I Use – 3 Filters / Polarizer, ND, IR

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Because it offers so many more options, digital imaging may change the way you use your tools.
For instance, I use only 3 filters – a circular polarizer, a neutral density filter, and a infrared filter.
No other filter is as useful to me as a polarizer. Polarizers remove glare making colors more saturated and reflections allowing you to reduce or remove images on the surface of reflective surfaces. No software filter can do this. I use Canon’s circular polarizer. Whenever possible, I prefer to match filters to the manufacturer of the lens,
I’ve been experimenting with long exposures. Singh Ray makes a unique neutral density filter – the Vari-ND filter. Rotate it and you can slow reduce light between 2 and 8 stops. This eliminates the need to carry multiple filters and to stack them during exposure. It’s fantastic. (As an aside, I prefer all graduated filtration to be done with software because you can control both the effect and the graduation precisely.)
For infrared imagery I use an infrared filter. It’s not exactly the same as converting a camera to infrared, but it’s closer than simulating IR effects with software and it’s doesn’t permanently change your camera. I prefer to carry as little equipment as possible, move freely, and take long walks. Because I prefer to keep my options open, many times I will shoot in full color and use software to create an IR effect. If you take both a full color and IR filtered exposure of the same subject you have many more options.
I demonstrate these kinds of techniques in all of my field workshops.
See more of the products I use here.
Check out my full Review on the Singh Ray Vari-ND filter here.
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Read about essential camera tests techniques here.
Check out my field workshops here.
Get a 20% discount on my Iceland (8/18-22) workshop here – expires 8/10.
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Focus on Nature / Iceland – Destinations

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Our Icelandic day trips are divided into “whole day” and “half day” trips. The variety of the destinations is truly stunning; waterfalls, glaciers, icebergs, hotsprings, geysers, volcanic debris fields, valleys, high mountain passes, and on and on. Here are a few highlights.
Here are some of the highlights of our day trips.

The Domadals route includes rugged mountains, deep valleys, and volcanic craters.
The South Coast includes fertile farmlands and two stunning waterfalls leading to black sandy coasts and a dramatic sea arch.
The Golden Circle is an area of intense geothermal activity with geysers, rapids, and waterfalls.
The Cold Valley is an area of extremes including glaciers and lava fields.

The diverse and mysterious Snaefellsnes Peninsula crescendos in a stratovolcano with a glacier at the top.
Find out about destinations even closer to our home base in these half day trips.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.

Focus on Nature / Iceland – See Icelandic Horses

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The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse that has lived in Iceland since the mid-800s AD, having been brought to the island by Viking settlers. It has since been bred for centuries without the addition of outside bloodstock. The most beloved trait of the Icelandic horse is its unique character. It is very willing, brave, happy, cheerful, confident, and offer its best with very little encouragement. It’s a horse that tries to please the rider, is sensible, easy to ride, and easy to handle.
Find out more about Icelandic horses here.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.

Focus on Nature / Iceland – Walk Between Continents

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During one of our field trips on the Reykjanes peninsula we will walk between continents (Europe and America) in few seconds. This bridge crosses between the European and American plates.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.

Focus on Nature / Iceland – Visit Geothermal Wonderlands

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Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is the interface between American and European tectonic plates. The plates are diverging at an average rate of two centimeters per year. The gap is filled with molten lava. This is the reason for the geothermal heat in large areas of Iceland with Geysers, hot springs and muddy hot-pots.
Read more about geothermal highlights here.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.

Focus on Focus On Nature / Iceland – Easy Access to Dramatic Locations With Jeeps

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During our workshops at Focus on Nature we will travel in jeeps for our field trips. Using jeeps for our field trips gives us great flexibility for destinations and recreation during the evenings.
Read and see more about jeeps and destinations here.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.

Caponigro & Versace – Free Weekend Workshop in Iceland

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Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) announces the combined forces of John Paul Caponigro and Vincent Versace in a special weekend. John Paul and Vincent will work on location discussing their varied processes before, during, and after making images. Participants will be able to photograph side-by-side with John Paul and Vincent and ask them questions as they work. The weekend (August 16 & 17) is free to participants of their workshops.
Read more about Vincent’s Iceland workshop (August 11-15) here.
Read more about John Paul’s Iceland workshop (August 18-22) here.
Focus on Nature (Photography Workshops in Iceland) recently announced 15% discounts on their 2008 workshops. The discounts are made possible by excellent response from sponsors.
Enroll now! Space is limited.
What’s Iceland like? Stay tuned for future posts!