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PHOTOGRAPHER

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #9 – DECEMBER 2012

 


“Taos Mountain First Snow of Winter 2012”

 

Welcome back to my December newsletter.
The Holidays are upon us.

My banner image this month is of Taos Mountain near sunset showing the first dusting of snow for this winter. I took this image on November 10th, and as of the writing of this newsletter we have not had another flake of snow since. In fact we have been having record breaking warmth through the last couple of months. I think the ski areas around here are starting to really worry. The Christmas/New Year’s holiday week is the biggest ski tourist time of the winter and it is fast approaching with little snow in the forecast. I hope Mother Nature gets back to her normal activities soon around here. WE NEED SNOW!!!

UPDATE: It is snowing like crazy today. Got my wish and I’m sure the wishes of a lot of other Taos people!!! Below is an image I took this morning. Click on image to see Facebook version.

This is the fourth issue of my new format newsletter. This month I highlight last month’s weekly images and their locations.  As always, I include the GPS latitude & longitude coordinates for each location and a brief description, including access roads and local landmarks in each of my newsletters.  With family gatherings around the end of the month I am offering a few tips to amateur photographers to improve their images while around the dinner table or on the couch during the football games. Take a look and see if these tips will help you.

 

Photo Tours and Workshop Offerings

The last couple of months of my Photo Tours have been a great success and I want to thank all participants for their trust and companionship during our trips together. It was just as much fun and informative for me as you have said it was for you all. Thank You!! If you would like to see some of the places I offer on my tours, click HERE for a link to my web page with descriptions of the tours offered and ideas for those of you who may be coming to northern New Mexico in the near future. Full and half day tours are available.  Each of the full day tours will start at approximately 9:00 am and run past sunset (weather permitting) and will begin and end at my studio in Taos. Half day tours can begin either in the morning or in the afternoon, depending upon your preferences. For participants wanting to start the tours in Santa Fe, there will be an additional $25 fuel fee added to my normal charge. There are no specific photographic abilities required for these tours other than a general knowledge of your camera. Of course, if needed, I will help you to better understand your specific camera (please bring your manual). My intention with the tours is to show you the unique beauty of Northern New Mexico and to have you return home with wonderful images - memories that you’ve created. Workshops will be fixed prices and will offer both field and in-studio instruction. The workshop offerings will be advertised in my upcoming newsletters as well as posted on my web site.  If you are coming to Taos or Santa Fe in the near future and would like to have a fun, creative experience please give me a call and lets plan a tour geared to your specific interests.  I’m happy to plan a tour for one person or for a group of up to 4. Discounts will be offered to groups of 2 or more.

Photo Tour Pricing: $175 per person (1/2 day); $300 per person (full day) with discounts for groups.

 

Santa Fe Creative Tourism Web Page – Steven Bundy Photo Tours

Also check out my NEW web site offering Photo Tours in and around the Santa Fe/Taos areas.
Click HERE or the logo above to go to the new photo tour web site.

 

What’s in this month’s Newsletter?

My November 2012 images and location descriptions
Free 8.5” x 11” print giveaway
“Old West Collection” note cards gift idea
My new 2013 calendar gift idea

Also check out my tips for taking better indoor images for family gatherings.

!! Free Give-away !!

Again this month I am giving away one (1) 8.5” x 11” print of any of my “Photo of the Week” images from my web site. The winner will have the opportunity to choose from any image from my weekly postings from the last couple of years. I will randomly draw a name on December 30th from subscribers that reply to my e-mail. Include a note saying you would like to be included in this month’s drawing. Following the drawing I will e-mail the winner to get their mailing address and will send the print out promptly. Below are a few samples of older “Photo of the Week” images available to the winner. Click HERE to be taken to my “Photo of the Week” archive page to see what images will be available. GOOD LUCK to you all.

 

            

Last Month’s winner was Wade Carrington from Colleyville, Texas.
Thanks to all of you who emailed me back an entry request. There were 18 entries last month.

 

“OLD WEST COLLECTION” Note Card Sets – 2 Sets Still Available

I still have a few sets of the “Old West Collection” note cards available. If you would like to purchase a set of these cards the price is still $24 (only $4 per card), including the shipping costs. The set comes in a plastic case and includes a total of six (6) cards (one each of the images shown below) along with mailing envelopes. The cards each measure 5” x 7” in size and are printed on high quality archival photo paper.

 

Description: 40   Description: 26   Description: Native Omaha-Anthony  Parker b&w   Description: Main-Street-Bonanza-Ranch B&W   Description: Eaves Movie Ranch Chapel 2   Description: cherry creek hotel b-w toned

Christmas is right around the corner. Order soon to be able to have them arrive in time for a gift.

Print Purchases

All of the images shown within this newsletter are available for purchase.  Just click on the image or the title below each image and you will be taken to a page on my web site that will allow you to choose the size of the print you would like and a method for payment. All images purchased from Steven Bundy Photography have been personally developed, printed, and mounted by the photographer himself. Each print is hand signed and numbered by the artist. Edition quantities may vary, but are usually no more than a maximum of 50 units. Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity, specifying the name of the image, and the numbered print of the edition, signed and authorized by the artist.

All materials used for the images are printed on museum quality, archival papers, using Epson Ultra Chrome K3 inks that have a life expectancy of over 200 years. Shipping and insurance is included in the cost of the print using USPS First Class rates (U.S. only). Foreign purchases, please contact artist for additional shipping costs.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK IMAGES FOR NOVEMBER, 2012

Click on any of the below images or titles to see web page versions.

