Lunar Rainbow over Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, 2010

Wakarusa moved from it’s hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, down to Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas, last year. You can find my photos from last year here.

This year, I only went down for one day (well, an afternoon, evening, night, and the next morning) by myself just to shoot.

Here are a few, and I highly encourage you to view more in the set on Flickr.

Note: I am not trying to put down Eric’s list in any way — I’m just sharing my personal views and expanding on his ideas where I can. I commend him for taking the time to put this list out there; please look at his original post here. He also appears to be an excellent photographer.

Eric’s list is in bold. My comments are italicized. Hope you enjoy.

1. Just because someone has an expensive camera doesn’t mean that they’re a good photographer.
100% correct. An expensive camera can aid you in taking better photos, but only if you know how to use it. Buying a $2000+ camera and leaving it on auto is like buying a race car and never racing it. You can also take some pretty sweet shots with cell phone cameras — the best camera is the one that’s with you. As long as you know how to use it.

2. Always shoot in RAW. Always.
Mostly true. While shooting RAW (a non-compressed, full information file format) gives you much greater control in post processing, I wouldn’t exactly shoot in it at the office Christmas party. The files just take up too much space for it to be worthwhile in some situations.

3. Prime lenses help you learn to be a better photographer.
I can’t really comment on this, as I only own one prime lens (one that doesn’t zoom). Some people swear by them, as they force you to really consider YOUR position (your feet are the zoom), and you have to be more careful in where you are relative to the subject. Zooms are more versatile, so I’ve stuck to them thus far. However, prime lenses do tend to be sharper, from what the lens-critics tell me. I also think it’s better to learn on film (like I did!) for a similar reason — you have to think more about what you’re doing than with digital. However, digital has many benefits, as do zoom lenses. It all comes down to preference and your knowledge of your equipment. Here’s a good (and new) post about the switch from zooms to primes. (OK, so I guess I can comment on this after all.)

4. Photo editing is an art in itself.
Absolutely.

5. The rule of thirds works 99% of the time.
OK, maybe 98%, but fair enough.

6. Macro photography isn’t for everybody.
And neither is portrait nor nature nor sports photography. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

7. UV filters work just as well as lens caps.
Yeah, but it’d be a good idea to keep a lens cap on anyway when you aren’t actively using the camera/lenses.

8. Go outside and shoot photos rather than spending hours a day on photography forums.
For sure. Practice practice practice.

9. Capture the beauty in the mundane and you have a winning photograph.
Yep. Capturing the mundane in the beautiful doesn’t usually go over that well.

10. Film isn’t better than digital.
True. It has it’s merits.

11. Digital isn’t better than film.
True. It has it’s merits.

12. There is no “magic” camera or lens.
Also true. See #1.

My favorite anecdote:

A photographer was invited to dinner with friends and took along a few pictures to show the hostess. She looked at the photos and commented, “These are very good! You must have a good CAMERA.” He didn’t make any comment, but, as he was leaving to go home, he said, ‘That was a really delicious meal! You must have some very good POTS.”

13. Better lenses don’t give you better photos.
No, but bad lenses might limit your capabilities in a given situation. Why else would sports photogs lug around those huge lenses that need their own tripods?

14. Spend less time looking at other people’s work and more time shooting your own.
Correct. Spend SOME time looking at other’s work to try to learn from both their achievements and mistakes, but getting out there and shooting is the only way to develop your skills and your style (and your stamina).

15. Don’t take your DSLR to parties.
No comment. . .

16. Girls dig photographers.
I guess it’s because we’re arsty fartsy.

17. Making your photos b/w doesn’t automatically make them “artsy.”
Amen. Color film was invented for a reason, and sometimes the color should stay.

18. People will always discredit your work if you tell them you “photoshop” your images. Rather, tell them that you process them in the “digital darkroom.”
Well, the ones that don’t know much about photography may discredit it, but they don’t know that every single digital pro does SOMETHING to his/her images.

19. You don’t need to take a photo of everything.
And some things you just shouldn’t take photos of! Be mindful, and “pick your battles,” so to speak. But never be afraid to try to capture something new.

20. Have at least 2 backups of all your images. Like they say in war, two is one, one is none.
True — and leave one copy at a friends house or somewhere safe.

21. Ditch the neck strap and get a handstrap.
I’ve actually been thinking about getting a handstrap. Funny.

22. Get closer when taking your photos, they often turn out better.
This is often true, even with landscapes — most people only shoot landscapes with a wide angle, but try your hand at using a telephoto lens and see what you come up with! However “often” is the key word.

23. Be a part of a scene while taking a photo; not a voyeur.
Unless you’re TRYING to be a voyeur. That’s how candids happen, and candids are good.

24. Taking a photo crouched often make your photos look more interesting.
Unless you’re doing a portrait looking up at someone with too many chins. But in other cases, sure. The idea here (and with #22) is to change your perspective on your subject. That’s why it’s boring to take photos of flowers from your normal eye level — get down there and don’t be afraid to get dirty!

25. Worry less about technical aspects and focus more on compositional aspects of photography.
True, until you master the art of composition. A well-composed but technically poor photograph is no good, just as a poorly composed yet technically superb photograph is boring.

