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Watch the Premiere of The Last Lions This Friday on Nat Geo WILD

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Photo by Beverly Joubert
Photo by Beverly Joubert
This Friday, the documentary The Last Lions will make its television premiere on Nat Geo WILD (check your local TV listings for the start time). The film documents the life of a lioness named Ma di Tau (“Mother of Lions”) as she protects her cubs from enemies to ensure their survival.

The film was created by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, two very passionate filmmakers/photographers who have dedicated their lives to documenting and protecting the lives of wild lions.

Unfortunately, the population of wild lions is rapidly declining, mostly due to habitat loss, hunting, and disease. In 1950, the African lion population was estimated to be around 400,000. But, today, the population is down to just 20,000. [Read more…] about Watch the Premiere of The Last Lions This Friday on Nat Geo WILD

Total Lunar Eclipse This Saturday

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Photo by Jiyang Chen
Photo by Jiyang Chen (used under the CC-Attr-SA license)
This Saturday, December 10th, there will be a total eclipse of the Moon, visible from western North America, and much of Asia and Australia. To see it in the western US, you’ll have to wake up pretty early (about 4:45 AM PST if you want to see the entire show), but it’s well worth it.

In a total eclipse, the Moon turns bright red (due to the way the light from the Sun is scattered as it passes through our atmosphere), and it’s truly a beautiful site. In fact, it was a lunar eclipse that originally inspired me to get a digital SLR 🙂

If you’re interested in photographing the eclipse, check out this great blog post by Michael Frye. He offers some good tips, especially about exposure. [Read more…] about Total Lunar Eclipse This Saturday

Evolution of a Nature Photograph

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Fringed Gentian / Photo by Vic Berardi
Fringed Gentian / Photo by Vic Berardi
Sometimes when you come across a subject, you immediately know how to photograph it and create a pleasing image. But, other times (and perhaps, most of the time), it takes some thought and experimenting to find that image you’re looking for. You start off with a basic shot, and continue tweaking or evolving it, until you eventually obtain that image you set out to create.

For example, one day earlier this fall, I set out to photograph one of my favorite fall wildflowers: the Fringed Gentian (Gentiana crinita). They’re generally found in open areas next to higher quality wetlands, and usually grow in clumps of a hundred or more flowering plants.

Photographing them can be challenging since their habit of growing in clumps can make it hard to isolate one or a few of them in an image. Nevertheless, the Fringed Gentian is a beautifully delicate wildflower that deserves the very best attention in depicting that very beauty and fragility. [Read more…] about Evolution of a Nature Photograph

Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Auto White Balance

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Photo by Steve Berardi
Photo by Steve Berardi
Don’t you love it when something is “automatic”? It’s just one less thing to worry about, right?

Well, as you probably already know, “automatic” doesn’t always work (especially when it comes to cameras). But, that’s what makes photography so fun 🙂

One of those automatic features of your camera that doesn’t always work is white balance.

[Read more…] about Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Auto White Balance

How To Get Started With Animal Tracking

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If you’re serious about wildlife photography, then it’s helpful to learn a little about animal tracking. Knowing where an animal typically hangs out or walks around can significantly increase your chances of being in the right place at the right time.

Learning how to accurately track animals can be a long process, but here are a few simple ways to get started: [Read more…] about How To Get Started With Animal Tracking

Panheads Vs Ballheads

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When you’re shopping for a tripod, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to get a panhead or a ballhead. But, what’s the difference? Which one’s better?

Well, here’s a quick summary of each type of head, along with some thoughts on which one you might prefer: [Read more…] about Panheads Vs Ballheads