Happy new year!

 

Welcome to 2013! I'm very excited about this coming year, and I have a huge list of shooting ideas, trips and other projects that are swimming around in my head a the moment. You’re probably also thinking about all of the exciting projects that you want to dive into this year and making a list of everything you want to accomplish in 2013. As you do so, I want to you to spend some brief time doing these things, which will help you get on track for the coming weeks and months.

 

Looking back and reflecting on the previous year allows you to take stock and see where you’ve come. Surely you achieved some great milestones during 2013. Maybe you bought some great new equipment or made big advancements in your career or your technical skills. No matter what level of photographer you are, it’s good to recognize and even celebrate those accomplishments. You’ll only be at this point in your career and skill level once. Don’t forget what it was like.

 

 

Also, this is a great time to make notes of what worked and what didn’t work. As you look forward, spend some time during the next week or so analyzing your methods and try to see areas where you can improve efficiency in your workflow, technique or your business. Is there a certain technique that you’d like to learn or improve on this year? Is there some gear that you’d like to add to your arsenal which will help you shoot certain subjects better? Now is the time to figure that stuff out, before you get too wrapped up and fall back into your old patterns. Forget resolutions, better to think small and nail down just a couple of things that you really want to focus on and get started.

 

 

As you being the new year, get yourself in the habit of stretching our your learning material. Whether it’s every day, every other day or every week, carve out some time out towards active learning with your photography. Make the time to sit down and read those books and eBooks that you’ve been collecting, or pick up some new ones. Visit someone else’s website whose work you admire and really spend the time looking through their imagery, studying their compositional and lighting techniques. Invest in your photography- even if it’s only your hobby, it’s worth the time, money and effort.

 

 

Tomorrow evening, January 8 at 7:00PM, I’ll be giving a free instructional presentation called “Using Flash Photography in The Outdoors.” In this talk, I’ll illustrate some of the techniques and gear that I use in my Fast With Light style of photography.

 

The event is sponsored by the Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers and will be held at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmussen Center. Come one, come all, because it’s open to anyone. I even have a couple of free prizes to give away, so don’t miss it! Click here for more details.

 

 

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the brand new Nikon 70-200mm f/4 VR telephoto zoom lens. This is a pro quality lens that’s considerably lighter and more affordable then Nikon’s flagship 80-200mm f/2.8 VRII. Both are AF-S with Nano Crystal Coat and ED glass, and so the only thing that you’re really losing with the new f/4 lens is a single stop of speed. 

 

For most uses, one stop is hardly a deal breaker, especially outside, and especially when you consider just how good the new, 3rd Generation VR is. I tried this lens out when it was announced at PhotoPlus, and now they’re in stock at both B&H Photo and Amazon, and shipping today. I’ll be getting one very soon, and if a telephoto zoom is on your want list, then I’d highly recommend taking a look at this lens. 

 

 

A year ago, I bought the Fuji X10, and have loved shooting with it. If you’re a regular reader, then you know just how much I love this little camera. Today, Fujifilm unveils the brand new X20, which is the upgrade to the X10. In many ways, it’s just a minor update. The lens and body design are the same, as are most of the features, including sensor size and megapixel count.

 

That said, the X20 features a brand new 12/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor and upgraded EXR Processor II and an all-new Advanced Optical Viewfinder that displays basic shooting info. The new sensor and processor are reported to produce slightly sharper, more high resolution images than the previous model. We’re not talking night and day, but it will be an improvement. 

 

If you’re thinking about buying the X10, you might consider waiting for the X20. However, the official Fujifilm announcemnt is coming later today, so you should check Fuji Rumors for details on pricing and availability. 

 

 

Looking back at all my eBook reviews of 2012, I narrowed down my three favorites of the year. Rather than just list the three titles, though, I’ve decided to describe the ideal photographer who I feel can benefit from each book.

 

 

I consider Ian Plant to be a modern day master of landscape and outdoor photography. His work is absolutely stunning. His colors pop with vivid punch, his compositions flow with subtle movement that seems to bring the image alive, each shape and subject matter within his frame is perfectly placed and everything relates to something else in the image. Visual Flow: Mastering the Art of Composition is a manual of how he creates his photographs.

