Photographing The Beatles

Linda McCartney looked pretty stealth working in those Beatles Get Back sessions that were shown on Apple TV last year, wielding her Nikon probably loaded with Kodak Tri-X film. The beauty of black and white for documentary photographs--that's something that only can be done with a camera using film. Sure, today you could shoot on...

Camera Exposure Settings I Use (Film & Digital)

I thought I'd share my exposure settings for how I make photos on black and white Ilford HP5+ negative film and also on a digital full-frame Nikon. Proven ways that work for me. Often without a light meter on a Leica. First off, you can certainly use (A) aperture priority if you have a camera...

Photographs Made! Not Shot, Not Captured, Not Taken Nor Snared

I make photographs. Sometimes that involves photographing news events, life on the street, and other times people posing for my lens for a portrait. But all those photographs are made. I make an effort to create an image the way I want to, using photographic and compositional techniques as well as my experience on how...

The Value of the Documentary Photograph

As you know, I have a camera everywhere I go and Christmas Eve with friends was no exception. They always have a houseful of family and friends and you can count on there being a sing-along of holiday carols. I made the choice of a Pentax MX with a fast 28mm f2 lens knowing that...

Photography Hasn’t Changed

Cameras may have become better at creating an accurate exposure and making a sharp image, but that has nothing to do with photographic vision. If you say. “Anybody can take a picture,” what you’re really saying is, “I can’t see the difference.” Hopefully you're not the art buyer. Kenneth Wajda Fun fact: SLRs, point and...

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...

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...

Amid Billions of Photographs, Where Are the Visionaries?

I'm an optimist. An encourager. I want to be a positive force in others' lives. I believe we can do anything we set out to do if we're willing to do the work. I am known to encourage young photographers that they can, too, as long as they stick to their own vision. I wrote...

The Finest for Your Family: Statement Artwork, Iconic Portraits on 8×10 Film

Legacy artworks--they’re not just for the U.S. President and First Lady. Most people would say that for portraits of their family, "Eh, digital is good enough." The thing is, YOU'RE not most people. Neither am I. We're the ones who seek the finest, the best--that's who we are. We care about quality. We can't accept...

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...