Wow Photo Book

I am now accepting submission requests for photographers who have images that are fitting for a new book that Lone Wolf and WPO are doing together. This book is a WOW! book of photos. Contributors don't have to be pros, but the images must be pro quality. Write me at publisher@wpomembers.com for more details.

R. Dodge Woodson

Picture Social

My experience with Picture Social continues to be exciting and fulfilling. Those of you who know me are aware that I am not one to join groups and I certainly don't give positive reviews that I don't believe in. So far, PS still gets a 9 out of 10 on my rating. A real-time, IM setup would be an improvement.

Dodge

Photography resources and contacts

Photography Resources


Photo Forums
http://photo.net/
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/
http://www.openphotographyforums.com/
http://forums.popphoto.com/
http://www.thephotoforum.com/
http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/
http://www.naturephotographers.net/rf.html
http://www.asiaphoto.com/forum/
http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/
http://www.photolinks.com/Photography_Newsgroups_Forums.html
http://www.freephotogallery.info/photo_forums_and_chats/
http://forums.qj.net/photography-forums/
http://www.usphotoforums.com/
http://www.nikonians.org/
http://www.phototakers.com/forum/
http://forums.powershot-a.com/
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1010
http://www.big-boards.com/highlight/1423/
http://www.outdooreyes.com/
http://www.ultimatenaturegear.co.uk/forum/
http://birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi
http://www.birdingtop500.com/index.php?a=stats&u=pbp
http://www.birdforum.net/
http://www.macrophotography.org/
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/45
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-photography/369-macro-photography.html
http://www.sportsshooter.com/
http://forum.digitalcamerareview.com/showthread.php?t=754
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/
http://ilovephotography.com/forums/
http://www.aristoncollanderphotography.com/blog/photography/the-best-portrait-photography-forum-posts/
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2513
http://www.californiaphotoforum.com/forum/f74-california-photography-organizations.html
http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=786



Stock Photo Calculator
http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm

Currency Calculator
http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html

Self Publishing
http://www.lulu.com/
http://www.iuniverse.com/
http://www.selfpublishing.com/
http://www.authorhouse.com/
http://www.booksurge.com/
http://book-publishers-compared.com/

Free Photo Forms
http://www.reedservices.com/standard.htm

Photo Magazines
http://www.naturephotographers.net/
http://www.world-newspapers.com/photography.html
http://www.photosecrets.com/links.magazines.html
http://www.shutterbug.com/
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/magazines/
http://art-support.com/magazines.htm
http://www.magazines.com/category/photography
http://www.acecam.com/magazine.html
http://www.bjp-online.com/

Getting Published
http://www.tide-mark.com/photo_guidelines.html
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/submissions.html
http://www.tfhmagazine.com/inside-tfh/photo-submission-guidelines/
http://www.arizonahighways.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=775
http://www.santafephotogallery.com/?p=submission_guidelines
http://cbs2.com/photosubmissionguidelines
http://www.birdersworld.com/brd/default.aspx?c=a&id=112
http://www.weather-calendar.com/guidelines.html
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/bwd_corporate/sg_photo.aspx
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ocal/submit.html
http://www.miamicountyin.gov/PhotoSubmissionGuidelines.htm
http://www.mynorth.com/My-North/Contact-Us/Photo-Submission-Guidelines/
https://www.wsorrailroad.com/gallery/submission.html
http://www.onegate.com/go/og/text-services/onegate-photo-submission-guidelines/

Stock Agencies
http://www.shutterpoint.com/Photos-Guidelines.cfm
http://www.photographersdirect.com
http://www.gettyimages.com/
http://www.tssphoto.com/
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.AgencyHome_VPage&pid=2K7O3R1VX08V
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/linkAll.asp?catID=43&pageID=1&rows=30

Photography Organizations and Associations
http://www.wpomembers.com
http://www.ppa.com/
http://www.asmp.org/
http://www.apanational.com/index.cfm
http://www.editorialphoto.com/
http://www.wpja.com/for_the_photographer/join_wpja_organization/
http://www.freephotogallery.info/photography_organizations/usa_/
http://www.freephotogallery.info/photography_organizations/
http://www.irishphotographers.com/
http://www.thempa.com/
http://www.photoshopuser.com/
http://ppaofpa.org/
http://www.nanpa.org/

Resources
http://www.landscape-photo.net/
http://www.xeromag.com/fvresrc.html
http://mashable.com/2007/06/23/photography-toolbox/
http://www.photography-world.net/
http://www.eos-pro.com/photography/all
http://www.naturescapes.net/store/product.php?productid=150
http://www.photographydirectory.org/
http://book-publishers-compared.com/

