City Escapes Photography Newsletter - Sept. 2010

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

September, 2010

 

 

 

Bears in Autumn – Preparing to Hibernate?

 

We all know that bears hibernate in the winter, and therefore must spend the summer and fall fattening up in preparation.  Right?

 

Of the three species of North American bear – grizzly, black, and polar – this is true for two of them.  Grizzly and black bears do, as a rule, spend the winters in a deep sleep in dens.  (Despite the common parlance, they are not truly hibernating, as their body temperatures and metabolic rates drop only a small amount compared to true hibernators, whose body temperatures often hover only slightly above freezing during their winter snooze.  Don’t be fooled by “hibernating” bears; they can definitely be awoken, even in the middle of winter – and chances are that they will be none too happy about it.)  Thus, grizzlies and black bears do spend the summer, and especially the fall, gorging themselves in order to gain sufficient weight to carry them through a long winter without a meal.

 

They eat a wide variety of things, from insects, fish, and game animals to berries, sweet clover, and nuts.  Despite their ferocious reputations, 80%-90% of these bears’ diet comes from plant sources, especially in the fall.  Berries of all kinds ripen, providing the bears with calorie-dense, high-quality nutrients.  Grizzlies use their long, powerful claws to dig up roots and tubers, and both species feast on whitebark pine nut stores stashed away by industrious squirrels.  (One park warden told me how they were able to follow the movements of a nearby grizzly simply by listening to the chastising chattering of the squirrels in the trees.  Apparently, the squirrels do not much appreciate the raiding of their hard-earned food stashes, and scold the bears as they walk by – even if the bear is not guilty of thievery.)  During this time of year, the bears will eat upwards of 16 hours a day, consuming around 20,000 calories a day.  No wonder the squirrels are mad – that’s a lot of pine nuts!

 

For polar bears, however, summer and fall are the lean months.  Seals are the main food source for these bears, and in the summer and fall, the bears cannot get to the seals.  Polar bears rely on sea ice to get them to where the seals are, and to provide specific hunting spots: the seals’ breathing holes.  During the warmer months, the ice does not extend as far into the seals’ habitat, making them more difficult to catch.  Also, the seals do not need to create as many breathing holes, as the more ice-free ocean provides them with ample space to surface.   This means that predicting where the seals will surface becomes significantly more challenging for the hungry bear. 

 

Does this result in woefully underweight polar bears going into their annual hibernation?  No -- because most polar bears do not hibernate.  Only female polar bears, and generally only pregnant females, hibernate.  The rest wait for the sea ice to form, then spend the winter months fattening up in preparation for the lean summer months.  What about the pregnant females?  Polar bears have an interesting reproductive adaptation called delayed implantation, which means that a fertilized egg will wait up to four months for favorable conditions before it will implant itself in the mother bear’s uterus.  Thus, if a pregnant female does not have sufficient fat stores to hibernate, she can continue to hunt until she does.  This does not, of course, mean that she will successfully complete her hibernation.  Other than man, polar bears have only one natural enemy: other polar bears.  Large males have been known to dig hibernating females out of their dens – then eat them.

 

 

Home Photo Framing Basics, Part 1: The Importance of Breathing Space

 

This month we begin a four-part series on the fundamentals of home photo framing.  Because most people do not make their own frames or cut their own mats, we will not go into those subjects, but rather will focus on things to consider when using store-bought frames, mats and glazing materials.  First up: allowing the image a little room to breathe.

 

A common mistake among do-it-yourself framers -- and a surprising number of “professional” framing shops -- is to put the photo in direct contact with the frame’s glass.  Many frames, in fact, especially the smaller-sized frames, are designed such that the photo is supposed to touch the glass.  The backing board that comes with these frames serves to sandwich the image between itself and the glass, keeping the image flat.  For photos that have no significant monetary or sentimental value, that can be easily replaced, or that are not expected to have a long life span, this is a fine arrangement.  (Let’s be honest -- not all photos need the special care that we will be discussing in this series.)  For photos that do not fall into one of the above categories, however, the first cardinal rule of framing should always be: Do not allow the photo to touch the glass.

 

Over time, photos that are in direct contact with glass run the risk of sticking to the glass.  Condensation inside the frame will cause the emulsion of the photograph’s paper to glue itself to the glazing material.  Often this will begin around the edges or corners of a photo, but if left for long periods of time, the adhesion can become extensive.  It is very difficult, if not impossible, to “unstick” the photo from the glass; attempting to do so usually only results in separating the emulsion from the paper itself.  This means that the white, underlying paper may come off, but the image will remain stuck to the glass.  Even if the photo is left undisturbed and no attempts are made to remove it from the glass, the presentation of the photo is flawed by the adhesion.  Furthermore, the glass can never be replaced without significantly damaging the image, or even destroying it completely.  Any collector’s value the photo may have had is lost.

 

The solution to this annoying problem is quite simple: the photograph should never touch the glazing material.  The most common method of achieving this goal is cleverly disguised as a decorative technique: including a mat in the framing package.  In addition to adding depth, color, and endless decorative possibilities, mats ensure that there is air space between the photograph and the glass.  They are readily available in a wide variety of colors and sizes, and if you don’t find one that suits your tastes for a particular photograph, any framing shop should be able to custom cut a mat for you.  Custom mats can be personalized in an infinite number of ways, and have many more color and material options than off-the-shelf mats.  They are also, however, much more expensive.

 

Mats are not the only method of achieving this all-important air space.  If no mat is desired, a narrow strip of acrylic called a spacer can be used.  Spacers are usually about 1/8” square by several feet long and have a strip of adhesive on one side.  They are easily cut to desired lengths and come in white, black, and clear.  They should be cut to the length of each side of the glass, then stuck to the outer edges of the glass using the adhesive side of the spacer.  (Note: not the sides of the glass; the outer edges of the flat part.)  Then simply frame the photograph as usual, ensuring that the spacer is in-between the glass and the photo.  I have never found spacers on any store shelves, but again, any framing shop should have them.  You just have to ask.  Spacers are also inexpensive, usually costing around one dollar each. 

 

A word of caution: if you decide to have a photograph or any other work of art framed professionally, and you choose not to use a mat, do not assume that the frame shop will use a spacer.  Often they will not unless the customer specifically requests one.  A woman I know, who did not know about spacers and therefore did not know to ask for them, spent several hundred dollars at a popular, national-chain framing shop to get a photograph of significant sentimental value framed without a mat.  She trusted the framers to do what was necessary to properly frame her cherished photograph.  I was with her when she picked up the finished package, and was astonished to see that the photograph was simply pressed against the glass.  Especially given how much she paid for a professional framer, this was simply unacceptable.  I refused to allow her to accept the package as it was, and insisted that a spacer be added.  It took the frame shop no more than ten minutes to make the correction, and added five dollars in parts and labor to the price tag – well worth the many extra years of enjoyment that the woman could now expect to get out of her photograph.  Bottom line: if someone else is framing your art behind glass for you, it is essential that you specifically request spacers if no mats will be used. 

 

 

September’s Fun Facts

 

Can you name all eight bear species?  They are: the American black bear, Asiatic black bear, giant panda, grizzly (brown) bear, polar bear, sloth bear, spectacled (Andean) bear, and sun bear.  For many years, only seven bear species were recognized, as giant pandas proved problematic to classify.  They were alternately thought to belong to the raccoon family, the bear family, or their own distinct family, possibly in combination with the red panda.  Finally it was definitively determined that giant pandas were true bears, while red pandas were given their own family classification.

 

 

 

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509-396-5154

 

B&B Review: Northside School Bed and Breakfast, Bonner’s Ferry ID

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

 Date of visit: July 2010

 

This decent sized B&B (with 9 rooms for rent) on the north side of the city appears to have a lot going for it based on the web page, where the pages show a single picture of each of the rooms – showing well decorated rooms but without any indication of size.  B&B guests can enjoy a pool and hot tub, an after-dinner drink cart that is rolled out in the evenings, and a full breakfast in the mornings.  The building itself certainly has some historical charm and the Principal's Office room has a decent view over the city.  There are also nice gardens and a sitting area near the pool where you can sit out and enjoy the view.  

