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How to Freeze Motion With Flash (High Speed Photography)
Seeing something that moves very fast frozen in a brief moment of time will always be fascinating. It's like peering into a new world,...

Joel Nisleit
Dec 13, 20175 min read
Check If a Wedding Vendor's Pictures Are Stolen
As a Wisconsin wedding photographer I believe in showing a good portfolio. But I also suggest a good portfolio isn't enough to hire a...

Joel Nisleit
Apr 12, 20175 min read


Wedding Album Care and Maintenance, Album Storage Tips
So you've decided to protect your wedding photography by getting an album. Wise choice! A little wedding album care and maintenance will...

Joel Nisleit
Jan 5, 20172 min read
Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Giving Back
It's nice to see a Milwaukee wedding photographer giving back. That's one reason I use only a special line of USB drives to deliver...

Joel Nisleit
Sep 7, 20161 min read
Learn Camera Exposure in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Get the foundations you need and learn camera exposure techniques to consistently make images look the way you want with "Expose Like the...

Joel Nisleit
Sep 14, 20142 min read
Photographing Purple Coneflowers, Editing in Color Efex 4
I don't make as much time for personal photos as I'd like, so I'm posting a quick study of purple coneflowers at the Horicon Marsh. My goal specifically was to create at least one good study image of this flower. When most people go out to photograph, they hope to find an image. When I go out, I expect to craft an image, and my standard for what I'll take home is much higher, which is why it took two evenings, about one total hour of shooting, and several pieces of gear besi

Joel Nisleit
Aug 14, 20143 min read
Light Painting Moulton Barns on Mormon Row
Photographing, let alone light painting, the Moulton Barns on Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park is one of the holy grails of landscape photography. The barns set against the backdrop of the Tetons is an icon of the western landscape, almost mythical. Yet when I finally saw it in person I was struck by the simplicity of the scene. Suddenly there I was in front of one of the most photographed scenes in the West, no grand signage, no locked gate, just the barn, some trodd

Joel Nisleit
Jul 27, 20143 min read
Manual Flash Exercises
The ability to control manual flash intuitively is a powerful skill that you can learn. Today I woke up, saw the sun, and knew that I...

Joel Nisleit
Apr 14, 20142 min read


On-Camera Flash Diffusion Techniques Compared: What Actually Improves Light Quality
A practical comparison of on-camera flash diffusion techniques, showing how different modifiers and bounce directions change light quality, shadows, and catchlights.

Joel Nisleit
Apr 7, 20145 min read


Perfect Exposure: 3 Simple Ways to Get It Right Every Time
Perfect exposure doesn’t have to be a mystery. These three simple techniques will help you get consistent, accurate exposure without guessing.

Joel Nisleit
Mar 1, 20143 min read
Why Photography Is so Easy to Do yet Difficult to Master
Photography has an inherent false ease of entry. Without understanding anything, you can pick up a camera and make a picture easier than...

Joel Nisleit
Feb 7, 20145 min read
Winter Snow Texture Study
This is one of maybe a dozen shots I took at sunset in Horicon January 7, 2013. Nothing fancy and not much editing. Just a quick study of the texture of grass and snow. I like the way the grass plays against the grain of the snow and light. I want to revisit soon to capture something at sunset, but I'll show you what when I create it.

Joel Nisleit
Jan 14, 20141 min read


The Most Common Camera Myths That Hold Photographers Back
Photography is full of camera myths that quietly hold people back. Learn which beliefs waste money and time—and what actually leads to better photos.

Joel Nisleit
Jan 7, 20143 min read
Best Camera Flash Buying Guide for Photography Beginners
A question I see often is what's the best camera flash to get? For the beginner, obviously I would not recommend paying big bucks for a pro flash. But let's look at what about flashes makes them so expensive or inexpensive, and why you'd need them. The answer is not exactly simple, but pro equipment is more expensive and considered pro equipment for a reason: It has the features, dependability and functionality pros demand and use on a regular basis. Most people will never u

Joel Nisleit
Nov 14, 20137 min read


Best Camera for Beginners (And How to Avoid Buying the Wrong One)
What’s the best camera for beginners? There isn’t one—only the best camera you can control. Learn how to choose smart, avoid gear myths, and invest in skill first.

Joel Nisleit
Nov 7, 20134 min read


Are Protective or UV Filters Worth It?
A practical look at protective and UV filters, covering image quality tradeoffs, real-world protection, and when using a filter actually makes sense.

Joel Nisleit
Nov 1, 20136 min read
Doug Gordon Workshop Chicago Review
This is one of the most exciting blog posts I'll get to make as I got to meet one of my favorite photographers, Doug Gordon, at the Doug...

Joel Nisleit
Oct 14, 20133 min read


Creating a Professional Self-Portrait With Simple Lighting
Creating a professional self-portrait doesn’t require a studio or complex gear. With simple lighting, intentional posing, and control over your environment, you can produce a polished portrait that works for branding, marketing, or personal use.

Joel Nisleit
Sep 14, 20132 min read
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring Yellowstone National Park
The rainbow of colors around Grand Prismatic hot spring is one of the most attractive landscapes in in Yellowstone National park. From...

Joel Nisleit
Aug 14, 20131 min read
New Image of Tetons and Snake River
I'm saving the best of my Yellowstone-Tetons-Glacier trip for last, which is why I'm unveiling my newest image of the Tetons and Snake...

Joel Nisleit
Aug 14, 20131 min read
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