My mom loves gardening, and we have the yard to prove it.  Our property is covered with an assortment of flowering and fruit bearing plants, from pansies and tulips to parsley and cucumbers.  One of her new additions this year was a beautiful moon flower plant, an annual that grows on a vine and has heart shaped leaves and big beautiful fragrant flowers that bloom once, in the evening, and then wilt at sunrise the next day.  Because of its sweet scent and pretty leaves and flowers, this plant has quickly become one my (and my mom’s) favorites.

Earlier this week, I finally took some time to photograph the large flowers.  Instead of photographing the whole flower (ours is growing on a chain link fence, so it’s difficult to get an angle without any wires in it), I focused on close-ups, one of my favorite ways to photograph flowers.  Macro and close-up photos are particularly good for photographing garden plants, when getting a clean, natural background is sometimes quite difficult to come by.

When I do close-ups of flowers, I love focusing on the lines, shapes, and colors of the petals.  In particular, I often find myself coming away with abstract images, where it can be difficult to determine what the subject is without being told.  My favorite image from Sunday is one just like that, where the seam between two petals of a single moon flower create a sensual, flowing line across the frame.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

After a very very long wait, I have finally posted my new website to the internet.  It is far from complete, but the version I just uploaded has enough functionality to give you an idea of the new layout and design.

Returning viewers will notice changes to the design of the navigation bar.  I’ve simplified it, removing cluttered links and making navigation much more straightforward.  Here’s a quick rundown of the new navigation menu: 

“About” links straight to my bio, through which you can find a link to my resume and my ethical statement.  I no longer have an equipment page or a FAQs page, but I think the information posted in my blog more than makes up for it.  After that is “My Blog” which you are now reading so I hope it needs no explaination.

Next comes my new and improved “Portfolios” now broken into two separate image galleries, each containing twenty-six of my favorite photos.  The first portfolio “The Living Planet” features my wildlife photographs, pictures of birds, mammals, herps, bugs, and other creatures, while the second “The Natural World” focuses on flora, landscapes, abstracts, and other nature subjects.  Right now, it is possible to view both portfolios and all of the thumbnail links making up the frame of images work, but the individual images appearing in the center of the thumbnail frame are not clickable.  Eventually, they will link to the purchase pages within the stock gallery, which is currently under construction.  If you wish to order a print at this time, simply email me directly.

After my portfolios is a section for “New Images” which is where I will post thumbnails of the most recently uploaded photographs on my website with direct links to their locations in the “Stock Gallery.”  The “Stock Gallery,” when complete, will feature hundreds of my nature and wildlife photographs in an easy to browse menu format.  Both of these features are still under construction and not currently active.  However you can view my stock lists online (the links to galleries do not work).

The “Purchase” button gives you an easy way to view your shopping cart as well as important information about buying prints or contacting me for rights to publish my photos.  Since the direct print order buttons and shopping cart are currently being worked on, simply email me if you wish to buy an image.  Next comes “Links” to other photographer websites, a feature I plan to eventually phase out when I begin to offer workshops and photo tours, but only after the rest of the site is up and running.  Last, but certainly not least, is the “Contact” page, where you can find my email address or subscribe to my online newsletter.

Please take some time to browse the new site and feel free to email me or comment with any feedback or suggestions, or to report a broken link or other problem.  As you can see, I have my work cut out for me.  Thanks for your patience and enjoy the new look of KariPost.com!

A couple of nights ago, I found myself enjoying how bright it was at night, thanks to a full moon and clear, cloudless sky.  Perfect conditions for photographing a full moon aren’t exactly rare, but they aren’t very regular or predictable either, so I decided to take advantage of the weather and try my hand at photographing the moon.  I stacked my 1.4x and 2x converters on my 300mm f/2.8 lens, mounted it securely on my tripod and aimed it at the sky, being sure to use IS, mirror lock up, and a self timer (my remote broke a while back and I haven’t replaced it yet) to assure the steadiest frame possible.

