City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - Oct 2013

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

October, 2013

 

 

 

The Leaves, They Are A’Changin’

 

Autumn is by far my favorite time of year.  My energy levels soar as the sluggishness caused by summer’s heat fades with the cooling of the days.  The crispness in the air lifts my spirits high.  And my eyes are treated to a glorious display of vibrant hues as leaves prepare for winter.

 

Have you ever wondered what causes this remarkable transition in leaf color?  While most of us know that it has something to do with chlorophyll, we would be hard pressed to come up with any other tidbits of information.  So here, in a nutshell, is the explanation for this most interesting of transformations – a transformation that turns most nature photographers into shutter-clicking maniacs every fall.

 

Chlorophyll, as you remember from junior high science class, is that magical substance that plants use to make food from sunlight and water.  More accurately, plants use the energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose, and they need chlorophyll to absorb that sunlight energy.  Chlorophyll is green.  In the summer, leaves are so jam-packed with chlorophyll that the leaves themselves look green.  Other colors exist in the leaves, even the deepest of green leaves, but the chlorophyll overpowers all of these other colors, masking them.

 

Then comes the shortening of days and that coolness in the air that so energizes me.  It also has an effect on leaves: it signals them to begin shutting down their energy-production facilities, because they will soon be out of sufficient resources to continue operations.  (Fortunately trees are like squirrels; during the plentiful summer months, they store away enough extra food supplies to last them through the long winter.)  Chlorophyll production diminishes.  That is when the fireworks begin: the underlying colors of the leaves come out in full force – as long as those colors are yellow or orange.  (We’ll get to the reds, purples, and browns in a moment.)

 

Orange colors come from carotene – carrots, anyone? – while yellows are caused by xanthophyll; the two comprise the major subgroups of carotenoids.  In a leaf, carotenoids capture blue light energy to use in photosynthesis while simultaneously serving as potent anti-oxidants, protecting chlorophyll from damage caused by that light.  Chances are you use visible carotenoid levels all the time, too, especially to make decisions in the produce section of your grocery store.  For example, the green color of unripe bananas is caused by chlorophyll.  As the bananas ripen, chlorophyll levels drop and more xanthophyll is visible, creating that gorgeous yellow of the perfectly ripe banana.  (And as the carotenoids degrade, they produce the delicious aromas of ripe fruit.  The products of carotenoid breakdown are common components of the fragrance industry – but that’s another story altogether.)

 

The fabulous reds and purples that adorn the autumn leaves of maples and other tree species are generally not caused by carotenoids, but by another chemical entirely, a group of pigments called anthocyanins.  Like carotenoids, anthocyanins are also abundant in the produce section: they are the source of the beautiful hues in such goodies as cranberries, raspberries, beets, blueberries, blackberries, and even eggplants.  Unlike carotenoids, however, anthocyanins are first produced in leaves in autumn; they are not “uncovered” by decreased levels of chlorophyll.  Like chlorophyll in summer, autumn’s anthocyanins overpower and cover the yellows and oranges of the carotenoids that are also present in their leaves.  Glucose trapped in leaves is converted to this potent antioxidant, which seems to serve two major functions: protection of the leaf from photo damage and the lowering of the leaf’s freezing point.  Together, these allow the tree to hold onto its leaves a bit longer in order to extract the greatest amount of nutrients from it.  And your eyes are not fooling you: those breath-taking reds really ARE more vibrant on bright, sunny days, as sunlight increases the production of anthocyanins.

 

What about the extremely common browns of autumn?  They are caused by waste products trapped in leaves, namely tannin, a substance most often referred to in discussions of wine and the tanning of hides (yes, that is where the process gets its name).  Tannins are thought to provide a certain amount of protection from insects and other predators.  They have a bitter, astringent taste that is unpleasant to predators, including humans.  It is that astringency that we taste when we eat unripe fruit.  Tannins seeping from fallen leaves and other plants are also what cause many rivers, streams, and lakes in forested areas to look “root beer brown,” a deep but nonetheless clear brown.

 

There you have it: not only what causes the fireworks of autumn, but also what benefits these pigments provide the plant.  Now go capture a few images of them!  Your eyes will thank you for it.

 

 

A Short Break from Shows

 

We are taking October off from art shows, but don’t despair!  We’ll be back in November for our last show of the year, Custer’s Christmas Arts & Crafts Show in Pasco, Washington (see sidebar at top).  Mark your calendars – it will be an ideal time to pick up a fabulous Christmas gift for the nature lover in your life.

