July 1 to July 7, 2019

Coastal Grizzly Bears and Walrus will be our primary subjects but we may also see Wolf, Lynx, Moose, Beaver, Caribou, Dall sheep, Seals, Fox, Sea Otters, Tundra Swan, Puffins, and Bald Eagles. This is the best location on Planet Earth to observe and photograph the giant coastal grizzlies (brown bears). In this perfect wilderness, you will watch bears fishing for salmon, digging for clams, eating sedge grasses or grazing on blueberries on the alpine tundra. Visit one of the world’s only photographable walrus pods on a remote Baring Sea beach.

The lodge provides a true wilderness experience.  Iliamna and Redoubt are two active volcanoes in Lake Clark National Park. Iliamna has not erupted recently but is frequently seen steaming from its summit fumaroles. Redoubt erupted in the spring of 2009.   Both these volcanoes provide an excellent backdrop for coastal brown bear photography.  

We will have the opportunity to photograph the coastal brown bears, boars, and sows (many with cubs) in their natural environment but at close up ranges.  At times 70 mm can be too much.  This location does not have the typical viewing platforms and limited viewing areas.  You will photograph from the ground as well as low trailers pulled by ATVs.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

August 14 to 23, 2017

The annual migration in Tanzania is a once in a lifetime experience. This photo adventure is planned to give you the opportunity to photograph the world’s largest concentration of elephants per square mile in Tarangire National Park; descend into Ngorongoro crater with a population of over 25,000 animals including the big 5 and travel the northern plains of the Serengeti. We will visit the Mara and Sand Rivers to witness and photograph the annual wildebeest migration. We will also have the opportunity to be among and photograph the Maasai going about their daily routines. Game drives will take advantage of the awesome light of the dry season. If we are lucky we will see the endangered black rhino.

For this photo safari we will stay in camps and lodges that are inside the parks and reserves allowing us to view game in the early hours without the need to travel miles to get into the park. Our vehicles will give each photographer a single row allowing an unobstructed view from either side of the vehicle.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Super Moon – Cape Cod Sand Dunes

Announcing the Light of Cape Cod

A 4-day, 3-night photography workshop – Eastham, MA – May 24 to 27, 2019

Mid Spring in Cape Cod is a multi-faceted photo opportunity with truly spectacular scenics and some wildlife. The tourists have not crowded the roads and traffic is not a nightmare. This very special workshop is for all levels of photographers from beginner to advanced. The Cape provides some of the most incredible landscapes and seascapes and the light during spring is exceptional. We will explore and photograph the Cape’s classic seashore, sand dunes, lighthouses, and some wildlife. We will determine schedules and locations based on weather forecasts, tides and sunrise/sunset times. We may even explore the opportunity to do some night photography.

Anchor and Ropes

The workshop will begin with a meet and greet and an orientation briefing.  We will then venture out to capture a sunset. A post-dinner short classroom session devoted to teaching exposure theory, composition and field techniques will be conducted. Each day we will explore various landscapes whether intimate ones or those on a grand scale, photographing sand patterns, marsh grasses, and fishing scenes.

Our days will be based on a very flexible schedule allowing us to respond to the opportunities based on weather and light conditions so you can have the best photo experiences each day. 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

A few comments from past participants:

Vietnam – a bucket list location for any photographer interested in the many splendors of travel photography. One of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cultures that offer spectacular scenery, stunning historical sites, colorful ethnic groups that rank it among the great photographic destinations of the world.

This photo tour is tailored to have you in the right locations with the best light for all our planned photo shoots.  The tour is designed to provide you with a mix of street photography, people portraiture, landscapes & the work environment like fishing and salt collection. The tour includes arranged photography in beautiful locations with professional models and local village folk.

This is not a photography workshop but an intense photo tour.  We want this to be a fun photography adventure and all instruction is informal and voluntary. This is an all-encompassing tour that includes hotels, meals, and transportation from the day of arrival to the day you depart.

We will visit 7 beautiful locations for some of the finest photography.

