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Photographer of the Month – February 2025

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For February we chose an image taken on our Baja Whales Workshop. The image was taken by Marni Nagy off the coast of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Marni is a California photographer who owns a business that makes custom camera straps: Capturing Couture

Congratulations to February 2025 ‘s featured photographer – Marni Nagy

Marni at San Ignacio Lagoon

The Story… 

For this image I had my 150-600 lens all the way out. A guy named Bertrand was in the front of the boat and would not move. So I moved to the left side of the boat. The whale jumped another time right before the picture that I got. It was wavy and bumpy. I found it was easier to stabilize the camera shooting from the side of the boat.

It was dumb luck to get the boat in there. With wildlife photography you are just lucky most of the time.

I was shooting pretty quick. Tom had us up at over 4000th of a second for shutter speed. It was pretty sunny, so ISO was not a problem.

The boat gives the breach context and scale. In my new job I am always asking my media folks to give me more context. They submit close up images of race cars. I always want to see the track or something in the background for context.

February 2025 Photo of the Month by Marni Nagy

EXIF Data:

Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: Sigma 180-600

Aperture: f6.3

Shutter: 1/5000

ISO: 4100

About Photographing in Baja

Baja was great. Whales galore. The whales were so close that they filled the frame. It was hard to get context because we were so close.

There were some behaviors that I did not even know I wanted to get. I was very happy to get a shot of the “golden rainbow” feeding behavior that creates a rainbow when the whale spouts.

The Sea of Cortez side was all about the different kinds of animals. I had never seen dolphins like that, They were small and black with stubby little noses.

The sealions had so many expressive faces. I took photos of everything we saw: Great Blue Herons, kingfishers, jellyfish. The sea lions had the most personality of all.

I always have a bit of gear envy on these trips. Most people had the new stuff. I was super impressed with the quality of the images from my Nikon d850. After holding it up for so long shooting whales, I started to think about how to create a small tripod support system to help with the weight. A mono pod might have helped.

I was sceptical that we would really get to pet the whales. On the second day we were headed back. The boat slowed down. Everyone was saying “Come on, come on.” The whale turned around and came to out boat. It was just magical. We all willed the whale to come over.

When I photographed the Blue Footed Boobies, they were getting bounce light off of the bird poop on the rock. It made everything really bright. I waited until the birds were doing something interesting with their heads. That was my first time photographing Blue-footed Boobies. They have weird little eyes. They look a bit creepy and have interesting feathers.

Blue-footed Boobies

Marni’ s Tips for Photographing in Baja

Tip 1

Sunscreen.

Tip 2

The shots I like the most are the images with some background in them. I was on a workshop once with Joe McNally and he said, “Take a picture that can’t be shot in a zoo”. A whale with the Baja coastline in the background is definitely not from the zoo

Tip 3

Don’t throw anything away. I didn’t lock the pelican shot in the camera. It was brighter int he camera and I brought the exposure down in Lightroom. It was the shape of the water that made the shot for me.

Brown Pelican on the Sea of Cortez

On Marni’s Horizon:

Patagonia

Iceland

Finland

Galapagos

Baja Workshop

What’s coming up?

Happy Hour: Winter Image Celebration – Join Tom and Cree on March 19 at 6 pm MDT Denver time to see what everyone has been shooting lately. Submit your 3 favorite images from this winter and settle in for a photo expo. Click here to ask for the link

Where are Tom and Cree? They are in Alaska right now photographing in the arctic. The weather looks good and aurora activity should be high this week. Next up they will be heading to Costa Rica with 12 photographers to explore the rainforest and photograph sloths, monkeys and macaws.

Workshop Openings?

Last minute opening for Louisiana Bayous, just one space May 7-11, 2025 also just one space left for August 22-29, 2025 Greenland.

Hope to see you at the Image Celebration!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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Baja Whale Workshop: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just returned from their Baja Whale Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. Nine photographers joined them on the Sea of Cortez and San Ignacio Lagoon to photograph Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, dolphin and plenty of seabirds. The experience of touching a wild whale and being so close to them was a highlight of the workshop.

