You Will Be Assimilated!

You Will Be Assimilated!
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

I've had my D300 for a couple weeks now and I like it a lot.

I wrote my first impressions here for the D300:

D300 highlights for me so far are: smoother shutter action, higher fps, reduced chromatic aberation, and increased focus points, and better higher iso.

In the first couple weeks I made it to the Zoo for a couple hours on day one, then to Conowingo Dam for a day a few days later, and then Maine for a week. In Maine I shot the Portland Head Light House, and a bunch of different things in my Brother's yard (birds and squirrels).

Here are my first posted D300 shots:



































-Jon

posted - 12/29/2007.

Mister Coyote

Mister Coyote
Originally uploaded by LeFion

I don't usually blog other people photos but this one just totally jumped at me and grabbed me! It's just so awesome.

The Colors of Fall - 2007

Foliage 1 of 2 @ Patuxent Research Refuge
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

Assorted recent images I've taken in the Maryland and Virginia area.















-Nikographer / Jon

photo use - please read

Nikographer 11/1/2007

I often get asked by someone regarding the use of my images. Here's my take on all that, and guidelines for requesting use.

Background
I take photography fairly seriously, and devote a lot of time to get the images I share on my web site. I've also spent a substantial amount of money to buy my photo gear.

Professional Photographers
Professional Photographers rely on work to make a living. Sales of images put food on the table, etc.

Stock, Microstock, etc
These days images can be purchased for very small amounts of money. There are numerous web sites that sell limited use, unlimited use, photos for nearly nothing.

Free Images
There's also a fairly large amount of work out there that can be had under the creative commons license model, with varying conditions, for free. The most basic condition being attribution, noting where the image came from.

My Take
I'm open to selling my work. I've made a few sales, and been happy to do so.

I've also given away some of my work. However, I only give my work away to non-profit, conservation or education efforts. So, I support nature conservation, education, and well intentioned efforts that probably cannot afford to purchase rights to a photo, let alone afford to hire a photographer to shoot something for a specific purpose.

Your Request
If you are requesting an image of me, and you are a for-profit venture, please specify what you are willing to offer in payment for limited use rights to my work. Failing to specify anything regarding payment will tell me you are looking for something for free, and I will not be interested.

If you fall in to another category, say non-profit, conservation or education organization, please provide me with a link to your web site so I can research you request. I am usually very open to this type of request. If you are from a for profit agency working on one of these types of projects, I will have to think more about it.

In Summary
I don't spend time taking photos to help others profit for free from my work. I imagine there are quite a few people that think use of an image is honor enough, regardless of why and where it is being used, but for me, the context matters greatly.

Thanks and please respect the working photographers of the world, and offer payment when you want to use something in a commercial way.

Note: I retain all rights to my photos, and no one is authorized to use my photos without prior consent.

-Nikographer / Jon

Great Falls National Park, September 2007

Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

I visited Great Falls National Park a bunch of times in September 2007.

Going exclusively to the Maryland side for over a year, I worked the overlook with some new ideas, and captured some new things. I combined the motion blur of the water falls using a long exposure, while also capturing a near motionless Great Blue Heron for some neat results...



I also took a handful of sunset photos, and even witnessed a rescue of a kayaker that had dislocated their shouldered while having fun on the river.





Then I decided to check out the Virginia side of the Falls and I was really impressed. Here are a couple of HDR's from the Virginia side.





-Nikographer / Jon

Tioga - Bald Eagle

Tioga
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

A few shots of Tioga, the male bald eagle at the US National Zoo (http://www.fonz.org/)







Eagles at the National Zoo.

Blackwater Visit 8/11/2007 - Assorted sights

Great Horned Owls at Blackwater NWR, Maryland (+video)
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon]

I went out to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge again, probably about my 12th or 13 visit during the past 9 months.

While the Wildlife Drive is a great area to see a good variety of birds and wildlife, I enjoy venturing out in to the neighboring area, specifically along Maple Dam Road.

During this visit I spotted Eagles, Osprey, Herons, Egrets and a few others along the Wildlife Drive.

While on Maple Dam Road I spotted numerous Bald Eagles, a few Snowy Egrets, and the highlight of the trip a pair of Great Horned Owls! The only other wild owl I've EVER seen was another Great Horned Owl along this same road a few months ago.

Here are some of the 800+ photos I took and a short video clip, hosted on youtube.com.












This is the second bird in the same tree.






and then it was gone... but I saw it again later in another tree with its mate in another tree down the road ;)











I'd say it was a great day to observe wildlife, and in addition I got some sweet photos. The owls were like icing on the cake.

-Jon