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Nature Photography by Jay & Varina Patel

Happy Holidays from Visual Wilderness

December 22, 2019/in Blog/by Jay Patel

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

    Artwork by Landscape Photographer Kate Silvia

  • Pro Landscape Photographer Christine Hauber

    Pro Landscape Photographer Christine Hauber participating in National Senior Olympics

  • Landscape photographer's ultimate transportation by Joshua Snow

    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.
Watercolor by Varina Patel

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.

    Bear, the super-sidekick guard dog watching over Chrissy Donadi’d tripod & camera.

  • Landscape photographer Jay Patel testing out new Shimoda Bag design in Iceland

    Landscape photographer Jay Patel testing out new Shimoda Bag in Iceland

  • Travel photography from Japan by Ugo Cei

    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).

Cover for Nature Photography article on shutter speed by Varina Patel.
April 16, 2021/by Varina Patel

What Shutter Speed should I use for Nature Photography?

Cover for nature photography blog about camera modes by Mark Denney
November 5, 2020/by Mark Denney

What Camera Modes should Beginners use for Nature Photography?

Storm in Canadian Rockies by landscape photographer Charlotte Gibb
December 4, 2019/by Charlotte Gibb

Why Landscape Photographers Should Expose To The Right

Example of photo stacking & blending for Night Photography by Austin Jackson
October 21, 2019/by Austin Jackson

Night Photography Tips for creating Stunning Images

Cover photos for landscape photography article about histograms in photography by Jay Patel
May 27, 2019/by Jay Patel

How to use Histograms in Photography

How to Use a Wide Angle Camera Lens Blog Article
March 15, 2019/by David Johnston

How to Use Your Wide Angle Lens the Right Way

CHECK OUT OUT BLOG

VW Streaming Service

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:

Varina is an exceptional teacher

Varina is an exceptional teacher (I’ve experienced hundreds over the years and she is among the very best, if not at the top). These case studies are an exceptional complement to the fieldwork teachings where both
…

Varina is an exceptional teacher (I’ve experienced hundreds over the years and she is among the very best, if not at the top). These case studies are an exceptional complement to the fieldwork teachings where both Varina and Jay excel with their skills and explanations. The Ultimate Landscape Photography Course is a MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE for anyone wanting to get into or improve their skills in this field.

Read more “Varina is an exceptional teacher”

Ron Brit
Manitoba, Canada

Very informative and well presented

In Sharp Focus Webinar was very informative and well presented.

Gavin Stuart
Chatham, Ontario, Canada

Best photography webinar I’ve every taken

Mastering Exposure Webinar was the best photography webinar I’ve every taken. I’ve taken lots of seminars where they talked about their pictures but in this one, they showed a video of how they determined their settings
…

Mastering Exposure Webinar was the best photography webinar I’ve every taken. I’ve taken lots of seminars where they talked about their pictures but in this one, they showed a video of how they determined their settings while in the field. Very helpful.

Read more “Best photography webinar I’ve every taken”

Diane Donnelly
Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Clear and Concise Information

It has been great to work through your video tutorials at my own pace and concentrate on subjects that most interest me. You provide clear and concise information, and the workflow portions are excellent for driving
…

It has been great to work through your video tutorials at my own pace and concentrate on subjects that most interest me. You provide clear and concise information, and the workflow portions are excellent for driving home the techniques you are teaching. I have also enjoyed your free webinars. Thank you so very much!

Read more “Clear and Concise Information”

Jody Olson
California

Helpful and explained very well

Mastering Exposure Webinar content was helpful and explained very well.

Dan
Madison,Wisconsin

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
…

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!

Read more “You do a terrific job of explaining things clearly”

Jack Johnson
Beloit, WI, USA

It was excellent!

In camera exposure principles very simply explained in today’s Mastering Exposure Webinar . It was excellent!

Alan Dixon
Norwich, England

Great and informative

Alan Shapiro‘s texture webinar was great and informative – only wish it was longer!

Susan Germyn-Francis
Florida

In Sharp Focus Webinar very good

In Sharp Focus Webinar very good. Sometimes it felt like drinking from a firehouse, but good information.

Kendrick Neubecker
Glenwood Springs, Colorado

I am having so much fun

You have both brought my learning forward big time with your Histogram Exposed Course. I only got my first dslr 2 weeks ago. You have given me the skills to get results straight away. I am
…

You have both brought my learning forward big time with your Histogram Exposed Course. I only got my first dslr 2 weeks ago. You have given me the skills to get results straight away. I am having so much fun experimenting in manual mode. Something I didn’t think was possible so early in my journey.

Read more “I am having so much fun”

Simon Page
New South Wales, Australia
FIND OUT MORE

New Nature Photography Video Tutorials

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...

  • Lightroom Preset Palooza – vw2411

    $39.95
    Add to cart Show Details
  • Magical Fall Photography

    $39.95
    Add to cart Show Details
  • Light and Contrast in Flower Photography

    $39.95
    Add to cart Show Details
FIND OUT MORE

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...

InFocus Newsletter provides great inspiration

InFocus Newsletter provides great inspiration, help and source of information in easy-to-understand language for beginners like me. You gave me that little push to always have my camera with me when I’m
…

InFocus Newsletter provides great inspiration, help and source of information in easy-to-understand language for beginners like me. You gave me that little push to always have my camera with me when I’m out and about. Keep up the great work!

Read more “InFocus Newsletter provides great inspiration”

Jan
Hoogstraten, Belgium

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

Helpful for us photography enthusiasts

The topics covered in InFocus Newsletter are very helpful for us photography enthusiasts and the courses offered are precise yet highly educative, informative.

JaiKumar
Oman

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
…

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.

Read more “Easy to read and understand”

Richard
Maddington, Western Australia

One of the best free landscape photography resources

InFocus Newsletter is one of the best free landscape photography resources available.

Tami
Ft. Worth, USA

Excellent source of information and inspiration

InFocus Newsletter is an excellent source of information and inspiration, from two of my favorite photographers.

Alex
Walnut Creek, CA

It gives me encouragement

I just enjoy reading Infocus Newsletter. It gives me encouragement to try new things.

Brian
Darling, South Africa

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

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

InFocus Newsletter is keeping my skills sharp

I’ve been a photographer for a long time – more than 35 years. One might think that I have plenty of knowledge and I just need to apply that knowledge. With almost
…

I’ve been a photographer for a long time – more than 35 years. One might think that I have plenty of knowledge and I just need to apply that knowledge. With almost every issue of InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter, I learn something new. Or at the very least, I’m reminded of something that I should have remembered but has been forgotten. InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter is keeping my skills sharp while increasing my knowledge and challenging me to seek out new photographic experiences.

Read more “InFocus Newsletter is keeping my skills sharp”

Chris
Nampa, Idaho

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.

Happy Holidays from the Visual Wilderness Team!!

About Author Jay Patel

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

Website | Google+ | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Pinterest

2 replies
  1. Rob Strain
    Rob Strain says:
    December 23, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    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.

  2. keith fey
    keith fey says:
    December 23, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    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.

Comments are closed.

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