A photographer looking for storms to capture instead caught the sight of rare red lightning sprites in the night sky above Arizona.

Greg McCown was leading a storm photo tour on June 16 and on the day there were no storms. So, McCown took the group to Windy Point on top of Mount Lemmon.

“A large storm moved clear down in Mexico about 150 miles south of our position at Windy Point lining up perfectly with the Milky Way core,” explains McCown. “After some instruction on how to photograph sprites, most in our group were able to catch these elusive gems.”

What are Sprites?

Sprites, a phenomenon only discovered about 20 years ago, are upper atmospheric discharges from lightning. They occur some 50 miles above thunderstorms, appearing moments after a lightning strike.

The sudden red flash can take a range of shapes. A very rare form of Sprite is an ELVE, which is also the largest as well as the rarest and you must be very far away from the thunderstorm it is generated from to see one. Photographer Valter Binotto captured one in Italy back in March.

“I’ve photographed them about five times before,” McCown tells PetaPixel. “As soon as we saw the big storm down in Mexico on radar we knew we had a good chance.”

McCown used a Nikon Z6 and a 50mm lens to capture the Sprites from the top of Mount Lemmon while most of the participants in his tour used their various cameras to capture the phenomena.

“The city lights you do see are the far east side of Tucson. Dark nights and clear skies with a distant storm are the best conditions to see/photograph them,” explains McCown.

McCown operates Storm Photo Tours along with John Sirlin and does all types of photography workshops although their specialty is storms.

In May and June, their workshops are out in the plains while in July and August it’s monsoon season.

More of McCown’s work can be found on his Instagram and website.

Image credits: All photos by Greg McCown.

David VanderSchee is a hobby photographer who enjoys snapping shots of wildlife in their unedited, natural form. In the following article, David VanderSchee takes readers through developing skills in photography, ensuring every hobbyist or amateur can take professional grade photos of their favorite things.

Every great professional photographer was once an amateur.

As a child, acclaimed food photojournalist Derek Pfohl honed his craft while hanging out in his parent’s restaurant, snapping photos of the intricate plates leaving the kitchen. Anne Geddes, known for her fantastic baby photography, was self-taught – she created a portfolio of family photos before opening her first studio.

Legend Ansel Adams received his first camera at 14 on a family trip to Yosemite National Park.

The art of photography is never mastered overnight. It takes experience and patience, passion, and creativity. Developing the essential skills is challenging, but above all, it’s exciting!

Smartphones have turned nearly everyone into an amateur photographer, but they can also reveal what kind of shutterbug one may be.

David VanderSchee explains that if an interest in photography goes beyond the standard selfie or vacation pictures, spend some time looking through a personal camera roll. Are there certain subjects that are commonly shot? Is it nature? Landscapes? Portraits of friends?

Basic photography skill then moves to knowing one’s camera well. For those interested in moving past the smartphone and into a professional type of camera should know the ins and outs of the lenses, shutter speeds, and how the aperture works. Not all zoom lens cameras are the same – do extensive research and be sure to choose the best camera for the job.

Snapping wildlife photos will require a larger zoom lens with a faster shutter speed and wide aperture, compared to what’s needed for say, still photos, or more controllable objects, such as people or still landscapes. Budding photographers should spend time trying out different focuses and exposures to get the shot they want.

David VanderSchee provides one final assignment: When first learning to take photos, one should spend time shooting what they love, whether that’s photographing a pet or the flowers in the yard.

An understanding of how a camera works and its unique features is just the beginning. Now it’s time to practice. Try all a camera’s buttons, bells, and whistles. Read through the camera’s manual at least twice – it’s even recommended to keep the manual handy, in the camera case as a quick reference guide when needed. Try shooting photos in different conditions with the goal of having them all be of the same quality or sharpness.

David VanderSchee provides more essential tips below:

Explore Others’ Work

Just as artists appreciate other artists and writers learn from fellow writers, photographers can learn a lot from other photographers. Many professional photographers maintain a portfolio online, and that’s a great place to start for photographers to get a strong sense of different techniques and what cameras are capable of capturing.

