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Tony Donaldson is a freelance commercial and editorial photographer based in the Los Angeles area who specializes in personalities and sports images. People are his passion, whether they are top athletes or celebrities or timid executives. His past and present clients include Lincoln, Buick, Chrysler, The New York Times, ESPN The Magazine, The Wall Street Journal,Scholastic, Zero Motorcycles, Razor, and many more. He has written two books on BMX, was a regular contributor to Xtreme Video magazine and consults and speaks around the country on sh...
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If you've ever taken manuals for your cameras, speedlights, etc. into the field for reference, here's a compelling reason to have an eReader like a Kindle or a tablet like an iPad.
By Tony Donaldson | September 07, 2011
I carry some of my owners manuals with me. Depending on the gear I'm carrying, the complexity, etc., I usually have a few with me. As much of a tech geek as I am, I'm still a little old school about some things. Speedlights, for example, have features I rarely use, and the menus can be difficult, and some of the symbols aren't as descriptive as they could be, so the manual can be handy.
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Sony's Cybershot DSC-TX10 waterproof digital camera
By Tony Donaldson | July 15, 2011
I had a chance to spend a little time playing with Sony's TX10 waterproof digital camera. I had a total blast with it!It's small, it's VERY easy to use, and it's virtually indestructable for most mortals. It's waterproof to pool depths, dustproof and shockproof. The latter means that if you drop things often, this one will likely survive.
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Using some new goodies from PocketWizard
By Tony Donaldson | May 12, 2011
I'm playing around with and pushing limits on the new PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 units. Had a chance to work with a gymnast on a trampoline this week, this was shot at 1/3200th of a second at F/5 using Dynalite packs and heads. Rare partly cloudy skies over Los Angeles were underexposed to show all the texture and darken the blue sky. I lit the model, Leila, with two heads and the action, including her hair, froze nicely. It even worked well on more active stuff, like backflips.
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I have to voice my opinion on this.
By Tony Donaldson | April 28, 2011
Today the APA sent out a press release outlining Getty Images' planned changes to Contributor Agreements. That press release can be read HERE or below.
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One tough and useful field unit!
By Tony Donaldson | April 05, 2011
I've had a chance to try one of Wiebetech's new ToughTech Duo , and I was impressed. It lives up to it's "Tough" moniker and provides the support and security I like in the field. It really has everything you could want in an external storage unit for location work. It's a tiny RAID case, using two laptop drives internally, so it fits in almost any bag or case next to your laptop.
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By Tony Donaldson | March 08, 2011
We all get approached to do work for free or at a reduced fee. How do you decide whether to take the gig or not? Here's a brilliant chart to help you make that decision and understand how to improve your business.
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By Tony Donaldson | March 07, 2011
You're browsing through a website and you see a great looking image. One that is awfully familiar. Heyyyy... Wait a minute! That image is YOURS! And you know you never authorized that use.I've just been talking with a friend who is dealing with this now. We've all experienced it. But what do you do about it?
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By Tony Donaldson | February 21, 2011
I read a lot of articles about all kinds of interesting things. Sometimes these things are the springboard to something else entirely. I was reading a story in the British Journal of Photography on do-it-yourself photographers who build their own equipment for their specific needs. That's awfully familiar, I've done quite a bit of that myself. But that wasn't the most interesting part. That came not from the article, but from the comments left after the article. There was one about a one-of-a-kind camera that was as much a part of the art and artist as it was a tool to create interesting art.
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The naked truth about a crazy magazine shoot.
By Tony Donaldson | February 06, 2011
I was recently hired to shoot a cover and inside article for a new magazine. It's my favorite kind of shoot, beautiful, sexy images to go with an interview. To make it even better, the subject was a beautiful one, former Playboy Playmate of the Year Julie Cialini. I have a few friends who are Playmates, they're usually as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Julie is no exception. She proved to be both experienced and professional and a downright riot, joking around the whole time.
