Every time I go out in subzero temps the great race begins once again. What will freeze first, my toes or fingers? Thankfully my new bunny boots are keeping my feet nice and toasty warm this winter. But let’s face it, if your fingers go numb you can’t work your camera….everyone can walk around with Read More
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Warmest parka for winter photography
We talked about boots in the last post, now let’s dive into parkas. I find my photography ability and creativity decreases as my body temperature goes down. Some photographers find they get their best images the more they suffer to take the shot, and there are some remarkable images out there of sufferfests (is this Read More
The warmest boots for winter photography
Cree and I were driving across interior Alaska the other day in total awe of the winter landscape. Beautiful pink light, spruce trees buried in snow, and stunning mountain peaks were the norm. Roads were mostly ice with a little snow on top, but we have studded snow tires that kept us on the road. Read More
Photographing the northern lights with a full moon
Cree and I just returned from Haines, AK. We spent a week photographing eagles at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, and there were tons of eagles this year (more on that soon). On the way home we drove through interior Alaska and Yukon with clear skies and good aurora forecasts. But we also had an Read More
The best light painting flashlight
Winter is here, and that means more night shooting for me. In addition to speedlight photography (image above), I also love to light paint subjects. Just a simple little burst from a flashlight can really transform an image. Light painting can range from small still life setups to larger scenes like cars, building and trees. Read More
Harmonious design for better images
A lot of what we teach on workshops is related to creativity. You know, those intangible ideas and ‘feelings’ that seem hard to articulate. While many people can figure out what mode to use and button to push on the camera, mastering creativity seems much more esoteric. You’ve heard the saying….’you are either born with Read More
What is the trinity of primes?
I had someone recently ask me what was ‘the holy trinity of primes’ (or zooms)? Are these some kind of special lenses? Who makes them? Where can you buy them? Are their unholy versions? Yes, where did that term come from? I’m not exactly sure, probably created by a camera company hoping to sell more Read More
Photographing the northern lights
Last night we had a G4 magnetic storm, which translates to KP8 on the aurora forecast. What that means is most of the lower 48 could see the aurora last night, and for many folks it was the first time they have seen the aurora borealis. This spring we had a G5 storm and photographers Read More
Where to crop that photo?
With today’s high resolution cameras, cropping has become the norm for many photographers. You start with a 45MP file, crop down to about 20MP for a tight head shot on wildlife, and you still have a large file ready to print or send off to publication. I just had a 4 x 6 foot metal Read More
Seeing graphically for better composition
One of my favorite creative quotes is by Claude Monet. He basically said ‘In order to see we must forget the name of things. By labeling, we recognize everything, but no longer see anything.’ I think of this concept this way. Instead of labeling all those subjects in your image, imagine them as graphic elements…shapes, Read More
Forced Perspective
Recently I was in Monument Valley teaching a photo workshop. Monument Valley is in the heart of the Navajo Nation, and a very special place. We focused on landscapes, portraits and night shots. Great group, lots of fun, and incredible photography. We did a special trip up to Hunts Mesa for the big overview image. Read More
Photographing fairs
It’s that time of the year. Many states and communities are having their annual fairs as we move into autumn. I love fairs, I can already smell the funnel cake. Fairs are a great venue for a day of photography as well. Everybody is having a good time, and the mood is festive. Last weekend Read More