“With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?”

September 25, 2019 in Featured

It is a simple question posed by teacher to pupil, yet the words resonate with a force that transcend their simplicity. In his book Ishmael, Daniel Quinn explores human origins, human culture, and the consequences or our blind anthropocentricity. More relevant today than when I first read it in 2004, Ishmael’s perspective on the human condition sheds light on how we have arrived at this place and time.

I have been purposefully cryptic about the book’s content because I want… rather, I need you all to read it. While this blog is posted days beyond its inception, you should know that I began outlining my thoughts following the publication of some disturbing news that appeared in my twitter feed. As I sat down to formulate some thoughts focused on Identity, the following New York Times banner appeared on my screen: “2.9 billion birds have disappeared from the United States and Canada.”

The words sent chill down my spine, and I thought to myself… “With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?” One day later young people around the world walked out of their classes in protest, and Greta Thunberg was preparing to give her impassioned speech to the UN Council on climate change.

The news of disappearing birds is not the metaphorical “canary in the coal mine,” it is a direct indictment of the environmental damage that is linked to human expansion, human population growth, and our addiction to fossil fuels. While governmental officials wait for the “smoking gun” to incite action, or wait for innovation to bring us back from the brink, the damage continues and those with power don’t care.

As a teacher I profess the power of collective action to my pupils, and sincerely hope that today’s children will be the solution. Yet, the biologist and latent researcher in me fears for the devastation that seems to be the prerequisite before the restoration of biodiversity can begin. Now I wonder… With bird gone, will there be hope for man?

Grizzly Bear - Khutzeymateen Provincial Park, British Columbia Canada

Random Musings on Teaching, Photography, and Conservation

July 12, 2019 in Featured

As a high school educator who has spent the better part of a career teaching Advanced Placement Biology courses, I am constantly looking for ways to inspire “buy-in” by my students. I stress the values of grit, perseverance, and resiliency. I spend my non-contact hours dreaming up ways to bait the hook so that my content is too irresistible to ignore. Yet, there are times when I know I am a fraud; a flimflam artist trying to sell an old junker of a car as if it were something shiny and new. Herein lies what I consider to be the art in teaching.

Harbor Seal - Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia Canada

Photography is a wonderful parallel to my life as a teacher. When I’m not thinking about the next lab or lesson to share with students, I’m dreaming of ways to make compelling images that will engage and entertain the viewer. More than this, I am seeking to inspire my audience to value a world that extends beyond our human wants. I use this medium to display life’s diversity and to illustrate its beauty. Like the teacher who focuses on the extremes of reality to establish a commitment to learning, this photographer uses the same tools as way to inspire conservation and the fear of loss. My hope is that my images force you to look into the eyes of a cute animal in its untouched habitat and wonder…

Bobcat - Point Reyes National Seashore, California United States

The amount of detail captured by the photographer, the cameras used, or the time spent to get on location are all irrelevant if the pictures produced fail to inspire the audience. Like the great teachers, the real wildlife artist is a master of exclusion leaving you with more questions than answers.

Gray Tree Frog
Nikon D810 and Nikon 105mm f/4 micro

Macro Workshop... 2 Days Later

February 06, 2017 in February 2017

On February 4th, 2017 I taught another “learn and shoot” workshop for West Photo, my favorite “brick and mortar” camera store. Held at Bachman’s Floral, Gift and Garden headquarters, the location offered my twenty-two students a ready supply of interesting macro subjects. As a special surprise for the participants, I invited my biology student, and neophyte herpetologist, to join us on location. Armed with four tree frogs and two geckos, she provided some live models for the shoot. Lasting nearly five hours, it appeared that everyone gleaned a little something they could add to their toolkit of image-making tricks.

Gray Tree Frog and Cherry Blossoms
Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR

My lessons included discussions about vision and intent, macro-techniques and stretching depth of field in the digital darkroom. Following our day-long shoot, I noted four aspects of my talk that seemed to resonate the most with the participants.

Shoot for you and be intentional about what you want to photograph.
Live view is your friend! Use the camera’s live view mode to magnify the subject and ensure that the point of interest is in sharp focus.
The inconvenience of a tripod is worth the hassle. By working slowly to adjust the legs and square the subject, the shooter becomes more thoughtful and in tune with the image making process.
Simple tools and little tricks are still valid in the digital era. Extension tubes are an inexpensive way to make any optic a macro lens, and the hand attached to your arm can help you parallel your subject to the sensor’s plane.

Orchid... Focus Stacking
Nikon D810 and Tamron 180mm f/3.5 macro

Gray Tree Frog and *Forsythia viridissima*
Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR

Thanks to all those who signed up on Saturday, I look forward to crossing paths in the future. Special thanks goes to Tamron, Manfrotto and Bachman’s for sponsoring the event.

Join Me at the Minnesota Zoo

September 05, 2015 in September 2015

On September 26th and 27th I will be leading a Wildlife Photography Workshop. The workshop is sponsored by WestPhoto in Minneapolis, Tamron and Manfrotto.

We'll pack Saturday 26th with lessons on composing and exposing for wildlife, using knowledge about animal behavior to nail the "decisive moment," and discuss the essential gear for producing compelling wildlife images. On Sunday the 27th we'll meet at the Minnesota Zoo to apply what you learned in the field. If you're in Minnesota at the time, or would simply like to get motivated about making images, contact Sean at WestPhoto to reserve your spot [(612) 379-2321]... oh, and one more thing... if you are a bargain hunter, you'll love this. The price of the two day workshop and image review the following Saturday also includes admission to the Zoo and is a whopping $70.

Click Here for all the Contact Information

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