? The times, they are a changin'. About three years ago I was pulled over by a highway patrolman. It turned out he wanted advice about purchasing a new camera to replace a digital point & shoot that had recently bought the farm. I asked him how many megapixels he felt he'd need. He informed me that the old camera was a one megapixel but he figured he should maybe upgrade to two. Well, I'm sure lots of passersby assumed that I was getting a traffic ticket while I stood there patiently explaining to the cop the realities of speeding (as in the digital world is speeding along the information highway at about a thousand miles an hour). It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowin', It's blowin' in the direction of gigapixels.

SHOOT YOUR WAY THROUGH TOMBSTONE - THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE.

SHOOT YOUR WAY THROUGH TOMBSTONE ARIZONA, THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE (with a camera of course). Tombstone is certainly a great place to visit and an even greater place to photograph. However, bear in mind that Tombstone is not a theme park although it may sometimes seem like one. It's an actual town. Before you rush to Tombstone from your home in Connecticut, take some time to research Tombstone and the rest of Cochise County on the internet. A good start is the official chamber of commerce site tombstone chamber.com.This site will prove priceless in planning your itinerary. If you need directions from Tucson or Phoenix, it's there; lodging accommodations, it's there; listing of special events, it's there; a list of tourist attractions, it's there. A visit to the special events page is a must as is a visit to the sunrise sunset climate chart listed under film and media. When you get to Tombstone, you'll be overwhelmed by the countless photo opportunities the town affords. When and where should you shoot? As to where, historic Allen Street is a good start. As to time of year, the off season means less tourists, a good thing for a photographer. What's the off season? Consult the chamber of commerce or visitor's center. What's the best time and day? Well, early morning or late afternoon on a Wednesday means less tourists. Noon Saturday means you'll be contending with the hordes of tourists that will frustrate the H--l out of you. There are so many interesting places to photograph, I'm not going to attempt to list them. However, be aware of a major caveat. If, for instance, you're inside the courthouse museum (just one example), don't expect to photograph the infamous gallows (as another example) and then sell 16 by 20 inch posters of same when you get back home. You'll get in trouble. Same goes for Boothill graveyard, Birdcage Theater etc. Check out their policies concerning photography and acceptable use of such. Another tip I will give you is this. Do not shoot postcard shots. Look for unique perspectives. That sign that reads OK CORRAL has been photographed thousands of times. I managed to photograph a mounted cavalryman riding past the sign. There haven't been too many shots taken of a mounted cavalryman riding by the OK Corral. The shot I took is about it. Also, look clsely at what you're actually shooting, then hone in on what's important. A close up image of a roadrunner with part of a wagonwheel in the background will probably elicit oohs and ahs. A shot of the entire wagon with the Shop n' Sip One convenience mart in the background probably won't. Also, when shooting a re-enactor (one of those people in 1880's attire), keep the following in mind. A shot of a prospector in front of a mule is interesting. A shot of the prospector isn front of a Ford Taurus ain't. The main thing though is to enjoy what you're doing. So, happy trails to you till we meet again.

MORE BISBEE PHOTOGRAPHERS INCLUDING LARRY ELKINS (SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION)

Today,I'm going to continue to profile Bisbee Arizona photographers. At some point, I'll need to include myself in this list. So it might as well be now. As I noted in an earlier post, I'm quite proud of the designation, Larry Elkins - Bisbee photographer. Shameless self promotion however, does have its limits. You can find my bio on my website www.elkinsphotos.com. A close friend of mine and fellow Bisbee photographer is Pete Larkin. Pete has run multiple color photo labs over the years. He also used to do a lot of commercial wedding and special events photography. I'll continue with this seemingly endless list at a future date. However, next week I'm going to post some photo tips on photographing one of the most intriguing locations in the western United States - I'll be posting tips on photographing TOMBSTONE ARIZONA - THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE.