 

It should be noted that the rooms were up 3 flights of stairs, with no elevator, so it is not appropriate for people who are not able to easily traverse stairs.  Unfortunately, this disclaimer is not on the web pages.

 

The breakfast was a nice, if standard, B&B breakfast. It was, however, essentially self-serve, with a hot quiche brought out when you sat down and the rest of the food lined up buffet-style. Items that ran out were quickly replaced. This has the advantage that the owners can accommodate a range of breakfast times, and allows you to pick only the items and portions you want. While this set-up is uncommon for many B&Bs, I think it worked out pretty well for us.

 

In person, I was a little disappointed. While the proprietors seemed to go out of their way to make sure the boxes were checked (e.g. separate bathrooms - check , pool – check, breakfast – check, guest fridge - check), the quality of what was provided was not always at the level that I would expect for the price. For example, the guest fridge was a dorm-sized fridge that was shared among all of the guests, not one for each room, so it was hard to actually put drinks away; the towels and soaps provided were the same quality as one would find in a Motel 6, not a nicer hotel; and the room was not well stocked. There was no obvious place for standard items such as a spare roll of toilet paper (which we had to explicitly ask for since there wasn't enough left on the used roll). In addition, the proprietors were aloof and not as outgoing or friendly as most of the B&B owners I have met over the years. We certainly did not feel like we were welcomed into their home.

 

There were also minor maintenance issues with the room. Of particular concern was a screen missing from our window – which was the only way to cool down our room (there was no air conditioning, so the room was stifling hot on the 90+ degree day we were there). Having to keep the windows open all night also forced us to listen to the train coming through the city regularly – not conducive to a restful sleep. While central air may not be possible given the age of the building, window air conditioners would have been much appreciated and done a lot to alleviate our discomfort.   

 

The rooms were clean and average – although a little on the small side – however, the bathrooms were exceptionally tiny.  Beds were queen size, not king. Very few of the rooms had tubs; most had showers only. The sink area was so small it was impossible for 2 people to get ready at the same time - there was simply no room to put 2 people in that area. Definitely not an advantage when you are trying to get up and out.  The rooms were also not exactly as they appeared on the web. A major annoyance for me was that I had intentionally picked a room where the bed did not have a footboard (according to the web site photo). However, when we arrived, there was a footboard. This may not sound like a big deal, but since I hang over the bed several inches, it can really disturb my sleep.

 

Finally, there were some tacky aspects to our stay. For example, there was a tip envelope in the room for housekeeping – something I haven't ever seen in a B&B before – and most of the paintings in the hallways had prices on them. While I don't mind the pictures being for sale, it would have been nice to have that information in a single place and let the guests enjoy the pictures without making them feel as though they are overnighting in a gift shop. 

 

Overall, I would suggest shopping around a little before staying here. Prices at other nearby locations vary a lot, and it is likely that a better deal can be found elsewhere. If not, there are certainly worse places to stay. This is a middle-of-the road B&B in a place without a lot of other options, so it is definitely worth considering. I would stay here again in a pinch – but certainly not in the heat of summer, and only after considering other options.

 

Terence

 

City Escapes Nature Photography

 

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - August 2010

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

August, 2010

 

 

 

 

Mirages: The Result of the Heat – and Cold – of August

 

In the northern hemisphere, August reigns as one of the hottest months.  Mirages and heat waves are common, often appearing as shimmering puddles of water on roadways, parking lots, and desert vistas.  In the past, mirages were sometimes thought to be tricks of the eyes or even hallucinations, but in actuality they are neither: the images seen are real, and can be photographed.  When photographed, mirages are usually meant to convey the concept of sweltering heat.  However, they can also be used to add a wide range of completely natural artistic elements to an image that leave the viewer questioning whether the photograph has been seriously manipulated, despite the fact that it has not.

