Just stumbled upon this article on the net! As we are all photography lovers, I’m delighted to share it with you

The winners in twelve categories of the 2011 British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPAs) have been announced.

Aiming at honoring talented wildlife photographers, this year’s competition attracted thousands of photographers across the country and was considered as “a special opportunity to give the natural world that surrounds us the recognition, and reverence, it deserves.”

Jellyfish in the Blue Sea of Sula Sgeir, Scotland by Richard Shucksmith

Richard Shucksmith is the 2011 BWPAs overall winner with his photos of a jellyfish entitled “Jellyfish in the Blue Sea of Sula Sgeir, Scotland”. He captured the image at Sula Sgeir, a small uninhabited Scottish island, 41 miles north of Lewis.

This photo also wins the Coast and Marine category

“Mystical Deer” taken by Mark Smith in Richmond, Surrey, England, wins Animal Portraits category

“Champagne Starling” captured by David Biggs in Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, wins Urban Wildlife category

“Grey Heron Walking on Water” photographed by Andrew Parkinson in Derbyshire, England, wins Animal Behaviour category

“Busy Wasp on Blackberries” taken by Rana Dias in Horley, Surrey, England, wins Wildlife in My Backyard category

“Hare in Morning Light with Hoar Frost” posed by Ian Paul Haskell in Norfolk, wins Habitat category

“Scorpion Fly on a Leaf” captured by Leslie Holburn in County Durham, England, wins Hidden Britain category

“Thick-legged Flower Beetle on Corn Marigold” posed by Ross Hoddinott in Pentire Point, near Newquay, Cornwall, England, wins British Seasons category

“It’s Only a Game” photographed by Neil Aldridge in Hertfordshire, England, wins Documentary Series category

The winner of Young British Wildlife Photographers, Up to 11 Years category, is Walter Lovell, 8, with “Frog Checking Its Frogspawn”

The winner of Young British Wildlife Photographers, 12 to 18 Years category, is Oliver Wilks, 16, with “Red Fox Yawning After His Afternoon Nap”

“Ladybird on Rose” taken by William Richardson in London, England, is highly commended in Hidden Britain category

Summer Wildlife 2011

Source of the article: Ezimark.com

Enjoy!

Janice

Snow covered Wagon Wheels Fence - Janice Dugas Photography 2010

We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
—The Tao Te Ching

KODAK Travel Bag Black |    KODAK ESP Office 6150 All-in-One Printer

123RF Banque d’images

Click on the arrow above to view short video taken this morning during the beautiful snow fall.

Tried to capture the beauty of it all…

Snowy Bench

Let’s all get our cameras ready for winter scenery shots!

Talk soon,

Janice

Tired of missing great shots because it’s raining or snowing, extremely hot or cold?

Then you must grab a camera designed to survive the most severe conditions such as  intense heat, extreme cold, massive shock and vibration, water, and even shocks!

The Nikon Coolpix AW (All Weather) 100 is a rugged digital camera that can withstand virtually all outdoor conditions and can still take great-looking shots and Full HD (1080p) movies. It comes with 16MP and  5x wide-angle zoom, is waterproof up to 10 meters and survive temperatures as cold as -10˚C and as hot as over 40˚C.

Shooting in the most coldest places of the planet such as Antartica and North America? It’s the ideal camera. I live in Canada and have experienced winter days I could not even put my nose outside but at -10˚C, I’m outside capturing great scenes, that’s for sure. And what about traveling to the hottest place in the world, like…say…El Azizia? This camera becomes a must. Truly a no-brainer.

You invest hard-earned money into a digital camera. When the weather’s bad, be it hot, cold or raining, you don’t want your camera to be damaged and we all know that standard cameras hate extreme heat and extreme cold.

Nikon-Coolpix-AW100

With the Nikon Coolpix AW 100, no more worries about condensation, moisture, internal freezing and fogged lenses leaving a camera unusable. The Nikon Coolpix AW 100 is also shock-proof, withstanding drops of up to 1.5 metres (5 feet), water-proof (up to 33 feet)  and freeze-proof.

Life on the road deserves GPS + Electronic compass right? So the COOLPIX AW100 has these features too: built-in World Map and built-in GPS.

Nikon Coolpix AW 100

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

‘Whether it’s in your hand, mounted to a surfboard, clipped on a backpack or attached to a scuba tank, every twist, splash, dive and crash can be recorded in both still and Full HD (1080p) movie. Plus, Nikon’s new Action Control brings fast and easy operation to gloved hands. The AW100 lets you capture every thrilling moment from inside the action—not the sidelines.’

