Shutterbugs

Featuring Jerry Kirkhart

My photography was originally used to enhance my career of some 43 years of teaching biology and zoology. This was before digital, and almost all my film was converted to slides that had to do with the lessons being taught. My camera was primarily on "program" mode, so I did not think much about post-processing nor camera settings and let the camera decide what was best for each image. That was to change when I moved to the coast.

Once I retired in 2006, I became a docent for the State Parks in Morro Bay and was able to continue teaching about wildlife, and have had the time to start to improve my skills as a photographer. I met an outstanding photographer, Mike Baird. He had started Digital Photo Walks and asked me to assist in this very successful venture. I jumped at the chance to help, as I could use my teaching skills about flora and fauna and also to improve my photography techniques to share with others. Mike got me to join Flickr, where I have studied the EXIF data of my favorite photographers to see what their camera settings, lens choices, etc., were in order to see what settings to use to capture birds in flight, and many more photo opportunities.

It was Marlin Harms, Bill Bouton, and Dennis Sheridan that encouraged me to get a 105 mm macro lens for tide pool photography, which made a big difference in my macrophotography. I may be best known for my tide pool classes and macros in the pools.

Then I met Howard Ignatius, who is a Nikon shooter and another expert photographer, which was perfect for me, as I use a Nikon too. He has made a tremendous change in my photographic skills as I started learning about my particular camera. It is amazing how many functions a camera can perform. Because of Howard, I have learned that I can now decide what I want my camera to accomplish even in low light situations. He also enabled me to become involved with teaching about HDR in the Oaks, Time-Lapse, and Low Light Photography, including light painting, and other techniques. I feel you learn a tremendous amount about your camera by taking low light images, which will certainly hone your skills with ambient light.

My all time favorite, though, is wildlife photography. I have taught classes for our bird festival, taking participants to birding hot spots.

Another real inspiration to me was joining the SLOCC (San Luis Obispo Camera Club) as the talent in this club is truly exceptional and certainly sets the photography bar quite high. I feel the club is more like a family than a group of photographers. Many of the members are specialists and also teachers in their certain expertise of photography and willingly share their knowledge.

Some Words About a Few of My Images

My best image (according to Flickr) is the Mono Lake Sunrise (above). However, the low light image taken in the dark with light painting of the stones, house, and red light inside the house (above) is the most planned image, thanks to Howard. The stretching bobcat is one of my most favorite wildlife images, which is a once in a lifetime shot, as is the whale with the Pelican on its lip. I was also very fortunate to have the Junco published in Popular Photography magazine, so I can cross that off my bucket list. Tide pool photography is one of my favorite photo opportunities because of such unique organisms not seen other places.Very few see such animals as the skeleton shrimp.

Photography offers so much because of the lifelong friendships you make locally and also for the worldwide Flickr friends. My life has certainly changed for the better with such a rewarding hobby. I hope to see some of you on the next photo field trip.

Monarch Butterfly on Banner by Mike Baird