When we think about artificial intelligence in photography and video, it is tempting to focus on its ability to generate images. We are surrounded by demonstrations of what generative AI can create, and increasingly there’s concern about the sheer volume of AI-generated content, and AI slop. But generative AI is only one part of the … Read more
Last month I wrote about DNG becoming an ISO standard. Like any ISO standard, there are costs and benefits to adopting it into your workflow. It is up to you, whether you are an individual photographer or running a business, to decide if ISO DNG makes sense for how you work. What is an ISO … Read more
If you had told me in the late 1990s that I would still be talking about raw file formats more than 25 years later, I probably would have laughed. Back then, we were all trying to make sense of digital photography as it found its footing, full of excitement and uncertainty. Color management itself was … Read more
Every so often, a client asks me for TIFF files because “the designer says TIFF is better.” It reminds me of my earlier post on high resolution images, how many long-held beliefs in photography aren’t actually based on best practice, but on assumptions. The JPEG vs TIFF debate falls squarely into that category. Some context … Read more
Until recently I wasn’t able to recommend a simple program for managing image collections. DAM software with a clean interface that will appeal to creatives seemed to have become extinct. A creative is anyone who makes digital art; photographer, designer, illustrator, video or music producer. Digital Asset Management software for creatives has undergone many changes … Read more
Myths, facts, and best practices When it comes to digital photography, discussions around file formats can sometimes create more confusion than clarity. One such myth I sometimes encounter is that TIFF is always superior to JPEG. Similar to the misconception on what defines “high resolution”. After nearly 30 years working directly on digital photography standards, … Read more
End of the year is a good time to back up your images. Of course you should regularly back up, and not just once a year! Did you know most pros back up as they photograph? Cameras offer two card slots, and be set up to copy images to each card simultaneously. This offers redundancy … Read more
Twenty-five years ago, I invested in a Nikon D1, the first “affordable” professional digital camera. Before owning the D1, I would occasionally rent Kodak digital cameras when their benefits outweighed the cost of shooting on film. As we entered the new millennium, digital photography started to surpass film in practicality for my corporate and editorial … Read more
Almost twenty years later, I’m again being asked to help with how to set up a professional photography workflow. Some context In the early noughties the move from film (I dislike the word analog) to digital photography introduced many challenges. Especially for professional photographers earning their living with the new medium. How we captured images, … Read more
Austin Kleon wrote, “…validation is for parking, not for artists.” However I’m not referring to validation as a creative. Photographers need to regularly validate their image archive to ensure it hasn’t deteriorated. A lot of things can go wrong: file corruption, bit rot, missing images and more. In ye olde days of film we could … Read more