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Photography workshop with Graham Owen

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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Graham Owen » February 19th, 2010, 11:55 am

Thanks Craig, I really want this workshop to be a perfect fusion of knowledge, fun and passion, and in that spirit I will try my best.

First of all, I plan to be on-stream early enough to photograph crimson alpen glow on the mountain peaks reflected upon the water, and late enough to savor sunset. Which means I won’t be spending much time in a hotel room, and really don’t need anything fancy, just a bed without bugs…

If it is cloudy, raining or snowing, that’s ok, different photographic opportunities will abound, and fish to photograph will be icing on the cake.

I’ve been photographing on stream for a couple of decades, with a small point & shoot camera, and bought my first SLR in 2006. I had no idea what an f/stop was, let alone ISO. Being an information junkie, I now have two rows of photography books on the shelf next to my desk; have compiled my own 16 page document which I keep in my camera bag. One of the things I love most about photograph is that the learning process will never end, and practicing is one of the things I look forward to most.

One problem is, I’m a gear junkie as much well as an information junkie, resulting in considerable time and funds invested in my passion for photography. I like the look different lenses achieve, even with respect to an angler holding a fish. Wide-angle lenses allow scenery to complement the main foreground subject, if desired, and can also be positioned close enough to fill the frame with a fish. If a fishing hole is so good that you become an all day barnacle, a telephoto lens allows for blurring the background to mix things up. The possibilities are endless….

To keep my gear dry on stream I have a LowePro Dryzone 2 backpack and a Simms waterproof belt bag system. I rarely use the backpack unless I’m packing everything, which I will do for the workshop. Typically I bring the Simms belt bags, slung over my shoulder while on the move, and carry a second camera inside an underwater house, and transport than in an Abel carry bag. The Simms roll-top waterproof bag will hold a Nikon D300 with lens attached, including a 300mm f/4, 70-200 f/2.8 or a 200mm macro. This is a perfect setup for me, and additional Simms bags are strung onto the belt to hold lenses not on camera, filters, flash, etc… The main roll-top bag (pouch) is completely waterproof, can be submerged, but I haven’t tested or have the same confidence in the large zippered pouches that hold my other large lenses. When fishing streams with slick boulders and fast water, I bring the backpack and belt, with a couple of the larger pouches removed. On easy water, such as upstate New York, I don’t even bring the backpack.

Ok, enough about gear, but keeping it dry is critical.

I have to mention that I am much more familiar with Nikon cameras than Canon, so bring your camera manuals! I don’t think either brand is better than the other, and the only reason I chose Nikon to start with was due to an online sale. One of the scam New York camera shop sales, resulting in my first camera, a D200, being black market, no warranty, and they shipped a Sigma 105 macro lens instead of the Nikon 105. Funny thing is, now that I’m recalling my photographic roots, I bought my first SLR to photograph bugs and flies, found a great spot to photograph birds in the San Fernando valley, and spent an hour or two practicing with my camera, almost every morning, for a couple of years. Learning to shoot local birds many of which have white and black feathers allowed me to gain experience with exposure under different lighting conditions, differences obtained using different apertures and shutter speeds, and in time, seemingly becoming one with the camera, adjusting exposure values on the fly without having to think about it.

Gear on the Kern...
Image

300mm telephoto lens to blur the background...
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Wide angle lens to show the background...
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Graham Owen » February 19th, 2010, 12:34 pm

For underwater photography, I use an Ewa Marine pro SLR housing, in which I can fit any of my cameras and flash. When the water is cold, it can be difficult to click the shutter button because the plastic gets stiff, so I use Pocket Wizard radio transmitters to fire the camera. Cold water also stops me from submersing my head to look through the viewfinder; instead, I point the camera with one hand and trigger it with a transmitter above water in my left hand.

Image

I never put any filters in front of my lens unless I can think of a compelling reason to do so, and use flash sparingly. When I do use fill flash I hold it high enough to mimic the suns angle, while leaving a bit of shadow under the brim of a cap, in an effort to make the extra light less obvious. I typically leave my flash set at negative 1.7 for on stream fill.

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both fly fishing photos courtesy - Lucas Carroll
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Benny » February 19th, 2010, 3:52 pm

I'm in, just let me know when.

1. Craig (wildfly)
2. Benny
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Graham Owen » February 19th, 2010, 4:33 pm

Hey Benny, fantastic!

My wife mentioned that the only time I can't do this is the first week of April, when my son has spring break. I'm struggling trying to decide if late March or mid April would be best, taking into consideration the fishing, hatches, snowy mountain backgrounds, and foreground vegitation with some green in it.

Keeping a camera close by while fishing can result in capturing fond memories of the unexpected.
I just added a new page to my website a few minutes ago with such an experience...
http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/hawk-encounter.html
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby beachbum » February 19th, 2010, 8:01 pm

You are a great photographer, Graham. I'm just a point and shoot "waterproof camera" sort of a guy (better be shockproof and drop tough too). It sure sounds interesting though.
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Graham Owen » February 19th, 2010, 9:52 pm

Hey Beachbum, Thank you, your supportive comments mean a lot to me.

For years I was 100% satisfied with my on-stream photos, shooting a pocket sized Sony point and shoot. It shot macro well, had a nice little internal zoom lens, and scenery shots were sweet. It wasn’t until after I returned from a fishing trip, and my buddy sent me a disk of the photos he captured, using a Canon Rebel. The crispness, clarity and colors were amazing compared to my pictures and that’s when I realized I wanted to learn how to use an SLR.

