The issue of whether to switch to a digital format is on the minds of nearly everyone who has not yet done it.

Is this a question you are now asking yourself, your friends or your clients? Well, you are not alone. The issue of whether to switch to a digital format is on the minds of nearly everyone who has not yet done it. Ultimately, it's a question only each individual can answer, but as more and more clients switch to digital media, the case for digital may become compelling.

If you have already answered the question in the affirmative, you will be faced with a bewildering array of digital cameras. Some cost $500, some $5,000. Some are suitable only for web use, while others deliver...

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page."

Mantra of the modern travel photographer? No and yes. The words are those of religious philosopher St. Augustine, recorded in the fifth century. They're also a favorite inspiration for the husband-wife freelance photography team of Dave Houser and Jan Butchofsky-Houser.

The circumstances following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, have affected the lives of all travel photographers, and the Housers, based in Nogal, N.M., are representative of most. In the aftermath of this American tragedy, they've reflected on personal and professional reactions to the nation's tragedy and plan to continue traveling, albeit closer to home. Most importantly, with a steady hand on the wheel, they're steering their own courses into the future...

Home: San Francisco, Calif.

Studio: Petaluma, Calif.

Gear: To Erickson, photo equipment only gets better with age. Along with an old, well-worn Canon F1, he normally uses standard lenses, preferably made before 1960, that...

Known mostly for commercial photography, Jim Erickson is now showing his more artistic side with two new books based on potraits of people near his San Francisco Home.

"I love pictures that touch the human spirit," says photographer Jim Erickson, quietly. He returns to this theme again and again. "I like landscapes, but I truly love pictures about people and who they are—pictures that capture what they’re feeling."

Erickson provides the photography world with a positive role model, combining talent, passion, style, heart and mind. He has created a successful business while at the same time unleashing timeless art forms that speak to our inner human commonality.

"Artists are caretakers of the soul," he says...

Don't want to hassle with airport security? Travel shooter Doug Wilson shows us how a rail journey from Seattle To Alberta can be its own destination

If you don’t plan carefully, you might miss the train. We’re not only talking about going on a trip; we’re talking about getting the image on film. With today’s concerns about air travel, train travel may offer an alternative way to get where you’re going. It may even be your next destination assignment. I’ve been fortunate to provide photographs for three train articles for the New York Times Sunday travel section in the past year...

With today's instant interconnectivity via the internet, pictures matter more than ever before.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius once observed that “a picture is worth ten thousand words.” Nearly 2,500 years later, Life magazine reported that, in the US alone, there are 47 million photos taken per day.

If one picture is worth 10,000 words, then 10,000 words multiplied by 47 million photos per day comes to well, you do the math. Suffice it to say, pictures matter.

While this may sound a little oversimplified, how often in...

For one day last September, it seemed as if the world stopped. And in the subsequent days and weeks, we were all awakened to the realization that every moment of every day is precious, since, as we saw, our own security is but an illusion.

The world will never be the same as a result of those fateful events. Global economics and politics have shifted dramatically, while a country (Afghanistan) has been decimated in order to overthrow a corrupt government and eliminate a terrorist network. These efforts have collectively tapped our courage as a society while...

Charles Krebs gets up close and personal with the small things in life.

What the heck is that?

This is a common reaction when nature photographer Charles Krebs shows off one of his recent macro-lens creations. "I like to spark amazement in people," he says. "There are all these common things in front of you every day that have such great detail, and most people never see them."

In some cases, he captures these tiny dramas in the field. For instance, the iridescent beetle, at lower left, was taken in Olympic National Park, Wash., as the bug crawled along a log. Others, such as...

On the Cover: Created for a computer company ad, Jim Erickson's "Leap of Faith" is a composite of four separate shots of the sky, rocks, background and jumping model. While his commercial images are often highly manipulated, many of his fine-art shots rely on straight photography that show the hand of the artist.

For some photographers, images come in an instantaneous flash. For others, like Seattle-based stock shooter Paul Conrath, the most enduring images come from a process carefully developed over time. "It’s really like a craft," he says. "The best photos are ones that are built."

This space-age timepiece follows Conrath’s metaphor in a very literal sense. Shot for a law firm representing computer chip maker Intel, the photo was the result of a collaboration between Conrath and Intel’s design firm.

"We had about three or four meetings before we even went into the studio," he says...