26. Tape up any logos on your camera with black gaffers tape- it brings a lot less attention to you.
And ends the Canon vs. Nikon debate. Sort of. I’ve been meaning to do this–busting out the gaffers tape when I get home. (Keep a roll in your bag!)

27. Always underexpose by 2/3rds of a stop when shooting in broad daylight.
Always is a dangerous word. However, underexposing is better than overexposing.

28. The more photos you take, the better you get.
Yep — see #8.

29. Don’t be afraid to take several photos of the same scene at different exposures, angles, or apertures.
Yes, but I’d go a step further: when walking up to a scene that you know you’d like to photograph, don’t just stop in the first place you come to and start snapping away. Take a moment, when the situation permits, and walk around to find a better angle, and don’t stay in the same spot the whole time. Move around. And, while moving around, use different exposures, apertures, shutter speeds, etc.

30. Only show your best photos.
This is harder than it sounds. For one, who says which photos are your best? You? A critic? And for two, you’re so proud of all of them — why can’t you show them off?! Self-editing is an art form in itself. Be choosey when it comes to which photos you share with others.

31. A point-and-shoot is still a camera.
Yep, just like a bicycle is still a vehicle — it may get you to your destination, but it might be harder and take longer! Some point-and-shoots are really good, some aren’t. It’s good to keep one with you when your big camera is too much of a hassle.

32. Join an online photography forum.
A good idea. Forums are a good place to ask questions of fellow photographers, and also to see what questions other people are asking…and maybe you’ll even answer a few questions yourself! However, see #8.

33. Critique the works of others.
… But don’t be mean about it. The missing keyword here is “constructive.”  On the flipside, ask others to critique your work, and learn from what they say, both from positive and negative comments.

34. Think before you shoot.
It’s good to have an idea of what you want the end result to look like while you’re planning a shot. Sometimes accidents are breathtaking and career making, but oftentimes they’re not.

35. A good photo shouldn’t require explanation (although background information often adds to an image).
And since a photo is worth a thousand words, it shouldn’t need any explanation anyway, right?

36. Alcohol and photography do not mix well.
I once took some photos of liquor bottles in a bar for the university newspaper, but I don’t think that’s what he means. Maybe it had something to do with #15

37. Draw inspiration from other photographers but never worship them.
True.  Learn from them, but get out and do your own thing.

38. Grain is beautiful.
Sometimes. They don’t sell noise reduction software for nothing. Grain is one of those interesting film legacies that we’ll be seeing for a while.

39. Ditch the photo backpack and get a messenger bag. It makes getting your lenses and camera a whole lot easier.
You can never have too many camera bags. Messengers are good for urban photography, but backpacks are good when you have a lot of gear in the woods. It all depends on your situation and style.

40. Simplicity is key.
Simple as that.

41. The definition of photography is: “painting with light.” Use light in your favor.
Photography is ALL about light. When people ask me what time would be best for portraits, for example, they start to look at me crazy when I start blabbering about sunrise and sunset and golden this and that. They’ll just never understand…

42. Find your style of photography and stick with it.
I partially disagree. Yes, find your style. But don’t be afraid to change — art is an adaptive, ever-changing process, and your style should reflect that.

43. Having a second monitor is the best thing ever for photo processing.
Hallelujah. As long as it’s a good size and good quality.

44. Silver EFEX pro is the best b/w converter.
No idea about that, but sounds to me like saying “Canon makes the best cameras.” No one converter will be the best for every photo.

45. Carry your camera with you everywhere. Everywhere.
Except when you go swimming. Unless you have a sweet underwater housing. Otherwise, yes.

46. Never let photography get in the way of enjoying life.
Absolutely, but this sort of contradicts #45, I guess.

47. Don’t pamper your camera. Use and abuse it.
But don’t drop it either.

48. Take straight photos.
As opposed to gay ones? I don’t even know what that means.

49. Shoot with confidence.
But don’t be afraid to admit when you’re wrong.

50. Photography and juxtaposition are best friends.
Best friends forever.

51. Print out your photos big. They will make you happy.
I totally agree.

52. Give your photos to friends.
But only if they want them.

53. Give them to strangers.
But only if they want them.

54. Don’t forget to frame them.
Framing is a pain, but boy do they look nice. I agree.

55. Costco prints are cheap and look great.
We don’t have a Costco, but I can say to avoid Walmart, especially for larger prints.

56. Go out and take photos with (a) friend(s).
Excellent! Go out, learn from and with each other.

57. Join a photo club or start one for yourself.
Eh. Depends on the club. Try #56 first, then see what’s available to you.

58. Photos make great presents.
Usually, but see #52 and #53.

59. Taking photos of strangers is thrilling.
Except when they chase you with big knives. But for the ones who are expecting it and are willing, yes.

60. Candid>Posed.
Absolutely, except for high fashion shoots. But see #23.

61. Natural light is the best light.
Normally I would completely agree, but in the spirit of being a jerk, I’d point out that the best light is the light you have available to you, and the best light is the light you knowingly use to make a good photo. Usually, for me, that’s natural light.

62. 35mm (on full frame) is the best “walk-around” focal length.
Back to the prime lens issue, but I’ve heard this before. 35mm on a full frame camera is said to be equivalent to what your eyes see un-aided, but I haven’t measured this for myself. I’m told it just feels “natural.”

