Nature Photo Exhibition in Vancouver

I am happy to announce that my artwork will be exhibited at the Centre culturel francophone in Vancouver, from 21 January to 4 March 2021. This is a great opportunity to see my photographs in big format and get a better appreciation of my work as a nature and wildlife photographer. During your visit, you will see intimate portraits of fauna and flora, and wild landscapes of the West Coast. Details here.

The ban on events in British Columbia has been extended until 5 February at midnight, which means I won’t be giving workshops for the moment. In the meantime, if you are looking for inspiration and photo tips, I invite you to order a signed copy of my book Vancouver Island Wildlife, a Photo Journey.

Once workshops resume, only local residents will be able to sign up since non-essential travel is not recommended at this time in British Columbia.

Follow me on Twitter for the latest news, images and photo tips!

Wishing you all the best in 2021!

Roosevelt elk on Vancouver Island

One of my best qualities is stubbornness but I prefer to call it determination. Last autumn, I was determined to photograph the Roosevelt elk in its natural habitat. As a wildlife photographer, I had envisioned some compositions, light conditions, behaviours, etc. In order to achieve my goal, I gathered information from different sources, tracked several herds all over the island, stepped in piles of dropping, snow-shooed in mountains and bush-walked with mosquitoes, but I kept on going because dreams do come true when you put the effort.

Earlier this month, I found a herd of cows with calves in a field. Calves were feeding from their mothers. The light and the scenery were perfect. These are my first images, I intend to get more this summer for my upcoming photo book.

While wildlife photography is very rewarding (sometimes), I respect animals and their environment: I use a telephoto lens, I don’t harass animals and I don’t overstay. The last thing I want is to stress them, prevent them from feeding or losing precious energy while fleeing from a pesky photographer. I apply this rule to all animals and I hope you do too.

Remember that you can support my small business during these challenging times by getting gift cards, ordering prints online or signing up for a workshop if you live in British Columbia.

Update on Nature Photo Workshops

Great news! My photo workshops are now open to anyone living in British Columbia.

The day prior to the start of the workshop, you will be asked whether you have symptoms of COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and have travelled outside British Columbia in the last 14 days. During the workshop, participants and the instructor will be required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering (please bring your own mask). Contact me if you would prefer to schedule a photo workshop with members of your circle only.

It’s time to get out of the house, enjoy nature on beautiful Vancouver Island and refine your photo skills!

Catherine

Update on workshops during COVID-19

I have some good news: Photo workshops will resume on 19 May 2020 for local participants only.

Provincial and Federal Health Authorities do not recommend non-essential travel at this time. When we get to Phase 3, from June to September, people could begin travelling throughout the Province of British Columbia if transmission rates remain low or in decline. At that time, people living in British Columbia will be able to participate to my workshops. At the moment, workshops will be given to people living in the Comox Valley region only.

When booking, you will be asked whether you have symptoms* of COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and have travelled outside Vancouver Island in the last 14 days. If you answer yes to any to these questions, we will reschedule the workshop. During the workshop, both the student and the instructor will maintain physical distancing of 2 metres and both will be required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering (please bring your own mask.) My workshops are always given in the outdoors, which is less risky than in a classroom and more fun anyway!

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Stay safe!

*Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and painful swallowing

Gift Cards

Not sure which print to get for that special person? Get a gift card and send it in a card or by email! The gift card can be used for prints or nature photo workshops with Catherine. It never expires. The gift card recipient can enter a unique code at checkout to subtract the gift card value from their order total.

Make someone happy today!

Photo workshops during COVID-19 pandemic

While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect us all worldwide, federal and provincial authorities have implemented preventive measures such as social-distancing and putting travel plans on hold. Small towns on Vancouver Island, like Tofino and Ucluelet, are asking visitors to postpone their visit.

As a photographer who gives workshops in person, I keep a close eye on the situation because my priority is to keep my workshops’ participants safe. At this time, I have postponed all workshops for April. Workshops scheduled after April are still on. I will reevaluate the situation over time and follow recommendations from national and provincial authorities. Workshops will be rescheduled as necessary and I will keep participants informed. For any workshops, I always recommend travel insurance with a trip cancellation clause.

This situation has quite an impact on my small business and I thank you in advance for your understanding and support during these uncertain times. We’ll get through this together. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Stay safe!

WHO
Public Health Canada

Photo Technique: How to reduce noise in an image?

There are a few actions you can take:

• Expose to the right by either opening up the lens aperture or by using a slower shutter speed. An underexposed image later brightened on a computer will result in a lot of noise and other artefacts.

• Determine your camera’s high ISO capability by conducting a simple test. Place your camera on a tripod and take the same photograph of a subject with dark areas, at various ISO starting at 100 all the way up by increment of full stops. Verify the progression in the amount of noise by enlarging each image on your computer screen.
  

Photo Technique: Depth of Field

A narrow depth of field isolates the subject. It makes it stand out against a blurred background because the viewer’s eye is naturally attracted by a sharp subject. A wide depth of field put the subject into context. The entire picture is sharp so the viewer tends to look at the subject in relation to its surroundings.

