I’m often asked the same questions when I’m teaching photography classes, giving presentations, or just talking with friends. Because I receive a lot of email, I thought this would be a great place to answer as many questions as possible. If your question isn’t here, do feel free to email me and I’ll respond as soon as I can.
Which cameras and lenses should I buy?
To be honest, it matters little these days. Sony, Leica, Nikon, Pentax, Canon, etc. – they are all making good cameras and lenses. The trick is finding the camera and lens combination that works for you. To do so, always consider your subjects and what you want to do with your photos. If you want to take snapshots on vacations to view on your computer monitor, any entry level DSLR with an inexpensive zoom lens is fine. If you are an aspiring photojournalist, you’ll need two camera bodies, a wide angle zoom lens, and a telephoto zoom lens to start out. If you want to make fine art for exhibiting in galleries, you usually need the very best lenses and sensors. Color, dynamic range, and sharpness all become incredibly important in fine art photography, and these are the image quality factors I consider most when selecting a camera and lens for the job. Remember, no camera or lens is perfect, regardless of how much money you spend. Find the work-arounds to the problems and incorporate them into your muscle memory. In other words, learn how to extract your vision from your photographic equipment, and adjust your equipment when you have stretched it beyond its limits. Be patient – photography, like any form of art, takes time.
Which cameras are your favorite to work with and why?
I prefer to work with Sony and Leica cameras because of their superb color rendition, ergonomics, and reliability.
Where do you work?
Most of my locations are in the American High Plains, which is anywhere between the Continental Divide and central Nebraska. I occasionally work in the upper Midwest as well. My studio and gallery are located in Boulder, Colorado.
Which software and hardware do you use for photo editing?
I only use Photo Mechanic (Camera Bits) for editing and organizing. For image processing, I mostly use Apple Aperture. In the field and in the studio, I only use Apple laptops and desktops.
Why don’t you use Adobe Photoshop?
This software is actually a graphic design and color management tool, and is poorly suited to a photographer’s workflow. For the little bit of graphic design work I do, I prefer open source programs, such as the GIMP.
Can I be your field assistant?
Field assistantships are very limited, and only available to individuals meeting specific criteria. Are you a budding Indiana Jones or Lara Croft with a love of both art and science and a flexible schedule? Do you have some college training in photography, journalism, film, meteorology, geology, or geography? Are you in good physical condition and enjoy traveling and working long hours? If you can say “yes” to all of the above, feel free to contact me. Field assistantships are usually only available in spring and summer, and are unsalaried with basic expenses paid (food, transportation, and lodging). Because most of my work is on the High Plains, you must live (or temporarily reside) close to Denver.
Did you take that photo from an airplane?
Yes, some of my photographs are captured from aircraft.
Which classes did you take in college, and which were your favorites?
A little bit of everything. There is great value in a liberal arts education. To truly appreciate the beauty in the world, you must be able to see it from all angles. Photography classes, while still important, are less important than classes that teach you about your subjects. My personal favorites were Physics in the Arts, Physical Geography, and Oceanography.
Have you had any near death experiences?
Lightning has almost made my life too short on a couple of occasions, and these were impressively frightening experiences. Otherwise, I’ve had to fight my way out of a blizzard or two, dodge a few tornadoes, and steer clear of the other usual hazards associated with storm chasing. Like gas station burritos. Instant. Death.
Do you crop your photographs?
No, I shoot with a variety of aspect ratios. Software-based cropping is used for removing unwanted parts of a photograph, and that is never part of my image processing. I compose the scene in a specific aspect ratio (i.e. 3:2 or 2:1) using focusing screen guides.
Do you teach classes?
Yes, I teach private photography classes in Boulder, Colorado. Most of these are weekend workshops. These are posted here as they become available. I also teach classes in geography, atmospheric science, natural hazards, and environmental science at several colleges in the Denver area.
How many shots do you take during an event?
It varies considerably, usually somewhere between 100 and 500. A good day might see 1,000 or more shots. While bracketing improves the chances of getting that one great shot, there are no guarantees. I’ve made successful photographs from 50-shot days, and I’ve deleted every photo from 1,000-shot days.
Where can I read more about you and your approach to photography?
Please see the “Artist” page for more information about me.
