Jim Nix 11/27/19 Jim Nix 11/27/19

Black Friday offers!

Check out 3 amazing BLACK FRIDAY deals! Enjoy!

Happy Black Friday!

Everyone loves a good deal, and Black Friday is probably the most popular day of the year to get one. So, here are 3 deals that I think are pretty awesome. Check them out and have fun editing your images!

1) Luminar: get it here: https://bit.ly/2Ojmqvr

The Black Friday Offer will be available from November 27 through December 2.

Skylum is offering 3 bundles:

• Bundle #1 (US$79) – Luminar 4 + 2 bonuses of your choice

• Bundle #2 (US$99) – Luminar 4 + 5 bonuses of your choice

• Bundle #3 (US$129) – Luminar 4 + All bonuses

List of bonuses:

• PDF Expert – $80 value

• 2 Look Packs (Skylum) with free presets – US$50 value

• Rocky Nook free book of your choice – US$44.99 value

• Clipchamp 3-month subscription to the Create account – US$30 value

• Xpozer discount – US$75 value

• ViewBug 1-year Pro plan – US$118 value

• Envira Gallery Basic plan + 30% off other plans – US$29 value + up to US$90 discount

2) Topaz Labs - get it here: https://bit.ly/33tnnXG

The Black Friday Offer will be available from November 27 through December 2.

The Black Friday Bundle will include the AI Suite (Adjust AI, DeNoise AI, Gigapixel AI, JPEG to RAW AI, Mask AI, and Sharpen AI) as well as Studio 2 for just $299. That's over 50% off! This is the only sale we will be running.

Users will only pay for what they don't own. If you own one or more of the Topaz AI Products or Topaz Studio 2, your bundle price will be even lower.

3) Matt Suess Sky Replacement Pack - get it here: https://bit.ly/2OtcmzW

This is an AMAZING sky replacement pack with 400 skies in it. You can use these in Luminar, Topaz, On1, Photoshop and more. I have been using them in Luminar 4 with the new AI sky replacement filter and they work great! Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a wonderful holiday season my friends!

Jim Nix 2/9/17 Jim Nix 2/9/17

Nashville neon

Getting up early when in Nashville is well worth it. You get to enjoy the busiest part of town all by yourself, and no one gets in your photos! :-)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Jim Nix 10/23/16 Jim Nix 10/23/16

There's Nothing Left to Shoot

Some thoughts on trying to be original in a world where everybody has a camera, everybody is a photographer, and everything has already been photographed.

Do you ever feel like there is nothing left to shoot? You know the drill. You’ve already shot all over your hometown, and you are casting about for other ideas that aren’t too far away, so you can hop in the car and shoot something new. (We always want something new to shoot, don’t we?). So you come up with an idea of something nearby, and Google it, only to find some fabulous photo that has already been taken of the place (or more likely, several photos) - and likely by someone you haven’t ever heard of (even though they are local).

Or here’s another one - and this feels even worse. You and the family decide on a big vacation somewhere new, and you are fired up and ready to get some photographs of something far away and exotic, something new and exciting, something foreign and unique. So once again, you turn to your friend Google, and start researching the things you want to see and do when you get there.

And what do you find? A multitude of amazing photos of the place, already taken and shared by countless others. We recently returned from a 6 week trip to Italy, which was amazing, but I felt like I was often shooting the same thing that has been shot a thousand times before.

It gets frustrating, doesn’t it? It seems like you can never be the first one somewhere, or be the one to capture the “defining” shot of a place, even if you end up capturing an amazing photo from there. You can’t exactly control the weather so that stunning sunset you are hoping for might end up being just another unfulfilled wish, and you likely don’t have time to return to that same spot again and again, in hopes of that sunset you dreamed of actually coming together for you.

You are not alone in feeling this way - I suspect we all have those moments when we just want to scream. These days there are fairly low barriers to entry in this world of photography, and a lot of creative minds in the world, and some amazing tools, and thus a lot of fantastic pictures that are already taken of all these awesome places. It happens.

Now, of course you didn’t expect to the first one to get a great shot of whichever place you are heading to, but you also didn’t expect to find SO MANY EXCELLENT photos that already exist of it, did you?

Sometimes, it feels like there is nothing left to shoot. I know I feel that way occasionally. I just spent 6 weeks feeling that way, every single day. It’s almost depressing.

But, I have decided that I don’t care that I will never be the first one somewhere or that I will not be the one to take the defining shot of a place. I have realized that luckily there are some ways to resolve this conundrum, and it’s not just to lower your expectations (that works, of course - though I don’t recommend it). It’s about finding and following your inner vision and getting creative on site. It's about breaking free of any artificial restraints you may have imposed on yourself and just doing what makes you happy. Isn't that what this should be about anyway?

So how do you do that?

Well, there are probably a million books and articles that can give you way better advice about this than I can (see, someone has already done that, too!). But here are some things I try to do either onsite or in the digital darkroom to get creative and (hopefully) end up with photos that I am both proud of and that (hopefully) have a chance of being at least a little bit different than those that came before me. While there is nothing wrong with photographing something that has already been photographed (and photographing it in the same way - happens to me constantly), it sure feels good when you come up with something fairly original.

Here are 7 tips I try to employ in my photography to help me get creative in the field.

Am I succeeding in implementing them? Maybe. Sometimes. There are times I am well aware of being stuck in my old habits, and so I force myself to make some changes to get creative - but I don’t alway succeed. Art is tough, and being original is really tough. Being consistently creative and original is nearly impossible. We are creatures of habit. Such is the human condition, I guess. :-)

So like everyone else, I am trying. Some days are better than others, but getting out with the camera and giving it a go is always a good start.

1) Change your perspective

I shoot in landscape mode ALL THE TIME. You may not notice, since it’s generally the “standard” view of things, but I often find that when I switch it up and turn the camera into portrait orientation, something interesting happens - the image looks very different. This is a minor shift, physically, but a bigger one mentally. It really does impact the outcome of the shot, and it’s something I keep telling myself (and reminding myself) to try when I am out in the field.

Interestingly, I find that with my iPhone I shoot in portrait orientation a whole lot more. Perhaps that’s because that is my natural state for holding the phone, or maybe it’s something else. But I am working to get more shots with my real camera in portrait orientation. I like the look of those shots - I just have to remind myself to change it up. In the above examples, I used my Sony camera in Portrait orientation and I really liked the framing and the outcome. Usually I hold the camera horizontally, so switching to portrait orientation for these shots really helped isolate the subjects here. Of course I started shooting that Venetian sunset in landscape mode, capturing the grandeur of the scene, but I found that isolating the bell tower worked better for me.

2) Change your lenses (or your camera)

An iPhone image from Piazza Navona in Rome

I suspect we are all guilty of this at times. We find a lens that just “feels right”, or that offers a focal length (or zoom capability) that just really appeals to us in some way, so we stick with it again and again. I do this a lot. I went through a period of a couple of years where I shot everything with a wide angle lens. I was completely addicted. I’ve been able to break that addiction (thankfully), and now find myself using my mid-range zoom (a 24-70mm on my Sony A7II) more often, since it’s much more flexible in terms of focal length and I get a better variety of shots from it.

I am also getting out a lot more with my prime lens, the 28mm f/2. Since it’s a prime, it causes me to move a lot with my feet to frame the shot, which helps me look at things in different ways. I love that about the prime lens, since it makes me think more when I am out shooting, and that’s really what it’s all about.

But don't forget about your phone! I use my iPhone all the time, and often find that many of my iPhone shots from a trip are my favorites. I took a gazillion iPhone shots in Italy. I was shooting with it constantly, and I think I captured some nice photos with it. I also have a small point and shoot that I was toting around, and I fired away with that one, too. Using three cameras really caused me to mix things up quite a bit, and I think it resulted in more diversity in my shots, too.

So I am not suggesting that you go buy a new/extra camera, but do take advantage of that amazing piece of equipment in your pocket, at the very least. You might just get some seriously good shots out of it. Plus, I always find that I take a different type of shot with my iPhone or my point and shoot. Something about changing gear seems to change my approach to the shot, too.

But whatever your habit or addiction is, try and break it, at least at times. You may find that you are creating new and interesting shots that you hadn’t thought of previously.

Another iPhone shot - this one of some street art in Florence.  I never shoot these subjects with my Sony, but frequently yank out my iPhone and start firing away. — Another iPhone shot - this one of some street art in Florence. I never shoot these subjects with my Sony, but frequently yank out my iPhone and start firing away.

3) Change your subjects

A vendor at the Rialto Market in Venice - totally different subject for me!

This is another hard one. I definitely have my favorite subjects. Namely, I love to shoot landscapes and cityscapes and architecture, with some graffiti and neon signs thrown in for fun. My eyes are naturally drawn to these subjects and I shoot them a LOT. In fact, that’s nearly everything that I shoot.

But I really need to mix it up and force myself to do things that I am not comfortable with, because it’s how you learn. This is probably the biggest one for me. I guess I’m really set in my ways, but I’m trying. It’s hard to break habits that you have accumulated over many years, but I find that when I do so, and succeed in capturing something new, it’s really rewarding.

On this trip in Italy, I tried some street photography as well as some more random shots that include locals. I find you really have to look harder to find things you aren’t naturally drawn to, but it is quite fun and certainly makes you think a lot. If nothing else, it's a great creative exercise and that always helps me expand my photographic experience base.

A vendor in the San Lorenzo Market in Florence.  Sort of a slice of daily life type of shot.  Different for me but fun nonetheless. — A vendor in the San Lorenzo Market in Florence. Sort of a slice of daily life type of shot. Different for me but fun nonetheless.

4) Change your processing

Something a bit different for me - heavy use of texture and major color shifts.

This one is not really that hard to do, but it’s really hard to get started (at least for me). I feel like our processing styles are ingrained in us a bit from years of practice and experience (and the weight of years of habit, likely), and so when I am ready to process something, I just start processing it in the same old tools, and the same old way. But it’s easy to make a shift here.

In fact, I completely changed my workflow when I adopted Aurora HDR from Macphun. It’s a wonderful tool and I am glad that I am now using it, both for HDR and single exposures. Previously I just went into auto-pilot with my other tools and became almost robotic about it.

But when it comes to processing, being robotic is not a good thing.

I need to be experimental and creative - it helps drive me forward - and Aurora is helping me explore new techniques (such as applying textures to photos). But this isn’t about getting you to use Aurora (although I highly recommend it - and you can download a free trial here). It’s about trying new tools, or new tricks in existing tools.

You see, this doesn’t mean you have to go buy more software. You can completely change the way you process images in whatever software you have. Just take the time to learn a new technique, or experiment and see what happens. Try new presets or filters. Click on something you have never clicked on before. You might find something amazing.

Try split toning. Convert a photo to black and white. Apply a texture. There are a million things you can experiment with, all pretty easily. I have been a "big color" sort of photographer for many years, but I am really loving the pure simple joy of a monochrome photo, and have been converting more and more of my shots to black and white. It's been a great creative outlet and one I continue to explore.

The bottom line is that there are many paths you can take on any photo, so try and be cognizant of what you habitually do, and stop yourself before you just do the same thing again and again. Try something new and you will be surprised how it alters your approach the next time.

The Vatican at Night - although I loved the color version, something about this in monochrome just really looked great.

5) Get up close/Fill the frame

A zoomed-in shot of Riomaggiore in Italy.  Different but I found it interesting. — A zoomed-in shot of Riomaggiore in Italy. Different but I found it interesting.

As I mentioned earlier, I used to be addicted to my wide angle lens. While it’s something that I love to shoot with, it’s not the only arrow in the quiver, so to speak. The thing I loved about the wide angle was that you could just get so much in the frame, at least from left to right. What I often found was that you also end up with a lot of empty space at the top, since the view is so wide.

These days I err more on the side of trying to fill the frame, which is likely a tip you’ve heard before. I think it’s a good one. There is absolutely nothing wrong with negative space (and sometimes it makes the image), but just don’t forget that you can go the other direction and get MORE in the photo, which could make it more impactful.

While I think you want to be careful that you don’t create an image that’s too busy, I think getting in closer allows you to really see something in a different light. Instead of an item being a small part of a wide angle shot, it can be the subject of a closer shot and really make an image pop.

I used the gondolas to anchor the foreground while still keeping focus through the entire image and including that lovely Venetian architecture in the background.  A full frame but a beautiful one to my eyes. — I used the gondolas to anchor the foreground while still keeping focus through the entire image and including that lovely Venetian architecture in the background. A full frame but a beautiful one to my eyes.

6) Go minimal

I only shot with my iPhone in this market, and came away with some shots that I really like.

When traveling, we all pack our gear - even stuff we rarely use - just in case. Am I right? I have done many trips where I barely use a lens, for example, and it probably wasn’t worth even bringing it along. It was there “just in case”. What if I need it?

