Tag: thursday thoughts

Thursday Thoughts with…Jeff Revell

Jason3 Comments

Recently, I had the honor of sitting down (well, emailing, but you get the idea) with none other than Jeff Revell.  As most of you probably know, Jeff is a pretty well-established photographer and recently has been enjoying some notariety for his blog on Photowalking, appropriately titled Photowalk Pro (definitely one for your feed aggregators).  He gave some great thoughts and insights on the state of digital photography.  Thanks in advance to Jeff for taking the time to participate in the Thursday Thoughts sereies here at CB!

Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…1. How long have you been a photographer?

A:  I have been into photography for over 25 years.  I first began taking an interest in high school and have been in love with photography ever since.  I think it had something to do with all that fixer I inhaled.

Q:  Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, or some other brand?

A:  I see you changed the question to include other camera brands.  I started off learning with a Pentax K1000, the king of old school photography classes.  From there I moved to a Minolta, a Canon, and finally Nikon for the past 20 years or so.  I have recently been working with some Canon models, specifically the 50D and I have to admit that the more I use it, the more I love it.

Q:  Heh, yeah, that’s thanks to Andy Smith of Virtual Realia.  To that end, let’s cover all the computer options:  Mac, PC, or Linux?

A:  I had been a PC user since the DOS days and then migrated to Windows from there.  I’m just a big techno-nerd at heart and love building my own systems.  I got a Mac notebook about 3 years ago and now it is my predominate platform – Not a fanboy but I do love my MacBook Pro.

Q:  Sounds a lot like the path I’ve been taking – although I do find myself bouncing back and forth between Mac and PC a lot these days.  Anyway, moving on:  Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

A:  Definitely a chocolate person.

Q:  Excellent taste!  Moving into a little more granularity, photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  What was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?

A:  This one is easy.  The best advice I ever received about my work was to only show your best stuff. Everyone shoots lame shots; it’s part of the process of getting the image that you want.  The key is to not show all the ducks and simply show your swans.

Q:  Who said it?

A:  My buddy Scott Kelby

Q:  I think I’ve heard of him before!  🙂  Isn’t he into photography too or something like that?  Just kidding of course…  Anyway, back to the subject of critiquing work:  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?

A:  Wow, that’s a tough one.  I’m much harder on myself than I ever would be on someone else.  I think the first thing I look for in a shot is the composition.  How did the photographer use the elements in the image to convey their intent?  Second would be their processing.  Is it done with a scalpel or a chainsaw?  Finally, did they use sound technique when taking the image, things like proper aperture, shutter speed, lens selection, things along those lines.
All I can say is that I am so glad that I have never been asked to critique the work of others for fear of crushing their spirit and enthusiasm.

Q:  I guess that means I shouldn’t ask for a critique or anything on that vein then, eh?  How about war stories?  Got any from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?

A:  This one time, in band camp…  oops, wrong story.  I am recalling a trip I took to Arizona with my buddies Scott and Dave.  We covered some serious ground in just 3 day, traveling from Phoenix to Page, to Monument Valley, to the Grand Canyon, and back to Phoenix.  It was one of the best shooting trips I have ever taken, thanks in large part to having my friends along to share the experience.  One outing in Page took us on a 3-mile hike in the high desert to photograph the Wave.  This was in August mind you and it was HOT!  We climbed steep sandy hills and rocky outcrops along the way but it was so worth it once we finally reached our destination.  One of the shots that came from that hike ended up gracing Scott’s 7-Point System book.  If there is a moral in there somewhere, I think it would be that hard work and a lot of sweating can really pay off.

Q:  Hey, I own that book!  Cool, I didn’t know that was your shot!  Guess I should read the credits more carefully, eh?  Sorry, I tend to ramble…  Moving right along, with Photoshop becoming so powerful as a way to even create amazing digital imagery, it could almost be said that the camera could eventually not even be a needed component to create imagery.   With that pre-text in mind, if you had to choose between the camera or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?

