The New Site Pt. 3

If you look at the first page you see when you go to www.russellgraves.com, that's perhaps where you'll see the most changes. Instead of simply a portal page that you jump off of to explore other parts of the site, the entry page is now a snapshot of what you can expect to find in the rest of the site.

By popular demand, you'll find a prominent slide show of images that rotate continually.

In the lower left, is the video module. Since my videos seem to get a lot of praise, I wanted to feature the latest video on the front age so you wouldn’t have to hunt for it else where.

In the middle module, is the blog update. Powered by a slick RSS feed, every time I add to the blog the front page of the site gets updated with the latest post title and a short summary about what’s in the posting. So when you visit the front page, all you have to do is glance at the module and if you see a posting that catches your eye, one click takes you to the blog. Isn't that slick???

In the lower right hand module, you'll find the place reserved for some of my latest images. While that module isn't powered by a slide show, each time you log on, a different image is featured.

The Storm

If you'll notice I haven't been blogging much lately - largely in part to the massive June 15th wind and hail storm we had here in Childress.

The storm dumped a bunch of hail on town as well as winds in excess of 90 miles per hour. My house, while it fared better than most, suffered roof damage and my backyard fence was blown down.

For a while, life here in Childress was surreal. No power and phone service for a number of hours coupled with no leaves on any tree in town made things look and feel strange.

I actually watched the storm from south of town for a while. The radio indicated that the storm had passed so I went home. Right when I got to my street, the wind started. Then when I got to my house, the power failed and the hail began.

Right at nightfall, the storm was over and the whole town was enveloped in an unfamiliar darkness.

My kids, however, loved the post-storm experience as they though it was like camping.

The New Site Pt. 2

One of the cool things about the new site design is the rustic look. I think it compliments the spirit of the website by matching the design with the content.

In fact, one of the big changes is now the design is carried throughout every page of the site and adds a bit of continuity and familiarity to every page you view.

The New Site Pt. 1

If you are reading this posting you’ve probably noticed that the site has a new look. Thanks to Jason Thompson of Cedar Hills Media and Marketing, he took russellgraves.com to a brand new level.

If you need a website, you can't go wrong with Jason because:

a. he understands the outdoors
b. he understands the outdoor marketplace
c. he knows web design and can creatively deliver a knockout project
d. he is a super nice guy.

Jason is no one trick pony, however. He does catalog design, videography, logo design and a whole host of creative services. In short, he is one talented guy.

In ensuing blog postings, I'll talk about new features of the site and how they'll increase functionality so stay tuned.

I hope you like the design of the new site but I am really excited about it.

Wild West Wildlife Workshop

It's time for another workshop. This time the focus is on wildlife.

For more details, check out www.russellgraves.com/wildlifeworkshop.html

The May 2008 russellgraves.com Newsletter is Ready!

Check out www.russellgraves.com/may08.html for all of the details.

Announcing the Wild West Photo Tour

See www.russellgraves.com/workshop.html for the full details

The March 2008 russellgraves.com Newsletter is Ready!

Check out www.russellgraves.com/march08.html for all of the details.

The February 2008 russellgraves.com Newsletter is Ready!

Check out www.russellgraves.com/feb08.html for all of the details.

Upcoming Radio Interview

I'll be doing an hour-long interview on Doug Pike's call in talk show on 790am The Sports Animal .

Here are the specs:

Saturday, January 19
8:05am

While the radio station is in Houston, you can listen live via the internet at http://www.790thesportsanimal.com

Also, Doug will be giving away some of my new books during the hour.

The Rise of Digital

As the year closed, I was looking at how many images left my office to go out to various outlets throughout the year. Surprisingly, I noticed that I only sent out 86 slides last year - a far departure from just a few years back.

This may seem a little nerdy, but I found this interesting nonetheless and I mad a graph illustrating the dominance of digital photography in my files.

Blog Changes

If you'll notice, I have made a couple of slight changes to the blog:

1. I limited the number of previous posts so that the blog would load quicker. Before, I had 365 days posted on the blog. Now, I have limited the number to the last 20 posts.