Ready for extreme adventures? Grab your Nikon Coolpix AW 100 today and let your creativity soar!

coolpix-aw100

Minimum suggested retail price is $379.95 but you can grab it  for only $309. on Amazon. with FREE Super Saver Shipping.

That even more than 18% savings. 

Check it out  <==

To Your Best Photography!

Janice

Wondering how on Earth can your favorite photograph be laser-tech onto a flatter piece of crystal to make a 2D photo crystal or even a beautiful 3D Laser crystal?

Watch the videos below and see how the experts turns a simple photograph into Crystal Art!

The best part in this cristal art process, is that you can personalize and custom-made your gifts, tailoring them to suit any occasions.

…whether it’s Graduation, Father’s Day, birthdays, National Dog Day, funerals, Christmas, or Chanukah. There is literally no occasion for which a 3D photo crystal would not be appropriate, since you choose precisely how it looks!

3D Laser Gifts: solving your gift-giving conundrums one at a time

In the article excerpted below, 3DLaserGifts explains in more details the easy steps you must take to make it happen.

They say that at some point, technology is indistinguishable from magic. How else could we perform the miracle of etching a beautiful, 3-dimensional image deep inside the hide of fine crystal? I mean, the crystal, even with the 3D photo inside of it, is flawless and unmarred. This begs explanation.

The answer, of course, isn’t magic—not quite. You don’t need magic to create a 3D photo crystal, you need a lasers. Let me explain how the process works.

 First, choose your photograph.

The ideal photograph will have a nice contrast with a small number of subjects: whether they’re faces, cars, beautiful brides, or pets. Less is more.

The more in focus your subject is, the happier you’ll be with the result. In fact, we try to limit the number of faces to 3 so that you will be able to fully appreciate the 3D effect of the laser-etched image inside the crystal.

Upload the image to our site.

We read the image.

Our expert colleagues run your image through some powerful software in order to use the light and shadows to create a 3D model from your 2-dimensional photograph.

Again, the higher the contrast, the more striking the 3D effect will be.

The software then plots the points of illumination; meaning that it reads where the light hits the subject in the photograph.

The laser etches your image in 3D.

Photo crystals are made using a special laser that focuses its concentrated beams of light to a precise point below the surface of the crystal.

Each bright point in the image is plotted in the final crystal piece. The laser then focuses a high-powered beam on each three-dimensional coordinate.

Once the beam reaches the focal point, the powerful laser pulse makes a tiny void or inclusion inside the crystal.

Then the laser moves to the next coordinate and makes another etched point.

Finally, enough points are created to reproduce the design deep within the crystal.

As laser beams are non-invasive, no marks or blemishes are left on the surface of the crystal.

When viewed from any angle, the intricate design is much like a three dimensional sculpture, its ghostly image floating deep in the heart of the crystal.

Is your imagination generating some great ideas?

Mine is! And I see many occasions were I could offer a 3D Crystal Art Laser Gift .

Gotta go write-up my list to ensure I do not forget someone. I sense it will be a Crystal Christmas this year

Have fun and talk soon,

Janice

.

I heard about leaving books on a bench, in the airplane or on a subway seat to read and pass on thereafter in the same manner, but framed photography placed in unique locations to be picked up and cherished?

Yep! That’s what a guy named Mrog Deville does. His project “This Was Found” is an experiment to create and distribute free photographic art to the masses.

Mrog Deville makes prints of photographs, frames them, and then leaves them in various locations. The works might be left untouched for the public to view, or people can take them home to treasure them. Finders can visit the website and report the framed print as being picked up.

Street Art - Framed Photography by Mrog Deville | thiswasfound.org

“These locations are not where you would normally put artworks.  We hope the works will persist in these locations, or be picked up by members of the public, who will go home and treasure them forever.  Otherwise the works may be picked up by the bin men, and that will be that.”

Framed Photography - Street Art

Talking about unique creativity!

On their website, we can read comments from people who reported back their finds. Some of them even sent a photograph showing the framed photography in their home.

This is cool …

Source: http://www.thiswasfound.org/about/

Click on the Image For Larger Size | Source: thiswasfound.org

Log on to Mrog’s site and discover more about this unique distribution approach for photographic art.

Do leave your feedback about this project in the comments section below. We all would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy shooting!

Talk soon,

Janice

Source: Journal Vert - Edition#97- Vol2 - Aout-Sept 2011

This spectacular shot was taken at the entrance of Katlian Bay, in Alaska. The whale came up to the surface to gather food from a bank of herrings. (They are visible around the kayak.)

