About

Background

Best Kept Secret came from a client that said “you are like the best kept secret” and the name stuck. I changed my company name (a company I have owned since high school) to reflect this new name and have been using it for many years now.

So what is the secret? If you are one of my select clients, you already know.

My approach to photography is to have fun. I keep sessions engaging, upbeat, fun and moving. I tend to work ideas quickly and those that work well I will work even longer and share the process of what I am trying to create.

I just love to create imagery for my clients and for myself as time permits. I photograph something each and every day.

All my work is copyrighted and cannot be used without permission. Please contact me about usage for blogs, newsletters, publishing, music albums, etc. I would be happy to quote you prices and offer terms of use. All rights reserved.

I love vibrant color in photography and the absense of color in photography.
I rarely stay in the middle for very long, though I have had fun exploring it more this year.

I am trying to become an image maker. I want to be able to point my lens and eye at something and be able to make an image of whatever it is.
I take photos of what inspires me, which is almost anything that emits or reflects light, casts a shadow, etc. One of my cameras is always with me, especially now with my 1/day/366 project.

The Beginning

I don’t think I am that old, but I have been photographing moments of life since I was 14. I started off with a Pentax ME Super, two lenses, a small tripod, some filters and a few photography books. In 1995 I sold this equipment to an in-law, purchased a Canon A2e that was recommended to me from a pro that shot with one. It came with a 28-105 zoom lens. I liked it, got good results with slide film, but never felt in control of this camera. It always felt backwards to me, though I did not know why. I never bought any other lenses for it and never liked the non-rechargeable batteries that seemed to die when you most needed them to work. I sold it several years ago before it was worthless to too many people. Better than have it collect dust I thought.

Coming of Digital

I used lots of digital cameras over the years, but my first one I purchased was a Nikon Coolpix 4500. I loved that little camera and took it everywhere. I had two ND filters, a circular polarizer and a infrared filter for it. Took 25,000 photos on that thing and then realized that I had outgrown it quite rapidly. Next I purchased a Nikon D70 with a Nikkor 18-70 4.5-5.6 lens. Shot about 26,000 photos with that body and leaned a lot in the process. Had an old Nikkor 75-300 4.5-5.6 zoom lens (used), a Sigma 105 2.8 EX Macro (used) and that was it for a long time. Then bought a Nikkor 85mm 1.8 and that opened up much more control in portrait work, better bokeh and more shooting in low-light.

Getting Serious

Well, then I grew out of the D70 and needed a workhorse, but still within my small budget. I had earned enough from portrait work to get a D200, a vertical grip and some other goodies. That really set me free to explore more photography than ever. Nikkor 50mm 1.8, Nikkor 105mm 2.8 VR Macro, Nikkor 17-55 2.8, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR and a Sigma 10-20 4-5.6 have really been put to constant use with the other stuff in the kit. The ergonomics and access to functions easily has changed my photography to the point that all the equipment has become a creative extension of my thoughts.

Becoming Second Nature

Most everything I learn, I learn by doing. That is the method that works best for me. I learn from friends, contacts, and the rest of the Internet and other resources too, but it does not become second nature until I get out and do it for myself, then it sinks in and either becomes part of my work flow, or becomes something I don’t use.

Preferred Settings

I am almost always shooting in M (Manual) mode. I love the control I get and nothing changes unless I want it to. I will occasionally switch to Aperture Priority when light conditions change rapidly. I forced myself to shoot everything on manual mode for two weeks. After that, I never looked back. The relationship between ISO, shutter speed and aperture has become second nature now and is not something I even think about for many shots. Just rotate one dial or another and all happens without over-thinking it.

The Sharing

I love the sharing that goes on online. The friends I have made, the sharing that goes on, the learning and such has been great. I love sharing, teaching and talking about shots. This blog has been fun to put together as well, so I hope you get something out of it.

Today

LOTS of exposures on my D300. Want to convert my D200 to IR as soon as I get another body and no longer need it as backup. Shot a wedding with a D3 (nice!). Need to add a FX high-ISO capable body to my arsenal in 2010. Need a Vari-N-Duo and will add that to the kit soon.

