Scott Fisher’s very brief trip to Iceland was nevertheless rewarding

In Landscapes, Scenes & Scenarios by Sean Widker

As a professional video producer/editor based in Boston, Scott Fisher has also taken on landscape photography as a serious hobby to help him learn more about framing and exposure. “I realized a few years ago how using filters would step up my game as a landscape photographer. I have always used neutral density filters in my video work so I was a bit embarrassed that it took me so long to start using them in my still photography. “I currently …

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Disguised as a wandering landscape photographer to capture New York City

In Action Shots, City/Urban, Equipment & Technique, Landscapes, ND Filters, Polarizing Filters, Scenes & Scenarios by Sean Widker

Los Angeles, It was a big sprawling city even in those days. One block looked like the next. I don’t have any photography to speak of from those days because I always felt that nature was elsewhere. I’ve never looked back and, through my photographic travels and workshops, I’ve been treated to some of the most beautiful and scenic locations imaginable. The National and State parks throughout the American West are my home and photographic focus. Nevertheless, I recently had …

When he travels the world, this photojournalist packs only essentials — including his filters

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

Born and raised in Belleville, Kansas, veteran travel photojournalist Jim Richardson has covered the world for National Geographic magazines since his first story appeared in 1984. “When I captured this image, our location was 54° 24′ 55.885″N, 9° 5′ 38.520″E. So we were due west of Ballyshannon, Ireland, and the sea had turned to glass.” At the time, Jim was with a group aboard the expedition ship National Geographic Endeavor. “Most of the guests were tucking into breakfast (or still …

Learning to photograph where we are, prepares us to photograph anywhere we go

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

Like many serious landscape photographers,Chris Moore finds that balancing the demands of a busy career, family life, and the search for dramatic landscapes is a challenge. “With just a couple of weeks a year to travel to exotic places,” says Chris, “my appetite for landscape photography has to be fulfilled close to home most of the time. Since integrating Singh-Ray filters into my workflow over the past year, however, I’m capturing more dramatic images wherever I’m shooting. It’s mostly here today, …

Ever wonder who needs a Hi-Lux UV Filter? Here’s your answer…

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

From National Geographicphotographer Nevada Wier — now somewhere beyond Bangkok on a two-month trip to Myanmar and India — comes a brief note with these two images from her on-going project “Outer India.” Almost always on the move, Nevada’s choice of Singh-Ray filters is quite different from that of most other photographers. “Traveling to remote places all over the world on airlines, through airports and over primitive backroads and bumpy mountain trails places very practical limits on how much equipment I carry. I …

When it comes to capturing unique images in exotic places, she’s ready to go

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

National Geographic photographer Nevada Wier travels over the back roads and trails of Southeast Asia, India, China, Africa as well as Central Asia and South America. Her dramatic images document some of the world’s most remote tribal areas and cultures from a uniquely intimate, insider’s perspective. Recently Nevada has focused on northern India’s Ladakh region. These three images are from a recent exhibition, A Nomadic Vision, and may be included in her next book. After years of almost always being on the move, …

Protecting your lens and all its sharpness

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

When travelling around the globe, National Geographic photographer Nevada Wier is always prepared for whatever comes. To capture these two images, for example, she had to adjust quickly. “It was high noon in tropical Myanmar,” Nevada explains, “as I went inside the deep, cool shade of a monastery nestled in the hills of Maurk-U. There were a number of monks chanting on wooden benches. Another monk was meditating under a mosquito net. Although it was blazing sun outside, inside it was dim …

Graduated Neutral Density Filters by Galen Rowell

In Equipment & Technique by Sean Widker

It’s still difficult to believe that our friend Galen Rowell and his wife Barbara are gone, since his work continues to live on in so many books, magazines, calendars and in our mind’s eye, and he still is such a presence in the lives of his friends, family and photographers everywhere. Galen wrote this column for Outdoor Photographer in 1992 when not many photographers were familiar with Graduated Neutral Density filters, and it provides an interesting perspective and insight into …