Another Beautiful Time Lapse Video

A few days back we had a beautiful time lapse video shot over the Canary Islands, and now we have a second one, this time from the southern coast of Australia. The images were shot over 31 total hours, spread out over six nights, and were then painstakingly put together in this video over the course of a year and a half.  The end results are simply beautiful.




Ocean Sky from Alex Cherney on Vimeo.

In Search Of The World's Most Poisonous Frog

You think it's easy being a photographer for National Geographic? Sure they get sent to some of the most amazing places on the planet and capture fantastic photographs of those destinations. But did you ever stop to wonder what they have to go through to get those great shots? Check out the video below for a very funny first hand account from photographer Mark Moffett, who traveled to Colombia to find an elusive, and very dangerous tree frog.

Adventure Photographer Corey Rich Shares His Story

I came across this great video earlier today while catching up on the news at the Goat Blog. It profiles adventure photographer Corey Rich, who tells us about his passion for the outdoors and for taking documenting his adventures through photographs. He managed to combine both of those elements into one fantastic profession. I mean, who wouldn't want to be an "adventure photographer," right?

Great video with some nice inspiration for a Wednesday.




Corey Rich Origins of a legend. from Rex Lint on Vimeo.

The Weather Channel To Launch New Photography Show

Fans of photography in extreme places will be pleased to hear that there is a new television show in the works that will cater to their needs. The new program, entitled From the Edge With Peter Lik will debut next week, March 31st, on The Weather Channel of all places.

The show will focus on scenic outdoor photography in places where the weather continues to have a direct impact on shaping the landscape. Amongst the destinations slated to be shown in the first 13 episodes of the show are Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, Death Valley, and more. During those episodes, viewers will watch professional photographer Peter Lik as he works to capture the natural beauty of the landscapes while dealing with a variety of challenges, not the least of which is weather.

Lik's bio is listed on the show's website. As a boy, growing up in Melbourne, Australia, Peter received his first camera as a birthday present at the age of eight. He has been hooked on the art of photography ever since. He has visited some of the most remote places in the U.S., visiting all 50 states, and Australia, and has been awarded the honor of Master of Photography from both the Professional Photographers of America and the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, giving him the distinction of being one of the very few photographers in the world to be recognized with that honor on two continents. He has also earned a fellowship with the British Institute of Professional Photography, the organization's highest level of achievement.

The first episode of From the Edge will air next Tuesday at 8 EDT/7 CDT on The Weather Channel.

Adventures in South Africa

So I've been home from South Africa for nearly a week, and I haven't had much of a chance to share my experiences from while I was there. You'll definitely be hearing a lot more about my time in SA in the days ahead, as I will be writing a number of stories about what I did there. Of course, I visited Kruger National Park, one of the greatest places in the world to spot wild animals, and while we did go on game drives, I wasn't there to go on safari per se. In fact, I was actually there to learn how safari guides are trained and to observe the process of how they are evaluated so that they can take us out into the field in a safe, fun, and educational manner. I spent five days at the Makuleke Camp, operated by Eco-Training, watching potential guides of all ages be put through their paces as they worked towards certification and eventual opportunity to go to work in field in a number of countries across Africa.

Like I said, you'll hear much more about that in the days to come as I start to write stories about the training process. But I'll also share some thoughts on Kruger itself, the amazing creatures that live there, and some of the unbelievable experiences I had there. I'll even share the storyof the Makuleke Tribe, who were forced off their land back in 1969, but had it restored to them in the 90's. Part of that land falls within Kruger, which has made for a unique opportunity for the tribe and an unusual relationship between them, the South African government, and safari companies that operate within that area.

For now, I've put together a photo gallery with a few images from the trip. You can access them by clicking here. They give a bit of insight into what it was like for me there. I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for much more.

Want To Be A Race Photographer At The Patagonia Expedition Race?

Are you a fan of adventure racing? Fancy yourself a photographer? Ever wanted to visit Patagonia? Then I've got just the opportunity for you. The Wenger Patagonian  Expedition Race takes place February 8-16, 2011 in Chile's Patagonian region, and the organizers of the event are looking to add someone to their official photography team. In fact, they're running a contest to fill the job.

