Essays and Inspiration Category Archive - Page 14

Stop Taking Crappy Pictures!

Hi. My name is Elliot Madriss and I teach a successful class at the continuing education facility as part of the University of New Mexico called "Stop Taking Crappy Pictures!". This class was created as a direct result of my reaction to the very poor quality of images being posted...

A Little Practice Never Hurts

I decided to take a small break from my client video work this week and went to Bird Kingdom for a few hours to take a few practice images. Like most photographers I've found that a little practice never hurts, especially when one is getting used to handling new gear....

From The Window Seat

To be honest, it’s not a deal breaker for me. I’m perfectly happy wherever I sit on a plane, as long as it’s not in the cargo hold (although I imagine the luggage could be quite comfy to lie on). I don’t specifically request a window seat. More often than...

Season For Air Shows

Summer is usually the season for air shows and that means yet another reason and opportunity to go out shooting. I had intended to visit the Farnborough Air Show this year but unfortunately an exhaust muffler decided to divorce itself from the underside of my car and reconciling the two became...

Finding Contemplation

For the past few weeks the United Kingdom has been undergoing a period of turbulent, momentous and mesmerising political events. Rest assured I have no intention of discussing politics here; this site is not for that. But there are decades when nothing much happens for weeks on end and then...

What to Photograph in Pittsburgh

On May 15th I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh is a vibrant city, known for its industrial heritage. Downtown is located at the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers into the Ohio River, called “The Point.” The hills surrounding the city offer excellent viewpoints for...

And a Few More Flowers

I know flower posts have been submitted here before and I surely have nothing original to offer but they do make a versatile subject, allowing an appreciation of colour, texture, form and placement. These were all taken inside the Walled Garden at the stunning Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire just before...

An Interesting Hour

Like many folks after I've been working hard, either physically or mentally, I like to grab a camera and relax by capturing a few images. This afternoon I finished building a 'honey-do' project in the backyard and I had a little bit of available time. So, I grabbed one of...

Sometimes Shorter is Better

For most folks who enjoy photographing wildlife in general, and birds-in-flight in particular, having additional 'reach' with their gear is always preferred. I was out yesterday morning attempting to capture some Purple Martin in flight and came to the realization that sometimes shorter is better. (more…)

Dangerous Photographers at the Cliffs of Moher

I arrived in Ireland a couple days ago, and I have been taking plenty of photos along the way. I’ll post them in future articles, but there is something more important to discuss for now: the dangerous, idiotic behavior I saw at the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher...