Nichter Photography Plus...The New Blog

Our new blog, Nichter Photography Plus, is up and running. We'd love it if you could visit, and leave a comment on your impressions.

Starting in January, 2016, I will be posting at least once a week. The focus and topics are still in the planning stages, but will include the nature photography and naturalist essays, and travel photography and travel essays that people have told me they enjoyed in this blog.

See you there!

Good-bye, and Hello

Sunset Bench

This blog started when we started our photography business, almost seven years ago. Karl and I took up photography seriously again as we both decided to take an early leave from the business careers we both enjoyed up to that point. It was time for a change in our lives, we wanted to be outdoors more, have more control over our schedules, expand our creative lives, and perhaps most importantly, work together.

All this and more has happened over the past seven years. We both grew as photographers. Karl ventured into fine art photography and black-and-white images. I started writing again in addition to expanding my photography, and found they compliment each other nicely. We enjoyed our commercial success, but chose to limit the commercial aspect and concentrate on the message of our work, along with improving the art and craft.

I revamped this blog several times over the years. It languished this summer due to some life changing events we experienced, and I finally accepted that it was time to retire this blog and start another. The posts will remain up for reading and reference as long as I see traffic coming to the site.

Thank you for the tremendous support over the years. Some of you I met in person in our classes and hikes, some left comments which I enjoyed, and some just loyally read each entry. The new blog is in design, and I will announce it here when it launches.

I am sad for the end of this part of our journey, and excited to start the next part.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #6

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Mortar and Pestle

Lake Erie from Preque Isle State Park

We spend a few weeks visiting family each summer, and for the past several years we take the time to drive the 1250 miles to give us an opportunity to do some photography and sightseeing along the way. The last few years we scheduled these trips around family weddings, which mean the "stopping to smell (and photograph) the roses" part of the trip was sacrificed for the "need to be there by a certain date and time" part of the trip.

This year was no different, but we did manage to stop at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA. This park has been on our to-do list for years. The weather was cold for an early July day and very blustery. I grew up on Lake Erie, and forget how incredible the size of the Great Lakes appear to someone who has never seen them before. I thought of this as we walked the beach, the only people there except for another photographer and a group of students from a nearby university geology program. The waves crashed on rocks and rolled ashore as the wind tore through our light jackets.

I enjoyed trying to get THE photograph of the waves. For the blog I chose this one. The lineup of the rocks mimics the horizon line leading the eye right to the crashing wave. The rule of thirds works well for this shot.

More on Preque Isle State Park in the next couple of postings.

Living Near the Gulf of Mexico

In December we celebrate our 17th year of living in our little house/cottage near the Gulf of Mexico. This is the longest Karl has lived in the same place, and nearly the same for me. We considered moving several times, but never found a place to compare. Starting in June we check the NOAA website daily for tropical storm and hurricane activity, our flood insurance has increased by a factor of 10 over the years, even though this nearly 40 year old house has never flooded to date, even through the storms. We made the house as hurricane proof as money and modern technology allows, but a direct hit and storm surge could still result in major damage. The area has grown incredibly since we arrived with more and more people making this their home, and winter traffic on the main road just outside our community is unbelievable.

So why are we still here? Quality of life, that is the only way I can describe it. We are both outdoor people and our small fenced backyard dominated by a concrete deck and caged pool becomes part of our living space most of the year. We are both naturalists, and the creek behind our fence provides a home for many birds and animals. I can compile a pretty decent day list just sitting in our pool area reading on a Spring or Autumn day. When I run in the morning, I stand at the end of the road and look into the Gulf, seeing wading birds, the occasional nose of a manatee, the less frequent fin of a dolphin, the reflection in the water of a setting full moon, and I feel good. I know most of my neighbors, and they know me. Someday we may evacuate and come back to no house, but no one can take away the memories made here.

This scene greeted me a recent morning as I went outside the door for my morning run. I ran back in to get my camera, and Karl did the same. We both got good shots, this one of Karl's was the best, but a photograph still can't take the place of being there and seeing the towering clouds with many colors of white and gray and blue seeming to rise from the dark water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #5

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Fork and Plate

The Water Lily and the Dragonfly

That sounds more like the title of a children's book, but I captured both while taking photographs of the flower. A few water lilies dotted the shore of a pond. While shooting one, I noticed a dragonfly land near another. I took a quick shot, then realized my camera settings weren't right for the scene. Luckily the dragonfly had found a good perch, and stayed still while I changed and took a few more shots.

Around Home

I often talk about living in central Florida on this blog. We've been here for 18 years, the longest by more than a decade that we have lived in one area. We have lived in our current house, more of a cottage, for almost 17 years. With a creek and conservation area behind us, the Gulf of Mexico withing sight from the front of the house, and the canals in the neighborhood we see a lot of wildlife just relaxing in our yard.

