Photography Clips

When you look around at photography, whether it is printed or digital, your work or someone else's, you'll see that most prints are one of the common standard sizes or aspect ratios, and nearly all of them are rectangular, either horizontal or vertical. Those certainly aren't shapes that we are limited to, so why is it that prints nearly always come in these sizes? Let's examine some of the reasons, starting with a brief lesson on how some of the most common print sizes or aspect ratios came to be...

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/must-photos-always-rectangular/<...

As a photographer, you'll never stop learning. However, finding new places or people to learn from is sometimes challenging. That is doubly true if you're unsure where to find quality photographs. The Internet is filled with websites and galleries open to everyone – Flickr.com is one example. Because anyone can post images, you'll soon find it difficult to sift the snapshots and amateur images from the works of art. So, where do you turn to advance your knowledge of fine art photography? I'll show you a few of my favorite places!

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/le...

Last time, I talked about the idea that another revolution in photography is coming. This thought is based on my observations across the history of photography. Every few decades—sometimes sooner—some new thing comes out that completely revolutionizes the way we do things—everything from 35mm cameras to color film to the advent of digital photography. There's no doubt we've seen a lot of these shakeups, and that's why I think we're due for another... So what will it be?

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/what-is-the-next-revolution/

Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcas...

Photography is due for another revolution—and most likely, sooner rather than later. In fact, it may already be underway, and we don't quite see it yet. Why do I think that a revolution is coming? Well, the short answer is because history repeats itself.

You see, if you look back over history, photography has gone through several very definitive growth stages. The first camera obscuras were made millennia ago, with the earliest historical mention of them dating to China around 500 BC. Leonardo da Vinci improved on the technology with designs for lenses. Early film creation began in...

In the beginning, photography was very scientific. Photographers and scientists came together, experimenting with light and chemistry in ways never before imagined. However, over time, creative thinkers adopted this new method of capturing light and turned it into one of history's greatest artistic media.

There is no one photographer who is directly responsible for taking this science and turning it into an art form. There are, however, a few historical photographers whose work embodies the way photography evolved from a science to an art...

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/science-becomes-art-three-historic-photographers-show-photography-evolved/

Photography Clips...

How does one define the abstract? That's a question that artists have struggled with for centuries. In its purest form, an abstract photograph's subject is often unrecognizable. The beauty derives not from the subject itself, but from its shapes, textures or colors. The work of Henry Holmes Smith is a great example of this – many of his images are mysterious studies in light. Others – like this image on the right – focus purely on lines, shapes, and patterns rather than portraying a subject as a whole...

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/beauty-abstract-photography/

Photography Clips Podcast: https...

Helen Levitt is one of my favorite street photographers. As a pioneer in photography, she had a natural propensity for capturing the essence of her subjects. Wonder, grace, joy, anguish, hope, and love are inscribed on the faces of her subjects, as clearly as if penned on paper. This raw emotion is the inspiration that transforms a photograph from a mere snapshot to a work of art, and this is the lesson that every photographer should take from Levitt...

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/portraying-raw-emotion-photography-lesson-helen-levitt/

Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/

Why is it that we are driven to create art? Of course, there are hundreds, thousands, probably millions of reasons to create art – anything from personal motivations to causes that the artist supports or statements that need to be made. But there is one broad umbrella that most, if not all art falls under, I think. At its heart, art is made so that it can be enjoyed by others.

Now, there is a problem with that, the enjoyment of others. And that problem is that we don't always make that connection with our audience at large. We...

When you think of creativity, it feels like it should be something random and spontaneous, something that is born out of a moment's inspiration. And, there are times when random creativity leads to groundbreaking art. I would argue, however, that the majority of creativity comes not from spontaneity, but from structure. You see, a lack of structure leads to things like uncertainty, wasted time and other issues that are detrimental to productivity. Here's a brief list of the problems and questions that arise when you have not structured your art...

Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/structure-necessary-creativity/<...

