J.N.  “DING” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center in Sanibel Island, Florida has on display the wildlife and scenic photography of Dick Fortune and Sara Lopez.  This unique exhibit features close up and detailed images of Sanibel’s most colorful wildlife residents and will be on display from September 1 through October 31, 2008 in Auditorium A.  

The Miami couple has brought new meaning to wildlife that is “up close and personal”.  Their high quality images include many of the “usual suspects” taken at Sanibel, Everglades and Alaska.  “Our exhibit includes favorites like Roseate Spoonbills, Ospreys, White Pelicans, and numerous other bird species,” Dick states with enthusiasm.  “We probably have one of the largest libraries of Roseates – everything from take offs and landings, wings up and down, splashing, preening, fighting, portraits, etc.  Ding Darling is a photographer’s paradise affording endless opportunities for that perfect “keeper” of an image – the image that photographers dream about.”

Often asked by other photographers and visitors to South Florida about their technique, they offer several basic guidelines that anyone can use to take their photography to the next level – and it doesn’t cost a dime either.  Whether using a pocket point and shoot, or a prosumer model for amateur and advanced hobbyists, the rules are the same.

1. Isolate your subject from distracting background objects, like cars, telephone poles, branches, etc.  A step to the right or left, or kneeling may remove these distractions from competing with your subject.
2. Blur your background if possible by shooting on Aperture Priority (in Canon cameras the AV mode).  Open your lens by setting your aperture to the lowest f stop number (f2.8, f4, f5.6), this will put your background out of focus allowing your subject to “pop”.
3. Watch your light source.  Try to position yourself with the sun to your back – your shadow will, like a sundial be directed towards your subject.
4. Get out early – before or at sunrise – or late, a couple of hours before sunset.  This will provide you with the “sweet light” without those harsh shadows.  You will also find the peak of bird activity then.
5. Use a tripod or brace yourself against a firm stationary object.  If that’s your car, make sure you turned off the engine so that you don’t pick up vibration.
 
“Better photography, like anything else, has a learning curve.  Our recommendation is to get out and practice, share with other photographers, honestly critique each others works, have fun and enjoy our great outdoors and temperate climate.  Digital photography affords experimenting without the expense of film processing and time delays to view your days work.”

Dick’s career as a Miami based flooring contractor and retailer for 41 years, has provided business opportunities to Aruba, Barbados, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Cayman Island, Belize, the Bahamas and throughout all of Florida.  “Supervising flooring projects for government, corporations and private residences, my camera bag goes with me as carry-on baggage – always in search of new and exciting scenery, subject matter and/or different cultures.  On a recent flooring installation abroad, how could I pass up on a photo outing across island at low altitude in a national defense helicopter with the doors off?”  states Dick.   As a helicopter pilot himself and VIP to his clients Dick is quick to take advantage of these perks as they are offered.

In addition to supporting C.R.O.W. (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel) with donations of their photography over the last several years, Dick’s flooring company graciously provided  and supervised the flooring materials and installation for the construction of C.R.O.W.’s new Wildlife Education Center and Hospital in Sanibel.  This much-appreciated donation at wholesale cost has provided additional revenues not in C.R.O.W.’s construction budget, a budget derived entirely through donations and fund raising events.  C.R.O.W.’s on-going dedication and efforts to rehabilitate injured, orphaned or displaced animals go hand in hand with Sanibel’s high level of environmental awareness and community pride. As property owners in Sanibel, Dick and Sara feel privileged and committed to offer any and all assistance along with their photography for such a worth while cause.

Other recipients of their images for fund raising include J. N. “Ding” Darling Society and “Making It on Purpose”, an organization that helps young women in foster care that upon reaching eighteen no longer have a place to call their own.  In their current hometown of Miami, they have donated their time and images to Miami-Metro Zoo/Zoological Society of South Florida and Sierra Club for fund raising events and power point presentations for training purposes.  

They have been recognized with numerous international and local photo awards: Pilsner Urquell International Photography Awards Nature & Aerial categories 2005 & 2006; Florida Wildlife Magazine 2007; National Wildlife Magazine 2008; St. Augustine’s Alligator Farm Calendars for Conservation 2006, 2007 and 2008; Ding Darling Wildlife Society Photo Contest 2007 to name a few.  Their photographic expertise, guest lectures and generous donation of their time and images truly support their ambition to promote conservation and awareness of our delicate natural resources focusing on wading birds and their habitats.

Their photographs proudly grace the interiors of many public, corporate and private residences locally and internationally.

You can visit their gallery on the web @ www.throughthelensgallery.com .

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Dick & Sara they can be reached @ 305 318-6348 or they can be e-mailed at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it