2024-10-6 Charles Bush Photography Photo of the week

Lake Martin Swamp Scene–November, 2023

Early November brings vivid colors to the swamps of Louisiana. This scene, taken on November 3rd, 2023, displays the wonderful colors in the swamp at that time of year. We'll be visiting this site to photograph in less than a month, consider joining me for one of the tours.

2024-09-27 Photo of the Week

Black Crowned Night Heron in Cypress Tree

This week's photo was taken on one of my 2023 Fall Tours. Usually, we focus on Cypress Trees in the fog or mist, but if there's an excellent opportunity to photograph an interesting bird, we take it. This Black Crowned Night Heron was easily approachable in the waters of Lake Martin, and we captured many excellent photographs. By the way, there are still slots available for one of my tours in November, where we capture foggy and misty landscapes and opportunities like this. You can check out these tours via this link.

2024-09-18 Photo of the Week–Fall Scene at Lake Dauterive

Fall Scene at Lake Dauterive

While many of my best photographs from Lake Dauterive feature backlighting, mist, or fog, I also appreciate images taken with traditional lighting. One of my favorite shots was captured on November 19, 2013, during a cold day spent exploring the lake. The photograph showcases warm, golden light hitting the trees late in the day, illuminating the vibrant maple leaves, cypress needles, and the ethereal Spanish moss. The confluence of these natural elements creates a serene and enchanting scene that truly embodies the magic of Lake Dauterive.

If you would like to experience this beautiful place, consider joining us for the remaining tour, click here to reserve your spacel

2024-09-11 Photo of the week

Butterfly tagging on September 11, 2001

When serious events happen, we often remember what we're doing and where we were when they occurred. September 11th, 2001, was one of those days. I was doing a photo shoot for a biologist friend who was tagging butterflies in Southern New Hampshire. This shot, taken on that date, shows him placing a tag on a monarch butterfly prior to it making its migration. I remember that tragic day like it was yesterday even though it was 23 years ago.

Photo of the Week - The Old Man of the Mountain: A Timeless Capture

Black and White photo of The Old Man in the Mountain = Sp[ring 1996

The Image

In 1996, I captured a photograph of the Old Man of the Mountain, a natural rock formation in New Hampshire that tragically collapsed in 2003. This image remains one of my most memorable shots, not just because of the subject but also due to the process and lessons it taught me.

The Capture

That morning, I awoke early with a clear vision in my mind. I wanted to capture the Old Man's face illuminated by the rising sun, set against a dark backdrop. With determination, I drove an hour and a half to the overlook, carrying my trusty 300mm F2.8 AF-D lens and a Nikon N-90 film camera. I arrived an hour before sunrise and was joined by a truck driver. We shared coffee as we waited for the sun to rise.

As the sun ascended, it hit the exact spot I had visualized, and I captured the moment. However, when I viewed the film, the image fell short of my expectations. It lacked the dramatic contrast I had envisioned.

Unprocessed image of The Old Man in the Mountain

Post Processing

Years later, in 2005, I scanned the photograph using my Imacon photo film scanner. It remained untouched in my Lightroom catalog until recently when I revisited my original vision. With today's advanced image processing tools, I knew I could bring that vision to life. I used Nic Silver Efex Pro, applying the High Contrast Smooth preset, along with a few adjustments and Control Points to fine-tune the luminance values. The result was exactly what I had imagined all those years ago.

Lessons Learned:

• Visualize Your Intended Results: Trust your vision and take action to achieve it.
• Equipment Isn't Everything: The gear I used is considered primitive by today's standards, but it still allowed me to capture something meaningful.
• Capture Moments Now: What exists today may be gone tomorrow. Don't miss the chance to document it.
• Revisit Your Work: As your skills and technology evolve, you might be able to realize visions that were previously out of reach.

