To be always ready

I can’t overstate the importance of always being ready as a wildlife photographer. The BBC recently published an article that perfectly illustrates what I mean.

Just the other day, I was at a local park with a lake when an otter suddenly emerged from the bushes, sprinting toward the water. By the time I raised my camera and attempted to take a photo, it was too late. The otter had disappeared into tall grass, and the camera couldn’t lock focus. I had missed the brief moment when it ran across the shorter grass, clearly visible.

It felt like I’d lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph one of the most graceful animals I’ve ever encountered.

Spot were I lost view of the otter.

The Best States for Photographers

Florida is not in that list. The Sunshine State is too flat and after a while the landscape becomes repetitive, it's either beaches or wetlands. 

According to the list published by AOL, the best state for photographers is Hawaii. 

"It’s no wonder why photographs of Hawaii sell worldwide. It’s a beautiful place that absolutely sparkles in pictures. That must be why the average annual salary for a photographer in Hawaii is $91.277. The revenue potential for photographers is said to be $155,112."

Photographers' salaries in Florida vary based on experience, specialization, and location. According to Indeed, the average hourly wage for photographers in Florida is $21.14. This equates to an annual salary of approximately $44,000, assuming full-time employment. SalaryExpert reports a higher average annual salary of $60,864, with entry-level positions starting around $44,457 and senior-level roles reaching up to $74,488.

Panama City ($89,000) and Fort Lauderdale ($57,000) offer higher average pay rates for photographers compared to other Florida cities. These two cities are famous for their beaches.

Specializations can also impact earnings. For instance, the average salary for a wedding photographer in Florida is $63,028, with a typical range between $55,394 and $73,027.

It's important to note that these figures are averages and can vary based on factors such as experience, location within the state, and the specific type of photography work.

Godox is releasing 3 new flashes

According to a recent article on PetaPixel, Godox is set to release three new compact and affordable flashes.

While I haven’t tested these new flashes yet, I’ll admit I’ve fallen into the trap of buying compact flashes in the past. Although they’re better than having no flash at all, their limited features and performance often leave much to be desired. To put it politely, the results have been far from impressive.

Dade's Battle Event

 Last Saturday I went to the Dade's Battle Event. This is a year re-enactment of this battle that happened in 1835 where the United State Army was ambushed and defeated by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.

The whole album can be checked at Flickr. Here are few pictures from the event.

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

Camera Design

 I recently came across an article on Digital Camera World that raises an excellent point about camera design.

I wholeheartedly agree. Current Canon cameras lack the classic design elements that once made the brand so iconic. Personally, if I had to choose between the design of my Canon 5D Mark III and my Canon R6 Mark I, I’d pick the 5D every single time—with just one modification: adding an articulated display.

It feels like Canon has leveraged the touchscreen capabilities of the R series displays to replace many of the buttons and design features that were integral to its older DSLRs. Is this a step forward? Maybe. But one thing is clear: it doesn’t quite replicate the professional, tactile experience of the classic DSLR design.

CANON R6 Auto Focus for Wildlife Photography

 This is a very common question, how do you set up your camera auto focus? I use what is called Dual Back Button Focus, which basically is a method where you configure or assign auto focus functions to two of your back buttons in your camera. In my case, I use the AF/ON for Eye Focus and tracking and the * button for Single Point AF. You can find a very detailed explanation of how to set this up (with the difference that he uses the * for Eye Focus and tracking) in this video. 

Pileated Woodpecker

 The end of the year vacation ended and I'm happy with the pictures that I took during this time. This Pileated Woodpecker pictures is an example of this.

Click on the picture to appreciate the details.