Nikhil Bahl Photography Blog

Birds of Florida

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:48:00 +0000

I'm down in Florida preparing to lead an avian photography workshop. The workshop starts Sunday so I have been scouting and doing some of my own photography. It's no surprise that the photography has been prolific, like my previous trips. I've been able to ad several new species of birds to my portfolio. I could jump for joy!

Upcoming workshops

May 6, 6pm - May 11, 11am

Florida Avian Photography Workshop (Titusville and St. Augustine, FL)

July 21, 6:30 - 9:30am

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

September 8, sunrise - sunset

Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 20, sunrise - October 21, sunset

Great Falls Digital Worflow workshop (Great Falls, VA)

November 16, 1pm - November 18, 1pm

Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

Spring flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:01:00 +0000

One of the most wonderful features of spring are the flowers. I absolutely love making images of flowers using the colors, shape, lines, etc. to create interpretations that delve in the abstract. Over the last 3 weeks I have been busy leading workshops and field sessions that introduce participants to this approach. A few years ago I realized it was rare for me to take a photograph of a single flower just by itself. I'm usually going in closer to abstract it or backing up to include multiple flowers. This just comes naturally to me. It's the way a see flowers.

The following 2 photographs are from last weekends Macro Boot Camp. The workshop was attended by a enthusiastic group of photographers that were open to different ideas that I presented to them. The first evening they were challenged with a breeze and the next morning with rain. The third session was held indoors in a more controlled environment. They had the opportunity to photograph a variety of flowers in bloom at the beautiful Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. The following two image were the only photographs that I made during the workshop.

The photograph above was created while demonstrating the use of shallow depth of field and picking a focal point for the image.

This image was created indoors while demonstrating how to control backgrounds, finding a composition and deciding where to focus.

You can view more flower photography at - http://www.nikhilbahl.com/portfolios/in_bloom/index.html

This weekend I have another flower photography field session that is sold out. It is the last of the spring series but I will be announcing a couple of more field sessions to photograph summer flowers. The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session already has a few registrations.

Next week I'm off to Florida to photograph a variety of avian species. I'll be doing some of my own photography before leading a workshop in Titusville and St. Augustine.

Upcoming workshops

May 6, 6pm - May 11, 11am

Florida Avian Photography Workshop (Titusville and St. Augustine, FL)

July 21, 6:30 - 9:30am
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

September 8, sunrise - sunset
Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 20, sunrise - October 21, sunset
Great Falls Digital Worflow workshop (Great Falls, VA)

November 16, 1pm - November 18, 1pm
Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

The Nikon D800 and new camera choices

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Ever since the release of the Nikon D800 camera so much has been written about it. I have read many posts, reviews, criticisms and viewed sample images. The sales (pre-orders) for the camera have been unprecedented and it looks like it could become one of Nikons bestselling cameras. Why has this camera in so much demand?

If you are in the market for a new camera there is no shortage of options. Nikon also released their much awaited flagship camera (the D4) and Canon released the 1D X and the 5D III. The competition has surely heated up between these two companies. But let’s not get into which brand is better. Both brands offer high quality camera gear. If you own a Nikon or Canon camera you have probably invested in several lenses which makes switching brands impractical, even though a small percentage of people do.

While the Canon 1D X, 5D III and the Nikon D4 look like great cameras they are in many ways evolutionary. Better than their predecessors, with some more features but they do not offer something drastically different or improved. It could be debated that full HD video with HDMI output on the new Nikons is a big improvement. That may be so but I am discussing still photography features on these cameras. Enter the Nikon D800. First let me clarify, that the D800 is NOT an update of the D700 but a new category of camera. I am not making this up, Nikon has made this statement. I know what you are thinking…shouldn’t they have named the camera something else? Yes, but that would make it too easy for the user :) It is confusing but that’s what they called it. That means Nikon will likely release a mini D4 (D800 size body and the same sensor as D4) sometime in 2013. This is just a guess on my part Nikon hasn’t made any such claim. In the US, the D700 is staying in Nikon’s line-up as an entry level full frame (FX) body. Anyway, so why is the D800 a new category of camera? One word…RESOLUTION!

The D800 has a lot of the same features available on the D4 but what makes it stand out is the 36 megapixel resolution. Did anyone think the megapixel war was over? The reactions to the 36MP resolution have been diverse to say the least. Some say “that’s too much resolution” while others can’t wait to get their hands on the camera. Nikon has stated that the D800 is primarily for subjects like landscape, architecture, fashion, portrait, etc. It’s clearly a camera for photographers that need plenty of detail in their photos. Photographers who crop a lot might gravitate to this camera too. The extra resolution is more likely to be an advantage than a disadvantage. Creating a panoramic image like the one featured in this blog post would allow the photographer to still have plenty of resolution (after the crop) if a very large print was needed. A stitched panoramic image with moving subjects can be very tricky and sometimes impossible.

