What is a High Dynamic Range scene and is a HDR workflow the solution to so many difficult to photograph subjects? Here's what I've learned along the journey. High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a digital workflow that combines several individual exposures, of different brightnesses, into a new, composite image encapsulating a greater range of tones and details, from shadows to highlights, than might otherwise be possible with a single exposure. It’s interesting to think about the kind of photo challenge that commonly faced me back in the days of film based photography. To avoid disappoint ..read more

Spectacular waterfall in Southern Iceland. What are your travel plans for 2021? Has the COVID-19 pandemic caused you to delay your travel plans? I know I've rescheduled flights several times since 2020. Will you travel overseas during 2023? The ability to travel safely during 2023, particularly for those traveling overseas, will depend upon the successful delivery of ongoing vaccination programs together with a disciplined approach to physical distancing and the wearing of face masks. That’s the brutal truth and, though I’m hopeful for a much brighter and carefree future, such as is suggested ..read more

A visual explanation of why it is that some photos connect more strongly with our audience than others and why it is important for photographers to understand that technical aptitude is only one measure of a successful photograph. Why is it that some photos strike a chord with our audience? And why do some images transcend the reach of our usual audience and become viral? Often folks respond to photos particularly positively based upon a range of criteria which might include the following: The kind of subject matter or genre in which they’re particularly interested A connection, based upo ..read more

A visual explanation of why it is that some photos connect more strongly with our audience than others and why it is important for photographers to understand that technical aptitude is only one measure of a successful photograph. Why is it that some photos strike a chord with our audience? And why do some images transcend the reach of our usual audience and become viral? Often folks respond to photos particularly positively based upon a range of criteria which might include the following: The kind of subject matter or genre in which they’re particularly interested A connection, based upo ..read more

Great photographers find interesting subject matter and create unique, visually dynamic images. During nine years of tertiary level photography education I studied the history of photography at considerable length. Along the way I discovered the work of many truly great photographers. Here’s the top 20 facts I discovered that make them so special. Great photographers are determined, creative, authentic and artistic individuals with an ability to connect with, motivate and organize subjects and team members. They display a mastery of light, technique and composition; have an eye for detail, an ..read more

Red barrier provides a splash of vibrant color at Web Bridge, Melbourne. I remember being surprised at an artist friends business card which listed him as a painter, print maker, writer and photographer. He caught the surprised look in my expression and asked me what was wrong. I told him, without intending any disrespect to donkeys, that I didn’t think he was a photographer’s ass. He was a painter and printmaker, and he’d done a little bit of writing. But is understanding of the craft of photography was evident in his lackluster photos and a near inability to use his camera. I tried to expl ..read more

Awesome silhouette of burnt trees in the fire-ravaged Yarra Valley, Australia. Silhouette photography is one of the most creative techniques an aspiring photographer can employ to move beyond technical competency and produce really compelling images. My own exploration of the silhouette has enabled me to create photos that are dramatic in mood and imbued with a sense of mystery. Silhouette photos depict the subject as a solid, dark shape against a much brighter background. The effect is achieved when the dynamic range or contrast between the subject and background is high. Subjects photograph ..read more

Follow your bliss down to the sea on Nólsoy, Faroe Islands. Do you want to be happy and follow your bliss? That’s a question that’s long interested me. Although life is full of challenges I was determined to discover how living a creative life would enable me to follow my bliss. I felt sure happiness would follow. You will follow your bliss by living a purpose driven, meaning rich existence. Being happy and regularly experiencing bliss is a natural consequence of spending your time doing what you love to do, particularly when it involves living a creative life undertaken in the service of oth ..read more

An artifact and the shadow of the light source illuminating it at Berliner Dom in Berlin, Germany. Photographing Deep in the Crypt An artifact and the shadow of the light source illuminating it in Berlin, Germany. This is one of my very favorite images made on this trip. I like it's simplicity and intrigue; the monochromatic color; and the balance between left and right, and between light and dark. Needless to say this composition was made entirely in camera. A candle on the edge of the altar at Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) in Berlin, Germany.   A lovely sculpture at the Berliner Do ..read more

How about some tips for how to go about photographing your next holiday or weekend away?  Learn to explore the world about you through your camera's lens and make memorable photographs that capture your response to the location and your own, personal world view. Why not push the boundaries and introduce narrative, metaphor and abstraction in your images? This presentation featuring the magnificent, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Eastern China, provides great tips and approaches to help you make great photos. I will be running a special Photography Tour to China in January 2012. Feel free ..read more