While Composition 101 and 102 remain the two most viewed posts on earth Images, The Hand of Man is the most viewed within the first week of being published.  I am not surprised about 101 and 102 but I was surprised about the popularity of an article that is not nature based.  Maybe I have been missing the boat as far as subject matter is concerned.

I guess my world is officially upside down.  Kodak has just filed for bankruptcy.  I must admit that in my later years of film shooting I leaned towards Fuji film for my slides, and Ilford for my b&w.  I never abandoned Kodak entirely as I still packed some of their E6 slide films in medium format, until just before I made the switch to digital.  My slide photography began with Kodachrome 25 and 64.  Slow but sharp films.  The very first camera I used was a Kodak Brownie Box 620 camera on a family trip to Yellowstone N.P. and other great places.  I guess we all have to face the possibility that we could become outdated and irrelevant.  There are lessons to be learned every day.

The February issue of Outdoor Photographer is out, and if you receive this magazine, go look at the story behind the cover shot.  When photographers work hard, and care about their craft, perfection is possible.  Jack Dykinga’s 1992 shot called Rock Canyon, is an example of those disciplines.   No digital manipulation, just “vision”  and a willingness to succeed.  Six hikes into the Paria Canyon Wilderness of Arizona after rainfalls, to get the perfect rock reflection. Well done Jack!

I love commenting about people who I believe exemplify what I think it means to be a nature photographer.  I have written several times on how I love watching Art Wolfe’s passion after all of these years.  On the rare occasions when he is home, he grabs his cameras and heads out to photograph owls, and other subjects.  Then there is someone who reads this blog, who waits for sub freezing nights so she can go out in the morning and make beautiful photographs of ice patterns.   She finds the beauty in what is near-by, and then translates that beauty to an audience.  Well done!

One of my favorite subjects is that of falling water.  There are so many ways you can present this subject.  Below you will find a few of them.

Amnicon Falls, Wisconsin

Unnamed falls in the Colorado Rockies.

Morgan Falls, Wisconsin

Merrymere Falls, Washington State.

Northeast Wisconsin falls.

Ice falls, Wisconsin.

Everyone who knows me, also knows how much I love sand dunes.  The graphic possibilities still get the photographer in me excited, even as I post these old pictures. 

One of the great things about friendship, is how good you feel when good things happen to your friends.  I don’t show it enough but I hope that all of my friends know that I am always rooting for you.