The larger resolution means more data, thus, a slower frame rate (4fps). That should not be a problem unless you photograph a lot of action (wildlife, sports, etc.). However, in DX crop mode (1.5x crop) we can still get a 16MP file and get a boost in the frame rate (6fps). That’s not too bad! The previous versions of Nikon’s full frame (FX) also had the DX crop (1.5x) but it was not very useful because the resolution drop would leave the photographer with a 5MP file. The D800 also has the options for a 1.2x crop and 5:4 format crop which ads a lot of versatility to the camera. All this thanks to the resolution. This is why “too much resolution” can be a reaction when the person hasn’t assessed the advantages of more resolution combined with the options mentioned above. Hard drives are cheap, so that shouldn’t be an excuse either.

That brings us to an important feature…high ISO performance. Nikon has stated that the ISO performance is equivalent to that of the D700. There are also plenty of sample images that you could check out on the internet. I can’t vouch for the samples but they definitely corroborate Nikon’s claims. I’ll be waiting for samples and reviews from more reliable or well know sources but I’ve been pretty impressed by the amount of detail visible even in the high ISO samples. The D800 starts shipping in a few days so we should be seeing plenty of sample images soon.

If the low light focusing and metering is anything like the D4 that will only enhance the appeal of the D800. I have only touched on the main features that make the D800 different and versatile. To review all the features please visit the manufacturer’s website. There are more reasons to buy the D800 than not. Although, you might want to wait just a little longer if you do photograph a lot of action. Nikon should announce the D400 by the end of March. If the rumors are correct we may be looking at a 24MP, 8fps camera. Yes, I am going to wait.

2012 workshop schedule

April 14, 6:30 - 9:30am
Flowers and Close-ups Field Session
Brookside Gardens (Wheaton, MD)

April 21, 12pm - April 22, 7pm
Macro Boot Camp
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna, VA)

May 6, 6pm - May 11, 11am
Florida Avian Photography Workshop (Titusville and St. Augustine, FL)

July 21, 6:30 - 9:30am
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

September 8, sunrise - sunset
Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 20, sunrise - October 21, sunset
Great Falls Digital Worflow workshop (Great Falls, VA)

November 16, 1pm - November 18, 1pm
Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

Lava Field - Making of the image

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:55:00 +0000

I'm back to posting images after an extended break. During my time off I got married and enjoyed a honeymoon in Hawaii. It's a good thing I married a photographer as we both agreed that we "needed" to take our camera's on the honeymoon :) Experiencing the unique characteristics of the Hawaiian islands was very enjoyable. I will be posting several of my images from the trip in the coming weeks starting with one I made the second evening on the Big Island.

As you may know, Kilauea is an active volcano on the Big Island. On the western side of the island you can see almost nothing other than fields of dried lava. While driving around to find a good spot I realized making a wide angle photograph of this harsh landscape was going to be a challenge since I hadn't seen anything like this before. There was another challenge that I had not planned for - VOG. No, that is not misspelt. Vog is a form of air pollution that results from the mixing of sulfur dioxide and other gases emitted by a volcano react with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. What that meant was that not much sunlight was getting through to illuminate the landscape. In fact, we had to drive closer to the shore as there was barely any light inland.

The light was already fading even though it was 30 minutes before sunset. I finally decided to stop and venture out into the lava fields. Then there was the small matter of lava rock be treacherous to walk on. A fall on the rocks would definitely mean a visit to the hospital. Moving fast (and carefully) I looked for a interesting elements to include in the photograph. A glance behind me and I realized the sun was going to go behind a cloud bank. HURRY! While setting up I thought about how I was going to use the elements to balance the image. I fought my tripod as one of the legs would not move and I couldn't get low enough. A firm shove helped but didn't open the leg up as much as I would like. I continued regardless. Including the lone tree in my composition was essential to illustrate the starkness of the landscape. I lined the composition up so that some of the grasses would lead the eye towards the tree. The rock pile to the left of the tree helped with the balance of the image. And then the light started to fade. There was no more time to think about how to improve the composition. Click! Click! Click! And the light was gone.

As the sun went behind the cloud bank I decided to change lenses. Placing the tripod out of the way I started to move towards my backpack which was lying a few yards away. That's when it happened...a photographers worst fear...the falling tripod (with camera and lens attached). "Oh NO!" I screamed. SMASH! When I took my second step I moved the rocks around one of the tripod legs which caused the tripod to keel over. It didn't help that I never got all the tripod legs set at the same height. I looked at Angelique; clearly she shared my horror. We both stood there with our hands covering our mouths. It seemed like it was a few minutes before I decided to make the dreaded assessment of damages. The lens had gone front first into the lava rock. The polarizer was destroyed. Aeyayah! I feared the worst for the glass on the front of my lens while slowly taking the polarizer off. Hmmm! I wiped the "glass dust" off the front of the lens. Not a scratch. Examined the camera. Not a scratch. It was a honeymoon miracle! Only my polarizer was ruined. A couple of test shots and all looked fine.

