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Sitka Alaska w/ Marc Muench Workshop

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    paparosspapaross Registered Users Posts: 131 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2010
    What an adventure! I am so envious. I beat myself up for not staying the extra days. Your compositions are great!
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    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2010
    papaross wrote: »
    What an adventure! I am so envious. I beat myself up for not staying the extra days. Your compositions are great!

    I am just glad you fared well during this entire trip. You seemed to enjoy it more than some of the other trips that you and I have been on. It was good to see you rapid firing your camera every day at all hourswings.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
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    paparosspapaross Registered Users Posts: 131 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2010
    I did, exceptionally. Although Utah was great, with only 1 usable lung, the altitude bothered me a lot, as well this was my 1st trip ever with experienced photographers. I was intimidated, and going through a steep learning curve. You, Andy, and Marc have helped me more than any of you will ever know.
    And I was enjoying Death Valley until I got "deathly sick". My learning curve continued to increase in Alaska, but it was fun, not stressful. The only part I didn't like was the red eye coming home. It took 2 days to get over that. Don't ever get old!:D
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    AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2010
    Bridge shot w/ moon:
    you got a shot NOBODY else got, bravo! Technically perfect, and I love the contrast between the terrestrial object, the bridge, and the sky and moon all wispy.

    First bald eagle - watch the processing halos. Very noticeable in this one.

    Harbor Seals - well, with subjects like these, how can you go wrong? Excellent exposures and compos.

    Cormorants - very good choice, I know you had many to choose from, love how they're all looking the same way.

    Double whale tale - wow!!!!!!!

    Birds on St. Lazaria - that comp isn't really doing anything for me - it's really confusing. Have you others to choose from?

    The BWs, love the fishing boat and the humpback whale. So cool. That one I might crop 2:1 and lose a little sea and a little sky. Try it!

    Your whale shots, very nice - you shot with the mountains in the background and put the whales 'in context' - and make the photos more interesting. Again, watch the processing halos on the tree lines and sky.


    Jumping Salmon - your persistence paid off, what can I say? Hard subjects, I know you worked hard to get them :)

    Swimming deer: perfect - sharp, well exposed, looking right at you.

    Sitka Harbor night shot with bridge - needs to be straightened. Love the reflections.

    Totems - LOVE the 2nd one, that guy looks like he's peeking out from behind the tree! Well composed. I'd crop it, 1:2 vertically and lose the right hand side of the near tree.

    The salmon in the stream @ the hatchery, winner!

    Great job on the Swamp, and Neva.

    Up on the mountain, the third misty one, is a really nice composition. The last one there, the fog and blue sky, wow, that's just gorgeous.

    Your raptors and bears, well they're beautiful but the bear swimming at the end there, that's the winner for me - eyes at camera, sharp, moving water, and very cool reflection.

    Finale Day... the pic of the dude driving the boat is your best. shot. ever.

    Love the guy casting his line - very dramatic!

    Boat at lake - beautiful refelection, nice near/far, gorgeous sky.

    Pic of you in the natural hottub - WIN!

    Night shot of Baranof Harbor, well, that's just a beautiful capper. Sharp, beautiful color.

    Dan you have a great eye and it's been so cool to see you improve after each workshop!
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    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2010
    Andy, I thank you for your critique...I have enjoyed every trip I have gone on with you and Marc but no other as much as this one. This trip was a special treat and will be very hard to ever beat.

    This is the one trip I will use as a gauge for every future trip I go on albeit with Muench Workshop or any other workshop I might go on and it is a big thanks to you, Marc, Sitka Dan and all the participants that went with us. I can not say thanks enough or how much I appreciate all the people at Muench Workshops that keep pumping out these unbelievable workshops that just seem to get better and better.bowdown.gifbowbowdown.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
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    Marc MuenchMarc Muench Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2010
    Here it comes, the crit you thought you wanted:D

    You have the right enthusiasm for photographydeal.gif

    Your enjoyment of the place, situation and art of photography is obvious. There are images in your galleries that stand alone as do some in this thread. There is a saying stating, it seems as we go through all the paces we end up with one or two. This is a rather discouraging point of view in my opinion, confirming that photography is nothing but the unexpected. What I have noticed about you, similar to that of a person being paid "professional" is that you expect to get one or two.
    Overall great post of story telling imagery, but the one that tops the cake is:
    20100914-bb635x693sdifty662f2174c4.jpg
    This holds the elements combined in a great composition and leaves some valuable mystery about the whale that keeps me wondering a bit,holding my attention.

    I do notice most of your other animal images are being framed in the cross hairs. I would crop a tad to get em out of dead center or shoot em that way. I recall you saying how cool the Canon 7d auto focus was with the 5 diff regions. Does your Nikon allow this?

    Were scanning the globe to find a few more Sitkasmwink.gif
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    paparosspapaross Registered Users Posts: 131 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2010
    Scan hard on the Eastern seaboard!
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    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2010
    Thank you Marc for your kinds words. Your words have always been gold to me and I take what you say with all seriousness. I go to your workshops fairly exclusively mainly due to your uncanny ability to find perfect locations along with great guides and fantastic weather for photography. How you do it is a mystery but i will not buck the luck by thinking to much about it.

    The D3 does have a dynamic autofocus that is adjustable like the 7D. I just have always used the classic single point reference. It is time to trust new technology and try out the dynamic autofocus to see if I like it and can trust it to autofocus on fast moving objects while panning the camera.
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
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    nightingalenightingale Registered Users Posts: 56 Big grins
    edited September 15, 2010
    Hey Dan, Awesome pictures!
    Nightingale...

    [FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans serif][FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans serif]I may not always be right, but I am never in doubt!
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    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2010
    Thank you nightingale....and thanks for posting your shots ;-)
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
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