Photography: My Soul, My Identity, My Destiny
On this August 19th, 2023 World Photography Day, I found myself examining where I am in life as a photographer. I consider myself truly fortunate to have discovered my passion for photography early in my adult life. As a dear friend of mine, Carmit Hirsch, insightfully expressed, photography is more than an art or a […]
The photo that almost cost me my career: The Thin Line of Authenticity, a Tale of Doubt, Integrity, and AI in Photojournalism
Many years ago, while I was a staff photographer at the Boston Globe, I was assigned to Cape Verde to cover a story on education. The resulting piece, a lengthy feature in the Sunday edition of the Boston Globe, included a front-page image that played a significant role in an incident that cemented my beliefs […]
AI-Generated Images… beware of Wolves in Sheep’s clothing
The original photo on the left captures a scene in Havana during a light rain, viewed through a bus window on a sweltering afternoon. In contrast, the photo on the right was digitally altered using filters, resulting in an illustration that clearly deviates from reality. Despite my discomfort, I felt compelled to create and share […]
Portrait Photography: 7 tips to creating Compelling Portraits
First of all, let’s be clear about this. There are many different types of portraits. In this post, I am only going to refer to two kinds: Controlled- Setting portraits and Candid or “Found” Portraits. However, these categories could be subdivided into many other categories. So for the sake of simplicity, in this blog, I […]
On the Similarities Between Photography and Cinematography
Unbeknownst to my friend and fellow photographer David Marshak, who’s taken classes from me and has heard me talk in several occasions, he gave me the answer to this question. He recently sent me a link to a Vanity Fair video in which director Rian Johnson breaks down a scene of his movie “The Glass […]
The Best Camera in the World?
By Essdras M Suarez, a two-time Pulitzer prizewinner and a Kennedy award winner for photojournalism. Captured with iPhone 6 at Christopher Columbus Cemetery (Cemetario de Colon), Havana, Cuba I feel one cannot tackle this question without first establishing a photography quintessence. As Ansel Adams so eloquently stated: “The single most important component of a camera is […]
Panama, Visiting Home
Ever since I left my native country of Panama when I was 18 years old, I’ve always tried to visit at least once a year. Sometimes my travel schedule has gotten to be so crazy that I’ve had to skip a visit here and there. The result of those missing visits becomes painfully obvious to […]
Cuba – A Photographer’s Delight – 2021
Highlights Leader: Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Essdras M Suarez Assistant – Cuban Photography Instructor Joel Hernández Marín Access to artisans and free enterprise Meet with photographers and artists in Havana to discuss their work and the important role art plays in the lives of Cubans Learn to improve the artistic and technical aspects of your photography Experience […]
ON PANNING
A great technique to depict motion is panning because of its ability to combines camera movement and slow shutter it can produce extraordinary results. It is a tool best used to depict motion around a moving subject, which usually is moving horizontally and preferably parallel to the camera. However, this technique requires practice and a […]
ON SILHOUETTES
Dubrovnik, Croatia LESSON: ON SILHOUETTES One of the key points when it comes to silhouettes is the separation between compositional elements. In other words, you want your silhouettes to be immediately recognized for what they are I.e. a person walking, a couple on a bench, people on the phone, all by a moored boat, etc. Quick […]
