Lighting at Dusk, Yukon, Oklahoma. Sept 21, 1992.
My favorite photo for today’s date is not only my favorite photo for September 21. It is one of my all time favorite images.
Favorite Photo, September 21
Favorite Photo, September 20
Sangre de Cristo Mountains. September 20, 1996.
My favorite photo for September 19 was taken from the Wet Mountain Valley in Colorado, looking west at the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains. It was taken on the same trip as the September 17 photo. After shooting in Rocky Mountain National Park, I headed south to this area.
Favorite Photo, September 15
Chinese telephoto lens on an iPhone SE. September 15, 2017.
I am afraid my favorite photo for September 15 is not very exciting, but the story is interesting. I was doing a series of articles about cheaply made, very poor quality Chinese smart phone lenses that were flooding into the United States and being sold for outrageous prices.
Favorite Photo, September 8
Wat Buddharatanaram, Buddhist Temple, Keller Texas. September 8, 2015.
I checked my “favorite photos” folder for photos taken on September 8. I found only one photo, but it is a keeper.
Favorite Photo, September 6
Melissa and Jim. September 6, 1970.
Far and away, my favorite photo for September 6 (or any other date), is our wedding. I didn’t create this image, but I am including it in my favorites anyway.
Favorite Photo, September 2
Favorite Photo, September 1
Cemetery. Fort Irwin California. September 1, 2013.
One of my most favorite images for September 1 was taken at Fort Irwin, California, home of the National Training Center for the U.S. Army. We were driving across town when I spotted an unusual cemetery. Names like Simba and Cubby aren’t typical for a cemetery.
Favorite Photo, August 31
Five 75mm Howitzers. Concert, 1812 Overture. West Point, New York. August 31, 1991.
My favorite image for August 31 comes from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Favorite Photo, August 30
Union Officer, Civil War Days, Lamoni, Iowa. August 30, 2014.
As I looked at my favorite images for August 30, I quickly narrowed my choices down to three, but then it got really difficult. I ended up with a landscape image, a portrait, and a wildlife image. I wanted to call it a three way tie, and depending on my mood, I pick a different image out of theses three each time I choose a favorite.
Favorite Photo, August 28
Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska. August 28, 2000.
My favorite photo for August 28 is from a once in a lifetime trip to Alaska. My wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with a five day cruise on Prince William Sound followed by five days at Camp Denali in Denali National Park.
Favorite Photo, August 27
Sunny, acorn in the park, Columbus, Ohio. August 27, 2015.
My choice for the favorite image for August 27 is a “portrait” of our dog. Sunny and I were walking through the park when I got down really low with my iPhone to capture his paw with a large acorn.
Favorite Photo, August 22
Cascade, Barry, and Coxe Glaciers. Barry Arm, Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Picking today’s favorite photo was easy. Out of over 3400 images in my “favorite photos” folder, only one of them was taken on August 22. Even if there had been several photos to choose from, today’s pick would still be a winner.
Favorite Photo, August 20
Sunstar, Turnagain Arm, Alaska.
When I looked at my “favorite photos” folder for August 20, what jumped out at me were images from Alaska and from a dance recital. It was a tough call. I ended up choosing a photo of Turnagain Arm in Alaska.
Favorite Photo, August 17
Rooster at Strings of Pearls, Elmira, Michigan.
My favorite photos for August 17 were taken one year apart. I was on my way home from a photo workshop in Northern Michigan and spotted a bunch of yard art in the village of Elmira Michigan.
Favorite Photo, August 14
Blue-headed green frog, Northern Michigan. August 14, 2016
My favorite photos for August 14 all came from the same year, 2016. I was leading a photography workshop in Northern Michigan and we were out on an evening field trip. It turned out to be a great evening for photography, so it was hard to pick THE favorite photo for the day.
Favorite Photo, August 10
Sarah.
As part of this ongoing series, I went looking through my folder of favorite photos for images taken August 10. I found a sunset photo of Lake Erie from August 10, 2003, and photos of Sarah taken August 10, 2006. While the sunset photo was nice, the photos of Sarah are much more important to me. Sarah is the first professional model I had the privilege of working with, and it was the first of several photo shoots we worked on together. So my all time favorite August 10 photo is this portrait of Sarah.
Figure Studies in the Moonlight, iPhone vs DSLR
Anoush on the beach. iPhone. Click to see a larger version.