I SHOT THE CONGRESSWOMAN (WITH A CANON REBEL)

I am interrupting my listing of Bisbee photographers past and present in order to report that I had the honor and privilege of photographing U. S . Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Saturday afternoon at the Warren Ball Park in Bisbee AZ as she threw the first pitch of a game between the Bisbee Copper Kings and the Tucson Nationals. The event was part of a year long celebration of the Centennial of the historic Warren Ball Park, the REAL FIELD OF DREAMS.

BISBEE ARIZONA PHOTOGRAPHERS PART 2

Another Bisbee photographer is Ann Widmann. Ann is an active photographer and website designer. She is also an experienced news journalist. She is presently employed as a reporter and photographer for the Bisbee Observer. You can find info at Ann's website, az-image-is. Liz Hampton is another important Bisbee photographer. You can log onto her site lizhampton.com for info on her background and present activities. There are several other photographers, both current and historical who should not be forgotten. I will deal with listing more details concerning them in coming days.

LARRY ELKINS - BISBEE PHOTOGRAPHER

Bisbee, Arizona is my hometown. Because of that, it has at times been difficult for me to recognize the town's true potential when it comes to photography. Yet I would encourage any photographer to explore Bisbee's potential. However, that's not what I want to talk to you about today. Instead, I'm going to talk about some of the photographers, including myself, who have made Bisbee their home over the years. I have photographed Bisbee extensively for decades. I know of no title I am prouder of than that of Larry Elkins - Bisbee Arizona photographer. You can view my photography and read my bio at my website, www.elkinsphotos.com. There is a link from this blog. One of the most colorful characters I have met over the years was the late Nicholas Devore III, an immensely talented photographer who shot extensively for Life Magazine and National Geographic. Nick resided in Bisbee the last several years of his life, and I considered him a dear friend. Google Nicholas Devore III National Geographic. You'll find all kinds of info on Nick and his work. Nick's lifestyle was off the charts, but he was an extremely talented man. I learned a lot from him during our few years of friendship. Another long time Bisbee photographer is Richard Byrd. An easy means of obtaining info on Richard is to google RICHARD BYRD PHOTOGRAPHER BISBEE. If you google Richard Byrd or even Richard Byrd photographer,you'll wind up being overwhelmed with info on Richard's great uncle, famed arctic explorer Admiral Richard Byrd. Richard, who early in his career shot the Beatles, has produced an immense number of photographs, many of them intimate photos of early rock stars. Richard, who moved to Bisbee in the 1970's still makes this his home. Another long time Bisbee photographer is Boyd Nicholl who presently serves as a Bisbee city councilperson. Google Boyd's name and you'll find information about his book of photos, BISBEE THEN & NOW. Another Bisbee photographer of note is Sandy Upson, a devoted conservationist a respected entomologist and an incredibly talented macro & nature photographer. Just google Sandy Upson photographer for oodles of info on this multi talented individual. I'll continue this list of talented Bisbee area photographers tomorrow.

LIONS & TIGERS & BEARS PART 2

Well, despite my best intentions, it's been about a week since my last posting. As I stated last week,
many wildlife photographers, while secretly shooting much of their work at zoos, wildlife parks, etc., publicly denounce this form of wildlife photography as fake. I will take issue with this attitude on two fronts. The first concerns the fact that most wildlife photography takes place under varying degrees of controlled conditions. The photographs taken in wild game preserves in Africa for instance, or on expeditions to Antarctica are taken under conditions which fall far short of the lone photographer camped with his (or her) camera for months deep in the Amazonian rain forest in search of whatever jaguars, monkeys or whatever cross his path. It's just a matter of degree. Secondly, shooting at a zoo or wildlife park actually presents less ethical concerns than does shooting photos in a more natural environment. An inexperienced photographer, or worse yet a jackass who just doesn't give a damn, can do irreparable harm to a fragile habitat. That's not to say that photographing at a zoo does not come without its own ethical considerations. I was photographing at a zoological park several years ago when, suddenly, Mr. Obnoxious arrived with several thousands of dollars in photographic equipment in tow. "Stay out of my way!", he shouted at the other zoo visitors. "I'm a professional." Mr. O then began firing his flash at a 90 degree angle directly at a glass enclosure frightening away the bobcat which promptly hid, thus depriving the zoo's visitors from being able to view the animal. And to boot, he didn't get a photo of the bobcat, just the flare of his flash boomeranging back into his camera. The moral of the story? One idiot is all it takes to ruin things for everyone. However, the damage Mr. Obnoxious can do during a day trip to the zoo is far more limited than the carnage he can cause in a fragile environment like a tropical rain forest. So enjoy a photo trek to the local zoological park and if someone asks where you took the photo of a mountain lion climbing up a rock outcropping, proudly proclaim, "I took it at a zoo, thank you.".

