Just returned from teaching a flash workshop in Las Vegas for Photo Quest Adventures. We worked with some fabulous models, including Priscilla, a dancer I have worked with before. She can come up with an amazing array of costumes, poses and ideas, no doubt a reason why she is in demand as a show girl. Read More
Blog
P7000
I have never been one to carry a camera everywhere I go. It is just to big, and I worry about someone walking off with my expensive camera (which happened this summer). Yes, I miss some great shots. Point and shoots haven’t interested me because the file quality and controls were limited. Not anymore, enter Read More
Abstract color
I was just in the tetons recently photographing fall color on a Great American Photography Workshop. After we shot the classics we tried some more abstract ways of documenting color. One of my favorite techniques is twisting the camera while pointed upward to get some pinwheel effects. Shutter speeds from 1/30 and slower will get Read More
Look for Shadows
I was in Denver the other day shooting some images for a friend. We needed to get some high school senior shots, not something I normally do, but I have worked with Chris a lot and we always get some interesting images when we work together. And this day it was all about the shadows. Read More
Underwater SB900 use
I am always interested in working with light, both above and below water. Think about those over/under shots shot with a fisheye where you can see both the fisherman’s feet on the bottom of the river, and him casting his line above the water. The challenge with these images is often the underwater part is Read More
Mixed Martial Arts/Ring Flash
Had a great shoot today with Sir Greg, a local athlete who is very talented in a number of sports. Wanted to work on some really edgy portraits, raking side lighting and some ring flash fill. We used three Elinchrom Rangers for this image. Two Rotalux strip lights are left and right of the model Read More
Adventure Sports Alaska Style
Just returned from spending a week with my friend Colby Coombs and teaching a backcountry photo workshop for the Alaska Mountaineering School. This class was unique in that we hiked into a remote area near Mt. McKinley and camped for a few days. We focused on landscape shooting, adventure sports and how to carry all Read More
ring flash
Ring flash is a special flash that circles the lens and projects right on the lens axis. What is unique about this flash is the circle reflections and outlining shadow it produces. This flash is often used in fashion, but it can be used anywhere. Generally there are two styles of shooting with this flash, Read More
Glowing sea kayak
I seem to be attracted to water and strobe. I photograph a lot of water sports, so I am always looking for a different way to shoot familiar subjects. I was in the Tetons recently and had a chance to produce some ‘glowing sea kayak’ images. Here is how it works. For this image I Read More
When to use fill flash
Flash comes in a variety of styles and shapes, from simple one light set ups to complex multiple light scenes. Sometimes simple is all you need. I have been shooting a lot of assignments lately, from college campuses to indoor skating to Alaska tourism. And I have to say one technique has saved the day Read More
Mt. Huntington
Some years you get all the luck. I have spent my last 26 summers in Alaska, and some years Denali and the Alaska Range barely peak out. Other years you see it day after day. I just returned from 3 weeks of shooting in Alaska, and had some great windows of clear weather for incredible Read More
Planes, trains, automobiles and grizzly bears
Or maybe I should say planes, helicopters, jet boats, atvs and dog sleds. In the middle of assignment work in Alaska this summer, always love going back to where we used to live and work with great clients. These shoots get really crazy. The sun sets after midnight in June, and the night never really Read More