A:  Well, since I don’t have near the creative/artistic abilities like Fay Sirkis, Bert Monroy,  or Cory Barker, I would have to go with the camera.  Those folks have some seriously crazy skills and create beautiful images from a blank canvas using illustrative software.  I, on the other hand require a piece of glass and a shutter button to create.

Q:  Well, I don’t know about that – I’ve read some of your HDR tutorials, which indicate you are pretty skilled with Photoshop!  Anyway, do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A:  I believe that we are living in renaissance period for photography.  Not since the invention of the process has so much changed so rapidly.  With the introduction of powerful software tools like Photoshop and the development of the digital camera, the average person has more creative tools at their disposal than ever before.  The only problem is that tools don’t make pictures, people do.  My advice for those that are just starting out is to not get caught up in all of the technical wizardry but rather learn the craft from the ground up.  Because even though there have been a multitude of advancements in the technical realm of photography, they aren’t worth squat unless you learn how to leverage them to your advantage.  Never stop learning.

Great advice and insights from Jeff Revell.  Please take a moment to stop over at his blog, Photowalk Pro, to check out everything he has to offer.  Thanks again Jeff for taking the time to participate in the Thursday Thoughts series here.  Until tomorrow all, Happy Shooting!  Hope all your shots are good ones!

Thursday Thoughts with… Mike Palmer

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Mike Palmer is the latest participant to agree and join me for a short question and answer session here on the blog.  Thanks go out to Mike and don’t forget to stop over at his blog and share your thoughts with him there as well.  He can be found at both his blog, and his professional portfolio

Now, on to the Q&A

Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…How long have you been a photographer?

A:  I have been enchanted with photography since the late 80’s.   I really enjoy the creative side of digital photography now more then the film days.  I love the post side almost as much as shooting.

Q:   Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Leica or some other brand (thanks to Andrew)?

A:  Nikon

Q:  Mac, PC, or Linux?

A:  I am a PC!

Q:  Chocolate or Vanilla?

A:  Dark Chocolate

Q:  Moving into a little more granularity, photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  However, we’ve also all had the “nice shot” and “cool” comments when we’ve shared our work.  What was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?

A:  I am not sure that I have had a critique that stands out like that specifically.  A well phrased critique of a photo helps me when I am out shooting the next shot though.  You have to learn from what other see in your work.   Also I recommend The Photographers Eye by Michael Freeman – This book is amazing for self critique and composition discovery.

Q:  Sounds like a great resource.  (Edit note:  LInk to the book on Amazon has been added)  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?

A:  What I see – What I like – What I do not like (if they really want to know my opinion)

Q:  Got any war stories from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?

A:  HAHA – To many from the old days of when I just shot anything to make some money for beer, but the one shoot that made me the most red faced with embarrassment was when I was hired for a modeling show for bigger women, the end of the show was lingerie and they had some fun with the young kid with the camera.  It was like photographing your mom in her underwear.

Q:  Yow!  Not sure I’d want to be in that position, no matter how much I was paid.  Sounds like a good joke was played on you though!  Anyway, moving right along…if you had to choose between the gear or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?

A: I would go with a must have LENS – I do more with my Nikkor 24-70 2.8 then any other thing in photography – the bokeh at 2.8 is spectacular – I shoot portraits, food, etc…it is the constant on my camera.

Q:  Any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A:  I dig how much more of a community that photographers “that blog” share now.  I have friends all over the place now.  I went to Maine last summer and Scott of Weekly Photo Tips had my family over to his house for a lobster bake – I have more photographer friends now then ever – so if you are on the fence about starting your own blog – DO IT!!  It will ramp up your creativity and you just might make a friend or two.

Great way to wrap things up here Mike!  A little Nike snippet that applies not only to blogging, but to photography as well:  Just Do It!  Hey, I’d like to thank Mike for taking the time to stop into the blog and participate in the weekly Thursday Thoughts!  As he says, just get out there and do it!  Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow to wrap up the week!