 

Mirages are especially common in areas containing large amounts of sand or asphalt.  This is because these two substances absorb large amounts of heat from sunlight, which in turn causes the air directly above them to be significantly hotter than the air further away.  As light passes from the denser, cooler air above into the warmer, thinner air next to the superheated sand or asphalt, the light gets refracted, or bent, in an upwards curve, causing what is known as an inferior mirage.  It is called “inferior” not because it is of a lesser quality than any other kind of mirage, but because the image in the mirage appears below the actual item being seen.  It is as if we are looking down into a bowl, and can see on the inner curve of the bowl what is actually atop the opposite rim.  This is why lakes and water are often imagined to be seen: the blue sky is being seen below where it should be, causing it to appear as a body of water on the ground.  It often shimmers, too: inferior mirages are unstable, because hot air rises and cool air sinks.  As the two air masses mix, they cause turbulence, distorting the light waves even more.  This causes the apparent pool of water to shimmer, and the characteristic waviness of the horizon, as illustrated by our featured picture this month, Watercolor Rhinoceros. 

 

However, mirages do not only occur in hot weather.  They also occur in areas where the temperature conditions are reversed, namely a layer of significantly colder air next to the ground, with a warmer layer above.  These mirages are, not surprisingly, most commonly found in the polar regions.  (Let’s not forget that August in Antarctica is in the middle of winter!)  In these instances, the light rays are refracted downward – as if our bowl were flipped upside down.  The item being seen is still on the rim of the bowl, and we are still seeing it on the bowl’s curve, but because the bowl is now upside down, the mirage now appears above the actual item.  These types of mirages are called superior mirages because of their location above the object being seen.  This can result in items appearing to float above the horizon.  An especially interesting aspect of superior mirages is due to the curvature of the earth: some of these mirages can even result in being able to see things that are still below the horizon.  Imagine taking our upside down bowl and putting it on the edge of a table, such that the rim where our object is located is now below the table’s edge, but the curve where we see the mirage is still above.  The table edge represents the horizon line; our object on the bowl’s rim is now below the horizon, yet we can still see it on the curved surface of the bowl.  How cool is that?  (Pun only partially intended…)

 

Throughout the ages of sea exploration, superior mirages were responsible for a good bit of confusion as to the possible existence of islands, ships, and other objects.  The mirages are often hazy and distorted in appearance, and may have led to the legends of ghost ships.  A particular type of superior mirage called a Fata Morgana, for example, is considered the likely origin of the legend of the Flying Dutchman (as well as many modern-day UFO sightings).  Some early polar explorers reported seeing mountains in the sky and flying ships, and even Robert Peary, famed Arctic explorer and the man credited with being the first person to reach the North Pole, named a land mass which he believed he saw in the far distance Crocker Land -- a land mass that later proved to not exist, and which is now widely believed to have been a Fata Morgana mirage.  A later search for Crocker Land cost one man his life and stranded the remaining crew for four years. 

 

Score: Mirage 1, Explorers 0

 

 

August’s Fun Facts

 

Since we’re all suffering through the heat (or cold) that August brings, this month we thought we’d put this sweltering / frigid day in perspective:

 

The highest temperature ever recorded was in Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya, on September 13, 1922: 136.0 F  (57.8 C)

The lowest temperature ever recorded was at Vostok Station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983: -128.6 F  (-89.2 C)

 

 

 

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509-396-5154

 

Packing for Adventure Travel

 

After extensive experience packing for corporate meetings, and years of trips focused around our nature photography, I have come to the conclusion that it is almost impossible to truly pack light for photographic adventure travel. Clothing and personal effects are a miniscule component of the overall luggage that we take on our adventure trips. We bring multiple layers of clothing to deal with varied weather conditions while simultaneously reducing bulk, and make heavy use of quick-dry clothing, such as that produced by Ex-Officio, to reduce the number of outfits we need (e.g., typically no more than 3 shirts for a multi-week trip).  However, a successful trip requires being flexible and having the right gear easily accessible.  We always have hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and at least a simple first aid kit (for our most extensive first aid kit, see the comprehensive first aid kit we used when we went to Tanzania). Depending on the type of activities we are planning, we could also be bringing snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit), winter clothing (thermals, sweaters, gloves, parkas, snow boots), hiking gear (good boots, poles, refillable water bottles, bug repellant), rain gear (for us and our camera equipment), or any combination of the above.  All of this adds up quickly and we find that we will often be checking one moderately full bag each with just this. 

