The top national parks in Alaska

Considered by many outdoor enthusiasts as America’s last frontier (and nicknamed as such), Alaska is famous for its vast wilderness, stunning vistas, and variety of flora and fauna. Here are some of the must-visit national parks in the largest U.S. state. 

Image source: expeditionsalaska.com

Gates of the Arctic For the most authentic sense of wilderness, the wild rivers and glacier-carved valleys of this national park are a must-see, especially since the park itself has no road access. The pair of mountains surrounding the park are said to resemble its gates. The Gates of the Arctic is a sanctuary for many animals, including more than 145 species of birds. 

Wrangell-St Elias This is Alaska’s largest national park, located at Mount St. Elias which stands at over 18,000 feet tall and offering breathtaking views of over 13.2 million acres of land. This humongous park is larger than Switzerland and features a wide range of peaks and glaciers to marvel at. 

Glacier Bay Glacier Bay gets the most number of visitors of any national park in Alaska for its over three million acres of mountains, glaciers, a rainforest, and wild coastlines. It is one of the world’s largest international protected areas. 

Katmai Katmai is a protected reserve for bears and is a declared historical monument. It is also home to an active volcano, which at one point was recorded as having the largest volcanic eruption in Alaska’s recorded history. 

Image source: rootsrated.com

Hi there, my name is Allen R. Hartman, a retired professional photographer who loves the great outdoors. I’m mostly drawn to the unspoiled beauty of the U.S.’s national parks. More travel and photography reads here.

The Nba’s Best Post-Jordan

For a better part of the 1990s, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme in the NBA. Though there were teams like the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs winning championships, they did so because Michael Jordan wasn’t around. MJ is widely considered to be the G.O.A.T of basketball, and his retirement left everyone wondering who would take over. There were a few though who rose to the challenge to assume the mantle of the NBA’s best. Here they are.

Image source: theodysseyonline.com

Kobe Bryant: No other player has been compared more to Jordan than Kobe. They both had the same set of moves and the same assassin’s heart it took to lead. Kobe was obsessed with basketball, and because of it won five NBA titles in his career.

Tim Duncan: Another five-time NBA champion, Tim Duncan led the Spurs in almost all statistical categories. He was a master at the post and is considered by many basketball experts as the greatest power forward to ever play the game.

Image source: slamonline.com

Lebron James: As polarizing as he was, Lebron was truly a physical phenomenon. He was big, strong, and fast. He could dribble like a point guard and grind it inside like a power forward. He could finish fast breaks at will. Lebron has set numerous records in his career and is still going strong at it.

Allen R. Hartman used to cover sporting events as a journalist for most of his career. As a retiree, he now maintains a sports blog. For more interesting stories, check out this page.

Take Care Of Your Camera Like a Pro

For professional photographers, the camera is sacred. Observe them, and you’ll see just how much care goes into maintaining cameras. For newbies to the hobby, it’s easy to overlook camera maintenance because of excitement. Here are a few pro tips when taking care of your camera.

Image source: digitaltrends.com

Always keep the camera in a bag when it’s not being used.

This tip sounds so basic, you might think it’s for beginners – and you may be right. Newbies have a nasty habit of leaving the camera lying around whenever it’s not being used. This exposes the camera to the elements and damage. When done with a shoot, always put it in its bag.

Clean the camera regularly and correctly.

Pro photographers know the value of regularly cleaning the camera, even and especially when it’s not being used. Always use the right tools when cleaning as well, such as special fabric that doesn't scratch the lenses. Don’t experiment when cleaning.

Image source: dpreview.com

Bring the camera to a specialist if you don’t know how to clean.

Some photographers think they know it all. This is a huge mistake when they decide to take the camera apart for more in-depth cleaning. If you haven’t done it before, bring your camera to someone who has. Have them teach you. Pay them if you have to. This is one part you cannot afford to get wrong.

Hi, my name’s Allen R. Hartman. I’m a retired photographer from Brooklyn, New York. Check out my page to know more about the stuff I love.

Three common travel photography mistakes to avoid

You don’t have to be a professional travel photographer to take stunning photos. But it does take skill, and sometimes a lot of beginner photographers make rookie mistakes, and end up disappointed with their shots. Fortunately, there’s a way to avoid these mistakes. 

Image source: anewtraveller.com

Here are three common travel photography mistakes you should avoid. 

1. Not knowing your setting Say you want to take a photo of the iconic Giza Tower, only there’s a crowd blocking the scene. If there’s a place you want to photograph, knowing about the location ahead of time, when it has a lot of traffic, and when it’s accessible is a must. 

