David over at Strobist.com makes a passionate argument for pro photographers using their down time in this economy to work for free. He believes it gives him the kind of total creative control he’d forgotten about when trying to shoot for a living, and says that it often leads to paid gigs. Lots of pro photographers on his blog both agreed and disagreed, leading to a very lively discussion. Check it out…

Jodie Coston, a freelance photographer who has won numerous international awards for her images and makes her living selling photography online, has an online photography course sponsored by the morguefile.com. This course is free and open to the public. Lots of excellent examples, and she covers both the theory and the practical application of professional photographic techniques.

If you have mastered all these techniques, you may be ready to start selling photography online too.

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Lesson 1: Composition And Impact – It’s A Beautiful Photograph, But Do You Know WHY It’s Beautiful?

Lesson 2: Aperture And Shutter Speed – How They Work Together.

Lesson 3: The lens – choosing camera optics.

Lesson 4: ISO, Grain, Transparency vs. Negative, Specialty Films

Lesson 5: Fun Effects – Camera Filters, Soft Focus, Zooming And Panning

Lesson 6: Landscape, Nature and Travel Photography

Lesson 7: Portraits And Studio Lighting

Lesson 8: Studio Lighting – Still Life and Product Photography

Lesson 9: Tying It All Together

Lesson 10: Special Requests

In this inspiring TED video, David Griffin, the photo director for National Geographic, reminds us again how photography connects us to our world. David talks about how we can use photos to tell stories. His message is especially important to any photographer who offers albums or photo books to their clients.

With all the bad news this past week, spending 15 minutes recharging your batteries with great photography may be the best investment you can make.

This article was written by Brooks Jensen of LensWork Magazine. Highly informative: for the new photographer it will be a source of information; for the seasoned pro, it will be a good reminder of the things you know but occasionally forget.

While we’re talking about LensWork Magazine: While it looks like a great resource for professional photographers, I’m embarrassed to admit I’d never heard of it before. I purchased a sample subscription today. When it arrives, I’ll let you know if it is worth it