Take a Virtual Bosque Del Apache, NM Workshop - get great bird photos!

Left: You’ll find high-flying raptors in Bosque. Right: Same scene: top at 4 PM, bottom ta 5:30 PM.

Here's a cool idea for all those planning a trip to Bosque Del Apache, NM - where is it literally cool - sometimes below freezing in the AM, but warming up to T-shirt weather in the afternoon. The idea is to take a virtual workshop with me, which will save you hundreds of dollars on an on-site workshop - and give you great ideas for photos and locations.

I’ve been to Bosque five times, and each time was truly amazing.

Here is how it works:
• We have a one-hour Skype session before your trip - during which I offer tips on how to get great photographs. During the sessions I review some of your photographs and offer suggestions.
• I need your Skype name and a link to a gallery of your best images. My Skype name is ricksammon.
• We have a half-hour Skype session after your trip, during which I review your photographs and offer composition, exposure and processing suggestions.

Cost for the virtual photo workshop is $199 payable via PayPal. Shoot me an email to arrange your Virtual Bosque Workshop.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Learn more about bird photography in my two KelbyOne bird photography classes. Info on this page.

Virtual Antarctica Photo Workshop

Here's a cool idea for all those planning a trip to Antarctica - with side trips to South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands: A Virtual Antarctica Photo Workshop.

I’ve been to Antarctica five times and each time is truly amazing.

Here’s a link to some of the images from my most recent adventure with Abercrombie & Kent USA:

Here is how it works:
• We have a one-hour Skype session before your trip - during which I offer tips on how to get great photographs. During the sessions I review some of your travel photographs and offer suggestions.
• I need your Skype name and a link to a gallery of your best images. My Skype name is ricksammon.
• We have a one-hour Skype session after your trip, during which I review your photographs and offer composition, exposure and processing suggestions.

Cost for the virtual photo workshop is $199 payable via PayPal. Shoot me an email to arrange your Virtual Antarctica Photo Workshop.

Explore the light,
Rick

Suggest reading before you go. Click on a book to order.

Pandemic Productivity & Creativity: You Don't Drown by Falling in Water; You Only Drown if You Stay There

“You don't drown by falling in water; you only drown if you stay there.”

That Zig Ziglar quote sounds kinda funny, but it sure is true – especially during this worldwide pandemic where many of us have “fallen in the water.”

Breaking my ankle and having major surgery in July of 2021 compounded (greatly) my personal experience of “sailing in rough seas” during the “tidal wave” of pandemic.

At times, like many of you, I felt as though the “water was rising” – especially with how the business side of photography was being affected. However, being the positive person that I am, I found a “life preserver” that pulled me to safety: a life preserver of productivity and creativity.

I share my story with you with the hope of giving you some encouragement if you feel as though you are falling beneath the waves – and to illustrate how being productive and creative is important, some may say essential, for the health of the mind and body . . . and your business.

To begin . . . In the early stages of the pandemic I started the Photo Therapy Facebook Group - a safe place with no politics, and a place where members could share their photographs and get honest feedback. Today we have more than 5,000 members worldwide who find posting their photographs and sharing their stories very therapeutic and rewarding. Yes, I hope you can join the photo fun and photo learning!

As part of the Photo Therapy Facebook group, I set up a Photo Therapy YouTube channel. Here my friend Linda Marshall hosts Monday Meditation, and I share slide shows (that’s me on piano) of some of the members’ photographs . What fun!

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 1.0.

I came up with the idea for the Facebook group after receiving lots of positive feedback on my all-pictures-and-no-words book, Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom – discovering the power of pictures, which was published two years earlier.

Shortly after starting the Photo Therapy Facebook Group I came up with the idea for another inspirational book, Photo Quest - discovering your photographic and artistic voice. I felt as though the pandemic was the perfect time for photographers to find their voice. Many of my pro photographer friends agreed, and contributed to the book, hence the “All-Star Photo Mentors” in the credit line.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 2.0.

No rest for the weary. After publishing Photo Quest, which was another book with no photographs, I thought I should do a book with photographs. As I was about to turn 70, I thought a memoir of my world travels with some of my favorite photographs might be the way to go. Acting on my idea, I published Photo Pursuit: Stories Behind the Photographs – a travel photographer’s memoir. It’s an Ebook that is readable on any device.

I also set up a Gallery with the Photo Pursuit photographs here on my web site.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 3.0.

Several months into the pandemic KelbyOne started live on-line training sessions - which are separate from my standard classes. From late 2020 to mid-2021 I record 12 live sessions during four conference, my sessions at Photoshop World 2021 being some of my favorites.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 4.0.

