The article below is made up of my opinions and only my opinions.

I haven’t shared my latest thoughts on who is (in my opinion) the best of the current crop of nature photographers.  My opinions these days come mostly from info that I receive on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and so forth.  I do follow-up on what I find.  Some of my frequent mentions are digital friends and in one case a personal friend, but most have never been connected to me.  I look at how well-known they are becoming, how they handle themselves on social media, what kind of workshop schedule they keep and how fast they fill them, as well as how happy people who have taken their workshops or bought their prints seem to be. Of course I also judge their photography.  I am sure they are all waiting with bated breath for my approval.  Some of those who I comment on do find about it and visit this blog.  All but one has seemed happy about what I have written.  In some cases I use the term nature photography loosely as many create a variety of types of photos.

Let’s start with some veteran shooters.

There are still a few old timers who are not even on social networking. The most prominent being John Shaw.  If I was John Shaw and had accomplished all that he has, at this point in my career, I wouldn’t bother with internet “friending”  and marketing either.

Art Wolfe continues to lead old timers, newcomers and everyone in between.  He “gets it”.  After all of these years, workshop participants still continue rave about their experiences.  He is always friendly and his imagery has not slipped in any way, shape or form.  He has a great staff that can handle a lot of social media for him but nobody tries to fool you.  When he is the one actually making the post, you know it.  He is one of only a handful of nature shooters today who can book speaking engagements/slide shows.

When Galen Rowell died in a plane crash, the top spot went to Art Wolfe and he has never looked back. Rowell brought nature photography up to a level that meant when he died, it was reported on all of the national newscasts and in much of the world.  Art Wolfe is right on the edge of that kind of fame.  I wish him luck because nature/photography needs someone who is high up in the conscience of the general public.  From Ansel Adams to Art Wolfe every vocation/passion deserves a super star.

Veteran star landscape photographer William Neill uses face book and Google Plus very well.   Moose Peterson is also an expert on using social media although he can come off a bit cocky at times.

Frans Lanting is a top five photographer in anyone’s  era, however  I am connected to him on Facebook and he barely functions in that medium.  George Lepp, Nevada Wier, Tom Mangelson really have no concept on how to use Facebook.  You cannot advertise  new books or travel tours six times a year and expect anyone to care.  Times have changed and they want you to post and act like the potential customers are people not just $.  Jim Zuckerman’s work has been good and he at least tries to stay in contact with the “common folk”.  Joe MacDonald is just getting his feet wet at this.  He seems to be a nice guy and I think he will make good use of, and make many friends on, Facebook.

Lewis Kemper is sort of a second tier star/veteran of all around nature photography and he is a friend and favorite of mine on Facebook.  Some people are just good people and good photographers.  Lewis will actually post images on Facebook and ask….what do you think?  He is also not shy about commenting on or “liking” your pictures.

Piper Mackay is slowly joining David Hemmings as one of my favorite wildlife photographers.  She is also a pretty savvy lady in the use of social media.  She knows to interact in between promotions.

While Joseph Rossbach continues to lead my new group of landscape photographers I am seeing more and more to like about Candace Bartlett. Her work is powerful and she understands social media.

Mark Lissick is sort of a star of the 2000s and he is very active on social media and is currently a top shooter.  He shares photos frequently and interacts with those who comment.

Mike Moats continues to be a rare macro only photographer, and puts social media to good use. He seems willing to chat with anyone and treats them as if they were friends.

I write about this subject both because it is popular with readers and fun for me.  I know this particular post is weighted towards how photographers use social media, but that is very relevant today. A photographer’s skill at social media is almost as important as their skill with a camera.

Photography much like life, is all about your “point of focus”