63. Don’t be afraid to bump up your ISO when necessary.
Agreed. But if it’s too high, the photos will probably be worthless. Grain is good, but too much grain is ugly.

64. You don’t need to always bring a tripod with you everywhere you go (hell, I don’t even own one).
Yep. Don’t lug around all of your gear when you only need some of it. But to not even own a tripod? Whoa.

65. It is always better to underexpose than overexpose.
Similar to #27, but I agree. When you overexpose, you lose detail in the highlights that is difficult, and usually impossible, to recover in post-production (i.e., the digital darkroom). It’s much easier to bring out detail in the shadows than recover detail in the highlights that just isn’t there.

66. Shooting photos of homeless people in an attempt to be “artsy” is exploitation.
Actually, it’s just plain rude. If you’re sneaking photos of them and selling them, then, yes. It’s exploitation. But if you talk to them, get to know them, and ask if you can take their portrait, then it’s not. It’s helping to tell the story of a societal problem that needs to be solved, and I think that in telling that story, with good intentions, you’re doing a noble thing.

67. You will find the best photo opportunities in the least likely situations.
And sometimes the opposite.

68. Photos are always more interesting with the human element included.
Again, always is a strong word. For an urban photographer, probably. For a nature photographer, no way. It just depends on what you’re shooting and what you want to say about it.

69. You can’t “photoshop” bad images into good ones.
Too true. And you can ruin some good images by over photoshopping them. Get it right the first time, in camera, and you’ll thank yourself later.

70. Nowadays everybody is a photographer.
Everybody and their uncle. Or at least they think they are. Read my post here on why professional photographers charge what they do.

71. You don’t need to fly to Paris to get good photos; the best photo opportunities are in your backyard.
Mostly true. It’s difficult to see your own familiar surroundings in a new way to make interesting photos, which is what makes travel photography so appealing. If you know where to look, though, you might come to find that you know how to convey the story of your backyard better than an outsider would. Unless your backyard is ugly. Then… good luck.

72. People with DSLRS who shoot portraits with their grip pointed downwards look like morons.
Hahahahaha. Yeah.

73. Cameras as tools, not toys.
Yep. Don’t let the camera control your photography. Learn to use it on manual. You should be able to tell it what you want it to do based on what you see, and not let it dominate you.

74. In terms of composition, photography and painting aren’t much different.
Correct. Same idea, different medium.

75. Photography isn’t a hobby — it’s a lifestyle.
For some people. Me. Eric. But for some, it’s just a hobby. Let’s keep it that way — I want to get paid for it!

76. Make photos, not excuses.
Cute. But true. Don’t blame the camera, don’t blame the lens, don’t blame this or that. Just take pictures, and take good ones.

77. Be original in your photography. Don’t try to copy the style of others.
In the long run, yes. But while you’re learning, it’s a good idea to try and emulate some of your favorites, and even recreate some of their photos. You’ll learn from your mistakes — which might have been their mistakes — and become a better photographer because of it.

78. The best photographs tell stories that begs the viewer for more.
That’s why publications like National Geographic, etc., are so popular. Their (stunning) images make you want to learn more about something, which is why you read the articles.

79. Any cameras but black ones draw too much attention.
Yeah, but Ashton Kutcher and colorful Coolpix ads go so well together…

80. The more gear you carry around with you the less you will enjoy photography.
Yep. If you don’t need it, don’t take it. It’s something that’s really hard to get over.

81. Good self-portraits are harder to take than they seem.
Tell me about it. I haven’t taken a good one yet.

82. Laughter always draws out peoples’ true character in a photograph.
Ah, the human element. Priceless. Agreed.

83. Don’t look suspicious when taking photos- blend in with the environment.
And be polite when the security guards try to confiscate your memory cards.

84. Landscape photography can become dull after a while.
Unless you’re a landscape photographer. On the other hand, urban photography can become dull after a while. I’d rather be outdoors in nature than in the city.

85. Have fun while taking photos.
Yea!

86. Never delete any of your photos.
What? None of them? I delete the ones I know are bad — blurry, over-exposed, etc. I do keep some/a lot of the ones that I think are just mediocre. I’ve surprised myself by going back to shoots I did a  year ago and, upon a second look, find some true gems. But don’t be a pack rat. An overstatement, but I understand what he means.

87. Be respectful when taking photos of people or places.
This. Is. Essential.

88. When taking candid photos of people in the street, it is easier to use a wide-angle than a telephoto lens.
Not so sure. If you’re close to them, yes. If you’re standing across the street, maybe not.

89. Travel and photography are the perfect pair.
Absolutely, but see #71. It feels great to see new things and photograph them, and to bring back images from a far away land to show to your friends and family also feels good. Photography is an adventure.

90. Learn how to read a histogram.
Can’t emphasize this enough. It’s essential, especially when you can’t see your LCD screen in bright sunlight, etc. The histogram can, for want of a better phrase, save your ass.

91. A noisy photo is better than a blurry one.
True. Crank up that ISO if it means getting a clear shot. There are plenty of noise reduction techniques out there, but very few un-blurrying techniques.

92. Don’t be afraid to take photos in the rain.
Just be careful! Digital cameras are full of fancy computers and electronics, most of which don’t like water. Professional cameras are usually sealed against things like this, but smaller ones usually aren’t. The same goes for lenses.

