The White Rhinoceroses

Both black and white rhinoceroses are actually gray in color. The term “white” or “black” refer to their lips instead of their color.  The black rhino has a pointed upper lip, while its white relative has a squared lip. The difference in lip shape is related to the animals' diets. Black rhinos get most of their sustenance from eating trees and bushes. They use their lips to pluck leaves and fruit from the branches. White rhinos graze on grasses, walking with their enormous heads and squared lips lowered to the ground.

White rhinos live on Africa's grassy plains, where they sometimes gather in groups of as many as a dozen individuals. Females reproduce only every two and a half to five years. Their single calf does not live on its own until its about three years old.

Under the hot African sun, white rhinos take cover by lying in the shade. Rhinos are also wallowers. They find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with natures own bug repellent and sun block.
Rhinos have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. They may find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind it on the landscape.


White rhinos have two horns, the foremost more prominent than the other. Rhino horns grow as much as three inches (eight centimeters) a year, and have been known to grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. Females use their horns to protect their young, while males use them to battle attackers.

The prominent horn for which rhinos are so well known has been their downfall. Many animals have been killed for this hard, hair-like growth, which is revered for medicinal use in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The horn is also valued in North Africa and the Middle East as an ornamental dagger handle.

The white rhino once roamed much of sub-Saharan Africa, but today is on the verge of extinction due to poaching fueled by these commercial uses. Only about 11,000 white rhinos survive in the wild, and many organizations are working to protect this much loved animal.

Come with the Photographer's Lounge as we go and see the white rhino when we visit Africa in 2013. In 2013 our plans to visit Africa are listed below. Check out these tours where the white rhino still live.

Tanzania with Rick Sammon in April of 2013

Namibia in October of 2013

Kenya in November of 2013

Namibia in April of 2014

Tanzania with Denise Ippolito in May of 2014

Species Spotlight - Rothschild Giraffe

The Rothschild Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) is one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies. There are only a few hundred members in the wild. The name comes from famous, Lord Walter Rothschild and is also known as the Baringo Giraffe, after the Lake Baringo area of Kenya, or as the Ugandan Giraffe.  All of those that are living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda. In 2007, it was proposed that the Rothschild Giraffe is actually a separate species from other giraffes and not a giraffe subspecies.

While giraffes in general are classified as least concern, the Rothschild Giraffe is at particular risk of hybridisation, as the population is so limited in numbers. There are very few locations where the Rothschild Giraffe can be seen in the wild, with notable spots being Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya and Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda.

You can join me and see this wonderful animal as we head to Lake Nakuru National Park to see these stunning creatures in November of 2013. http://www.photographers-lounge.com/photo-tours/our-2013-photo-tours/kenya-safari

There are various captive breeding programs in place— notably at the Giraffe center in Nairobi, Kenya—which aim to expand the gene pool in the wild population of the Rothschild Giraffe. As of January 2011, more than 450 are kept in ISIS registered zoos (which does not include the Nairobi Giraffe Centre), making it the most commonly kept subspecies of giraffe together with the Reticulated Giraffe. Of those, almost 50 are the result of births within the last year.

Rothschild Giraffes are easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat. Where the Reticulated Giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright whitish channels between them, the Rothschild Giraffe more closely resembles the Masai Giraffe. However, when compared to the Masai Giraffe, the Rothschild subspecies is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape and the connective channel is of a creamier hue compared to that seen on the Reticulated Giraffe. In addition, the Rothschild Giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving the impression that it is wearing white stockings.

SmugMug Raises Rates... wow, its quite a jump

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/31/smugmug-pulls-a-netflix-raises-fees-for-some-customers-by-67/

Canadian Caravan Workshop with Rick Sammon

Ontario offers a wide variety of rich experiences perfect for both professional and aspiring artists. Come with us and explore Ontario's natural wonders under the guidance of renowned photographer, Rick Sammon. Together we will visit landscapes brought to life by the renowned Group of Seven and other Canadian artists. It is here where you will create your very own masterpiece. Ontario will both inspire and delight you!
Our destination is just over two hours north of Toronto, amid Canadian Shield cliffs, sparkling freshwater lakes and majestic forests. Our destination offers you not only the world’s best photography opportunities, but also world-class accommodation, shopping, dining, golf, entertainment, and outdoor adventure.

This is where you'll find some of Canada's most beautiful lakes, including the “big three” lakes; Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph, as well as little known gems where we will be based out of, Salerno Lake. And where there's water, there are boats. New boats, old boats, fast boats, slow boats - there is much to see and do here in the classic boat capital of Canada.
Did you know Santa spends his summers in Bracebridge? Thrill the kids and grand kids and stop by Santa's Village and Sportsland, and treat yourself to meeting the fat man himself. Pick up something for the kids and get your request in for the next super telephoto or full frame camera.

Smaller communities afford plenty of charm, eclectic shops, dining, and local arts and crafts. Stop in, fuel up, indulge in an ice cream, check out the shops. You never know who you'll bump into. As a cottage destination, this area has long been a draw for celebrities and the well-to-do.
Further north we will find ourselves amidst Algonquin Park. Rocky ridges, pine-clad shores and miles of lakes and rivers dotted with campsites, lodges and resorts provide the backdrop for memorable experiences in Ontario’s best-known outdoor vacation destinations, the “cottage country” areas of Muskoka, Haliburton and Bancroft.