2. I have used the functionality of the blogging program to make finding old posts easier.

If you look in the lower left hand corner of each post you'll see a spot that reads Label: XXXX.

The labels are broken into four categories:

News
Photos
Videos
Radio

Once you click on the label, it shows ALL of the posts with that same label. For example, if you only want to see the videos, find a posted video, click on the label link, and you'll soon see all of the videos I've posted.

The January 2008 russellgraves.com Newsletter is Ready!

Check out www.russellgraves.com/jan08.html for all of the details.

I did it!

I have to tell you the back story on this one:

Way back in about 1989, when I first started taking pictures with my trusty Minolta X-370 camera, I was telling people how I wanted to be in magazines. I would go out almost daily and try to photograph the nature around my country home in Northeast Texas.

One day, my Dad - who just got a subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine - was showing me some pictures of the Monahans Sand Dunes in far West Texas. Pointing to the magazine, he said, "When you can get some pictures in this magazine, you've done something!"

So I set forth to do just that.

If you've never seen Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, you have to check it out. It is a great magazine that covers all aspects of the Texas outdoors like camping, birding, hunting, fishing, and everything else that's Texas.

In 1993, I had my first article and photo published in the magazine. In 1999, I had my first photo essay. Since then my work has steadily appeared in the pages of the magazine and two months ago, my work was validated when the staff put my name on the masthead as a contributing writer and photographer.

Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine has always been my "National Geographic." It is the publication that I set my sights on as a young photographer of only 19 years. It is great that things have turned out the way they have.

The October 2007 russellgraves.com Newsletter is Ready!

Check out www.russellgraves.com/oct07.html for all of the details.

New Gallery Section!

The next time you check out the gallery, take a look at my new video section. I only have three on-line right now but as time goes on, look for that number to grow.

I hope you enjoy!

Mac-time

On Thursday, every student at Childress High School got their own Apple MacBook computer. It is encouraging to see their faces and how excited every kid is about their education.

Textbooks, or at least the way they've been used in the past, are quickly becoming a relic.

It is a revolutionary step to take and the Childress Independent School District is showing a lot of confidence in the teachers and community by providing this valuable resource to everyone involved. My bet is that this laptop project will be an overwhelming success.

It is an exciting time to be a Bobcat!

The September 2007 Newsletter is now on-line

Check out www.russellgraves.com/sept07.html for all of the details.

Back to School

This week I started my fifteen year as an agricultural science teacher at Childress High School. The start of school every year is an exciting time. It always presents new challenges as I love to try new things in the classroom.

However, the thing I hate about the beginning of school is the heat. Late August in Childress always feel like we live on the face of the sun and having to wear something other than shorts every day does take some getting used to.

In all, this year will be an exciting one. We will muster the first ever Deer School, planning a cool new video lab where we will originate a daily podcast of all the happenings at Childress High School, and keep on doing all of the other cool things our school is known for.

It should be an exciting year.

A cool new tool

After I shoot a picture of a buck, I often wonder what it would score. Although I can usually take an educated guess, I never have anything concrete to back up my assumptions.

I recently ran across a software package called TrophyScore (www.trophyscore.net). This software allows you to use the eye or the space between the nostrils to calibrate the measurements then using the mouse, you click your way around the antlers to get a rough score.

You need to take a look at the package as it is easy to use and fun to look at your deer pictures again!

Keep a look out...

... for this truck. If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex you may see this truck driving around. The truck belongs to Josh Brooke of Memories on the Wall Taxidermy. Josh is a great taxidermist who works out of North Richland Hills.

I am honored that Josh asked to use my work as a background for his truck and hope it works well for him as a marketing tool.

August 2007 Newsletter

The August 2007 Newsletter is now online at http://www.russellgraves.com/aug07.html

And be sure to check out a few of my new images at http://www.russellgraves.com/index.php?category=gallery/new

Bass Pro Shops Update

Last weekend's photography seminar at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, Texas was a big success - mainly because I got to meet a lot of great people and it was a bunch of fun. There were a number of folks on hand from a forum to which I contribute. The folks at the Texas Photo Forum are great and their support of me is unparalleled.

