Hi ,
February is an awesome month. For starters, it’s my birthday month, and having just turned 52, I’m excited by all the prospects and ideas that lie ahead. Also, by the middle of February, the days are starting to get considerably longer, and the temperatures aren’t quite so frigid, at least here in Anchorage. My fingers are still tingling a little bit from weeks of fat biking, flying and shooting in of below zero weather, so I'm a little excited that it's not 15 below
every day anymore. I liked it while it lasted, but I'm ready to bask in the nice, warm 20s.
In addition, February is my anniversary month. Having bought my first camera on February 2, 1990, I’m celebrating my 30 years of being a photographer right now.
When I walked into Bromfield Camera in Boston on that fateful day, I had absolutely no idea of the immense, world-bending significance that moment held for me. What seemed like a simple transaction, ultimately set me on a path that would define and dominate my entire life for the next three decades. As you look back at your own photography journey, whether it's a year long or decades long, where has your camera taken you? What has it contributed to your life?
At the time, I was studying music production at Berklee College of Music. There was a technical, behind-the-scenes aspect to recording engineering that appealed to me, and I discovered that a similar characteristic existed in photography as well. And, as with music, being good at the technical stuff doesn’t necessarily lead to compelling results, there’s that whole mysterious creative aspect that challenges us in a different way.
That’s one of the things I love most about photography, it has both left and right brain components, and it requires somewhat of a balance between the two sides. I think this is one of the reasons that photography has such a wide appeal with different types of people.
As you consider your own photography, think about where your strengths lie with this awesome craft. Are you more attuned to the right or left brain aspect of the picture taking process? Are you more comfortable with the technical aspects of photography or the creative side?
If you can recognize this in yourself, then this can give you a good indicator of what to work on as you go forward, and also what kind of instruction works best for your style. You don’t need to have a perfect balance between the two, but it helps to be comfortable with both sides of your photography brain.
If you’re interested in further exploring how the left and right brain components of photography play out in our camera lives, check out my Photography on The Brain series. The series is now available with either a monthly lesson delivery with added bonuses, or you can download the entire first 10
lessons of the series to watch right away.
Using Shallow Focus for Increased Visual Impact in Landscapes
Often times, especially when photographing landscapes, we often shoot with a wide depth of field, or we use Hyperfocal Distance techniques in order to achieve maximum edge-to-edge sharpness from front to back.
This technique works so well with grand vistas that are shot with wide angle lenses. By using a tripod and stopping the lens down, it’s possible to create images where everything is sharp.
However, if you only shoot images with a wide depth of field, you’re missing out on one of the most creative possibility that photography offers, selective focus, which produces a shallow depth of field.
Using narrow focus techniques and a shallow depth of field allows you to isolate your subjects with sharp focus against a soft background of out-of-focus elements. That blurred background acts as an effective visual canvas in which to place your subjects.
This often yields a very clean and compelling composition, and it can give the image a sense of place and context within the frame. It also helps lead your viewer right into the frame.
Your subject doesn’t always need to be the sharpest thing in the frame, but you’ve got to set it up so that your viewer’s eye goes there quickly...
To see more about how to use this technique, read the full post here.
Looking Forward in 2020
I’m excited about what 2020 will bring, and I’ve got a number of projects and ideas on the horizon. Next week, I’ll be filming pro cyclist Rebecca Rusch as she returns to Alaska to race in the 300+ mile Iditarod Trail Invitational ultra endurance race again.
Last year, I documented her rookie progress, and the footage I shot ended up being used for an OutsideTV feature, and it earned me my first Director of Photography credit. This year, Rebecca will be trying to overcome all her rookie mistakes on the trail, and just as she’ll be better prepared,
I’ll be better prepared with my video skills as we try to tell a different story of this amazing wither cycling adventure.
New Print Magazines and Journals
As I mentioned last month, I plan to start publishing some print magazines and paperback journals to highlight my photography in more traditional and tactile ways, that don't revolve around computer screens and mobile devices. These exclusive publications will be distributed through my new Patreon Page.
I’ve already started working on the first edition, which is scheduled for release sometime in March, and so I’m excited to see how it will turn out. I did a test run of a print journal back in December, and I was so impressed with the look and feel of the book. I can’t wait for you guys to see what I come up with! And as promised to my Patreon members, I’ve already uploaded my Best of 2019 eBook, “One Year of Light,” which is a free download to any of my “Tripod Tier” supporters.
New Video Tutorials
I just uploaded my latest video tutorial and my first of the new year. This one is about how to use Fujifilm’s powerful PRE-SHOT ES feature, which is found on the X-T3, X-Pro 3, X-T30 and the new X100V, which is set to be
released very soon. This setting allows you to maximize your success when shooting action and other fast breaking subject matter. Even if you're not a Fuji shooter, there are a few other cameras out there that have a similar feature. If you have a relatively new camera, see if it has something like this and then go try it out.
As I’ve been doing on my YouTube Channel, I try to alternate between doing Fuji specific video lessons and more comprehensive, non-Fuji lessons that focus on other aspects of photography and creativity.
I’ve even got some Luminar tutorials up there, and I posted one recently called AERIAL ADVENTURE - Winter Flying in Alaska. A short film with original music, this takes you on a ride with my little yellow Cessna as I shoot sunset aerials over the Chugach Mountains. You can even listen to my
original soundtrack for this video here.
I’ve been building my channel since last summer, and my lessons seem to have a very good response. If video tutorials work for you, then I encourage you to check them out.
X SERIES UNLIMITED - New Update Coming Soon!
With the two latest X Series models, the X-Pro 3 and the forthcoming X100V, Fujifilm has introduced a brand new film simulation, and a handful of new features and settings that add even more functionality to the cameras. Given Fuji’s history, it’s likely that these new features will also show up in any future models that are introduced in the future.
With this in mind, I will be updating my PDF version of X SERIES UNLIMITED soon to include these new settings. If you already have the eBook, then you’ll get the update link for free when it comes out. If you don’t have my bestselling guide, you can grab it here and
you’ll also get the free update when it’s ready.
I hope that you’re having a great winter with photography, whether you’re basking in the warm temps of the Southern Hemisphere, or enjoying the snow and cold that we Northern Latitude people have right now.
I’m thrilled to be a part of your photography journey, and I hope you’ll continue to share your work with me on my Outdoor Adventure Photography Flickr group, or by tagging me on social media. I’d love to see what you come up with, .
Also, I’d love to get your input as to the content you’d like to see from me in the coming months. I’m looking to do some more video courses this year, including a Composition Masterclass. If there’s another topic that you’d like to see me cover in depth in a full course, or in a short video tutorial on my YouTube channel, then please let me know.
And video stuff aside, rest assured, I still consider my blog to be "command central." I find that writing offers a very personal way for me to get my ideas out there and flesh out these topics, so I'll continue to explore new topics and share news on my blog each month.
So thanks very much for reading this newsletter! Please keep in touch, enjoy my recent posts, and if you’d like to support me in additional ways, please considering purchasing gear through my B&H Photo and Amazon links.
By the way, which one of these two images do you like better? The color or monochrome?
Take care and happy shooting,
-Dan
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