Travel

I recently returned from my scouting trip to Chicago for my upcoming photography workshop, and I couldn't be more excited about the images I captured and the locations we'll be photographing. One of the highlights of the trip was sharing the experience with my 19-year-old nephew, teaching him how to use my Sony camera and helping him learn the art of composition. We had a great time exploring the city together, revisiting some of my favorite locations while also discovering s

I have been fortunate to photograph many beautiful places in countries around the world, and one of the questions I get asked most often is, "How did you get that image?" I would love to say that great photographs simply present themselves as I walk around, but in reality, it takes a lot of planning, research, and patience to capture the images I envision. The planning begins the day I decide on a destination and who my traveling companions will be. Once I know where I am goi

Back in July, I completed one of the most challenging endeavors of my photographic career: applying for the American Society of Photographers Fellowship. To give you an idea of what this process entails, applicants must first complete a detailed application and meet a long list of requirements. In addition, you must write a minimum 2,000-word paper chronicling your life, growth as a photographer, and the journey that led to the creation of the 25 images submitted for review.

Some people love it, and some people hate it. What am I talking about? Las Vegas. I should know—I’ve been there many times over the past 16 years for conventions and while working at Photoshop World. Las Vegas offers plenty of opportunities for travel photographers within the city itself, beyond the occasional hangover or lack of sleep. However, what many people don't realize is that some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the American Southwest are just a few hour

When I hear the word "Tuscany," I immediately start dreaming about returning to the hilltop towns that dot the countryside, exploring winding roads, and searching for my next photograph. I think about the local people, the culture, and how I can create images that tell their stories. And, of course, I think about the incredible Italian food and the world-class wine that accompanies it. All of these thoughts come rushing back whenever I hear that one word: Tuscany. As photogra

I recently returned from attending a photography workshop in Buffalo, New York, hosted by my friend Mark Maio. The workshop takes place at Silo City and is one of the most unique photographic experiences you can find. Participants have access to six acres and more than a million square feet of silos, flour mills, and support buildings. Many of these structures have been abandoned for years—and in some cases, decades—creating incredible opportunities for HDR photography and li

If I told you I was traveling to Prague to photograph the city, you would probably assume I planned to photograph its historic buildings, churches, and landmarks, and you would be right. However, I also had another location on my list: Prague's subway system. While researching places to photograph before my trip, I came across images of the subway stations and was immediately intrigued. Their clean lines, bold colors, and graphic design inspired me to spend an evening riding

I have taught at the PPC West Coast School of Photography in San Diego for the past several years. One of the locations I take my students to photograph is the iconic library on the University of California San Diego campus. This remarkable building is a landmark of modern architecture and is named after Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Over the years, I have photographed the library many times, capturing its unique angles and architectural details. However, I

Whenever I travel for a speaking engagement, I try to make time to photograph something unique in the area. This time, I was in New York attending Photo Plus Expo and was told about the J.P. Morgan Library and how incredible it was. As soon as I heard about it, I knew I had to photograph it. The interesting thing is that this is actually J.P. Morgan's private office and library. When you arrive, you're greeted by a modern building, and your first thought is, "This can't be th

My wife and I decided to spend a couple of days in wine country, and I couldn't think of a better place than the Burgundy region of France. Home to some of the finest wines in the world, Burgundy was especially appealing because it was harvest season—a perfect opportunity for photography. One afternoon, we rented bicycles and set out to explore the vineyards. For the first mile or so, the ride was easy, but then we reached the hills. Living in Florida, where hills are practic

I was in New York City last week for Photo Plus Expo and was invited to the Adobe party, and had a great opportunity to photograph St. Patrick's Cathedral. My buddy, Rob Sylvan, and I had decided to go to the Oculus and photograph it after the party. We had brought our tripods and camera gear with us, not knowing that we were on a rooftop deck overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral. We were sure glad we had our gear as most of the other partygoers did not bring their cameras or

I get asked a lot about my switch from DSLR to my mirrorless Sony a7r II camera and how that it has worked for an architectural photography. It has been a move that I don’t regret and has not been as painful as I thought it would have been. Let’s start with why I made the change in the first place. Number one: The dynamic range of the Sony a7r II is incredible, it has been so good that I find I don’t do HDR photography for my architectural images nearly as much. When processi