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Book Review: Science for the Curious Photographer by Charles Johnson

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As a photographer with a science background, I’ve always been on the lookout for a good book on the science behind photography. Although Ansel Adams got pretty technical in his excellent books, they left me wanting to know more about how cameras, lenses, and sensors work.

So, I started searching for the right book, and immediately found the comprehensive works of Rudolf Kingslake. But, his books turned out to be a little too technical for me.

Just when I thought my search for the perfect book had ended in failure, I ran into Charles Johnson and discovered his wonderful book, Science for the Curious Photographer. I’ve already read it twice, and I must say it’s the perfect book for anyone who wants to understand how their camera works. [Read more…] about Book Review: Science for the Curious Photographer by Charles Johnson

5 Great iPhone Apps for Nature Photographers

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With mobile phones getting more and more powerful these days, they’re starting to become some pretty useful tools. They’re not just phones anymore. Many of them allow you to install different “apps” that can significantly help you take photos while you’re out on the trail.

For example, here’s a list of some great apps available for the iPhone:

#1 – Photographer’s Ephemeris

The Photographer's EphemerisI’ve discussed this app before (it also has a free desktop version): it’s the ultimate iPhone app for landscape photographers. It’ll tell you sunrise and sunset times, moon times, azimuth and elevation of the sun/moon at a specific time (useful for planning landscape shots), and tons more stuff.

The app easily lets you switch between dates, so you can see what time of the year the sun will set where you want it to, and all of this is projected on top of a Google map, making it super easy to visualize where things are going to be. [Read more…] about 5 Great iPhone Apps for Nature Photographers

Don’t be a photographer, be a photonaturalist

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Photo by Steve Berardi

Do you remember why you first got into nature photography? Most likely it was the mesmerizing beauty of nature that inspired you to buy a camera and attempt to capture those precious landscapes, or that wonderful flower, or that unique wildlife.

I remember clearly what inspired me to buy my first SLR camera–the American Southwest. I still cannot describe what I love about the desert so much, but maybe it’s the desolation, or its ability to prove the infinite strength of life. Ever since seeing the desert landscape, I have been on a mission to capture all that glorious natural light.

As you become a better photographer and get caught up in learning all the latest tricks and buying the latest gear, it’s easy to forget what originally inspired you to learn photography. [Read more…] about Don’t be a photographer, be a photonaturalist