David VanderSchee notes that photography blogs don’t just post photos but usually offer tips on how to use a camera well in different settings among other important information. Such blogs can function as free, regularly updated textbooks for budding photographers and a way to keep up with the best new photography trends.

Many community centers host photography workshops that can be invaluable sources of advice and inspiration — and great ways to put new skills and styles to practice. Such workshops are a fantastic way to connect with other photographers and learn about job opportunities or internships.

Be Distinctive and Try New Things

David VanderSchee says that amateur photographers usually have a favorite professional or shot they follow, so it’s tempting to shoot the same objects or scenery as those they admire — and shoot them in similar ways. Instead, try different angles and compositions that set one’s work apart from the thousands of professionals (and amateurs) on Instagram.

Think of new ways to get images of popular subjects and scenery. It’s one of the biggest ways to grow technically and creatively.

Find the Light

David VanderSchee says that the power of photography often rests on its use of light or shadow. Taking a good photo means not only using light effectively but studying it, too. How does light change during the day and rest on subjects in unique ways?

Those looking to develop photography skills should practice taking photos in different lighting environments, analyzing them, and tweaking techniques as needed through a camera’s settings.

Don’t Forget the Background

First comes light, then comes background. Every photographer has to factor in what’s known as “mergers,” an array of elements that can create distractions in photos, such as background items like telephone poles or signs, or other people passing by.

It’s important to develop an awareness of these mergers and move their focus (or themselves) in different angles to effectively avoid them. (It’s much easier to avoid an unwanted merger than edit it from the picture once it’s there – plus, it’s less time consuming to take that extra step or angle in the first place).

Volunteer

David VanderSchee notes that photographers are always in demand, especially for weddings, graduations, family portraits, and countless other needs. When starting out, volunteering services for such events is the perfect way to practice new skills and begin to establish a professional portfolio. Start with events for friends and family, gathering a familiar client base.

Photography is a difficult industry to break into, but getting the most experience possible and earning a solid reputation comes much quicker when one commits to putting their name out there — even for little or no pay at first.

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During his travels, from 1907 to 1909, he photographed the German colonies — in color, for the first time. In doing so, he laid the photographic foundations of racism.

The young photographer‘s trip to the German colonies of Togo, Cameroon, German Southwest Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now Tanzania) was taken at the height of German imperialism. In his photographs of his travels, Robert Lohmeyer generated enthusiasm for these distant lands that Germany considered its possessions. 

Making use of the most up-to-date photographic equipment at the time, Lohmeyer’s project was a meticulously planned PR campaign. Its goal? A celebration of colonialism and empire. 

Lohmeyer’s resulting photography books were seen by huge numbers of people. Even today, the pictures are still in circulation. Lohmeyer’s photos convey the image of a “peaceful savage” in a paradisiacal landscape. A colonial idyll.

Because the images are in color, they evoke a feeling of authenticity and truthfulness. War, disease, hunger and death do not appear in Lohmeyer’s pictures. 

Based on unpublished written sources and photographs, the documentary follows Lohmeyer’s journey. It tells the story of a chapter in the history of photography. But it also tells the story of a propaganda coup. Finally, the film explores Lohmeyer’s contribution to a new kind of racism — in color – the effects of which can still be felt today.  

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Guadalajara, Mexico

Members of La Luz del Mundo church during a mass at Hermosa Provincia, the religious group headquarters as part of the La Santa Convocación celebration. The week-long celebration received thousands of members of the church from across the country and abroad after three years of taking place virtually during the Covid pandemic. Its leader, Naasón Merarí Joaquín García, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for sexual abuse

Photograph: Leonardo Alvarez Hernandez/Getty Images

The more I see AI churn out headshots and portraits with twisted appendages and those weird, dead eyes, the less I’m sweating about artificial presences taking over the photography world. Why fight AI when you can make it work for you? So, instead of pushing it away, I’ve started using AI tools in my day-to-day. It’s not replacing my job; it’s just handling the mundane stuff.

Enter Evoto. I’m sure you’ve heard of it by now. Let’s talk about how AI tools, like Evoto, can actually help you make more money. 

