Andrew Niesen

We just arrived home from a great trip out west. We visited Arizona and New Mexico, and spent a few days hiking in Grand Canyon National Park.

The Southwestern landscape is beautiful, and the photo opportunities seemed unlimited.

When we woke up the first morning, there was snow covering the magnificent red rock formations outside our bedroom window. The next afternoon, it was 70 degrees and sunny in Grand Canyon National Park!

During our visit in Santa Fe, we discovered a fantastic gallery that specializes in photojournalism. Andrew and I enjoyed getting to know the gallery owners, Sidney and Michelle. If you're ever in Santa Fe, stop by and visit them! Their collection is a remarkable assembly of historic photographs and emerging artists.

Check them out: www.monroegallery.com

We receive a lot of questions from other photographers about our reception lighting technique. We actually have quite a few techniques that incorporate a variety of tools from which we choose depending on the type of lighting required. We will often have a reception in an expansive ballroom that requires big strobes, but we also have a lot of situations where our smaller Canon speedlites are more effective.

We're always looking to try new techniques and test new equipment to integrate into our approach anything that refines our images or makes our jobs easier. Over the past year we've been using more and more speedlites for our reception lighting as opposed to bigger strobes. But it really depends on what is the right tool for the job. One of my favorite tools for easily putting speedlites wherever I need them is a custom clamp developed by Bogen and my friend Joe McNally. It allows me to easily attach my speedlites vitually anywhere I need them. The best part about the clamps and Speedlites are their portability.

I assisted Joe on a cover shoot for National Geographic magazine where we used a lot of speedlites and these clamps. Of course we also used about 16 cases of Profoto strobes and other grip equipment for some of the shots. Again, the key is to select the right tools for the job. Check out Joe's site from this project.

"Nothing came easy. I was born with a need to explore every tool shop of my mind, and with long searching and hard work. I became devoted to my restlessness." — Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks, one of the photographers who first encouraged me to pursue photography, died today in New York.

Parks covered everything from fashion to politics to sports during his 20 years at Life, from 1948 to 1968.

Gordon Parks was an extraordinary photographer, and more importantly, a sensitive human being with an intense passion for helping others. In 1961, his photographs in LIFE of a poor, ailing Brazilian boy named Flavio da Silva inspired Americans to recognize the extreme poverty that exists in many areas of the globe.

Parks' photo essay about Flavio was among the first I viewed in my photojournalism classes at the University of Missouri. His photographs inspired me because they were full of empathy and compassion. Gordon Parks showed me that photography can truly make a difference in the world. His photographs quickly brought donations that saved Flavio and purchased a new home for him and his family.

There is a wonderful contest held each year that honors the compassionate legacy of Gordon Parks. Enter The Gordon Parks Competition.

Read the full articles about Gordon Parks from CNN.

Anderson Cooper's Memorial.

Andrew and I just returned from a fantastic shoot at Wofford College in South Carolina.

Spending a few days hanging out on a college campus is a fun change-of-pace from weddings. We enjoy getting to know students and always look forward to finding spontaneous moments happening around campus. Just like weddings, our education clients expect candid and storytelling photos. Here are a few shots from our experience at Wofford. Near the end of the shoot, I took a break and let several students push my golf cart up a hill after it ran out of batteries!

One of my best friends and his wife just had their first baby. When they emailed us with the good news, they also gave me one of the most incredible gifts: they named their son after me. It is an honor to know that I have a special connection with my friends and their son. Greg was the best man in Rachel's and my wedding, and I was the best man in his and Liz's wedding. Now, Greg and Liz are starting their family and we are thrilled to share in their joy!

Andrew was born at 8:15 a.m. on February 11 by Caesarian section, and weighed in at 7 lbs 13 oz. Rachel and I hope to see him on our next trip to St. Louis in April.