Photographic Techniques
Which Light Modifier Do You Choose for Your Photography Session?
I’ve written several articles over the years about lighting, and attempting to debunk some of the complications users often face when bringing off-camera flash into their workflow. And while I’ve pawed over the Inverse Square Law, the technicals of features such as High-Speed Sync, and given dozens…
Three Headshot Photography Styles to Try for Your Next Headshot Session
All photography industries ebb and flow, going from incredibly busy and fruitful, to slow and stressful over a couple of months at a time. This seems to hold whether you’re photographing weddings, family portrait sessions, or commercial photography – but one industry holds to be the exception –…
How to Photograph a Music Festival
There have never been more opportunities for photographers to cover music festivals than there are today. From big-name festivals in major markets to smaller regional and local festivals, these events offer a fun and challenging experience for both the newcomer and the seasoned professional. With a…
Six Lighting Setups to Try on Your Next Photoshoot
Over the course of my career, I’ve noticed that a lot of my work comes in waves, where I will be incredibly busy for several months on end, and then be really slow for a month or two. Historically, August is always been a slow month, so as a result, I typically take my time in August to organize my…
Getting Started in Cave Photography
A few years ago, I got an email from an editor with the subject line “Caving next week?” It was an invitation to work on a caving assignment in Idaho and Wyoming. At the time, I was uncertain that caving was something I was interested in so I passed on the job. Boy was I wrong! This year, I decided…
How AI Tools are Making Retouching Easier Than Ever
A few months ago, I wrote about AI art, and what it means for the industry of photography. Admittedly, in the last 6 months or so, my take on the topic feels a bit dated, and I’m far more concerned than ever with the technology advancing so rapidly and what it means for the industry as a whole.…
How to Expose Raw Files – Part 2
_This is Part 2 of an article published last week. For the best understanding, please read part one by clicking here._ Last week, we talked a bit about how the camera exposes raw files and used an analogy of rainwater and buckets to explain that. Today, we’re going to dive into the topic more and…
How to Expose Raw Files – Part 1
Throughout the two-century history of photography, the subject of exposure has been repeatedly addressed and hotly debated. In the film era, people talked about exposure and B&W’s negative development in two ways. At first, when most of the photography was done with sheets and plates, it was…
Advanced Photography Lighting Techniques – Feathering & Zooming
Lighting within photography holds a reality – It’s easy to understand, but really takes years to master. As such, you end up seeing a progression with photographers who start using studio strobes that looks very similar to the Dunning Kruger effect chart – where they figure out basic principles,…
Understanding Light Control – Photographing Black on Black and White on White
If you’ve dabbled in off-camera lighting or even natural lighting at times, you’ll quickly discover how difficult working with white can be. It’s no surprise that many people ask their subjects specifically not to wear white clothes, as it’s easy to blow out the highlights and ruin an otherwise…
Photography Fundamentals – How ISO Changes Your Photos
In recent weeks, I’ve started posting some fundamental articles on how to use your camera if you’re starting out. In the past couple weeks, we’ve discussed both how aperture affects your images, and how shutter speed changes your images, so today, we’re going to cover the final piece to that…
A Look into Bird Photography With Frans Lanting
They often say that luck is when preparation meets opportunity, and no type of photography holds that statement as true more than bird photography. A constant challenge of both patience and training, birding often involves being ready at a moments notice to capture that one shot of a fleeing bird.…