Foggy Morning in Autumn - William Obrien State Park, MNNikon D800E + Nikkor AFS 17-35mm f2.8 — Foggy Morning in Autumn - William Obrien State Park, MN
Nikon D800E + Nikkor AFS 17-35mm f2.8

The Luxury of being an Amateur Photographer

November 27, 2014 in November 2014

Nearly twenty-three years into a professional career, every work day still feels like the first. Each morning begins with a healthy mix of fear and excitement that motivates me to be better than competent. Pride in the work makes up for the meager compensation that rarely seems commensurate with the time invested. Being professional means that the work never ends.

Window into a Wetland - William Obrien State Park, MN

Shadows of Autumn - William Obrien State Park, MN

So, as I sit here hammering out these thoughts on Thanksgiving day, my professional obligations continue to cloud the mind. Since this is a photo blog, you'd be forgiven for assuming that I am referring to photography, however this could not be further from the truth. I am veteran educator; an Advance Placement Biology teacher that spends countless hours studying texts, preparing labs and grading papers. This is the profession that clouds my thoughts and creeps into dreams that often descend into nightmares.

Crawling in Mist - William Obrien State Park, MN

Three Trees - William Obrien State Park, MN

So it is with this twenty-three year history in education that I celebrate being an amateur photographer. With no anxiety about making a buck, finding a client or publishing my work, I am free to express myself through my vision. The lack oversight is liberating and encourages experimentation and risks that a professional might otherwise find difficult to take. Having no reputation to protect, we amateurs are free to escape predefined boundaries and explore the unexplored. We can set goals for image-making that stretch the imagination without fearing financial repercussions that may stifle future creativity.

I am a professional teacher and amateur photographer; I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Migrating Cranes (Grus canadensis) : Crex Meadows, WICanon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS — Migrating Cranes *(Grus canadensis)* : Crex Meadows, WI
Canon 7D + Canon 300mm f2.8L IS

Five Reasons to Shoot with a DSLR

November 16, 2014 in November 2014

… or why mirrorless systems don’t work for me.

For those who don't want to read the preamble, just scroll down to the Top 5 Reasons I Still Use a DSLR.

Today’s post is inspired by the TWiP #386 podcast. TWiP is the podcast that I hate to love. I often disagree with the headline story, get frustrated by their bias and wish, like the Supreme Court Minority, I could offer a visible opinion in descent. Yet with all of my consternation, I dutifully tune in because the production is among the best on the web, and the host, Fredrick Van Johnson, knows how to keep the dialog moving. Titled “What’s up with Nikon & Canon,” I expected TWiP #386 to discuss the merits and shortcomings of the new offerings from these two established companies. With the introduction of the Nikon D750 and Canon 7D mark ii, there has been a lot of web-hype, and TWiP always seems to introduce a unique spin. Surprisingly, rather than a thoughtful discussion about these DSLR’s, I was “treated” to a familiar rant… DSLR’s are dead, Mirrorless cam’s are cool and if you haven’t switched, you’re a dinosaur. While these sentiments may be a bit of hyperbole, I don’t think that I’m too far off. So with this in mind, I felt the need to offer a counterpoint to the mirrorless “trend.”

In Pursuit of a Doe (Odocoileus virginianus) : Mississippi River Valley, MNNikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400mm f4.0VR — In Pursuit of a Doe *(Odocoileus virginianus)* : Mississippi River Valley, MN
Nikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400mm f4.0VR

Before I list the Top 5 Reasons I still Use a DSLR, you need to know a few things about me. I am an amateur photographer and have been photographing all things nature since 1987. I began with film and reluctantly moved from medium-format roll-film cameras to DSLR’s in 2003. Furthermore, while I sell and publish the occasional piece of work, I am a biology teacher first and rely on this income to fuel my passion for travel and nature photography. This September I made a huge transition from one camera system to another. Huge because, with over $12,000 “invested” in cameras and lenses, a switch between brands is rarely an economic gain but more likely a loss. Living within the confines of a teacher’s salary (albeit an experienced teacher), this type of loss is not trivial. In hindsight, I now recognize that I struggled with a multi-dimensioned cost/benefit analysis before making my move.

