I’m a strong believer in setting goals. I set personal and professional goals each year and regularly evaluate my performance vs. my goals. Before I jump into 2012, I want to share with you 2 video reviews of 2011 that I think are very well done.

My 2012 Photographic Goals

1) Know Your World – This is a personal project I have thought a lot about over the last year. What I plan on doing is spending a lot of time photographing wildlife, nature and landscapes. The only restriction for the project is that the images must be made within 10 miles of my home. I have a host of articles in my head that I think would be great magazine submissions around this idea. I also hope that at some point, I could enlist other photographers to do the same project where they live and possibly link all of the individual projects together to make a photographic quilt. If you would be interested in being part of this effort either as a photographer or a sponsor, please let me know!

2) Improve my vision – I have spent a lot of time learning software and improving my workflow. While I still have a lot to learn on the post processing side, I will spend more time improving how I see images, from composition to capture.

3) Increase my blog readership – I have some improving to do here. On some days my readership is high, others not so much. I need to review the content that people seem to like and cut the other stuff. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see here, or not see, drop me a line (vincent at vincentmistretta.com).

4) Network more – I’m going to merge 2 goals into one here. I will add attending Photoshop World as part of this goal. My bags were packed and by the front door ready to go but a family emergency kept me from attending PSW in 2011 (the phone rang as I was going to the car)! I think my lack of networking has limited my photographic success and I need to make an adjustment here. I am including a review of my social networking strategy as part of this goal, its a biggie!

5) Make more images – I love making images. I don’t like spending time with them behind the computer. Included in this goal is improving my keeper rate while making more images.

6) Print more images – What good is making images if you don’t share them? Printing is a great way to share images. I also think becoming a successful printer makes you a better photographer. Images on a computer screen (transmitted light) compared to prints (reflected light) have very different properties. As an artist, you need to be successful at both to understand how it effects your images and those that view them.

So that is my list. I hope in some way, me detailing my approach helps you develop your own set of goals.

I wish all of you, new friends made in 2011 and old, a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous 2012. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then I wish you the Happiest of Holiday Seasons. I hope each of you have the opportunity over the next few days to spend time with those you love and to reflect on how lucky we all are. It goes by fast folks so make the most of the time you have. If you are like me, and worked your tail off the last 25 years to provide for your family, then I have this simple piece of advice for you……..There is no time like the present. Its never too late to make a difference in a loved ones life!

I have a lot to be thankful for. Not the least of which are my 3 wonderful kids and a very understanding wife who puts up with a lot being married to me .

I plan on giving the 4 of them as much of my time as I can over the next week, so I will be scarce on the social media scene until the New Year.

Merry Christmas!

I have been asked by family, friends and readers what gift suggestions I can make for photographers on their gift lists. I figured it was time to share those suggestions with everyone. In creating this list, I held 2 things constant. I don’t receive compensation from any of the product producers and they are products I use and love. I also kept the list to 5 products I use regularly. So without further ado……

1) The Blubb.

The Blubb is the tool that makes using your vehicle as a blind possible. Its a must have if you plan on shooting from your car or truck. I also use this on the window sill of my garage window allowing the garage to become a blind for a set of feeders I have a few feet away!

2) Aqua Tech Sensory Gloves.
Finding that balance between the ability to use the cameras controls and staying warm is something that all outdoor photographers struggle with. In particular, those of us that chase good light are always cold (good light comes mostly early morning and late afternoon. I wear these gloves regularly. They are however, not good for real cold climates. I have tried using thin liners on colder days with good success. However they are not for snowy conditions. For such conditions I recommend using Cross Country Skiinig gloves with thin liners.

3) The Art of Bird Photography I & II.
These 2 books are must reads for anyone that wants to learn about avian photography. Arthur Morris is one of the masters in this space. He provides tons of information on his website about wildlife photography.

4) Captured by Moose Peterson

This book is a compendium of Moose’s life as a wildlife photographer and endangered species expert. Its filled with information on how he has done it! When I say “done it” I mean everything. Setting up his business, networking, making great images, good and bad lessons learned. It’s all there in a gripping story, a great read.

5) Nik Color Efex Pro 4.
If you plan on doing landscape photogrphy this software suite is a must have. Its easy to learn and the suite of tools is incredibly powerful. This software will alow you to do things to your images that would require 100′s of hours of training if you were to use just Photoshop.
(Note): I do not enhance my wildlife photos. I follow photojournalism standards with my wildlife photograhy. However, I consider landscapes to be art and do utilize software to enhance the image in order to help relay the strory I am trying to convey. This decision is completely personal.

All Photos curtoesy of the website links provided.

As many of you know I love to do research. I have been doing quite a bit of research on wildlife and birds in general over the last few years. I started following some new birders via their websites, the result of both in person meetings at birding events, Facebook (BwBTC) and Google+. Those people are Mia McPherson, Kathie Brown, Steve Creek, Scott Simmons and Dan Huber.

