Reed Hoffmann’s Photography Blog
Traveling Photographer
The least enjoyable part of what I do involves travel. To the airport, wait in line, wait in line, wait in line, sit on a crowded plane, wait in line… you get the picture. But the travel is what makes many of the fun things possible. And that now includes another photo safari to Africa, […]
The Gift of Good Light
When you’re lucky, everything goes right during a shoot. Subject, location, exposure and equipment all work together for you. But without good light, none of the rest matters. I recently had an assignment to photograph Aldon Smith. A native of Kansas City, Aldon went on to play football for Missouri and was drafted in the […]
The Salton Sea
Last weekend I taught Nikon School in San Diego with my friend Nick Didlick. When the school was over Sunday afternoon, we hopped in our rental car and headed east. For the last couple of years we’ve wanted to go to the Salton Sea, and this was our chance. The Salton Sea is a unique […]
Tornadoes
All of us live with things we’d rather not think about. Whether earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or snowstorms, it’s easier to just hope they don’t happen. Where I live it’s tornadoes, and we saw this past week we really do have to think about them. Late last Sunday afternoon, while I was out mowing the grass, […]
Double Duty Lenses
I led two big photo trips in March and April, to Botswana and Ecuador. Both times I took the same main kit of photo gear. Which means I think I’ve found the perfect travel combination of cameras, lenses and accessories. A big part of that success is because the lenses behave differently on the different […]
Underwater World
I’ve just returned from another trip to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, and thanks to a new camera housing from Fantasea, brought home some nice shots from underwater as well as above. When most people think of the Galapagos, they think of all the amazing animals found on the islands there. From the the iguanas […]
Learning Video
On this last trip to Africa, I shot videos as well as stills, using a Nikon D7000. While I was generally happy with the results, it’s a learning process. In the weeks leading up to the trip to Botswana, I was thinking I’d probably shoot some video there. It wasn’t until about a week before […]
Out of Africa
Last weekend I returned from leading my third photo safari to Africa. This time it was to Botswana, and once again it was a great trip. When American Photo (www.mentorseries.com) asked me to go, I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to see much of the world thanks to photography, and Africa remains one […]
Beyond Automatic
This past weekend I was in Dallas teaching Nikon School. One of my resolutions for the new year was to try to get out and shoot in as many cities I visit as possible. Heading into Dallas I knew the weather would be good, and we’d be in a location not far from downtown. I […]
House of Flying Dogs
Every now and then I set up our living room as a studio for doing some portraits. And each time I do that, my dogs think they should be the subjects. It’s true. Whenever I get out the light stands and hang the backdrop, the dogs make a beeline for it and plop down. Maybe […]