The Path Less Traveled, Part II – Walking the Line

[Note: All of the images in this blog are what I like to call "drive-by" shootings in that they were all taken on the road. Not all were necessarily taken through the car window; in some cases I had time to get out and set up a tripod. Yet, they all indicate how valuable it is to have your camera cocked and at hand at all times.]

A View From the Road (Northeast Kingdom of Vermont)

At the crest of a hill on a rural road somewhere in northwestern Pennsylvania, the sort of road William Least Moon refers to as a “blue highway”, I downshifted my BSA 650 Lightening and carefully rolled off the pavement and into a broad meadow of tall dandelions and timothy. After riding for several hours I was stiff and in need of a stretch. As soon as the bike stopped I noticed how warm it was and so I took off my jacket and laid it across the gas tank. It was a picture postcard spring day. Plump clouds drifted like sheep grazing in a hazy blue sky that appeared to vault over the rolling countryside as though I were looking through a fisheye lens. Off to the north, beyond the low hills quilted in a checkerboard of dark brown and green and bright yellows of newly plowed and fallow fields and fields planted with mustard, Lake Erie shimmered in the mid afternoon heat. About a hundred feet in front of my bike, the meadow sloped gently away and out of sight. A mild gust of air blew up from below the grassy berm of the slope carrying a cloud of dandelion seeds and the faint sound of music and someone singing.

Intrigued and aching for a walk, I locked my saddlebags and threw my jacket over my shoulder. As I descended the slope toward the music I saw a brown river meandering its way north toward the lake. A two-track farm road with a grassy median wound around the bottom of the slope and ended in a broad, freshly mowed field on the bank of the river where there was a large white tent with a throng of people crowded around one side. The rest of the field behind the tent had been turned into a vast parking lot where dozens of cars, trucks, and motorcycles gleamed in the bright sunlight.

Lake Sunrise

When I stepped out of the long grass and into the mowed field the cuffs of my jeans were yellow with dandelion pollen. Apart from a little boy who watched me suspiciously over the shoulder of the man who was holding him, everyone had their backs to me as I approached the crowd. Music blared from loudspeakers on either side of the white, three-sided tent. On a stage, just inside the opening of the shady tent, a musician played an acoustic guitar and sang a familiar country song the title of which I couldn’t recall. Though I wasn’t much of a fan of country music in general, the performer struck me as being exceptionally good, especially for someone entertaining a crowd in a pasture in the middle of a hot summer day more than a hundred miles from the nearest city. There were people seated on folding chairs, lawn chairs, plastic milk crates, lying on blankets, standing with children on their shoulders, there were people singing along and clapping and over to my left, two very lovely, barefoot young women were dancing with each other. Beyond the crowd, over next to the tent, smoke rose from a large BBQ where a brawny, shirtless man with a black beard was apparently selling burgers and hot dogs. That’s when I noticed the barbed wire running alongside the road and a wooden gate on the far side of the tent. Next to the gate there was a man sitting in a high chair under an umbrella. From his position, the tent blocked his view of the hill I had just descended.

Steam on the Fourth Iron

I realized that I had unwittingly managed to crash a concert of sorts by way of the meadow instead of coming through that wooden gate yonder like everyone else and buying a ticket from the man in the high chair. Oh well, I might as well relax and enjoy the show for a while. I walked over and bought a hot dog and a coke from the bearded man and then found a spot not too far from the stage and sat down in the stubble. The musician finished another song and then began announcing the next act. He’d apparently been the opening performer for someone and he took his time getting around to mentioning the name of the main act using superlatives like “father of country gospel”, and “inspiration to legions of folk and country musicians”, etc. Like I said, I didn’t know that much about country music; I preferred the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, Pete Seeger, and Paul Simon though there are some so-called country artists who aren’t quite as twangy and who straddle the folk and country realms sufficiently to appeal to me like Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson, for instance. In any case, I was happy to enjoy my hotdog and coke and be on my way. Then I heard the guy on stage say, “…now it’s a great honor to present to you the man in black himself, Johnny Cash, and the darling of traditional folk music, a member of the original Carter family, Ms. June Carter!”

