I’ve just returned from a guiding a five day trip to the coast of Katmai National Park. While it is an amazing place (and I’ll be leading another trip there next year if anyone want to join me), where it…
On Storytelling Images
Shooting the Aurora and the Full Moon – A few tips
When the moon is bright, the aurora, almost always, isn’t. That can be a drag, and why many photographers will time their trips to the north around new moons. Yet, the combination of the two: bright moon, and the aurora…
Flowing Photography
“You know you’ve got it, if it makes you feel good.” -Janis Joplin While I doubt that Janis had photography in mind when she wrote the lyrics to her classic “Piece of my Heart”, I think it’s actually a great…
Lighroom and the Landscape Available NOW!
My just released ebook is now available at the iBooks store and on my website. It’s 88 pages of awesome advice on post-processing landscape images using Adobe Lightroom, three tutorial videos and 7 example images. I talk about my process…
From Literal to Abstract: The Evolution of an Image
Day before yesterday I spent an hour or so wandering around the Creamer’s Field Waterfowl Refuge not far from downtown Fairbanks. It is a place I know well. Most of the winter’s snow has now turned to water and the…
Avoiding Imitation
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about photography recently. Of course, that isn’t anything unusual, but I’m thinking of it now from a the perspective of a teacher. As I’ve mentioned a time or two before, I writing…
Getting it Wrong, and (rarely) right.
I took this photo years and years ago. Before I’d ever sold an image, or even really considered taking on photography as profession. I often come back to this one because it was one of the first times, I…
Dusk Aurora
Last night, I stepped outside just before bed. It was 10:00 and still to the west, there was a broad, dusky-blue streak, the last of the lingering day. It’s getting to a point where one has to stay up pretty…
Lenses and the aurora: Is Wide and Fast Necessary?
I zoomed in on the active portion of the display to get this image. I’ve never shot tight on the aurora before, but apparently it can work under the right circumstances. Canon 24-105 f4L @70mm, f4.0, 8sec, ISO3200. Last night…
Book Review: How to Photograph the Northern Lights by Patrick Endres
My friend and colleague Patrick Endres has just released a beautifully illustrated new ebook about photographing the aurora. I’ve just finished reading each of it’s lavish 200 pages and was thoroughly impressed. Patrick recruited the expertise of one of the foremost experts…