In the world of early American photography, few names carry the elegance and influence of Gertrude Käsebier (1852–1934). She is often hailed as one of the first American photographers to elevate portraiture to an art form. Her best-known works, particularly images of mothers and children, embody a tenderness and depth that was revolutionary for her time. Through her lens, she captured the emotional bond between her subjects with unique sensitivity, helping to pave the way for what would later be known as the pictorialist movement—a style focused on creating painterly, atmospheric photos. Her work is a reminder of the q...

Photography has this rare ability to tell a story, to let us glimpse into worlds we might otherwise never see. And few photographers did that quite like Lewis W. Hine. For anyone who loves photography, Hine's work is a testament to how powerful an image can be. He wasn't just taking pictures; he was documenting history, sparking reform, and, most importantly, giving a voice to people who were often invisible in society. His images of immigrants, child laborers, and industrial workers helped change laws and inspired generations of photographers to use their craft for something greater...

Podcast...

When it comes to learning more about photography, the common wisdom is not only to take more photographs but also to read about photography, to take photography classes and workshops, and to speak with other photographers. And all of these things are great ways to learn—necessary, in fact. But there's a whole other world of art out there, some art forms far older than photography, and they each have their own wealth of knowledge that we can draw from to build our own skills. So let's take a look at some of these art forms and the reasons th...

Photography can fill every corner of your life if you let it. Even when you are not shooting, you are thinking about shooting. You are noticing light in a window, framing scenes in your head, planning locations, sorting gear, editing, posting, and taking in other people's work. If photography is more than a casual hobby for you, it has a way of quietly becoming part of how you move through the day. For some people, it is also a job, which adds deadlines, client expectations, and the pressure to keep producing. There is nothing wrong with being devoted to...

I have been noticing something more and more, and I do not think it is just me. People who once cared a lot about photography are walking away from it. Not just beginners who bought a camera, tried it for a month, and got bored. I mean, people who used to go out on purpose to shoot. People who used to talk about photos, plan trips around photos, and spend real time learning and improving. Now the camera sits. The bag stays closed. Months go by, and they do not miss it the way they thought they would.

My brain does this thing where photography and sound keep borrowing ideas from each other. I will be setting up a shot, thinking about light and shadow, and suddenly I am thinking about microphones. Or I will be setting up a mic, and I start thinking about lenses.

Both are about choosing what you want and choosing what you do not want.

With a camera, you make decisions that shape what the viewer sees. You pick a lens. You choose an angle. You decide what is sharp and what is soft. You decide what stays...

When we look at old photographs, we tend to expect them to be in black and white. We expect the past to feel distant, muted, and quiet, as if history were always supposed to be sepia-toned and far away.

Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky did not accept that.

He wanted people to see the world as it actually looked. Not in our time, but in his. Not as a ghost of history, but as something alive with color...

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/sergei-prokudin-gorsky-russia-color-photography/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www...

Photography looks ordinary now. A phone comes out, a tap happens, and an image appears. That ease can make photography seem like a simple act of collecting proof that something took place. Yet the real power of photography has never been about evidence alone. It has always been about attention, time, and meaning. A photograph can be a record, but it can also be a decision about what deserves to be noticed. It can be a way of saying, "This mattered to me," even when the subject is small, quiet, or gone a moment later.

This essay...

The common advice for new and aspiring photographers is to take as many photographs as you possibly can – every day of the week if possible. For many, that means starting on a photo-a-day or 365 project. This is terrific advice, but I don't necessarily think it is limited to beginners. Even professionals can benefit from something like a photo-a-day project. Especially professionals, since I think the tendency to get involved in the business side of photography means we don't always make time to create images each day.

The best part about photo-a-day projects (aside from the ability to po...

Here's something I've mentioned before, and I believe that I've spoken of it in terms of how organization and trip planning is a good thing. Because that is the truth—none of us wants to spend a lot of money and time on a trip only to come home with no photographs to show for it.

This time around, however, I want to argue the opposite. Conflicting opinions, I know, but as with everything, I believe that there is a balance to strike. Sometimes planning out your photographic excursions down to the last detail is a good th...

Ansel Adams said, "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept." As photographers, this is our greatest struggle — to produce images with a meaning that is immediately evident and warrants a deeper examination of the subject material.