 

With a combination of outstanding image examples from his own collection, as well as tried and true methods that he’s perfected during his career, and textbook visual and design cues that were first explored by the old masters, Ian explains the fundamentals of composition in incredible depth. Not only does he talk about what works in his own imagery, he analyzes some very classic paintings to see how brush and canvas artists have dealt with how to translate things like depth, color and perspective in two dimensional mediums.

 

At 287 pages, this ambitious book is without a doubt one of the biggest and best photography eBooks available today, if no the very best. With Visual Flow, Ian has certainly raised the bar for the rest of us photographer/writer people. Not only that, Ian is a hard working photographer and a genuinely nice guy, and he works really hard in his efforts to teach and pass along information to other photographers. That’s worth a lot in my book. 

 

Who this book is for: Although I feel that anyone can benefit from this awesome book, Visual Flow is ideal if you’re an intermediate to advanced outdoor, nature and landscape photographer who is looking to take your creativity and compositional skills to the next level. 

 

 

Post processing can be daunting and sometimes overwhelming task. Even with the simplicity of virtual sliders that give immediate results, the craft of effectively dodging and burning requires that we have full understanding of how we intend to refine our image, but also why.

 

The why is what matters, because in photography, it’s not the technique that carries the image, it’s the message. Photography is all about communicating your own interpretation about the subject, and through careful tonal management, you can help lead your viewer’s eye through your image. 

 

Human vision responds differently to light and dark, areas of relative brightness and to differing levels of sharpness, contrast and color. Solid post processing skills allow you to take control of your photographs. In today’s world, you need to take control of your imagery in order for it to stand out. Dodge and Burn: Leading the Eye With Photoshop and Lightroom is a full course that teaches you the how so that you can accentuate the why.

 

The how involves establishing a smooth and efficient workflow, and then choosing the right technique that best lends itself to the task and to your particular image. Even with Lightroom and Photoshop, there are a number of options that allow you to manipulate your image: the sliders in Adobe Camera RAW, adjustment brushes, gradient filters, levels, curves, etc. Some people use third party plug-ins, which offer even more options.

 

In Dodge and Burn, Piet walks you through an entire workflow from the ground up and shows you how to be efficient and effective with the tools mentioned in the previous paragraph. He offers specific case studies where he explores each tool and technique in depth with thorough and straightforward approach.

 

Who this book is for: Dodge and Burn is ideal if you’re a photographer who has a has a good handle on your compositional and technical skills but is looking to improve your image processing skills. This book will help you fine tune your final images and push the dramatic quality of your photographs so that they have the most impact and more closely match your personal vision.

 

 

It takes a great deal of time and personal investment in order to become a great photographer. However, not everyone has the time to learn everything and make all the mistakes that eventually lead you towards the right path. 8 Ways to Accelerate Your Photography explores 8 fundamental areas of knowledge that are essential for today’s photographer and shows you the quickest and most effective techniques that will help you speed up your learning curve.

 

By sharing what she learned from spending an entire year photographing on the road, practicing her technique and marketing herself, Anne McKinnell saves you valuable time by walking you through those necessary skills that you need to master, including how to understand camera settings, achieve proper exposure, get your photography on the web and make money with your photography.

 

I’ve known Anne via the internet for a couple of years. She’s written guest posts here on my blog, and from what I’ve seen, she’s doing everything right. Only 4 years after buying her first DSLR, she’s gone from working a regular job to becoming a full time photographer and writer. She’s gone from total beginner to having her photos published in books and on magazine covers, writing several eBooks and building a successful blog.

 

Who this book is for: 8 Ways to Accelerate Your Photography is written for the beginning or emerging photographer who is just starting out, or who is struggling with specific areas of cameras or image making. Anne’s honest, easy-to-read style will help you, whether you’re looking to eventually go pro, or if you just want to get a jump start on your creative and technical skills.

 

The new year has started, which means new online photography course schedules at The Compelling Image. 

 

I currently offer four courses: Outdoor and Adventure Photography, Dramatic Photographs with Telephoto Lenses, Travel Photography and Camera RAW: Capture to Stunning Photos. Each course offers flexible lessons that get emailed right to you, as well as discussions and personal critiques by me. 

 

 

All for now- I wish you the very best for 2013, and hope that you’ll stay tuned in here during the coming weeks and months!

 

Best of luck with your photography this year.

 

Dan