The essence of our destination is the vast interior of maple and pine-clad hills, rocky ridges and thousands of interconnected lakes, rivers and streams, typical of the Great Lakes forest region. Numerous access points to waterways, allowing for a variety of experiences and sights.

This landscape is “Shield Country”, formed 2.5 billion years ago, it is the world’s oldest exposed bedrock. Through the millennia, “land building” activity has left large and irregular lakes with rocky cliffs, pocket beaches and deep waters; with moraines, eskers, inland dunes and kames. Having created thousands of kilometres of rivers over time, the Canadian Shield covers almost one-third of the country and is a dominant segment of Canada’s ecological identity.

The weather in August will see average day time highs in the high 70’s with some humidity. At night the temperature drops to a comfortable 60 to 65 degrees. You can expect a minimum of eight hours of sunshine per day and some morning fog coming off the water in the golden hour.  

To learn more about our Canadian Caravan, please visit http://www.photographers-lounge.com/photo-tours/our-2013-photo-tours/canadian-caravan

New instructor at the Photographer's Lounge, Deb Sandidge

The Photographer's Lounge has been blessed with many talented instructors willing to share their photographic and post processing talent with our students and friends.

Our latest friend, Deborah Sandidge, is a travel/freelance professional photographer who enjoys sharing her insight and creative ideas through writing, workshops, teaching, and seminars around the world. She is the author of Digital Infrared Photography, published by Wiley. As an instructor at BetterPhoto.com, Deborah teaches Enhancing Images and Creating Works of Art, as well as Digital Infrared Photography. 

Deborah's style of creating dramatic story-telling imagery reflects in her travels, and interaction with the people she meets. Deborah's views her "favorite" subjects as ever changing, which she loves. Today it may be contemporary cityscapes at twilight, tomorrow it could be traditional landscapes, or astrophotography. Deborah believes that every photographer's unique perspective and style makes each photograph distinctively different. Photography is Deborah's passion.

Specializations

Travel Photography: Her passion is being able to respond to various shooting environments to create unique and compelling images. She strives to capture a depth of feeling about a location through  street photography, people photography, landscapes, cityscapes, and at the same time, inspire students and fellow photographers to do the same.

Low Light and Night Photography: After the sun goes down, many photographers pack up their gear and leave. However, Deb feel landscapes, cityscapes, and nightscapes often look the most dramatic and beautiful during twilight and night. She enjoys sharing with photographers the tips and techniques for setting camera's for optimal depth of field, shutter speed, and white balance in order to capture the beauty of nightscapes.

Creative Capture and Image Post Processing:  Her goal is create unique story-telling imagery through techniques in-camera, and through post processing, and assist students to recognize not only the technical aspects of making a great picture, but the importance of the artistic component, the soul of a picture as well. Her expertise also includes HDR (High Dynamic Range Imagery) and also infrared photography.

Please join me in welcoming Deb to our family.

To see some of Deb's work visit www.deborahsandidge.com

Venezuela weather conditions in October

The photographers lounge is headed to Venezuela to see the Catumbo lightning and to go into the Andes mountains in October.

We thought it would be a good idea to show you what the weather will be like during october.
October is the shoulder month between the rainy season and the dry season. It will be humid while we are viewing the lightning. But, as we travel into the mountains the weather will be cooler.

The heat can get up over 100 degrees and the rainfall, mostly due to the night storms we are there to see can produce 15 inches of rain for the whole month.

Generally the weather is pleasant and anyone accompanying us will have a great time on the Photographer's Lounge trip

Workshop Leader Showcase

As the Photographer's Lounge continues to grow we are continually looking for experienced leaders to run our workshops and seminars.

I would like to introduce the new members of the family to you.

Kevin Pepper...

Kevin is a nature photographer at heart. He has been taking photos for over 30 years and travelled to 17 different countries on four continents; learning to appreciate and respect multiple cultures.

But no matter what the country or season is; the draw of being out in the outdoors is what inspires him to take photos and take amateur photographers on one of his photography photo tours and workshops.

Kevin’s photos and articles have been seen in publications such as PhotoNews Canada, National Geographic website, the Canadian Nature Photographer, Sun Media newspaper chain, Photo Technique magazine and the Olympus Corporate website.

Kevin is 44 and currently resides in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada with his wife, two children and Oliver the fat, lazy cat.

Please visit his website at www.kpepphotography.com

What Kind of Food do you eat on an African Safari?

I run photo ours in partnership with "Journey to Africa". They had a great blog entry this past weekend on what food we eat on our safaris... have a read of they blog here.

http://journeytoafrica.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/food-on-safari/

What is the weather like in Tanzania in August

In August of 2013 Rick Sammon and Kevin Pepper will be leading a photographic Safari to Tanzania to focus on the Wildebeest Migration as it approaches the Mara River.

At the Photographers Lounge we believe in ful disclosure and we thought it would be a good idea to show you the weather in Tanzania during the month of August in northern Tanzania.

Tanzania can be visited during all seasons. The weather is coolest and driest from late June to September. Day time highs average in teh mid 70's and in the night it can dip down to 50 degrees.

There is harldy any rainfall to speak of. This will make the plains dry and the wildlife easy to spot.

There is also no humidity to speak of during this time.

August will be a great time to be with Rick Sammon in Tanzania as the animals will be active and the Wildebeest heards will be from tens of thousands to a couple hundred thousand as they approach the Mara River.

Please check out the tour we have planned at the Photographers Lounge.

What is the weather like in Namibia in October

The Photographer's Lounge is running a photography safari to Namibia in October of 2013. We will be doing an African Safari to northern Namibia.

