Photography Exhibition: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - The View from Here

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art often has interesting and sometimes quirky photographic exhibitions in the world. This exhibition, The View from Here, shows of some of the Museum’s best California photographs from its permanent collection.

This exhibition will run through June 27^th

Will the iPad fulfill photographer's travel computer needs?

Last week, I watched Steve Jobs introduce the Apple iPad with great anticipation. As the iPad presentation continued, I wondered if it could meet the photographic needs of travelers; vacation, amateur enthusiast, or professional photographers.

Since its introduction, I've analyzed how well the iPad might fulfill my needs as a business traveler, and travel photographer. While there is no doubt the iPad is built for travel, I’m not so sure it’s right for the travel photographer.

Photography Exhibition: Photographic Center Northwest - Daniel Beltra: Amazon Forest at Risk

The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, Washington, is at the forefront in advancing the study, practice, and appreciation of fine art and documentary photography through education, exhibitions, and public programs. Daniel Beltra: Amazon Forest at Risk is an amazing record of the Amazon Forest and how it’s being savaged at this time in history.

This exhibition will run through February 28, 2010

Is the iPad a road warrior's dream come true?

Air travel seems more difficult everyday. Like many business travelers, I’ve been looking for a small, lightweight, but high functioning combination electronic travel entertainment and computing device. For me, netbooks are definitely not the answer.

Last week I watched Steve Jobs introduce the Apple iPad with great anticipation. For the last several days I've analyzed how well the iPad might fulfill my needs as a business traveler. The iPad is built for travel.

It’s face is 9.56” by 7.47”, just a half inch thick and weighs no more than 1.6 pounds. It has a beautiful LED-backlit glossy Multi-Touch 9.7” 1024x768 pixels at 132 PPI screen. It comes in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive models.

Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea

I never thought I’d be recommending a television show in this blog, but I guess there’s an exception to every rule.

If you haven’t had a chance to see Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea, series of six two hour episodes, you’re in luck. The series is being reaired on most local PBS stations, on Wednesday nights, beginning this Wednesday, January 27^th.

For wildlife and landscape photographers, or any photographer, for that matter, the US National Parks provide some of the most incredible scenery, and wildlife, both flora and fauna, which can be seen anywhere on earth. For nature photographers the US National Parks are some of the most inspirational locations in existence.

Photography Exhibition: The Museum of Modern Art - Irving Penn, 1917–2009

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), in New York, NY has some of the most amazing exhibitions of contemporary photography in the US Irving Penn, 1917–2009 looks like it will be another in their series of wonderful exhibitions at the Museum. If you’re in the New York City area, don’t miss this exhibition. I plan to go myself, if at all possible.

The exhibition will run for the foreseeable future.

Photographing Water: Reflections and the Deep Blue Sea

Many travelers think the secret to successful reflective water photographs is pure luck, nothing more. Of course, you already know, if for no other reason than I’m writing this article, that it’s not true. Then again, for the traveler, luck does play a part in making successful water photographs, but you can make your luck to an extent.

A significant problem for travelers wanting to make great water photographs is the serious time constraint in which we often find ourselves. Sometimes you can’t possibly schedule yourself at a particular location at a particular time. Sometimes when we’re at a great place for a photograph, the weather, wind or rain, for example, won’t allow us to create the photograph we’ve been looking forward to making. And sometimes despite our best efforts we just never get a chance to return to a great location a second time.

Photography Exhibition: California Museum of Photography: Smoke and Mirrors: The Magic of the Autochrome

The California Museum of Photography, located at the University of California Riverside has some of the best exhibitions of photography in the country. Smoke and Mirrors: The Magic of the Autochrome is an incredibly interesting photograph exhibition, and could be one of the best in the US this year. 

The exhibition will run through April 1, 2010.

Night Photography: Overcoming the Obstacles, Reaping the Rewards

In last week’s article, Night Photography: Pushing the Limits, Understanding the Obstacles, I discussed some of the difficulties encountered in Night Photography.

In this week’s article, I’ll discuss how to overcome those problems to produce wonderful night images which help tell one’s travel stories.

When it’s possible to use one, the tripod is absolutely the best tool for photographers to make great night photographs. A well-chosen tripod with a quality “head” can enable photographers to hold their cameras motionless to create high quality night photographs.