93. Learn how to enjoy the moment, rather than relentlessly trying to capture the perfect picture of it.
Story of my life. The worst thing ever is when people just snap at every single thing they see and either lag behind or hold other people back. This is especially true at weddings, where a few rogue aunts or uncles with their new digital cameras (or cell phones) want to get every shot that the professional is trying to get, and usually interrupt and distract the pro in the process. This is why cameras at my wedding will be confiscated at the door and camera phones will suffer the wrath of our ultra-vigilant ushers. I’ll have enough photos from the professional, thanks, and I’d rather have our guests looking at us through their eyes instead of through a screen or viewfinder. (Sorry, ranting.)

94. Never take photos on an empty stomach.
Agreed — your mind isn’t as clear (or creative) when you’re hungry, and if you’re climbing or crawling or doing some other sort of strenuous activity to get a shot, it will be much less fun when all you hear is tummy grumbles.

95. You will discover a lot about yourself through your photography.
I’d never thought about that one, but he’s right. It’s like any other artform in that it’s an expression of human emotion.

96. Never hoard your photographic insight — share it with the world.
Precisely!

97. Never stop taking photos.
This reminded me of this story of a man who took a polaroid a day until the day he died. Fascinating. The point is, don’t stop doing what you love.

98. Photography is more than simply taking photos, it is a philosophy of life.
Too close to #75, but I get it. Like any artform, photography can become a part of who you are and how you express yourself.

99. Capture the decisive moment.
Besides light, photography is all about timing and anticipation. It’s all about the moment.

100. Write your own list.
Touché!

So, that’s it. Good list, Eric. Now, let me know what you think. Leave comments below, telling me what you thought about this post, about Eric’s list, about specific entries in it, etc. If you’d like me to elaborate on any of them, let me know. Let’s hear it. I’m in the mood for a discussion.

(An aside: I was told my name/contact info and maybe even a short bio would appear on such publications. Doesn’t seem to be true. Hmm.)

(Download the PDF here.)

After a bit of research, I’ve found that this friendly member of the Coleoptera order (beetles, essentially, and the largest order in the animal kingdom) is Dynastes tityus, also known as an Eastern Hercules Beetle. Yes, he can fly. Yes, he is big. Yes, I did get the feeling that he could take a chunk out of my finger if I held him incorrectly. He’s serious.

Only the males are blessed with such magnificent horns — for fighting over females and territory, of course — and it takes a couple of years for them to get to be this size (roughly 2.5 inches long). Sadly, he was missing a leg. I hope he wins his next fight.

This was also my first attempt at focus stacking, and I used a fascinating program called Helicon Focus. I’ll try it more often.

Here it is:

Micro-geographic variation in the Cecropia-Azteca pair-wise association as shown through herbivory levels, light environment, and stable isotope analysis

(You’ll need a PDF reader.)

Quite a mouthful, ain’t it?

Now I’ve got to wrap up some photo processing (I know, I know — Wakarusa and Yosemite are coming! Really!), do a commissioned piece, and then take a quick trip to India (more on that later).

After that, who knows. I’ll be looking for work, I guess. Grown up world, here I come.

Photographically, it was kind of a bust–we were still close to Fayetteville’s lights, and the meteors were super hard to catch on camera. I didn’t catch one, but I did end up taking my first stab at star trails. I used a photoshop plugin, found here, to compile the images. Not many, but neat!

Edit 8/16/10:

This is MUCH cooler. Maybe next time!

Perseid Meteor Shower Failure from ph dee on Vimeo.

It’s especially fitting, because shortly thereafter, Proposition 8 got overturned by a federal judge in California, and may be well on it’s way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s a great thing for supporters of the civil rights of all people, and a great thing for Helen and Lindi; maybe someday they’ll be able to get hitched legally and receive the same benefits as other married couples. I’m happy that it got overturned, and happy for Helen and Lindi. Congrats, you two.

Here are a few photos, and the rest are up here on Flickr!

That reminds me–here is a photo of me and people looking through my photos at May’s First Thursday, I believe…maybe April’s…in July’s issue of Northwest Arkansas’ CitiScapes magazine. You also get a lovely peek at my foot and a sneak peek at my living quarters.

Oh hey! There’s that awesome issue of Time on the floor. If you haven’t read this, you should. Now.

Anyway, hope to see you there!

I’m still learning how to use it, but I’ve uploaded a few to Flickr (and created a new collection for them). Let me know what you think, what you’d like to see, etc.

On a related note, here’s a pretty funny video from FStoppers about doing a model shoot with an iPhone. Maybe I’ll try it sometime.

Here are a few shots, and the rest are here on Flickr.

We didn’t stay until the end of the reception, because the bride and groom had paid for X number of hours, and told us to leave when that was up. We obliged, but that means no photos of the band, dancing, cake cutting, bouquet throwing, etc. Their loss, but I hope they’re happy with what they got!

Here are a few shots, and the rest are here on Flickr.

Long story short: I shot lots of photos at Wakarusa, then went to San Francisco and Yosemite with my family for two weeks, hung a show at Ozark Natural Foods (which runs now through the end of the month!), and am now frantically trying to finish my honors thesis. I defend on July 26th, so that evening I’ll start powering through all of these photos and you’ll be hearing from me again!

