Dec. 3, 2007


Turner writes about his time in the Peace Corps and how it started him on the road to his calling in photography. "My interest in photography grew out of culture shock caused by living in a small town on the Haitian border," says Turner.
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Ballet Art . . .

Oct. 1 , 2007


Shooting bikers on their Harleys proves to be an adventure of significant proportions for Turner. However, the adventure resulted in some unusual images and even an article in Seattle Magazine.
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Sept. 4 , 2007


Turner sold his first photographs while working in the Peace Corps during the late1980s. Though most photographers remember their first sales, few have stories like Turners tale of Herr Doktor Dolkmann, an itinerant fortuneteller.
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Aug 6 , 2007


Couples are the foundation of human society. Frequently they evolve into families. Many ads and articles require photographs of couples to sell products or to illustrate ideas. As a result, there is a big demand for photographs of couples.
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July 2, 2007


Using your own children as models for stock or assignment shoots is not exploitation.It can be good business and fun for both the parent/photographer and the child, according to John Terence Turner.
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June 4 , 2007


After looking at too many staged photos of women boxers, Turner set out to create some images that looked authentic. A real professional female boxer and a gym in an older part of Seattle resulted in several gritty images that show something real about the sport.
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May 1, 2007


After looking at the results of a previous successful shoot, Turner started exploring new ideas for shooting the same subject in a fresh way. In this column, the photographer discusses the importance of making every image different from previous images and from those being produced by other photographers.
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April 1, 2007


It can be argued that some good photographs invent themselves. The photographer need only stumble upon the scene and shoot the picture. It does happen that way, with some scenics, for example. Yet most good stock pictures require much more planning and execution. But, even before planning and execution there must be an idea.
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March. 5, 2007


Figuring out which images will sell the best as stock photos is one of the hardest parts of being a stock photographer. In this column, John Terence Turner takes a look at two similar images, one that sold well and on that did not.
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Feb. 1 , 2007


In-camera light meters can usually do a reasonable job of finding an acceptable light reading, but professional photographers still spend a lot of time understanding the finer points of exposure. Without such knowledge, Turner could never have created this unique image of a new jetliner.
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Jan 3 , 2007


One rarely gets the opportunity to shoot a subject who has made a difference in his or her sport. Turner created a best-selling image when presented with the opportunity to shoot moguls skier Bob Burns at Sun Valley.
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Dec. 11 , 2006


The best stock photos are usually the result of careful planning. For this image of a one-horse sleigh, Turner had a full year to think about his original concept. The extra time paid-off in an image that has sold well.
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Nov. 15 , 2006


Being successful in stock photography depends on what a photographer shoots as much as how well he/she shoots it. Turner compares two kinds of climbing shoots to emphasize the importance of making good business decisions.
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Nov. 1, 2006


In this column, Turner compares two shoots, one that went well and one that didn't, to illustrate the need to be careful when casting models who will be attempting difficult sports feats.
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Oct. 16 , 2006


Creating interesting visual juxtapositions can help make an image more interesting. Turner used the city as a background for this photograph designed to showcase Patagonia's foul weather gear. The contrast between the red sail and the almost colorless background also helps this photo succeed.
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Oct. 2 , 2006


Areas of high tonal contrast can attract the viewer's eye to important details within an image. In this column, Turner discusses how he used this compositional technique when he created two of his most famous images. Both were printed on Nike posters.
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Sept 15, 2006


John Terence Turner completes his series about photographing motion with a column on stop-action photography. The use of high shutter speeds can produce images that show things never noticed in real life, like a volleyball player floating above the sand.
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Sept 1, 2006


Having discussed panning in the previous column, Turner now focuses his attention on another technique for conveying the idea of motion in a still photograph. for this image, the author attached the camera firmly to the moving platform, in this case a mountain bike.
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Aug. 15, 2006


Panning is an advanced technique that can significantly improve action images. However, it takes a lot of experimentation and will result in many discarded images. Turner offers some solid advice for photographers who want to try this approach.
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Aug. 1, 2006


Anything can go wrong when shooting on location. That's why professional photographers always prepare for as many eventualities as possible. In this case, even a drenched camera did not stop the author from returning with the images his client requested.
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July 17, 2006


When he found a model that was good at many sports, enthusiastic and easy to work with, Turner did what any good stock photographer would do – he hired her as often as he could. This is the last of four columns on working with models.
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July 3, 2006


Photographing children or animals can be very difficult. Shooting the two together can be a disaster – or, if one is lucky, the formula for a highly saleable image. Turner pulled it off very well for this emotion-packed image that has sold many times.
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June 15, 2006


In his previous column (below) Turner discussed working with non-professional models. This column is about working with pros, but asking them to do something they have never tried before.
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May 15, 2006


This close-up view of a ships bow heading straight for the camera is a good example of how much work can go into an image that looks simple and spontaneous. It also shows how valuable a helicopter can be in some situations.
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May 1, 2006


Designers don't always realize what they are asking, but good shooters deliver anyway. John Terence Turner wasn't thrown by a request to put a mountain into mountain biking. He already knew where to find the ideal location.
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April 15 , 2006


Sailing, like many subjects, is photographed frequently. In this column, John Terence Turner uses four images to show how good photographers look for and find fresh approaches.
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Louie's Midnight Snack . . .

A Study in Motion . . .

Finding the Right Location . . .