Photography Travel Information
http://www.infocustravel.com/
http://www.travel-destination-pictures.com/
http://www.fostertravel.com/MENUSHO.html
http://arizonaphotographyworkshops.com/AZ1/Home.html
http://www.2adventure.com/
http://www.ecophotoexplorers.com/travel.asp
http://www.4x4wire.com/destinations/

Macro Photography Sites:
Macro Photography for beginners - Tom Hicks offers a series of tutorials and tips for beginning macro photographers.
Wonderful Photos: Macro Articles - Some of the best Macro Photography articles on the WEB!
Dalantech's Blog "No Cropping Zone" - No Cropping Zone Macro Photography Explained.

Bug Identification Sites:
What's That Bug? - When not online, Whatsthatbug is in the garden researching your bug questions.
BugGuide - Identification, Images, and Information For Insects, Spiders and Their Kin.
North American Insects and Spiders - Explore over 6,500 closeup pictures of live, wild insects and spiders with descriptions and taxonomy.

Photography-related Newsgroups:
1. rec.photo.moderated - Messages herein screened for content
2. rec.photo.film+labs - Discussions of film and lab
3. rec.photo.darkroom - Discussions of darkroom techniques
4. rec.photo.digital - Discussions about digital photography
5. rec.photo.equipment.35mm - 35mm photography equipment
6. rec.photo.equipment.medium-format - Medium format photography
7. rec.photo.equipment.large-format - Large format photography
8. rec.photo.equipment.misc - All other photo EQUIPMENT discussions
9. rec.photo.marketplace - For sale, wanted, etc.
10. rec.photo.technique.art - Artistic photography
11. rec.photo.technique.nature - Nature photography
12. rec.photo.technique.people - Photographing people
13. rec.photo.technique.misc - All other photographic TECHNIQUE discussions
14. rec.photo.misc - All other photography discussion not covered in the above groups

Miscellaneous Photography Links and Resources
• Digital Photography - Digital Photography Resources
• Fine Art Photography - Fine Art Photography Resources and Galleries
• Landscape Photography - Resources and Galleries for Landscape Photography
• Macro Photography - Macro Photography Resources
• Nature Photography - Nature Photography Resources
• Other Resources - Other Resources
• Panoramic Photography - Panoramic Photography Resources
• Photograph Creativity - Websites that are for showcasing your photographs.
• Photographer Galleries - Photographer Galleries • Photography Blogs - Photography Blogs
• Photography Contests - Submit your photography and illustrations to win contests and prizes.
• Photography Forums - Photography Forums
• Photography Gear - Photography Gear Resources
• Photography Software - Photography Software Resources
• Photography Techniques - Photography Techniques
• Professional Photography - Professional Photography Resources
• RAW Photography - RAW Photography Resources
• Stock Photography - Stock Photography Resources

Macro-Photography
Macrophotography.org
Medium Format Macro

Agfa's Close-up Photocourse
John Shaw's Flash Technique

Macro With a CoolPix 995
More Beginner Information

Macrophotography Intro
Insect Macro Photography





Digital Information
Digital Workflow Shortcomings
Photoshop Curves How-To

Digital Preview
Digital Camera Tips

Steve's Digicams
Choosing a Digital Camera

Photoshop Curves Primer
10 Tips on Picking a Digicam

Photography Workshops
Maine Photographic Workshops
Nikon School

Sante Fe Workshops
Howard Bond Workshops

Great Lakes Institute of Photography
Gerlach Nature Photography

Rod Planck Photography
Larry West Workshops

Trail cameras for wildlife photographers

Trail Cameras
R. Dodge Woodson

I looked into trail cameras recently. My son wanted on to monitor our woods with, and I thought it might put a new spin on my wildlife photography. No, I am not suggesting that anyone use trail cameras to capture wildlife photos for sale or display. The pictures you get, however, can put you in the right area with your wildlife gear.
Much of the time spent afield by wildlife photographers to establish details on their intended subjects. Granted, kicking around the woods is a great way to spend a day. But, if you have limited time and need some specific wildlife images, a trail camera can be a big help.
Let’s use my land as an example. I have well over 100 acres for critters to live in. Where are they? What watering locations are they using? Is there a particular area where they are feeding? All of these questions can be answered with the application of good woodsman skills, but a trail camera can tell you more in less time.
Let’s say that I know a large whitetail buck is walking a particular old woods road. His tracks show me where he likes to get his water from. I can estimate his weight from the depression depth of the tracks, but how big are the antlers? Try figuring that one out with basic tracking and hunting skills.
A trail camera can capture a picture of my wandering buck and I will be able to see precisely how many points can be counted on the animal’s rack. Ah, how could it get any better than this? Well, believe it or not, it can.
Imagine that you are in your office making deals. As you talk on the speaker phone, read some briefs, and toy with your computer, you are shaken back to attention by a passing bear. What? A bear at your office? Not quite. The bear is on a live feed on your computer monitor. That’s right, your trail camera has a video feed and has locked onto a strolling bear. The trail cam sends a signal to a modem. Then the modem uses a cellular connection to send the video footage to your computer. You are talking about selling a hotel and watching a bear walk along your favorite game trail at the same time.
Okay, enough of setting the stage. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of trail cameras. Our goal here is to look at them as tools for wildlife photographers who have limited time to spend in the field.

