The Problem With Likes (Please Don’t Like This Unless You Read It!)

I have a problem with some LIKES. The ones that remove the "K" and are essentially LIES. Not malicious lies, but ones that don't reflect someone truly enjoying and valuing our work. See, where you get the LIKE matters. If I get a LIKE on this blog post, chances are this post was read. (And...

Save Those Negatives

I find it unbelievable that I have to write this, but the trend in film developing labs, not professional ones, but drugstore-types, is to return digital files and not return the negatives for film that they develop. It would be like Bob Dylan (or more likely his record company) saving one cassette tape of Highway...

Ah, The Difference a Print Makes

The photographic print defines today's photographer. That's it right there. Doesn't matter if you originate on film or a digital sensor, it's the print that defines the photographer. What have you made lately? Show me your work, let's see your photographs? I'd go so far as to say that those making photographic prints are the...

To Be The Best Photographer in The World

What's your goal? How far do you want to take this thing, photography? What's the limit as you perceive it as applying to you and your work? For me, it's not a hobby but my life's work. There's no limit as I see it--it's simple, my goal is to be the best photographer in the...

The Wise Photo Project Goes Worldwide to Photograph Sweet Wonderful Old Faces

It really started kind of small in Kenneth Wajda’s Boulder Colorado commercial portrait studio back in 2015. He advertised an open studio on Mondays in the local events listings for seniors age 70 and over to come in and get a formal portrait made at no cost, figuring that was his slowest day at the...

Time Traveling With a Leica or Rolleiflex

Ohmigod, is that a Saturn?  And look, remember when you had to pedal your bike! [This is a repost of the most popular 6x6Portraits blog post ever. We're time traveling today back to 2016.] The year is 2066. We're teleporting to different parts of the earth, holding meetings on virtual beaches while sitting at home,...

Visiting Camera Shops Is (Should Be) Fun!

I make a point of going out of my way to visit camera shops when I travel to any city or town if there is one to stop in and say hello. First, I never know what I might find. And second, there's a joy in keeping these stores in business, poking around the used...

How I Can Afford to Make The Wise Photo Project

I photographed Margaret, a lovely 98-year-old woman last week in my studio and will gift her a framed 12x12 portrait this week. How am I able to gift photo shoots and framed portraits at no cost to seniors in The Wise Photo Project? Easy, through commissioned portraits--when people commission a portrait, they know that the...

Happy Holidays: Buy Film, Make Art!

Happy Holidays to all my friends and family who let me photograph them (it's not an unusual occurrence!), sometimes in good light and sometimes in good shadows. To all my readers, viewers, listeners and subscribers on my various channels--here, YouTube, and my podcast--I'm thankful for all of you. Cheers to a great 2021 and as...

What is a Photograph Worth?

A conversation blew up on Reddit this week with people asking how can a photographer justify high prices for photographic prints. Which got me thinking, does the proliferation of "everyone has a camera" nowadays, does the cheapness of photography mean that there's no room for experience and quality anymore? No need for high-end photographers? Are...