Two weeks ago, during a critical moment while I was shooting on a photography assignment, my Canon 5D Mark II started giving me an “Error 01″ message saying there was a communication error between the lens and the camera.  I called my most favorite Canon rep and he suggested that I try the lens on a second body, just to make sure it was the lens and not the body. (I had a whole boatload of trouble with my first 5D Mark II).  I put the troublesome lens, my favorite 24-105 f/4 IS USM, on my older Canon 5D and instead of intermittent error messages, the camera would lock the mirror up and I’d have to turn the camera off in order to get it functioning again. Both bodies worked perfectly with all the other lenses in my kit.  I started searching for a new lens to buy because I had a sunset location to be at in 2 hours (YIKES).  Every camera store I called had the lens on back order.   I was luckily able to secure a loaner.  Sure enough, the loaner lens worked perfectly on both bodies and I subsequently sent my malfunctioning 24-105 to the Canon Repair Center in Irvine.  I am a Silver member of CPS and they turned the lens around in about a week.  I’ve tested it briefly and it appears to be in good working order.  They even replaced a few extra parts and put the lens back into virtually new condition.  Thank you Canon!!!  Here are a couple of photos which I am fond of, both of which were made with the Canon 5D Mark II and the 24-105 f/4 IS USM lens.

coconut rice for the B.B.Q. and sunset sailing off of the island of Maui

images copyright © 2009 Susan Seubert Photography

Keith Bellows, the editor in chief of National Geographic Traveler, picked his favorite images published in the magazine in 2009.  I have had the tremendous honor of having one of my images selected for inclusion in this slideshow, which is published online.  Keith explains why he likes each image and it’s worth a look. Plus I’m in magnificent company, with Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson, Justin Guariglia, Catherine Karnow, Annie Griffiths-Belt, Dan Westergren among others. Have a look at the slideshow here, and be sure to turn on the volume so you can hear his reasons.

Click on the image to watch the slide show

I am pleased to announce that the National Geographic Web Site is now featuring a story I shot about Portland, Oregon.  It will be published in the November/December 2009 issue.  A web gallery of additional images is now available on National Geographic Traveler’s web site and can be viewed here.  I love it and I hope you do too.

Click on the image to be taken to the Traveler Web Site Slide Show

Happiness is a good review.   I have the great privilege to have been included in a three person show at the Rayko Photo Center in San Francisco. The SF Weekly has a very nice blurb about the show here.  Unfortunately, but also fortunately, work precludes me from attending the opening.  If you find yourself in the San Francisco area on October 2nd, head on over to the Rayko Photo Center and party down at the opening of, “Lightning, Lava and Bombs.” It features the work of myself, Ben Nixon and Hendrik Paul.  The opening begins at 6pm.

The Center for Fine Art Photography in Colorado has announced the winners of the 2009 Art In Nature exhibition and my piece entitled “Nest” has been selected for the exhibition.  The juror was Kathy Moran, National Geographic magazine’s first senior editor for natural history projects.  It is a tremendous honor to have been one of the 48 artists chosen from three countries.  The exhibition will be on display at the gallery from December 4th, 2009 until January 9, 2010.

Nest #1 from the series, "Nest"

Lately there’s been quite a bit of doom and gloom out there in terms of our future as photographers, particularly for us magazine folks.  In preparation for transferring data to a new computer, I was perusing my iPhoto library and found a few production snaps taken from assignments.  As much consternation the modern age of photography brings, I am still grateful for the incredible moments I’ve had throughout my career.  Just thought I’d share a few of these, if only for a reminder that it’s great to be able to make a living doing what I love.

Photography Expert Susan Seubert preparing for departure on our Columbia River Journey aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion

private boat, gorgeous sunrise, Sydney's famous harbour. What's not to love?

Wild Cockatoos like potato chips, maybe a little too much

Now THAT'S a lobster!

at Luna Park

Mobile office and Studio

Florida - holding a baby alligator. Learned a lot about how to hold one.

me and Chris and the crazy, chain-smoking airboat driver

The astronaut was very curious to see the photos - not sure if he could!

sometimes, even in the jungle, you have to wait...

shopping after a stressful shoot can make you a little wacky...

farting around until sunset...

getting ready to hit the rapids in Idaho

We all have our talents!

This is a really nice article that talks about the state of the photography/film industry in the face of the digital age, posted on the Digital Photo Pro site and very well written by Louis Lesko.  You can read it here. If you are a journeyman photographer considering delving into multimedia, photography student or someone in the film industry looking to get into stills, it’s a great read.  Thanks for your thoughts Louis!

Portland Oregon based Editorial Photographer Susan Seubert is building a substantial stock photo library via Photoshelter. She is uploading new photographs from assignments as they emerge from embargo periods.  It’s a herculean task, but photographs can’t be sold if they can’t be seen.  If you are a picture researcher, be sure to visit her stock photography library often as new images are being uploaded almost daily.  Susan has been shooting globally for over ten years and therefore owns a substantial image bank.  Tired of looking at Getty and Corbis?  Although she may have covered an area that has been published before, as an art buyer you can rest assured that there are literally thousands of outtakes that have been culled, color corrected and key-worded so it’s easier than ever to peruse Susan Seubert’s archive.  Also, even if the image isn’t on the stock photography archive page just yet, give her a call or drop her an email and she or her assistant can let you know if there are images or will be images you are looking for available within your time frame.  She can usually fill last minute stock photography requests from virtually anywhere on earth there is a high speed internet connection.  Also, if you have a Paypal account, you can log in, pay for and download the image in minutes.  And as always, she answers the phone, (unless she’s surfing) so if email is inconvenient or you don’t have the time to look through the galleries, you can always just give her a call

Here's a sampling of the galleries available right now

The International Photography Awards announced this morning the winners of their annual competition.  I am pleased to announce that I placed second in the Professional Category of Fine Art Nature in the sub category of “Other” with my piece entitled, “Nest.”

This is a tremendous honor and I wish I could go to the awards ceremony, but alas, I’ll be surfing in Maui the night of the festivities.  We will, however, raise a glass to all the other participants and wish good luck to the overall winner.  Thank you IPA!

Nest #1 from the series, "Nest"

I just added a new tab to my magazine site that will direct photo editors and art buyers looking for quality stock photo images to my photoshelter page.  Photoshelter allows art and photography buyers to browse the library by keyword or peruse the galleries page.  Most of the work on this stock photo site is culled from various magazine photography assignments.  I’ve been photographing all over the world for the last ten years, so there is a wide variety of pictures from which to choose. Primarily the images focus on travel and travel related subject matter.  Food is a huge part of any travel experience, so there’s a large selection of food photography as well.   Since I still shoot a lot of film, it’s taking me a while to build the collection, but it’s well on its way.  Have a look and a great day!

My New Stock Site powered by Photoshelter