Programs

All programs are personally narrated slide presentations which sometimes include background music. 
They generally take about 45 to 55 minutes, but can be adjusted as required.

Beautiful Birds -- The program "Beautiful Birds" celebrates the wonder of these creatures. It shows many types of birds in various settings and activities. It describes some of the issues involved in photographing them, but is not technical in that regard. It includes shorebirds, songbirds, raptors; it includes discussion of some habits and plumage variations, and shows several types of images including portrait, scenic, action, abstraction, and unusual patterns. 

This program is for general audiences and it keeps changing as I photograph new subjects. For example, some recent presentations have included a section on 'exotic' birds taken from work in Central America. How much is included may depend on available time.

Photographing Birds -- This program covers tips and tricks for photographing birds (and other wildlife). It goes into the nature of the subject, background, and lighting. Comments are included on equipment and locations. Composition types and nuances (and pitfalls) are discussed, emphasizing what to work toward and look for in successful pictures. 

This program is obviously more specific to photographers, but much of it dealing with composition is good for general audiences.  It can be used as part of a workshop where we discuss and analyze participants pictures.

Nature Photography and the Digital Darkroom --  This program considers application of the digital darkroom to improve your images -- and field techniques to improve your digital darkroom work.  It is a 'what-to' rather than a 'how-to.'  It is intended to raise awareness and interest, but is not about PhotoShop mechanics.  Its coverage ranges from very basic to advanced tools. The program starts with some (extended) background on manipulation and adjustment -- to set the stage. It outlines some standard well accepted adjustments. It then goes on to discuss lesser known techniques which require field actions in order to be utilized in the digital darkroom.  These relate to treatment of high dynamic range, extending depth-of-field, handling foreign objects, background patching, and image stitching. It concludes with a discussion of errors and faults to be aware of in digital processing.   The topics are illustrated with examples based on the authors wildlife photography, though they are applicable to many other types of photography.  

This program is quite specific for photographers and while some knowledge of digital work is helpful, it is not required.

Jungle of the Maya -- This presentation celebrates one of the world’s most magical yet least appreciated places, the Selva Maya. It is the largest contiguous tropical forest north of the Amazon, encompassing much of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. The region is home to thousands of remarkable creatures, plants, and archaeological sites. And it is crucial to the well-being of the entire Western Hemisphere.  The presentation features many of the exotic birds of the region, as well as the cats, monkeys, butterflies, reptiles, and plants. It l also includes some of the archaeological wonders of the area and address some of the issues threatening the region today.  

This program is for general audiences.  It was developed in conjunction with Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack who may also participate in the presentation.  It is based on thousands of photographs taken in all seasons over a three year period. 

Images of China -- Timely and Timeless -- This is a photographic journey through some of the great wonders of China.  It is not my typical wildlife photography.  It presents majestic scenes of the Great Wall, the rough peaks at Yellow Mountain, and, in the Guilin area, the unique mountain shapes around the Li river at Yangshuo and the rice terraces at Longsheng.  It also includes some of the spectacular sights in Beijing and the pandas of Chengdu. It shows the blend of ancient and modern developments.

This program is for general audiences.   

Nature's Paradise -- Costa Rica -- This program will highlight some of the natural wonders, diversity, beauty, and contrasts of Costa Rica. This small country is a paradise for nature lovers and biologists, and for photographers. I will illustrate how the mountains and volcanoes separating the coastal areas lead to microclimates ranging from very wet to very dry, and from tropical to sub-alpine, and some of the flora and fauna characteristic of each. The program is not a recitation of species, but is a narrative of some of the findings and experiences encountered in the preparation of the photo-based book.

This program is for general audiences. It relates to the book of the same name. 

See Yourself in Print – Self Publishing your Photo Book  --  A coffee table photo book provides a great way to present your images – whether it’s a travel book, wedding album, family or baby record, or a portfolio. In recent years the popularity and accessibility of this type of publication has mushroomed. There are now so many options for vendors, software, and book constructions that the choices can be confusing. This program examines the choices and important parameters to consider, and shows the results you can expect. And, the results will make you want to see yourself in print!

This program is for photographers ranging from casual to advanced.

Panoramas & Hi-Res Mosaic Landscapes --   Composites generated by taking and combining multiple adjacent images is an impressive and growing off-shoot of digital revolution. And, its extension beyond linear form, to two dimensional mosaics greatly expands the range of opportunities for image creation. This program outlines the concepts involved and their application to achieve increases in field coverage, resolution, and/or perspective control. It shows examples of each of these three issues, and their relations in hardware and software, at both the capture and processing stages of image preparation.  

This program is for photographers ranging from beginners to advanced.

Layers in Image Processing -- Layers are one of the most powerful tools of modern image processing. This program provides introduction and incentive to learn, use, and be comfortable with layers. Workflows and examples are based on Adobe’s PhotoShop, but are applicable to several other image applications.

This program is for photographers learning about digital processing -- it can be a workshop.

Background Information for talks:

Doug has been involved with photography most of his life. A technical background and wildlife interest came together when he retired from research in 1998. At that time he got hooked on avian photography which remains his main interest, though he is now involved with many other types of nature subjects. His work includes fine-art prints, books, lectures, and workshops. He is a contributor or co-author of the books: In the Presence of Nature (2004), Duck Enough to Fly ( 2005), Jungle of the Maya (2006), and Nature’s Paradise – Costa Rica (2012). He is a member of the Ridgewood Camera Club, The New Jersey Photographers Forum, and the North American Nature Photographers Association.