So how do we produce images like this? One way to create a powerful collection — a meaningful portfolio — is to seriously zero in on your concepts. Take your subject material and distill it until only the most resonating elements stand out. However, this isn't the only thing you'll need to consider as you strive for a striki...

If you're thinking of moving from photography as a hobby to a business, one of the first steps is to build a professional portfolio. Photographers of every variety – wedding, portrait, product, fine art, and more – use portfolios to showcase their work to galleries or potential clients. In fact, your portfolio will be one of your most important marketing tools, which means you need to make every effort to get it right. Here are a few tips that will help you put together an impressive collection of images.

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/how-to-use-a-neutral-density-filter/

Ph...

If you're thinking of moving from photography as a hobby to a business, one of the first steps is to build a professional portfolio. Photographers of every variety – wedding, portrait, product, fine art, and more – use portfolios to showcase their work to galleries or potential clients. In fact, your portfolio will be one of your most important marketing tools, which means you need to make every effort to get it right. Here are a few tips that will help you put together an impressive collection of images.

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/design-professional-portfolio/

Ph...

Photographers like to think of themselves as observers. We stand back, we watch, we wait for something interesting to happen. But observation is only half the story. The real heart of photography often comes from connection, not distance. Today, we're going to talk about what it means to move from observing your subjects to truly connecting with them.

As photographers, it's easy to slip into the mindset of simply watching the world. We look for things to photograph, we wait for the right moment, and we document whatever stands out. But when we operate purely as observers...

Understanding white balance is one of those topics that gets talked about so much that the meaning starts to blur. In simple terms, white balance is about making sure the colors in your photograph look true. When the white areas in a photo actually look white, your color is accurate...

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/determination-in-photography/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/

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There are all kinds of things we can talk about when it comes to photography. Multitudes of techniques, basic to advanced camera controls, compositional rules, lighting, gear and even the artistic eye. There is post-processing, software, file storage and all of the other technical details. You can boil it down further and talk about papers and inks. There are many different elements and all of them work together to create works of art in much the same way that a jigsaw puzzle's pieces work together to form a whole. Without one element, one piece, the whole picture loses something.

There are all kinds of things we can talk about when it comes to photography. Multitudes of techniques, basic to advanced camera controls, compositional rules, lighting, gear and even the artistic eye. There is post-processing, software, file storage and all of the other technical details. You can boil it down further and talk about papers and inks. There are many different elements and all of them work together to create works of art in much the same way that a jigsaw puzzle's pieces work together to form a whole. Without one element, one piece, the whole picture loses something.

I've talked a lot about composition and landscape photography because it's such a rewarding genre. There's a lot to learn, and everyone who spends time with it comes away better for it. Today, I want to go a little deeper and look at some advanced ideas, the kinds of things that really make your landscapes stand out. Some of these ideas bend the usual rules a bit, but sometimes that's exactly what creates something unique...

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/advanced-concepts-landscape-photography/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/

When gift-giving season comes around, photographers always get the same idea. Birthdays, Christmas, any big occasion, it seems perfect to give someone one of our photographs. It feels personal and meaningful. It feels like you're giving someone a piece of your creative vision, something you spent hours shaping. And since photographs can be customized, it feels more thoughtful than grabbing something off a store shelf. In our minds, the person opens the gift, loves it, hangs it on the wall, and keeps it there for years.

That's the hope. The reality is usually a little different...

As photographers, everything we do is tied to perspective. We think about it every day as we work on our images, but we don't always think about all the meanings packed into that one word. When you hear "perspective," you probably think about the angle you shoot from. That angle is part of it, but there's much more. There is the angle itself, there is your own personal viewpoint, and there is the subject's point of view, their thoughts, feelings, or experiences.

All three of these perspectives matter if you want to create images that feel meaningful...

What is the real path to artistic success? Some people say it is nothing more than practice. Not just practice in general, but practice in one single area of photography, always working on that one slice of the craft.

I see it differently. I think success grows out of diversity. Different styles, different techniques, and even different genres. Even the genres that might not be your favorites. Let me walk you through why I think this matters...

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/should-you-stick-to-one-genre-or-should-you-diversify/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www...

