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Review: BenQ SW2700PT Monitor for Photographers
It's a well-known fact that photographers want their photos to look good. After creating the images in-camera, a large portion of the work is done on a computer. This is where we use software to adjust the colors, tones, and finalize the images to our own style, but the display we use to preview our work...
September 20, 2016
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Hands On with the Fujifilm X-T2
I am a very big fan of the Fujifilm X Series cameras and lenses, and so when they announced the Fujifilm X-T2 I pre-ordered almost immediately. I have been using two X-T1 cameras for a few years now, and just love everything about it. The new X-T2 packs a lot of features that I...
September 9, 2016
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Free Lightroom Preset Pack: Nicolesy Matte
Please enjoy this free Adobe® Lightroom® preset pack! This pack includes 8 presets and is also compatible with Lightroom 4/5/6/CC.
August 31, 2016
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New Release! Lightroom: Two Minute Tips
I have been using Lightroom ever since it was first released in 2007. Most of what I know is through self-taught trial-and-error, but I also often peruse the Internet from time-to-time to improve my skills. While I consider myself an expert with this software there are always new bits of knowledge that can be...
August 16, 2016
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Creating a Double Exposure in ON1 Photo 10 [Video]
Learn more about masking in ON1 Photo — CLICK HERE
I have recently become infatuated with creating double-exposures, and they are not as difficult to make as they look! Using layers,...
July 22, 2016
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The Socorro Islands
Just a few weeks ago I was diving with giant manta rays, sharks, and even a few dolphins and schools of fish. It was an incredible experience, and after this diving trip I am seriously ruined for diving. The seas were clear, blue, and the life in the ocean was amazing. It was only my second diving...
June 27, 2016
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Free Lightroom Preset: Summer Breeze
I was in the mood to make something, and so I created this clean, simple Lightroom preset and I'm giving away here on my blog! This brand-new free preset will add a touch of warmth and contrast to your images, a perfect effect for a breezy, warm Summer day. Compatible with Lightroom 4/5/6/CC.
June 21, 2016
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The Numbers Game
In the past ten years social media has blossomed, grown, and turned into a gold-rush of opportunity. People from all communities have raced to the top of sites such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube ... the list goes on and on
June 20, 2016
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The Angels of the Sea
I am on my way home after spending ten days aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie on a diving trip to the Socorro Islands in Mexico. I signed up for this trip with the expectations of seeing large fish up-close and hopefully coming home with some good photographs to show for it, but did not...
June 18, 2016
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Under the Sea
When I was little, one of my early career choices was that I wanted to be a marine biologist. I was fascinated with sharks, admired Jaques Cousteau, and even seeing the ocean was on my childhood bucket list. When I discovered photography in my late teens, I used to dream of owning a Nikonos underwater camera...
May 16, 2016
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Dog Walking For the Soul
Some classic ramblings about work, life, and business. Plus an adorable photo of my pups playing in the park!
March 24, 2016
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Build Your Brand
When I look back on how I have built my business and where it is today, I have very few regrets. There were many roads, back alleys, and pit-stops on the path from where I started (nearly ten years ago) to where I am right now. I've had support in the form of mentorship and partnerships with...
February 1, 2016
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Waterfalls & Waves
It's no coincidence that I live in the Pacific Northwest. I moved out here for two reasons: the photographic opportunities, and the cool, rainy weather. The plethora of waterfalls in and around the Columbia River Gorge mean I always have a beautiful subject to photograph, along with a nice, long coastline, which is only...
December 16, 2015
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What's In My Bag: Italy
I am on the tail-end of a two week trip to Venice, Cinque Terre, and Florence, and wanted to share the gear I brought along with me (and actually used) on my trip. In past travels, I tended to work primarily with two zoom lenses: a 24-70mm and 70-200mm (or their crop-frame equivalents). For this...
November 14, 2015
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Departure
This past week I was in Venice, Italy, with Brian and three other amazing photographers. I attended David DuChemin's "portfolio series" workshop, where the goal is to come away from the trip with a cohesive body of work. As an educator myself, I feel it is important to find the right mentor, especially when it comes...
