Eyes For The Road - Places & Travel & Photography Podcast

My always-ready, grab-n-go LowePro backpack:
Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon EOS 70D with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Manfrotto tripod with Slik pistol grip
Singh-ray Filters (variety of ND filters and polarizer)
B+W Circular Polarizing Filters
ExpoDisc
Rode microphone
Spare batteries, memory cards, cable releases, rain sleeves, head lamp, flashlight, soft lens cloth

Optional gear depending on shoot:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 60D converted for Infrared Photography (LifePixel Supercolor conversion) with Canon 18-135 lens
Sony video camera
Canon Powershot G15 with waterproof housing

On wilderness canoe trips, gear transported and stowed in waterproof Pelican cases.

Here’s a concise little blurb about the BWCAW.

https://www.ely.org/outfitters/about-the-boundary-waters-canoe-area-wilderness

Winter in the Boundary Waters. We pull sleds with our gear across frozen lakes, set up a canvas tent with a wood stove. It’s pretty cool to see familiar wilderness areas in the winter. We are fortunate to enjoy many options for year-round recreation in our region.

Winter National Parks for Photography:
Yosemite National Park https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Yellowstone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
Visit Duluth- http://www.visitduluth.com/

Car Spy Photographer Brenda Priddy

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 05:19:31 +0000

Car Spy Photographer Brenda Priddy
7 Tips for Road Trips

1.Know the route
2.Check your car- tire pressure, fluids.
3. Emergency Kit
4. Snacks/drinks
5. Keep the Windows Clean
6, Cash
7. Know the Route

What’s in Brenda Priddy’s Camera Bag
Sony A6300 mated with a Sony 90mm macro lens
Sony RX10 III for everyday shooting (car shows, etc.)
Sony RX100 V – small camera, always with me
Favorite for shooting spy photos: Canon 50D with a Canon 35-350 lens
Favorite film camera – Canon A2E with eye-controlled focus
Favorite Lab: Lumaprints (Lumaprint.com)

Brenda’s online sale store (in progress): https://brenda-priddy.pixels.com/

Best e-mail address for those interested in traveling to Cuba with me: CubaWithBrendaPriddy@gmail.com

Drone Photography rules
http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/

Behind the Music Photograph With Renee Silverman

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:50:10 +0000

Renee Silverman-

Behind the Music Photograph With Renee Silverman

http://www.reneesilvermanphotography.com/

http://tinyurl.com/ycmqaq9u

Former Singer Songwriter turned Photographer for Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands for AXS TV and more!

“Her concert photographer work has been featured on AXS.com, Entertainment Voice, HeartofLA, Rat Rod Mag and Screamer Mag to name a few. Renee’s love for music goes back to the days when she was a singer-songwriter touring the SoCal club scene. Now she combines her passions into one, capturing and preserving special moments only someone who’s been there would know” from her Facebook page.

Renee Silverman’s Photographers Bag

Live concerts: Canon 5DIII, Canon 7D (sometimes), Canon 24-70 2.8, Canon 70-200 2.8, Canon Fisheye 15mm 2.8, Youngnuo 2X III teleconverter, Speedlight (in case I need to take shots of the crowds). If i have to shoot from the soundboard or far from the stage I bring my monopod and stepstool. Batteries & CF cards.

Studio shoots: Canon 5DIII, Canon 24-70 2.8, Canon 70-200 2.8, Canon 85mm 1.5, Canon Fisheye 15mm 2.8, Speedlights, batteries & CF cards.

Los Angeles Live Music Events 2017
http://losangeles.eventful.com/events/categories/music

Exploring Photography with Jan Lightfoot

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 23:51:34 +0000

Exploring Photography –Jan Lightfoot

www.Janlightfoot.com

comeflywithme@gmail.com

www.meetup.com/exploringphotography

What’s in Your Bag?

Canon 5Dlll
Canon 8-15mmL
Canon 16-35mm f4L
Canon 24-70mm f 2.8L
Canon 70-300mmL
Tamron 150-600 G2
Sony a6000 with 55-210 zoom and Sigma 19mm
Canon Rebel XT with R72 Infrared
Canon G11 with Super Color Infrared
Canon Cable Release
Induro clt303 Tripod with Acratech GP Ballhead
Lee ND filters
Peak Design Camera Straps

Meetup.com free to users, 180 countries great resource for finding local photography groups that specialize in all topics from lighting, models and landscapes.

Shutterfly.com places to turn your photos into gifts including unique cards, calendars and mugs!

Sunrise-Sunset.org for any location to help get you into the right place at the right time.

Discover London Interview With Sheila Stone

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 04:56:06 +0000

Discover LONDON –

TowerBridge- www.towerbridge.org.uk

Sunrise-Sunset times for London http://tinyurl.com/y7yepnlk

Favorite Places to Photograph:

Big Ben
The Tower Bridge
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The Millenium Bridge

Christmas Markets: http://www.londontown.com/London/Christmas-Lights-in-London

Compact cameras- Nikon Coolpix, Canon PowerShot, Fujifilm Finepix

http://tinyurl.com/y8djj3po

Tube: avoid peak rush hours, after 9:30 am

Stand on the right- walk on the left=

Sheila Stone- Author, Tour Guide – www.britainyourwaytours.com

Bio: Sheila Stone -…Since her 50th birthday she has…-

Earned her BA at UCLA, going at the same time as her two sons (they didn’t live together and it’s a big campus!);
Went to grad school in Leeds, England living in the lovely market town of Skipton, North Yorkshire;
Participated in an archaeological dig at Bamburgh Castle in northern England; and had a great time – even though the box she sent ahead with her sleeping bag arrived just as she was leaving!
Lived in an Irish hostel for three months, in a room with seven other women … and one bathroom;
Volunteered at an English school in Spain, discovering a previously-unknown talent for squirting red wine into her mouth from a bota-bag;
Performed stand-up comedy at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival;
Spent a summer in Japan interviewing middle-aged women about their lives;
Wrote two books: Boomer Bloomer – A guide for women *still* on the wrong side of the glass ceiling and Unmarried With Children – the single parent’s guide to family fun.

How To London- book-ebook and audiobook

http://hauserpub.com/product/how-to-london/

Discover Ireland

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:23:54 +0000

Discover Ireland:

World Travel Awards awarded –Spike Island-Cork Ireland named top tourist destination Europe at the World Travel Awards 2017 beating the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the colosseum in Rome.

http://tinyurl.com/y9g6guld

https://www.worldtravelawards.com/winners/2017

Ireland should be on your destination list for Ireland – for something that is small and boutique you may want to consider Inroadsireland.com which is a husband/wife team leading tours to Ireland in a great assortment of 1 week trips for working Americans or anyone.

http://inroadsireland.com/

The Official Tourism Website for Ireland

http://www.ireland.com/en-us/

Trace Your Family Roots

https://www.ancestry.com/

US Travel Information- what you need to have

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/ireland.html

Creating the Perfect Picture Postcard Image with William Hartshorn

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 20:46:34 +0000

Interview William Hartshorn – Master of the Picture Perfect Postcard

You have probably seen William’s images if you have ever bought a souvenir or picture postcard of Vegas. We chat with the Photographer behind many of those stunning Postcards!

