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Anatomy Of A Photo: Inspiration
Be mindful when you peruse magazines or websites, as you never know when inspiration will strike
Brian Matiash
Canon EOS 5D Mark II | Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 1/400 sec. at f/9.0; ISO 200 February 04, 2011 New Hampshire, USA It’s important to be mindful when you peruse magazines or websites. You never know where inspiration will strike and it can be helpful to remember where that source of inspiration came from down the road. As an example, years ago,... Read more

Summer Reading: Photography Books To Bring To The Beach
Use this select list of photography books to enlighten and inspire you during the dog days of summer
By Amy Touchette
One of my favorite ways of experiencing photography is to read about it, to intellectualize it as a way of countering all the feeling and intuition that’s required when I’m actually photographing. Here are some books I personally recommend, from my own book collection, that shed light on our favorite medium and art making in general: Ways of Seeing,... Read more

Where To Research Grants And Residencies
Use this list to help you fund your photography project or expand your skills as a photographer
By Amy Touchette
Part of the challenge of obtaining funding for your work is becoming aware of the opportunities that are out there. It takes a lot of time and research to determine what opportunities are best suited for you and your work. The following websites offer lists or searchable databases of grants and residencies that are currently being offered: Alliance... Read more
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Understanding The Tone Curve

Like many of you, I’ve been an Adobe Lightroom user since the wee early beta days, and I remember how wide-eyed I was when I saw all of the tools built specifically for photographers to use with their images. If you’re like me, you’ve also found which tools in the Develop module you gravitate to Read more…

Brian Matiash
Like many of you, I’ve been an Adobe Lightroom user since the wee early beta days, and I remember how wide-eyed I was when I saw all of the tools built specifically for photographers to use with their images. If you’re like me, you’ve also found which tools in the Develop module you gravitate to the most. I’m a big fan of the Split Toning module... Read more

Presenting Yourself And Your Photography
Remember these key details when you want to make a good first impression as a photographer
By Amy Touchette
Whether you’re introducing yourself to a member of the photo industry at a portfolio review or having a casual conversation with a stranger, the impression you make hinges completely on the words you choose and the demeanor you embody as you present yourself and your photography. The formality and content of your elevator pitch will vary depending... Read more

On Fear, Part 2: Looking At “Subway” by Bruce Davidson
This influential photographer confronted his fears in a powerful series of photographs about the New York City subway system
By Amy Touchette
In my previous post, we explored the three main causes of fear—insecurity, inspiration and danger—and how to act on them. In this post, we’ll look closely at Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson and how he handled his fears as he photographed people in the New York City subway in the 1980s. Davidson was initially inspired to photograph this urban... Read more

On Fear, Part 1: Using Fear In A Positive Way
How to constructively deal with fear in your photography and your life
By Amy Touchette
As photographers, we are often encouraged to “swallow our fears.” But the phrase suggests we ignore our fears in order to simply move on with our lives. But when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he acknowledged not just how crippling fear can be, but also implied that it could... Read more

It’s OK To Shoot The Same Thing A Thousand Times
It’s not just about the photo. It’s about what you had to do to get it.
Brian Matiash
It's OK To Shoot The Same Thing A Thousand Times
Depending on how much mental fortitude you have, thinking about how to photograph something that has already been photographed a thousand times in a unique way could prove to be…daunting. And, to a degree, that’s rightfully an appropriate reaction. In these instances, I find that it helps to think about this endeavor the same way many adventurers... Read more

Builder Levy’s “Humanity in the Streets” Exhibition at the Brooklyn Historical Society
The photographer in this museum show combines aspects of social documentary, fine art and street photography in a seamless way
By Amy Touchette
“Kingfish, Dekalb Avenue, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn,” 1965, by Builder Levy. Builder Levy is one of those rare photographers whose work is at once social documentary, fine art and street photography, and his seamless approach across these genres is as evident as ever in “Humanity in the Streets” currently exhibiting at the Brooklyn Historical... Read more

On Sequence, Part 2: W. Eugene Smith’s “The Country Doctor”
Looking back at a famous photo story by W. Eugene Smith from the 1940s can be a powerful way to learn how to sequence your own images
By Amy Touchette
The way photographs register in the minds of viewers is unique to each viewer, but by controlling the order of the images, a compelling series can still guide viewers down a specific path. A celebrated photo essay that is very effective at doing this is “The Country Doctor”, a sequence captured by acclaimed photographer W. Eugene Smith, who shot... Read more

On Sequence, Part 1: Developing the Fundamentals
Arranging your images in the correct sequence can make a world of difference in how you experience your photography
By Amy Touchette
One of my (many) favorite things about photography is the depth and complexity it can achieve in a series format. Photographs portraying myriad people, places and things can be put next to one another, and suddenly a story emerges that wasn’t apparent until you arranged them in a specific order. There is point and counterpoint, narration and narrative,... Read more

Anatomy Of A Photo: The Fish-Eye Lens
It's one of my most indispensable pieces of glass
Brian Matiash
Anatomy Of A Photo: The Fish-Eye Lens
Canon EOS 5D Mark II | Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fish-eye lens HDR at f/11; ISO 100 March 11, 2009 Staten Island, NY One of my favorite lenses to use whenever I see distinct lines in a composition is the fish-eye lens. They’re possibly the most underrated lenses on the market when it comes to creative opportunities for photos. While my fish-eye lens... Read more
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