Bass Pro Shops Appearance

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I'll be giving a FREE photography seminar at Bass Pro Shops as part of their Fall Hunting Extravaganza.

The dates and times are:

August 3 - 6:00pm
August 4 - 2:00pm
August 5 - 4:00pm

Hope to see you there!

The July 2007 Newsletter is now online!

Check it out at http://www.russellgraves.com/july07.html

Heroes of Conservation

What an honor! Field and Stream magazine made me one of their Heroes of Conservation this month. I am so thrilled to be recognized for this achievement and am thankful they chose me.

Texas Faces

I put a new photo feature on the website called Texas Faces. It is a departure from most of my features because this one is a narrated slide show.

Drop me a note if you like it.

www.russellgraves.com/videos/texasfaces.wmv

The June 2007 Newsletter is now online!

Check it out at http://www.russellgraves.com/june07.html

RSS Feeds now available

If you love the convenience of RSS feeds for blogs and news, you are in luck. I have added RSS capability to the blog.

Just copy and past these links into your RSS browser and you are set:

http://www.russellgraves.com/blog/sitefeed/atom.xml

or

http://www.russellgraves.com/blog/sitefeed/rss.xml

Finished!

I just finished the first draft and photo edit for my new book, The Kodak Most Basic Book of Digital Nature Photography. I can't wait until it hits book stores. I'll keep you posted.

The blog is back

After a few month's hiatus. I have re-instated the blog. Be sure to check back for periodic updates and to see what's on my mind and where I've been lately.

I am super excited about blogging once more and hope you like the blog as well.

-Russell

A New Challenge

Surprise... No photos this time. Instead of shooting pictures, lately I am spending my time studying product literature and scripts as my new role as the on-camera talent for a new promotional video. About two weeks ago, Sawyer Products and their public relations firm Vollmer Public Relations tapped me to do a promotional video touting Sawyer's line of water purification products.

Last Monday, we had a morning full of product and script meetings and did some location scouting. In a couple of weeks, we'll spend a couple of days shooting the video. I am excited about this new challenge and I'll let you know how it turns out.

November 2005 Texas Fish & Game Column

Ten Ways to Improve Your Game – Part 1

By Russell A. Graves

Shooting great photos, like being a successful hunter or angler, takes a certain amount of skill as well as luck. Great equipment and sound fundamental techniques help improve your odds of getting memorable images but aren’t necessarily a panacea. Instead, in the photo game, you should be aware of nuances that help you elevate your skills to the next level.

When I first started taking pictures, getting great shots was about 90% luck and 10% skill. Now those numbers are reversed and my chances of getting great images each time I take a picture are almost 100%. Like a well-sighted rifle, the results you get from your camera should be predictable and consistent. Want to build consistency? Follow these tips.

10. Shoot in sweet light

When shooting outdoor photographs relegate most of your photo shoots to the first and last couple of hours of the day. Pro photographers agree that early and late light is preferred if you have a choice as to when you’ll shoot photographs. The low angle of the sun evenly illuminates your subject in golden light as opposed to the harsh flat light of midday. If you must shoot at midday, use a flash.

9. Plan your shots

If you are shooting fishing pictures, make a plan of the kinds of images you want. Then, shoot the plan. I put a considerable amount of time into thinking about images I should take and sometimes even sketch them on paper to pre-visualize what I want. If you’ll plan your shoot, you’ll be surprised at how thorough you’ll document the event.

8. Always be prepared

I think of my camera gear like an American Express card. I never leave home without it. Whether I’m traveling down a dirt road or a state highway, I always have my camera at my side, ready for action. I’ve taken scores of photos (some which have made the cover of magazines) from the cab of my pickup.

