That Great Introducer: The Camera

I was in New York recently, a city that's one of my favorite places on earth, and went down to Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park. There's always a crowd there, plenty of energy. The people-watching is great fun and of course, it makes for excellent opportunities for photographs and is a great place to...

To Be An Artist; To Be Subversive

A writer once said, "If what you're writing isn't pissing someone off, what's the point?" I've always remembered that. What are we doing that's moving the needle? Making people think? What is it about the work we do that's worth other people spending their time looking at it? I remember going with a friend to...

The Best Holiday Gifts (Now, This Is Getting Personal!)

I hear people saying how stressed out they get over the holidays with what to buy, especially for people who are hard to shop for. What to get them? It's impossible! The problem is they're thinking like consumers, not someone looking for something personal. What thing should I be buying that will fulfill the gift...

Two Ways to Eat a Slice of Pie

Digital photography is holding a slice of pumpkin pie plucked by hand from the pan and scarfing it down over the sink in seconds. It's delicious but it's gone quite quickly. It's a phone photo that's sent out for a glance and a swipe. That's what it's made for, not for long-studied looks. A quick...

Art Mind vs. Science Mind: Which Are You?

I saw The Fabelmans today. It's a semi-autobiographical movie by Steven Spielberg where he tells the story of a young boy growing up and falling in love with the idea of making movies. It was very good, I enjoyed it very much. I had a private screening--I was the only one in the audience. Perhaps...

Is Social Media Detrimental to New Photographers?

Andy Adams of FlakPhoto asked recently which social media would photographers choose as an alternative, and which qualities they were looking for in a different platform. And I asked myself a very simple question: "Why would anyone join any in the first place?" It seems like it can only be for one reason—they aren't making...

The Photographers’ Show, Saturday Night 7p.m., Tickets $10

I have an idea. (When don't I?) I want to find a location to start a monthly salon where photographers show their work on a large screen and invite a paying audience to see their work, money some of which goes back to the photographers. Perhaps a $10 ticket price. When I look at the...

We Are at a Societal Crossroads, a Most Important Time to Be a Photographer

It's never been a more important time to be a photographer than today. You might question, "Why?" When it seems like everyone is a photographer with a phone in their pocket and there are more photographs being made today than at any time in the history of photography. The thing is virtually none of those...

My Work Featured in Ilford Film’s Online Magazine

Ilford Film (a UK company that makes black and white film) featured a story about my Longmont Lake Project in their online magazine. I worked for 10 weeks with a Rolleiflex 3.5F loaded with Ilford HP5+ film. We make work to be seen. At least I do. I have heard of photographers who just like...

Meet at the Meat Market

There's something about signage and markets. From all the way back to the Walker Evans documentary days, there's something to photographing signs to save today for a future audience. To look back on someday when things are no longer the way they are today. This is what drew me to photograph this meat market in...