Tag Archives: digital

Notoriety and Fame: Does it help a photographer?

More and more, especially for photographers, gaining access especially in this post 911 world to various subjects is harder and harder.

I recall in the mid 80’s driving into Boston and seeing a huge billboard which read “Stan Grossfeld shoots People, Places, Sports and Pulitzers for the Globe.”

I was just a college student then and I wondered to myself. Wow, that’s got to be nice. Doors would just open for you everywhere you go. Continue reading Notoriety and Fame: Does it help a photographer?

Tips for taking better pictures of your kids

Julie and Gabriel,lollipop in hand, explore the sea wall in northern California

Julie and Gabriel, lollipop in hand, explore the sea wall in Klamath, California. If you’re always photographing your kids, they get used to it and before long, they ignore you.

When you’re a professional photographer, sometimes it’s hard to make yourself pick up a camera when you’re off the clock. Unless of course, you have great looking kids.

You’re probably asking, now which parent doesn’t think their kids are great looking, right?

I take tons of pictures of my kids. My wife’s biggest complaint is that she never sees these pictures.

Previously when I shot film, there would be prints but they’re sitting in a shoe box in some closet. Don’t even ask where the negatives are.

Continue reading Tips for taking better pictures of your kids

Simple Portraiture


It’s the 3rd meeting for my digital photography class at UC Riverside’s California Museum of Photography.

As with our previous meeting, we jumped right in with our cameras.

We met Brittani our gorgeous, drop-dead model outside, walked around the pedestrian mall.

Our first stop was a small sliver of light between two buildings reflecting off the windows of the building around the mall area.

Currently the mall area between City Hall and University Ave is a total disaster.

The concrete has been torn up for many months.

Photo of Peter, students and Brittani by Susan Mikhail.

Continue reading Simple Portraiture

Digital Photography Toolkit–Hardware

So, for the professional photographer who works on location, here are hardware suggestions that can help avert a “photo disaster.”

  1. Plentiful supply of an assortment of batteries whether rechargeables or disposables. Radio slaves might use 9-volt batteries, triple or double As.
  2. Proprietary batteries for digital slrs are problematic and pricey but they tend to hold the longest charge. Some manufacturers have battery holders that allow you to pop in double A’s.

    The battery grip for the Canon 40D for instance accepts 2 proprietary Canon batteries or 8 double A’s.

    It is obvious that without power, you are “up the creek.” Everything you do depends on you having power whether it is ac (alternating current) or dc (direct current). Continue reading Digital Photography Toolkit–Hardware