• Colorful ethnic people of the land.
• Model shoots in traditional clothing
• Hue, the Imperial City with models in ancient and exotic settings
• Stunning images of workers in Hon Khoi Salt Fields
• UNESCO World  Heritage site of Old Hoi An
• Cham Culture 
• Vast Sand Dunes
• Conical hat market at night

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Panasonic goes full-frame, is M/43 dead?

In this episode, Don Komarechka and I with Frederick Van Johnson as host, dive into a discussion about Panasonic’s expansion into the full-frame mirrorless space. This brings the company out of the “small sensor” game and directly into competition with Sony, Nikon and other manufacturers vying for consumer “full-frame” dollars.

WATCH TWiP 541 NOW!

Firmware updates for the Lumix GH5, GH5S, G9, and the GX9 were released today.  You can get the latest firmware from the following page:

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

Of significance is the improvement in autofocus performance with all these cameras.

Please be sure to follow the instuctions as indicated on the following page:

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/step1.html

Panasonic today announced two models of its first Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera called the “S” Series. Both with a 35 mm full-frame image sensor, the LUMIX S1R and the S1. Both cameras will support 4K 60p video and the Dual I.S. image stabilization system. These cameras are slated for release in early 2019 and both promise to be exceptional systems.

Key features:

1. Effective pixels:  47M for the S1R and 24M for the S1)
2. 4K 60p video recording
3. Dual I.S. (Image Stabilization)
4. A double slot for XQD memory cards and SD memory cards
5. Rugged triaxial tilt LCD
6. Leica Camera’s L-Mount, making it possible to use interchangeable lenses that meet the L-Mount specifications in partnership with Leica Camera and Sigma.

Panasonic will also expand its lineup of LUMIX S series compatible lenses, developing more than ten by 2020, including a 50 mm/F1.4 fixed-focus lens, 24-105 mm standard zoom lens, and 70-
200 mm telephoto zoom lens.  The speed of the two zoom lenses was not specified.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available for release.

For the MFT system:

Panasonic has started developing a LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25 mm constant aperture f/1.7 lens≥

In addition, Panasonic has announced the launch of LUMIX PRO, a service and support program for its LUMIX professionals. This program has been designed to ensure that professionals can receive service and repair benefits globally. Stay tuned for additional details on the October launch for the US market.

Prototypes of the new cameras and lenses introduced above are being exhibited at Photokina in Germany.

About Aurora HDR 2019:

Skylum’s Quantum HDR Engine harnesses the power of AI for a more streamlined editing experience than ever before. It reduces burned-out colors, loss of contrast, noise and unnatural lighting caused by halos and unstable deghosting.

The Quantum HDR Engine has taken three years to create within Skylum’s AI lab, and contains the vast knowledge of the development team paired with artificial intelligence to bring you seamless HDR editing, be it with a single image or multiple bracketed shots.

Skylum’s developers tested thousands of bracketed shots through a neural network, and used the results to develop the technology needed for creating incredible HDR photographs – whether it’s real estate, landscape, cityscape or any other type of HDR photography.

Here are the most essential changes:

• New Quantum HDR Engine

• LUTs support with 11 New Integrated LUTs

• Photoshop plugins support

• New HDR Smart Structure filter for realistic and artefact-free structure (can be found in the new HDR Enhance filter)

• Presets are now called ‘Looks’

• Improved Adjustable Gradient filter with new sliders for Shadows and Highlights added

• Improved HDR Details Boost Effect (the photo is shown in high-resolution while fine-tuning the filter)

Offer Availability:

Aurora HDR 2019 will be available for pre-order on September, 12, and released on October, 4.

Pre-Order Pricing:

• Current users may upgrade at a price of $49 USD ($59 USD MSRP)

• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2019 at a price of $89 USD ($99 USD MRSP)

Pre-Order Bonuses:

• Video Tutorial: Getting the Most from Aurora HDR 2019 by Trey Ratcliff

• Landscape Photography Handbook by  David Johnston

• Burning Moods Looks by Richard Harrington