Fractalius

Fractalius Palm Branch

The image above is a bit different, even for me. I saw some images that were processed in a program called Fractalius, and though they weren’t exactly something I would probably want to make a living doing, I immediately saw a use for the program in processing some problem images I had that were too good to gthrow away, but I had a whole lotta Photoshop to do to replace busy backgrounds, etc. I hadn’t thought of this image right away, but it came up in my editing of my Costa Rica images and rather than toss the original, I saw the potential for an interesting Fractalius image. I like the image, but I feel very, very guilty. I feel guilty because I made a purse from a pig’s ear.

Original Palm Branch

This is the original image that was destined for the dust bin. So, it’s hard for me to appreciate these Fractalius images or place a value on them because they are so easy to make, and because you don’t even need a great image to begin with and that just goes against everything I hold holy when it comes to photography. So I will just have to appreciate them as artistic renderings and not photography in any real sense of the word. Suddenly “Fix it is Photoshop” takes on a whole new meaning. Does it have value if anybody can do it?

The program costs only $40 and offers many artistic options. The defaults for each option look pretty sweet, but there are numerous sliders with opaque names you can jiggle around. If you took the number of sliders and multiplied them by the increments you can move them you probably have a billion options for creativity. You need to change your file to 8-bit and you’ll be glad you did. Even then, you need to wait a little while after each jiggle of a slider and it slows you down a bit and kind of dampens the enthusiasm for making too many changes. Once you are happy and hit the green button to launch the conversion it takes more than a little while. I have a pretty speedy computer and it took mine about five minutes. But, hey, I’d commit Fractalius again in a heartbeat.

Frosted Cedar Sapling B&W

Had to throw in a photograph that wasn’t something anybody can do just to maintain my nature photography cred. I love the B&W I made with Nik Silver Effex Pro, though it crashed the first attempt and stopped working altogether after the second. And that was after I had reloaded the program to get it working again in the first place. Am I the only one that can’t get Nik plug-ins to place nice with my Photoshop? Is it my Photoshop that is corrupted? Too bad, I’d like to download and try Viveza from Nik, but I know it would just crash and stop working like the others so why bother?

Frosted Cedar

The color version, which was scanned Velvia film.

Yellowstone Winter

Tangled Creek

A couple of the photography blogs I follow have been in Yellowstone the past two weeks. It sounds like it is a warm winter with not much snow this year. I haven’t been back to Yellowstone in winter since 2005. We had planned on going last month, but schedules never really synchronized. Tangled Creek, near Old Faithful in the center of the park is a great place to be on a really cold and clear morning. The thermal waters create a dreamscape of fog and frost.

Tangled Creek

Sunny days in winter are gorgeous,. Cloudy days, not so much. Everything goes flat and gray on cloudy days. Even the bison insist on being blue and gray on a cloudy day.

Ice-coated Bison

The bison that spend the night in the warming steam of a thermal feature emerge in the morning covered with frost.

Meg

Photographers usually fair a bit better. My friend Meg is photographing coyotes courting in a field beside the Madison River. Since I didn’t have a lens long enough to participate in that photo op, I grabbed a short lens and shot the only wildlife I had available. I call this one “No Wusses” because of the snow accumulating on the bare skin of her face. About the time I took this photo I was feeling like I had a head cold coming on. By the time we got to the lodge an hour or two later I had shaking chills that lasted well into the night. By the next morning I couldn’t tie my boots without getting short of breath, or stand up without getting dizzy. I had pneumonia. No doctors or antibiotics at the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful. Fortunately I’m a tough old bird and by the next day I was back out again.

Eric in Blizzard

Wouldn’t you agree that it should have been Eric that caught pneumonia?

People

Mexican Horseman

Tonight I have been invited to participate in a studio model shoot. Being a travel and nature photographer this is something I have never done before, so I am a bit nervous about it. I have photographed lots of people before, but they have always been doing something. Looking through my people files, that something involves a horse a disproportionate amount of the time, it appears. Not much chance tonight’s subject is going to be attached to a horse in any way. I have no idea what this guy above in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is doing, but it seemed to have something to do with traffic control. People in Mexico pretty much did not like their photograph taken, or held out their hand for pesos in return, but it seemed to be in this guy’s job description to look pretty for the tourists.

