by Reed Hoffmann | Nov 30, 2012 | Advanced, Camera Gear, Composition, Flash, Intermediate, Light, People
With Christmas and Chanukah around the corner, odds are you’ll be spending time with family the next month. Good luck! Everyone takes pictures then, but how many people take the time to make really nice photos? With a little planning, you can add some high quality...
by Reed Hoffmann | Sep 1, 2012 | Beginner, Composition, Flash, Intermediate, Light, Travel
Recently I was wondering why photographers are drawn to broken-down stuff. Abandoned houses, peeling paint, rusted cars, dead trees. Is there something wrong with us? I don’t think so. At least not most of us. I think the real reason is the same rationale that drives...
by Reed Hoffmann | Aug 25, 2012 | Beginner, Composition, Education, Exposure, Intermediate, Light, Travel
One of the best tips I ever got when getting started in photography was, “always look behind you.” And it wasn’t for safety. As we walk around looking for photos, we’re always scanning ahead and around us for that nice shot. But understanding the importance of light,...
by Reed Hoffmann | Aug 3, 2012 | Beginner, Composition, Exposure, Intermediate, Light, People
Any kid will tell you that play is important. We’ve all heard, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” though we don’t always remember that. And it’s been proven that play is healthy. So we know that play is fun and can be good for us, but how do we “play” once...
by Reed Hoffmann | Apr 17, 2012 | Advanced, Exposure, Flash, Light, People
Most of what I do these days is teach photography. Which means I often find myself in front of a bunch of people, doing a demo where I hope everything goes right. Occasionally, though, things go wrong, and that’s when life gets interesting. A few weeks ago I was doing...
by Reed Hoffmann | Mar 30, 2012 | Advanced, Exposure, Intermediate, Lenses, Light, People
Last week I shot some high school senior portraits for a friend’s daughter. As always, the three words “Subject, Light, Background” ruled what I did during the shoot. I already had my subject, so I needed to find good backgrounds and think about how I would use the...
