I just returned from an incredible eagle photography workshop in Haines, Alaska. Hands down this is the most eagles I have ever seen in one spot, and they land to eat salmon right in front of you. What makes the Chilkat Eagle Preserve special is that ability to capture eagle fighting and flight images at Read More
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Creative exercises in the field
We have all experienced it; you are walking around at sunrise looking for a great image. It could be any subject, but you just can’t see anything. Even more frustrating, other photographers in the group just seem to be finding all sorts of things to photograph. Your mind wanders, you’re just not into it, and Read More
Nikon Highlight Metering Mode
A few years ago (starting with D810) Nikon introduced a new metering mode…and many photographers I’ve talked to don’t even know it exists. We all know about spot, center weighted and matrix metering modes…but who uses Highlight Metering Mode? My default metering mode is still matrix metering mode, but when you are worried about clipping Read More
Singh-Ray landscape filter combo
I photograph a lot of landscapes, and many times filters will transform the shot into something special. I’ve always tried to create my work in the field, not later in post production…camera craft is very important to me. I just returned from photographing in Sedona for a week, and filters were invaluable there. I Read More
Teleconverters and Nikon 200mm F2
I regularly use teleconverters. Sometimes I don’t want to lug a long telephoto lens on a trip, and other times I see an unexpected shot and want a longer lens. Of course we know that using teleconverters has some drawbacks. You lose 1-2 stops of light depending on which converter you use, and image quality Read More
Texture slider skin softening
We just finished a magazine shoot this week, and as usual we were on a deadline. I actually like deadlines, it focuses my attention and crystalizes image concepts. It might mean a few late nights in the office, but we have a Starbucks right down the street. The model on this shoot was a man, Read More
Flash in nature photography
I really enjoy photographing a variety of subjects and assignments. My career started photographing adventure sports, but this quickly led to lifestyle, travel, portraits, landscape and wildlife. Honestly, I love the photographic process, and while some subjects/stories are more interesting to me, I also love the photography behind the image. Last week I was photographing Read More
Raincover/Unscrewing the camera eyepiece
I’ve been in the mountains recently photographing elk, especially in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fall color has been really nice, and the temps have been mild…until a couple of days ago. Our first blizzard of the season came through, temps dropped to the teens, and snow starting falling. Any radical change in the weather often Read More
Multiple exposure landscapes
For the longest time, many photographers considered multiple exposure ‘kinda cool, but not something I would ever use.’ Well, times have changed, and so has multiple exposure camera technique. First, the cameras now do all the formulas and merging in camera for you. And not only that, the cameras offer different exposure blending modes…you can Read More
The king of bokeh?
Okay, I’ll admit I am fixated on bokeh. Bokeh (however you like to pronounce it), refers to the quality of out of focus elements in your image. Why is this such a big deal? Because bokeh establishes mood and separation in an image. A background with beautiful bokeh almost looks like a painting. And place Read More
Nikon 85mm F1.8S lens
Nikon recently delivered the newest lens in the mirrorless S lineup, the 85mm F1.8. This is a portrait photographer’s meat and potato lens; I have used my 85mm F1.4 for years around the globe with amazing results. But with new technology and the closer mounting distance of the S lenses, could this new lens replace Read More
Electronic versus mechanical shutter
Many cameras today have two types of shutters, a mechanical shutter and an electronic shutter. You might be thinking this only applies to mirrorless cameras, but some DSLR cameras also have both. I love the ability to use an electronic shutter on my D850. I can shoot in a silent mode and use my LCD Read More