Better Nature Photos Now

 

On Father’s Day, I always remember what I’ve learned from my father.  He influenced my thinking on so many things.  He asked me on his death bed the one lesson I learned from him that changed my life the most.  I shared with him what he once told me when I was an early teen.  At the time, I was was just starting to deal with puberty and my mother’s life long mental illness. It was a very confusing time for me.  I asked my father what would help me understand life better.  I was hoping to get a simple lesson that would make my decisions easier.  

It took over 30 years to have my father open up and share his own beliefs and understanding of God . He wanted to make sure I was ready for the debate. He wanted me to have enough life to understand his perspectives on God.   

 He invested in me by helping to provide the best education life could buy. At 40, I repaid that investment, leaving my professional career to take care of him and my mother.  I was at the top of the corporate world, I advised many global leaders on big issues facing our world after 9/11, including our country’s leaders.  My four year sabbatical with my father and mother provided me an incredible experience. It was more valuable than all my formal education. My father gave me this poem near the end of his life.  He told me he read it in grade school and formed his life philosophy in a nutshell. It always brings tears to my eyes.  

I was introduced to Coach Wooden by my father. I was getting ready to work with the faculty at The Industrial College of The Armed Forces in Washington DC after September 11, 2001. I was invited to come to Washington DC to talk about how leadership and the world changed after 9/11. I had interviewed many of the great thinkers on leadership from around the world, but the more I spoke to these people, the more overwhelmed I became. For the first time, I was struggling to come up with a curriculum that would simplify my thinking into a process that I could share.

I called my father out of desperation to see if he could help me brainstorm a solution for the faculty.  My father said he would like to help me but really didn’t know where I might start. He kidded me about the fact that I was invited and I should go as I am. Not as a military officer or representing the executive branch, but as a person who knew about organizational psychology and a student of leadership and history.  He then told me about John Wooden.  He had seen an article about Wooden’s leadership framework that might provide me with ideas that I could use to shape my discussions.

I went out and researched Coach Wooden and his famous Pyramid of Success. I tried to get on Coach Wooden’s schedule.  Unfortunately, we just couldn’t coordinate our schedules to talk, but I received several articles and presentations that helped me understand his value-based leadership model.

The more I read, the more clear I became.  His values mapped well to the values the military trains into our military and officers. Knowing the foundation, I could build an advanced framework on what leadership should look like moving forward. Coach Wooden had provided a great way of organizing my thinking.

This weekend, we lost Coach Wooden. He was inspiration to me, as well as many other more well-known athletes and professors. The more you know about John Wooden, the more you realize the gift he was to students, teachers, and fellow coaches.

I decided to share some of his thinking, because it is very relevant to people who lead organizations.  I find his thinking applies to leading technology companies even more.

I thought I’d share some of his thinking on leading teams and then follow up with a short comment. Enjoy and apply it to your own growing technology business.

Here are several rules for team leaders by John Wooden for software and technology leaders. 

Rules to Lead by:

1. Condition your team to love the struggle. In changing times, technology leaders must remember there will be struggles before success. Allow your team the opportunity to enjoy the challenge and growth that comes from struggling to acheive.

2. Remember that success can takes months or years to achieve but can be undone in minutes. Think before you speak, and understand that in a connected world, your thoughts may be around for many years to haunt you. Engage your heart before your mouth when dealing with challenging situations.

3. Never allow anyone else to define your success. If you allow others to define you, you may never succeed. Let your teams know your definition of success and work with them to make it happen. Become good at coaching your team.

4. Organizations succeed when they become more than the sum of their players. Share with others how much of a difference they make in a team’s performance. Find a way of supporting all team members. Look for chances to catch people doing things right and when they exceed expectations. Learn to help the team work well together.

If you have questions or comments about John Wooden, please add them here so we can all remember the man and how he changed our lives. If you found this blog helpful please let us know. We’d love to hear your stories and about how your teams have become successful. If you like this blog and would like more like it let us know. We can share other material to help you lead better.

Tripp Braden is an IT marketing and sales consultant who specializes in developing seven figure partnerships and businesses.  He is also the editor of Market Leadership Journal.  Discover how to grow your company through extraordinary partnerships by visiting http://www.HighGrowthBusiness.com where you can find resources and products to increase your success.

 

My cousin Bill Jones passed away this morning. I will miss him dearly. For many years he helped me take care of my parents. When he wasn’t doing this he was taking care of others who were ill. He was Chief of Anesthesiology for St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.  When your an only child you have friends and cousins to replace your brothers and sisters. I was lucky I got both in one.

When we were younger we had little in common but as we grew older our friendship grew and matured. In tragedy we learned we could lean on each other for support and unconditional love. A gift that provided us both  comfort in even the most challenging times of including a death of a child and parent.  I will miss our times talking in the garage shooting the bull and having a few beers. He always reminded me we can always be more and in many ways I have become more because of Bill’s prodding and our competitive spirits.

In treating my mother’s mental illness he reminded me it was often time physical as well as mental treatment that might make her healthy. He always made sure both my parents got the best treatment he could find.

When he was in hospice we would get together and talk about our lives together and what the future held for both of us. We would laugh until we cried. We said the things we wanted to while we were both able to appreciate them. Its why hospice works so well if you let it.  I asked him to pass on a message to our loved ones who had already passed on before him.  He would always chuckle and smile no matter how much the pain. Humor is something that always kept us together even in the worst of times and the best. 

Last night I said goodbye to my Bill. I learned many rituals from my time in hospice community and they bring me comfort in dealing with the death of loved ones. They provide me the inner peace in knowing there is something beyond me that will provide them peace forever.  I share with you my favorite writing on the nature of god.  I share it with you as I did last night as I prayed for God’s gift of taking my cousin home last night.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind. 
Albert Schweitzer

Here are one of the new Polar Bears at the Polar Frontier ’s Grand Opening at the Columbus Zoo today waiting to jump into the pool. These animals are incredibly agile and can swim for hours at a time.

I work closely with several clients who see their role as making a difference in the world. I’d like to single out Nationwide Insurance and Battelle Institute for helping to bringing this incredible program to the Columbus Zoo. Thank You

The Polar Frontier at the Columbus Zoo opened today. Jack Hanna had many people to thank today for the opening of the Polar Frontier and he didn’t miss one.  His speech couldn’t prepare you for the experience. I will let the photos tell the story.  Here are the two polar in their new digs. It was incredible.  Here Polar Bears Aurora and Anana swimming together in their  new home.

