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...

After photographing the Moulton barns in Grand Teton National Park this July, I became fascinated with these iconic pieces of American...

One of the best things to do in Glacier National Park is the Hidden Lake trail, which leads 1.5 miles into the wilderness to a hidden jewel of a glacial lake with sapphire waters nestled in emerald meadows. If you could do only one thing, photographing Hidden Lake is certainly a candidate as it rewards you not only with amazing views but wildlife. The trail starts at the back of the visitor center. Parking is usually full by 10 a.m., meaning if you don't get there early you'

On Sunday, August 11, 2013, I shot finisher portraits for the Rev3 triathlon in Wisconsin Dells. The Rev3 is designed to compete with...

So I had in mind when photographing the Tetons and the Snake River at sunrise that a split grad ND filter might be handy. I brought my Cokin set, which I had purchased many years ago and used before I became a professional photographer. However, I found I was able to do more at higher quality with digital ND filters. In my early days I probably didn't realize that the ND filters reduced the sharpness of the image because I never liked my images enough to call them professiona

The wait is over. Here is my newest image of the Grand Tetons and Snake River. While no image can compare to Ansel Adams' famous...

This is also the perfect place to use a spot meter. I used the Sekonic L-758DR to spot meter off of the brink of the falls and open up 2.8 stops, plus polarizer compensation, to open the highlight and capture the full range of values in the scene. I can also use the light meter to meter the shadows and check the dynamic range of the scene to be sure it falls within the camera's range. It might be to your surprise that even most scenes like this, with such bright highlights, a

When photographing some of the most iconic landscapes this July in the Tetons, I was excited with what I was able to achieve and the experience of being there. I will be unveiling a complete gallery of new images from this trip soon, but before I do I want to lead off with one image and some thoughts about the importance of creativity in photography. When it comes to art, I just don't care for rules. There are so many rules in the rest of my life, why on Earth would I want to

Learn how to photograph fireworks with confidence using simple manual camera settings. This beginner-friendly guide covers gear, focus, exposure, and practical tips for capturing sharp, colorful fireworks photos every time.

The real difference between professional and hobbyist photographers isn’t gear, talent, or luck. It’s how they think, plan, and work with light.

Professional photography secrets aren’t hidden in gear or settings. They’re found in how photographers understand light and take responsibility for results.

I've often thought about why photographers such as Dave Black choose to put four $500 Speedlights on one stick instead of just paying...

This is for the point and shooters out there. Whether you're wondering why your pictures don't look like the pros', what big cameras are...

Getting better bird closeups is one of the goals of most amateur wildlife photographers. The temptation is to believe you need monster...

Cameras keep getting smarter. They can focus faster than ever.They can see in near darkness.They can track faces, eyes, animals, and motion automatically.And now, with AI, they can even suggest  compositions, fix exposure mistakes, remove distractions, and generate images that never existed at all. So it’s a fair question—especially for beginners and clients alike: If cameras and AI are this advanced, why do professional photographers still matter? The answer hasn’t changed i

Every year, photography contests invite hundreds of images. And every year, photographers quietly wonder the same thing: “What are the judges really looking for?” As a judge for the Edgar G. Mueller Photo Contest, I can’t tell you what a winning photograph will look like—and that’s exactly the point. Winning images aren’t predictable. But the process  behind judging them is far more consistent than most people realize. This article isn’t about formulas or tricks. It’s about h

Every camera setting is subjective, including white balance. Some of the top wedding photographers use auto white balance. Some do custom white balance for every shoot. I used to believe in auto white balance for everything. For the most part, situations are always changing and therefore white balance is always different, so auto helps. But since color temperatures change, so does auto white balance, meaning every image you take could have a slightly different white balance

Taking great images, being a photographer, becomes easier with practice, like doing visual pushups. The more practiced you are, the more...

I've seen fantastic places, but no other experience has been like photographing Hawaii, a world of vibrant color, people and landscapes....

How to change layer thumbnail size in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I provide Photoshop and Lightroom demonstrations for photographers and...