We decided to call it a day and headed back to the car slowly and carefully. My camera and lens were fine and so was I.

2012 workshop schedule (JUST POSTED!)

April 14, 6:30 - 9:30am
Flowers & Close-ups Field Session
Brookside Gardens (Wheaton, MD)

April 21, 12pm - April 22, 7pm
Macro Boot Camp
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna, VA)

May 6, 6pm - May 11, 11am
Florida Avian Photography Workshop (Titusville & St. Augustine, FL)

July 21, 6:30 - 9:30am
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

September 8, sunrise - sunset
Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 20, sunrise - October 21, sunset
Great Falls Digital Worflow workshop (Great Falls, VA)

November 16, 1pm - November 18, 1pm
Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

2011 West Virginia fall workshop report

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Every outdoor/nature photography workshop leader stresses about the conditions that the group will be presented with during the workshop. In the end, we take what we get and make the best of it. Although, it's always nice to have good conditions to start with. The last 2 years I have lead a fall workshop in West Virginia there has been nothing but clear skies. While it is nice weather to be out and about in, it doesn't make for the most interesting landscape photo opportunities. Last year was tough but this year was better. Even though we had clear skies yet again the first 2 mornings we were treated to some spectacular foggy conditions. I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts and ideas on how to take advantage of foggy conditions with the group. Since there were only 4 workshop participants it gave me the opportunity to make sure that everyone was making lots of quality images.

In previous workshop reports I have shared some of my images. This time I decided to show you images the workshop participants came away with and share some of their thoughts on the workshop itself. I hope you enjoy their images.

Thanks to Judy, Gale, Ni and Dick for making it a successful workshop.

Judy MacArthur's comments about her workshop experience:

I can't recommend Nikhil's workshop highly enough. He is low key and knowledgeable and articulate in his explanations...quick thinking when conditions change and generous with his expertise...always making suggestions, constantly circulating among the group, encouraging us to try unfamiliar techniques and offering help. The experience far exceeded my expectations, which were high to begin with!

Gale Smith's comments about his workshop experience:

The trip to West Virginia, Blackwater Falls Park and Dolly Sods could not have been better; great small group, excellent weather with wonderful colors and magical early morning fog, and Nikhil who seemed to know where and when to be for the best images. Nikhil is not just a superb nature photographer but he is willing to share what he knows and taking time with each of us to help us see and capture images that for me are some of my very best photographs. In fact, some of my best images in over 30 years of photography came from the WV workshop; Nikhil is excellent in combining both technical and creative ideas to learn from. He sees and communicates to us not just good composition and what he called "organic" images, but finds elements that balance photographs.

Wang Ni's comments about her workshop experience:

You have left me a good impression during this trip, which is unforgetable in my life. I do appreciate your professional instruction.

Dick Pelroy's comments about his workshop experience:

Great selection of venues.
Excellent field instruction (superior).
Invaluable information of time of day and location for my photography to this area in future personal trips.
Overall, probably the best photography workshop I’ve attended (14 and counting).

2012 workshop schedule (JUST POSTED!)

April 14, 6:30 - 9:30am
Flowers & Close-ups Field Session
Brookside Gardens (Wheaton, MD)

April 21, 12pm - April 22, 7pm
Macro Boot Camp
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna, VA)

May 6, 6pm - May 11, 11am
Florida Avian Photography Workshop (Titusville & St. Augustine, FL)

July 21, 6:30 - 9:30am
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

September 8, sunrise - sunset
Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 20, sunrise - October 21, sunset
Great Falls Digital Worflow workshop (Great Falls, VA)

November 16, 1pm - November 18, 1pm
Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

Canon 1DX and the Nikon D800...exciting times?

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Last week Canon announced their new pro camera called the 1Dx. It’s an 18MP camera that gives Canon shooters "the best of the EOS-1D Series of digital cameras" in one model. This has got the Nikon shooters chomping at the bits for a new camera from Nikon. While Nikon was scheduled to make an announcement about the D800 this week it has likely been postponed due to the flooding in Nikon’s Thailand factory. There have been a lot of rumors about the Nikon D800 but it is almost certain that it is going to be Nikon’s next major announcement. In fact, some dealers were talking about taking pre-orders for the camera. So what are the specs of the D800? We can’t be 100% sure but a high res sensor (36mp) and a larger than 3 inch LCD screen seems to be the two most likely specs. Will the megapixel war ever end?