Looking for a way to grab your markets’ attention? Share information with them in a way that’s differant than expected. In this case, I’m sharing through my pal Beco, the baby elephant. He’s recently had several reasons to celebrate including his birthday, big brother Bodhi’s birthday, and now his two friends from the Artic, two great polar bears.  The bears, Aurora and Anana, will get a chance to meet the many great friends Beco has made in the last year.

The Polar Frontier at the Columbus Zoo is opening on Thursday, May 6 at 10:00 am. This new area features the twin polar bears, artic foxes, and your favorite Alaskan brown bears, Brutus and Buckeye. Make sure you bring your camera and your children, not necessarily in that order, to share an incredible experience at the Polar Frontier.

Now back to to the point of this blog. There are many ways create excitement and relationship with your best clients and partners. You also want to get regular, consistent traffic.  One of the most underutilized ways of creating excitement and traffic is by providing information that they want in an easy to access and read format. Those of you that regularly follow my blogs know that I provide a lot of information, about what’s happening at the zoo, and relationships I see between animals and the business world. For all of you out there on my list, I will be providing coverage of this event on a regular basis, so stop back here often to see the updates.  For other ways of generating excitement, and building relationships and consistent traffic, I offer business oriented marketing tips on a new Facebook fanpage called Sales Safari.  This Facebook fanpage helps you market your professional services to your best clients. Check it out and let me know what you think. You can track my progress at http://www.facebook.com/salessafari. 

Life is a struggle–
just accept it.
Life is a tragedy–
to be confronted.
Life is an adventure–
dare to live it.
Life is luck–
You can bet your life on it.
Life is your life–
so fight for it.

Anonymous

I spent several hours yesterday with my cousin Bill, who is in hospice. Bill is in good spirits but he is waiting for the end. Maybe for the second time in my life, I was at a loss for words. I thought of all our shared experiences and realized that life is way too short for most of us. We come in with such promise and we leave with many things undone.

My cousin Bill told me a funny story about waking up on Tuesday. He felt good, he had slept without pain and everything was quiet. He lay there, not opening his eyes to just enjoy the peace surrounding him. He was certain he had passed on. He was comfortable with it happening, he had said all the goodbyes and hugged and kissed everyone he wanted and was looking forward to seeing all his friends he had not seen for many years. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the ceiling of his bedroom. He was still here. He had been given another day here to spend time with his wife, children and friends. Another day to complete something that was still undone. Take time to do the things that make a difference to the family, people and friends that matter the most.  Although Bill’s knows some day he might not be here to do them, we all have a time limit on our lives.  So don’t wait to say the things you want to say to those that mean the most to you.  Don’t wait to do the things you want to do.  Because life keeps moving, even it you’re not ready.

The toughest thing about being a success is that you’ve got to keep being a success…Irving Berlin
Big Brother Bodhi, the elephant celebrated his sixth birthday at the Columbus Zoo today. Having been to several birthday parties in the last couple of weeks for my favorite subjects, I was struck by how much he’s grown in the past several years.
He’s developed an interesting personality compared to many of his peers. He’s feisty if not completely a rebel yet. I’m not sure when he grew up but he is certainly becoming confident in his ability to avoid my best efforts to capture a unique image of him for his birthday. He even tried to hide behind a tree to make sure I couldn’t get a great shot of him. I’m certain he was avoiding me since at times I’m the only one with him. It’s funny when I first started to photograph him I could get a shot of him because he had crowds of fans around him and he was the darling of many Zoo visitors. Today, less so. I’m wondering, are we so jaded by little brother Beco that we forgot how rare a gift Bodhi is? I travel to 7-10 Zoos a year and none of them provide the close proximity to their young Asian Elephants. When I spend time alone with him I’m less than 10 feet away. He’s still awesome to me. My job is always trying to capture their unique quirks and personality. I’ll tell you a secret. I don’t think I’ve captured my best image of him yet. Only time will tell.
He chases geese around the yard trying to get them to leave his domain. Occasionally he gets within several feet of my friends the goofy geese and they fly off to chide him from the top of a building or flying into his bath. It reminds me of a scene out of an old black and white Charlie Chaplin movie, but better because occasionally you even get to share the stage with him. Well Bodhi, thanks for the great time today. Happy Birthday Bodhi, it’s been four great years of photographing you growing into a young adult elephant.

Partnering for Fun and Non-Profit

I’m Tricia Braden, and I’ll be guest blogging for Tripp from time to time. I’ll be talking about a topic that is near to both of our hearts; getting businesses and non-profit organizations together to form mutually satisfying partnerships. I worked for years in the non-profit arena, first in the Education Department at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, then as Curator of Education at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio. Though I worked in the museum field, there are countless other types of non-profits that can use the expertise of the business world and not just in terms of financial support (although that helps immensely!).
Businesses and non-profits can create true partnerships that provide long term benefits to both parties. The non-profit can get business expertise, sponsorships, and increased exposure. The business can get increased goodwill in the community, more customers, and increased exposure. The key is knowing what each of you wants to accomplish through the partnership. To help that along, I’ve developed some guidelines that may lend a hand.

What should you say, what are their hot buttons, what’s going to hook them? These are the kinds of things you need to think through before approaching a potential partner.
1. List who you could approach for a potential partnership. Think about the synergies between your two organizations or if it’s a group you feel particularly passionate about.
2. Make a list of what’s in it for them. Clearly identify the benefit to their organization.
3. Think through, in advance, what kind of deal you want so you’re not caught unaware of when you call them.
4. Write down what you want to talk about. You don’t need to script the call, just make sure you know the key points you want to discuss to keep the conversation moving.
It doesn’t matter if you are a business or a non-profit, the same guidelines apply. Anyone entering into a partnership wants to know how it will benefit them, before they invest the time and energy. So take a chance and try a partnership. You never know what could happen.

Beco Celebrates his First Birthday Bash
Beco recently celebrated his first birthday bash at the Columbus Zoo. I had a great time meeting with many of his friends and fans. He brings out the best in children of all ages. If you have not seen many of the new babys at the Columbus Zoo with your children you really missing something special. If you don’t have children like myself grab a bag of cotton candy and you will fit right in. I’ll see you there. I’m the one with elephant ears and the lion cub sweatshirt.