We talk a bit about not only his journey-but gear and more- take a listen!

www.photographicadventurers.com

https://www.meetup.com/Photographic-Adventurers/

Camera Gear;

Canon 5D MarkIII-

Canon G3X-

Tripods: Slik Pro 500DX w. SH705 3way tilt/pan head

Slik Pro 700DX

Lenses

Canon 17-40mm

Canon 24-105mm

Canon 70-300mm

Polarizer filter

Batteries – 8 keep them charged

Cable release- 5

Photographic Adventures for all! Upcoming Adventures include Route 66, the Yukon in Alaska which still has an opening for chasing Night Skies, and always local California adventures.

“Seeing New Light can Bring you New Life” –William Hartshorn

Discover Weeks Brick House –Tracing Your Roots in New England

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 22:37:39 +0000

Discover Weeks Brick House –Tracing Your Roots in New England

As Fall continues it seems to make our thoughts and souls seek comfort, seek out our roots and reconnect with places from our past, childhood places, places our ancestors came from or just places that resonate with us that have a deep history. Whether you seek your own roots, I share a personal place, the Weeks Brick house 307 years old still standing where it was built on site with native bricks and witness to early America as it transitioned from colony of England to the United States of America. Also a few quick tips on spending time in Portsmouth New Hampshire.

Portsmouth New Hampshire:

Perfect for a Fall Foliage weekend-

Things to visit

Historic Destination; www.strawberybanke.org

Places to Stay:

www.alehouseinn.com

www.martinhillinn.com

Researching Your Roots:

https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/genealogy/family-history-library/

www.ancestory.com

PBS: Finding Your Roots

http://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/home/

Weeks Brick House and Gardens- Interview with Tour Guide and House Historian Mary

http://weeksbrickhouse.org/

Contact via email for Tour: weeksbrickhouse@aol.com

Weeks Ave off Route 33, Greenland New Hampshire

Legendary Los Angeles Dining – Featuring the Formosa Café!

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 22:26:56 +0000

Legendary Los Angeles Dining- Featuring the Formosa Café!

The Apple Pan– http://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-apple-pan-20170119-story.html 10801 W. Pico Blvd, LA CA 90064- Open 11am-1amClassic Burgers and Apple Pie- street parking. 70 years in business! The Landmark theatre is across the street-see a movie, grab a piece of pie!

Phillipe The Original: https://www.philippes.com/ 1001 N Alameda Los Angeles: Open 6am -10pm- French dip-fun place-walking distance to Chinatown-

The Dresden restaurant: http://www.thedresden.com/ 1760 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027- 5pm to 10 pm (7 days a week) – “the place to see and be seen”. Miami like slick 60’s interior- white leather and very mod! Stay and see Marty and Elayne have been playing and performing for 36 years together-go and have a great night!

Tam O Shanter- http://www.lawrysonline.com/tam-oshanter/general-info 2980 Los Feliz Blvd, LA 90039– 11am to 11 pm Oldest restaurant owned and operated by the same family in the same location – over 90 years Walt Disney was a frequent diner and his doodles on a wood table can still be seen today. The interior is incredible- a bit of Harry Potter fantasy!

Musso & Frank – www.mussoandfrank.com – 6667 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 Open Tues-Sat 11am-11pm and Sunday 4-9pm. – The list of stars who have dined here is long- Marilyn Monroe often sat at the bar with Joe Dimaggio, Charlie Chaplin, and many many others. For the extra star treatment you can arrange discreet parking and private entrance! Come for the famous martini and dine like a star!

Yamashiro- http://yamashirohollywood.com/ 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Hollywood CA 90068- Open Sun-Thurs 5pm to 11pm and Friday/Saturday 5pm-midnight- no street parking. $10 valet parking. The VIEW- the historic incredible mansion-originally built by 2 brothers with incredible gardens and stunning views..did I say VIEW? A must visit place to see the lights- go at sunset-stay and watch the stars come out!

The Formosa Café – 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, WestHollywood CA 90046 currently endangered!! Save the Formosa- storied restaurant and bar opened in 1925 next to what was United Artists Studios. Elvis dined here, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn… the list goes on- and has a secret back room where maybe some deal making went down. Open house OCTOBER 7, 2017 11am to 3pm free tours for the first 200, meet historians, and sign up to vote on www.voteyourmainstreet.org you can vote 5x a day every day until October 31, 2017

Adrian Scott Fine- Director of Advocacy for the Los Angeles Conservancy shares some thoughts and invites you to join us in Saving the Formosa! https://www.laconservancy.org/

Solo Traveler Tips

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 03:55:25 +0000

Travel tips from an Active Senior Solo Traveler

Leslie Geffen – She was the administrator of the Mirman School for the Gifted for 23 years. An avid solo world traveler pursing photography talk about her travels and best solo travel tips.

Country Walkers

https://www.countrywalkers.com/destinations/

Ralph Velasco- Morocco-

https://photoenrichment.com/tours/mystical-morocco-2/

Californiania: www.meetup.com/tours4women

Camera:

Lumix Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Lumix-DMC FZ300

Walking stick- http://tinyurl.com/y6vx59l7

Cooling Scarf- http://tinyurl.com/yce7bshm

Site to determine if you will need any vaccinations or other Health precautions

https://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Duluth Experience

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 04:27:18 +0000

Scenic Destinations Duluth, Minnesota!

Scenic Railroad–

http://www.northshorescenicrailroad.org/Home.html

reserve seats ahead of time for Dining evenings, 2-3 hour scenic excursions.

Glensheen – The Historic Home and grounds owned by Chester and Clara Congdon. Chester engineered and paid for the Scenic Highway up the North Shore of Lake Superior. Landscape offers many opportunities for scenic landscape photos and unique events. Flashlight tours in the fall, concerts on the pier and the nooks and crannies tour.

http://glensheen.org

Kayaking- Mountain Biking- and everything else! The DULUTH Experience

http://www.theduluthexperience.com/

tours covering Mountain Biking, craft beer tours, historic walking tours and more!

Night rides, beer tours, kayaks and more!

Photo workshop with Willliam Hurst

Contact April for custom itineraries for your weekend or longer Fall Foliage trip

april@aprilart.com

Photographer Danny Kimberlin From Sea To Shining See

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 03:10:26 +0000

Danny Kimberlin-

http://doctorkphoto.com/

Camera Gear:

Nikon D3x
Lens: 28-300

Best Photo trip – John Shaw

http://tinyurl.com/y9s3mlgc

Best photographer author : Galen Rowell

Best Places:
East Africa- Kenya, Tanzania
Antartica
Machu Picchu
Galapagos Islands-Easter Island

Most Endangere:
Pandas, Gorillas, Butterflies

http://www.janegoodall.org/about/ Jane Goodall

https://www.worldwildlife.org/how-to-help WorldWildlife Fund

https://www.nature.org/ The Nature Conservancy

Jack Lien- Palouse Photographer- Four Seasons

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 21:01:06 +0000

Jack Lien- Palouse Photographer- Four Seasons

Longest running photography tour guide of the Palouse Washington area- lives there and has direct contacts with farms, property owners and his own property for teaching night photography.

https://fourseasonsphototours.com/

http://wheatlandfarmbandb.com

Camera Gear:

Canon 5D Mark III for landscape and night photography
Canon 7D Mark II for wildlife and birds (yes there is a lot of wildlife in the Palouse from moose, elk, deer, eagles, and coyotes)

Lenses:

Wildlife, 600mm, 100-400mm, 70-200mm
Landscape Canon 16-35mm, 24-105mm, 70-200mm, 100-400mm
Macro photography – Canon 100mm
Night – Rokinon 14mm f/2.8

Filters –

ND neutral density filter
Polarizer

Tripod – Really Right Stuff tripod and 55 ball head

Night photography – A variety of lights with the feature to control with color temp and intensity for light painting foreground subjects

Canon Intervelometer (TC-80NE remote control) – Essential for getting sharp images when using a tripod

Upcoming Photo Tours:

https://fourseasonsphototours.com/Calendar_-_Tour_Schedule.php

Jan 2018- Birds of San Diego

Feb 2018- Monterey Big Sur

May 2018- Yellowstone

June 20108: PALOUSE

Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes – Julie Dubose – Miksang Photography

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 04:00:43 +0000

Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes with Julie Dubose – “Miksang” Photography

https://www.miksang.com

Author: Effortless Beauty: Photography as an Expression of Eye, Mind and Heart

http://tinyurl.com/y6v5eqtx

Opening the Good Eye- foreward by Julie

Video- Quiet Mind- Intro to Miksang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqGNb5MSOqA

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXKdVb6scM

Camera Gear:

Sony RX10

Sony RX100

Upcoming Workshop: November 5-10-2017

Santa Cruz, California https://www.miksang.com/classes

Tillman Crane – Fine Art Photographer “Spirit of Structure”

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:38:36 +0000

Tillman Crane- Fine Art Photographer-“Spirit of Structure”

www.TillmanCrane.com

Camera gear:
Deardorff 8×10, Canham 5×12 and Canham 5×7

Fuji, Schneider, Nikon, large format lenses, and various soft focus lenses, such as Kodak 305, Imagon 300, and others.

Fuji X Pro 2 / Fuji XT 2

Fuji 14mm f2.8, 23mm f 2.0, 35mm f 2.0, 60 mm f 2.4, prime lenses

Fuji 55 to 200 Zoom lens

Pentax Soft Focus 2.2 lenses

Lensbaby Velvet Sot 56mm lens

Upcoming Workshops:
Abandoned Farms of North Dakota – August 2017

Spirit of Structure – Olson House with Maine Media Workshops – Sept 2017

http://tinyurl.com/y7xwy7s4

Spirit of Structure- Erie Canal – September 2017

Autumn in Guilin China- October 2017

2018:
Tuscany-October

“Study the History-Know What You are LOOKING at- You SEE more DEEPLY”- Tillman Crane

“Photographers of ALL LEVELS are WELCOME in my WORKSHOPS” –Tillman Crane

Classic American Landscapes – Wyeth’s MAINE

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 06:40:12 +0000

The Olson House prominently featured in the iconic Painting “Christina’s World” is our destination.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina%27s_World

Andrew Wyeth would be 100 years old this year

Maine continues to draw Artists, Writers, photographers, creatives and free spirits.

Tillman Crane: Fine Art Photographer, teacher and platinum printer.

www.tillmancrane.com

Olson Workshop- Spirit of Structure- http://tinyurl.com/y7xwy7s4

Walk in the Footsteps of Andrew Wyeth by stopping in Rockland, Maine at the Farnsworth Gallery.

Farnsworth Art Museum: Christopher Brownawell Director

http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org

Olson House Tours: http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/experience/tours/

Christina Baker Kline-Author “A Piece of the World” http://christinabakerkline.com

http://tinyurl.com/y7efryno

Linda Bean’s Wyeths by Water: https://www.lindabeansperfectmaine.com/perfect-maine/wyeth

$42/per person

Maine Classic Coastal Landscapes 2018- www.fallphototrips.com

2018 dates led by Fine Art Photographer April Bielefeldt TBA

DISCOVER ROCKLAND MAINE- More Than Meets the EYES

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 23:54:17 +0000

BASICS:

Where to STAY:

OLD GRANITE INN– http://oldgraniteinn.com

+walking distance to Main street with its many excellent restaurants, museums and views of the harbor.

Good EATS:

In Good Company– 207.593.9110

Ingoodcompanymaine.com

Fog Bar and Café–https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g40840-d3609940-Reviews-Fog_Bar_Cafe-Rockland_Maine.html

328 Main Street-207.593.9371

Great variety of craft beer, grass fed burgers, local farm to table cuisine- menu changes-

THINGS TO DO :

FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM– http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org

open until 5pm, changing exhibits- highlights this year are Andrew Wyeth for his 100^th birthday

ROCKLAND BREAKWATER LIGHT–http://rocklandharborlights.org

1 MILE walk out to lighthouse on uneven surfaces- large rocks – small gift shop- limited parking

SAIL POWER AND STEAM MUSEUM–http://sailpowersteammuseum.org

PROJECT PUFFIN VISITOR CENTER- http://projectpuffin.audubon.org/visit-us/project-puffin-visitor-center

free- small- continuous video discussing Puffin Population

Maine lighthouse MUSEUM: http://mainelighthousemuseum.org

10-5pm = $8 admission

SEVERAL DIFFERENT BOAT TOURS-

RIGGIN LONGER CRUISES: http://www.mainewindjammer.com/boat-accomodations

Photography cruise-

New England Fall Foliage Color Update; Jeff Folger

www.jeff-foliage.com

DAVE WYMAN – A Fearless Photographer

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:54:00 +0000

DAVE WYMAN – A Fearless Photographer

Dave Wyman – Professional photographer, freelance writer and avid bicyclist based in Los Angeles. He has published books, articles and photographs in such publications as “Backpacker,” “Outdoor Photographer,” “Outside,” and “Sierra.” Dave has been leading his own photo tours since 1982. With a focus on approaching photography from different unique perspectives I think he embodies the Fearless Photographer – enjoy the podcast!

Instagram@davewyman

www.davewyman.com

Books:

Fearless Photographer- Nature

http://tinyurl.com/y8k4ql5b

Backroads of Northern California:

Maps, history

“Tour Northern California’s most fascinating backroads, including routes through California’s wine country, Yosemite Valley, redwood forests, and the Lake Tahoe area. Includes full-color photos, detailed road maps, and data on the geology, geography, and history of each region.”

http://tinyurl.com/ycj9xkel

Backroads of Southern California:

Great guide to discovering Southern California whether a first time visitor or long time resident looking to explore places off the beaten path.

http://tinyurl.com/ycfj7ap7

Upcoming Photo tours;

Sierra Nevada East Side- Mono Lake, Bodie and Fall Colors

October 23-26, 2017

Autumn in Yosemite – October 26-29, 2017

Photography Gear:

Cameras:

– Nikons. full-frame and crop frame

– Sony Alpha models (mirrorless crop frame)

– Panasonic LX100

– Panasonic ZS100

– Sony HX90v

Favorite lenses:

– The 720mm end of the zoom on my HX90v.

– 105 and 200mm macro lenses for my Nikons

– 10-15mm lens for my Sony Alpha cameras

Nature Photography with Brenda Tharp

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:57:20 +0000

Expressive Nature Photography with Brenda Tharp!

