Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

My Guide and Spider Monkey Calling Extraordinaire (1/320 at f/4.0, 85mm ISO 200)

Spider monkey picking a fruit (1/40 sec at f/5.6, 280mm, ISO 250----ouch!)

Spider Monkey Eating (1/30sec at f/5.6, 280mm at ISO 250 too slow!)

Spider Monkey w/baby 1/320 at f/5.0, 280mm at ISO 250

Lens selection for any trip can be a headache.  What to take and what to leave behind are always the nagging questions.   Typically, I travel with my 16-35mm, 24-70 and my 70-200.  However, on my last few trips my 70-200 hadn’t been getting much love, so I debated leaving it behind to lighten my load (and considering my bag was searched in airport security because it surpassed their “maximum density” allowance, it maybe have been a good idea).  But, at the last minute I scrambled to make room and threw  it in the bag.    I even decided to throw in the 1.4 extender for good measure.  Of course  I’m really glad I brought the lens because  later that week I had an opportunity to photograph spider monkeys in the Mexican jungle.  Now,  I know most photographers never want you to see all their bad shots but today’s blog is just about that….all my bad shots from this shoot.  I ran around the jungle for two hours, swatting at mosquitoes, walking with my guide as he made these super cool monkey calls by blowing into his fists.    There I was with my 70-200mm lens w/1.4 extender on, scanning the trees along with my guide looking for any signs of life.  My anticipation was growing, but at the same time I was thinking that this was all a hoax and there weren’t any monkeys in these woods.   It wasn’t until 45 minutes into the walk that we finally ran into a few families of spider monkeys feasting on fruit.   Well, if I had one word to describe the scene it would be “fast.”  I felt like I was in a Donkey Kong game.  These guys were moving so fast that my camera was shooting faster than my card could write (note to self, time to upgrade memory cards).   Autofocus wasn’t working for me because of the dense foliage. And of course, because I was on the ground and they were up in the trees, they were always backlit, so exposure was an issue.   At the end of the excursion,  I finished with two or three shots that worked.  I mean, I didn’t even know I was going to be shooting monkeys when I left for this trip-  let alone the Wizard of Oz’s flying  monkeys.  I shot nearly 400 frames and less than 1% of the photos were decent…but listen, sometimes that’s what happens.  So, with that said, I hope you enjoy the video…it’s sort of a reminder to myself that we’re not perfect.  Especially, when shooting crazy monkeys!

Kajsa here for the Sunday post. I’ve been in the Green Mountain State for the past week visiting family and friends and loving every moment of it. The other constant beside Volvo grocery-getters and Subaru Outbacks with ski racks is a community of people who love their state. And what’s not to love? In one day we split our time between Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory, Cabot cheese, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Magic Hat Brewing company. Sure that’s all touristy, but where else can you walk through a cemetery for retired ice cream flavors? When I haven’t been feeding on the local delicacies, I’ve been skiing and warming up with Green Mountain Coffee – a staple in every gas station and almost every local coffee shop. Every trip that I take I try to do as the locals do – otherwise, what’s the point of going in the first place? Traveling internationally is one thing, but the mantra in my family applies to domestic travel as well. In a time when you can find the same restaurants in California as you find in Maine, I always try to shop local. I hope that when you travel you open yourself up to new things and live like the locals do; after all, “When in Rome…”

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  February’s calendar is available for download.  Today’s shot is looking over the Gulf of Mexico from the beaches of Tulum. For the 1280X800 click HERE,  1600X1200 click HERE, 1920×1200 HERE and iPhone HERE.   Tomorrow I plan to announce February’s new photo contest – so make sure to check back tomorrow.   That’s it…just a short one for today.   Happy Feb. Catch you guys tomorrow.  John

Tulum Dancer (1/80th at f/8.0, 35mm at ISO 200)

Tulum 2 (1/250 at f/4.5 70mm at ISO 200)

I’m back in Chicago after a wonderful week in Tulum, Mexico.  It was my hope to be able to post while I was there, but it ended up being a bit of a hassle so I decided to postpone it until I returned.   Whenever I travel the first day out with the camera can be the worst.  I’m not sure why, but I’m sure it has something to do with being a tourist and feeling slightly out of place.  It’s not  uncommon for me to take a few days to warm up to my surroundings.  To unthaw I typically try to focus my first day of shooting at public events or parks.  In Tulum, near the center of town, there’s a  central park with a large gazebo and as luck would have it there were some folks practicing a local dance routine.  I watched for a while as I prepared my gear and slowly approached the gazebo stairs.  I found a good place where I would be out of the way but still able to get a few shots. The gazebo wasn’t my favorite in terms of aesthetics, but this was where the action was and the people didn’t seem to be annoyed by my presence – so I sat back and relaxed for the next hour taking a few shots here and there.     I wouldn’t say I was blown away by any of these shots, but that wasn’t the point either.  The point was to get a feel for the area, relax and get into the groove of things.  I think all too often as photographers, and especially when we are traveling to new places, we put way too much pressure on ourselves to get “the shot”.  Well, I don’t know about you folks, but it’s never really worked out that way for me.  The killer shot usually happens when I’m least expecting it and without a doubt when I’m relaxed.    I’ve never nailed a good shot when I was uptight.   So day one worked for me…I felt good, enjoyed a really cool local dance and met some very interesting people.

