“I Don’t Want to See the Photo of Me You Just Took.”

Why are you showing it to me? It's not a memory. I'm right here. It just happened. Like. Just. Now. Save it and show it to me in a week, a month. Sometime later when we can relive the moment together. Yep, that's me. I was there. Still am. That to me is what photography...

Working On Possibilities: “You Get an A!”

I'm reading a book I like very much titled (But first, a little aside: Why do people put "entitled" when it's 'titled'? It's not 'entitled' to anything! Okay, back to the book 'titled'): The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. He's the conductor of the Boston...

Learning Photography? Ditch the 18-55mm Kit Lens

I've recently taken on teaching middle school and high school students digital photography for a local private school. They each have given to them a Canon T5 Rebel and an 18-55mm kit lens to use. Here's my take: That 18-55mm lens is a terrible one to learn photography with. It has limited uses and is...

A 2023 Prediction: The Further AI Goes…

...the more value there will be for traditional photographers, especially those using film and creating photographs as a craft. Just like there's a movement toward film photography among young people, those same young people are the ones advertisers want to reach and those young consumers don't want fake images, doctored pictures, or AI-generated unreality. They...

The Love for Heavy Metal: Would You Use a $5 Nikon F2?

I stopped by a thrift store in Loveland Colorado and they had a Nikon F2A with a motor drive for a fiver. Hmm, yeah, I'll take that. They said it's only for display as it doesn't work. (Yeah, right!) Well, let's see. It had no lens. (No problem, I have several.) And no shutter collar....

Sometimes You Improvise

I was out in New Jersey photographing a Halloween parade when I noticed my Leica lens cap was missing. I thought I was holding it pressed against the lens with the palm of my hand but obviously not. Maybe it fell off in the bag or in the rental car. No dice. What to do?...

Sisters Portraits: 8×10, Rolleiflex and the In-Betweens

I had a portrait shoot this week with a pair of sisters, ages 15 and 16. I told them to wear fancy formal dresses and meet me at the lake in my town. Their mom drove them over and the two girls had a look of embarrassment and annoyance at being dressed like that when...

Learn Film Photography: I’ll Bring You a Camera!

So, there has been a lot of interest this summer from folks taking lessons to learn film photography. You know those old SLRs (single lens reflex) cameras like the Canon AE-1 or Pentax K1000 your parents had or maybe you had. I've had students study with me one-on-one with 35mm, 120 and even a 4x5...

The (Quite Worthwhile) Cost of Film Photography

If a roll of film goes up by a dollar, it's still worth it. Yes, I saw the news--Ilford announced a 15% price hike starting August 15. That's the state of the international economy, a world full of supply shortages and the cost of making the best film on the planet. We need to support...

“I’M NOT THAT BUSY”

I abhor the way every working photographer when asked how it's going replies, "I'm so busy." Automatically. Whether they are or not, they think it's a badge of honor. "So, so busy."Busy isn't the most important thing to be. A good balance of work and free time is important, not just running from one job...