Brenda Tharp: http://www.brendatharp.com

Landscape –Nature and Travel Photographer

Books:

Expressive Nature Photography– http://tinyurl.com/y7wjzdcq “All Light is Good Light”

“even a landscape picture tells a story”

“what makes it unique” (the landscape in front of you-why you stopped)

“looking for something beyond the iconic”

Included technical info-

Extraordinary Everyday Photography– http://tinyurl.com/y87a3he4

**Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in photography, using any type of camera! New ideas for those who are looking for- a Classic for your Travel Photography bookshelf

Some Favorite Places-

Desert Southwest- Namibia-Southeast Alaska

Slovenia-

What’s In Your Bag– see Brenda’s page http://www.brendatharp.com/p/my-gear

Previously Canon

Sony A7R2 body- (mirrorless body) (about $2500.00)

Sony A6500-

Sony A7S

Lenses:

16mm-35mm Sony f/4

14mm Rokinon (night photography)

24-70mm Sony f/2.8

70-200mm Sony f/2.8

150-600 Tamron

Tripods:

Benro Travel Angel- Carbon Fiber tripod

Gitzo Mountaineer- Series 3 Carbon Fiber – (retail $900+)

Filters:

Singh-Ray- Vari/ND Filter

Rainsleeve- (6.95) a must to keep in your bag

FM Photography Shutter Hat Camera Cover- for heavier rain/moisture

Upcoming Tours to:

Slovenia- October 9-19, 2017

Tuscany, Italy- May 5-15, 2018

Namibia- July 7-27 2018

Tanzania- Sept. 15-26, 2018

Slovenia- October 2018

And contact her or sign up for her Newsletter to find out about her stateside Tours and Workshops!

You can also sign up for one on one mentoring

Fall Foliage Explorations Bennington Vermont

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 02:02:50 +0000

Fall Foliage Destinations- Bennington Vermont- 48 hours in Bennington, VT

Places to See in Bennington Vermont

Jeff Folger– www.jeff-foliage.com

Update to Fall Colors for 2017 –

Where to Stay- Safford Mills Inn and Café–

www.saffordmills.com

3 rooms- online booking!

Rooms still available for September and October-

802.681.7646

Cocktails and evening

Things to do :

Park-McCullough House- 1 Park Street, NorthBennington, Vermont

www.parkmccullough.org

802.442.5441

All original furnishings-belongings of the family.

Christopher Maxey-

Grounds open yearly from Sunrise to Sunset- 1 mile around the house trail. Old Growth Sugar Maples to photograph

Unique events: Croquet nights- Theatre events-Wedding venue-see website for dates/times

House Open

Fri: 10-2pm, Sat, 10-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm

Wonderful collection of photographs-

Bennington Museum:
benningtonmuseum.org

Open Daily 10-5pm thru October

Jaimie Franklin-curator

Current Photography exhibits-

Clemens Kalischer-Photojournalist

Between Past and Future really captures many of the Artists that have spent time in Vermont-

Buy Local-photographs from the Weichert –Isselhardt Collection-B/White images of local shops around Bennington!

Interview Photographer/Writer Noella Ballenger “Inspiring You To See”

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 18:56:07 +0000

Photographer/Writer Noella Ballenger “Inspiring You to See” Photography for All

Noella Ballenger

In this episode we chat with Noella Ballenger on improving your eye- and why she feels your own creativity can add something special to your images.

Noella Ballenger is a professional photographer and writer who began leading workshops as early as 1989. She was one of the first to gain access and lead photographers inside the buildings at Bodie Historic State Park – a Ghost town kept in “arrested decay”.

Noella has lectured throughout the United States and New Zealand. She celebrates her 28th year of teaching photography and her 27th year as a member of the American Society of Media Photographers.

You now have the opportunity to become a better photographer & learn from Noella through her online photography classes. Individual lessons in an area that you want help in or just improve your eye overall. Her website is www.noellaballenger.com.

To contact Noella email her at noella1b@aol.com please include podcast or instruction in the subject line.

What’s In Your Bag:

Canon D5 Mark 3 and Canon D7 Mark2 –

Tripod w.gimble head for Bird Photography.

Lens: 17-40mm, 28-200mm,100-400mm, Tamron 150-600mm

8mm manual lens –

6-8 batteries

10-18 flash memory cards

Cleaning brush-cloth

Towel-

Large plastic bags- takes no space- invaluable for rainy weather

Clothespins-string or small bungee cords for Flower/Nature macros

Instruction manual for each Camera body-

Fall Foliage Travel Tips Conway NH

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:00:46 +0000

Discover Conway New Hampshire- White Mountains For Fall Foliage and More!

Conway Scenic railroad- Susan Logan–

www.conwayscenic.com

603.356.5251

Tickets vary-

2 trains-3 different routes.

The Notch Train until end of October-

Dining-Murder Mystery Weekends and the Rail Fans Weekend with a Photography Night!

Jeff Folger- jeff-foliage.com

The Mount Washington Auto Road- drive yourself up for views or take a shuttle

www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com

603.466.3988

The Cog Railway

www.thecog.com

603.278.5404

Gondola up the mountains –another way to get up high and see the foliage!

www.skiwildcat.com Wildcat Mountain

Loon Mountain- www.loonmtn.com (gondolas, zipline, caves more!)

Isaac Merrill House- North Conway, NH

http://www.isaacmerrillhouse.com/

800.328.9041

Baked goods from Old Village Bakery. Walking distance to Conway Scenic Train- Zeb’s, Horsefeathers and more!

Rooms including family suites! Recently remodeled- new porch-new common areas-updated rooms!

Photographing Acadia With Colleen Miniuk Sperry

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 21:53:39 +0000

Photographing Acadia National Park with Photographer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry

Colleen Miniuk Sperry has spent more than 100 days in Acadia National Park photographing Winter, Spring, Summer and every season in between! Her book Photographing Acadia is the most extensive guide I have come across. It gives time of day to best photograph, how far the hike is and includes an extensive calendar in the back. It is an incredible resource and the images will tempt you to visit Acadia in all seasons! A must if you plan on visiting Acadia to photograph!

Besides this book Colleen has authored other books, leads workshops of her own and for Arizona Highways, Maine Media Workshops and more! Check her website for full details or be added on her email list to get first notifications.

Join me as we talk to Colleen. Find out about National Park Artist in Residence programs, photographing Acadia even in Summer with lots of crowds, her workshops and a bit about her new book based on a recent adventure!

Websites:

CMS Photography: http://cms-photo.com

o Workshop schedule: http://cms-photo.com/Workshops/ws_schedule.html

o Newsletter signup: http://cms-photo.com/newsletter.html

Blog: http://youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress
Analemma Press(my publishing company/my books): http://analemmapress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMSPhoto
National Park Service Artist-in-Residence programs: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/arts/air.htm
Acadia National Park: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Gear:

Panasonic Lumix GX8: http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-interchangeable-lens-ilc-cameras/DMC-GX8BODY.html
Olympus lenses: http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/lenses/pen-omd.html
Wimberley Plamps: https://tripodhead.com/products/plamp-main.cfm
Hoodman Hoodloupes: http://hoodmanusa.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=CI03
Singh-Ray Filters (polarizer, neutral density, and graduated neutral density filters): http://www.singh-ray.com (get 10% off if you use colleen10 as your discount code!)