Concern for man or woman and their fate must form a chief interest of all technical endeavors…Never forget that in the midst of your diagrams and equations…Albert Einstein

As we work daily to help create a better world and many times we forget the small things that make a difference to an individual. Take time to thank someone. Smile at someone. Make sure you take time to be in the moment with another person at least one time every day. It will make a difference to that person and you will be surprised how good it makes you feel.

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy that is translated through you; and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique…Martha Graham

Understanding the unique gifts you bring to the world can take a lifetime to discover. I learned this through my Aunt Jeanne. She passed away on Good Friday, last week. I really got to know her after she lost her husband. We spent many times talking about her life and the people in it. She had an uncanny ability to remember every person in her life and their unique contribution. She remembered the most incredible things about her eighty-two years.

Two years ago, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she was very concerned that she wouldn’t be able to remember her life and the people she cared about. She told me there was good news and bad news about that. She said the good news was that she would put me on speed dial so if she got confused she could call me. The bad news was she wasn’t certain she would remember me. She called me at all times of the day or night to ask me questions about what was going on in her life so I could remind her. When she first got the disease she talked about everyone who was important to her life. There was quite a list; she covered her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, sisters and brother, mother and father and grandparents and in-laws. She wanted me to be able to remind her of all the special people and events that had happened in her life. I wish I had written it down.

One of my favorite memories was when she first entered an assisted living center. They gave her an A badge so caregivers would know she had what she called old-timers, her description of Alzheimer’s. She was like a young rebel teenager when she talked about finally getting a scarlet letter after all of these years, if she could only remember what it meant! She made me laugh until I cried with her funny stories about her children, family, and friends. Even at the end, she could tell you what made a person special, unique. What an unusual gift, and it made her special to me.

I was trying to decide what image to put up to remind me of my Aunt Jeanne. Most of her favorite stories talked about how she had struggled through many challenging times. From family divorces, to scraped knees and the Great Depression, to the loss of her memory, she carried on and still kept in good spirits about it. It requires a certain kind of stubbornness to keep on keeping on, regardless of what life throws at you. In that way, she reminds me an aging black rhino. They just keep on going.

I’ve done a lot of work with the elderly. I’ve discovered that the ones that survive don’t have easier lives; they’re just too stubborn to give up. They can always find something positive or the humor in almost everything. And that was my Aunt Jeanne. I’m sure going to miss her.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing… Saint Paul
People often ask me why my company is called Artist’s Light. Here’s why. When I spend time in hospices or travelling with creature’s great and small I am reminded that our creator is an extraordinary artist. He or she touches each of us with unique gifts, strengths and life experiences. We honor them by sharing them with others. I strive every day to honor the Lord with my gifts. I am reminded every day his greatest gift is unconditional love.
Have a Happy Easter and enjoy the greatest gift with your family and friends. Take time to remember all your gifts and I bet you will find your greatest gifts is love.

Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never loosened or fertilized by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones. Charlotte Bronte

Knowing who and why you are who you are is the first step to wisdom. Any time you can find an opportunity to better understand yourself take it. You will be surprised how self awareness accelerates your growth. Lion cubs learn how to interact with each other by learning from others in the pride. They learn from the elders and other family members at first, then over time discover their own unique gifts and strengths. Lions survival in the wild is decided by how well they can work together.

I think we can learn from them in this manner. We need to be more aware of how to work as a team if we hope to thrive moving forward. As we enter the final days of the Easter holiday, we would do well to remember the message of Christ was carried forth by a community of followers committed to creating a better world.

I believe that to create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage…Georgia O’Keefe
As you begin your week, take time to do the things you love first. For many people in business, you are forced to do the things you don’t enjoy to make a living. The successful people I’ve known have found a way of making their love, their living.

Warren Buffett once told a reporter that he would do what he does even if they didn’t pay him. Then, in typical Buffet fashion he asked the reporter to keep that fact a secret. He and many other successful leaders in other fields use their strengths, gifts, and life experiences to make a difference in our world.
I wonder how many people who read this would do something different if they had a choice.

I have an unusual thought for you. You have a choice and it doesn’t have to come down to chance. Do something every day that moves you closer to your dreams.
I’m not saying everyday is easy, but if you take my suggestion I can guarantee that you will have more good days and even more great days if you choose to follow you passions…

Beco spent the afternoon enjoying his birthday cake with his fans for his first birthday. Baby Beco is weighs in at over 1400 pounds for his first birthday. If you haven’t seen him lately take time to see him and the baby cubs at the Columbus Zoo.

Baby Beco thrilled his fans for his first birthday celebration. Many children of all ages came to the Columbus Zoo to help their favorite baby elephant celebrate his first birthday. I will posting additional photos featuring Baby Beco enjoying his ice treat for his birthday.

Mark your calendars for Beco’s big day this Saturday, March 27, as our wee elephant boy turns one! Here is the schedule of events for the day, all of which will take place at the Asia Quest mall way from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Beco’s Big Year Book Signing and Gift Tent

Be the first to own a copy of Beco’s Big Year, a beautiful 50 page book that chronicles Beco’s first year of life. You can also have your book signed by author, Linda Stanek, at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Purchase tons of other fun pachyderm paraphernalia to celebrate Beco’s birthday

Birthday Activities Tent:

Try your skill at Pachyderm Putt Putt, spin the Elephant Wheel of Knowledge, or create your own pachyderm craft

EleFUNt Fact Tent:

Find out how much they eat, how they live or compare your foot size to that of our favorite elephant mother and son

Birthday Cake Tent:

Enjoy free cake sampling from our friends at Costco at 11am while supplies last

Beco’s Enrichment:

Watch as our baby boy gets a special treat at 2 p.m.

And don’t forget – PIZZA FOR PACHYDERMS will take place at Water’s Edge Events Park Plaza Pavilion 1

For just $5.00, guests can come and enjoy a Pizza Party in honor of our elephant friends. Guests may purchase tickets online or at the door if tickets are available.

All proceeds go to the “Raise a Ton before Beco Turns One” campaign.

