Former White House photographer Pete Souza returned to Madison this week as part of the opening for a gallery exhibition of his images.

Souza was an official photographer for President Ronald Regan and chief White House photographer for both Obama administrations. He and his wife, Patti Lease, lived in Madison for five years before they recently moved to Peoria, Illinois to be closer to Souza’s family. 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted a panel discussion about his work in Marquee Cinema at Union South Tuesday evening and a gallery opening of Souza’s photographs in the Education Building Wednesday morning. Souza’s photographs will be on display in the gallery until May 17.

Here’s our own Cap Times photo gallery of Souza’s visit and work:

Calling all local photographers: we’re thinking a little outside the box for  the cover of our June 2024 magazine, and we need your help!

The theme | Photo City
In 1892, Kodak was incorporated in Rochester, NY — forever solidifying our legacy as the photo city. While that legacy has taken on many forms over the last century ++, we remain a city rooted in visuals. Our June issue will honor and focus on all things ‘photo city’: past, present and future. Photo and film. The people who created it, and the people who are currently creating it.

The call | Cover photo submissions
Capture how you see Rochester through your own personal lens. The community, the seasons, the culture, the neighborhoods, etc. How does Rochester and the photo community translate for you? And — this is a paid gig! If your photo is chosen, we will arrange freelance payment.

To submit | Email us
Send your submission along with a 50-100 word summary/caption to [email protected] with the subject ‘Photo City Cover Submission’.

Deadline | May 10
The CITY staff will choose a cover photo for publication before our June print deadline of May 24.

The fine print | Our format
We’re a print magazine, and we do our best to reproduce colors and quality at the highest level possible. With that in mind, please share the highest resolution image possible (no less than 300 dpi). Note: the dimensions for our front cover are 10″ wide x 12″ tall, and all art is subject to being trimmed to fit this size.

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

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The new issue of Digital Photographer is out now!

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This month we have another amazing issue for you, featuring professional tips, reviews, and practical how-to guides. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s inside!

Discover creative compositions

Sometimes in photography, as in life, intricate planning can be the route to success. However, in many cases, spontaneity is what yields the most inspirational results. Take composition, for example. You can follow the rules set out in all the photo textbooks but often we press the shutter button when the image feels right. In the moment, improvisation produces the most unexpected successes. 

To that end, explore our special cover feature starting on p36 of the magazine, where you’ll learn how to identify unusual framing opportunities for professional-looking shots that go beyond the obvious. We’ll show you the key ways to find unusual angles and exciting new ways to photograph everyday scenes, for images with energy and drama.

Secrets of the mode dial

In our other main feature, starting on p24 of the magazine, we’ve got a refresher guide for you about professional ways to use your camera’s shooting modes. The humble mode dial might seem familiar, but are you using each shooting mode to its fullest potential and getting the most from your camera’s exposure system? Even pro photographers can benefit from evaluating how they use their cameras, so take a look at these pages and rediscover your kit. 

Ditch the tripod and master handheld photography

Next up, be certain to explore our creative project pages where travel photo expert, Kav Dadfar, demonstrates how to shoot and edit handheld images in low-light situations. There are times when a tripod or monopod simply isn’t practical and, in these cases, knowing how to capture sharp images in any light is critical. 

NEW! Photo Kit Leaderboard

Starting on p96, our new Kit Leaderboard has been an instant hit! It’s an exciting live snapshot of the photo industry, listing the very best cameras, lenses, accessories, software and more. Stay tuned to see if your camera reaches the top! And will our current winning camera, the Sony A9 III, be knocked off its throne? Pick up a copy of issue 278 to find out! 

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Halfway up the steep 915-metre hike to Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, one of the places where Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan, my guide asked me again if I’d like him to carry my pack. Struggling to catch my breath, I declined, yet again. The weight felt heavier with every step, but as any photographer knows, some suffering is necessary to get the right shot.

My trigger finger had been putting in overtime since arriving in the tiny Himalayan kingdom tucked between India and Tibet. The country draws many types of tourists – the spiritually inclined, wellness enthusiasts, trekkers, birders and photographers to list a few.

REVIEW: Sleep in sweet tented suites at Bhutan’s Punakha River Lodge

Everywhere you look, there’s a photo to be captured. Bhutanese culture is vibrant, the architecture is breathtaking and the country is teeming with ecological diversity. I brought as much photography gear as I could because I knew that the range of what and who to photograph would be great, but what I did not understand was that the altitude – which ranges from 2,400 m to 3,350 m – would make my camera bag feel like I was carrying a boulder.

Within an hour of landing at Bhutan’s Paro airport, I found myself on the side of the highway at Tachog Lhakhang, a temple resting at the base of a mountain. We couldn’t go inside because it was closed for renovations but there was still so much to see.

FIRST PERSON: The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is in my backyard. I try not to take that for granted

To reach the temple, there’s an iron chain suspension bridge built over Paro River and secured by traditionally built gatehouses with whitewashed walls and windows framed with interlocking, elaborately carved and painted wood that makes the structure stand out against rolling hills and a valley that descended as far as I could see. The bridge swayed slightly as we crossed, the river below my feet gently babbled and the morning haze still lingered in the sky, shielding some mountains while exposing others, adding to the mystique of this remote country. Awestruck, I wondered how I could possibly fit all I was seeing into one frame. But I tried anyway.

As a photographer travelling through Bhutan, I felt a pull I’ve never experienced before: I was torn between raising my camera to compose a photo or allowing myself to be immersed in the moment. Prayer flags fluttered on every hillside and were somehow strung across wide gorges, making a pleasing sound as they snapped back and forth in the wind. Buddhist prayer wheels were equally as prevalent around the country and a bell rang to let you know someone nearby was spinning it – always clockwise.

Hiking in Bhutan brought me a whole lot closer to Shangri-la

In many of Bhutan’s most sacred structures, cameras, phones and sometimes bags must be given up and locked away before entering. Watching my guide hand over my camera was painful but it allowed me to find new ways to remember. I have no photos of the intricately painted murals retelling the country’s history that covered every inch of walls and sometimes the ceilings inside the Lhakhangs we toured, but I remember those legends that are so important in Bhutanese culture because my eyes studied every inch of those paintings.

One morning while visiting the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, our guide, who always went ahead of us, hurriedly returned from the building to exclaim that the Queen Mother was inside. To honour her surprise visit, the nuns were reciting a special chant. We were welcomed to sit in the back row and included in an offering of sweet rice. As I ate, I was deeply moved by the soft, melodic voices of about 50 young women that filled the space.

When the chanting came to an end and the Queen Mother rose to depart, I realized the nuns, draped in rich scarlet fabric, were going to exit the temple, too. All I could do was watch from the back row as they swiftly got up, smiling, talking, embracing, and then they were gone. I could only imagine the photo that I could have shot as they stepped into the sun, but the sound of their voices would’ve escaped the frame.

The diversity of experiences during my short time in Bhutan is reflected in these photos – I came home with nearly 2,000 images – but so much of my journey lingers in my memories, long after the shutter had closed.