Here is a shot from the top of the road leading to our community. We had just finished a wonderful lunch in a nearby restaurant, the day was sunny, bright, and warm, and I just felt like using my camera.

Happy 4th of July!

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #4

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Cutting Board and Knife

Snakeskin

Karl noticed this snakeskin during a recent hike. Apparently the snake used the main made pipes and building to help it shed its skin.

Black Crowned Night Heron in the Swamp

This Black-crowned Night Heron fished quietly, watching us pass by on the nearby boardwalk. He moved a little, but not much. As long as I remained quiet and somewhat still, I had time to really compose my shot. With birds in the wild, that luxury is rare.

The fallen branch made an excellent framing device, and the duckweed-choked creek provided a clear background. I did move to get this final shot with the elements I wanted, but I did it slowly and as softly as possible. And, as this shot shows, he watched me the entire time.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #3

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

 

Scissors and Twine

Summer Arrives Officially

Summer arrived officially yesterday, but a couple of days of near record or record heat made the official start of summer somewhat redundant.

Still, clear, humid, hot, sunny....all these things describe a typical summer morning for us. The breeze picks up later in the day. If the summer proves to be normal (it hasn't for several years now) late afternoon thunderstorms start to announce their presence with the occasional thunder around 3 or 4 p.m., followed not long afterwards by the dark clouds. Suddenly, drenching rain falls. Less than an hour later, the sun is back out, the sky is blue, and puddles are everywhere soon to dry up in the heat.

Still, sunny, clear summer morning with the grass and trees reflected in the water

Sandhill Crane and Two Colts

We watched the Sandhill Cranes walking their colts around all spring, as the colts went from yellow, fuzzy little chicken sized birds to the size of their parents. We were surprised to see these the other day, as it seemed late for colts this young. I checked, and breeding season here in Florida is Spring and Summer, so this is not apparently as unusual as we thought. Here they follow "Mom", running to keep up with her slow walk. "Dad" was behind them a bit.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #2

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.
 

Heads of Garlic

Blue Hole Springs at Florida Caverns State Park

We visited Florida Caverns State Park two years ago, and camped several days. The caverns are wonderful, and very worth the trip. Blue Hole Springs, a natural spring with water around 68 degrees year around, is part of the park. We did a lot of photography around the spring. Our favorite is one Karl took, showing the bridge beautifully reflected in the pool of water.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #1

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Group of brooms in a barn

 

Capture the Moment: A Feather Just Lost

The floating fern plants covered most of the water, and from the bridge we saw a bright, white feather, looking fresh and clean and dry. It gently rested on top of the ferns and the water, light enough not to sink. It must have just fallen off of the bird, who was no where to be seen. Soon the feather would start to absorb water, discolor, and begin to sink, perhaps sinking even faster once the afternoon rains started. People passing by even an hour later would not see what we saw.
 

Byways: A Moment in Cedar Key

Walking along in Cedar Key a few years ago, enjoying the day and taking photos as I saw interesting subjects, I took this shot. I liked the large rocks in the foreground, and felt the overall gray of the sky and water highlighted the melancholy of the ruined structure. On a recent trip, we found out that a storm had knocked down most of it, leaving only a few of the vertical pilings. Karl remembered us both spending time photographing it, so he searched our archives, and found this.

Last Hike of the Season

Karl and I led our last hike of the season at Brooker Creek Preserve this past Saturday. We stop for June, July, and August because the heat and humidity common those months made it uncomfortable for hikers, and who can forget the ever present mosquitoes out in force.

I take a pre-walk before the hike, to see what I can spot and also to get a good feel of the light we can expect. The quiet early morning and soft light through the tree canopy, now filling in so light is even more filtered, made the creek look so calming and surreal. I took this shot, and then stood and enjoyed the view before remembering my time and moving on.

The hike went well. We saw a lot of dragonflies, and snakes. One of the hikers spotted a pygmy rattlesnake right off the trail, and near the Education Center we saw three black racers. While the rattlesnake moved slowly, and as a result some of the hiker did get photos, the black racers moved like their name, very fast.

At the end of the hike, this small alligator moved into the sunshine and stayed, allowing all of us to get good shot of him.











Each year we change the format and theme of the hikes. I will let you know as soon as we develop next season's plan.

Florida Seasons: "Dry" Season

Central Florida has seasons like the rest of the country. Winter gives us lower humidity and temperatures, sometimes temperatures far too low for the many people who come here to escape the snow and freezing north of here. Winter gives way to Spring, with temperatures and humidity rising. Both seasons are generally dry, sometimes drought conditions dry but definitely drier than summer. This year winter tended toward a much wetter pattern, as last winter, but recently we definitely see the ponds and wetlands drying up.