Well, I have also done some trips (and not just local outings - I’m talking about getting on an airplane and flying off somewhere distant) with just a single lens. Yes, one lens. It’s very hard to convince myself to do that, but I have to admit that it has worked out just fine EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I have captured shots that I am proud of and that I genuinely like. (I have also done trips with just my iPhone - talk about feeling free!)

This exercise in minimalism is a great way to force yourself to think differently. You HAVE to get creative because you don’t have the safety net of other tools to lean on. It’s also incredibly freeing. I love to travel light - always have - and having just my camera with one lens (and no tripod, even!) has caused me to look at things differently, and while I frequently shoot things I would shoot with other gear, I have also shot new things, which is exactly the point.

I had several outings in Italy with just my iPhone, or just my Sony camera with no tripod, or just my small point & shoot camera. I feel free when I travel light, and I feel more willing to get experimental for some reason. Perhaps not being burdened with a large, heavy backpack is the reason, almost like you are a part of the scene and not just an observer there to document it. You feel like you can get deeper into it, since you aren't setting up a tripod and bumping into people. You can be quick and stealthy, and it's just plain fun. Plus your back doesn't hurt at the end of the day. ;-)

An iPhone shot from one evening in Florence.  Even with a phone I was able to capture images that I like. — An iPhone shot from one evening in Florence. Even with a phone I was able to capture images that I like.

7) Change your expectations

Ah yes, expectations. We all have them. We all want them to be exceeded, don’t we? I dream of a magical sunset happening every night on every single trip and I visualize it happening, but that doesn’t mean Mother Nature is going to cooperate. I mentioned earlier that you can just lower your expectations, but that just feels like you are handing over the keys to fate and letting things happen, doesn’t it? It feels like a letdown. It feels like you are giving up.

I don’t think any of us want to do that. We want to take the wheel and drive it ourselves.

But I try to go into any trip with limited expectations. I hope for the best, but let’s be honest - hope is about all we can do, since we can’t control the weather.

However, we can work around the weather, dealing with issues like rain by shooting inside (many museums are camera-friendly, and architecturally-gorgeous), or dealing with crowds by shooting in off-hours (sunrise is the best for that) or by zooming in for detailed shots of a location. Or maybe we change up our subject matter and decide to create completely different photos of a place than we originally planned.

We just have to take a different approach. I don’t think of it as lowering my expectations as much as it is adjusting my expectations. I allow my expectations to be fluid. Don’t expect too much, but know that you can deal with any obstacle and find a way to get creative onsite so that you still get the shots you envisioned prior to arrival (and hopefully, many that you did not envision!).

Summary

So that’s it my friends. It’s easy to feel like you are the last one to see some famous landmark, and thus the last one to put your own creative stamp on an image of it. And while many may have come before you (and many will come after you), that doesn’t have to stop you from getting an interesting and creative photo of something. Sure, it may not be the first great photo of a place, but really, does it matter?

I think what matters is that you went out and created an image that means something to you. An image that you like. An image that you will cherish.

And for the record, I absolutely advocate that you take a shot of that famous landmark wherever you are, even though there are already a million shots of it. Who cares? You still need your own shot of it, don’t you? I shoot all the same stuff that everyone else shoots, though I try and get creative using the tips above, and I seek out other less-well-known spots in the places I visit, too.

Mix it up. Experiment. Get creative. Do something "weird". Who cares? This is art, and it is meant to be experimental.

These are tips I try to use on each outing, just to get me out of my comfort zone and into the creative zone. Sometimes it works, and admittedly, sometimes it doesn’t. But when I make the effort to change things up, I always feel better about it.

Creativity is its own reward. Get out there and create my friends! Thanks for stopping by!

Jim Nix 7/28/16 Jim Nix 7/28/16

100 completely random observations about photography

I spend a lot of time thinking about photography, and sometimes I write these thoughts down. Usually it's in a coherent (at least to me) form with a clear purpose, but not this time. This is all just off-the-top-of-my-head, so consider that fair warning. ;-)

Here's a bunch of random thoughts, loosely tied together by photography, written down hastily in a stream of consciousness format. And no, I'm not sure why I did this either. :-)

I started writing up this list for no apparent reason, and I just kept going and going. I guess that I have a lot of stuff in my head, and honestly, there’s not anywhere else to really dump it all. So, lucky you?

Though I have several photography friends here in Austin, I really don’t see them very often, so I don’t get a chance to discuss this stuff, and why bother? It’s pretty much a bunch of odd ramblings, which don’t really make for interesting conversation.

A lot of this is just my opinions, so don’t read too much into it. This is just me commenting on my photography, the photography market, gear, software, life and more. I decided I might as well share it before I change my mind and decide not to share it, because I do that a lot (see #62 below).

Agree? Disagree? Feel the same? Let me know in the comments.

Whether it’s work or play, photography is an absolute joy.
I’m often concerned that my photos aren’t “good enough”.
Sony makes a damn fine camera, and I am happy to have one.
I spend so much time on my computer, and not enough time in nature. I get excited when I am out shooting, almost giddy. It’s way better than being on the computer, even though I absolutely love to process photos.
Sunset is probably the most popular time of day to shoot. Being a bit introverted, I prefer sunrise so I can be alone.
I love to travel.
Lightroom is totally kick ass. The first time I moved the Clarity slider I was hooked.
I can’t believe I stuck with Aperture for as long as I did.
I hear great things about the Fuji mirrorless cameras, but I have no plans to change.
I don’t shoot with my iPhone as much as I used to. The quality is only fair, and the noise in iPhone shots really bugs me - but you can’t beat the convenience for a quick snap.
HDR is ugly to some people but I don’t care. Sometimes I overcook my HDR shots but I don’t care.
More photographers use HDR or HDR-like techniques than most people probably realize.
I think of photography as art, not journalism, so I like to craft my images based on how the place felt to me, as opposed to how it may have looked.
I am often torn between creating more photographs, and creating better photographs. I see a HUGE benefit in both, and after all these years I am still not sure which direction I lean.
Photoshop feels like a big mess and I rarely use it. I feel like I am “supposed” to be a Photoshop guy though.
I use Aurora HDR on just about every single photograph, even iPhone shots and single exposures. I think it’s by far the most capable product out there. I call it “the magic shop”. It totally feels like I am doing magic in there, and I love that.
It’s incredibly hard to draw attention to your photographs. There is just SO MUCH great photography on the web these days.
Metering still seems like a strange word and strange concept to me at times. I don’t know why, because I feel like I understand it, but still. Maybe it’s just the word that feels weird.
Long exposures are cool. Really long exposures are really cool.
I sometimes wonder if I should try street photography.
I’ve been serious about photography for roughly 6 years - whatever “serious” means.
I wish I had started younger.
I never was into film photography so my whole photographic life has been digital. Many folks seem to pick up film and experiment with it now, but I’m not interested. There’s nothing wrong it, I just don’t feel like I have enough time to try something else when there are still a million other things I want to do.
I really want to try some composite work someday, but I haven’t had the time for that either.
I put pressure on myself with deadlines to get things done, yet this is art. I should slow down sometimes because I always feel like I am hurrying.
I only started messing around with textures when I started using Aurora HDR, but I love them now and have started “collecting” my own.
In my Lightroom library, I create folders based on location, not year/date like most people. That makes sense to me, because I don't really care about dates. When I need to find a photo, it's a photo taken in a certain place, not on a certain date.
I still use Flickr everyday.
Social media is a huge time suck but I don’t see how you get by without it as a photographer. Though I must admit there are aspects of it that I like, and chief among them is connecting with photographers from around the globe.
Having a blog is like a full time job that pays much less than minimum wage. It’s totally worth it to me though because I love to create and write, and I can do whatever I want to do with it because it’s all mine.
I have totally gotten hooked on creating videos for YouTube.
I get decent blog traffic from Pinterest although I spend very little time there. I should pin more stuff, but there are always others things I find myself doing.
I keep notes on my iPhone about things I want to write about on the blog or create videos about, or even eBooks that I want to author. I read those notes and add to them all the time. I always have a huge to-do list for my photography, but that’s fine with me. I'm never bored or lacking in ideas, which is a blessing.
I ignored black and white photography for so long, but now I kind of like it. Tonality from Macphun is the reason I am converting some of my shots to monochrome now - that’s a great product.
Grungy old stuff is fun to shoot, and processing those shots in HDR is fun as hell.
I have only taken a few portraits in my entire life, outside of family gatherings. They were ok but not really that great. I could never do that for a living. I would be bored to death, plus I would starve because I suck at it and no one would hire me.
I’m so glad that I learned about split toning - it’s one of my favorite techniques.
I used to shoot an Olympus EM-1 and my favorite lens was a tiny little Panasonic/Leica 15mm f/1.7 prime. It was perfect for handheld shots in low light, and since I love to travel light, it was perfect for me. Though I loved it at the time, I don’t really miss my Olympus camera, but I miss that little lens. Since converting to Sony, I picked up their 28mm f/2 and it’s nearly the same thing, so I am happy about that.
It seems like everyone gets the “Photo of the Week” award on Pixoto. I’ve never been to that site, but these things are always shared on Facebook. It’s kind of annoying, because when someone wins it appears to auto-post onto Facebook but it never shows the photo. What’s the point? Does the “Photo of the Week” award give you anything beside a nice feeling?
Is Leica really THAT good, because they sure are expensive?
Sometimes I am too lazy to get out the tripod so I shoot handheld, even in lower light - and I still shoot brackets. Occasionally this works out fine, but I get my share of blurry crap too, and then I chide myself for being lazy.
I always feel better after shooting, even if the shots aren’t very good. There’s something about going out with the intent to create that is just so satisfying.
I have a weird love of graffiti and neon signs, and get a huge kick out of photographing them, especially when I travel. No one is ever interested in these types of photos though, but I will always take them because I just love them.
I have had an iPhone shot published once before. Isn’t that kind of weird?
I dropped a lens cap in a canal in Amsterdam.
Someone asked me to shoot a wedding but I declined. I am completely afraid of something like that. I feel like I would end up being one of those “you get what you pay for” type of stories on PetaPixel or somewhere like that. I fear it would have been a disaster, because the one thing I almost never shoot is people and I generally suck at it.
It seems like every photographer has been to Iceland and/or New Zealand, except for me.
If I had to pick one part of the world to live in and photograph, it would likely be Europe.
If I had to pick one part of the US to live in and photograph, it would likely be the Pacific Northwest (and more specifically, Oregon) - although my favorite US city is San Francisco.
I’m having fun writing up this list. It's almost therapeutic.
There are two photographers that I admire a LOT - and I won’t name them - but they are so freakin’ talented it’s amazing. Yet, they are totally different. That makes me wonder about my own style. Do I lean towards one or the other? Does it matter, really?
I haven’t yet figured out what I want to be known as in photographic terms. You know, like “what kind of photographer” I am, or what my style is, if I have one. I think this is a lifelong process of discovery. Hopefully I look back some years hence and I have left something of meaning.
I don’t have a favorite photography blog that I read very often, but there are some great ones out there, depending on what you are interested in. But feel free to let me know if you have a favorite, because I love to read this stuff.
Maybe I should get a drone.
I’m not even remotely interested in the technical bits of photography or camera gear. I just want to make and use “nice stuff” and not get into the weeds.
I could never do a 365 project. It feels like too much work.
I usually edit quite a few photos at a time, and often won’t be back in my library to edit again for several days or longer. I actually enjoy these breaks.
There are some parts of Norway that look absolutely breath-taking, and I want to go shoot them.
I have about 3-4 eBooks that I want to write, one of which is about half done, but I haven’t been motivated to work on it lately, so it’s just sitting there.
Does anyone use Google Plus anymore? It was so great at the beginning but it feels like it just died.
I’ve begun to license photos with a couple of stock agencies. I declined these invites in years past, but I figured why not give it a go? Time will tell whether it works for me or not.
At any point in time, I have about 5 different articles for the blog that are half-written, just sitting on my desktop. I usually start a new one before I finish an older one, so my desktop gets cluttered with all these documents that I am writing. I always start strong, but then they just sit there for a while until I decide it’s done and I get up the courage to post it on the blog. I often feel that what I have to say is kind of dumb, so I delay sharing it.
Do you consider it cheating when someone replaces a sky in their photo? I don’t, although I do think they should disclose that.
Sometimes I come across photographers that have HUGE followings, but I had never heard of them. It makes me wonder where I have been, because they are usually super talented and I am not sure how I missed them.
For a while, I was completely addicted to shooting with my wide angle lens. I would never take it off. Now I look back on those days and while I love many of the shots, I realize I missed so many other shots because I wouldn’t change lenses. These days, I am more addicted to the mid-range zoom lens on my Sony (the 24-70mm).
Prime lenses can be both challenging and interesting to use.
I sometimes question why I spend so much time working on all this photography stuff.
Once I shot the Milky Way, and needed help figuring out how to do so. I keep thinking about giving it a go again, but now I don’t need the help, I just need to be away from the city.
I don’t shoot much in the summer here in Texas because sunrise is so early and sunset is so late. It’s somewhat depressing because it’s also very hot and humid. In other words, I pretty much want to stay indoors for 3-4 months.
I taught myself nearly everything that I know about photography, which may not be all that much really, but it sounds cool to say it.
Perhaps someday I will lead photo workshops and photo tours in cool places. I would love to do that; it sure seems like a lot of fun. I’m sure it’s a ton of work, too, but fun work.
My blog started as somewhere to just post a “nearly daily” photo online. That was the first 4 years or so, and I did it because I thought that was the logical step for someone that was into photography. In other words, I was just copying those that came before me. Then I started sprinkling in longer-form articles, and I loved doing that. Then I cut back on the daily photo thing, and went to 4 posts per week, then 3 per week, and then 2 per week - but each of these posts had multiple photos. So it was more photos per week, but fewer posts. Now I just post 2-3 times per week, depending on what I have ready and what I feel like saying - and the number of photos in each posts varies. I also share news and other updates, and I write, add educational content, and do whatever. I feel like I finally found a bit of a groove for myself and my blog. This is fun. I hope I can do this forever.
I could shoot waterfalls every week and maybe never tire of it, as long as they weren’t the same ones. However, I would have to live somewhere else to do that.
European street scenes are just about my favorite thing to shoot, but of course I’m a long way from them, and rarely get to shoot them. But still, I freakin’ love them!
SmugMug is a great place to host your portfolio site, and I’ve used it for several years now. I really don’t sell many prints, and I put absolutely zero effort into trying to sell my prints. But I think of it as cloud backup for my finished work, which is something like 4,000 photos now.
My traffic on SmugMug is weird - some days I get 3,000 views and the next day I get 13. I’m not sure if it’s regular SmugMug users just poking around or folks that may be genuinely interested in buying prints, but I should look into that.
I still think Flickr is much better than 500px (at least in terms of what I want to get out of the site), but everyone who joins 500px considers themself a serious photographer and will probably disagree with me.
500px feels mostly like a popularity contest, or at it least it did when I used it. Then again, so does the rest of social media so what’s the difference?
I have purchased just about every single one of the big photo editing product suites. I always thought I needed something new to try because I like to experiment, but really I don’t need all the stuff I have now.
Photos for Mac is pretty good for managing my iPhone shots, but that’s about it. I’m so glad I dumped Aperture and went to Lightroom.
When I first started photography, I had read that f/22 was good for getting everything in focus, so I shot every single photo at f/22 for a long time. I had no understanding of aperture or really anything else at the time. I also had absolutely no creativity around my shot selection or my editing. Hopefully I’ve improved since then!
Having photography as a creative outlet has significantly changed the course of my life in a good way.
I love gear, although I don’t have a lot of it. I always sell my old stuff when I buy new stuff, so I only have 3 lenses that I use with my Sony camera. I’m not sure if I want any more. I like to travel light. Well, maybe one more. :-)
If someone gave me a chunk of money to spend on photography gear, I don’t know what I would buy.
While grain in a black and white film photo may look cool, most digital noise bugs me - though it does depend on the photograph.
I need to go take some photos now - I’ve been typing for way too long. I get like that after too much computer time. I need to take a break, go outside, take a photo, whatever. It’s like the electricity of the computer wears me down, and I have to recharge somewhere without it.
I have lost count of how many businesses have asked to use my photos for free. It’s still an insult, frankly. They don’t give away their stuff for free, do they?
It’s sad when a business asks for a quote on licensing an image, and after you provide it you never hear back, not even a “thanks but…” response. My prices are reasonable based on many conversations I’ve had with other photogs, but I guess not reasonable enough.
One of my photos is enlarged and hanging in the window of a convenience store here in Austin, though I never sold them a copy. I'm not sure how or where they got it. I keep intending to go speak with them about it, but I am always headed somewhere when I pass by, and I tell myself I will stop the next time.
I always insure all of my photography gear. When I see someone lose theirs or have it stolen and then they start a GoFundMe page to ask for donations, I want to scream. Why don’t they insure it? If they can afford the gear, they can afford the insurance, right? Am I missing something here?
I get a laugh out of looking at some of my old photos. I scratch my head and wonder why I processed some shots in certain ways.
I used to purposefully blur street shots in cities in the evening (the whole shot was blurry), that way you get all the little “bokeh balls” in a photo from the city lights, and I think it looks cool. I had forgotten about that.
Blue hour after sunset is possibly my favorite time of day to shoot. Or, maybe sunrise. Call it a draw.
I think I am a pretty decent photographer, but then sometimes I see a shot that just blows me away, and I feel like a total newbie. That’s actually inspiring to me, not depressing.
I have tried the vintage look a couple of times with my shots, but it’s not me. Some folks pull it off incredibly well, but I haven’t liked most of my attempts.
I’m not even remotely interested in the selfie thing.
I wish I had access to some cool urbex locations. I see a ton of great shots online from around the world, but there aren’t any around here, at least to my knowledge.
Roof-topping produces some killer shots, but I don’t know if I’m willing to break into a place to try it.
I currently have 87 photos that are processed, finished, and ready to share online. They sit in a folder on my desktop and I post a few to Flickr each day. I only pick a few each week to put on Facebook - but everything goes on Flickr. Flickr is essentially my entire photo archive of published shots.
I have a Facebook page for my blog, but it’s nearly impossible to drive engagement there. I spent years trying to build it up, only to get to the point where I feel like it’s fairly useless. I keep thinking I am going to just delete it, but then I worry that maybe FB will change something and I might wish I hadn’t.