I thought it would be prudent to show you what the weather is typically like in Namibia in October so those that are thinking of coming can see what we are in store for.

The nights are cooler... 60 degrees fahrenheit and the days average 84 degrees fahrenheit.

Namibia gets 300 days of sunshine a year so the chances of us havign excellent weather for the 8 days we are there is excellent.

October is in the shoulder season between the summer and winter months. The average monthly rainfall is less than an inch. The watering holes will have water and the animals will still be gathered to allow for great photography opportunities.

You can also expect low humidity...

October is an excellent time to be going to Namibia with the Photographers Lounge.

What is the Naadam Festival in Mongolia

Naadam is a traditional type of festival in Mongolia. The festival is also locally termed "eriin gurvan naadam" (эрийн гурван наадам) "the three games of men". The games are wrestling, horse raciong and archery and are held throughout the country during the midsummer holidays. Women have started participating in the archery and girls in the horse-racing games, but not in Mongolian wrestling.

Overview

The biggest festival (Naadam of the Country) is held in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar during the National Holiday from July 11 – 13, in the National Sports Stadium. Other cities and towns across Mongolia and those with significant Mongolian populations in China, have their own, smaller scale Naadam celebrations, often taking place a few days before the national celebration. Naadam begins with an elaborate introduction ceremony featuring dancers, athletes, horse riders, and musicians. After the ceremony, the competitions begin.

Naadam is the most widely watched festival among Mongols, and is believed to have existed for centuries in one fashion or another. Naadam has its origin in the activities, such as military parades and sporting competitions such as archery, horse riding and wrestling, that followed the celebration of various occasions. Now it formally commemorates the 1921 revolution when Mongolia declared itself a free country.

Another popular Naadam activity is the playing of games using shagai, sheep anklebones that serve as game pieces and tokens of both divination and friendship. In the larger Nadaam festivals, tournaments may take place in a separate venue.

The three games

Wrestling

512 or 1024 wrestlers meet in a single-elimination tournament that lasts nine or ten rounds. Mongolian traditional wrestling is an untimed competition in which wrestlers lose if they touch the ground with any part of their body other than their feet or hand. When picking pairs, the wrestler with the greatest fame has the privilege to choose his own opponent. Wrestlers wear two-piece costumes consisting of a tight shoulder vest (zodog) and shorts (shuudag). Only men are allowed to participate.

Each wrestler has an "encourager" called a zasuul. The zasuul sings a song of praise for the winning wrestler after rounds 3, 5, and 7. Winners of the 7th or 8th stage (depending on whether the competition features 512 or 1024 wrestlers) earn the title of zaan, "elephant". The winner of the 9th or 10th stage, is called arslan, "lion".In the final competition, all the "zasuuls" drop in the wake of each wrestler as they take steps toward each other. Two time arslans are called the titans / giants, or avraga.

Horse racing

Unlike Western horse racing, which consists of short sprints generally not much longer than 2 km, Mongolian horse racing as featured in Naadam is a cross-country event, with races 15–30 km long. The length of each race is determined by age class. For example, two-year-old horses race for ten miles and seven-year-olds for seventeen miles. Up to 1000 horses from any part of Mongolia can be chosen to participate. Race horses are fed a special diet.

Children from 5 to 13 are chosen as jockeys who train in the months preceding the races. While jockeys are an important component, the main purpose of the races is to test the skill of the horses.

Before the races begin, the audience sings traditional songs and the jockeys sing a song called Gingo. Prizes are awarded to horses and jockeys. The top five horses in each class earn the title of airgiyn tav and the top three are given gold, silver, and bronze medals. Also the winning jockey is praised with the title of tumny ekh or leader of ten thousand. The horse that finishes last in the Daaga race (two-year-old horses race) is called bayan khodood (meaning "full stomach"). A song is sung to the Bayan khodood wishing him luck to be next year's winner.

Archery

Mongolian archery is unique for having not only one target, but hundreds of beadrs or surs on a huge wall. In this competition both men and women participate. It is played by ten-men/women teams who are given four arrows each; the team has to hit 33 "surs". Men fire their arrows from 75 meters away while women fire theirs from 65 meters away. When the archer hits the target the judge says uuhai which means "hooray". The winners of the contest are granted the titles of "national marksman" and "national markswoman".

Joine me in July of 2013 as I visit Mongolia to photograph the Nadam festival.

Workshop Leader Showcase

As the Photographer's Lounge continues to grow we are continually looking for experieinced leaders to run our workshops and seminars.

I would like to introduce the new members of the family to you.

Ethan Meleg...

In addition to being an awesome public speaker and pizza junkie, Ethan is a freelance photographer from Ontario, Canada. He specializes in photos of outdoor recreation, landscapes, ecosystems, birds and wildlife. He is represented by major stock agencies and has been published by National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, Forbes, Ontario Tourism, Lonely Planet, Popular Photography and many more. Ethan is a popular keynote speaker, workshop leader and magazine columnist. He writes the humor column in every issue of Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine. Ethan is sponsored by numerous camera-gear companies including Singh-Ray filters, Sigma Canada and F-stop packs.

Growing up near world famous birding hotspot Point Pelee National Park, Ethan often skipped school to watch songbirds during migration. By the time he was a teenager, he had developed an in-depth knowledge of nature. At 19, he received a hand-me-down camera from his parents and began to learn the basics of nature photography. In between watching birds and taking photos, he completed a degree in Environment and Resource Studies at Trent University. Before becoming a pro photographer, Ethan had developed a career as a nature guide and communications specialist in national parks.