In the bustling realm of photography, one undeniable truth persists: variety is not just the spice of life; it’s the essence of robust sales. Today’s discerning clients crave choices, and the more diverse and enticing your portfolio, the more lucrative your business becomes. Evoto stands out as a beacon in this context, not just amplifying the visual appeal but also driving phenomenal savings and increased profitability for photographers. Let’s break down how.

Multiplying Choices, Multiplying Sales

The equation is simple: the more options you present, the higher the likelihood of a sale. But traditionally, offering variety, especially in terms of background alterations, came with a price tag. If you commissioned a retoucher for background changes, you’d easily be set back by $5-20 for a single swap, at least in my experience. Want to give your client options of white, black, and gray? That’s a whopping $15 or more for one image, and that’s excluding the costs and time dedicated to general retouching.

Enter Evoto. For a minuscule seven cents an image (or less if you purchase bulk credits), not only can you change the background once, but you can also do it repeatedly without incurring extra fees. The math speaks for itself: from $15 with traditional retouching to mere cents with Evoto. This price difference, especially when dealing with large volumes of photos, can lead to exponential savings, effectively lining your pockets with substantial profits or at least lowering your cost of production.

So now, if I’m working with a large brand who wants their brand identity imprinted on their executive headshots, I can color-match their logo and offer that background in addition to the standard white, gray and black I generally recommend for corporate headshots. Can I charge more? You bet. 

The best part of the background replacement tool in Evoto? No more fussing with what your light settings need to be to get a perfect white background.

Cost Efficiency Meets Excellence

It’s rare to find a tool that guarantees both cost efficiency and superior quality, but Evoto achieves this balance impeccably. While its pricing model dramatically reduces expenses, the tool doesn’t compromise on the quality of the results. Each background replacement is seamless, precise, and professional – the kind of quality you’d expect from an experienced retoucher.

If you so dare, you can even tweak the edges in Evoto, but I’ve found doing so actually makes the quality worse. Just leave the accuracy to Evoto.

Uncharted Potential and the Road Ahead

While many photographers, myself included, have tapped into Evoto for its background replacement prowess, it’s essential to remember that this tool has even more to offer. Embedded with advanced AI-driven retouching and cropping tools, the potential for further savings and enhanced offerings is vast. Even if you’ve just scratched the surface, like I have, the savings are already monumental. Fully embracing Evoto’s suite of features could redefine your photography business’s profitability matrix.

The age-old adage, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” holds profound truth in the digital photography landscape. By making the switch to Evoto AI, photographers aren’t just saving pennies; they’re amassing significant earnings. In the competitive world of photography, where every dollar and every second counts, integrating tools like Evoto is not just smart – it’s essential for those eyeing amplified profits and superior client satisfaction.

When location scouting for the shoots, Dean looked to the environments of his childhood for inspiration; the feeling evolved by his growing up in the working-class town of Birkenhead in Merseyside. “When selecting locations to backdrop my images I look for somewhere familiar and most often residential, inspired by memories of adolescence, and to evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity,” Dean says. “I don’t feel as interested or as inspired when shooting anywhere else.” In terms of style, the only variable from shoot to shoot was the styling casting, allowing Dean to focus primarily on the work of the students. Some of the student’s work related directly back to projects they were working on at university, while others were completely unique. Subject matters and themes throughout range from heritage, queerness and gender nonconformity, as well as contemporary and nostalgic references to style trends including kitsch, punks, cowboys, cricket players and early 2000s pop stars.

One shoot inspired by the student’s Northern Irish homeland is that of James Robinson’s, which delves into symbols and icons from leprechauns to shamrocks. In one image, the model stands in the gateway to a house adorned in a shamrock headpiece, with a jumper tied to give the “illusion” of a stem. The model also dons a pair of O’Neils shorts – a nod to actor Paul Mescal’s popularising of the Galic football sportswear. “There’s a comedic aspect to James’ work which aligns with his own humour,” says Dean. “Integral to the programme’s teaching is how we can embed our identity and experiences into our work, and in this project James brought these aspects together perfectly.”