There are two serve times:
11:00 a.m.
1:00pm

Both Pizza for Pachyderms party will feature:

Pizza Provided by Papa Johns along with a cookie and a beverage

A live animal presentation and a meet & greet opportunity from our Animal Encounters Village residents

20 minute presentation from our Elephant Expert and Assistant Curator of Asia Quest, Harry Peachey

Introduction of Linda Stanek, the author of Beco’s Big Year, a beautiful 50 page book that chronicles his first year

Door Prizes and Raffle Drawing

*** As always times and some specifics may be subject to change.

Saturday is Baby Beco’s first birthday. I started covering Baby Beco on right after his birthday for several clients of my best fine art clients. I’ve had over 200 visits with him in the past year. He is a wonderful friend and has provided me with joy unmatched by any other subject for my work.
Now the business side Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer are both fans of outrageous advertising. Bill has written a great book on the topic. Find something that is different that ties into your advertising and your personality. In the first 12 months I have recieved over 30,000 hits on my postings about our adorable baby elephant. He has helped me create a wonderful partnerships with many great non profit organizations across North America. He has launched my site too be one of the top sites on Google search for the the term Artist’s Light.
You can’t get more generic than that term. If a 1400 pound baby elephant can do this for my business imagine what a litte creativity and dare I say outrageous slant can do for you business.

Patience and Perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish…John Quincy Adams
Hawks are known for their ability to wait for hours before swooping in to capture their meal. Knowing when to act is as important as what to do. For many of us we spend all our time doing things with little time thinking about the consequences of our action. I spend at least twenty minutes a day organizing my time to get the most I can out of every day. It’s a great time management practice and it provides incredible daily productivity. Try it for a week. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much more effective you become.

“Make no little plans, for they have no power to stir men’s blood . . . ”

Those words were spoken by Daniel Burnham, one of the partners in Burnham and Root, a Chicago architectural firm from the turn of the century (the turn of the LAST century!). When Chicago was chosen as the site of the Columbian Exposition of 1893, the organizers chose Burnham and Root as the architects for the fair. They really wanted only Root as the architect, but they had to take the whole firm or nothing. Shortly before the designs were started, Root died suddenly, leaving the organizers stuck with Burnham. What Burnham created was beyond what everyone had dreamed of, called the White City. The Chicago Field Museum is the only remnant to show us what it might have looked like. (All the buildings were made of plaster, never planned to exist past a year or two. The Field Museum was reconstructed of building materials to last.)

The point is that truly amazing things happen when you dream big! This little lion cub is dreaming big when he takes on Dad, but one of these days, he’ll be up to the challenge. So dream big, because we grow to fit our dreams.

Seeing in the finest and broadest sense, means using your senses, your intellect, and your emotions. It means encountering your subject matter with your whole being. It means looking beyond the labels of things and discovering the remarkable world around you….Freeman Patterson
Take time to enjoy your life where you are and not where you have to be. Many people strive for their whole lives to discover that they are climbing the wrong ladder for them. Take time to explore your different options in life. Strive to make change part of your plan not part of your problems. Enjoy your time with others and the unique perspectives they bring. They are gifts from beyond that you can enjoy today.

I hope I have convinced you…The only thing that successful people from the ones who aren’t is the willingness to work very, very hard…Helen Gurley Brown
I spent the afternoon with Beco the Baby Elephant at the Columbus Zoo. It was an incredible experience. He’s just learning about the snow and he hasn’t figure out how to navigate in it yet. I’m not worried he will figure it out. He’s a smart little boy and still has the enthusiasm of any several grown up elephants.
I sometimes wonder where all the enthusiasm has gone for entrepreneurs. This economic downturn has aged even the most ardent business owners in ways I haven’t seen for many years. I’ve talked to many people who lived through the great depression and many of them feel the same way. Something is missing. I don’t want to point fingers because that’s not very helpful to anyone. If we are expect to change our lives we need to take charge of ours. Turn off the television and get out there and make something happen. I know its hard work to grow a business and you are the only person who can make a difference in your life. Take your first steps today and you will be surprised how little you miss the bad news.

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in , or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important to a child. My Mother shared this with me last time we got together. She couldn’t remember where she read it. She has early stages Alzheimers but she wanted to remind me of the importance in investing time in our next generation. I’d ask my friends with children to consider how they invest their time. There are so many things you can do to give your children some of your time. When I work with children of all ages I am always amazed what people remember about their lives.
When I worked in hospice and nursing homes the stories people tell me always move me. Watching the dance of the generations is always enjoyable. Children always bring a enthusiasm and joy to the elderly no matter how or when they get together. I think the connection is eternal and mystical. None of can not grow old if we live.
Its how we grow old that matter. Take time to invest a child today…

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose…Helen Keller
People are given unique gifts, strengths and life experiences to help them make a unique contribution to the world. Take time to find out how you can change one person’s life today. Life is a series of individual events that make up a lifetime. Don’t be afraid to make a difference.

I’d like to wish all my Chinese clients a Happy New Year in 2010. 2010 is the year of the Tiger. This year Tigers will need our help to win this battle. Tigers are hunted for their beautiful coats and to provide hunters the ultimate challenge. We need to protect this incredible animal in 2010 and beyond. Our world needs Tigers and their beauty.
According to Chinese, the animal Tiger is said to be lucky vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle or his undying courage.
People born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger have the following qualities and characteristics: Courage, Vehemence, Self-Reliance, Friendliness, Hopefulness, Resilience, Vanity, and Disregard.
Happy New Year on February 14, 2010.

Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you…Jim Rohn

We are told never cross a bridge till we come to it, but this world is owned by men and women who have crossed bridges in their imagination far ahead of the crowd. Walt Disney

Every man’s life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain…Marcus Aurelius

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us ‘ Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.” ~Albert Einstein

In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment.
Charles Darwin

We all live in suspense, from day to day, from hour to hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story…Mary McCarthy

My father gave me many gifts over the years. His final Christmas gift to me was a simple poem that he said summed up his life and his personal philosophy. He has been gone for five years and I think how his values and perspectives shaped my life. Near the end he shared many stories and he reminded me its not the things in life that make a difference its the time spent with those who care…

Here is the poem he gave me as a final gift…
Abou Ben Adhem

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said
“What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still, and said “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

James Henry Leigh Hunt

Beco weighs in at over 1100 pounds. This has been a great year covering Beco and all his friends at the six zoos I’ve visited this year. I’d like to thank all the great people who made this year great. As Artist’s Light begins working with my corporate clients again in the area of business development and strategic planning this blog will still have photos and quotes. I’ve spent the last two years doing photography for many great clients. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to capture your lives with my team. Thank you and God Bless. Next year should take me overseas to cover many of these animals in the wild. The good news about teaching is it can take you anywhere and in my case it will offer me opportunities to change the world.

