This page holds a number of 'essays' written by an old curmudgeon¹ with degrees in physics and biology.
And as that curmudgeon, I get pissed off by stuff on the internet that is either obscure, wrong or seriously misleading.
Click the link at the bottom of each item to open ... or right click and choose 'Open link...' or 'Save target as ...'
* Most explanations of how a polarizing filter works are wrong. They do not polarize or un-polarize light.
* There are no filter systems that will provide a 'complete' filter solution.
* Most YouTube pundits only succeed at DOF stacking by using ultra-wide lenses at small apertures.
* The panels in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom use different color models. This changes how the panels should be used.
* Lightroom vs. Photoshop is a false comparison. It's really Lightroom vs. Adobe Camera Raw!
* The Exposure Pizza is a better way to understand the dynamics of ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.
These PDFs made with the old fashioned AI : Actual Intelligence.
Depth-of-Field for Smarties
Depth-of-Field and Hyperfocal Distance: often poorly explained and wrongly used. You need to know these concepts and how to use them well.
Lightroom vs. Photoshop
This comparison is meaningless today. The Adobe Photography bundle is full featured toolkit for photographers. Pick which you like best.
New - The Exposure Pizza
Don't get lost in the Exposure Triangle! Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed have a complicated relationship. No matter how you slice it, the Exposure Pizza is far easier to digest!
New - Acadia National Park
This is a test for new series of PDFs for my favorite locations! (Note that the file is large.) Let me know your thoughts, and of any typos or errors you find.
Macro Focus Stacks
Photo stacking can be fully automated in new Nikon Cameras. For macro work the number of frames is high and difficult to get right. Learn how to test your macro system!
Color and Calibration
The physics and biology of color. Alister Benn's Secret Slider and Blake Rudis' Panel Order explained! The ZIP file contains a PDF and two simple color targets.
Reviewing Reviews
On-line reviews vary widely in quality. If you are seeking good advice before purchasing new and expensive gear, you need to tell good reviews from bad.
New - Warmth vs Color Temperature
White balance may be the most important step in color editing. You should know how warmth and color temperature are related and why adjusting them should be early in your workflow.
Polarizers
Turning a polarizer does not polarize and un-polarize light! This PDF describes what's really happening, and when a polarizer will be effective!
Choosing Camera Filters
An unfiltered view of camera filters. Choosing filters or filter systems is confusing. There are positives and negatives to all choices. Read this before you lay your money down!