Joe McNally

Photographing a dancer in New York City and faking big soft window light with speedlights

Aug 30, 2016 by John Aldred Add Comment

I’ve found the dancers often make the best subjects in front of the camera. Even if they’re not actually dancing, they often have amazing body awareness. They know exactly where each part of their body is. They know how to show off tone and definition in their muscles and limbs with effortless grace.

In this behind the scenes video from Joe McNally, we’re taken on a tour of New York City. Photographing a dancer new to the big city to create a portfolio. At least, that’s the premise of the assignment. Joe uses this scenario to show off the capabilities of the Nikon D500 and SB-5000 flash units. He also offers up one or two tricks along the way that you can apply to any camera or flash system.

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Joe McNally offers an insightful behind the scenes look at a garage photo shoot

Mar 8, 2016 by John Aldred 5 Comments

Joe McNally is one of the photographers I first started ~~stalking~~ following when I decided to start shooting portraits, and his books, The Hot Shoe Diaries & The Moment it Clicks, are two that will ever remain on my shelf.

Year after year, for several decades now, Joe has continued to inspire and educate photographers all over the world through his books, his blog, in-person workshops, and his YouTube channel.

In this five minute video, shooting a Nikon D810 with a mix of SB-900 and SB-910 speedlights, Joe introduces us to Dominick European Car Repair in New York, and explains how he turned a garage into a studio.

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Getting Married at New York’s City Hall? Joe McNally Will Take Your Portrait for Free

May 29, 2015 by Liron Samuels Add Comment

Some couples get married at City Hall to save money; others do it to keep things simple.

Either way, regardless of the reason, couples getting married at New York’s City Hall during the first week of June are in for a pleasant surprise.

Renowned photographer and Nikon ambassador Joe McNally will be waiting with his team outside the City Clerk’s office on June 4^th and 5^th in Nikon’s custom designed 20’ Wedding Truck Studio to take newlywed portraits – for free.

The portraits will be taken as part of Nikon’s “I AM Generation Image” campaign, using Nikon’s D750 DSLR and a selection of their lenses and speedlights.

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6 Of My Favorite Photography Books

Sep 20, 2014 by Jeff Guyer 7 Comments

I posed a question to the DIY writing staff last week. I was wondering how many of them still read hard-copy photography magazines, and if so, I wanted to know if they subscribe or just purchase the occasional issue. It’s something I’ve been curious about for a while. After all, when you think about just how much information is out there and readily available, you almost have to wonder how traditional magazines are still making a go of it. The results of my informal survey were a bit underwhelming, but it was as I suspected– most people simply don’t subscribe to traditional magazines anymore. I still get a few, but then again, I also remember a pre-internet world where you had to put forth some effort and seek out knowledge and information.

The reality is, however, that while traditional magazines may no longer have the same widespread appeal they once had in the photography community, the same cannot be said for books on the subject. Again, I’m not talking about e-books or any other electronic conveyance. I’m talking about an actual collection of pages, all bound together in a single unit, containing all kinds of useful information and insight. It’s something I can hold in my hands. I can highlight it and bookmark it. Flip back and forth between sections. Compare and contrast different chapters without having to swipe, scroll, pinch, or flick my wrist for anything other than turning pages.

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