Outdoor Photographer April 2019

Photographing Shorebirds Elevate your portraits of birds with patience in your approach, and gain a more intimate understanding of their behavioral patterns. Tip of the Week Available on our website—or delivered directly to your inbox—our free “Tip of the Week” provides shooting and processing techniques to sharpen your photography skills. Sign up today. Wild By Nature Melissa Groo’s recurring column on wildlife photography considers all of the elements for success, from equipment to techniques and good field ethics. Assignments Sharpen your skills and share your best shots in our weekly “Assignments” photo challenges. Submit your images that fit the week’s theme—you may be our next Assignment winner. Connect With Us Get the latest news and be inspired by great photos from the Outdoor Photographer community. Newsletter Subscribe today for updates on the latest features, how-to articles and photography news. http://outdoorphotographer.com/newsletter/…

Photographer: Richard Bernabe Location: Dyrhólaey, Iceland Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT Situation: At the sea cliffs of Dyrhólaey, a rugged promontory along the south coast of Iceland, I came across this group of Atlantic puffins near the edge of the precipice. These pelagic birds are a favorite photo subject of mine due to their outrageous colors and clownish, comic behavior. The camera just adores them. These puffins were grouped surprisingly close together, which was unusual enough, but they also happened to be arranged in the shape of a diamond. I’m always looking for underlying patterns and shapes with my wildlife and landscape photography, so this made an excellent shooting opportunity. The technical problem I encountered was the depth of field needed in order to get all the…

Though wildlife photography presents unique challenges, successful images are built on the foundation of basic photographic principles. “Wildlife photography should be approached just like any other genre,” says Richard Bernabe, “with an emphasis on working with magical light and creating strong compositions.” As you’ll see, Bernabe’s images reveal much more than geometric arrangement and good light, and in “Wildlife Photo Impact,” Bernabe shares the techniques he’s mastered to make portraits of wildlife that go beyond flat documentary. To employ the insights that Bernabe provides, you’ll want first to get comfortable with using the long focal length lenses that bring you up-close, intimate perspectives on your subjects while allowing you to remain at a safe and respectful distance. This distance is not only important for the well-being of wildlife but also a…

Named one of the “Top 30 Influential Photographers on the Web” by the Huffington Post, Richard Bernabe is an internationally-recognized nature, wildlife and travel photographer. He’s been published by National Geographic, Audubon and many other noteworthy publications and is a pro instructor for Muench Workshops. See more of his work at richardbernabe.com. Josh Miller’s photography has appeared in the pages of publications throughout the world, and he regularly shoots for clients in the outdoor industry. Miller also leads photo workshops throughout the western U.S., Alaska and Central America. Learn more at joshmillerphotography.com and follow him on Instagram: @joshmillerphotography. Marc Muench is a renowned landscape photographer with 11 book titles and numerous magazine, calendar and poster titles to his name. Following in the family tradition started by his grandfather Josef Muench and then…

Nature’s Colors Contest Winners Congratulations to the winners and finalists of our Nature’s Colors 2018 Photo Contest! Here we showcase the first-, second- and third-place winners. Visit our website to see all of the finalist images. First Place Tundra Slumber By Alan Krakauer “The ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ may be most famous for its big bears and immense landscapes, but sometimes it’s the small, quiet moments that leave a lasting impression. One day in late August, while hiking over the spongy Arctic terrain near Toolik Lake in northern Alaska, I found a sleeping red fox snoozing on a bed of vibrant late summer tundra. This is one of my all-time favorite photos in part because of the gorgeous fall-like colors, but even more because I’m not sure I’ve ever captured a picture of…

OLYMPUS AIMS AT PROS The latest camera in its interchangeable-lens Micro Four Thirds system is the Olympus OM-D E-M1X, designed with the needs of professional photographers in mind. Though the previous flagship, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, remains in the lineup, the E-M1X has several noteworthy features for photographers looking to upgrade. The physical design of the OM-D E-M1X helps communicate that this is a professional camera, with its integrated vertical grip that not only makes it easier to shoot in vertical orientation but also offers dual-battery capacity, which Olympus states will provide approximately 870 shots. You can also power the camera and charge the batteries via USB. The magnesium alloy body incorporates extensive weather sealing, and for pros who consider shutter actuation lifespans, the OM-D E-M1X boasts up to 400,000. One of…