Author Archives: bobshank

Fall Leaves

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How are the fall colors where you live? Here in the Poconos and even in Elk County the changing of colors is late this year. Last year we had snow in October and it was probably colder. This year the spring and summer rains may have also affected the changing of colors.

I watched a webinar this week on photographing the fall colors, which I found very interesting. Many of the teachings and suggestions cross over into many other types of photography, too. For example, knowing what the subject is in a photograph and using foreground subjects to create some depth to the photo. The problem with fall colors seems to be that many photographers think the brilliant colors will almost automatically make a great photo. This is obviously not the case.

Careful composition and forethought are needed to create a great photograph even in the presence of impressive fall colors. Don’t forget to take some closeups of the leaves and some wide-ranging shots that reveals a larger depth of field and shows some of the landscape.

Fall is my favorite time of year for photography. Are you getting some photos of this year’s fall colors and leaves?

Learning Photography

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I am a graduate of Temple University with a degree in journalism. I cut my photographic teeth in an intro to photography course that I just adored. The professor was tough and honest, but the time out taking photos and then developing the film and making enlargements in the darkroom was so enjoyable. I learned a ton about photography that semester.

Fortunately, learning does not have to stop. Today I listen to a variety of photo podcasts and even tune in to “webinars,” which are basically seminars on the web. I get to learn so much from these experiences. Of course, books are another source from which to learn.

So, what are you learning about photography these days?

Pennsylvania Elk

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I was there three weeks ago and I am already mountain sick–which is my term for being home sick for the mountains. I just cannot get enough of the mountains or the majestic Pennsylvania elk.

Fortunately, other photographers and nature lovers feel the same way. There are several blogs that are definitely worth looking at. They feature some amazing elk photos, some video which includes the thrilling sound of bulls bugling, and lots of information about the elk culture. Here are some links that I hope you enjoy:

Williard Hill

Brad Myers

Shane Myers

Coy Hill

Dick McCreight

James Shank

Elk Scenic Drive

Photography Subjects

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What are you photographing these days? Are you getting out with your camera and making photographs? Or are you busy with life so much that there is little time to spend out and about with your camera?

I absolutely love the fall season. I find there are many subjects to photograph–more than I have time to capture! Recently, in the last three to four weeks I have photographed the following:

Baseball Games
Pennsylvania Elk
Whitetail Deer
Chipmunks
Backyard Birds

I also have plans to hopefully photograph these upcoming subjects:

Fall Colors
Family Holidays
More Wildlife
Snowy Scenes
Christmas Lights

What are you photographing? Can you find some time to get out with your camera sometime soon?

Blind Photos

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Well, as promised I have some photos of my newly constructed blind. Please don’t get overly excited about this because my blind is not really anything to write home about. It will not win any building awards, that’s for sure. My idea was inspired by Buckwheat, my photography friend who I’ve come to know up on the elk range. Buckwheat takes incredible wildlife photographs. His photos have graced the pages of Bugle Magazine and they have also been on the annual Elk Foundation calendars. Buckwheat knows his subjects and he takes some incredible and even breath-taking photographs.

Two weeks ago he was showing us a lot of his backyard bird photos. I asked all kinds of questions on how he did this and the main thing that stuck with me was that he photographed out of blind. I came home and got to work designing and then building a blind of my own.

The core construction is made out of 1 1/2 ” PVC pipe. It required four ten-foot lengths of pipe, four T-connectors, and eight elbows. I learned quickly that it is best to lay everything out the way you want it before gluing the connections. I purchased the camouflaged material from Walmart and I believe it was manufactured by Remington. I used rope to secure the material to the frame. The roof is a piece of corrugated roofing, which I purchased at Lowes. I got a 50% discount because the piece was damaged on the edges, but it works for my blind! I secured the roof with u-bolts around the PVC frame.

I made sure to glue the pieces in a way which allows me to disassemble the frame so I can store it or move it to another location very easily. It is nothing fancy, but it allows me to get closer to the wildlife I am photographing.

Blind Blind-2

Do You Have an Itch?

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Life in the blind is starting to be a welcome experience for me. I had read and heard about the use of blinds for wildlife photography, but until I constructed one myself and actually used it I had no idea how helpful a blind could be for me. It is awesome!

Today I am posting a photo of a deer who apparently has an itch. I like this photo because it shows something unique and oddly similar to our human itchiness. Do you have an itch? Do you dare scratch your itch in public? Well, this deer don’t care. Look at her scratching her itch. I can just imagine her thoughts: “Ooooo, that feels so good!”

Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, I am hoping to have a few photos of my newly constructed blind. It was easy and inexpensive to build and the results didn’t turn out half bad. I am excited about the photos I should be able to get while hiding out in this blind! I will even be able to scratch my itch without worrying that I might scare off an animal!

Deer Itching

Chipmunk from Blind

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I am enjoying the new blind I constructed this week. Today I made some refinements by gluing some additional connections, using rope to hang the camouflage material, and adding a corrugated roof. The blind is really starting to take shape now.

The few remaining steps include painting the basic structure and making some perches for the birds to use on their way to and from our bird feeder.

Today’s photograph is of a chipmunk that we’ve been seeing for some time. Since I was in the blind, he never knew I was there when he struck this pose. It’s not a great photo by any means, but it gives me much hope that this blind is going to really enhance my wildlife photography!

Chipmunk on Alert

My New Blind

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Motivated by hearing Buchwheat talking about and showing his photographs that he took from his blind, I decided to make my own. So last night, I went to Lowes to purchase some PVC pipe. Today I assembled a basic structure out of this PVC pipe. I cut the pipes to length and then glued some but not all of the connections. After all, my goal was to make this blind somewhat portable.

Previously I had found some very nice camouflage material, which my son and I were able to secure around the PVC structure.I put my tripod and archer’s chair in the blind and waited. It didn’t take long for the action to pick up. I positioned the blind so I have a good view of birds coming and going from our bird feeder. I snapped a few photos of the birds, and then I saw two deer!

We still have a little work to do on the blind, including attaching the corrugated roof. But overall I am very pleased with the results and it sure seems to work well. What do you think of this photo, which was taken from my new blind?

Alert Doe from Blind

In upcoming posts I will share more photos taken today–the first day in my new blind. I will also share some photos of the blind and describe in more detail how I constructed it.

Framing

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What do you think about the technique of framing your subject by something in the scene, like a tree limb?

Framing is a technique that’s been around for many years. Some people like it and some don’t. Usually, as in the photo below, the object doing the framing is out of focus. This allows the subject to remain prominent. The idea is to use a natural object to provide a frame around the main subject.

Those who don’t like it content that it makes the photo “busy” thus drawing attention away from the main subject.

Take a look at the photo below and decide what you think. Is framing something that provides some creativity to a shot or is it just busy? Framing can provide some interesting photos in my humble opinion, but hey photography is art so just because I like using this technique doesn’t mean you will.

Framed Bull

Mirror, Mirror…

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The beautiful elk in Pennsylvania provide plenty of different camera angles for us to capture. We photograph them in the rut, while they are eating and grazing, and even sometimes when they are bedded down sleeping. Some of us just cannot get enough of these magnificent creatures and we still have a number of dream shots we would still like to capture!

Last week, when we were watching a small herd being controlled by a big bull, several other bulls came in to make a challenge for the cows. Early on in the evening we saw this bull moving toward the action. I snapped several shots as he made his way toward the cows, but this one specific shot presented itself and I could not resist.

The water is in a limestone filter that is being used to reclaim the polluted waters from the strip mining that was done in the area. I just thought the reflection from the water presented a different composition than what I saw previously. What do you think of it?

Bull Reflection