Iceland 3, Horses
Icelandic horses, are about the size of a pony as we know it are about 50 to 56 inches (13 to 14 hands in horse terms) and weigh between 750 and 850 lbs. They are known as Icelandic Horses probably because Islandica has no word for PONY. These horses have 6 gaits but are known as 5 gaited horses because the Icelandic breed registries consider the canter and gallop one gait. The laws of the land do not permit any import of horses and if an Icelandic horse is exported out of the country, that horse may never return.Here are some images from the trip:
Note: There are over 100 names for the colors of horses in Icelandica.
Iceland 2
Here are a few more images from the two Iceland PTAW's (Photo Tours and Workshops). We visited some wonderful geothermal areas in the Reykjanes peninsula as well as massive lava fiels and valleys. This section of Iceland is like a lunar landscape. The ocean's might and the winds are a real indication of why this region is abundantly populated with shipwrecks. There are more lighthouses in this region than there are villages. The famous Blue Lagoon and spa is situated here as are some massive geothermal power plants.
While visiting this lava field above we were pounded by a hail storm - that hurt.It is here that the North American and European tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust are as clear as can be. At Þingvellir: the plates diverge about 1 inch per year. However the gap is refilled as volcanoes have been erupting on a regular basis.
This overlook ridge is host to a magnificent waterfall. Getting to the base of this fall was most difficult as the path was sheet of ice. The second workshop group was unable to get here as it became far worse of a hike the following week.
The famous Blue Lagoon and the Power Plants are wonderful photo opportunities at night.
This coloration is a result of the sulphur in the air. In some cases the color becomes greenish as in the image below.
The next two images are from the geo thermal areas of the peninsula.
Glorious colors are abundant around the mud pots and hot springs.
Considering that more than 3/4 of Iceland is barren, the barren beauty is breathtaking.
More to come
Iceland - the Fire and Ice Photo Tour and Workshop
Got back after two glorious weeks in Iceland. The ever changing weather really kept me on my toes. Each day was a surprise - nothing like what was predicted the night before. It is fun to experience bone chilling gale force winds, hail that hits your face like BB pellets, rain that falls sideways, brilliant blue skies when it isn't overcast, the smell of sulphur, hot springs, and whole lot more.A few images of the Aurora Borealis will speak for themselves.The aurora on the first night was small but brilliant.
We chased the lights for quite a while the next evening and got a light level 1 Aurora
We had given up and were returning to the hotel. Just as we entered the outskirts of the city this spectacular display presented itself.
I will post more over the next few days.
Happy New Year
Wishing everyone a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and thank all of you who have supported my photography business and who attended my photo tours and workshops.2013 will be a year when I continue with my "Deliberate Photography" teaching and I look forward to a meeting many more wonderful people and sharing photographic journeys in 2013.
Special Products and Special Prices
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support and helping my photography Photo Tours and Workshops gain momentum. For all who have participated in any way this year a special thank you and for those who will be joining me next year, I look forward to gaining your confidence.As I look back at 2012, I can't help but feel grateful to the wonderful people who have come into my extended photo family. I have enjoyed every moment with you all.As a small token I requested my friend, supporter and sponsor Gary Farber of Hunts Photo and Video to put together some VERY SPECIAL PRICING on some of my favorite products and accessories. As you look through this list, you might want to avail of these discounts and support Hunts as they have supported the photographic community.Wishing you and yours Happy and Safe Holidays and all the best for the New Year.With warm regards,ShivClick Here for the list and special pricing good through the end of the year
Bosque del Apache and White Sands National Monument
Returned late last night after an incredible Photo Tour and Workshop (PTAW) to the Bosque and White Sands. We arrived in New Mexico on Thanksgiving and it was non stop photography from pre dawn to night every day.The PTAW officially started on Friday but early arrivers enjoyed Thanksgiving evening watching the Sandhill Cranes fly in with the golden light of the setting sun. Each morning we picked a location ideal for capturing great images - all based on the direction of the winds in conjunction with the sunrise. Mornings and mid afternoons were spent scouting out for additional opportunities in the corn fields and pools.The reserve has been cleaned up and almost every location is perfect for great image making. Some images from PTAW participants:
The image above is from the first morning and the three images below are from the following evening.
And here is one of mine at sunset.
Could not resist posting a "Fly Off" aka "Blast Off" aka "Explosion" - whatever you want to call it - it is just fabulous to witness.
The current count of Sandhill Cranes is just under 7,000 and the the Snow Goose count is about 53,000 as of November 28, 2012.