Fall Sunrise Panoramic at Lake Martin

Fall Sunrise Pahoramic Photo at Lake Martin

Lake Martin, typically a sunset destination for my tour groups, offered a stunning sunrise on this visit. This iconic Louisiana swamp photography location is breathtaking in the fall when the early morning light highlights the rust-colored cypress trees. We were fortunate to have a sky filled with beautiful clouds and patches of blue—a perfect morning for capturing the serene beauty of Lake Martin.

Walking on Water: Canada Geese in Silhouette

The Photograph

This photograph dates back to my film days, taken with a Nikon F5 camera and a 600mm lens at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, Massachusetts. I was along the trail that divides two pools, originally focused on a Goldfinch with the sun at my back. Suddenly, the unmistakable honking of Canada Geese caught my attention from the opposite direction.

How I captured the shot

Instinctively, I pivoted, switched my camera to Aperture priority mode, and quickly fired off the remaining frames of my 36-shot roll of Fuji Velvia film. The result was this shot, along with another in which the rear goose has its wings down while the front one has them up.

Post Processing

The film was sent off for development and reviewed on a lightstand. I later scanned these slides with an Imacon scanner, preserving them digitally in my Lightroom Classic Library, where they continue to remind me of that fleeting moment.

Reflecting on Technology

The Nikon F5, with its advanced autofocus and evaluative metering, made capturing this scene possible, showcasing features that have become standard in today’s digital cameras. This blend of timing, technology, and a bit of luck resulted in one of my favorite captures.

Photo of the Week: Capturing the Bright Golden Glow of Cypress Trees at Lake Dauterive

Lake Dauterive–Fall Cypress Scene in Golden Mist–November, 2018

If you're interested in creating a similar image, consider joining me for one of the remaining reservations on my November 17, 2024, photo tour.

Six years ago, a customer requested I create a unique shot during one of my fall tours. The vision was clear:

The Shot

1. Would feature Cypress Trees in the water during peak fall color, with a prominent cypress knee in the foreground.
2. Spanish Moss would hang gracefully from the trees.
3. A soft mist, illuminated by the sun with a bright golden glow, would enhance the scene.

Although I had incorporated elements of this vision into many of my fall shots, I had never specifically attempted to create this exact image—until now.

Where and How

I knew that Lake Dauterive was the ideal location for this photograph. The lake is home to many ancient Cypress trees, which are essential to achieving the desired composition. Additionally, a protected area near the shore, close to the boat launch, had consistently shown promise during previous visits, often harboring mist in the early morning hours. The sun, rising at approximately 45 degrees from the trees, would provide the perfect lighting to create a bright golden glow in the mist, intensifying the beauty of the shot.

The critical factor was the mist. To capture it, we needed a cold morning with minimal or no wind. Through experience, I've learned that the wind should be from the south for this side of the lake. Alternatively, a similar shot could be achieved across the lake with a north wind.

By selecting the optimal day during the trip and positioning ourselves at the perfect moment, we successfully captured the photograph with the desired bright golden glow.

While, there are never guarantees with Nature Photography, Doing this for the past 20 plus years enables me to maximize the opportunities.

Great Blue Heron in Fall Foliage

A Great Blue Heron on a Cypress Log with Orange Cypress Foliage taken at Lake Martin on a November, 2023 photo tour

Taken on one of last fall's photo tours, this stunning photograph captures a Great Blue Heron framed against the vibrant fall foliage of a Cypress Tree at Lake Martin. Our fall photo tours are primarily focused on photographing the beautiful trees in the best light, but we also seize every opportunity to capture birds and other wildlife amidst the fall colors. Join us on our next tour to experience the breathtaking beauty of nature and improve your photography skills.

The Screech Owl Yawning: Capturing a Perfect Moment

In 2001, while visiting My Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I experienced one of those rare, serendipitous moments that every wildlife photographer dreams of. Armed with my Nikon D1 camera, I hoped to capture the elusive screech owl in its natural habitat. I ended up with a photograph that remains one of my favorites to this day: the screech owl mid-yawn.

