Practical Exercise - Shovelglove

When I was working as a park ranger or out in the field doing wildlife research, exercise was really part of the equation. Building and maintaining trails, building bridges, mending fences, walking transects, holding onto struggling wild animals, all together formed a quite rigorous fitness routine. No need to remember to jog or lift weights, it was just part of everyday activity. No need to even think about it, it just happened.

Once I moved into the world of Cubicle, somehow those memories of being lean and fit were scubbed away. Perhaps it was the result of being constantly bombarded by body-numbing CRT Rays that besides screwing up my eyesight turned my ass into a substance not unlike a buttered sticky bun, making it strongly adhere to any sort of seating device, restricting my ability to actually move around like an articulated being.

New Year's Resolutions are a hoax. Going to the gym is mostly impractical for many of us, especially those of us owning and operating businesses. Time is money, and the time it takes to drive to the gym and back detracts from the many hundreds of tasks we can think of that are more important. Getting fit, much less staying fit, has become an inconvenience in a world dominated by convenience. If fitness were as close to hand as the remote or the box of Mac and Cheese, we'd all be Olympic atheletes.

Mechanized weight-lifting machines dull the senses. Here's more convenience to assist you in your fitness quest. You don't have to use your brain to actually add up the weight like you do with free weights. Just move the pin up or down a couple notches ("How many notches are you up to today, Joe?"). Artificial movements on machines are impractical. How many times are you going to need to mule-kick anyone or crack a walnut behind your knee? I suppose if I needed to clap an unruly individual on the sides of the head with my elbows, the butterfly machine would help me get a really good Krang on them. And when I'm out in the woods and need to squat, I don't need the ability to hold several other people on my shoulders at the same time.

What's needed is to make fitness as practical and easy to achieve as it was in the "old days" when physical labor was an integral part of our daily activities, like building trails and walking transects.

Along comes Reinhard Engels and the Shovelglove. Using a simple instrument (a sledge hammer covered in a sweatshirt - read the site for the reason why) and a series of "useful movements", a person with enough room in their house or place of business can get the practical exercise they need. In the Era of Convenience, here's a way to harken back to the good old days for those of us trapped in the World of Cubicle. Useful Movements help you in everyday living with articulations like chopping wood, driving fence posts, stoking the ovens, and tucking the bales.

Hell, these movements can be done in front of the TV set, but are likely to encourage you to get your ass outside and actually do these things. I'm the first to admit we've gone soft. Hardly anyone gets outside to exercise anymore, much less just get outside. If it's not on TV, PSP, iPod or the internet it doesn't exist. And why get all worked up to go see it in person when we can sit on our sticky buns?

Try the Shovelglove approach. Read and heed the warnings. Get fit, practically.

Alaska Grizzly Bear Photo Trips

If you've always wanted to get photographs of grizzly bears in the wild, here is your chance. I've scheduled 3 photo trips to Alaska for that very purpose. These are not trips to a platform-restricted viewing opportunity. We're going to the bears with experienced guides and very small groups.

Katmai Wilderness Lodge, Katmai National Park, Alaska
June 21 - 28, 2006 and June 20 - 27, 2007


Fall Bear Watch, Kodiak Island, Alaska
September 10 - 15, 2006


Katmai Wilderness Lodge
June 21 - 28, 2006
$500 deposit due by March 15, 2006

I lucked out on and was able to hold 4 spots on very short notice. But, as a result, the deadline for the $500 deposit is a very rapidly approaching March 15, 2006. Katmai Wilderness Lodge is the only private establishment located n the 3.6 million acre wilderness of Katmai National Park. On the coast at Kukak Bay, Katmai Wilderness Lodge is isolated from other operators and limits guest capacity to 12.

If you are serious about this trip, Let Me Know ASAP because this hold is pending paid deposits and if someone else gets in first we'll have to wait until next year.

We'll have excellent opportunities to photograph grizzly bears, adults and cubs on the tidal flats of Kukak Bay as well as foxes, seals, sea otters, puffins, maybe a moose, bald eagles and other birds, wildflowers and magnificient scenery.

Guest cabins have private baths and the lodge hosts a fine dining area, sitting area, and mutli-level deck where you can relax and view the scenery and wildlife. Cabins are double occupancy and each has a private bath.

You can sign up for the trip at Blue Planet Photography - Katmai Bear Watch.

