Just in case you’re unaware Circle of Confusion have kicked off a new series of educational photography videos with the first discussing Dynamic Range (click for a definition). Their first video is full of great info, is entertaining and is a great window into the behind the scenes of landscape photography. Peter, Neil and Roger have a great sense of humor which they infuse into each segment of the video. Topics of discussion include dynamic range (obviously), lighting, filters, gear, format differences (color, B&W and Infrared), composition and as a bonus includes great image comparisons. The video is 53 minute and 54 second in length and is an exceptional way to see the majestic landscapes of south western Ireland short of visiting yourself.
The fifth episode of EXIF and Beyond has been released. This is video podcast and can be viewed or downloaded via iTunes: EXIF and Beyond: Wildlife Photography In The Arctic
Photographing wildlife in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). An amazing glimpse into the United States most beautiful and controversial wilderness areas. (Part I of II)
Enjoy and by all means feel free to pass on feedback.
For those unaware this subject was chosen by EXIF and Beyond listeners via the survey found on the EXIF and Beyond web page. Let me know what you’d like to hear next and if interested previous podcast episodes can be found there as well at EXIFandBeyond.com
Recently I was presented the question, “How does one improve as a photographer? This question came from a well seasoned photographer and it got me thinking of the things I’ve done in the past. While the things listed below worked for me they may not work for everyone. Which leads me to wonder what do you do to improve as a photographer when you feel you’ve hit a wall?
Viewing "99 Cents" by Andreas Gursky
10 Ways To Improve as a Photographer
Cut off participation on photo critique forums. Over time many of the submitted photos start to emulate each other converging into a common style versus diverging to original work.
Begin viewing art web sites more frequently to get inspiration from contemporary artists
Begin going to more museums and traveling exhibits to see the work of other artists (not just photographers)
Begin looking at and reading classic and contemporary art books
Force yourself to use different lenses
Intentionally avoided taking the same types of shots by recognizing one’s habits in the field
Identify and start personal art projects that you’ll find fulfilling even if they’re unlikely to resonate with others
Monitor new technologies (hardware, software or even things out of left field that are unrelated) to see if they might be creatively applied to make something new and never before seen.
Take a lot of iPhone photos as a creative white board to see things you might pass over otherwise
Ask yourself “What if…?” a lot and try to formulate something new from your basic curiosity.
As I see it this desire to continually improve is healthy and a great sign. I see far too many photographers (well known big names) fall into the habit of trying to reproduce work they had success with many years earlier. Photography is moving at such a fast pace that these older styles and techniques are now easily reproduced by lesser experienced photographers. The result is people losing respect for them or just becoming jaded by them. I wrote about this a bit here in The Subtlety of Greatness and Today’s Loss of Appreciation.
Now more than ever it really takes a lot of skill, self-discipline and motivation to dig deeper and push farther. Great photographers are always pushing the limits and having seen this in my study of photography over the years it has served as a very strong source of motivation.
Personally I can’t help but think if you’re not looking back at your older work and being dissatisfied you’re not growing as a photographer. This is why I run the Best of Photos 20XX blog project. Every year I look back and think I should trash my old photos. It’s not where I want to be. The day I lose that feeling is the day I know I’m done. There should always be new creative horizons to aim for and explore.
Fitting quote for the week as we wrap up a week here in the United States commemorating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Break in the Storm, White Sands National Monument - New Mexico
If you ever show up to a location you’ve had your heart set on to photograph only to find that the weather isn’t up to your expectation this photo is a reminder to clear your mind of preconceived ideas and start fresh. Mother Nature always has a way of revealing a facet of her beauty, you just have to be open minded enough to see it.
This year we had an amazing turn out for the Best Photos of 2011 blog project with 289 entries, topping the results for best photos of 2010, best photos of 2009, best photos of 2008 and best photos of 2007! Participants spanned a spectrum of skill levels from hobbyists to professionals and covered a wide variety of genres including landscape, macro, nature, photojournalism, portraiture, event, wildlife, fine art photography and more. There are likely many names you’ll recognize below and many others you won’t. I highly recommend visiting each entry as I have. Even after 5 years of running this blog project I’m blown away by the talent of those that take part. It is truly inspirational to see so much creativity and beauty. If your curious to see photos I personally enjoyed look out for the entries with *** next to them.