LIONS & TIGERS & BEARS - OH MY.

LIONS & TIGERS & BEARS - OH MY. As everyone knows, wildlife photographers travel the world, spending months each year on safari in remote regions of the world in search of exotic animals. As an example, take the wildlife photos posted on my website, elkinsphotos.com. The photos of a swimming polar bear were taken during my 2006 expedition to the arctic. The photo of the baboon and the African lion I took while on safari in Kenya a couple years ago. The photo of the Indian elephant was taken just outside of New Delhi. The images of frigate birds and a blue footed booby on my Journey through Ecuador gallery page were taken on a recent photo excursion to South America. Well, the truth is that the photographs of the booby and the frigate birds were indeed taken on the Isla de la Plata, a small island off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. As to the rest of the wildlife photos mentioned, the all too mundane truth is, they were taken at a zoo. Most wildlife photographers are loath to admit that many of their most impressive images were made under controlled conditions (at zoos, wildlife parks, etc.). While there is a certain level of debate in the photographic community as to whether wildlife photography should be shot "in the wild", many of the most iconic wildlife images have been made under controlled conditions. It is a fact of life that little 7 year old Susie Periwinkel's snaphots taken at the local zoo won't be appearing in the upcoming issue of National Geographic Magazine. However, this does not mean that credible, even sensational, images of exotic wildlife cannot be made at that same local zoo. The trick is to take photographs that do not shout out to the viewer, "I was taken in a zoo." This is not easy to achieve. Shots of animals pacing back and forth on concrete floors behind bars are not going to make the viewer say, "Oh, wow!". A more likely response will be a bored "Ho hum.". One tip I'll give you is this. Make an initial scouting visit to the zoo. In preparation, visit the zoo's website. Pay attention to which animals' images appear on the website. Those are probably the exhibits you want to pay closest attention to during your scouting visit. Why? Because whoever photographed for the website probably found these exhibits the most interesting and - or photogenic. Take your camera just in case. However, your primary goal will be to scout out which exhibits present the best photo opportunities for your next visit. Forget the exhibits where there is no opportunity to isolate the animal from the zoo elements. Try to visualize how to use blurring of background elements, natural looking backgrounds, etc. to obtain photos which appear to have been made in the wild. Also, be aware that early morning, late afternoon and feeding times are good times to obtain photos. I would recommend lens ranges from moderate wide angle to telephoto (up to 400 mm equivalent). Tomorrow I will post a continuation of this posting covering more hints on obtaining quality wildlife photos under controlled conditions.

PHOTO WORKSHOPS

I am posting from Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee, Arizona. Be sure to check out my JOURNEY THROUGH ECUADOR photos on my website www.elkinsphotos.com. You can link from this blog. I would highly recommend a travel/nature photo workshop such as the one I took to Ecuador. A good source for info is Outdoor Photography Magazine. Near the back of the mag is a section called Travel/Workshops as well as numerous adverts for both domestic and international workshops. So research what's available, then jump into the deep end and live the dream.