Thanks for listening. Feel free to leave me any feedback or comments below!

Jim Nix 7/17/16 Jim Nix 7/17/16

Dear Yahoo buyer, please don't screw up Flickr

Do you use Flickr? Are you reading the news about Yahoo, Flickr's parent company, being sold off and possibly dismantled? I am reading it, and I don't like what I hear. But, maybe there's a silver lining in there.

Dear Yahoo buyer, please don’t screw up Flickr.

I like Flickr. In fact, I like it a lot. Maybe it’s not as popular as it used to be - and sure, some people pick on it - but I think it’s still a wonderful site for photography and photographers. I have made many friends there over the years, I have discovered other photographers who I learn from, and I have discovered many photographers and photographs there that inspire me. The quantity and quality of the content there is a constant source of amazement and inspiration for many, including myself.

In the news, we keep hearing that Yahoo is up for sale, and several big websites have already predicted the demise of Flickr, and suggested that we move on. They tell us it will get sold off, or abandoned, and that we are better off moving to another platform.

I sure hope they are wrong.

I like Flickr, and I want to keep using it. I don’t want it to get screwed up. The organization system of Sets and Collections is just so perfect, and being a bit OCD myself, I like that - a lot. I think it’s the best out there. The mobile app is pretty solid all-around, and the Stats page works great for me.

Sure, you could make all sorts of improvements to the site, but considering the state of things at Yahoo, we all know that isn’t happening at this time, and that’s ok. It’s still incredibly functional in it’s current state.

It has brought me customers, friends, and inspiration - sort of the holy trinity in the art world.

I recently uploaded my 5,000th photo there, and I think it’s the best site on the web for sharing a wide collection of photographs and keeping them organized. I love being able to go look at my photos from years ago, all organized both by Sets but also chronologically. Seeing how my work and my processing choices and skills have changed over the years is educational and inspirational for me.

I don’t even want to consider having to move them and start over on another service. This is THE catalog of my work. It’s not just a place I post photos. Plus, I’ve already “released” the photos that are there - starting somewhere new is like re-releasing them. It’s a waste. I’ve got better things to do with my time, like process some of the nearly 200,000 other photos in my library. ;-)

I may host my portfolio elsewhere (it’s on SmugMug, which offers a great e-commerce engine), but Flickr provides great search functionality and people find me and my blog through Flickr rather often. It has brought me opportunities that I doubt would have come my way otherwise. It probably helps that Yahoo has a search engine - of course, I’m assuming it’s connected in some way. If Flickr is sold off I assume that would go away, but I don’t care. It still works for me.

Come to think of it, maybe it’s better if you do sell it off when Yahoo gets sold/dismantled. It could be a great asset to the right buyer, with a huge archive of amazing photographs and a passionate and engaged user base. Perhaps it could stand alone?

The point is, there is a ton of value in the site and the brand, and besides little old me, there are surely thousands (and probably millions) of other folks out there that feel the same way.

Please don’t hang us out to dry. That would suck.

Thanks,

The Photography Community

p.s. You can find me on Flick here if you would like to connect.

Editor's note: Hat tip to Thomas Hawk, who has written extensively about Flickr on his blog, has some wonderful insights into the site and is surely the most prolific photographer that I know. He has somewhere around 120,000 photos on Flickr (no, that is not a typo) and has a stated goal of reaching 1 million published photos in his lifetime.

Jim Nix 6/22/16 Jim Nix 6/22/16

5 Minute HDR - a new series on YouTube

I created a new series on my YouTube channel called "5 Minute HDR". Yes, it shows how I create a beautiful HDR image in 5 minutes or less using Aurora HDR. Seem impossible? It's not. Read on and then watch the videos!

5 Minute HDR - create a beautiful HDR photo in 5 minutes or less, with Aurora HDR!

A few weeks ago, I was editing a photo with Aurora HDR. It was a pretty simple set-up and a pretty simple shot. It took me less than 5 minutes, including the experimentation that I always go through, which includes checking out multiple Presets and more.

After working through my processing steps, I realized that this might be helpful to others. I have heard people say for years that HDR is too hard, or too complicated, or that they could never learn to do it.

Wrong.

In truth, it’s very easy. Believe me when I say that I felt the same way, years ago. I too thought it was hard, and confusing, and complicated. But once you learn a few things, you will get your arms around it easily.

Now, every image is not a 5 minute thing. There are definitely some that take me quite a while, and there are even times when I give up on an image and decide to return to it at a later date. It happens. It can be frustrating, but just move on and accomplish something else.

Generally speaking, I don’t feel like HDR has to be complicated or difficult. It just requires a little practice, that’s all. You just have to get comfortable using software to merge and edit the shots, and then you are all set.

Aurora HDR from Macphun makes all of this extremely straightforward. In the old days, I had to use several products to accomplish everything I needed to do to an image. And yes, that made it a bit more complicated and time-consuming. I could never have done this using my old tools, because of all the back-and-forth between various programs.

Now I use Aurora HDR to combine the image, add presets or other adjustments (even textures), apply any noise reduction, and that’s it. I’m done. That's why I switched to Aurora. It simplifies my workflow and makes my photographic life easier. You can read about that here.

So, I did what I have been doing a lot of lately, and that is recording a video. I called it “5 Minute HDR” and I think I will turn this into a series on YouTube (kind of like my other series there, called “Making the photograph”). This series will be about showing how to quickly merge and edit an HDR image and still like the result.

If you like learning about photography and how I use Aurora HDR to post-process my photos, subscribe to me on YouTube and catch all my videos about it!

In this series, I plan to show you how I work through an image quickly and create something that I am proud of - all in under 5 minutes each time. It’s going to be fun for me, and I hope it will be helpful for anyone that takes the time to watch.

That’s the other complaint I have heard about HDR - the process is too long. Well, I think we all can spare 5 minutes to edit a photo, right? And before that, you can spare 5 minutes to watch my video, RIGHT? ;-)

I hope you enjoy this series, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for following along! Here are the two videos in the series so far - enjoy! More coming!

I show you how to create a stunning HDR photo in under 5 minutes. I even add 2 luminosity masks, several presets, noise reduction and more! Think HDR is hard? It really isn't especially with Aurora HDR. Follow along!

Think HDR is a complicated process? It's not! Today I show you how to create a stunning HDR photo in less than 5 minutes. It's easy! If you want to test out Aurora for yourself, you can download a free copy here: http://bit.ly/1XBUJ1v If you decide to buy it, use coupon code JIMNIX to save 10%.

Jim Nix 5/10/16 Jim Nix 5/10/16

The best photography bundle ever

This is the best photography software/education/more bundle ever - and it's just $129! This is the new Creative Kit XXL bundle from Macphun, and it's a monster. Take a look at what you get and share with your friends! It expires on May 31 so hurry! :-)

New from Macphun - the Creative Kit XXL bundle! It's a doozy!

If you have been reading my blog lately, you will know that I have been spending all my time with Macphun software products for editing my images. They are just incredibly powerful yet easy-to-use, and I am having a LOT of fun with them (or rather, "phun" LOL).

While most of my time has been with Aurora HDR Pro, I am also using the rest of their products for other effects in my photos. I use Snapheal to remove unwanted objects (it's super easy yet effective). I have been experimenting with Tonality to convert images to black and white (and more on that in a future post). I have used Noiseless to remove noise from images. And I have also used Focus for selective focus effects.

