We wanted to take some time to look at our 5th year of operations for Visual Wilderness and wish you all a very happy holidays. Here are some of the highlights from this past year.
More About Our Contributing Photographers
In spite of their best efforts to portray themselves as super heroes on social media, all our contributing landscape photographers are humans that have lives beyond photography. Some of them more than others. ;) Here are interesting tidbits from our contributors:
Joshua Snow – I built a camper van, spent 220+ nights on the road, was able to travel a few times internationally, and forgot how to take photos in the process.
Christine Hauber – I competed in the National Senior Olympics and I am not even old! A few years ago they dropped the “senior” age to 50. Although I did not win any of my swimming events, I was happy that I did not come in last.
Kate Silvia – I started learning to paint! I never knew I could do this and it’s kinda blowing me away. Just goes to show… try new things… all the time! You never know what you might be capable of!
Artwork by Landscape Photographer Kate Silvia
Pro Landscape Photographer Christine Hauber participating in National Senior Olympics
Landscape photographer’s ultimate transportation by Joshua Snow
Chrissy Donadi – I had a baby in January so this has been the first year of my adult life with absolutely no travel. I remained in the same state for 365 days and have been a stay-at-home parent. After more sleep deprivation than photographing in Iceland during the months of almost 24 hours daylight, my husband and I are considering our first year as parents of a mini human somewhat successful.
Varina Patel – In 2019, I discovered that I had MS… and named it Grover. Bad Grover!! Go away Grover. So I decided to add water colors to keep my fingers active and combat the effects of MS.
How MS effected Varina Patel – Click to Play
Gaurav Mittal – 2019 was very challenging for me health-wise. Facing a very serious cervical spondylosis issue, I have been through multiple surgeries and numerous nerve block procedures. While I did not do anything outside of photography this year, I did learn something new about myself… a steel-like determination to not give up.
Lace Andersen – I became a full time photographer, got laid off, and started photographing people, weddings, and families etc. Outside of photography… I have been avidly going to yoga 4-5 days a week in hopes of touching my toes one day soon. Until then, there will be no yoga selfies.
Jay Patel – This year I decided to stop running and take up long-distance biking. Why? So I can make sure my knees don’t need replacing when I grow up. Which by the way, I don’t plan on doing as soon as I figure out how to stop time.
Bear, the super-sidekick guard dog watching over Chrissy Donadi’d tripod & camera.
Landscape photographer Jay Patel testing out new Shimoda Bag in Iceland
Travel photography from Japan by Ugo Cei
Ugo Cei – This year I started shooting film again with a large format view camera and learned how to develop it at home. I also started studying Japanese and was able to use what I learned during my first trip to Japan. I will keep studying the language in preparation for my upcoming fall colors tour of 2020. Finally, I learned how to dance… no, really!!
Most Popular Blog Posts
Oh yes… and our contributing photographers continued to create some fantastic blog posts. Below are some of the most popular with landscape photographers from all over the world in 2019 (in no particular order).
This was the second full year of a landscape photography streaming service offering for our customers. We have an excellent subscriber retention rate and continue to provide new content throughout the year. In addition, we introduced several new nature photography video tutorials that were available for free for streaming subscribers. Here are is what the customers are saying about our video tutorials:
Padma Inguva is an excellent teacher
I enjoyed this Online Class very much. Padma Inguva is an excellent teacher. Learned so much and inspired to experiment using a light box for photography. I would be interested in any online classes or tutorials
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I enjoyed this Online Class very much. Padma Inguva is an excellent teacher. Learned so much and inspired to experiment using a light box for photography. I would be interested in any online classes or tutorials that Padma teaches.
In Sharp Focus Webinar very good. Sometimes it felt like drinking from a firehouse, but good information.
Kendrick Neubecker
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Jay and Varina’s style of teaching is so amazing
Your and Varina’s style of teaching is so amazing. You bring the workshop to my home in lucid and easy to understand style. I have subscribed to many including PPSOP, Lynda…But your team is the best!
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Your and Varina’s style of teaching is so amazing. You bring the workshop to my home in lucid and easy to understand style. I have subscribed to many including PPSOP, Lynda…But your team is the best! I have recommended The Complete Ultimate Collection to all my friends.
You do a terrific job of explaining things clearly
I just wanted to let you know that I’m working my way through the Ultimate Landscape Photography Course and loving it! You do a terrific job of explaining things clearly, and you have a great onscreen
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I just wanted to let you know that I’m working my way through the Ultimate Landscape Photography Course and loving it! You do a terrific job of explaining things clearly, and you have a great onscreen presence and rapport with each other. Really enjoying it – looks like I’ll have to get Behind the Lens next… And I look forward to more after that!
Thank you Jay and Varina . Another great collection of instructional videos. I watch a lot of videos and you two are really the best in giving useful information.
Richard Duckworth
Florida, USA
I feel like that I, too, can become creative
I am not particularly creative but after watching Kate Silvia‘s online class I feel like that I, too, can become creative. I enjoyed watching how she analyzed the scene to made creative decisions. Well done.
Alicia Hoegh
Broomfield, Colorado
The material is presented in easy-to-digest
I have been using filters for many years and still learned a number of helpful tidbits of information I didn’t already know or hadn’t thought about from the Essential Filters Course. The material is presented in
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I have been using filters for many years and still learned a number of helpful tidbits of information I didn’t already know or hadn’t thought about from the Essential Filters Course. The material is presented in easy-to-digest segments of video that you can sit down and watch all of back-to-back, or if you only have a few minutes you can watch them one at a time. The way the segments are divided makes it easy to go back and find specifics you want to review.
Passionate hobbyists should follow Jay and Varina Patel
Passionate hobbyists interested in learning the technical aspects of photography in a simple and understanding way should follow Jay and Varina Patel.