I'm posting this entry June 14th from Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee Arizona. My new exhibit here, 'JOURNEY TO ECUADOR', just opened last night. We had over 200 people in attendance. The recent photo excursion to Ecuador was a real adventure, consisting of eight days of rainforest, fishing villages, an offshore island andthe area in and around the Andean village of Vilcabamba. The chance to photograph Ecuador was one I could not pass up. The next in the series of Tao of Photography Workshops will tke place this Fall in southeast Arizona. Then in next February, the wokshop is scheduled for Thailand. I highly recommend these workshops which are conducted by veteran photographer Charles Feil. For more information, check out the Panterra Gallery website. Next time you're in the Bisbee area, be sure to check out Bizzart Gallery on Brewery Gulch and Panterra Gallery on Main Street.

Just a quick note this week. I am back in Bisbee Arizona after a 10 day excursion to Ecuador. I am busily preparing for the opening of my new show June 13th at Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee AZ, 'JOURNEY THROUGH ECUADOR'. I will include details of my trip and the upcoming show in my next posting. I will also be including info on how you can participate in next year's photo excursion to Ecuador as well as other upcoming Tao of Photography Workshops (like the one to Thailand). So long for now.

I am posting this entry from a hotel room in Los Angeles where I have just returned from a ten day photo excursion into Ecuador as a participant in the Tao of Photography Workshop. The first segment of our journey, hosted by the eco retreat Samai, consisted of a one day hike into the rainforest, trips to multiple fishing villages and one extremely colorful surfing town, and a full day trip to the Isla de la Plata, the Isle of Silver or, as it is also known, the poor man's Galapagos. Our hosts at Samai were Ed & Tania Tuttle. Ed, the graqndson of Boston bankers, is a traditional shaman who was kind enough to lead our group through an ancient shamanic ritual..  For the second segment of our trip, we flew from Guayaquil to Loja, then taxi'd to Montesuenos, an eco retreat located in the Andean highlands just above the village of Vilcabamba. Montesuenos, run by Dr. Brian O'Leary, a former U.S. astronaut and his artist wife Meredith, is a truly magical plaqce straight out of the movie Shangra La. Brian and Meredith proved to be wonderful hosts. Our first full day at Montesuenos was spent photographing in and around the retreat itself. The second day, we hiked three miles to the village of Vilcabamba, a village renowned for the extreme age attained by its indigenouss residents. Some of our more adventurous Shutterbugs even took a horseback journey high up into the Andes. Being somewhat of a wimp, I opted out on that one. I n the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing some of our experiences with you in more detail. For now, suffice it to say that I'll have my work cut out for me as I edit down the approximately 4000 images I brought back into a gallery show, Journey Through Ecuador, scheduled to open at Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee Az on June 14th. Details will be forthcoming.         

Well, it's Mother's Day. I'm posting this entry from Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee Arizona. I was privileged to photograph a very special baseball game yesterday. The Copper Kings. a local semi-pro team, sponsored a vintage 19th Century style exhibition baseball game at the Warren Ballpark here in Bisbee as part of the celebration of the Warren Ballpark's Centennial. Two Scottsdale area vintage exhibition teams, the Phoenix Senators and the Bisbee Bees, faced off against each other. Both teams were dressed in Nineteenth Century uniforms and vintage gloves, balls etc. were used. 1860's rules prevailed. the Tombstone Vigilantes organization provided umpires costumed in period dress. Even some of the spectators were dressed in period attire. Everyone had a great time. I was able to shoot tons of great photos. I will be processing the best of them and converting them to sepia in order to obtain an even more vintage effect. For tips on achieving a vintage effect with your own photos, see the photo tip (Adding a touch of nostalgia) on the PHOTO TIPS page of my website elkinsphotos.com. I'm leaving in a few days on a ten day photo excursion in Ecuador. Upon my return, I will be adding two new gallery pages to the website, Journey Through Ecuador and Vintage Baseball - Bisbee Arizona. My nest blog entry will most likely be posted from Ecuador. See you soon.