 

 

October Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 8x12 prints of “Elk Yoga” and / or unframed, 8x12 prints of “Path of Tranquility” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

Autumn is here (yay!), and with it comes a fun outdoor tradition: the corn maze. 

 

·         The first modern corn maze in the U.S., made in 1993, was conceived as a way to raise funds for victims of severe flooding that had swept through the Midwest.  The designer, Don Frantz, adapted European-style hedge mazes into a much larger and more challenging maze, and donated all proceeds to the Red Cross.  This first maze formed the image of a stegosaurus named “Cornelius, the Cobasaurus”.

·         Many corn mazes form an image visible from the air.  Portraits, maps, words, and pictures celebrating the local area are all common themes.

·         Most farms change the design of their corn mazes every year.

·         Mazes offer a variety of activities.  Some are simple “Can you get from here to there?” challenges, while others offer additional activities such as finding hidden checkpoints along the way, solving puzzles, answering trivia based upon clues hidden in the maze, etc.  Some even have actors dressed in scary costumes that will jump out at visitors along the way. 

·         Think all corn mazes are razed soon after Halloween?  Think again.  In Florida, some corn mazes stay open until December 16.

·         This year, a 15-acre maze in Alberta, Canada, incorporates a 7-acre, working QR code (those funny squares that you can scan with a smart phone to get more info about products or services, often found on advertising materials).  Scanning the code requires an aerial photo.

·         A series of four corn mazes in Bellbrook, Ohio, that together form a single image, covers 62 acres and contains 11.5 miles of trails.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - Sept 2013

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

September, 2013

 

 

 

A Hail of a Good Time

 

Our last show of the season in Sunriver, Oregon, was full of good music, close friends, fun conversations – and hail.  Lots of hail.  In August.  Hailstones the size of marbles blasted the festival on Friday, shutting down the entire festival for about an hour.  Fortunately we came through the storm with minimal damage and a fantastic conversation starter for the rest of the weekend.  This bit of excitement added to a great experience, and we look forward to showing in Sunriver again next year (though hopefully minus the hail).  Thanks to all who came to see us – or to spend the weekend with us!

 

 

 

Staying Healthy While Traveling

 

While it is never fun to get sick, becoming ill on a trip is especially unpleasant.  An illness while traveling can cause you to miss the very opportunities that made you want to travel in the first place.  In extreme cases, it can also be quite dangerous to fall ill while traveling.  Modern medicines may not be available, you may be far from help, or you may be in a situation of decreased natural immunity due to physically demanding activity.  Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to minimize your risk of getting sick while traveling.

 

As in your day-to-day life, one of the most important steps to staying healthy while traveling is good hygiene.  Hand washing with soap and water is not always an option, however, and even when it is, the water may not be safe – and don’t for a minute think that you don’t accidentally touch your eyes, mouth, and nose at some point after washing.  Hand sanitizer can play a crucial role in fighting off the bugs that like to live in non-potable water, so wash, dry (but don’t use a communal towel; if that is your only option, just let your hands air dry), and douse your hands with hand sanitizer.  You don’t have to be in some exotic locale for this to be a necessity; even large cruise ships are notorious for getting people sick from contaminated water.  Consider hand sanitizer to be as important as toothpaste on your travels.

 

So much of staying healthy revolves around water.  Unsafe drinking water is one of the major causes of illness for travelers, from hikers to beach-dwellers on the world’s coastlines.  Most of us are familiar with the concept of Montezuma’s Revenge, and those of us who have experienced it will never forget it.  In extreme cases, the dehydration and diarrhea that comes with water-borne illnesses can be life-threatening.  Clean drinking water is an absolute must.  Hikers have long carried water purification tablets with them, and these work very well, though they can sometimes leave the water with an unpleasant taste.  In recent years water purifiers that use ultraviolet light to kill the nasties have become popular, and they don’t change the taste of the water.  Be sure to follow the directions for both the tablets and the UV purifiers carefully; improper use will render them ineffective.  Boiling water is still a tried and true method, but travelers at elevation must be careful – water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations, and it must be boiled longer to kill the bugs.  Be certain to have the water at a full, rolling boil for at least a minute at sea level, and add another minute for every 1000’ above sea level.  Drinking bottled water is another common way to ensure clean water, but depending upon where you are traveling, you should be careful with it, too.  In some places, water bottles that have simply been refilled with the local water are common.  Be certain that any bottled water you drink is properly sealed before you imbibe.