Entry for the contest is now open, and you'll find all the details by clicking here. Simply fill out the from with the standard info, such as name, address, e-mail, etc., and upload three photo samples, and you're in the running. If you're the grand prize winner, you'll get a trip to Chile, including airfare, accommodations, and ground transportation while in Patagonia, where you'll get unprecedented access to the race course so you can document the drama and excitement of this great race.

For the past few years, the Patagonian Expedition Race has been one of the first big events of year on the AR calendar, and 2011 looks to be no different. The race attracts top teams from around the globe, giving them a chance to compete in one of the most spectacular wilderness environments on the planet. Patagonia is a fantastic place to hold a race, and each year it seems to throw new and unexpected wrinkles at the racers. I'm sure 2011 will be no different, except if you're the luck photographer who gets to go, you'll get to see it all first hand.

Good luck!

National Geographic Announces Photo Contest Winners

Each year, National Geographic holds a photography contest that spotlights some of the best images taken over the previous 12 months. The images are usually quite spectacular and worthy of the Nat Geo legacy, not to mention having the ability to make other aspiring photographers, like myself, quite envious.

The 2010 award winners have been announced, and as usual, the photos are fantastic. You can check them all out on the contest page, which can be found by clicking here. There are three galleries to browse through, including Nature, People, and Places, and each of those shows weekly winners as well as the overall winner for the category.

The Grand Prize Winner is shown on the contest's main page. The image was taken by Aaron Lim Boon Teck, who captured an image of a trekking group on the trail in Indonesia, while a volcano erupts in the background. It really is a fantastic shot, with subtle colors and shadows that were shot at just the right time.

The other images are all great as well, and each of them reminds us that not only is it important to have a good eye and technical knowledge of your equipment, but a healthy dose of luck as well. It seems you have to be in just the right spot at the right time to get that perfect photo.

Rock Climbing In Chad

A group of climbers has headed to the African country of Chad in search of new challenges. Amongst the members of the team are Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, and Renan Ozturk, who is filing dispatches over at the Never Stop Exploring Blog, which is the official blog for the North Face.

The expedition dispatches are worth checking out for the photographs alone, which show of a stark, yet beautiful, landscape with some surprisingly great rock climbing opportunities including a number of massive rock towers. At the moment, there are at least a half-dozen dispatches to sift through, with Renan giving us some great insights into what it is like to be on an expedition of this nature. The team has been exploring the deserts of Chad, and finding plenty of unclimbed sandstone walls to tackle. While sandstone is not the best rock to climb, it seems that there are rewards to be found at the top, as the climbers are discovering amazing views with breathtaking vistas in all direction.

For those who don't know, Chad is located in north central Africa and is an interesting mix of deserts and fertile savannah. It is considered one of the poorest, and most corrupt, countries in the entire world, and most of its citizens live well below the subsistence level. It seems that much of its landscape remains untouched by explorers and climbers, and there are still plenty of adventures to be had in the remote corners of the country.

These are really interesting dispatches to read and as I said, the photos are spectacular. They'll inspire you to want to visit Chad for yourself and witness these spectacular places.

Thanks to The Goat for the tip on this one.

Tips On Taking Great Adventure Photos

As Alan Arnette packs for Antarctica, where he'll be climbing Mt. Vinson as he begins his quest for the Seven Summits in support of Alzheimer's research, he's been thinking about the best way to capture images of his adventures. To help him sort though the options, he's enlisted the aid of mountaineer and photographer Brad Jackson, and Alan has shared Brad's advice with all of us on his blog.

Alan really does have some great advice for aspiring photographers looking to get great shots in the mountains, or just about anywhere else for that matter. Some of his tips include such simple things as how to keep the camera close at hand to get the shots you want (everything from a fanny pack to a small pouch attached to your pack) to how to keep your batteries charged while in a remote location.

On the delicate matter of which camera to recommend, Alan doesn't give any specific choices, but does note that both point and shoot and DSLR's have their place. He offers some tips on what to consider in each, and gives good anecdotal evidence of why having an extra battery or two is always a good idea. He does say that a good pro-sumer level DSLR is the way to go on the big mountains though, as they are easier to operate while wearing gloves.