Ireland Yes – Interview with author Michele Erdvig

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:39:41 +0000

Interview with Michele Erdvig author of Ireland Dream Trip and Personal Travel Itinerary Planner at www.irelandyes.com

Join me as we chat IRELAND with guidebook Author Michele Erdvig who has been traveling to Ireland since 1973 and recently released the 26^th edition of her Guidebook to Ireland: Ireland Dream Trip.

Guidebook covers things such as planning your trip, driving on the left and distances between places that are realistic to get to in a day. Lodging recommendations are beautifully illustrated with Michele’s own artwork.

Lodgings and restaurants are all places that Michele has visited.

Best time to go to Ireland: April/May and September but go anytime!

Best way to see and photograph Ireland is to RENT your own car or consider hiring a driver if you have a small group.

Can you go to IRELAND alone? YES. Ireland is one of the world’s safer destinations.

Staying at a Bed/Breakfast offers you more than just a cozy bed and gourmet breakfasts! Bed/Breakfast owners can offer suggestions on local places to see, meet other travelers and interact with the Irish!

Airfare is very affordable.

Shannon or Dublin? Although Michele notes that Shannon is a much easier airport than Dublin.

Airfare between LAX and Dublin was spotted for $550.00 the first week of September a bit higher for Summer Travels

www.irelandyes.com

www.irelanddreamtrip.com

FB – Postcards from Ireland

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=postcards%20from%20ireland

Photographing The Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 31 May 2017 05:45:33 +0000

Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape Photography

Fast Facts: Largest lake in California – 35 miles long, about 43 feet deep at its deepest place.
Sits below sea level and right over the San Andreas Fault
Best times to visit: November- MarchBirders Paradise: Over 400 species of birds – but large groups of birds – the diversity only surpassed by Big Bend in Texas
Mudpots and mud volcanos – East side of lake.

Art – Outdoor Art installations-

Salvation Mountain – http://www.salvationmountain.us/

Painted mountain – one man’s testament to his beliefs – verses painted on his mountain. Stay on the paths take nothing but photos.

Slab City – “The last free place in America”- an eccentric group that lives here

East Jesus – open sunrise to sunset 365 days – please be respectful of signed private areas – people do live here.

http://eastjesus.org/

Sculpture Garden from all kinds of recycled items- computer parts, bottles more

Needs: http://eastjesus.org/needs/

Tips for a day trip to Salton Sea area:

Lots of water-heat exhaustion
Snacks-power bars
Sunset photos near the geothermal plant – where there are some dead trees for sculptural interest
Sunrise – Red Hill Marina – walk out towards trees

Sonny Bono Nature Preserve-Birds- check their website for more details-

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sonny_bono_salton_sea

Bombay beach – old boat pier-old crane- old pilings- be careful on where to park so as not to get stuck in the soft silty sand.

Suggested camera equipment:

Tripod – long exposures-night-light painting
Polarizer
Wide angle for nice large landscapes
300-600mm or more for bird images – so you can keep your distance yet get in close to see details.

Rental Lenses: https://www.borrowlenses.com/

All around walk around lens for some of the Outdoor art installations at Salvation Mountain/East Jesus.

Flashlights for light painting-

Hoodman Loupe – view the back of your DSLR in daytime

http://www.optics4birding.com/hoodman-3-inch-hood-loupe.html

Sunscreen for yourself- some also like to wear a breathing mask due to the fine particles

http://tinyurl.com/yahmkxwq (breathing mask)

Tour Alaska for Travel and Photography

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 24 May 2017 04:31:09 +0000

Alaska!

Join host April Bielefeldt as she shares some tips for traveling and photographing the SPINE OF ALASKA!

Alaska covers 663,268 square miles- ranked #1 in size of the states yet is number 48 in population- which puts Alaska in 50^th place for population density! About half of the population lives within the Metro Area of Anchorage-

When you consider that Texas, Montana and California would all fit in the space of Alaska you might start to grasp its size.

I call my trip to Alaska= Land, Sea and Sky- or the Spine of ALASKA!

All these facts may not make much sense especially if you look at how popular Alaska is for travel-

As a photographer I tend to look at my destinations for the photo quality—my story with Alaska started out much the same- I saw an article about seeing the Northern Lights in September when it would not be as cold .. and the wheels started turning!

Places we will Visit:

Seward:

Situated on the Gulf of Alaska. Seward was named after William Seward a Secretary of State who fought for the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

Seward is the start of the historic Iditarod Trail which originally was created to transport goods from the Port of Seward to the interior of Alaska. On average Seward receives 10-12” of snow each of the winter months. It is a beautiful seaport with access to fresh fish and is popular with nature enthusiasts!

We will take a full day to explore the waters outside Seward, where we may see mountain goats, whales, puffins, and views of Bear Glacier.

Optional: FREE DAY in Seward- visit the Alaska Sea Life-

http://alaskasealife.org/

Also spend time wandering the Seward Harbor where you may see otters.

Unique fine art shops dot the small community and you have a quiet private balcony overlooking the harbor.

Seward also has some fine restaurants serving fresh fish.

Denali National Park: Denali is truly a more remote, more rugged experience. For those like myself who prefer to not be out hiking with the bears. The park offers various shuttle buses-these allow you to see more of the park past the first 15 miles. You can only take a private car the first 15 miles.

We will be spending a full day on one of the buses. A full day increases our odds of seeing the animals like bears, moose and others. Also you will get to experience more of the park. Otherwise your other option would be to sleep in or do some hiking on your own and meet us back at the Visitor Center at end of day.

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

Night Skies- outside Fairbanks:

Our day will flip flop so to speak and we will head out about 9pm to get our cameras set to photograph the night sky-

IF the group is more casual photographers we will get ready to go out for a viewing a tad later-

Activities in Fairbanks may include a trip to University of Alaska Museum of the North- a beautiful place which really showcases the history of Fairbanks, its native peoples and early settlers lives.

Visiting a Reindeer ranch- some activities are weather dependent

Tips for capturing the Northern Lights:

If you don’t have a camera capable of capturing the Northern Lights you may want to consider renting a camera like a DSLR or one of the SONY mirror-less

Tripod is also required since you are going to have the shutter open for a bit

Wide fast lens-

Fast cards – any little bit can slow processing time which can keep you from capturing

Location- get out away from the City lights

Clothing to pack:

Fingerless gloves – check sites like www.Cabelas.com or www.rei.com wool is good but can be itchy – you may want thinsulate.

Base layer- for women or men- www.Cuddlduds.com or www.rei.com are good options-

UnderArmour is another brand that makes good layering pieces

Over that wool- lightweight wool is an option.

Hiking boots can be good- for ankle support and to keep your feet warm.

Socks- Wool padded hiking socks are really worth it- they cost closer to $20 a pair but you feel the difference on your feet!

https://www.smartwool.com/

Finally a really good coat- you can get some of the Coat Systems like Columbia- some of the new coats have heat

Columbia Omni Heat- check www.Rei.com or Cabelas. You can often find some of the discontinued colors on the sale portions of most of these websites.