Which DSLR should I get
With all the Black Friday deals and Christmas around the corner, the question "what DSLR should I buy" dominates the photography Q&A. Here is my take on the subject.Since the question is about DSLR's let's first consider two factors, full frame or crop frame. The full frame camera bodies start around $ 2,000 where as the crop sensor entry level DSLR starts around $ 400. Decide which one you want. A few quick tips - the full frame sensor camera will have better image quality, low digital noise and a shallower depth of field compared to a crop factor camera. If it is relevant consider video capability, most DSLR's in the market are video capable.Resolution and Mega Pixels do make a difference, but do not make this a key factor when you're choosing the camera. Today's entry level DSLR's are capable of capturing images that will produce sharp print enlargement. A camera with over 16 megapixels is adequate for most photography.Next is brand selection as you will make a small investment in the camera body but considerable investments in good lenses. This is a long term investment and remember lenses are not interchangeable between manufacturers. Lens selections are an important consideration and currently Canon and Nikon offer the widest lens choices with Sony following close. Third party lens manufactures offer good choices but for now I suggest you stay with the manufacturer of choice.So how do you decide? Go to your local camera store and hold various camera bodies (with the kit lens attached) in your hands. Get a good feel for weight comfort and size. Next look at the controls, the position of the key controls is important, do you feel comfortable with the position and your ability to press, turn and maneuver through these. Now look at the menus and the ease of understanding the various settings - do they make sense to you? The newer models have inbuilt help so it is easier to understand the various functions.So once you have a good feel for the camera body select a good lens in the 18 to 135 mm focal length range. If you feel you might upgrade to a full frame camera in the future, make sure you do not buy lenses designed specifically for crop factor cameras. You do not want to repurchase the same range again just because you upgraded your body. Camera Kits are cost effective but I suggest you buy the boy and better glass.Once you have made you purchase and want to learn the basics of photography, or if you just want the basics, sign up for a one day workshop on December 8, 2012 - click here for more information.
BosStrap LLC to sponsor Iceland 2
I am so happy to announce that BosStrap is sponsoring the Iceland 2 Photo Tour and Workshop. The designers of the original BosStrap Camera Sling System now have the full range of sling straps for you professional DSLR to your Point and Shoot cameras. The BosStrap is MADE IN AMERICA - here is a link to their web site:
All my camera bodies are equipped with the BosStrap - they are light, strong and so very convenient - read more on their website and support American Made.
December 2012 - One Day Workshops
The One-Day workshops for December 2012 are now available. Please reserve your spot early as these do fill up fast.Click Here to be directed to the One Day Workshop Page and the reservation form. Call 617.759.0010 if you have any questions.
Yosemite & Mono Lake Day 2 & 3
After a leisurely start we headed to the valley to see if there was any water at Bridal Veil falls. No such luck there was a trickle but even that allowed us to see the magnitude of the height and widths of Bridal Veil as wing sways the falls from side to side. We drove one way loop photographing the iconic landscapes and finally got to the Merced river bed at Cathedral Beach to photograph El Capitan and its reflections. The first image is of Don photographing El Capitan while the second is an unobstructed view with the reflection in the river. The Merced is quit dry at this time and give some new opportunities to capture images from the river bed.
A reflection of El Capitan.
We did a fe more locations including the views from Swinging Bridge and the river bed below.
After lunch at the Mountain Room we went to the Meadows across Sentinel bridge in preparation for a sunset image of Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge.
Day 3 - A significant forest fire has been burning near the Cascades. The fire started as a result of a lightning strike and has been burning since mid June. The firs two days were not impacted but this morning the smoke was evident as it blew into the valley. The haze created by the smoke makes of difficult photography.
After a day photographing from various vistas we headed out to Washburn and Glacier Points.
A 10 image panorama of the view from Washburn Point:
- Half Dome at Sunset - Washburn Point
Yosemite and Mono Lake Workshop Day 1
After driving from San Francisco to the Yosemite Valley - our first destination was to capture "Tunnel View" at sunset. i will be posting images that were captured by participants as I receive them. I shill have a few spots open for the next two workshops in Acadia and the Cape.The weather was exceptional and the clouds were perfect for photography. The first image is a late sunset image where the light is just kissing the top of El Capitan:
This second image is from the same location capturing the brilliant after glow:
The flight path over the valley will ruin most images but on occasion a dissipating con trail can be an interesting feature:
This next image is a 20 second exposure of the "blue hour" looking left from Tunnel View:
Before packing up and returning for dinner I decoded to shoot one more image to capture the valley and the stars. The face of El Capitan and Half Dome show the lights from climbers headlamps as the bed down on the rock face for the night.