Thursday Thoughts with….Andrew “Ostman” Smith

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As a proud member of Jason Moore’s “P&P Blogroll” I’ve had a unique opportunity to find and become acquainted with several photographers who I might otherwise not had the pleasure of knowing.  One such talented individual is Andrew Smith, of Visual Realia.  Andrew’s blog is a unique combination of photography and poetry.  It is truly an amazing combination and well worth adding to your RSS feeds.  Andrew agreed to participate in the Thursday Thoughts here at CB, so without further ado, here’s some great insight into his talents:

Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…How long have you been a photographer?
A:  I remember having a camera or two as a child, and enjoyed using them, but was pretty much just using point and shoot film cameras until digitals became affordable for the mass market. My blog’s been up and running for a few years now.

Q:  Canon or Nikon?
A:  Wait a minute… this is one of those trick questions, isn’t it? Canon? Nikon? I’m an Olympus man! My past two cameras have been made by Olympus, and I love them both. Price for performance is excellent. I’m surprised more people in the blogging world aren’t Olympus users; reviews are usually strong. Even the fact that your question doesn’t include Olympus is somewhat telling about Olympus’ need to think about their marketing. My Olympus behaves very consistently, and has provided me with a very pleasant user experience.  By the way, the first camera I remember having was shaped like Mickey Mouse’s head, and you pulled his one ear down to shoot. I’m hoping “Mouse” will be added to Canon and Nikon in this question in the future.

Q:  Fair enough, I’ll start including more camera vendors in future questions, and thanks for the good info about Olympus!  So, moving along, Mac or PC  (and I’ll add Linux to the mix given your last response! 🙂 )?
A:  My first computer was an Apple IIGS, which was under-appreciated. It treated me well, and I’ve happily stuck with Apple products since. I have one of the 2008 towers, which is really friendly with Photoshop.

Q;  Chocolate or Vanilla?
A:  I love and make homemade vanilla ice cream with a recipe that dates back to at least my grandparents. And none of that wimpy “cooking the egg” thing.

Q:  Okay, now I am getting hungry, but let’s continue into something with a little more granularity,.  Photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  However, we’ve also all had the “nice shot” and “cool” comments when we’ve shared our work.  With that backdrop, what was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?
A:  I’m going to buck the standard thought in “serious” photography and say that I have no problem with those “cool” and “nice shot” comments, and even proudly admit that I’ll leave such comments myself, if they fit. Don’t get me wrong; I’m quite happy to get specific feedback about a technique, framing, tonal use, depth of field, etc. If I see a photograph online that strikes me as using such a technique particularly well, I’ll comment on that. There are also times, however, when a photograph loads on a web page (or I see a print) and my brain immediately screams, “Cool!” When a photograph quickly grabs me on an emotional level, that’s a success for the photographer. While I could break apart the image and try to figure out what makes the photograph work, quite frankly, that’s not as important to me as enjoying the image as one entity. Learn techniques, but enjoy the photograph. We’ve all seen web sites where commenting on techniques or aspects of a photograph seem more about the commenter’s desire to show off their photography vocabulary rather than saying anything new about the work. If I share a photo that causes a viewer to give me a one word emotional response, that’s pretty “cool” to me!

Q:  Well, my next question would be a follow-up one asking “Who said it?”, but clearly that’s not needed here.  Great perspective and it will definitely make me reconsider the value of the short answer-critique.  SO, let’s move onto the next “critique” question:  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?
A:  After my response above, I better include emotional or communication aspects. Technically, I agree with a lot of photographers that light can never be stressed enough, and line or movement always interests me.

Q:  Wow, you’re gonna make me re-think the entire questionnaire here, but this is really an interesting perspective to things.  What about personal experiences from out in the field?  Got any war stories from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?
A:  Since I do not derive my main source of income from photography, I’m usually not in situations where war stories present themselves! Worst-case scenario, I put down the camera and enjoy a beautiful walk and the interesting world around me.  On a lighter note, I’ll always remember photo walks where onlookers eye the mass of photographers and wonder what grand media event is occurring.