7. Shoot lots of images

Shooting pictures is like shooting a basketball. To get better, you’ve got to practice. With photography, practice means taking lots of pictures, evaluating your work, and shooting some more. With digital cameras, photo feedback is instant and photography’s learning curve decreases substantially. So pay attention to your mistakes. Furthermore, learn what you are doing right and maximize your successes. By doing so your work’s quality will increase.

Shooting lots of pictures also ensures you get the photo your after. Suppose you take a shot of your buddy with that big speckled trout and in the only photo you shot, his eyes are closed. You blew it… Had you have taken four or five shots, chances are at least one of them would have been good.

6. Study the craft

Although I guess some people may be naturally talented as photographers, most learn the old fashioned way – they pound away at it until they get good. Now, I’m not saying that you should quit your job and study photography full time. What I am saying is that you should read books, magazines, and internet resources that deal with photography equipment and technique. The more you know about your equipment and photo techniques, the quicker you’ll close the gap on good pictures that happen haphazardly to photos that are consistently good.

These are just the first five tips that I hope will elevate your photo game. Next month, I’ll share the final five. If you’re ready to become a better photographer, follow the tips and your success on becoming a better photographer is virtually guaranteed.

October 2005 Texas Fish & Game Photo Column

Heroes Done Right Part 2
By Russell A. Graves

We’ve all done it… A friend kills a nice buck and you’re anxious to take a picture so you snap away and not thinking of what you’re doing. Then, you see the photos and not only do you accentuate the buck’s nice antlers, you also accentuate a big blood stain on the deer’s hide and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. You’re guilty, right? So am I. However, with a little planning, your deer shots will turn out great.

The Wrong Way

The worst possible thing you can ever do when shooting pictures of people with a big game animal is to shoot without a plan. If you follow my column, you know I write a lot about pre-planning your photo shoots. Taking hero shots is no different.
The wrong way to take hero shots is to shoot pictures that show a lot of blood or has the tongue hanging out. With a little preparation, these unsightly distractions are easily mitigated. Be sure to stick the tongue back in the deer’s mouth before you take the first picture. Baby wipes or a wet rag easily cleans blood from a deer’s hide so keep them handy. As a rule, don’t shoot down on a deer as steep angles rarely compliment a buck’s antlers.

The Right Way
One of the best ways you can get off to a great start shooting hero pictures is to carefully study what others do. I wrote in an earlier column that I learned many techniques by studying the work of others. I learned to take hero pictures the same way.
If you study the work of other photographers, you’ll notice that there are a few common denominators that all great hero pictures share. The first is a low angle. When shooting hero shots, get eye level or lower with the hunter. Low angles put lots of sky in the picture which makes for a less distracting background and tends to accentuate antlers best.
The second tip for taking great hero shots is to pose the deer correctly. When setting up the shot, pose the deer so it lies perpendicular to the camera and tuck its front legs under the body. Position the hunter behind the deer and have the sit or kneel while holding the head up with one hand by the antlers.
Always be considerate of the light. If you follow one of the basic photographic rules that say to keep the sun at your back, then your hero shots will turn out great. If you can, wait until the light is low on the horizon so you’ll get even light that fills in shadows. If you can’t pose the hunter where the sun is in your favor, use a flash. With a flash you can shoot pictures at midday and not have to worry about harsh shadows.
The bottom line is to plan your shot. Carry a towel with you if need be so you can lie on it and get low in relation to the hunter and plan on taking lots of images. Get a great shot and the guy holding the deer won’t be the only hero.

September 2005 Texas Fish & Game Photo Column

Creative Shutter Speeds
By Russell A. Graves

When the bucks ran by, I panned my camera and squeezed the shutter to fire off a few frames. My buddy, who was taking pictures as well, noticed how slow the shutter claps seemed.
“Why was your shutter speed so slow,” he asked. “Did you not have the camera set correctly?”
“It is set right,” I replied. “I meant to use a slow shutter speed.”
“Won’t your pictures be blurry?” he quizzed.
“Exactly,” I retorted.
He curiously stared at me. At that point I explained that if he wanted to get creative with his photos, he should try manipulating the camera’s shutter speed.

