...the less people there are who look like real photographers out in the field. Hence, the more the real photographers stand out. (Yes, I am calling phone photographers not real photographers--to me they're not.) Not to take anything away from phone photographers--they're documenting their world for a moment's look. They're notetaking their life. That's not... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Are You Happy with your Work?
The reason to make photographs is simple: For yourself. In whatever way that manifests itself. For me it's making documentary photographs and telling people stories. Putting together gallery shows of my work. The goal of a series of photographic monographs. Some people are technology fans and they like to buy and test out cameras and... Continue Reading →
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.... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Beauty and the Beast
One of these is a photographic tool used to create images with light, to make framed and matted photographic art to hang on walls and savor memories. The other is a computer with a lens that makes files. One gives you endless possibilities for creating photographic prints. The other has a desktop computer job waiting... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Watching and Documenting the Lives of Others AKA Joining the Circus
I've been fortunate to be able to be a working photographer all my life. From the moment I left college, I immediately got work as a photojournalist, then a staff photographer position at a large daily newspaper, and then have worked as a freelance commercial, advertising, and editorial photographer, totaling 35 years in photography. During... Continue Reading →