Also this link will rent you winter clothes which may be a great option if you don’t have a need for them otherwise!

http://www.6thavenueoutfitters.com

The Price of my Photo Tour includes all ground transportation in Alaska for planned activities, lodging for 7 nights- an extra night can be added on at the beginning or end, all snacks on board the van, all breakfasts, a guided boat tour out of Seward, one tour in Denali National Park and a guided Northern Lights outing, driver and portraits to take home!

Discounts available to previous clients

Contact me with additional questions.

April@aprilart.com

Interview with Fall Foliage Photographer Jeff Folger

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Tue, 16 May 2017 17:47:41 +0000

Jeff Foliage aka Jeff Folger- the source for all about New England Fall Foliage Photography joins me today to discuss some of the basics on New England and Fall Foliage Photography one of our favorite topics on this podcast Eyes For the Road.

His site www.jeff-foliage.com gets a quarter million hits a year, thousands of comments asking questions on where to go and what to photograph in New England!

New England Fall Foliage on FB- follow for giveaways-information

https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandFoliage/

http://www.foliageforum.com/forum/index.php?- the place to ask questions publicly

When to go- late September thru October.

Where to go- what are your interests- Antiques, covered bridges, farms, waterfalls

Website has an Archives which is searchable by topic such as covered bridges, scenic drives, etc.

Forecasts on the color- backed by information from the National Weather Service, the US Forest Service and using sites like the Old Farmers Almanac

https://www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2016/index.shtml

http://www.almanac.com/

Scenic Drives: the Kancamangus Highway and Route 100

What to see according to state- Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine have the most information

Festivals:

Planning A Trip to New England- 8.2 million visitors to NewHampshire alone in 2013

“the biggest mistake I think people make is trying to do too much with too little time”

Reservations-

Hotelscombined.com / www.hotelscombined.com

Bed and Breakfast

www.bedandbreakfast.com

Highland Games- Franconia Notch- https://nhscot.org

Columbus Day Weekend

Salem MA for Halloween

Do’ and Don’ts during Fall Foliage- Yankee Magazine

GPS- A Gazeteer if you plan to do backroads-

DeLorme – http://tinyurl.com/llc48vu

http://photoephemeris.com

Hidden Gems-

Blacksmith Covered Bridge- which is near the Windsor Cornish Covered Bridge- no road goes to it

There is a nice flag- one of 2 Covered Bridges which has an American Flag hanging on it!

Beaver Pond- Kinsman Notch-Route 112 – be there at dawn for a Wall Worthy Image

Jenne Farm- be sure to buy some Maple Syrup, donate to the box, be RESPECTFUL- iconic POSTCARD IMAGE

What’s IN YOUR CAMERA BAG-

Canon 80D-

24-105 lens, ImageStabilized. 77mm size- my standard go to – 99 % of my images were shot with this lens

100 macro lens

11-18 wide angle – great for dramatic skies

Circular Polarizer

10 stop- the big stopper- for SUNSETS and milky water images

http://leefilters.com/index.php/camera/bigstopper

Tripod-

Jeff’s Fine Art Images: http://tinyurl.com/kweys7p

What’s In My Camera Bag? Episode 12

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 03 May 2017 04:41:28 +0000

What’s in Your Bag- April Bielefeldt

Join us as we find out what’s in host/tour guide April Bielefeldt’s photo bag- what is in her bag and why!

What kind of bag-

Camera Backpack- Canon- size- padded compartments

http://tinyurl.com/kvprkme

Will hold 2 bodies (DSLR) – or a mirrorless body (Sony A6000) and a DSLR (Canon)

Canon 60D or the Canon 7D

Lenses –possibly more important than the bodies

Canon 10-18mm lens- wide angle for postcard scenics- good also for architectural interiors- stabilized and auto focus

Worth the money for me!

http://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/10-18mm.htm

(Ken Rockwell writes some good reviews)

Canon 70-300mm – good for details- leaves that are a distance away-stabilized- anywhere from the older model $500 to the newer one $1500.00

Tamron- 16-300mm f3.5 =great all around travel lens- if you had to take just one lens- make it this one-

Canon 24mm prime- good for landscapes-

Nifty 50mm- portraits

http://tinyurl.com/lg7lu2u

Also for lens comparisons check out –

https://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/lenses

Filters-

ND graduated split – (I like the large piece of glass with a soft line so you can darken the sky if need be and lighten the foreground.)

Tony Sweet- Singh Ray –Soft Ray Diffuser- 4×4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SINGH-RAY-FILTER-TONY-SWEET-SOFT-RAY-DIFFUSER-Z-PRO-4-x4-/332183266228?hash=item4d57aa63b4:g:f98AAOSwzaJX9mH9

http://tinyurl.com/kxz35ls

Circular Polarizer:

http://tinyurl.com/losqsq6

Spudz – lens cleaner cloth- with clip to go on each camera! Comes in 2 sizes 6×6 or 10×10

Tiffen or any other inexpensive UV or 0 filter in the size to fit each lens I own:

http://tinyurl.com/lctj7zl

Another resource for price comparison on lenses:

www.pricegrabber.com

Also good to have the manual for each camera body you are carrying.

Extra batteries – 3^rd party batteries will be cheaper on the front end when you purchase them but in most cases will NOT hold a charge as long-

Always good to have extra batteries-

Wasabi is a 3^rd party source if you don’t buy the Sony, Canon or Nikon to match your gear

OpTech makes some great little pouches for your memory cards that will slide onto most camera straps

https://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-4701002-Holsters/dp/B00011CS0S

Tamrac Adjustable Camera Strap with Media Pouches- hard to find- some of them have been discontinued – check eBay or

BHPhoto:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Camera-Straps/ci/283/N/3656173706

Tamrac – N5053 (model number) but there are many other straps you may like as well

http://tinyurl.com/mdlwm2f

Interview With PhotoJournalist Nick Smirnoff Episode 11

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Tue, 02 May 2017 02:47:54 +0000

Join your host April Bielefeldt as she interviews Nick Smirnoff Photojournalist-man with a mission!

Photojournalist Nick Smirnoff “Shaken Not Stirred”

Today we were lucky to catch up with Photojournalist Nick Smirnoff.

Nick Smirnoff is usually busy chasing news stories for the Bakersfield, California or the Tehachapi Newspaper

After many years of being Production Manager for tv shows like Felicity, Miami Vice and others he is currently now living in Tehachapi, California and working as a freelance photojournalist.

Today he shares tips on what it takes to be a photojournalist and what’s in his camera bag!

https://nppa.org/- legal protection and more for Photojournalists!

https://www.ppa.com/- professional photographers group

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/become-photojournalist – great information on wages-photographers working in the business

https://www.flickr.com/groups/48514070@N00/discuss/72157622985706803/- a great thread on finding events to photograph-tips etc for getting started!

www.glasseyephotos.net- Nicks Website

What’s in Nick Smirnoff’s Camera Bag- Gear-

Nikon D750

A Tokina 10-22mm wide angle lens

A Nikon 28-300mm lens

Lots of 0 or neutral filters on every lens-5 or 6 extra he mentioned

External flash- Nikon-

You can see some of his additional work at http://bakersfieldnow.com or http://www.tehachapinews.com/news/

Brian Simuro Photographer Interview Episode 7

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 06:12:47 +0000

San Francisco Photographer Brian Simuro

Join host April Bielefeldt as she interviews Professional Wildlife and Nature Photographer Brian Simuro: http://privateguidesf.com mention EYES4THEROAD and get a discount!

