What if you had two choices as a photographer: To imitate the style of others, have it sell well and achieve notoriety or Produce original work that you love, but it results in few sales and does not receive critical praise Which would you choose…and why? I think that how we answer this question reveals something… continue reading
My latest newsletter features five new images from Hawaii. I also discuss the challenges of photographing while on vacation. You can sign up here: http://www.colethompsonphotography.com/newsletter/ Or view the newsletter here: Newsletter with New Images from Hawaii Thanks! Cole
Five Things Photography Has Given Me
Mary, 1971 – This is my friend from school, Mary Doyle, at Corona Del Mar in California. I created this image with one of my favorite cameras from my youth, a mini-Speed Graphic with a 220 roll back. 1. A wonderful childhood. Beginning at age 14 and for the next several years, photography became my life and… continue reading
Two New Short Video Tutorials on Long Exposures
Monolith No. 27 Here are two new short video tutorials that have been released by my friend Greg McKean over at Master Photo Workshops. These are a part of a larger comprehensive DVD tutorial we are putting together on how to shoot long exposures. Shooting a 30 Second Exposure with the Singh-Ray Vari-ND and Mor-Slo 5 Stop ND… continue reading
Why I Don’t Critique Other People’s Work
Minneapolis Power Lines People often ask me if I would look at their work and critique it. And while I would love to accommodate, I am uncomfortable critiquing another person’s work and here’s why: First, I’m unqualified. All I know is what I like and what I don’t like, and that should be irrelevant to… continue reading
You Cannot Do B&W Work Like This With Digital!
I was exhibiting my “Ancient Stones” portfolio when someone approached. We both stood there looking at the images when he said: “You just cannot do b&w work like this with digital!” I didn’t have the heart to tell him, but thought of this anecdote: “A photographer went to a socialite party in New York. … continue reading
Harbinger: The Story Behind the Series
Harbinger No. 1 Several summers ago my son Jem and I were taking a road trip through the western states, it was meant to be both a photography trip as well as a father and son trip. We were in Utah and it was about 150 degrees (or so it felt) when I spied these… continue reading
I have been thinking about two words lately: visualize and previsualize. What do they mean and how are they different? I’ve used both words to describe my creative process and yet I’m not really sure if I’m visualizing or previsualizing? So I looked them up in the dictionary: Visualize: form a mental image of; imagine. Previsualize: The… continue reading
Harbinger No. 20 I’ve just watched the most extraordinary film entitled “Finding Vivian Maier.” The story begins with a man named John Maloof who purchases a box of negatives at an auction and becomes intrigued by the images and whoever created them. It is a detective story that reveals one of the most important street photographers… continue reading
The Angel Gabriel Why do I focus on Vision so much? It’s because I believe that Vision is what makes an image great. It’s what makes the difference between a technically perfect image and one with feeling. It’s what makes your images unique. Great images do not come about because of equipment and processes, but… continue reading