These 4 apps that I just listed (Snapheal, Tonality, Noiseless, Focus), plus a couple of others (Intensify & FX Photo Studio) come together in a bundled package called the Creative Kit.

NOTE: Aurora HDR is a separate app that is not part of the Creative Kit, and thus is not a part of this deal (but if you are interested in Aurora, come back soon to hear about a deal on that one!).

They all easily and seamlessly work together as plug-ins to common host programs (Lightroom, Photoshop, Photos, etc) but can also work as stand-alone apps should that be your preference. To say that adopting these apps has altered my workflow is a major understatement. It has completely changed it for the better, and I am saving time while doing more by using these apps. I removed redundant steps in my workflow, eliminated some round-trips to other products, and things are just much smoother now. It's been great. It's rejuvenated my creativity, that's for sure!

Well, here's the good news - Macphun is now offering the Creative Kit XXL bundle for just $129 - and it includes a TON of extra goodies, too!

But note that this is a limited time offer and it will expire on May 31, 2016 - so don't wait too long!

The bundle includes the 6 apps in the Creative Kit (Intensify, FX Photo Studio, Snapheal, Noiseless, Tonality and Focus) and about a million other things! Here's a quick summary of what you get with this incredible bundle deal:

700+ Editing tools, presets & filters
40+ Photo guides, e-books and videos
12 Powerful photo editing titles
1200+ Textures, presets, and Sample RAW files
$1871 in total Savings
Plus special discounts on photo related gear/products from some partners

To put this in perspective, all the apps in the Creative Kit sell for over $300, so it's like you are getting that for less than half price, plus a million other things thrown in!

If you visit my blog regularly, you know that I don't normally post this sort of thing - only rarely. This one is just too good not to share with you all. It's a crazy good deal!

If you are interested, just click here to be directed to the Macphun site - and thanks! Let me know if you have any questions, too! Thanks again!

I've provided some additional screenshots below in case that helps, and of course you can always just go to the Creative Kit XXL website to get the full run-down on things!

Jim Nix 10/19/15 Jim Nix 10/19/15

Quotas, epiphanies, and advice from Dad

Today's post is an essay about goal-setting and getting caught up in the goals for the sake of achieving them. I lost my creative direction earlier this year, but I have found it again and am back on track. Oh, and I had an epiphany this summer that set it all in motion. Read on and let me know your thoughts!

I started out this year with a lengthy list of goals, one of which was to significantly increase the amount of photos that I have published. I think that it was a good idea to put a goal out there for myself, because no one can buy a print or license a photo if it is just sitting in my Lightroom library collecting virtual dust. And these photos don’t just make themselves available. It requires me to do something, because when you shoot RAW, the captured files don’t exactly mirror reality.

However, I have to admit that I got sidetracked along the way and lost focus (photographic pun only slightly intended).

Let me explain.

Quotas can be helpful...

Having spent the better part of my corporate career in what is generally called “sales”, I am no stranger to having a quota. I’ve carried one around at work for the better part of twenty-five years, and it’s just a part of work to me. I don’t get stressed about it - I just do the things that need to be done, and try to do them well, and try to help my customers solve their problems. I assume things will sort themselves out in the end, and they usually do.

So when this year started, and I was sitting at just under 2300 photos published (I use my Flickr account as the basis for my numbers), I realized that getting more of my work published would theoretically give me more opportunity to earn some sort of living from my photography. It makes sense that the more things you have available, the more likely you are to find someone interested in at least one of them.

I still believe that to be true.

...but quotas can be dangerous to the creation process.

However, I found myself getting caught up in how many photos I had processed each week, and how many I still had to go to reach my goal, and so forth. If one blog entry had 10 photos, then I figured I should have 12 photos for the next one. If I had a blog entry with 17 photos, then I should follow that with 20 photos on the next post. More is better, right? That’s the American way, Jim - produce, produce, produce!

Wrong.

I got caught up in the achievement of the goal itself (just focusing on the numbers), and lost sight of the reason for having the goal in the first place, which was to create more photographic art and make it available. I got caught up in making my (self-imposed) quota. It became a numbers game for me. All that mattered were the numbers of photos I created.

And that’s a crying shame, because it became “work” instead of “art”.

I would actually be proud of how many photos I would take on a trip. Instead of thinking "wow, I got a couple of real beauties", I would think, "man this is awesome, I took 2500 photos this week" or something like that. It almost didn't matter how good the photos were, just that there were a lot of them. Isn't that terrible?

Art should be enjoyable

This IS art, and as such it should be an enjoyable thing for all parties involved: enjoyment for the artist during the process of creation (from preparing to shoot, to pressing the shutter, to post-processing), and enjoyment by the viewer when they view it. While I have no control over the viewer’s reaction, I certainly can do things to ensure that I enjoy the creative process. And I should enjoy it, because it fills my soul. I love this stuff!

And the first thing you can do to ensure you enjoy the process of creation? Take your time, experiment, learn something new, and immerse yourself in it. Guess what else I figured out? When you are enjoying the creation process, you are more likely to create compelling images. I was completely missing that point. I got away from the enjoyment, and in many ways it became “my job” to crank out more photos. It became work. It was all about the quantity and not the quality. I was in a hurry. It was a chore.

Trying to force creativity doesn’t work

So I made a change, and have been operating under this change for a while now. I am still working on getting more photos published, but I am not trying to get 10 or more photos on each blog entry. Some may have 10, and some may have 3. Heck some might even be a single photograph (or zero, like today's post). It depends on what it is I am posting about and what I am feeling when I craft these images.

And I have changed things when I go out to shoot, too. I'm not just trying to grab anything and everything. I am slowing down and thinking more about my shots. I came home from my recent Norway and Scotland trip with far fewer photos than on any previous trip to Europe, but I have some shots that I absolutely love.

And I think it is WAY more important to have a few images that you love than to have a million that are ok.

I’m focused less on a quota, and more on creating things that I love. I’m afraid to admit that in some of the pics I have posted this year, I do not love my processing - instead I was posting them because “more is better”. I was just trying to get more stuff published, instead of publishing things that I loved.

And a lot of this comes down to processing choices too. I nearly stopped processing my photos in HDR because it takes longer to go through the HDR creation process than it does for me to make adjustments to a single exposure. But I missed HDR in a big way, and am happy to be processing more of my recent work in HDR. It's fun.

The wisdom of my late Father

So this means that I may be going back to the well, so to speak, and taking some of these photos you have seen here previously and reprocessing them, but with an emphasis on quality this time. I will just have to make time for it, because there are some that would look really fabulous if I came back to them with the idea of crafting a quality image front and center, instead of just rushing through it to get more stuff out the door.

It reminds me of something my dad used to say to me, when I was looking for a shortcut to getting some chore done, presumably so I could get back to doing something I loved. He would say “Son, if you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, when are you going to find the time to do it again?”. Amen to that, Dad, and thanks.

The epiphany in Park City

Much of this thought process occurred this past summer while we were making our way home from our extended stay in Oregon. We were in Park City, UT for a weekend, and walked into a photography gallery there that contained the most amazing work. It was awe-inspiring, and it reminded me of how I felt when I first started seeing (and creating) HDR photos. I was inspired again, and decided there and then that chasing numbers was not going to cut it anymore. I wanted to create beautiful images to the best of my ability, not rush around just getting a large quantity of average stuff out there. I was nearing burnout, anyways.

To be clear, I am not saying that HDR is the only way to do things, or that everything I do will be HDR - I simply want to take my time, enjoy the process, and create stuff I love. It just so happens that HDR is something that I still love.

This thought process is also partly responsible for me moving back into a full frame camera system - having recently bought the Sony A7II and sold all my Olympus gear. Obviously there is nothing wrong with Olympus, but I just felt the need to return to full frame. There is just something about it, but again that’s a discussion for another time.

Looking ahead

I am still cranking out images - though at a slower pace these days. Some of my recent posts have been multiple images and some have been just a few, but either way, they are images that I took my time on, and I feel better about it - and I am only sharing it here if I love it.

Oh, and about my goals for the year? Yeah, I achieved them many months ago. I am sitting at nearly 4400 images on Flickr, and just about to hit 3000 on my portfolio site at SmugMug. I already upped them once about mid-year and then hit those targets too. Like I said, I was pretty focused on the numbers.

But I’m done with setting goals. I made my goals for the year, and then over-achieved my stretch goals too. I am getting back to the art of it all, the love of the creative process and the crafting of things that I am proud of. Now I am going to take my time and share images that I love with you here. I hope you enjoy them, and I am always open to feedback.

Thanks for listening.

p.s. Kind of funny that I talked so much about creating a lot of images, and I didn't include any here, huh? Well, I'm off to process some new images - but just a couple. No sense in rushing things. :-)

Jim Nix 7/20/15 Jim Nix 7/20/15

5 Things To Do Before Firing The Shutter

Here are 5 things I try and do every time I go shoot - well technically, before I go shoot. It's important to plan ahead so you avoid delays or errors when you are standing in front of something awesome. Plan ahead, be smart, and get the shot you want!

You’re in a new place and you are very excited to go take some photos. You are ready to go. You’re eager - hyper, even (ok, maybe that’s just me). You have all your gear in your bag - including your tripod - and your batteries are charged up. You even have extra memory cards just in case (right?). It’s all done, so you head out the door.

You arrive at your destination and immediately start firing away. That’s all good, right?

Wrong.

I’ve done this wrong so many times I can’t even count them. It’s very easy and normal to get all excited about where you are and what you are looking at that you may overlook the very basics before you even get started. Excitement takes over and logic and planning take a back seat.

Sadly, overlooking some of those basics can have a profound impact on the photos you end up with.

While I still do things wrong many times, I try hard to remember these 5 things before I head out and shoot:

1.) Do your research

Google is your friend, as are countless other resources you can find on the internet. I always do a lot of research before I go to a new place (heck, even when I return to places I have shot before). In fact, I have a bunch of lists here on the blog showing you countless great spots in multiple cities. Or use someone else’s list if you prefer. The point is to dig in a little ahead of your trip and see what you can unearth. Each place, no matter how “bland” on the surface, has a wealth of photo opportunities to offer. Chances are someone has been there before you and shared it. Why not put their experience to work for you? Once you get there, you can find your own take on it (more on that in #4 below).

2.) Check your camera settings

Oh man, this is a big one isn’t it? I am very prone to losing all thought due to excitement over what/where I am shooting. If I am in Paris and see something (ok, really anything there gets me fired up!), I just start shooting without any other thought in mind, including my camera settings. It’s usually later that I happen to look at them, and then it’s too late (thankfully, some of those things you can correct later - but not all).

For example, the big one for me is my ISO setting. Just the other day I was firing away and 10 minutes later realized my ISO was too high. Thankfully I was still in the same place and could easily redo some of the shots (and the light change was minimal). The other one I hear about is whether you are set to record RAW or JPG files. I have heard of photographers going through an entire shoot in JPG when they meant to be shooting RAW. Oops.

Bottom line - turn on the camera and check your settings, before you even step outside!

3.) Figure out where the light is coming from

Most people, to the extent that they do plan, have the intent to capture sunset at a particular place (which is why I prefer sunrise, because it’s much less crowded, usually). So they may have a mental vision of a stunning sunset behind, say, Big Ben in London. But what if the sunset isn’t behind Big Ben? What if the light is coming from a completely different direction?

One thing I do for my trips to European cities like London (being so big and sprawling, and so full of a multitude of subjects) is to print out a map and mark all the spots I want to go see. This has the added value of giving you an idea which direction is which. In other words, you can easily tell where West is if you are looking at a map. When you are standing there it’s much harder, at least for me. That way you can get a sense of where sunset or sunrise is likely going to be best, instead of showing up and being disappointed.

There is also a great app known as The Photographer’s Ephemeris that can do this for you!

4.) Focus on composition

Composition is key in photography - we all know that. But how much time and effort do you put into making sure yours is “good”? There are general guidelines for better composition (I hate to call them rules because I think it’s great to experiment and not follow the rules all the time) such as the Rule of Thirds or the Golden Ratio. Understanding and utilizing these can be very helpful and can make the difference between a so-so photo and something that really leads the eye.

But as I said above, don’t hesitate to experiment and find something that is truly yours. We have all seen a million pics of The Eiffel Tower, for example, and while we want to capture the classic view, I think we are better served to also spend time looking for a different view that, while maybe not totally original, isn’t the same shot everyone else always takes.

5.) Enjoy

Here’s perhaps the biggest one: go enjoy yourself. You’re in a far-flung place you’ve never been to, and have always dreamed of visiting. Yes, you want to capture great photos - and you will - but don’t forget to enjoy the experience. It’s easy to get too focused on the photo-making (pun only somewhat intended) and forget that the trip is a life experience. It’s bigger than the photo itself. Don’t be overly militaristic in your approach. Be flexible. Go with the flow. Take a moment, at least briefly, to step back and soak up the scene. It’s a beautiful place, and while taking home great photos is a huge deal to us, I believe it’s equally important to take home great memories.

