Monthly Archives: August 2013

What makes you happy?

 

Please allow me to share a few thing that have me smiling, actually laughing out loud tonight! Above is a picture taken of Dr. Charles Stanley and I at his 80th birthday party in Atlanta last year.  That evening we not only celebrated his birthday and ministry but the release of his new book, I Love To Tell The Story.  This gigantic coffee table book is some of his best work over a very long life of photographing his favorite subjects.  Please forgive me in advance, for bragging, but the reason i was there was to receive one of the first books signed to me, in thanks for my having written foreword to the book.  I know, I can’t believe it either!  Charles is such a dear friend, and tonight he called me to tell me Santa Claus had just come to his house. He was as excited as a child on Christmas morning, thus the Santa Claus reference!

 

Charles and I are teaching a workshop along with my partner Jim Begley, and the His Light team in Glacier National Park in mid September,  It is traditional that you pay the “star” speaker a fee, but Charles kept refusing to let me pay him, so I knew what he loved and got him several boxes of cool photography toys, a Fuji X-E1, 18-55, 55-200 and some key accessories. (He already own most everything Nikon makes!!!)  I knew he was also trying to lighten his bag and I thought this might help!  So  back to what is making me smile!   I have to say his joy was infectious and I have smiled all night at his happiness!  Charles knows how to do a lot of things very well, and one of them is show appreciation!  I wouldn’t have been any happier if the boxes had arrived at my house!!  I can’t wait to see all our friends in Glacier and get to spend that time with Charles too!

 

The second thing that has really made my day is the wonderful responses you guys have had to my latest Kelby Training Class, Photographing Vintage Auto Americana, at Old Car City.  So many of you have shared kind words.  I always dread seeing myself in my classes, I have a hard time watching myself, but I felt pretty good about this one.  You’ve made me feel even better. Now if all of this were not blessings enough on Tuesday I fly out to Las Vegas for Photoshop World and a great reunion with so many of the NAPP family!

 

 

God has so richly blessed me with wonderful friends and great experiences!  Best of all I’m home a lot more and get to be in the same room with my bride of 43+ years, Sherelene.

 

Thanks you Father, I know I don’t deserve any of this, but I’m truly thankful for your wonderful gifts!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

The image above says JG and in smaller type, what you can’t read, says Jack Graham!  Jack is an old friend of mine who has become one of the best workshop leaders in the business. We started out a long time ago and he has become a more and more accomplished photographer through the years.  He runs very successful workshops and tours all across America and the world.  When he called me some months back and asked if now that I was retired, would I join him to co-teach a few workshops I was both honored and thrilled!  I am delighted to be joining him in three upcoming workshops, one is not until next late spring/early summer, Columbia Gorge, so I’ll write about that one again later.

 

Coming up this fall we are doing two fantastic workshops together:

 

Fall Color in North East Ohio and a Day with the Amish   –   October 10th – 13th

Jack really knows this fantastic region of Northeastern Ohio in and around the Cuyahoga Valley N.P.  and this should be the perfect time for fall foiliage!  He has also arranged a day of photography with a wonderful Amish family he knows very well.  This will be a great experience and  I’m thrilled to be joining him, Only two spots remain open, I hope you can join us, this is the link to his website to get more information and hopefully sign up!!

 

http://www.jackgrahamphoto.com/workshop/fall-color-ne-ohio-bill-fortney-and-very-special-day-amish

 

Be sure to visit his website to get full information!!!

 

Death Valley National Park   –  November 8th – 12th

 

Death Valley is one of the most interesting landscape opportunities in the National Park System! By November the temps have dropped back down to the pleasant range and the light is angled perfect for fantastic morning and evening shooting.  We will be staying right in the park and the workshop should be a great experience.  It’s and easy trip!   Just fly into Las Vegas and drive the three hours over to the park!  Once again we have limited space so check out Jack’s website for full details!

http://www.jackgrahamphoto.com/workshop/death-valley-national-park-bill-fortney-4-full-days

 

I’m thrilled to be able to join Jack for these two events.  I expect great fellowship, and great shooting, and with Jack and I lots of laughter!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Photo Note:  All images copyright Jack Graham.

