Reed Hoffmann’s Photography Blog
Big Boy Comes to Kansas City
The phrase “Big Boy” might make you think of hamburgers. But in certain parts of the country, especially since 2019, it means something very different. The largest steam locomotives in the world were also called “Big Boy,” and 25 were built for the Union Pacific...
My NFL Season Begins Again
How does eight miles of walking with 21 lbs. of camera gear in 90-degree heat and Kansas City humidity sound? That was Friday afternoon and evening for me, as I started my second year photographing the Kansas City Chiefs for Associated Press Images. While...
Tanzania Safari in the time of COVID
Wouldn’t it be nice to get away from most of the fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID for a week or two? That’s what I just did, though I doubt most people would think of it that way. After three years of planning – and a year’s postponement – I left early this...
My Personal Olympics
As a young newspaper photographer who enjoyed shooting sports, one of my dreams was to work an Olympics. Over the years, though, as I got to know photographers who did, my interest waned. Long days, difficult venues, massive crowding. While it was great to be involved...
A Great Little Tabletop Tripod
Want to get the sharpest photos possible? First you need a good lens, then good technique. And, if you’re using a slow shutter speed, a tripod is a must. Since much of my work the last twenty years has involved travel, I’ve found a couple of great lightweight tripods...
South Dakota Photography Adventure
What if I told you there’s an area that’s great for both wildlife and landscape photography, has a geography that’s unique in the U.S., is wide open for exploration and not heavily visited by photographers? That’s just what you’ll find if you take the time to go up to...
Scouting for a Photography Workshop
A big part of my work life this past decade (at least pre-COVID) has been leading photography workshops. If you’ve attended one, you know I try to keep them fun and filled with lots of places to make good pictures, as well as opportunities to learn and grow as a...
Praise for Eye Autofocus
Like most photographers, I love wide aperture (“fast”) lenses for their ability to turn a distracting background into a beautifully out-of-focus blob. But that shallow focus can also make it hard to keep the subject sharp. If you’re within ten feet, an inch or two...
Visiting the Past in Prison
At first it felt like I’d walked into “The Shawshank Redemption,” except that as the heavy steel bars clanged shut behind me, I knew I could leave whenever I wanted, not years in the future. The Missouri State Penitentiary closed in 2004 after housing some of the...
Serendipity Strikes Again
With a forecast for clearing skies late last week, I made a last-minute decision Thursday afternoon to drive out to the Flint Hills of Kansas. It’s the nearest “dark sky” territory to me, and my primary goal was to scout for a night photography workshop I’m leading...