Author Archives: Alec

That’s Bull!@#$

By Alec | Published December 5, 2010

(click image for larger view) If someone else had taken this photo and showed it to me, then I might have been tempted to question its legitimacy.   I can hear the voice in my head say, “that’s bull!@#$.”   Was the sky shot some other time or place?  Was it some how digitally created?  [...]

Posted in HDR, Landscapes | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Storm Chasing – Minnesota Style

By Alec | Published November 14, 2010

I guess I’m not sure which chaser I most connect with in the series, Storm Chasers. Definitely not Reed, probably not Sean, but I think its Tim Samaras. Ok, if you haven’t watched Storm Chasers then this analogy won’t go anywhere. All you need to understand is that Storm Chasers do just what the name [...]

Posted in Landscapes | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Ride’m Cowboy!

By Alec | Published September 27, 2010

Today’s post features two slideshows from some recent events I photographed. This first is from the Pine City Rodeo on Labor Day weekend and the second was from the Virtuoso’s Music Academy annual RockFest, featuring their young students performing on an outdoor stage in front of an audience. I want to write about the value [...]

Posted in Landscapes, People | 2 Comments

You Might Be Surprised

By Alec | Published August 18, 2010

We just finished our 4 glorious days on the North Shore of Lake Superior.  Great participants, great weather, great accommodations, great photography from all.   Wow.  What a treat to be able to do this.  THANK YOU to George, Chris, Marek, Chet, Gary and Sam! I don’t formally shoot during workshops, but I’ll carry around my [...]

Posted in Landscapes | Tagged , | 3 Comments

I bet my HDR can beat up your HDR

By Alec | Published August 4, 2010

I’m writing this post just a few days before I start teaching a landscape workshop to remind myself that HDR for HDR’s sake does not equal good photography.   Like two litttle kids comparing who’s dad is tougher, some photographers compete with each other to produce more graphic, more over the top HDR images with a [...]

Posted in HDR, Landscapes | Tagged | 4 Comments

You’re So Limited!

By Alec | Published June 27, 2010

The following quote came up in a conversation with a friend, John Benzik, yesterday;  “In an almost classical sense, U2′s guitarist has turned limitations to his advantage, using simple techniques and abundant imagination to produce one of the freshest styles in years.”  This is an excerpt from Guitar Player Magazine, 1985 interview with Edge, guitarist [...]

Posted in Landscapes | 4 Comments

Get Divorced!

By Alec | Published June 8, 2010

WARNING!  THIS IS A LONG POST ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF PHOTOGRAPHY.  TO JUST SEE GREAT IMAGES GO TO BOTTOM OF PAGE. I was on a commercial architecture shoot in Emmetsburg, Iowa last weekend.  Much to my surprise and pleasure two divorced women I met at lunch tried desperately to get me out to the local [...]

Posted in Landscapes | 2 Comments

Preparation H

By Alec | Published May 19, 2010

Consistent, quality photography is generally not an accident or product of happenstance.  Its a product of management and preparation.  I now spend less than 1% of my time on any shoot actually pushing that silly little shutter button. I recently had a teaching client in my studio working on a shoot.  I had worked with [...]

Posted in Landscapes, People | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Did Your Photo Workshop Suck?

By Alec | Published May 5, 2010

Hi Gang, I’m sure a number of you reading this have a few stories you can tell about photography workshops.  Some good, some not so good, some maybe a little embarrassing (Matt Gibson and Bryan Allen, if you’re reading this don’t say a word).  A few months back a friend and former workshop participant called [...]

Posted in Miscellaneous, News | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Rush City Grain Elevator

By Alec | Published April 30, 2010

Yep, another grain elevator shot.  Whew, how many of these can any of you take?  Well, we’ll find out.  I’m going to start including a short video on my thoughts regarding the WHY of the image post as well as the HOW of it.  Today is the first of these.  Please feel free to post [...]

Posted in Landscapes | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments