I often wondered, if I were to blog, what would I blog?     

I am not an overly technical photographer, and I certainly don’t spend much time trying to become one.  It’s just not the way I’m wired.  I guess that is probably a good place to start.  So you know who I am, where I’m coming from, and how I approach photography and the world. 

I take what I like to call an “organic” approach to photography.  I’m not big on light meters or Photoshop.  I have both.   I can use both.  It’s just not the way I think – it’s not what I find interesting in taking pictures.  I use Aperture to edit and organize my images and am a big fan of the Nik software suite for image adjustments.  I am certainly not a purist, but I really strive to get the image out of the camera.

So, what to blog?

I like to think out loud when I am working.  I find it helps to get the creative juices flowing, gets buy-in on what you’re doing from your collaborators, and helps me to work through things and collect my thoughts.  So, instead of enlightening you with technical gems of wisdom, or inspiring you with philosophical enlightenment, I will just talk through the projects I set for myself.  Hopefully, there will be some gems that you can apply to your own work.  Maybe, even some enlightenment that you will find on your own while pondering the steps I’m taking on my journey. 

So on with the show!

Friends of mine are serious professional photographers and rekindled a bug that my dad had lit in me as a kid when he gave me my Pentax K1000.  So I started a little study, and found a few folks that are working in a what that I really resonated with me.  So i wanted to pass that on here.  By the way, I don't get any kick-back for these references.  I'm just passing the things that really helped me out!

First, I found Ed Verosky's great ebook, 100% Reliable Flash Photography.  I highly recommend this as an introduction to get some basic lighting concepts under control and getting your flash photography to stop sucking.  it worked for me.  There were a few serious "ah-ha" moments that really go me rolling.  Ed's other ebooks are really good to and build on the principles he lays out here.
Get the ebook HERE!

Next, I dug through Karl Taylor's series on photography.  He is an excellent instructor and his videos are both informative and entertaining.  While he is usually working with high-end gear, he makes a point of stressing the concepts and approach that is applicable to the shots he is working on.  A little pricey, but really informative. 

Get the videos and see his on-line instruction HERE!

Last, but certainly not least, the photographer that has had the biggest influence on me in Zack Arias out of Atlanta.  His ONELIGHT DVD set is so spot on with the way I think that I just watched it over and over.  He also has a field guide that is a great book to throw into your camera bag for reference.  On top of all the good info, Zach is a hoot to watch!
Get it here!!!!

Well that's the short version.  I highly recommend all the above and if you get them, absorb them, and practice them, you too and be great like me....  ok, not inspiring enough?  Well how about this... you too can start making cool pictures which is WAY more fun than making crappy ones!

- mike