Reed Hoffmann’s Photography Blog
Planning for Failure, or how I Chased Neowise
By now I assume that anyone into photography knows about comet Neowise, and many have tried to get photos of it. Count me in that second group. And while eventually I was successful, that didn’t happen right away. That’s why I try to plan for failure. Like many, my...
Tips for Better Zoo Photography
If you enjoy photographing wildlife, like I do, one of the best places to practice is at your local zoo. And these days, with COVID and social distancing, open areas at zoos can be a relatively safe way to get out (but keep your mask handy!). However, zoos can often...
So you want to be a professional photographer?
I had a call from a friend’s son recently asking if I’d be willing to give him some advice. He enjoys taking pictures and wanted to ask me about pursuing a career in photography. I’ve heard that question many, many times during my career. And over the years, my answer...
Why I’m a big fan of DX (APS-C)
I’ve been shooting digital for over twenty years, starting with a 1.3-megapixel camera that cost $15,000. For those first ten years, every camera I used had a sensor smaller than a piece of 35-millimeter film (what is now referred to as “full frame”). But even after I...
Night Photography, Part 2
I’ve tried a number of things to scratch my photography itch during this shut down, from archiving old family photos to freezing flowers. But my favorite thing so far has been to head out in the evening, visit a now-empty local park and do some night photography and...
Flowers from my Freezer
These days we're all trying to come up with new photo ideas to do around home, but how many of you have thought, ”Hey, I’ll freeze some flowers in water?” That’s a new one for me, but fortunately I know someone here who does that, and she’s happy to share her secrets....
Social Distancing and Photography
Last night I took a walk in the woods. Literally. It was my solution to social distancing, exercise, and most importantly, being able to do some creative photography outdoors. Where I live in Kansas, we’re still under a “stay at home” order, being asked not to go out...
Whats the Best way to Archive your Images?
When I bought my first external hard drive in the 80s, it was 60-megabytes and I thought I’d never fill it. Of course, documents were much smaller then, and I wouldn’t start shooting digital for another ten years. Since then, I’ve bought many, many more hard drives...
Best Tool for the Job
It was nearly a year ago that I saw a prototype of the Peak Design Travel Tripod. Right away, I thought, “I’ve got to get one of those.” Not because I needed a tripod (I already have several) but because it was going to be the right tool for certain jobs. When I took...
Using the Nikon Z 50
At the beginning of February I received a Nikon Z 50, and since then have used it for two workshops in Cuba, a short trip to San Diego and two NCAA basketball games. For a camera aimed at the more basic end of the market, it has the quality and performance to...