A momentous cellestial event, one not to be repeated for many years! It was surreal, yesterday, watching astronomical excitement migrate across this country, following the sun and the moon. Congeniality, kindness and an all-embracing sense of awe swept over millions. In these often dark times, where many gatherings are slathered in hate and the lack of hope, the light of sky continues to astound, and lifts our hearts. Just maybe, out in the sea of people staring skyward, there are a few young people for whom the ring of fire in the black sky started a spark in their heart, and a yen to travel ..read more

I’ll be launching a new class in June in conjunction with KelbyOne. It’s called The Complete Photographer, and it’s nearly sold out! For a relentless, nonstop week, we drive towards becoming the title of the class: The Complete Photographer. We all stay at the same lovely hotel, so it will be pictures, critiques, and constant analysis and storytelling, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ll have problems to be solved. The locations will be wonderful, and complicated. The ongoing mission of the week is to move the needle, not just a notch, but to a whole new level. My goal for anyone in the class ..read more

Traveling light, meaning not many equipment cases, is not something I’m known for. In my defense, growing up with film, there simply had to be more gear intensity applied to situations, just to carve out an exposure. ISO 5000 sounded like the name of a new planet discovered by NASA, you know, that one on the dark side of Uranus. Couple the work intensive obligations of film with the genre of assignments I often got, things could easily end up in the realm of “lots of stuff.” All of which got loaded onto an airplane, hopefully the same plane I was on, and met me on down the line at baggage clai ..read more

Just back from another astounding adventure into one of the most dense, alive places on earth. Paul, one of our intrepid and knowledgeable La Selva Eco Lodge guides, pointed out at one point that the common notion of a forest is often understood to be a large gathering of, say, pine trees, or aspens. In other words, lots and lots of the same kind of tree. But, standing in the verdant jungle, teeming with life, he pointed out seventeen different species of trees, just within a quick head turn. Thank you to our wonderful crew of staff, and workshop participants, hardy travelers all, who placed f ..read more

Legend has it that Heinz Kluetmeier donned scuba gear and dove into the Olympic pool at a long-ago games and set up cameras on the bottom, wiring them so he could fire them remotely. His assistant asked him if they had permission to do this. “We’re not going to ask permission,” came the reply. No one was going to say no to Heinz. And because of that, an audacious act of brazen, lovely, break-the-rules attitude born of supreme photographic skills and confidence, millions of people have enjoyed stunning photographs. The epitome of sports photography – split-second photographs of the thrilling fi ..read more

Off into a new year! And in the news, a movie about a genuine genius. Maestro is an Italian term, meaning master. It’s been in use since roughly the 1700’s. Used more now than in years past, it’s generally applied to conductors of classical music. Leonard Bernstein was the walking, talking, gesticulating, inspired, difficult, boisterous, brilliant embodiment of the term. The movie of his life is out and stirring the waters. Some say brilliant, and worth the watch. Other reviews are devastating. So here’s the measure of it, by my lights. The fact that we are still talking about Lenny is in fac ..read more

Hopefully they illuminate a good path for all as we travel onwards to 2024. Peace, joy, family, gratitude and love to all. See you next year! The post The Lights of the Season, and the City appeared first on Joe McNally Photography ..read more

As one naturally would, when you travel to the lush, voluptuous greenery, mists, wildlife, and serenity of the Cloud Forest of Costa Rica, camera in hand, those beautiful things are foremost in your mind. Understandable. On our recent foray to the land of Pura Vida, we encountered the natural world in all of its vibrancy–jungles, creatures, birds aloft, and landscapes. But we also photographed the landscape of the human face, and explored the lighting thereof. We had a variety of wonderful dancers and portrait subjects in front of our lenses. We went from photographing one group of profession ..read more

Pura Vida is the watchword of the people of Costa Rica. “Pure life.” It springs, I feel from the boundless beauty of the place, and sense of renewal the sun and the rain bring, the two gorgeous sweeps of coastline, east and west, framing one of the truly serene and magical places on earth–the Cloud Forest. Couple all this resplendent nature with the warm hearted people of Costa Rica, and it is a place that compels visitation, especially visitation with a camera. What better place for a workshop, a new one for us, called: The Coast to the Clouds. A memorable adventure with friend and fellow Ni ..read more

As pandemic times dawned, and zooming became the norm, the notion of live gatherings within any community, including photo, sauntered off to the tar pit. Farewell. So it was with a bit of trepidation I agreed to a two day onstage, live, shoot-to-the-screens event for the Dallas PPA. They are wonderful folks, mind you, and I was roundly welcomed. But, I hadn’t kind of, you know, hung it all out there, live, in a long while. No in-person events of late! I was frankly kind of nervous. Got out of the gate with a simple umbrella. Karen was lovely to work with. Simple and easy, and with my first f ..read more