Well folks, thanks for reading through and for stopping by. Remember to calm down and slow down before you start firing away indiscriminately. It’s easy to get all fired up because, HEY YOU’RE IN LONDON! or HEY YOU'RE IN PARIS!, but I think you will get better photos and enjoy the trip more if you use these guidelines.

Have fun out there, be safe, and go make some memories.

Jim Nix 12/19/14 Jim Nix 12/19/14

2014 - Year in Review

Here's my summary of 2014: travel stats, #'s of photos taken, some blog stats - heck I even threw in some airport codes just for the fun of it! This is NOT your typical end of year photo post. It's much more than that. Dive in and enjoy!

2014 was a great year for me - and here's the proof! (and this is not your typical end of year photo post)

Like everyone else this time of year, I like to look in the rearview mirror and gaze back upon the roads that I have traveled – both literally and figuratively. It’s been a good year in many ways, and I feel blessed to be able to sit here – on my last trip of the year – and think back on all that has transpired.

Travel-wise, I have been busy, and I am thankful for that. While I had many more work trips than family trips, I did have 4 amazing trips with the family, which is more than anyone can ask for in a year. One week in Oregon at Spring Break, one long weekend down to Galveston Island along the Texas coast, nearly two weeks in the mountains of New Mexico in the summer (when we escape the Texas heat), and a week with the family in Paris over Thanksgiving – that’s a LOT of quality time to pack into a year. I’m very grateful for that.

On the work front, my travels have taken me far and wide, including 4 trips to Europe (which I love to visit – and photograph!) and my first trip ever to lovely Sydney, Australia. All of them were productive for work purposes, and productive in terms of image capture as well. That’s a win all the way around.

Here’s a month-by-month summary of my 2014 travels:

January: San Francisco

February: Las Vegas, Dublin, Glasgow

March: Copenhagen, Oregon Coast

April: San Francisco, Dallas

May: San Francisco, Amsterdam, London

June: New York City

July: Galveston, Los Angeles, New Mexico

August: Cincinnati, Minneapolis

September: New York City

October: Sydney, Nashville

November: San Francisco, Montpellier (France), Paris

December: San Francisco

And here it is in airport codes (haha, this was fun and took a little Googling on my part! And by the way, New Mexico and Galveston don’t show up here because we drove to both.):

January: AUS > DFW > SFO > DFW > AUS

February: AUS > DFW > LAS > DFW > AUS; AUS >

March: AUS > LHR > CPH > LHR > AUS; AUS > DFW > PDX > DFW > AUS

April: AUS > DFW > SFO > DFW > AUS

May: AUS > DFW > SFO > DFW > AUS; AUS > LHR > AMS > LHR > AUS

June: AUS > DFW > LGA > DFW > AUS

July: AUS > DFW > LAX > DFW > AUS

August: AUS > DFW > CVG > DFW > AUS; AUS > DFW > MSP > DFW > AUS

September: AUS > DFW > LGA > DFW >AUS

October: BTR > DFW > SYD > DFW >AUS; AUS > DFW > BNA > DFW > AUS

November: AUS > DFW > SFO > LAX > AUS; AUS > DFW > CDG > MPL > CDG > AUS

December: AUS > DFW > SFO > DFW > AUS

It was exhausting just typing all those airport codes – what a year though, wow!

And so I ended the year on a trip that I began the year with. That’s fitting, and that’s a good thing. It’s a city I love to visit, even though I go there for work. But I thoroughly enjoy my work, and that’s a good thing too.

here's an iphone shot from the ferry building in san francisco, taken on tuesday this week. looks pretty festive!  I was happy to end the year shooting in one of my favorite buildings anywhere! — here's an iphone shot from the ferry building in san francisco, taken on tuesday this week. looks pretty festive! I was happy to end the year shooting in one of my favorite buildings anywhere!

Some stats and “Bests” from the year…just for the heck of it, because I’m in a sharing mood…

Miles flown: approximately 106,000

Number of foreign countries visited: 7 (Ireland, Scotland, England, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Australia)

Number of photos taken in 2014: approximately 25,000 of which about 4,000 are iPhone shots

Best trip: That’s a toss-up between the family trip to the Oregon Coast (which we love) and the family trip to Paris (which we also love). But I have to give the nod to Paris because…it’s Paris, for crying out loud!!

this is the entry to the palace of versailles, which we visited while in paris last month.  take me back! — this is the entry to the palace of versailles, which we visited while in paris last month. take me back!

Strangest moment: I woke up one morning during our Spring Break trip to the Oregon Coast, and overnight had dreamed that a whale had beached itself right behind our rented house. I walked into the backyard and what did I see on the beach? A dead sea lion, just laying there. And yes, I grabbed the camera and ran down there. It was awesome, though sad. Nature at work. And I just realized I have never shared the pics. Dang. Time flies.

Fondest moment: Standing with my wife and daughter in front of Notre Dame in Paris a few short weeks ago, while darkness fell and the bells rang from the tower.

Favorite city visited: Again, I have to give the nod to Paris for this one. Everyone raves about Paris, and for good reason. It’s just an incredible place. But a close Second Place goes to Dublin, which I just have a soft spot for. What a great little town. I hope to return in early 2015! And I can’t forget Copenhagen, which is just beautiful.

just one of many shots i took this year in wonderful dublin - love that city!

City with most visits: San Francisco, with a total of 5 visits (though I don’t always have time to shoot there)

Airport with most pass-throughs: Dallas, aka DFW – man I see that place a lot! I love Terminal D, but don’t always get to pass through it. The American Express Centurion Club is there, and it’s a great spot. I also spend a fair amount of time in the various American Airlines Admirals Clubs, since that’s my preferred airline.

Photo outings in my hometown of Austin: 5 or 6, I can’t remember. Sadly, I should get out more, but I tend to be busy with the family or processing photos from my other trips. I will admit though that I have a running list of spots in Austin I still want to shoot that numbers nearly 20 at this point. So much goodness and so close to home. Perhaps I will whittle that list down a bit in 2015! We shall see!

one of my very first outings this year with my olympus mirrorless camera - shooting sunset at the loop 360 bridge here in austin.  Love this spot! — one of my very first outings this year with my olympus mirrorless camera - shooting sunset at the loop 360 bridge here in austin. Love this spot!

Hardware purchases made this year:

Thankfully my photography made a profit this year, and thus I spent some of my hard-earned dollars on new gear, both hardware and software. It’s great to have new tools, because I can do things I couldn’t do before. Plus, it’s just fun to try new stuff and get creative. I hope to continue that into 2015 – the creative part, not the spending money part. Ha!

I switched from a full-frame Nikon D700 to a mirrorless camera – the Olympus OMD EM-1. So far, so good. I am still learning tricks with it, but it’s been a great camera, and being able to travel so much lighter is awesome. I will admit though that I still have a lot to learn about the various capabilities the camera has – it will take some time (and some photo outings!) to get it all down.

At the same time I bought the camera, I picked up the Olympus 9-18mm wide angle, the Olympus 12-50mm mid-range zoom lens, and the Olympus 40-150mm long-range zoom. I have enjoyed them all, but my favorite lens has been one that I bought a little later in the year…

The Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens! I have used this lens a LOT (and it’s the only thing I used during my two weeks in France – well actually, I put on the 9-18mm for about 20 minutes one time). I love that 12-40mm PRO lens, and get outstanding results from it. It’s such an incredible and versatile piece of equipment.

inside galleries vivienne in paris - using the olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 pro lens - and shooting stuff i rarely ever shoot - people!

Recently, I bought the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f/1.7 prime lens, and the Bower 7.5mm fisheye, just for the halibut (hehe, silly fish pun there, sorry). I am still working through some testing on both of those, so expect to see and hear more about those two later, as I put them to use and have things to share. I will say that on this last trip to San Francisco, I was able to shoot a little with the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f/1.7 prime lens, and I am really liking it a lot! So small but so capable!

I spent most of the year shooting iPhone images with my quickly aging iPhone 4S, until early October came around and I picked up the new iPhone 6 (not the Plus – it’s too big for me). What a great product! I love that device, and using that camera all the time is – I believe – actually helpful to me in terms of improving my photography. I’m a fan. You can find a lot of my iPhone shots here on Flickr or over on my Instagram feed.

just 1 of the nearly 1200 iPhone photos i have taken since i picked up the iphone 6 in october - this is inside the louvre in paris.  (louis xiv's apartments) — just 1 of the nearly 1200 iPhone photos i have taken since i picked up the iphone 6 in october - this is inside the louvre in paris. (louis xiv's apartments)

Software purchases made this year:

On the software side, I have been really enjoying some creative exploration thanks to several products from my friends over at Topaz Labs. First I started using Simplify to create artworks from my shots, but then Impression came out and that one quickly became my go-to software choice for getting artistic. Then at the beginning of this month, they launched Glow, which is real fun and has given me another jolt of creative awesomeness (and a lot of color). So in other words, the good folks at Topaz have had a good year too. 

one of my current favorite shots that i edited with topaz glow - this is the entry to christiansborg palace in copenhagen - shot last march.

One other product suite that I picked up is the Perfect Effects Suite from OnOne Software. I have always heard good things about it, and have just recently started using it. So far, so good, though I will admit I need to spend some more time working with the products (or rather, find some free time). Thus far I have mostly just used Perfect Effects 9, and I now use that almost exclusively for processing my graffiti shots. I just like all the texture choices and so far have found this product works well for my tastes on that subject matter. I’m sure it works well on other subjects, too. I’ll be back with (possibly) some reviews of that Suite once I learn more and feel like I can contribute something meaningful.

And of course I cannot forget about MacPhun Software. I started using their products this year too, and love them. Tonality Pro and Intensify Pro are REALLY, REALLY good products, and I will continue to use them into next year.

This reminds me of a very popular post I did earlier this year. It was entitled “One Photo, A Million Possibilities”. Basically, I took a single photo but did the editing in lots of different software products, and came up with many variations on it. It was a great creative exercise, and I highly recommend it.

I’ve also been an Apple Aperture user for years, and the news that they are killing the product was not welcome news to me. In fact, it stings a little. So I did what any rational being would do, and I picked up a copy of Lightroom 5. My thoughts on it? I have no idea. I have tried a few times to use it, but don’t understand it and haven’t had the time to learn it, because of everything else you just read. I’ve been too busy. So, maybe this year I will learn more about it, and possibly even convert to it. Then again, maybe I won’t. The jury is still out on that one in my book.

So how about this blog, Jim?

Great question. This blog has had a productive year as well, and so has my photography in general social media terms, and even financial terms. It’s been a good year all the way around, really. Here are a few highlights:

Blog visitors: up 34%

Blog page views: up 25%

Flickr views: up 180%

Number of photos on Flickr: approximately 2200

Number of photos on SmugMug: approximately 1200

I spent most of my time this year on building quality content for my blog. I truly feel that if I create content that is worth viewing, people will come view it. I plan to continue that into 2015. I just enjoy it so much.

I also dialed back my social media engagement a bit this year. At some point I figured I was wasting good, productive time just viewing things on Facebook, and I worked to reduce my time there. I would rather create content for the blog. It’s more rewarding to me, and more helpful to whomever comes here to view it.

broadway avenue in downtown nashville, tn - with a little topaz glow thrown in for fun!  shot this in nashville back in october. — broadway avenue in downtown nashville, tn - with a little topaz glow thrown in for fun! shot this in nashville back in october.

I actually increased my engagement on Flickr a slight bit, and increased my posting volume there substantially. More people find my work there than anywhere else, so it makes sense to populate my page there with more photos. That trend will continue into 2015. I have thousands of images still in the library that have never seen the light of day. That will change.

I basically quit using 500px altogether. I may have posted a couple of photos there this year, but it doesn’t feel like a good use of my time either. Hardly anyone comes from there to the blog, and I don’t have time to engage there. The work is beautiful though. It’s a great place for inspiration, that’s for sure.

Google+ seems to have dropped in terms of popularity, though I still post 2-3 times every couple of weeks on that site. It’s definitely very different from a couple of years ago.

I joined Ello like everyone else, but I am not very active there. I like the site ok, but I don’t think it’s going to change things for me in any sort of way. I post there once in a while. I will continue to try it, but don’t plan to invest a lot of time on it.

Instagram has been somewhat fun for me, even though I don’t post there a lot. The funny thing is that I take LOTS of iPhone images – I just don’t share them all there. Most of them end up in this set on Flickr, and I will keep doing that in 2015. I’ll continue to use Instagram some as well. I like the site.

this is a mountain lake near questa, nm - shot it this past summer while in the area escaping the texas heat!

So, what are my plans in 2015?