A pond where we usually see many wading birds didn't have many, until we walked around and found where most of the water, and guessing by the population, most of the fish, still existed.

I took many shots of this scene. Some included all the birds, at least five species and numerous individuals of each one, and some concentrating on only a few. Reviewing them all, this one best captures the event. Three different species, all looking for food.

Capture the Moment: Juvenile Bluebird getting the attention of adult

The juvenile harassed the adult, who flew off. The juvenile soon followed.

Naturalist Notes: Common Gallinule used to be Moorhen

Common Gallinules - Mother and five babies

In a nearby pond, two juveniles hunting, one followed the other for quite some time

Bird names change, more frequently than those of us who bird prefer. A year or so ago, a bird often seen in our casual birding and project birding changed from a Common Moorhen to Common Gallinule. I still often call "Moorhen", and then correct myself. Locally this year the Common Gallinule appears to be doing quite well. We've seen a lot of them, including babies and juveniles.

Byways: RVing at Rainbow River State Park

We visited the main park area of Rainbow River State Park many times over the years, but in the five years we have been RVing, we never managed to camp at the campground. We decided to go, made reservations, and due to people coming into town and a forecast of thunderstorms all day both days we scheduled to be there, we ended up canceling. Recently we finally made the journey, and I can't believe we overlooked such a wonderful state park campground so close to us.

The sites are large, one loop is very open, the other two have plenty of vegetation and privacy between sites. A hiking trail, which we did not get to hike this trip, meanders off the entrance road. In the other direction, Rainbow River with a small swimming area and canoe/kayak launch for campers.

I spent a lot of time photographing the clear, spring fed river, and sitting on the benches just relaxing and enjoying the view. We will be returning, I hope frequently.

Looking into the River

Fish and his shadow

Looking toward the Spring

Capture the Moment: Standoff

I noticed the hawk first. Perched on the long, pointed branch, the sun hitting its feathers highlighting the beautiful pattern. I took several shots, and then stood and surveyed the scene.

I followed the gaze of the hawk, and discovered the situation. Two female Red-winged Blackbirds clearly did not like the hawk sitting there, and started loudly voicing their disapproval. I caught this one just as the bird closest opened its beak to make its point.

The standoff ended less than a minute later, with the hawk leisurely lifting off, ignoring the birds and heading toward quieter, easier prey.

Byways: Eco Walk in Crystal River, FL

I mentioned in the Florida seasons post that this time of year in Florida wildlife photography tends toward the smaller residents. Recently Karl and I hiked the Eco Walk in Crystal River. We started the 2.2 mile walk about 8:15 a.m., just after the gate opened. Eco Walk is rarely crowded. People head toward the state parks just a few miles from here, so we often have this hidden gem to ourselves. The dragonflies were out in force, gathering energy from the morning sun, and I spent a lot of time photographing them.

I used a telephoto lens to zoom in on the dragonfly without disturbing it, and to ensure that my background blurred. The moment and the subject were both about dragonflies, and I wanted nothing in the frame to detract from that.

By the time we finished the walk, the sun blazed strongly and the dragonflies flew more than landed. For portrait shots of this insect, start early.

Sign of Life: Which Sign?

Which sign was the butterfly reading. He certainly appeared to be trying to "Pull"

Florida Seasons: Spring Wildlife Photography

As bird migration slowly fades away for another spring, what else does central Florida have to offer a wildlife photographer?

The summer residents start to arrive about now. Birders and photographers both eagerly await the Swallow-tailed Kite. 

For the hotter weather, think smaller. Butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies all proliferate this time of year, and right through the summer months. All three tend to be less active early in the morning, though they can be seen all day long. Less active means more opportunity for a good photograph, so set the alarm and get to your destination as the sun rises.

So far unidentified but beautiful dragonfly

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly (Male)

Red Admiral Butterfly

Reptiles love the hotter weather too, but that is a topic for another time.

Capture the Moment: Barn Swallows

The Barn Swallows swooped around us and by us, seemingly never landing. For the entire 3+ hour hike, we saw them everywhere, but never still. As we ended the hike and started to leave, one must have grown tired of all the flying and landed, looking over his shoulder at me, but never flinching or moving as I came closer and closer for a shot. The morning sun was pretty strong at that time, but it really showed the beautiful color of the feathers.

I used a telephoto lens to isolate him, avoid spooking him, and the give the green pasture background that perfect blur to keep the attention on the subject.

