Tag: Landscape 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

Trip Report: Badlands National Park

Tom and Cree just finished their Badlands Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with their group to the prairies of South Dakota to photograph stunning rock formations and wildlife. The highlight of the workshop was photographing in a variety of weather and seeing so many bison, prairie dogs and burrowing owls.

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

What’s new:

Tom and Cree are making the final drive to Palmer, Alaska this week. Keep an eye on social media to see what we find along the way. We will be checking email once a day, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about workshops.

Any upcoming openings?

Yes! We have had a few cancellations for 2024. Check out our Upcoming Openings Page

Thank you for reading our trip reports!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

December 2023 – Photo of the Month

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For December we chose an image taken on our Bosque and White Sands Workshop. The image was taken by Tim Crull during a stunning sunset at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. Tim is a wildlife and landscape photographer from Indiana and he loves grizzly bears!

Congratulations to December 2023 ‘s featured photographer – Tim Crull

Tim Crull at White Sands National Park

The Story… 

When we arrived at the Roosting Pond, there were only a few ducks there. We could hear cranes from a distance and we started to see them flying towards us.

We needed the right sky color. Then we needed the cranes to fly right in front of it.

I began tracking multiple groups of cranes. Sometimes the cranes were not close enough. Othertimes they overlapped and did not look as good. I just kept trying until I got what I wanted. Just keep shooting.

Everything has to come together to get the right shot. I waited until I got an odd number of cranes with just the right separation between them.

Photo of the Month – Trio of Sandhill Cranes by Tim Crull

EXIF Data:

Camera: Canon EOS R5

Lens: 600 mm

Aperture: f4

Shutter: 1/1000 sec

ISO: 500

Mode: Manual, auto ISO

About Photographing in White Sands

I had never been there before. I’ve been to other sand dunes like in Death Valley. The white sand makes it really amazing.

I went two days before the workshop but could not get in early. Going with a workshop means you can get in before sunrise. This makes all the difference in the world.

It’s all about the light there. The sand reflects the different colors in the sky like no where else.

Sunset at White Sands National Park

Tim’s Tips for Photographing at Bosque

Tip 1

You need the right weather. Keep going back until you get it. A sunset with red or orange is what you want.

Tip 2

Shoot a lot. You won’t know the position of the birds and groupings until later.

Tip 3

Practice tracking birds with your camera and lens before you go.

Tip 4

The first day the 600mm felt like it was too much. But that was really all I used for the rest of the trip. The 100-500mm Canon lens was what I used in White Sands, in addition to the 24-105mm

Tip 5

Experiment. Try some slow shutter speeds. I shot the Snow Geese at 1/30th of a second and that was new for me.

Snow Geese at 1/30th second

On Tim’s Horizon:

Bears in Katmai National Park in Alaska

Iceland

Chilkat, Alaska for Bald Eagles

Denali National Park

Northern Lights

Tim at Bosque with his Canon 600mm

Tom and Cree just returned from a family vacation in the jungles and beaches of Mexico. Great to relax and enjoy sunsets with Spotted Eagle Rays swimming by us.

We are finishing up a very successful 2023 year. Thank you to all of you who joined us on trips this year. We hope to see you again in 2024: 2024 Schedule and 2025

Enjoy your holidays with friends and family!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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

Utah Landscapes – Trip Report 2023

Tom and Cree just finished their Utah Landscapes Workshop and want to share the highlights with you. There were spectacular skies, cool temperatures and three different night sky sessions during this workshop. After a relaxing week at home, they are on their way to Texas and Louisiana next.

To learn more about our Utah Landscapes Workshop, check out our trip report, click here

Still looking for a trip to join in 2023?. We have a few 1 opening each on two very popular trips: Bears at Summer Solstice and Route 66 East. Click on the underlined links to learn more. 

Thanks for reading our posts. Happy spring wherever you are!

Tom and Cree

Posted on

Photo of the Month – October 2022

At Tom Bol Photo Workshops, we celebrate great images created on our workshops by selecting a Photo of the Month. For October we chose an image from our Acadia Fall Colors Workshop created by Traci Rickman. Traci is a real estate photographer and is equally at home photographing landscapes. We hope you enjoy Traci’s images as much as we do!

Congratulations to October 2022 ‘s featured photographer – Traci Rickman

Traci in the lobster town of Bernard, Maine

The Story… 

I almost missed the window of opportunity. I didn’t have a lot of time because I had stayed back to photograph the Bubbles. Everyone else headed over to capture the fog earlier than I did.

The sun was filtering in from the right side of the frame. By the time I arrived, Tom was saying “Here it comes.” I set up and started shooting quickly. You can just see a bit of sun filtering into the scene below the fog.

I just love the color in this, mm mm mm!

I tried to fill up my frame with color.

There were more grass clusters in the foreground, but they had hot spots on them from the sun coming in. I took them out with Lightroom and PhotoShop to get rid of some of the hot grass.

October 2022 Photo of the Month

EXIF Data:

Nikon D500, Nikon 70-200mm lens shot at 70 mm

F16, 1/10 sec, ISO 100 on a tripod

Exposure Compensation -2.0

Aperture Mode

About Photographing in Acadia National Park

I love Acadia. I love Bar Harbor. This was the second time I’ve been there. I was excited to go back with Tom and Cree.