When you've been a photographer for as long as I have, you start to realize that not only does this art give you joy, but it also comes with its own share of frustrations. It seems strange at times to be so frustrated with something that you enjoy so much, but it definitely isn't an uncommon feeling. Let me share some of my frustrations so that you can see that you aren't alone!..

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/a-photographers-frustrations/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/

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What is "artspeak," precisely? It's a kind of blanket term, one you've probably seen used to refer to other activities, the type of term where the prefix is interchangeable. You'll sometimes hear the terms "computer-speak" or "techspeak." In a nutshell, these terms mean that people involved in the conversation are using language - technical terms and jargon - related to the field or area that the conversation is about.

"Artspeak" refers to the types of conversations in which people talk about their education, their achievements, technical items like cameras, and the mechanical operation of their equipment. These...

We've long made the assumption that photography is, in itself, an art. And in a general sense, that is true, the same way that painting is an art or that writing is an art. But I think we need a bit more specificity about precisely what the art of photography is. Surveys from 2014 showed that 1.8 billion photographs were uploaded online each day. Now imagine how many photos are taken every day, most of which will never be uploaded.

Are all of these images art? Of course not —just as not every written word is considered art, either. Ev...

A reflection on preparation, perception, and what really matters when the shutter clicks.

There's a familiar ritual before every photography trip. The suitcase waits open, half filled with clothes and cables, but the real challenge sits beside it—the camera gear. I start stacking lenses, checking chargers, counting batteries, and convincing myself that this time I'll finally pack smart. Then the second-guessing begins. Will I need the long lens? Maybe. What if I see wildlife? Better take it. The macro? Could come in handy. The tripod? Probably too heavy, but what if the light calls for it?

Every once in a while, I come across a story that reminds me how connected all the creative fields really are — photography, design, printing, art. They all share one foundation: color.

That's what drew me to Pantone's story. It's not just a company that makes color charts. It's the reason we can all talk about color in the same language.

Pantone began as a small printing business in New Jersey in the 1950s. Back then, the world of printing and design had a major problem: color consistency. What one printer called red might come out as...

Capturing a photograph is much more than just pressing a camera's shutter button. It's an intricate dance of thoughts, emotions, and technical considerations that come together to capture a moment in time. When I prepare to take a photograph, I go through a detailed mental checklist, each step bringing me closer to the perfect shot. Here's an in-depth look at what goes through my mind before taking a photograph.

Every photograph starts with a story. I think about what I want to convey through the image. Is it the serenity of a sunset, the bustling energy of...

Ever found yourself wondering, "Do I love photography or do I love photographs?" It might seem like a subtle distinction, but there's a significant difference between the two. Photography is the process – the act of capturing moments, exploring locations, and crafting images. Photographs, on the other hand, are the final product – the tangible results that we share and connect over. Understanding where your true passion lies can help you clarify your focus and how you approach your activities in this art form...

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photography-vs-photographs-where-does-your-passion-lie/

Photography Clips Podcast:

ht...

Have you ever looked at a photograph and felt a surge of memories or emotions, as if the image before you opened a door to another time or place? This is one of the most magical aspects of photography – its ability to act as a metaphor, connecting us to deeper meanings and experiences beyond the frame. When we look at a photograph, it's not just a snapshot of a moment. It becomes a mirror, reflecting our own stories and memories. This metaphorical power is what elevates photography from mere documentation to an art form...

Podcast Notes:

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Cameras are truly marvelous devices, capable of capturing moments and turning them into lasting memories. They can freeze time, tell stories, and evoke powerful emotions. But here's the catch – a camera can only do these incredible things if you have it with you when the perfect photographic opportunity arises. Mark Twain once said, "The person who does not read has no advantage over the one who cannot read." The same goes for photography: if you leave your camera at home, you're no better off than someone who doesn't own one.

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.co...

Integrating the principles of effective communication with the realm of photography offers a unique and compelling perspective, particularly for a blog centered on this art form. Here's how the Three Rules of Communication can be beautifully paralleled with the process and presentation of photography, enriching the content for your blog..

Podcast Notes:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-three-pillars-of-communication/

Photography Clips Podcast:

https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/

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