When I saw the D810 announced about a year ago, I wasn’t in line to buy one. I was so happy with my D800 and the files it produced, I just didn’t see the need to upgrade when the files were basically the same. Sure, the D810 didn’t have the anti-aliasing filter so I could Read More
Blog
Ohio here I come!
I teach photo workshops all over the country and globe, but noticeably absent are excursions to the Midwest. I grew up in the Midwest, and despite not having a Grand Canyon or an ocean, there are a lot of lesser known, but very beautiful, areas to photograph. When the Mentor Series asked me if I Read More
Combining white balances
One of the most powerful design elements photographers can use is color. Color evokes a strong emotional response from the viewer, and can help the photographer achieve their vision and concept. Often the first step in creating the color is choosing your white balance. Your white balance might match the scene, such as Daylight for Read More
Creative trees
On my recent travels in Mexico I kept encountering beautiful purple Jacaranda trees. The challenge with photographing the trees was their location; busy streets, private yards and cluttered courtyards. But one morning we found a beautiful tree near a church, and this Jacaranda was perfectly silhouetted against the blue sky. How to photograph this tree? Read More
Street shooting; make your own luck.
I just returned from a wonderful trip organized by Strabo Tours to San Miguel De Allende. If you like beautiful orange and red buildings, narrow cobble streets, and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet, go to San Miguel. This town has a vibrant art scene with numerous galleries, and terrific shooting all Read More
Free time equals great images.
Every photographer wants to create better images and figure out their style. What separates their work from the rest of the pack? What style of images do you like to shoot? As photographers we all have free time, and man is it easy to find other activities to fill the day instead of going out Read More
Elinchrom ELB 400
Elinchrom recently introduced a new flash, the ELB 400. Similar to the earlier Quadra, this pack is very lightweight (about 6 pounds with the head) and portable. I have used the Quadra around the globe; it is the perfect solution for portraits in remote areas and travel. Nothing is more exciting than lighting a Mongolian Read More
Shooting the West
I just returned from Shooting the West, a unique photography workshop/symposium held every year in Winnemucca, NV. This was my 5th year attending, and it is always a highlight of my year. Why? Because of the great people who attend, and the amazing workshops. This year Ben Wilmore was the keynote speaker…you might know him Read More
A Defining Moment
I was just in Costa Rica on a fantastic workshop with ANPW. The shooting was incredible, including watching this amazing sunset over the Cerro De La Muerte. I sometimes get asked how my career began in photography, was there a turning point in my career, and what inspires my work. My friend Randy at Fusebox Read More
How to find the North Star
I just returned from a week shooting in Yellowstone National Park, and some of my favorite images were taken at night. My favorite star trail shots use both the North Star and land elements in the composition. Adding landscape grounds the swirling stars above, and using the North Star gives a pleasing central point for Read More
Creating sunlight with flash
I know many nature photographers who don’t like to use flash. Their biggest concern; the shot looks ‘flashed’. Beautiful nature photography is all about gorgeous natural light. But what if you could create your own gorgeous natural light? When I first started out, I loved natural light and wasn’t interested in flash…until I could see Read More
Minimize dust in camera.
It seems almost everywhere I photograph it’s dusty. I mean really dusty; dry gritty deserts in New Mexico, salt ponds in Peru, windswept plains in Patagonia. I’m not one of those photographers who worries about dust getting in my camera when I change lenses. If I need to switch lenses, then I am going to Read More