Ethan is 38 years old and lives in Owen Sound at the base of the Bruce Peninsula. His greatest passion in life is exploring the natural world through his camera, whether on exciting trips or in his own backyard.

Please visit his website at www.ethanmeleg.com and check out his upcoming workshops at http://ethanmeleg.com/programs.htm

Workshop Leader Showcase

As the Photographer's Lounge continues to grow we are continually looking for experienced leaders to run our workshops and seminars.

I would like to introduce the new members of the family to you.

Jamie Douglas...

Our proud new "Dad", Jamie Douglas is a self taught wildlife conservation photographer from Scotland who has based himself in British Columbia, Canada. Jamie has become an outspoken crusader for the protection of Canada's Black Bears and hopes to promote bear conservation in his local community through his photography.

Jamie has always loved wildlife, from growing up in the UK watching BBC Wildlife shows narrated by Sir David Attenborough to living in British Columbia, lying awake at night listening to the local Coyotes harass the Canadian Geese in the ponds behind his house. Jamie developed an interest in photography towards the end of 2007 when he picked up his first SLR, a Canon Rebel Xti.

Since then Jamie has gone on to track and photograph the many wonders of nature that reside in and visit his new home land. Follow and be inspired by Jamie's latest project, photographing the local Black Bears that he shares his new home with. Come along for the adventure as he writes short stories and shares photographs from his many encounters. To follow Black Bear Diaries, click here: http://jmdouglasphotography.blogspot.com/

To see Jamie's website please visit, www.jamiedouglasphotography.com/

Photo Credits

BBC Widlife Photographer of the Year Awards - 2011 Semi Finalist

Tri City News http://www.tricitynews.com/ - 3 front pages in 2011Bear Aware BC http://www.bearaware.bc.ca/

Reifel Bird Sanctuary 2012 Calendar www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com

Photographers Lounge Sponsors and Partners

No matter what the company is, or what industry it operates in; a caompany cannot succeed without having strong partners to support it.

Our company is no different. We have a list of partners, sponsors and friends that work with us. They make our job easier, work with us to get the best price for the tours we run and some supply us with product to keep our overhead down.

We want to thank them and hope you can visit our "Partners Page" to see if any of our partners can help you with your own photographic journey.

Workshop Leader Showcase

Denise is a professional freelance photographer, artist and writer living in NJ. A moderator for Bird Photographers.Net, an online photography site where she works in the OOTB (Out of the Box) Forum .

Denise has also co-led several BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours with Arthur Morris, a Canon Explorer of Light. He is a world renowned bird photographer and teacher. On her own, she offers workshops featuring avian, flower and HDR photography. As a former award winning floral designer and garden center owner she has worked extensively with flowers. Her most recent eBook “Bloomin’ Ideas” reflects her love for flowers and art.

Denise has also received an honorable mention in the highly regarded Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice competition 2010 in the Creative Digital Category. Denise has won several PSA (Photographic Society of America) awards and her images have been published in magazines and books, sold as greeting cards and most recently featured in a Sierra Club Documentary.

To see Denise's work please visit her website at http://deniseippolito.com/

Denise will be leading the following Photographers Lounge workshops and photo tours:

Photo tour to Provence

Photo workshop in Paris

Photo Tour to Tanzania

Workshop Leader Showcase

As the Photographer's Lounge continues to grow we are continually looking for experienced leaders to run our workshops and seminars.

I would like to introduce the new members of the family to you.

Rick Sammon...

My personal nickname for Rick is Master Po... aka, the Chinese Kung Fu Master that called David Carradine, "Grasshopper" in the 1970's TV show, "Kung Fu".

Rick is a Canon Explorer of Light, is one of the most active photographers on the planet. The dude just can’t sit still!

Rick has published 36 paper books, including Secrets of HDR Photography, Exploring the Light, and Digital Photography Secrets. Rick’s book, Flying Flowers won the coveted Golden Light Award, and his book Hide and See Under the Sea won the Ben Franklin Award.

He is also a leader in iPad and iPhone photography apps. His apps include:
• Rick Sammon’s Light It! – a collection of live-action movies that show Rick’s basic lighting techniques.
• Rick Sammon’s iHDR – an interactive iPad app that shows the user the wonders of HDR photography.
• Rick Sammon’s 24/7 Photo Buffet – an e-book that offers 24/7 access to Rick’s best photo tips, tricks and techniques. iPhone and iPad versions available.

Rick, who has photographed in almost 100 countries around the world, gives more than two-dozen photography workshops (including private workshops) and presentations around the world each year.
He co-founded the Digital Photography Experience podcast (www.dpexperience.com) with Juan Pons and also hosts several shows on kelbytraining.com and has a three-day class on creativeLive.com.

Rick has been nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame, is considered one of today’s top digital -imaging experts, cutting through lots of Photoshop “speak,” making it fun, easy and rewarding to work and play in the digital darkroom.

When asked about his photo specialty, Rick says, “My specialty is not specializing.”

See www.ricksammon.info for more information about Rick.

New Photo Leader Showcase

Just announced... Photographers Lounge will now have photo tours run by Denise Ippolito

Denise is a professional freelance photographer, artist and writer living in NJ. A moderator for Bird Photographers.Net, an online photography site where she works in the OOTB (Out of the Box) Forum .

