Next Dayton Workshop on Winter Nature Photography

Toward Winter by Jim Crotty, originally uploaded by jimcrotty.com.

This past Saturday's workshop - "Digital Editing and Workflow for Nature Photography" - went very well. As I was leaving the classroom at Cox Arboretum following a full-day of fun and instruction this was the scene that greeted me. I quickly unpacked my camera and tripod and captured these beautiful colors of a November sunset.

I am now in the early stages of planning my next photography workshop, perhaps a full-day program on winter nature photography on a Saturday in late January or early February. Once again I will present the program at Cox Arboretum (the Mead-Westvaco Theatre is the perfect classroom setting) and limit the group to 20 attendees. This time the instruction will be more of a balance between basic instruction on field shooting techniques and basic digital workflow. I also look forward to demonstrating the hidden beauty that can be discovered out on the winter landscape of Ohio.

If you'd like to be added to the mailing list of those to be first notified when the date is announced for "Winter Nature Photography," please drop me a note via email.

Sticking to Your Guns with Stock Image Licensing

Previously I was using kind of a "third party administrator" for sales of stock image licensing to most of my images. The monthly fee just simply wasn't worth it. Hence I've returned to directly managing all of my stock image estimates and sales, and like the page on my web site that describes my commercial photography services, I don't provide a standard rate. That's too restricting, especially for the photographer. Each project and client situation is unique given the intended usage, distribution, print run, medium, etc., therefor estimates are provided only after I've had an opportunity to speak with the potential customer and ask him or her a series of questions.

My new page regarding stock image licensing includes several of what I call 'stock strips' - samples grouped according to my most popular stock subjects, including Dayton skyline and cityscapes, wildlife, avian, Ohio landscapes and holiday images. These are also designed to be printed as 4"x8" direct mail or leave-behind prints.

Also, I'm discovering that more and more publishers and agencies are fishing the waters over on flickr. Nine out 10 times they will contact the photographer of an image they are interested in using without mention of their stock fees or offer of compensation. They simply throw-out the usual "we'll give you a credit listing" in attempt to take advantage of a photographer's desire for "the big break."

I strongly encourage photographer's everywhere, whether amateur or professional, to stick to their guns when it comes to being paid for usage versus a simple credit listing, or less. Even in the case of most so-called "non-profits." If the organization has a payroll and they pay for utilities, advertising, etc., then they can - and should - pay for image licensing. A photographer's time, skill and knowledge go into the crafting of each image.

Dayton Photographer to Share Digital Secrets at Workshop

Dayton Ohio Photographer Jim Crotty will be sharing some of his best tips and secrets for shooting and creating eye-catching images at an upcoming photography workshop. Jim will be presenting "Digital Workflow for Nature Photography" as a full-day workshop on Saturday, November 21st at Cox Arboretum. The class size is limited to just 20 people. As of Mondya, November 16th there are only three openings remaining. The cost of the full-day workshop is $89, which includes lunch. To find out more and to reserve one of the three remaining openings, please see http://ohiophoto.org/public_html/workshops.html.

 

 

 

 

Superb Black and White from HDR Photographs

These two images are excellent examples of the two of the advanced, digital enhancement techniques that I will be providing instruction on at my "Digital Workflow and Editing for Nature Photography" workshop. I currently have three seats still open for the full-day program, set for Saturday, November 21st at Cox Arboretum MetroPark just south of Dayton, Ohio.

 

 

As Autumn Slips Away

 

 

 

 

Panoramas for Landscape Photography

In this Photographic Moment video I share some tips on capturing the fall landscape with digital panorama photography.

Anatomy of an October Sunrise

Nature and landscape photography captured on the morning of October 20, 2009 at The Inn at Cedar Falls, in Hocking Hills.

October Splendor

Nature and landscape photography showing the haunting beauty of October in Ohio, with photographs taken in Hocking Hills State Park. Autumn sunrise images captured at The Inn at Cedar Falls.

First Frost at Sunrise

Capturing the sunrise at Sugarcreek MetroPark on the morning of October 11, 2009, with the first frost of the autumn season.