The trip fee is $5000.00 and includes:
Round trip float plane transportation from Kodiak Island to Kukak Bay
Lodging at Katmai Wilderness Lodge
All meals at Katmai Wilderness Lodge
Guided bear watching
All transportation on site
Guided fishing
Wilderness Hikes
Kayaking

Katmai Wilderness Lodge - June 20 - 27, 2007
If you're unable to make it in 2006, I already have reservations for June 20 - 27, 2007 and you can register at Blue Planet Photography - Katmai Bear Watch 2007 with a deposit of $500 due by January 20, 2007.

Munsey's Bear Camp, Kodiak Island, Alaska
September 10 - 15, 2006

Since 1956, Munsey's Bear Camp at Uyak Bay on Kodiak Island, has specialized in viewing Kodiak Brown Bears, the largest of the grizzles. For 6 days we will be based at Uyak Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska in a comfortable lodge and cabins with private baths. With a maximum of 6 guests, this experience is truly personal and unique.

In September, the bears have followed the salmon upstream. There no falls for the bears to wait at, so they must chase down the weakening salmon, making for some very exciting action. There are no viewing platforms or restricted areas. We will be safely going to where the bears are under the guidance of Master Guide Mike Munsey rather than waiting for them to come to us. We will be observing bears as they forage, rest and play in preparation for winter hibernation. Other wildlife in the area are deer, foxers, seals, sea otters, puffins, bald eagles and more!

The trip fee is $2900.00 and an $800 deposit is due by May 15, 2006.

The trip fee includes:
Round trip float plane transportation from Kodiak Island to Uyak Bay
Lodging at Munsey's Bear Camp
All meals at Munsey's Bear Camp
Guided bear watching
All transportation on site
Hikes
Kayaking

You can see more information and register at Blue Planet Photography - Fall Bear Watch

Please feel free to Contact Me with any questions.

Hunting Mishaps

I'm sure that in light of the recent hunting mishap of Vice President Cheney, we will be hearing about similar incidents occuring around the country. Here's one that is likely to be at the top of the list:

In Golden Township, Michigan, a couple buddies, George and Greg, were out hunting (for what the article doesn't say). George was wearing camouflage and an orange hat. I assume Greg was also wearing camo, but it doesn't say. The two buddies split up. George sat down next to a tree, pulled a hood up over his orange hat, and waited. Maybe he had a smoke or started daydreaming about what he would do if he won the lottery. Greg, off on his own and apparently preferring to stalk his prey, noticed something interesting near a tree and began his approach. Thinking he had a squirrel in his sights he fired. I guess Greg was prety surprised when George probably yelled and leaped from behind the tree holding his elbow that Greg had just shot.

Lesson #1: when splitting up - keep the orange visible just in case your buddy (or other hunters) think you're a squirrel or deer or a moose or an elk or a bear or a quail or something moving in the bushes.

Lesson #2: when splitting up - clearly define the areas you're going to cover to prevent hunting the same patch (see #1).

Lesson #3: clearly identify your target before pulling the trigger.

Lesson #4: If you're going to cover up your orange and hide, make sure you're not wearing your Rocky and Bullwinkle camouflage.

Pic of the Day 2.13.06 X2

Adobe image management Beta

Adobe is allowing professional photographers (Mac OS-X) to help design a new image management application called Lightbox. A Beta version is available and Adobe wants your comments.

The site is Adobe Lightroom Beta.

Lightroom is planned to integrate with CS2 and used along with Bridge or separately from it. I don't use Mac products, but have also had a look at Aperture, which is pretty sweet. I've wondered for the past few years why Adobe wasn't getting into the image management application business. Myself and other photographers have expressed our concerns with having to switch from Adobe to a third party application for in-depth image management capabilities such as keywording, grouping images for submissions, creating image catalogs/portfolios for print, CD, slide shows, or web, etc. It appears that Adobe has the capacity to do this now since their acquisition of Macromedia.

Anyway, check it out. A PC version is also in the works, but it will be out several months following the MAC version.

Digital for Professionals Now

The overwhelming consensus in the photo industry is that if you are a professional photographer shooting film now is the time to move into the digital realm or risk being left behind. This sentiment was being expressed about 4 years ago, just before I switched over. However, the popularity of digital photography has apparently progressed faster than anticipated and at least the first wave is cresting. With Nikon dropping production of film cameras and Konica/Minolta getting out of the business altogheter, and now Fuji initiating job cuts (5,000) and production shifts to China and Kodak announcing 54% of their 2005 revenue was from the sales of digital products, even the top companies are scrambling to make the change. Advances in technology, both hardware and software, has boosted the popularity of digital photography both among photographers and editorial and commercial buyers.