 

If you are in a place where the water is unsafe, do not eat any vegetables or fruits that you do not peel yourself.  Use treated water not only for cooking and drinking, but for brushing your teeth, making ice cubes, and anything else that may put the water in contact with your mouth.  Make a point to keep your mouth closed in the shower, and don’t swim in contaminated rivers or lakes.  If you do get sick, try using Pepto Bismal or a similar over the counter medication to treat the symptoms, and, ironically enough, try not to let yourself get dehydrated.  If these measures are not sufficient, a prescription strength antibiotic may be required – visit your doctor or your local travel clinic and fill the prescription before you leave, so you have the medicine available when you need it.  Be sure to complete the entire course of medication – you don’t want the strongest bugs surviving in your gut to make you ill again. 

 

If you are traveling internationally, visiting a travel clinic before you leave is always a good idea.  Not only can they provide you with a prescription for the appropriate antibiotic, they can also provide most other immunizations you may need.  Some vaccines are simply suggested (sometimes very strongly suggested), while others may be required.  For example, yellow fever vaccinations are usually required to travel from one country to another in Africa, while antimalarials are not (they fall into the strongly suggested category).  Travel clinics can also give you up to date, location-specific information about any current health risks that may exist at your destination.  It is a good idea to check with the clinic at least six months prior to your departure.  Some of the common vaccinations are in a series that take up to six months to complete, and your immunity will be strongest once the full series has been concluded.

 

Of course, ensure that you carry with you whatever medications you need for any specific health conditions you may have.  If you are flying, keep these in your carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage, just in case your checked luggage decides to visit a different destination than originally planned.  Keeping your medications in their original packaging and carrying a copy of the prescription with you will help to minimize any difficulties you may encounter while crossing borders.

 

Finally, having a basic first aid kit with you can keep many small issues from becoming large ones.  Cleaning cuts and scrapes with an alcohol wipe, then covering them with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage will keep them clean and help to keep them from getting infected.  Moleskin can help prevent blisters.  Basic medicines such as aspirin and anti-itch creams (and / or Benadryl if you have any allergies) can soothe otherwise day-ruining aches and irritations.  These kits are readily found at a wide variety of stores, or you can easily make your own.  We have used ours many times – as often to help others as for ourselves.

 

We wish you many happy – and healthy! – travels.

 

 

September Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 8x12 prints of “Masquerade – Sea Lion” and / or unframed, 8x12 prints of “Peaceful Motion” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

The fourth Saturday of September marks International Rabbit Day.  How much do you know about these adorable critters?

 

·         Female rabbits are called does; males, bucks, and babies, kits or kittens.

·         There are approximately 30 species of rabbits.

·         A jackrabbit fleeing from a predator can reach an impressive 45 mph.

·         Rabbits have a remarkable range of vision that encompasses almost 360°, having only a single blind spot – right in front of their noses.

·         Coney Island is named after the rabbits, called coneys in Middle English, that were once quite numerous in the area.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/NaturePhotographs

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - Aug, 2013

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

August, 2013

 

 

 

Last Chance to See Us at a Show This Summer

 

Our show season is winding down, with only one show left this summer.  The Sunriver Art Faire, held August 9-11 just 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon in the planned community of Sunriver, is your last opportunity to see us at a show until we return to Pasco in November.  Come by and say hi, and bring all your friends and neighbors.  With a Saturday street dance, Sunday breakfast, and all kinds of activities for kids in addition to fantastic artists and professional entertainment, it should be a great time!

 

Hours:

Friday, August 9 -- 9:30am to 7:00pm

Saturday, August 10 -- 9:30am to 7:00pm

Sunday, August 11 -- 9:30am to 4:00pm

 

Plus we would like to give a huge thanks for all who came to see us in Aspen on such short notice.  (Hi Crystal and the Dans!)  We had a fabulous weekend, despite the rain, and look forward to doing the Aspen show again next year.

 

 

Our Favorite Hiking Accessories

 

Getting the kinds of images that we like to capture often requires a wilderness hike (oh darn!).  In addition to good hiking boots, sunscreen, and bug repellant, there are some hiking accessories that can make the journey a bit more pleasant.  Here are some of our favorites:

 

Walking sticks.  An often under-appreciated piece of gear, walking sticks serve a myriad of purposes.  They allow you to use your upper body to assist in uphill jaunts and help protect your knees while going downhill.  They can be used to move slightly-out-of-reach plants to one side for a clear photograph.  If necessary, they can be used to splint a leg or form the basis of a shelter.  And they make great – if somewhat challenging – clubs for a rousing game of acorn golf.  Just be careful not to lean on them overly much; they can and will break, and that can send you tumbling if they were supporting too much of your weight.  They are meant to be an assist, not a primary weight bearer.

