May 6, 2025 - I just returned from visiting my daughter in Milwaukee where she goes to College. I’ve been there many times, but finally had a chance to tour the University and the city with camera in hand. Wow .. what a great city filled with historic buildings around the brewing industry. Also, they’ve built an amazing River Walk that snakes through downtown as you meander along the Milwaukee River. Of course, the crown jewel is the Milwaukee Art Museum that sits along Lake Michigan. Its structure is designed like a boat with a huge sail. If you’re ever in Milwaukee don’t forget your camera to capture it’s amazing architecture and rich historical structures.
May 2, 2025 - In a previous post, I debunked an old myth .. ‘It’s easy to mistakenly believe that capturing stunning architectural photos requires traveling to far-flung, exotic locations. The truth is, fantastic architectural subjects are everywhere, right in your own city, town, or village – whether you’re in Belleville, Illinois, or anywhere else across the globe!’ So how do you find those great places? Here is a fantastic tool to do just that. It’s called the ShotHotSpot. You simply type in the search bar a location and it provides you with an array of locations nearby. It even includes a map where you can find them. This is one of the great tools you’ll want to have in your architectural photography arsenal. Check it out at https://www.shothotspot.com/
Apr 29, 2025 - I stumbled upon this doorway here in my hometown of Belleville, IL. It’s so unassuming you could easily walk by and never notice it. However, for me, there are couple of things that captured my attention, but equally created curiosity. First, my focus is drawn to the simplicity of the door against the black painted brick. Second, there is something about brick with weathered paint that creates really interesting textures, especially when it starts to peel. Third, the light is even virtually casting no shadows. Given those observations, what interests me most are the three places where a former window has been replaced with brick. You can see the curved tops of the windows that create a interesting pattern against the façade of the building. What happened here? Who and what used to occupy this building? And why did they brick the windows and paint it all one black color? Buildings have stories to tell and this one certainly deserves more exploration to capture its soul.
Apr 25, 2025 - For those of you wanting expand your architectural photography knowledge and skills, here are a couple of great resources. There are literally hundreds of guides and tutorials online (a simple Google search will give you amazing results), but I thought these four were especially noteworthy. Enjoy!
Apr 22, 2025 - As a photographer who typically focuses on things that don’t breath and don’t move, the prospect of shooting portraits of people always felt daunting. Recently, I stepped outside that comfort zone, first for my daughter’s senior photos and then for some student headshots at my College this past weekend. Nervousness aside, both experiences were incredibly rewarding for me. Photographing people pushed me to rethink camera settings, lighting, details, and composition in new and interesting ways. Though challenging, stepping out my comfort zone to take people portraits was invaluable for my growth as a photogtrapher and a good reminder of the benefits of trying something new. I’m glad I did it!