Loking at the news, it appears that there will be, at least for some period of time, a more distinct separation between consumer/prosumer and professional digital equipment. Although the line is blurry in some areas (see Canon's 5D and Nikon's D200), the majority of digital camera sales are in the consumer market of 8 megapixels and smaller. This is, of course, in the 35mm-type digital realm. Medium format digital is more or less relegated to the high-end studio professional, which is really a separate category and level, in purpose, client, and required resources.

I put off switching to digital primarily because of quality issues. Digital output wasn't even close to that of film, so it limited the applications any given photo could be put to. When Canon unleashed the 1Ds, I knew it was time. I purchased a 1Ds 3 years ago, about 1 year after its initial release. I don't plan to replace it anytime soon, but it's already been surpassed by the 1Ds Mark II and even the EOS 5D (at half the 1Ds price) and what else is in the works for release in the next 8 months.

The upshot is that now is the time to switch to digital (I heard that 4 or 5 years ago, but it's really true today). Waiting another couple years will cause film professionals today to be behind the curve racing to catch up. Unfortunately, that's the reality. Manufacturers aren't going to wait, they're only trying to keep their businesses alive, which is what photographers should be doing as well.

The Everlasting Image

The issue of estate planning in photography is big one. What is the value of the images from an "unknown" photographer versus someone who is known? Is the value purely monetary or is there a societal/historical value also which supercedes any monetary value? Where and how will the photo library be stored and managed? What is included, i.e. prints, negatives, slides, business papers, correspondence, etc.?

I talked with Al Weber a couple years ago regarding his efforts to educate photographers about archiving their images rather than destroying them or giving them up to family members who may not know their significance or understand their value either monetary or historical. Al Weber, who was a friend of Ansel Adams and a well-known photographer in his own right, believes it is extremely important to make sure the image collections of photographers are preserved for the future. He started a collections program at the University of California Santa Cruz because a collection of photographs by a friend of his (I can't remember who now) was going to be lost through neglect by family members who didn't know what they had.

"Art is an important form of communication. If work is lost, or locked away where it can't be experienced by new generations, we break an essential historic link. " -- Al Weber

View info on the UCSC program Here and Here for the special collections at UCSC.

For some interesting reading, check out Al's Newsletter.

Al is working primarily with UCSC, but is a voice for preservation of collections across the U.S., particularly at Universities that have the facilities to properly store and manage collections and that are public institutions so the works are accessible.

I get the impression that many stock photographers view their work as "just a job" and are not necessarily looking at their body of work as a record of history that is likely beneficial in some way to future generations. Photographers are recorders of history, regardless of the subject matter or method of capture. Think of hand-written letters from Abraham Lincoln or the message written in 1913 on a postcard found in an antique store, Both of historical value, one saved for posterity, the other basically discarded to the fates. Of course, not every image in a photographer's library is necessarily required to be preserved, but I'm not sure we as individuals are able to clearly make that choice since we look at what we create with different eyes.

To discard an image library, I think, is like burning a book when you finish reading it. Especially in the Digital Age when images are so easily discarded at time of capture or lost through mismanagement or accident, historical images (or I should say "not yet historical" or "potentially historically important") are being lost at an alarming rate. There have been several articles and papers written on this topic over the past few years.

So, I would urge photographers to think about their collections in this way rather than in the traditionally commercial mindset we tend to go to when talking about estate planning. I think advice to destroy collections to avoid taxes is irresponsible. There are other ways to avoid taxes if you would only do the research.

William Eggleston DVD out in February

The documentary "William Eggleston in the Real World" will be released on DVD February 14. An intimate look at the iconic photographer by independent director and filmaker Michael Almereyda, the film shows Eggleston's process of shooting "unspectacular, random, ephemeral stuff, signs and toys and trash," Almereyda explains, things that are "simultaneously familiar and strange, recognizable and unknowable," is a way of "elevating commonplace objects and ordinary people" to iconic status, of showing us that everything is worth looking at if looked at the right way. The documentary profiles Eggelston as he photographs, hangs out with family and friends, and ambling about in his underwear.