Here are two from Wakarusa and two from Yosemite to hold you over. Check back in a couple of weeks!

In other news, here are a few photos that I shot a couple of weeks ago at Heather and Kyle’s wedding with Stone Ridge Photographers. It was HOT, but we got some good shots. This was the first wedding I’d shot in months for them, as school was keeping me plenty busy. The rest will be on Flickr soon. I’ll link when they’re up.  (EDIT: They’re up.)

Congrats, Heather and Kyle!

They’re getting married this weekend, and it will be the first wedding I’ve actually been “in.” Woo!

(I happened across a baby turtle on a road that was also a retainer wall near the dam, and boy was he fast!)

As always, you can find the rest on Flickr.

He spoke at two sessions on the 17th: the first was a panel discussion about educating for a non-violent world, and the afternoon “main event” was simple a long discourse on the power of education in the promotion of peace. He also touched on inter-faith tolerance, how humans are peaceful by nature, the importance of caring for the environment (and he even mentioned overpopulation!), and more. It was quite a day.

Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to take my camera in (too big), but we took Darby’s point & shoot to the event in the afternoon so I could get some noisy, blurry shots.

Geshe Dorjee, the monk who teaches at the UA, and Dr. Sidney Burris, director of the Fulbright College Honors Program, had been traveling up to UNI all semester to prepare their students for this big day. Geshe la is also the reason we even got tickets for these events! Two monks (one who is 89 years old!) from Gyuto Monastery who live in Minneapolis came down and constructed a sand mandala, and it was quite a sight. It took them over 300 hours to construct, and then, as always, they swept it away as a symbol of impermanence.

And, in case you didn’t hear, the Dalai Lama is coming to the U of A next May (and he’s already got a kickin’ website)! It’s going to be bigger and even better than this event at UNI. I can’t wait.

Maybe I’ll get a photo pass.

Here they are on Flickr.

We also met the Tibetan students at UNI–all seven of them, which is seven more than there are at the U of A. After the main events, we had dinner with these students and other people from the Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas at one of the UNI professor’s house. It was a great night–the Tibetan students sang and danced for us, and there was a general feeling of happiness all around. Beautiful.

Here’s a video of some singing the night before His Holiness spoke. I don’t have their names, but when I do, I’ll post them. The song, in short, is about Tibetans’ respect and love for His Holiness, calling him their protector, etc.

(Oh, and on this trip I learned to drive a stick shift…in Kansas City…in construction…at rush hour. I’m pretty much a pro.)

Here are a few shots! A few more are on Flickr.

I <3 Arkansas.

• I pre-ordered Galen Rowell’s Inner Game of Outdoor Photography a few months ago, and was surprised (and happy!) when it came in last week. I’ve read the preface and the intro, and I can already say that a very favorable review will be coming when I finish it.

• Last week was the second First Thursday Fayetteville of the season, and I had a pretty successful evening. Looks like I’m finally making a name for myself!

• Tonight is Art Amiss 12! Art Amiss is an organization for artists in and from Arkansas, and they have a biannual juried art exhibition at the Dickson Street Theater in Fayetteville. I’ve shown at Art Amiss 7,8, 11, and I’ll be at 12!  (You can’t show at more than two consecutive shows, and I was out of the country for 9 and 10 ). The event will be tonight from 7 until around midnight, and there will be a fashion show, short films, live music, and plenty of art to peruse. Also a bar. Come!

• On another note, I’ve (almost) graduated! I finished all of my classes this semester, and all I have to do is write my honors thesis and defend it this summer. Then I will FINALLY be done with my undergraduate career. It feels good.

• Oh, and one more thing–I’m officially engaged, and I may be moving to Richmond, Virginia, sometime later this year! I’ll keep you posted on both of those things, but feel free to ask if you’d like more details.

In other news, SCHOOOOOOOL’S OUT. FOR. SUMMER. I just have to write my thesis, and then I’m done! Graduated! Off into the real world! How exciting. This is why there has been a sad lack of posts lately…but hopefully that will change.

Anyway, here are a few of those photos. Jimmy John’s, the Dickson Street Book Store, Penguin Ed’s, Noodle’s, and Greenhouse Grille. The rest are on Flickr.

OK, so that rule is probably written in lots of places.

But, in general, the best times to take photographs are shortly before and after sunrise and sunset. That said, these photos are not from those times.

I had an hour to kill before I took the photos of the Razorback Quidditch game (see my last post), so I decided to just walk around the University and see what I could get in the bad light of noon. These are the results.

[Sorry for the great lack of posting recently--the semester, and my undergraduate career, is less than a week away from ending. I've been busy!]

Here are a few of the photos. You can see the rest here on Flickr.

Here is the article up on the Traveler’s website (yes, I was told to write a first person account of the day…go figure), and here are the photos on Flickr. You’ll also catch some of them in next year’s yearbook…if you remember to look.

Actually, now that I think about it, I’d like to have a copy of the article on my servers in case the Traveler goes down. So here it is. But go to the article anyway!