I think learning to see and feel the things you want to photograph are more important than the camera. When you get that feeling; god it’s beautiful here today, that’s when it’s time to pull out the camera. The thing I enjoy most about photography is looking at my photos and having a return of the feelings felt when the shutter was triggered. I believe the light shining upon and surrounding the subject being photographed is more important than the camera, and that includes fish, friends, flowers, landscapes, etc. Trying to force a shot under less than ideal light likely will not result in a photo that brings pleasure viewing. Well, maybe if the fish is a hog… anyway, I’ve seen awesome photos from point and shoots and consistently crappy photos from folks with much more expensive gear than I use. I always keep an eye on the background, at the very least, make sure there isn’t any trash or beer cans in the shot… And, there are ways to help control ambient light, such as flash, stepping into shade, diffusers for macro shots, etc…

I plan on fishing, and photographing more this year than the past three years combined. Seven days ago my son had his right knee replaced, and finally he can walk again. He injured his knee three years ago, five bad surgeries, bone infections, on and on, started freshman year in a wheelchair, been using a walker and crutches since, leaving me wondering if life would ever get back to normal. My son is even going upstairs again, it’s only been a week since surgery, and it’s only going to get better. I’ve been keeping very close to home for several years, and now that my son isn’t dependent, I can head back to the mountains, frequently, and enjoy life with friends, and family. I think my days being a weekend house hermit are finally over, and I’m dying to hit the Sierra…

Cheers,
Graham
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby midger » February 19th, 2010, 10:45 pm

Sorry to hear about your son's knee problems, and I realize how much a child's pain can impact us as parents, both from an emotional, and also the time required to just be there, as I spent 7 weeks with a daughter this past summer. I hope this latest surgery is the cure to those problems. It sounds like he's doing well and I hope he gets tied into a good physical therapist, as they can make a world of difference. I say this from experience, as my youngest daughter has had three knee surgeries, and the therapists she had on the first two were marginal. The one she has in Boise has been absolutely the best I've seen, and I hope your son gets tied in with one like hers.

As for picture taking, I use a point and shoot as well and many others on this board. I used to shoot film with an SLR, but now have gotten lazy and prefer to just fish. I certainly appreciate the fine pictures that you and others, like Wildman, Benny, and others with photographic skills post. I can continue to live vicariously through you folk's photography. Thanks for sharing your skills.

BTW, the LaQuinta is a pretty good place to stay in Bishop. Costs ($59 for 2) about the same as the Elms, ElRancho, and some of the other cheaper places, plus you get breakfast there--waffles, etc. Of course Jacks is nice also.
"Should you cast your fly into a branch overhead or into a bush behind you, or miss a fish striking, or lose him,or slip into a hole up to your armpits-keep your temper; above all things don't swear, for he that swears will catch no fish."
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Graham Owen » February 20th, 2010, 7:55 am

Hey Midger,

Thanks! I'm up early, heading down to the Long Beach Casting Club to tye flies for a fundraiser, got a last minute invite a couple of days ago.

About the photography workshop, I'm pretty stoked about it, and it wasn't even my idea, and if only a couple of guys are interested, thats fine with me, we'll have fun, and I can cover my hotel room. I wasn't even aware if this great forum until the invite to do a workshop, and if we do have one, I want it to be successful.

Graham
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Eric » February 20th, 2010, 8:17 am

Graham pretty nice thing your doing for the camera nuts on the site.
Eric
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Justin » February 20th, 2010, 8:32 am

Graham,
So glad to hear your son is doing better, that's such great news!!! What a nice kid!!! I have to come out in the Carolla again ;)
Although I know it's outdated and they have a new model out, does he like the new style? Well so far were not on the recall list :o

Hey I'm kind of with Beachbum as far as camera's go, I have a waterproof Optio point and shoot. I would like to join the group as my picture taking is...well lets just say less than par :D But I would love to hang out and fish and if need be be in a few shots :rockon:
As this event gets closer, I'll see if I can swing it. Maybe we could carpool so we could save on some gas.

Anyway great news about your son, and what an offer to all the Addicts out there, man this should be a top notch event.
I'll have to do another tying night sometime soon as well, thanks for making it out to the last one. I can't wait to do some fishing with you in the near future!!!!

Justin
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby beachbum » February 20th, 2010, 12:56 pm

Cool!

1. Craig (wildfly)
2. Benny
3. Bill (beachbum)
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby fly addict » February 20th, 2010, 8:04 pm

Graham,

It was nice meeting you today at the SouthWest Council, Federation of Fly Fishers. Thanks for the info about fishing in New York. I guess I’ll have to take my niece up on staying at her place and fishing for the browns and rainbows that move into the rivers to fill up on salmon roe.

Mark
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby Eric » February 20th, 2010, 9:25 pm

Graham it was nice catching up today. Really good news about your son :rockon: Also thanks for the info on the fly. I'll make sure to tie up some for my next trip.
Eric
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby midger » February 20th, 2010, 10:33 pm

Nice this was moved to this spot, but the thread counter doesn't show any topics yet.

Depending on when it occurs, I may come and see how the pros do it--assuming the blizzard hatches aren't coming off. :D
"Should you cast your fly into a branch overhead or into a bush behind you, or miss a fish striking, or lose him,or slip into a hole up to your armpits-keep your temper; above all things don't swear, for he that swears will catch no fish."
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Re: Photography workshop with Graham Owen

Postby WanderingBlues » February 21st, 2010, 9:05 am

Depending on the date, I'd be down for a trip. That Holiday Inn Express was nice at $94.00 a nite. Good breakfast as well. If we booked a few extra rooms, they might even give a discount.
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