Another project that resonated with Dean was Chloe Marshall’s shoot, with her references being most aligned to Dean’s appreciation of early 2000s pop culture. Chloe worked from Dami Lovato’s quote “who said I can’t wear my Converse with my dress”, looking to figures like Avril Levinge and Lily Allen, and paying homage to institutions like Claire’s Accessories. For Dean, “the models captured the spirit of a bygone era and this image puts me back there whenever I look at it”.

Being such a joy to create, Dean hopes that Star Potential ignites similar feelings in the audience. Moreover, he hopes that the overall approach pushes people to encourage “creative thinking” in the fashion world. “All too often when less conventional fashion is presented the dialogue shifts to how it could be worn in an everyday setting, or sold. This project’s styling is not about commerce but rather creativity.” Last but not least, Dean wants to inspire new methods of teaching that are less “passive”, fostering greater alignment between lecturer and student.

BRATTLEBORO — In-Sight Photography Project announces its first Youth Photo Contest & Fair.

For 30 years, In-Sight Photography Project has been nurturing the creativity of young artists in the Brattleboro community and across the country.

“Seeing an opportunity to give young artists an opportunity to have their work exhibited in the community and seen by professionals in the field, this year instead of our Annual Benefit Art Auction, we made a choice to ask the community to support an event that will directly benefit and promote our talented youth,” says Emily Wagner, executive director, Insight Photography Project.

The competition is open to youth 11 to 18 who live within an hour of Brattleboro. Contestants are invited to submit one image in each of the following categories: Analog Film, Artistic, People, Places, and The New England Experience. The deadline to submit images is Aug. 20. Images submitted into the contest will be exhibited in In-Sight’s gallery on September 1st through October 6th. Three winning images in each category will be selected by a jury panel to win awards in each category. The top award being a DSLR camera kit. Submissions are open now.

Cathy Cone, esteemed photographer and long-time In-Sight supporter, whose works are in the collections of IBM, Hallmark Fine Art Collections, American Express, among others, is the event’s honorary chair. As a long-time supporter of In-Sight and its students, Cathy says this is an opportunity for the community to encourage and help guide a young photographer’s dreams, especially now when the visual arts are so much in demand. She and In-Sight are convening a blue-ribbon jury panel, along with a “red-carpet” award’s ceremony and photo fair to include a display of the submitted images, a photo booth, games, and more that will take place at The Latchis Theater on September 30th.

In-Sight’s board of directors vice-chair and local photographer, Rachel Portesi, has helped Cathy assemble the jury panel. The jury panel includes a mix of local and national photographers, including: Cathy Cone, Rachel Portesi, Jon Gitelson (Keene State College), Michael Kirchoff (Analog Forever Magazine), Joan O’Beirne (Greenfield Community College), Geoffery Peckham (Tusen Takk Foundation), Dale Rio (The Halide Project), Aline Smithson (Lenscratch Magazine), Vaune Tractman (Olcott Family Award/ The Print Center’s Annual International Competition), and Tim Trelease (Deerfield Academy). Additionally, viewers of the virtual show will be able to vote for one contest participant to win a “People’s Choice Award.”

Most photography contests require entrance fees, but this competition is entirely free to youth thanks to the help of the community. In-Sight’s Youth Photo Contest & Fair has already received support from a growing list of individuals and businesses including Vermont Center for Photography, 802 Credit Union, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Members’ First Credit Union, The Richards Group, Trust Company of Vermont and the Brattleboro Reformer.

From its humble beginnings in the Brattleboro Teen Club, In-Sight’s programs have always uplifted youth to use photography as an expressive medium and language. Throughout our history we’ve offered an incredible breadth of programming, such as the Exposures Cross Cultural Program that brought youth from different cultures together to the current Photo Team Program specifically designed to help youth explore professional pathways. In-Sight’s approach to photography is to foster personal expression, artistic growth, and self-confidence.

