Photographing portraits with a personal connection
Of all the portraits I've taken over the years, this photo is one of those that I am most proud of - my friend Petra Herrmann. This photograph shows her strength as well as vulnerability.
I'd mention her sense of humor, and her warmth and kindness .. but she'd just tell me to fuck off. So there's that. But it's true. She's a remarkable person and friend ... and I am glad she's going to be around much, much longer.
Petra is a well-known boudoir photographer in Kansas City. Somewhere late in 2014, she was diagnosed with breast Read more inside...
Even when taking photography only slightly seriously, you'll have come up against the legendary name, Zeiss. Renowned for innovations in optical designs that helped shape the history of photography, the Zeiss brand name is also synonymous with precision engineered lenses and impeccable attention to build quality. With all that behind them, Zeiss has released a new range called Otus. The first lens is a Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 (affiliate) which Zeiss describes with phrases such as "the absolute measure of perfection" and Read more inside...
85mm - The best lens that could change your portrait photography
If that hat seems familiar, yes, Elle was the model in the series of photographs for the Nikon Df review article. For some of the sequences of photos that we shot, I used the 85mm lens, wide open. This had the effect of just melting the background. You can pretty much shoot anywhere, and make the background look good and non-intrusive.
While a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens can be even more effective in controlling the background, the shorter focal length, an 85mm lens can make this somewhat easier in some respects. Read more inside...
Photography composition: Working toward the final image
When I first immersed myself in photography way way back, it took me a while to realize that what I see in a magazine or book, isn't necessarily the first image. Those incredible images that can inspire us, (or even make us just want to give up photography), most often are not fully-formed masterpieces. Most often, the photograph that we as the viewer are presented with, are but one of a series. One photograph that stood out, or where the elements in the photograph were controlled by the photographer. And even with the work of Read more inside...
