Our grandson Finn was engrossed with a kid video on YouTube. As I walked by I grabbed a photo with my iPhone. This is my favorite photo for February 6.
Favorite Photo, February 6
Category Archives: General
Snow Day: On the Street with Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is one of my favorite fashion photographers. He did a weekly fashion column for the New York Times, and a weekly video report from his photos taken on the streets of New York City.
Icy Blues: On the Street with Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is one of my favorite fashion photographers. He did a weekly fashion column for the New York Times, and a weekly video report from his photos taken on the streets of New York City.
Winter Wear: On the Street with Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is one of my favorite fashion photographers. He did a weekly fashion column for the New York Times, and a weekly video report from his photos taken on the streets of New York City.
Favorite Photo, February 3
I was at the Helene Center for the Visual Arts (Graceland University, Lamoni Iowa) documenting the latest art exhibit by Julia (Tucker) Franklin. At the exhibit you enter the rooms of her childhood home in Wichita Falls, Texas. Little by little the story is revealed. The brick in a desk drawer with the death threat. The police report. The suicide note in the clipboard on top of the desk.
Favorite Photo, February 2
The Christmas ornament on the left is one of my favorites. The lion, the lamb, and little child are based on Isaiah 11:6, a scripture that dozens of artists have brought to life in various ways.
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 7-10, 2019.
Favorite Photos – January
Favorite Photos, January. Click for a larger version.
Here are my favorite photos for the month of January. The story behind this “favorite photos by date” project is here.
Favorite Photo, January 30
For this photo shoot we wanted something different than the usual portrait look. We wanted something more bold and dramatic. So I put the camera right on the floor in order to catch Ivory’s subtle reflection in the floor. This is my favorite image for January 30.
Favorite Photo, January 21
I was out for a walk with my grandson Terran, and he was about to cross this small, wooden bridge. I grabbed a quick photo with my camera. This is my favorite photo for January 21.
Jay Maisel, Photos that Will Inspire You
Good photographers are always looking for inspiration, and one of the things they do is to look at great photography by other photographers. Jay Maisel is one of the best and this video has dozens of his best images.
Sometimes things go well . . . and sometimes they don’t!
I had high hopes for the January 20-21 lunar eclipse. Unfortunately, January 20 was a cloudy day. A cloudy, overcast sky is not good for seeing, much less photographing a lunar eclipse.
“I have a dream …”
“I have a dream that one day . . . little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., “I have a dream . . .”
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States. This is a 5 minute highlight from the end of the speech. A video of the whole 17 minute speech is here.
Favorite Photo, January 20
I was teaching a winter term photography class at Graceland University. We met every day and part of each day’s class session was devoted to doing one or more in class assignments.
Favorite Photo, January 19
We were in Michigan visiting our daughter, Janae. We stopped at Bronson Park just like enough for me to do a portrait. This is my favorite image for January 19.
How To Photograph the Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse, January 20-21, 2019
Total Lunar Eclipse, Super Blood Moon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, September 27, 2015
Here in North America, Sunday night and early Monday, January 20-21, you have your last chance to photograph the last total lunar eclipse until 2021. This article will show you how. Continue reading
Favorite Photo, January 14
Our grandson Andrew loves to play soccer. He is number 15 in white in this group of players near the goal. The key to most good sports photos is action and there is a lot going on in this photo. The ball is going behind the goalkeeper in yellow. This is my favorite photo for January 14.
Favorite Photo, January 13
I captured this moment this past Sunday at church. It is my favorite photo for January 13.
Favorite Photo, January 12
I wanted an illustration for an article about making big prints. One of my favorite models was in town, so she came by and held this cougar print while I took a picture.
“And A Guitar”: What is the Process I Used to Write the Story? How Long Did It Take?
Not long after I posted my review of And A Guitar I was asked how long it took to write. I gave a quick answer at the time. As I thought about the question since, the intriguing thing to me was the process of writing an article, as well as the time. So I checked the metadata for the folders and files I created to come up with an answer.
Favorite Photo, January 11
We were in California visiting “mom” (my mother-in-law) and we were headed out for dinner together. We stopped just long enough to take a group picture.
Why You Should Record 1 Second of Video Every Day
1SE Video: One Second Every Day from Stephanie Vermillion Studio on Vimeo.
This isn’t for everyone, but this might be the kind of project you would love.
“And A Guitar”: Go for the Music, Stay for the Story
“A guitar is mostly empty space. It isn’t complete until it’s filled with music.”
Who knew? Paul Simon. Joni Mitchell. Johnny Cash. James Taylor. Live on stage here in Lamoni. And let’s not forget Crosby Stills, Nash and Young. How could we be so lucky?
One Photographer and Nine Outdoor/Travel Writers Pick the Best Winter National Parks
Last Light on Long’s Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Thinking about a photography trip to one or more U.S. national parks this winter? You can benefit from the work I have done. Some national parks look better in the winter than others. You will want to make them a priority. After you read this article I recommend you also read the companion article: The Best National Parks to Photograph in Winter.
Originally posted January 17, 2017. Updated and re-posted January 10, 2019.
The Best National Parks to Photograph in Winter
Bryce Canyon
Winter provides some wonderful photo opportunities in our national parks. But some national parks look much better in the winter than others. So if you haven’t gone into hibernation for the winter, here are the best national parks to go photograph this winter, grouped by state from the west to the east. There are a few bonus locations thrown in too. At the end I give you my “best of the best” list.
Posted January 17, 2017. Updated and re-posted January 10, 2019.
Winter Photography Safety Essentials
Some of the winter travel items I carry in the trunk of my car. This is the “kitchen” and “furnace”.
I grew up in Colorado where strange weather can strand you in any month of the year. Even though it is rare, I’ve seen blizzards in the Colorado high country in July. So I learned to carry some safety essentials when doing winter photography in remote locations. You never know when you might be stranded for several hours, a whole day, or longer, until the blizzard abates and someone can come find you. This is what I carry in my car when I hit the road in the winter and pretty much any time I am going to be in the High Rockies. I include a few winter travel tips, too.
How to Photograph a Nude Model in the Cold and Snow
Lyn Marie, Ohio. Windchill 8°F.
It is difficult enough to create a beautiful nude image under normal circumstances, much less in the cold and snow. You need to bring some significant skills and experience to the task. So does your model.
How To Work With A Model When The Windchill is 4°
Selina, Downtown Columbus Ohio. Windchill 4°.
You would think a windchill of 4° Fahrenheit (-16°C) would be too cold for a photo shoot, but not with some models. We booked this January shoot weeks in advance so we knew it would be cold, but we had no idea how cold until the day arrived. Here’s the story behind this image and how to work with a model when it is so cold.
The Sunny f16 Rule Isn’t Reliable in Winter
Denali Sunrise from Reflection Pond
The Sunny f16 rule is really useful on bright sunny days in the spring, summer, and fall, but you can’t rely on it on bright, snowy winter days. It will often lead you astray and you will have seriously blown out highlights. There are much more accurate ways to meter in the winter.