One valuable part of our workshops is image review. Feedback is part of the creative process, and helps us become better photographers. There is a lot of criteria for feedback, some aspects focus on technical merits and other feedback focuses on graphic elements. And there is always the more subjective, bigger picture of creativity and Read More
Blog
Auto ISO versus Manual Mode for bird/wildlife photography
Last week I was in Costa Rica photographing the amazing wildlife with a workshop group. The bird photography was incredible, so many species flying through the jungle. During our shooting a question came up about what is the best shooting mode for birds (and wildlife), Manual mode using auto ISO….or full manual mode and setting Read More
Speed up your workflow
We get this question a lot…how do you download images so quickly? On wildlife trips we might shoot 8000 images in one day….after a week in Africa we might have 60,000 images. Workflow involves a lot of elements from downloading, culling, labeling, and finally backup to storage systems. The first part is downloading your images, Read More
How to photograph sandhill cranes
We had an incredible time photographing sandhill cranes last winter in New Mexico. Bosque Del Apache never disappoints, every year is different. Last year we spent some time at Bernado, another refuge to the north. Cree and I were headed to the airport our final night, and decided to drop in for one last shoot. Read More
Creativity Part 4
By now, after the first three creativity posts, I hope you have learned some new aspects of creativity. More importantly, I hope just thinking about these ideas has inspired you to try a new photo technique, or perhaps book your next trip to create an original image in a new location. Even after decades of Read More
Creativity Part 3
Another important aspect of creativity is problem solving, or in other terms, creative thinking. Your ability to problem solve allows you to bring your creative vision to life. I use my imagination to envision an image, and often the next step is figuring out how to make it happen. Some problem solving is as simple Read More
Creativity Part 2
We started with two aspects of creativity, originality and imagination. Today let’s look at two more, experimentation and continuous learning. Have you ever heard someone say “yeah, I got that shot, what else is there to shoot?” It is almost like photography is a checklist, you get ‘the shot’ and then you are done. It’s Read More
Improving Creativity
Photography is comprised of hard skills like learning how your camera works, all that technical stuff that I love, and creative skills that can be harder to learn. Left brain, right brain, everyone has a mix that makes up their photographic identity. When you master your camera functions, and start to really get in touch Read More
Nikon Z6III
We get a lot of questions about what is a good camera for those getting into the Nikon line? Or what about a backup to a Z8? I was very intrigued when Nikon introduced the Z6III. I’ve owned every version of the Z6…but I wanted something with more speed and a better grip for me Read More
Steger Mukluks, a very warm winter boot
After my earlier post on warm boots for winter, a few folks commented on how heavy the new Alaska bunny boots are. Yes, they are heavy, and after a day of walking around or stomping through the snow you will feel it. I use my bunny boots for standing around or limited walking in subzero Read More
The number one rule for traveling with cameras
I spend the better part of my year on the road teaching photo workshops and shooting assignments. I just walked in the door from Finland, and I’m off to Baja in a few days…60-70 flights a year. Since I travel with groups, we often share our travel stories dealing with camera gear. For the most Read More
Rotolight Neo 3
A question I get often on workshops is why not use continuous lights instead of flash like a SB-5000 speed light? Continuous lights versus flash, what are the pros and cons? I use both lights in my photography, and they each have things they do well. Continuous lights provide constant illumination so you can see Read More