Sunday, January 12, 2025

What can be done with your iPhone camera

I wouldn’t trade my camera for an iPhone, even though I use my iPhone occasionally. The image quality from a DSLR or mirrorless camera is unmatched. That said, if your iPhone is all you have with you, don’t hesitate to use it. For inspiration, here’s someone (Michael Shl) who has traveled to over 40 countries, capturing incredible photos with whatever version of the iPhone he owned at the time.

Mystical Rainforest Stream
Picture by Michael Shl.

 


Saturday, January 11, 2025

The World Sports Photography Awards

Are you curious to see how the winning photos from the World Photography Awards look? Click here—you’ll be left speechless!



Friday, January 10, 2025

Newborn Baby Photography

While I’m primarily a wildlife photographer, I also enjoy doing event photography, including public events, birthdays, and sports. For these occasions, I adopt a casual style, capturing what most would consider candid moments. My subjects aren’t posed; they’re simply going about their lives, and I’m there as a witness, preserving those authentic moments.

I love this approach because it feels natural, and I dislike asking people—especially kids—to pose. More often than not, they end up standing stiffly in what I call the "penguin pose," accompanied by a forced, "Terminator-style" smile.

However, there’s one type of photography that intimidates me: newborn baby photography. While I’ve taken pictures of my grandsons when they were little, those were more personal than professional.

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To me, newborn baby photography requires an immense amount of patience and a nurturing touch that I feel is often best exemplified by women. This video beautifully illustrates what I mean.


 

Thursday, January 9, 2025

To be always ready

I can’t overstate the importance of always being ready as a wildlife photographer. The BBC recently published an article that perfectly illustrates what I mean.

Just the other day, I was at a local park with a lake when an otter suddenly emerged from the bushes, sprinting toward the water. By the time I raised my camera and attempted to take a photo, it was too late. The otter had disappeared into tall grass, and the camera couldn’t lock focus. I had missed the brief moment when it ran across the shorter grass, clearly visible.

It felt like I’d lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph one of the most graceful animals I’ve ever encountered.

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Spot were I lost view of the otter.


Wednesday, January 8, 2025

The Best States for Photographers

Florida is not in that list. The Sunshine State is too flat and after a while the landscape becomes repetitive, it's either beaches or wetlands. 

According to the list published by AOL, the best state for photographers is Hawaii. 

"It’s no wonder why photographs of Hawaii sell worldwide. It’s a beautiful place that absolutely sparkles in pictures. That must be why the average annual salary for a photographer in Hawaii is $91.277. The revenue potential for photographers is said to be $155,112."
Photographers' salaries in Florida vary based on experience, specialization, and location. According to Indeed, the average hourly wage for photographers in Florida is $21.14. This equates to an annual salary of approximately $44,000, assuming full-time employment. SalaryExpert reports a higher average annual salary of $60,864, with entry-level positions starting around $44,457 and senior-level roles reaching up to $74,488.

Panama City ($89,000) and Fort Lauderdale ($57,000) offer higher average pay rates for photographers compared to other Florida cities. These two cities are famous for their beaches.

Specializations can also impact earnings. For instance, the average salary for a wedding photographer in Florida is $63,028, with a typical range between $55,394 and $73,027.

It's important to note that these figures are averages and can vary based on factors such as experience, location within the state, and the specific type of photography work.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Godox is releasing 3 new flashes

According to a recent article on PetaPixel, Godox is set to release three new compact and affordable flashes.

While I haven’t tested these new flashes yet, I’ll admit I’ve fallen into the trap of buying compact flashes in the past. Although they’re better than having no flash at all, their limited features and performance often leave much to be desired. To put it politely, the results have been far from impressive.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Dade's Battle Event

 Last Saturday I went to the Dade's Battle Event. This is a year re-enactment of this battle that happened in 1835 where the United State Army was ambushed and defeated by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.

The whole album can be checked at Flickr. Here are few pictures from the event.

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