Once upon a time I was a photographer for a cutting-edge children's performing ensemble which combined singing, dancing, and precision sign language. Hi there!  I have another potential photo expedition for you (besides the one in Kenya I mentioned recently).  And I talk about what it takes to photograph kids who don't sit still using old manual focus film cameras.  (For several years!!)   Read all about it and more here: https://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2023/11/ ...Continue Reading

Hi there!  Gary Friedman here, with a personal invitation for all of you who love your camera and would love to give it something to do.  I’ll be hosting a photo safari in three Kenya game reserves in November, 2024, and I’d like you to join me!  Complete details are in the website below, but here are some highlights: The trip is designed for the unique needs of photographers, where the sun will always be behind you and we’ll always be close to the action.  The guides are all photographers a ...Continue Reading

These inkjet prints have lasted 26 years!! Hi, all! So we're still unpacking (!) and we found a handful of inkjet prints I made way back in 1997, which have been framed and hung on a wall almost continuously since then.  And while inkjet prints are famous for fading quickly (whether under glass or not), these seem to be the exception to the rule. What magical printer did this? In this blog post I also introduce you to the amazingly talented Mark Stewart, a musician who has played with Paul Simon, Steve Rei ...Continue Reading

Hi there! There's been a lot going on here, which is why you haven't heard much from me.  I have a few announcments to make, then a story about my worst trip ever. The announcements: [*]The A6700 ebook is almost finished!  (You can pre-order a copy at a discount here). [*]Version 2.0 of the Friedman Archives Seminars will be hitting the road soon.  (More details next month.  Let me know if your local photo club would like to bring me over at no cost!) [*]Wanna use your camera on an African Sa ...Continue Reading

Probably my most influential blog post in the last 18 years - the one where I got the most number of people to re-examine long-held beliefs about what they thought was true - was the "Full Frame vs. Small Sensor (don't laugh)" post from 2017, where I pitted my 42 megapixel Sony A99 II against the tiny 20 MP RX100 V point-and-shoot.  When enlarged to poster size and scrutinized, nobody could tell which camera took which image.  Well, guess what?  https://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2023/07 ...Continue Reading

Hi there!  The latest edition of the Friedman Archives Blog is out, where I talk about my new studio and give an introduction to how to use the classic Minolta SR-T series of mechanical cameras.  Read all about it here:   https://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-new-new-studio.html [Note: Are you a photography teacher working with film?  Let's talk... I have an idea.] Enjoy! Sincerely, Gary Friedman ...Continue Reading

I learned everything I know about Wireless Flash from Phil.  One flash and one reflector. Hi there!  The latest edition of the Friedman Archives Blog is now out!  This edition relays a unique story about Minolta that has several different beginnings, involving the Honeywell lawsuit, their pricing and naming strategy, and the guy who provided the best technical support in the world.  (And David Kilpatrick, Cameracraft magazine's editor and publisher, works in there too.)  It's a story only ...Continue Reading

Hi there!  Gary Friedman here, publisher of the ebook you purchased for your mirrorless camera.  Just writing to tell you that this month there' not only one, but TWO blog posts! The first one opens with the concept of doing a pan and zoom during a timelapse video, something that used to require an expensive motion control rig.   Content of Blog Post #1: [*]How to create Time Lapse videos with Pan and Zoom [*]20-second Photoshop Tips [*]Shooting in Cold Temperatures [*]The Usual Announcemen ...Continue Reading

There are new tools available for converting old B&W images to color.  Do they do a good job? ​Aloha!  There are not just one but TWO Friedman Archives Blog posts out now: The first: https://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2023/03/10-things-you-cant-do-with-smartphone.html 10 Things Smartphone Cameras Can't Do Sony A7R V - Little-Discussed Features of Note (youtube video) Adding Detail and Color to Old Photos The Usual Announcements This content certified non-AI by the Order of Flesh and blood The ...Continue Reading

AI-generated Steampunk series by Everton Lisbosa This month I'm sharing what I've learned after deep-diving into the AI image generation space (tools like Midjourney, DALL-E 2, and Stable Diffusion), and why the vocal alarm you're hearing online is largely misplaced.  (Spoiler alert: it's actually worse than people think!)I share what I've learned about the current state of things, what the real problem is, and my next business idea: one way to add accountability to a field that severely lacks it in this ...Continue Reading