The post Huge Photo Update appeared first on Nature Photography - Olaf Bathke.

The Pocket Earth App is my tool of choice when it comes to offline navigation. Open Street Map is more accurate and especially if your are into hiking Pocket Earth is the App on your iPhone.

Research at home is far more easy in the Google Maps environment at the moment!

But how will you get your Google MyPlace Data from a browser (not only MacOS) in your Pocket Earth App?

While doing a small research on Google I frustrated finding a solution. So please excuse the following keywords. Google listen to me, if you are asked one of the following questions:

How to get Google MyPlaces to Pocket earth?

Or

How convert Google KML or KMZ Data from your Mac OS to GPX XML for the App Pocket Earth?

Here is the answer:

Download GPSBabelFE http://www.gpsbabel.org/. (Don’t forget to paypal them some money if you like the App)

In your browser (USE GOOGLE CHROME for some reasons it won’t work in Safari):
– Go to you to Google Maps/myMaps/„NameOfYourMap“:

Open „NameOfYourMap“ in MyMaps:

– Press the three dots right beside the title with „NameOfYourMap“:

– Export to KML (USE GOOGLE CHROME for some reasons it won’t work in Safari)

A dialog is opened:
– OptIn: KML instead of KMZ (you will loose some formatting)

Download! (USE GOOGLE CHROME for some reasons it won’t work in Safari)

Convert the NameOfYourMap“.kml file to GPX XML file using GPSBabelFE. Choose the settings as you see it:

Your converted „NameOfYourMap“.gpx file have to find its way in the iPhone: Send it to your Dropbox or to yourself via Email.

There: Open the file and lots of code is coming up.

Find the send to function (tap on the code, upper right corner, there it is: The Little square with the up arrow in it).

– Copy the file in the Pocket Earth App. Choose import and show:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Disable “Als einen Pfad importieren” if you want to display all waypoint at once on the map!!!

Tatatataaaaa….

You can find your imported data in the “import function” of the Pocket Earth App.

You have to import it all of the time, when the App was closed.

Thanks to the GPSBabelFE folks…

Have fun…

The post Convert Google MyMaps KML Data to Pocket Earth GPX Format appeared first on Nature Photography - Olaf Bathke.

I met them too although I wasn’t #there! They were not to be overseen on the internet:

Short tweet here: “Hey folks I am on my way to Lofoten!”
Quick shot there: “See this Instagram on my way to Reine!”
And all that great shots on G+: #Lofoten

It seems to me that you must have been #there to count yourself a serious landscape or travel photographer. Replace “there” with a trending hashtag on any photography social media platform.(#there) Last year it was #Iceland. What will it be next?

Not many photographers come to my mind that are traveling in not trending regions! It is not often that I say to myself: “That’s a pristine place to travel!” The last time it happened was when I saw the Patel family on a video bathing in the Everglades.

Travel and landscape photography is trending. That’s why you can book workshops on Lofoten. There are enough people to go for it even though Lofoten are so far away and they sound so exotic.

This works like it works in fashion. You think you are special but finally you are wearing the same trousers than the others. If that is your goal, everything is fine and you should stop reading now!

There you think: What a shit!

You are right! In the end we don’t know where to put all the poo and spoil the place. Go to Geyranger Fjord in summer and take a deep breath on the main platform and enjoy the view. Yes that place where you can easily park your rental car, where everybody goes, drink a cappuccino and pee in the corner.

It is hard to figure out where all the trending stuff is coming from. Perhaps there is not only one reason why things are going that way. If I would be asked I would blame the misunderstanding of remixing. There is a difference between copying and finding inspiration. But who asked me? I am not trending! Never was! Never wanted to be!

Ok, when I am honest: Over the year I find myself in this typical places too. But my best shots were made in different places in special situations.

So I think a lot for a while: Where can I find these places? Is this special feeling about a special geolocation? Or is it about something else? Something we might have lost over the years?

10 years ago life as a landscape photographer was a lot of easier. Lots of pristine moments in the good old days.

In our way finding solitude and paradises we got lost in holiday-camp like areas in the world. Instead of finding a feeling of welcome or hospitality #there we are confronted with jealousy and resentment. We stayed in the cue to get our photo. The person with the widest or shortest lens will get the shot without documenting how many photographers have been there too.

The paradise is not caught in some particular places in the world. It will unveil itself everywhere for the ones that are able to see it.

I think it is a good idea not to publish your paradise if you have find it for yourself in a special place. I know some of these places. And I will not tell you! Never!

I share a lot. But I am not a friend of oversharing. I guess sharing geolocation is critical today. I won’t be responsible for all the poo in paradise. And Hell! No! I don’t wanna be trending! I never wanted to be! I am honest!

So, where will you go next? And please tell me: Where and how do you find your personal #paradise?

The post Where have you been this winter? Probably #there! appeared first on Nature Photography - Olaf Bathke.

http://nature365.tv

https://vimeo.com/115642498

If you want further information about his new project listen to this interview with Jim.

If you are interested in Jims work at all you can listen to an interview I took 2011 when he was on a visit in Schleswig Holstein.

You need big ears like an elephant to listen to this video because of the bad audio quality. But I guess it is worth to listen if you want to learn something about his personal approach in nature photography.

The post nature365 – Jim Brandenburgs newest project appeared first on Nature Photography - Olaf Bathke.

I am feeling so free, never felt so free in my life!

Most things aren’t interesting in terms of photography. I won’t share them with you. Except three things:

• I have grown a beard. I love it! Others love it! So it will stay for a while.
• I found out that I am not allergic to strawberries after 15 years of avoiding them. It is such a great feeling being able to eat the most delicious fruit in the world again.
• After a long time of not being able to move I am totally into exercise and sports now. I haven’t felt fitter than before and this changed a lot.

In terms of photography I tried out some things  in the background not publishing it. My approach in landscape photography changed. I would call myself a nature photographer at the moment.

There have been some fantastic travels in 2014. It was a great time moving. But than there was “The End of the World – Finistère”!

And nothing was as it was before. So turning around and finding new adventures is sometimes the best idea to keep having fun in life.

What will be in 2015?

I am not sure yet.

Of course lots of traveling and outdoor adventures will be on my todo list for 2015. But that is nothing new.

My plans are also to improve my english to start a podcast in english language. This makes me afraid! It is a big thing! But what is life without challenge.

And I plan becoming more active in social media again. I recently cleaned up my twitter follows. Now I have a stream that is worth the read. I find it interesting that there are so many people outside that are still following me on twitter even though I am only posting the songs I am listening to via last.fm. Thank you for your patience. The same on G+. Lots of followers but not much response. I wouldn’t follow myself at the moment. But this will change. I am sure…

Some other plans are in my head but nothing worth to be told now. So stay tuned there will be more happening in 2015.

Wishing you a joyous, peaceful and prosperous new year ahead.

The post What was? What will be? appeared first on Nature Photography - Olaf Bathke.