Well, I’m not totally sure, though I am certain that whatever I write about 2015 at this point will surely change by the time I get to the end of 2015 and look back on that year. In other words, I don’t know yet, but I am preparing a post to share some thoughts on that, which you will find here in a week or so.

Well, I guess that’s about it for 2014. This post is approaching 2500 words (which might make it my longest post ever), and you may be bored by now. Or hopefully you got some popcorn and enjoyed this. I enjoyed writing it, but since I lived it, it’s a bit more interesting to me I guess. I will say that I’ve had a nice trip down memory lane though, so thanks for coming along with me, and thanks for the support!

You were a good year, 2014 – thanks for the memories (and the photos). I’ll look back on you fondly!

Jim Nix 12/15/14 Jim Nix 12/15/14

15 Tips for Better Photos in 2015

Today, my friends, I have a list of 15 tips that will help you take better photos in 2015. Sound interesting? Take a look and let me know what you think! I wrote this as a way for me to get focused, but decided it might be helpful and was worth sharing. Enjoy!

How can I get better at photography in the new year?

Whether you are a hobbyist or “serious” photographer, you are probably always thinking about how you can up your game. I know that I am. I am always thinking about photography, and post-processing, and composition, and all that good stuff we spend our time thinking about (ok, maybe obsessing over).

If you want to improve at something, you have to put in the time. Obviously the trick as an adult is to find the time, but assuming you find some, how do you spend it? I have been out many times and gone into auto-pilot, just doing what I do and taking pictures. It’s easy to do that. We’re just doing what comes naturally. We finally have a chance to get out and shoot, and so we just start shooting without giving it a lot of thought. We're excited.

But as a new year approaches, I am thinking about how to be more efficient with my time, and how to get the most productive growth out of it. Let’s face it - most of us have day jobs and other responsibilities, and they all take up a good chunk of time. So I plan to get hyper-efficient and learn as much as possible in the time that I have.

So how am I going to do that? What am I going to do in 2015?

Here’s the list. I just started compiling this list as a reference for myself, but then thought that maybe it could help someone out there. And that’s what this site is about, in some ways, so here’s my list. I hope it works for you! Let me know if you have any questions!

1) Stop being hyper, dammit!

I am extremely guilty of getting somewhere and then immediately starting to fire off shots. Instead, I plan to slow down a bit, think about what I want to shoot and how I want to shoot it, and then proceed. It’s better to get one or a couple of shots right, then to take a bunch that are just hurried and with no forethought.

2) Frame it. No, not on the wall.

This dovetails perfectly with #1. After I slow down, I will focus on the composition of my shots. I often fire away indiscriminately, only to get home and review the shots and find that many of these are not so great. You can’t fix that later. :-)

3) Read it then live it.

Whether it’s photo blogs, magazines, ebooks, or actual books, I will devote some time to learning more about this craft. If you ever stop learning, you’re stagnant. Photography is literally a lifetime thing - why not learn as much as I can now so I can benefit from that knowledge for longer? Start today. Time isn’t waiting around for me!

4) Is that a camera in your pocket?

Regardless of your brand choice for a phone, you probably have one, and it probably has a pretty decent camera and photo editing apps on it. And I bet you NEVER leave home without it. So use it, and use it a lot. When I travel, I come home with loads of iPhone shots. Sometimes I don’t take my “real camera” on a trip because I know I won’t have time to shoot. So I just use the iPhone, and it’s great! It still counts as photography, and it’s still a great way to work on my skills. When I have both, I find that although I may be shooting the same things with my iPhone that I shoot with my Olympus, I am shooting them differently. That’s good too.

5) Share, engage, be social.

I am somewhat active on social media, and though I don’t plan to spend a lot more time there in 2015 (I can't spend too much time there or I would never get anything posted here!), I do plan to continue to share my photos and engage in the awesome online community of photographers that we are all a part of. I learn a lot just reading things that people share. Just don’t get trapped watching cat videos. :-)

6) Tell me what you're thinking.

I do a terrible job soliciting feedback from others, but I think it’s important. While someone's opinion of my work isn’t what I want to base my definition of success on, there are those whose opinions I trust and I intend to do a better job getting feedback from some of my peers this year. Everyone has their own perspective, and it's good to hear them.

7) Go somewhere. Go anywhere. Just go.

I’m a big fan of getting out in the world and taking the camera along, but that’s probably pretty obvious. But even if you are limited in funds or time, you can still travel across town or to the next town, and get a change of scenery. I think it forces you to think differently, because you are in a new place. It opens up creative channels in your brain. Get out there and see new things. It’s great for your mind, your body, and your photography.

8) Shoot the small stuff too.

I’ve been doing this more and more. I used to only try and get the big shots whenever I went somewhere, and while I still get the big ones, I make an equal effort to get the small, overlooked shots too. And guess what? Taking the “in between” shots is a great way to get in more practice and up your skills. Why not grab some while you are walking from one big shot to the next? You might even capture some that make a real difference to you. Besides, everyone has already seen a photo of “the big one” in whichever place you are shooting. Why not take a photo that everyone else overlooks?

9) Volume, up.

There’s an old quote that your first 10,000 photos are your worst, and I completely agree with it. My opinion is that you should take a lot of photos, but keep in mind points #1 and #2 above when doing so. They are not all going to be winners, and never will be. But you up your chances of getting keepers if you have trained yourself on how to do things the way you want to do them, and that comes from a lot of practice. So take a lot of shots. I bet you will find that you start to get more and more photos that you think are worth keeping.

10) Do some research.

Before you go somewhere, spend a little time researching the town for all the best spots to shoot there (I have a bunch of lists on the blog here for cities I have spent time in). There’s nothing better than getting somewhere and having a plan, even if it’s a loose plan. But research other things too: read your camera manual. Read reviews of the gear you own because you are very likely going to learn something. Read reviews of the software you use, even stuff you use all the time. You will certainly learn some new things.

11) Spin those dials.

I did this a lot on my recent trip to France, and I learned a lot about my camera as well as my style of shooting (which is changing). On my old Nikon, I shot at f/13 almost all the time, and it was nearly always a 7 exposure HDR done on a tripod. But on this trip to France a couple of weeks ago, I was shooting 3 exposure brackets handheld at f/2.8 with my Olympus, and I got some great results. I’m still learning and plan to keep doing so. It feels great, and I am getting different but still satisfying images.

12) Find new ways to push those pixels around.

I have been using several different software packages over the years, but one in particular was the one I used the most. I am trying to move away from my dependence on that one (though it’s still quite good) in the interest of broadening my skills in post-processing. So mix things up. Try something different. I’ve been enjoying Topaz Impression a lot lately, which allows me to convert my shots to paintings. It’s fun, and I am continuing to learn and push myself creatively. I also purchased the OnOne Software Suite, and have been getting started with that one, mostly Perfect Effects. It’s causing my brain to expand because I am learning something new. You just can’t go into Auto-Pilot when you are learning something new, and that’s good.

13) Quit photography (but not for long).

Sometimes it’s best just to take a break. Walk away for a bit. Take a day off, or a week. While it’s important to continually invest in your knowledge and skills, it’s equally important to be in the right frame of mind - and let’s face it, some times we don’t feel creative. That’s ok. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Take a break, recharge, and come back hungry. There’s growth in the breaks too.

14) No one will die if you screw up.

I once had a customer, upon learning that her print shipment was being delayed, say to me “That’s ok, there are no art emergencies”. I love that quote, and keep it in mind a lot. It’s very true. This is a life passion, not a mission-critical business (at least for me - I realize some folks depend upon photography as a line of work). Lives don't depend on my getting something right. I doctor images, but I'm no doctor. So whenever I get stressed about this or that, I remember that quote and it helps put it all in perspective.

15) Enjoy the hell out of this stuff.

It really all comes down to this for me. Am I having fun? Am I enjoying what I am doing with my photography? If the answer is yes, then I keep going. Whenever I don’t feel like it’s fun, that’s when I take a break. Recharge. Reset my expectations. Then when I come back with the right attitude, everything is great again. And since this is how I spend my free time, I absolutely want to make sure that I am enjoying it. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Well that’s it folks - 15 ways that I intend to improve my photography in the new year. I hope that everyone has a great 2015 and if you want to add to this list, feel free to do so in the comments section. I am sure there are about 5 million more great ideas out there about how to improve in the new year. See you out there shooting!

Jim Nix 10/9/14 Jim Nix 10/9/14

It's not about the postcard shot

Today I share my thoughts on how I am changing as a photographer. I love great photos of the big things, but I am finding an equal (and sometimes greater) satisfaction from shooting the little things. Read on to get my thoughts on this and feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section!

Some thoughts on shooting the little things

When you travel, do you plan to see and photograph all the big sights in whichever place you are traveling to? You do, right? I do too. We all do. That’s natural. The famous stuff is famous for a reason - everyone loves it, wants to see it, and plans to take photographs of it. And, it’s usually beautiful, historic, or incredibly interesting in some way (or all three). In other words, it’s a landmark. It just beckons you to come see it.

That’s why they become postcards.

But that’s also why they are getting harder and harder to shoot, or get an original shot of. They are overshot, in some ways. They are crowded. Still awesome, mind you - but overshot.

And most of us don’t have the luxury of returning to that spot over and over again, so that we do get the most perfect conditions for some epic photo. We might get one shot at it - and that’s it.

This was embedded in the sidewalk in Bratislava, Slovakia.  It was a full circle with many cities listed. — This was embedded in the sidewalk in Bratislava, Slovakia. It was a full circle with many cities listed.

There's more to travel photography than the big sights

While I do advocate going and taking your shot of that landmark (if you are like me, you have to have your own!), I have started to realize that the little things are just as important as the big things. They fill in the blank spaces between the big shots. They are the sweet little slices of a place that you don’t often see on a postcard. They add meaning, and depth, and substance. They’re real.

You don’t just show up, shoot the big stuff, and then turn around and shoot the next big thing. They are not just waiting there for you, all lined up and ready to pose. There is usually a bit of travel between them, but there’s also a million shots to be had in between, if you take the time to look for them. And they can be incredible.

This is an opportunity for all of us.

A corner of a building in Brussels, Belgium, shot at sunrise.  I just loved the lines and the light - and that wall of graffiti at the end of the sidewalk. — A corner of a building in Brussels, Belgium, shot at sunrise. I just loved the lines and the light - and that wall of graffiti at the end of the sidewalk.

Now of course you pretty much have to shoot the big stuff (in some ways, it’s the proof that you actually went there - and let's face it, they're awesome), and to be clear, I advocate that you DO shoot the big stuff. But my advice is to stay alert and open-minded while you travel, and seek the lesser-known stuff too. The big shots are sort of like the bones of a good story (plot, major characters, etc) - the little shots are the muscle and all the connecting tissue. You need both to tell a complete story.

The other thing I have learned over the years is that there are just SO MANY incredibly good shots of the big stuff already. It’s been done so many times, and it’s probably been on the cover of a book or magazine, like National Geographic. Someone had the right skills, the right light, and the right eye to capture an iconic photo at the right time - a masterpiece. And it is just AWESOME. I freakin‘ LOVE seeing photos like that. They inspire me.

Another European street corner - this time in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Down to the right is Nyhavn, the popular harbor area with the historic ships.  I just loved this little scene though, and had to capture it! — Another European street corner - this time in Copenhagen, Denmark. Down to the right is Nyhavn, the popular harbor area with the historic ships. I just loved this little scene though, and had to capture it!

Just think about it for a moment. Even if you have never been to some famous places, you know exactly what they look like, right? You can see the photo in your mind, right now. The Colosseum in Rome? Machu Picchu? The Acropolis in Athens? I can picture them all, right now, clear as day. And it’s because someone has been there and made an exceptional photo of it.

For me, it's about setting my expectations

Am I really going to get perfect conditions and end up with THE shot of Big Ben, for example? Probably not. Am I going to go and shoot it anyways? Of course. But I go into it knowing that the outcome is likely not going to be a game-changer in the world of photography. That's not a fatalistic, defeatist attitude. That's the truth. I'm always hopeful (I'm pretty much a perpetual optimist), but I go into it knowing the probabilities. (See, I'm also a realist.)

And that’s ok, because I am not hunting for a single masterpiece on any trip that I take. Those are so incredibly rare that I just cannot set that as a goal for myself. I find it limiting, or restricting, for my style of photography, and for what I want out of photography.

There are those photographers who do set that as a goal, and often achieve it. I think that is awesome, and I am thankful for them, because I love seeing great photos, and I want photographers who create great things to get the rewards that go along with their efforts.

But I rarely have the time to repeatedly visit a spot, looking for that perfect photo. I want to shoot everything I can, and move on. I want to collect evidence of a place, which is a whole lot more than a single location. Then I want to go collect even more. :-)

St. Thomas Church in New York City - just a short stroll from the much larger and more famous St. Patrick's.  I went there too, but it was under construction and STILL super crowded.  So I popped over here and nearly had it to myself! — St. Thomas Church in New York City - just a short stroll from the much larger and more famous St. Patrick's. I went there too, but it was under construction and STILL super crowded. So I popped over here and nearly had it to myself!

