Category Archives: General
The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, 1800
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
From the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. Written by Thomas Jefferson (1762-1826). 3rd US President (1801-09).
More images (including Thomas Jefferson’s original draft and George Washington’s personal copy) and the complete text follows the break.
How to Shoot and Protect Your Camera Gear in Hot Weather
Summer is here and that means hot weather. So it is time for a “save your camera gear” reminder. Camera gear has a temperature and humidity rating. A top of the line Canon camera body has a limit of 115°F and 85% or less humidity. A black camera on a hot day can easily exceed that limit. Less expensive cameras of any brand have lower limits so it is important to protect your gear.
One Photographer and Eleven Outdoor/Travel Writers Pick the Best National Parks for Summer
Royal Arches, North Dome, and Washington Column from Stoneman Meadow. Yosemite National Park. California.
Summer is the most popular time to visit the national parks. With so many to choose from, where should you go? Which national parks will provide the best photographic opportunities in the summer?
The Clueless Chef: Signature Skillet Spaghetti
Welcome to the first (and maybe only) episode of “The Clueless Chef”. Clueless Chef is tongue-in-cheek. I am no where near being a chef. The kitchen is not my forte. But I have been able to take recipes I have found, switch out and add ingredients, and come up with something tasty that my family and friends like that does not involve using all kinds of ingredients from scratch. And if you are a bit clueless in the kitchen, this easy to prepare recipe is pretty simple to do.
Allow about 45 minutes for prep time and cooking.
It’s All About the Light, Part Three
When the light is soft and non-directional, the shooting angle usually doesn’t matter. Soft light is very forgiving in terms of shooting angle and direction. Other things still do matter, like background and composition. But direction, not so much. It is a very different matter in hard light.
GPS Test: Canon SL3 & Canon GP-E2
The Canon EOS SL3 is Canon’s smallest and lightest DLSR. It is GPS capable, so I decided to check out how the GPS works. It is a fine little camera and has good reviews. It received a Silver Award at DPReview.
How to Encrypt Your Data
Every time I am in the airport I see all kinds of people using laptops, myself included. What happens if your laptop is stolen while you are traveling? Or what if someone hacks into your computer from a remote location? How much damage could they do if they had your most important data?
The Best Online Backup For Your Photos and Other Important Files
39% of Americans never backup their data. That’s not good. Another 19% do this only once per year. No wonder so many people lose important files and photos if they have a hard drive crash.
I Did It! I Bought It!
In addition to being an actor who is best know for playing Spock on Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy is also known for being a fine photographer. One of his best known photography exhibits was “Shekhina”, which also became a best selling book. You can learn more about the exhibit and book here and at the links below.
A DSLR Camera and Two Lenses for $288
Yes, you can get a basic Canon camera kit for $288. You get a Canon T6 DLSR body and two lenses: 18-55mm and 75-300mm. And you get the same one year warranty as if you bought the items brand new. The same camera with only one lens (18-55mm) sells new today for $399 at Amazon.
No Lyrid Meteors for Me Early This Morning.
I had fun early, early this morning. I saw two fireballs and four meteors. Not one of them was thoughtful enough to occur in front of my camera lens. Meteors are fast and streak by in a fraction of a second. Fireballs (very bright meteors) burn up more slowly in the atmosphere and can last for a few seconds.
Using the Histogram to Check Studio Flash Exposures
Sarah, Professional Fitness Trainer
When using studio flash units, usually the best way to check your exposures is to use an incident light meter which is capable of metering flash exposures. But what if you don’t have an incident flash meter? Or what if you have a subject that absorbs a lot of light? Or a subject that reflects a lot more light than your typical photographic subject? You can double check your exposure settings by using the histogram on your camera. FYI: Do not trust the LCD image on the back of your camera to judge your exposures.
The Most Important Rule of Lighting by Lindsay Adler
This is related to my prior post, It’s All About The Light, Part Two. This video is by Lindsay Adler, one of the best commercial portrait photographers in the U.S.