Alan even goes on to talk about post production and how Photoshop, Lightroom, and other tools are now part of the process and that you should probably expect to use them to help get the most out of your shots. It's just part of modern digital photography, which gives all of us more options at our fingertips than we ever thought of before.

All in all, a pretty insightful article that can serve, at the very least, as a good reminder of things that we all need to think about when taking photos. As someone who enjoys photography, but still feels he has a lot to learn, stories like these help me to consider a few things I hadn't.

Can't wait to see the photos from the Summits Alan!

Ten Great Tips For Better Adventure Photos

It seems that nearly everyone who is into the outdoors and adventure travel is also an aspiring photographer. We love to capture the spectacular scenery that we enjoy playing in and then sharing it with friends and family later, usually to taunt them over the great fun they missed out on. But if you're like me, you often end up with photos that looked a lot better in your mind then they turned out later on your computer. To that end, our friends over at WideWorld have put together a great list of ten tips to help you improve your adventure photos.

The list was actually compiled by photographer Scott Woodward, who has an impressive list of credentials under his belt. Scott has worked with like of National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, and many more, and he calls photography in the modern age, in which digital cameras are practically everywhere, "one of the most accessible and democratic forms of artistic expression"

Some of Scott's tips include having a plan before you travel by doing research about your destination ahead of time. This helps you to know what to expect when you arrive, and to begin formulating the kinds of photos you want to capture before you even get there. He also recommends that you don't bring more gear than you can carry, at it can weigh you down, keep you from moving as quickly as you need, and end up just getting in the way. He also notes that you should add life to your landscape shots by capturing images of people in those dramatic places.

One of Scott's tips hit home with me, as he suggests that you should never underestimate the capabilities of a good point and shoot camera. They're small, lightweight, fit in your pocket, and can take some amazing shots. Sure, they're not as versatile as a good DSLR, but on the other hand they won't take up room in your pack and are far easier to lug around. I'm finding this out more and more lately, as I recently purchased a Panasonic Lumix LX-5, a compact camera that has nearly the same functionality as my Nikon DSLR.

The article may not break vast new ground in terms of helping you improve your photography, but it certainly is a nice reminder of things to think about before you head out on your next trip. Perhaps you'll return home with better photos than you imagined, and you might have a better time along the way.

New Photo Exhibit To Offer "Extreme Exposure" For Adventure Photographers

A new group photography exhibit is set to open in October at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. The exhibit entitled, "Extreme Exposure," will feature amazing photographs captured in some of the most remote and demanding places on the planet, by five of the most talented artists working in the field today.

The photographers who will have a number of their works on display include Clyde Butcher, whose "Swamplands" images make for an interesting study in light and shadow, while Michael "Nick" Nichols will present his "Lush Jungle" series of photos that focus on wildlife captured in their natural environments.  They're joined by Paul Nicklen, who will show stunning images from the Earth's polar regions, and Donna and Stephen James O'Meara who specialize in shooting active volcanos and lava flows.

Additionally, the Annenberg Space will also feature a digital film presentation that will enhance the experience for visitors. The digital portion of the exhibit will offer hundreds more images, detailed profiles of the photographers, and insights on how they captured the images on display. In some cases they risked life and limb while dangling from a helicopter, battled the elements, or came face-to-face with some of the most dangerous animals on the planet, just to capture the perfect shot.

The exhibit is set to open on October 23, 2010 and will run through April 24, 2011, and for budding photographers or those who appreciate the art, it looks to be a fantastic display.

National Geographic Launches 2010 Photo Contest

National Geographic has always been filled with amazing photos. In fact, it is one of the hallmarks of the magazine and one of the reasons we love it so much. To highlight some of the best photographs taken each year, Nat Geo hosts a photography contest, and the 2010 edition is now underway, allowing photographers to submit their images in a digital format directly from the website.

The entry process couldn't be more easy, you simply need to create (or using an existing) NatGeo website account to login to the submissions page. From there, you can upload your photographs directly, filling in the necessary information as you go. There are three category areas, People, Places, and Nature, and there is a $15 entry fee applied per photograph. The deadline for entry is November 30th of this year, so you'll want to start sifting through your images now to find the best ones for submission.

