Big Hombre snoozing with the smaller ones.
Sea Lions at Elkhorn Slough in the Monterey Bay, California.

Elkhorn slough, about 10 miles north of Monterey is an amazing place for wildlife. Over the weekend, I was on a boat tour run by Captain Yohn. A bunch of photographer buddies from the FM_NorCal group had booked two tours on the pontoon boat, each of us paying for 2 seats - one for us, one for our equipment.

This was my second time at Elkhorn. From last time, I was pleased to obtain a few images of pelicans and other birds. The goal this time was to concentrate on Sea Otters. But it was not to be…I indeed got a few nice pictures of sea otters, which I have posted a couple of times before, and more of which are coming. But the star of this trip, for me were the sea lions. This here, is a photo of the big guy snoozing in a very cool pose..Note the big huge neck.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/750sec at f/5.6
Focal Length: 260mm
ISO: 400
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM
Time: 8.56 AM
Date: May 10, 2008

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Sea Otters, Elkhorn Slough, California

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/350sec at f/5.6
Focal Length: 300mm
ISO: 400
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM
Time: 8.48 AM
Date: May 10, 2008

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Sea Otters, Elkhorn Slough, California

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/350sec at f/5.6
Focal Length: 300mm
ISO: 400
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM
Time: 8.48 AM
Date: May 10, 2008

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get into photography?
RP: I learned photography when I was a student at Polytechnic University of Indonesia, studying Graphics Art & Publishing Faculty in the early 90’s. Photography was one of the subjects I studied. Then, I was more interested in graphics design than photography. This was the case until I worked for a newspaper in Jakarta as a graphics designer where many journalists and photo journalists influenced me to learn more about journalism photography.
Then I bought my first SLR—Nikon FM2—with some lenses and took some short courses and seminars on any kind of photography not only journalism related photography.
Today, I am still a graphic designer. However photography is a hobby and I consider myself a serious amateur photographer.
Economic crisis in Indonesia had stopped me from any photography activity. Everything became very expensive. In 2004 I sold all my analog equipment and I moved to “only’ a prosumer Canon G5. But, to my surprise, I found it very versatile and I was very comfortable with digital editing. Because of my job as a graphic designer, I was used to using Photoshop (since version 1.0).
I was surprised that my unique photographic style was appreciated by many people in Indonesia. I am very glad that in this same year, 4 photos were requested by an ad agency for a calendar of a big company in Asia. After that many images were sold and used by many companies, not only in my country also other countries, including Britain.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: Your work is an amazing mixture of people and landscapes. Can you tell me how you find inspiration to photograph?
RP: Humans and landscapes are 2 subjects which the common people love to see and I love too. The viewer can enjoy the photograph and can visualize themselves to be there. Many arts inspire me: Movies, paintings, music, almost any kind of art. But specially, the paintings of Walter Spies, a Dutch painter who lived in Bali in 30’s and 40’s have inspired me greatly, especially about the use of light, tone and rural areas/villages as subject matter.
Technically, it is my tool to compare every element in the photo with the human. How big the tree, the river, the stones compared to the human.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: On your photo.net portfolio, your images are beautiful with this wonderful sense of atmosphere. What are you trying to convey in these photos?
RP: I want to dramatize the scene and I want every viewer impressed deeply. I want people to stop and look my photos, take in every detail and take a long time to analyze the photograph. Every photo has a story behind it. I try to convey happiness, warm but deep emotion.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: You recently joined a group of photographers at Mr.X. How did it come about? Can you tell me a little more about the group?
RP: Actually I was invited by the owner. He was impressed by some photographers who are consistent with their photography and started the group. And of course I am proud of it to join the group with the great photographers there.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: How do you go about learning and improving your photography?
RP: I think digital era with its internet push has an enormous impact on photography. People can see our work instantly. And it is easy to learn photography from many websites. Everyday I can see many new good photos on the internet. Many new techniques are available promptly in different websites. But I think the quality of photos and photographers around the world must grow to be compared to those 10 or 20 years ago. Many beginners grow very fast, but sometimes they do not to know the photography philosophy. They only know how easy and cheap it is to take and edit photo with a digital camera.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: Any recommendations? (Like Photographers, Photo techniques, Music, Books, quotes, food…anything?)
RP: My country is a unique country for its diversity. The biggest Island Country in the World which has 13,000 islands! Lot of cultural diversity too. Bali is a small part of Indonesia. We have Java, Borneo, Sumatera, Papua, Sulawesi and Moluccas. Each of them has their unique landscape, culture, language. Many locations here still virgin. Even photographers have found new good subjects every time. The best period for photography here is May-August because it is summer time.
There many good photographers here in Indonesia. You can see their work at fotografer.net, artphotomania.com, or jakartaphotoclub.com.
If anyone is coming to Indonesia, you can contact me through email or mobile phone and I can provide guidance.

Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved

SU: Can you mention how people interested in your work can contact you?
RP: The easy way to contact me is to email me at rdpbanget@gmail.com and please browse my gallery at photo.net/photos/rarindra.

Thanks Rarindra!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This photograph was taken when on a wine-making tour at the Mumm Winery in Napa, California.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/90sec at f/4.5
Focal Length: 22mm
ISO: 1600
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Time: 3.24 PM (PST)
Date: April 19,2008

This photograph was taken when on a wine-making tour at the Mumm Winery in Napa, California.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/350sec at f/4.5
Focal Length: 22mm
ISO: 100
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Time: 3.23 PM (PST)
Date: April 19,2008

Back with a bang. Sharktooth beach, close to home.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 8sec at f/8.0
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 100
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Time: 7.42 PM (PST)
Date: March 17,2008

Serpents and Dragons, by Michael D. Kern. Book Cover. Click here to order this book.