Q:  That happened in Golden, CO when we did the Scott Kelby walk too!  Someone asked me who was coming to town and I answered “Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for a half second before coming clean.”  It is kind of fun to see that reaction though.  Anyway, I digress…back on topic, if you had to choose between the gear or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?
A:  Toss up. I’ve seen amazing photographs from pinhole cameras that clearly show that gear means nothing compared to imagination. Software skills can sometimes bring out the hidden beauty in a captured moment, but the photographer using the program needs to be able to know where to look for that beauty.  In the digital world, it’s hard to separate the camera, the digital file and the software. Each is a part of the process that will hopefully bring out something that communicates a moment as seen by the photographer. In the end, both the gear and software are nothing compared to the idea and the person creating it.

Q:  Any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A:  Photography is a tool to share something. Maybe it’s a literal document of a moment in time, or possibly an image from the photographer’s mind. Either way, focus on the technique beforehand and communication as you open the shutter.  A great jazz musician learns chords, scales and the work of those before him or her. There’s intense practice that allows the musician to internalize those techniques and skills, so when the moment comes to improvise in front of an audience, the technical aspects don’t get in the way of the artistic message.  Learn what you can and look at the work of artists in all mediums. Practice the skills and techniques you need, pick your time and place, push those technical thoughts aside and enjoy improvising.

Thanks Andy for such a thoughtful set of answers and for taking the time to participate in the latest Thursday Thoughts.  It shows just how quickly blinders can become a part of your vision and that we all just seek to be aware of when we might be putting blinders on!

So, that was it with Andy, and thanks again to him for taking the time to sit down with CB for a One-on-One.  Please stop over to his website at Visual Realia and enjoy his work.  Leave some comments too (even if they’re one-word comments! 🙂 )

Happy shooting all, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!

Thursday Thoughts with Jason D. Moore

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Jason D. Moore
Jason D. Moore

Jason D. Moore is a well known photographer and graphic designer, with ACE certifications on Adobe PS CS3, has extensive experience as a videographer, is a member of the Adobe Acrobat User Community, and also has some extensive experience in web development.  Suffice to say, he is very well-known for his Photography and Photoshop Blogroll, and has had several mentions on Photoshop User TV.  He also hosts photo walks in the Southern Tier of New York and is just a super nice guy.  Last week he and I had a chance to exchange a few emails and I learned quite a bit about him and his background from our discussion.

Q.    Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…How long have you been a photographer?
A.  I’ve been taking pictures on and off since I was a kid. When I was the editor of my high school yearbook I began to see images more in terms of their composition and how they conveyed a message when placed together in a collection. I got a lot from my dad when I would go along with him on video shoots growing up and learned how to take it from just conveying a message to telling a story.  I didn’t do much with photography in college, but rediscovered my love for it while studying abroad during my senior year with Semester at Sea (www.semesteratsea.com) and then began taking it really seriously with my first dSLR – a Nikon D50 – back in 2006.

Q.  2. Canon or Nikon?
A.  Nikon

Q.  Mac or PC?
A.  PC

Q.  Chocolate or Vanilla?
A.  Vanilla – but I also really like Black Raspberry, Peanut Butter Cup, Cookies and Cream, and Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream.

Q.  Moving into a little more granularity, photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and  constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  However, we’ve also all had the “nice shot” and “cool” comments when we’ve shared our work.  What was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?

A.  I’m not sure it’s considered a critique that I learned from but I always remember Scott Kelby telling me, “You’ve got some very inspiring work—a great eye (which is what it’s all about), and some great Photoshop skills to boot!” And when one of my shots was picked as a NAPP Editor’s Choice, Larry Becker said, “This (and many other images in this portfolio) make us want to be there. This is beautiful art.” Making viewers want to be there is a high goal to strive for and it pushes me to try harder every time I go out shooting to attain it. These comments would mean a lot no matter who said them, but because they come from men I respect and who know what they are talking about, it really touched me.

