Understanding how to control depth of field is one of the most important skills a photographer should master. Knowing how to make parts of your composition sharp, while other parts of the image fall out of focus is not only a technical skill to have in your “tool bag” but also gives you artistic and creative control over your images. In basic terms, depth of field or focus range is defined as the front-to-back zone of acceptable sharpness within a photo that will appear in fo

The beginner photographer often finds the idea of long exposure photography daunting. The concept of creating mysterious and surreal looking images may seem beyond a new photographer’s capabilities, but the truth is, the process is not at all difficult to master. A few special tools may be necessary, depending on the situation. But with a bit of practice, in no time at all, you’ll be creating dramatic photographs that take your viewer outside the realms of reality. Let’s firs

Usually, when we think of portraiture, photos with faces are the first thing that come to mind. However, photos of hands and feet can show as much or sometimes more emotion than the human face. The reason why hands and feet (with or without shoes) can make such an emotional portrait is because they express a person’s character and help to tell a story. Imagine a photo of a line of soldiers all in muddy combat boots. There is no need for a full-length portrait. With the image

Who does’t love a good story? Stories are important to the human experience because they help us make meaning of our lives and the events that shape our world. A good story can ignite our imagination or have the power to transform our perception of other cultures or ideas. Since the invention of the camera, photographers have used pictures to preserve facts and tell the stories of our human existence and social evolution. In this quickly changing world, the work of documenta

So you have decided that you want to take the plunge and create your first documentary photography project. Good for you!… Let’s get started. Documentary photographers know that creating a compelling story means more than just snapping the occasional photograph. It requires a deeper look into your subject matter to uncover the facts and present them in a way that is insightful and narrates the story so that it connects your audience with your subject. Sure, that might sound

What images come to mind when you hear the name Dorothea Lange or Walker Evans? Like most people, your answer might be the documentary photographs made during the great depression that depicted migrant farm workers. FSA administrator, Roy Stryker called these images a “visual encyclopedia of American life”. Viewing these photographs may have prompted you to think about how you might be able to influence others via your own photographic vision. As photographers we are also h