Canadian Geographic Collector’s Edition Best Wildlife Pictures 2011

Two of my photographs have just been published in the Canadian Geographic Collector's Edition of Best Wildlife Pictures 2011.

Publication in New York Post

A recent publication of my photo "Give Me A Kiss" in the New York Post.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/apes_they_re_just_like_us_Y6juD9sTL8sWD3PcvGNLFJ/1

FLORIDA WORKSHOP MARCH 16-22, 2011

Join me for a week of incredible wildlife opportunities in Southwest and Central Florida. March is the perfect time to visit Florida, I have been travelling there for years and have a wealth of experience in the areas we'll be visiting. My focus will be making sure that you get the images you have come for, I am there to assist and give you any tips on different shooting techniques and Photoshop instruction that you may need.

Get close-up to Burrowing Owls; find other species of Owls and Raptors; photograph various wading birds fishing,gathering nesting materials and performing mating rituals; capture birds in flight; visit a few of the top-rated birdwatching sites in North America.
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We will begin our week in the Fort Myers area, visiting several local beaches and Ding Darling NWR.

Named one of the top ten birding spots in this nation, the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on Sanibel Island. This is one of the most visited refuges in the United States, with almost a million visitors annually. Low tides from mid October through April often result in thousands of wading, swimming, and diving birds feeding on the mudflats. These include Reddish Egrets, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Great and Little Blue Herons, White and Brown Pelicans, Tri-Color Herons, Yellow-Crowned Night Herons, Short and Long-Billed Dowitchers, Yellow Legs, Anhingas, Cormorants, Blue-Winged Teal, Pied-Billed Grebes, Osprey and Bald Eagles.



Then we'll focus our attention on Cape Coral on the Gulf Coast which is home to Florida's largest population of Burrowing Owls. Experts estimate that there are more than 1000 nesting pairs in the city. The owls have been designated a "species of special concern" by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. With the appropriate protection and management, the owls will avoid becoming a "threatened species".

I have more than 150 burrow locations mapped out so there's no wasted time looking for these little guys. We'll travel from one to another, capturing different Owls and achieving many different pleasing backgrounds.

If I can tear you away from the Owls, we may see Osprey and Bald Eagles and you will have the chance to watch hundreds of Monk Parakeets tending to their ususual nests. Florida has the largest population of Monk Parakeets in the United States.



Then it's off to Venice and Sarasota to visit one of my favorite locations...the Venice Rookery. This Rookery draws people from all over the world due to its close access and the sheer number of birds. While in the area we may have time to visit local beaches, Myakka State Park or see Sandhill Cranes landing in a pond to roost overnight.



Next we travel to Central Florida to photograph Alligators in 10 acre Breeding Marsh and a Rookery which is home to many different species of wild Florida birds. This Rookery is one of the largest and most accessible wading bird rookeries in Florida with literally thousands of native birds making their home in this natural habitat.

A dozen different species of birds nest here, and over 20 different species of birds utilize the area for roosting or feeding. Of these, 8 species are listed either as a Species of Special Concern or Endangered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.



We will visit a Reserve in Lakeland and then head back to the Fort Myers area to enjoy our last night. Fly back home late afternoon or early evening to make the most of your last morning with the Burrowing Owls.




DATES.........March 16-22

PRICE..........$1890 USD/person

INCLUDED:
- 6 Nights accommodations with wireless internet & pool
- Fort Myers Airport Pick-up & Drop-off
- All local transportation in a large van.
- Breakfast
- Bottled Water
- Entrance fees and all tolls.

NOT INCLUDED:
- Flights and related fees
- Lunch/Dinner
- Travel Insurance

BOOKING INFO:

- Prices are based on double occupancy. If you would prefer your own room, a single supplement fee of $500 USD. is applicable.
- A deposit of $500 USD is required to reserve your spot. The remaining balance is due by February 15th, 2011.
- Payments can be made by paypal, personal cheque or EMT from most Canadian Banks.

Contact me at mlorenzphotography@rogers.com

Gear Favorites

What determines whether you are an amateur or pro photographer...the gear? the places you travel? your ability not to crack under pressure? being able to market yourself? being prepared for any scenario or disaster? the amount of money you make?

Photography is all about an individuals vision and creativity. I firmly believe that some things cannot be taught or bought. You either have the "eye" or you don't. There are pro-photographers out there that can create a beautiful image with a $5 pinhole camera. There are also those that create point-and-shoot images with a camera that's capable of so much more. So gear does NOT make the pro.

Having said that, sometimes the gear is important. Just as you wouldn't shoot a wedding with one camera/lens combo (you wouldn't right?!!! Please don't say you're relying on basic equipment with no backup to capture someones special day!!), the same goes for any type of photography. There is gear that will produce better quality images or sometimes gear that just makes your life easier.

