by Reed Hoffmann | Oct 10, 2021 | Advanced, Composition, Exposure, Infrared, Intermediate, Lenses, Light, Night Photography, Travel, Wildlife, Workshops
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,...
by Reed Hoffmann | Sep 2, 2021 | Beginner, Camera Gear, Composition, Editing, Exposure, Intermediate, Lenses, Light, Night Photography
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...
by Reed Hoffmann | Jul 13, 2021 | Advanced, Beginner, Camera Gear, Composition, Exposure, Intermediate, Night Photography, Travel
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...
by Reed Hoffmann | Jul 1, 2021 | Advanced, Beginner, Camera Gear, Composition, Education, Flash, Infrared, Intermediate, Light, Night Photography, Travel, Wildlife, Workshops
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...
by Reed Hoffmann | Jun 3, 2021 | Action, Advanced, Camera Gear, Composition, Focus, Intermediate, Lenses, People
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...
by Reed Hoffmann | May 13, 2021 | Advanced, Beginner, Composition, History, Infrared, Intermediate, Light, Travel, Workshops
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...