In-Sight’s mission is to create opportunities for youth to learn and use the photographic arts as a technical and expressive medium fostering personal development and cultural engagement. In our vision all youth have equitable access to opportunities to express their creativity in the photographic arts in a learning environment and curriculum that supports the diversity of individuals, communities, and cultures. The programming includes core classes in analog film and digital photography, after school partnership programs, a Photo Team, and an Artist Residency. All of these classes are fully accessible through our sliding scale fee structure and all equipment is provided.

For more information you can visit our website, insightphotography.org, or call 802-251-9960.

Landscape photography is an art that requires skill, creativity, and an understanding of the natural environment. While beginners can capture stunning images, seasoned professionals have honed their craft over the years and mastered some advanced techniques. In this article, we will explore five landscape photography tricks that only pros know.

From utilizing long exposure to managing dynamic range, these techniques will elevate your landscape photography to a whole new level. Each tip can help you advance your own images and results, and if you combine all of the lessons, you are destined to see vast improvements in your images. Follow the lessons from each topic below to add that extra element needed to help you also shoot like a pro.

Mastering the Art of Long Exposure

Long exposure is a powerful technique that allows landscape photographers to capture ethereal and dreamy images. It involves using slow shutter speeds, typically ranging from a few seconds to several minutes, to capture the mesmerizing movement of elements like clouds, water, or stars. By using extended exposure times, pros can turn a raging waterfall into a silky smooth cascade or transform a busy cityscape into a serene and mystical wonderland.

To achieve truly stunning long exposure shots, pros use neutral density (ND) filters to reduce the amount of light entering the camera. These high-quality filters come in various densities and enable them to use slower shutter speeds even in the brightest daylight. By carefully controlling the light, photographers can maintain the proper exposure while capturing the desired motion and atmospheric effects in their images. Additionally, using a sturdy tripod is crucial to keep the camera steady during the extended exposure time, preventing any unwanted blur or camera shake and ensuring razor-sharp images.

Lesson: Patience and perseverance. Mastering long exposure requires patience and perseverance. Waiting for the right moment and enduring the extended exposure time can be challenging, but the rewards are truly worth it. This lesson extends beyond photography and can be applied to various aspects of life, reminding us that great things often come to those who are patient and persistent.

Tackling the Dynamic Range Challenge

Landscape scenes often encompass a wide range of brightness levels, from the dark shadows of forests to the bright highlights of the sky. Capturing these scenes in a single exposure can be challenging due to the limited dynamic range of cameras. However, pros have mastered the art of managing dynamic range effectively, allowing them to create breathtaking images that showcase the full tonal range of the landscape.

They use advanced techniques like bracketing, where multiple shots are taken at different exposure levels, covering the entire range of brightness in the scene. Armed with these multiple exposures, photographers can later merge them during post-processing to create a well-exposed-throughout photograph. The resulting image ensures that no detail is lost in the shadows or highlights, producing stunning landscape images with impressive tonal balance and intricate details.

Lesson: Balance and adaptability. In landscape photography and life, the ability to find balance and adapt to different situations is essential. By embracing the challenge of managing dynamic range, photographers learn to adapt their techniques and equipment to create harmonious and well-balanced compositions. This lesson encourages us to approach challenges with a balanced mindset and adaptability, knowing that embracing both shadows and highlights can lead to a richer and more fulfilling experience and images.

Utilizing Neutral Density Filters

Pros often utilize neutral density (ND) and also graduated neutral density (GND) filters to overcome the challenge of capturing scenes with significant brightness differences between the foreground and the sky. ND filters will allow the entire scenes light to be controlled and are great when you need just that. A waterfall, for example, will have flowing water from top to bottom, and it is helpful to be able to control all of this and produce your intended shot. GND filters are specially designed filters that have a darkened top half and a clear bottom half, enabling photographers to control the exposure more effectively and balance the light in their composition. These can be great when the sky is brighter than your subject on the land for example. 

By positioning the darkened part of the filter over the bright sky and the clear part over the foreground, GND filters darken the overexposed areas and help retain the details in both the sky and the landscape. This technique reduces the reliance on extensive post-processing and produces more natural-looking images with a well-balanced exposure right from the start. The result is a photograph that replicates the scene as accurately and captivatingly as the photographer experienced it.

