Columbus Nature Photo Workshop

There's still time to join us at Inniswood Metrogardens this Saturday (May 26) for a nature workshop.  Would you like to learn how to use your camera to take awesome nature images? Myself and pro photographer Barb Schwartz will help you capture what you see.  Sign up for this two-hour class today by calling the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington.

-Tom

Olympus E-P1 and the Evening Light

I recently purchased a brand new Olympus E-P1 (the original Olympus digital PEN) camera from Best Buy.  I've been pining for a small, fun camera with great image quality, and I finally have one.  I have quite a bit of cash invested into my Canon system, so I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a secondary camera.  When the Best Buy outlet offered brand new in the box E-P1's bodies for $139.99 I finally took the plunge.

The quirks of the E-P1 do not bother me.  I'm using a 40-year-old Pentax Asahi Takumar lens, so the camera's well-known autofocus issues don't bother me.  The LCD screen is better than adversited.  And more than anything, this camera is just fun to take pictures with.  I look at it and I hear it screaming "pick me up- me me up now!"

-Tom 

Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve

It has been so long since I have sat down at this computer to upload an image here or to type anything that I have second guessed which clicks I need to make.  Could someone put a few drops of oil in the right places so I can get up and running again?

I have recently been working on my high dynamic range photography technique. There's nothing like a formal course to do this- I'm using my education funds to take an online class through Columbus State.  Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve proved the perfect spot for taking HDR photos.  The deep shadows of the gorge underneath the ledges can be brought to the light using HDR.  This image has made the rounds on facebook, but I wanted to post it here as well.  This space was getting rather dusty.  Ahh.....thank you, whomever found the oil can.  I'm starting to move again.

-Tom

Spring in the Country

I've driven by this hayfield hundreds of times but hadn't stopped to photograph here until two weeks ago.  A perfect cumulus-filled sky hung above this grassy expanse, which is frequented by American Kestrels and Eastern Meadowlarks.  When I'm driving, I'm always thinking about what my next photo stop might be.  I knew this hayfield was interesting, but it wasn't until this day, when the clouds were perfect, that this field made an interesting subject.

Speaking of interesting subjects- would you like to learn more about photographing nature with myself and professional photographer Barb Schwartz?  We're leading a two-hour class at Inniswood Metropark near Columbus where we'll help you learn how to use your DSLR to get great photographs of flowers and foliage.

Go here for more information- I hope to meet you on Saturday May 25.

-Tom

1-Day Photo/Nature Workshops

I'm excited to announce that I'll we working with Worthington-based photographer Barb Schwartz to lead two nature photography workshops at Inniswood Metro Gardens this upcoming May.  If you'd like to learn how to better use your DSLR to photograph nature subjects, please considering joining us for these two-hour workshops.  We'd love to have you.  I'm super excited and I am looking forward to meeting many new nature lovers.

The workshops will be held on two Saturdays, May 5th and 26, and Inniswood.  For more details and to register, visit the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington.

-Tom

Female American Goldfinch Molting

The goldfinches are molting right now, which results in a rather ragged look to them.  In a few weeks, the males will once again be bright yellow and black, and the females will gain more yellow feathers.  It's a fascinating change and another sign of spring.

-Tom

Honey Locust Dawn

Close-up of honey-locust silhouetted against a morning sunrise.  March 20th, Delaware, Ohio.

I'm alive- Yes, it's been a while.  I needed the break.  And I haven't been idle.  Megan and I took the boys to Orlando for a week in late February.  We didn't even go to Disney World, but we did spend plenty of time with Megan's parents, and the boys love being with 'Bah and Gram.

-Tom