Don’t Go Astray on a Bokeh
Dear Bubbles: In your post last week, you said something about a “bokeh effect.” What is a bokeh effect? I’ve never heard of it before. Thanks. ~Andy Dear Andy, The word “bokeh” originates from the Japanese word “boke” which means…
Seeds of Inspiration
Dear Bubbles: What photographers inspire you (dead or alive)? And can you throw in one that is not a landscape photographer just to shake it up and see what those marbles in your brain are up to? Is there a…
Micro Difference Between Macro and Close-Up
Dear Bubbles: Is there really a difference between macro and close-up photography? ~Libba Dear Libba: Macro and close-up are often used interchangeably in the photography world. They both mean recording subjects at close distances with a camera. What separates them…
Becoming an AIR
Dear Bubbles: I understand that you’ve been an artist-in-residence at Acadia multiple times. I am a photographer and an avid fan of the national parks. I am interested in applying to the AIR program. Could you tell me what the…
Lust of the Mind
Dear Bubbles: Freeman Patterson said, “There’s only one rule in photography—never develop color film in chicken noodle soup.” Discuss. ~Guy Dear Guy, Freeman Patterson, who lives in New Brunswick, Canada, is one of my favorite modern-day nature photographers. I received…
Expand Your View
Dear Bubbles: In one of your webinars, you mentioned photographing a panorama. I’ve never tried to do a panorama photograph but want to. I think you said to turn the camera vertically, but I’m not sure I heard you right.…
Take vs. Create
Dear Bubbles: Why do you create photos? ~Ramen Dear Ramen: I’ve offered insights into my motivations for why I photograph previously in an earlier Dear Bubbles column (“If No One Saw Your Photos”). Given your emphasis on the word “create,”…
Real Photographer
Dear Bubbles, I am really enjoying the fun and simplicity of taking photos with my iPhone 11Pro. It’s always with me, I am taking way more photos and the quality is excellent (and I can shoot in raw too).…
Restoring Balance
Dear Bubbles: Can you settle this once and for all: does setting the white balance affect a RAW image? ~Jeff Dear Jeff: It’s complicated. No and yes, which is why we’re easily confused… Let’s start with what RAW is. It’s…
The Impossibility of Creativity
Dear Bubbles: Why is the creative stuff so darn difficult? ~Mark Dear Mark: It sure feels hard sometimes, doesn’t it? Early on in my photography career, I spent much of my time photographing iconic scenes around the southwestern United States.…
Help-U Haiku
Dear Bubbles, Rumor has it you have your workshop participants write haiku’s. Is this true? If so, could you tell me how doing this would help my photography? ~Intrigued Dear Intrigued: A haiku in response: My cover is blown! Words…
Get a Move On
Dear Bubbles: I’m a little embarrassed to ask, but here goes anyway: how do you get the water to look so soft in your pictures? ~Inquiring Minds Want to Know Dear Inquiring Minds Want to Know: First off, under no…
Taking Control
Dear Bubbles: I shoot all of my landscape photos on Av mode. I saw a meme on Facebook recently that said, “Everyone’s a photographer until Manual.” How do you feel about this? I’m not sure I’m ready to go to…
Something Different
Dear Bubbles: I love Dear Bubbles. It’s always so thoughtful and thorough. But I have to ask (in jest): are you capable of writing anything short? ~Can’t Keep Up Dear Can’t Keep Up, Yes. Be well, be wild, ~Bubbles Have…
Common Mistakes with Landscape Photographs
Dear Bubbles: Over all of the years you’ve been teaching photography workshops and all the images you’ve seen in them, what would you say are the most common mistakes people make with their landscape photographs? ~Anne Dear Anne, It’s hard…
Switching Gear
Dear Bubbles: You were a full-frame Canon shooter, and you’ve moved to Olympus (OMD EM1 Mark II, I believe?). What do you like about your Olympus micro-four-thirds gear for landscape photography, and what do you feel you’ve given up leaving…
Two-for-One: Sunglasses and Processing
Dear Bubbles: I almost always wear fairly strong prescription sunglasses (polarized) when I am outside, because I am very sensitive to bright light. I tend to be wearing them whenever I am making photographs. I don’t usually worry about this…
May I Have Your Attention Please
Dear Bubbles: Why can I never finish what I start? Especially when I sign up for online classes and books and courses. Is it fear? And how can I motivate myself to finish something I start? ~Laurie Dear Laurie: I…
Self-Publishing a Book
Dear Bubbles: Now that I find myself with extra free time these days, I’m considering putting together a book with my photographs and thoughts. I’d want to sell it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. But I’ve never done anything…
Another Dose of Depth of Field
Dear Bubbles: Could you please explain this depth of field and hyperfocal business to me ONE more time? Thank you! ~Still Don’t Get It Dear Still Don’t Get It: An abundance of unscientific evidence has proven that in order for…
Get Your Ikigai On
Dear Bubbles: Have you found your ikigai, and if so, what is it? ~ Gene Dear Gene: Have I found my what? Was that a sneeze? Gesundheit, in case it was. I have to admit, I had never heard of…
DAM! Sorting Out Image Management
Dear Bubbles: My first photography influencer told me to keep my photographs by years. Now I have six different external drives and, being of a certain advanced age, I can’t remember where I parked my car far less what year…
Histogram is Out of Shape
Dear Bubbles: I shoot in JPEG format. I’ve heard that my histogram should look like a bell curve. I can never get it to look like that. What am I doing wrong? ~Feeling Exposed Dear Feeling Exposed: I’m glad you’re…
Celebrating Lucky Number 13
Dear Bubbles: Congratulations! It’s been 13 years since you’ve left the corporate world to become a freelancing entrepreneur. How have things changed for you since then? What lessons have you learned about photography and life since leaving Intel? ~Mom and…
