New Jersey: The Natural State (Nature Photography)
New Jersey: The Natural State (Nature Photography)
Overview
Interview with Dwight Hiscano: Photographer of New Jersey: The Natural State Q:How long have you been photographing nature in New Jersey? A:Since I was a child. I received my first camera, a Kodak instamatic, from my parents when I was eight or nine years old. I immediately went about taking some absolutely horrible photos of squirrels, birds, the dog and the cats, the usual stuff. Later that day we went up to my family's summer house and I remember finishing the roll with a shot of some pileated woodpecker holes in a dead tree and another shot of the lake and mountain with a split rail fence in the foreground - my first landscape. That was the only shot on the roll that looked nice. The light was good and the image, as I remember it, was well composed. I treasured the photo for years after that. It has since disappeared. During college, I received a 35 mm, again from my parents. That's when I began to show some real interest in nature photography. Q:When did you begin taking the photos in this book? A:I think the earliest image in the book dates from November of 1986 - the close-up of sand and shadows from a fence at Island Beach. Q:Why did you decide to turn these photos into a book? A:For a number of reasons. I've had a great deal of success selling large prints through galleries and exhibits. Exposure to the public was still somewhat limited, however. This book is the perfect way to make the images more accessible to a wider audience. It also seemed like the logical "next step" for me. Q:How did you decide what photos to put in the book? A:This was a difficult one. I've accumulated a pretty large body of work from New Jersey. I spent quite a few late nights at the light box editing and compiling images. My biggest challenge was finding shots that not only represented accurately the natural landscapes of each region of the state, but that would complement each other, especially when presented together. Q:Do you have a favorite photo in the book? Where was it taken and why is it your favorite? A:I'm not sure if there is any single image that I would consider my favorite. I'm pretty happy with most of the photos. The Terrace Pond sunset seems to intrigue a lot of people, so I guess it's a successful image. I like the cover shot (VanCampen Brook). Someone once said that it looked like Hawaii or someplace like that. He couldn't believe it was New Jersey - that's precisely the response that I'm after - amazement. I'm very happy with Fox Prints, Island Beach. It's a good composition and it tells a story. The opening shot turned out nicely as well (Water Detail, Dunfield Creek). This sort of "rocks underwater" thing has been done a thousand times, but I'm still very happy with the way it turned out, it's a nice composition. I've yet to enlarge this one, but I'm sure it will look good on someone's wall someday. I think the little black and white shot of the ice patterns in the Piedmont section is a nice image also. Q:What's your favorite place to photograph in New Jersey? A:That's a tough question. Every region has something to offer, and they're all pretty awesome. I think for sentimental reasons, though, it would have to be the Highlands. I've been going there regularly all my life, and my family has been there, on the same piece of land for five generations. I feel a real connection to the landscape, and I think that makes for a more emotional approach to photography. Q:You mention composition a lot. Do you think this is what makes a good photo? Or are equipment, technical know-how, and subject matter just as important? A:Composition is everything. Of course, you need to know the basics. And it would be nice to have $20,000 dollars worth of equipment and Bryce Canyon as a back yard. But I still believe that composition comes first. I had a friend in college who did her senior project with a Diana camera - a cheap plastic camera with plastic lenses that costs under two dollars. She sealed up the light leaks with electrical tape and went out shooting the local cornfields. Her images were not technically perfect, naturally, but they certainly conveyed a mood, and proved that you don't need the best equipment and the most dramatic subjects to make a good picture. Q:What type of photographic equipment do you generally use? A:I have two Pentax medium format cameras - 645 and a 6x7, each with a wide angle, a standard, and a telephoto lens. The optics are great and, although they've been banged around a lot, they're holding up nicely. I use polarizing filters from time to time and on several occasions I've used a warming filter and a split neutral density filter. I have two Bogen tripods - a small one for over-night trips and a larger one for day trips, and a very heavy Lowe Pro Photo Trekker camera pack. Q:How do people react when you tell them you've done a book of nature photos of New Jersey? A:Some people, the outdoorsy types especially, are totally psyched. They think it's about time people see what New Jersey is really like. Other responses are different. When told of this project recently, someone apparently responded with surprise - something like "New Jersey? Why would anyone want to do a book about New Jersey?" These are just the sort of people that need this book. People who would rather go to the mall than be outside on a beautiful day. People who have lost touch with nature. These people vote and that scares me.Description
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The following guidelines apply to books:
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
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- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
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You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
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Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
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- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
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- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Interview with Dwight Hiscano: Photographer of New Jersey: The Natural State Q:How long have you been photographing nature in New Jersey? A:Since I was a child. I received my first camera, a Kodak instamatic, from my parents when I was eight or nine years old. I immediately went about taking some absolutely horrible photos of squirrels, birds, the dog and the cats, the usual stuff. Later that day we went up to my family's summer house and I remember finishing the roll with a shot of some pileated woodpecker holes in a dead tree and another shot of the lake and mountain with a split rail fence in the foreground - my first landscape. That was the only shot on the roll that looked nice. The light was good and the image, as I remember it, was well composed. I treasured the photo for years after that. It has since disappeared. During college, I received a 35 mm, again from my parents. That's when I began to show some real interest in nature photography. Q:When did you begin taking the photos in this book? A:I think the earliest image in the book dates from November of 1986 - the close-up of sand and shadows from a fence at Island Beach. Q:Why did you decide to turn these photos into a book? A:For a number of reasons. I've had a great deal of success selling large prints through galleries and exhibits. Exposure to the public was still somewhat limited, however. This book is the perfect way to make the images more accessible to a wider audience. It also seemed like the logical "next step" for me. Q:How did you decide what photos to put in the book? A:This was a difficult one. I've accumulated a pretty large body of work from New Jersey. I spent quite a few late nights at the light box editing and compiling images. My biggest challenge was finding shots that not only represented accurately the natural landscapes of each region of the state, but that would complement each other, especially when presented together. Q:Do you have a favorite photo in the book? Where was it taken and why is it your favorite? A:I'm not sure if there is any single image that I would consider my favorite. I'm pretty happy with most of the photos. The Terrace Pond sunset seems to intrigue a lot of people, so I guess it's a successful image. I like the cover shot (VanCampen Brook). Someone once said that it looked like Hawaii or someplace like that. He couldn't believe it was New Jersey - that's precisely the response that I'm after - amazement. I'm very happy with Fox Prints, Island Beach. It's a good composition and it tells a story. The opening shot turned out nicely as well (Water Detail, Dunfield Creek). This sort of "rocks underwater" thing has been done a thousand times, but I'm still very happy with the way it turned out, it's a nice composition. I've yet to enlarge this one, but I'm sure it will look good on someone's wall someday. I think the little black and white shot of the ice patterns in the Piedmont section is a nice image also. Q:What's your favorite place to photograph in New Jersey? A:That's a tough question. Every region has something to offer, and they're all pretty awesome. I think for sentimental reasons, though, it would have to be the Highlands. I've been going there regularly all my life, and my family has been there, on the same piece of land for five generations. I feel a real connection to the landscape, and I think that makes for a more emotional approach to photography. Q:You mention composition a lot. Do you think this is what makes a good photo? Or are equipment, technical know-how, and subject matter just as important? A:Composition is everything. Of course, you need to know the basics. And it would be nice to have $20,000 dollars worth of equipment and Bryce Canyon as a back yard. But I still believe that composition comes first. I had a friend in college who did her senior project with a Diana camera - a cheap plastic camera with plastic lenses that costs under two dollars. She sealed up the light leaks with electrical tape and went out shooting the local cornfields. Her images were not technically perfect, naturally, but they certainly conveyed a mood, and proved that you don't need the best equipment and the most dramatic subjects to make a good picture. Q:What type of photographic equipment do you generally use? A:I have two Pentax medium format cameras - 645 and a 6x7, each with a wide angle, a standard, and a telephoto lens. The optics are great and, although they've been banged around a lot, they're holding up nicely. I use polarizing filters from time to time and on several occasions I've used a warming filter and a split neutral density filter. I have two Bogen tripods - a small one for over-night trips and a larger one for day trips, and a very heavy Lowe Pro Photo Trekker camera pack. Q:How do people react when you tell them you've done a book of nature photos of New Jersey? A:Some people, the outdoorsy types especially, are totally psyched. They think it's about time people see what New Jersey is really like. Other responses are different. When told of this project recently, someone apparently responded with surprise - something like "New Jersey? Why would anyone want to do a book about New Jersey?" These are just the sort of people that need this book. People who would rather go to the mall than be outside on a beautiful day. People who have lost touch with nature. These people vote and that scares me.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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