I’ve been travelling for the past two months getting prepared to launch a new business venture. I’m still in conversations with a new editor for the better nature photos now web site. I hope to have some news early next week to share with you. I have just started posting my recent images to the web sites.
We travelled over 100000 miles travelling across the midwest in 45 days. I think you will enjoy the images.

Time Magazine’s survey on personal responsibility and community service says 42% of people believe that businesses cannot be trusted to make socially responsible decisions; it’s up to the government to make sure they do. Does this number shock anyone? Almost half your clients, friends and associates don’t trust the people who run their businesses in a ethical way. This is staggering!!!
Since most of the people on my list own their own business I’d like to hear from the ones who I should be trusting. Trust the government to make your decisions for you. This is crazy. Talk about taking no personal responsibility.

I spent 20 hours this week in the field doing photography for clients. I have a rule that my camera is always set for my ideal picture and exposure.
I’ve often wondered if its luck or skill that most of my pictures come out the way I expect. I learned long ago that pre-visualization in both photography and life makes a huge difference. Several years ago, I got to sit in on an interview with Jack Nicklaus. He was asked how he could be so consistent over the years. He talked about how he saw every shot before he hit it. He knew that if he could see it in his mind, he could his body to do it.

How many times do we go about our business randomly and get only random results. The next time you pick up the phone, try to visualize the result before it happens. Plan your discussion before you call, go through it in your mind before you pick up the phone. You’ll be surprised how well the call goes. Try it and let me know how you do.

I spent several hours last week in downtown Columbus at night.
We needed several images for a calendar for one of my corporate clients.
I set up my tripod and determined what the right exposure would be for the images.
I used an old technique to make sure I got an image the client would like. I bracketed two full stops on each exposure (a total of five images for each image) and came up with several images the client liked. You can see the image the client chose. I’m glad I didn’t count on the automatic settings to get an image. All of the clients choices came from my bracketed exposures and none chosen using the automatic settings. It’s just a reminder that even with the most advanced cameras you still have to have a creative vision before you take the picture.

It’s the same when designing your life, you have to know what you want it to look like as you start moving in a specific direction. Then all the elements will come together to create the life you want.

Beco overcomes his fears of water to enjoy a summer evening swim. Beco is four months old and has just started learning to swim. He’s at the stage of swimming many of us are at when it involves taking risks in our life. We know we want a change but we just can’t commit. Last night Beco committed for a second time.
How many of us try things once when they don’t work out the first time we just don’t try again. People who excel understand mastery takes time. It may take two times or it may take twenty but persistence is the only insurance we get in this life. So go ahead dive in the waters fine.

Took a break today from moving the offices around to spend time with our favorite baby elephant Beco. He’s hovering at 678 pounds and continues to get rowdier even in the heat. When he bumps you you know it. He still thinks of himself as a small baby causing Phoebe some challenges when he collides with her legs. She is extremely agile for her 7000 pounds.
At 4 1/2 Months he continues to have a large following of fans at the Columbus Zoo. In the next couple of visits I hope to take some pictures of the children watching the baby elephant. You can’t believe the smiles on their faces and their comments are priceless.
There are several additional babies around the Zoo if you haven’t seen them your missing an incredible experience.
We are going down to Cincinnati Zoo to photograph the racing Cheetahs and Baby Tigers later this week.
I look forward to sharing the images when we get back.

Burn Your Boats

I’ve owned three businesses in my life. I’ve been very successful partnering with many clients to grow their businesses to the next level. We worked hard to make sure our clients succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. I did it with a group of professionals with whom I built strong partnerships. Business this year has been very good. Clients want me to help them grow. So I asked them to help me understand who I needed on staff to help them do that. Most, if not all talked about taking advantage of speed when seizing opportunities I help them create. The results were always good but opportunities in this environment come at you faster and faster.

I realized that I needed a writer. This person would need to understand many of the business philosophies we use to help clients grow to the next level and understand how to integrate this into my clients’ overall communication strategy, as well as work independently with key clients. I met with many candidates to determine if they were ready to take on such a large challenge. I found that many were capable of doing a good job. But my clients chose to work with my businesses because we did a great job for them. Good enough was not good enough.

Through my career, I’ve had one secret weapon I used when I knew we had to win the deal. She’s worked with me when I partnered with Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, Mid Ohio Cardiology and Vascular Consultants, and many other clients. When I was a business development executive with many leading edge technology organizations, she was there to make sure my writing was clear, concise, and organized. She’s my wife, Tricia.

Not only has she been my secret weapon in getting the writing done, but in our 15 years of marriage, she been the financial security. The security of knowing that no matter what happens; we have at least one good paycheck to count on to pay the bills. She is an incredible consultant and had always loved her job. With both of us working, we’ve had the good fortune of financial freedom, having no debt and significant reserves for a rainy day. However, it’s not enough to be debt free anymore.

In today’s uncertain economic climate, opportunities abound. Every dollar we invest will have a tenfold –hundred fold ROI. This is a time when many multi-millionaires will be created. Some of my former mentors, such as Warren Buffet and John Templeton are just starting to pick up the bargains that are available to shrewd investors. Watch for them to start adding significant value to their portfolios.

All of this led us to decide that Tricia should resign and come work for my company. It’s a huge risk, giving up the stable financial security her job has given us. She could stay in her current job until she retires in several years. But she doesn’t want to play it safe anymore. She wants to travel and do the things she loves. Sometimes you have to burn the boats of safety and security to find the courage to move forward. It’s now time to burn the boats and get ready to change the world. Come join us on our journey to the edge.

I’ve been working on sales training for a client recently and he sent me this story to make the point about what he expects from his sales team.
“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”
He asked me if I could think of a way to illustrate his point. My initial thoughts revolved around about being the hunter and then it came to me. The best way to find great clients is to be pursued by them.
What are you doing today to be seen in your market?

I’ve been doing photography 29 years today. I find it relaxing and enjoyable. At times it can be frustrating and incredibly challenging. I like both of these things about the profession.
My father and mother bought me a Canon Camera 29 years ago today for my birthday. They told me if I wanted to be a professional photographer I needed to know two things.
One: Patience, you have got to be willing to wait for the shot. You have to trust your instincts. They won’t let you down.
Two: Be thankful for the great images in your life they will stay with you forever. Let bad images fade away to distant memories. Always be willing to try again.
I think my parents were right on both counts. I’m not sure they knew it at the time they were giving me an opportunity that would allow me to meet and experience some of the world’s most fascinating people, places and animals firsthand.
I’ve photographed several Presidents. I’ve photographed and discussed spiritual matters with the Dalai Lama, Shamans, Early Civil Rights Leaders and church elders. Through this magical gift I’ve made friends with lions, tigers, elephants and astronauts. I’ve photographed some of the world’s best scenery because of their gift of photography. I’m wondering if I can ever thank them for this wonderful gift.
I discovered that life is like photography a little patience will go a very long way and remember your best moments not your worst. Thanks mom and dad for the wisdom and the gift.

