It used to be that if you wanted to have an in-depth learning experience from a master photographer, you had to attend a workshop or if you were lucky, serve as their assistant. The first could be prohibitively expensive, especially if travel was involved. While the latter was only available to those talented and persistent enough to secure such a position when they became available.
Read More
Photo: Ibarionex
Photo Critiques: How to Make the Most of Them
For over 25 years, I have been a photo educator in one form or another. Whether as a writer, adjunct professor or a workshop leader, I had shared my knowledge and experience with thousands of photographers with varying levels of experience.
However, there have been times when I am the student. And regardless of what I know, or think I know, there is always some insight to be gained when I am listening to another person sharing their knowledge and experience.
Read More
Staying in the Moment
A photographer friend once told me a story of when he was photographing in a Tibetan monastery. He was creating images over several days when he noticed one of the monks carefully observing him. The monk watched him as he photographed, but never approached him or said a word. There was a moment when the photographer thought that the monk thought he was doing something wrong, though the link didn’t choose to verbalize it.
Read More
Photo: Ibarionex
Street Week LA - February 12 -17
For the past four years I have been involved with Street Week LA, an event put on by the Los Angeles Center of Photography. It's a unique event which focuses on the world of street photography in Southern California.
Read More
Photo: Magnum Photos
Do Great Photographers Make Bad Pictures?
The greatest source of education and inspiration for me has been looking at the work of great photographers. I have spent endless hours looking thru the monographs of Gordon Parks, Mary Ellen Mark, Roy DeCarava, Josef Koudelka, Tina Modotti, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Robert Frank, William Albert Allard and countless others. Those moments leave me marveling at the unique way a person can see the world and capture a moment with a camera.
Read More
Keeping a Photo Journal
Keeping a photo journal has proved incredibly helpful for my photography. I do more than just keep notes about shutter speeds and apertures. Instead, it’s an opportunity for me to turn the lens on myself and evaluate my process for making images.
Read More
photo: Joey L.
Joey L. - Guerilla Fighters of Kurdistan
Joey L. is a young photographer who has been on my radar for a very long time. I often use him as an example for aspiring photographers. While many wanna-be photographers fixate on gear and technique, Joey has created a career from focusing on what he wants to create and what he needs to do to get there.
Read More
Practice Whenever Possible
Despite the fact that I’m my own boss, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I go out and photograph anytime that I want. Like everyone else there are too many things to do and only so many hours in the day.
I had an appointment in South Pasadena this morning and I arrived 30 minutes early. At first, I thought I would just kill time on my phone going through my e-mail and mindlessly browsing the Internet.
Read More
photo: Ibarionex
New Year Non-Resolutions
I have never been much for making resolutions. Such self-promises have lapsed into failure no sooner than I’ve put pen to paper.
Instead, I try to evaluate the past year. I look at where I’ve succeeded and where I’ve fallen short and I try to learn from both. Rather than seeing it as an opportunity to set myself up for a failure that I will berate myself for later, I instead try to reinforce those actions that helped me to succeed. Focusing too much on the things I don’t like has never led to a successful transformation. It’s only when I focus on the actions that get me closer to what I want that have resulted in change.
Read More
How Procrastination Ruins Photography
Rather than lounging around on Sunday morning, I decided to get up extra early and go out and make some photographs. I wanted to catch the morning light and just enjoy walking around Pasadena and Altadena.
It was a morning rich with opportunities to see my community with new eyes. First off, it was early enough that there weren't many people out on the street. So, the usual fodder for my street photography was nowhere to be had. Secondly, it would allow me to see a very familiar environment under very different circumstances.
I felt like I had experienced a pretty successful morning when I was driving back home and spotted the light hitting the front of this church. I immediately knew it would make a good photograph, but I continued driving past it as I was eager to get back home.
Read More