Denise has also co-led several BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours with Arthur Morris, a Canon Explorer of Light. He is a world renowned bird photographer and teacher. On her own, she offers workshops featuring avian, flower and HDR photography. As a former award winning floral designer and garden center owner she has worked extensively with flowers. Her most recent eBook “Bloomin’ Ideas” reflects her love for flowers and art.

Denise has also received an honorable mention in the highly regarded Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice competition 2010 in the Creative Digital Category. Denise has won several PSA (Photographic Society of America) awards and her images have been published in magazines and books, sold as greeting cards and most recently featured in a Sierra Club Documentary.

To see Denise's work please visit her website at http://deniseippolito.com/

Tanzania Photo Safari to the southern serengeti and ngorongoro crater

The southern Serengeti steals the show in March. The life giving rains that generally begin in mid November and last through early May trigger the great wildebeest migration into the plains of the South Serengeti and the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. March is one of the best months for game viewing.

The green season is a wonderful time to be on safari in the southern Serengeti and the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Rain means game in the Serengeti and wildlife should be prolific on the Southern Serengeti Plains. The wildebeest migration will most likely be spread across the now green plains of the northern Ngorongoro Crater and the southern Serengeti. You can expect to see thousands of young wildebeest calves on the green plains ranging from 1 - 2 months old. Along with the migration, predators should be abundant. There should be good cheetah sightings, lions should be easily visible, both resident prides and the nomads which have followed the migration from the woodlands. Elephants can also be found in the Southern Serengeti in the patches of woodland that dot the plains including the woodlands around Lake Ndutu and Kusini.

Join us for this fantastic photo safari in March of 2014... to learn more please visit the Photographers Lounge

It is not that often that you get the opportunity to visit one of the worlds most beautiful locations... even more rare that you get to spend it with 3 professional photographers.

For this trip you will be one of twelve photographers to spend 10 days photographing shoulder to shoulder with the talented Rick Sammon, Tim Vollmer and Kevin Pepper.

We begin our tour on the lava scarred Reykjanes peninsula which lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. We will walk across a small footbridge between the two continents, see craters and an old lighthouse.

From there we travel through lava fields to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing dip in 38°C therapeutic geothermal water. The Blue Lagoon is surrounded by a moss-covered lava field dating back to 1226.

But this is just the beginning... Check out the Photographer's Lounge to learn more about this photo tour in September of 2013

Photography Workshop in Tofino

Have you ever been to the extreme west coast of Canada? The unique location where you can enjoy the sights of a rainforest one day and be photographing black bears, bald eagles and whales the next... then switch things up and turn inland to photograph snow covered mountains?

Join Tim Vollmer and Kevin Pepper on another "Photographers Lounge" photo workshop to this unique land. April is a magical time of year in Tofino; the whale migration is happening, the storm season has subsided, yet still offers the opportunity to capture the force of nature. The bears have also woke from the winter hibernation and feeding along the banks of the numerous coves. Even the bald eagles are an everyday sighting.

Tim and I will make sure you have the chance to photograph all of these places you expect to capture, but also take you to little known gems for those unique shots the everyday tourist will not capture.

It is in Tofino with us that you will take your photography to the next level with the personal instruction from two published and award winning nature photographers. So come and join us and expand your creative and technical skills through extensive field shoots and informative classes and photo reviews. You and only 11 other photographers will share the excitement of our only trip of 2013 to photograph these memorable sites.

Please check out the details and itinerary at the Photographer's Lounge

Catatumbo Lightning and the Andes Mountains

From the shelter of the flooded forest we emerge and cross the 50km of the Maracaibo Lake. Lake Maracaibo is the largest in South America. You can expect to see dolphins swimming and coastal birds like Osprey, Terns and other various water birds resident to the western mountain region of Venezuela. We stop and have lunch and will pick up dinner, fresh from a fisherman on the lake before we head to our first destination, Ologa.

It is here where we will prepare for your first experience of the natural phenomenon of the Catatumbo lightning*. This natural phenomenon has existed for centuries, yet many of us have never heard of it. The first written mention of the was in the 1597 poem "La Dragontea" by Lope de Vega, which recounts the defeat of Sir Francis Drake.

Imagine the most intense thunderstorm you may have witnessed in North America... now imagine increasing that intensity for 6 hours of a lightening show. During the first and second night you are positioned to witness massive, arching strikes that can exceed 250 times an hour. Your view will be over a pristine tropical lagoon that offers calm reflections of the action in the skies.

You lounge at water's edge under the palm trees having a BBQ of steak and soft shelled crab that you picked up from local fisherman on the boat ride that very day. The camera sits on the tripod and the remote in your hand... If you want, you simply compose, set the camera controls and capture the exact same scene that our tour leader has taken with his camera night after night after night... his photos have now been published in National Geographic and featured in numerous other magazines and an ABC News Primetime special.

Check out this exclusive tour in October of 2013. The Photogrpaher's Lounge will be running this tour with Rick Sammon and Kevin Pepper.

Here is my latest blog entry on how to take lightning photographs http://kpepphotography.blogspot.ca/2012/05/capturing-natures-fury-lightning.html

Workshop Leader Showcase

As the Photographer's Lounge continues to grow we are continually looking for experieinced leaders to run our workshops and seminars.

I would like to introduce the new members of the family to you.

Tim Vollmer...

Tim is a frieind of mine. I started folling his landscape images 4 years ago... then got to know the man behind the images. Tim is an exceptional nature and landscape photographer from Iceland. His images have been published around the world in such magazines as the National Geographic website, Icelandic times, Icelands official tourism guide, PhotoZoom, Defotograff and Land og Saga, just to name a few.