This Sun Bear seems to be saying see you again soon. If you haven’t been to the Columbus Zoo after hours on Wednesday you missed a wonderful experience.
Its amazing how active this guy gets after hours, he was a regular Rodney Dangerfield. Cracking jokes and doing people imitations.
You couldn’t get a more wonderful expressions on his face and hand jestures. It was worth the trip to the Zoo.

I get the impression that these two know something we don’t about the weather.
The Columbus Zoo is open late Wednesday nights and it provides photographers a chance to get many photos that can’t be got during the heat of the day. The lighting is incredible and the animals are all quite active.
In this case the dynamic duo share a moment before going back to the tug of war over Beco’s outdoor bathing habits. Beco loves his indoor bath but seems to be a shy boy when it comes to taking the plunge outdoors.

We spent the the morning taking photos at the Columbis Zoo with a new friend from Indiana. He’s a Pediatrician named Joe. I gave him the the VIP tour and we had a great time photographing some different animals than I normally focus on.
We were hoping to capture the Koala Bears in a rowdy mood. As you can tell by my pictures I’m not sure they are ever in a rowdy mood.
I’m experimenting with higher contrast pictures to give the images a more graphic feel. Whenever I photograph an animal for the second time I’m looking for something to make the image stand out. The lighting in this one help create a more natural portrait

Beko the baby elephant keeps getting closer to taking a bath at outside pool at the Columbus Zoo. I’m sure Phoebe will convince her son Beco to take a bath its just a matter of time.
Once Beco gets used to the water I’m sure that he will be hard to get out of the pool. Now its just a matter of time and patience.
My hope it happens when I’m there. This little boy weighing in at over 540 pounds has a mind of his own. His brother took time to get used to the outdoor pool but Momma Phoebe taught Bodi and I’m sure she will guide Beco in when the timings right.

This Lioness may be pregnant. Its to early to tell but she certainly knows how to enjoy a warm summer day.
I’m hoping that she is. Its much easier to get photos at the local Columbus Zoo than to travel 1/2 way around the world.
Not that I mind but I’m not sure if my clients would want me to go before I finish their projects. I can hear my best client telling her boss now, a lion ate my consultant so we won’t have our new product launched on time. ( Not that some consultants shouldn’t be chased by lions for their hubris)
Only time will tell on both fronts. One of my personal goals is to spend less time with clients and more time travelling.

I always enjoying photographing small creatures outside. Its a real challenge to catch up with them and then waiting for the right moment.
This little chipmunk decided I was safe to be around and he enjoyed posing for several wonderful pictures. I called this one Dale for a former college roomate. Dale responded well to the name and it came back around to critique his pictures.
The real trick of this type of photography is focus. I will focus on the animals eyes to make sure they are in focus. I use manual focus or will choose one focus point to make sure I get what I want in focus.
I’ve also discovered that many of these creatures will hang around if longer if get down to eye level with them. However it allows other animals to become more aggressive when your in this position. I’ve run into several of my favorite Candian Geese when I’m on my stomach. I’m sure that when I stood up the goslings were surprised by my new stature.

Baby Beco topping 500 pounds looks like the heat and humidity is giving he and his mother Phoebe a bad hair day. Momma Phoebee wanted to go swimming but Baby Beco is a little hesitant to go into the pond so far. We hope to capture the pair swimming in the near future.

As Baby continues to grow we expect him to get used to playing in the shallow end of the pool until he learns to swim. I’ve offered to go in with the pair but so far no takers on that yet.

Grown Elephants love to go in the water to cool off. This 500 pound baby will get used to the water over time. I’m predicting he’ll love it once he gets used to it. Only time will tell.

I just enjoy watching Ernie Els play golf. He has such a smooth swing and a sparkling personality. Today’s photo focuses on what are the classic elements of a good photo. Composition, action, ball position and selective focus make this a great photo. I followed Ernie for several holes before capturing this shot.

You could hear a roar at the Memorial Tournament today when Tiger walked out on the course. I’ve followed Tiger for several years but every time I see him I’m reminded how intensely competitive he is. Today you could read the concentration on his face as he played today. His face can be be incredibly expressive but not today. He was all business as he played with several of his peers including Jack Nicklaus.
As I shot today I was reminded to focus on the face and great photos follow. I always enjoy photographing the Memorial Tournament because I always meet some of the most interesting people. This year was no exception.
I will share several photos over the next couple of days as the tournament progresses.

I spent time yesterday with some my favorite mates from Australia. In this case several Koala Bears who sleep 22.5 hours a day.
The lesson for me was wait and wait some more. Even when you have a perfect photo opportunity it can become even better if you wait for the Koala to get used to your presence. In this case they relaxed and went back to their daily activities.
The second tip is be aware of your surroundings. My lone Koala Bear was hidden in a tree and must have had several dozen people miss him in the tree.

Bay Elephant Beco and Phoebe thrill fans of all ages at the Columbus Zoo over Memorial Day Weekend. The hightlight of the days watching Momma Phoebe and Baby Beco lounge around the pool. Momma Phoebe had her hands keeping Baby Beco out of the pool after eating. She did a great job doing it but the 450 baby is certainly a trunkful.
My photo tip for the day is know when to say when. Several photographers looked like they could use water as they waited out in the sun for the dynamic duo. Make sure you drink water when you outside all day. The heat can catch up with you very quickly in the warm weather.Be prepared and be safe.

They tell me this Firefox Browser is so easy even I can use it. I wanted to see if it catches my errors before I do or more importantly before you do.

Beco is 8 weeks old today and he’s celebrating by chasing mom around. Beco the Baby Elephant continues to grow and get more energy. Beco can even be seen outside at times in his yard. He weighs 440 pounds and continues to grow.
I spent time today at the zoo with author Joanne L McGonagle. She wrote the children’s book The Tiniest Tiger. It’s a great book and is something you can share with your children or grandchildren. I have several people I will be picking it up for.
I always enjoy spending time with creative people with a passion for what they do. Joanne was fun to be around and we had a great time trying to capture pictures of different animals at the Zoo. I know Joanne got some great pictures today. I’ll be sharing more of mine over the next couple of days.
If you haven’t been to the Zoo lately you’ve missed alot.