Q.  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?

A.  Technically speaking I look at framing/composition, color/tone, and sharpness/depth of field (not in any particular order). However, while all of those things are important, I’ve always been a believer in art trumping the technical. I look for a sense of style, individuality and a unique approach/perspective, and most of all, that the piece tells a story. If it moves me, the technical stuff doesn’t matter as much.

Q.  Got any war stories from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?


A.  It’s not a photography story, but a videography story. A few years ago at my old job I was headed out on a shoot about 4 hours away. Before I left, I checked all my gear to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything – batteries, microphones, cables, directions, etc. – and headed out the door. I was already running a little bit late. When I got about an hour and a half into my drive, I suddenly realized that I never checked to make sure I had enough tape for the day. At the next service area I reached into the camera bag and realized that, not only did I not have enough tape for the day, I didn’t have any! So I had to drive back an hour and a half to grab the tapes that were sitting right next to where the camera bag was. At the end of the day, I was advised of a “better” route back home which actually added an extra hour or so to the trip. So I ended up spending 4 extra hours in the car.

There are also the couple of times when I was doing some live event work when, due to scheduling or technical issues of one sort or another, I had to endure 40-hour work days, including setup of a convention center’s worth of sound and video equipment and full-day sessions of conferences.

Q.  If you had to choose between the gear or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?
A.  I learned a lot about Photoshop before I learned a whole lot about Photography and I think you can do some amazing things when the two are working in concert. With that said, I’d have to go with the camera over the software. Photographers were creating breathtaking shots long before there was Photoshop and really, without the shot, the software isn’t much use, is it?

Q.  Any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?

A.  I’m a details kind of guy and I really like the phrase “get close, then get closer.” I think I heard it from Derek Story but can’t be certain. It’s a concept I’ve heard over and over but that says it really well. One of the things I strive for is to find a part that tells of the whole. Sometimes you don’t need to show all of something for your audience to get it. Sometimes just a small piece can say more than the entire subject and you will usually find that your shots are more interesting that way too!

I’d like to thank Jason for taking the time out of his busy schedule to share some of his thoughts and experiences with the readership here.  Please stop over at this website to thank him yourself and to see his portfolio of work.  He can be found at:  http://www.jasondmoore.com

Thursday Thoughts with Erik Bernskiold

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The internet is a wonderful thing.  Communication today is so much easier than it was even ten years ago.  Collaborative projects can take place in real time across the globe, and the ways in which we can interact is truly amazing.  As Photographers, this gives us access to a never-ending supply of inspiration from peers and colleagues across the world.  One such peer I’ve met is Erik Bernskiold, who lives in Sweden!  (We’re both members of NAPP.)  He is truly a talented individual, with a very astute sense of photography, graphic and web design, and just an all-around great sense of humor.

He and I had a chance to chat recently so I got him to agree to a Q&A for the blog.  So, without further ado, here’s my Ten Questions with Erik Bernskiold:

  • Q:  Everyone always wants to know some of the basics, so let’s get a few things out of the way at once here…how long have yhou been a photographer?
  • A:  I’ve been a photographer for just about two years now.
  • Q:    Canon or Nikon?
  • A:  I’m a Nikon shooter.
  • Q:  Mac or PC?
  • A:  Macs all the way!
  • Q:  Chocolate or vanilla?
  • A:  Truly tough one… I like them both although if I have to say something…chocolate.
  • Q:  Moving into a little more granularity, photographers often enjoy hearing helpful and constructive critiques of their work, as we are aware of how much we can grow from it.  However, we’ve also all had the “nice shot” and “cool” comments when we’ve shared our work.  From all of this, what was the singular most useful critique or comment you’ve ever had on work you’ve shared publicly?
  • A:  It’s really hard to narrow down just a single comment and I don’t have one really special. I’d have to say the ones that were brutal enough. Brutal critique goes to your head straight away I believe.
  • Q:  Who said it?
  • A:  In this case, quite a few people. Good people they are!
  • Q:  If someone was asking you for an honest critique of their work, what 3 factors would you look at most (excluding friendships or family relatives, we’re talking professional or fellow photographer-types here)?
  • A:  Composition, The Image’s Meaning and the technical details.
  • Q:  Got any war stories from field shoots or outings that you can or would be willing to share?
  • A:  Not much exciting things that are fun to read about happen to me on lonely landscape outings. I’ve yet to fall down somewhere or get in trouble. All I can share is the nice people I’ve met and whom have asked me what I was doing and talking briefly in general. It’s just nice that there exists people who talks to strangers like that nowadays! 😀
  • Q:  If you had to choose between the gear or the software as the only way to create, which would it be and why?
  • A:  Oh! Definitely the gear! I do though come to see the software as part of my gear list (also cause I’m a graphic and web designer as well) but when it comes to photography I really want to get everything I can done in camera and then what I really need to in post-processing!
  • Q:  Any final thoughts you’d like to share about the state of photography or any catch phrases that you keep in mind when shooting?
  • A:  I could go on about the state of photography for a long time, but since I’ve done that in articles before, I won’t here. What I do think though is that photography is never-ending and that you should focus less on the gear and more about the process, being out and shooting which is what makes it all fun in the end!