I ended up with a pretty straightforward shot of a full moon.  While not as detailed as it could be and a little smaller in the frame than ideal (a longer lens is probably better suited for this type of shot or at least a 1.6x crop factor camera with my lens and converter setup), I’m still pretty happy with the resulting image, as it will be good for my stock files.

Techs: Canon 1D Mark II N, Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon 1.4x and 2x Mark II Extenders stacked.  To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

I recently purchased a new monitor, the highly recommended Hewlett Packard LP2465, a 24″ widescreen LCD monitor with impressive color accuracy, contrast, and gamut.  Earlier this week, I set up my monitor for the first time, calibrated it, and got to work, editing and processing photos on my new display.  All I can say is WOW!  The monitor is just awesome.  Editing and working on photography related tasks is a pleasure on its big, bright screen, and using my Dell M1330 laptop, I can compare several images quickly, easily, and affectively in Adobe Bridge.  I’m really impressed with this LCD display and if you are in the market for a new monitor, I’ll have to agree with others who have recommended the LP2465 and say go for it!  In terms of size, display quality, and price, its probably one of the best buys out there for digital photographers.  You won’t be disappointed!

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite places in the Mid-Atlantic to photograph wildlife so I try to make at least one or two trips there each year.  In May 2007, Chris and I spent an entire week on the island and we were well rewarded for our time there.  One afternoon, we found several Foster’s Terns hunting near a culvert, regularly hovering at close range.  The next morning, we returned to the same spot, hoping the terns would be there.  The culvert wasn’t quite so active at dawn, but a few birds did make passes allowing me limited opportunities to capture the shot I was looking for.  When I saw this shot, of a tern with its wings raised, backlit by the soft salmon-pink glow of the rising sun, I knew I got it.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

I recently discovered this photograph while editing folders from photography sessions of last summer.  This was taken on the New York shoreline of Lake Ontario.  I like the soft pastel colors of the pebbles and the contrast the yellow brown seaweed provides against the stones, both in color and texture.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Today I photographed a new species of moth, the One-eyed Sphinx (also known as Cerisy’s Sphinx).  A few days ago, I found four of these cool looking moths near the front door of the staff house.  The moths are attracted to our porch light, which sometimes gets left on overnight when staff members are out late or just forget to turn it off.  The moths come to the light, then as daylight breaks, they cling to something solid.  In the morning, you can find all sorts of cool bugs, still and cold, clung on to the side of the house and screen windows.

Unfortunately, I did not have my photography gear at the time, but I hoped that at least one or two of the moths would return, and just last night, I got lucky.  When I woke up this morning, there was one lone Sphinx Moth clung to the side of the house.  I carefully moved the insect to some green plants, but the moth had difficultly clinging to their smooth leaves, so I ended up placing it on the trunk of a Hemlock tree, where it was much more comfortable and stayed still for a few dozen shots.  While I’m not crazy about the setting, I am excited to get some new photos and a new species as well.  Hopefully, I’ll get a few more chances at photographing Sphinx Moths and other species of insects.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

I’m always looking for new and creative ways to show of the beauty of nature.  Because of this much of my nature photograph has taken on a fine art approach, in which my subjects are portrayed in very simplistic and artistic ways.

Last summer, while visiting New York’s Chimney Bluffs State Park bordering Lake Ontario, I found these colorful pebbles on the beach.  The stones had been rounded and smoothed by the tide of the giant lake, and their soft colors and curved shape made them an appealing subject.  One stone in particular had a dimple in it and I used this stone in my composition, carefully placed in the corner according to the rule of thirds, to add some contrast and visual interest.  After taking a few still shots of this composition, I yearned for more feeling and added softness, so I began to experiment with slow shutter speeds and panning.  By moving the camera during the last part of the exposure, I was able to create an image where the rocks and initial composition are still defined, but with the added flow and emotion provided by the panning movement of the camera, mimicking the flow of water from the tide that gave these rocks their shape.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Chris and I have been trying to set up another Adirondack camping trip for this summer, but our busy schedules and his lack of reliable transportation (his car is on the fritz and my car is too small and cheap to carry two kayaks) have kept us from setting up a date and doing more photography.  Fortunately, I was able to get quite a few shots I like from last summer to hold me over until I can plan another successful loon outing.