Hostel in Playa del Carmen

I’ve been in Mexico for a couple of days now, and it’s taken  me a bit to get in the groove of things, but I’m starting to relax and enjoy myself.    One of the things I love about Mexico, besides the people (awesome) and the food (spectacular), is the colorful architecture.  Today’s photo is of a hostel in Playa del Carmen.   The colors literally looked like someone painted them on with jumbo crayons.   Speaking of painting with jumbo crayons, I’ve been doing a bit of driving around the Yucatan and I have one word of advice to the Mexican department of transportation; “More yellow paint on the TOPES please!!”  For my Mexican fans, and those who have traveled here, you’ll know what I mean.  For the rest of you, a TOPE is a giant speed bump of one form or another (possibly a ship rope lying across the road), and they are meant to either slow you down (when you see them, which you don’t, hence the yellow paint issue), or annihilate your rental car’s shocks.  But that’s my only gripe!  I swear… the guacamole totally makes up for it!

I forgot to mention last week’s winners to  the travel post.   The winners of the super cool lens cloths are Laurie Ferri and the workinprogress101.  Thank you to everyone for your useful tips! Winners, please don’t forget to send your addresses to john@batdorffphotography.com so I can send you your prize.

Travel Buds

I’ve been busy getting ready for my trip to Mexico tomorrow. Departures are getting rougher as I get older. Yep, it’s true. The reason quite simply is I hate leaving my little girl for any period of time. Ironically, I think the older I get the easier it gets on her and the harder it gets on me. So, I thought I would share a few things I tend to do while traveling so I don’t feel so damn lost without her. I always make arrangements that I’ll be calling everyday at a set time (give or take a few min).  I use services like Skype and MSN Messenger for those times when internet is more readily available than a simple phone. I added an inexpensive phone on my plan so that I can text her because often times it’s easier to send a text than make a call. And, when all else fails I resort to the good old fashion postcard. I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I ever feel guilty when I leave. Truth be told, no. When I’m home she has 120% of my attention and not a percent less. I try to take her on as many of my travels as possible, but you know that school thing has a tendency to get in the way. Truthfully, leaving her behind never feels right because it’s like I’m leaving my best travel bud behind. I can’t wait until the day she can travel with me whenever/wherever I go, but until then I’ll have to rely upon phones, internet and postcards.

From previous travel in Thailand, Kajsa Stolberg

John mentioned a few weeks back that he’s planning on taking a trip to India this spring and I have the great pleasure of putting my travel experience to use (not to mention an excuse to study a new culture and organize my findings!)  Here’s the preliminary list of things to do, in no particular order…

The basics: Visas, required/suggested shots and basic safety tips.  If you plan on going to India, check out these sites: VISA, HEALTH.
The interesting stuff: stumbling upon unexpected cultural differences is half the fun, but it’s especially important for me to respect the customs of the the country that I’m visiting.  A perfect example of this is the appropriate dress expected.  Even with the heat, I would not wear short shorts or mini skirts as a female traveling in India.  John, on the other hand, won’t draw extra attention to himself unless he’s dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow.
For the time being, I’m reading books on Indian customs and culture, and the history and present day conditions that one can expect.  I also have a few friends that have traveled, lived, and studied in India so I can have first-hand personal experiences and advice to draw from – like bring your own roll of TP and drink only bottled water.
There’s an endless list of preparation that can be done for this trip, but this is a start.

And now here’s where you come in!  Visit the blog and comment with any recommendations for travel or travel-related ideas and have a chance to win one of three Spudz Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloths packs.

The rules:
Comments must be made on the blog… Facebook doesn’t count!
The drawing will take place on January 15th.
A random number will be picked  based on the number of comments.
3 packs will be given away (one per household).
Winners must contact Batdorff photography with your mailing address if chosen.

As for the giveaway, John uses these handy little lens cloths himself.  We’re excited to hear your travel preparation tidbits!

My Yucatan Friend- Iguana (1/160 at f 9.0 280mm at ISO 200)

Free Stuff:
It’s no secret that Adobe’s Lightroom and CS4 are my first choices when it comes to image editing software. However, with that said, I realize not everyone wants/nor can afford to shell out $300.00 plus for imaging software. For those of you who are just dabbling in photography or don’t need the robust features of CS4 or Lightroom, then you should check out GIMP. GIMP is a free distribution image manipulation software that has a very Photoshop feel to it. I wouldn’t say GIMP is an Adobe Photoshop killer by a long shot, but it’s definitely an alternative for those looking to do more than just crop their images. Not to mention you can’t beat the price – FREE. GIMP will install on Mac OS X , Linux, Windows XP, Vista and I installed it on Windows 7. It supports TIFF, JPEG, GIF, PNG and PSD files. Plus, you can download several plug-ins that work with GIMP. GIMP isn’t for everyone but it’s a nice alternative to other free programs such as Picasa. If you’re interested in learning more about GIMP then click HERE. To read a CNET review click HERE.