We tend to develop in our own minds what a person is like, particularly someone famous who we've only "known" through their work. Oftentimes, the reality is much different than we imagined.

You can pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com Here

View Eggleston's Photos at the Eggleston Trust

So you think you're a Photoshop expert?

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) has created the Ultimate Photoshop Quiz that will test your knowledge and expertise of Photoshop. The quiz is composed of 20 questions and has a 20-minute time limit. You're requested to take the quiz without the help of Photoshop running on the side. At the end, you will receive your score and ranking as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced user and can have a look at which questions you botched.

International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" 2005 - 2015

The United Nations has declared the next decade, beginning March 22 (World Water Day), the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life". Here is a PDF file of the resolution. Water is indispensible for the existence of human life and most every other lifeform and process on Earth. The Earth is nearly 70% covered by water and the human body is composed of nearly 70% water. We drink it, grow our food with it, play in it, clean with it, make useful materials with it as well as pollute it and take it for granted. Despite its abundance, it is a finite resource that requires respect and care in its use and application. I encourage you to think about water, particularly over this next summer and into the winter. Take stock of your personal use of water and how it plays a role in your life. Shoot some photographs or paint some pictures of water subjects. Then, continue that process through the rest of your life, not just into the next decade.

Toronto Turns out the Lights on Migratory Birds

On January 31, Toronto became the first city in the world to implement protections for migratory birds by controlling light emissions, through public education, and bird rescue. Bird deaths, especially during spring and fall migrations when when millions of birds are moving generally north and south (birds also migrate east and west), occur when birds are distracted by bright lights and glass windows during evening hours. It's estimated that upwards of 10,000 migrating birds are killed each year in Toronto alone. The program encourages businesses to turn out their lights during spring and fall migration periods to attempt to reduce bird strikes.

A Yahoo! News story is Here and the actual document is Here.

Light pollution and the effects on wildlife has become a hot topic of research, study, and debate over the past few years, not just in North America, but all over the world. Bird strikes against windows have been studied and recorded since the 1930s, bird strikes against aircraft has been studied for years and is ongoing. Other man-made structures causing bird mortality are wind turbines, communication towers, and powerlines, not to mention other causes of mortality such as collisions with automobiles, ingestion of poisons, pesticides, insecticides, and illegal shooting.

All these hazards combined exact a heavy toll twice each year on migrating birds from sparrows to eagles. Age, size, and health of the individual bird does not seem to play a role in determining the probability of striking an object or dying as a result of a strike. About 50% of bird strikes cause direct mortality. An unknown number of the remaining 50% will survive while the rest will die from various causes, external or internal injury, increased susceptibility to predation due to injury, starvation due to injury (the inability to feed or catch prey), disorientation resulting in a second strike, etc.

Each city is different in terms of number, height, arrangement and distribution of buildings, proximity of the city to migratory flyways, weather conditions, and a host of other factors. While extrapolating from studies conducted in cities with similar configuration can be a starting point, to be accurate, studies need to be conducted in each city to develop effective management plans.

A 1990 study by Daniel Klem, Jr. Journal of Field Ornithology. 1990. 61(1):120-128 states that in the U.S. alone, Klem estimated 97 - 976 million birds are killed each year in window strikes. Other estimates range from 3 million and up. Klem's study was conducted using residential buildings rather than commercial structures and his estimate was 33 deaths per year at a single dwelling. While Klem looked at the numbers of strikes and resulting mortality, his study looked at preventative measures (silhouttes, wind chimes, flapping cloth) and their success in deterring birds from windows. He found that a single object placed on a window is not enough to prevent bird strikes. The window must be uniformly covered by objects on or close to the window 5 - 10 centimeters (2 - 4 inches) apart.

Birds do not recognize glass as a barrier, so one or two decals on the window will not let them know to be careful. If the decal is of a hawk or owl silhoutte, they will just try to go around and hit the window anyway.

When I worked in the Zoology Department at the Denver Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature and Science), we received a large supply of bird specimens from local area residents picking up bird kills outside their windows. While unfortunate, this was a very good source of data in terms of species, distribution, age, plumage, etc. that would otherwise have been difficult to collect and was a better use of the carcass than taking it to the landfill.

Other cities around the world should take Toronto's lead. Besides reducing the number of migrants killed, turning off lights will save a bundle of energy. Who said wildlife wasn't useful for anything?