To see photos from our Baja Whale Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s Next: Cree and Tom are headed off to photograph the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and to look for Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska. Our group will be flying into Ruby, Alaska this year to see the race in progress.

Image Celebration: Winter Images – please join us for our next Happy Hour Image Celebration. This is your chance to show 3 of your recent images from this winter. March 19 at 6 pm MDT Denver. Click here to request the Zoom link. Feel free to invite all your friends and fellow photographers as well!

Any upcoming openings?

A space just opened: Louisiana Bayous May 7-11, 2025

Ouray Fall Colors : September 28-August 2, 2025 4 Spaces Available

Have a wonderful winter!

Tom and Cree

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Finland Photo Tour: Trip Report

Tom and Cree just returned from Finland and their Finland: Winter Magic Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. Eleven photographers joined them in Finnish Lapland to photograph aurora at night and to explore the Finnish forest during the day. The dazzling aurora displays and novel modes of transportation were highlights of the workshop.

To see photos from our Finland Winter Magic Photo Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s Next: Cree and Tom are headed to Baja to photograph whales and sea life leaping out of the water. A highlight is sure to be touching Gray Whales from our small fishing boat.

Aurora Photography: Free Zoom Presentation – please join us for our next Happy Hour talk on Aurora Photography. Tom and Cree will walk you through all the settings, gear and techniques for capturing the aurora. February 11 at 6 pm MST Denver. Click here for the Zoom link. Feel free to invite all your friends and fellow photographers as well!

Any upcoming openings?

A space just opened: Louisiana Bayous May 7-11, 2025

Two spaces available: Greenland Disko Bay August 22-29, 2025

We hope you are enjoying your winter where ever you are!

Tom and Cree

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Photographer of the Month – January 2025

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 Bosque and White Sands Workshop. The image was taken by Ellie Burns-Brookens while photographing the “Blast Off” at Bosque Del Apache NWR. Ellie is a landscape photographer from Oregon who is quickly becoming a wildlife photographer as well.

Congratulations to January 2025 ‘s featured photographer – Ellie Burns-Brookens

Ellie in White Sands National Park

The Story… 

I don’t shoot birds very well. We had a practice session where we were just learning about our equipment. I knew I needed help getting the right settings. Steve Glass helped me get the right Canon settings. Tom did a presentation that showed us what we were looking for with birds in flight. Tom’s hints included light coming through feathers, groups of birds and specific behavious. That helped me understand the goals.

I knew that I needed to just see those situations and shoot. With landscape photography I take my time and try different compositions. The pace is much faster with wildlife photography.

We shot for quite a while that morning. I started by taking close up photos of Snow Geese. I tried to capture bird behaviour and then started working on birds that were taking off and landing.

Tom often starts yelling random things. He said “Try to get them flying through the sun”. This made no sense to me in the beginning. I was wondering “What exposure should I use?” “How do i do this?” Then I just started looking for groups of geese flying through the sun. I kept tracking them and pushing the shutter.

January 2025 Photo of the Month by Ellie Burns-Brookens

In this photo, I loved the silhouettes, especially the one with the tattered wing. In order for me to be successful with this king of shooting, I needed a combination of knowing when to start shooting and knowing what to looking for. Normally, I would never have shot into the sun without Tom’s hint. A tiny bit of skill, Some luck. And the right suggestion at the right time.

Now I am in Hawaii shooting albatross in flight….very hard! I feel like I know what I am looking for. The camera is behaving. I feel like I have learned a lot. It will be a long time before I feel like I am really good at it.

I am using Photo Mechanic now to go through all my new bird images. This is the least edited photo I have ever done. It was all in the camera. I added a slight vignette and brought down the highlights.

Okay…..I guess you can shoot into the sun.

