If photos were superheros, their superpower would be their ability to convey a story at a glance. On a cloudy day, at the ‘Jersey Shore’ I caught this bike, the sandals, and the handful of cloud bathers out in the sand. Which one rode in on the bike? Where did they ride in from? Was …
Listen to the Chicken. I enjoyed the simplicity of this water spigot – in Philly, we pronounce that ‘spicket,’ The simple plaster background really helped isolate the subject and the rooster shaped handle truly fit the theme of Chanticleer Gardens, where I took this photo. I enjoy the tiny splatters and drips on the wall …
This photo is my favorite visual analogy of how I felt emerging from the pandemic. I felt like the boat – beached, abandoned, broken, and a target for pigeons. I spent a lot of time on this negative in the Fleisher Art Memorial Darkroom, working contrast filters and dodge and burn techniques in order to …
Okay, I admit it. I’m a total sucker for a nifty fifty. Subject separation with a wide, fast aperture makes me shiver. Dreamy highlights that look like fireflies in the background jiggle my puddin’ – so a couple years back, I decided to buy a Zenit Helios 58mm f/2 lens. I had seen them discussed …
In the dead of winter, up here in the northeast US, great color and indirect light can warm the mood to the point of being almost bearable. And when you are dreaming of Margaritaville and feeling like a mushroom, it’s great to have a visual reminder of how pretty, colorful and light filled the world …
Straightforward portraits have their place, but if you really want to mix things up a bit, try to look at your subject from an angle that evokes emotion, intimacy, or even an angle that makes you question your perspective.
I think you need to break a lens every now and then in order to keep things fresh. Do try this at home: This lens used in this photo is an old Nikon 50mm 1.4 manual focus lens that had been treated harshly over the years.
