Category: Learn photography

Posted on

Photo of the Month – May 2024

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For May we chose an image taken on our Badlands Workshop. The image was taken by Jim Seward while photographing bison in Badlands National Park. Jim is a travel and landscape photographer from the Chicago area.

Congratulations to May 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Jim Seward

Photographer Jim Seward

The Story… 

I do not have a lot of experience shooting wildlife. First I got some of the iconic shoots of bison but I wanted to get something different as well.

We were on the long road with a fence line. I didn’t like the fence line in the background. On the left side of the road there were a pair of bison standing up but they were not doing much. I saw a little head pop up in the yellow flowers. He was lying down with just his head up. I got down low and shot at eye level.

It was all the things I have learned from taking pictures over the years. I wanted my mid ground to be sharp with interesting bokeh in both the foreground and background. I shot through the flowers to get the effect.

If somebody puts me in the right spot and I have decent equipment, I can take a decent picture.

Photo of the Month – May 2024

EXIF Data:

Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Lens: Sigma 150-600 mm with 1.4 extender

Aperture: f6.3

Shutter: 1/400 second

ISO: 500

Mode: Manual

About Photographing in the Badlands

I was completely surprised at how much color variation there was. This was especially in the rocks. The yellows and the reds blew me away. Before the trip I had looked at several sites to see what we would be shooting. None of those images did justice to what we actually shot in the park.

It was like shooting sunsets in Patagonia. The colors are so good right out of the camera that you barely need to do anything in post. I just let the colors speak for themselves.

The timing for the green grass in Spring was important. The green grass, yellow rocks and blue sky were tremendous. It is the right time to go to the Badlands if you like color.

These is also a great variety of wildlife. I got a couple shots of the Burrowing Owls. I had never seen them before in my life. I was amazed by their habitat. Just to see it was terrific.

Goin to the abandoned town was as fun as anything in the park. I have used ND filters before in New Zealand, Utah and in North Dakota. The sky was perfect for Cottonwood. With an ND filter I like spending a little more time. It is a more relaxed pace.

With the silo I kept repeating the process over and over to get the right sky. I wanted the clouds moving over my head. I like it when the clouds are moving into the background.

Abandoned Silo in Cottonwood

Jim’s Tips for Landscape Photography

Tip 1

When you are in the field and you think you might be done, wait another five or ten minutes. You might be surprised with a piece of light that breaks through or a change of color. Things can change just when you think it is time to leave.

Tip 2

Don’t be afraid of unusual light situations. On the last morning we had fog roll in. We thought the fog would obliterate everything. However, as the fog moved through the scene it created some interesting photos.

On Jim’s Horizon:

Namibia

Greenland

Oregon Coast and Redwoods

Harris and Skye in the Hebrides

Jim photographing Big Horn Sheep

Interested in joining us in a national park this year? We have space on our Bosque and White Sands National Park Workshop from Dec 8-12, 2024 Learn more

Happy Summer!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

Posted on

Texas Birds: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Texas Birds in Spring Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to the South Texas Plains of the Rio Grand Valley. They spent 4 days photographing songbirds and raptors from bird blinds. The group was delighted to photograph abundant Painted Buntings, several types or warblers and several types of orioles.

To see photos from our Texas Birds in Spring Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s new:

Tom and Cree sold their house in Colorado and will be moving back to Palmer, Alaska during the first week of June. They are driving all the way up the Alcan over a period of 6 days. Expect us to have more limited communication during that time. Our new address will be:

Tom Bol Photo Workshops

6342 N Mountain Meadow Trail

Palmer, Alaska. 99645

Any upcoming openings?

Yes! Our schedule was full before but due to a few cancellations, we have 4 workshops with space available this year. Check out our Upcoming Openings Page

We also added some new workshops for 2026 including:

Patagonia Photo Tour

Acadia National Park

What’s next:

Tom and Cree are headed to Badlands National Park in South Dakota for landscape and wildlife photography. They are hoping for stormy skies in order to photograph lightning using the new Pre-Release technology.

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Ready to move back up!
Posted on

Louisiana Bayous: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Louisiana Bayous Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to the swamps around Lafayette, Louisiana to photograph the reptiles, trees and birds in the Bald Cypress bayous. Our group were delighted to photograph Barred owls, nesting egrets and Roseate Spoonbills in flight.

To see photos from our Louisiana Bayous Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s next:

Tom and Cree are headed to Badlands National Park in South Dakota for landscape and wildlife photography. They are hoping for stormy skies in order to photograph lightning using the new Pre-Release technology.

What’s new:

Cree just had a two page spread of her Bohemian Waxwing image published in the Spring 2024 Living Bird Magazine. It was the background for a Nikon ad promoting the Z8 camera.

Any upcoming openings? Yes! Our schedule was full before but due to a few cancellations, we have 4 workshops with space available this year:

Nome: Arctic Birds and Musk Ox: June 17-22, 2024 – 2 Spaces available

Lake Clark Bear Workshop July 28-August 2 – 2 Spaces available

Katmai Brown Bear Safari August 13-19, 2024 – 2 Spaces Available

Bosque and White Sands December 8-12 – Space Available

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

Trip Report: Costa Rica Rainforest

Tom and Cree just finished their Costa Rica Rainforest Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their groups to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica to photograph the animals, flowers and birds in the lowland rainforest. Our groups were delighted with the baby monkeys and abundance of Scarlet Macaws this year.