This photograph of a Common Loon was taken in the early morning, as fog lay low over the mountain lake.  I created a silhouette of the bird against the white surface of the water, then used Photoshop to transform the image into black and white and enhance the contrast, creating this striking final image.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

This photograph has been one of my favorites since I discovered it in a folder from Nickerson Beach, Long Island some time ago.  It was early morning, near sunrise, when this photo was taken, and the low light levels meant that freezing the action of the flying Black Skimmers I had gone to photograph was near impossible.  So instead, I experimented with the opposite approach, using a low ISO and shutter speed along with a panning technique to produce some soft, pan blur images of the birds in flight.

I lost the old processed version of this image when my hard drive died, so I had to reprocess it.  I think I made this one a little bolder than the original, with more contrast and brighter colors.  Hopefully I haven’t overdone it and ruined the softness of the image.  What do you think?

I often find myself inspired by the work of other photographers.  One trend I’ve noticed and liked is that of black and white photographs of wildlife, as shown in the work of photographers of African wildlife Nick Brandt and Andy Biggs as well as in a book of native Hawaiian wildlife (that I can’t think of the name of at the moment).  So I thought I’d try the technique myself.

By experimenting with existing photographs, I’ve quickly learned that certain photographs lend themselves to black and white better than others.  In particular I find that images featuring a subject against a rather monotone background, usually either hi key or low key, work best.  Also, certain subjects just seem to have better impact in black and white.  While I can’t take photographs of wild lions, giraffes, zebras, and elephants, large mammals that look awesome in monochrome photos, I do have access to white-tailed deer, wild ponies, bobcat, and black bear, bigger animals that can make suitable black and white subjects.  Of course, getting photographs of these species with a clean background can be difficult, probably one more reason black and white images of African wildlife, photographed against nearly barren grasslands and plains, are so appealing and popular.  So I’ve discovered a new challenge.

Here is one attempt made earlier this week at converting an existing image to black and white.  This portrait of a Chincoteague Pony stallion works because the background is fairly uniform and the subject fills the frame.  In converting this image, I added a slight warming affect to the image, as I find monochrome images with a slight color cast are often more appealing than straight black and white.  It’s not perfect, but its a start, and hopefully I’ll keep black and white in mind next time I’m photographing large wildlife.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

When Chris and I planned a car camping trip to the northern part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia last summer for landscapes, we planned for photographs of both mountain scenics and waterfalls.  We had hoped to photograph mountain vistas at sunset and sunrise, but we didn’t get the dramatic weather we had been hoping for.  Fortunately, with a little creativity I was able to get a few shots despite the lack of brilliantly colored clouds.  These subtle colors at sunset provided the perfect backdrop for this photograph of the lone pine tree at Raven’s Roost silhouetted at sunset.  I like how the black silhouette of the pine cones and needles stand out against the soft orange and blue colors of the setting sun.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Last summer, Chris and I spent several days car camping along the northern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia with the purpose of photographing landscapes.  This photo is one taken during our trip, and it perfectly illustrates how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name.  While simple in design, I like the repeating shapes and fading colors of this shot.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted.  It’s been over a month since I’ve taken a photo, but I must get back into it (for my own well being).  Anyway, here is a photograph from about a year ago, when Chris and I stayed at a friend’s beach house in Delaware.  We photographed sunrise and sunset each day, and this is the result of our first morning shoot on Middlesex Beach.  Usually, a good amount of cloud cover makes for dramatic and brilliant sunrises, but this morning the sky was clear, so I aimed for a serene image of the subtle colors produced by the early morning light.

