This tintype photo of Billy the Kid, created around 1880, was just sold for $2.3 million in June 2011. Was it because the picture was taken by a famous photographer? Maybe the famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady? No, this tintype photo sold for $2.3 million because of the cult of personality of one of the most famous Wild West outlaws of all time. Plus, this tintype is the only surviving photograph of Billy the Kid. The combination of the rarity and the cult of personality compound each other to create a photo of exceptional worth.

Two questions occur to me. What is a tintype photo? And why is Billy the Kid so famous?

In the classroom, I encourage my students to become familiar with the way they work. Understanding our working methods and process makes it easier to navigate the ups and downs of that process. For instance, under what conditions do you work best? Do you work on multiple projects at once, or do you complete one at a time? When are you most motivated? When are you least motivated or inspired? How do you deal with hitting walls or roadblocks? Do you like to experiment, or do you prefer full control? Recognizing these repeating conditions—and how we react to them—makes us more efficient and adept at maneuvering the creative working process.

Headshot by Athena Photography.

Back in college, I learned a term in cinematography class: Mise-en-scene. To sum it up in short, Mise-en-Scene is everything that goes in front of the camera (or affects it) in that particular scene. It has to do with various elements such as the lighting, costumes, backgrounds, foregrounds, positioning, props, etc. Then it hit me: If film crews put so much effort into storyboarding to make sure that everything is perfect, why don't most photographers apply that same careful effort to photography?

The tripod has been an essential piece of gear in the photographer's kit for years. Over the years, different types of tripods (and accessories) have emerged to accommodate the needs of media professionals. Fortunately, we feature almost every type of tripod, for every type of media professional. You name it: big, small, bendy, sturdy, photo, video—we've got it. Not only do we have them on display for you to try, but our professional staff is on hand to assist you, and answer any questions you may have.

Begin your brief tour of the Tripod section after the jump.

As artists, we can appreciate the value in having our creations reproduced with precise accuracy. So there’s no difference when it comes to artists of other mediums such as paintings, sketches and sculptures. At the Charleston Center for Photography, we have plenty of artists from all over who entrust us to digitally capture their work.

BlackRapid R-straps have a great design, and are very popular. And B&H Photo is giving away three RS-5s! Not only does the RS-5 feel very comfortable, due to the padding that surrounds your shoulder, it also allows you quick access to your camera. It's perfect for the enthusiast wildlife photographer, the wedding photographer, the event shooter, the sports photographer, and more. You won't want to miss this giveaway!

Click on Read and Discuss to see how you can be in it to win it.