MEET OLYMPUS EDUCATOR LEE HOY
WHO ARE YOU?
My name is Lee Hoy and I am professional photographer, owner/guide of Big Bend Birding & Photo Tours, and a photography workshop leader for Wildside Nature Tours.
I live partially off-grid in the Davis Mountains of west Texas, just north of Big Bend National Park.
What type of photography do you specialize in? My passion for wildlife, landscape, night sky, and macro photography varies throughout the year as the seasons bring different opportunities for photographic subjects.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE A PHOTOGRAPHER?
At the age of 16, my mom gave me a Canon AE1 with a broken meter and I bought John Shaw’s The Nature Photographer’s Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques. With this book, I learned the sunny f/16 rule and with many rolls of slide film in hand, I headed to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma not far from my home in Noble, Oklahoma. This is how my love for photography was birthed and later with a new camera and lens, my grandparents took me on my inaugural trip to Big Bend National Park and the surrounding region.
At the time, my primary interest was in wildlife and landscape photography and my love for macro and night sky evolved over time.
Without a doubt, John Shaw was very influential in my journey as I read all of his books early on in the late 80’s.
INTRODUCING OLYMPUS
How did you get started with the Olympus system?
I had been using heavy DLSR’s for over 30 years and finally grew tired of carrying heavy lenses and bodies up into the Chisos Mountains. An Olympus representative let me try out his personal gear at the Florida Birding & Photo Fest and I knew immediately that I would become an Olympus devotee! The image stabilization, the ability to have a pro body that was so light and water/dust resistant, and an electronic viewfinder that was actually better than the optical viewfinders that I was using prior. The close focus of the pro lenses was certainly a surprise as well!
What’s your go-to Olympus setup?
- OM-D E-M1x’s
- E-M1 Mark II
- M. Zuiko 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO
- M. Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 PRO
- M. Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
- M. Zuiko 60mm F2.8 Macro
- M. Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO
- M. Zuiko 300mm F4.0 IS PRO
- M. Zuiko Digital Converter 1.4x
- (2) M. Zuiko Digital Converter 2.0x
How does Olympus help you do your job?
There is no doubt that Olympus has dramatically increased the number and type of shots I am able to capture because of the incredible image stabilization, I am able to get tack sharp images from moving skiffs, in low light, and without having to carry around a tripod most of the time. The lightweight bodies/lenses allows me to have more options on hand when hiking whether in Big Bend or in the Amazon river basin.
In addition, the features such as Live Composite, Focus Stacking, Live ND, High Resolution Mode, and Pro Capture all add to my repertoire of being able to communicate through my images.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE OLYMPUS FAMILY?
am one of the newer members to the Olympus family and for me, it is the mindset, the friendliness, and the dedication of everyone I have met so far.
TIPS FOR OTHER BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Always be open to receiving feedback on any image and don’t get disappointed your images don’t look like those from someone else. Develop your own photographic vision and style.
TIPS FOR OTHER PRO PHOTOGRAPHERS
Never stop learning your craft! Life long learners will be the best at teaching and helping others.
MORE ABOUT LEE
Website: Big Bend Birding and Photo Tours
Instagram: @bigbendbirdingphototours
Facebook: Big Bend Tours
