Looking versus seeing as a photographer
A great article on looking versus seeing when viewing a photograph.
My images are always blurry! what am I doing wrong?
Cameras, especially DSLRs can be confusing when you are just getting started in photography. Many tell me that an iPhone can snap a decent image regardless of where you take it, why can’t an expensive DSLR do the same? Think about cameras like a musical instrument, and a camera phone like a radio, both will play music – one you […]
Calibrate your monitor using DisplayCal
Calibrating your monitor is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your image quality. While you can’t control the way an image looks once it gets to your clients or viewers, you can control how it looks when you are editing it. There are several choices available for monitor calibration, I personally use the Datacolor Spyder X. […]
My experience with iDrive cloud backup service
Regular readers of my blog know that I don’t use my audience to go after companies online, I will on occasion however voice my opinion with a company whether positive or negative. The story of my experience with iDrive cloud backup service recently deserves to be told, especially considering this company is currently conducting a large marketing push on nationally […]
20 things you might not know about me
I have had many requests to complete the “20 things you might not know about me” challenge, so here we go… Completing this was a bit tougher than I expected, but I had a lot of fun writing this. I’m married and have twin boys I married my high-school sweetheart in 1992, she is my soulmate and I don’t think […]
The best camera settings for any shooting scenario explained.
Are you new to photography? Are you looking for the best camera settings to capture a concert, or family gathering? Are you terrified of manual mode but know that mastering manual mode is the only way to be seen as a professional photographer? Let’s talk about it… This topic is perhaps one of the most controversial in photography right now. […]
Are you copyrighted by putting a (C) watermark on your photo?
Disclaimer: First, let me make it absolutely clear that I am not a lawyer, and you should not consider this article as legal advice. These are the common-sense guidelines I personally follow for my work as a photographer when sharing on social media. I have been sharing my photographic work on social media for over a decade, and I have […]
What is wrong with shooting on train tracks?
As a photography educator, I am often asked to review and comment on the portfolios of aspiring photographers. I have noticed a concerning trend emerging in recent years – train track photography. Hundreds of people are killed each year in train track related incidents, and it has become all too common for photographers both pro and amateur to offer train […]
Image censorship: time to rise up against Facebook?
In its early days, photographers worked extraordinarily hard to gain photography as a recognized and viable form of art. The argument against photography as art centered around the supposed ease of capturing an image compared to the exhausting work of painting a piece. I believe these arguments originate from a lack of understanding of the process involved in the activity. […]
The real difference between Profoto RFi and OCF modifiters
A few years ago, I upgraded my entire studio from my tried and true Photoflex strobes to the Profoto D2 line. I liked nearly everything about the Photoflex Starflash system, the recycle time, durability, color consistency and bowens mount. I used Pocketwizard triggers to fire the strobes and was very happy with the performance of the Pocketwizard triggers. I honed […]
Is Landscape photography worth the time?
Recently I exhibited a new body of work at one of the galleries in the Santa Fe Art District here in Denver Co. The opening nights are always my favorite because you can be a fly on the wall with the people looking at the displayed art. You can always count on hearing some interesting candid critiques of the work […]
Are critiques useful after the shoot?
I lurk (and participate) in a lot of internet forums on photography, and one recurring topic I see is that image critiques are not useful after the shoot has been done. This sentiment seems to be especially common from newer photographers. Let’s face it, the internet can be a terrible place, and no matter how good you are at something […]
Focus Fail
Teaching yourself to be critical of your work can improve the quality of your work immensely. I often use a failed attempt at an image here to illustrate my workflow and mindset when choosing images for social media or an exhibition. Let’s talk about it.. I often see photographers using the “machine gun” approach when taking a photo, they […]
Helping you cull your work
Are you one of those photographers who have difficulty selecting the one iconic image from a set of good shots? Have you ever taken a portrait, and liked the look on the models face but you missed focus on the eyes and decided to show it anyway? If you have problems identifying flaws in your work, then this article can […]
When a model flakes
First, let me say this article is written from the perspective of a photographer (that’s me), but the information contained herein can certainly be applied to either side of the image creating relationship. When a model cancels on your shoot, it can be frustrating, but understanding the process, and your actions that led you to that flaked session can make […]
Vignettes and how to use them
The vignette in photographic terms is characterized as the loss of brightness around the edge of a photograph. A vignette was often considered an undesirable effect in photography, as it historically highlighted the limitations of a lens. Programs like Adobe Lightroom come preloaded with profiles for most available lenses and easily counter the darkening effect in software. Vignettes have changed […]
Creating a body of work outside of my comfort zone
If you are new here, let me catch you up… I’m almost completely blind (yes, really), and a guide dog user. For ages I worked in the videogames industry creating games for Atari, Accolade and Mattel Toys, until a career-ending car accident left me with 5% low functioning vision in one eye. I can see highlight and shadow but lose […]
Making the case for robust image descriptions on social media
I have noticed a trend with many photographers when sharing their images on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Depending on the forum you are posting to, you may include some technical information on the image or maybe just a catchy title. All too often however, photographers just post the image and move on – leaving the viewer to […]
Profoto vs Godox Light Modifier showdown
There are more videos and articles comparing battery powered flashes than you can shake a stick at. Anyone researching a portable lighting setup will undoubtedly look at the strobe offerings from Profoto (B10, B1X) and Godox (AD200, AD600PRO etc.) but once you have that shiny new strobe unit, you are going to need to pony up for some light modifiers. […]
Finding constructive criticism for your work
As a photographer, do you often look at your work and think it isn’t good enough to show? Do you look at your work and compare it to the images you see in National Geographic or on 500px and think “my work will never be that good”? Being your own worst critic to the point where you don’t feel like […]