November 8, 2015
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Photographing Mount Rainier with the Fuji X-T1
A few weeks ago I decided to take a short trip to Mount Rainier. The last time I was in the park was in 2012, but now that I live about three hours away I hope to make it a more regular getaway spot. When going on a "landscape photography" trip I would typically bring my Canon gear....
September 12, 2015
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Embracing Your Competition
If you are in business, especially if you are self-employed, odds are that you aren't the only person trying to make money in your field of work. Whether you are a wedding photographer or provide professional photo editing services, odds are that your job is not "cookie cutter". You create something special for your...
September 8, 2015
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#StayOutThere Wrap-Up and Giveaway Winner
The 10-Day #StayOutThere Challenge is over, and I have to say I had a lot of fun watching all of your entries pour through. I've posted some of my favorites at the bottom of this post.
This challenge was just a start ... it's even encouraged me to get out with my camera more. The...
September 4, 2015
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The Guilty Photographer
We have all lived this moment in our lives. When the dust starts to settle on your camera, or you haven't unpacked your gear from that photo-shoot you did one month ago. And don't think the "pros" are immune to these feelings of inadequacy. Being a professional photographer does not mean photographing every day of our lives....
September 4, 2015
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Are Female Photographers Underrepresented?
My husband, Brian Matiash, and I are both full-time self-employed photographers (or, to be more accurate, photo-educators). Yet we have completely separate businesses, separate websites, and we do a lot of our own individual travel
August 26, 2015
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Reflection Lake at Mount Rainier National Park
As I write this, I'm sitting in my hotel room, plotting my sunset adventure for my last night in Mount Rainier National Park. I've been here a few times already, the first back in 2009 (before I was into landscape photography, go figure!), and then again three years ago (in 2012). I was hoping to get...
August 19, 2015
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Three Days With a Sony Mirroless Camera
A few months back I was invited by Sony to attend an influencer event in San Diego, where I had an opportunity to use some of their mirrorless cameras and lenses. I have been using Canon for years, and the increasing weight of my camera gear makes me want to eventually switch over to mirrorless, so it was great to get...
July 24, 2015
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Food Photography: Back, Side, and Front Light
The direction of your light is incredibly important when photographing food. Certain angles of light will help shape the scene and can also be the difference between a successful image, and one that is just "meh". In this article I will be sharing examples of three different types of light: back light, front light,...
July 20, 2015
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Don't Let Them Crush You
Photographers are a fickle bunch. In many ways, we can be supportive, kind, and well-intentioned towards other photographers. I like to think that we all want to help others succeed and enjoy themselves, but unfortunately, not everyone has the same approach. Photographers are competitive. I totally get it. And very few will say what they really are...
June 29, 2015
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Ten
This month marks my blog's tenth anniversary. I started out slow, with no purpose other than to share photos and my experiences. Who knew it would grow to what it has become! ...
June 28, 2015
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Improve Your Landscape Photographs with These Ten Tips
Landscape photography is a huge passion for many photographers, myself included. The enjoyment I get when photographing landscapes stems from the desire to be in a beautiful location, and also to come home with an image that I would gladly hang on my wall. There is definitely an art to photographing landscapes, so here are some tips I...
May 20, 2015
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The Return to Gorton Creek
This past weekend I went to Gorton Creek with an awesome group of photographer friends. Nick Wrzesinski, the amazing bearded man from SmugMug, was in town, so we treated him to an exceptional outing of moss, waterfalls, and some pretty decent (and death-defying) hiking
April 29, 2015
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A Tree in the Forest
Sometimes I feel like I am a photo-hoarder. I travel, create photographs, and then they just sit and collect virtual dust in my Lightroom catalog. It's sort of like the old saying:
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
April 25, 2015
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Lightroom: Importing and Backing Up While Traveling
When I travel, especially to parts of the world where I know I am creating photographs I don’t want to lose, I try to store my photos in two to three different locations. After all, I am usually traveling because of photography
April 21, 2015
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Listen To Your Gut
I have a personal rule I follow when I travel, especially when I'm in Asia: I get an early start. Sure, I have my moments when I need to sleep in, but it's just after sunrise when things are at their best
April 12, 2015
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