My top 10 photography sites around the net

I thought I would compile a list of my most visited photography related websites around the internet, so that others may hopefully get as much out of them as I do. Each one is in my top 10 for different reasons, all explained below.

1: Texas Photo Forum - This one is a no brainer. It's the first site I check when I wake up, and the last site I check before laying down for bed. There are some great people on the forum that can give you first hand experience pertaining to many of the questions you may have. I have met a lot of people on there that I have now become good friends with. Definitely check it out, if you have not already.

2: Kelbytraining - No amount of words could explain how much information is on this website. It features full length video tutorials from some of today's biggest names in the photography world, like Joe McNally, Rick Sammon, and Scott Kelby. In total, there are currently 27 different instructors, teaching about 140 different classes. Each class is broken down into many chapters that make rewatching something a breeze if you didnt quite pick up what they were saying the first time around. From my experience, a complete class seems to average in the 1 hour range. Some classes, like Scott Kelby's Professional Portrait Retouching class, go much longer though. That particular class is so long that it's broken into two classes, for a total of about 4 hours. The only downside to this website is that it is a subscription service ($19.99/month or $199/year currently, $24.99/month or $249 a year after August 31) but let me tell you, it is worth every penny. They are adding new content all the time so the classes keep expanding. Also, you can watch the first three lessons of any class on the site for free all the time. This should be enough to set the hook and reel you in like it did with me. After watching the first three lessons of about 10 different classes, I had to see more, and am I ever thankful that I did.

3: Strobist.com - This is David Hobby's world renown blog for anything and everything having to do with off-camera flash. If the word 'strobist' doesn't ring a bell, please remove the rock you've been hiding under for the last three years and join the modern crowd. Off camera flash is taking the photography world by storm, and David Hobby has just about everything to do with that. Check out his site for all of the tips and tricks you can handle.

4: Photofocus - This is a blog run by Scott Bourne, with contributions from other photographers such as Rick Sammon. The two of them host a great podcast that comes every 10 days (all days ending with a 5. eg. the 5th, 15th and 25th of each month). I highly recommend the podcast as well as the website. One great thing about this site is that it is updated pretty much daily with new tips from the pros. Definitely add this one to your favorite RSS reader.

5: Flickr - Any time I feel like I need a dose of inspiration, Flickr is where I head to. There are so many images to look at, covering any subject matter that you can come up with. If you are feeling like you are in a creative slump, do not hesitate to bring up Flickr and browse until that artistic brainwave kicks back in.

6: Joe McNally's blog - Joe McNally is another off-camera flash genius, similar to David Hobby. He is the author of two amazing books, The Moment it Clicks, and The Hot Shoe Diaries. I love his scribbled lighting diagrams, whether it be on a napkin or a dry erase board. This guy has shot for every big named magazine you can think of, including Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, and LIFE. His blog is usually filled with behind the scenes looks into his crazy life as he's photographing all over the world. It's all tied together with Joe's great witty humor. This is another site to add to the RSS reader for sure.

7: DFW Strobist Meetup Group - This is a local DFW area group that I am a member of. The group is made up of members (219 of them at the time of this writing) who are all wanting to master the art of off-camera flash. We get together once a month for an educational session, which usually lasts about 4 hours, and another time a month to do an actual shoot. I can't explain how much I've learned by attending these group meetups. If you live in the DFW area, do yourself a favor and check us out. In my opinion, every photographer should at least learn the basic skills of lighting and posing, and these group meetups are a great way to do so.

8: Opacity.us - My father actually turned me on to this website a few years back. It is a site all about abandoned places. Most of the locations here are old hospitals, asylums, penitentiaries and such, but there are some more modern urban ruins thrown in as well. He somehow finds a way to make these old and creepy run down buildings look nothing short of beautiful.

9: DIY Photography - Ever wanted to know how to make a ringlight out of everday items? This is the place to find out how. DIY Photography is filled with all kinds of creative ideas for making things at home that would normally cost a small fortune. If you can think it, it's probably been made already and put onto their site.

10: B&H Photo - B&H is widely recognized for having the lowest prices on equipment just about anywhere. They are constantly used as the benchmark cost when buying an item. They also have a great used section that normally stays pretty well stocked with good quality gear. If you are looking to buy anything, always check B&H first, even if just to compare prices. You will have a hard time finding anything lower than what they can offer.