Q&A: "Why Does This Look Bad?"

That's what reader Arjen P van de Merwe asks, from Malawi in southeast Africa. My first thought: Arjen, you are being too hard on yourself. A lot of people would have been quite happy with that photo. It's easy to forget how far you have come—and how fast—with respect to lighting, etc.You definitely made some good calls, and there are some additional...

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Why is This Pepper Smoking?

Because it's about to blow up. Today, a glance into the explosive still life photography of Adam Voorhes. Read more...

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Cyber Monday: Strobist DVD sets on Sale for $49.99 each

UPDATE: The Cyber Monday special for Lighting in Layers and Lighting Seminar ended at midnight EST. The Flash Bus Video deal is still live until DVD stock is gone. Thank you!You snooze, you lose: All Strobist DVDs are on sale today for $49.99. (Depending on the version you choose, that's from 50% to 68% off!) Deets inside. Read more...

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Ambush Street Studio

Cool street shooting video from French photographer Philippe Echaroux of his pop-up location studio and an array of impromptu subjects. You pretty much need an entourage to do this, but I love the idea of a background-on-a-stick. Totally gonna steal that one, Philippe...(Via ISO 12...

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Turkey Prep

Today is Thanksgiving in the US, a day in which we pause to give thanks and then watch football. And turkey, we eat lots of turkey, too. (Except for the vegetarians, who have to eat "tofurkey," adding yet another thing for us omnivores to be thankful for.)So on that note, thank you very much for being a reader of this site. Without you, this whole...

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On Assignment: M4. Like the Carbine, But With More Power

About this time last Friday I was in head-scratching mode, trying to figure out my light. Here was the challenge:Teeny-tiny stage. Twenty three insane performers. No room to change shooting positions. Complex, low-level and fast-changing ambient. I had been looking forward to it for weeks. Because I was getting to photograph MarchFourth, my absolute...

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Winter Reads: Winters Reads

What's better than a new book from Dan Winters? Try two new books from Dan Winters. Both are gorgeous; both are limited press runs. So if you delayed getting your copy of his Periodicals book before it went out of print, don't miss out this time. Short version: Last Launch is a love letter to the recently closed space shuttle program; Dan Winters's...

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Mike Kelley's Leap of Faith

It's a truism that creative growth is nonlinear. Which is to say that, while we (hopefully) do improve steadily over time, meaningful growth happens in fits and starts. You have an experience of some sort, and after you come out of it you realize you will never be the same photographer again. Now, while you certainly can wait for someone to hand you...

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Self-Taught via Self-Portrait: How to Turn the Lens on Yourself

Editor's Note: Need a willing victim for photos? Today, Sara Lando wraps up her series on portraiture, with an idea-filled look at how to turn the lens on the most available subject there is: yourself. Also, be sure to check out the link to Sara's latest project at the end of the post. Read more...

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