technique – Page 3 – David Helfer Wells

Should I become a Certified Professional Photographer

I have worked in and around photography almost my entire working life. I took a few short detours away from my beloved medium, but those went nowhere fast. A recent email prompted me to look back over my career for insights to share with the photographer who wrote me. Looking back, I noted two important trends, lessons I wish I knew way back when I was starting out, but I did not. I am heartened by the thought that at least I can explore and explain those ideas now, for others to learn from. Read More

Flash Photography Using Remote (Off Camera) Flash Units (a video)

This podcast explores using an off-camera or remote flash unit to get a quality of light that is not possible with the built-in flash units. Read More

A Digital Holga? (a video)

In this podcast, fine-art photographer, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew takes you along as she tests what is, in essence, a digital Holga. Read More

Learning how you learn, photographically and otherwise

I recently finished my annual class built around photographing the Tucson Rodeo. The weather was great and the pictures were even better! Most everyone we encountered was happy to be photographed. The class was a small group, so everyone got lots of attention. Because it was such a small group, I had time to analyze how each person learned. By the time the class was over, events had reminded me that in some ways, the most important thing ANY student should learn is exactly how they do learn.

Basics of capturing images for a time-lapse animation project (a video)

This enhanced podcast introduces the viewer to the basics of capturing images for a time-lapse animation project, in this case while photographing a flower market in Bangalore, India. Read More

Planning your photography when working at twilight (a video)

This enhanced podcast introduces the viewer to the importance of planning in photography when working at twilight, in this case while photographing Water Fire, a periodic piece of performance art in Providence, Rhode Island. Read More

The early photo-essays of David H. Wells (a video)

This podcast explores the evolution of my photo-essays, including many of my grant-funded projects, including my work on the pesticide poisoning of farm-workers in California, the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, fishermen in Gloucester , MA as well as the communities of South Asian immigrants in America Read More

The background of the “light studies” of David H. Wells (a video)

This podcast explores the evolution of my “light studies,” which are photo-essays on the light and atmosphere of a given place. The first “light study,” on a train station in Philadelphia has since led me to do these projects across the globe. Read More

Using light, angle and the time of day in making silhouettes (a video)

This podcast explores using light, angle and the time of day in making silhouettes. Read More

The use of time, shutter speed and panning in photographing action (a video)

This podcast explores the use of time, shutter speed and panning in photographing action. It explores the important photographic technique of panning through photographing race cars at the Seekonk, MA speedway. Read More