In Pictures: Community Gathers for Immigration Reform Rally

By: Stephen Ironside

About 200 people gathered at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale on Wednesday evening to show their support for comprehensive immigration reform. Both Hispanic and Caucasian community members gathered at the March Forward FOR Arkansas forum for the passage of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), which would increase access to education for the children of  illegal immigrants and end family separation through detention and deportation laws, and for the critical need to address what organizers deemed our country’s “broken immigration system.” Introduced to Congress in March 2009, the act would provide a way for immigrants who have grown up in the United States–and graduated from a U.S. high school–to go to college and get scholarships.

Under the proposed DREAM Act, immigrants may qualify in part by meeting the following requirements:

• Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time the Law is enacted
• Must have arrived in the United States before the age of 16
• Must have resided continuously in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since the date of their arrival
• Must have graduated from a U.S. High School, or obtained a General Education Diploma GED
• Must have “Good moral character”

Speakers included: Emily Ironside, University of Arkansas Foreign Student Advisor; Stephen Coger, a bilingual UA alumnus who taught English in Argentina after graduating in 2008; Greg Leding, running to represent District 92 of Fayetteville in the Arkansas House of Representatives; Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen, professor in the UA College of Education and Health Professions and director of Project Teach Them All; David Whitaker, running for U.S. Congress from Arkansas’ third district; various local Hispanic students and community members.

The speakers stressed that immigration reform is not just good for immigrants, but rather that it is good for America

When I heard about Joel Sartore’s new book, I thought it was a really interesting project.

When I saw this promo video for Joel Sartore’s new book, I thought “this is exactly what I want to do with my life. Period.”

When I ordered Joel Sartore’s new book, I couldn’t wait for it to come in.

When I first read Joel Sartore’s new book, I could not help but have that feeling you get when you watch a heart-wrenching scene in a movie and you do everything you can to hold back one of those big, hot tears that blurs your vision before it finally gets sucked back in.

I’m not kidding.

Entitled RARE: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species, this is more than just another picture coffee table book. It is a passionate plea to you, me, and the rest of the world to learn to remember our love of nature and to step up and do something about the species we are losing each an every year to extinction.

The project is fairly simple in concept, rather difficult in process, and absolutely beautiful in execution. The book features stunning images of America’s endangered species, both small and large, famous and unheard of. They are all on simple black or white backgrounds and, in this way, are given equal “screen time.” Sartore traveled to zoos around the country and worked with biologists to capture the emotions of these dying creatures–both plants and animals–and the results are phenomenal. Am I praising it too much? Impossible.

The layout of the book is simple and well-designed. The fonts and colors compliment the images well, and though priority is given to the images themselves, the text accompanying them is educational, heart-warming, and tear-jerking. Though you won’t remember the numbers, names, or locations of most of the animals (and plants!) in this book, you will come away with a newfound respect for them and ones like them.

The foreword by Sartore opens the book with a narrative about the photo session for Bryn the rabbit, one of the last two (elderly female) members of her species, both of whom died a few months later.

Our photo session was one of the last chances Bryn had to be noticed…the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is now extinct, a passenger pigeon for the 21st century. To see the last of any species in a glass jar of museum preservative is an absolute outrage to me. To know that it will happen again is truly heartbreaking.

Yet while he is quite stern about how the extinction of our flora and fauna is mostly our own faults (which is quite true), he is encouraging as well.

Wouldn’t it be great to begin a national dialogue now about the importance of saving the wild places that remain and the species that live there? To do this, nature must become more than just a faint notion to the masses, something that we like in the abstract but consider irrelevant to our daily lives.

If that doesn’t scream “integrity” to you, I don’t know what would. Blending humor with knowledge and, of course, passion, Sartore is truly a voice for those species who are under constant threat of destruction.

California Condor

The introduction, by Verlyn Klinkenborg, is also moving. He gives a short yet informational (and easy to read) summary of the history and effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act–and discusses why it needs help and why it’s not enough. And he makes another important point: many people have never heard of, much less seen, these endangered creatures. Yes, they’ve seen polar bears. But have they seen the Higgins eye mussel? The Salt Creek tiger beetle? The Delhi Sands fly? No. And they wont care about them unless they feel a connection to them. And that, my friends, is precisely where Joel Sartore’s images come into play.

Being a biology major, I also enjoyed the fact that the scientific names of all of the species was included. Just thought I’d mention that. Joel has obviously done his research and knew his subjects well-enough to capture more than just an image–he captured their emotions.

The images are striking because they are so simple yet so powerful, and the animals are portrayed in very unique and new ways. His image of a bald eagle, for example, shows the back of the head rather than the eyes and beak. This is an image (along with many others) that we do not see every day. When I saw this one, I realized I’d never seen the back of an eagle’s head.

His image of a polar bear is not of the stereotypical pure white bear walking along an ice sheet with its cubs. It is of a dirty, grimy bear with foam at its mouth on a black background. Sartore obviously wanted to show these creatures in a new way in order to make people care. He wanted to make sure he showed the sides of these creatures that have never been seen by the majority of America. Maybe he was even betting on it.

This book is worth the money ($16 on Amazon, $24 on Sartore’s website (though I’ve read that these may come signed), and I contend that it is an essential buy if you are into nature, photography, animals, coffee-table books, or any combination thereof. My only criticism is that I wish it were larger.

Ocelot (Leopardis pardalis), a secretive species that is down to just a handful in the United States. Its population in Central and South American remains unknown.