The Nikon D4 is likely to be announced in a few months (rumored to be an 18MP camera). Followed by the Nikon D400 (the upgrade to the D300s) which is rumored to be a 24MP camera. It will likely have the same sensor as Sony’s SLT-A77 maybe with some Nikon modifications.

It’s interesting to see the two big manufacturers restructure their product specs. With the merging of the EOS-1D models there will now be direct competition between the Canon 1Dx and Nikon D4 models. And if the rumors of the D800 are true then it will directly compete against Canon’s 5D series. That also means that the D800 will not be a mini D4 (like the D700 was to the D3).

While I generally don’t get very excited about new gear (at least not before it is announced), it’s different this time. I have been waiting for the new generation of cameras because my belief is they might be the answer to my prayers :) The Nikon D300 and D300s cameras are almost perfect for what I do. Just a stop or two better in terms of ISO performance (without losing the reach of the crop body), a little better autofocus, a bigger/brighter viewfinder and I’m good. Improvements in other features would obviously be welcome. I wonder if the Nikon D800’s ISO performance be better than the D3/D700? If it is, I might be getting a full frame camera.

These are exciting times for photographers!

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

November 12
Essentials of Bird Photography
(at Nature Visions - Mid-Atlantic Photography Association Expo) FULL
November 18-20
Chincoteague Island Workshop (Only 1 Spot left!)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

2012 workshop schedule will be posted soon.

Assateague beach sandstorm

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:29:00 +0000

Last weekend I visited Chincoteague Island to scout for my workshop coming up this weekend. Not only did I find a lot of changes due to hurricane Irene but I also encountered some unique conditions. Check out the following video to see what I mean.

I was out on the beach at sunrise showing a friend around. As we walked the beach the wind picked up (30-40mph) and it started to rain a little. While there was the obvious concern of using my camera in these conditions I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I found a conch to anchor my image and chose not to include the drab sky. The image was converted to black and white to add to the abstract feel. I made a few compositions but liked this one the best.

As two people passed me I made another photo including them as elements in the photograph.

In case you were wondering the camera and lens were unharmed in the making of these photographs.

If anyone is interested there were cancellations and there are now two spaces available for the Chincoteague workshop on Saturday, September 24. More info at http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

September 24
Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)
October 6-9
West Virginia Fall Workshop
October 15
Great Falls Field Session
October 16
Creative Digital Photography Seminar
(at the Imperial Hotel in Chestertown, Maryland)
October 22-23
Autumn at Great Falls Workshop
November 12
Essentials of Bird Photography
(at Nature Visions - Mid-Atlantic Photography Association Expo)
November 18-20
Chincoteague Island Workshop

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

The gift of life

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Great Egret chicks playing, St. Augustine, Florida

When I wrote my last post, little did I know that a week later our area would be affected by a hurricane. While the earthquake only unnerved people hurricane Irene left a path of destruction. Many areas along the East coast of the United States were affected and lives were lost. While I can't help but feel lucky that the Washington D.C. area was not affected severely my heart goes out to the people who lives have been turned upside down by this event.

Don't take things for granted. Enjoy the gift of life!

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

An earthquake and a thought

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:53:00 +0000

This afternoon there was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in the DC area. The epicenter was in central Virginia but it was felt up and down the east coast of the United States. In fact, there are reports it was felt as far North as Canada. I was at home waiting for the cable technician when I started to feel some vibrations which quickly gained in power and soon my house was shaking. I rushed to the doorway of my bedroom and watched things fall around me...looked out to see parked cars rocking side to side. My heart was beating fast and my body was tense. The only thought I had was "is this going to get any worse?". Thankfully, the earthquake subsided leaving me (and I'm sure many others) a little unnerved. Only minor damage has been reported so far.

What if the earthquake was stronger? Just a reminder of the power of nature and how mortal we are. Life is short; don't take it too seriously!

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Mac users can use my image as their desktop on the new OS - Lion

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:57:00 +0000

Click on image to view the full size.

With the release of Apple's new operating system (Lion) mac users can now use one of my photographs as their desktop. Apple has called the image "forest in mist". It can be found under desktop pictures in the desktop and screensaver dialog box. Isn't that cool?! :)

Related post : http://nikhilbahl.blogspot.com/2011/04/apple-lion-and-i.html

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

July 30 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

September 24 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 6-9 - West Virginia Fall Workshop (Davis, WV)

October 22-23 - Autumn at Great Falls Workshop (VA/MD)

November 18-20 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Take the photo now and focus later!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:07:00 +0000

My auto focus misfired causing the birds to be rendered out of focus.
It would be nice to bring them back into focus.

No, that's not a typo. It's just a new technology! The new Lytro camera let's you take the photograph without worrying about where you have focused. Once the image is downloaded to the computer you can then pick the part of the image you want in focus. Unbelievable, isn't it? This technology should be available to us very soon. Apparently it will be available at a consumer (not professional) price point.

