Mike Fults Photography

Great Egret family having breakfast. Of course, the term breakfast is a human construct, and we easily project our conduct onto wildlife. By doing so, it helps us relate to other species. Our dogs and cats are perfect examples of humans projecting our emotional structure onto them. My dog does not feel guilty for tearing up the trash but looks "guilty" because she reacts to my demeanor and she is concerned about my change in demeanor. But I digress; that is another subject that fascinates me but has nothing to do with Great Egret mothers feeding their children.
We call this type of behavior "Instinct," a preprogrammed function that guarantees the species' survival. Not every living creature nurtures its young; sea turtles are a perfect example. I love photographing instinctual behaviors. They teach me and give me hope that they will continue long after humans are no longer.

There is still time to get out and photograph the birds in Southwest Florida. Grab your camera and go make some art.

Tech: Nikon Z7, Tamron 150-600mm G2, ISO 160, 460mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 sec.

These are the two Great Blue Heron chicks that hatched in January 2023. On Saturday, March 25th, the one in front fledged from the nest about 20 minutes after I put my camera away 🙁 I have observed and photographed GBH for several years, and this is the first time I have seen this pose, which I find fascinating. They continued in this pose for a few minutes, synchronizing their heads.

There is still time to get and photograph the birds in Southwest Florida. Grab your camera and go make some art.

Tech: Nikon Z7, Tamron 150-600mm G2, ISO 160, 450mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 sec.

I want to invite anyone in Southwest Florida to meet at Venice Rookery on 3/25 to photograph some magnificent birds. Please visit https://www.meetup.com/southwest-florida-nature-and-landscape-photography-group/events/292277034/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link for more information and to register. Thanks, I hope to see you there.

For those that are interested, Jack E. Davis is speaking at USF St. Pete Campus on Tuesday, February 28th, 6:00pm. The details are in the link. Free admission and open to anyone.

Florida Speaker Series University of South Florida

My blog post is about my recent visit to the Venice Area Audubon Society Rookery and the Great Blue Heron family, the first chicks of the season.

Great Blue Heron at the Venice Rookery: Venice, Florida. The first chicks of the season. — Mike Fults Photography One of my favorite places in Sarasota County to photograph nature in action is actually behind several large county buildings along US 41 in Venice, just west of Jacaranda Blvd. Under the auspice of "Nature will find a way" and a dedicated group of volunteers, the Venice Rookery is terrifi

02/09/2023: The Venice Rookery and Audubon - GBH and Babies

One of my favorite places in Sarasota County to photograph nature in action is actually behind several large county buildings along US 41 in Venice, just west of Jacaranda Blvd. Under the auspice of "Nature will find a way" and a dedicated group of volunteers, the Venice Rookery is terrific in many ways. Photographers and bird watchers alike enjoy the location for so many reasons: it is easy to get to for those that do not want to hike, the tiny island is easily within reach of the most basic camera equipment and viewing scopes, and volunteers who readily greet you and share their knowledge. I like to arrive just before sunrise for the golden hour. Still, I have created award-winning images in the afternoon. This photograph of a Great Blue Heron family, and the first chicks of the season, was captured just after 9:30am when the sun was at a higher angle than I prefer, which creates harsh shadows. However, this harsh light also creates deeper shadows along the feather edges and develops more defined highlights in their eyes, what I refer to as sparks. I prefer these shadows in my black-and-white images, as it allows for more contrast and separation within the feathers. I do not like the contrast it creates in the foliage and background, but I believe it's a fair trade.

My recent visit
I ventured out to the Rookery on a recent Saturday morning with my wife Cheryl and mother Marie. Cheryl is herself a photographer and goes about capturing her own images, staying away from me, so we do not create the same images. When we venture together, she is the best spotter in the world for finding subjects, and I unfairly take full advantage of that. This was my mothers' first experience at the Rookery. I plopped her in a chair, handed her a pair of sand-covered binoculars, proceeded to drop my gear next to her, and shuffled off.

The Volunteer
The Audubon volunteer that day, whose name I did not remember two seconds after he told me (I'm brutal with names, excellent with faces; typical photographer), was incredibly kind and helpful to my mother. He provided a spotting scope, informed her about the area and its purpose, and kept coming by as Cheryl and I flitted around the pond's edge. After I finished photographing the birds, we spoke for several minutes. We discussed the land to the east that has been sold and scheduled for development, along with a couple of other topics. As a member of the Venice Audubon myself, I have yet to engage meaningfully, and he encouraged me to do so. My current excuse is I too busy with school, which is true. However, I need to make time to give back to the groups that make it possible for photographers to access these unique places and do what we love.

My Photographic Process
When I initially capture these images with my Nikon Z7 mirrorless camera, they are sharp, vibrant, and well exposed, precisely what you are looking for in a good photograph. I shoot in full manual mode 99.9% of the time and use single-point focus and exposure, with my ISO fixed at 100. I also use a continuous lens focus mode (AF-C) and actuate it via the AF-ON button. To capture my images, I place the single-point on my subject's eye and fire away. If the eye is not in focus, the image is culled and forgotten. With birds in flight, I will switch the Auto-area focus, change the camera mode to aperture priority, and often raise my ISO from 100 to 400 or higher, occasionally allowing the ISO to float using Auto ISO, but I always cap it at 3200. As a result, my images often are rendered nearly perfect when transferred to my computer. The saturation, tones, and pixels are outstanding and allow me to be as creative as I want. I prefer black and white photography. I feel the colors are distracting from the image. By manipulating the tonality of my subjects and separating them from the background, I can bring the viewers' attention to what I am trying to convey.

