Hi ,

 

Following closely on the heels of the September issue, here's your October edition of the Dan Bailey Photo Newsletter. I got a little behind this summer and you might have noticed that I missed an issue or two. I hope you didn't mind.

 

Now that we're hitting the peak fall season for many of you, I hope you're getting out with your camera and capturing those fall colors. I'm always amazed at the absolutely stunning autumn photos that some people are able to capture. It's cool to know that amazing creativity lies everywhere, and not just with the pros. One of the things I've learned along the way is that just because someone makes a living with photography doesn't mean that they love it any less than the people who don't. Passion for photography can be had by anyone.

 

 

I'm planning my 2015 photography workshop schedule with Alaska Photo Treks and wanted to get your input. It only makes sense that I create workshops around the subjects and types of locations that my prospective students and participants want to see and photograph.

 

Alaska is truly an amazing place, and there is so much here to photograph. However, planning a trip up here can be a little overwhelming, believe me. Sometimes it's even tough for me to plan my own trips, and I live here, so I can imagine how tough it is to think about coming all the way up here.

 

Alaska is also an amazing place to LEARN photography, which is why I'm working hard to expand my photo workshops up here. With this in mind, I've created a special poll to see just what kinds of workshops and photo tours YOU'D like to do up here. I want to plan your ideal trip, where we can work together to get your ideal adventure and Alaska imagery. 

 

 

If you're serious about coming up to Alaska to learn photography from me in the next year or two, please take a minute to answer this simple poll. Tell me what you want to shoot and what you want me to teach you, whether it's mountains, landscapes and glaciers, bears, aerials, sports and action, winter, northern lights, dog sledding, etc... I promise, it will only take a minute or two. 

 

I'd love to see you up here, because I know that once you're here and we're out in the field together, we'll have an amazing experience capturing Alaska in a way that very few people ever get to see.

 

 

 

Just about all of the information, tips and recommendations that I give stem from my own experiences. When I find something that works great for me, I like to share it with people who I feel are kind of like me; in other words, other active, outdoor photographers. Know that I'd never recommend anything that I would't want to use myself, or that I don't already use.

 

 

So, the other day, I'm sitting there at my desk, cruising through a batch of new photos, when I hear a few crackles and pops. Then I smell the distinct odor of burning plastic, and a few minutes later, my second monitor blinks out. Dead. 

 

Since I've been a dual-monitor guy for over 10 years, you can imagine what it was like to suddenly be confined to the reduced visual real estate of just a single display. I know- total first world problem. Still, my work and craft depends on this stuff, so I can't really afford to go without that second screen for very long. 

 

My choice is easy. Three years ago I bought the a 24" Dell UltraSharp IPS display, and I could have not chosen a better monitor. With an 1920 x 1200 resolution and a backlit IPS LED screen, this display shows excellent color reproduction. In addition, unlike the newer Apple screens, it's not glossy. It has a nice matte finish that shows you the stuff your working on, not a reflection of you right in front of your face. This is a deal breaker for me.

 

The Dell UltraSharp monitors are totally up to the task for professional quality photo editing, and they don't cost very much. The updated model is the Dell U2412M 24" display. This is the one '™m ordering to replace my broken screen and I know I'll be happy with it. At less than $270 on Amazon, this is a great deal and I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for a good, affordable monitor, whether it's your first or your second. Or third.

 

 

Recently, the editors at National Geographic did a rundown of the top ten compact cameras for travelers on the market today, and they listed the Fuji X-T1 and the X-E2 at the top of the list. Regarding the X-T1, one of the editors remarked that it has "one of the best electronic viewfinders yet." He felt confident in saying that with the X-T1, he could go on a trip and leave the DSLR home without a second thought. So, as much as I've been gushing about the X-T1 for most of the year, don't just take it from me. 

 

The Fuji X-T1 is now being offered in three ways, as a body only, or with either the XF 18-55 lens or new weather sealed XF 18-135. If you've read my review, then you know how impressed I am with this lens. Slow kit lenses are not supposed to perform this well, but someone obviously forgot to tell this to Fuji. They seem to be writing their own story with all this amazing gear.

 

NG also liked the X-E2, which is an amazing camera as well. It's got the same sensor as the X-T1, so if you don't need the rugged, weather sealed features of the X-T1, or if you prefer a rangerfinder style camera, the X-E2 does an amazing job with image quality and form function. 

 

Also on the list is the Olympus OM-D EM-1. I've never used this camera, but I have friends who love their Olympus gear. They make great stuff and even though I really dig the Fuji cameras, I think you can't go wrong with a setup like this is you're looking for a durable, compact, full featured mirrorless camera. It's worth checking out. 

 

 

With today's cameras, you can never have too many batteries, especially if you're traveling, shooting in the backcountry or if you're using mirrorless cameras. I have about 5-6 batteries for every camera I own. You should have at least 2-3 extras. Here's a list of some of the most common battery types that Nikon, Canon and Fuji cameras take, and I even list the cheaper, but capable generic brands for each one as well.

 

 

Don't forget to bookmark my Dan Bailey's Gear Essentials page at B&H Photo. I've worked hard with the people at B&H to put together a list of camera and photo equipment that I think is ideal for outdoor photographers like me. If you think you need some new gear, check this out. Also, shopping through this link helps me out with a small commission and it doesn't cost you anything extra or affect the price in any way. Thanks!

 

 

Until the end of October, you can save 15% on select eBooks by landscape photographer extraordinaire Ian Plant, including his awesome 240-pages book Chasing The Light. Ian is truly a modern day master of outdoor photography and he has great insight to share. I've checked out a number of his titles, and I've even interviewed Ian personally, and I can definitely recommend his books to anyone who wants to learn how to compose better landscape and nature images. 

 

 

Last month, Phase One released Capture One Pro/Express version 8. This is a solid update to an already great program and the latest version has an improved processing engine, increased speed and a host of new features, including Repair Layers, Live View and a new way of using Catalogs. Although I'm a Lightroom user, I love how images look when processed in Capture One, which is why I use it for my final high res selects. You can download the free 60-day trial to see for yourself.

 

The 5 Lightroom shortcuts everyone needs to know. These are five simple tips that will save you lots of time in the long run. We all need to improve our workflow, because with limited time, saving just a couple seconds on a task, multiplied by thousands of images, will make a big difference in how much time you spend at your computer instead of spending it outside shooting images. If you're new to Lightroom, you might want to check out the Lighroom Made Easy video tutorial series and take advantage of this limited time 33% off deal.

 

Take a walk. I shared this excellent post by David Hobby earlier this year, but I think it bears repeating. In today's world, we need to spend less time doing and more time thinking. We need new ideas to come into our brains or we'll get stagnant. David shares his very simple method for generating new creative ideas, and it echoes what I've often said. Read this post. 

 

Never give up, just "bugger on." Good advice from the SaxePhoto blog. This insightful post is about persistence, being confident and having the mindset to keep searching for just the right scene, even when you're self conscious, or when the creativity just isn't coming. Pushing through during those times can lead so some great payoffs!

 

New Photos by William Snyder. Up and coming outdoor photographer William Snyder recently got a new compact camera, and during his first few days with it, he shot a really nice collection of photos. You can see them here on his blog. 

 

 

That's all for now. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your October. Thanks so much for reading my newsletter; don't hesitate to contact me if you ever have any questions or comments, and don't forget to share this newsletter with your other photographer friends! 

 

 

Take care,

 

Dan