How Many Megapixels?
What kind of quality can you expect from the various types of trail cameras? Each camera has its own features and benefits. Price is usually a factor in quality, and there is no exception here. If you want to spend top dollar, around $380, you can get a camera with a 7 mp rating. Want more? Spend $650 and you can get high definition. On the low end, you can spend $90 for a camera with 2 mp. The surveillance systems give 1.3 mp for $600. A still camera that provides 1.3 mp is $450. From what other owners have told me, cameras with 4 megapixels get the job done well and more megapixels does better. No surprise there.

How Tough?
How tough does a trail camera have to be? The quality of the lens is always important, as is the overall performance of a camera. Trail cameras are forced to endure some tough times. They get rained on, caught in high winds, bounced around, and worse. Look for a camera with a solid encasement.
One complaint I have heard of often is the attachment system between some cameras and their source of stability, which is usually a tree. Many users have experienced broken straps. I suggest that you look each camera you are considering over closely to see that their means of attachment will be dependable. You don’t want a $400 camera falling into a trail only to be walked on by a moose.

Won’t Someone Steal The Camera?
It could happen. Containers are made to protect cameras from pawing bears and such, but I doubt that any of the protection against humans would be effective. The best means of security is concealment. Get creative with some natural cover and make the camera housing melt into the background.

What’s The Difference Between IR Cameras and cameras with Flashes?
Price is the first difference that you may notice. It is common for cameras with white flash to cost less than infrared (IR) flash. The reason is simple. When a common flash fires, animals can see the light. When an IR flash fires, the beam is not visible to the animal. Smart, old animals will quickly learn to avoid areas that flash at them.
The distance that a flash covers varies greatly with trail cameras. An average distance is probably 35-40 feet. Some only reach out to 20 feet and others go out to 60 feet. The one I ordered covers 50 feet with an IR flash.

What Else Should I Look For In The Comparison Of Trail Cameras?
When I started looking for a good trail camera I figured it couldn’t be too tough for a pro photographer to pick out a viable camera. Let me tell you, trail cameras are not as easy to decide on as a Canon 5D MarkII.
My quest took me to 25 different trail cameras. Of these, there were 10 different brands. I had my work cut out for me. A lot of information was available through Internet searches. The best overall comparison I found for trail cameras was at Cabelas, www.cabelas.com. Check out the list below to see some other features to consider when buying a trail camera:

• Power Source
• How Many Batteries Are Needed?
• Does The Unit Offer Video Options?
• Can The Camera Be Powered By A Solar Panel?
• Does The Camera Have Built-In Memory? If so, how much? (16-32 mb is common).
• Will I Have A Viewer Built Into The Camera?
• What Is the Unit’s Memory Card Capacity?
• How Fast Can The Camera Fire?
• How Many Bursts Can The Camera Shoot?
• At What Temperature Ranges Can The Camera Function?
• What Do You Get As A Warranty?
• And, Of Course, How Much Does The Camera Cost?

There You Have It.
Well, there you have it. You can spend less than $100 or more than $700 for a camera. There are a few good ones available for less than $200. Until you start spending upwards of $225, don’t expect a lot of bells and whistles or long-term toughness.
I spent a lot of time compiling all of this information is my search for a suitable trail camera. Hopefully, you will find the data useful. If you enjoy wildlife photography, a trail camera might be your best next investment
RDW
www.wpomembers.com
www.rdodgewoodson.net
Life is good when seen through a Canon® L lens.