The kayakist, a dentist from Sitka, has not been injured and survived this terrifying experience.

The shot was immortalized by someone that was inside the ferry terminal who couldn’t do much more than shouting encouragement words to the sporty kayakist enticing him to paddle faster, while keeping his fingers crossed.

OUF!

That’s what we call a close-up view of a whale!!

Whale Watching Tour in Zodiac Boat on St Lawrence River - Tadoussac, Quebec

It reminds me of some thoughts of fear that creeped to mind while whale watching on the  St-Lawrence River in the beautiful Province of Quebec, Canada, last year.

Departure from Tadoussac Harbor -Whale Watching- St Lawrence River, QC, Canada | Photo Scotiana.com 2011

We were 12 people + the captain, in a zodiac embarcation, and were not too assured that a whale could not lift us up in the air if it so wished!

Whale Watching on the St Lawrence River, near Tadoussac, QC, Canada | Photo: Scotiana.com 2011

Difficult to say what kind of whales we’ve seen here, given the fact that we can see so little of the beast. There were many “common rorquals” for sure and maybe a blue whale. There  seemed to be two distinct species swimming there.

Whale Watching on the St-Lawrence River, near Tadoussac, Quebec | Photo: Scotiana.com 2011

Just in front of us… a few yards only! It suddenly came to our mind that they might be swimming under the boat… Mightbe or maybe?!

Anyway, it’s magical time!  Everything is so quiet!  So luminous!

That’s really a great moment on our Blue Road adventure! We’ll never forget it!

Whale Watching on the St Lawrence River inside a Zodiac boat near Tadoussac, Quebec | Photo: Scotiana.com 2011

All went fine and we came back safe and sound with the most fondest memories of this very spectacular adventure.

Talk soon!

Have a great week.

Janice

PS: Don’t forget to bring your camera where ever you go

Update:

Surfing can lead you to BIG encounters! Watch this short video where surfer was almost swallowed by a whale!

Our Travel Photos – Scotland

Greenknowe Tower in the Scottish Borders near Melrose.

Built in 1581, the Tower is also called Greenknowe Castle. It’s L shape, four storey house, still has its original iron gate but from the first floor hall upwards, remains roofless.

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

Greenknowe Tower - Scottish Borders - Photo: Scotiana c2007

While visiting, we recorded the gate’s sound and upon our return, produced this little video…

Click on the arrow to watch it!

For more information on the Greenknowe Tower:

Hunting down Scottish Greenknowe Towers Ghosts

Undiscovered Scotland website

Bon Voyage & Happy Shooting,

Janice “I Love Scotland” Dugas

” I’m always mentally

photographing everything as practice ”

Minor White

Moon and Wall Encrustations by Minor White

Minor White | Photo by Richard Haiko, 1973

Minor White with Students | Source: http://www.aperture.org/exposures/?p=188

Meet Brian Smith, an exceptional celebrity and portrait photographer.

 

Brian Smith is a Pulitzer prize winner who has photographed one luminary after another: Bill Gates, Anne Hathaway, Samuel L. Jackson, and the list just goes on.

In our interview Brian discussed his process for getting intimate environmental portraits that truly capture the essence of his subjects.

He gives down to earth tips for portraiture that can be applied to photographing anyone, not just movie stars but every day stars who deserve to have a great photograph taken of them, for their personal 15 minutes of fame.

With a career full of accomplishments he speaks from experience which behooves any photographer to pay attention to and take notes.

Brian Smith’s photography is featured in the beautiful book titled: “Art & Soul: Stars Unite to Celebrate and Support the Arts”.

“A generous portion of the proceeds from the book will go to advocate funding of the Arts and Arts Education through The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community.” Source: http://briansmith.com )
.

Art & Soul: Stars Unite to Celebrate and Support the Arts | Brian Smith (Photographer) Robin Bronk (Editor)

(Click on the above book cover to purchase from Amazon)

In one of his videos, Brian Smith mentions that he uploads photos from shooting sessions unto his Photoshelter website to have them available for viewing almost instantly.

If you haven’t check them out yet, I highly recommend you do so, because, with any doubts, Photoshelter is a complete photo business solution.

Furthermore, they have such an easy process:

• Upload your photos
• Select your website theme
• Market and sell your work.

Cannot be more simple!

If you already have a Photoshelter website, do leave your feedbacks and links in the comments section below. We would be delighted to view your photography.

Until next, happy shooting and all the best!

PS: Here’s the link to one of my photography collections on Photoshelter: http://janicedugas.photoshelter.com/