Fall in Lake Superior - Tettegouche State ParkNikon D800E + Nikkor 28mm f1.8G w/ 3-Stop ND Filter — Fall in Lake Superior - Tettegouche State Park
Nikon D800E + Nikkor 28mm f1.8G w/ 3-Stop ND Filter

Less important than knowing if I moved from Nikon to Canon or Canon to Nikon, is the fact that I purchased a high-end mirrorless camera in October 2013. The black Fuji X100 is my companion during travels abroad and on the street here at home. Having had a bit of experience with a quality mirrorless camera, the move from a DSLR’s to a Fuji system would have been easier than the transition I ultimately made. However, I quickly realized that the “trendy” move to Fuji would have had a huge negative impact in my photographic output.

The Day Before Autumn - St. Croix Valley, MNCanon 6D + Canon 17-40mm f4.0L — The Day Before Autumn - St. Croix Valley, MN
Canon 6D + Canon 17-40mm f4.0L

Alas, the following are the Top 5 Reasons I Still Use a DSLR... listed in reverse order of importance:

I Don’t Shoot Video. It appears that mirrorless cameras benefit the videographer more than those who prefer to shoot stills. Video enhancements are a zero-sum gain for me.
Full Frame System with High Resolution & Large Pixel Sensors. In the mirrorless world, only Sony offers a full-frame series of cameras. If you are not a fan of the ergonomics and suite of lenses offered by Sony, then being mirrorless becomes much less important.
Optical Viewfinders. Call this one a personal preference, but I just can not get accustom to the “TV-like” view of a mirrorless camera. The live-view viewfinders in mirrorless bodies seem flat and two-dimensional, while a large DSLR pentaprism has a bright 3-D feel.
Autofocus Speed. While Olympus and Fuji cameras focus rapidly with short focal-length lenses, their AF speed diminishes with increasing focal lengths. Furthermore, the ability of mirrorless bodies to accurately track movement with telephoto lenses does not rival the AF system in a typical “prosumer” DSLR.
Long Fast Glass. Canon and Nikon make numerous fast telephoto lenses. Ignoring the seamless ability to use legacy manual focus super-teles, both companies have made long and fast autofocus lenses since the late 1980’s. The used market and continuing development of these lenses by Canon and Nikon is important to nature photographers seeking to include wildlife imagery in their portfolio. All of the mirrorless manufacturers have been very slow to introduce even one lens for the sport or wildlife photographer. To date, only Olympus has displayed a potential long-lens offering. Shown at recent trade shows, the pre-production 300mm f4.0 (600mm µ4/3 equivalent) may be compelling to Olympus fans, however this focal length has been a multi-decade long mainstay for Nikon and Canon users.

There is no doubt that this is an exciting time to be an amateur photographer. Clearly, there have never been so many excellent and affordable ways to pursue one's own aesthetic vision; however, to declare that Nikon and Canon's DSLR's have been "Kodaked" is, I fear, a tad premature.

Fall Buck (Odocoileus virginianus)  -  MNNikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR — *Fall Buck (Odocoileus virginianus) - MN*
*Nikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR*

Dichotomies

November 05, 2014 in November 2014

The onset of fall in Minnesota can stimulate bipolar feelings in the most stable of persons. The beauty of an autumnal forest is tempered by the recognition that a deep cold will soon follow. While fall feeds the visual cortex, it is also the season that deprives the thalamus of the rewards experienced during long summer days. Gradual reductions in daylight correlate with real metabolic change.

Running Buck 1 (Odocoileus virginianus)  -  MNNikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR — *Running Buck 1 (Odocoileus virginianus) - MN*
*Nikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR*

Sumac and Rain - MNCanon 6D + Canon 100 f2.8USM Macro — Sumac and Rain - MN
Canon 6D + Canon 100 f2.8USM Macro

Running Buck 2 (Odocoileus virginianus)  -  MNNikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR — *Running Buck 2 (Odocoileus virginianus) - MN*
*Nikon D300 + Nikkor 200-400 AFS VR*

A dichotomous time of year, autumn is a period of arousal for some and senescence to others. Plants drop their leaves to minimize energetic losses, while some animals purge their bodies of surplus fats acquired during the summer months. In contrast to the hibernators that sleep, deer are immersed in a reproductive frenzy. In Minnesota, November is the time for “love.” Male deer suddenly become uninhibited, trading caution for lust. With a blatant disregard for “the way” that has ensured survival, bombastic males now flaunt their enormity and ignore predatory vehicles and humans lurking about. Trading wariness and modesty for outrage and aggression, bucks risk short-term survival for the opportunity to live “forever.” Here, immortality exists through the transmission of genetic information. Risk takers that live long enough to reproduce, are like an eternal flame that never blows out.; and so it goes for this beloved mammal that some love to see and others hope to kill… yet one more dichotomy for this challenging time of year.

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