EXIF Data:

Camera: Canon R6

Lens: Canon RF 100-500 at 500mm

Aperture: f7.1

Shutter: 1/1250

ISO: 100

Mode: Manual, Auto ISO

Sunset with Sandhill Cranes at Bernardo Refuge

About Photographing in Bosque

I learned a lot more about wildlife photography. The last time I shot birds was in Patagonia and they were condors with 9 ft wing spans.

The colors in Bosque are stunning in the sky. You have beautiful light for the background to the wildlife.

We knew the geese and cranes would be coming to certain areas for roosting at night and take off in the morning. The ponds are managed for that. The wildlife is so abundant that you get a chance to practice a lot. There are so many behaviors to see. Combine that with incredible skies and it is just magical.

I didn’t realize the Sandhill Cranes were so colorful. They are quirky birds that make weird gestures. They move their necks in funny ways. They are very different from other birds that I have photographed.

I love the feeling and the noise when all the cranes come in at once. You can hear them coming from a long way off. It is very exciting. I didn’t think bird photography would be so exciting.

About Photographing in New Mexico

I loved photographing in White Sands. It felt a lot like photographing in the Palouse. I practiced looking for shape and light. This was different for me as a landscape photographer. I was looking forward to that.

I did a workshop in the Palouse and for the first few days I could not see it. I could not see the shapes and lines. This came back to me when we were in White Sands. I was always looking for beautiful opportunities with layers and V shapes. Intersecting lines and curves. The intersecting layers reached all the way to the mountains and it was so pretty.

The other thing that was available was finding a single standout subject, like the yucca, to contrast to the sea of shapes and color. I tried to keep it very simplistic. I used my telephoto and made sure I had just a few layers in the foreground. I put the yucca on the right on purpose to balance out the hills on the left.

Landscape in White Sands National Park

Ellie’s Tips for Photographing in New Mexico

Tip 1

Go with Tom and Cree. They know the locations and the bird behavior. It is the perfect workshop to learn to shoot birds in flight. I could never have done it on my own. I knew what to look for and had plenty of time to practice in the field.

Tip 2

I was amazed at the colors. I love lenticular clouds. I have never seen a bright orange lenticular cloud like that before. In White Sands, the sand reflects the beautiful color of the clouds. I don’t know of any other place where the light is like the light in New Mexico.

Tip 3

These are great locations for trying new creative techniques. Sometimes you get stuck in a photography rut and want to be more creative. These are great places to try thinking differently. Shoot flying things flying through the sun. Shooting shapes and simplicity in the dunes. This workshop got me jazzed up again. I am inspired to try more new things.

Sandhill Crane Behaviour in Bosque NWR

On Ellie’s Horizon:

Iceland

Botswana – first time to Africa

Ireland and Scotland

Orkney and Shetland Islands

Ellie photographing the Blast Off in Bosque NWR

What’s coming up?

Happy Hour: All About Aurora – Join Tom and Cree for a free online presentation on photographing the Aurora. February 11 at 6 pm MST Denver time. Click here to ask for the link

Where are Tom and Cree? We are headed to Finland for a Northern Lights Workshop and then on to Baja to photograph whales with a group. Both temperature extremes on these two workshops

Workshop Openings? Interested in photographing whales and iceburgs in Greenland? One space just opened in August. We also have openings for Costa Rica and Spring Warblers in 2025.

We are headed back to Bosque and White Sands in 2027. Just 2 spaces available.

We hope you are enjoying some winter photography where ever you are!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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Trip Report: Bosque & White Sands

Tom and Cree just returned from New Mexico from their Bosque and White Sands Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They joined two groups of 10 photographers to photograph otherworldly landscapes flocks of waterfowl in flight. The stunning sunsets and ample opportunities to perfect “birds in flight” techniques were both favorites of the tour.

To see photos from our Bosque and White Sands Photo Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s Next:

Cree and Tom will be celebrating the Holidays in Palmer, Alaska with their son Skyler. There will likely be some birding outings and hopefully some opportunities to photograph Northern Lights.