Narrow depth of field

Wide depth of field

Narrow depth of field

Wide depth of field

Photo Technique: How to use the White Balance?

The colour temperature is measured in Kelvin degrees (k):
- Daylight: 5200 k
- Shadow: 7000 k
- Cloudy, sunrise and sunset: 6000 k
- White light or fluorescent: 4000 k
- Candlelight: 2000 k
Depending on the source of light illuminating the scene, adjust the white balance on your camera by choosing either the preset for Kelvin degrees or the symbol for Cloudy, Sunny, Fluorescent light, etc.

Cold Colour Temperature

Warm Colour Temperature

Photo Technique: Expose to the right

We expose to the right with a digital camera because of the way digital image sensors record information: they record more detailed information in bright areas than in dark areas, which means you see fine details and smooth ranges of tone and colour in bright areas and can see noise in dark areas.
In order to maximize the amount of recorded information, brighten your exposure without blowing out the highlight details. Exposing to the right means the histogram display is pushed to the right, in the brighter values.
This fine-tuning is key to achieve the best image quality.

The Basics of Photography

Composition, exposure, shutter speed, ISO, aperture, opening up, spotlighting, centre-weighted meter: you might be familiar with some of these terms but it’s not always obvious how to adjust your camera accordingly. I offer half-day and multi-days workshops to help you understand and practice the fundamentals of photography. Once you master the basics, you’ll be able to take manual control of your camera and get better results.

All my workshops are given in the field for a hands-on experience. Get in touch so we can arrange for a workshop.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve located near Tofino is a popular destination for nature photographers, that’s why I prefer to go there later in the year because it’s less crowded and there is also a possibility of viewing winter storms. Although the weather was calm last week, waves from the Pacific were rolling up the shore in a beautiful display of green and blue tones. I saw a big group of Steller sea lions basking in the morning sun on a small island visible from the beach. I hiked a lot of deserted trails during my stay, which allowed me to immerse myself in my work without being distracted.

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is one of my favourite places on Vancouver Island for its natural beauty and unique character. If you’re ready to explore this incredible place, get in touch with me so we can arrange for a workshop.

Upcoming workshops

Happy Holidays And All The Best For 2020!

It has been a very busy year for Catherine Babault Photography and I am looking forward to an even busier year in 2020! I am working on a book project about Vancouver Island and currently getting more landscape and wildlife images. Still chasing the elusive elk…

In 2020, I will be giving many workshops in Tofino and on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Tofino is very popular with nature photographers and offers great opportunities to improve your skills in the field. If you’re looking for a less touristic destination but still very inspiring, consider signing up for a workshop in the greater region of the Comox Valley, on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. As a local, I know the best places and times to photograph nature and wildlife in that area.

There is still time to order a fine art print for the nature lover in your family, for the holidays. This year, I have added over a thousand images in my archives so you have a big selection. Simply note the photograph’s reference number and contact me with your order.

You can also get a gift certificate for a print or a private workshop.

I wish you all the Best Holidays season and a very Happy New Year!

How to take better images

No matter our level in photography, we all strive to become better at it. Once we get an amazing shot and recognition from our peers, we feel the pressure to surpass that image or, at least, maintain the same level of quality in our work. Here are a few basics to remember:

Find your subject

Ask yourself what makes you pick up your camera in the first place, what you’re interested in: puppies, bears, birds, people, derelict places…

Do your research

Find out more about your subject’s behaviour, the best times and places to photograph them. Study maps, wildlife life cycles, animal tracks and droppings, almanach, tides tables, local news… Explore your area on foot and note your observations. Determine the most favourable type of weather based on the intended mood of the image. Visualize your shot. Evaluate travel time to location and preparation time in the field. Keep all your notes in a notepad.

Know your camera

Make the most of your camera. No matter the (limited or extensive) range of settings, you have to know their function, location on the menu and how to quickly adjust them. Read the manual. That’s right, read the entire camera manual. The more you know about your camera, the most you’ll get out of it.

In the field

With all that knowledge in hands, you get to location, find your subject, frame it and press the shutter button. Next, check the strength of your composition, the sharpness of your image and verify the exposure on the histogram. It’s important to take your time in the field because mistakes cannot be fixed at home, even with the best photo editing program. An out-of-focus image is an out-of-focus image. A badly composed image will remain a badly composed image - forever.

Back at home

Once you display your images on a bigger screen, study them closely and judge their quality. What worked, what didn’t? Why? What can be improved? How? Find resources that can help you improve your techniques or artistic vision. The best way to progress is to learn from your mistakes and practice a lot. The more you practice, the better you’ll become, just like an athlete.

Be unique!

Get inspiration from your favourite photographers but avoid copying their style. Find your own voice. It’s okay to be different and not follow the latest trend. Your images will be more meaningful if they reflect your own vision and sensibility towards the subject.

Upcoming workshops

Triangle of exposure

Three elements constitute the triangle of exposure: aperture, shutter speed and ISO:

• Aperture (f/N): light passing through the lens

• Shutter speed: how long the shutter stays open

• ISO: image sensor’s sensitivity to light

A small aperture (i.e. f/16) gives a deep depth of field and is usually used for landscape.

