I’m not a big fan of the so-called “Rule of Odds,” which claims that photographic compositions are more visually appealing when there is an odd number of subjects. Of course, depending on your subject matter and overall composition, sometimes an even number of subjects doesn’t work—but then again, sometimes an odd number doesn’t work, either.…
I’ve been in quite the quandary the past few months because I fear there is a division among some people who consider themselves to be outdoor photographers. On one side there is the old guard of outdoor photographers who desire to keep the shooting pure. It’s not outdoor photography unless it’s a photograph of only…
As a professional photographer, I’ve had the joy of having a career that allows me to travel to some amazing locations. I’ve seen some of the most famous places during my travels, but just like a lot of people I still have a long list of places to see (and it seems to be getting…
This is the second part of a two-part article on traveling for photography. In Part One, I offered a few tips to ensure a better experience while flying with photo gear. Here, in Part Two, I offer tips related specifically to international photo travel. Before traveling overseas, ensure yourself a smoother experience by reading this…
I’m writing this while sitting at the Budweiser Brew House in the Miami International Airport, killing some time before boarding an overnight flight to South America. This is the less glamorous side of the nature photography profession—I know you think it’s all champagne wishes and caviar dreams, but it’s also lots of idle waiting and…
When I first took up landscape photography, I carried around a big, bulky pouch of filters that were constantly getting scratched, being dropped, or accidentally getting left behind. As digital technology and file quality has improved, the need for most of those filters faded away. Using a polarizer helped reduce the glare on the wet…
Complementary colors—that is, colors opposite one another on the color wheel—can be used very effectively in visual art, including photography. When juxtaposed, complementary colors make each seem brighter and more vivid, creating a powerful visual effect. Artists have been using complementary colors, such as the oranges of the starfish and the blues of the water…
I spend a lot of time in the field, in large part because I often have to wait out bad weather in the hopes of getting the occasional good conditions. Yep, I get rained on… a lot. Poor shooting conditions can strike anytime, anywhere. Over the years, I’ve developed several strategies for dealing with bad…
It happens all too often: some random error message blinking on and off, or worse yet, your camera simply locks up and refuses to do what you want it to do, or anything at all. Digital cameras are amazing pieces of technology, but even the best designed system is prone to mechanical or electrical confusion…
When shooting into the sun it is possible to create an attractive, eye-catching “starburst” effect. The starburst effect results from pointing your lens at a bright source point of light, such as the sun or street lights at night. The effect renders a source point of light not as a bright dot, but rather as…