Size Matters
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
As photographers we know the importance of light, composition, background, exposure, and moment. But sometimes what you really need for a unique photo is a lot of lens, and that can help you make a photo no one else is able to.
Read on...
How to Photograph Holiday Lights
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
Every holiday season the Country Club plaza in Kansas City is decorated in lights. It's a beautiful scene, and well worth the visit if you're in town. Light displays like this are a lot of fun to photograph, if you know a few simple tips to get the photos you want.
Read on...
Birthday Poster
Friday, November 25th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
My wife Sharon had a birthday this past weekend (can't tell you her age, but it rhymes with "nifty") and celebrated with a big party. One of my gifts was a poster of photos of her over those years, which was a big hit at the party. This can be pretty easy, if you just follow a few simple steps.
Read on...
One Fan of the Nikon 1
Monday, November 14th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
As someone who loves taking pictures, I try to have a camera whenever possible. It's not always convenient to carry an SLR, though, and point-and-shoots can be disappointing. So I was happy to hear that Nikon was entering the "small camera with larger sensor" market. And after using the J1 for a couple of weeks, I've become an ardent fan.
Read on...
The Joy of Traveling Light
Sunday, October 16th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
I’m often asked what gear I take when traveling. And the answer is always the same – it depends on what I want to do. In the case of our recent vacation to Italy, the plan was to relax and enjoy the time together, not be out shooting from pre-dawn into night. Which meant little gear. But I still hoped to make some nice photos.
Read on...
Luck and Lightning
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
My wife and I just returned from a vacation to Italy (yes, it was wonderful).The second night there, Sharon was tired and went to bed early, so I decided to take a walk. And was reminded once again that skill is important in photography, but luck can be even better.
Read on...
Love My VALS
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
One of my favorite accessories when doing flash photography is a VALS - Voice Activated Light Stand. In other words, a person you can direct to put a light where you need it. Recently my wife Sharon played this role for me, and is just one of the many reasons I love her :)
Read on...
Tethered for Speed
Friday, September 2nd, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
Most of the time photographers tether their camera to the computer for instant feedback during a studio shoot. In my case, it was so I could deliver photos faster.
Read on...
PC Lenses
Thursday, August 18th, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
PC (Perspective Control) lenses were first developed decades ago to bring tilt/shift functionality to 35mm cameras. View cameras have always been able to do this, but since 35mm cameras didn't have bellows, they couldn't. I recently had a chance to spend some time shooting one of the new models, and found it to be a lot of fun.
Read on...
Great Photo Conference
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 by Reed Hoffmann
Earlier this month I attended the New England Camera Clubs Council annual conference, in Amherst, MA. I'd heard good things about it for years, and was pleased to find it lived up to its reputation. If you have a chance, you should really try to attend.
Read on...