Dear Photographer,

It's take more than a camera

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:27:00 -0400

Owning a camera and having your relatives say they think you should be a photographer doesn’t mean you should become a photographer. This is a photographer.

In other news ... new Flickr layout

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:44:00 -0400

Flickr is (feebly attempting to prove it’s) not fully dead (just severely wounded) and has introduced us to “bigger” photos, with this ultra new idea of ~~responsive~~ ~~languid~~ liquid layouts.

In other other news, Flickr is still the same site it was 5 years ago.

Brand shmand

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:17:24 -0400

What’s most important is what comes out of your camera, not what went into it.

A noble goal

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:34:00 -0400

“The mission of photography is to explain man to man and each to himself. And that is the most complicated thing on earth.”

— Edward Steichen

While it’s easy to attribute (a made up, “deeper”) meaning to a dead leaf, photography that truly leaves and impression and lasts through time are those that contain a glimpse of humanity.

If this ...

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:27:00 -0400

… is what reality looks like (to our eyes), then I don’t want to live.

Using a flash isn't always best

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Using a Flash to take pictures of fireworks is like taking a bath with your clothes on. I know it’s hard to find time to read (with all the rushing around and ignoring people aound you), but learn some basic functions of your camera so that the rest of us aren’t blind. More often than not you’re built in flash makes a photo worse.

Jurassic Camera

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

To paraphrase the immortal words of Dr. Ian Malcolm, “Just because you can (take a photograph) doesn’t mean you should (take a photograph)”. Words to live by.

Do something, don't just have something

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Often it feels that “photographers” are more interested in their equipment (and aquiring “vintage” Polaroids, etc) rather than the images they create. Do something (with what you have), don’t just have something (because it’s cool to own it).

You're not fooling anyone, except that maybe you are

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

You know what you can’t fix with Photoshop? Taking an actual good photograph. Look past the colorizing and fliters and composites of 25 separate exposures and see if you can find a story. If there’s no story, there’s no photograph, just a snapshot for a scrapbook dedicated of a to some faceless hipsters feet.

Time to move on top another style

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

When a cellphone app can replicate that coveted “I’m so cool I use film but not really because I don’t have the money to spend on it but I’m really awesome, look at this lonely tree” look, it might be time to think about taking real photos.

Do what you love

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Take photos what you love and what interests you — and chances are someone else will love it too (and pay you for it) — unless your passion is HDR, then only murderers and Satan-worshipers will love you.

Try not just standing there

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I know it’s difficult and time consuming, but you might want to try not just standing there when you shoot something. For instance, bend your knees. Or even better, get down on the ground. Or how about this, stand on a chair. Perspective. Get some.

Money covers a multitude of sins

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Just because someone does a fashion shoot with an iPhone 4 don’t be fooled into thinking you can also — well, unless you have $45,000 worth of lighting equipment. With that kind of equipment you can shoot a piece of belly-button lint with a pin-hole camera and it would look great.

You will lose a client to a 14 year old who can't drive

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

When a famed and talented photographer like Jeremy Cowart start to lose large clients to 14 year olds who think an f/stop is a sexual position and that aperture is just a software program, then you know professional photography is in a major state of “talent tainting”.

The worst made up holiday in the creation of the universe

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

It appears that tomorrow, Sunday June 27th, is “International HDR Day”, or what I will call it, “International Worship Photos Created By Satan Day”. To honor the day I will be squirking lemon juice and lighter fluid into my eyes and setting them on fire (thanks for the heads up carissa).

Don't be lazy

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Never use technology as a crutch for your laziness. Plan ahead. Get the right setting. The right lighting. Have the right lens, focal distance and blocking. Never say “I can fix that in Photoshop” when it can be fixed with preparedness.

Photography is a fantasy

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Fastinacting talk (at TED) by photographer/photojournalist Taryn Simon on the hidden and secret world that can be uncovered in photography. She also reinforces the idea that photography can expose a fantasy but also can be used to distort and fabricate truth or reality into a fantasy.

Turn that frown upside down

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

If you have a really dull and uninteresting photo (which honestly, 99% of all photographs are) try turning it upside down. BAM! Instant depth and interest (but not really). It’s the equivalent of hitting an “awesome-ify” button.

You look like a sweaty pig

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Photography always has a style cycle, and right about now the “sweaty pig look” should go away. It has it’s place — like if you want someone to look like a sweaty messy pig — but it’s also overdone. Never use a style for the fact that everyone else is doing it.

Death and taxes and HDR

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

There aren’t many guarantees in life. Death and Taxes. And HDR. HDR is like spraying your eyes with liquid death aerosol while eating a scalding bowl of boiled taxes.