Canadian Nature Photographer Newsletter
August 1 , 2013 Newsletter
NEW SUBSCRIBERS WELCOME - Your Password to take the Free Photoshop I online course is rdc1 - the Photoshop II course II is now FREE as well - to log in use the password rdc2. You can download the notes, image files and follow the videos - it covers Photoshop CS4 and all but one tutorial is applicable to CS5 and CS6 (the extract filter has been removed from CS5\CS6) .
Dear Friends - the recent flooding in Calgary has taken its toll on many folks around Calgary and my heart goes out to those affected. In the parks many of the bridges have been washed out though repairs in Banff and Kananaskis have been swift and most of the parks are once again accessible. Last year I photographed the Kananaskis golf course and because of the flood damage it may close for good.
I photographed the Kananaskis Golf course last year for Bragg about the Creek Magazine.
One of my photography services is photo-restoration and I provided advice to folks in a phone interview with Angela Kokkot on Calgary today radio - CHQR AM. Some photos I received however, are just too damaged and one gentleman brought in an image of himself with Wayne Gretzky that was soaking wet and the dyes literally flowing off the page. In spite of the floods, the Calgary Stampede show still went on and repairs are on going. The Calgary zoo just reopened July 31, but only about a third of the zoo is available to visitors. The flood caused $60 million in damages and lost revenue. Zoo officials let 300 workers go and 34 animals were shipped out of town. Admission has been lowered to $10. - its expected the entire zoo will be open by December.
Image of my client with Wayne Gretzky - unfortunately I was not able to restore this photograph - still it has
a very interesting abstract appeal to it so I photographed it before discarding it in the garbage.
July 19-26 I had the pleasure of teaching sports and wildlife photography again at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) with a very enthusiastic group of students. We photographed national fencing competition, world class speed skaters and visited Kananaskis. Sports photography has much in common with wildlife photography in that it requires quick reflexes, anticipation and similar equipment.
Summer photography class of 2013
Speed skater training at the Olympic Velodrome at the University of Calgary.
National Fencing competition held at SAIT Calgary July 13, 2013.
I have also been busy taking clients out to learn how to take nature photographs and in spite of the rain we were able to get some nice shots.
Group from Nexen out on a team building workshop - we hiked to Sarrail falls on Upperlakes in Kananaskis. The bridge is washed out and in spite of the rain we still managed to take a few nice shots of the falls and lake.
I visited Waterton National Park and had a chance to add some more 360 vr panoramic movies to my web site - I hope you will check them out. Like most photographers I am trying to spend more time photographing then writing over the summer so only added two new articles, but I think you will enjoy the spherical movies.
What's Hot and New Click on the photos or links to read the latest photography articles
A Virtual Tour of Red Rock Coulee by Dr. Robert Berdan Red Rock coulee is located in south east Alberta and is one of the most fascinating spots to visit and photograph. I have revisited this site many times and the challenge each time is to see and photograph something different. In this article I share some of my favourite photographs including some recent spherical 360 vr movies made under overcast light. Read article and view pictures.
360 VR Spherical Images of Alberta's Icons by Dr. Robert Berdan I am really excited about 360 VR spherical imaging and I have been revisiting some of my favorite locations in Alberta in order to take interactive movies of some the provinces most beautiful vistas. I am finding out what to look out for and avoid and how important it is to have the lens positioned exactly at its nodal point if I want perfectly seemed images. Read article and view movies.
Spherical Panoramic Photography - The Basics by Dr. Robert Berdan. Spherical panorama photography involves stitching a series of images together to create an entire 360 sphere that with the right software can be converted into an interactive movie using QuickTime VR, Flash, or HTML 5 with Javascript, Read more and view movies & pictures.
Free downloadable program that will show you the exact direction of where the sunrise and moonrise will be at any particular location and time using Google maps. Click on the logo to learn more and download this free program. stephentrainor.com/tools
CONTRATULATIONS TO THE JULY PHOTO CONTEST WINNER MONTE COMEAU
Monte is also a featured photographer you can view his article on Getting a Lower Point of View
Monte Comeau 's winning photo of an eagle about to catch a fish. Monte Comeau - Photography@telus.net
Winners get a copy of my Macrophotography e-book. If you have lots of winning photos please consider becoming a featured photographer on the web site and show off even more of your work.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
ARCTIC ADVENTURE WORKSHOP - If you are looking for an Arctic Adventure photographing Caribou and the Northern Lights I will be leading another photography workshop in Yellowknife and to Peterson's Point Lake Lodge on the tundra between Sept. 5-11, 2013. Cost $5195.00 for 6 days. This year is the peak of the 11 year solar cycle and we expect the Aurora to be even more spectacular then it normally is. See my web site for articles and photographs from previous workshops. To register for the workshop visit: http://www.petersonspointlake.com/photography.html - we still have a few spots left.
PRIVATE TRAINING Please note I am available throughout the summer for photography or Photoshop instruction on a one-on-one private basis $60\hr or 7 hours $249 (Half day) full day 14-16 hours for $499. All level of photographers from beginner to advanced welcome. I also offer discounts for small groups. Destinations can include mountain parks, badlands, prairies etc.
If you would like to be a featured photographer on the web site please contact me with your ideas. I welcome your feed back on how I can improve the Canadian Nature Photographer web site and make it more exciting and useful.
Enjoy the summer and I hope you get some great photos
Robert Berdan
Calgary, AB
403 247-2457
rberdan@scienceandart.org
Please Visit : www.canadiannaturephotographer.com & www.360vrmultimedia.com