 

Refillable water bottles.  Regardless of what terrain you hike in, adequate water is a must, especially in the summer (though dehydration occurs just as easily in the winter).  Since we both carry packs on our hikes, Camelbacks and other water bladders are not necessarily a good option for us, though they might work very well for you and are worth looking into.  Our favorites are simple, refillable water bottles with some sort of loop through which a carabineer will fit.  We attach them to the outside of our backpacks and, if the hike is long enough, stash a few more inside the packs.  Terence likes the aluminum ones because they can take a bit of a beating, while I prefer those with attached straws so that I can quickly and easily take a sip without having to unscrew the lid or remove the bottle from my pack.  After the hike they are easy to clean and refill for the next hike, and good ones will last for years.

 

Gaiters.  For those who may not know, gaiters are pieces of fabric that wrap around your shoes or hiking boots and go part of the way up your leg, effectively sealing off the spaces between laces, boots and pants.  Gaiters are a fabulous invention.  Not only do they help to keep pebbles, sticker burrs, ants, and mud out of your shoes, they also help to protect your pant leg from things that would rip and tear them open.  And when they are in dire need of a good cleaning, you can usually just toss them in the wash (though putting them in a mesh delicates bag first is always a good idea in order to keep their hooks from catching on other garments).

 

Carabineers.  One of the classic all-purpose hiking tools, carabineers come in handy in all kinds of ways you cannot imagine until you need them.

 

Bear spray holsters / tear away strips on hiking shirts.  Our hikes often occur in bear country, which means we are usually carrying bear spray.  One of the fundamentals of bear spray is that to be effective, it must first be accessible: no burying it in a backpack or tucking it away in a hard-to-reach pocket.  On the rare occasion that you might need to use bear spray, you must be able to reach it, remove it from its carrying spot, and get it aimed quickly, usually under circumstances that have your adrenaline going and your hands less than steady.  (This is one situation in which carabineers are not ideal.)  Holsters attach to your belt and keep the can easily accessible at your waist.  Tear away strips on hiking shirts are simply little strips of fabric that are sewn onto the shirt at one end and attach with Velcro at the other end.  By threading the strip through the handle of the can of bear spray, you can keep it at its most accessible: even in a panic you can rip the can away from your shirt for immediate availability.  None of this is meant to frighten anyone who would like to go hiking in bear country.  Bear spray is very similar to fire insurance: you will likely never need it, but when you do, you are sure glad you have it.

 

Don’t forget your small first aid kit to care for the blisters, bumps, and bites that are common accompaniments to treks through the wilderness.  Make sure you know where you are, and have a plan for how to find your way again should you get lost (GPS, map and compass, etc.).  Most of all, find what works for you, and get out there and hike!

 

 

August Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 8x10 prints of “A Quiet Lunch” and / or unframed, 8x12 prints of “Early Evening on the Amnicon River” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

August 24^th marks Vesuvius Day, of the infamous Mount Vesuvius that buried Pompeii on August 24^th, 79 A.D.  A few things you may not know about that legendary volcano:

 

·         Pompeii was only one of three towns destroyed by the massive eruption.  The towns of Herculaneum and Stabiae were also buried.  Pompeii was buried 10 feet deep, while Herculaneum found itself under a staggering 75 feet of ash.  

·         The 79 A.D. eruption is among the most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded.

·         Vesuvius had another major eruption in 1631.  Over a century later, during ongoing reconstruction, the ruins of Pompeii were discovered in March of 1748, rocketing the dead but perfectly preserved town to stardom.

·         Though the Italian peninsula boasts several active volcanoes in seas and on islands, Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the mainland in all of Europe.

·         The last eruption of Vesuvius was in 1944, toward the end of World War II, when it created havoc for the Allies by destroying some of their planes and forcing airbase evacuations.

