How sports photographer Paul Kitagaki Jr. captures that unexpected moment
By Mark Edward Harris / Photography By Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Shawn Johnson (U.S.A.) captures the silver medal in the women’s individual all-around competition at the 2008 Olympics on Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, in Beijing, China.
Like the athletes they capture, photographers have been gearing up for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Both have to be at the peak of their games to produce the desired outcomes.
Paul Kitagaki...
Read more
What these lens specifications mean and how they impact the pictures we take
William Sawalich
When shopping for a new lens, photographers are likely focusing first and foremost on focal length. But what, exactly, is the focal length of a lens, and how does it impact our pictures? And what about angle of view, does it go hand-in-hand with focal length? Here’s what these technical terms mean and how they impact your pictures.
Focal Length
The...
Read more
Three easy tricks for beautiful lighting without much equipment
William Sawalich
It can be easy for new photographers to feel like they have to have lots of pricey equipment in order to make great pictures. That feeling is exacerbated when it comes to lighting, where the options are abundant and expensive. The feeling is understandable, but it isn’t quite accurate. After all, lighting is free and accessible for all of us courtesy...
Read more
An introduction to the equipment and craft of candid street photography
Text & Photography By Mark Edward Harris
After a long day of photographing life and death along the Ganges in Varanasi, India, I came across a most unusual scene in a fabric shop.
When it comes to street photography, Joel Meyerowitz is among the giants. In one of my interviews with him, we talked about his early work in New York. He started his street photography with a 50mm lens on a 35mm...
Read more
What you need to know to set your camera to the right file type, size and compression level
William Sawalich
Most photographers know that for the maximum in versatility and exposure control, RAW image files are preferable to JPEGs. That said, some photographers like the speed of downloading JPEG files for quick delivery, so for these shooters, we suggest capturing RAW files alongside JPEGs. Still, other photographers insist they ONLY need JPEG files, and while...
Read more
Three simple steps for mixing flash with available light to make more interesting photographs
William Sawalich
Working with flashes tends to be one of the trickiest topics for young photographers to master. They either over- or under-power the flash so much that everything is blown out or underexposed or they have to rely on automatic TTL flash settings to have any hope of producing an acceptable exposure. But once you get the hang of controlling the flash’s...
Read more
Tools and techniques to maximize your ability to reach out and fill the frame with sports action
William Sawalich
Pay close attention to the sidelines of your favorite sporting event, and you’ll see the photographers share one thing in common: long lenses. Whether it’s world-class tennis or World Cup soccer, high school football or little league baseball, the professional photographers who cover these events know that when it comes to sports, telephoto reach...
Read more
Understanding the output of handheld flashes. (What the heck is a guide number?)
William Sawalich
You’re shopping for a flash and you want something powerful. How can you tell if a flash has a high output? Speedlight-style flashes—the kind that mount to a camera’s hot-shoe—use a somewhat cryptic indicator of output. It’s called the guide number, and while it isn’t as straightforward as a measurement of watts would be, it’s the best...
Read more
Easily turn an image of any object into a brush you can paint with
William Sawalich
Photoshop comes with a remarkable variety of custom brush shapes. Whether you’re painting, erasing or using just about any tool that incorporates a brush, you can change the characteristics of that brush to make it more effective. Better still, plenty of designers and photographers have created unique custom brushes that can be purchased or even downloaded...
Read more
Making the most of autumn’s awesome sunset opportunities
William Sawalich
Back when I got my first job as a photographer, I was told by my boss—himself an accomplished pro with four decades of experience—that autumn produces the best sunsets. It has to do with the angle of the sun and cold, dry air that arrives throughout much of the United States. It’s also helpful that sunsets come earlier at this time of year than...
Read more