(GND) filters can be challenging to use when the horizon line isn’t straight. An example of this might be a mountain or a building. The result can be a darker exposure line cutting into the subject, which is very difficult to remove in post processing. (GND) filters come in a variety of strengths and also have a hard edge or a soft edge, designed to help you control the light and horizon as much as possible. When you have a subject that you cannot avoid being cut, you can use a full ND filter to avoid such challenges.

Lesson: Using the right filter for the scene you are photographing is key here. 

Using a Shallow Depth of Field 

Shallow depth of field is achieved by using a wide aperture (low f-number) on your camera, which results in a smaller area of focus, leaving the background and foreground blurred. While this approach may seem counterintuitive for landscape photography, it can be a powerful tool to emphasize key elements and create a sense of depth and dimension within the frame.

Here are some ways you can effectively use shallow depth of field in your landscape photography:

1. Isolate the Subject: In a vast landscape, it’s often challenging to direct the viewer’s attention to a particular element. By using shallow depth of field, you can isolate a single point of interest, such as a flower, a rock, or a tree, making it the focal point of your image. This helps create a more engaging and dynamic photograph, as the viewer’s eye is naturally drawn to the sharp subject against the soft, blurred background.

2. Enhance Depth: Contrary to the traditional sharpness throughout the frame, shallow depth of field can be used to enhance the perception of depth in a scene. By focusing on a foreground element while keeping the background out of focus, you can lead the viewer’s eye deeper into the image, creating a sense of immersion and exploration.

3. Emphasize Emotion: Landscape photography isn’t just about depicting a beautiful scene; it’s about capturing the emotions and atmosphere of the moment. Employing shallow depth of field allows you to infuse a sense of intimacy and mystery into your images, evoking a more profound emotional response from the audience.

4. Simplify Complex Scenes: Some landscapes might have cluttered or distracting elements that detract from the main subject. Using a shallow depth of field can help simplify the scene, removing the distractions and allowing the viewer to focus solely on the essential aspects of the photograph.

5. Play With Light and Bokeh: Shallow depth of field accentuates bokeh, the soft, out-of-focus areas, which can add a magical and dreamy quality to your images. This effect is particularly beautiful when capturing subjects like city lights, stars, or sparkling water surfaces.

Embracing the Magic of Golden Hour and Blue Hour

The Golden Hour and Blue Hour are magical periods of the day when natural light creates captivating colors and a soft, diffused glow. During the Golden Hour, which occurs during the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, the sun’s low position in the sky casts warm, golden hues across the landscape. This soft, warm light bathes the scene in a gentle glow, accentuating textures, and creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.

On the other hand, the Blue Hour occurs before sunrise and after sunset when the sky takes on a beautiful deep blue hue. During this enchanting time, the soft, diffused light creates a peaceful and surreal ambiance, often used to capture urban scenes or seascapes.

Pros know the importance of planning their photography sessions around these periods of optimal light. They are aware that the quality of light during these hours can transform an ordinary scene into an extraordinary masterpiece. During the Golden and Blue Hours, the landscape undergoes a magical transformation, and being prepared to capture the fleeting moments of this divine light is what sets pros apart from the rest.

Lesson: Embracing Beauty in Transience. The fleeting nature of Golden Hour and Blue Hour reminds us to cherish and embrace the beauty in transience. In photography and life, moments of extraordinary beauty are often ephemeral, and by fully immersing ourselves in these magical moments, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the ever-changing beauty of our world.

Landscape photography is a constantly evolving art form that requires both technical expertise and a creative eye. By mastering these five landscape photography tricks (mastering long exposure, managing dynamic range, using Graduated Neutral Density filters, using a shallow depth of field, and embracing the magic of Golden Hour and Blue Hour), you can elevate your photography to a professional level. As you practice and refine these techniques, you will find yourself capturing breathtaking landscapes that tell compelling visual stories, leaving viewers in awe of the beauty of our natural world.

Remember, landscape photography is not just about the equipment or techniques; it is about the passion, patience, and connection with nature that make a great landscape photographer.

Do you have other tips to share? Share them in the comments below and let’s chat!