memory card storage

SanDisk Memory Cards

Have you seen or heard about the new memory cards being offered by Sandisk®? When I first saw them I had to do a double take. The performance is incredible, but the price is high.
The Sandisk® Extreme Speed Pro® 64 gb can provide 90mb per second in writing speed. The card is provided with added protection from moisture and humidity. Temperature ranges of performance range from 13ᴼF to 185ᴼF. The price on this powerhouse will knock you out. How about $700? That’s about what you are looking at.
Would you like a cheaper alternative? Look into the 32 gig model. It is not as fast, but it still writes at a speed of 60mb per second. This card can make the images from a DSLR fly onto your hard drive. This one will set you back $440.
There is also a 16 gb model available at a price of $260.
I like using multiple, smaller cards in the event that a card goes rogue. If you prefer a single disk to keep up with, any of these are good choices. I would probably choose the 32-gig model.
RDW

Building a camera system

Building A Camera System
R. Dodge Woodson


You don't have to be a professional photographer to benefit from a component system. But, if you want to become a pro, you have to go this route. What is a component system? It is a group of photography equipment that makes up a viable tool for handling a variety of photographic situations. At the least, it is a camera body and some interchangeable lenses. It can include independent light meters, filters, flash units, and much more. When you get into component systems, you are stepping up in price, but you can build these systems over time without breaking your bank account. If you are truly serious about wanting fantastic photos, this is the only way to go.

One Size Does Not Fit All
When you shop for a camera system, you should approach your selection process in much the same was as you would buy clothes. The gear you get has to fit and feel right. Camera designs vary. Some are more comfortable than others. Finding just the right fit is an individual thing. What works great for one photographer may not work well at all for another. You have to handle different brands and types of equipment to find what is right for you.

Most serious photographers start with 35mm systems. A few jump right into large format cameras, but they are the exception, rather than the rule. When I say this, I'm talking about serious amateur photographers. A good number of professionals start off with large-format equipment because it provides them with definite advantages in some types of work.

Medium-Format
Medium-format cameras are used to take professional pictures at weddings and in studio settings. The big advantage is the size of the negative. It is considerably larger than its 35mm cousin. This makes retouching and cropping easier. If you plan to get into darkroom work and super high-quality portraits, a medium-format system is the way to go. Most photographers, however, are better served by the versatile 35mm system.


Pick A Brand You Can Stick With.
When you choose a particular brand of camera to build a component system around, you must be judicious. Once you start with a brand, you should stick with it. There are many brands of cameras available that will give you professional-quality photos. Some brands offer more lenses and accessories than others do. This is important to a person who is building an extensive system.

When I think of professional 35mm equipment, two brand names come to mind. Other manufacturers of 35mm equipment get some professional attention, but there are clearly two, or maybe three, leaders. In medium format equipment, one name is king, while others are also respected. You don't have to buy into the best-known brands to get good service and quality, but it doesn't hurt. The important thing is to pick a brand that you can grow with.

How will you know what brand of camera to work with? Many factors may play a role in your decision. The amount of money you are willing to spend for various types of equipment is one consideration. Top-notch names command big prices. You can go with a lesser-known name and get good quality for a lower price. But, make sure that your budget-minded camera has enough lenses and accessories available to keep life interesting as your skills and interests grow.

My first 35mm camera was a Minolta®. It was a good camera that gave me thousands of wonderful pictures. This brand is respected among professionals and it offers a wide variety of options for building a component system. When I grew into a new level of photography, I switched to Canon® equipment, which I still use today. I love it! Canon is a major contender in the professional market. Over the years, I've spent well over $10,000 to develop my system. Nikon® is known for its reputation among professionals. The name is almost synonymous with professional. Any of these brands will provide you with more options than most people can afford to buy. And, there are other good brands, like Olympus®, to choose high-quality products from.

Before you buy a camera body, research your options. Look at a listing of what accessories are available within the brand. Check prices on the various brands. If you can see that there is a depth of support accessories and that you are comfortable with the price ranges, you're well on your way to picking a brand. Handle various cameras and operate them in the camera store. Have someone at the store run through all of the controls with you. Once you buy your first camera body, you are setting the tone for your entire system. Don't do this until you are sure that you like the brand.

Lens Quality
Generic lenses can be used on most camera bodies, but this is somewhat self-defeating. Why pay a small fortune for a professional camera body and then attach a dime-store lens to it? This doesn't make sense. Your lenses have a tremendous impact on the quality of your photographs. Try to keep all of your purchases within the same brand. This will normally produce the best results.

A lot of people don't know what type of camera they want even after buying a new camera. If you haven't been shopping yet, I can tell you that cameras aren't cheap. Maybe you know some people who have cameras. These individuals would probably be glad to share their experiences with you. Ask if you can go with them on their next photo excursion. Some photographers are very protective of their stuff, so don't stand too close when you ask. Using the equipment of other people under real photography conditions is an excellent way to pinpoint your needs and desires.