To see photos from our Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s next:

Tom and Cree are headed to the Bayous of Louisiana for their next workshop. They will be gliding through the bayous on pontoon boats in search of alligators and birds and then visiting a rookery with nesting Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills.

Any upcoming openings?

Nome: Arctic Birds and Musk Ox: June 17-22, 2024 – 1 space available

Badlands National Park Workshop May 22-26, 2024 – 1 space available

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

Iditarod and Aurora: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Iditarod and Northern Lights Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to Alaska to photograph the action and pageantry of the Iditarod and then on to Fairbanks for Northern Lights. Our group was surprised how caught up they became in the ongoing race standings. It was also a great year for aurora, with the lights showing up 4 times on the workshop.

To see photos from our Iditarod and Northern Lights Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s next:

Tom and Cree are headed to Central America for their Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop. We will be photographing tree frogs, macaws and 4 species of monkeys in Osa Peninsula.

What’s New:

It’s official! Tom and Cree just bought a house in Palmer, Alaska and will be moving in June. They will continue to offer workshops in the Lower 48 and abroad, just from a different home base. New address coming soon.

Want to join us in Alaska this summer? We have a few openings:

Nome: Arctic Birds and Musk Ox: June 17-22, 2024 – 2 spaces available Click here

Brown Bear Safari: August 13-19, 2024 – 2 spaces available Click here

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

Indonesia Workshop: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Indonesia Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to Borneo and East Java in Indonesia to photograph the colorful people, places and animals of the area. Our group enjoyed the interactions among orangutans and were astonished at how human-like they were.

To see photos from our 2024 Indonesia: Orangutans and Volcanos, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s next:

Tom and Cree are headed to Alaska for Northern Lights and the Iditarod. We will be photographing the “Last Great Race” in three different locations and then searching for aurora in Talkeetna, Healy and Fairbanks, Alaska. As part of our route, we drive right by the entrance to Denali National Park.

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Indonesia Workshop
Posted on

Photo of the Month – January 2024

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For January we chose an image taken on our Oaxaca Mexico Workshop. The image was taken by Monica Whitt during our Dia de los Muertos photo shoot. Monica is a commercial and portrait photographer from Anchorage, Alaska. Check out her work at Monica Whitt Photography

Congratulations to January 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Monica Whitt

Monica in agave fields of Oaxaca

The Story… 

The way the lights were set up was amazing. The Clam Shell format is pretty cool. It really highlights the face.

The background light was also convenient. The wall was already red. The background light with the red gel cap accentuated the color and added mood.

It was great to have the strobe trigger and be able to direct the model. I tried to get as many expressions in the face as possible. I asked her to turn around and to tilt her face a bit.

I also shot in portrait and landscape. I zoomed in and out. I was using my Canon 28-70 2.0 lens. This worked well for zooming. I just kept experimenting to see what worked best.

The villa was amazing. The arches, the color, the flooring. The whole place helped the mood and the vibe. It was comfortable and not at all hot. So colonial. I loved it!

Photo of the Month – Sofia - Day of Dead

EXIF Data:

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Lens: 28-70 2.0

Aperture: f8

Shutter: 1/100 sec

ISO: 100

Mode: Manual

About Photographing in Oaxaca

It was my first time in Oaxaca. Photographing people was a highlight of the week. This is why I signed up for the workshop.

I was also fascinated by the murals all over town. Then adding the couple (of models), this made it so much better.

I frequently had to decide what angle to photograph. Literally in a 360′ view, there would be 1000 photos right there. The people were just wonderful.

Chef Alejandro Ruiz at the market

Monica’s Tips for Travel Portraits

Tip 1

I recommend environmental portraits in Oaxaca. They showcase where the person works and the area.

Tip 2

Shooting in shade makes for even lighting. If there is no shade, try putting the sun behind the person.

Tip 3

Depending on their comfort level – tell the models to do whatever they want. They feel free and really show more natural expressions and genuine smiles.

Tip 4

I try to get a variety of expressions. When I work with high school seniors I ask them funny questions like, “Are you the smart one in the family?” They laugh and I get great expressions.

Working the agave fields

On Monica’s Horizon:

Patagonia

Germany – to visit family

Portraits of Native Alaskans

Interested in joining us in Oaxaca in January 2025? Learn more

Tom and Cree are headed to Borneo with a workshop this weekend. They will be photographing an area with the largest population of Orangutans in the world. After that they join a group in Alaska for Northern Lights and the Iditarod.

Happy trails!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

Posted on

What’s up at Tom Bol Photo Workshops

We hope your 2024 is off to a great start!

We are in the middle of teaching our two online classes this week. The topic of Artificial Intelligence has been getting plenty of attention. We want to invite you to attend our next free, online Happy Hour Chat on AI. We will be discussing AI in photography and looking at images modified and or created with AI. The session goes from 5-6 pm Denver MDT on Thursday, January 18. If you are an AI user, you are welcome to submit an image to share for the chat. Send an image or request the Zoom link at creetbp@gmail.com.