The winner of this year's contest will be rewarded handsomely. First place winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Washington DC in January to attend the 2011 National Geographic Photography Seminar. The winning photo will also be published in an upcoming issue of the magazine, which is reward enough for many amateur and professional photographers.

To give you an idea of what the judges like, take a look at last year's winners in this gallery and check out some of the other entries in this gallery. Beautiful stuff. I really need to work more on my photos.

Mt. Kailash Trek and Photo Workshop For 2011

For the past couple of years, Jon Miller of The Rest of Everest fame and Chris Marquardt from Tips From The Top Floor have hosted high altitude treks that have combined visits to Mt. Everest with photo workshops. Participants on the trek had the opportunity to visit both the North and South sides of the mountain while gaining valuable insights into shooting photography and videography in one of the best locations on the planet.

Now, the pair have spun off those very successful excursions into a new venture, launching the website HimalayanWorkshops.com today to support their future expeditions into the region. With that launch they've also announced that the 2011 workshop will take place on Mt. Kailash, a 21,778-foot peak located in western Tibet, that is a spiritual crossroads for Buddhists and Hindus alike.

The trek will begin on Sunday, April 17th, 2011 in Kathmandu and run to May 3rd. In between, the team will hike and drive their way through the Mt. Kailash region, exploring this beautiful area, while conducting the "highest photography workshops in the world." Cost for the three week trip is $5999 with registration opening on Sunday, Oct. 17th.

To find out more about the trek, the trip leaders, the setting, and more, click here.

Update On Great Bear Rainforest Expedition

A few days back I posted an interesting story about a group of nature photographers from the iLCP who were making an expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest in Canada in an attempt to raise awareness about the place and the threats posed to it from encroaching oil interests. Since I wrote that initial post, the team has returned to civilization and shared their thoughts, as well as a fantastic gallery of photos they took on the journey.

After spending two weeks exploring the rainforest, the group of photographers, who included the likes of Daniel Beltrá, Paul Nicklen, and Joe Riis, returned with some spectacular images, but more importantly they are sharing the message that a pipeline built through that wilderness could be potentially devastating for the animals that live there. Enbridge Inc. has proposed the creation of a 750-mile long twin pipeline to move oil from the Alberta tar sands to Kitimat along the coast. A move that would also introduce tankers to that pristine and remote coast for the first time. It should also be noted that Enbridge is the company that is responsible for the oil spill in Michigan as well.

As you can probably imagine, the expedition recommends against building a pipeline there, with iLCP founder and president Cristina Mittermeier saying “The ecosystems here are so interconnected that an oil spill would devastate not only the landscapes and seascapes but the communities that rely on them for their survival.” While the area is home to the second largest oil reserves in the world, the team feels that at this time there is no safe, and clean, way of tapping those reserves without destroying a natural landscape that is amongst the best on the planet.


The images that the team of photographers captured are some of the best ever from the GBR. They've posted an online gallery of more than 90 photos that you can check out for yourself by clicking here. After examining these beautiful shots, you'll understand why it is so important to protect this place. Not only do they inspire me to want to visit the rainforest myself, they also inspire me to want to be a better photographer. Amazing stuff.

[Photo by Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier]

Learn To Shoot Like The Pros At The Outside Workshop

One of the hallmarks of Outside Magazine over the years has been its great photos, and now, thanks to their upcoming photography workshops, you can learn to shoot like the pros from the pros themselves. For four days, beginning October 19th, and running through the 23rd, lucky amateur and pro photographers, will descend on Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they'll have the opportunity to get great tips and training from some of the best photographers in the business today.

Three great professionals will be on hand to help teach their craft, and each of them has a very different speciality. For instance, Jimmy Chin is perhaps the best outdoor/adventure photographer in the world, while Kurt Markus is known for his cultural and fashion photography. They'll be joined by Robert Maxwell, who has earned a reputation for exceptional portraits that are virtually unmatched by any other photographer.

The four day workshop includes lectures, demonstrations and round table discussions, as well as assignments and field work to help attendees get the full "hands-on" experience. There will also be seminars that focus on the digital workflow, as well as visits to local Santa Fe photo galleries, portfolio reviews, and a whole lot more. Outside editors and photographers will also be on hand to lend their expertise as well.