The first time I went I was a bit overwhelmed.

I felt like I missed a lot of the shots. I did more artistoc compositions. When I got back home my husband said “Did you look at rocks the whole time?” This time I wanted to get more iconic shots.

I focused on shooting what spoke to me. I realized that in the past I was shooting what I thought other people wanted to see.

On this trip I wanted to redeem myself!

Sunrise at Otter Rock

Traci’s Tips for Photographing Landscapes:

Tip 1: Photograph what speaks to you. Other people will find other subjects to focus on. Find your own subjects.

Tip 2: Broaden your view. Don’t get so focused on what is in your camera viewfinder.

Look behind you. Look around. I will often take out my cellphone and see things differently with it. It helps me see the larger view. Then I’ll take out my camera…..

Tip 3: Try moving three feet to the side or one foot vertically.

When I photographed the foggy scene (below) I decided to walk down the road from where everyone else was standing. I was really drawn in by the grasses and the lines leading into the red tree. Instead of shooting a tight shot with just the red tree, I decided I liked this composition better.

I do this a lot in real estate photography. I’ll move to the right or left by just one foot when photographing a room. Often time this move makes the shot.

Foggy scene in Acadia National Park

On Traci’s Horizon:

Costa Rica

Redwoods National Park

Congratulations Traci

Workshop News

We added another Acadia Fall Colors Workshop for October 2025. Just 2 spaces left. Click here to learn more.

By popular demand we also added our Old Car City Workshop from March 3-April 2, 2023. Photograph classic cars in the Georgia hardwoods. Learn about speed lights for creative effect. Click here to read more.

Finally, we will be heading to Oaxaca, Mexico in January 2024 to explore Day of the Dead inspired portraits and colorful travel photos Click here to read more.

Where are Tom and Cree?

We have been enjoying a few weeks at home in Fort Collins. Our last two workshops of 2022 are in Botswana & Zimbabwe and then on to Argentina and Chile for our Patagonia Workshop. We will keep you updated on social media.

Looking forward to winter and the holidays. Thanks for reading our posts!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

Posted on

Photographer of the Month – April 2021

Tom and Cree celebrate the great images being created by our community of photographers each month by selecting a Photograph of the Month. For April we selected an image created by Brian Kennedy on our Utah Landscapes Workshop. We hope you enjoy Brian’s images as much as we do!

Congratulations to April 2021 ‘s featured photographer – Brian Kennedy

The Story … 

We were at Sunset Point and Tom was ahead of everyone. Tom pointed out how the light was hitting different formations.

The sun was peaking in and out of the clouds. A shaft of light came through and hit the formation we were looking at.

I was shooting at f11 because I knew that was a good setting for my lens. I used focus peaking to focus. I was looking at the image in the viewfinder and the histogram was perfect. The entire image was red because of focus peaking.

To edit the image I just set the white point and the black point and it looked great.

April 2021 Photograph of the month

EXIF Data: Canon mirrorless R5 with a 100-400mm lens

Aperture Priority mode f11, 1/80 sec, ISO 160 with focus peaking

About Bryce and Capitol Reef

Bryce Canyon was on my bucket list. I’ve seen pictures of it. I love sunsets and sunrises. With the red rock, how can you not want to photograph there?

Sunrise at Inspiration Point

In Capitol Reef, I was learning new features of the new mirrorless Canon R5. I was practicing focus peaking. I love focus peaking. After that section of the trip, I was a focus peaking fool.

Like the histogram, focus peaking is a tool. I have been dissapointed in the past when I get home from a landscape shoot and parts of the image were out of focus. With focus peaking I know what will be in focus and what will not.

The iconic barn at Capitol Reef National Park

Michael Iles and I approached the barn at Capitol Reef and we noticed there was no lock on the gate. We walked into the pen and got a better angle and were able to get a bit closer to the barn. I used the 24-70 (lens) with the R5.

Brian’s tips for shooting landscapes:

Tip #1: Get to the spots early.

Tip #2: Know your equipment. I did better in Bryce then in Capitol Reef because I understood my equipment better.

Petroglyphs at Capitol Reef

On Brian’s Horizon

Death Valley National Park

Acadia National Park – 4th trip there

Bucket List: Costa Rica, Alaska Brown Bears, Yellowstone in Winter, Canadian Rockies

Brian photographing on the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park

Tom and Cree are headed to Yellowstone National Park next for two May wildlife workshops. For a full listing of upcoming workshops, including our new trip to France: Click Here

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

Posted on

Utah Landscapes: Trip Report

We just returned from a spectacular landscape workshop in Utah and wanted to share the highlights with you in our trip report. Click here to see the details and experience spring in Capitol Reef and Bryce National Parks.

Our next Utah Landscapes Workshop is April 19-23, 2023 and there are 3 spaces available. Read more

Next, we are headed to Yellowstone for 2 workshops to photograph spring wildlife and landscapes. A single space just opened up on our May 16-20 Yellowstone in Spring Workshops. Click here to learn more.

Enjoy your spring!

Tom and Cree