As I spent more time researching their websites, I was drawn to a common online magazine that they were all contributing to. That magazine or portal is Birding is Fun. Birding is Fun is a great place to learn about birds, gather information, and be presented with resources to further your birding education. So far I am really impressed with the people involved with Birding is Fun and look forward to learning more from their contributors. I am honored that they presented my profile on their website today.

Birding is Fun, Vincent Mistretta Profile

It is amazing how many House Finches have been present at the feeders this year. Last years honors for family of the year were split between White Throated Sparrows and Dark Eyed Juncos. Neither of those species are yet to be found but we do have about 8-12 House Finches.

While I have had fun with all of the birds in my yard, I am hoping for some more variety over the coming weeks. I bought enough bird seed this weekend for more variety!

Images captured with Nikon D700, 600mm f/4 w/TC-14e II on Lexar Digital Film

Blue Jays are difficult to photograph at a home studio. I have found over the last 3 years that no matter how long I stand still, make no noise or even move, the Blue Jays won’t return to the feeders I am photographing. That is however, until 3 minutes after I go back inside . I have been fortunate to have 2 pairs of Blue Jays staying around our home this winter and laying glass on them is one of my priorities!

One of the ways I have combated this issue is by changing my feeder locations to take advantage of some natural blinds on my property. So far the results of these new locations are very promising with one exception. The sun goes down on this area very early in the afternoon which deprives me of the sweet afternoon light.

Images captured on Nikon D700m 600mm f/4 VRII and TC-14e II on Lexar Digital Film

I received some very interesting correspondence regarding last Monday’s post (link here). The responses were mostly complimentary but some seemed to infer a message that I was not trying to convey. After reading all the comments on the post and some direct emails, I think I was not clear in my message. So I will be blunt today. I love birding and bird photography. My post was only trying to share the fact that I have differing expectations when I undertake one vs. the other. I wasn’t trying to infer that one needed to take sides or that one activity was superior to the other! There were some comments about both birders and bird photographers (mostly photographers) not behaving properly and maintaining a philosophy of “get the shot at all costs”. I have seen this behavior myself and think it is wrong. We as birding/wildlife advocates need to do whatever we can to stop any behavior that would jeopardize the welfare of the wildlife we are observing. I have always practiced “No image is worth the welfare of the subject” during my wildlife photography and viewing attempts.

One interesting perspective came from Robert Mortensen over at Birding is Fun (link here). I really enjoyed how he used the umbrella to describe different aspects of birding that make up its own ecosystem. I think that umbrella could be expanded to encompass all wildlife, not just birding. But Robert’s post started me thinking a little differently. I have a few ideas that I am going to let germinate but plan on sharing with all of you shortly. Again thanks for the great “debate” and all the comments. I’m glad so many of you enjoyed the topic and hopefully you are thinking differently about this as well!

I know, I know…..its corny, I just couldn’t resist.

Have a great weekend!

Images captured with Nikon D3x, 600mm f/4 w/TC-14e II on Lexar Digital Film.

This female Northern Cardinal has been spending a lot of time at the feeders recently. She is new to the area as I have not seen her markings before. I think she is a beautiful specimen. My wife is jealous .

Images captured using Nikon D3x, 600mm f/4 w/TC-14e II on Lexar Digital Film.

I get asked this question a lot. Many people don’t realize that “birding” and “bird photography” are NOT the same thing. I know this may seem odd to some of you since you are probably saying to yourself “I take pictures when I go birding”! Well I also make bird images when I am out with other birders. However, when I attend outings with birders my intent is to learn about birds, not make images. I think that is really the difference between the two activities, what are your goals or intent when you arrive at your location? For me, the preparation and mindset I get into are different if my intent is bird photography and not birding.

The quest for great bird photography is not practical in a group with as many people as birding groups usually contain. My best bird images have been created when I am alone or with a very small group of photographers. This is true for several reasons. First, wildlife in general does not like large groups. In fact, if you look at the details of many “wildlife photography workshops” you will notice that most have a maximum participant size of 6. The reason is simple. It is very difficult to have 18 people sneak up on a bird or bear . Second, I have made some great friends in the birding world and as a group, I feel comfortable saying they are the nicest bunch of people I have ever met. But inevitably when you are in large groups of people, all with different agendas, trying to make sure someone doesn’t walk in front of your images or scare off your subject is just not practical. Alas, birders I know, hate sitting around at a perch that has perfect light waiting for a bird to land on it so a nut like me can photograph it .

So how do I deal with these “issues”? Personally, I adjust my expectations for the group I am with. When I am with birders, I try to learn as much as I can and share information. I do not go out with the hope of making an image that I will sell or put in my portfolio. I save that for when I am with bird photographers or out on my own. The opposite is true when a birder friend wants to go with me to do some serious shooting. I share with them the process I go through before I visit a location and the plan for that days shooting. So far this approach has worked very well for me, allowing me to get the most out of both types of birding experiences.