2011 was a fun year to be behind the camera. I was very lucky to witness some breathtaking moments and round out some projects that made their way into my eBook. As was the case in 2010 it is impossible to rank my best photos like I had been in years past (best photos of 2010, best photos of 2009, best photos of 2008 and best photos of 2007). So in no particular order here are my 10 favorite photos taken in 2011. Enjoy and feel free to let me know if you have a favorite!
Portrait of Blake
Technically this is my 11th selection, consider it an honorable mention. I had to include a picture of Blake with a big smile for reasons you’ll later understand as you scroll down.
Portrait of Blake
Ecliptic Star Trails – Nature and Landscape Photography by Jim M. Goldstein
I took several star trail photos in Death Valley National Park this year, but this is one that really stood out for me. Being able to photograph the curvature of the stars as they approach both poles was a real highlight of my October Death Valley Photo Tour. I’m looking forward to sharing the incredible night skies here with those in my February Death Valley Photo Tour. I still have room if you want to join me..
Ecliptic Star Trails
Road to the Sun View, Glacier National Park
Being atop the northern Rocky mountain range always yields dramatic views. Wafting clouds through a glacially carved valley made this view extra special from the Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park.
Road to the Sun View, Glacier National Park
Lunar Rainbow (Moonbow) at Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park
Water levels were at record levels during my visit to Yosemite in June. As a result the waterfalls were flowing at a greater capacity than I’ve ever seen before. This made photographing moonbows a lot easier. In this instance I was being drenched from the mist, but it was so worth it. In April and June I return to hunt for Yosemite moonbows during two phototours.
Lunar Rainbow (Moonbow) at Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park
Racetrack Star Trails
The Racetrack in Death Valley is dramatic enough, but adding star trails takes it to a new level. This was a 4 hour exposure resulting in nearly 60 degrees of rotation in the sky.
Racetrack Star Trails
Trying Moments
Remember that smiling photo of Blake at the beginning of the post. I didn’t want you to think he’s unhappy all the time. He’s a super happy kid. That being said even happy kids have their unhappy moments. I thought this moment was very telling of how challenging it is to be a parent sometimes.
Trying Moments
Stormy Sunrise, Glacier National Park
This fiery sunrise developed as quickly as it vanished. This fleeting moment was magical, but fear not I also took a time-lapse of it (see below).
Rendezvous – Racetrack, Death Valley National Park
The mystery of the moving rocks on the Racetrack always fascinate people. Seeing two rocks paths on the verge of intersecting was particularly cool as it left me wondering how long it would be before they meet.
Rendezvous - Racetrack, Death Valley National Park
360° View of Star Trails Above the Racetrack
Ever wonder what the entire visible night sky would look like as a star trail photo? So did I so I made this photo with a Canon 8-15m lens that Borrowlenses.com (the best online lens rental store) made available to me for my trip. At the top of the circle is the eastern mountains that skirt the Racetrack playa. At the bottom of the screen are the western mountains that skirt the Racetrack playa. The small version of this image doesn’t do it justice so be sure to click the image to see a slightly larger version.
360 Degree View of Star Trails Above the Racetrack, Death Valley National Park
Under the Rainbow, Maui
In mid-December we took a family vacation to Maui. This was one of the more magical moments. I couldn’t believe how gigantic this rainbow was.
Under the Rainbow, Maui
Milky Way Over Death Valley (180° Panoramic)
This is a 70 megapixel 180° panoramic photo of the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon above the Racetrack Playa. There is nothing more humbling than seeing an infinite number of stars in the sky. Again this has to be seen large so you may want to check in on my Google+ stream to see it.
It’s always interesting to see which blog entries for the year caught the eye of my blog readers most. If you’re looking for some great reading and photography as you wait for New Years to approach then this is it. As always thanks for reading my blog and have a great New Years!
