Journal (Advice for photographers)

My old journal/blog commenced in 2006 and was retired in early June 2021. Fifteen years worth of posts - articles, gear reviews, announcements, trip reports, photographs, environmental issues, and much more - can be found here. Please subscribe to my Journal to stay tuned (I recommend Feedly). Thank you for reading.

Categories:

Strange Worlds

June 29, 2026

A monochromatic departure from reality - not merely in subject content but in the photographic concept itself - can allow a viewer to establish a deeper and more immediate connection with the essence of the image.

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We Talk Photo with Michael Gordon & Guy Tal

November 30, 2025

It was a real pleasure to converse with my friends Jack Graham and John Pedersen of We Talk Photo, who invited me and our good friend, Guy Tal, to another discussion regarding creativity and the creative life, inspiration, and happiness in photography...

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Breaking it Down: Refining Photographic Composition

November 19, 2025 | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

“When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave until you have captured its essence...

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Rayleigh Scattering in Nature and Landscape Photography

November 13, 2025

Many photographers have likely never heard of Rayleigh Scattering or considered its impacts on their own photographs. In short, Rayleigh Scattering is the scattering or deflection of light by particles with a size much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation...

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Print Your Legacy in On Landscape Magazine

October 21, 2025

In an age where most of our images live, and disappear, on screens, what does it mean to create something lasting? In our latest article, photographer and educator Michael E. Gordon reflects on the power of the printed book...

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Photoshop's New Dust Removal Feature

September 6, 2025

Adobe Photoshop's new Dust Removal feature, part of the Distraction Removal panel in Adobe Camera Raw, is simply amazing. Because I spend many days in the field each year, and during hostile conditions (wind, blown sand/dust) my camera equipment and sensors can get pretty nasty (take a look at my attached image for proof)...

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Vibrant sans Garish

August 24, 2025

A follow-up question landed in my mailbox following a recent webinar. Webinar participant and writer Mark asked:

The color shot that you processed last evening had soft, subtle color...

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From RAW to AWE

July 22, 2025

Creative Expressive Editing with Michael E. Gordon and Chuck Kimmerle
August 21, 2025 6pm PST

Editing photographs can be frustrating. While learning how to make basic adjustments is relatively easy, knowing where to begin - or where to end - can be far more challenging...

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For What Else It Is

May 5, 2025

Equivalents was a photographic concept and body of work developed by the godfather of modern photography, Alfred Stieglitz, around 1925, based on his series of abstract cloud photographs. New York Times art critic Andy Grundberg said that Equivalents offer an "existence of a reality behind and beyond that offered by the world of appearances...

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Photographic Myths: #1

January 28, 2025

Photographic Myths #1: "the light isn't great, let's try black & white"

Good black and white photography is way of thinking and visualizing. It is not a casual afterthought, nor can it be effectively used as a rescue for poor quality of light or composition...

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Outside Magazine: A Driver’s “Reckless Joyride” Damaged the Eureka Dunes in Death Valley

January 15, 2025 | Death Valley National Park, California

Because of my long connection to and expertise on Death Valley National Park, I am often contacted by media to provide information on happenings and incidents in the park. On Monday, January 13, the National Park Service revealed that a motorist (aka asshole) had illegally driven onto Eureka Dunes sometime in late December or early January...

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Published: Nature Vision Magazine #7

December 1, 2024

My article Print Your Legacy, along with eight of my photographs, appears in Nature Vision Magazine #7, a publication of Nature Photographers Network. In this article, I provide a practical guide to self-publishing affordable photo books...

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Join me on August 7 for my Summer Speaker Series Class!

July 8, 2024

Please join me August, 7, 2024 for a live Zoom session with *Nature Photography Classes Summer Speaker Series!*

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Scouting, Vision, & Perseverance

June 5, 2024 | Death Valley, California

Location scouting is a vital element of filmmaking and commercial photography. Many landscape photographers also employ scouting in their strategies, although the strategies of most differ greatly from my own...

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Published: Nature Vision Magazine #2

October 2023

My article Perseverance and eight of my images appear in Issue #2 of *Nature Vision Magazine*

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On Juried Photo Competitions/Contests & Juried Exhibitions

20 August 2022

Make no mistake about it: most photographic competitions and exhibitions exist to grow the business and bank account of the host/sponsor(s). With few exceptions, they rarely exist as an altruistic enterprise for the advancement of photographer's careers...

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Staying Alive

Summer 2022

It’s that time of year when the body count rises with ambient air temperature.

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Book Review: Another Day Not Wasted by Guy Tal

05 October 2021

Guy Tal: Another Day Not Wasted
“Don’t be afraid to live”

Guy Tal’s latest book, Another Day Not Wasted: Meditations on Photography, Art, and Wildness, should find its way into the collection of every nature and landscape photographer who wishes to elevate their life and life experiences...

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You are visiting the Journal of fine art landscape photographer Michael E. Gordon. Please follow the navigation links at the top of this page for additional photographs and information. The old blog (2006-2020) has been retired but is archived and all articles remain available for reading. You can also find Michael on Facebook and Instagram.