 

The real weight starts when we bring in the photography equipment. For domestic travel, we have a very large Pelican Case. It is an extremely useful container, because it is practically indestructible, is waterproof, and holds the equipment securely in place with customizable foam padding (important if you have ever watched a baggage handler toss / drop a box marked fragile).  You can also lock the case using TSA approved locks to prevent snooping – since Pelican Cases tend to attract attention. Finally, it comes with wheels and a handle that make moving it around, at least in the open, a lot easier than you would think.

 

This huge container will carry everything we typically bring, including our tripods, but can easily top the scales at about 70 pounds – more than most airlines will let you pack without an additional handling charge.  To get around that, we also have a LowePro Super Trekker backpack. This backpack is large enough to carry all of the lenses and camera bodies we need for a trip, including the large 600mm lens, and will fit in most overhead bins on the larger planes. We then check the tripods and monopods in our normal luggage.  If we are not taking our largest lens, we use a much smaller backpack from Tenba.  It is much easier to carry and maneuver, yet still holds all of our gear, including a tripod.   Note: while the Pelican Case is sturdy enough to adequately protect our gear when checked – and it is lockable --, we never check any backpacks containing camera equipment.  Though they may provide good protection for normal bumps and thumps, when it comes to our camera gear, we only subject hard-sided containers to the rigors of checked baggage.

 

What we bring on any specific trip depends a lot on the nature of what we expect to see and whether we will have a vehicle or will be carrying everything on our backs. Typically, for a longer trip, we bring the following items, and select a smaller subset to carry with us for day-trips:

-          Primary camera body (Nikon D300)

-          Backup camera body (Nikon D60)

-          Water- and shock-proof point and shoot camera (currently a Fuji – yes, we take snapshots, too, plus Jodi needs something that will survive her kayaking!)

-          Waterproof shoot-through dry-bag (note: we do not trust this bag enough to submerge it, but it works well to protect the camera and a smaller lens while shooting in wet, misty, or drizzly conditions)

-          Quick set-up tripod (QSX DigiPro 8500 with a Joby Ballhead)

-          Heavy-duty tripod (Gitzo tripod with a Wimberly head)

-          Monopod (Gitzo)

-          Nikon Nikkor 600mm lens

-          Nikon Nikkor AF VR  80-400mm  4.5-5.6 lens

-          Nikon Nikkor AF-S  18-200mm  3.5-5.6 lens

-          Quantaray  28-200mm  3.5-5.6 lens

-          Quantaray AF  19-35mm  3.5-4.5 lens

-          Nikon AF-S 1.7 Teleconverter (TC-17EII)

-          Quantaray 2X DG Teleconverter

-          Kenko Extension Tubes (12mm, 20mm, 36mm)

-          Nikon SB-600 Speedlight (flash)

-          Sekonic Flash Master L-358 Light Meter

-          Expodisc

-          Circular polarizing filter for each lens size (except the 600mm)

-          UV filter for each lens size (except the 600mm)

-          Graduated neutral density filters (Lee .3 and .6)

-          Solid neutral density filter (Lee .9)

-          Lee filter holder and lens attachment rings

-          Lumiquest Mini Softbox

-          Big Bounce light reflector

-          Two collapsible light reflectors

-          About a dozen memory cards

-          Cable release

-          At least 2 spare camera batteries (charged)

-          Spare AA batteries for light meter and speedlight

-          Sanho Hyperdrive Colorspace (for backing up memory cards; smaller and more convenient than a laptop)

-          Cell phone

-          Battery chargers for everything (including the phone) as well as power adapters

-          Double axis Spirit Level

-          Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly (for cleaning lenses)

-          Visible Dust Sensor Loupe

-          Lint-free towels

-          Lens cleaning fluid (note: if carrying my gear on a plane, this must be in my one-quart liquids bag)

-          Small multi-purpose tool (similar to a Gerber tool)

-          Small container of Krazy Glue

-          Gloves that can fold back to become fingerless

-          Bandana

-          Scrunchy and clips to pull back Jodi’s hair

-          Assorted Ziplock bags

-          Instruction manuals

 

 

 

Terence

City Escapes Nature Photography

http://www.cityescapesphotography.com/

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - July 2010

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

July, 2010

 

 

 

 

Should I Choose Regular Canvas or a Gallery Wrap?

