U.S. Flag, Parade
If you are going to photograph a parade, sometimes the best point of view is from the middle of the street and close to the ground. It also helps if you spent several years doing photography for a newspaper. Equipment is important too.
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.â€
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.
U.S. Flags, Westerville, Ohio
The Strip, Las Vegas with Fireworks
You can point your camera at the sky in auto exposure and autofocus modes and fire away whenever you see a burst of fireworks, but for the best quality photos, it helps to know a few tricks of the trade. It’s easy when you know what to do.
Model in Ivy
When a beautiful NYC model says “I am in Ohio for the week if you are available to shoot”, the correct response is  “I would love to do another shoot!”
17 Year Cicada Closeup
It was my good fortune to be in Iowa for the peak of the 17 Year Cicada “emergence”. It was amazing. It was also unbelievably noisy. If you stood under a cicada filled tree (they prefer some trees to others), you could barely hear well enough to have a conversation with a friend standing two feet away.
Astrophotography Books by Allan Hall
Publishers and authors have been sending me complementary copies of their books. This is a new thing for me. They are hoping I will give them a favorable review on one of my websites, and they really are hoping some of their books end up on one of my “Best of the Best” lists (see the links below).
Photo Field Trip
Update, June 20, 2014: Complete information on the October 18 workshop.
This photo was taken during a field trip at my recent workshop at OSU Mansfield. Photographers show up with everyting from point and shoot cameras to professional level equipment.
D-Day, June 6, 1944. Photo by Robert Capa.
This is Robert Capa’s iconic photo of D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was dropped in chest deep about 100 yards from the beach. With bullets flying all around, Capa struggled to get to shore with three cameras, took photos along the way, and helped drag a wounder soldier out of the water.
“Tank Man” by photojournalist Stuart Franklin.
25 years ago, pro-democracy demonstrators, mostly students, spent several weeks in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing China.
Dandelion photo with an iPhone and an olloclip closeup lens.
I was out testing an olloclip iPhone accessory and using the closeup lens. I am quite pleased with the capabilities of this little accessory.
The conclusion of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address in Lincoln’s own hand. Click to see a larger version.
This is the famous conclusion of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address from the only known manuscript in Lincoln’s handwriting. This is a photo of the bottom of page four.
U.S. Flags at Sunset, Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa
From Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.
Kristina Jimenez, model, actor, and spokesperson.
I have worked with this model/actress/spokesperson several times and she is a dream to work with. This photo is now on her comp card and she sent me this note:
“Thank you so much for this shot Jim! This photo is now on my comp card for acting/hosting/commercial work! For anyone needing headshots, Jim Doty Photography is a GREAT photographer to work with! Thank you again!!”
Michigan photography workshop, May 17.
Tomorrow is the big day for my photography workshop in Grand Rapids. Can’t wait! I had a great time doing the same workshop last Saturday for OSU Mansfield. The reviews were excellent and they have already booked me back again this fall. I am sure Grand Rapids will be just as much fun and just as exciting. There is one spot available if you want to sign up.
Portrait in the Park
After some park bench portraits (see the prior post) we headed for the little stream that flows through the park.
Portrait in the Park
Update July 24: I decided to take a second look at this portrait and I turned it into an article on Simple Steps to Better Portraits.
It all started Saturday when this young lady said to her mother “We have great portrait light today. Is Jim available?” It is interesting to note that she knew from past photo shoots that cloudy bright days made for beautiful portrait light.
Dandelion Puffball
I was walking my dog in a dandelion filled park this week and I saw a few puffballs. My mind jumped immediately to a scene in a movie featuring Dewitt Jones, so I grabbed my iPhone and went to work creating the above image. Who is Dewitt Jones? I am glad you asked.
Early Morning Snow at Bryce Canyon
I was reminded once again this week that having both horizontal and vertical versions of the same scene can be the difference between dollars in your pocket and nothing at all. Magazine editors usually prefer vertical photos for the cover. Calendar editors usually want horizontal photos (depending on the format of the calendar).
Nature Photography Workshop – Grand Rapids Michigan
CAPTURING NATURE’S WONDERS
Photography Workshop with Jim Doty, Jr.
Georgetown Township near Grand Rapids, Michigan
May 17, 2014 – 9:00 am to 9:30 pm
Photography Workshop – OSU Mansfield (Ohio)
CAPTURING NATURE’S WONDERS
Photography Workshop with Jim Doty, Jr.
The Ohio State University – Mansfield Campus
May 10, 2014 – 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Landscape, Nature, and Wildlife Images
Now is the time to order one of my fine art landscape and nature prints and get free shipping on your order. Just head on over to my Zenfolio site, choose the image and size you want, and go through the check out process to order your print. The free shipping is automatic, now through Wednesday April 23.
Sunset, The Window, Big Bend National Park
Late April through early May is a great time of year to be in Big Bend National Park. Flowers are in bloom (assuming some rain), temperatures are warm but not yet insufferable, and best of all, the sun sets in “The Window”.
My brother and I on the road to Gothic Colorado. Top: 1950s. Bottom October 2012.
The most important photos won’t win any prizes. Two years ago my brother had a “cardiac event”. His heart stopped, he quit breathing, and he was in a coma for over a week. I looked for and found the top photo to have with me on the 10 hour drive to the hospital.
Is it a special deal, or is it a rip-off?
Is it a great deal? Or is it a rip-off? You are searching online for a good price and you come across a terrific deal. Are you about to get burned? There are ways you can tell.
The Heartbleed Bug has created vulnerabilities in about 66% of all internet online servers, including major sites like Yahoo. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11 according to security experts. The odds are good that one of the sites you have logged in to has been affected, exposing your personal information (name, user name, password, credit card information etc.).
Natural Light Portrait
You can do a lot in just a few minutes, especially if you and your subject have worked together before.
The best of the best cameras, accessories, photo books and more.
On a regular basis I put together a collection of articles recommending the best photo gear, books, DVDs, software, calendars, online photo labs, and a whole lot more. The list follows.
Bruce Munro: Light. Franklin Park Conservatory
Jewel Box Lighting is the art of combining lights, lighted buildings, or lighted objects with a deep blue evening sky. It is a great way to do photography and the exhibit this week at the Franklin Park Observatory is a wonderful opportunity to practice this technique and come away with some unique and memorable images.
Bruce Munro: Light. Franklin Park Conservatory
This is the last week to see “Bruce Munro: Light” at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus Ohio. The exhibit ends March 30.