 

 

 

I’m preparing for my first major national park workshop trip since retiring from Nikon, and I will be putting my two part, lighter systems to work!  Today I will go over the Fuji X system and later in the week the Nikon system.  Remember my goal was to reduce the in-the-field carry system to around 10 pounds.  The entire system below, excluding the tripod and mini tripod is 9 lbs!!!

 

 1.  Fuji X-E1 body.  16 mega-pixel, mirror-less camera.  With Really Right Stuff L Bracket and Grip set.

 

 2.   The standard zoom an 18-55 OIS f 2.8-f4  Remember the sensor is a APS-S size sensor making all lenses a 1.5 factor.  So it is a (27-82 equivalent.)

 

 3.  A 55-200 OIS f 3.5-4.8 zoom.  (80-300 equivalent)

 

 4.  The 60mm Macro lens f 2.4 (90mm equivalent)

 

5.  The 35mm f1.4 lens  (50mm equivalent)

 

6.  The 14mm f 2.8  (21mm equivalent)

 

7.  The Fuji X100s camera with a 35mm f2 equivalent lens.  With Really Right Stuff L Bracket and Grip set.

 

8.  Induro CT-214 carbon fiber tripod. 

 

9.  Think Tank Retrospective 5 bag (perfect for and extra few lenses and accessories)

 

10.   Pelican case with SDHC memory cards.

 

11.   Think Tank battery holders with 6 spare batteries for each body.

 

12.   Electronic release with built in intervalometer

 

13.   Really Right Stuff BH-40 ball head

 

14.   Kirk table top tripod with RRS BH-30 head.

 

 

This system allows maximum versatility while producing exceptional quality images.  All this in an easy to carry and use system!!

 

Next?  The high res D800 and it’s support system!!!

 

Blessings,

 

 

The pilgrim

 

Photo Note:  Image made with the D800 and 55mm Micro Nikkor

 

Guess what just went live!!    

• http://kelbytraining.com/course/bfortney_vintageauto/

 

 

 

 

I love to do close-up photographs of almost any subject except spiders!  I hate spiders, I know God made them for a purpose, but they creep me out!  If a rattlesnake crawled into my house, I would have no trouble pinning his head and picking up and throwing him out into the woods, where he belongs, but I would’t touch a spider!  No, I don’t handle snakes in church, but I’ve photographed people that do, o.k. we’re getting way off point here.

 

I’m often asked which micro lens I recommend, and that depends on what you are going to shoot.  If  you are photographing any subject that is skittish or that you don’t want to be close to, the 200mm Micro is the ticket.  The Spider shot above was made with my Nikon 300mm Micro Nikkor.  What!!??  I didn’t know Nikon made a 300 mm Micro!!!  Actually they don’t, but you can make your 200 micro a 300 micro by using a camera with a DX size sensor, thus the crop factor is 1.5 X the focal length or equivalent to a 300.  In this case I used and adapter and placed my Fuji X-E1 on the 200mm Micro Nikkor lens and manually focused it.  (I manually focus all my micro work so loss of autofocus is not an issue for close-up shooting!)

 

For general purpose work I like the 105 Micro and for flat field documents, coins, and stamps, those kinds of things, the 55 or 60 micro.

 

So that is how you can get closer with the same lenses.  How do we get closer to God?  That is easier than buying and learning micro lenses.  With our Heavenly Father it’s a lot simpler.

 

1. Recognize that you have fallen well short of God’s desire for you. That’s called being a  sinner, most people don’t like to be called that, but sadly, we all are.

 

2.  Then we tell our Father that we want to accept His forgiveness,  that we are really sorry for what we’ve done and admit to it. (that’s called repentence)x

 

3.  Lastly we tell our Father that you know Jesus is His Son, and that he died for the forgiveness of our sins.  We confess our belief in Him and accept His forgiveness.  We ask God to take over our lives and fill us with His joy and peace.  He will!!!  And that my friends that is how you get closer!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Photo Note:  Fuji X-E1 with an adapter for the 200mm Micro Nikkor.  ISO 1600, F8

 

FLASH:  Wednesday my new Kelby Class at Old Car City will go live, please drop by and check it out, I’m taking quite a risk, I haven’t seen it myself!!!!   SORRY MAYBE ANY DAY????