Ferraro Nature - Journeys

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) in Churchill Canada - Photo has been reversed  Original Polar Bear Image Recently I read an article in Outdoor Photographer:   Create Visual Tension  that made me reflect about the visual impact reversing a photo can have. I'm familiar with the concept of reversing a photo, but prior to reading the article I never considered it for my photos. Landscapes with identifiable landmarks like Yosemite's Half Dome or Colorado's Maroon Bells would look wrong reversed. On a deeper level part of me is bothered by a feeling of misrepresenting what occurred.  I do edit my images and modify things like color and contrast.  I have no problem using HDR processed with natural settings.  The camera cannot accurately represent all the colors that the eye sees so it does not seem a stretch to modify these areas. However, reversing a photo has always felt like it crossed the line in representing the scene differently. The sample photo, whi...

California Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) are one of my favorite birds.  They combine a distinctive mix of graceful flight with awkward clumsiness on land that make them so much fun to watch. January is the best time to view them because they are particular beautiful in their mating colors: bright red pouches, yellow heads and dark brown necks. La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California is a stunning place to view the flocks that gather there. Brown Pelicans Facts One of the unique aspects of Brown Pelicans compared to other pelican species is that they can dive from as high as 60 feet in the air to catch fish. The pelicans are protected from impact by a special network of air sacs under their skin, however the fish aren't so lucky.  These dives can stun fish for 6 feet underwater. [1]   Pelican pouches can stretch to hold about 3 gallons which is 3 times the amount their stomach can hold.  After catching a fish they wil...

Hello World! I’m a software engineer by day, so it seems appropriate to start off my first blog post with “Hello World” J   For those who are unfamiliar, the classic first program that you write in a programming language is one that outputs the words “Hello World”. When I’m not working my greatest passions are enjoying nature, photography and travel.  I combine the three together whenever possible utilizing photography to record and share the natural beauty and wildlife that I find. My goals for this blog: To share some of the phenomenal locations I've visited in hopes of inspiring others to visit. I believe that travel helps preserve the environment by encouraging others to learn and care about it.  It also provides an economic incentive for the locals to preserve the area. To tell the stories around some of the photographs. To provide tips on traveling to a location.  I can’t be a substitute for a travel guide, but I can provide tips ba...