rwolfert's photostream  

Retired science and computer teacher (33 years), now indulging in one of my many 'passions'…photography.

I served as Chair of the East Brunswick (NJ) Environmental Commission and initiated several aggressive new programs. I currently manage a very comprehensive website that supports nature, science and environmental activities (regional, national and international). Nearly all of the photography and writing is mine (see NJ Naturenotes, below…just so you know where to send rants and raves). It's a great way to combine interests and get lots of others involved in these activities.

I prefer most of my photography to be timeless and would rather not have attributes that 'date' the image to any specific period of time (perhaps, other than season) in the image. With most of the work, the viewer shouldn't be able to tell whether this image was 300 years old or from just yesterday.

So far, photos of family and friends are not represented on my Flickr page. And as for photos of other people, I would rather leave that to those who are far more adept at that than I. At this point, I am content simply admiring their work.

Photography is a fascinating and compelling diversion. On my 11th birthday (seems like several lifetimes ago), my parents gave me a Brownie Hawkeye camera, which used 620 roll film. (I knew where the present was hidden and, in the weeks leading up to that birthday) I opened the box a dozen times to gaze longingly at it. My parents had known that I was taken with one of my father's cameras. It used 126 film and had an 'adjustable' lens, with focus points for distance and close-up. I thought it was so sophisticated! It had controls! (I love buttons, bells, dials and whistles.). My Dad also had a 16mm Kodak, magazine loaded movie camera. Wow! More controls! (I still have that camera.)

When I was 15 (and my younger brother 14), a friend of his, who's relative had just retired from professional photography, 'inherited' some chemicals, photo trays, a small amount of photo paper and other photo developing paraphernalia. With that began our (especially my) wonderful exploration and journey into the amazing realm of photography.

Within a year or so, my brother and I purchased a 35mm rangefinder camera (a Petri II, I think) which allowed for excellent picture taking. In our big year, (probably around when I was 17 or so) we took over 3,000 shots in one year…and I thought that was a lot. Now, I can easily shoot 600 or more shots in a day when in the right environment. Nature photography usually involves many shots to get the timing and other factors right for an acceptable shot, so you end up discarding many of the images on the first round of editing.

At 17, I worked for Olden Camera in NYC (part-time), while attending college. It was from there that I purchased my first 35mm SLR camera, a Konica FP. This had a great focusing screen (Konica called it a 'microprism') that was bright and sharp, and greatly facilitated quick focusing. I moved from that to a Canon A-1. Then, after many years of neglecting photography due to the demands of life, but not for lack of interest, to a Canon 20-D. My primary camera now is a Canon 40-D. This one works even faster and more accurately with the Canon 100-400 IS zoom lens than the 20-D did. It's a wonderful combination of photographic tools and allows for great creative freedom. Next up will probably be 7-D sometime in 2012.

For me, photography is a lifelong journey, not a destination, and there are so many stops to make along the way. I hope you enjoy sharing this journey, and come back from time to time to see how I view the world and what I have been fortunate to see.

Directly below is the link to the website I created for my interests and East Brunswick's Environmental Commission. Another creative outlet, with lots of photography on it, including many, many images not represented here.



Oh yes, everyone just calls me 'Rich'.