My Equipment
The Z7 is not a camera for the outdoors, and especially not for bird photography. It is slow to focus and does not have much of a frame rate; my Nikon F3HPt with a motor drive was about the same speed. Changing the lens outdoors on the Z7 is a terrifying ordeal. The sensor does not have any protection from the elements; dust and pollen are a constant battle. This results in my images frequently having large dark spots in bright areas. They are easily fixable when I can find them. My investment in sensor cleaning products is higher than Canon or Sony users. The Z7 was my studio camera, perfect for that task. As I no longer have a studio, this is the tool I have and must make do with. It is often said that the "best camera for you is the camera you have." I now have three cameras at my disposal. My Z7, a Nikon Nikkormat from 1967, and a 1980's Bronica SQ-A 6x6 medium format, with the last two being film cameras. Soon, I will be developing my film and scanning the negatives with my Z7. I hope the resulting images have finer transitions between the light and dark areas where the silver gently falls off instead of shaded pixels with their consistent shape.

My Hope
I encourage my fellow photographers, artists, and friends to visit the Venice Rookery. Bring your binoculars, cameras, and even phones, and capture what this small respite in our otherwise developed landscape has to offer you. Nature will use what we humans leave it; nature finds a way. There will come a time in the future when humans need to make our remaining natural habitats a priority. I believe that the time is now. I hope you find it within yourself to act according to and support the Rookery.

The Red-Shouldered Hawk was following me as I walked up the Fort Hamer Bridge this morning. Taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max, cropped.

Ansel and Me.

This morning I was thinking (coffee first, thinking second). I reflected on the differences between Ansel Adams' photography, his equipment, and his writing processes to my own. No, I'm not comparing myself to Ansel Adams, but the methods. His camera was without electronics, used 8x10 sheet film, and required a mule to transport. Mine has a lithium-ion battery, a wafer that records light brightness and color, and fits in my hand or on my belt. Then I reflected on the product, the message, and the methods of sharing that message. Ansel created prints, as do I; different processes, but similar results (again, no comparison). He would write with a pencil or fountain pen and sit down at a typewriter. He would send his prints and typed pages to a publisher or gallery. The public would physically consume his product and message in person before their eyes.
To read more...
https://www.mikefultsphotography.com/blog/ansel-and-me

Beyond your nature photography: How to create a deeper meaning and provoke others.



https://www.mikefultsphotography.com/blog/beyond-your-nature-photography

Beyond your nature photography | How to create a deeper meaning and provoke others. — Mike Fults Photography Specifically, how do you reflect on your nature photography? There's no doubt that Nature Photography is a visual art form. But also much more. The observer's eyes wander through your image, being led to the subject by your hopefully intended composition. While a picture may be worth a thousand word

Look what came in the mail today!

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reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman): a demure young lady | Antonia was pensive and demure.

Barred owl (Strix varia). Sometimes you can’t help but project human emotion onto wildlife.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) adult and chicks at in 2020. The rookery is an excellent viewing area for wading birds. When you visit, remember the birds choose these areas for a couple of reasons. First, when their habitat is surrounded by water, they reduce change of terrestrial predators. Second, they receive protection of from the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), whom eat most water predators. While an occasional chick may fall from a nest, or be pushed out, the overall population is better off having this apex predator nearby.

The mysterious and seldom-seen “Monster of Myakka”. This was taken in Myakka River State Park “, summer of 2021. The Clay Gully picnic area is a great place to sit and observe the water flow and wildlife. You might even find the unusual! Friends of Myakka River Mike Fults Photography

This Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea), sure look metallic when developed in black and white. Looks straight out of sci-fi horror movie.

I took this last year on Powerline Trail in Myakka River State Park. Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens polylepis, Aster family - Asteraceae). The wildlife was hiding and the sun was coming from the southeastern horizontal, about 9:00am. I’ll post the only wildlife photo I took that morning in the comments. Friends of Myakka River

As I’ve been preparing to launch my new venture, I’ve forced myself to review my nature portfolio, and re-edit images with the knowledge I have now versus my hacking of old. This image was taken six years ago about half a mile from my house. I never published to first edit, I hated it. But with the new Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw, I now love this image. Their are fifteen different filter masks applied, and did it in ten minutes. Years ago, I fiddled for days on this image. Unfortunately, this nest and the tree it was in we’re destroyed by hurricane Ian. Hopefully this Eagle family will find another suitable and sturdy home, and take advantage of the remaining habitat in Lakewood Ranch.

Today’s hike from the eastern campground to the falls trail and through Sitton Gulch was spectactular. Here is my first draft image as I work through my images. This waterfall is near the head of Sitton Trail.

Our 2003 Chevy Silverado LS 3500HD DRW truck tows our vacation home to the locations we love to photograph. Being close to the location allows for easier access, especially at sunrise and sunset. Some ask us why we have such an old tow vehicle, and I answer "No DEF fuel." On our upcoming trip, I'll capture an image of our fifth wheel.

Perspective Matters