December 2008 Archives

When most of us think of a tea party setting, beautiful teacups and saucers usually come to mind -- unless, of course, you're Jo Whaley. Here Jo explains how this unusual tea party shot was created, and what you need to do to create this type of mood and environment.

Superior fine art photography requires a winning combination of patience, skill, technique and imagination. You can spend years hoping to discover the secrets of the art, or you can turn to a pro like Jo Whaley. That's exactly what we're doing during this 7 Photography Questions interview.

Learn what it takes to master still life fine art photography from an expert herself as Jo tackles our top seven questions.

Still life photography can seem simple and easy on the surface. After all, your subjects don't move around and your shots are only limited by your imagination.

What could be easier?

In reality, those who master the art of still life photography know that the simplicity of the art is but an illusion...

We have had a phenomenal first year on 7 Photography Questions with simply fabulous guests providing incredible photography tips.

My husband Jim and I have been astonished at the improvements we've made in our own photography as a direct result of doing these podcasts.

We went through all of them and created a list of 10 of our favorite techniques, tips and secrets we've learned.

This week's podcast is a bit different from our regular show. We went through all of our podcasts this year (and polled our team as well) and picked what we feel were the best tips, techniques, and secrets and presented them here.

Our goal was to help you get a jumpstart on improving YOUR photography in 2009.

Is the subject in this dragonfly photo smiling for the camera? It would seem so. Kathleen Clemons explains how this unexpected guest turned out to be the star of the day...

At first glance it's hard to tell if this picture of white morning glory is a photograph or a painting. How can a camera create such an effect? Kathleen Clemons explains exactly how this beautiful shot came to be.

This photograph of pink cosmos growing in Kathleen's garden is the perfect example of how the Lensbaby can do things that Photoshop just can't. Here she explains why.

This amazing shot of a colorful autumn lane really draws you in down the road. How did Kathleen create such a magical effect? Here she explains how the Lensbaby does all the work for you.

Was it luck that helped Kathleen Clemons capture this beautiful shot of a swallowtail butterfly? Actually it was, but the butterfly was just as lucky as Kathleen, as she explains in the story behind the photo.

Wondering how Kathleen Clemons captured the bright and cheery mood in this rudbeckia picture? It turns out selective focus was the key ingredient to this photo's success...

If Kathleen Clemons hadn't been in the right place at the right time, this calla lily picture may never have come to be. Here she talks about how the timing of the lighting was just as important as the subject in this amazing photo.

Milkweed seeds may not seem like everyone's idea of a great photography subject, but Kathleen Clemons proves just how beautiful they can be. Here she explains what went into this shot.

Why is a Lensbaby so interesting? Because great photography is part skill, part vision and part equipment. If you want to take your photographs up a level, access to great tools certainly helps.

The Lensbaby is a favorite photography tool among many top photographers -- and the good news is that it isn't even expensive. The questions are: what exactly is it, where do you get one and how do you best use it? That's exactly what Kathleen Clemons reveals during her 7 Photography Questions interview.

Ever hear of a Lensbaby? If you take photography seriously and you've never used one of these photography gems, you seriously don't know what you're missing. The Lensbaby is one of the hottest tools found in the equipment arsenals of today's photographers.

If you're not familiar with the Lensbaby, you're probably asking yourself why it's so important and you're probably wondering exactly what it can do for you. Fortunately, Kathleen Clemons is here to shed some light on the topic. (Hint: The Lensbaby is my favorite new gadget for 2008.)

What does it take to capture an incredible shot like this silhouette of a Steller's sea eagle? Roy Toft explains how timing, lighting and even a private boat all played a part...

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to capture nature's most notable wildlife, as is the case with the Steller's eagle. Here Roy Toft explains why this eagle is so special to him, and how he managed to get this incredible shot.

The red fox hunting in this photograph may not be looking at the camera, but that's exactly the way Roy Toft wanted it. Here he explains this suspenseful and intriguing photograph.

Sometimes capturing the perfect photo means enduring severe conditions, as Roy had to do for this red crowned crane photograph. It meant shooting in the freezing cold and waiting for the sun to come up, but the resulting image was well worth it.

Nature and wildlife wait for no man, and for Roy Toft to capture these dancing cranes in the perfect shot, he had to be ready to shoot at any moment.

Everything seems to come together in this photograph of Japanese cranes. The falling snow, the beautiful movement - it all falls into place. How did Roy Toft accomplish such a masterpiece? Here he explains...

While it's true that great photographs of snow monkeys aren't always hard to get, this particular mother with baby shot was one exception. Just shooting the monkeys where they played would have been easy, but Roy took it a step further to capture exactly what his mind's eye wanted...