White-tail Buck Waiting to Cross the Road

I stopped chewing my hot dog as the tall, black-clad legend himself stepped into view from behind a small screen in the dark recesses of the tent. With his wife, June Carter, beside him, he strode up to the front of the stage – not more than fifty feet in front of me, and leaned into the microphone. In spite of the heat, I shuddered when the loudspeakers boomed, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

You see, I’ve always been drawn to rebels, people who do their own thing in their own time as we used to say, and I still do. Thoreau, the Beatles, the writings of Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, all informed me that one must transcend convention to find oneself and live a truly genuine life. Which explains why, shortly after that decisive day in the dress shop, I was at John Shaw’s side, along with a gaggle of eager, wannabe nature photographers, trailing behind him and Larry West in the wilds of Michigan’s upper peninsula, hanging on their every word, jotting down all the details of my exposures, soaking up all their hallowed advice like a sprout. John Shaw had reinvented himself; he had walked away from a conventional job as an English teacher and transformed himself into a world-class nature photographer, a job for which there wasn’t even a description at the time, let alone a graduate program or degree!

Autumn and Horsetail Cirrus Clouds at Lake Eden.

Meanwhile, I had just spent three blissful years in graduate school, alternating between summers doing fieldwork in the Florida Keys and analyzing my data and teaching on campus during the academic year. I had a Master’s degree in zoology but no prospects of getting back into that wonderful life of being in nature and somehow expressing myself through nature, academic or otherwise. Disillusioned, I moped around Columbus expecting convention to bail me out. Then, a matter of fact comment John Shaw made over dinner one evening about how to be a productive nature photographer had a profound effect on me. “Go to where there’s a lot of it,” he said. He meant nature but I interpreted his advice to be a personal adjuration to go forth, to find my own environment, and to begin evolving into my particular reality. He might just as well have slapped me.

So now here was, on the road with a few changes of clothes and some toiletries, a Nikon FE2, a Boggen tripod, and a 200mm macro Nikkor in the saddle bags of my bike back up on the hill. A small tent and a sleeping bag were strapped to the sissy bar. In my wallet in my hip pocket I had about $200.00. And just a few feet from me, Johnny Cash was singing “I Walk the Line”.

First Snow on Mt. Washington.

The concert I had stumbled upon was during a time in the eighties when Johnny Cash’s music had temporarily fallen out of favor as it didn’t quite fit the pigeonholes of contemporary country, pop, or folk genres. He wasn’t getting billed in top venues. Defiant and tenacious to say the least, he got by by taking his show on the road and returning to his roots, performing at county fairs, in legion halls, on campuses, and yes, in cow pastures throughout the country, not too proud to appear in the sweltering heat and in downpours on rickety stages under tents and wherever he found admiring audiences. He did whatever he needed to do to keep on doing his own thing. And so would I.

I stretched out in the grass with my head propped on my folded jacket just enough so I could see the stage. I stayed for the entire concert. It was late afternoon when I finally kicked over the engine on my BSA and rolled back onto the highway. As the cool evening wind buffeted my sunburned face, I was as certain about the fact that I was meant to be nowhere else in the universe but right there in that meadow on that very afternoon. What’s more, I was now convinced more than ever that I was on course toward my own unique and creative reality, whatever it may be.

Moose Cow and Calf in Wetland

Gustav W. Verderber

Posted in New Hampshire, Scenic New England, Scenic Travel, Touring, travel, Vermont, Wildlife Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Pulling It All Together: Publishing Tips for Books and Articles

Few things are as rewarding for photographers – and enhance credibility – as seeing your work in print. While there are many great photographs on the market today, one way you can stand apart and increase your marketability and income potential is to supplement your images with writing.

Writing can be a challenge — even for people with graduate degrees. The dreaded ‘blocks’ happen to everyone, but don’t be discouraged. One way to become a better writer is to simply read and learn about your subjects. Doing so will give you that much more to say as well as help you get a sense for the styles of successful writers.

Blogging is one way you can practice working text with your photos. It also increases your website’s visibility in search engine results. For those with time and resources, school courses or working with a professional writer are also options. Below are a few more general ideas on getting an article or book project underway.

Local, less-known conservation areas are a great subject for a photo book or travel article.

 

Have a Common Theme

You’ll need a unifying theme that pulls your work together. It may be as general as a particular region where you can feature a variety of related subjects, or be more specific such as the life cycle of an animal. Look for unusual or creative connections. For example, the fall foliage of 2011 was so poor that I was able to do an article about the reasons for it!

 

 

 

Begin the Search Process Early

If you have an idea and want to work with a publisher, it’s a good idea to start searching sooner rather than later. The process can take a while, and waiting can significantly delay publication or cause you to waste time and money on material that isn’t included in the final version. An important first step is to find companies or organizations that publish titles in your field. This is easily done by visiting your local library or bookstore and searching online.

 

Monument Mountain is one of 360 hikes featured in the current AMC Massachusetts Trail Guide.

Apply Your Photography Knowledge to Related Projects

While building your image collection, you’ve likely accumulated a base of knowledge relevant to your subjects. Examples include hiking trails, tourist attractions, natural history, fall foliage routes and scenic roads, winter recreation, vintage cars, etc. This can lead to opportunities that don’t necessarily feature photography, such as travel and hiking guides.

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing a Proposal

Book proposals generally require the following information:

  • A working title, table of contents, and an overview of your proposed work.
  • Information about similar titles. This requires some research, but it’s relatively easy to search on Amazon and other sites. If you find competing work, look for ways to make yours unique and highlight this in the proposal. If the other books have been out for several years, this will work to your advantage.
  • Your qualifications as an author. Include all relevant professional, educational, past publication, and other experience, such as pro bono or volunteer work.
  • Sample text and images. For books, many publishers will want 1-3 chapters worth of draft material.

 

Be Patient, Persistent, and Flexible

If your proposal isn’t accepted on the first go-round, don’t be discouraged! Many publishers are unable to take on projects for reasons that have nothing to do with quality. Even accepted projects often require a follow-up or amended proposal. Publishers may also be willing to work with you on a related or entirely different project.

 

New England's diverse landscapes and wildlife offer a wealth of potential subjects.

Self Publishing

With digital technology and a number of print and Internet options, self publishing is a viable option for book projects. You’ll have control over the content and layout, so be sure to carefully check your text for accuracy. You’ll need to consider your financial goals and resources, and then search for an appropriate publisher. While large chain retailers may have restrictions on carrying self-published items, local independent booksellers, gift shops, libraries, general stores, nature and tourism centers, and art and craft fairs are all potential outlets. Keep in mind that these will keep a percent of the profits (often 20 to 40 percent), so make sure to factor this in to your final selling price.

 

~ John Burk

 

 

John Burk is the author of several books and guides related to New England, including New England’s Natural Wonders: An Explorer’s Guide, which will be released this month. These may be viewed on his Amazon page.

Visit his gallery here
Visit his website for available images

 

Posted in Publishing, Scenic New England Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

The Home Court Advantage, Making Photographs Close to Home.

Overcoming the urge to travel.

Landscape photographers all want that grand scenic vista, the “Grand Canyons” of the landscape. I know I did when I acquired my first camera. Getting to these grand scenic locations requires travel; sometimes long distances. That however, isn’t always possible for any number of reasons — family life, budget, a “real” job, all being high on the list.

Photographic inspiration doesn’t always have to go hand-in-hand with long drives, high gas prices and time away from loved ones. Have you ever taken the time to look a little closer to home? Great landscape photographs can be made within a short drive of almost any locale, and by short, I mean no more than a 30-minute drive.

A five-minute walk from my front door. Yeah, I'm pretty lucky!

A landscape by any other name…

For the purposes of this article, I’m going to be a little loose with the term “landscape.” I’m going to broaden the definition to also include cityscapes. Living in a rural area as I do, finding a true, natural landscape to photograph is usually not all that difficult. But if you don’t happen to live in “the sticks,” and if the “landscape” you have to work with includes a city skyline instead of a tree-line, great photographs are still there for the taking.

Waterfalls on the Cocheco River, downtown Dover, NH

The 30-minute rule.

Every one of the photographs seen here was made within 30 minutes of my house. Here are a few tips and tricks to help find new locations right in your own back yard, so to speak, all while keeping within that 30-minute window. (Those with longer commutes, try to watch the clock and see how far 30 minutes takes you).

 1. Pay attention on your drive to work. I used to be on auto pilot on my drive to work. Awake just enough to not be a menace to the motoring public and not much more. That was before photography. Now I look for, and try to see, the photographs waiting to be taken. Driving the same route every day, all year long, enables me to see how everything looks throughout the changing seasons and changing light. Is the light better on that corn field in April or October? In the morning or evening? Is the false hellebore coming up along that stream yet? When is the ice starting to go out on the Bellamy Reservoir?

I drive by this scene every day, five days a week. I'm planning my next photograph every time I do.

2. Take the scenic route. After you’ve mastered the scenic diversity of your everyday commute, take the scenic route. Maybe not on the way to work – don’t want to be late – but on your way home. If you see a road that looks interesting, and takes you in the general direction of home, take it. You never know where it might lead. I found the waterfall below on just such a side trip.

I took the "scenic route" home from the store one day and came across this. Still my wife's favorite waterfall image. Located right here in Farmington, NH

3. Get off the road. Literally. If there is a park or a hiking trail nearby, grab your camera and see where the trail leads. Live in or near a city or town with a nice historic downtown, or better yet a river front? Put on some comfortable shoes and go for a stroll.

Off the beaten path, yet less than 10 minutes from downtown Dover, NH

No more excuses.

You don’t need extensive and expensive travel to make good landscape photographs, so get out and look around your neighborhood. You might be surprised at what overlooked landscape gem awaits.

Other places you can find me on the web.

Jeff Sinon Photography 

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The Jeff Sinon Photography Blog

 

Posted in Landscape, nature, New Hampshire, Night Photography, Scenic New England, Scenic Travel, Water falls Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My Experience with a Super Telephoto Lens

As a relatively new photographer interested in nature and wildlife, I have always been fascinated with the sharp, frame-filling images taken by professional wildlife photographers such as Arthur Morris and Art Wolfe. As I read about and studied their work, one thing stood out. Almost every one of their frame-filling images was taken with a super telephoto lens.

Snowy Owl in Flight with Outstretched Talons

Snowy Owl in Flight with Outstretched Talons

As I continued to work on my craft, I found that the Canon 100mm-400mm zoom lens I was using as my primary lens, was rarely able to achieve frame-filling shots of my subjects without a fair amount of cropping. Despite the adage that a photographer’s “best zoom lens is his legs,” getting close to the small song birds I was focusing on required stealth and/or luck. Neither of which I possess. I decided that if I was going to make wildlife photography anything more than a hobby, I needed to move up to a prime super telephoto lens. I then picked up a used Canon 500mm F4 lens.

Hampton Snowy Owl landing

Hampton Snowy Owl landing

Plum Island  American Bittern

Plum Island American Bittern

But a funny thing happened while using the lens. I found that I missed my old zoom lens! While I have been presented with many wonderful shooting opportunities I never would have had, I have missed just as many opportunities because I had too much lens, and no ability to zoom out. This winter while photographing a Snowy Owl at Hampton Beach, the owl suddenly took flight and flew directly at me. I excitedly pressed the shutter, and then quickly glanced at the LCD screen to see what I had captured. To my horror, I realized that in almost every image, I had clipped the wing tips. Had I been using a zoom telephoto lens, I would have been able to zoom out as the owl flew towards me.

Later that same day while photographing a Snowy Owl out on the salt pannes at Parker River Wildlife Refuge, an American Bittern suddenly appeared almost at my feet. The photographers who seconds earlier were complaining about their lack of reach, were now gleefully getting full framed shots of this seldom seen heron (especially in February). I, on the other hand, was cursing and frantically backing into the road trying to salvage some sort of shot.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love this lens. I could never get close-up shots of small song birds such as this Junco, without serious cropping.

Winter Junco

Winter Junco

Or this Bald Eagle from across a field.

First Year Bald Eagle Norwich VT

First Year Bald Eagle Norwich VT

If you decide to purchase a super telephoto lens, or even just rent one for a special shoot, be aware that using this lens and expecting tack sharp images requires A LOT of work and A LOT of practice. It is heavy (lens alone weighs 8.5 lbs), making it very difficult to handhold. Every movement or vibration is magnified, and it almost always requires the use of a tripod or bean bag making spontaneous shooting very difficult.

While I am very happy that I have added this lens to my bag, it has made me appreciate the versatility (and the light weight) of my smaller telephoto lens.

John Vose

Jericho Hills Photography

Posted in Birds, lenses, Scenic New England Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Stewardship Vol. 4 – Watching and Waiting

Stewardship 4-Watching and Waiting

In my last blog I documented the rebuilding of The Johannis North Platform and the building of a new platform in the Jacob’s Point Marsh. After finishing both projects, all we could do was sit and wait. In all likelihood the birds, especially the males, had left South America before I actually started to build anything. It takes them about 3 weeks to make the trip. After both platforms were done, I began the process of checking both platforms every few days.