If you thought software had changed everything, think again. This will makes it so much easier to capture the fleeting moment. Not to mention the boon it would be for macro photographers. On workshops, you won't believe how many people ask me where they should focus. To think that I might not get asked that question again simply blows my mind.

The purists will beat this technology down but with technology the choice is simple; embrace it now or embrace it later. One thing is for sure, this will get the Nikon's and the Canon's thinking.

To read more about this technology and the Lytro camera follow this link - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/technology/22camera.html?_r=3&hp

Make sure you click on the flower image on the left (page 2), follow the instructions and watch the magic.

I would love to hear what you think of this new technology.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

July 23 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

July 30 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

September 24 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 6-9 - West Virginia Fall Workshop (Davis, WV)

October 22-23 - Autumn at Great Falls Workshop (VA/MD)

November 18-20 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

New images from Lower Antelope Canyon

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:22:00 +0000

A new portfolio of images from Lower Antelope Canyon in Arizona has been posted on my website. http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_portfolios_gallery.html
My last 2 visits to the Southwest have been memorable. I expect to have more images to share from the Southwest and my 2 recent trips to Florida. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

July 23 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

July 30 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

September 24 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 6-9 - West Virginia Fall Workshop (Davis, WV)

October 22-23 - Autumn at Great Falls Workshop (VA/MD)

November 18-20 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Chincoteague Workshop Report

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Last week I lead 4 day workshop at Chincoteague Island. We had had great weather after an overcast evening shoot the first day. Even though it was overcast the group enjoyed getting within touching distance of the Chincoteague ponies. A couple of quick passing showers later we decided to go for a group dinner. After that every field trip we made over the next 3 days was filled with good opportunities.

Great Egret Landing

This was one of those opportunities. Generally Great Egrets use a stealthy approach to get to their prey. However, this egret really performed for us. It pranced and jumped around for almost 45 minutes. I made sure everyone photographed it for a little while. Some moved to photograph other birds. That's when I pulled out my camera for about 5 minutes and let off a few bursts to capture the action. I was quite pleased to get this image from a 5 minute shoot. Several of the participants came away with gorgeous photos that I saw in the feedback sessions.

Gosling

The advantage of shooting on weekdays is that there are no crowds. This allowed us to get really close to some Gosling's. They stayed close to their parents but allowed the group to get some close up shots.

Most participants enjoyed the Assateague beach the most. They spent a lot of time working with water and including it in their landscape compositions. I found the above scene while helping a couple of participants find photographs of different details in the sand.

One evening we had a surprise sunset. I had almost given up that there will be a sunset. We worked on water images on the beach side of the parking lot when I glanced back and saw a stunning glow on the horizon. I pointed this out to the group and everyone turned around to capture the glow. That's me off to the right helping one of the participants get her settings right.

With nice clouds one morning the group made use of their wide angle lenses.

This participant couldn't stay away from the water. Making abstracts and working with slower shutter speeds was fairly new to him.

Oyster Catcher on nest

After the workshop was completed I went by a Oyster Catcher nest I had found. I had shown the nest to the participants but we did not work it as a group to avoid stressing the bird. Not to mention that it would have disappeared before 9 of us got close. I kept my distance and photographed it with a Nikon 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter. Lot of people don't realize that repeated disturbance can cause the bird to abandon the nest (some species are more sensitive than others). I was happy to come away this photograph that shows the habitat that Oyster Catchers nest in.

Thanks to Rick, Bill, Paula, Ed, Bob, Chung, SeJin and Allen for making this a successful workshop. And a special thanks to Angelique Raptakis for assisting me in the field.

I'll be leading 3 more workshops at Chincoteague this year. Please check my website for more info.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

June 4 - Rose Garden Field Session (Brookside Gardens, MD) details will be posted this week
July 16 - Sunflowers Field Session (Poolesville, MD) details will be posted this week

July 23 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)
July 30 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

September 24 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)

October 6-9 - West Virginia Fall Workshop (Davis, WV)

October 22-23 - Autumn at Great Falls Workshop (VA/MD)

November 18-20 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Apple, Lion and I

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:47:00 +0000

Autumn Tree Tops, Shenandoah National Park, VA.

Last November I was contacted by a photo producer from Apple. They were interested in 6 of my images for possible use as a desktop and/or screensaver for their new OS called Lion. My first thought was that this could be another internet scam that would somehow involve me giving some money. Then I read the email again. It seemed genuine. It so happened that one of my clients husband works for Apple and he was able to confirm that the person contacting me was actually an employee. Now I was excited! While I have licensed images before, this was a high profile client. I provided JPG's of all the images they had requested to see. A couple of months later I heard back. They were interested in seeing large version of one of my images. So I provided another JPG. A couple of months later they wanted to see the largest size JPG. Seems like they were really interested in this image. I provided the full size JPG. And a couple of weeks ago they contacted me to purchase the image for a desktop and/or screensaver option. The paperwork was done last week and the sale is complete.