Image Celebration: Best of 2024 – You are all invited to this annual event! Join Tom and Cree online for a free celebration of everyone’s top 1 or 2 images from 2024. January 10 at 6 pm MST Denver. Send in your best one or two images for 2024 and be ready to share details. Contact us for the link. This will be recorded and available afterwards.

Any upcoming openings?

By popular demand we are offering two online PhotoShop classes from January 6-10. A few spaces open on each. Here are all the details

Two of our 2025 Workshops have openings.

Two spaces just became available for our popular Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop – March 22-29, 2025. This is also a wonderful option for non-photographer spouses or friends. Read More

Three spaces are available for our Spring Warblers Workshop May 13-20. This once only workshop is perfect for bird photographers in one of the best places for spring warblers in the US.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season with friends, family and loved ones!

Tom and Cree

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Photo of the Month – November 2024

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 Arches and Canyonlands Workshop. The image was taken by SaraLynn Lehner and edited by her husband Dave Lehner while photographing at the Garden of Eden in Arches National Park. Dave and Saralynn are wildlife and landscape photographers from Colorado Springs.

Congratulations to November 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Saralynn and Dave Lehner

Saralynn and Dave in Castle Valley, Utah

The Story… 

Saralynn: It took my breath away. I am not normally a person who likes deserts. I was thinking this scene is magnificent. How do I record this to capture the feeling after we leave?

I wanted to be sure I had my settings right. I am still learning the camera. I tried different apertures. I was thinking about exposure comp and asked myself “Do I want it lighter or darker?” Because I get so easily excitable, I had to think about my breathing. I was hand holding the camera and wanted to be still, so I took some deep breaths.

I took a whole bunch of photos. I moved to the left to get the arch in the frame. I felt very satisfied that I got it. I played with a variety of settings to make sure I captured the scene just right.

In the past I have not used my playback enough. On this trip I used playback all the time. I was walking back to the car and saw some tourists from India. They asked what we were photographing and I showed them my camera back. They said, “Oh my gosh, that looks like a painting.” That’s when I knew I really got it.

November 2024 Photo of the Month by Saralynn Lehner

Dave: I like using just one tool to edit. I found PhotoShop much easier to use than Lightroom and it really meets my needs. The editing was pretty straight forward. I masked the sky separately from the mountains. I brought the whites down a bit in the landscape because the mountains and clouds were bright. I added texture to the red rocks. This brought out some of the lines in the rocks.

I did a very minimal edit on the color. I did not want to effect the pink sky because Saralynn really captured it. I did not want to lose any of the red orange on the rocks. I really just stuck to changing the textures in the scene. I did remove a few minor road signs.

EXIF Data:

Camera: Nikon Z8

Lens: Nikon 100-400 at 360mm

Aperture: f5.6

Shutter: 1/320th

ISO: 640

Mode: Aperture

The Garden of Eden in Arches National Park by Saralynn Lehner

About Photographing in Arches and Canyonlands

Saralynn – I loved it. I was so surprised at how beautiful the rocks and the arches were. This was especially so when the sun came out. Monument Valley was beautiful too. Arches had so much more. There were formations all over the place and the snowy background added to it. I fell in love with Moab. It surprised me.

Dave – This was my third time going to Arches. I have always been impressed with the arches and the sky behind the arches. The highlight of this trip was the recent snow on the LaSals.. They looked so crisp and clean. They looked like they were on a Coors Lite commercial.

Saralynn – We have plans to go back in late February or early March. You could spend so much time in the park and it is only 8 hours from our house. You can shoot the formations from so many different angles. We want to spend some time at Delicate Arch and Double Arch.

Dave – Mesa Arch was on my wishlist and we nailed it. I loved our angle on the right side of the arch.

Mesa Arch at Sunrise by Saralynn Lehner

Lehner Tips for Photographing in the Utah Desert

Tip 1 Saralynn

Include the iconic features. It donned on me that I was taking so many photos and yet, I did not have any of the arches in them. The snow on the LaSals and the sun distracted me. I took two steps to the left and was able to include the Turret Arch in the image.

