Coal Miners, Coding and Coffee in the Age of AI
I met with the marketing director of a non-profit for coffee this week to discuss a pending project. Face-to-face meetings like this rarer now, even more than a year after the WHO pronounced the Covid-19 Pandemic officially over.
The Messy Art of Connection
Yesterday afternoon, I found myself randomly picking up photographic gear—a power cord here, a light meter there, a reflector, stowing a canvas backdrop—and I realized I was way too tired to finish.
Understanding Photographer and Videographer Rates
When hiring a photographer or videographer, rates can be confusing. Some photographers don't provide day rates, while videographers often do.
Lessons from the Trail: Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail
This week, I returned from hiking the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland. The 34-mile (55 km) trail winds from Landmannalaugar through the Fjallabak Nature Preserve to Thorsmork (Þórsmörk).
2023: A Year On My Feet
Last year, I set a personal goal to walk or hike 2023 miles. It was a last-minute decision, sparked by a desire to shape up before a five-day backpacking trip in Iceland.
Redundancy and Creative Resilience
Redundancy has a bad rap. It conjures images of lost jobs, of being the expendable one. But as a creative, redundancy is my secret weapon. It makes me and my creative work resilient.
Cut it Out: When Less is More
My default mode seems set to Acquire: Get more gear, more software, more skills, new stuff. But more isn't better. It's often a trap. Over time, the act of acquiring can become the goal itself.Bridging the Gap
In the classic "South Park" episode featuring the Underpants Gnomes, a straightforward but fundamentally flawed business plan is unveiled: Phase 1, collect underpants. Phase 3, reap the profits. This presentation humorously omits a crucial element — Phase 2.In the Room Where It Happens
During my years as a newspaper photo editor, I often invited myself into any meetings I saw that included an editor and writers. Leaning into the doorway I'd ask, "Should I be in here?" Early involvement in story development leads to better visual opportunities, benefitting the story and ultimately, readers.Lessons Learned hiking the Great Barrier Reef
Back in the cold dark of January I made a resolution to trek at least 2023 miles this year. The primary goal was to train for a five-day backpacking trip to Iceland in 2024. But it also seemed a surefire way to spend more time outdoors, another goal.Get Real: It’s about people, not brands
The biggest trend in 2022 seems to be the embrace of artificial intelligence (A.I.) tools like ChatGPT, Jasper and MidJourney by content marketers. In an age of deepfake videos and faked resumes, trust is the only thing in short supply.Leave Room for the Muse
When I hire a skilled professional—like the folks who installed my bathtub last year (really sorry about the non-code stuff you found and then had to correct), I like being able to trust that they know what they are doing and can be left to execute the vision as they best see fit.Capturing Moments
Photography is synonymous with light. In Greek, the word literally means to draw with light. No light, no photography. But what truly elevates photography to a higher form of art is something else.Let your backgrounds tell the story
When it comes to portraits: choosing the proper background environment is as important (and sometimes, more so) than the subject themselves.Photographing the person, not the title
One of my favorite projects this past year has been covering the campaign of Maine Governor Janet Mills as she ran for re-election against challenger, former Gov. Paul LePage. Maine’s first female governor (elected in 2018), Mills faced the Covid pandemic and the resulting, ongoing economic and health impacts.Telling stories in 2023
As 2022 melts into memory, those of us lucky enough to call Maine home are on the threshold of the coldest, snowiest part of the year. Winter is a time of reflection, of doing the work and preparing for spring and warmer weather to come.The Decisive Portrait Moment
Photography is all about light, of course—the literal meaning of the word in Greek is 'drawing with light'. Without light, there can be no photography.