The Future

creativity. fun. explore. try. learn. enjoy.

Me, in the water, winter, boots, jacket, cold (see my breath) tripod in the water with me.
Photo courtesy of Joe Simpson

Gear

Oh, and the ubiquitous camera gear lineup?
1) Brain
2) Eyes
3) Hands
4) Equipment to extend them

OK, OK, still need more info? As if it matters:
• Nikon D700/grip - the primary work horse for almost all situations
• Nikon D3/D3s/D3x - rented as needed for certain events
• Nikon D300/grip - backup & crop factor pixels as needed
• Nikon D200/grip - backup, remote triggered at venues, will be converted to IR likely this year
• Nikon D70 - converted to IR (has now died) ;-(
• Nikon D40x - backup and small form factor (my point & shoot)
• Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
• Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8
• Nikkor 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 - backup
• Sigma 30mm f/1.4
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
• Nikkor 85mm f/1.8
• Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR Macro
• Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR
• Nikkor 75-300 f/4.5-5.6 - old but good glass
• Nikkor 14-24, 24-70, 200-400, 300/2 - rented as needed for the time being
• Other lenses via rental as needed
• Lensbaby 2.0
• Feisol CT-3442 carbon fiber tripod
• Feisol CT-3442CC center column (rarely use)
• Feisol LB-7567 leveling base (for pano head)
• Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head
• Nodal Ninja 5L w/ RD16 rotator
• 501 video tripod head
• “Ground pod” I made myself
• Old Manfrotto tripods & monopod
• Old Manfrotto 322 RC2 ball head
• Manfrotto AutoPoles
• 77mm B+W CPL
• 77mm Hoya ND400
• 77mm clear multicoated filter (for water/salt spray, etc.)
• 77mm ND 2
• Alien Bee B400 (black)
• Alien Bee B800 (yellow)
• SB-800
• (2) SB-600
• (3) Pocket Wizard Plus II units (I love auto-relay & camera triggering)
• (2) cables to trigger remote cameras
• RadioPopper P1 units (PX replacement soon)
• RadioPopper JrX units - work great for Alien Bees and beyond
• Investigating PW Flex/Mini for Nikon as a replacement for all RP triggers in my kit
• Explorer XT - 2400 watts of portable strobe power unit (works for other uses too)
• Photoflex 42″ 5-in-1 reflector/diffuser
• Photoflex OctoDome nxt
• (2) Photoflex 30″ convertible umbrellas
• (2) 43″ silver umbrellas
• (2) Photoflex 60″ convertible umbrellas
• 22″ custom beauty dish
• Photoflex reflector holder/light stand
• Backlight stand (short)
• (2) 6′ light stands
• (2) 13′ light stands
• (4) Lexar UDMA 8GB compact flash
• SanDisk 4GB Extreme IV & many old Ultra II 1GB compact flash
• X-Rite Color Checker Passport - love it!
• X-Rite Color Munki Photo - screen, projector, printer calibration - love it!
• Kata KT D-3N1-30 Sling/Backpack (with 3N1 Tripod Holder)
• Lowepro Street & Field deluxe belt system
• Blackrapid RS-4 strap
• Blackrapid RS-5 strap
• Canon imagePROGRAF iPF5100 - 12 pigment inks

And a lot of other items like:
• light modifiers - diffusion panels, scrims, silks, reflectors, bounce cards, black cards, etc.
• support gear, superclamps, tons of various clamps, gaffers tape, plates, mounts, hardware, connectors, adapters, fittings, etc.
• lots of “fantasy cloth” backdrops, white fabric, black fabric, painted canvas
• smoke machines, blowers, etc.
• all kinds of “Strobist” items

What is on my yet-to-purchase list?
• FX body (holding out for a D800 would likely suit me best)
• 14-24 f/4
• Nikon 200-400 f/4 VR
• Vari-N-Duo
• 1200 or 2400 watt studio strobe (for overpowering the sun)
• Big octoboxes
• RadioPopper PX units (I have P1 system to replace)
• Upgrade to RRS QR, plates, L brackets, etc. (cost is over $1,000) gulp!