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by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
There is nothing that can replace the extreme close-up view of a rare bird in the wild. Binoculars can get you close but, if you want to look the bird in the eye or confirm that identification for your life list, you need a spotting scope. Spotting scopes pack incredible magnification in a generally simple and lightweight package that is
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Are you interested in the wide and wonderful world of photography? Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place! Check out this short checklist of a dozen items, designed to get you started in digital or film photography and headed in the right direction.
1. Interest
The first thing you need is an interest in photography. If you are reading these words, you likely already checked that box. If you are debating whether to take the dive into photography, you might want to give it some careful thought, or cater your purchases toward your level
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Before you venture out to photograph your first lunar eclipse, you should get some practice taking photos of the moon. If lunar photography is varsity-level stuff, lunar eclipse photography is all-pro. There are some unique challenges to the art, and great ways to get creative results, but the basics of lunar photography apply. Unlike
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
When the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, those on Earth are treated to one of nature’s greatest spectacles—a total solar eclipse. It is a phenomenon that almost every observer would like to capture in a photograph.
Due to the rarity of the event, the short duration in which to capture it, and the dynamic nature of the subject, it is one of those photographic opportunities that requires the proper gear, setup, planning, and practice.
Eclipse and solar
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
How unfortunate is it that some of the best photographic opportunities present themselves when it's miserably cold outside? It doesn't matter what kind of camera equipment you're using; proper preparation and knowledge of your gear and environment are essential to helping ensure success when you're out in the cold, making photographs.
Before we talk photography, let me say this: be smart. Cold causes hypothermia and frostbite. There is no potential
by Brian Zwiebel · Posted
When winter rolls around, many bird photographers choose to hibernate like a bear or fly south like a bunting. However, with a few precautions and considerations, winter can be an excellent time of year to photograph birds, even in the northern climates. Over the years, I have made dozens of trips to photograph birds in some pretty extreme locations, such as the high arctic, northern Michigan, and northern Minnesota. In this first part of my two-part series, I will share my strategies to prepare yourself and your gear in the best ways for
by Jill Waterman · Posted
In his 1997 article “The Problem with Wildlife Photography,” author and environmental activist Bill McKibben wrote, “Without Kodak there’d be no Endangered Species Act.”
While viewed by some at the time as controversial, McKibben’s point has only gained traction in the intervening years. Recent news reports abound with stories of overenthusiastic shutterbugs who do harm to themselves—or worse yet, to their intended animal subjects—when attempting selfies in the wild or trying to capture a prize-winning close-up. Fueled by the power of
by Jill Waterman · Posted
In recent years, several incidents involving careless shutterbugs light painting with burning steel wool gained notoriety in the press, giving legitimate night photographers a bad reputation. With these unfortunate matters in mind, we interviewed a variety of night-photography specialists to compile the following eight tips on safety and etiquette when photographing in the darkness.
Above photograph © Troy Paiva
1. Do no harm and don’t be a jerk
Taking a cue from the Hippocratic Oath, Stu
by Jill Waterman · Posted
Making pictures by night is a curious practice. While specialists of this subject embrace it as a deep-seated passion and have a never-ending quest for technical and creative advancement, those more familiar with daytime photography are often unaware that tried and true photography rules often need to be adapted or even overlooked at night. With this in mind, consider the following tips the next time you venture out in the darkness, to help you to adapt.
1. Take a Chance and Explore the Unknown
What’s my exposure time? This is the number one
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Image “sharpness” has been the goal of many photographers over the years. Some photographers seem to nail the “razor-sharp” or “tack-sharp” image every time, while some struggle to capture a truly sharp image.
Photographs ©Todd Vorenkamp
Before we start, know that there are basic ways photos end up not being sharp.
1. Movement Either the camera, or the subject is in motion during the capture.2. Optics/Electronics Soft focus, soft lens, etc.3. Atmospheric The amount and quality of air between the camera and subject.
Here we will break down all
by John Harris · Posted
As we slowly return to photographing live music events, it is an important moment to take into consideration aspects of that job that fall outside simple gear and technique concerns. I am talking about health and safety, and I doubt that there are any concert photographers who do not view that aspect of the work in a new light since 2020. We know how severe an impact the live music business has felt and that many precautions and protocols will be with us for the foreseeable future, so let’s talk about how to be safe while shooting live music
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
When most of us think of “sports photography,” we immediately think of iconic images from the world of land-based sports—American football, track and field, boxing, baseball, and others. One could argue, however, that yacht racing and sailing regattas provide the canvas for some of the most spectacular images in all of sports. And, if you have spent time around the water, seen the framed print on the wall of my physical therapist’s office, or flipped through the pages of any sailing magazine, you might have noticed that professional sailboat
by Jill Waterman · Posted
Jean Fruth is a diehard baseball fan. “Growing up in New York, with two great hometown teams, how could you not connect with the sport?” she asks. As a teen, she worked in a restaurant owned by serious Mets fans who had season tickets, “And they would take me to games,” she reminisces. “And my grandfather was a Mets fan, listening to games on the radio.”
Such formative influences foreshadow her ultimate path to becoming one of baseball’s preeminent photographers, yet it took many years of exploration for Fruth to put a plan into action. “My
by Allan Weitz · Posted
The leaves may be down and your frost-laden lawn might be making crunchy sounds when you cross it in the morning, but that doesn’t mean you have to pack your cameras away until Spring; if you do, you’re going to miss some fine picture-taking opportunities.
Appropriate layers of warm clothing and insulated boots aside, capturing strong stills and video during the cold months of the year requires a bit of foresight, a few recommended weather-related accessories, a measure of common sense, and the desire to take great pictures despite the cold.
by Bjorn Petersen · Posted
As wintertime approaches and temperatures begin to drop, certain precautions and preparations should be taken in to improve your photographing experience during this most beautiful time of the year. Wintertime provides a unique opportunity to photograph your surroundings, either nearby or whilst traveling, in a manner unlike any other time of the year.
The quality of light and activities taking place during this season are undeniably special, as are the weather-related conditions that bring an extra challenge to your everyday shooting. Unlike