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About
Marty Colburn
I have
been seriously involved in photography since 1973 when I
bought my first ‘real’ camera, a Mamiya 330 2¼ X 2¼,
twin lens reflex. Between 1973 and 1977 I shot with
various formats from 35 mm to 4 X 5. I worked part time
for a local photographer, processing film and prints, as
a freelance photographer making outdoor portraits,
postcards, and brochures, and selling a few wildlife
prints. I worked as a photographer for the State of KY
doing mostly travel photography and as an ‘assembly
line’ family photographer for Olan Mills photographing
kids, families and reluctant fathers. Every photographer
needs to experience the joy of shooting 60 to 80 family
groups in a day! While working various photography
related jobs, I learned how to process black and white
and color film and prints and whenever possible I
processed and printed my own work.
In 1977 I
decided to begin a new business selling sailboats.
Starting a new business required money which meant
selling most of my photographic equipment and putting
photography on hold for awhile.
Brenda and
I were married in 1980, on a little knoll overlooking
Hematite Lake in the Land Between the Lakes, NRA and
since then have worked side by side growing our sailboat
business. In 1982 we purchased a run down boat dock and
over the years, changed it into the beautiful resort
that Lighthouse Landing is today. We have enjoyed
growing the business while at the same time enjoying
life by sailing, backpacking, diving, hiking, kayaking,
skiing, cruising waterways and highways and of course
taking photographs and video whenever possible. We are
avid environmentalists and try to incorporate our
environmental beliefs into our business and daily lives.
Our enthusiasm for wildlife and wild places has led us
to join and promote several environmental organizations.
We are both board members for the Land Between the Lakes
Association, also known as the “Friends of the LBL”. The
LBLA association partners with the USFS to preserve and
protect this rare jewel located in Western KY.
Although I
have been extremely involved in growing Lighthouse
Landing, I have never lost interest for photography. I
experimented with analog video and editing and large
format photography. My first digital camera was a .6
mega-pixel point and shoot (which may be suitable for
making a thumbnail for a webpage today). I soon moved up
to a 1.6 MP Kodak camera, then to a 3.2 MP Sony. After
buying and using a Sony 707 5 MP, I decided that digital
cameras had potential. But, since I had gotten so
involved in shooting and editing digital video, still
photography became secondary.
In July of
2004, I purchased a Canon 10D SLR which sparked a new
interest in still photography for me. The quality and
flexibility of the new digital SLR’s and the
advancements in Adobe’s Photoshop made the transition
from video easy. Since early 2005, I have been using the
Canon 1Ds2 as my primary camera. I am also currently
using the Canon 50D and 40D as backup cameras along with
various Canon lens up to 600 mm. I know the equipment,
and how to use it, is only part of the equation. Image
quality, subject matter, composition, and lighting are
equally important components of a good photograph. A
little luck and cooperation from Mother Nature doesn’t
hurt either.
Brenda
shoots video and a few stills occasionally, but she
prefers the ‘hunt’. The ‘hunt’ involves researching
possible photography sites and subjects, spotting
critters, steering one of our many shooting platforms,
including various sail & powerboats or our favorite
platform, a 16’ kayak which gives us the ability to
approach wildlife quietly, while shooting from a lower
angle. We also use a 23’ motor home for road travel and
as base camp when we day hike and take land based
photos.
The
wildlife captured in our photographs and video is just
that, wild, with very few exceptions. Captive wildlife
will be noted with a (C) after the name of the
photograph. We find it interesting and helpful reading
about our subjects, whether botanical or animal. We do
not bait wildlife and try not to disrupt the animal’s
natural behavior. We understand how crucial habitat is
and try to minimize our impact.
Our goal
is to enjoy life. One way we do this is by experiencing
the beauty of nature. We are grateful to have the
opportunity to capture this beauty with cameras, and we
feel compelled to
share our experiences with others. With our photographs
and video we hope to help others see and understand the
importance of protecting the flora and fauna and the
habitat they call home while at the same time helping
others gain a better perspective as to why we need to
protect the planet we all call home.
My
photographs have been used in several state and local
publications including magazines, state and local
tourist guides, postcards, brochures, web pages and
various advertisements and ad campaigns.
I hope you
enjoy viewing our photographs, and if you are in Grand
Rivers, KY, be sure to visit our gallery at Lighthouse
Landing.
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