Max Foster Fine Art Photography Blog

Welcome to the official blog of Max Foster Photography! Here you will find information on all things Photography including Photographer Tools, Trip Reports, Photography Tutorials, Travel Tips and more!

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Exploring the Unique Beauty of Tree Bark

When most people think of the beauty of trees, the first thing that comes to mind is the explosive colors and shapes of fall foliage. But there’s more to a tree than just the leaves! The bark of a tree is also well-worth appreciation...

How Luxury Fine Art Photography Transforms Your Home

Photography and wall art are fundamental parts of home decor. Fine art photography fills empty wall space, creates focal points in your home, and can set the mood/tone of your decor...

Where Do Interior Designers Buy Artwork for Their Clients?

Nothing finishes a space like a beautiful piece of luxury fine art. Carefully curated pieces have the power to reimagine a space, creating illusions of depth, breadth, and size...

Aspen of My Eye: A Profile of the Populus Genus

Aspens, or more specifically, aspen trees, are a beautiful species of tree found in many colder, more temperate regions within the northern hemisphere. They are members of the Populus genus, which contains a little over two dozen unique species of flowering deciduous plants – the most well-known of which is perhaps the Populus section Populus, more commonly referred to as aspens or white poplar trees...

What Does “Minnesota Nice” Really Mean?

Even if you’re not from Minnesota or the Midwest, you’ve probably heard of the term “Minnesota nice.” A somewhat mysterious term used to describe the culture of polite friendliness in Minnesota, the true meaning is a little more nuanced...

Introducing The World’s Tallest Trees

There is something truly magical about forests. Whether the leaves are exploding in a riot of fall colors, or the sun dapples the ground with the light tinted green by fresh spring growth, the woods are always an exquisitely beautiful place...

What is Naturalism in Photography?

Naturalism is an art movement that first developed in the realm of painting, where naturalist painters sought to make the most realistic depictions of a landscape. When the camera was invented, artistic naturalism was pushed in a new direction and sought to outdo photography; naturalist artists began creating works of hypnotically lifelike effects with paint...

Discover the Diversity of Sand Dunes

Whether you live near the ocean or the desert, if you live near a majestic mountain of sand, you live near a sand dune. Sand dunes are massive, wind-sculpted piles of sand that are simultaneously sturdy and fragile...

Nature’s Luxury: How Fine Art Photographers Capture The World’s Most Beautiful Places

Image you’re out on a hike or a walk or just simply outside, and you see something so beautiful and breathtaking that you have to take a picture of it…but then, when you look at the picture later, it’s not how you remembered it? It’s duller and dimmer and does not capture the essence of that natural beauty you experienced...

Luxury Gifts for Fine Art & Photography Lovers

With the holiday giving season just around the corner, it can sometimes be challenging to come up with gift ideas for family, friends and loved ones. You want to find unique holiday gifts, but you also want to choose something that your recipient will love...

An Exploration of America's Most Mysterious State: Alaska

No state in the US has more untamed wilderness, soaring vistas, or hidden surprises than Alaska. The largest state by area, but only the 48th most populous state (only Vermont and Wyoming have fewer residents), Alaska represents an independent spirit of discovery and self-reliance...

Colorful Fine Art Photographs that Capture the Splendor of Autumn

The vivid colors of autumn foliage produce some of the most beautiful natural vistas for nature photography. Bold reds, brilliant yellows, rich browns, intense oranges, and even the occasional deep purple combine to create a vibrant landscape...

Tour the Grand Canyon Through the Eye of a Nature Photographer

The gorgeous vistas of Grand Canyon National Park are often seen as an embodiment of the spirit of the American west and the rugged natural beauty of one of the wonders of the world...

Black & White Wall Art for a Modern Home

Nature is full of vivid color, but black and white photography has a unique way of capturing an image, and makes for gorgeous wall decor. Framed prints of black and white fine art photography can change the emotion and tone of the room simply by existing in monochrome...

Where’s The Ice in Iceland?

If you ever get the chance to visit Iceland, you’ll find that it’s not a sheer, white sheet of ice like the name implies. Iceland is a volcanic island with a dreamlike landscape of glaciers, fjords, geothermal water pools, and waterfalls that sparkle under the distant glow of the Northern Lights in the Winter, and shine under the Midnight Sun in Summer...

Best Cameras for Kids Who Want To Become Photographers

Photography is a fun activity for kids. It’s a great way to encourage creative expression and let kids develop their interest in the world around them. Whether your child has serious aspirations toward photography or just wants a digital camera to have some fun with, there are lots of great entry-level cameras to choose from for kids of all ages...

Death Valley Is Alive With Color

Death Valley National Park is known for being the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America, and despite its seemingly-inhospitable climate, the region holds many secrets for the curious traveler...

How To Choose Living Room Wall Art

When you’re decorating your living room and looking at the blank wall in front of you, the possibilities for that wall space are endless. You want to choose wall art that looks good and reflects your interests; you want these statement pieces to make a statement! Here are 3 easy tips on how to choose a fine art print for your living room and make that space truly yours...

The Most Gorgeous Sunsets Captured on Camera

Everybody loves a good sunset. There’s just something magical about them; in mere minutes, the sky turns into a light show that’s gone almost as soon as it started. No matter who you are, there’s a natural tendency to stop and watch a breathtaking sunset...

To Frame or Not To Frame?

When you’re decorating the walls of your home, you have a lot of options. Fine quality art prints are a great choice because you have so much flexibility when choosing prints that fit your home’s aesthetic and your personal tastes...

The 3 Best Cameras for Nature Photography Beginners

When you’re first getting into nature photography, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the variety of cameras available. Should you get a DSLR or opt for something mirrorless? How about a full-frame or a crop sensor? And more importantly, what do those terms even mean? How can a beginner find the best camera for nature photography?

Nature photography can be a rich, rewarding experience for any photographer at any skill level...

Travel the World Through Fine Art

Art is a universal unifier, a mode of expression that transcends language, time, and place. The paintings, sculptures, and scribbles of humans born centuries ago inform much of what we know about the past and have helped to influence our lives today...

Can Nature Be Abstract?
An Introduction to Abstract Nature Photography

When you hear the words “abstract art” what do you imagine? Maybe a color-block painting, the splatter work of Jackson Pollock, or the cubism techniques popularized by artists like Braque and Picasso...

7 Fascinating Fine Art Photographs of Trees

Trees are a fascinating subject for nature photographers, full of mystery, rich history, and unique forms that offer endless possibilities for an artist to feel inspired...

Poster vs. Fine Art Print - The Differences Explained

What is the difference between a poster and a fine art print? This is a commonly asked question and for those not actively involved in creating, collecting or studying art it may be confusing...

Understanding Photographic Paper Finishes

Before you begin printing, you’ll need to choose the type of paper you want to use as the print medium. The three main types are matte, glossy and luster. Which you choose will have a dramatic impact on how your image appears when printed...

Great Big Canvas? No Thanks!

When it comes to buying wall art online, it seems the possibilities are endless. A Google search for “Wall Art” returns 4.2 billion results! Nonetheless, there are a handful of wall art sellers that consistently show up on page one of Google...

Bestselling Landscape Photos of 2021

2021 was a fantastic year for Max Foster Photography as it was my bestselling year to date, doubling sales over the previous year! It was exciting to produce new visually diverse images for my portfolio and rewarding to have publications such as National Geographic and Outdoor Photographer publish my images...

The Rule Of Thirds in Photography Explained

The Rule Of Thirds is a technique photographers often use without realizing it because it is taught from the beginning as a fundamental for basic photographic composition...

Backlit Style Acrylic Prints Explained
What Are "Backlit" Style Acrylic Prints?

Backlit style acrylic prints are known for their three dimensional or "backlit" appearance which is the result of the printing and mounting techniques in combination with proper lighting of the artwork in a dim gallery space...

Ansel Adams: The Most Famous Black and White Landscape Photographer

When people think of black and white landscape photography they often think of one man: Ansel Adams. His works have helped to inspire generations of photographers. But just what makes Ansel Adams so celebrated and influential? The following post delves more into Ansel Adams life and his legacy...

Art Fairs Near Me | Best Art Festivals in the US

It’s that time of year when the heat of the summer brings art outdoors! The art fair circuit is in full swing across much of the country, so we wanted to provide a list of the best art fairs in the USA...

Best Places for Photography on Each Hawaiian Island

Having just returned from another incredible trip to Hawaii, I can say without a doubt that islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are among the most beautiful places to escape to anywhere, let alone in the United States...

What are NFTs and Can Photographers Really Benefit From Them?

An NFT is a Non-Fungible Token. The token refers to a digital token or certificate that is stored on a secure distributed database referred to as the blockchain. NFTs are therefore unique digital assets that can be bought and sold, with every transaction being permanently recorded in the blockchain...

A Beginners Guide to Black and White Photography

Black and white photography is one of the most elegant and timeless forms of art. By focusing on contrast and composition, the photographer utilizes strong visual elements in the scene to capture the viewer’s attention, rather than relying on bold colors...

What is the Difference Between a Full Frame Sensor and a Crop Sensor?

When it comes time to purchase a new camera system, inevitably the question of sensor size will come up. Full frame vs crop sensor is usually the starting point for this conversation, but that is just a piece of the puzzle...

10 Breathtaking Tree Tunnels Around the World

Tree tunnels are a beautiful blend of natural and manmade elements. Although they take many shapes and sizes, each has its own character and charm. At their most fundamental level, tree tunnels are simply trees growing in a long row on both sides of a walkway, street or drive...