When you're photographing snow monkeys you need to frame your shot perfectly if you really want to capture their personalities. Roy Toft explains exactly how he did that during his 7 Photography Questions interview.

Wildlife photographers are used to waiting hours for the perfect subject to appear, but when your subject is a snow monkey it's not so complicated. Roy Toft explains that shooting wildlife in Japan can be much easier than in other parts of the world.

Wildlife photography can be a challenge, to say the least. Your subjects aren't always willing to cooperate and sometimes they're down right unruly. Add that to the fact that winter wildlife photographers have to weather some of nature's harshest conditions and you really come to appreciate wildlife's finer winter photographs.

Can only the most stoic and steadfast photographers overcome the challenges of photographing winter's wildlife? Not if you have the advice of an expert, and that's exactly what Roy Toft is going to offer during his 7 Photography Questions interview.

Roy reveals exactly what it takes to take exceptional winter wildlife photographs. If you'd love to capture wildlife in all of its glory, this is a podcast you just can't miss.

Japan's winter wildlife is one of the most beautiful subjects to photograph. A snow monkey at play, a small bird flying against the harsh winter sky... Nothing quite captures the strength and beauty of nature's children in the harshest elements like winter wildlife photography.

The key is knowing how to do your subjects justice and how to capture the shots that really show the splendor of winter's wildlife for what it is. That's exactly what Roy Toft teaches us during his 7 Photography Questions interview.

In fact, even if you think you have no interest in photographing winter wildlife in Japan, you'll be surprised at how much you get out of this interview.

Some of the world's best shots aren't planned, as you can see in this picture of a boy playing peek a boo. It's a beautiful, vibrant and memorable photograph, but it wasn't set up beforehand. Cheryl explains how she seized the moment to capture this memory on film.

How do you capture a family portrait when half the family doesn't want to cooperate? It's not like you can wave a wand and put everything together magically. Do you give up or settle for the shot you can get easily? According to Cheryl Dorskind, settling for second best just isn't an option...

This close-up portrait of a sweet toddler boy is absolutely amazing. How did Cheryl create such a beautiful shot? Believe it or not, it has a lot to do with geometry and equipment. Here Cheryl explains the techniques and the equipment she used to capture this photograph.

When Cheryl Dorskind took this portrait of a girl with braided hair, she wasn't necessarily interested in capturing a traditional portrait pose. Rather, she wanted to capture the true spirit of the subject of the shot. Here she explains how and why she did it...

Composition can be everything when it comes to a great photograph, and this beautiful shot of a flute player by the crashing waves is a perfect example of this fact. Here Cheryl explains the where, when and why of this cheery image.

This photograph of the two smiling boys wouldn't be quite so dramatic if it weren't in black and white. Here Cheryl Dorskind explains the benefits of black and white photography and why digital photography makes capturing moments like these so much easier.

Many subscribers and listeners have been asking for full transcripts of the podcasts. We're pleased to let you know that we're working to make this happen.

So, like NPR's shows and other audio broadcasts, we will soon make full transcripts of the podcasts available as a premium service.

Cheryl Machat Dorskind shares a toothless grin photograph starring her very own daughter. What does this image reveal? Through this heartwarming shot Cheryl teaches us that the photographs we think we want aren't always the photographs that capture the best memories. She goes on to explain during her 7 Photography Questions interview...

Even at first glance you can tell that this photograph of children at the beach is anything but ordinary. How did Cheryl capture such a dramatic, dream-like image? Here she explains what goes into creating such a shot.

Children's photography is as rewarding as it is challenging. Sure, you have the insurmountable task of wrangling energy-laden youngsters into picture-perfect poses and scenes, but the memories captured for a lifetime are worth it.

One fairly common question is: how do you get the best photographs possible without going crazy? Professional photographer Cheryl Machat Dorskind has some advice.

If you're interested in uncovering professional children's photography secrets such as which equipment you absolutely must have, which mistakes you should avoid and the techniques that can make a child's cooperation much easier to secure, this 7 Photography Questions interview is a must...

How do you capture the memories of childhood in a photograph? How do you get the perfect frame, the perfect pose, the perfect light? And how do you take photographs of children that better capture their spirit and individuality?

Expert photographer Cheryl Machat Dorskind has the answers to these questions and she shares a few of her insider secrets during her 7 Photography Questions interview.

Every professional photographer has a few tricks of the trade that they use, and Brenda Tharp has quite a few that make her nature photographs so unique. I asked her to share some exercises and advice with our listeners before we parted.

How did Brenda get this amazing effect in this photograph of leaves changing colors? The answer may surprise you. Here she shares her technique for such an amazing shot.

This photograph of a beach in Maine definitely wasn't just a point-and-shoot endeavor. Brenda had to use the tools and techniques of her craft to create such an amazing image. Here she explains what went into this tranquil shot.