The Magic of Shutter Speed
On 35mm and digital single reflex cameras, the ability to set the shutter speed is one of the key advantages to owning an advanced camera. My manipulating the shutter speed, you can freeze or blur action scenes based on your creative whims.
The shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter opens to expose the film to light entering through the lens. Shutter speed is expressed in a fraction of a second but most cameras display a whole number. For example, if your camera says the shutter speed is 250, what that really means is the shutter will be open for 1/250 of a second. When the shutter speed is set in concert with the lens aperture, a perfectly exposed image results.
Most advanced SLR cameras allow you to manually set the shutter speed and aperture and give you feedback regarding the correct exposure setting. An easy way to achieve a fast or slow shutter speed without having to worry about fast changing light conditions is to set your camera on the shutter priority setting. With shutter priority, you tell the camera what shutter speed you’d like and the camera automatically sets the aperture.

Fast Shutter Speeds
Fast shutter speeds are used to freeze action scenes. Let’s say that you want to shoot a picture of your dog running through the brush and you want it tack sharp with no blurring. In that case, a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second or faster is required. In order to get really fast shutter speeds under just about any lighting condition, you’ll need a fast lens with a maximum aperture of f2.8, use fast film like ISO 400 speed, or dial your digital camera to ISO 400 or higher.

Slow Shutter Speeds
Using slow shutter speeds for action sequences is subject to artistic interpretation. Some people like the blurred effects of capturing motion with a slow shutter speed while some don’t. Personally, I like blurred motion.
The trick to blurring motion is a combination of two techniques. The first is a slow shutter speed from between 1/15 and 1/125 of a second. This speed will effectively blur most fast moving objects like a running deer or a moving truck. The second technique is learning to pan with your camera. Panning is a technique akin to tracking a dove with a shotgun. As you follow the object with your camera, you fire the shutter when the subject is composed like you want.
Using slow shutter speeds to blur action does take a little practice but is a technique that’s easily mastered. You can practice panning and shooting on your kids, pets, or passing cars. Experiment with different shutter speeds and see which speed works best for you.

August 2005 Texas Fish & Game Photo Column

Capturing your Outdoor Memories on Video
By Russell A. Graves

A quick look at satellite television and you’ll have an epiphany – outdoor television is a hot commodity. Two networks (The Sportsman’s Channel, and The Outdoor Channel) are dedicated almost solely to hunting and fishing programming, while three other networks (ESPN2, The Men’s Channel, and The Outdoor Life Channel) have many hours of shows dedication to highlighting hunting and fishing adventures. Spattered amongst the networks are local broadcast channels that also showcase outdoor programming. Like I said, outdoor television is hot.
Surprisingly, many of the shows are shot with low cost equipment that you can purchase at big box electronic stores. In the modern age of digital video and home computer based video editing suites, you can shoot video that rivals those you see on television every week. You’ll impress your friends as well.

Start with a plan
Like a good hunt, a good video starts with a plan. Whenever I shoot videos, I set down before the filming begins and make an outline of specific shots I want to come home with. I think about broad general shots such as the boat floating on the lake but then add in detail shots like a close-up of someone reeling a reel, tying on a lure, or lipping a fish. Detail shots go a long way in helping tell and accurate and engaging outdoor story.
When making notes, I try to think like a director who’s making a motion picture in that I want the video to tell a story and not just be a collection of loosely related video clips. Sometimes I’ll go a step further and draw storyboards to help me determine what I want the shot to look like. Of course when I start filming, the list goes with me and serves as a checklist to make sure I’ve gotten all of the shots I need.

Use a tripod
This is a biggie… Use a tripod. Shaky video, even just a little bit shaky, is uncomfortable to watch and reeks of amateurism. Put you camera on a good sturdy tripod and you’ll be amazed at how much better your video looks. A tripod makes that much of a difference. A tripod also helps you pan smoothly across a scene without a bunch