Civil War Reenactor

This guy proves that a sure way to look good is to ride a beautiful horse. He carried off the look of an officer very well, with that great posture and gray beard. The juxtaposition here of a Confederate officer passing Union troops is a bit problematic. The battle simulation was over and the review was gathering, so everybody had gone back to being friends.

Rock Climbing Wall

I love it when you just happen to have a camera with you when you find a completely unexpected shot. It was a summer evening at the county fair and I stumbled upon this great situation and just went click. It has been an immensely popular photograph on both Flickr and Photoshelter. I have learned that it only takes one great photograph to make it a successful day’s shoot.

So far all of my people photos have been ‘found’ images that I stumbled upon in one way or another. They have all been a matter of capturing the decisive moment in the action. Tonight will be all staged. We can freeze the action all we want. The subject is performing to our agenda. I have a feeling it will be fun, but not what I would want to do full time. But I do have a great loft space in my house to set up a studio just in case.

Crown of Thorns

Crown of Thorns Flowers

I photographed the blossoms on this Crown of Thorns plant (Euphorbia milii) in a greenhouse in Salem while waiting for it to quit raining around here. Euphorbia comes from Euphorbus, who was the physician to King Juba of Nubia (Nubian goats?), present day Algeria, and the king named this plant after his physician ( Mmm, wonder if any of my patients will name a plant after me?). The species name, milii, is from Baron Milius (of the Isle of Bourbon Milius’s) who first cultivated the plant in France. Of course the common name implies that it is believed that the thorny branches of this plant were used to weave the crown of thorns that was placed on Christ’s head. The branches will exude a latex if cut, but it is a defense mechanism and the latex will cause a skin rash.

Resplendent Quetzal

Resplendent Quetzal male

The resplendent quetzals are a much-desired part of any itinerary to Central America. We went to Costa Rica in early December specifically to catch them in their breeding plumage. They are in the Trogon family, as witnessed by the female’s barred tail feathers. They are mostly fruit-eaters, but get protein in the form of insects. They especially like wild avocados, and it was an avocado tree that we staked out for photographs of quetzals.

Resplendent Quetzal female with wild avocado

They are usually solitary except during breeding season, so another good reason to see them in early December is that there are several of them in one place. We had two females and up to about six males at this one tree. The quetzals and wild avocado trees are found in the montane areas of the southern mountains in Costa Rica. We were at several thousand feet elevation. There were orchards planted on the hill sides, apple and plum, among the rain forest.

The female above had swallowed the wild avocado whole, but apparently it was too large to digest and she regurgitated it several times. They are supposed to just regurgitate the seeds, which helps distribute the avocado seeds. The quetzals would perch and scan the tree with almost robotic-appearing head movements until a ripe avocado was located, then they would pluck the avocado and swallow it in mid-air. From perch to avocado and back to perch took about one second, but a Swedish gentleman photographing beside us actually managed to capture a bird in the act of plucking an avocado. He must have the reflexes of a cat. The red stem in the upper left corner in the photo of the female quetzal is an avocado stem. Red stems with green fruit, very Christmas-y. I have one photograph with several avocados hanging like ornaments around a male quetzal.

Quetzals are said to be nearly impossible to keep in captivity, though apparently a zoo in Mexico has been able to keep a breeding pair. They are rumored to commit suicide if captured. Somehow their refusal to live in captivity makes them all the more likable to me. They are perfectly friendly and curious birds in the wild. How could anyone want to cage one?

Sevegre Rain Forest

When the quetzals are not on a clean perch you can always photograph the sunset on the rain forest across the canyon.

Sevegre Rain Forest

For anyone that likes hummingbirds, the feeders at the lodge in this area had more hummingbirds in one place than I have ever seen in my life, with several on one feeder at any given time. One of our group stayed behind while we went out for more quetzal photographs one afternoon and ended up shooting two thousand hummingbird images in an afternoon.

Best of 2009

Roman Colosseum

Best Photographs of 2009 – Depends on how you define it, of course. The above image is selected purely based on the fact that I put it on the cover of my Italy photo book (http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/837183).

Rock Wall

In terms of views on Flickr, the rock climber girl wins the year.

Vintage Car

On Photoshelter, the rustic car is the prohibitive favorite.

