Photographing Native American Powwows: Planning, Etiquette and Tips

I could feel the drum beat in my bones, almost like a heart beat. Native American dancers seemed to float just above the dance floor, red rock canyon walls towering over the dance arena. I was photographing the annual Gallup …

Magic Hour Photography: Get Creative And Capture The Drama

Few photographers can resist shooting a beautiful sunset. Clouds build up, color starts to develop, you have a perfect ocean or lake surface for great reflections or you found some fascinating trees or buildings to silhouette against the colorful sky. …

Aerial Drone Photography: Capturing The View From Above

All the world seems to have gone drone crazy, and for a very good reason. The camera viewpoint is totally unique and gives you access to locations you can’t reach by foot. They can fly lower than a helicopter, are …

Delicious Food Photography: The Basics Of Cooking Up Mouth Watering Images

I was shooting an article on Monterey, California, known for Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and great seafood. Dungeness crab is at the top of the areas epicurean list and I had already photographed a display of crabs on …

Gold Leafing: A Beautiful Alternative Photographic Print Process

I’ve been fascinated since childhood with gold and silver things. I cherish a tiny gold engraved vase that belonged to my grandmother, and a silver art deco jewelry box … a gift from my father to my mother during their …

Forced Perspective: Add Drama And Depth To Your Photographs

Standing in the middle of Taos Pueblo, I was trying to decide how I would photograph the impressive five-story North Building. I knew I would use a technique called Forced Perspective to emphasize the scale of the building and create …

Channel City Camera Club: Supporting A Passion For Photography

At the end of one of my Santa Barbara City College photography classes, students often ask how to continue their photo education. I discuss the excellent photography program at SBCC, but at some point I begin to realize this is …

Wildlife Photo Safari Adventure On The Beautiful California Coast

. I was standing on an elevated boardwalk above the San Simeon Elephant Seal Rookery where mothers and pups were calling to each other and huge bull elephant seals were boldly challenging each other.

An Exciting Photo Shoot At The Lively Farmers Market

Shooting strong images at a busy farmers market is a test of concentration. A photographer is forced to create order out of chaos, still lifes out of produce and portraits of people who are too busy for a portrait shoot. …

Window Light, An Amazingly Elegant Photography Light Source

We all have that lighting system available, of course. I use window lighting for a wide range of photographic subjects, but I have noticed in my classes that many students seem to ignore it. It’s a seemingly easy light source …