We must realize there is more to life than the price at the pump and what’s on TV. Indeed, there’s nothing more important than what’s going on with the rest of creation. Healthy forests, marshes, and prairies keep our air and water clean. So when we save biodiversity, we’re actually saving ourselves. Now that’s something even a St. Andrew beach mouse could get excited about.

I’ve never been more attached to the purpose and images in a photography book than I am about this one. If you want to borrow mine, let me know. Buy it. Ask your library to carry it.

Most importantly, share it. That’s the only way these images are going to change anything. People have to see them. People have to love them. People have to remember them.

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That’s my review. Now here is my plea.

I hate you, Joel Sartore. I hate you because you have done what I have been wanting to do for years–most of my mature life–and you have done it so well that I may never get a chance to do it in such an impressive, unique, and groundbreaking way to truly make a difference in this world.

Yet I also love you. I love you because you are so incredibly dedicated to your work and you have done something selfless that will not just promote yourself, but will aid in the conservation of endangered species both in the United States and worldwide. You have taken a courageous stand for the preservation of biodiversity when the economy, energy, and much of America (the uneducated parts, at least) is against you.

That being said, Joel, if you’re out there and you feel like lending a helping hand, please feel free to do so. You know what I want to do with my career, because I want to do exactly what you’re doing. If you know people who could help me out, that would be great. If you want to critique my photos, go for it. I hadn’t realized what I wanted to do with my photography until I read this book, and now I am 100% sure. So, thank you for that. And thank you for whatever opportunities you may throw my way, be it on purpose or accidentally.

OK, so I don’t really hate you.

UPDATE: RARE now has its own website. Check it out.

And all I wanted, while I was sitting in that class five days a week and doing nothing outside of it but studying, was to be out taking pictures.

That’s why this summer, I’d much rather go to Skip’s Summer School. I’ve never been to a photography workshop or conference, nor have I ever taken a photography class. All of my education has been, essentially, by myself. Skip may be able to change that, but only if he gives me a free ride. Let’s just say that expensive workshops and college student bank accounts aren’t on the best of terms.

I’ve been following Skip Cohen’s articles and work (along with his evil sidekick Scott Bourne) for some time now, and I’ve been impressed with how they’ve adapted to the new-fangled world of the internet in their photography businesses.

What I’ve learned so far from Skip: while you need to be a good photographer to be a good photographer, you don’t need to be a great one–you need to be a great marketer first. And that’s where I’m lacking. While I’ve had no real photography education, I’ve had even less marketing education. I need both. I need to go to this.

In short, going to this program would be insanely beneficial to me and my career, and I hope that Skip likes me and my work enough to give me that opportunity! It would be a great boost to everything I want to do.

So, Skip, if you read this, here’s my plea. Wish me luck!

People seemed to like the cards a lot, and I may be able to start selling them in the Fayetteville Visitor’s Bureau.

And about the cards: I’m going to try out this Etsy thing. If you haven’t heard, Etsy is a new website that is essentially the ebay for handicrafts…but without auctions. People from all over the world can list anything they’ve made to sell. Knitted items, clothes, paintings, you name it. There are a lot of good things on there, but also some really terrible ones. I’m going to take a shot at selling some of my stuff on there.

I only have a set of cards listed so far, but hopefully I’ll have time to list more soon. You can click on the screen shot above to go to my Etsy page, or you can click on the “My Etsy” tab on my Facebook fan page. Tell your friends!

Also: You see this one combination of photos in a card set…what other combinations/themes/sets would you like to see (and buy)? I’m open to suggestions!

If you know of any other good websites to sell work through, leave me a comment!

We also stopped for lunch on the first day at Granny Henderson’s cabin, where Granny Henderson lived alone into her 80s with her chickens and cows. She was featured in a couple of articles–in National Geographic and in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette–and was evicted from her house when the area became a national forest. This was in the 1970s, I believe. The cabin has been partially restored and is pretty interesting. There are old magazine/newspaper ads plastered to the walls upstairs and some relics–an older butter churner, a shoe–lingering around the house.

We got to cross the river, see a cedar forest floor covered with moss, and more. Not bad for a two-day/one-night trip.

And I got to learn a lesson as well–if you lug your nice tripod with you while backpacking, be sure to bring the part that connects your camera to it.

And I was sore for days. I need to get out and do that more.

Here are just a few photos from the trip. The rest are here on Flickr.

Every professional photographer that I know has run into this problem before: Uncle Charlie brings his Canon Digital Rebel or other consumer-oriented DSLR to a wedding, gets in the professional’s way, and occassionally nags the professional about what gear or settings he’s using. Or a family hires Uncle Charlie or another friend to shoot their entire wedding/event themselves.

What’s important is what Uncle Charlie doesn’t know, not what he knows. It’s the professional who knows what Uncle Charlie doesn’t know–and that’s precisely why you should hire her, even though it will be more costly. While I am still a student and haven’t quite yet reached a true “professional” status with my work and business, I’d like to think that I’ve had at least some experience with people not understanding why professional photographers charge what they do. Professional photographers are expensive. As they should be.

Here are ten reasons why professional photographers charge what they do, from both what I’ve read online and from personal experience.

10. Professional photographers are running a business. While they love to take pictures and hope to make their clients happy, they are also in it to make money. These guys have made a CAREER out of photography, just like you are a doctor or an accountant. They aren’t your average Uncle Charlie who likes to take photos of his wife’s flowers or his dog on the weekend. They are good at what they do and they do it, or are thinking about it, 40 hours a week.