Biggest Blunder of 2009 – I read in a blog that the outer part of the two part lens hood on the 600 mm lens is unnecessary so, in the interest of packing light, I left it behind on my Costa Rica trip. BIG MISTAKE. Thomas Goof. When shooting upward into the forest canopy at howler monkeys and sloths my lens had sun on it to the point of not really being able to focus or see much of anything. Thank goodness for autofocus! The photos were barely salvageable, with effort (see below). Don’t always believe what you read in blogs!

Mother and baby Howler Monkeys

Best New Software Purchase – Nik Silver Effex Pro for B&W conversions.

Civil War Re-enactor

Most Used Lens – Nikon 600 mm f/4 VR. Favorite lens was the 70-200 f/2.8 VR, which raises a dilemna – there is now a newer version which is sharper, has better VR, and does not vignette with the D3. Do you keep a lens with killer contrast and put up with the vignetting, or take a chance on the new one?

St. Paul Rodeo Princess - shot with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

Biggest Surprise of 2009 – Shooting rodeos is fun! The backlit dust, man against beast, panning blurs – what’s not to like?

Best Trip of 2009 – Italy. I laughed, I cried. I loved it, I hated it. But, in the end, it was an unbelievable experience. The art in Florence alone is worth the trip. Just don’t expect people to be friendly or helpful.

Best Airline – I was surprised at how effortless and well run the flights to Costa Rica and back on American Airlines were. Every other member of our group flew another airline and they all had delays and problems with every leg of their flights. And none of the Delta-esque “We need two passengers to volunteer to give up their seats and take a later flight” on every leg of the journey, fearing they were going to pick you to “volunteer” at every step.

Best Book Read – I have to pick Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol. The way he weaves the details of a place into his stories and challenges our assumptions. I am now reading Angels and Demons and having just been to Rome just makes it come alive. It would be great to read one of his books while actually in the city he is using for the background so you could go out and find the little details he writes about.

Most Infectious Song, New or Old – When I was in Africa two years ago I had an Elvis Costello song in my head, and it just kept running and running every day for two weeks. I swore I would never again travel without an iPOD so I could get a song out of my head. Well, I went to Costa Rica without an iPOD and every day for two weeks I had the Carly Simon song “We have No Secrets” running in my head, all day, all night. I never want to hear that song again.

Best New Gear Purchase – Think Tank Airport Takeoff Photo Backpack. Believe it or not this is the first roller photo bag for me. No more backpack straps biting into my shoulders as I sweat profusely hauling 50 pounds of photo gear through the airport. This one even has a pouch on the front for my laptop, though I have to remove the laptop to get it to fit into the overhead storage compartment. I even managed to squeeze my 600 mm lens into this bag. I’m a-rollin’ through airports now!

I hope 2010 is the very best year ever for all of us.

Tooth & Fang

Rainforest Hognosed Pit Viper

The rainforest has its share of venomous denizens. We found this hognosed pit viper at La Selva Biological Area in central Costa Rica. This was the most humid area we visited…the kind of humid where even the bed sheets are damp. These little guys are venomous and nocturnal. It was mandatory that we wear boots at night when they are active.

Rainforest Hognosed Pit-viper

The rainforest variety of hognosed pit viper (Porthidium nasutum) is a rather stout little fellow.

Spectacled Caiman

Another toothy fellow we met was the caiman. We found this one at Cano Negro in northeastern Costa Rica, nicknamed the Everglades of Costa Rica because of its swamps and wildlife suited to a marshy environment. This one is called the spectacled caiman and I didn’t see an obvious reason for the name until I read that the spectacle is the ridge above the eye, which apparently looked like eyeglass frames to someone.

Spectacled Caiman

The Howling

Juvenile Howler Monkey

I always thought it would be interesting to live where there are monkeys about. Now I’m not so sure. If you go to Costa Rica don’t plan on sleeping in. Around 5:30, just when dawn is yet an unfulfilled promise, the howler monkeys start their day with a good round of howling. You won’t mistake it. It is raucous, unmelodious, and unceasing.

