Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Close Up Lens Considerations, Part 2

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=150

Thank you for your interest.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Close Up Lens Considerations, Part 1

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=150

Thank you for your interest.

Brown Pelicans at the Capitola Wharf















Yesterday was a perfect example of one of the many reasons I love being a nature photographer. I say this, not because of coming back with nice pictures, but because of the experience of being there.

There were bird reports that a very large school of sardines had come in, right under the Capitola Wharf, and had brought in 3,000 (!) brown pelicans, along with many cormorants, and had even brought the murres in from the open water.

It was all true. I'm not a skilled bird counter, but 3,000 pelicans seemed like it might even have been a conservative guess. There were a lot of pelicans. I've lived most of my life near the seashore, and I've seen a lot of pelicans, before, but never anything like this. They were like a cloud of giant, ancient birds around the wharf, almost darkening the sky. They were so dense that it took special effort to get unobstructed photos of individuals.

The feeling of the abundance of life all around was palpable. It was majestic and astonishing.



By the way, the brown pelican picture, above, was not from yesterday; I haven't yet had an opportunity to deal with those shots and get them online. I'll try to do so, soon.

Thanks for reading.




Brown Pelican in Flight, #2

All pictures and text are © Mike Spinak, unless otherwise noted. All pictures shown are available for purchase as fine art prints, and are available for licensed stock use. Telephone: (831) 325-6917.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Professional Nature Photography: The Price of Admission, Part 3

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=102

Thank you for your interest.

Professional Nature Photography: The Price of Admission, Part 2

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=102

Thank you for your interest.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Professional Nature Photography: the Price of Admission, Part 1

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=102

Thank you for your interest.

Protective Filters

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=114

Thank you for your interest.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Seeing the Light: Part 1

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=219

Thank you for your interest.



















I hope this illustration helps make clear what "The light makes the picture" means.




There's a lot more to say about seeing light, and I'm later going to seemingly contradict what I say, here. But that will have to wait.

Have a good day.





First Light, Mono Lake

All pictures and text are © Mike Spinak, unless otherwise noted. All pictures shown are available for purchase as fine art prints, and are available for licensed stock use. Telephone: (831) 325-6917.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Safely Photographing the Sun

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=176

Thank you for your interest.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Get Luckier: Strategy for Success, Part 4

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=134

Thank you for your interest.

Get Luckier: Strategy for Success, Part 3

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=134

Thank you for your interest.

Get Luckier: Strategy for Success, Part 2

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=134

Thank you for your interest.

Get Luckier: Strategy for Success, Part 1

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=134

Thank you for your interest.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Private Instruction


"If you want to learn more about nature photography – and about nature itself – Mike Spinak is your guy."


Marc Pawliger, Director, Adobe Photoshop



I offer private nature photography instruction. I teach landscape photography...
















and wildlife photography...
















and close up floral photography...





























and natural pattern photography...



and whatever else you'd like.

We can custom tailor your instruction to suit your needs. Besides the topics above, possible topics we can cover include techniques for perfect exposure, focusing techniques, camera and lens stabilization techniques, long lens techniques, gear selection, preparation, composition, vision, stalking wildlife, inter tidal zone techniques, processing RAW picture files, and criticism, among many other possibilities.




Here's what people have to say:

"If you want to learn more about nature photography – and about nature itself – Mike Spinak is your guy. Whether you are just starting to shoot, or have lots of experience under your belt, Mike is sure to teach you something new. He is the consummate, patient, and passionate teacher and mentor. If you want to learn how to truly find and see nature, and how to master the techniques that let you capture in images what you see around you, Mike will help you understand how. His encyclopedic knowledge of photographic techniques, photo gear, and nature itself have truly opened and expanded my photographic world."

Marc Pawliger, Director, Adobe Photoshop


"In my early days of development as a photographer I can honestly say that Mike's insight had a profound influence on my work. From camera kit, lighting techniques and shooting conditions, to artistic and creative approach, Mike always offered constructive advice which helped me experiment and refine my style. Mike has a wealth of knowledge and a broad range of experience that any budding photographer would be privileged to both learn and find inspiration from."

