I shoot a lot of travel photography, and at presentations folks are always interested in how ‘you got that shot’. My first answer is you just have to get out and shoot. It doesn’t matter if you are at your local park or on the other side of the globe, you won’t have great chances Read More
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The Quadra is waterproof…almost.
I’m in Peru right now on a Strabo photo tour, and I have to say Peru has become one of my favorite countries to visit. The people are warm and friendly, the Andean landscape is dramatic, and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time is almost a religious experience. And did I mention the food Read More
Goal Zero Power
I recently shot a story for Digital Photo magazine on portable power solutions for the photographer. How do you charge up that D4 battery when you are in woods? Hands down Goal Zero has been the answer for me. Goal Zero offers a large line of portable power packs and matching solar panels to power Read More
Light advances…or does it?
I regularly teach a class on composition during my workshops, and one topic we discuss is how the eye moves through an image. What attracts the eye (i.e. viewer), what causes confusion, why do some photographs just look so good? Being able to articulate these concepts is critical in visual literacy, and is fundamental in Read More
Mentor Series; Colorado and Montana
I’ve just added two new workshops for this summer, both for the Mentor Series. I’ve worked for years with the Mentor Series, and their trips are always loaded with fantastic shooting and lots of fun. I also really like the fact I get to work with other Nikon Pros (Dave Black and I can’t Read More
Shoot through it.
I just returned from a great trip to Costa Rica with ANPW, looking forward to returning next year! We spent our days photographing wildlife and jungle scenes all through this friendly country. We found all sorts of critters to photograph including iguanas, turquoise Morpho butterflies, 4 species of monkeys and countless exotic birds. After getting Read More
Packing Light
I’ve written posts before on packing light. I’m sure some of my obsession with packing light comes from years of carrying 80 pound packs on month long expeditions; if you don’t need it, don’t carry it. But better put for photographers is maybe ‘too much gear is a hindrance, not a help’. I am very Read More
Shooting in snow.
I have been shooting in a lot of snow lately, and not the kind on the ground. Blowing snow causes a few technical issues, as well as a few creative ones. Here is the short list the next time you photograph in a snowstorm. 1. Autofocus may not work. Depending on how heavy the snow Read More
The best telephoto lens?
I just returned from weeks on the road, first in Tampa filming a new training video for Kelby Training (more on that later), and most recently teaching a workshop with ANPW in Yellowstone. This was our 9th year there, a sell out trip almost every year, and with good reason. Yellowstone is just plain magical Read More
Kauai and the 15-stop Mor Slo filter
I just walked in the door from teaching the AMS photo workshop in Kauai, and I am still shaking the sand out of my hair. We had an incredible trip…huge waves on the north shore, helicopter rides over the Napali coast, portrait sessions with world class surfers. This island is very dramatic with steep cliffs, Read More
Macro flash
I recently have been shooting some macro flash, and I was asked what worked the best. Here is the good news. Lighting principles work the same, whether you are photographing a model on the beach or a butterfly in the garden. All light has direction, quality and color, the three characteristics you work with Read More
Vello extension tubes
Winter may seem like a funny time to shoot macro, after all, there are no insects or flowers to photograph. But I am headed to Kauai and Costa Rica (two spots left) in the next few months, and I wanted to update my macro options to capture those colorful dart frogs in the Costa Read More