Many of us who take pictures have traveled to beautiful places, took photos, and returned home only to find that what we experienced at the picturesque site was nowhere to be found in the photos we took. I remember going up the California coast once from Santa Barbara to Monterey taking photos of some of the most beautiful coastline in the United States only to … Continue reading Ten Simple Tips for Better Photos
I like photographs that tell us something about social reality, that provide insights about the human condition, or that tell a story. The Internet is full of beautiful photographs of sunsets, sunrises, children, pets, mountain landscapes, seashore landscapes, desert landscapes, and bad weather landscapes. I admire all of these, especially when well done. But there are not so many of the kind that show us … Continue reading Thoughts on Photographs that Reflect Social Reality
I like landscape photography. I like looking at it. But more than that, I like photographing it. The reason is simple. In order to photograph a beautiful landscape, you have to go there. And being there is itself worthwhile, even if you decide not to take the picture. Landscapes vary a great deal. Some are gentle on the senses like farm scenes or rolling prairie. … Continue reading The Beauty of Quiet Landscapes
Following the rules of photographic composition usually renders idealized versions of reality. Anyone learning to produce pleasant looking photographs will consider the “rule of thirds,” the importance of lighting, the importance of the foreground and background, the elimination of clutter, and so forth. Yet, as beautiful as many of the resulting photographs might be, they fall short of a more representational view of reality. Compare, … Continue reading Tourism Photography vs. Other Realities / Fotografía del turismo contra otras realidades
In an earlier post I noted that for me the photos I take while traveling tend to fall into one of three categories. These are: Subjects seen in the tourist destination, but not seen at home; Subjects seen at home, but not expected to be seen in the tourist destination; and, Subjects that are expected to be seen both at home and in the tourist … Continue reading On Tourism Photography – Oaxaca, Mexico
A major photographic and cultural find is just now coming to light. Vivian Maier, a nanny, photographed the streets of Chicago on her days off from the 1950’s into the 1980’s. Her photography, seen by hardly anyone until now, is extremely strong. Initial predictions are that Vivian Maier will rank among the most important of 20th century street photographers. I’ve only seen the few images … Continue reading A Holiday Gift for All of Us – The Photography of Vivian Maier
The photographs we take often say more about us than about our subjects. Recently, I decided to take a look at the photos I have taken as a tourist and see if I could discern any patterns in the photographic choices I made. I found that many of my photos fall into one of three general categories. These are: Pictures of subjects I see there, … Continue reading On Tourism Photography
I take photographs and people often tell me they like the photographs I take. This is gratifying and I’m always grateful for any positive comments. I almost always like the photos that receive positive comments, but I notice that some of my favorites don’t usually evoke a response from others. Reactions to photographs, whether positive or negative, are highly individualized. All the so-called rules of … Continue reading The Commuter
Snapshots 