When you upgrade to Lion this fall or buy a new mac once the new OS is released, look for my image (the one above) and make it your background :)

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

April 23 - Spring Flowers Workshop (VA)
April 28-May 1 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)
July 16 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session (Washington D.C.)

July 30 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)
September 24 - Digital Nature Photography One-day Workshop (Chincoteague Island, VA)
October 6-9 - West Virginia Fall Workshop (Davis, WV)
October 22-23 - Autumn at Great Falls Workshop (VA/MD)
November 18-20 - Chincoteague Island Workshop (VA)

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Lower Antelope Canyon

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:39:00 +0000

One of the hardest things to do in photography is to come away with an unusual photograph from locations that have been photographed to death. While the unusual photograph may be hard to find, with a little effort and creativity you can try and come away with something that is (at least) different.

Lower Antelope Canyon in Arizona is a classic example. We see so many images from there. The one thing I have found people consistently do, is oversaturate their images from this location. Don't get me wrong, that may be their interpretation and that is the way they choose to present their artwork. I respect that. The point I am making is this gives the wrong impression to people who have not visited the location. The colors are pretty amazing and depending on the angle of the sun and how bright it is, the reflected light in the canyon can be unbelievable.

This is an example of the glow that is witnessed in the canyon. Notice the difference in the light illuminating the canyon walls from closer to the camera to further away. This is exactly how the scene looked to the naked eye.

We don't see a lot of black & white images from Antelope Canyon. As I mentioned earlier, it's probably because people get carried away with the color. In my opinion the rich texture and forms of the canyon are perfect for B&W photography.

It's hard not to get carried away with the glow in the canyon. In this composition I am leading the viewers eye toward the unreal glow in the top left and using the rest of the image to make that glow more believable. Believe it, because it's real! :)

One little tip...If you are looking to come away with something different, the best way to photograph Antelope Canyon is to go in without any preconceived notions of what you want to do. Just enjoy the beauty around you. You are more likely to come away with photographs that are a result of your personal experience, rather than what you might have seen before.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

March 12 - Photoshop for Photographers
April 16 - Flowers & Close-ups Field Session
April 23 - Spring Flowers Workshop
April 28 - May 1 - Chincoteague Island Workshop
July 16 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Cormorants in the fog

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Last week I was in Florida doing some bird photography. I made over 6,000 photographs of various species of birds and a few landscapes. Don't be taken aback by the number. When photographing wildlife it is quite common to come away with a large number of photographs. Between anticipating the action and shooting in burst mode the number climbs rather quickly.

When presented with a foggy morning I have a tendency to go into landscape mode. This is generally a good idea as birds don't let you get too close. Thus, may not be visible through the fog. But not it Florida! This is because the birds are more habituated to humans and allow us to approach a lot closer.
This was one of those mornings where the conditions were just right. The light fog allowed me to create images of the birds in their environment and work on some silhouettes. Here are a few photographs I made of the double-crested cormorants. I'll post photos of different birds in upcoming blog posts.

Before sunrise I focused on the graphic design of the dead palm trees. Notice the cormorants on top of every tree.

As the sun started to peek through the fog the light was beautiful (as demonstrated by the photograph above). The blog image was made shortly after this one. The fog reduced the contrast and I was able to capture the color in the sun.

As the fog started to lift I continued to look for attractive silhouettes. That's when I found these two just hanging out on a dead palm tree.

I'll be posting more photographs from Florida in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

View full 2011 workshop schedule...

Creative Interpretations - The new e-book is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:13:00 +0000

I am thrilled to announce the release of my first instructional e-book called "Creative Interpretations". The e-book can be purchased via my website at - http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_ebooks.html. It's only $10! If you do purchase it, I would love to receive any feedback you may have.

Here is the description of the e-book:
Photography is all about interpretation. From focal length to aperture and shutter speed, to composition and post-processing, a photographer makes many decisions that interpret the subject. The subject can be presented in an atypical manner that may challenge our perceptions or by delving into the abstract, the viewer can be left guessing as to what the subject really is. In this e-book, Nikhil takes you into the realm of conceptualizing and interpreting the scene that is to be captured by the creative photographer. Using his photographs and experiences as examples, Nikhil shares many ideas and offers plenty of insights on how you can reach a new level of creativity with your photography.

Chincoteague Workshop Report

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:51:00 +0000

The last workshop of the year was probably the best in terms of the light we had. All 3 days were a treat!