A male eats a fish near the new Jacob's Point platform.

Although we built a new platform, this male and his mate started building in a nearby tree.

For me, it’s kind of like waiting for your kids to come home from the prom. The new platform, if it gets taken, will be new birds. The Johannis North nest is another story. I feel like I know these birds. I have been watching them for 6 years now. Last year they were the most prolific pair in the state, raising 4 fledglings. When the fledglings were nearly full grown, there wasn’t a lot of room in the 40 inch x 40 inch platform.

The Johannis North Nest with 4 chicks and the mother.

Joanna with her 4 kids last summer.

I kept checking both platforms every couple of days. On March 19, 15 days after we had finished the Johannis North platform, I walked out to the marsh – binoculars in hand. When the platform came into view, I didn’t need the binoculars to verify what I already knew – Notch was back! I put the binoculars to my eyes to get a better look. He was sitting on the perch adjacent to the nest.

Notch returns from South America

After several trips to the nest with no activity on March 19, I found Notch on his perch.

While I watched, he flew up onto the platform and walked around, no doubt checking out the new digs. The males arrive up to 2 weeks before the females. They establish ownership of the nesting site. The birds mate for life and return to the same nest every year. While the pole and place were the same, the platform was new. Would they accept it? Only time and Joanna’s return would answer that question. As time passes, there probably will come a time when I return to observe a platform in the spring and no one will show up. It’s a long hazardous journey between Columbia, South America, and the East Bay of RI.

Notch flying toward me in my kayak.

Notch on a pass over the kayak

It includes a 460 mile crossing of the Caribbean Sea, twice a year, once during the height of hurricane season. They have monitored birds making the trip. One bird, from Jamestown RI, flew from Cuba to South America – 460 miles in the air and 26 hours flying time – with no stopping to rest, eat, or drink. Next time you go out for a jog think about this.

Notch leaving the nest

Notch takes off on a fishing trip...

The new Jacob’s Point platform became a real hit in a short time. Situated along the East Bay Bike Path, it is visible to everyone who uses the path. That, and the local paper running a front page story on the installation of the new nesting site, gave it instant notoriety. I really didn’t have to check this one because people were calling and emailing me everyday with updates. It didn’t take long for an osprey to be spotted sitting on the platform. This raised everyone’s hopes for a nest being built this year. At the same time the birds were being spotted in the platform, a new nest started taking shape in the top of a tree about 200 yards south of the platform. There had been a pile of sticks there last year that may have been an aborted attempt to build a nest, but it was never active. Apparently it will be this year. Over the next 10 days or so the pile of sticks grew into a nest. I watched the male bring in dried seaweed and the female position it in the nest. The platform sits empty, and, barring some last minute activity, will likely remain empty this season.

The new paltform we built in the Jacob's Pt. Marsh.

Although we got the platform built just in time for this year's breeding season so far no takers on the new paltform

Meanwhile I was returning to the Johannis North platform every 3 or 4 days. Notch was lording over his new digs and I could see sticks beginning to show over the edge of the 2×4’s. About a week to 10 days after Notch’s return, we walked out into the marsh. The first thing I noticed was Notch wasn’t alone, Joanna-had returned. Together, they began to build in earnest. The platform began to show the nesting material above the sides of the 2×4′s. On one of our trips out to see what Notch and Joanna were up to, we were able to witness something few people see. Joanna and Notch were flying above the nest. She came in low into the wind and landed. Notch was right behind her, reminiscent of fighter planes coming into a carrier. She raise her tail and he landed on her back. They were going to mate. The males will ball up their talons when landing on the female in order not to injure her. We watched as they mated and then he flew off again, in typical male fashion, probably going fishing.

Notch and Joanna mating.

While checking the nesting platform we witnessed the pair mating.

So as of this writing, the Jacob’s point platform remains empty but there is a nest in a tree nearby. Notch and Joanna have mated. Soon she will lay her eggs and the long incubation period will begin. Once Joanna lays her eggs, she will remain on the nest until the chicks fledge. Notch will fish and feed her and the fledglings. Once again it becomes a waiting game.

Other articles in this series
Stewardship Vol. 3 – Rebuilding
Stewardship Vol. 2 – Return of the Osprey
Butch Lombardi
East Bay images

Posted in Animals, Bird watching, Birds, Kayaking, Migration, nature, osprey, Rhode Island, Scenic New England, Spring Migration, Wildlife Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |
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