The Light of Cape Cod - Fall Workshop
October 19 to October 22 (three or four days, your choice)Mid Fall in Cape Cod is a multi faceted photo opportunity with truly spectacular scenics and some wildlife. The tourists have all gone, the Oyster festival is over 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 fall is exceptional. We will explore and photograph the Capes classic sea shore, sand dunes, light houses and some wildlife (including migratory birds).Click Here for a PDF with more information.Registration forms are available on the workshop section of this site or click here
- Outgoing Tide and Marsh Grass
India Photo Workshops and Tours - February and March 2013
After a very successful trip this past February we now have a trip that gives you a unique opportunity to photograph three endangered species, The Asiatic Lions, Wild Asses and Black Buck. In addition to these mammals we will have opportunities to photograph over 300 species of birds, other mammals, reptiles and insects. We will photograph ancient monuments including the Taj Mahal, and have a lot of opportunity to photograph village people and their ways.
Iceland - Aurora Borealis and Winter Landscape Photo Tour & Workshop
After extensive research and planning the photo tour and workshop to capture the Aurora Borealis and the beautiful Icelandic landscapes is ready. The tour starts in Reykjavik on January 19 and concludes January 25, 2013. You do not want to miss this opportunity.I have teamed up with a world famous photographer Olgeir Andresson who has made photographing the Aurora his hallmark. He won the highest honor of photographer of the year in the Danish Zoom Magazine and his work has been shown in Times Square in New York sponsored by Kodak. You will not find a more experienced Northern Lights’ photographer.Iceland – The Land of Fire and Ice – is an experience for non-photographers and photographers alike. In addition to the Aurora, we will have opportunities to capture mighty glaciers, waterfalls and spouting geysers. Majestic mountains, magnificent coastlines and smoking volcanoes.We are now in the period known as 'Solar Max'. This means that sunspot activity which produces the aurora borealis is heightened, offering more chances to see the northern lights. Solar Max happens every 11 years in accordance with the solar cycle.More information is in the brochure and links to the registration forms are available from the workshop pageClick here for a PDF Brochure
Bosque del Apache & White Sands - Nov 23 to 29, 2012
The Bosque del Apache and White Sands Workshop and Photo Tour planning is done and we are ready for enrollment. Workshops fill up fast so book early.
Bosque del Apache which translates to Woods of the Apache is a most spectacular congregation of birds. The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a 57,331-acre wildlife oasis of upland desert and floodplain that was established in 1939. The refuge is located in south-central New Mexico about one hour from Albuquerque. The Rio Grande flows through the area providing water to the refuge. Close to 15,000 Sandhill Cranes and over 30,000 Snow and Ross’s Geese migrate here for the winter.The refuge is an ideal location to capture large flocks of snow geese, particularly when they are flushed by the presence of a predator. At dusk numerous flights of geese and cranes return to the refuge to roost, making for great evening “birdscapes.” At dawn, the “Fly Out” is another phenomenal experience. In addition to these magnificent birds, opportunities to photograph wild turkeys, pheasants, roadrunners, owls, golden eagles and bald eagles abound. Mammals like the coyote and black tailed deer are also presentThe late November tour serves up the opportunity for autumn colors and potential for some light snow cover.We will spend the majority of our time at the refuge but will head out to photograph White Sands National Monument. The gypsum sand dunes stretch for miles and we will spend a day to capture the dunes in the early morning and evening light with the full moon as a bonus.CLICK HERE for a PDF document with full details and the itinerary.
India's Supreme Court make a ruling to ban tourism in tiger parks
A few hours ago India's top court established a ban on all tourism to tiger parks and reserves in India. My February photo tour and workshop is undergoing revisions to exclude the last leg that was for the tigers in Bandhavgarh. Hope the ban gets lifted and the parties can compromise.I will be post in the revised itinerary by the end of this week.See the Times article
Late June and Early July One Day Workshops
Some images that hit it off
This past week I posted two images of left over flowers from last weekend's workshop. What wonderful comments and feedback. I truly appreciate what the viewers have to say - thank you all. Both images treated with NiK. Here are the two:
Weekend Workshops
Two awesome days, two awesome workshops with some truly great photographers. Yesterday's Lighting Demystified workshop was great - even the heat and humidity was not a hindrance. The Macro and Closeup workshop had many Ah Ha moments in particular with stacking.Here are a few images form the macro and closeup workshop participants:
Participants' Images "Light of Cape Cod"
I was so very pleased to see the progression with the way the participants were making images. The cycle of conceptualization, visualization and capture all coming together was so clear by the time we were closing out the workshop.This can all be summed up with a statement Carole made on facebook:I had the most amazing weekend. I did the Shiv Verma's workshop "Light of Cape Cod". Going in as a total beginner....I walked away with a wealth of knowledge. I now shoot in manual and learned to be so comfortable with my camera. Shiv was there to teach and guide...and then encouraged us to do it on our own. And that is a true teacher. It was like a lightbulb going off in my head....I got it, I understood it, I felt it, I was breathing it. Thank you, Shiv!