Canadian Nature Photographer December 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Fellow Nature Photographers - I would like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season. In November I have added 6 new articles on a diverse range of topics including the Sheep River Sanctuary, Simulating Painting with Photoshop, Groundscapes, How to use Photoshop's cutout filter to create Photo-graphics and detailed tutorials on how to shoot Star trails and create Time Lapse movies. If you haven't been back to visit you might like to check out these new articles.

HOLIDAY SEASON NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

For the New Year I am offering a special photo-contest for the best Christmas photo that includes some aspect of nature in it. The winner will receive free access to both the Photoshop I and Photoshop II courses. Maybe it will give you a reason to take some photographs of Christmas lights or any photograph that imparts a "Winter Holiday" feeling.

Also please let you photo-friends know about the Canadian Nature Photographer, especially those that might receive a new camera for Christmas or have an interest in Nature Photography. If you get some great shots and want to contribute an article I am always looking to include new material in the featured photographer section.

The number of visitors to my web site is growing by about 5% per month and sometimes reaches over 6000 unique visitors with an average of almost 200 visitors per day. My goal is to double those numbers in 2012 by adding more terrific content. I am working on adding articles on a weekly basis and if there is a topic you would like covered please let me know. I would love to hear from you what you like or don't like or any suggestions to make this web site more valuable. I am planning on adding more articles on composition, colour theory, and photo-design.

What's Hot and New Click on the photos or links to read the latest photography articles
		Sheep River Provincial Park in the Canadian Rockies by Dr. Robert Berdan. The Sheep River Sanctuary is located about an hour drive south of Calgary and is a great place to see and photograph Bighorn Sheep, moose, white-tail and mule deer, coyotes, and wide variety of birds especially raptors during migration. Read more and view photographs.
		Simulate Oil Painting with Adobe Photoshop CS5 by Dr. Robert Berdan Some painters use photographs as memory aids to help them paint. It is also possible for photographers to simulate a painting using photoshops' new mixer brush. The results can look strikingly realistic ... read more.
		Groundscape Photography or Ground Macrophotography by Dr. Robert Berdan. In 1995 I was invited to Alberta College of Art (ACAD) to lecture on the properties of light to a class of artists being taught by Dalcie Foo Fat. At the class I had an opportunity to see some of Dalcie's paintings which were studies of ground scapes. Ever since I have paid more attention to what is at my feet and began photographing it.
		Photoshop's Cut Out Filter - Creating Photographics by Dr. Robert Berdan I just came from a visit to my favorite camera store and picked up a copy of Photo News. In the Autum issue I saw an article by Daryl Benson called One Click Wonder where he described how he uses the cutout filter and I decided to try the effect on some of my photos - read on.
		Star Trail Photography and Time Lapse Movies By Dr. Robert Berdan Star trails appear as curved arcs of light in the night sky as the stars appear to move around the north star in the northern hemisphere. Star trails can create surrealistic looking photographs. To learn how to create star trail photographs and movies read more.
		Time Lapse Photography Tutorial and Techniques by Dr. Robert Berdan Time lapse movies are fascinating because they can condense time and shows us things that we could not otherwise see easily. Learn how to create time lapse movies using Photoshop CS5 extended.

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME WORKSHOP OFFER for the ARCTIC Expires December 31, 2011 - SAVE $250 the regular price of $4995

Peterson's Point Lake Lodge is offering a $250 discount for our Adventure Photography Workshop next September 5-11 if you book before December 31, 2011. For more information or to register you can go here: Petersons Point Lake Lodge web site photography. We approaching the Aurora Max part of a 11 year sunspot cycle and as we approach solar max the Aurora tends to grow in intensity. 2012 and 2013 should be especially good for Aurora Photography and one of the best places in the world to view the Aurora is in or near Yellowknife, Northwest territories. Check out the articles and photographs from last year on my web site.

ONLINE PHOTOSHOP COURSES NOW HALF PRICE ONLY - $49.00

Upcoming Photography Workshops

• I offer Photoshop and photography training privately on an ongoing basis throughout the year and I also offer Saturday Photoshop workshops once a month. Dates for upcoming Workshops are as follows:

  1. Beginner photography workshop - how to use your camera Saturday, Dec 3 and Friday, December 30.
  2. Winter photography workshop - Includes 2 Wed evenings, Jan 4 and 11, 7-10 pm and full day field trip Saturday,
     January 7 into the Mountains. Max 10.
  3. Note my Online Photoshop workshops are now half price and only $49 each.
  4. Photoshop I CS4\CS5 - $249 (max of 5\class)- : Saturday Dec. 31, 2011 - Feb 11, Mar 31, April 28, 2012.
  5. NEW - Nature Digital Photography course Wednesday May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30th, 2012 - 6:30-9:30 p.m. Includes 5 classes and field trip. COST $499 + GST

All Saturday Photoshop workshops in my studio include: lunch, notes, DVD with tutorial files and Quicktime movies showing you step-by-step how to process the images in the tutorials so you can review them at your own pace. These course are also available online on my website for only $99 and if you decide to take a Saturday workshop I will put the cost of online workshop toward the full day photoshop workshop. Each photoshop workshop is limited to 5 people.

To Register for a Workshop Click Here or Call me at 403 247-2457

Other News - My photograph of a Trout Alevin is featured on the inside of the December 2011 Issue of Scientific American - available at most magazine outlets. The photograph accompanies an article on Dazzling Miniatures - Small words photographed with the microscope that was part of the Olympus Bioscapes Photo-Contest.

This Months Photo Contest Winners is: Roger Stanley from Ontario. roger.stanley1950@gmail.com

Crocodile eating a Piranah in the Amazon

I hope the holidays brings you and your loved ones joy and that you also bring it to others.

Best wishes to you, your family and friends
Robert Berdan
Calgary, AB
403 247-2457

Please Visit me at: www.canadiannaturephotographer.com