For years photographers have extolled the virtues of taking portraits on overcast days or during the "sweet light" that occurs near the beginning and end of every day. On cloudy days, the contrast range is reduced, allowing you to capture detail throughout the image, from the brightest area to the deepest shadow. Near sunset, you also get a reduced contrast range, with...

There is much more to black and white photography than simply an absence of color. Maybe we wouldn't feel this way if the first photographs had been made in full color, but that didn't happen and, like many photographers, I grew up admiring the...

The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) invited me to come to England and Ireland to do a series of lectures and classes. The SWPP is fast becoming one of the world's leading groups dedicated to advancing the professionalism of portrait and wedding photographers throughout Europe. Not only were the photographers receptive to my instruction, but they were...

Photos © 2004, Steve Anchell, All Rights Reserved

Well, I don't know if I should really call this a self-assignment, as it came my way when I was called upon to supply a chapter for a book. The only problem with the assignment was that I only had 30 days to complete it, including illustrations. Even though I have done just about everything in photography from...

Photo © 2004, Steve Bedell, All Rights Reserved

The Doucet Family
This photo of the David Doucet family is a good example of why I prefer digital capture and retouching for my group images. The boy only stayed in this position for a few images, then we had to sit him on mom. I liked this composition much better so this is the "base"...

Among the things that people fear, psychologists tell us that giving a speech is number one, coming even before death or taxes or the appointment of a special prosecutor. But ask amateur photographers about their fears, and we'd bet a lot of them...