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By Tony Donaldson | January 27, 2011
I went to CES this year for the first time. Yes, the first time. It was time, I now cover technology for another blog, and that team and I went to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The biggest showcase of technology, both new and what's not even here yet.
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Finally! The Nikon Version of the PocketWizard TTL radios is out of beta and ready for prime time!
By Tony Donaldson | January 06, 2011
PocketWizard announces the long-anticipated Nikon versions of its Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 units. And they are AMAZING!
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By Tony Donaldson | January 03, 2011
If you're like all photographers, I won't even say "most", you lust after more gear. There's always that lens you think will take you to the next level, or that light, or the widget to control it. You know the one.
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Don't try this at home. Or maybe you should!
By Tony Donaldson | November 20, 2010
I often beta test new gear. Most of it will make it to market, some won't or will have to be massively tweaked first. And I often use that gear on assignment, not just in more controlled test environments. Scary as that sounds, it's better to do it that way.
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I not only get to meet and work with amazing people, sometimes I get to do what they do, with them.
By Tony Donaldson | October 16, 2010
Before I became a photographer, I was a BMX rider. I raced and had a freestyle team. It was my life. So when I became a photographer, I started shooting what I loved. I've since spent a couple of decades photographing the best athletes in that and other sports, and have been able to work with and become friends with many of my heroes.
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THE image editing program of everyone's choice turns 20
By Tony Donaldson | February 20, 2010
When you think of retouching, image editing, just about anything to do with processing photography these days, what do you think of? Thomas Knoll's famous software, Photoshop. It's so ubiquitous, it's become a verb (much to Adobe's chagrin). The original version showed up for sale 20 years ago today, running on Mac's OS 6.
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By Tony Donaldson | February 09, 2010
There's a wonderful discussion on LinkedIn's "Photography Industry Professionals" group about the future of professional photography. The quote "If you think hiring a professional photographer is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur" speaks volumes. Experienced Photo Editors, Art Buyers and Creative Directors all know this. I don't think the less experienced ones, under the crushing pressure of shrinking budgets, get the true value of hiring an experienced professional.
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The latest "Tips From The Top Floor".
By Tony Donaldson | January 07, 2010
Chris Marquardt started his podcast "Digital Photography Tips From The Top Floor" a few years back. He was somewhat new to digital photography, which helped him offer fantastic tips and lessons on things to do to improve your photography. It's probably one of the best and most successful educational podcasts out there, and the longest-running. Chris has put out over FOUR HUNDRED episodes, all full of great photography information. This is in addition to promoting other podcasts, running workshops around the world, and running his own media business largely centered on photography.
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Fantastic photography comic strip
By Tony Donaldson | January 07, 2010
In case you've been living in a cave or don't have geeky enough friends, there's a syndicated comic strip called "What The Duck". Penned oddly enough by musician Aaron Johnson, it's amazingly insightful into the world of professional photography. Nothing is off-topic, from assistants to technology to all the things clients do to drive us nuts. You can check it out in many newspapers that now carry it, or online at WhatTheDuck.net. There's even a Dashboard widget for easy daily use, though I highly recommend you check out the archive of past strips on the site first.
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By Tony Donaldson | December 10, 2009
I recently photographed Rick Thorne for a new portfolio I'm working on. While we were there, he interviewed me for his podcast, ESPN Action Sports. Rick and friends cover the scene with interviews of athletes, bands, and others as well as introducing new music and new bands.
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One of my photography heroes has a website
By Tony Donaldson | December 10, 2009
Mike Buff, IN YOUR FACE because he was in Oz's lens!
Before I ever became interested in photography, I was into BMX. I mean, INTO BMX. It was everything. And that started when I picked up my first issue of BMX Action magazine in 1982, collecting articles on anything to do with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. The magazine tested the Kuwahara E.T., the same bike Elliott rode in the movie. I fell in love with the sport through Bob Osborn's lens. From there I was HOOKED. I got my first BMX bike that year and from then on, that sport is what I ate, drank and slept. What does that have to do with photography?
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