Facebook FanPage- PrivateGuideSF

Began as a Digital Nikon Photographer who got his “bug” in Vancouver Canada

He has photographed animals around the globe and has had his work featured on National Geographic. He shares how you can also share images of animals to save these beautiful creatures. Giving back is part of his being and he gives tips on how you as well can get involved!

Elephants, eagles oh my- join me as I interview Brian and share other ways to take your photography to another level!

Brian is also available to share his city of San Francisco- 415.810.7676 contact him.

PBS- http://www.pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/proposal-process/

Nature Photographers wanted: http://www.naturephotostore.com/photogs.htm

Marine Mammal Center: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/Get-Involved/volunteer/

Elephant Sanctuary- Volunteer- https://elephantsanctuarythailand.com/

What’s in Brian’s Bag?

4 different bags – Lowepro-

Go Pro:

Lenscloth-Nikon 8072 Microfiber cleaning cloth or Spudz makes one also

Lens:

200.-500mm lens

20-70mm

70-200 mm

Lenswipe: Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning system about $10

UV filter for our lens-

Headlamp= red light/white lamp-

Model release-

Favorite places:

San Francisco, USA

Lake Como, Italy

Vancouver/Victoria Island-

Baja-Cabo

Photographing Kancamangus Highway Episode 10

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:39:52 +0000

Kancamagus Highway- A Classic Fall Foliage Driving and Photography trip

Join photographer and travel writer and guide April Bielefeldt as she shares one of her favorite Fall October drives, full of photography opportunities or just enjoying for good foliage colors. This road is featured in National Geographic’s Driving Guides to America New England edition- page 44 in most editions.

This is one of my favorite drives- it includes a covered bridge, waterfalls, lots of trees, overlooks and a possibility for reflections and scenics that grace my walls- maybe you will feel the same once you take a day and explore it!

How long- the Scenic Portion= 32 miles

How much time- can drive it probably with a couple of hours but to stop, take the waterfall walk and take some photos allow a good 6 hours.

Due to the trees- light sometimes does not get into this area right away so in the fall I would advise get a good breakfast and then start your drive. Stop at the Ranger station as you turn onto Route 112 for maps or any questions you may have. There are also flush toilets at this location. The rest of the drive to Lincoln there are limited facilities- some toilets are not flush- you may want to have toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.

No food anywhere along the route- between Conway and Lincoln.

Water-drinks- and things like a roll of toilet paper

There is traffic – buses and big trucks – so be aware of these vehicles – pull off at one of the many gravel areas if you start to stack traffic behind you.

The route follows the Swift river:

Elevation – does hit a high point at 3000feet- sometimes in October you will get snow at this elevation. Wear layers or keep that coat handy.

Best to wear a hiking boot to walk some of the uneven paths – trails to Sabbaday falls.

Lens suggestions- wide angle, zoom for close-ups of leaves, close ups of forest scenics such as mushrooms, bark, or other details. Filters such as a graduated ND to create milky waterfalls. Polarizer to intensify the reds- blue skies- define the clouds.

Working from Conway to Lincoln – highlights listed below:

Covered bridge – parking pass

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/road-trips/articles/kancamagus-scenic-byway

http://www.kancamagushighway.com/

Tripod – for long exposures= a must for getting a good waterfall photo

Polarizer– define the clouds- intensify the colors like a pair of sunglasses for your lens

Lee Filters- http://leefilters.com/index.php/camera/bigstopper

Big Stopper– 10 stops –slow exposure time to create images that have a timeless quality- slow moving water-waterfalls-passing clouds- even crowds of people

Rain gear– either a plastic bag with a hole for your lens or op-tech makes these or movo – go to Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/ny6erqu

New England Itinerary Help! Episode 9

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:23:41 +0000

New England Itinerary Planning 101:

Today we will discuss how to begin planning your own trip to New England.

There are 6 states in New England- Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts

These states cover about 62,000 square miles vs California which is approx 164,000 square miles

What to consider when planning your trip to New England

April Bielefeldt has been leading tours in New England specifically focusing on Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts during the prime Fall Foliage Fall Colors season each year since 2003.

The internet is full of sites like Tripadvisor.com, Yankee.com, Newengland.com, jeff-foliage.com for input.

How many days are you able to spend in New England- is it a weekend, 7 days or 2 weeks.

Prime time to go is the first couple weeks of October.

Average road speed when you get off the interstates is about 50miles per hour max.

Daylight- sunrise/sunset – use sunrisesunset.com for accurate times. On average sunrise October 1 is about 6:50am and sunset 6:15pm and will vary slightly as the month progresses.

What types of activites do you want to participate in- train rides, boating, any hikes, maple syrup tastings- tours etc.

Make a list of must see or do for all individuals going on the trip so you can plan in hours for historic homes, money or days they are open or closed.

How much driving do you want to do per day?

Transportation – where are you flying into- renting your own car?

What type of budget?

What kinds of lodging? The first few weeks of October in New England is considered high season, there will minimums, or black out dates for one nights. Rooms that may go for under $100/night may increase to double that during “Fall Foliage season”

**Columbus Day weekend is usually a 3 day minimum on bed/breakfast lodgings and sees high occupancy

(Be aware of small towns- weekends may have small colleges with homecomings, events, other visitors etc.)

Interests: Vermont still has 106 covered bridges in 1996 count. Places like Hildene- a Lincoln Historic home- many locations to see and visit.

About 7 million visitors to Vermont in 2015 – important to plan ahead-

Use sites like Tripadvisor.com for lodging suggestions, VRBO for longer rentals, bedandbreakfast.com, hotels.com

Regional magazines to use – Yankee Magazine, DownEast, Vermont Life, New Hampshire, Boston, Connecticut Magazine, Portland Monthly.

Jeff Foliage- jeff-foliage.com

Priority: Dates first, itinerary for getting your lodging reserved, fill in itinerary with must sees = parks, historic homes, etc, map it out and then make sure to leave some time to do nothing or edges – for unexpected finds- or weather delays!

Try not to overbook your days.

**IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A CUSTOM ITINERY. LET ME HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP! CLICK HERE

Did You Bring Your Tripod? Episode 8

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:12:25 +0000

Tripods:

Night Photography-
Waterfalls
Long Exposure- special effects-

Height of tripod- measure how tall you need it to be –eye level

Length: under 24” to fit in a suitcase for travel

Weight:-

How much does your Camera Weigh

Canon 7D= 1.8pounds without lens or flash attachment

Lens: Tamron 18-300mm= 1.7pounds

Travel tripods:

Manfrotto – BeFree-aluminum tripod-collapses down to 15.7 inches in length can hold up to 11 pounds

Joby- gorilla pod- small-packable-bendable

http://joby.com/

Slik: Slik Sprint Pro II- affordable-compacts down to 19inches and goes up to 63inches –weighs about 2 pounds- more casual photographer

Landscape Photographer Dan Holmes Interview Episode 3

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:45:49 +0000

Podcast- Eyes For the Road with Landscape Photographer Dan Holmes

Today we travel to Ventura, California to interview Dan Holmes and chat about his lifelong passion for photography and his interest in sharing unique world destinations such as Bolivia, Namibia, Nepal, Bolivia and Chile.