I find that my goals and my approach to a trip have changed over the years. I want to weave a fabric that shows the soul of a place, and I want to capture a lot of various shots of any city I visit. I want to shoot EVERYTHING, and come back with an entire album of photos, showing the good, the bad, and the in-between. I feel like most of the time that happens with the little things, or at least a blend of the big things and little things. Photos of famous places don't tell the full story - they just can't. They may be remarkable, but they are a single chapter in a novel. They don't stand alone.

I find a trip so much more satisfying when I take the time to find all the overlooked and ignored things that every place has to offer. And guess what? Those things are NOT photographed to death, partly because everyone just hustles off to the next big thing. You can get an original shot of the little things, and there is often no one in your way. That’s a win.

Just some colorful trashcans lining a street in the historic Casco Viejo district in Panama City, Panama.

And guess what else? I think these little shots tell a better story than the big iconic ones. They are more real (as I said above), and they give you insight into a place that you don’t get from a shot of a famous landmark. They humanize a distant land, making it familiar. They bring it to life. They are relatable.

So the next time you are traveling somewhere far afield, with your list of all the great spots to go shoot (and I have happily created plenty of those here on the blog, because I think they are worth seeing and photographing), don’t forget to stop along the way and take photographs of the little things. You might just find that they give you an incredible amount of satisfaction.

If nothing else, they will help you tell a better story.

There are so many incredible things to shoot in San Francisco, CA.  Between them, I stopped and shot Pier 23 Cafe.  Ain't it cool?  I love little spots like this - so much personality. — There are so many incredible things to shoot in San Francisco, CA. Between them, I stopped and shot Pier 23 Cafe. Ain't it cool? I love little spots like this - so much personality.

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Thanks for listening. Here are a few tips for making sure you get the little shots:

Print out a map of your destination, and highlight the big sights you plan to shoot while there (and take into consideration time of day, light direction, etc)
Depending on how much time you have (and how many outings you get with the camera), plan out a general route between these big sights
Walk between the big sights! Do not take taxis, or trains, or whatever unless you just absolutely have to (for example, if it’s really far).
Wander the streets between sights and do not be afraid to get a little lost. I find more interesting things to shoot when I meander somewhat aimlessly. You get the added benefit of becoming very familiar with a place!
All the tourists are taking taxis and trains - so since you are walking, you will not have to deal with as much of a crowd when you find little tucked away spots to shoot.
Get up early and shoot sunrise. I have had more luck with sunrise shooting than any other time of day. Added bonus: all the tourists are still asleep!
It's of particular importance to shoot the big things at sunrise, because you will more likely have them to yourself. Then shoot all the great little stuff afterwards!

Jim Nix 8/27/14 Jim Nix 8/27/14

Is anybody else sick of Facebook?

Facebook has changed a lot, and not for the better. It's harder and harder to drive traffic to the blog...so here is what I am doing about that!

It's harder and harder to justify time spent on Facebook - and what I am doing instead!

I like Facebook, generally speaking - I really do. It’s a great idea. Being able to connect with like-minded photographers from around the world has been one of my favorite things about it. How else could I meet and interact with people who share common interests? It’s brilliant. And the fact that I can easily connect with them online, and then actually meet them in person when I travel? Absolutely love that.

And of course, it’s allowed me to connect with casual consumers of my work - some have become customers as well, and that’s all been great. Even if someone isn’t a customer, it’s still great to get feedback and interact with folks around the world that have some sort of interest in my photography.

However, I am growing weary of the day-to-day grind of posting and sharing my work there. It takes a lot of time, and it takes a lot of effort. And mostly, it’s about ego. Of course I want people to like my photos, but posting online is more about getting them to “like” my photos. And the payback is dubious, at best. I wrote a long article about all that here, if you would like to read it.

And by the way, spending my limited free time there just mindlessly surfing destroys my creativity. Absolutely cuts it into shreds. And that sucks, because I want to create. I have a TON of things I want to do, learn, and create - and being on Facebook is not helping me get them done.

Facebook has changed for the worse (but this isn't exactly news to any photographer!)

These days, you see a lot of complaints about Facebook, and I think they are valid. It has changed. It’s no longer a pure experience for me. I used to log on and know that I would see great pictures from photographers that I follow from around the world, or catch up on their adventures via “behind the scenes” mobile phone posts. Or maybe someone would share articles about photography, or tutorials, or reviews...all of that is welcome, and interesting to me. It’s good content, in my opinion.

But now Facebook feels like a giant advertisement, with some stupid game invites thrown in for fun. Well, none of that is fun. I have to search harder to find the folks whose posts I want to see, while being bombarded with a bunch of crap that I am not even remotely interested in. It’s tiring. (And I realize some folks will feel that way about seeing my posts. It’s ok.)

Couple that with the fact that FB decides what I should see, and it makes it worse. Not to mention that they keep getting it wrong. I don’t give a shit about a cat video, or someone’s political rant. I really don’t care. It’s fine for people to share that stuff - it’s one of the beautiful freedoms of the internet - but I am just not interested in seeing it.

What could possibly make FB’s “sophisticated algorithm” think I have any interest in that stuff? I can’t imagine anything I have EVER clicked on - anywhere on any bit of the internet - that would give Facebook the impression that that stuff is one of my interests. Look at the Fan Pages I have liked, Facebook, and use that to serve me content. Please??? I think it’s pretty clear what I like. (Hint: travel and photography.)

You know what else I want to see? I just would like to see all my friends’ posts in chronological order. Then I can decide what I want to direct my attention towards. It’s exhausting to have stuff bubble up to the top of my feed that has been there before, just because it got a new comment, or one of my friends liked it - or for no discernible reasons whatsoever.

Driving traffic to the blog

And even though Facebook is the largest social media site in terms of referrals to my blog (which in the big picture is where I want people to end up), the total percentage of my traffic from FB to my blog is pretty minimal - about 2.5% thus far this calendar year (2014). Starting from January 1, 2013, it’s even less. In other words, it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I get better results from the search engines - by a large margin (over 70% of my visitors arrive via search). If I was running a business with limited resources, I would drop that “advertising channel” known as Facebook immediately in favor of something with a better return.

Facebook Fan Pages take a beating

I also have a page on FB dedicated to my photography. In the old days, it was fun to have a page and I worked hard to grow it. It now sits somewhere around 4500 Likes, which was a lot of work to get to, frankly. I spent a lot of time building it up. Too much time, as it turns out.

Sadly, FB has throttled the reach of all pages and as such a very small percentage of those who have “Liked” my page actually get to see my posts. That’s frustrating. And honestly, I am on the fence about what to do with the page. It’s a full day’s work - every single darn day - to drive engagement on the page and to keep the interaction level high. I don’t have time for that, and frankly I am not interested in spending my time on that. I have much more productive things to do.

Lately I have backed off from the daily posts there. They just don’t reach people anymore, and I am not going to pay FB for a “Promoted Post”. This isn’t a business for me, per se, but a life’s passion. I’m not technically selling anything (yes you can buy prints, but I’m not actively pushing it), so paying FB to get me back to my original fan base is a ridiculous idea. Not going to happen.

So, what am I going to do about it?

That’s the question, isn’t it? In many ways we are all “stuck” with FB, since it is the largest site in the world. And truthfully, I don’t want to leave. There are a few things I like about it, such as being part of that global creative community. That’s a big deal to me. I enjoy being part of a community like that. These people are my friends, or at least some of them are. The rest I just admire.

But I can’t afford (nor do I want) to spend a lot of time on FB. It’s a major time-suck, and while some of it can be enjoyable, it isn’t productive. It doesn’t help me grow personally or professionally. It doesn’t help me get better at photography. And whether it helps me reach more people with my work is debatable.

On a recent vacation, in addition to spending time with family, you know what else I was able to do? Write, take photos, and process photos. I created a couple of new reviews on the blog, and wrote some other things that I am working on. I took a lot of photos, and I processed a lot as well. It was great not worrying about - or really even thinking about - posting images on Facebook. It was a bit of a vacation from the site, and it was absolutely liberating.

Since I have been back from the vacation, I have stuck with this plan of not being on FB too much, and I am still loving it. I’m posting about 3 things per week and that’s it (that’s a drop from my 5-6 posts per week in the past). And guess what? My productivity is staying up there. I am creating more new things for the blog, processing more photos, and taking even more. It’s like I got part of my life back. It’s awesome!

So, here’s what I am going to do about Facebook (and have been doing for a while):

1) Most posts go on my personal profile

I‘ve been doing this for months already and it sure makes things easier. In fact, most photographers that I know have concentrated their efforts on their personal profiles rather than a Fan Page. It’s way easier. I clung on to the Fan Page for a while, but as detailed above, I am not concentrating my efforts there going forward. I won’t delete it but will only post there occasionally. You never know what the future holds.

2) Fewer posts on FB

I used to post on FB just about every day. If I shared a photo from a blog post, and that post contained multiple photos (which most of mine do now), I would come back the next day (or later the same day) and share another photo from that post. But lately, I have been just sharing my favorite photo from any particular blog post. They are all on the blog and will stay there, so I assume if anyone wants to see them, they will come find them. If not, no worries.

Interestingly, it seems like when I only post a few photos per week on FB, they actually get more engagement per photo than when I posted nearly every day. Maybe since I am sharing less on FB, I am sharing better photos. Or maybe something else. I’m not sure, but obviously I am ok with it.

3) Less time spent on FB

Like I said above, it can be a major time drain, and I don’t have a lot of free time. You can call that unsocial (and maybe it is), but I prefer to work on my creativity and create content for the blog. That is time well spent, and it makes me feel better. This is a personal, creative journey for me, and time on Facebook does not make me creative. In fact, it sucks the creativity right out of me. Talk about a buzzkill! :-)

4) Just using my interest list on FB

I while ago, I created an “interest list” on FB which I call Photographic Awesomeness, and that’s what it’s all about. I added in a bunch of photographers whose work I admire, and so whenever they post something, it automatically gets included in the list. You can go click on the list, subscribe to it, and scroll through all these awesome photos. I plan to spend more time looking at that instead of my News Feed, because the feed is full of junk. That’s one way to purify my experience there. I get a pure “photo experience” on my interest list, because I only included great photographers. Pretty cool, right?

5) Experiment with other sites

I wrote last year about focusing on just the big sites (which includes FB of course), and while I think that is still sage advice, I do want to unwrap myself from FB a bit. So I have been spending a little time elsewhere, and I am enjoying it (See? I’m not totally anti-social LOL.).

There are a couple of other places where you can find me, and when I am there it’s a much cleaner experience. I look at things of interest and am not bombarded with any of the crap that I get on FB. Refreshing, actually. Generally, it’s Instagram, with a little sprinkling of Trover and Pinterest. A dash of Flickr, Google+ and Twitter.

But I will say that in the grand scheme of things, total activity for me on all social sites is dropping. At a whopping total of about 5% of my blog traffic, it makes sense not to spend too much time on it. I just get more out of it when I focus on creating. I truly believe that if you create enough interesting content, people will come your way, at some point. So that’s what I am spending my time on. And guess what? I feel better, I am happier and more creative, and more productive...and that’s what I am trying to do with my time on this Earth...create.

So that’s my plan. What’s yours?

Jim Nix 7/9/14 Jim Nix 7/9/14

The changing face of HDR photography

I love HDR photography, but it's changing - a lot. And in my opinion, that's a good thing. There are a million ways to skin a cat, as the saying goes, and that is very true with HDR as well. Today I ramble a bit about HDR photography and share some resources to help you on your own journey.

HDR photography is changing - and that might be exactly what it needed!

I love to shoot HDR – it’s just something I have been into for years now, and I assume I will for a long time to come. But it’s not for everyone. It’s an art form that is simultaneously revered and reviled. For every HDR practitioner who has a loyal following and is frequently lauded for his/her beautiful photos, there are an equal number of HDR-haters out there that decry it’s use. Insults range from the simple "PhotoShopped" to the mildly entertaining “over-cooked”, and then onto the more colorful and cringe-inducing “clown vomit”.

It seems everyone has an opinion on the matter, and that’s totally fine. We’re all entitled to them. This is art, and it’s subjective by nature. Everyone isn’t expected to like everything. What a boring world we would have on our hands if that was the case.

But HDR is changing and morphing, and going in different directions. In other words, it's splintering into various approaches. People are finding new and interesting ways to overcome the challenges that our cameras have, and that makes it an exciting place to be, photographically speaking. There are a vast array of paths a photographer can take, a vast array of processing choices that one can make, and I see a vast array of HDR styles out there as a result. It's all good, and this is progress.