Techs: Canon 1D Mark II N, 17-40mm f/4L USM.  To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Sorry for my lack of posts recently.  My new job schedule has been pretty hectic and in between planning courses, running overnights, and job training, I’ve had little free time for photography.  Tomorrow, I have a day off though, and plan to check out a couple of local hotspots to get back into the groove of shooting nature and hopefully posting regularly on this blog.

Fortunately, I purchased a new laptop, a loaded Dell XPS M1330, which will allow me to edit photographs when away from home.  Now I’ll have the ability to post on my blog and work on images from Chris’s house, at work, or on the road.  My new laptop will also allow me to work on overhauling my website, hopefully allowing the new version to be posted by late summer.

Loons are definitely one of my favorite birds to photograph.  Last summer, Chris and I spent a weekend camping in the Adirondacks of New York state, with the intent of photographing a pair of loons in one of the park’s lakes.  Each morning, we got up before sunrise and set out on the lake in our kayaks, getting close enough to the birds to get a variety of photographs, from wide-angle environmental habitat shots to portraits like this one.

One of the cool things I like about loons is all of the interesting noises they make.  Loons have a variety of different calls, from an amusing yodel to their haunting cry.  In this portrait, the loon is calling, which can be seen by the expanded throat of this individual.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

Last summer, Chris and I spent about three weeks in central New York state, making daily photo trips.  One subject we focused on a lot was waterfalls, and we made several trips to the Finger Lakes region of New York to photograph the many gorges and waterfalls in the area.  One of our trips was to Ithaca to photograph the falls near Cornell University and Ithaca University.  There, I found this small cascade, and upon close inspection, noticed this pretty composition in which the lines created by the falling water created triangular shapes within the frame.  I particularly like the soft textures and simple graphic elements of this photo.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

I’m back in Paramus again after a fun week of my Wilderness First Responder course in West Milford.  I learned a lot of useful skills that I’m glad to have in the backcountry, met a dozen awesome people, and overall had a great time.  Unfortunately, the busy class days left me with little free time and I didn’t take a single photograph all of last week, so I’m going to share another salamander shot from my Pine Barrens trip with Chris. 

Chris flipped this bright salamander in one of the most unusual places - under a giant concrete slab in a dry, sandy area covered with pine needles.  At first look, we weren’t quite sure what kind of salamander it was, and when Chris flipped another similarly colored salamander with gold eyes, we were even more confused.  Two salamanders in the area are orange-red with black spots, the Northern Red Salamander and the rare Mud Salamander.  Red Salamanders have more erratic, less symmetrical spots and gold eyes; Mud Salamanders have very distinct red spots and brown eyes.  Our find seemed to be a mix of the two!  However, after browsing some resources and consulting with friends, we determined that this individual, despite its dark eyes, was a red and not a mud.  Either way it was a first for me, although I really wanted to find Mud Salamanders and want to even more now!

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.

I have just accepted a full-time position working for an outdoor education company as a field instructor.  I will be working at Wildcat Mountain, located in Waywayanda State Park in West Milford, NJ for Project U.S.E. (www.projectuse.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality, memorable outdoor education experiences to individuals through ropes courses, rock climbing, canoeing, backpacking, and other activities.  Tomorrow, I begin a Wilderness First Responder course to better prepare me for my new job, for which I will start training in mid-June.  I will be staying at the staff house for the duration of the eight day course, and will likely have limited to no computer access until I return home from training on June 8th.

I flipped this adult Eastern Worm Snake while herping/photographing with Chris in the New Jersey Pine Barrens last week.  We drove a bunch of dirt roads hoping to find rocks, logs, and artificial cover to turn, and I found this snake under a wood pallet dumped in the woods.  Worm Snakes are small, brown snakes with pink bellies and this adult was no longer than my foot.  Their unkeeled scales reflect have an irredescent sheen to them, usually hard to depict in photographs, but the sunlight in this photo shows off this trait rather well.

To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.