Tag: Photography Workshop

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

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

Photo of the Month: April 2024

Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For April we chose an image taken on our Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop. The image was taken by Jason Fox during our macro photo shoot near Corcovado National Park. Jason is a wildlife and travel photographer from Ontario, Canada.

Congratulations to April 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Jason Fox

Photographer Jason Fox

The Story… 

I was looking for an angle with the right light. I remember Cree was right next to me. I was also looking for just the right angle for the background. The frog wasn’t going anywhere. So I was looking for the right expression as well.

I chose the Nikon Plena lens because I don’t really have a macro lens. I do not photograph macro that often. The minimum focus distance is quite short on the Plena. I figured this lens would give me good separation form the background. It also has legendary bokeh. Everyone goes on and on about the bokeh with this lens. I’m not quite sure why it is so unique, but it seems to do quite well.

My daughter absolutely loves frogs. This one of the reasons I chose to go to Costa Rica. I took the photo for her. I want to make a print of this one for her wall. This frog is a bit on the plain side. I thought it worked well with the muted background.

The editing for this image was pretty light. I wanted to leave some of the natural gunk on the plant because I didn’t want it to look too staged. I wanted the image to look natural. I did very little to the frog because it was so sharp, right out of the camera. I increased the vibrance on the frog just a bit and desaturated the background about 10%.

Photo of the Month – Gladiator Tree Frog

EXIF Data:

Camera: Nikon Z9

Lens: Nikon Plena 135 mm

Aperture: f2

Shutter: 1/160th seconds

ISO: 180

Exposure Comp +.7

About Photographing in Costa Rica

The critters and the locations are fantastic. I have shot in a lot of jungles. I was just in Borneo with Tom and Cree the month before. I found the lighting in Costa Rica to be challenging. The light seemed to change more frequently then in other places I’ve photographed. It was an exposure compensation workout.

I really enjoyed the macro subjects.. The Yellow Eyelash Viper was really striking. The anteater was also very cool. It is a rare critter and I felt very fortunate to be able to photograph it. I was next to Tom in the right place at the right time.

I have been to Costa Rica a few times before. This particular part (the Osa Penninsula) feels more wild and less developed. It was wilder than I would have expected for Costa Rica.

The sloth shoot was pretty phenomenal. I love sloths. We were much closer than I expected. In the past they always seemed to be way up a tree and hard to photograph. Usually they are just furry lumps in trees. But not on this shoot.

Three-toed Sloth in Costa Rica

Jason’s Tips for Wildlife Photography

Tip 1

Patience. It all comes down to finding different angles than everyone else. For the sloth image above, everyone was trying to get the clear shot from straight on. I looked at the direction that it was headed and moved over to the side. I like that he is partly covered by the leaves. This is a critter that is designed to hide and the image shows that.

Tip 2

Generally I like slower shutter speeds. Digital cameras are almost too sharp. I like to shoot slow and have the image be a little softer in the background or in the foreground.

Baby sloth in Costa Rica

On Jason’s Horizon:

Everywhere is on my bucket list

Canary Islands

South Africa and Madagascar

Bhutan

Antarctica

Indonesia

Jason getting to know his macro subject

Interested in joining us in Costa Rica next year? We have space from March 22-29, 2025 Learn more

Happy Spring!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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

Photo of the Month: February 2024

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 Indonesia Workshop. The image was taken by Richard Epter during a photo shoot in a rice paddy near Malang on East Java. Richard is a wildlife and landscape photographer from Augusta, Georgia.

Congratulations to February 2024 ‘s featured photographer – Richard Epter

Richard Epter in Indonesia

The Story… 

I remember that we got to sleep in. We left at 4am which was later than the days before. I had no idea what we were going to see because I had never been to a rice paddy before.

When we got there, we walked through some fields and then the view opened up. It was twilight and we were just starting to see light. In the distance I could see terracing. I could’t see much beyond that because it was cloudy and too dark.

There was a short wall made of mud on our right. The walls were a foot think. I thought it was gorgeous to see that. Terracing has always been fascinating to me. Earlier on the trip we saw terraces on the sides of mountains and I was amazed at how steep they were.

During the shoot, I learned how the local men in the rice paddies make the walls. They dig up mud, push it to the edge of the paddy and manually build up the the walls, layer by layer. It all happened right before us.

In my photo there are tiny rice plant shoots in the foreground. Rice is one of the few aquatic crops other than taro. The image shows a lot of water with the rice plants just starting to grow. As they grow they don’t need as much water.

I found it very interesting that on the downhill edge of each paddy, there was a small 6 inch gap that drained the terraces. This allowed the entire field to drain slowly throughout the day.

As the sun rose I could see a huge mountain in the background. I was so surprised to hear that it was Mt Semeru. Semeru is the the same mountain we had photographed days early with volcanic gases escaping. We were on the opposite site of the volcanic massif. It was not just a coincidence. That was fantastic to see and photograph both sides.

When we were walking back from the shoot, I was looking for an angle that really accentuated the lines of the terraces and the reflection of Semeru. I used a low perspective to get the entire mountain in the reflection.

It wasn’t until I got on the computer that I realized what I had. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was,

Photo of the Month – Malang Rice Paddy with Mt Semeru by Richard Epter

EXIF Data:

Camera: Nikon Z9

Lens: Nikon 24-120

Aperture: f11

Shutter: 1/13 sec

ISO: 64

Mode: Manual

About Photographing in Indonesia

This was my first time to Indonesia. It has so much natural beauty. The people were so nice everywhere we went.

The only volcano I had ever seen was Haleakala in Hawaii a long time ago. All of my pictures were blown out then. I did a much better job this time around.

Our sunrise shoot at Semeru was very impactful for me. It was interesting to be so close to an active volcano. You never know what it is going to do. That is exciting in and of itself.

This was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. The gases were spewing perfectly to catch the colors of sunrise in the clouds. The sun started strolling down the sides of the volcanos and brought out all of the volcanic ridges.

Every day in Indonesia was exciting. We never knew what we were going to see.

The monkeys and orangutans in the wild made it feel like we were on the set of Tarzan. The skills of the guides were terrific. They could see and hear things that none of the rest of us could. They were fantastic. They would point out a kingfisher on a limb and I couldn’t even see the limb! It helped me learn to train my eye.

This was one of the most adventurous trips I’ve ever taken.

Mt Semeru at sunrise

Richard’s Tips for Travel Photography

Tip 1

Take an extra minute or so to access the angle of view. Try moving up and down to change your perspective. A foot to the left or right can also make a hug difference. When I squatted down, I was able to get the entire reflection of Mt Semeru in the photo.

Tip 3

Don’t worry about taking too many frames. Shoot at a high frame rate, especially if you are on a moving boat. I tend to shoot wildlife at 20 frames per second. This really helps capture more images where the animal is looking right at you. This makes a more engaging shot.

Tip 4

Use the lowest ISO that you can. I learned this from Tom in Indonesia. Now I try to use ISO 64 when I can to keep the noise low. Noise reduction software can make a big difference, but it’s even better to start with a low ISO.

Proboscis Monkey (left) Orangutan Juvenile (right)

On Richard’s Horizon:

Africa: Botswana, South Africa

Alaska Bears in Katmai

Iceland and Scandinavia

Ireland

Richard and Wendy Epter enjoying Borneo

Interested in joining us for a photo adventure in the rainforest? We have space available on our Costa Rica Rainforest Workshop in 2025 Learn more

Happy trails!

Tom and Cree

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

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