Recent Fine Art Articles

Documenting Solitude: A Residency Amid Wyoming’s Wilderness

Several years ago, I got a call one morning from the head ranger at Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. He was inquiring if I would be interested in participating in Bighorn National Forest’s initial Artist in Residence program. That was during the COVID shutdown, and my state was really locked down—we couldn't even go camping in a state park! So, yes, absolutely yes.

Transform Your Architectural Photos Into Fine Art With Photoshop

Have you ever found yourself with many snapshots of buildings and architectural features of a city you visited while traveling? Perhaps you looked at these photos thinking they're just ordinary snapshots. What if there were a way you could transform these photos into architectural fine art pieces using Photoshop?

5 Lessons I Learned Shooting Fine Art Photography for the First Time

Fine art photography has always intrigued me. The minimalism, the dreamlike compositions, and the sense of artistic control over an image are all elements that I deeply admire. Inspired by the likes of Gary Gough and other fine art photographers, I finally took my first steps into this style of photography—though not without some apprehension.

Five Stages of Creativity

Photography is often misunderstood as merely a way to document reality, but in truth, it is an art form as complex and expressive as painting or sculpture. For me, photography is not just a technical process—it is a creative pursuit that requires both artistic vision and craftsmanship.

When Does a Photograph Stop Being a Photograph?

Capturing reality was never photography's sole purpose—it always flirted with imagination. But in an age dominated by digital tools and AI, how far can we push photographic art before it stops being photography?

The Power of Composition

As you may guess, I am not a fan of rules, and the question I often ask is, "Who made the rules, and why do they think they can tell me what to think?" In fact, I may get a T-shirt made that says in large letters, "Screw the rules and screw the horse they came on!" So there, I've said it. And if that sets your teeth on edge... just read on!

The Art of Immersive Street Photography

Photography sometimes requires us to embrace the apparent contradiction that life can be beautiful even when it isn’t pretty. This is something that Serbian-born photographer Boogie understands all too well and is reflected in his raw and unflinching photographic style.

The Wonderfully Atmospheric Urban Landscapes of Greg Girard

Canadian photographer Greg Girard left Vancouver in the 1970s to explore Southeast Asia with his camera. His colorful, atmospheric landscapes showed us a very different and unfamiliar part of the world that, for Westerners at that time, was much less traveled and even less well known.

The Special Ability That Separates Great Portrait Photographers From Good Ones

Mastery of the camera, a keen photographic eye, and excellent timing are all prerequisites for being a good portrait photographer. But there’s another quality that is much harder to come by and less often talked about, yet it can distinguish a great portrait photographer from a good one.

The Black and White Advantage

There’s nothing quite like the solitude of my darkroom at dawn, the hum of my enlarger in the background, and the image slowly appearing on paper in my hands. For me, photography is more than capturing a moment—it’s a meditative journey into light, shadow, and form.

A Landscape Photographer's Advice: Learn to See the Beauty All Around You

Places of emptiness and desolation might not immediately demand the attention of the photographer, but they have a haunting beauty that is all too easy to overlook. For one landscape photographer, the quiet magic of these neglected spaces has often been the source of his inspiration.

The 10,000-Mile Road Trip That Changed Photography

It is often through the eyes of an outsider that we are most able to see ourselves clearly. The collection of iconic images that Swiss photographer Robert Frank captured on his 10,000-mile road trip across America amounts to nothing less than a historical document and a landmark in American culture.

The Key to Tack-Sharp Photography

Fact: Depth of field will remain constant across all formats and focal lengths as long as the aperture and the image size remain the same. There are several factors that determine how sharp, or not sharp, an image may be. One of those is depth of field, and another is the movement of the subject matter that occurs while the shutter is open. Here, I will discuss depth of field.

The New Book That Every Photographer Should Have On Their Shelf

There is a short list of books that distinguish themselves from the mainstream of photographic discourse, and even fewer for which a good case could be made that they are required reading for anybody serious about photography. This new book about the art of photography scores on both counts.

The Polaroid Photography of Film Director Wim Wenders

As a filmmaker, there’s no denying that Wim Wenders has a distinctive and immediately recognizable visual style. But did you know that, in the years before his film career really took off, he developed and honed a great deal of his visual creativity working in the medium of Polaroid photography?

The Reward of Being an Artist in Residence

I have had the opportunity of working as an Artist in Residence for the National Park Service four times. The last residency was for Buffalo National River in Arkansas. In the spring of 2020, I got a call from one of the managers for the National Forest Service in Wyoming, wanting to know if I would be interested in coming to Wyoming to do a residency there in Bighorn National Forest, which I was glad to do. So, in early September 2020, I loaded up my gear into my Bronco and headed to Wyoming!

Large Format Cameras in the Landscape

A question arises: Exactly why is it that you still use very large cameras and film when photographing the American landscape? Which is what I do.

Explore Creativity in Triplicate, A Lens for Every Vision

Are you looking for a lens that’s as fun and versatile as your imagination? Meet the Lensbaby Trio 28—a creative powerhouse that lets you explore the world in triplicate. Three lenses, endless possibilities, and all the inspiration you need in one compact package!

Creating Stunning Bodyscape Art With Minimal Gear

Bodyscape photography is a unique way to transform the human form into abstract, artistic expressions. By focusing on contours, lighting, and subtle details, you can create striking images that blend mystery and art with minimal equipment.

Why Overcast Days Are a Hidden Gem for Photographers

Bright sunshine can be a gift to the photographer, creating deep shadows and contrast that accentuate shapes and forms and lend your images a vivid intensity. But the flat, gray light of an overcast day has its own special ambiance and mood that can be a better fit for more contemplative scenes.

Eight Steps To Capture Motion Blur Seascapes

If you’re looking for a new, creative way to shoot landscapes, this may be the video for you. Tom Woods' video might inspire you to capture your own motion-blur seascapes or use this technique for another creative landscape scene.

Is It Wrong to Edit Your Landscape Photos?

You crest the brow of a hill to behold a magnificent landscape, but as you’re framing it in your camera’s viewfinder, you realize that this stunning scene is intersected by ugly power lines. Is editing them out later in Photoshop an option you would consider, or one that feels somehow dishonest?

Don't Let the Wrong ISO Ruin Your Photography

A common misconception in landscape photography is that using the lowest ISO setting always results in the highest quality images. I frequently encounter this question and concern in my YouTube comments. Therefore, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share a video and article discussing the importance of ISO.

Finding Unique Perspectives at The Most Photographed Bridge In The World

As a long-time resident of the Bay Area, I’ve had the privilege of photographing the Golden Gate Bridge for over ten years. Whether it’s capturing the low fog rolling in or watching the golden light of sunrise and sunset cast its warm glow over the bridge, this landmark never ceases to amaze me. The Marin Headlands offer some of the best vantage points, especially when the fog is low, and the atmosphere feels almost otherworldly. It’s a scene that continues to inspire me, even after all this time.

The Advice Film Director Stanley Kubrick Left to All Photographers

You may not have been aware that film director Stanley Kubrick was also a professional photographer, having shot assignments for magazines before he ever made any of his award-winning movies. So what did his photographer’s eye bring to his movies, and what can we learn from his creative process?