2. Strictly shooting from eye-level If you want your photos to stand out among the thousands of pictures taken from the Eiffel Tower, for example, look from different angles to shoot from. Only shooting from eye-level makes your photos generic. 

3. Carrying too much gear When you travel, travel as light as possible, you only want some beautiful shots of your travels. You don’t want to tag around twenty pounds of gear to get them. While it’s tempting to bring all your gear, one or two lenses should meet most of your needs. 

Image source: tombihn.com

Hi, I’m Allen R. Hartman. I’m a retired photographer specializing in landscape and wildlife subjects. Visit my blog to get more tips and tricks about photography.

Why Wildlife Photography Matters

Photography not only immortalizes and enlivens beautiful sights, it also plays a significant role in conserving nature and wildlife. Nature photos make exotic wildlife and scenery accessible to people around the world, particularly to those who are yet to see an actual great white shark or elephant in their lifetime.

Photographers, themselves the experts and sources of magnificent nature depictions, emphasize the indispensable role of wildlife photography. Renowned photographer Paul Friesen shares: “With certain species facing extinction, conservation and awareness are more important than ever, and some of our talented wildlife photographers are contributing to those efforts by documenting animals in their natural environments.”

Image source: Pixabay.com

In a post-truth era when so-called “alternative facts” have come to the fore, wildlife photography also takes on a different meaning. “We go back to the pictures. So as long as we’re in this cycle of lies, the pictures can actually stand up again and do some more work,” veteran wildlife photographer Nick Nichols tells TIME.

In a general sense, photography matters because of numerous reasons. Photographs show what is important to us – recorded memories that preserve the desire to keep precious moments in image form. They are part of our collective legacy, acting as small pieces of a jigsaw completing the larger picture of our lives.

Image source: Pixabay.com 

Photographs also allow sharing and communication, speaking to the human desire to share what’s beautiful and interesting. In addition, they bring out the artists in us, as well as our propensity to create something and derive fulfillment from it. Finally, the complex language of photography makes up for our poor vocabulary for pain, beauty, happiness, and difficulties.

Allen R. Hartman is a retired professional photographer who specializes in wildlife and landscape photography. Learn more about photography on this page.

Three Nature Photographers To Follow On Instagram

Instagram has been an effective platform for photographers to share their photos to the world. It’s also a great place to get inspired if you’re just starting out in the field of photography. If you’re a budding nature photographer, Instagram has no shortage of professional nature photographers for you to follow. Here are three of them:

Image source : theinertia.com

Foster Huntington (@fosterhunting)

Foster is an Instagrammer, blogger, surfer, and camper. He started traveling the West Coast documenting his endeavors. His shots include everything from modifying his ride to building a treehouse and all the good things he sees on his trip out west.

Chris Burkard (@chrisburkard)

Chris’s passion for nature photography is evident in every crystal-clear image he takes. Whether you’re looking for your next trip or just looking for an inspiration and a break from your day-to-day hustles, scrolling through Chris’s feed is a like mini-vacation in itself.

Image source : skyscnr.com

Ryan Abernathy (@ryan.abernathy)

His witty writing skills only enhance his nature photos. He offers bits of wisdom and inspiration with every image he posts. He also likes to poke fun at some of the gimmicks that many people use to attract more Instagram followers.

Hi there, Allen R. Hartman here. I’m a retired professional photographer, and I’m now spending my free time taking nature shots. Visit my page to see more.

Three Hdr Tips For Great Landscape Photos

If you’re into landscape photography, you’ve probably heard about, or at least experimented with, high dynamic range photography. HDR has been improved quite a lot in recent years that’s why it’s been the go-to technique for amateurs and professionals alike when it comes to landscape photography.

Here are 3 tips for you to get amazing landscape photos using HDR.

Image source: deviantart.net

1. Use a tripod

Because HDR uses 3 photos taken at different exposures and then combine their best qualities to produce a better-looking photo, it’s best done using a tripod to prevent any movement while taking the shot.

2. Know when not to use HDR.

Especially in smartphone cameras, it’s really tempting to enable HDR all the time whenever taking pictures. Though HDR, when used correctly, makes for an amazing photo, it’s not the best every time. If the scene where the lighting is fairly even from shadows to highlights, you don’t need to do HDR.

Image source : photoble.com

3. When to use HDR 

HDR is perfect during sunrise or sunset, especially when you’re photographing against the sun. Use it to photograph architecture or man-made objects. If you want to bring out details in craftsmanship, use HDR.

Hi there, I’m Allan A. Hartman. I’m a retired photographer, but the passion hasn’t left me. I like taking photos of national parks. Add me on LinkedIn to see more.