by NIck Kelsh | Sep 24, 2015 | Blog
My father was seriously injured in World War II. It happened in a small town on the Rhine River in Germany in March 1945. Gen. Eisenhower said the bridge there was worth its weight in gold; it was a well built railroad bridge that could support war ending tanks...
by NIck Kelsh | Sep 9, 2015 | Blog
Today was finally back to school day for the Kelsh family in Philadelphia. (I was going to say for the Kelsh boys but believe me, it’s back to school day for the entire Kelsh family. At least two of us are beyond relieved.) The boys are in a new school building this...
by NIck Kelsh | Aug 31, 2015 | Blog
It hangs in the air through the early weeks of fall…that back-to-school energy! Even if you don’t have school age kids there’s the sense that everything starts up again after the lazy, hazy days of summer. That’s certainly true for us here at...
by NIck Kelsh | Aug 25, 2015 | Blog
Molly shot this lovely, fun picture on the first day of school and I just wanted to point out how it works on multiple levels. Obviously, it’s a great picture that will bring all of the compliments and kudos we all hope to get every time we take a picture. It’s really...
by NIck Kelsh | Aug 25, 2015 | Blog
There are weddings and graduations and births and back-to-school. It’s just one of those classic childhood, family moments made for photographic memories. And it’s also something that happens fairly quickly— it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Often times, a...
by NIck Kelsh | Aug 24, 2015 | Blog
We want you to share your back to school photo stories with us. Use the hashtag #backtoschoolstories when you post on our Facebook wall, or on your Twitter or Instagram feed, and let’s share in all the emotions surrounding back to school. But first, let’s...
by NIck Kelsh | Aug 24, 2015 | Blog
For even more Back to School photo tips and ideas, click here for our dedicated Back to School page.
by NIck Kelsh | Jul 13, 2015 | Blog
Is black and white photography better than color? There are certainly strong arguments to support that position. It’s not as silly as it sounds. This conversation was prompted by my seven-year-old son. He told me the other day that “too many of your photographs are...
by NIck Kelsh | Jul 3, 2015 | Blog, Fireworks, Fireworks
Many people think that professional photographers “just know” what the perfect settings are for any given situation. Nothing is further from the truth. The skill is simply being able to guesstimating a good starting point, and being able to know which...
by NIck Kelsh | Jul 2, 2015 | Blog
Very likely the most memorable experience you’ve ever had with fireworks was with sparklers. Large fireworks displays are a huge part of all manner of public celebrations, but getting your own little hands on something that’s magically shooting sparks in the dangerous...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 22, 2015 | Blog
The temptation to constantly document everything that’s seemingly important so we can relive it later is powerful. I love my iPhone camera but I hold smartphones mostly responsible for this worrisome phenomena. People who never shot photographs before they had a...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 15, 2015 | Blog
My sister-in-law Mary needed a new headshot for her LinkedIn account. She got a new job so she wanted a new photo; it’s simple. We were at a family event, she was all dolled up, I found a beautiful space with some beautiful light and I photographed beautiful Mary in...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 7, 2015 | Blog
Like many photographers my age, I’ve spent thousands of hours of my life in a darkroom. When digital photography came along those days were over, but the lessons we learned there paved the way for us to make beautiful digital images. This was not wasted time. In fact,...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 5, 2015 | Blog
Becoming a confident photographer requires repeated success. Obviously, that’s easier said than done. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re trying to become that photographer that all of us want to be. Shoot pictures every day. Accept my 60 Day...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 4, 2015 | Blog
Confident photographers shoot better pictures because they’re relaxed and having fun. Getting yourself to that enviable position, however, can be tricky. Confident people, regardless of what they’re doing, are confident because they’ve been successful. People have...
by NIck Kelsh | Jun 2, 2015 | Blog
Turn up the sound on your computer and listen to this video. Yes, I meant listen. You don’t need to hear the whole thing—it’s two minutes—to grasp that the audio quality is surprisingly good. It was recorded with my smart phone—an iPhone, actually—without any...
by NIck Kelsh | May 29, 2015 | Blog
Accomplished communicators juxtapose unexpected elements. A story that starts with a man walking into the ladies room is off to a solid start. You’ve got my attention. It may be all downhill from there—maybe even predictable—but so far so good. I think...
by NIck Kelsh | May 27, 2015 | Blog
The great photographer, Mary Ellen Mark, died yesterday. She was an inspiration to my generation and we all worshiped her. I crossed paths with her a few of times. Once, when I was covering the Republican National Convention in 1980 I saw her across the room at some...
by NIck Kelsh | May 23, 2015 | Blog
Monday is Memorial Day in the United States. It’s our national holiday for remembering those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for America. It’s also the traditional first day of summer. We remember those who have died by parading, barbecuing, and drinking. As...
by NIck Kelsh | May 20, 2015 | Blog
Admittedly, it was tempting to zoom in on the two little kids as though a gust of wind had just dropped the blossoms on them. It took me a little while to realize that the photograph here was the wide shot; the dad was actually what it was all about. It’s a...