As we get closer to the Memorial Golf Tournament I will begin giving tips on how to get the great pictures during the practice rounds. The big question on everyones mind will we see Tiger Woods at this years event.
If anyone knows please let me know I’m in the process of buying tickets and if he’s here I will need to buy additional tickets.
If anyone has any specific questions on shooting the practice rounds please send me you questions at trippbraden@artistslight.com.
I’ll answer your questions here with examples. I will be interviewing a professional sports photographer here as well.

From The Columbus Dispatch online
Baby elephant no longer nameless
Sunday, May 10, 2009 2:50 PM

The baby elephant born March 27 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium now has a name: Beco.

Zoo officials said the name — pronounced BEE-co — received 6,064 votes, almost half of the 12,783 votes cast.

The name was announced this afternoon.

Melanie Celello of Westerville was named the grand-prize winner after her name was drawn out of a hat. She and two others submitted Beco, which is a combination of the names of the baby’s parents, Phoebe and Coco.

Celello wins a one-year zoo membership and other prizes.

More than 11,000 entries were received in the zoo’s naming contest. Four names were chosen for a final vote: Beco, Sattva, Damai and Siddhartha.

The baby is still drawing big crowds during daily viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In case you haven’t been out to see our new baby elephant lately here’s video for you to enjoy. Happy Mother’s Day. Heres link to new video http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/index.html
You may have to scroll down the page to get to it.

I’m experimenting with some new black and white filters. Let me know what you think. When working under mixed lighting indoors sometimes converting images to black and white or sepia images gives the subject a classic feel.

The new baby elephant at the Columbus keeps getting stronger and more excited about getting his new name this Sunday on Mother’s Day. He over 350 pounds and is getting comfortable running around with Mother Phoebe and even spending time on his own before rushing back to mom. If you have a chance come see him at the Columbus Zoo.

Bodhi decided that his little brother shouldn’t have all the fun. Unknown to most visitors at the Zoo Bodhi is part bird dog. He spent much of his morning chasing Canadian Geese for fun this morning. I’ve posted additional images on my imagekind site for those who want to see how close Bodhi got this morning to making Goose Soup.

The Baby Elephant continues to get stronger at the Columbus Zoo. Like many mom’s Phoebe is happy to have the baby out from under her feet even if its for a short time. Make sure you cast your vote for the new babies name at http://www.columbuszoo.com
I’ve voted, have you? The baby name will be announced on Mothers Day. My tip for parents who want to the new baby at the Zoo. Go see the baby during the week. The lines are shorter and you can spend some additional time with many of the other Zoo animals. Big Brother Bodhi was chasing geese around the pool today. It was funny. You have to see it to believe it.

The Columbus Zoo’s Baby Elephant continues to grow stronger. The baby is now 340 pounds and continues to enjoy his time with his mother Phoebe. Today Phoebe is helping her other son Bodhi celebrate his fifth birthday.
The Zoo’s naming contest for the Baby continues on until April 20 when we the names will be narrowed down and final voting will begin.
If you would like to see additional photos I’ve loaded them to http://www.artistslight.com

How would you like to feed this baby? Mama Phoebe had her hands full today but was able to convince the new baby that if he wants to grow up and be strong boy he will need to eat well. Judging by the size of big brother Bodhi and Father Coco I don’t think it will be a problem. If you haven’t entered yet the Zoo has a naming contest going on. Check out the details at Zoo or at their website at http://www.columbuszoo.org

Thank you to all the people who take care of Phoebe and the new baby. It takes a team to take care of all the animals at the zoo. If you have a chance on your next visit thank a few people who make a difference. They certainly make our visits easier and more enjoyable.
Without their good work and efforts we couldn’t spend a day with our favorite animals.

Here’s an opportunit to name the new baby elephant at the Columbus Zoo. There are some great prizes and a good time for all. Additional information can be found at http:www.columbuszoo.org

Proud momma Phoebe shared her new baby with a large group of adoring fans at the Columbus Zoo today. The baby was 303 lbs pounds at birth. Phoebe carried the baby for 655 days. Mom and baby are getting stronger by the day.

We just got back from Columbus Zoo spending the Morning with their newest baby elephant. I can tell you if you have children you will want to go see the new baby. He is adorable. My pictures can’t do him justice. I have several images of him but I think you can see why.

I spent the day yesterday with Bodhi the elephant. We had a great time watching him play and entertain himself and his fellow children. I really enjoy watching the interaction between all the children and Bodhi.
The trick of getting a great image is to wait for them. Sometimes I take picture of the watched and at other times I take pictures of the watchers. The other trick is to treat both subjects with respect and humor. I always talk to all the subjects I photograph. Wildlife is no exception.

I’ve just posted a series of photos featuring the Columbus skyline after dark. They are posted at http://artistslight.imagekind.com/columbusatnight. I will be sharing with you in the next blog posting how you can take pictures like these.

Proud daddy, Coco celebrates the birth of his new son by taking a drink at the watering hole at the Columbus Zoo, this morning. Mother and new baby are doing fine and spending some quality time alone, bonding. Big brother Bodhi couldn’t be reached for comment, but seems to be happy with his new baby brother.

CONTACT:
Patty Peters
Associate Zoo Director Community Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2009

Columbus Zoo Trumpets News of Elephant Birth

POWELL, Oh. – The much anticipated birth of an Asian elephant calf at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium occurred on March 27 at approximately 2:35 p.m. after a 655 day gestation period. The male calf stood within minutes.

Phoebe’s health was monitored throughout her pregnancy including an exercise regimen and regular ultrasounds and blood draws. On Wednesday her progesterone levels dropped significantly indicating the onset of the birthing process. Phoebe and her calf will continue to be observed around the clock for the next few weeks.

To allow Phoebe and her new baby time to form a strong bond, Zoo visitors are currently unable to see them. The Zoo will announce viewing information when it becomes available.

This is 21-year-old Phoebe’s third offspring and her second with sire Coco, 38 years of age. Phoebe and Coco made Columbus Zoo history on April 16, 2004 with the arrival of Bodhi (BO-dee), the Zoo’s first successful elephant birth. Thirty-five-year-old Connie completes the Columbus Zoo elephant herd.