I'M POSTING THIS MORNING FROM TUCSON AZ. I HAD A CHANCE TO SHOOT AT THE REID PARK ZOO HERE IN TUCSON YESTERDAY. PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE AT A ZOO PRESENTS A UNIQUE SET OF PROBLEMS, THE MAJOR ONE OF WHICH IS TO CAPTURE AN IMAGE THAT DOES NOT SHOUT "I WAS TAKEN AT A ZOO!". FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF A GIRAFFE THAT INCLUDED THE LOWER BODY BUT DID NOT INCLUDE ELEMENTS OF THE ZOO IN THE BACKGROUND. BY COCENTRATING ON THE GIRAFFE'S HEAD AND NECK AS IT PLUCKED LEAVES FROM A TREE, I CAPTURED INTERESTING IMAGES WITHOUT INCLUDING ZOO ELEMENTS. OVERALL, THE DAY'S EXCURSION WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL. I MANAGED TO OBTAIN SOME INTERESTING SHOTS OF A SWIMMING POLAR BEAR, AN AFRICAN LION LYING IN THE GRASS, A DWARF CAYMAN AND SEVERAL OTHER EXCELLENT WILDLIFE IMAGES. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. BE SURE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE AT WWW.ELKINSPHOTOS.COM.

I WAS BORN & GREW UP HERE IN BISBEE, ARIZONA. WHEN I BEGAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH,S, I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN IT CAME TO PHOTOGRAPHING BISBEE. BISBEE DIDN'T RRLOOK LIKE OTHER TOWNS. THEREFORE, NO ONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHS OF BISBEE. OR SO IT SEEMED TO ME. THE TRUTH IS THAT IT IS JUST THAT QUALITY THAT MAKES BISBEE A FASCINATING PHOTO DESTINATION. IN FACT, I AM, AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, EXTREMELY LUCKY TO LIVE IN COCHISE COUNTY. THE COOPERATIVE ART GALLERY I AM A MEMBER OF, BIZZART GALLERY, IS LOCATED IN BISBEE ON BREWERY GULCH, ONCE KNOWN AS THE MOST NOTORIOUS STREET IN THE OLD WEST. TODAY, THE GULCH COMPRISES A UNIQUE SHOPPING DISTRICT. THE GROUP OF BUSINESSES THAT LINE BREWERY AVENUE & O K STREET INCLUDE BIZZART GALLERY, PANTERRA GALLERY, THE ST. ELMO BAR, VAVOOM, ELDORADO (LODGING), THREE MEXICAN CAFES & THE BISBEE BICYCLE BROTHEL, A VINTAGE BICYCLE SHOP. ONE HUNDRED PLUS YEARS AGO, THE GULCH WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE. THE LOWER GULCH WAS HOME TO NUMEROUS SALOONS & GASMING HOUSES AS WELL AS ROOMING HOUSES AND RESTAURANTS THAT SERVICED THE MEN WHO LABORED IN BISBEE'S COPPER MINES. FURTHER UP THE GULCH, THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT HELD SWAY. PEARL STARR, THE DAUGHTER OF FAMED OUTLAWS COLE YOUNGER (COUSIN OF FRANK & JESSE JAMES) AND BELLE STARR, RAN A BROTHEL ON THE GULCH. MY POINT IS THAT THIS AND OTHER PARTS OF BISBEE'S HISTORIC DISTRICT ARE A FASCINATING PLACE FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHERS TO PLY THEIR TRADE. IN ADDITION, GREATER COCHISE COUNTY IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. NEXT TIME, I'LL DISCUSS TOMBSTONE, THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE, THE OLD COW TOWN WILLCOX, THE SAN PEDRO RIVER (CONSIDERED BY THE SIERRA CLUB TO BE ONE OF THE LAST GREAT PLACES ON EARTH), THE WONDERLAND OF ROCKS & KARTCHNER CAVERNS. BUT I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME. MEANWHILE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO VIEW SOME OF MY PHOTOS, VISIT MY WEB GALLERY AT http://www.elkinsphotos.com/ (SEE DIRECT LINK FROM THIS SITE). SO LONG FOR NOW.