More Free Stuff:
Stay tuned for this weekend’s blog because we’re going to be giving away a few free goodies, so mark your calendar!

Travel Fronts:
I’ll be traveling to Tulum, Mexico in the coming weeks with hopes of getting some good shots of the Mayan ruins. I’m currently building a shot list so if anyone has any suggested locations near Tulum please drop me a line.

Canon updates:
Canon has released its new 70-200mm lens. I have the previous model in my arsenal and I must say it’s an all time favorite and probably one of Canon’s most popular lenses. Click HERE to read a solid review on the lens.
Canon begins shipping its new EOS-1D Mark IV body this January. This camera is just sick (that means good ) but $5,000 just isn’t in the budget right now.  You can read more about it HERE and read a comparison to Nikon’s D3S HERE.

Ok, that’s it folks. It’s cold as heck here in Chicago but I promise to send some warm images from Mexico in coming weeks..;)

Crown Fountain (1/80 at f/3.5 16mm, ISO 1000)

I’m running around a lot today finishing some last minute shopping and working in meeting with a few students along the way. Here are a few things you should check out:

Matt Brandon and Gavin Gough are in putting together a workshop in India to cover the Kumbha Mela Festival. If you’re not familiar with the Festival then check out this link HERE. Matt and Gavin are amazing photographers and I had planned on signing up myself, but the dates just don’t work for me. If you want an amazing photographic experience with two of the finest travel photographers, then I suggest checking out their upcoming workshop HERE.

This might be old news for a few of you but I’m deep into John Harrington’s book, “Best Business Practices for Photographers,” and I have to say it’s rock solid. It answers a lot of those nagging questions about what to charge, licensing, asset management, and so on. Don’t make any assumptions about this being a “how to take photos” book. This book is all business and very focused on the photographers that are looking to enhance their business model. Check it out HERE.

A few weeks back I invited fellow photographers to participate in a chance to get featured on my blog. Well, last week we finally sent out a questionnaire to our first batch of lucky photographers. I’m really pleased with the selection of our first group. I’m sure their stories will be every bit as interesting as their work. What photographers did I pick? It’s a secret until we get all the forms back. Also, I want to thank everyone that dropped me an email about the upcoming Chicago workshop this spring. Once I get all the details nailed down I’ll make sure to notify you all.

That’s it….I’m off to do the typical last minute holiday shopping sprint…..so take care, John

The Spud Drive-in

It’s been a little too long since I’ve taken a solo road trip dedicated to my photography.  I hate to sound like a narcissist, but there’s a certain level of freedom that one enjoys on a solo road trip. Not to mention the very best part of a road trip – getting to eat all the junk food along the way while listening to your own music. This is key folks.  I know it’s a bad habit eating junk food and driving, but  road trips and bad habits are no stranger to me.  I even debated taking up smoking,  but I was fearful the second hand smoke would irritate my dogs. So I passed and landed on Cheetos instead….;)  The biggest advantage of a solo trip is time….it’s your time to use as you wish.  I made all the stops I would normally make with company,  but I was able to add a few too.   And of course there’s the fun element.  Road trips should be relaxing, memorable, and  above all, fun.  Sure, a long road trip can be a good time to reflect and contemplate the meaning of life, but don’t trip on your way up  Maslow’s staircase by forgetting the number one road trip rule:  have FUN!   This trip I decided to relive my childhood, “a bit” and revisit many of the West’s best tourist gimmicks.  The gimmicks are like a cattle call,  herding in  suckers like me off the highway.  But who could blame me when you have giant man-made critters begging to be photographed.  That’s right, my ipod is littered with photographs of  giant gophers, the jolly green giant and my personal favorite,  the giant jackalope.  I’ve been posting a few FUN shots on Twitter using Jarvis’s super cool iPhone application.  I must admit I’m getting slightly addicted to his iphone application because of its ease of use.   Just in case you missed any you can check them out below.

Jolly Green Giant, (Blue Earth, Minn.)

Badland's Killer Gopher

Badlands iphone shot

My traveling buds, Smokey and Tess

A Mountain Weather Welcome

Wyoming's Giant Jackalope

Moutain Pass

On a more serious note,  tomorrow I drive into West Yellowstone to pick up my 500mm.  I must admit I’m stoked about getting this lens.  I know this makes me sound like a dork, but folks I’m super pumped – especially after seeing a total of four Moose ( not MEESE)  on my drive in from  Idaho.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to get some nice wildlife shots.   A side note: Idaho is really growing on me.  One of my favorite drives has become the stretch between Jackson Hole and West Yellowstone via Idaho.   The vistas are amazing, the landscape is incredibly textural and the farmland is as authentic as it gets.   I could spends weeks photographing  this area.  All potato jokes welcomed…;)

Have a great weekend and enjoy what’s left of the fall… it is already snowing here out West.