12 Must Have Camera Accessories for Outdoor Photographers

Every photographer has camera gear that they cannot live without. Usually, these items evolve over time and with experience in the field. Choices of camera accessories can be overwhelming, as there are thousands of products on the market for every need imaginable...

The Best Landscape Photos of 2020 | Max Foster Fine Art
2020 Year in Review | Limited Edition Photographic Art

Each year I like to look back at the photos I published and select a handful of favorites. Capturing a unique and powerful image often takes multiple attempts and lots of disappointments...

Is The Fujifilm GFX100S The Ultimate Landscape Photography Camera?

Fujifilm has just announced the latest in their Medium Format Mirrorless camera lineup, the Fujifilm GXF100S. Normally I don’t get too excited for new camera announcements, but this camera could be a game changer for landscape and nature photographers that produce large format prints...

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Photo Resizing
How to Enlarge A Photo for Print Without Losing Quality

Digital image enlargement, or resizing, is the process of increasing the resolution of an image to produce larger prints, posters, wall art or even billboards...

Shooting For Print: A Professional Photographer's Workflow

In our current digital age, billions of photos are taken every day; however, only a tiny fraction of those photos are ever printed - even by professional photographers! Digital cameras with 45+ megapixels are the norm, but most of these high-resolution images only make it to the computer screen, or even worse, a tiny phone screen...

10 Most Beautiful National Parks In The Lower 48
A Guide to Exploring America’s Most Iconic Landscapes

Want to go on a national park adventure, but not sure where to start? How about visiting the most beautiful National Parks in the Lower 48! After having completed a 50,000 mile road trip across the USA, these are our top 10 picks for the most beautiful national parks in the contiguous United States...

Gaia GPS: The Best App for Landscape Photographers
Why All Landscape Photographers Should Have The Gaia GPS App

As an avid outdoorsman and landscape photographer, I use several smartphone apps to help with scouting locations, planning shots, tracking routes and recording data...

Bob Ross: Iconic Landscape Artist and An Enduring Inspiration

In the world of fine art the name Bob Ross may not come up frequently, but for millions of aspiring artists he is an icon that continues to inspire and motivate. Bob Ross was the star of the PBS show The Joy of Painting from 1983 to 1994, and although the show ended over 25 years ago its popularity has increased dramatically in recent years...

Art Galleries Near Me | Photography Gallery Near Me

Looking for a night out at an art exhibit or interested in browsing a photo gallery in search of a masterpiece for your own collection? While most cities have several art galleries to choose from, finding the best one for your needs can be trickier than simply searching for the closest “art galleries near me...

What is Fine Art Photography?
Fine Art Photography & Museum Quality Photographic Prints Explained

The term fine art photography is used widely these days, but what does it actually mean? Does fine art speak to the quality of the piece, or perhaps the genre of the photograph itself? While there are no absolute definitions, the terms fine art photography and fine art photographic prints are both rooted in history and have been used by photographers for years from the greats such as Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell to current artists such as Peter Lik and me...

Art Museums Near Me | Best Virtual Art Museum Tours

Need a break from the chaos of this year? Then why not spend an evening out at an art museum, or better yet, take a virtual museum tour from the comfort of your home! This article will give you insights on some of the best U...

The Benefits of Nature Photography Artwork
Nature Photography Can Reduce Stress & Promote Health

Artwork in homes or businesses is often chosen to complement the décor, bring back memories, evoke a certain feeling or to simply fill blank wall space...

The Best of 2019 | Limited Edition Nature Photography
Top 10 Favorite Images of 2019 by Max Foster

Each year I spend hundreds of hours shooting and editing images. On average, only 0.2% of exposures make it into my Limited Edition Nature Photography Image Galleries...

15 Tips for Photographing Fall Colors

Photographers' favorite time of year is just around the corner…fall! To make the most of your photography sessions this Autumn season, you’ll need to be prepared. The 15 tips below will explain how to take your fall foliage photos to the next level!

Research Locations and Check Fall Color Reports

Whether you are photographing locally or traveling long distances for fall color shooting, make sure to check color reports ahead of time...

Greenland Backpacking & Photography Adventure
An Epic Adventure in the Arctic Wilderness of Southern Greenland

Greenland has gained popularity in recent years, but it remains one of the most remote and least visited places on earth...

Focus Stacking with Photoshop for Landscape Photography
Introduction to Focus Stacking with Photoshop:

When I began my journey into the photography world, I read as many instructional books as possible. These dealt with everything from exposure and composition to the minute technical details often overlooked...

Behind The Shot: Arctic Breeze
Tasermiut Fjord near Nanortalik, Greenland

Greenland is an autonomous country that’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark and is considered the world’s largest island...

The Big Interview: No Guts No Glory
Digital SLR Photography Magazine | September 2018
Do you dream some days of leaving the monotony of daily life, packing the essentials and heading off into the distant sunset? That’s was U.S. Travel and Landscape photographer Max Foster has done and Caroline Schmidt speaks to him about his new adventure...