Hi ,

I can’t believe it’s almost April. What happened to March? What happened to February? It all seems like such a blur. I didn’t even manage to get an official February newsletter out, and here I am, barely squeaking my March issue under the wire right at the end of the month. Bear with me, I have a lot to cover in this issue. It may take more than one reading to get through it all. 

I took some time off last month to enjoy my 50th birthday, which I celebrated with a trip to the Isle of Islay on the west coast of Scotland. That marked my third trip to Scotland in just 9 months, and signified that I have now officially visited Scotland in all four seasons in a single year. 

The 9 day trip began with a train ride up to Oban, where I met up with my friend and fellow photographer, Colin Henderson, and joined him and some of his mates for a pleasant winter hill walk up a 937 meter mountain called Being Sgulaird.

After that wonderful diversion, we caught the ferry over to Islay and spend the next 6 days exploring the windswept, rather empty landscape of Islay, and of course, visiting all 8 whisky distilleries on the island.  

This trip was special for a number of reasons. Birthday aside, it reminded me that 15 years prior, I had done my solo birthday cycling trip to Andalućia, Spain, in the pursuit of good olive oil. Along the way, I discovered the sweet joys of Spanish sherry. 

It all came together for me since so many of the distilleries in Scotland mature their whisky in old sherry casks. As much as the taste, I’m fascinated by the historical and cultural aspects of these fine, golden elixirs that have been produced by man over so many generations. Not only do they reflect the craftsmanship and ingenuity of man, they also owe much much of their taste, production and tradition to the diverse landscapes of these different parts of the world, just like wine. It was so interesting to experience all this up close. 



To honor this tradition, I purchased a bottle of Bruichladdich whisky that was distilled and casked in 1992, which was my first year out of college. In all the years I spent making my way in the world and growing as a photographer after college, that batch of whisky sat quietly in oak barrels, maturing until we met on my 50th birthday trip on Islay. 

The story gets even better. The Bruichladdich distillery, which was established in 1881, was bought and sold over the years, and eventually closed in 1994. It was later purchased by a man named Mark Raynier, who had ridden by the plant on his bike during a cycling trip to Islay with his brother.  A cycling trip. It was all too much for me to resist. 

Anyway, between Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Kilchoman, Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila, and of course, the wonderful, quiet scenery on Islay, it was a birthday trip to remember. 







 

Coming Soon - The Paperback Version of X SERIES UNLIMITED!

I know that a number of you have been asking about this ever since I released my eBook last summer, so I’m excited to announce that my bestselling Fujifilm guide X SERIES UNLIMITED is now in print and available for preorder. 

I’m blown away that so many of you have found X SERIES UNLIMITED to be such a helpful resource, but I know that some people would rather have a real book in their hands instead of an electronic file on their computer or tablet. 

I can totally understand this, which is why I’m thrilled to be working with Rocky Nook to release it as a paperback. The book contains the most up-to-date information, including a section on the newly released X-H1. (I’ll be updating my own eBook version with this info soon.)

My preview copy of the book arrived in the mail this week and I can tell you, it looks stunning. The print version has a different cover, but I think it looks amazing, and it’s formatted in a really nice size. I think you’re going to like this. Even if you’ve already got the eBook, you may want to get your hands on this version too. 

The book is available for preorder on Rocky Nook’s website and on Amazon. If you order directly from Rocky Nook, you can use discount code DANBAILEY25 to save 25% on your order. It’s slated to hit shelves on June 1, but we’re pretty sure it will be out before then. 
 

Upcoming Workshops and Events

I’ve got some exciting events coming up in 2018, some of which are set and some of which are still being worked out. Here are the locked in dates. I hope you can join me for at least one of theses!
 

Tanzania Great Migration VIP Photography Tour - Aug 19-28, & Aug 31-Sept 10, 2018

Later this summer, I’ll be one of the leaders on a once-in-a-lifetime photography trip to Africa with Discovery Photo Tours. On this luxury safari photo tour, you’ll enjoy deluxe accommodations, with high-end lodges, electricity, full private bathrooms, first class travel with modern amenities, gourmet meals, and expert guides who have extensive knowledge about the terrain and wildlife in this spectacular region.

To give participants the maximum quality experience, Discovery Photo Tours has limited this tour to only four spots per instructor. You’ll travel along the safari routes in this exclusive small group, along with a local driver/guide and me as your personal photography instructor/mentor. I’ll be right there with you throughout the day to answer questions and provide personal guidance as you capture imagery of the animals, the local culture and the African wilderness.

After a full 7 days on safari in Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks, we’ll take a short flight to Zanzibar. This will allow us to to explore and photograph the beauty of the island and spend some time in historic Stone Town. We’ll also have time to enjoy the beach, including activities such as sailing, snorkeling or just plain relaxing.



During our Tanzania Great Migration VIP Trip, you’ll see more animals than you can imagine; antelopes, lions, zebras, elephant, giraffes, wildebeest and many more. You’ll also get a chance to visit local villages and meet Masai people, and visit a beautiful cultural center where you can see all kinds of African art, carvings, masks and jewelry. This can be an equally fascinating and enjoyable trip for non-photographers as well. 

I am very excited and honored to have the opportunity to lead a world-class trip like this, so I hope you can join me on this amazing experience. Please visit the Discovery Tours Website to see detailed information about this trip, and if you’re interested in one of these two dates, please contact me directly so we can discuss.

Las Vegas and California Presentations, April and May 2018

As of right now, I have two events planned in the Southwest for mid-spring, and I’m hoping to add a third. 