 

November 5th, 2012 – Roadside Rock – Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch

When you drive west towards Ghost Ranch on US Highway 84 from Espanola you WILL see this impressive rock formation. Rounding a turn and coming over a rise in the road these red, orange, yellow and gray rocks will fill your windshield. There is plenty of room to pull over from all of the prior stop overs of painters, photographers and sightseers so don’t worry, it’s an easy place to photograph with many angles to try. This image was taken in late afternoon, but either morning or afternoon will work, but choose either of these times to get the great shadows. Midday really doesn’t work. To get there from Espanola, take US Highway 84 towards Abiquiu approximately 25 miles past Bode’s Store and a turn off for State Highway 96. The pull off will be on your right a few miles past High 96. The USGS (GPS) coordinates for Roadside Rock are Latitude 36°18’23”, Longitude 106°26’55”.

November 12th, 2012 – Larry Sparks Studio – El Rito

The middle of October each year is the El Rito Artist Studio Tour. This year we went out on the tour, specifically to see Larry Sparks property and sculptures, all based on an article we read and images in the October 2012 issue of New Mexico Magazine, written by C. Whitney-Ward. The road to get back to the studio is a long narrow dirt driveway, luckily well marked. Once onto the property, his sculptures and out buildings are everywhere, a very fun looking and artful oasis in the foothills of El Rito. Well worth the trip. Check out Larry's art work by clicking HERE. To protect Larry’s privacy, I will not include directions to his studio. If you would like to visit Larry, I suggest you get in touch with him via the web page link I have included in this description. The USGS (GPS) coordinates for Larry Sparks Studio are Latitude 36°19’50”, Longitude 106°09’23”. (I would suggest contacting Larry first before showing up at his home & studio)

November 19th, 2012 – 17 Mile Drive – Carmel. CA

The 17 Mile Drive between Pacific Grove & Carmel, California is definitely one of the most picturesque spots in the world. This particular location was along the drive between Bird Rock & Seal Rock. There is an admission charge to drive the road, but it is worth it. The north entrance in Pacific Grove begins along Sunset Drive (State Highway 68). The southern entrance connects to Coast Highway 1 a few miles south of Monterey. There is a third entrance through the streets of Carmel, but way too complicated to describe in this post. Other sites to see along the drive is the “Lone Cypress”, Pebble Beach Golf Course, miles of spectacular coastline and some of the most beautiful and expensive homes in California. The USGS (GPS) coordinates for 17 Mile Drive are Latitude 36°35’25”, Longitude 121°57’54”.

 

November 26th, 2012 – Rio Grande Fishing – Pilar

This image was taken on a drive with my wife along the Rio Grande River near Pilar, NM. This is Peter Trujillo from Hernandez, NM. He told me that this is his special place to come when he needs to get away from the rest of the world. This day Peter was there with his grandson Daniel. Daniel seemed to be having more fun playing in the reeds than any interest in if the fish were biting. This location is the southernmost point on the Rio Grande where the rafter and kayakers exit the river. There are rest rooms here and quite a bit of parking. Trails follow the river in both directions form the parking area, so there are a multitude of locations and angles to photograph the river and the action along the banks. To get there from Taos, drive south out of town about 18 miles along NM Highway 68 to a sign that says “County Line River Access”. Drive down the dirt access road and you have arrived. The USGS (GPS) coordinates for Rio Grande Fishing are Latitude 36°13’47”, Longitude 105°51’27”.

2013 WALL CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE

“SO NEW MEXICO”

Steven Bundy Photography is offering a limited printing 2013 Calendar featuring Black & White images from his “So New Mexico” series. A total of 100 copies will be made available.  Each month includes an image that depicts something special or unique about the Land of Enchantment. The calendar is printed on 100# stock, spiral bound and measures 13” x 19” in size. Above are examples of the Cover & Back pages and a monthly page. The price is $15.00 per calendar plus tax (NM only) & shipping.

To purchase a calendar or see larger version image click HERE.

PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS, LINKS & INFORMATION

Indoor Photography for Family Gatherings

With the upcoming family gatherings later this month, I thought I would give you all some tips to improve your indoor photography. Use natural light as often as possible, even when indoors. If your family gathering is indoors with few windows, you’re out of luck here. But if the rooms do have windows with plenty of outdoor light, try to open up as many of the window coverings (blinds, shades, etc.) as you can to reduce the need to use flash lighting. This will add warmth to your images as opposed to the use of a flash to light your subjects.
If you don’t have natural light to take advantage of consider bouncing your flash off of a wall or the ceiling. Many flash units and speed lights now come with rotating flash heads making them a perfect choice for sending the flash light in a direction other than straight at your subjects. This can really do a great job helping to reduce the powerful wash out effect of flash lighting. In a pinch, I’ve also placed items like an opaque plastic bowl or a bit of wax paper over the built in flash unit on my camera body to reduce the power of the flash and hence warm up the image a bit. Just be careful if you try this technique as it can produce undesired imbalances in the lighting. Be sure to check your LCD screen before moving on to your next photo subject. I hope this helps you produce some better looking holiday memories. Good luck & Happy Holidays.

RECENT COMMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS

Ron Hagg from Taos, New Mexico and CEO of Taos Rag writes about my photography, web site & blog:

“Steven:  I think you are the most talented photographer (sans Ansel Adams) I have ever seen. Your work just blows me away. Your sites are fantastic…all in all - you are the best. Ron”

Thank you Ron. I love getting emails like this!!!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Steven Bundy Photography is located in beautiful Taos, New Mexico
Steven Bundy Photography
PO Box 1738
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico  87557
(760) 518-1530
Email:  steven@stevenbundy.com    Web Site:  www.stevenbundy.com   Blog: Steven Bundy Photography Blog
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