Geraldine Dukes, Photographer, Graphic Artist


"OK. Just so you know – I really listened to your advice and remember it like yesterday. I wonder if you remember it? Well... now your advice has gone around the world - over the past two years I had hundreds of people asking me for tips and secrets. Your words are usually the first ones everyone hears. :)"

Chris Blaszczyk, Photographer

"I first met Mike in Tuolumne Meadows the summer of 2004. Mike is friendly and approachable and a patient teacher. Mike is versed in art, philosophy, literature, science, biology and nature. From the technical aspect of what happens inside the electronics of the camera to the esoterical question of what is beautiful, Mike uses a unique blend of science and art to explain photography. Conversing with Mike is intellectually stimulating. His verbal expression is as artistic and interesting as his photography. Mike showed me that great photographs are expressions based on vision and not mere happenstance."


Art Cormier, Manager, Yosemite Mountaineering Shop & Mountaineering School; Proprietor, Rok Haus Climbing Gym



A Little About Me....

I'm a photographer and a writer. I began photography in Autumn of 1998, when circumstances gave me the opportunity to take my life in new directions. I sell my photography as fine art prints and as stock. I've always loved to travel, experience nature, and express myself creatively. I've chosen photography and writing as ways to make these passions into a lifestyle and career.

My emphasis is nature photography. I use my knowledge as a naturalist to find subjects and themes people rarely see; then I use my photography to share my experiences with others. I want to show people the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and help them feel kinship with nature.

My studio is wherever I find myself with a camera and Nature's largesse. All of these pictures are taken outside, in their environment. All of the animals are wild. Everything is photographed as found.

I began teaching photography four years ago, and, in light of growing demand, I've decided to expand.

I am currently located in the Bay Area of California, but I am available for anywhere in the world. My prices are reasonable. Give me a call at the phone number at the bottom of this post, or email me at the email contact address for this blog.

Thank you for your consideration.




Mono Lake Dawn
Anna's Hummingbird in Flight
Passion Flower
Ocean Reflection, #2

All pictures and text are © Mike Spinak, unless otherwise noted. All pictures shown are available for purchase as fine art prints, and are available for licensed stock use. Telephone: (831) 325-6917.

Get Lucky: Part 3

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=107

Thank you for your interest.

Get Lucky: Part 2

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=107

Thank you for your interest.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Get Lucky: Part 1

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=107

Thank you for your interest.

The Key to Better Photography

My blog has moved from Blogger to my own domain.

The Naturography Blog can now be found at http://naturography.com


This blog post can now be found at http://naturography.com/?p=71

Thank you for your interest.

Thank You
















Thank you, Laurie, Gloria, Larry, Zofia, Ron, Maggie, and Chuq. Thank you for your support, your knowledge, your technical assistance, your criticism, your ideas, and your feedback. Without you, this blog probably wouldn't exist at all, and certainly would not exist in the form it is taking. I am grateful and indebted.

Finally, thank you, readers, for your interest and attention.



Mother's Love (California Sea Lion Mother and Pup Sleeping)

All pictures and text are © Mike Spinak, unless otherwise noted. All pictures shown are available for purchase as fine art prints, and are available for licensed stock use. Telephone: (831) 325-6917.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Introduction

Do you enjoy seeing nature's splendor? Do you like creating nature photos?

If yes for either, then this new blog may interest you. I photograph nature.

Landscapes:









Wildlife:















Flora:

































Patterns:















And so on. If it's nature, I photograph it.

Herein, I'll show pictures; I'll share how to do nature photography; I'll let you know what I'm up to; and I'll offer my workshops, private instruction, books, videos, lectures, prints, and so on.

Welcome.



First Light, Mono Lake
Sleeping California Sea Lions
Passiflora Tendril and Leaf Tip
Frozen Puddle, Yosemite

All pictures and text are © Mike Spinak, unless otherwise noted. All pictures shown are available for purchase as fine art prints, and are available for licensed stock use. Telephone: (831) 325-6917.