Thanks to Erik for taking the time out to visit with me.  Be sure you visit his blog and website over at Bernskiold Media

Tune in next week when Jason Moore of the famous P&P Blogroll (and also a talented photographer in his own right) takes some time to sit down and take a few questions!  In the meantime, happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!

Three Thoughtful Tips

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As the day starts to fade into the last few hours, I realized nothing had been prepared for posting today.  At times like this, I either decide to make it a “no blog” day, or put together a few brief thoughts, that are tied to photography.  The latter won over today, so for the readers who continue to visit on a regular basis, you are in for a treat (or a trick, since we are getting kind of close to Halloween!).  So, here’s my three thoughtful tips for the day:

  1. If you’ve got some blown highlights or high contrast pictures that just aren’t working – try a black and white conversion.  Add a vignette and you may actually have a shot worth keeping.
  2. In a pinch, your on camera flash is still a flash…granted not the best one, but with even a piece of regular copy paper in front of it, you can diffuse it and spread the light a little more.  It may not be ideal, but better than the glaring brightness of direct flash light.
  3. In tough lighting and no gray card?  Stick your hand out.  Yup, it may not be the best metering source, but your skin can be used to neutrally balance a shot.  From there you can find the rest in post process…

Got any other ideas off the cuff?  Share them in the comments!  Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

Less is More…

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Thursday Thoughts for May 1st, 2008

In photography, the idea of keeping your scenes simple is one that I know about, but all too often, forget to consider during composition. I typically will see something and move to take the picture without taking into account the surroundings. Then later on the computer, I see stray objects or shadows I didn’t see in camera, or more correctly, didn’t think to take note of in camera. So, I hit the delete key and try again some other time. Invariably though, the best shots I get are the ones where either by intent or dumb luck turn out to be the ones with the simplest composition. A dewdrop, a sunset, a boat, a leaf, a smiling face, whatever you like…they all have worked for me due in no small part (in my opinion anyway) to the absence of other elements in the scene. There are no barnacles or trash cans in the sunset shot, the boat and its reflection are the entire shot, and the smile is super close so everything else was thrown way out of focus. The images work due in no small part to the simple composition. The age old adage reveals itself again: Keep. It. Simple. Stupid. (KISS).

While the KISS idea is nothing new to photography, I am finding more and more that the same concept can also be applied to blog entries. Some of my most popular blog posts and video tutorials are simple ones. Short videos that are no longer than 2-3 minutes seem to be more popular, and post subjects that are easily read either in bullet points or numbered lists (Top 7 of ’07, Top Ten Landscape Tips, Top Five Lighting Rules, etc., etc., etc….you get the idea).

Just my random Thursday thoughts for the week – kind of photo related, but also tangential. Although I would suspect that this new-found knowledge may manifest itself in future postings, so…for those who stop in to get lengthy reads, enjoy them while they last – they could be gone tomorrow! *gasp*