Spring Songbird Workshops

Each Spring, as the temperatures rise, songbirds return to their breeding ranges in North America. Many find their way to the Northeastern U.S. where birders and photographers alike flock to city parks to catch a glimpse of these colorful birds. While these locations make for easier sightings, they’re not always ideal for photography. The birds at these parks are merely stopping by to rest and forage before continuing their journey. They don’t sit still for long, and they seldom come down from the canopy. If they do, they usually visit a water source or feeder. Whatever it is they do, it’s also usually brief.

That is why you wants to find these birds in their preferred nesting habitat. Here, these birds are more consistent and active. Males lay claim to territory by singing from select perches to attract mates and thwart other males. When they hear an intruder, they investigate. When they see an intruder, they take action. They do all of this in a fairly confined area, where they’re movements and behaviors can become predictable to the observational birder. This is where I photograph them.

If you’d like to try your hand at songbird photography, why not do so with a little guidance. This Spring, join me, Matt Malwitz, for an in-the-field songbird photography workshop. This won’t be your typical “point and shoot” type of workshop either. I want to teach you a thing or two. During this outing, we’ll cover my process of find and photographing these birds. We’ll discuss how to find and identify songbirds, how to approach and move around wildlife, and different photographic techniques, all while photographing birds in the field.

Our goal will be to capture stunning images of two or three species, prioritizing quality shots over quantity of birds. We won’t get good looks at everything, and some birds are trickier than others, but that’s all part of the fun. As the saying goes, “if it were easy, everyone would do it”. So, why not give bird photography a chance.

Spaces are limited, so choose your date soon.

Sign up here. 

For more information on songbird photography, why not check out our webinar here.

All the best,

Matt 

Trade in Day Saturday April 8 – 10 am – 4 pm

We hope you can join us on Saturday, April 8, 2023, from 10 – 4 pm for our trade-in event. Check your closets and turn your old photo gear into cash or put the proceeds towards a new camera or lens. We will check your equipment then either make an offer to purchase or offer some other options to help. As a special bonus on April 8, take 10% off any used equipment (excluding Leica) purchased during the event.

Bergen County Hazardous Waste Days 2023

Bergen County Hazardous Waste Days 2023

Hazardous Waste Days open to Bergen County, NJ Residents Only

Most photo chemicals are considered hazardous waste so this is a great opportunity to safely dispose of what you are no longer using. This event is open to Bergen County, New Jersey residents only with photo ID. The following items are no accepted so please do not bring computers, electronics, batteries (only car and rechargeable accepted), or tires to these collections. If you have questions please call the Bergen County Hazardous Waste Hotline 201-807-5825. Information for other New Jersey Counties can be found at the NJ Hazardous Waste Coordinators website. Businesses must pre-register before the collection day by calling 201-807-8696 to make arrangements. Depending on the level of Covid restrictions wait times on drop off days may be a bit longer. 

Please visit the BCUA website for up to the minute details before visiting any event. 

Winter Self-Assignment

Below you will find the images along with the photographer’s name. Below all the photos is the assignments that were chosen. Lots of great images with many pushing to learn new techniques in the process. Great assignment everyone! As always, let us know if you have any questions about anything photographic. We’ll have our new assignment ready to go in about a month — details to follow.

Read more

February-March Customer Spotlight – Paige Dana

Welcome to our thirty-third Bergen County Camera Customer Spotlight. This monthly posting features a customer who’s made an impression on us. They might have grown in their understanding of photography, gained a mastery of the craft and / or have become a strong advocate of our way of doing business in the world of photography. During the next month you will see this customer’s images displayed on our digital signs in store, in our emails, blog posts and social media.  

Paige Dana is our customer spotlight for the month of February/March. We hope you both enjoy and are inspired by this new addition to In Focus and look forward to your comments and suggestions. Below you will find a few words from Paige and a gallery containing some of Paige’s images.

Read more

New Assignment – Webinar Replay – Join the fun

Join Paul Carretta and Bergen County Camera for the unveiling of our new Assignment. We promise this will be different from our usual assignments. Please register below for this free Webinar. Hope you can join us.

Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Free Registration

Step One:
Watch the Assignment Video above and choose your assignment

Step Two:
Register your assignment by February 19 by sending to focus@bergencountycamera.com
Be sure to include your name, assignment choice

Step Three:
Get your photographs that best represent your assignment and email to focus@bergencountycamera.com

Be sure to include your name, assignment description and your phone (Limit one)

Advanced Exposure presented by Canon Webinar

March 25, 2023 – 9:30 am EST

Free Registration

Advanced Exposure Techniques with Canon – Intermediate Level

Enter the world of EOS and gain an advanced understanding of exposure. We will help you learn more about how your camera sees light and how that information is conveyed to you. Learn how to take advantage of that information to make intelligent exposure decisions. You will see many examples of great photography and learn techniques to improve how you use your camera as a creative tool.

During this class you will:

· Review the various methods your camera uses to meter your environment and leverage your camera’s light meter to take full control of your exposure.

· Understand what the histogram is really telling you, what affects its profile and how to use that information to properly expose your photo.

· Learn what “Expose To The Right”, or ETTR really means and how best to take advantage of it for your landscape, architecture, macro or product photography.

About our presenter Peter Lee

Peter has over a decade of experience working with Canon’s printers and imaging products before he joined the camera product educator team in 2013. As a Canon technical representative, he is a passionate teacher and enjoys interacting with everyone from full time professionals to beginners. He enjoys various genres of photography including: architecture, aerospace, landscape, portraiture, macro and sports.

FujiFilm Clean and Check event – Free Registration Required

Event will be at Bergen County Camera on February 25, 2023

Bergen County Camera will be hosting a Fujifilm “FREE Check and Clean” for all X series bodies and lenses on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 10 – 3. Reservation required. Free Check and Clean Service includes Updated Firmware (if available for your model), Sensor Cleaning (Interchangeable X Series cameras only), General Focus, and Function check (all models).

Free Registration