I have mentioned that Chincoteague remains one of my favorite locations to photograph. It's very challenging to switch from photographing the wildlife to a landscape and then a detail shot. Not to mention the ocean which is a lot of fun to photograph. You really need to know your camera gear to maximize the opportunities.

I made the next three photos the morning before the workshop started.

The first evening of the workshop was really a sign of what was to come. Other than the Snow Geese, we photographed some stunning reflections.

We spent some time on the beach working with the surf to create images of flowing water. I couldn't resist photographing the amazing texture and patterns in the sand.

There were plenty of opportunities to photograph details.

The group photographed several different species of birds.

The Snow Geese numbers were quite low compared to previous years. However, we did get fairly close and spent a good bit of time photographing them.

We also had some fun creating abstract images of the Snow Geese, using different techniques.

The group of workshop participants was a lot of fun and we tried to make the most of the wonderful light. Thanks to Suzanne, Deborah, Nancy, David, Dick, Warren, Scott, Gaurav and Dillard for making it a successful workshop.

Upcoming seminar and field session:
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/seminar.html

Creative Digital Photography Seminar (Hampton, VA)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Shoreline Field Session (Hampton, VA)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
6:30am to 9:30am

Mid-Atlantic Photography Expo this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:38:00 +0000

I will be sharing a table/booth with my friend and fellow photography Bill Folsom at the Mid-Atlantic Photography Expo (Nature Visions) this weekend. If you will be at the expo please stop by and say hello.

More info on the expo can be found at http://www.midatlanticnaturephotographyexpo.org.

We had some nice conditions last weekend. Leading a field session I made sure the participants were taking advantage of the situation. I managed to take 15 exposures in 3 hours. This photo is not bad considering that :)

Misty Potomac, Great Falls Park, Virginia

Exhibit at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:06:00 +0000

Lone Willet, Assateague Island National Seashore

This weekend I will be exhibiting nine photos (including the photo above) at the new Betty Mae Kramer Gallery at the Silver Spring Civic Center at the Veterans Plaza. It's the first exhibit at this new gallery and I am honored to have been invited by the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County to be part of this 3 person exhibit called "Three Visions of Nature". Opening reception: Sunday, November 7, 2-4pm. The exhibit will be on display until December 31, 2010.

The idea for the exhibit is that all three artists being exhibited have very different ways of seeing and interpreting nature. More information on the exhibit is available at - http://www.creativemoco.com/kramer-gallery

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
November 4 - Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
November 10 - Arundel Camera Club
November 15 - Reston Photographic Society
November 30 - Baltimore Camera Club
December 2 - Silver Spring Camera Club

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html
Great Falls (field session) - Nov. 6 (Full)
Photoshop for Photographers (One day workshop) - Nov. 7
Chincoteague Island - November 19-21 (only 1 spot available)

Back from Arizona/Utah

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Just got back from a fruitful trip to Arizona and Utah. I haven't been to another state that has such remarkable texture and feel. And there are parks round every corner! It's an absolute treat for a photographer. It's no wonder that these states attract people from far and wide. This was supposed to be a scouting tour but one of the two clients was admitted to hospital and they had to cancel. That left me with a couple of friends to adventure with. And adventure we did.

The last time I was in Utah everyday was sunny until rain arrived the last day. This time it was the opposite. Heavy cloud cover and rain, then clear skies the last day. As nature photographers we have to adapt to the shooting conditions and try to get to the right place at the right time. Not easy, but we can try :)

Dixie National Forest, Utah

At higher elevations it was cold enough for some snow.

San Rafael Swell, Utah

The light was fleeting. Three minutes of fantastic light was all we got this morning.

Dixie National Forest, Utah

The overcast and rainy conditions led us to shoot a waterfall or two.

Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Visiting some of the Southwest's icons was a must.

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona

The bizarre rock formations in the back country yielded some unusual landscape images. Very hard to get to but quite rewarding.

I'm really excited about the photographs I made. One of my better excursions despite the weather. I'll be posting a gallery on my website next month.

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
November 4 - Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
November 10 - Arundel Camera Club
November 15 - Reston Photographic Society
November 30 - Baltimore Camera Club
December 2 - Silver Spring Camera Club

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html
Great Falls - October 30-31 (Full)
Great Falls (field session) - Nov. 6 (Full)
Photoshop for Photographers (One day workshop) - Nov. 7
Chincoteague Island - November 19-21 (only 2 spots available)

West Virginia Tour Report

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Got back from West Virginia on Sunday. Had a great time with the tour participants. It was a small group and this gave me a chance to do my own photography while still giving them plenty of attention. The color was patchy when I got there but came in nicely for the last couple of days. It might not be as spectacular as it was a couple of years ago as the area has been in close to drought conditions. We have to remember that it's not about how good the color is but how you use it. After a quick sunset shoot at Lindy point the first evening I took the participants to a few spots I had scouted, that had great color. We worked on several close up photos but really had fun with canopy shots and making abstracts images using several blur and multiple exposure techniques.

