Welcome to my new blog! I’m not sure what will happen here, but it is my intention to check in at least once a week to add a photography tip or two, discuss an upcoming or recent photo shoot and more importantly, respond to your posts and questions. Send your comments and questions to steve@dantzigphotography.com and I will post them here and elsewhere.
Who am I and why would you care what I have to say about photography? My name is Steve Dantzig. I am not a full time photographer—yet. However, photography is in my blood and I have managed to carve a niche in the world of photography that I hope will leave a lasting legacy. My passion has not led to lucrative financial rewards—yet, but it has taken a direction, that in hindsight makes sense. I am an educator. My “day job” is within a different field in the public schools. I have trained professional psychologist for over ten years—as a consultant and now as a university professor.

It does not seem as surprising that my career in photography would venture into education as well. It started innocently. I was walking out of a photography convention in Los Angeles. I don’t even remember what year it was. The Photoflex booth caught my eye on the way out. I returned to the convention hall to say “hello” to the people who made the gear that I used in each of my shoots. It turned out to be a fateful encounter. I met a gentleman by the name of Ben Clay. Ben mentioned that Photoflex was starting a new web based photography school and was looking for people to write articles for the new site. I mentioned that I would like to give it a shot. My career as a photography educator was launched. I have published articles in many of the premier photography magazines and websites including RANGEFINDER Magazine, Professional Photographer Magazine, PC Photo Magazine, Studio Photography and Design, ProPhoto West, www.ShootSmarter.com, www.ProPhotoResource.com, and of course, the Photoflex www.WebPhotoSchool.com. My good friend at Rangefinder introduced me to the idea of writing a book about lighting. Bill Hurter then introduced me to the folks at Amherst Media and Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography for Film and Digital Photographers was born. I followed this endeavor with Mastering Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography and Softbox Lighting Techniques for Professional Photographers. My latest project is in production and is tentatively called Back to Basics: An Introduction to Lighting and Photoshop Techniques. This volume is geared to those of you who are relatively new to photography and want a step-by-step breakdown of the complicated laws that govern light and lighting.

One section of my website is dedicated to educating those who are hungry for photography knowledge and information. The “Hawaii School of Photography” section is where you will find a number of my previously published articles. I will be tying this blog into my school pages as well. I also have an “Ask Steve” forum on www.prophotoresource.com where people can join for free and post any question related to photographic lighting. I encourage you to join that site and ask away. You are also welcome to post your questions here and I will respond as best I can. I will also repost your questions and my responses on prophotoresource.com.
Here, now, are some of the rules for this blog:
1) You grant me permission to post and repost your comments and questions on this and other blogs related to photography. You give me permission to use your name as signed in future postings.
2) I will NOT post your e-mail address in any blog nor will I release your e-mail to anyone. I may use your e-mail to update you when new articles/blogs are posted online, seminar dates are announced or when my books or other educational products/opportunities are released.
3) You MAY submit photographs along with your questions. You grant me permission to post and repost these images within the context submitted. You do NOT grant me any other rights and all other rights, including YOUR COPYRIGHT remain with you. You MUST have your name embedded within your images if you want me to post them. I repeat: I will NOT post any images where the photographer is unidentifiable.
4) You, however, recognize that image downloading is extremely common and agree to hold me harmless in the event that your image is “lifted” from my site(s) and used inappropriately.
5) Images depicting graphic violence will NOT be accepted.
6) Images depicting nudity will be considered on a case by case basis.
7) SPAM will not be tolerated.
This blog will contain some technical information that will cover the gamut from beginner to advanced topics. However, it is not my intention to recreate what my books offer. I hope to offer some insights into the reasons behind my lighting choices and to talk about my thought processes behind the techniques I used. You might see images that have been published in previous books and articles, but the discussion about the images will be different. I will let you know where to find the images and the previously published information.