YESTERDAY, I PHOTOGRAPHED THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S BISBEE ARIZONA DOG RELAY FOR LIFE, THE BISBEE FARMERS' MARKET & THE BISBEE AZ EARTHDAY EVENTS. ON MAY 9TH, I'LL BE PHOTOGRAPHING THE VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME AT WARREN BALLPARK HERE IN BISBEE BETWEEN THE BISBEE BEES & THE PHOENIX SENATORS, PART OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE WARREN BALLPARK, THE OLDEST BASEBALL PARK IN THE UNITED STATES. THEN, ON MAY 13TH, I'LL BE FLYING TO L. A., THEN ON TO ECUADOR WHERE I WILL BE SPENDING ABOUT A WEEK PHOTOGRAPHING IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST, FISHING VILLAGES AND IN THE ANDES MTNS. THEN, ON MAY 29TH, I WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHING THE RELAY FOR LIFE, AGAIN AT THE WARREN BALLPARK. IN OTHER WORDS, I HAVE A BUSY FEW WEEKS AHEAD OF ME. I SUGGEST YOU CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE GALLERY AT THE FOLLOWING: www.elkinsphotos.com. IT CURRENTLY FEATURES SIX GALLERY PAGES. WHEN I RETURN FROM ECUADOR, I WILL ADD A SEVENTH, 'JOURNEY THROUGH ECUADOR'. ALSO, CHECK OUT THE TWO RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE, FREE PHOTO TIPS & ELKINS PHOTO JOURNAL. SO LONG FOR NOW. SEE YOU SOON.

I'M SITTING HERE AT BIZZART GALLERY IN BISBEE ARIZONA RECALLING WHAT IT WAS LIKE THOSE MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I RECEIVED MY FIRST SLR CAMERA, A MANUAL FOCUS MINOLTA, AND BEGAN TAKING PICTURES. I IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT AND SHOT A COUPLE ROLLS OF BLACK & WHITE FILM, SENT THEM OUT FOR PROCESSING, THEN WAITED ANXIOUSLY FOR THEIR RETURN. UPON RECEIVING THE CONTACT SHEETS, I TOOK THEM TO A FRIEND, TOM VAUGHN, AN EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHER WHO, AT THAT TIME, WAS THE PHOTO CURATOR AT THE BISBEE MINING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM. I SHOWED THE CONTACT SHEETS TO TOM AND ASKED FOR HIS OPINION AS TO MY ABILITIES AS A PHOTOGRAPHER. TOM'S ANSWER WAS, "GO OUT AND SHOOT ABOUT A THOUSAND ROLLS OF FILM, THENCOME BACK AND SEE ME." IT TURNED OUT TO BE GOOD ADVICE. DECADES LATER, I HAVE BEGUN TO UDER- STAND WHAT TOM REALLY MEANT. IN THE QUARTER CENTURY PLUS THAT I HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PHOTOGRAPHY, IF I HAVE LEARNED NOTHING ELSE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT PATIENCE HAS ITS VIRTUES. AFTER DECADES OF PRACTICE, EXPERIMENTATION AND STUDY, I STILL FEEL LIKE I'VE BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. EVERY DAY, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW. WHAT I HOPE TO DO WITH THIS BLOG IS TO SHARE SOME OF THAT KNOWLEDGE. I HOPE TO POST BLOGS ON THIS SITE AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. SO, PLEASE STAY TUNED.

SEE YA' SOON!!!

LOOK FOR FIRST JOURNAL APRIL 21. SEE YOU THEN.