Jaikumar Menon
Mumbai, India
In Sharp Focus Webinar was informative
In Sharp Focus Webinar was informative and gave me a better understanding and appreciation of some sharpening techniques available in software I use, but that I haven’t utilized before.
Paul
Norman, Oklahoma
Every single case study was excellent
Great course! I am loving the narrower scope but more in-depth approach and both the “in the field” workflow and “the photo I didn’t take” explanations. Every single case study was excellent. (Behind the Lens Course)
In 2019, we expanded our video tutorial offering by becoming a multi-vendor marketplace for nature photographers. We now offer video courses from several contributing photographers on all aspects of landscape photography. Here are some of the most popular video courses from this past year...
Our latest video courses were based on fine-tuning your start-to-finish workflow for some of the most important aspects of photography. These video courses, with a razor-sharp focus on different aspects of landscape and nature photography and are sold in over 70 countries around the world.
Newsletter and Web App Notifications
We have over 46,000 subscribers for our InFocus newsletter and over 18,000 subscribers get educational content via notifications from Visual Wilderness on their mobile and desktop devices. Not surprisingly, both of these free resources have superb engagement and a worldwide audience. Here is what some of the readers have to say...
Easy to read and understand
I have subscribed to several online magazines. Your Nature Photography Newsletter is very easy to read and understand. Because of Chemical poisoning from a career in traditional studio photography, I am finding the
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I have subscribed to several online magazines. Your Nature Photography Newsletter is very easy to read and understand. Because of Chemical poisoning from a career in traditional studio photography, I am finding the articles are helping me regain what I have lost – love of photography again & learning techniques in the digital age of photography. Many thanks for your enthusiasm.
I teach with the U3A (University of the Third age) teaching the older people. Taking them through the transgression from film to digital is a big step. I find your wording is
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I teach with the U3A (University of the Third age) teaching the older people. Taking them through the transgression from film to digital is a big step. I find your wording is great, straight to the point. Thanks for your Infocus Nature Photography Newsletter.
I got involved in photography a few years ago and you know how it is, sometimes you just don’t feel or want to go out and take photos. When I read Visual
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I got involved in photography a few years ago and you know how it is, sometimes you just don’t feel or want to go out and take photos. When I read Visual Wilderness Nature Photography Newsletter like yours it gives me that extra motivation to go out and try something new.
InFocus Newsletter improves my skills as a photographer
InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter helps me to learn about nature photography and improve my knowledge and thereby improve my skills as a photographer.
Wayne
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Simple, easy to read and follow articles
InFocus Newsletter provides simple, easy to read and follow articles that both beginner and Intermediate advanced photographers can benefit from.
Sajjad
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
I love the relaxed way you tell your stories
I love the relaxed way you tell your stories in InFocus Newsletter, and your wonderful pictures.
Gert
Denmark
One of the best photography magazines out there
InFocus Newsletter is one of the best photography magazines out there. I really get a lot out of it and enjoy reading from beginning to end.
Mary
Broke, NSW. Australia
Concise, well delivered and meaningful information
InFocus Newsletter is the best source on the web for concise, well delivered and meaningful information on landscape and nature photography. The blog has an amazing wealth of information photographers can use
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InFocus Newsletter is the best source on the web for concise, well delivered and meaningful information on landscape and nature photography. The blog has an amazing wealth of information photographers can use at no cost and the ebooks are a tremendous value; the best I have been able to find. If you are looking for a place to find what you need to become a stronger photographer, InFocus Newsletter is the place. Very well done Varina and Jay.
My landscape photos have improved greatly from the help from InFocus Newsletter from Visual Wilderness.
Earl
Montgomery, Alabama
I am really enjoying them
I have only recently started reading your InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter and looking at your Youtube Videos and I am really enjoying them and find them very helpful. Many Thanks!
Margaret
Ireland
What is Coming in 2020?
Throughout this coming year, we plan to create more in-depth video courses on several aspects of landscape photography. In addition, producing more on-location video courses that feature workshop-style lessons is also part of our 2020 plan.
I could startoff like this – “Seeds of Jay Patel’s appreciation for beautiful places were planted early in his childhood….” but it would get boring really fast. I will just sum it up and say that I am a Landscape and Wilderness Photographer who loves to capture dramatic light. My photographs have been published in various magazines, calendars and advertising materials throughout the world. Patience is a virtue...unless you are chasing your dreams
Wonderful that you have put this personal touch out there. May your holidays be all you want them to be and may the new year bring healing for those in need and continued enthusiasm for all the great work you do.
keith fey says:
May all of you at Visual Wilderness continue capturing the light of our wonderful World for all of us to see and dream about. May you share your knowledge with an ever widening enthralled community of like minded photographers. May you inspire the next generation to carry photography’s colors, may you return everything you have in your power to do so… to the pool of life … these wide open spaces which become rare because of their beauty and wildness…. and may you.. one and all have a very special blessed Christmas and prosperous new year… Thank you for the year gone by… too fast.. Kind regards.. Keith Fey.
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Wonderful that you have put this personal touch out there. May your holidays be all you want them to be and may the new year bring healing for those in need and continued enthusiasm for all the great work you do.
May all of you at Visual Wilderness continue capturing the light of our wonderful World for all of us to see and dream about. May you share your knowledge with an ever widening enthralled community of like minded photographers. May you inspire the next generation to carry photography’s colors, may you return everything you have in your power to do so… to the pool of life … these wide open spaces which become rare because of their beauty and wildness…. and may you.. one and all have a very special blessed Christmas and prosperous new year… Thank you for the year gone by… too fast.. Kind regards.. Keith Fey.