Hi ,

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and, of course, we all have much to be thankful for. Check out Joe McNally’s Things to be Thankful For… post that he ran today. Noone says it better than him. 

When it comes to photography, we really do have a great deal to be thankful for.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re living through an incredible time in the world of image making. We have unbelievable technology, gear that works wonders, countless resources for inspiring our creativity and teaching us how to be better shooters, editors, image processors and marketers and the energy and passion to bring it alive.

Some great stuff on the blog this past week. If you’ll remember, I recently did a review of Canon zoom lenses. This time, I’ve got a specific user review of the Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM lens by photographer Michael Russell. He details with some great examples why he loves this lens for outdoor, nature and landscape photography. 

Also, I feature some imagery from one of the younger photographers out there, a talented shooter from Australia named Timothy Arch. I liked Tim’s work the first time I saw it, it’s the kind of imagery that keeps inspiring me and pushing me to expand my own creativity.

I also ran a simple post on how to drive more traffic to your photography blog. We talked a little bit about blogging last week; here’s some more info that I hope you’ll find useful if you’re struggling to bring readers to your site. These tips have worked for me, hopefully they’ll work for you.

I’ve been updating my Gear pages on the blog. They list all of the equipment that I use in my outdoor and adventure photography business. As of now, I’ve got camera, lens, lighting gear and accessories pages up. Keep checking back, though, because I’ll probably add a couple more pages in the near future. 

Finally, I have a brand new feature on the blog, a link to my new Amazon Store. While I always advocate shopping locally, especially during the holidays, the reality is that sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for at a local shop. My Amazon Store is full of photography related books and gear that I highly recommend, use or have reviewed; items that I think can really help educate, inspire or drive your photography. Cruise through and see if anything sparks your interest.

And of course, whether you’re digging for Black Friday deals this weekend, or if you’re looking to find a great new resource, shopping at my Amazon Store anytime does make a difference. A book or two, or an occasional accessory may not seem like much, but it does add up, and it helps compensate me for the time and effort that it takes me to write all of my blog articles, reviews and newsletters. 

The truth is that even though I’ve got a full time career as a photographer, I LOVE sharing my knowledge and inspiration with you and helping you find and enhance your own photographic creativity. It does take time, though, and I don’t have a subscription based site. Help me help you. 

Ok, enough of that. I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving, whether you spend it with friends, family or out in the desert with strangers over a can of chili while on a climbing or canyoneering trip. (Some of my favorite past Thanksgivings!!)

Very best regards,

Dan

Adventure and Outdoor Photography by Timothy Arch

I like to keep tabs on the younger photographers out there who are working hard, producing great work and pushing their creative boundaries.  After all, the young, energetic shooters are the future of our industry; I know, I used to … Continue reading →  Find out more

10 Ways to Get Your Blog Read

Blogs are a great way to bring extra traffic to your website, and they’re an awesome way to feature your newest imagery. They can also be a great outlet for photographers who enjoy writing. In fact, some photographers, *ahem* create … Continue reading →  Find out more

Lens Review: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Today we’ve got a guest gear review by British Columbia photographer, Michael Russell. Michael specializes in shooting landscape and nature and he shares his personal experience with the Canon EF 700-200mm f/4L IS USM lens and how it performs for … Continue reading →  Find out more