Tim also runs workshops and photo tours around the world. His photography tours are designed for passionate photographers with the main emphasis on small groups. He believes that this allows him to optimize the program according to weather and light conditions. Each itinerary is designed to give time for individual exploration and everyone is given the personal attention to talk one on one with his respected instructors in order to ask questions in field for compositional and other technical tips.

Tim is 40 and lives in Hveragerði, Iceland with his wife and his children.

For more information on Tims’s photography, and his Workshops in iceland and Greenland; please visit his website at  http://www.timvollmer.de/

Namibia Photo Safari

I thought I would source some videos from Youtube to show you the wildlife in Etosha National Park. This will be an area we spend a lot of time at during our African Safari in Namibia in October of 2103

The Animals of Etosha National Park

If you want to join us for a safari in namibia please visit the Photographers Lounge. This photo safari is an excellent value at under $5000

Golden Triangle in India Photography Tour

An awesome display of colors on the clothes of the people, artistic architecture from ancient craft to modern technology, India represents many changing faces. From the controlled chaos of the bustling metropolises and the serene backdrops of the suburban landscapes, to the festivals infused with passion and pride- This is your opportunity to interpret India the way you want to, through your camera lens with images unique to your story-telling abilities and creative control. We help you to get the right sunset, to access the most idyllic wilderness, to meet the real people of India, and to make sure you have the time to explore your craft in the process.

We have created a trip that will put you in the right spot, at the right time. You will have access to access the most idyllic wilderness, to meet the real people of India, and to make sure you have the time to explore your craft in the process.

To see more details please visit the Photographer's Lounge

Tanzania Photo Safari

What do you get when you add one of the greatest spectacles of nature on the planet with one of the top photography teachers of our time in one location?

A once in a lifetime Semi-Private photo tour deep inside Africa where we will be following the migratory wildebeest as they head towards the spectacle of the Mara River crossing.

The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”. Not surprisingly, this impressive roaming phenomenon is determined by the availability of grazing, which in turn is dependent upon rainfall. Essentially the wildebeest are taking advantage of the seasonal conditions, spending the wet season on the plains in the south-east, and the dry season in the woodlands of the north-west. However, the sheer weight of their numbers also plays an important role in shaping the environment to their needs. In total, it is said that 500,000 zebra, 1.8 million wildebeest and various 100,000 plains game animals make this cyclical journey.

Typically, the wildebeest head north-west from the short grass plains to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti and its Grumeti River. This watercourse is their first real obstacle and gigantic crocodiles are waiting for the hesitant wildebeest to stumble at the crossing. From Grumeti, the herds move north and have to cross over the Mara River with its flotillas of hungry crocodiles and waiting lions.

Please visit the Photographer's Lounge to learn more about this once in a lifetime photo tour with Rick Sammon and Keivn Pepper In August 2013

Iceland weather in September

In September of 2013 Rick Sammon and Kevin Pepper are headed over to Iceland to join Tim Vollmer on a photo tour of Iceland.

To keep those informed that intend to join us, here is the average weather during September...

The average daily high is 46 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit... the average rainfall is 3.5 inches for the month ... the sun will shine for approximately 4 hours a day.... while short days would not be desirable on other photo tours... in Iceland we will have lots of opportunity to photograph the northern lights and take lots of long exposure blue hour and night photographs over the ocean, glaciers and many lakes and awesome landscape.

Tony V. Hauser Portrait Photography Workshop

V. Tony Hauser is recognized as one of Canada’s leading portrait photographers. Over his forty year career he has honed his craft as a specialist in black and white printing.  He chooses to work in black and white for both its aesthetic qualities and permanence. Hauser's images are predominantly silver prints, but he also offers the hand-coated platinum portrait to clients who want a truly unique and timeless heirloom.

His photographs are included in permanent collections of the National Archives of Canada, the Stratford Festival, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography and numerous private collections around the world.

His reputation for excellence has garnered his acceptance into the fine art world. He has several bodies of work, including nudes, travel, dance, and indigenous peoples. Most of his fine art work is in platinum - the most permanent and luminous of the photographic processes. Working with antique large-format cameras has provided Hauser with ever-changing challenges, helping to keep his work and enthusiasm fresh.

 He is the author of five books. Stage Presence is a collection of 74 black & white portraits of stage artists who posed for Hauser’s large format camera, and are captured onto a now extinct Polaroid film. The Power of Passion, another of Mr. Hauser’s publications it is a soft cover portrait book of inspirational Canadians. Facing Artists, throughout the first decades of his career he photographed some of the most celebrated and influential people in the arts, both in Canada and abroad. Los Lacandones is a book of photographs accompanied by poetry by Alejandro Palavecino, documenting the indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico. Hans and Ingeborg is a storybook for adults about the complexity of relationships.

His work has been exhibited internationally in such venues as: The National Arts Centre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, The Banff School of Fine Arts, The University of California, The Brooks Institute of Photography, The Art Gallery at Canada House in London, England, The Hamburg State Opera in Germany, the National Museum of Culture in Quito, Ecuador, just to name a few.

Come and learn portrait photography from one of Canada's best portrait photographers.

Visit the Photographer's Lounge to learn more.

