New website / blog!

This is a blog dedicated to all things digital photography based. There is a LOT of technical information out on the internet that will help you in learning to be a better photographer. I will post links to some of my favorites, and some good general ones as well. When I began studying photography back in the early 1980’s, we learned in a little less-structured environment. We started with basic darkroom technique… loading and unloading film rolls, loading developing tanks, proper darkroom etiquette, developing and printing. Our instructor spent the first week getting us comfortable in the darkroom, and making sure we had the skills to at least get our exposed film into a developing tank before we were turned loose in the darkroom. The next weeks were all arranged as theory discussion and then assignment. We learned about photography by shooting pictures… a lot of pictures. We carried our cameras with us everywhere we went, and shot dozens and dozensof rolls of 36 exposure tri-x black and white every week. It was a fantastic way to learn… small doses of theory and a massive amount of hands on, trial-and-error. Reading about how to paint does not make you a painter, just as reading about how to take a good picture does not make you a photographer. We are going to replicate that environment with this blog. We are going to learn by shooting pictures… lots and lots of pictures.
We are aided a bit by all things that make digital photography great. Unlike in 1983 we have instantaneous feedback after every photograph we take. The initial costs for equipment aside, digital photography is basically free. We don’t have to worry about reloading film after every thirty-six exposures. We aren’t limited to having make proof sheets to see what it is that we ended up with on our “roll.” We can conceivably shoot the same frame with every combination of shutter speed and aperture we can think of without regard to developing cost, film cost or processing cost. Truly, the age of digital is a beautiful time to learn the art of photography.

That being said, there is a bit of sadness as I write this, as well. Film based photography is a wondrous thing. Working in a darkroom is a mixture of magic and science, chemistry and alchemy, art and technique. Working in a darkroom is satisfying on so many levels. You are involved in every moment of the creation of your final product. It is entirely hands-on. I can remember the first time, under the glow of red safe-lights, watching a blank piece of photo paper suddenly become a photograph floating in a tray of dektol. It’s a truly magical process, and one thing that I will miss as I grab my trusty D200 and head off snap a few pictures. If you ever have to chance to take a black and white photography course, with darkroom work, and all, treat yourself, and do it. Find yourself a nice, used Nikon FM, Pentax K1000, or Canon EOS Rebel K2 and learn black and white photography. Just make sure the film body you buy is compatible with your digital body, so you won’t need to double up on your lenses. You will have fun, AND learn a ton of things about light and photography that will only help increase your understanding of all things photographic.

I am going to assume that you and I have at least a working knowledge of our equipment. Some of these things here going to be much easier with a digital SLR, but will at least be possible with any point and shoot digital camera with some level of zoom capabilities. If you are thinking about purchasing a decent digital SLR you can read what I think about decent low cost camera equipment here.

This site will be arranged into sections with a theory, or tip and an assignment that illustrates what we are trying to learn. The time frame for new tips/tricks will be based on not only my schedule, but by reader response, but I would love to try to do something new every week. Blog posts will be random based on things that come to mind, or how often I feel the need to rant about a subject. All photography topics are open, and nothing is taboo, so if you want to touch on something, feel free to comment.

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