9. Professional photographers buy, obviously, professional equipment. And that stuff isn’t cheap. They don’t drop in at Best Buy on their way to the movies and pick up a $500 DSLR with a kit lens like Uncle Charlie did. A professional camera body alone will run anywhere in the $1500-$3000 range or the more professional $5000 range. For one camera.

And then there are lenses. Boy oh boy. A single professional lens can run anywhere from $1000 to $10,000. Some are even more. Yes, that’s oftentimes more than the camera itself. These lenses are fast, sharp, and you WANT your photographer to have them so that he can give you the best photos possible. And that’s why he needs you to pay him just like any other professional.

Add in professional flashes and other lighting equipment, tripods, bags and cases, filters, backdrops, and other accessories, and you’re looking at a multi-thousand dollar investment right off the bat.

…then they need backup equipment for when their primary camera or lens fails and they still need that shot of you throwing the bouquet so you won’t sue them. Think double of almost everything.

(Did I mention that while lenses stay useful for many years, digital camera bodies need to be replaced every two or three years to stay competitive?)

8. Professional photographers continually educate themselves by going to workshops, joining professional organizations, and following the work of professionals better than themselves.They attend seminars and conferences led by these people. None of this is free–a single weekend photography workshop can cost over $1000. But they usually include lunch.

7. Professional photographers never use auto mode. They know their cameras inside and out. They know how fast their lenses are and the limitations of their gear. And because of it, they aren’t just snapping a picture. They are creating a photograph. A work of art.  This is something that you cannot learn on the weekends; it takes years of experience to know how to compose a photograph properly (or interestingly), how lighting works, and why they need to ask to meet you for a portrait at sunset instead of at noon. They aren’t just pushing a button for you–they are recalling an entire body of experience, and that is what you are paying for.

6. Professional photographers don’t just go home from your event, dump the photos on their computer, and burn a disc for you. They spend hours upon hours to create just one photo. Their time includes, but is not limited to:

• marketing
• answering e-mails and phone calls–they are, usually, their own secretaries
• meeting with clients and driving to/setting up events
• processing the images
• retouching the images–didn’t you know that removing that pimple or nose ring takes time?
• meeting a client to preview the results of a shoot
• framing/finishing the images
• packaging and delivering images
• following up with clients to make sure they are satisfied…and begin marketing again

Not to mention the time to take the photographs themselves.

And they (hopefully) aren’t just doing this for you. They’re doing it for their other clients as well. You may think you’re paying for a two hour shoot, but expect the photographer to work for many hours on top of that.

5. That said, they are more than just photographers. They are CEOs. They are secretaries, marketers, accountants, salespeople, production workers, buyers, negotiators, janitors, networkers, organizers. They are doing the jobs most businesses pay other people to do for them.

And sometimes they sleep.

4. Professional photographers will do almost anything for a client. They will sit in a river, climb a mountain, travel to a foreign country, ride a ski lift, and more. If you want it, a professional photographer will be there.

3. Professional photographers provide their own customer service. You want reprints? Sure…but they’ll eat the costs. You want a photo or layout changed in your album? Fine. They know what looks good and how to get you what you want. Their goal is to please you so that you refer a friend (or ten), not just to get a check from you at the end of the day.

2. Professional photographers keep themselves up to date on the latest industry standards. This means equipment, software, products, styles, and more. They like to innovate. If you don’t like something they offer, they try to find something that you will like. Professionals aren’t using websites made in Microsoft Frontpage that look like they’re from the ’90s. They aren’t using Microsoft Paint to process your photos–they are using Photoshop, which costs hundreds of dollars…per edition. And they have to continually keep themselves informed as to what is coming out and what people like.

Case in point: I excitedly announced to my girlfriend this morning that Adobe was set to release their Creative Suite 5 software in a couple of months, and she asked if there was going to be a new version of Lightroom with it. I said “No, Lightroom isn’t a part of the Creative Suite, but they’re working on Lightroom 3 and have already released the second beta version for testing.” Does this make me a nerd? Probably. Does this make me more informed than Uncle Charlie? Absolutely. Does this make me a professional? Who knows, but it can’t hurt.

1. Professional photographers have the skills and knowledge in place to make you and your project look the best it can look. You can go buy a saw and hammer at a hardware store, but instead you spend hundreds of dollars to have a handyman repair that deck for you. You could spend a few bucks on a needle and thread, yet you have your clothes altered at a tailor for much more.

The tools do not determine quality. A professional photographer can take your point and shoot camera, or a cell phone for that matter, and make you say “wow!” OK, so that contradicts number 9, but you know what I mean. It’s not the tools, but rather the experience. You could go to your local shopping mall photographer for a portrait, but he won’t give you advice on your clothes or locations, won’t concentrate on what expression you have, and won’t give you customer service that goes beyond his minimum wage. He won’t be professional.

Here’s a video to sum up:

When you hire a non-professional…

So, in short, don’t go the cheap route. Don’t have Uncle Charlie shoot photos of your business, your bride, or your baby. Bite the bullet, hire a professional, and you’ll actually be pleased with the results and want to show off the photos to your friends.