Welcome to William Plunkett's Photo Journals
These journal entries will keep you updated on current projects, workshops and upcoming trips. I will also use this space to share thoughts on photography in general and on landscape, wildlife and travel photography in particular.
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All future Journal entires will be posted to my blog at http://www.williamplunkettphotography.blogspot.com/
October 2009
I spent a wonderful day with William Neill in one of his one-on-one workshops. These are one day, one participant sessions that can be guided by the participant. I wanted to discuss vision with William and we spent the day looking at my portfolio and a selection of his images. It was an incredible day and well worth the effort and expense to do it. I highly recommend these to anyone wishing to enhance their photography. Contact William at www.williamneill.com.
July 2009
At the July board meeting of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA), I was asked to be the President Elect of the association beginning in 2010. This means I will be the President during the 2011 association year. It is an unbelievable, not to mention humbling, honor to be asked to serve in this capacity.
May 2009
Sarah and I had our first opportunity to visit Iceland and it was wonderful. We made the trip with Ron Rosenstock and Strabo Tours. I expected to see waterfalls but I was awed but the size and sheer number of falls. Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice because of the combination of glaciers and volcanoes. Watch for images to come from this trip.
February 2009
I began serving on the Board of Directors of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) at the end of the Annual Summit. Unfortunately, I was in Africa during the Summit and had to miss one of the very few summits ever. It is a tremendous honor to be elected to this position.
Had a wonderful photo trip to East Africa. Sarah and I revisited many of our favorite places such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda. But we also visited Ethiopia for the first time. We photographed Gelada (a primate very similar to a baboon) and the scenery in the Simian Highlands. In the Bale Mountains we photographed the African (Ethiopian) Wolf, which actually looks more like a fox but is the only wolf in Africa. Once in the Omo River Valley we had to camp along the river bank where we were blasted by a sudden sand storm one night which filled our tent and everything in it with sand. Despite the less than optimum conditions, we were able to photography many of the native Ethiopian tribes.
July, 29, 2008
In this entry I would like to highlight some of the businesses and organizations that I think very highly of and trade with on a regular basis. Rather than just provide a link to their web sites, I want to explain a little about them.
First is Allen's Camera & Video located in Levittown, Pennsyvania. Owned and operated by Allen Leichter, this store front operation provides the best customer service and prices available to photographers. I have purchased virtually all of my equipment from Allen for the last 10 years or so and highly recommend his services. He has competive pricing AND personal service which you will never get a the big eStores like B&H. Give Allen a call at 215-547-2841 and be sure to tell him where you heard about him.
As good friends and long time traveling companions, Joe and Mary Ann McDonald provide some of the best tours and workshops available. I have been traveling with them to some of the most incredible photographic locations in the world for over 15 years (including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Chile, The Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula). They also do many domestic trips to National Parks plus a wonderful Hummingbird workshop in Arizona. For a complete listing of all of their trips and workshops, contact them at 717-543-6423 or McDonald Wildlife Photography
A new member of my favorites list includes Gulliver's Travel Service located in Fort Worth, Texas. Susie and Harvey Boysen and their staff of professional travel agents provide not only the normal ticketing and booking services you would expect from a full service travel agency, but they also put together special group trips. Sarah and I have already traveled to China and the Balkans with them. They treat their clients the way I like to be treated - like personal friends, not just customers.
The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) has represented nature photographers, editors, and photo-researchers for the last 15 years. NANPA's mission is "to promote the art and science of nature photography as a medium of communication for nature appreciation and environmental protection". I am a charter member and have been to all but 2 of the annual conferences. NANPA is open to both amatuer and professional photographers and is a great value to it's members. Beginning January 2009, I will be honored to serve on the Board of Directors of NANPA.
Check back to my Photo Journals page as I will be adding new information on a regular basis. There will be equipment and book reviews plus photography tips in future posts.