After 11 o’clock at night with the only light coming from the moon, I would assume an iPhone would not be able to capture an image. But I am curious so I tried anyway. I was surprised. iPhones have come a long way. There is a lot of murkiness in the water and sky in this image, but Anoush looks much better than I would have expected from an iPhone image by moonlight. My iPhone tried to create a daylight exposure.
Brittany, Northern Michigan
Brittany, Northern Michigan
A photography trip in Northern Michigan and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The Chinese Lens Rip Off! Part Three
This is pretty much the same kind of rip off I have written about before. Take a cheap smart phone lens that people can buy at Amazon for $16.99 or less, jack up the price to $56, make outrageous claims, and see how may people you can sucker into buying the item at the higher price. They even used the same “questionable” technologist who has multiple identities.
Posted Oct. 17, 2016. Revised and re-posted June 3, 2018.
Same Guy, Several Different Names, Several Different Ads, Several Different Products – The fake German engineer used in the Chinese lens rip off ads
Screen captures from three different ads.
Same photo, three different names, and three different ads for three different products. Does this make you suspicious?
Update: September 12, 2017. I heard from the REAL Simon Greig. Details below.
Originally Posted June 20, 2016. Revised and re-posted June 2, 2018.
The Depth of Field Series
Whites Sands New Mexico
Controlling depth of field is one of a photographer’s most powerful creative tools. That is why my photography book devotes two chapters and 40 pages to tools and techniques you can use to control depth of field.
Black and White Photo Contest Winners
“The Knockout Punch“, Grand Prize Winner by Christer Berg
Digital Photo and Outdoor Photographer magazines announced the winners of their joint 2017 black and white photo contest. The photography is excellent.
Darcy Evans: I Named These Puppies Click, Bokeh, Nikon, Sensor, Skrim, and Gobo
“Pet Photography Starter Kit: Advanced edition.” Photograph © Darcy Evans.
After the devastating loss of his beloved dog, Sophie, Darcy Evans had the opportunity to photograph and name a litter of puppies. He chose photography names.
Total Immersion Nature Photography Weekend in Beautiful Northern Michigan
Are you ready to take your nature and wildlife photography to the next level? Are you ready to learn the professional secrets that make the difference between good images and great images? Are you ready for a high intensity, action packed, total immersion photography weekend? Come to Park of the Pines on beautiful Lake Charlevoix June 8-10, 2018.
Jennifer Blakeley Recommends Digital Photography Exposure for Dummies
Jennifer Blakeley does beautiful newborn photography. Her celebrity client list includes Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green; Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr.; and Jocelyn Towne and Simon Helberg (Big Bang Theory). She is also the founder of Alphabet Photography. A highly respected and award winning Canadian photographer, she has also worked with the Canadian Olympics Gymnastic Team.
Make or Buy Your Own Inexpensive “White Light” Solar Filter to Watch and Photograph the Eclipse
White Light solar filters for photography, binoculars, and non-magnified viewing.
If you order soon (stocks are running low), you can make or buy your own inexpensive, “white light” solar filter for safely photographing (and viewing) the sun and the upcoming solar eclipse August 21. “White light” filters (unlike others) allow you to see and photograph the sun in a natural yellow-amber color.
Update, August 6, 2017: Many of these items are no longer available. Check the most recent articles in this series to see what is still available.
Sarah’s Baby Bump
From my point of view a woman looking forward to the birth of her child is one of the most beautiful things on the planet.
We created this image in my studio. The only light source is the diffused light coming through the translucent blind covering the window directly behind Sarah. It gives me a wrap around light that I love to work with.
Recommendations For The Best Photography Equipment, Software, Books, Magazines, DVDs, Online Photo Labs and More
I get lots of photo questions and many of them begin with “What is the best . . . .” They usually come from photographers or someone who is shopping for a photographer.
Here is my list of “best of the best” of articles recommending the best photo gear, software, books, DVDs, calendars, online photo labs, and a whole lot more.
Posted Nov. 19, 2016. Updated and re-posted May 5, 2017.
Happy Birthday, John Muir!
John Muir
John Muir was born April 21, 1838. He had a profound influence on how Americans viewed our wild lands and his influence led to the establishment of many of our National Parks and other protected lands. He was nicknamed The Father of our National Parks. This is National Parks week. Go explore somewhere this week, or make plans to visit sometime this year.
Here are photos from some of my favorite National Parks (and one state park) along with quotes from John Muir.
How to Be A Better Wildlife and Nature Photographer
Great Egret. Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Fremont, California.
When I posted this photo on one of my Facebook pages, a friend posted this comment:
“I LOVE this egret photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at the right wing trailing in the water. How DO you capture these?!”
That is an excellent question.