Male Howler Monkey, Howling

Apparently they howl to announce their location to avoid any unfortunate encounters with other groups of monkeys. They are not territorial, but don’t like being moved in on, either. They eat about 60% leaves, and the rest is fruit and insects. They rarely, if ever, go to ground. Looking through my photographs of the various positions they assume in the trees is very entertaining. They don’t seem to have a care in the world.

Mother and Baby in Embrace

I have to admit being a bit envious of the tail. It may make wearing pants a bit awkward, but if I were to spend any time in trees I’d want that tail.

Male Howler Monkey

Howler monkeys live in groups of ten or more. This is a male. Our guide was provoking him to howl and I think he triggered a territorial display.

Christmas Mojo

Summer Tanager in Costa Rica

“Give without expecting, and don’t be victimized by the expectations of others”

Wayne Dyer

I have had a bit of a hard time getting into the Christmas thing this year, having just returned from Costa Rica this weekend. Reading the above quote this morning helped. I will do my best to give generously for the next two weeks. Not just gifts, but also the gift of myself. I will do my best to help others enjoy Christmas as best I can. Just try to be as joyous as I can.

I’ve always been a bit awkward and embarrassed about receiving gifts, but perhaps part of giving generously is to give the gift of genuine gratitude and appreciation for the gifts bestowed upon you, even the neck tie and socks.

I think my New Year’s resolution is contained in the last half of the quote. I suspect I am not the only one who has trouble ignoring the expectations of my parents. I will resolve to align myself with my true path, expectations of others be damned! The reverse side, letting go of expectations I have of others is probably going to be even harder, but I will try, nonetheless. Above all, I resolve to try to always be kind.

White-throated Magpie Jay, Costa Rica

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Red-eyed Tree Frog on Heliconius Flower

I spent nine days photographing wildlife in Costa Rica. I returned today to freezing temperatures and freezing rain tonight. Even tougher, I return to Christmas season in full swing, with our office Christmas party today. There were a few wreaths and Christmas trees in Costa Rica, but they seemed out of place in the setting of banana trees and ninety degree heat and humidity somehow.

At home I go out and photograph wildlife in situ, wherever I find it. We did a fair share of that in Costa Rica, finding several sloths and howler monkeys, but we also did a lot of table top type set-ups and bird feeder photography, which is very new for me. It is hard to get a bison or grizzly to pose on a table top for you, but when you are dealing with small frogs and snakes, it is possible to transport them a short distance to a more convenient place for a photograph. That was usually a hastily set up branch or flower clamped to a table or tripod with a clamp (Wimberley Plamp).

This tree frog was an example. He lived within 100 feet of where we photographed him and was returned to his home leaf afterward. He didn’t seem terribly stressed. The hardest part was keeping him awake for the short session since he is nocturnal and just wanted to go back to sleep.

There are two strategies for the birds in the rain forest. They feed on whatever tree is in fruit at the moment so casting about looking for birds is hit and miss. The fruit trees don’t all ripen at the same time like they do in the temperate forest, they ripen randomly here and there all year round. We did find a couple of fruiting trees and that worked well for toucans and resplendent quetzals. More commonly, there were feeding stations set up to attract them and the birds were photographed while staging, awaiting their turn at the fruit. You could photograph them feeding if you really like pictures of bee-covered bananas and mangoes, I suppose.

Costa Rica was beautiful. The photography was difficult due to low light and flighty subjects. For the smaller critters like the tree frog a macro lens with a ring light was the best solution. In his session we found that adding a small battery-operated video light for a beauty light worked out nicely. You can see it reflected in his eye.

I didn’t take many landscapes and may need to go back and work on that at some other time because I would like the challenge of trying to reveal the essence of the rain forest on pixels. It would be very challenging due to the heavy contrast and the profusion of greenery. How to make order out of all of that chaos would be the challenge.  The focus of this trip was wildlife and I didn’t usually have the right lens with me for good landscapes. You tend to limit the load when it is ninety degrees and 100% humidity and every movement results in profuse sweating (and you never dry out in all that humidity). And you are already packing a 600 mm lens and D3 body and Wimberley head.

We were in Costa Rica at the end of the wet season and beginning of the dry season so it was very green, and wet. It showers every day for short periods. Using an umbrella seemed the best solution to rain. We went at this time, also, because the resplendent quetzals were in breeding plumage, a very spectacular site. I will post my photos of them in another post so stay tuned.