In addition to three photographers (Guy Tal, Jim Zuckerman, Richard Steel), who’s work I feature regularly on these pages, today I am bringing you seven image makers who are new to us

Most of the guest images that I share on Earth Images come from Facebook friends, but this time I spent a little time on Google Plus, where I am also a member. I am not very active there and I often forget the awesome photography that is displayed on its pages.

Guy Tal is one of my all time favorite nature/abstract landscape photographers. This photo of some wind blown winter trees brings back to me many fond memories of days like this in the Rocky Mts. Beautiful and scary at the same time. Although I was not much of a skier, I loved (everything but driving) heading high into the mountains on cold winter days.

One of the very first nature photography “how to” books I ever purchased was from Jim Zuckerman. I was already an experienced photographer, but I enjoyed Jim’s work, and found the book very interesting. This beautiful image is new and was made in Scotland.

This is our first time to view an image from fellow Wisconsinite Phil Koch. I love this picture which was in fact made in Wisconsin. We have many great photographers in Wisconsin and Phil is now on my list of those to watch.  Excellent composition and wonderful atmosphere.

Sand dunes and landscape photography are a marriage made in heaven. I love the wispy feel to this Death Valley, CA photo created by Brian Rueb

This beautiful sunset shot has many of the same attributes as Phil Koch’s photo earlier in this post. The picture has the cool feel of winter, and the warm kiss of sunset. The way the foeground snow is painted in gold, is very special.  Sandra Mare is the photographer and I will be looking for more of her work.

I’ve been trying to include some cityscapes in most of my guest photographer posts, and I found two beauties today. My love is always nature but any serious image maker would revel in creating pictures like the two below.

Cities at dusk are always amazing. This Kieron Draper picture made in Rome, Italy is vibrant. Those reflections double our pleasure.

Liliana Chesnoiu created this wonderful view of Amsterdam. Her choice of a narrow vertical is perfect for this old European style of architecture. I especially enjoy the time of day. There is enough light to retain detail on these beautiful old buildings while the lights within the buildings add complexity.

Sea Corel can be amazingly beautiful and Rafi Amar did a great job of capturing that beauty. I really like his composition here.

Tilinti Rayno caught this great wing spread shot of a Golden Eagle. Look at the way it has its wingtip feathers splayed out as it banks. A perfect moment. Birds create their own art.

Finally we come back to one of our veteran image makers here at Earth Images. British photographer Richard Steel is a premier wildlife photographer. The eye level angle Richard captured with this Goosander is superb. His use of depth of field and point of focus is outstanding. I believe a Goosander is a type of Merganser.

I’ve often said that while I love photographing all birds from cranes to warblers, waterfowl, especially ducks, grebes, mergansers and loons are my favorite. You have so many compositional choices. So many expressions to catch. So much action. The water itself becomes an enormous part of the final picture.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed viewing the work of these fine photographers as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you. There is much talent in the world

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Your rights as a photographer.

Below you will find info and links to the new Ansel Adams Act that has been proposed in congress. It concerns your First Amendment rights as a photographer, when you are on public lands. In general I am in favor of such things but have not endorsed this because I have not yet studied the act and its ramifications. I have however in the past, written within these pages, the restrictions that took place in the 1980s and 90s, and our battle to stop it. I in fact, was once prohibited from making pictures, and threatened with detainment in Rocky Mountain N. P.

The only real apprehension I have about such an act, is that there are so many photographers today, that rudeness, lack of respect for subjects, and behavior that is dangerous to he point of being foolhardy, is common place. As far back as 2006 there were selfish idiots ruining things for the rest of us. If there were only a way to write a bill that would weed out the jerks, and leave the majority alone.

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A new “ Ansel Adams Act” introduced in Congress could have big implications on photographers’ rights across the United States. The bill aims to “restore the First Amendment rights of photographers” by removing restrictions on taking photos in public places.
Introduced on January 2nd, 2015 by Republican US Representative Steve Stockman of Texas, the document discusses the disturbing trend in recent years of the US Government creating regulations that prohibit or restrict photography in places such as national parks and public spaces, and of subjects such as government buildings, police officers, and other government workers.

Even when these laws don’t exist, people “have been instructed to prohibit photography from public spaces, and threatened photographers with arrest or seizure of photographic equipment,” the bill says.

Stockman argues that this is a violation of “freedom of speech and of the press” against the principles of the First Amendment. “Still and motion photographs are speech,” he says. “It is contrary to the public policy of the United States to prohibit or restrict photography in public spaces, whether for private, news media, or commercial use.” The bill’s solution is to make sure that photography in public spaces is not prohibited (the government would need a court order to do so), that the government will not charge photographers to shoot on public land, and that photographic equipment cannot be seized or tampered with.

Here’s the full text of the bill for you to read through if you’re interested (it’s rather short):

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God Bless,                                                                                                                                       Wayne