·         Today an estimated 3 million people, including all of the citizens of Naples, live within Vesuvius’ reach.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - July 2013

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

July, 2013

 

 

 

Protecting Your Gear in Hot Weather

 

We are only in early July, yet temperatures are already soaring well above 90°F in much of the country, with more than a few locales topping 100°F.  And it’s only going to get hotter.  Assuming you are one of those intrepid souls who does not let this kind of heat keep you locked behind air-conditioned doors, how should you protect your camera gear?  The rules are fairly straightforward: try to keep it cool, and don’t shock it.

There are various tricks to keeping your gear as cool as possible that don’t involve keeping it in an ice chest (a bad idea by the way, just in case you were wondering – see the next section).  The first should come as no surprise given all of the warnings we hear every summer about how hot the insides of cars get: don’t keep your gear in a closed vehicle in the sun.  I used to go to work in the mornings with an apple on my dashboard, only to have a beautifully baked apple waiting for me when I left at five o’clock.  Imagine what that kind of heat could do to the sensitive electronics in your camera.  It is literally like putting your camera in the oven, something we would never even consider doing.  Above and beyond frying the electronics, the extreme heat can also cause the various seals to dry out and crack, necessitating another expensive visit to the repair shop.

 

The golden hours of dawn and dusk become especially appealing in hot weather, not just for their magical light, but also because they are among the coolest parts of the day.  (Yet another reason to get up early and / or stay out late.)  Try to avoid mid-day sun, the hottest part of the day.  And when the temperatures are high, try to keep your gear in the shade.  Trees, buildings, even cars or people can provide adequate shade, as can canopies fashioned from any number of nearby objects.  If you must shoot in direct sunlight, cover your camera with a light-colored towel or shirt to minimize heat absorption.  Additionally, minimize the amount of heat generated by the camera itself.  This means limiting the amount of time you use the “live view” function in your digital SLR, and either limiting or altering your use of video recording.  If possible, use an AC adaptor to eliminate heat generated by batteries, and use a separate monitor to decrease the heat created by the view screen.  If your camera’s overheating-warning light comes on, always and immediately turn the camera off and allow it to cool down before continuing.

 

Not shocking your camera means not taking it from one temperature to a significantly different temperature quickly, especially if there is high humidity involved.  In other words, don’t take your gear that has been in a 70°F house out into 100°F weather – or vice versa – without properly protecting it first.  Ideally, your gear should be able to transition slowly from one temperature to the next over the course of 30-60 minutes.  In the real world, however, that rarely has a chance to happen, so you need to protect your gear from the condensation that often accompanies drastic temperature changes.  The easiest way to do this is by sealing your gear (body AND lenses) in a resealable plastic bag, with as much of the air compressed out of it as possible, before changing temperatures.  This will allow the condensation to form on the outside of the bag rather than on – and more importantly, in – your gear.  This prevents not only fogging and spots, but also rust, mold and mildew from forming on the internal components of the camera and lenses, potentially saving your gear from complete destruction.  Once the condensation has evaporated, the gear can be safely removed from the bag.

 

A final note about condensation: “weather sealing” does not stop it from forming, and should not be counted upon to protect your gear. 

 

Happy shooting, drink lots of water, and keep cool!

 

 

Thanks to All Who Came to See Us in Spokane and Blaine

 

Each time we go to a show, we meet new people and make new friends.  Our two shows in June were no exception, and the people we were lucky enough to meet were wonderful.  I love hearing all of the great stories that our visitors share with us when they see our images, from the truly funny to the sentimental to the downright odd.  This time around we heard gut-busting stories of a very clever moose, learned that the national bird of Botswana is the lilac-breasted roller (featured in one of our favorite images, “Neighbors – Lilac-breasted Roller & Elephant”), and saw a gentleman grin broadly as he announced that he proposed to his wife under one of the waterfalls we featured.  Memories of trips taken and dreams of trips not yet experienced were shared with us in abundance, and I loved it all.  I love transporting people to another place through our images, and inspiring in them not just a passion for photography, but for travel and experiencing the world.  Thanks to everyone who came to share a bit of their time with me; I hope to see you all again soon.  I would like to give a special shout-out to Lily, a very engaging and delightful young lady in Spokane who made my weekend a little brighter.  The world is waiting for you, Lily.  Go get it.

 

 

July Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 8x12 prints of “Beguiling Beauty” and / or 8x9 prints of “Late Afternoon Blues” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

July 2^nd is World UFO Day, commemorating the discovery on July 2, 1947, of strange wreckage on the ranch of Mac Brazel near Roswell, New Mexico.  A call to all of you talented photographers out there: get us some better photographs, please! 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/NaturePhotographs

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682