Tip 2 Dave

Walking down the road just a bit will really change the perspective on the scene. Walk up the road and then walk in the opposite direction. Going the other direction will bring other opportunities. Keep looking for images as you walk.

Tip 3 Dave

Every day is different with the weather in November. It was a blessing for us. It gave us new opportunities every day. ND filters can add a moody element to changing weather.

Tip 4 Saralynn

When other people are photographing from a different spot, walk over and see if there is something there. Maybe they are seeing something different. Keep an open mind to others’ point of view.

On Team Lehner’s Horizon:

Bosque & White Sands National Park

Tucson & Saguaro National Park

Iceland

Redwoods National Park

Ouray, Colorado

Acadia National Park

Vietnam

Team Lehner in action

What’s coming up?

Bol Holiday Gift Guide – Everyone welcome! Join Tom and Cree online for our free annual gift recommendations for photographers. December 1, 2024 at 4 pm MDT Denver. Click here to get the free link.

Tom and Cree are headed to Bosque del Apache and White Sands National Park next. A last minute space opened up on the Dec 8-12 workshop if you would like to join them Click here for details.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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Arches and Canyonlands Trip Report

Tom and Cree just returned from the Utah Desert for their Arches and Canyonlands Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They joined a group of 10 photographers to photograph landscapes with stunning red rock formations. The variable weather, night sky shoot and morning light at Mesa Arch were all favorites of the tour.

To see photos from our Arches and Canyonlands Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s Next:

Cree and Tom are taking a few weeks off to photograph eagles in Haines, Alaska. They will be driving over and looking for moose and northern lights along the way. Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for updates. We will do our best to answer your emails as soon as possible.

Any upcoming openings?

Two spaces just became available for our popular Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop – March 22-29, 2025. Photograph sloths, Scarlet Macaws and four types of monkeys. Read More

Here are a few of the workshops where we have Upcoming Openings

Thank you to everyone who served in the military. Happy Veterans Day.

Tom and Cree

The LaSal Mountains with new snow
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Photo of the Month – October 2024

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For October we chose an image taken on our Route 66 West Workshop. The image was taken by Scott Harrison while photographing at the Enchanted Trails RV Park outside of Albuquerque. Scott is an editorial photographer who enjoys photographing in color, Infrared and Black and White. He can be found on both Facebook and Instagram as harrysonpics.

Congratulations to October 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Scott Harrison

Scott in the Seaba Motorcycle Museum in Warwick, Oklahoma

The Story… 

I just started photographing several scenes of vintage trailers. To make it look more like an Infrared image I decided to include trees. Trees turn white in Infrared photography. I even forget what color the car was in the original. Processing in infrared turned it to orange.

Processing is what really creates the color for infrared. I purchased a few profiles that I use in Lightroom for my infrared images. This allows me to select whichever channel color swap I want when processing. I created a YouTube video on Infrared Basics for the Thousand Oaks Camera Group and you can access it here

I started working with Infrared 3 years ago. Now I am on my second converted Infrared camera. I got started by using an Infrared filter on my iphone. I used it to photograph missions in California. I used an iphone tripod because the exposures are 30-60 seconds long.

October 2024 Photo of the Month by Scott Harrison

With the image of the trailer, I wanted to emphasize the color in the trees. I often shoot superwide with Infrared to include vegetation. To make infrared photos pop, I photograph the subject with trees surrounding it.

EXIF Data:

Camera: Canon EOS RP

Lens: Canon 16mm 2.8

Aperture: f6.3

Shutter: 1/400th

ISO: 160

Scott’s Tips for Photographing on Route 66

Tip 1

Quite often when you meet someone you only have time to take a few pictures. I followed Barb into the Meat Market in Erick, OK and I asked the owner if I could take a photo. I took two frames and he asked us to leave. I often use shutter priority when I shoot indoors

Route 66 portrait from Erick, Oklahoma

Tip 2

I want to tell a story with my images. My idea in the long run is to create a book. I mix in people, objects, close ups, mid-range, long-range, a bit of everything.

