by Chuck McKern You can shoot some incredible and dramatic photographs using infrared film. So why don't more photographers use it? Because infrared is difficult. It's difficult getting the film, difficult shooting with it, and difficult processing it. But a proper understanding of infrared film and how to handle it simplifies its use ...

by Jim McGee When we covered the myriad of new product announcements at this year's PMA the big news was that Fujifilm was releasing a new version of Velvia. The venerable Velvia 50 would now have a faster sibling Velvia 100F. The fact that Astia was being updated with the same technology ...

by Gary W. Stanley Over the past six months or so, you've probably heard terms like, Cabin Fever, Spring Fever, Mud Season and several other expressions associated with the winter doldrums. You know what I'm talking about: that overwhelming desire to get outside once again and enjoy the fresh, warm springtime ...

by Chuck McKern Even with digital technology there are still a lot of people looking to set up traditional chemical darkrooms at home. There are several things that need to be planned out and decided on before setting up. Careful consideration needs to be given to location, equipment you need and/or ...

by Chuck McKern More and more it seems there’s a photo lab on every corner. You have the "mom and pop" labs, the franchises, chain specialty stores, discount department stores, and now the drug stores and grocery stores, all with one-hour labs. And don't forget about all the mail order labs, ...

by Chuck McKern Usually when we go away on vacation, being into photography the way we are, we want to take great pictures to remember the trip by. Years ago, 4x5 cameras provided the best quality images you could get. So serious enthusiasts would make room for the size and bulk of ...

by Chuck McKern Shooting close-ups can be easy and fun if you understand some basic information. Key elements are subject, lighting, exposure, and focus. Yeah, I know we all know these things, however, when shooting close-up photographs, these elements are even more important.   Your subject can be almost anything. A small ceramic ...