Sand not snow!

New Workshops for 2026

We have just started adding new workshops for 2026, including our Louisiana Birds and Bayous. Our Antarctica Workshop is already full with 20 people heading to South Georgia, the Falklands and Antarctica with us. We will be adding more workshops throughout the next few months and encourage you to check back frequently. We hope to post our 2026 Chilkat Eagle Workshop next.

Openings for 2024

Our Upcoming Openings button makes it easier to see which workshops have openings in the short term. We have a few openings in both 2024 and 2025. We look forward to seeing you in the field!

Today is the last day for us to take sign ups for our 2024 Northern Lights and Iditarod Workshop. We have a few open spaces if anyone would like to take advantage of peak northern lights season from February 29- March 8, 2024. Aurora, Alaska and some of the best sled dog photography in the world!

Speaking of Alaska, some of you have heard that Tom and I plan to move back to Palmer, Alaska in the next year. The timing is good for us and we look forward to returning to spectacular wildlife and landscape photography year round. Rest assured that we will be continuing all of our usual domestic and international workshops and perhaps adding a few new ones in Alaska.

We always love hearing from you! creetbp@gmail.com  

Cree and Tom

Posted on

Bosque & White Sands Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Bosque and White Sands Workshop and want to share the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to two locations in New Mexico to photograph thousands of birds in flight and capture dazzling pink skies on white gypsum sand dunes. The photos were so good this year, we decided to add another workshop there in 2024..

To see photos from our 2023 Bosque and White Sands Workshop, check out our trip report, click here

What’s New:

This year is the peak of the 11 year cycle for Northern Lights Photography. That means the displays promise to be dazzling for night photographers. Three spaces available on our Northern Lights and Iditarod Workshop in March 2024. Learn more

What’s next:

Tom and Cree will be taking a break for a few days in the jungles of Mexico. They will be at home for the holidays and then working on a few Online Classes for January.

Happiest of Holidays to you and your loved ones!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

Photo of the Month November 2023

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For November we chose an image taken on our Chilkat Eagles Workshop. The image was taken by Marni Nagy on a snowy day on the Chilkat River in Alaska. Marni’s creativity extends to her business as well. Check out Capturing Couture to see her beautiful, custom camera straps. Perfect item for the Holidays!

Congratulations to November 2023 ‘s featured photographer – Marni Nagy

Marni on the edge of the Chilkat River

The Story… 

I was off to the side. I got a different angle than everyone else. One of the eagles, the one I call Mohawk, was the aggressor all week. Based on her size, I think she was a female. She was often the one going after other eagles. I have the before and after sequence from this image. The eagle who had the fish flipped over and had it’s back on the ground to get it’s talons in the air.

I didn’t realize that eagles were scavengers. Eagles would grab a salmon and bring it out of the river and then another eagle would come in and take it. There were plenty of fish to go around in the river.

I was working on protecting my ISO. This was my biggest learning from the workshop. Tom and I discussed exposure compensation vs ISO. He recommended giving up exposure compensation to have a lower ISO.

Having a day of snow was just magical. Even the grasses became pictures.

Photo of the Month – Eagle Dance on the Chilkat River

EXIF Data:

Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: Sigma 150-600 mm at 600 mm

Aperture: f6.3

Shutter: 1/2500 sec

ISO: 1100

Mode: Manual, auto ISO

Exposure Comp +.3

Mature Bald Eagle in Flight

About Photographing in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

I had never been to Alaska. Only to Colorado. I feel like the vistas in Alaska were much grander than in Colorado. When the fog rolled in I could really get the layers with the trees. The mountains were stunning. I turned my landscape into a black and white image. There were so many layers of majesty.

The number of eagles made it very easy to find a photo. The difficulty was to find a picture that showed the quantity of eagles. I wish I had gotten a better shot of just how many eagles were sitting there. It was just amazing.

Across the scenic Chilkat River

Marni’s Tips for Photographing Eagles

Tip 1

Go to the right place. At Chilkat the eagles were all right there.

Tip 2

You needed to have patience. Some of the groups would leave after 20 minutes because there were no eagles. The eagles would always show up if you waited long enough.

Tip 3

I was at 600mm most of the time. Bring a long enough lens.

Tip 4

Try using manual mode, with auto ISO for wildlife. I had not shot in manual before. I will use this again. I used the group area tracking in the D850 and liked the results.

On Marni’s Horizon:

Bosque

Iceland

Northern Lights

Marni and new photo friends

Tom and Cree are headed to Bosque for the last 2 workshops of the year. Sandhill cranes fly through vibrant New Mexico skies as they land on the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. For the last two days of the trip we photograph soft hues of pink and blue over the dramatic dunes at White Sands National Park. Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for posts.

The Northern Lights have been spectacular in Fairbanks this fall. Get in on the action on our Northern Lights and Iditarod Workshop in March 2024. Three spaces available. Click here to learn more.

Thanks for following our posts!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com