Ethan Meleg Bird of Prey Workshop

Ethan is a freelance photographer from Ontario, Canada. He specializes in photos of outdoor recreation, landscapes, ecosystems, birds and wildlife. He is represented by major stock agencies and has been published by National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, Forbes, Ontario Tourism, Lonely Planet, Popular Photography and many more. Ethan is a popular keynote speaker, workshop leader and magazine columnist. He writes the humor column in every issue of Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine. Ethan is sponsored by numerous camera-gear companies including Singh-Ray filters, Sigma Canada and F-stop packs.

Growing up near world famous birding hotspot Point Pelee National Park, Ethan often skipped school to watch songbirds during migration. By the time he was a teenager, he had developed an in-depth knowledge of nature. At 19, he received a hand-me-down camera from his parents and began to learn the basics of nature photography. In between watching birds and taking photos, he completed a degree in Environment and Resource Studies at Trent University. Before becoming a pro photographer, Ethan had developed a career as a nature guide and communications specialist in national parks.

Ethan is 38 years old and lives in Owen Sound at the base of the Bruce Peninsula. His greatest passion in life is exploring the natural world through his camera, whether on exciting trips or in his own backyard.

Come learn from Ethan as he runs you through a classroom session and then we go out and shoot a private bird of prey exhibit.

Check our the Photographers Lounge for more details.

Rick Sammon Seminar in Kitchener, Ontario

Rick Sammon, a Canon Explorer of Light, is one of the most active photographers on the planet. The dude just can’t sit still!

Rick has published 36 paper books, including Secrets of HDR Photography, Exploring the Light, and Digital Photography Secrets. Rick’s book, Flying Flowers won the coveted Golden Light Award, and his book Hide and See Under the Sea won the Ben Franklin Award.

He is also a leader in iPad and iPhone photography apps. His apps include:
• Rick Sammon’s Light It! – a collection of live-action movies that show Rick’s basic lighting techniques.
• Rick Sammon’s iHDR – an interactive iPad app that shows the user the wonders of HDR photography.
• Rick Sammon’s 24/7 Photo Buffet – an e-book that offers 24/7 access to Rick’s best photo tips, tricks and techniques. iPhone and iPad versions available.

Rick, who has photographed in almost 100 countries around the world, gives more than two-dozen photography workshops (including private workshops) and presentations around the world each year.
He co-founded the Digital Photography Experience podcast (http://www.dpexperience.com/) with Juan Pons and also hosts several shows on kelbytraining.com and has a three-day class on creativeLive.com.

Rick has been nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame, is considered one of today’s top digital -imaging experts, cutting through lots of Photoshop “speak,” making it fun, easy and rewarding to work and play in the digital darkroom.

Rick will be leading a one day seminar and one day workshop in Kitchener in September of 2013 for the Photogrpahers Lounge. Please see the details of that weekend by visiting the Photographers Lounge.

Choosing the Right Photography Workshop

A Photo Tour is a great way for the amateur and serious photographer, and their significant others, to visit an area that they wish to see.  However, they are not for everyone.  Photographers that go on a photo tours do so because they have itineraries built around peak photography times and locations. The average person will not want to drag themselves out of bed before sunrise to travel to a location to capture the golden hour.

But keep in mind that even within the photo tour industry there are many different types and styles of tours with a different focus and level of photography time commitment.  A photo tour I set up in India for example has an itinerary where you can choose to participate in some, none or all of the photographic outings, yet still visit the highlights of the Golden Triangle. Another trip I just set up in Tanzania is pure photography; and anyone attending the photo tour without a camera will surely be bored sitting in the back of an SUV for hours watching wildebeest and Zebra run back and forth in the Serengeti.

So how do you choose the best photo tour for you? Here are some things you should consider:

1. Style of Photography

Most people are interested in more than one style of photography. People’s interests are as diverse as landscape, architecture, fine art, people or wildlife.  Most tours are also focused on one or two styles as well.  Sometimes the destination picks the styles for you.  For example, a tour I am doing in Tanzania is most likely focused on wildlife but could also provide landscape photo opportunities.  The tour operator and lead photographer also have preferred styles of photography. You therefore need to make sure the style of photography that the tour is focused on, and the experience of the photography tour leader matches up to what you are interested in.

2. Photography Goals

What do you expect to come home with?  Will your expectations be met while you are on a photography tour?  Discuss your personal goals with the photographer leading the tour and the tour operator. Ask if you will be allowed to take the kind of photos you want to take and what rights are needed to use the photos the way you want to use them.  Laws vary country to country and your tour leaders should be able to inform you of such regulations.

Make sure the places you will visit will also give you the opportunities you are expecting.  If you have specific shots you want to take, ask if you will get the chance.

3. Number of Participants

Photo tours, like all tours, come in all shapes and sizes.  While they are typically smaller than other types of tours, they generally range from 6 – 16 people.  On the low end, you are getting more individual attention and have fewer people vying for prime spots and time with the photographer.  On the high end, you spend more time waiting for other people to be ready or to get out of your shot.  Large groups can still work if you break them into several smaller groups but you need more tour leaders and guides to do this.  Find out how many people the tour will accommodate and how it is staffed.

Less people equals more money and premium photo opportunities, larger tours equals less expensive but possible frustration waiting or vying for premium spots.

4. Experience Required

Some photo tours assume that participants have all the experience they need to take advantage of great photo ops.   Others include workshops or hands on training to take your photography to the next level.  Find out what sort of training is offered and what the experience level is for most other participants. 

 It won’t hurt if you have more experience than most because you can keep shooting while others are learning but it will hurt if you don’t have enough experience to take advantage of the opportunities and no one will assist you.