How he scouts this exotic locations straight out of fiction to real life places and what tools he uses to capture his award winning images.

PPC Landscape Photographer of the Year 2013

PPC Nature Photographer of the Year 2009

Multiple gallery shows, Museum of Ventura County.

Face to Face- Camera Club lecturer

Facebook: Dan Holmes photo Ventura, California

http://www.danholmesphoto.com

dan@danholmesphoto.com

Ventura Art Shows: Ventura California Art Festival September

Outdoorphotographer magazine- https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/

What’s in Your Bag Dan Holmes:

Canon 5D Mark IV-

Filters: Polarizer- always on my camera- saturated colors

Split Grad ND filters

4 stop and 10 stop ND Filters

28-300mm Lens-

16-35mm Lens

No prime lens

Tamron 28-300mm for backpacking.

Induro Tripod #3- Carbon fiber-twist legs-

Induro small ballhead-

Here’s what is in Dan’s bag…

Should I Use A Filter? Episode 4

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:38:21 +0000

Should I Use A Filter? Landscape Photography- Get it in the Field!

A Tale of 3 Filters-

Filters-

What are filters, why would I want to use one and using them for landscape Photography.

UV- zero filter- screws onto the lens- protects the lens from scratch, sand etc

UV filter- vary in price $10 to about $30+ you should ideally get one to go on each lens.

Maybe get an extra when traveling.

Polarizing Filter- like putting on a pair of sunglasses for your lens- saturate the colors- bold landscapes.

Enhance what is there in front of you. Define the clouds-intensify the leaves, the colors of the landscapes.

Dan Holmes says he always uses a polarizer all the time.

Circular Polarizer Filter- $10-$95

Neutral Density Filter- Circular style

Uses: milky waterfalls, blurring moving action- lights- clouds

Tiffen= $99.00

Singh Ray Vari-ND Filter: 390- $ 500.00

Lee Filters: Little Stopper- 6 stops, Big Stopper= 10stops and Super Stopper=15 stops

$ 125.00 (LeeBrand)

Split Filter- gradual- hard line-

Singh Ray- $99

Galen Rowell

Cokin- landscape kit- with blue/brown/tobacco- $48

Red Intensifier filter for Night photography- $34-$225.00

Companies – Filters

Cokin

Singh Ray

Tiffen

Lee

Photographing Charleston Episode 5

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:36:19 +0000

Podcast – Eyes For the Road

Today we will join Host April Bielefeldt as she takes you to a great place for Springtime photography – Charleston!

Charleston South Carolina comes alive in the Springtime- the air is full of blossoms and the springtime breezes coming off the ocean keep it comfortable. Charleston is a historic destination full of stories- give some thought how you want to capture this and how to translate one of those stories.

Tips for going to Charleston- 4 days

Where to stay –

Plantations;

Drayton Hall- http://www.draytonhall.org

Middleton – https://www.middletonplace.org

Magnolia Plantation: http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/

Charleston

Helpful guides:

Photographing Charleston, Savannah, and Coastal Islands- Jeff Dodge

Frommers Portable Charleston-

Seeing Charleston – Ron Anton Rocz

Charleston Icons- Ida Becker

Wild Flowers 101 Episode 6

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:35:28 +0000

Podcast- Wildflowers 101

Join Fine Art Photographer and Travel Guide April Bielefeldt as she shares tips for exploring California Wildflowers.

Growing up in Iowa, after winter ended we took to the woods to seek out the tiny blooming gems- wildflowers- in the woods I learned about jack-in the pulpits, columbines, wild roses, and other small flowers that would appear after the snows had melted. That same excitement of going out after “winter” stayed with me and after viewing carpets of California poppies one spring north of Los Angeles I was hooked to come week after week-seeing the hills change from bright orange, to purples to yellows and finally to a burnt gold color.

Not every year is a super bloom but generally there are places you can discover Wildflowers somewhere in the state!

Join me as I share with you tips-inspiration and tools I use to return with some Fine Art photos to enjoy even after the wildflowers have left.

Spring can begin as early as March .. or even late February depending on conditions!
Places to go- what you need and best tips!

Southern California places

Theodore Payne http://theodorepayne.org/- 818.768.1802 ext 7

Socal – Desert USA- http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html-

Poppy Preserve- Lancaster CA- http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627-661.724.1180

http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/topcalifornia/a/california-wildflowers.htm

Carrizo Plain= 805.475.2035 phone

Tips for going out:

Proper Footwear- covered toes- boots-

Look for snakes- prickly plants-

Walking stick-

Long pants- long sleeves- protect yourself from allergies- sunrash-prickly plants

Take a buddy-

Knee pads- http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/topcalifornia/a/california-wildflowers.htm

Stay hydrated- water- power bars- nuts-

Too much exposure to sunlight could dehydrate you

Camera tips:

Flower setting or a vivid setting-

Intensifier filter-

Magnifying filters –

Mirror

Spray bottle with water- add water drops to your flowers

Location- road- bank with flower-or hill above you to give the look of the flowers touching the blue sky over you-

Get high or low- either with standing on the running board of your car- getting low via a bench-

Camp stool folds flat and can help you stay low yet slightly a bit above the ground

Subject matter- ask people to model in your images- – either a back view- with a hat- or holding hands-

Basket- props-old book- anything you might want to carefully sit to add interest in your photo

Weather:

Poppies need a lot of sun to open up= wind may be harder to get still shots

Overcast makes a nice soft light for flowers

High contrast- split filter- polarizer

Search artwork-precompose an image that might inspire you- Monet, VanGogh, Georgia O’Keefe,

http://www.mapplethorpe.org/portfolios/flowers/

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/claude-monet-giverny-paintings2.htm

http://www.georgiaokeeffe.org/flowers/

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/floral.html

What to do with your photos later:

Mpix for printing- www.mpix.com

Michaels- affordable frames, black note cards and more!

Shutterfly- www.shutterfly.com

Groupon- deals-promos for inexpensive printing or items with your photo on them!

Questions From Clients Episode 2

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:47:24 +0000

Join your host April Bielefeldt as she fields questions about Photography- tours and more all in this episode of Eyes For the Road.

Questions include:

Is it better to know your gear or develop your eye?

How to work with photographers and non photographers?

How much pre scouting before a trip?

What’s in your bag?

What will I learn on a trip/tour with you?

Join me as I take 30minutes and share my insights on leading tours- what I hope to share with you on my next tour or what I feel is my working goals for my tours and more!

Upcoming Tours Visit:
www.fallphototrips.com

Nevada Mining Towns

Maine Fall Colors

Maine Coastline

Alaska From Colors-to Dancing Lights

Vermont Classic Fall Foliage and Landscapes

New Hampshire-Historic New England

Lake Superior- Large Landscapes Quiet Places

Photographing San Francisco Episode 1

april@aprilart.com (April Bielefeldt) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 02:26:18 +0000

Join host, tour guide and fine art photographer April Bielefeldt as she shares some of the best tips for a photographer going to San Francisco. She shares her top 10 places, camera gear and suggestions on how to achieve your photography goals in a short 3-4 day weekend.