You can't go to West Virginia and not photograph waterfalls. Here are a couple of shots that I thought were different compared to others you might see.

There is always the spectacular Dolly Sod Wilderness which had good color on the trees and the blue berry bushes were a bright red.

The Blackwater river is a great photo opp as it snakes through the valley.

And who can resist the reflections.

I'll post a gallery of more images once I get back from Arizona/Utah. Let's see how the color is in that area. Even if there is no color on the trees the Southwest landscape is always great to photograph.

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
November 4 - Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
November 10 - Arundel Camera Club
November 15 - Reston Photographic Society
December 2 - Silver Spring Camera Club

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html
Great Falls - October 30-31 (only 2 spot available)
Great Falls (field session) - Nov. 6
Photoshop for Photographers (One day workshop) - Nov. 7
Chincoteague Island - November 19-21 (only 2 spots available)

A day in Shenandoah National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:07:00 +0000

It's my favorite time of the year! I always look forward to photographing in the fall. Too bad it doesn't last very long. While I usually travel, locations close to home offer many opportunities. One of these locations is Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Beautiful at any time of the year it becomes really special in the fall. Since my travel schedule will prevent me from visiting during peak fall color this year I chose to make a day trip this past weekend as I was showing a friend around. The color has just started to come in and we were presented with some nice opportunities.

In the morning, we photographed the fog in the valley. It wasn't as dense as I had hoped for but enough to make things interesting.

Late morning, we hiked a couple of miles to photograph a waterfall.

Scouting a new sunset spot I didn't know exactly what to expect (sometimes that's a good thing). I wasn't thinking of photographing Skyline Drive but couldn't resist making the photo above.

We weren't treated to a spectacular sunset but enjoyed making photos of the mountain ridges.

I'm off to West Virginia tomorrow to lead a Photo Tour. I've heard there is plenty of color. Looking forward to it!

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
November 4 - Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
November 10 - Arundel Camera Club
November 15 - Reston Photographic Society
December 2 - Silver Spring Camera Club

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html
West Virginia Fall Tour - October 7-10
Great Falls - October 30-31 (only 2 spot available)
Great Falls (field session) - Nov. 6
Photoshop for Photographers (One day workshop) - Nov. 7
Chincoteague Island - November 19-21 (only 2 spots available)

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Back from Colorado!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:45:00 +0000

Well...I got back about 3 weeks ago. I've had several matters that needed my attention. In the past 3 weeks I have made 4 presentations at camera clubs (upcoming schedule below). Three of these presentations were on my upcoming eBook (stay tuned for that announcement). I've also had a chance to get out and make some photographs. Photographers making photographs...what a concept!

As I had mentioned in my earlier blog post, the Colorado visit was not going to be a photography trip since I was showing my Mom around. I was almost always driving to and from locations during the best light but I was lucky to have favorable conditions at times. While we visited a few familiar locations, I also used the time to scout out some new locations that I might visit in the future.

If you haven't been to Colorado, you must visit! It's scenery is amazing and it is almost a guarantee that you will run into some kind of wildlife if you get away from the city.

White River National Forest, Colorado

The biggest attraction are the Rocky Mountains.

The Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado

The alpine lakes are a pretty sight.

American Pika - Mt. Evans, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado

And wildlife is abundant. Other than the American Pika (seen above) we had a chance to view Elk, Marmots, Coyote and Red Fox. All without trying to find them!

The temperatures and weather were all over the place. From bright sunshine and 90 degrees in Denver to hail and freezing conditions with 40-50 mph winds in the mountains, we seemed to experience the full gamut in 5 days. There is a reason they say weather in the high country can be variable.

All in all, It was a very enjoyable trip. It was great to share some these natural wonders with my Mom. The photographs were a bonus. Now...when can I go back?

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
September 30 - Baltimore Camera Club
November 4 - Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
November 10 - Arundel Camera Club
November 15 - Reston Photographic Society
December 2 - Silver Spring Camera Club

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
http://www.nikhilbahl.com/photography_workshops.html
C&O Canal and the Potomac River (field session) - Sept. 26
West Virginia Fall Tour - October 7-10
Great Falls - October 30-31 (only 2 spot available)
Great Falls (field session) - Nov. 6
Photoshop for Photographers (One day workshop) - Nov. 7
Chincoteague Island - November 19-21 (only 2 spots available)

Photo of the week on National Wildlife Federation website

noreply@blogger.com (Nikhil Bahl) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:30:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that my photograph "The Island" has been selected as the photo of the week on National Wildlife Federations website.
Please click on the link below to view the larger photo.
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/PhotoZone/Archives/2010/photo-of-the-week-9-15-10-lake-island.aspx