Todd Vorenkamp

Senior Creative Content Writer for Explora, Todd Vorenkamp has been taking photographs for almost over 30 years. A photographic artist, he has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Academy of Art University and is an adjunct instructor of photography at Dakota College at Bottineau. He is a former US Navy and Coast Guard helicopter aviator and a licensed merchant marine officer. His personal website is www.trvphoto.com.

Latest Articles

A Guide to Birding with Spotting Scopes

1 month ago

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

Bird Photography

Understanding Camera Shooting/Exposure Modes

1 month ago

Taking a look at any modern mirrorless or DSLR camera, you’ll notice a slew of controls, buttons, and dials. Atop nearly all cameras sits a large dial labeled with many letters and icons. This is our mode dial. It is how we control the level of power we give to our camera or take for ourselves. One of the wonderful things that modern electronic digital and film cameras give you is many high-tech…

Camera Technology

Why You Should Go Beyond the Kit Lens

1 month ago

Many interchangeable-lens cameras, be it DSLR or mirrorless, are sold today with what we call "kit" lenses. Current kit lenses, in general, thanks to computer technology and advanced manufacturing techniques, are more capable and of higher quality than those of yesteryear. However, many of us who use interchangeable-lens cameras feel the gravitational pull of other lenses that are not yet in our…

SLR Lenses

Mirrorless Lenses

Holiday 2019

How to Read Your Camera's Histogram

2 months ago

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One of the magical aspects of modern photography is the ability to review an image instantly within our EVF (electronic viewfinder) or right on the back of the camera. Frequently, one possible mistake that digital photographers make is when reviewing an image on their camera—they evaluate exposure based on the reproduced image. Why might this be a mistake? Well, both your camera’s LCD and EVF…

Camera Technology

Understanding Camera Metering Modes

2 months ago

Every facet of photography is about controlling light, from the amount of light we allow to enter our camera via the aperture of a lens to the duration of our exposure set by the shutter speed. But how does the camera measure the brightness of the scene to set these settings automatically? How do you, the photographer, know how much to adjust your exposure settings to achieve a specific result…

Camera Technology

On the MOVE with Innovative New Products from Manfrotto

5 months ago

Tripod manufacturer Manfrotto and the word “innovation” are synonymous, since the company is constantly creating products that allow photographers and videographers more versatility when it comes to buttressing gear with tripods and support systems. While some companies focus on upgrading things like twist locks or introducing new tripod leg colors, Manfrotto is busy giving users an entirely new…

Tripods & Monopods

Gimbals

Ball Heads

Choosing a Lens for Wildlife Photography

5 months ago

Choosing a lens is a highly personal choice, and that’s especially true for wildlife photography. This is in the realm of the telephoto lens after all. While almost any focal length lens works for landscapes and other types of photography, in general, when it comes to photographing animals in the wild, you'll want to have the longest reach you can. In this guide, we’re going to discuss the…

Camera Strap Gift Guide

5 months ago

A gift guide for something everyone already gets (for free) in the box with their new camera? Yes! Almost every camera on the market today comes with its own camera strap. For the most part, those camera straps are pretty solid. But, hear me out, aftermarket camera straps are a fantastic…

Camera Straps & Harnesses

Bags & Cases

Holiday 2023

One Lens to Rule Them All: The 50mm

5 months ago

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If you are stranded on a desert island and can only have one camera lens with you, which lens would you choose? That may depend on your specific area of expertise, but for the average photographer, the 50mm focal length is an essential tool to have in your kit. The 50mm prime lens, or “Nifty Fifty,” features a field of view close to that of the human eye, and delivers exceptional image quality,…

Prime Lenses

What is Your Favorite Portrait Lens?

8 months ago

There are many ingredients in the recipe that make a good photographic portrait—foreground, background, setting, pose, expression, color, lighting, and so on—but one element that can be as important to the result as the portrait sitter is the lens used to capture the portrait and help create the art. Technically, any lens can be used to take a portrait with your camera, and there are traditional…

Portrait Photography

Lenses & Lens Accessories

SLR Lenses

Holiday 2025

The Store Inside the SuperStore: The B&H Used Department

8 months ago

Did you know there is a virtually separate camera store that lives inside the B&H Photo SuperStore, in New York City? The B&H Used Department can be found at the top of the staircase leading to the second floor of B&H Photo’s expansive showrooms or online! There you can sell your used gear, or…

Classic Cameras

Used Products

Holiday 2025

Macro on a Budget: Extension Tubes

8 months ago

Close-up or macro photography is an incredible way to capture the tiny world around us on a super-detailed level. While the dedicated macro lens is still one of the best tools for exploring the world on a miniature scale, there are some very inexpensive ways to jump into…

Photography Accessories

Macro Photography

SLR Lenses

Holiday 2024

Micro Four Thirds Lenses for Wedding Photographers

8 months ago

The Micro Four Thirds system is becoming popular among a passionate group of wedding photographers. The compact size of the cameras and lens system, as well as the sheer number of available lenses from, OM System, Panasonic, and other manufacturers, not to mention the nearly limitless option of adapted lenses, means that the wedding photographer has many options for capturing the action. It’s…

DSLR Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

SLR Lenses

How to Photograph Fireworks

10 months ago

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Do you want to preserve the memory of that awesome neighborhood fireworks show? Let's discuss the best ways to try to make a memorable photograph commemorating the event. Before we get started, let me say that there are many ways to accomplish fireworks photography and no technique is usually worse or better than others. The only thing that really matters as you head home after the show is:…

Photography Education

Landscape Photography

Tips for Photographing a Lunar Eclipse

1 year ago

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…

Astronomy

Astrophotography

Eclipse Photography