Friday Photo Story: Cinnamon Fern

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea L) grows in boggy conditions, and here in central Florida sends up its signature frond in the spring. Karl recently started a personal photography project on ferns, trying to capture the featherly green leaves more artistically. Recent work on the Cinnamon Fern included these three shots.

Byways: Enjoying Nettle's Sausage

We took a break from wandering around enjoying a festival in White Springs, FL and discussed lunch. The RV wasn't far away, and I had a lunch planned, but earlier we found a vendor cooking sausage and the aroma drew us in.. Our lunch at the RV could wait. We both ordered a sausage sandwich with grilled onions and chips. Most of the picnic tables already had diners enjoying their meal, so we found an empty bench and sat there savoring the taste of the just grilled sausage.

Karl sat back on the bench, his sandwich finished. Finally, he stood up, gave me his chips, and said "I think I'll go back and get another". The vendor told his co-worker as Karl approached "He's coming back for another one". He told Karl as he served him what he said, and they both laughed. The sausage served is made locally in Lake City, FL, and are sold locally. The very friendly vendor told Karl that a market and restaurant called Family Traditions right in White Springs carries them.

We bought some before we left, and stop there every visit to buy more. The sausage comes in regular or hot. We've tried both, and like both. To really get the heat on the hot version, they do need to be grilled. We tried them sautéed and while the heat was there, it is much better grilled.

Trying local dishes and locally made products is one of the highlights of our travel. This sausage is now a regular in our freezer.

Photo Techniques: Using Morning Light (again)

On many occasions I photographed the museum at Stephen Foster Cultural State Park, trying different angles and different lights. I looked at the work other photographers published of the same building, and in general, we all put our vision on it but the photographs tended toward the same.

Recently, while camping at the park and taking an early morning walk, we passed by the building just as the morning sun lit part of it, and my angle of view was partial. A little mist still hung in the air.

Exposure tended toward the dark side for the trees, but the focus is the house so I didn't mind. This time I really felt like I made the photography, rather than just took a photograph.

Signs of Life: Dragonfly on Interpretive Sign

Something struck me as funny as I walked by a large interpretive sign on a trail while leading a hike, and saw this dragonfly sitting on the pygmy rattlesnake drawing, seeming to read. The shadow of the body can be seen through the translucent winds, as can the entire snake drawing. Lighting proved tricky, the sun shone directly on the sign.

Capture the Moment: "This is my pond"

I watched this duck for several minutes. It appears to be a hybrid, not quite Mallard and not quite Mottled, which I understand from the experts is becoming more and more common here in west central Florida. Regardless of species, which he doesn't likely care about anyway, he clearly felt that this bit of pond was his and his alone. He went after any bird that attempted to land near him, never getting close but definitely sending any interlopers on their way.

Photo Techniques: Using Morning Light

I took a morning walk through a hardwood swamp this past weekend. The morning light dappled through the growing leaves of the cypress trees, bursting through in areas and highlighting parts of the scene.

A Tillandsia Setacea  or Southern Needleleaf airplant, sat in one of the pools of light, on the side of a tree. The normally green to red leaves of the plant appeared completely red. I took several shots, changing my angle and moving around, or "composing with my feet" as the photographers say.

With the light directly behind the leaves, and using the zoom lens set on aperature priority to blur the background, I finally composed the shot I wanted. Wisps of webbing fall through the needle-like leaves. The red leaves stand out with the green background and angle of the light.

Further down the boardwalk, the "baby spot lights" the sun created coming through the leaves shone on some individual buttonwood flowers, just in full bloom. The reflection of the sun in with the white flower washed out a lot of detail, and even using several different angles and settings I never quite captured in the camera the look I wanted.

I almost deleted all of them when I saw them on my computer screen. Instead, I decided to play around a bit with the Photoshop Elements settings, and produced a shot much closer to that in my head.

Looking closely at the photograph, I can see the affect of the setting on the original. I think I'll go back and try to get it right in the camera this time.

Friday Photo Story: Florida Birding



Except for the middle of summer, Florida attracts birders and bird lovers. In addition to the many species found in our three climate areas (temperate, semi-tropical, and tropical), Spring and Fall migrations bring many other visitors to our area.

 

Our winter residents prepare to leave for their breeding grounds this time of year, but we enjoy many species year round. Our photo story this week shows some of my favorites.

 

My photography style for birds evolved over the years. My early shots are portraits which I still enjoy and exhibit. Lately however, I find myself trying to capture an individual of a species in their surroundings or showing movements to give a more complete story of the bird. With nature photography, growth and improvement in the craft coincides with increased knowledge and more detailed observations of species and their behavior. Both advances improve the end result.



 

 

Gray Catbird (winter resident)

Hermit Thrush (winter resident)

Carolina Wren (year round)

Juvenile Bald Eagle (year round)