Photographing bright white snowy landscapes is one of the trickiest tasks in  photography, if you're a beginner using reflective metering. When everything is white, the camera calculates an exposure that will render it medium gray. The result is often flat and disappointing, unless you know how to correct for it. I did a fun study of snow covering a wooden fence and tree in a field near the Horicon Marsh. I had my trusty Sekonic L-758 incident meter with me. The incident met

“What lens should I buy?” is one of the most common questions photographers ask—beginners and experienced shooters alike. And it’s also one of the easiest questions to answer wrong . Most people approach lens buying the same way they approach camera buying: research endlessly, compare specs, read forums, and ask strangers what’s “best.” The problem is that none of those things tell you what you  actually need. If you take marketing out of the equation and get honest about wha

Non-Destructive Erasing in Photoshop CS6 Non-destructive erasing in Photoshop CS6 enables greater flexibility than the regular erase...

Using color gels on a flash can add interest and impact to any scene, like what I did in a recent snow storm. It's easy to play with color on such a white canvas as snow. I found the woods near the Horicon Marsh interesting, every branch covered with snow, a forest made out of snow. A tripod would've enabled me to shoot a higher aperture, but I didn't have one. So I used a sharpening trick in CS6 to get reasonable detail. The obvious element of interest is the blue light. I

TTL flash photography isn’t random or magical. This guide explains how it works and how to control flash exposure confidently in real-world situations.

Out in a recent snow storm I found the woods near the Horicon Marsh interesting, every branch covered with snow. It was a forest made out...

Finally, the sun broke the overcast conditions we'd been having the past week here in Horicon, and I took the opportunity to go exploring...

Texture study of weathered wood on Discher Park Pavilion, Horicon, Wisconsin.

Westcott Medium Apollo 28" Soft Box with Recessed Front Westcott Apollo 28" Light Modifier with Recessed Front Excellent Quality and...

Golden light spills onto grass and clouds as waves roll toward shore on Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The secret to this...

A recent trip after a snow storm to what Horiconians call DNR Hill was a perfect way to practice some metering and snow exposures in what...

When the unwrapping is done, and the snaps begin, I want you or that gift recipient to get the most out of that new DSLR. But if you...

Bob Ross -- you know, the guy who showed us how to paint happy little trees -- is a good guy to have live on your DVR. He's taught me a...

I wanted to record my wife putting up some Christmas ornaments on Saturday, but of course I couldn't just whip out the camera and click a...

I've had parents call for senior portraits, and when they found out I didn't have a studio, I never heard back. That was unfortunate --...

Updated 2014: It's been two years and my excitement over Gary Fong's Lightsphere has completely worn off. After enough use and testing,...

A vacation for me isn't like a vacation for everyone else. While most people think of theme parks, beaches, resorts, and lounging, I'm thinking about how I can capture the best images of the nature I love so much. In this series I share how I photographed my recent vacation to South Dakota. This isn't meant to be a complete guide to SD or how to photograph it, rather a look at my personal experiences, what I learned, and how you can bring home images more exciting than cooki

It's been said creating a studio wherever you are is the new trend. I don't know if that's true, but it feels like it, especially with...

The Chevy Volt. The commercials make it sound like owning one is really exciting and makes a great case on saving gas. You could be...

How do you get colors to pop, intricate details to sing, and an image with real punch? Photoshop isn't always the answer. And it's not...