• B&C Camera, Las Vegas, NV - Saturday, April 28th 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

"The Adventure of Photography: Shooting Outdoor, Action and Travel with the Fujifilm X Series"

I’ll be doing a two-hour in-depth talk about the techniques, methods and equipment I use to create my style of outdoor, adventure and action imagery. I’ll show lots of photos and will be available to answer any questions you have about photography. If you live near Vegas, I hope to see you there!

Visit the B&C events page to see details about this event. (Since we just finalized this event, it may not be posted yet, so just keep checking back, I’m sure it will go up soon.)
 

• Camera West, Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, CA - Saturday May 5

During this event, I’ll be doing a presentation, followed by a photo hike and possibly a post-hike pizza party. We’ll have some learner Fujifilm gear for you to demo during the hike, and you’ll have plenty of time to talk with me, ask me any questions, and get one-on-one help during the photo walk. Info should go up on the Camera West website very soon. 

 

• In The Works - Presentation, Los Angeles area, Friday, May 4. Stay tuned for details. 

•In The Works - Workshop, Southeast US - End of Oct - Early Nov. Stay Tuned for Details.

Seeing and Being Creative

Last week, I made a trip down to Truckee, CA to crash Karen Hutton’s “See Your World” photography workshop. I was there as a guest, and while I did help out a bit by sharing my own photography insight, I spent a great deal of time immersing myself in the process with the other participants. 

I let myself get lost in the exercises, and sometimes I just got plain lost, and I made the most of this great opportunity to learn from Karen and absorb the amazing messages she has about creativity. Often times I move and shoot pretty quickly, and I pride myself on being able to see, compose, and capture my scenes with a sense of speed and efficiency. That comes from years of being an action photographer. 

This was a great reminder that it’s sometimes best to slow down. This gives you time to think about where you are, what you like, what draws you to the scene, what message you’re trying to get across, what symbolism you’re trying to communicate, and how best to convey your personal vision through your gear and into a memorable image. 



Next time you’re in a beautiful location, , don’t just bring your camera up to your face and start pressing buttons right away. Instead, take some time to breath, think, relax, contemplate, and ponder the specific stores you’re trying to tell. 

Then take more time, take more breaths, look around more, and only then bring the camera your face. 
 

Gear Corner

Fujifilm X-H1

I got a chance to try out the Fujifilm X-H1 last week. After shooting with it, I can attest, it’s a pretty awesome camera. Compared to the X-T2, the grip is bigger and it has the in-body stabilization, which is very nice in low light, or when you’re shooting with non-OIS primes. 

The layout is a little different too, but if you’re coming from a DSLR, you may find that it has a familiar feel. As I said, the grip is bigger, and while it doesn’t add very much weight or bulk, it does make the camera a bit easier to hold if you’ve got larger hands or if you use bigger lenses.

I get a lot of question about whether people should go for the X-H1 or the X-T2. My answer is that you should try it out for yourself. Go to a store and hold one in your hands. That’s the best way to determine where any camera is right for you. If you have any questions, though, you can ask me.

The X-H1 is shipping now, so if you already know you want it and can’t wait, you can order it from B&H and Amazon. 
 

BenQ SW271 27” 4K Monitor

A lot of monitors have passed across my desk during the past two decades. I’ve used mostly Apples and Dells, but my current “big” monitor is the new BenQ SW271. Its a very high quality 27” 4K display that doesn’t carry a huge price tag. 

With the ability to reproduce 99% of the Adobe RGB color space and 100% of the sRGB color space, built-in hardware calibration, quick switching between different color and black and white spaces, wide computer connectivity and compatibility with both Mac and Windows, the SW271 offers an immersive visual photography workflow experience. 

You can read my full review of the BenQ SW271 here.
 

Apple Lightning to HDMI Adapter

I’ve been traveling with just my iPad quite a bit lately and leaving the laptop at home. For most things, that works just fine, even for browsing your recently shot photos while you’re on a trip or at a workshop. Most cameras can send photos directly to your iPad, but what if you want to view your photos, or other documents on a bigger screen? 

The Apple Lighting to HDMI Adapter lets you connect your iPhone or iPad directly to an HDMI TV, computer monitor or projector. I actually did a recent presentation using Keynote on the iPad, which was connected to the projector via HDMI, and I’ve also shown slide shows from the iPad to the TV screen. 

It’s a pretty useful device, and you’re someone who prefers the iPad over a laptop whenever possible, you might think about getting this adapter.






 

Around The Web

This U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Photographed the Northern Lights Up Close. This is an amazing set of photographs, shot by an Air Force pilot while soaring at 70,000, almost right under the flowing green and magenta curtains of the aurora. Definitely worth a look!

Color Me Inspired. Need a little motivation? This fun collection of inspirational quotes and images from Karen Hutton is sure to get your creative juices flowing. 

The Value of Discovery. I always like to share posts by Robert Rodriguez Jr. He and I seem to be on a similar path. In his most recent post, he talks about growth, getting out of your comfort zone, cultivating your curiosity and discovering what works in your life and what doesn’t. It can easily apply to photography as well as life in general. 

X100: 1 Mile, 1 Year, 1 Lens. This gorgeous visual chronicle created by National Geographic photographer and presenter, Todd Gipstein, is a beautiful collection of black and white images, all created with a fixed lens camera, within a single year and all within a mile of his Todd’s house. It’s a great reminder that incredible subject matter and light is everywhere. You don’t have to travel to get great photos. In other words, there’s no excuse, so step out your front door and start shooting!! 

Ok, that’s all for now. Thanks for sticking with me until the end of this newsletter, and for continuing to follow me and my work. I really appreciate your support and I hope to meet you out in the world this year. 

If you're interested in the Africa trip, let me know as soon as possible. Enjoy my recent blog posts and have a great weekend. And if you'll be celebrating this Sunday, I wish you a very happy Easter.

-Dan

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