5. Tour Leaders and Company

Who will lead the tour?  What experience do they have?  What is their style of photography and will they be taking photos too?  You certainly want a professional photographer to accompany you on the tour but who will handle the logistics?  Does someone speak the native language?  Do they speak English?  How are unexpected events handled?  Does the tour company have the resources to correct problems quickly?  The reputation of the tour company and the tour leader should be easy to check.

This was important to me… I had several choices’ partner with unknown tour operators, do all the bookings myself or identify local tour operators that have firsthand knowledge and are accredited in the country they operate in.  I chose to partner with insured and experience operators. It may cost me a little more, but my guests will have peace of mind when travelling with me.

6. Location

Will the tour take you to locations you want to visit?  Don’t assume that all photo tours visit the same destinations in a given area. Our desire to see and experience a place is influenced by what we read or see on TV, the movies or the web.   Make sure your expectations will be met.  If you want to see and experience the great migration on the Serengeti in Africa, for example, make sure the tour you select takes you to the Serengeti and gives you the best chance of seeing it.  However, if your goals are not location dependent and you just want the best chance to photograph African wildlife up close, for example, other destinations may give you more opportunities.

7. Travel Style

How will you get from place to place?  The style of travel varies greatly in different photo tours.  Some tours drive from place to place while others fly or take boats.  Make sure you are comfortable with the mode of transportation.  Ask how many hours a day are spent travelling vs. taking photos?  Sometimes, long travel days are required to reach a desired photo site so ask about the mode and condition of transportation and how many people will be sharing it.  Eight hours on a bumpy road is far more comfortable in a new vehicle with air conditioning than it is in a 30 year old school bus.

8. Type of Accommodations and Facilities

What types of accommodations are used for the tour?  Will you be camping or staying in 5 star hotels?  What types of bathrooms will you encounter?  What level of comfort do you want?  Some destinations have a lot of choices and some don’t.  If you want to photograph tribes in the Amazon Jungle you might have to settle for basic lodges or even tents with a pit toilet.  But if you are traveling in areas that have all types of accommodation, make sure the accommodations will meet your needs.  Before you book a tour, ask for the names of all accommodations and check them out yourself.  What does Trip Advisor say about the selected hotels?  Ask how often you will be expected to settle for a bush toilet, an outhouse or an eastern style toilet and make sure you can accept those conditions.

9. Itinerary

The tour operator should be able to provide a fairly detailed itinerary for the trip.  That doesn’t mean that things won’t change based on weather, traffic and other unforeseen issues but it gives you an idea of what to expect.  Does the itinerary excite you?  It should be full of places you want to see and things you want to do.  If it includes a lot of early morning photography, make sure you’re up for that or they have a way to let you sleep in without inconveniencing the others.  If it includes a lot of free time, make sure you know what your options are for that time.  When will you upload your photos to a computer?  Will there be time to process your photos the way you want to?

10. Physical Requirements

Are you in shape for the tour?  Some tours require a lot of walking, climbing, hiking or other physically demanding tasks to reach the areas where you will take photographs.  Others are less demanding or have ways of accommodating people that cannot walk very far.  Ask how far or how much time you will be expected to walk each day and how demanding the walking is.  Find out if your camera equipment will be waiting for you nearby in the car or bus or if you have to carry it with you.  The tour operator should be able to explain the physical requirements of the tour.

11. Culture Shock

Most people don’t think about culture shock when they select a tour but they should.  What is your reaction to poverty, filthy conditions and dramatically different cultural values?  Where will you be taking photographs?  Where will you stay and eat?  Some people think they want to be immersed in the local culture, staying at homestays in local villages, for example, only to realize that they can never relax.  Find out what the conditions are like at your hotel and the restaurant you will eat at.

12. Budget

Money is always a factor when selecting any tour so make sure you understand all of the costs.  Before you compare tour prices, find out what is included or excluded in each tour so you can determine what the total cost of your tour will be.  Does the tour include meals or are you expected to pay for that separately?  What about entrance fees, camera fees and photo fees?  How much should you include for tips?  Is the flight to the starting point of the tour included?  Are flights during the tour included?  The extras can add up to thousands of dollars so make sure you are comparing total costs.

These are some of the things you should consider when choosing a photo tour.  All tours are not the same so make sure you do your research to find one that’s right for you. This is your hard earned money, you deserve the best trip possible.

Please feel free to see the tours I run through the photographers lounge.

Please see the list of photographers that run our tours.

African Safari for under $5000 to Namibia

Lonely Planet says, "Namibia is one of those dreamlike places that make you questions whether something so visually orgasmic could actually exist. Time and space are less defined here. Landscapes collide. Experiences pile up."

Namibia is a land of endless horizons, where the impossible feels possible. Where you can climb the highest sand dunes in the world.  Descend to the floor of the deepest canyon in Africa. Immerse yourself in the past at one of the Africa’s richest rock art sites, and watch wildlife shimmer against one of the most spectacular pans on earth.  Explore the oldest, driest desert in the world and take time to listen to the silence and to your soul.

Namibia is home to vibrant cities where people are excited about the future, while remaining deeply connected to their rich, cultural past. A stable, democratic government, infrastructure that allows guests to move confidently off the beaten path and those endless horizons that beckon you to explore define a country, african wildlife such as the "Big 5" and countless other herds of animals and amazing people.  

Please look at the itinerary that we created on the Photographer's Lounge.