During the pandemic, because I and virtually all of my pro photographer friends were spending most of our time on the business side of photography, I thought a book on the business side of photography would be helpful for serious photographers who like to make a few bucks with their photography. How to Make Money While You Are Sleeping grew out of that idea. Here, too, many of my photo friends contributed. They are credited as the “All-Star Photo Coaches.”

Click here to read the Introduction and Chapter One.

The book is available in paperback and as an Ebook.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 5.0.

Wanting to keep busy (even with a broken ankle and stuck in bed and a wheel chair) – and to keep from drowning (mostly emotionally) – I wondered, “What else could do to generate income and, more important, have some fun?” Launching the app - Rick Sammon’s Composition Plus: Iceland Edition - was the answer.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 6.0.

Breaking my ankle in Mt. Rainer in July 2021 (the day before one of my workshops was about to begin) was not fun. It took nine rangers to carry me out of the park! The pain was unbearable. That’s the bad news.

The accident required major surgery. While at home, as you saw in the opening image for this post, I started exercising soon after the operation – exercising the parts of my body that were in good shape so I’d be in better shape when I could fully exercise.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 7.0.

Part of my at-home photo therapy and creativity/productivity process was to try to recreate, with Susan Sammon’s help, a photo similar to the photo of Jimmy Stewart in the movie “Rear Window.” Good fun and good creativity. (FYI: I was in a wheelchair like Jimmy Stewart.)

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 8.0.

Another part of my at-home therapy was making the commitment to improve my bass guitar playing. It was a ton of fun learning new songs and trying new techniques.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 9.0.

Seven weeks after surgery, and after spending lots of time in bed and on my computer, I resumed my twice-a-day, one-hour bike ride here in Westchester, New York.

Productivity and creativity to the rescue 10.0 . . . big time!

Well my friends, I hope my experience illustrates the quote, “You don't drown by falling in water; you only drown if you stay there.”

Good luck with all your ventures and adventures.

Rick

P.S. Always go where you are looking, which may prevent you from breaking your ankle.

Introducing My Latest iPhone and iPad App: Composition Plus: Iceland Edition

My latest app is here: Rick Sammon’s Composition Plus: Iceland Edition. For $1.99, you get some cool composition tips (to take in the field as a handy reminder), have the opportunity to explore all my camera/lens/exposure settings), and take a min-tour of Iceland’s iconic spots.

Yes! The composition tips can be applied to all landscape photography situations.

In the Photo Tips section, I illustrate, with 27 photographs, time-proven composition techniques, including Use Negative Space Nicely, Golden Spirals are Cool, Love Those Leading Lines, Do a Background Check, Compose for a Mood or Feeling, Don’t Forget a Foreground Element, and Balance is a Good Thing. In that section, you also finds exposure information and the camera and lens I used to make the photograph. Knowing that information can help you make a photograph, and not just take a photograph.

Clicking on each photo in the Photo Tips section brings up what is called the Photo Explorer. Here you can pinch and zoom to examine each photograph in detail and learn even more about the photograph.

I took all photographs in this educational app during several trips to Iceland. In sharing the names of the locations, this app serves as a quick guide to the most popular sites in this magical photographer’s paradise.

Designed for the iPhone and iPad, this app is a handy photo accessory you can take on location, applying my suggestions to your own photography.

App was designed and developed by Craig Ellis (Three Suns Digital) under his GO Mobile Masters™ brand representing storytelling experiences that users truly love.

Explore the light,
Rick

Pesonal Photo Therapy & Photo Transformation Sessions

On-line, via Skype, I help photographers, on a one-on-one basis, make better images with my Photo Therapy and Photo Transformation sessions - while being very honest about their work.

Here's how it works: 
1) You shoot me an email and we set a day and time.
2) You prepay with PayPal. $50 for the half-hour, private session - at 11 AM and 4 PM EST.
2a) PayPal account: ricksammon@mac.com.
3) You send me a link to your work. Only a link, not folders or photographs.
4) You tell me your goals.

Why choose me as a photo coach? Well, I have been involved with photography since 1978, when I was the editor of Studio Photography magazine. Since then, I have written 42 books and have recorded 30 KelbyOne on-line classes.

Before turning pro, I worked in an advertising/PR agency for 10 years, so I have some experience with marketing one’s work. I also teach social media marketing.

Let me know if you think you need a Photo Therapy & Photo Transformation session.

Explore the light,
Rick