The workshop is limited to just 45 seats and registration is open now. Click here to get in on the fun.

(As a side note, as someone who is working on becoming a better photographer, I'd love to attend a workshop like this one and have the chance to learn from Jimmy Chin!)

Back From Montana and Yellowstone, Photos To Share!

After spending the better part of last week in Montana and Yellowstone National Park, I'm home again and ready to get back to work. I had an absolutely wonderful time traveling with five other travel writers while being hosted by some fantastic people.

You'll be hearing a lot more about that trip in the days ahead, but some of the things I did while I was there included riding the Beartooth Highway, kayaked on Lake Yellowstone with OARS, went wolf spotting in Yellowstone with the ranger in charge of the program, and trail riding at the Lazy E-L Ranch. In short, it was a very busy, but very fun week.

As you might expect, the scenery was spectacular in Montana and the park. The Beartooth Highway has been called the most beautiful drive in the country, and with good reason. The views are amazing and breathtaking, and every turn brings something new to be discovered, including snow capped peaks, rushing waterfalls, and clear blue mountain lakes. But beware. If you make the drive yourself, the weather can be a bit fickle. Even at the end of August, we witnessed heavy snow and whiteout conditions, on two consecutive days. That's life in the mountains I suppose!

If you'd like to see some photos from the trip, I've put together another gallery. You can take a peek by clicking here. Hope you enjoy!

Photos From The Himalaya

Over the past few weeks, since getting back home from Nepal, I have slowly begun to get back to my routine and work through a backlog of work, writing, and so on. Anyone who has ever gone on a long trip like that one can probably relate, as the jet lag alone makes it challenging to get back to normal life.

Fortunately, I'm mostly recovered, and working my way through my "to do list" of things I need to accomplish, which included getting some photos online from the trip. I have created a web gallery of some of the shots I took while traveling in Nepal, and I thought that some of you might be interested in seeing them. The gallery can be found by clicking here.

Personally, I have to say that I'm not entirely happy with how the photos came out. There are a few that I actually like, but for the most part, I think I failed at capturing the beauty and the splendor of the place. Perhaps I feel this way because the scenery is so amazing that it is difficult to actually capture it properly on film. Still, these photos will give you an idea of what it is like in the Khumbu Valley, and what you can expect if you ever decide to go there yourself. It is a spectacular hike, and of course I highly recommend it.

As for stories about the trek, they are coming soon. I've been collecting my thoughts and generating an outline of what I'd like to post about, so no worries. I'll be sharing elements of the trek with everyone in the very near future. In the meantime, if you have questions about what it is like, feel free to drop me a note. I'm happy to answer anything you'd like to know. I can be reached at kungfujedi@gmail.com.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

Adventure Photography Tips From Tyler Stableford

Tyler Stableford has been recognized as one of the top adventure photographers around. And in the video below he shares some tips of the trade with those of us who would like to steal his job. The video is a bit of a commercial for Adobe's Lightroom 3, which is in beta now, and is a popular tool amongst photographers. But from a workflow stand point it is interesting to see how Tyler works, and the video captures him out in the field shooting an ice climber in action too. One of these days I'll figure out how to shoot photos somewhere remotely as well at Tyler, but for now, I'll have to settle for picking up tips where I can.

Leopard Seal Adopts NG Photographer in Antarctica

This video has been making the rounds the last couple of days, but it's definitely worth sharing. It features National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen telling about an amazing experience he had while taking shots in Antarctica. Paul was actually in the water, getting shots of penguins and seals, when one of the lion seals, a 12-foot long predator, seemingly mistook him as one of its own kind, and proceeded to attempt teach him how to hunt, and even showing him how to feed. The seal was so persistent, that it attempted these things for several days, and Paul managed to get some amazing photos of the event. Really interesting stuff. Check it out.

Thanks to The Goat, amongst others, for this one.

Whoa!

Check out this amazing photo courtesy of the Wend Blog. You see that little black speck? Yep, that's someone going off the top of that mountain. Presumably he or she is wearing a parachute and is doing a little BASE jumping. If not, I don't want to hear about it.