SU: Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get into photography?
MDK: My story is simple…. Corporate executive turned conservationist / nature photographer. It gets a bit more complicated and boring if you double click below that. Actually, I have been exposed to photography throughout my whole life, my father was a Doctor by trade but his passion was fine art photography. He exposed me to both the art and craft of photography as I was growing up. It’s a shame I didn’t pay much attention. So, except for a few fleeting moments in my life, I only seriously got into photography about five years ago when I started working with reptiles.
The reptile thing began when I was in middle school. A neighborhood school friend’s brother had an extensive collection of reptiles in their garage which fascinated me. After a lot of begging, I finally got permission to bring my own snake into our house… unfortunately I used one of my fathers flood lamps to heat the cage and on the first night and it warped the wooden cage cover, of course, the snake escaped. I still think my mom is mad at me about this.
I eventually grew out of this phase (i.e., I realized that girls were also biologically interesting) and my interest in reptiles went dormant. It wasn’t until my own kids saw pictures my father had taken of me with my snake that the passion returned. My kids asked for snakes of their own and when we finally felt they were old enough, we went to the local reptile store. I knew when I walked into that store, I was in trouble…. It all came back….. two snakes quickly became four, then a gecko or two, frogs, chameleons… it got so bad that my first web site was called the Kern Family Zoo. We have since downsized our collection and I use my photography to satisfy my craving to collect new animals.
I started taking pictures of my collection with a simple digital point and shoot camera but quickly got frustrated by the shutter lag and view finder alignment so I finally had my first serious talk about photography with my father. My father has been a great mentor and teacher, especially as I was starting out.

Red Eye Green Tree Frog, Photograph by Michael D. Kern, All Rights Reserved

SU: What has attracted you towards wildlife photography, especially reptiles?
MDK: I have always been fascinated by the intricate beauty of reptiles. These creatures can be spectacularly rich in color, line, texture and form — classic elements of artistic style and composition. However, in many cases, appreciating this beauty requires one to get close enough to study the complex scale patterns, color palettes, and textures that nature combined in creating these species. Getting close enough to discover this beauty is difficult. Geographic distribution, animal disposition, and, for many people, fear of these animals prevents an appreciation from developing. This is where photography helps. It can provide an intimate view of these animals, and do so in a non threatening manner.
My primary objective creating my recently published book, “Serpents and Dragons” is to help people “find the beauty in the beast”. This is more important than you might realize. Reptiles and amphibians represent some of the most endangered species on our planet. I hope that readers of this book develop a better appreciation for these animals and support conservation efforts which protect their diminishing habitats. This is a critical step toward their ultimate conservation.

Hide and Seek, Photograph by Michael D. Kern, All Rights Reserved

SU: Can you tell me a bit about your photography techniques on and off the field?
MDK: I work both in the field and in the studio. Due to the nature of the subjects I work a lot with macro technology. I am a big believer in post processing although I don’t alter the core representation of the subject…. Let me restate that…. that is unless I am working on a creative piece, then anything goes…
Like all photographers I pay attention to the light…. I work with natural and artificial lighting…. I also try to keep a photojournalistic point of view to my work.
In order to stay close to the action (i.e., interesting wildlife subjects)I have gotten very involved in conservation work. There is always a story that needs to be told, helping to get the story out is part of my photographic drive and passion. Documenting indigenous people or conservation in action (i.e., people shots) complements the images of the wildlife itself and makes for a better package of work.

Johnston’s Chameleon, Photograph by Michael D. Kern, All Rights Reserved

SU: What does photography mean to you?
MDK: Of course it is a form of self expression. I want my pictures to cry out to the viewers “Look at me! Understand me! Appreciate and Protect me! Almost in your face….
The beauty of working with reptiles is that it isn’t a genre which is over done. There aren’t that many good photographers in this space. So when you have a compelling image, people will look, The subjects are that different and intriguing.

Green Lash, Photograph by Michael D. Kern, All Rights Reserved

SU: You have won quite a few well-deserved awards and recognition for your photography. What is your secret behind this?
MDK: Both professionally outside of photography i.e., my previous life, and now… I think it is important to find a niche, and then become the best in that niche… From there you can grow out into other areas….So for me, by working in a niche, and one which is not heavily exploited, I am showing work that is not commonly seen…. They are fresh in the eyes of the judges…. It isn’t like I am showing them another landscape or flower shot…..
Also, I have a very critical eye. I always find the 10 problems with an image before I can appreciate the good aspects of it. This puts a strong filter on my images…. Only the best get through… There is an adage that your portfolio is only as strong as your weakest image… When you enter into competitions, you need to understand that the judges think this way too…. How else can they filter down to a few select images from a starting point of thousands…. They exclude based on flaws, once they get to the flawless images, they then look for merit…. I work like that when I am selecting images from my shoots to bring forward….

Fred Astaire, Photograph by Michael D. Kern, All Rights Reserved

SU: Any recommendations? (like Photographers, Photo techniques, Music, Books, quotes, food..anything?)
MDK: Besides finding a niche and exploiting it and using a critical eye in judging your work, Be realistic, understand that there are thousands of excellent photographers our there looking for eyes and recognition…. make sure you have something unique to say so that when you get eyes on your work, they stick, remember, and want to see more….

SU: How can people interested in your work can contact you?
MDK:
My website www.thegardensofeden.org. There you can peek inside my book, stroll thru my portfolio of work, and email me. My images are also available thru Nature Picture Library Stock Photography (www.naturepl.com).

Thanks Michael for this interview.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 4.0sec at f/4.5
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 100
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Time: 5:12 PM (PST)
Date: March 11, 2008

Technical Details:
Exposure: 3.0sec at f/8.0
Focal Length: 22mm
ISO: 100
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Time: 5:02 PM (PST)
Date: March 11, 2008