 

Last month we discussed the reasons why you might want to consider having your new photo printed on canvas, instead of on traditional photographic paper.  It doesn’t take too much poking around our site to discover, however, that we offer two different versions of canvas: traditional and gallery wrap.  This month, we look at the differences between the two so that you will have a better idea of which would fit your style.

 

There are two main differences between traditional and gallery wrap canvases.  The first has to do with how much of the actual canvas is covered by the image.  While both types of canvas have full coverage on the front of the image, gallery wraps also usually have printing on all four sides of the canvas, while traditional canvases are left unprinted on the sides.  Though there are many choices, the sides of gallery wraps are usually either solid black, solid white, or an extension of the actual image, in which the image itself is wrapped around the sides of the canvas.  In all cases, gallery wraps are fastened to the stretcher bars underneath only on the back of the bars, effectively hiding all staples, etc. from view.  Hanging hardware is also attached directly to the back of the stretcher bars.  This allows gallery wraps to be hung as they are, without the need for an external frame -- which brings us to the second main difference between traditional canvases and gallery wraps: whether or not an external frame is necessary.  Because traditional canvases are attached to the stretcher bars not only on the back, but also on the sides, proper display of these canvases requires an external frame to hide the fastening hardware.  The hanging hardware would also need to be attached to the external frame.

 

So, which style is preferable?  That is by and large a matter of personal choice.  Frames do add a degree of structural support and protection for the canvas, especially on the larger sizes, but they certainly are not required for successful display.  As long as they are treated with care, gallery wraps should have no structural issues.  Frames provide the opportunity to tie the canvas in visually to many different decors, from rustic to homey to sophisticated, and everything in between. They can and should highlight the art contained within, and when done properly, complement the image by defining and delineating its space, accenting its color scheme, and generally giving the image a “finished” feeling.   Framed images also seem “normal” to our eyes – we are accustomed to seeing prints in frames.

Gallery wraps tend to work best in decors that lean toward the modern.  They are clean and minimalist, having no defining border around the front of the image.  Their simplicity is their genius; there is nothing but the image to draw the viewer’s eye.  Of course, this lack of a defining border leaves the viewer open to distraction from whatever may be in close proximity to the gallery wrap.  For this reason, gallery wraps are especially effective in areas where the wrap has a bit of empty space around it, allowing the wall itself to lend significance to the image.

A final note: when considering a gallery wrap, it should be remembered that they, like all of our canvas prints, have a bit of thickness to them, and are not flat like a paper print.   Though the finished piece will not have the depth of a traditionally framed canvas, all of our canvas prints are stretched on wooden stretcher frames.  Gallery wraps, therefore, are still about an inch thick, and this should be taken into consideration when planning their proper placement.

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

 

Barbecues, fireworks, camping trips, water slides, watermelon – it must be the Fourth of July!  On this Independence Day, we would like to take a moment to be grateful for all of the fabulous things that America has to offer, not least of which are the amazing national parks spread throughout the country that are home to so many wonderful creatures and so much breathtaking natural beauty.  We are proud that our nation began the concept of “national park”, and that this wonderful concept has since spread throughout the world.  In light of this great idea, and in celebration of our freedom to do so, we encourage both citizens and visitors alike to go out and explore one or two – or a dozen! – national and state parks this summer.  You’re sure to see something beautiful!

 

 

July’s Fun Facts

 

In honor of Independence Day, we focus our fun facts this month on, of course, bald eagles.

 

·         Adopted in 1782 as the national symbol of the United States of America, the bald eagle was not the first choice: the golden eagle was.  However, the golden eagle was also found throughout Europe.  The fledgling United States, wanting to emphasize its separation and independence from the Continent, switched its choice to the bald eagle due to the raptor’s geographical specificity.