So here's my top 10 "can't live without now that I have them" list:

1) Canon 500mm f/4 IS....when people say it's more important to upgrade your glass before your body, it couldn't be more true. This lens changed everything for me. While I looked at the Canon 400mm f/2.8 IS and the Canon 600mm, the 500mm was perfect considering size/weight restrictions for travel and just carrying around on a daily basis. Do yourself a favour and purchase a Lens Coat for any large lens, it helps protect the lens from minor bumps and scrapes but also is more comfortable to handle. And don't forget a Don Zeck Lens Cap!

2) Canon 1D4....There were a few things I didn't like about the Canon 50D. So when I decided to upgrade my choice was easy. I tried out the Canon 7D, 1D3 and the 1D4. There was no competition, the ID4 is everything I thought it would be, and more. I still love my Canon 5D2 but for wildlife this is always the camera that I grab.

3) Gura Gear Bag....Finally an end to the quest to find the perfect bag. I'm embarrassed to say how many bags I've purchased. But in my defence, none of them had everything I needed or wanted. Finally I've found one. The Gura Gear Kiboko bag weights under 4 pounds which is a huge bonus when carrying around lots of heavy gear. It's durable, easy to clean and can hold a 400mm-600mm lens on one side while using the other side for extra bodies,lens and misc. gear. It's got the most amazing harness system that can be hidden away when straps get in the way while on a plane etc. It fits in the overheads of even the smallest planes. Need I go on?

4) Think Tank Airport Security V.2....Think Tank makes great bags. They are well-made, well-designed and will last forever. If you are constantly toting around lots of gear, there are times that you want a good roller bag and this one has all the features that will make it a favorite.

5) HP Laptop DV7 Series....I7 CPU, 8GB RAM, I TB Drive and portable! I'll never own another desktop again. I would recommend having a 24" or larger extra monitor for home use and then you've got the best of both worlds. Another great addition to the setup is a docking station which allows you to just undo one connector and you're on your way. It also provides extra USB ports, speakers, easy controls etc. While you can argue about PC vs. MAC until the end of time, it's like arguing about Canon vs. Nikon and I can't see anything ever making me switch.

6) Rocketfish Card Reader....While I love my laptop, the one thing I'd love to see HP add is a CF card slot. But since that will probably never happen, this is the next best thing. I transferred photos from the camera to the computer for a long time and it just takes way too long. I tried a couple of card readers that I wasn't all that impressed with. Now the Rocketfish goes everywhere my laptop goes so I can dump my photo's onto the computer; freeing up my memory cards.

7) OP/TECH USA 18" Rainsleeves....Don't bother with expensive rain gear. Nothing beats these for cheap, quick and convenient protection against the elements. I carry these in my photography bag and my "oh shit" kit. That's for another post though.

8) Wimberley....Either the Wimberley WH-200 or the Sidekick are a must with the big telephoto glass. I use both.

9) Gitzo 3541L....I went through lots of tripods before I decided to invest in a quality system. Spend the extra and go with a Carbon Fibre Model especially if you're planning long hikes or lots of travelling. Pair it up with a ballhead that can support the weight of any lens you may want to rent or own in the future. I went with the Kirk BH1 Ballhead and plates for all my bodies and larger lens. It's big, heavy and will never let you down.

10) Singh-Ray Filters....Yes Photoshop is amazing but I love getting it right "in-camera". If you're buying filters, buy quality. The Vari-N-Duo is one of my favorite filters. Then there's the soft and hard GND's, and specialty filters like the "Blue & Gold" or the "Color Combo".

11) Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket....Yes I can count, I know I said "10 Favorite Things" but I couldn't leave this one off the list!!

12) Epson P-7000....160GB Media Viewer. Backup all your files in the field directly from your memory card. There are cheaper units but Epson makes the best!

13) Columbia Bugathermo Boots....another one to add, finally boots that can keep feet warm and dry even in a brutal canadian winter! They have built-in rechargeable heaters and you can choose between 3 temperature settings. Awesome. These "ALMOST" make me look forward to winter :)

14) Skimmer Ground Pod & Skimmer Sack....The ground pod is perfect for ground-level photography especially on a beach or around mud/water. Rugged and lightweight, it's circular design allows you to slide your equipment in any direction on many types of surfaces. The Skimmer Sack can be used in many different types of situations and becomes particularly helpful when shooting from a car. Put the sack over the window and then rest the ground pod with your ballhead right on top. Great stability!

Montreal Biosphere Exhibit

Photo Credit: Biosphere - Hugues Bureau-St-Pierre

Montreal Biosphère "Tightly Knit" Biodiversity Exhibit May 22/2010 - April 30/2011

This outdoor exhibit of giant photos reveals how photographers see and experience nature.

The Biosphère is mounting this exhibit as part of the International Year of Biodiversity. All of the photographs, which are complemented by literary essays and video clips, provide a touching illustration of the vast and rich Canadian biodiversity and the importance of each species for ecosystem balance and health.

Venice Rookery

If you are ever in the Venice/Sarasota area in Florida especially from March-June...make sure you check out the Venice Rookery. Each year on my Florida trip I spend as many mornings there as possible watching a variety of waterbirds flying back and forth from their nests collecting nesting material.

Some of my favorites from this year:

2011 Hooters Calendar Available Now