Tip 3

Use a variety of lenses. I carry two cameras to have more lenses available.

Tip 4

I hate using tripods. It seems too restricting.

Tip 5

Pick up a camera every day. Join your local camera club to learn. Join the competitions. It will improve your photography. Photography is a great hobby for retirees.

Painted Desert Inn in Petrified Forest National Park

About Photographing on Route 66

I love history and Americana. On Route 66 you are going to see all sorts of signs, vehicles, museums, interesting people. It gives you an understanding of how America developed.

My favorite parts are Arizona and New Mexico. Every town you go to has tourist attractions that are fun to photograph. You also see small towns that are suffering economically. Seligman in Arizona brings tourists in by the busload. But one block away there are houses that are 50 years old and abandoned areas. You see that all along Route 66.

My dad’s family lived in western Nebraska. Twice in the 1930’s they went to Los Angeles to look for work. I think they must have gone down through Denver to Albuquerque and then along Route 66 to LA. This was the dust bowl era. I have a personal family connection to Route 66.

Lily at the Route 66 Diner in Albuquerque

On Scott’s Horizon:

Tucson, Arizona

New England, especially Boston

Pinnacles National Park

Alaska Eagles or Bears

Scott in Winslow, Arizona

What’s up with Tom and Cree?

Tom and Cree will be traveling in Moab, Utah with a workshop group and then heading to Haines, Alaska to photograph eagles as a personal project. Leave us an email if you need anything and we will do our best to respond as soon as we can.

Interested in an upcoming workshop? Check out of Upcoming Openings page

Happy Trails!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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Kenya Photo Workshop – Trip Report

Tom and Cree had a terrific time on their Kenya Photo Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They joined 10 photographers on a 8 day exploration of the Masai Mara in Kenya. The variety of big cats in action was a highlight for everyone.

To see photos from our Kenya Photo Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s new:

We had a spectacular night of aurora in Alaska on October 10, as did many of you in the Lower 48! Tom just finished a blog post with tips for capturing the aurora: Click here to learn more. If you want to join us on an Aurora Workshop, we have space on our Northern Lights and Iditarod Workshop in 2026

We will be traveling to New Mexico for our next two workshops on Route 66. We will be based in Oklahoma and Texas for the first workshop and in New Mexico and Arizona for the second one. After that we are headed to Arches and Canyonlands to capture beautiful red rock formations and look for the Milky Way at night.

Any upcoming openings?

Our 2025 schedule is close to full. You can always join a waiting list for a trip that is full by sending us a note from our Contact Page

Here are a few of the workshops where we have Upcoming Openings

We have a last minute opening on our Baja Whales Workshop on February 15-22, 2025. Here are more details

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

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Monument Valley Trip Report

Tom and Cree just finished their Monument Valley Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They joined 10 photographers on a 4 day exploration of Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation. The variety of photography and inspiring vistas were highlights for everyone.

To see photos from our Monument Valley Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here

What’s new:

We will be heading to Africa for the great migration next. Our tent camp is located right on the Mara River where all of the action is. After leaving Kenya, Cree is headed to Scotland to hike the highlands with family. Tom is headed back to Alaska to capture fall aurora in his favorite places.

We will be in remote places for the next few weeks and it may be a bit harder to contact us. We will do our best to respond as soon as we can. Thanks for your patience!

Any upcoming openings?

Route 66 Albuquerque to Winslow: Oct 23-27, 2024 Read more Photograph iconic locations like the WigWam Motel, Route 66 Diner, and Petrified Forest National Park. Learn more about using a speed light to add color and creativity to your images.

We are starting to fill our 2026 Workshops. If something is full and you want to join the waitlist, just send us a message from our Contact Page

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree