2008 Woodie Awards
Local photographer visits PSUC, shares wildlife expertise
Carl DeNovio
Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: Life
Originally published: 11/30/06 at 9:32 PM EST
Last update: 11/30/06 at 9:44 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
This semester's final installment of the Feinberg Readers Series featured not only a local author, but one of Plattsburgh State University College's own. Journalism instructor and amateur photographer Dennis Aprill, author of three books, was the guest of honor Tuesday night in the Angell College Center Alumni Conference Room.
In lieu of talking about his books, Aprill took the opportunity to display some of his photography, depicting the wildlife to the northeast of his home town of Swastika, N.Y. as well as locations in New Hampshire.
"I got started on photography when I was really young," Aprill said.
He has become capable of acquiring shots of wild animals in their natural environment, rigging his camera to snap the photos without being there himself to scare off any animals that might come by.
Using simple techniques, such as attaching a string to a piece of bait to trigger the flash, Aprill has managed to photograph dozens of animals and several different species that would be impossible for a person to get near, including luring a 400-to-500 pound black bear in his own backyard several times. He did this by simply hanging a bone in a tree.
He also uses trail cameras to track deer and coyotes, using beams of light sent across the path to snap photos when the beams are broken. Using these methods, Aprill said, he has managed to get photos of 45 different species just on his own property. While his dream catch, the elusive, and possibly non-existent Adirondack mountain lion, escapes his capture, he remains convinced that if the giant cat does indeed dwell in these mountains, it will be one of these trail cameras - though not necessarily his, he said - that will eventually prove their presence.
"You never know what you're going to get with these trail cameras," he said, proving his point with a series of pictures of all sorts of different species. These photos included everything from deer, beavers, muskrats, bears, red and grey foxes, fishers, moose, coyote and bobcats, among several others.
"We have a ton of talent here in the north country," Feinberg librarian and organizer of the Readers Series, Patricia Bentley, said.
Bentley called it a "special treat" to have Aprill speaking for the final installment of the semester. She also wished to extend thanks to the College Auxiliary Services for their support of the series and looks forward to continuing it come the January semester.
Aprill's books, "Short Treks in the Adirondacks and Beyond, Paths Less Traveled", and "Good Fishing in the Adirondacks", were available in the conference room after the presentation at a 20 percent discount, as well as personalized signings by Aprill himself. The books were supplied by the Book Nook.
In lieu of talking about his books, Aprill took the opportunity to display some of his photography, depicting the wildlife to the northeast of his home town of Swastika, N.Y. as well as locations in New Hampshire.
"I got started on photography when I was really young," Aprill said.
He has become capable of acquiring shots of wild animals in their natural environment, rigging his camera to snap the photos without being there himself to scare off any animals that might come by.
Using simple techniques, such as attaching a string to a piece of bait to trigger the flash, Aprill has managed to photograph dozens of animals and several different species that would be impossible for a person to get near, including luring a 400-to-500 pound black bear in his own backyard several times. He did this by simply hanging a bone in a tree.
He also uses trail cameras to track deer and coyotes, using beams of light sent across the path to snap photos when the beams are broken. Using these methods, Aprill said, he has managed to get photos of 45 different species just on his own property. While his dream catch, the elusive, and possibly non-existent Adirondack mountain lion, escapes his capture, he remains convinced that if the giant cat does indeed dwell in these mountains, it will be one of these trail cameras - though not necessarily his, he said - that will eventually prove their presence.
"You never know what you're going to get with these trail cameras," he said, proving his point with a series of pictures of all sorts of different species. These photos included everything from deer, beavers, muskrats, bears, red and grey foxes, fishers, moose, coyote and bobcats, among several others.
"We have a ton of talent here in the north country," Feinberg librarian and organizer of the Readers Series, Patricia Bentley, said.
Bentley called it a "special treat" to have Aprill speaking for the final installment of the semester. She also wished to extend thanks to the College Auxiliary Services for their support of the series and looks forward to continuing it come the January semester.
Aprill's books, "Short Treks in the Adirondacks and Beyond, Paths Less Traveled", and "Good Fishing in the Adirondacks", were available in the conference room after the presentation at a 20 percent discount, as well as personalized signings by Aprill himself. The books were supplied by the Book Nook.
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