Today (again) in Nature Photography.

I just received the latest issue of Outdoor Photographer and as usual it has provided me with a good indicator of who is who, and what is happening in the world of nature photography.

The downside of Outdoor Photographer magazine is pretty much always the same. There are ads and more ads in OP. Of course they help pay the way for the talent that appears on their pages. You do not see enough wildlife and macros. This issue is a landscape special so I guess the wildlife images that are included are a bonus. The good side of OP remains the fact that the best of the best are seen and read here. The articles are great and this is the magazine to turn to if you are an experienced nature photographer and you want help in making the next step up the ladder.

In as far as the wildlife images that do reside in this issue are concerned, make sure you check out the Last Frame image of a Flap-necked Chameleon by Don Getty. He caught this pretty little critter in mid-tongue flick. I have seen many like that over the years but Don’s shot is up there with the very best. Make absolute sure you do not miss Roy Toft’s Showcase wildlife shot. Imagine a Bald Eagle standing on a nest with chicks. The eagle is stretching out to defend the nest against of all things a Black Oystercatcher. Everything including both birds is tack sharp and this is very difficult to do. www.outdoorphotographer.com

This issue has three outstanding landscape photographers displaying their portfolios along with well written articles.

Ian Plant www.ianplant.com continues to be one of the top current landscape shooters today. He has great vision and spends enough time in the field to be at great places in equally great light.

Well known Michael Frye www.michaelfrye.com has a very well written article on landscape composition and design. Michael is another of today’s best and he is worth reading.

Elizabeth Carmel www.elizabethcarmel.com continues to be a personal favorite of mine. Please do savor every image in her portfolio. She is a master of composition and light.

Most of today’s photographers use Nikon or Canon digital SLRs. I would imagine that Pentax and Minolta are the next most popular. Very few of the photographers of today were serious film photographers before going digital. That is just an observation and it seems to hold true whether they are 15 years old or 75. It is logical to assume (always dangerous) that given my previous statement, many or most did not know that in addition to 35mm, there existed (still does) medium format (larger) and large format ( obviously even larger) film cameras too. Not long after the digital revolution the medium format companies began making digital cameras. Just like the larger film of medium format meant more resolution and sharper tighter grained images. the mega pixel ratings of medium format do the same. Wherever your Canon and Nikon cameras go, the mediums have already been there. Nikon and Canon I believe are at 24 and 21 mega pixels respectively. I have been told that the largest mediums are near 60 mega pixels. I know that several are at 40 MP and above. Below are three top mediums, which have a long history as top-notch medium format film cameras.

Mamiya 645DF body only $5,990.00….Haselbad H4D-31 with 80mm lens $13,995.00….Pentax 645D body only$9,799.00

I often wondered why landscape, wildlife and flower photography is usually considered art, yet insects, even butterflies and dragonflies are not. Below is a nice gallery of fine art butterfly photographyhttp://www.butterflyimagery.com/butterfly-gallery.html

Know matter where you live, be it city, country or wilderness, there are always a thousand nature subjects around you. I have always felt fortunate in that either birds, mammals or landscapes have been in abundance in the areas in which I have lived. If you can, go out and make some images. Pick any subject that you can find and you will be happier for it.

Be at peace with yourself and God Bless

Sunflower at sunset