It’s still rock ‘n roll to me

When I started shooting in HDR, there was really just one way to do it (at least, as far as we all knew), and we all sorta followed the thoughts of Trey Ratcliff and his process. That’s cool, he obviously paved the way for a lot of folks. I’m personally thankful for having met him and getting introduced to HDR. It started me on my path, in many ways.

And for the first few years of my HDR shooting, it seemed the art form just grew and grew in popularity. Everyone started taking up the art, and the explosion of HDR usage was evident in all the highly detailed scenes, evenly lit architectural interiors, and general lack of shadows in a lot of photos. Not to mention the saturation - lots of saturation. It seemed that HDR was everywhere.

But now, it seems to me that HDR is going through a bit of a reinvention, or renaissance if you will. Things are changing and the art form is splintering into multiple approaches, and the “HDR look” isn’t nearly as prevalent these days. People are taking it in different directions, which is both fun and exciting. The art of it is evolving.

Some don’t call what they do HDR at all but exposure blending or luminosity masking. That’s cool. It’s the same to me, but I understand the need to possibly distance yourself from the term HDR (because of some perceived negative connotations), or at least differentiate what you are doing, because there are a lot of differences (although I think of these other approaches as “cousins” of HDR).

But truthfully, I don’t really care what it’s called anyways – I call it art, and you can do whatever you want with your own art. In fact, I think it’s a good thing that there are so many different approaches to creating what I still continue to call HDR photography. We can all take a different path if we want to, but hopefully we all end up in the same place – creating beautiful images. Because to me, that’s what it’s all about.

It was: everything must be HDR

When most of us started, we started at essentially the same place. I’ll call that the “OMG phase”, where you start to see the potential for making interesting and sometimes freakish images. We all did it, even the big names. We shot EVERYTHING in HDR because OMG THIS IS AWESOME! It was the way, the truth, and the light (pun intended on the word "light"). It was an end unto itself. It HAD to be done.

But over time, everyone changes, their style preferences change too, and it seems to me that general tastes in the broader market have changed as well. Gone is the OMG that we had as beginners in HDR, and as we’ve (hopefully) developed our vision and our skills, we’ve been led in one direction or another and are producing much different results now. Thanks partly to the iPhone HDR function, more and more folks are familiar with the term (and the process of creating one), which I believe has helped the art mature as well.

The OMG phase was also prevalent in the broader market, meaning among non-photographers. Many of them saw an HDR photo for the first time and thought OMG what kind of camera did THAT? :-) They were intrigued. But again, I posit that this has changed and now non-photographers just want to see something beautiful, and their initial impressions of HDR have changed too. They aren't impressed by those freakish-looking HDR photos of yesteryear - it's no longer new or interesting - but beauty never goes out of style.

It’s funny, but when I randomly come across a really “over-cooked” HDR photo these days (with massive halos, extreme saturation and almost cartoonish detail), I sort of laugh to myself and remember doing that as well. There’s nothing wrong with it of course, it just harkens me back to the day, so to speak. I guess I think of that as a sign of a beginner, but I may be wrong in that assertion (and frankly, you do have to start somewhere). Perhaps it’s a style preference for a particular person. And if that's what someone wants to do, more power to them. This is about self-expression, anyways. You can do whatever you want with your own art.

I find that many photographers still shoot a set of bracketed images and merge them or blend them in one way or another. Some shoot brackets “just in case” but more often than not just use one exposure (I find myself in this category much more often than I used to be). Some shoot just two images - one for lights and one for darks, if you will - and blend the two. Others don’t shoot brackets at all anymore, but instead focus on getting what they need in a single frame. There are countless ways to get an image created, after all.

Now, it’s an arrow in the quiver

But for all the HDR photographers that I know and follow, we have left behind that initial “HDR craziness” and moved on to using HDR not as an end unto itself, but as a tool in the bag of artistic expression. One of many tools, I might add.

I have seen my own style morph from that “pushing the envelope” sort of HDR madness a few years ago into something that is a bit more subdued now. Well, subdued in my eyes, though I still get comments to the contrary at times (ah, the joys of social media!). Are there times when I will still push the sliders a bit? Absolutely, if the image/scene calls for it, though it’s much less frequent than it used to be. And in my opinion, there are times that the image just begs to be cooked. Some might say that makes me a beginner. Hell, I don’t know anymore. In some ways, we’re all still beginners. You can always learn something.

But more often than not, I am using it in much more subtle ways, and creating more realistic-looking images. It’s a natural evolution I guess. But to be clear, I still love color. LOVE. COLOR. I can’t deny that.

It's about the final output

And as I mentioned above, I am often finding that if I shoot a scene correctly in a single exposure, thanks to the wonders of modern cameras and modern software, I can get the final result that I desire from that single exposure. In other words, my HDR usage isn't as frequent or as strong as it once was. But do I still consider myself an HDR photographer? You bet I do.

So whether you are new to “traditional” HDR or an old hand at it, whether you merge brackets in Photomatix, or blend parts of them in Photoshop, or if you use luminosity masking to create your images - I don’t care, I just applaud your efforts and look forward to seeing your beautiful photos. And even if you "over-cook" some of your images, I still find some of those beautiful too, in their own way. Besides, you should go do whatever you want to do. This is YOUR art. Create the beauty you feel and see.

Because when you get down to the basics, creating a beautiful photo is what we are all trying to do. So wish us well on the quest. The path is ever-changing, and never-ending.....but it’s quite a ride, and it's fun as hell.

See you out there - and bring your camera.

What camp are you in? How do you process your images? Do you even like HDR? Hate it? Feedback is welcome - and thanks for stopping by.

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Some HDR processing resources, in case you are interested...

If you are interested in how I process my HDR photos, your best bet is to review this post which is my HDR tutorial based on using Photomatix (though admittedly, I need to make some updates to it) to create the base HDR photo, and then this post which shows how I use Color Efex Pro to finish my HDR photos. While each image is different, I repeatedly use many of the same filters for my HDR work. And yes, I still use the "traditional" method most of the time. Feel free to use the contact form on my site footer to email me with questions. I'm happy to help, though I don't have all the answers. So, here are some more great resources on the web...

If you are interested in learning about Luminosity Masks and how to use them, the best resource I know of is this one, created by my friend (and very talented photographer) Jimmy McIntyre. He has a number of courses available for purchase, and they are definitely worth checking out!

Another fabulous resource on the web for information on HDR photography as well as post-processing is Klaus Hermann's very informative site at http://farbspiel-photo.com/ . He's quite good and you will learn a lot!

Miroslav Petrasko is a friend of mine (both online and IRL - I had the pleasure of shooting with him once in Bratislava). He has his blog over at HDR Shooter - you definitely should check it out. Here you will find a great tutorial as well as e-Books and more. Spend some time here!

Elia Locardi creates some of the most beautiful photos out there, and his website at Blame The Monkey has a wealth of insights into his methods. Another place to spend some time!

Somewhere I came across Christopher O'Donnell Photography, and though I am not really sure where, I am glad that I did. In addition to beautiful images, he has a free eBook on Exposure Blending which might be of interest. Check it out!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Jim Nix 6/16/14 Jim Nix 6/16/14

5 Things I Love About Dublin

Some of my favorite things in that lovely Irish city...

Some thoughts (and photos!) about what to see in Dublin!

I’m a fan of Dublin, Ireland - in case you haven’t already guessed that from all my posts about that lovely city. It’s a real gem, and I really enjoy visiting there. I find the people to be super friendly, and the city is full of great things to photograph. Oh, and if you like to sit in a pub, well, this is your town.

Now I will readily admit that I am not an expert on Dublin (I live in Texas, after all!), but I’ve been there many times on business and at this point have a pretty good feel for the place, as well as having published here on the blog a list of the best things to shoot while you are there.

I am hoping to return again later this year, and have a few more spots to get to before I feel like my list is complete. Ok, that’s a lie. My lists are actually never complete. I’ll add more every chance I get. It’s something I love to do.

Anyways, I enjoyed writing my previous post about London (5 Things I Love about London) and thought I would do a similar post about Dublin. It’s a labor of love. So bear with me, k? This will be fun. I promise.

While there is quite a bit to see in Dublin, I have focused this list on 5 primary “things”, all pretty much in the central historic district (mostly): Temple Bar, Irish pubs, the Cathedrals, Trinity College, and the Guinness Brewery. This might be a “touristy” list to some, but I feel like seeing these places when in Dublin is a must. So, be a tourist if you have to - just bring the camera and be a photographer too!

And by the way, the city is very walkable. The only wildcard here is the Guinness Brewery. You can absolutely walk to it from the central historic district but it will take you a good 25-30 minutes. I took a cab out there, but the weather was so beautiful when I got out that I walked back along the River Liffey and took a bunch of photos along the way. So exploring on foot is a great thing to do here. Plus, you’ll need to stop and rehydrate - that’s what the pubs are for! :-)

So without further delay, here are the 5 things I love about Dublin, Ireland:

1) Temple Bar

Temple Bar is the name of two things: an awesome Irish pub, and the entire entertainment district surrounding the pub. The Temple Bar district is Dublin’s cultural headquarters and is an area full of great little pubs, shops, and restaurants. Everyone here is a tourist, and it’s totally ok. It’s a fun area, and at night it gets crowded and noisy, but that’s part of the fun.

The Temple Bar pub is the main hub of activity there, and it’s usually the first place I go to get a Guinness. It’s just cool. It was established in 1840 and, in my opinion, has a ton of character. It’s very photogenic. In fact, it’s a place I make a point of photographing on every visit. How can you resist, really? Charm factor 100.

The Temple Bar pub during a beautiful sunrise.

This is a street scene from the Temple Bar district - just so much character!

2) The Irish pubs

Irish pubs are just awesome. They are so fun, and the Irish people are so kind and welcoming. You immediately feel comfortable in one. Plus, they serve Guinness, which adds a lot to my enjoyment! But seriously, when people speak about visiting Ireland, it seems the idea of visiting an Irish pub comes up. (I think we like the accent, too.)

In Dublin, as you can imagine, you have a lot of choices. I’ve made it to several there in Dublin (ahem) and so far can conclude that I love them all. That’s not very conclusive, is it? Well, more research is required, I think. Did I mentioned how much character they have? Great spots for photography - just take the photos before you start on the Guinness. :-)

The Brazen Head - supposedly Ireland's oldest pub!

Another corner with another pub on it - ah, Dublin!

3) The beautiful cathedrals

As you may know from many of my previous posts, I have a serious thing for European churches. Aren’t they just awesome? I love few things more than wandering into an old European church and firing away. And here’s the good news, Dublin fans: there are some real gems in Dublin to visit!

Christ Church Cathedral is my favorite, and is a short 5 minute walk from the Temple Bar, so it’s very central. There’s a lot to see here (and you will want to shoot the outside as well) so leave yourself plenty of time to get it all done.

The next one to see in my opinion is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s a little bit more of a walk, but well worth it. It’s actually the largest church in Ireland (according to Wikipedia at least). You can’t go wrong with a visit to either of these incredible churches. Just remember the tripod so you can get some awesome interior shots!

The exterior of Christ Church Cathedral - so lovely!

4) Trinity College

I definitely recommend that you visit the campus of any large university when you go to a new town, because in my experience they have great architecture which is just begging to be photographed! Trinity College in Dublin is no exception, but note that they do not allow tripods in the central courtyard. Seems like a dumb rule (and for the record, I didn’t know and didn’t see any signs), and I fired all my shots before the security guard found me, but it was sunrise so it was really early. I was the only person around for about a half hour. I definitely recommend a sunrise visit here.

The other thing to see here is the Library, which houses the ancient Book of Kells. This place is incredible, but again it’s a no-tripod zone. That’s actually ok because it does get crowded and it’s a small space. And whether you are there with a camera or not, it’s well worth the time and money to tour the Library. It’s just a beautiful sight! Fans of architecture (and bibliophiles) will be drooling.

The main courtyard at Trinity College during an incredible sunrise.

The ceiling inside the Library - what a place!

5) The Guinness Storehouse and Brewery

Did I mention that I like Guinness? Oh, I didn’t? Ok, well, I do kinda like it. It’s tasty, and truthfully, it tastes better in Dublin than anywhere else. It must be the fresh water. But whatever. The Guinness Brewery is quite a fun thing to see, even if you don’t like the drink (I readily admit that it is an acquired taste). You have a huge indoor waterfall, several floors of restaurants and exhibits, and a skybar at the top with a 360 degree view! Plus, you get a Guinness when you arrive at the skybar. It’s a good deal people! Get on over there! I spent half a day there, but I can move slow when I am having fun taking a lot of photos.

See?  Isn't this waterfall awesome? — See? Isn't this waterfall awesome?

This is near the entrance - just thought the scene looked cool!

Well, that’s a quick little tour of my favorite spots in Dublin. It really is a culturally rich city, steeped in history and offering up a ton of interesting things to see and do (and photograph, naturally). Check it out, and don’t forget the camera. Oh, and lest I forget - stay thirsty my friends! :-)