Definitely not! Some of my favorite photographs are out of focus. Take, for instance this shot of Pasadena City Hall I took about a year ago. I was walking to dinner with Shayne and had my digital camera in my bag. I love the City Hall building and it [...]

There are two ways to make digital black & white images. The first is to use the settings on your digital camera. The second is to use Photoshop to desaturate your image. There are benefits and drawbacks to both techniques and they are equally easy.

In film circles, there is much talk about Rembrandt Light. A Cinematographer can turn to the Gaffer and say, “give me Rembrandt light from camera left and throw some full CTO on that.” Huh? Movie-speak is a language unto itself and it takes a while to master.
Rembrandt Light is a lighting [...]

A simple bounce card may be the most useful tool in a photographer’s arsenal (other than the camera, of course). Here’s how to make and use this inexpensive tool.

Taking a great landscape photograph does not mean you have to book a trip to the Serengeti or repel down a cliff. Sometimes, you can get a great shot in your own backyard.

So, you’ve had your digital camera for a year or two now, but you’ve never pushed the little flower button? The flower button, aka the Macro Button, is one of my favorite digital camera features. The Macro feature allows you to shoot things very close-up and still maintain focus. With the [...]

Part 2, Working with Your Model to Get the Best Expressions
There are two kinds of people in this world – those who love having their picture taken and those who hate it. I fall in the latter category, not because I don’t enjoy the process, but I usually “ugh” at the results. Sometimes [...]

With a camera, a simple backdrop, soft daylight and minimal Photoshop skills, anyone can take great headshots in a flash. In this three-part article, learn how to set up the shot, work with your model, and polish the final shots using Photoshop.