Used Equipment
Cameras are like cars in that they are very expensive when new and lose a lot of value once they are used. Some types and brands of cameras hold their value very well, but most don't. If you are willing to buy used equipment, you can save a ton of money. Well, maybe not a ton, but a lot. It's likely that you will pay half-price, or less, when buying used equipment. There are some risks involved with the purchase of broken-in gear. Notice I said broken-in, not broken-down. Let's talk about some of them.

There are three basic ways to acquire used photography equipment. You can consult one of the many mailorder advertisements, go to your local camera store, or watch classified ads where individuals are selling their old equipment. If you are dealing with a reputable company, you should gain some protection from cameras that are duds. Buying person-to-person doesn't afford this protection.

If you know enough about the type of gear that you are buying, you can test it before purchasing it. Since you may not yet have this type of knowledge, a reputable dealer who sells used equipment is probably your best bet. Dealers charge more than most individual sellers do, but you should be getting some peace of mind for the higher price you pay.

Regardless of who you are buying from, get a full demonstration of the equipment before you hand over your cash. Ask for all manuals and documentation that should accompany the camera and accessories. If no documentation is available, you might want to pass on the sale and continue your search. It may be possible to order new manuals from the original manufacturer, but don't count on this being the case. Used equipment provides an economical and sensible way to enter the field of photography, but make sure that what you are buying is in good working order.

Choice of Champions
The most versatile type of camera that you can buy is a 35mm format. You can do almost anything with this type of rig. Large- and medium-format cameras have certain advantages over 35mm units, but the handy 35mm is, by far, the more popular. This popularity is well founded.

What makes the 35mm system so desirable? It is light in weight and easy to use. The cost of 35mm equipment is much less than that of larger formats. You can equip a 35mm camera body with a wide-range zoom lens and meet most of your photo needs without ever changing lenses. Many zoom lenses incorporate a close-up feature in the lens so that you can shoot anything from insects to airplanes with the same lens.

If you want to get serious about photography and build a component system, the 35mm format will most likely be the best choice. As long as you buy into a major brand name, you will find a seemly endless supply of accessories to add to your collection. Gee, I wonder if manufacturers planned this?

Start with a camera body that accepts interchangeable lenses. Add a zoom lens, and get a protective filter to cover each lens you buy. It's much better to have an inexpensive, replaceable filter take the knocks and scratches that are common with some types of photography than it is to damage an expensive lens. If your camera doesn't have a built-in flash, buy a small electronic flash to compliment your system. This is all you need, in terms of hardware, to get started in taking serious photographs. You can add more to the system as you define your needs through experience.

Remember, the camera body is the foundation of your system. The body you buy will play an important role in the development of your overall system. Once you know what you want to do and which brand you prefer, buy the best body you can. Cutting corners on a camera body will hamper your growth as a photographer.


Buy well, shoot often, and enjoy the wonderful world of photography.

R. Dodge Woodson is the founder and publisher of World Photographers Organization, a group of photographers from point-and-shoot snapshooters to pros who spend close to $10,000 for a single lens. Photography has been his passion for close to 40 years. Woodson is an internationally-known, best-selling author and photographer with more than 100 books published by major publishers. Presently much of his writing in both E-books known as Book Busters and Ready Reports is available through Creative Consulting, Inc. at www.ccionlinesales.com, including his most recent book: Maine Unseen: A Photographic Experience That Few Witness.

Picture Social

It has been a busy few weeks. I have been finalizing the remodeling of three websites. One is our e-commerce store, CCI Online Sales (www.ccionlinesales.com). There is a lot of product and information on that site. I had to enter it all, so I know. There is even a place to sell some stock photography.

Activity at Picture Social, the official off-site meeting place for WPO members, is picking up rapidly. This is one heck of a good site to be a member of.

Another site I was completing was www.rdodgewoodson.net. This gives the public a look at me, R. Dodge Woodson, the man. It exposes much more about me than I have allowed into the public eye before now. Why did I do this? Now that I am going into semi-retirement, I don't feel the need to play hardball.

Now this site, World Photographers Organization (www.wpomembers.com) has been a real pain in the butt to get done. Just when we thought it was done, there was something else to do. Some of the key elements to World Photographers Organization include:

Pro Pointers
Photo contests
Press credentials
A chance to email pro photographers for advice
A free ebook, which is a Book Buster entitled Photographers Career Guide.
Then there are the private sections for Premium and Gold members.
The official magazine, World Images Today can be seen as a sample copy.
There are Internet resources
Photography reviews, and much more.

I looked high and low, and I found no other outfit like World Photographers Organization. I will fill you in more about this at another time.

Dodge