All digital camera sensors produce digital noise. That noise is at its minimum when you use your camera’s base ISO. As you increase ISO, digital noise increases as well. With ISO invariant sensors, you end up with the same amount of noise whether you: Increase ISO to brighten your exposure. Keep ISO the same, underexpose the image, and then brighten it later in post. If that sounds confusing, don’t worry! To really understand ISO invariance, we need to start with some core principles of how...

At first glance, the Pacific off Baja California Sur doesn’t give much away. It can feel empty and almost subdued. However, every autumn, that surface calm hides one of the most concentrated wildlife events in the eastern Pacific. Recently, I went there to photograph the annual "sardine run," when massive schools of sardine and mackerel migrate, creating large bait balls that attract huge numbers of predators like dolphins, sharks, whales, birds, marlins, and sea lions in a feeding frenzy....

The New Year is right around the corner, which means many people around the world are setting fresh goals. It's as good a time as any to plan a creative reboot and nurture our artistry by starting new projects, learning from other photographers, and exploring new ways of seeing the world. I've found that the most effective resolutions are often the simplest ones. Instead of aiming for dramatic change, I prefer setting goals that consistently and steadily improve my photography over time. Here...