author

references

equipment

literature

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Autor

Jiří Sláma (*1980)

Except of casual playing with point-and-shoot Olympus camera and analog SLR Canon EOS 300, my real photographic interest dates back to 2004 when I bought my first digital compact camera Olympus C-750 UZ. I had it only for few months before it has been stolen and I decided to buy one of the best EVF cameras at that time - the Sony DSC F717. This one served very well for another year, during which I learned basics of photography and composition and realized that I needed to step a bit forward - I upgraded to digital SLR Canon EOS 20D and some other accessories that change with time as I realize what I really need and what lies in my cupboard untouched.

It was in spring 2007 when I first recognized the beauty of the living nature and tried to capture it on my chip (film would sound better hmmm? :-)). It was a simple desire to have my own picture of Kingfisher who was nesting very close to my home. I have found out that shooting of birds is not easy at all and besides strong determination and patience it also requires knowledge of the given species you want to capture. Because the joy of the shot I made shortly after exceeded my first expectations I decided to learn more about the nature and to do the photography more seriously. It also was the chance for me to see the nature from its other - living side as I was always interested in lifeless nature - geology. Nowadays Im spending most of my spare-time being out and shooting nature miracles.

Im not a a person with planned future - I was studying carpentry technical school and then moved to nature sciences - after master and doctoral graduation in geology I moved to Norway where Im doing geology as a PostDoc at present.

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references

Awards

January 2010 - 2. place in the Photo Of The Year competition of the international photo-forum JUZAPHOTO in the category Landscape

Winning photo: Deadvlei in Namibiani Sossusvlei desert

January 2009 - 2.place in the Photo Of The Year competition of the international photo-forum JUZAPHOTO in the category Birds and wildlife

Winning photo: Gannets of Bass Rock, Scotland

Contributions

2010

• Bird pictures for the education and propagation at elementary schools

•  10 pictures for the publication of the Museum of Western Bohemia in Pilsen: Atlas of the nesting birds in Pilsen (in czech)
  

2009

• Picture of Snow Bunting in the publicationi Atlas of birds of Šumava and Novohradské hory (in czech)
  

2008

•  Bird pictures for the nature trail Vinořský park - Satalická bažantnice
  

Exhibitions

Exhibition Birds 2010 of the Museum of J.A. Komenský in Přerov - 3 pictures at the exhibition and in the exhibition publication

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equipment

cameras:

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lenses:

Canon EF 500mm f4.0 L IS USM + Lens Coat (RealTree MAX4)

Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS USM + Lens Coat (Digital Camo)

Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0 L IS USM

Canon EF 135mm f2.0 L USM

Canon EF 50mm f1.2 L USM

Canon EF 17-40mm f4.0 USM

Canon EF 14mm f2.8 L II USM

Canon 1.4x extender

Canon 2.0x extender

Lightning:

Canon Speedlite 580EX

Canon Speedlite 580EX II

Canon SPEEDLITE TRANSMITTER ST-E2

Better Beamer FX-3

Bowens 46" UMBRELLA (SILVER/WHITE)

Westcott 20" ILLUM REFLECT. PANEL (SILVER/WHT)

Impact 8' AIR CUSHION 4-SECTION LIGHTSTAND

Support:

Velbon Sherpa Pro CF-635

Kulová hlava Gitzo G1378M

Naturescapes SKM-II SKIMMER GROUND POD II

Bags:

Backpack Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II

Backpack Lowepro Mini Trekker AW

Tamrac system 6 bag

Lowepro Cirrus TLZ 25

Hides, camouflage:

Ameristep Grizzly G-10

Camouflage scarf

Trousers and jacket Härkila Caribou Camo (Gore-Tex)

Filters:

B+W 77mm NEUTRAL DENSITY ND1.8 FILTER (64x)

B+W 77mm NEUTRAL DENSITY ND0.9 FILTER (8x)

B+W Kasemann 77 mm KSM CPL Polarizer Filter 77mm

Cokin Series P - Gradual Grey Neutral Density Filters

UV filtry

Binoculars:

Eschenbach 8x42

Accessories:

CF cards, angle viewfinder, batteries etc...

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literature

Books and field guides use for birding and birds identification:

Europe, WP:

Svensson L., Grant P. J. (2004): Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa

Rob Hume. (2006): Birds of Europe

Bjorn Olav Tveit (2010): Guide til Norges fugleliv - De beste lokalitene og mest ettertraktede artene (guidebook to best birding places - in norwegian)

North America:

Jon L. Dunn, Jonathan Alderfer (2006 - fifth edition): National Geographic field guide to the birds of North America

Edward S. Brinkley (2007): National Wildlife Federation field guide to birds of North America

Brian Rapoza (2007): Birding Florida. More than 200 prime birding sites

Southern Africa:

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey (2005 - second edition): The larger illustrated guide to birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Peter Ryan (2009): Complete photographic field guide - Birds of Southern Africa. Over 2500 images for accurate identification