September 2010 Free Desktop Calendar
September 2010 Free Desktop Calendar is ready for download. Enjoy!
Saying goodbye…..
We said goodbye yesterday to one of our best buds, our twelve year old newfie—Tess. Tess has been a member of our family for nearly twelve years and was probably one of the sweetest dogs you would have ever met.
Check Your Focus by Aaron Graham
Guest blogger Aaron Graham gives us his take on truly evaluating your photography and your process in order to continue improving your work. Where is your focus?
Keep Your Photo Portfolio with You at All Times
If you’re like me and work off one library that’s not always with you, then I suggest exporting our your best files (in my case my 5 star images) and keeping those with you on a portable hard drive or laptop.
Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots
I was contacted by Peachpit about writing a chapter on Black and White photography and composition for their upcoming book, “Compositions: From Snap Shots to Great Shots” I’m really excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the process. The book looks great, will be full of helpful information, and the best part is I get to have my own little chapter. If you’re interested in pre-ordering a copy then stop by the blog for more details.
Q&A Friday
It’s Q&A Friday. Check out today’s blog for answers to a few popular questions. Plus, if you have any questions you would like to submit just drop by the blog and leave me a comment.
Chasing Rainbows
Every once in a while I like to go against my own conventional wisdom. Today’s image was one of those times I decided that the light was more important than the color. I converted the image to black and white using Silver Efex Pro and then imported it back into Lightroom for further processing.
August 2010 Desktop Calendar
August 2010 Desktop Calendar is ready to be downloaded. Just head over to the blog and download your free calendar…;)
Q&A Friday from Yellowstone
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a Q&A Friday so today’s will be that day folks! But, before I start answering a few questions I just want to remind people that I really do enjoy answering questions so if you have any please feel free to drop by the blog or email me and I’ll do my best to add it to one of the future Q&A sessions.
A Photographer’s Interpretation
What I love about this art is our ability as photographers to interpret a moment. I realize creating an image is not simply a recording of events but a reflection of a photographer’s interpretation of events. These interpretations can be manipulated by our choice of color, dodging, burning, cloning etc.
Old Faithful Photowalk Was a Blast
The Old Faithful Photowalk was a total success. We had a great group, perfect weather, and an overall excellent time. Send me your questions for this week’s Q&A Friday, and remember I have one more spot available in the August Yellowstone Workshop.
Winner of the Black Rapid RS-W1…
Once again, I want to thank Outdoor Photo Gear for sponsoring me and providing me with the killer Black Rapid RS-W1 strap for our giveaway. Now for all of you who didn’t win…Chris at OPG has agreed to extend the special coupon code (JOHNB10OFF) for the remaining weekend ending this coming Monday evening.
Street Portrait–getting permission
Throughout the years I’ve had more than a handful of people ask me, “How do you go about asking someone if you can take their portrait?” I recognize not everyone is comfortable approaching a complete stranger with a camera in tow.
Win a new BlackRapid RS-W1 or RS-7 Strap (3 chances to win)
Outdoor Photo Gear (OPG) has agreed to become part of the Batdorff Photography sponsorship family. We’re kicking off the sponsorship by giving away one RS-W1 or RS-7 strap. You have three chances to win, so read today’s blog for more details.
Technology can inspire
I know it’s been said time and time again, it’s not the equipment that counts – it’s the visualization. I totally agree with that statement, but I’m also a strong believer that there are times that gear or technology can spark creativity or push us outside our comfort zone.
The Three Little Bears
First off let me say thanks for all the emails and comments about my True Americana post…it was much appreciated. We have two great Q&A questions today so check out today’s blog for more. If you have questions, or follow-up questions, please submit them, I’d love to answer them.
True Americana
Mason Jars filled with lemonade, cowboys walking the street, children scrambling to hug Smoky the Bear, and a rodeo to cap it all off. A photographer’s paradise…;)
Badlands–July Desktop Calendar
I arrived safe and sound at my Montana cabin after an amazing drive via Yellowstone’s east entrance where we were greeted by a total of five bears within a 20 mile stretch. It was quite spectacular and although I took a few photos, I really wasn’t prepared to spend a few hours waiting for the [...]
Heading to Montana–Yellowstone Workshop Update
Heading to Montana which is where I’ll call home for the next couple months. We still have a couple openings for the Yellowstone workshop, and I’d love to see you in Montana, so check out today’s blog to find out about the discount I’m offering!
My kid’s summer assignment
I’ll feature some guest columns from my reader’s children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc. (with parental permission of course). So if you think the kid in your life would like to be featured, email me the photos and the story when they are completed and I’ll let you know if he/she will be featured.
Friday Q&A–Digimarc Plug-in winner is….
It’s Q&A Friday so I’m going to get right to the questions. And at the end of today’s post I’ll announce the winner of the super cool Digimarc Professional watermarking plug-in. Q—Laura – Is it better to focus on one type of photography or to try to be more well-rounded? I personally love doing still [...]
Last Minute Father’s Day ideas for the photog Dad.
This is a quick post for all you last minute Father’s Day shoppers. The fact is I’m always a fan of the homemade gift, and as a matter of record, I prefer it over any other kind. Yet I realize not everyone has time to make a super duper hooked rug pillow - so I [...]
Kids in Focus
A few weeks back I had the opportunity to speak to a very small class of Chicago Public School kids about photography. What makes this class so special is that all of the students have varying backgrounds and abilities. Combine this with the fact that they are inner city school kids who don’t have every [...]
Win a free Digimarc Professional Watermarking plug-in
Digimarc is donating one free professional watermarking plug-in for me to giveaway. Just drop your name on today’s blog and on next week’s Q&A Friday I’ll be announcing the winner. The drawing will be random, so just stop by the blog and tell me to hook you up. How easy is that?
John is an award winning landscape and travel photographer who splits his time between Chicago and Montana. His work has been featured in National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole. John loves the outdoors and traveling, and sharing his images with others.