Throughout my lifetime as a photographer I've met strangers who have later had a tremendous impact on my life. Many times, events have had an impact on me as well. This time it was people, place, and timing.
I was teaching a class in Gouverneur, New York. Well, at least I was trying to teach a class. In reality I was so sick I could hardly get out of bed. For...
I began my column last month by saying, "I really never know what to expect when I'm taking one of my classes on a field trip." Boy, is that the truth! Since I began this column a couple of weeks ago I've been on several more field trips, all of which have continued to...
In actuality, our stroll through the park only took one afternoon. With these monthly articles, however, it's taken three months to show you what we did. I guess that one of these days I should write another book so that you can sit down at one reading and absorb it...
I really never know what to expect when I'm taking one of my classes on a field trip. I do know that I will be using the same portrait techniques outdoors that I use when I'm in a studio environment. I also know that the outdoor settings offer many more challenges and...
I 've often heard it said that the teacher learns from his students. Such has certainly been the case for me. My Photoshop guru, Eddie Tapp, was in my classes years ago when he was first becoming a photographer in Dallas. Now, I study with him every time that I get a chance to attend one of his five-day classes...
There's something about a good black and white image that makes it jump off the page. It should be simple, direct, and hit you right between the eyes. It stands on its own. It doesn't even need color to make it stand out. It has a full range of tones from a true, deep black all the way to a clear white...with detail throughout.
Beach time is picture time; sometimes in the sun and sometimes in the shade. We did it all recently while I was teaching some of Carnival Cruise Line's photographers who were chosen to be a part of my college on the Imagination. At Grand Cayman we all went to one of the beaches for a fun class in casual portraiture. The lessons learned there I felt should be shared with...
My classes out of the country offer possibilities that keep my life and my photography exciting. For the past three years Merida, Mexico, has been an adventure in teaching. Sights and sounds...color and composition...all available just for looking and seeing. The challenge for me is always to teach photographers to see how the light is playing on their subjects and to show...
One light pattern for everything--that's what I teach. Boring, you say? I don't think so. It simply makes life easy. With one light pattern, two poses (Feminine and Basic), and three camera positions (you place the lens where it sees either full face, 2/3, or profile) you're free to express your creativity.
Have you ever wished for better vision? That is, not just to see more clearly, but at the same time to see things that you've missed seeing--or remembering--because there was just too much to take in at one time.