Turn Ordinary Household Items Into Photo Gear

Here is a handy link to an article explaining how to use 11 items found around the house as camera accessories.

everyday items for your camera bag

If you have been shooting for awhile you probably already carry some of these items such as zip close bags and electrical tape. But there are a couple of surprises as well. I think my favorite is the paper plate flash reflector. Anything to help take better pictures without having to spend money.

Flying Photographer

Check out this very cool article on veteran aviation photographer Bob Bowen.

http://www.popphoto.com/Bowen

Imagine hanging out of a plane traveling 200 mph to take a picture. I have enough problems getting sharp images standing still with both feet on the ground.

Make sure you browse through his image gallery for some truly stunning images taken from a vantage point few of us will ever see.

Confessions of a Former Wedding Photographer Pt 2

My foray into the wedding photography biz began when a friend and former co-worker, who had been freelancing as a wedding shooter for several years, decided to go full time with his own studio. This was a big undertaking and he needed to book as many wedding dates as possible, which meant occasional double bookings on a single day. Knowing my background in photography, he asked me to be his back up photographer. I already had a working knowledge of cameras, and more importantly lighting, and my friend would teach me what I needed to know about shooting weddings. My photographic aspirations were in a different direction, but with a newborn baby at home we needed the money, and thus began my career as a wedding photographer.

After a few years as the photographic equivalent of a relief pitcher, I made the big leap to my own freelance wedding business. Working 40 to 50 hours a week on my regular job and then spending up to 10 hours on my feet on a Saturday shooting weddings was not much fun. Add in time spent meeting with clients, sorting proofs and assembling wedding albums - my wedding business was not going to be long lived.

Photo Magazines Galore

Strolling through the local Barnes and Noble I made my way over to the magazine section and was struck by the sheer number of photo related magazines on the shelf. An entire four tier rack covered in photo periodicals. There are publications specializing in black and white photography, while others are devoted to Photoshop, some focus on hardware and some concentrate on technique, and there are lots and lots of general interest titles that cover a little bit of everything related to the photo world. One reason for the over flowing shelf is because they carry not only American but British magazines. If you don't see what you like among the US fare you can always check things out from the UK perspective. Staring at all those shiny covers I was left to wonder - how many copies do they actually sell of all these?