The Moment of Luck

With my camera locked down and aimed at the owl, I felt confident I had secured the shot. But as I looked up, the owl did something unexpected – it yawned. I quickly fired the camera, capturing a moment of sheer spontaneity and natural beauty. It was a very lucky shot, one that perfectly encapsulated the owl’s character and the tranquility of the cemetery.

The Gear Behind the Shot

This memorable photograph was taken with the Nikon D1, a digital camera that boasted a 2.7-megapixel sensor. By today’s standards, that resolution seems almost quaint, but at the time, it was revolutionary. Despite the relatively low megapixel count, the image holds up remarkably well, thanks in part to the monochrome nature of the shot and the perfect exposure.

Enhancing the Image

The photo was captured using a 600mm lens combined with a 2X teleconverter, providing an effective focal length of 1200mm. This setup allowed me to get up close and personal with the owl without disturbing its natural behavior. Even more impressive is how well the image scales. Using Gigapixel AI, a cutting-edge image enhancement tool, the photograph can be enlarged to at least 11 x 14 inches without losing its clarity or impact. In addition, I used a Nikon Flash and Better Beamer to light in the hole where the Screech was nesting.

A Timeless Photograph

What makes the screech owl yawning image so special is not just the subject or the circumstances under which it was taken, but how well it has stood the test of time. The combination of equipment, luck, and the advent of modern technology has ensured that this photograph remains as captivating today as it was when it was first captured over two decades ago.

In the ever-evolving world of photography, where megapixels and advanced features dominate the conversation, it's a reminder that sometimes, all you need is the right moment and a bit of luck to create something truly timeless.

Consider signing up for one of my tours; check them out here:

Fall 2025

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Roseate Spoonbill–Jefferson Island

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Roseate Spoonbill–Jefferson island

A photo of a Roseate Spoonbill at jefferson Island. The most beautiful Wading Bird in North America.

Photo of the week 2016-09-12

It's been far too long since I've posted here, gotten out of the habit and I plan on starting up again. This weeks photo was taken in May at Lake Martin.

I was waiting for the sunset, this was happening in the opposite direction and I liked the light on the trees and the fisherman in the shot. I also took one after the fisherman had left, so if you're justed interested in the scene without the boat let me know.

It was shot as a 3 image vertical panorama and stitched together with a 50mm prime lens, my D810 Nikon Camera, and a panoramic head.contact me if you're interested in a print.

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Late Evening at Lake Martin

Photo of the Week 2016-04-19

Taken at last weeks Macro Photography Class. Shot agains a white background and editied in photoshop to render background as white.

Photo of the Week 2016-03-14 Great Egret / Spanish Moss

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Great Egret / Spanish Moss

This weeks images is of a Great Egret found in a rookery in the Atchafalaya Basin.

It may be purchased here.

Photo of the week 2016-03-8 Red lichen on Cypress Tree Trunk

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This week's photo is of Red Lixhwn on the trunk of a Cypress Tree.

Photo of the Week 2016-02-29

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Henderson Sunrise Pano May 2015

This week's Sunrise photo of the week was taken last May on one of my tours. it's stitched from three separate images to form this panorama. It may be purchased from my print and stock Web site and may be found here.

Photo of the week 2016-02-18

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Iris @ Lake Martin

This week's photo of the week is an Iris taken last April on the Boardwalk at Lake Martin.

You may purchase rights or prints on my stock image Web site here.

Photo of the Week 2016-02-8

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Power lines across the Atchafalaya Basin

This week's photo of the week is a shot of power lines across the Atchafalaya Basin.

Prints or usage rights may be purchased here.

Photo of the Week 2016-02-1

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Snowy Egret with Wet Plumes

The photo of the week is this shot of a Snowy Egret taken in the Spring of 2014 at Miller's Lake at one of our favorite coves on one of my tours. I love the fact he's obviously gotten very wet.

You may purchase a print or usage rights here.

Photo of the week 2016-01-25

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This week's photo of the week is of Glass Jars in Black & White. A study of selective focus and perspective. Taken at one of my classes taught in Bywater.