A fast shutter speed (i.e. 1/1000 sec) is used to freeze motion, like birds in flight or action shots. It also gives a shallow depth of field.

A slow shutter speed (i.e. 1/4 sec) is great for motion blur like milky water effect or rain streaks. Slow shutter speed is also used for night photography or poorly lit areas. In any case, a tripod is highly recommended for long exposures.

Before you adjust the aperture, shutter speed and ISO on your camera, you need to ask yourself: What effect do I wish to create? What is the mood of my image? What am I trying to tell?

Use the light meter in your camera to help you get the proper exposure. Light is measured in Exposure Value (EV) and typically displays in cameras from - 3 EV to + 3 EV

-3 _____ -2 _____ -1 _____ ∆ _____ 1 _____ 2 _____ 3

under exposed correct expo. over exposed

Once you’ve taken your shot, check the histogram and readjust your exposure if necessary.

Time to practice. Let me know how it goes!

f/13, ISO 200, 1/25 sec

f/5.6, ISO 800, 1/500 s

f/11, ISO 100, 1 sec

f/5.6, ISO 800, 1/800 s

f/9, ISO 800, 1/30 s

Composition

Composition can be daunting. The good news is you can learn about it and get better with time and practice!

When I’m in the field, I always look for interesting shapes, patterns, lines and texture. Once I find a potential subject, I evaluate the intensity of the light, its direction and the need to use filters or not. I identify distracting elements, determine my focal point and move around to find my composition. I establish the depth of field, what should be in focus and which lens to use. Then I set up my tripod, which is essential in order to get sharp images. After taking my shot, I check the histogram and the clarity of my image on the back screen. From there I can adjust my composition accordingly. I find that seeing my image on the small screen tells me right away if the composition is good or not.

I believe that a poor image cannot be fixed with a software so I prefer to take the time to compose my images while I am in the field. I also prefer to spend my time outside rather than in front of my computer!

If you’re ready to learn how to get better images, sign up for an upcoming workshop or ask for a private workshop.

Get off Auto, create your best images this summer!

Just added 3 workshops in English and 3 in French, all in the Comox Valley, and on Saturdays afternoon.

• Learn how to use your camera on manual mode

• Learn about exposure, depth of field, focus, and key elements of composition

• Use technical and creative elements together to improve your images

• Get more confident with your camera and your skills

• Get more one-on-one time by being part of a small group of 5 participants

• Take your newly acquired knowledge to your next trip

Book now!

Graduated ND filters

Graduated neutral density filters, or graduated ND filters, are used by photographers to control very bright areas of a scene. A graduated filter is made of glass which is half dark and half clear with a soft or hard edge between the two parts. Graduated ND filters come in different density, typically from one to 10 f-stops.

Fix or hand-held the filter in front of your lens. Place the darker area over the part you wish to darken (i.e. bright sky). The clear part of the filter will keep its normal brightness. You’ll notice that once you have placed the filter in front of your lens, you’ll need to re-adjust the exposure. You can use a graduated filter to emphasize an area of your image by darkening a less important area, knowing that the viewer’s eyes are naturally attracted by lighter areas in a photograph.

Note: The transition between the dark and clear parts of a filter can create an unnatural line in your image so use the proper density filter.

Olympic Peninsula, WA, USA

24-70 mm, ISO 100 f11 1/6 s

Olympic Peninsula, WA, USA

24-70 mm, ISO 100 f11 1/2 s

8 New Nature Photography Workshops on Vancouver Island

Spring has sprung and things are moving for Catherine Babault Photography!

An article about Catherine Babault Photography was published in the March edition of the magazine L’Entr’aînés, a monthly publication of l’Assemblée Francophone des retraités et des aînés de la Colombie-Britannique. You can read it here.

In April I had an interview on Radio Victoria to talk about my workshops and my passion for photography. Listen here.

Vancouver Island Nature Photography Workshops

Eight multi-day workshops have just been added for this summer: 4 in English and 4 in French. They will be given in the greater region of the Comox Valley, in a radius of 60 km. We will cover the art of composition, use of light, creativity and workflow. I will take participants to some of my favourite spots to photograph nature and wildlife. This should be fun!

Check for upcoming workshops and new fine art prints or follow me on Twitter for the latest news!

Herring Spawn on the coast of Vancouver Island

After weeks of anticipation, the Pacific herring has spawned in shallow waters along the coastline of the Salish sea. Birds, mammals and humans have been competing for it since the controversial fishery opened last week.

I witnessed wildlife feeding, and even fighting, for the little silver fish. They could do with some good fish to fatten them up before their offspring are born in the coming weeks. They will certainly need a lot of energy at that time. I also saw a courageous mink running back and forth to get herrings from the shoreline, while keeping an eye on eagles perched on tall trees. It was going so fast, I had a hard time to keep track of it with my big lens. The light was great for photography as the sky was overcast and it was very early in the morning.

Enjoy these few images and if you wish to see more, go to my portfolio or in my stock images.