Reed Hoffmann’s Photography Blog
Lucky Me, Unlucky Duck
So today I should go out and buy a lottery ticket. Last week I took advantage of Nikon's 10% off sale on refurbished gear to get a great deal on their 500mm f/5.6 PF lens. Did I need it? No. But I've been lusting over its compact size and light weight since it came...
Going Swimming with my Nikon Z 6
No digital SLR I know of is waterproof, but I can definitely tell you the Nikon Z 6 is very well sealed against water, as well as the Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 Z lens. How I know that is not something I’d recommend anyone else try! Two weeks ago I was leading the first of...
South Dakota Photography Workshop
Most people might not think of South Dakota as a great location for photography, but they’d be wrong. If you visit the right places, at the right time of year, it offers lots of wonderful photo opportunities. In June I drove there to scout locations for a workshop,...
Double Threat Camera
Remember that line in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, “One ring to rule them all?” How about one camera to do it all? That was my hope when I had a camera converted for infrared photography earlier this year. You might ask, “How’s that worked out?” Great! Over the...
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...