Shallow Depth Of Field—Photography’s Most Powerful Technique

It has always seemed ironic to me that, as a professional photographer, the technique I use most often is something I can not see with my own eyes. Shallow depth of field is a product of camera optics and I …

Black & White Photography–The Journey Continues

I am continuing my quest to learn black and white photography through the process of converting a number of my color images to black and white.

Travel Photography with Chuck Place

Travel Photography is much more than shooting snapshots of your vacation. Images created during your travels should transport you back to the magic you felt as sunset light washes over an ancient Mayan pyramid or recall the drama of colorful …

3 Photographic Techniques For Creating Beautiful Direct Sunlight Portraits

With just 3 techniques, you can create beautiful, striking portraits out in direct sunlight. Modifying harsh sunlight and positioning your model properly can lead to startling results.

Drone Photography–It’s All About Altitude

Often I am asked if composing a photograph with a drone is the same as creating an image at ground level. It is similar, of course, but being able to make large adjustments to the altitude of a camera adds …

Join A Location Photography Workshop In Spring 2019

Join professional magazine photographer Chuck Place for 5 fun location photo shoots on consecutive Saturday mornings starting March 23 in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country and Santa Barbara area. With input from Chuck, fine tune your photographic skills and …

Great Photography Tool For Leveling Your Camera

I love my cameras! There, I’ve said it. Neither my Canon 5D MkII or MkIII has ever quit on me. They give me consistent, predictable results. The quality is great and if an image does not resonate well, I know …

Photographing The Shape Of Motion With Shutter Drag

Most of the time we love fast shutter speeds. They “freeze” the moment. But on the other hand, fast shutter speeds also hide the beauty and grace of movement. The swirl of a dancer, the sensuous shape of a breaking …

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. …