I am proud to say this man is my ex-roommate…

I came across Matt Sorum almost ten years ago. I had just moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and at first, I rented a tiny little room from a HUGE NDSU Bison fan ( the colors of green and yellow were all over this two-bedroom apartment )  My cat and I had to eventually land another place to live, and that is when I met Matt. I came to notice almost every day his beautiful Canon camera lying there on the counter, waiting for action – and thankfully for all of us, a gifted photographer was poised and ready.

Mandan Matt…

This hometown Mandan Man has been taking pictures for around 8 years. He is a true artist and has the patience to get dug into a snow bank and wait 8 hours for that perfect shot. Some of his favorite places – Western Minnesota, Yellowstone. Matt is grateful for all the people who follow his love, and his gift. I asked him what is his favorite part of taking pictures – “Sharing them with others…”  Here is the thing that stands out the most to me, you can close your eyes the second after you see his breathtaking work, and almost feel the wind in your face, or hear the sounds of a thundering moose rumbling by.

Matt is allowing us all a unique look into sights WE will probably never get the chance to see up close – You can’t teach this talent, let me give you an example, here is my cat Fe-Lon, whom I took with my cheap beat-up camera phone:

And now I stand back in the shadows and let YOU see a TRUE GENIUS! Thanks again, Matt Sorum!

The pursuit of growth and development in photography often hinges on the guidance and wisdom shared among photographers. This fantastic video offers some of the best advice a photographer has received in his journey. 

Coming to you from Peter Forsgård, this reflective video discusses lots of valuable tips and guidance. Forsgård shares the best advice he’s received from fellow photographers, covering a wide range of topics from the importance of customer service and the photographer-client relationship to technical aspects like understanding and utilizing light effectively. One standout piece of advice is the concept that clients perceive the photographer within the image, highlighting the significance of the interaction and experience during the photoshoot. This insight stresses the need for photographers to not only focus on the technicalities of their craft but also on the human element, ensuring clients feel comfortable and enjoy their session.

Forsgård also encourages photographers to explore beyond their comfort zones, arguing that dabbling in different genres and styles can ignite creativity and broaden one’s skill set. This notion of being “horrible,” as mentioned by Forsgård, or embracing more raw and unrefined aspects of photography, challenges photographers to reconsider their aesthetic preferences and the polished images they’re accustomed to producing. It’s a call to authenticity and exploration that can lead to a deeper understanding of what photography means on a personal level. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Forsgård.

National Geographic has just released a very cool trailer for a new show entitled Photographer.

The six-part docuseries from Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin will flip the lens on photographers that are pushing the boundaries in nature, fashion, and documentary.

Each hour-long episode will follow Cristina Mittermeir and Paul Nicklen, Dan Winters, Campbell Addy, Krystle Wright, Muhammed Muheisen, and Anand Varma.

If you have watched the film Free Solo, then you may remember the directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin who collaborated with a host of other directors for the exciting series.

“Photographer is a testament to National Geographic’s commitment to delivering groundbreaking narratives that spark curiosity, leaving a lasting impact on our viewers,” says Tom McDonald, executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content.

“The intentional pairing of these visionary directors with each respective photographer captures the essence of their creativity and showcases the extraordinary lengths they go to redefine the boundaries of visual storytelling.”

Who Are The Photographers?

You may have heard of some of the above names: Paul Nicklen is one that a lot of people know and he will feature along with partner Cristina Mitternmeier. The pair are at the forefront of ocean conservation raising awareness of the many issues plaguing the world’s oceans.

Another episode will follow science photographer Anand Varma, who is enthusiastic about “all things icky,” Varma combines his lifelong passion for science and his love of art. He is currently working on a series about metamorphosis.

Krystle Wright is a high-adrenaline photographer who has spent the past decade-plus traveling the world to photograph some of the most incredible extreme sports stunts. Sidelined for the past two years due to a medical emergency, Wright is back in the field, now chasing tornadoes in the American Southwest and grappling with balancing the high-adrenaline life of an adventure photographer with her creative appetites.

Veteran conflict photographer Muhammed Muheisen has won two Pulitzer Prizes and is the founder and chairman of the Dutch nonprofit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation. Muheisen, born and raised among conflict in the Middle East, no longer heads out into the frontlines of war. He now uses his photography to give a voice to refugee children. Muheisen’s episode will follow him through his journey from photojournalism to photographic activism.

Dan Winters is arguably one of the most versatile, celebrated and renowned photographers working today, widely known for his unusual and iconic portraits of celebrities, scientific work, street photography, illustrations, and capturing the “hallowed grounds” of NASA.

British Ghanaian Campbell Addy is the fashion photographer of the moment and at a pivotal place in his career. His talents as an image maker have launched him into the fashion stratosphere and landed him on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, but his newfound fame and success also present challenges.

Photographer premieres March 18 on National Geographic at 20:00 EDT and will be available to stream on March 19 on Disney+ and Hulu.

There’s a rare phenomenon that happens once in a while that allows you to see the City of Chicago’s skyline from across Lake Michigan. But it’s rarely captured, and definitely not in great quality.

But photographer Eric Hines is one of the few people who has not only captured the image, but done so with incredible quality. He’s also captured some amazing shots from ALL around Lake Michigan.

Eric Hines lives in Northwest Indiana, and said he spends a lot of time hiking around the Indiana Dunes State Park. He will usually bring his camera with him to get some landscape shots.

“The Indiana Dunes is the closest area near me with good landscape opportunities. I haven’t worked with the parks directly, but hopefully one day!”

Hines has been shooting since 2010 and worked full time in photo/video work for some time. Lately, he says it’s been more of a part-time gig as of late. But he still manages to take time to get out and see what the world around him has to offer.

Case and point, during a recent trip to the Indiana Dunes, he set his camera up to shoot across the lake, and captured the photo below of the Chicago Skyline, from across Lake Michigan, at night.

“Being so close to Chicago, I can get my creative fix practicing cityscapes and finding new compositions. I think Chicago has one of the best skylines in the U.S. It’s very photogenic.”

Hines also took a daytime photo of the skyline recently, and showed off the equipment he used to capture such an interesting look at the city’s structures peeking up over the horizon.

“Thought it might be fun to post this photo showing what the Chicago skyline looks like across the lake during the day with an 800mm lens from the Indiana Dunes.”

Hines’ Social Media isn’t just filled with photos of the city’s skyline. He also makes his way around Lake Michigan to photograph other parts of Indiana and Michigan. While he enjoys the landscapes he finds at the Indiana Dunes, he also enjoys a unique condition he can only get in Michigan.

“My real love for photography is in landscapes and night sky photography, and luckily when I go into Michigan, I can get some great Milky Way shots with different lighthouses and landscapes.”

You can see some of Hines’ other work below, and if you’d like to reach out to him for some photography, or video needs, follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

Sunken WWII Plane in Lake Michigan