·         Benjamin Franklin opposed the election of the bald eagle to this exalted post, believing the bird lazy, cowardly, and a thief (among other things, bald eagles are notorious for stealing the fish caught by osprey), and therefore not worthy of representing this new country built on the ideals of bravery and honesty.  Franklin’s preference was for the turkey.

·         The largest bald eagle nest on record measured nine feet wide by twenty feet high, and topped the scales at more than 4,000 pounds.

 

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509-396-5154

 

Announcing the City Escapes Nature Photography Spring / Summer 2010 Release

We are pleased to announce our Spring / Summer 2010 release is now available at

http://www.city-escapes-photography.com/NewReleases.html  

 

Our newest release takes us to the Oregon coast, where we get to see a bit of personality from harbor seals; to Glacier National Park, which is perpetually stunning; and to the Gulf Coast, where the egrets reign supreme.  (The Gulf Coast images were taken only one week prior to oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill beginning to wash up onto the Louisiana shoreline in significant amounts.)  There is also a “lucky” elephant and a rainbowed waterfall that are not to be missed. 

 

Come find a new favorite image!

 

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www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

 

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - July 2010

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

June, 2010

 

 

 

Our Spring / Summer 2010 Release is Out

 

Our newest release takes us to the Oregon coast, where we get to see a bit of personality from harbor seals; to Glacier National Park, which is perpetually stunning; and to the Gulf Coast, where the egrets reign supreme.  (The Gulf Coast images were taken only one week prior to oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill beginning to wash up onto the Louisiana shoreline in significant amounts.)  There is also a “lucky” elephant and a rainbowed waterfall that are not to be missed.  Come find a new favorite image, and, as always, we’d love to hear what you think!

 

 

Why Should I Consider Canvas?

One of the questions we get most frequently is about when to choose canvas prints.  While it is true that the choice of a traditional print versus a canvas one is very much an issue of personal taste, for those who are considering canvas, that particular bit of information is not all that helpful.  Here, then, are some points to keep in mind when debating canvas versus traditional prints.

Canvas adds a beautiful texture and a classic feel to many photographs, especially images of the natural world.   The very slight roughness of the canvas surface lends a certain three-dimensionality to the image, emphasizing textures and depth.  Additionally, many clients and visitors to our shows tell us that canvas evokes the impression of a painting; indeed, several viewers have mistakenly confused some of our canvas-printed photographs for paintings. 

Additionally, no glass is used to frame a canvas print.  Being glass-free has several advantages:

     ~ the necessity for glare control is eliminated.

     ~ the piece is lighter in weight than an identically-sized, framed paper print, and is therefore able to be hung in places where a heavy frame might be too much for the supporting structures.

     ~ no glass means no irritating streaks on glass that are difficult to remove.

     ~ shipping is safer, as there is no glass to break if the box gets dropped or mishandled.  While severe mishandling could still break the frame, broken glass creates the possibility of damaging the print underneath, or more importantly, the person opening the box.  No glass means no glass shards.

 

Canvas prints are also framed without the use of mats, though a frame liner (a smaller inner frame set within the larger outer frame) is often used to the same effect as mats.  The use of this double-frame can impart a sense of greater substance to the canvas print, compared to the same print traditionally printed and framed.  And of course, for the most streamlined look of all, a Gallery Wrap canvas print has no frame whatsoever.

 

We hope this helps in your decision-making process.  If you are still unsure, we recommend visiting a local gallery and seeing the differences first-hand.  Because these are visual media, nothing beats actually seeing them with your own eyes.

 

 

Happy Father’s Day!

 

We want to wish all of the fathers out there (again, especially ours!) a fantastic Father’s Day.  May you have no lawn work or car maintenance to perform on your special day.

 

 

June’s Fun Fact

 

The male Namaqua sandgrouse, a bird found throughout the western half of arid southern Africa, has found a unique way of ensuring that his chicks get enough water to drink.  Every morning, he makes the round-trip flight to a watering hole, a journey of up to 80 km, where he soaks his underbelly feathers.  The feathers absorb up to eight times their own weight in water before the sandgrouse returns to his nest, where his thirsty offspring drink the water directly from his feathers. 

 

 

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

509-396-5154