Todd Vorenkamp

Senior Creative Content Writer for Explora, Todd Vorenkamp has been taking photographs for almost over 30 years. A photographic artist, he has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Academy of Art University and is an adjunct instructor of photography at Dakota College at Bottineau. He is a former US Navy and Coast Guard helicopter aviator and a licensed merchant marine officer. His personal website is www.trvphoto.com.

Latest Articles

Recommended Lenses for Shooting a Solar Eclipse on Any Budget

1 week ago

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What is the best lens focal length for photographing the total solar eclipse? Well, there really isn’t a correct answer to that question. There are many factors involved, so let’s outline some options for different types of cameras and budgets. Above: The Hinode satellite X-ray telescope…

SLR Lenses

Astro Photography

Space-Solar-Eclipse

Solar Eclipse Photography FAQ

2 weeks ago

Are you planning to photograph an amazing solar eclipse? Here are some frequently asked questions about taking photos of one of nature's most incredible events. If you have more questions, please feel free to drop them in the Comments section at the end of the article! Q: Why do I need solar viewing glasses if I am just going to be photographing the eclipse? A: To aim your camera, you will need…

Astro Photography

Photography Accessories

10 of the Best Photography Gifts for Mom

3 weeks ago

We all know that cameras make fantastic gifts for Mom on Mother's Day (or on birthdays and holidays as well!), but what if Mom is already a photographer? B&H Photo has you more than covered! Is Mom a professional photojournalist? Is she the designated shutterbug for the local Scout troop? Maybe she is totally into floral macro photos, or is Mom responsible for the awesome family portraits…

Photography Accessories

Mark Your Calendars: The “Ring of Fire” Annular Solar Eclipse 2023

3 weeks ago

Save the date! On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the Americas will be treated to a spectacular annular solar eclipse. Many of you might remember the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse that crossed the United States from the Northwest to the Southeast. That was a grandiose total solar eclipse during which the sun was completely obscured by the moon. The October 2023 event is an annular eclipse,…

solar eclipse

Solar Viewing

Solar Photography

Mark Your Calendars: America's Total Solar Eclipse 2024

3 weeks ago

Save the date! On Monday, April 8, 2024, North America will be treated to a spectacular total solar eclipse. Many of you remember the 2017 Great American Solar eclipse that crossed the United States from the northwest to the southeast. This solar eclipse will cross the country from the south and head to the northeast. Eclipse photographs © Todd Vorenkamp Safety First Do NOT view a solar eclipse…

solar eclipse

Solar Viewing

Solar Photography

8 Lessons Learned When I Photographed a Total Solar Eclipse

1 month ago

The closest you will ever get to an out-of-this-world experience while standing on terra firma is during a total solar eclipse. I have experienced two partial eclipses in my life before August 21, 2017, and both were memorable, but they were nothing like what happened on the 21st. Here is what I experienced, as well as some photographic lessons learned. The Setup My girlfriend, Jaime, and I end…

Solar Photography

Astronomy

solar eclipse

A Buying Guide for Solar and Solar Eclipse Viewing

1 month ago

Our sun, the star at the center of our Solar System, is a fantastic subject for both viewing and photographing and humans have been viewing it since the beginning of time. A special form of solar viewing is the solar eclipse. There are few experiences in nature as awe inspiring as an…

Telescopes

Outdoor Accessories

Space-Solar-Eclipse

How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse

1 month ago

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When the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, those on Earth are treated to one of nature’s greatest spectacles—a total solar eclipse. It is a phenomenon that almost every observer would like to capture in a photograph. Due to the rarity of the event, the short duration in which to capture it, and the dynamic nature of the subject, it is one of those photographic opportunities that…

Astro Photography

Astronomy

Space-Solar-Eclipse

Family Solar Eclipse Viewing Guide

1 month ago

If there were ever an event that the entire family should enjoy together, it is the rare majesty of a solar eclipse. Solar eclipses, be they partial, annular, or total, are not entirely rare events, but, before 2017 it had been almost 100 years since the last total eclipse transited North America from coast to coast, and it had been almost 40 years since the last time a total eclipse could be…

Astronomy

Space-Solar-Eclipse

The OM SYSTEM OM-5: A Great Travel Companion, Even if You Aren’t Traveling

2 months ago

The professional-grade OM SYSTEM OM-1 made a huge splash upon its arrival—single-handedly reviving the Micro Four Thirds market. Following up on that high bar is the OM…

Mirrorless Lenses

Mirrorless Cameras

Portable Lighting Kits for Wedding and Event Photography

2 months ago

When wedding, portrait, and event photos are required outside of the studio, you often need to bring portable lighting kits. As we all know, houses of worship and event spaces are rarely lighting friendly to the wedding shooter and portrait photographer. While we all wish we had enough hired help to lug full-…

FUJIFILM Lenses for Wedding Photographers

3 months ago

Wedding and portrait photographers looking for a lightweight, compact system with exceptional performance need look no further than the FUJIFILM X cameras and lenses. While the size and weight advantage of mirrorless cameras spans from Micro Four Thirds to full frame, the APS-C sensors in the FUJIFILM X system allow the cameras and lenses to be relatively small and light. Full-frame mirrorless is…

SLR Lenses

6 Tips to Heighten Your Wedding Photo Creativity

3 months ago

We asked a group of highly regarded wedding photographers for thoughtful tips on how to expand, sharpen, and maintain their creative approach to wedding photography. After getting a lot of great insight, we narrowed the pile down to six tips to pass along to you. 1. Workshops/Mentoring No matter what you do for a living, there is often a tendency to think that you have reached the peak of your…

Photography Education

Interview with Our Labor of Love: Finding Success in the Wedding Industry as a…

3 months ago

The website says it succinctly: Photographers on the Move in Los Angeles / New York City / Atlanta. Our Labor of Love is a syndicate of six wedding and event photographers, including co-owners Jesse and Whitney Chamberlin. The pair was named one of America’s top 10 wedding photographers by American Photo magazine, in 2011, and they have been featured in…

Photography Business

Professional Creative Photography: Your Guide to the World of Lensbaby

4 months ago

Photographers and filmmakers of the past used to break out homemade tricks—some innovative and fun—when trying to achieve special effects to make their images stand out from the crowd. Many of us have heard of the technique of smearing petroleum jelly on a lens filter for soft-focus effects. Today, one company—…

Creative Photography

Macro Photography