We believe that lighting is the key. It is the basis for great photography. It is, for us, nearly magical.

This magazine is devoted to photography, and photographic lighting in specific. We want to feature items that photographers of all kinds will be interested in. We are looking forward to a well rounded team of authors and content providers. From portfolio presentations, to lighting tools, to writings on the general world of photography, Lighting Essentials magazine wants to be your place. Tell us what you want to see, send us links of cool stuff or ask us lighting questions you need answers to.

If you would like to be an author here, please let me know. Don

I have shot for major publications, minor publications, advertising agencies, corporations, modeling agencies and even taught photography during a particularly interesting interlude of life. 35mm, 6×6, 6×7, 4×5, 5×7 and 8×10 cameras. Still have everything but the 6×6 (lookin’ for a great deal on a Hassie…) I love film. I love digital. As I write this I am so excited because my Diana just came in from Amazon. I can’t wait to take it out and shoot a few rolls. I have shot still-life, product, big studio sets, fashion and beauty. I love to photograph people now and mostly do what I love.

In 1995 I recognized that the web was a major tool to be harnessed. I started a little company with a guy who ended up being a back-stabbing-cheating-little-bastard… but I digress… ahem, and it grew like crazy to be one of the fastest growing tech/media companies in the region. As creative director, I was actually hiring photographers to do what I loved to do. Most were wonderful. Some sucked. And the ones who sucked couldn’t light. Harsh light with silly shadows or boring light when it should have been interesting. After leaving to go it alone, I started shooting again and found that the young shooters coming up were very creative but hadn’t learned to light with love and finesse.

So I started teaching a few at a time. This workshop is the culmination of that work. I still shoot and design and shoot some more. I dabbled in high end weddings, but they take too much time and these days I love teaching, working on the Lighting Essentials site, mentoring younger shooters and shooting for a wide range of clients. These are heady times for photographers. So many choices in cameras, lenses and fun equipment. But in the end, a photograph is of the light that was found or created. Lighting is the key to it all.