The pairing of Phoebe and Coco was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants. The AZA, of which the Columbus Zoo is an accredited member, strives to maintain a sustainable population of the endangered elephants in North America. In the past five years only nine Asian elephants have been born in six AZA zoos including the new calf at the Columbus Zoo.

“I commend the dedicated staff and volunteers who love and care for these animals every day, and who have devoted their time and expertise to make this joyful event possible” said Jeff Swanagan, the Columbus Zoo’s Executive Director. “We look forward to watching him grow and since baby elephants develop fast — Bodhi gained 2 ½ pounds a day – people will want to visit him often.

An endangered species, Asian elephants are represented by an estimated 38,000 to 51,000 individuals living in fragmented populations in the wild. Agriculture, deforestation and conflict with humans pose a constant threat to wild Asian elephants.

The Columbus Zoo is committed to Elephant Conservation with a 20-year history of supporting wildlife conservation through a Conservation Grants program. Over the past five years, the Zoo has provided $3.8 million of privately raised revenue in support for field projects and conservation organizations in more than 40 countries. Several elephant projects in Africa and Asia have received support and recent examples include:

The Elephant Research Project (ERP), Botswana – Dr. Kate Evans
Satellite-tracking and social behavior of the Bornean elephant in Kinabatangan, Malaysia – Dr. Benoit Goossens
Getting Along with Elephants, South Asia- Sally Walker (Zoo Outreach Organization)
School awareness program for elephants, Sri Lanka
Survey of forest elephant populations, Democratic Republic of Congo
Study of forest elephants in Central Africa – Dr. Stephen Blake; Dr. Fiona Maisels
Tarangire Elephant Project, Tanzania – Dr. Charles Foley
Since 1990, the Zoo has hosted a Conservation Lecture Series. Speakers include award-winning authors and internationally recognized scientists and conservationists. The lecture series is an important opportunity for the Zoo to offer public education programs addressing timely conservation issues around the globe. Visitors to the Zoo also enjoy learning about elephant conservation and contribute directly to field projects at the Zoo’s Elephant Conservation Station inside the Pachyderm building.

“We have the opportunity every day to inspire people to care about wildlife and take an active role in conservation. An encounter with a living being, especially one as magnificent as an elephant, offers a vital link to conservation” stated Swanagan.

Updates on Phoebe and her calf can be found on the Zoo’s web site www.columbuszoo.org, Facebook, and you can follow us on Twitter.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children ages 2 to 9 and seniors 60+. Children under 2 and Columbus Zoo members are free. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA.) For more information, visit www.columbuszoo.org.

My photo tip for today revolves around how to use depth of field to remove the bars from your zoo pictures. The photo you see here has not been processed in Photoshop.
The steps I use to throw the bars out of focus in many of my zoo pictures include:
1. Find the best position. Try to find a position where you shoot through only one set of bars. Most zoos have a number of places from which you can photograph animals. Find the one that has the least visual obstructions. You may need to walk around the enclosure to find these locations.
2. Use the longest lens length that you can handhold easily. Find a comfortable pose that allows you to focus on the animal’s eyes. Most cameras let you to choose the point where you focus the camera.
3. Watch the animal to see what habits he displays. Most animals have a routine. To get a great photograph, be patient and observant until you get the shot you want.
4. Shoot a lot to get the picture. With digital cameras, you don’t pay for bad shoots. Shoot until you make sure you have something you want.

Happy St. Patricks Day! I had an oppportunity this weekend to photograph my hometown’s big event. We had several thousand people watch the parade. I’m certain some of them didn’t end up in front of me.
To capture the different aspects of the parade, I packed light carrying only one flash for fill and one lens. It allowed me to move quickly and focus on the colors and emotions of the event.
I cranked my exposure up by one third to allow for better saturation while still retaining highlights in all the colorful outfits.
I shot in Raw to make sure I could experiment with color temperature. This allowed me to more closely match the colors.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
I’ve posted the weekends photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/trippbraden/

Many of my friends have asked how I create the images I do and I’ve decided to share on my blog how we create many of the images you see on the Artist’s Light Website. As you know we believe every picture tells a story and we will share the stories with you in our blog on a weekly basis. We are in the process of determining the best way to produce a blog that would create value to our clients and fellow artists. I meet with many photographers throughout the year and will strive to create significant value through these interactions for your our blog reader. Some of the photographers I have met with and taken classes with include such well known photographers as Franz Lanting, John Shaw, Bruce Dale and Bob Krist. When I’m in the field I also meet many of professional photojournalists and wedding photographers. I will share what I learn from them here in a weekly article. I’m going to see Rick Sammon tommorow night and will have an article for next week.

I’m working on a book project that I will be sharing with you as soon as I get a go ahead from one of my sponsors. I think you will find it interesting and helpful for advancing your own career. I’d look for the details over the next several weeks.

I spent this morning with a 5 month old Silver Langur named Ollie at the Columbus Zoo.

Todays photo tip is being prepared and knowing which lens to use to capture the best image available. I’m always asked which lens I used to capture my image. Today I used my oldest lens, a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Using it with my Canon 50D, I was able to capture an exuberant baby Silver Langur Monkey. I chose my lens based on the low level of light in their home coupled with needing a fast shutter speed. Sometimes we are tempted to use the newest lens in our bag just because it is there. I always try to think about what I want to accomplish with my image before I start shooting . In this case, I wanted to create an image I could use to send my friend for a birthday greeting.

Many times simple images have the greatest impact. He’s 50 this year and I wanted something that would crack him up. I’ve attached image I used for his greeting. Let me know what you think!

I’ve just completed this digital painting from my Columbus Zoo visit last week. I’m creating a series of animal portraits to help raise awareness and funds for several animal rescue centers in the region.

Knowing when to take the shoot is as important as how. By learning animals habits you can get better pictures. This tiger spends several hours a day on the rocks typically between 10:00 to 12:00AM. Going there during these times help insure you a better picture. Knowing when animals are going to be fed is another way of capturing their actions and emotions in your photos.

The web site is now completed. Look for many changes over the next 30 days.

Just a quick note. I got my picture in the Columbus Dispatch today. I was out shooting at Hayden Falls and Tom Dodge got a picture of me at work. I’ll share some of the initial photos over the next couple of days.

Welcome to my blog! In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be writing about my travels and adventures. I’ll also share tips and tricks on how to get your best pictures on your own travels. So plan to come back often. There’s always something new!