It’s All About The Light, Part Two
Soft light is portrait light. If I step outside on a soft light kind of day, three kinds of photography come to mind: small intimate landscapes, flower portraits, and people portraits.
Prairie Chickens at 400 Yards
I figured it was pretty much an exercise in futility to try and photograph prairie chickens that were over 400 yards away, but I did it anyway. Why not? You have nothing to lose. If the photos don’t come out, no one needs to see them. Or they might end up being an illustration for a blog article (wink).
Your Camera Loves “Middle Gray” – And Why That is Important
Sarah, Professional Fitness Trainer
Your camera is in love with middle gray. The quicker you learn how to deal with this infatuation, the better your photos will look, including all of your color photos.
How to Use Your Camera’s Exposure Compensation Scale
Dawn at Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
The exposure compensation scale on your camera is one of the keys to mastering exposures, getting better images, and ending up with professional quality colors. This means taking your camera off of full auto mode and taking control of your own exposures.
You Can Create High Quality Digital Images of Analog Prints, At Home or On The Road
Doris. The digitized copy of an original print.
You can create high quality, high resolution digital images of analog prints, and you can do it at home on the road without having a flatbed scanner and computer with you. You probably have everything you need with the possible exception of a couple of small, inexpensive accessories (less than $10 each). This article will show you what to do, step by step.
One Photographer and Nine Outdoor/Travel Writers Pick the Best National Parks for Spring
Moon Over Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Utah.
Are you planning a spring photography trip to some U.S. national parks? Where should you go? Which parks will provide the best photographic opportunities? Which parks are at their best in the spring?
The Best National Parks to Photograph in Spring
Ocotillo. Big Bend National Park, Texas.
If I could go on a fabulous spring photography trip to the national parks of my choice, with no time limit and all expenses paid, which ones would I pick? Here are my choices, grouped by state from west to east. This list includes the favorites I have been to and want to go back to again, plus the ones I haven’t seen and most want to photograph.
It’s All About The Light, Part One
When I go out to shoot, I don’t ask, “What will I take today?” But rather, “What will I be given today?” – Minor White
Remembering Leonard Nimoy, The Photographer
Leonard Nimoy
It’s been five years. We all knew Leonard Nimoy as an actor, but in the art world he was also known as an accomplished photographer. He will be missed.
His best known photography exhibition, “Shekhina”, has been highly praised (links below). The exhibit has also been controversial due to the nude imagery so be advised before you read further down the page.
Photos and Stories That Move Me: “White Rose”
Hans (left) and Sophie Scholl with Cristoph Probst (right), leaders of “The White Rose” resistance movement. Munich Germany, July 1942.
77 years ago, February 22, 1943, Hans Scholl, his sister Sophie, and their friend Cristoph Probst were executed by the Nazis.
Happy Birthday, Ansel Adams!
Ansel Adams in front of “Monolith: The Face of Half Dome, 1927”. Photographed in his home Dec. 2, 1980.
Ansel Adams was born February 20, 1902. He is “the” icon of American landscape photography. Trained as a concert pianist, his love of photography and time spent in Yosemite National Park led him to a career change.
Events That Changed Me As A Photographer
It takes time and effort to improve your photographic skills. Ask any first rate working professional. But there can be events that happen along the way that become the catalyst to becoming a better photographer. Three events happened to me that changed my life as a photographer.
7,000,000 Page Visits!
Some time yesterday, February 10, my web site at JimDoty.com rolled past 7 million page visits. That is small potatoes compared to hugely popular sites, but for me that is a big milestone.
From Broken Ribs to a Book Contract
Thanks to Kim (on the left), I am a published book author. And therein lies a tale.
The “Teaching Thing” Started with a Gift
As a surprise gift, my thoughtful wife signed me up for a black and white printing class taught by Jim Riegel at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA). It took me back a bit because I was a color slide photographer at the time and had never used black and white film, but I went.
It All Started with a Stolen Camera
When I met Mike Baroli I was a happy snapshooter. He gets much of the credit for turning me into a photographer.