Resources
CUSTOM CAMERA EQUIPMENT FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
KIRK ENTERPRISES WWW.KIRKPHOTO.COM
We have used the equipment of this innovative company for decades. They offer L-brackets, custom quick release plates for cameras and lenses that have tripod collars, a wonderful focusing rail for high magnification photography, flash brackets, and many other accessories.
WIMBERLEY WWW.TRIPODHEAD.COM
Wimberley is famous for the “Wimberley Gimbal Tripod Head” that revolutionized how big lenses are used today. They also make many accessories that are useful for close-up photographers, including the indispensable plant-clamp (Plamp). In our opinion, all close-up photographers need to have a minimum of two Plamps with them at all times. No other device makes capturing excellent close-up images easier than the Plamp.
REALLY RIGHT STUFF WWW.REALLYRIGHTSTUFF.COM
Although we have no personal experience with their equipment, many of our workshop clients do and they rate RRS quite highly. RRS make their own tripods and heads, along with many other accessories, including a focusing rail that moves forward and backward and side to side for precise framing.
PHOTOFLEX WWW.PHOTOFLEX.COM
This company specializes in making light modifiers for improving the light. We continue to use their popular 32-inch 7-N-1 Multidisc that includes a diffuser and six colored reflecting surfaces.
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
GERLACH NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS WWW.GERLACHNATUREPHOTO.COM
Our business website describes our various field workshops and indoor seminars in detail. Many of our most popular instructional photography articles are posted here. We do send out an e-newsletter from time to time. Subscribe to our free newsletter on the website. Hundreds of our images with detailed caption information and an instructional story are found on our popular Facebook page. Go to: www.facebook.com/GerlachNaturePhotographyWorkshops.
CHARLES CRAMER WWW.CHARLESCRAMER.COM
Charles teaches a fantastic workshop using Photoshop to produce exhibition quality prints. Barbara attends his workshop at least once every two years to learn the latest techniques. This is an intensive class that requires the student to be familiar with Photoshop.
PHOTO STACKING SOFTWARE
HELICON FOCUS WWW.HELICONSOFT.COM
The software program that is designed by Danylo Kozub specializes in combining sets of images where the focus has been varied from image to image. Using stacking software is the best way to obtain maximum sharpness in a subject where it is not possible to align the focusing plane with the plane of the subject. Contact Danylo directly at [email protected].
ZERENE STACKER WWW.ZERENESYSTEMS.COM
This outstanding software program by Rik Littlefield is excellent at stacking large sets of images. We use this one and Helicon Focus ourselves and teach their use in our field workshops. Like Helicon Focus, it is highly recommended. Go to both websites to view the tutorials!
BOOKS
The first three books describe the shooting workflow we have developed over forty years of full-time nature photography. Of course, our workshop clients have a lot to do with the shooting system we use because they often ask crucial questions which lead us to a whole new way of taking photographs.
Gerlach, John & Barbara, Digital Nature Photography – The Art and the Science. Focal Press, 2007
Gerlach, John & Barbara, Digital Landscape Photography. Focal Press, 2010
Gerlach, John & Barbara, Digital Wildlife Photography. Focal Press, 2013
Gerlach, John & Barbara, Close Up Photography in Nature. Focal Press, 2015
WEBSITES
There are numerous websites that offer outstanding information on photography. Listed below are some of the most popular. These websites are especially first-class for asking specific questions about close-up photography techniques.
Naturescapes: www.naturescapes.net
Nature Photographers Network: www.naturephotographers.net
Luminous Landscape: www.luminous-landscape.com
MAGAZINES
Nature Photographer www.naturephotographermag.com
I have been a regular columnist for this colorful magazine since the beginning. This magazine is especially top-notch at showcasing a wealth of incredible images, and it features many helpful articles on nature photography. It is published three times a year and is jam-packed with detailed articles and inspiring images.
Outdoor Photographer www.outdoorphotographer.com
This exceptional outdoor photography magazine describes the new equipment and software that becomes available each year and includes many instructional photo articles and images.
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
CAMERAS
Canon www.canon.com
Nikon www.nikon.com
Olympus www.olympus.com
Sony www.sony.com
Pentax www.pentaximaging.com
LENSES
Tamron www.tamron.com
Tokina www.tokinalens.com
Sigma www.sigmaphoto.com
EXTENSION TUBES
Kenko www.kenkoglobal.com
Kenko offers sets of extension tubes for Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony Alpha. Their tubes preserve autofocus and automatic metering.
TRIPODS
Gitzo Tripods www.gitzo.com
Manfrotto www.manfrotto.com
CAMERA BAGS
We have used photo bags from these companies for years. Both companies offer a large selection of well-designed bags to accommodate anything you might wish to put into them.
Lowepro www.lowepro.com
ThinkTank www.ThinkTankphoto.com
CAMERA AND FLASH RADIO TRIGGERS
PocketWizard www.PocketWizard.com
The PocketWizard Plus III transceiver is terrific for firing your camera remotely by using radio signals. They are also suitable for firing a remote flash. In each case, two units are necessary. One is set to be the transmitter and the other is set to the receiver mode.
Barbara attended a night photography workshop in Acadia National Park to expand her knowledge of capturing the night sky with digital cameras. This image is a combination of two shots. One shot was for the foreground and the other for the starry sky. Nikon D4S, Nikon 14–24mm f/2.8 lens at 14mm, ISO 3200, f/3.2, 25 seconds, 3200K WB, manual exposure and manual focusing.