Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Some books leave us free and some books make us free.” There are so many boks out there for us to learn from, and yet so few unlock the secret doors of our minds that allows our souls to soar. With this in mind, I am excited to post what I hope to be the first of many book reviews. In the annuals of Photographic history there are many names that people know. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Dorthea Lange, Diane Arbus, Robert Capa, and of course our generation’s addition Annie Leibovitz. Read more…
March, 2009
FlashPost: How easy is that “glossy black” look?
So you think that those snazzy glossy black or white images can’t be pulled off without thousands in gear? Take a look at the below image. I call it “Tulip Deconstructed” and as you can see it sports that glossy reflection and solid black background, the kind that makes the subject really pop from the image.
If you still think these types of shots take tons of wallet draining gear, hit the Jump and think again. Read more…
Bring in the Funk, but check the Noise at the door.
In the olden days, and for those of us who still use film, image graininess was something we tried our best to reduce. If it was impossible, then you tried to integrate the grain into the picture so it added a certain feel to the final composition. Sometimes, the grain was even a planned part of the composition, much like modern film makers use the “8mm” look when they want to achieve that certain edgy and grainy feel to their films. In the digital age we still have this “problem” but it is generally refered to as noise.
Just like with film, the amount of grain/noise is dependent upon the ISO of the camera. In analog (aka film cameras) this was/is determined by the actual film’s ISO, and in digital it is determined by an ISO setting which varies the sensitivity of the sensor. Read more…
Perfect Light and Lack Thereof
So today I’m going to go over the next rule in my Photography Basics series. Yesterday, I talked about using a tripod, and how its important to keep your camera stable for the sharpest pictures. Now, were going to discuss what the camera needs to capture an image … light. On most websites you’ll read about the “magic” hours which include 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after sun rise, as well as sunset. For 2D pictures to have a “3D” feel to them, they need the exchange of light and shadow to make them pop. Read more…
FlashPost: Guide Update
For those of you who aren’t aware of it, I wrote a Guide to Photography in Isolated (Inhabited) Areas several months ago. I just have revised it some and added some important tips. You can get it with the link below …
ThreeFive Photography’s Guide to Shooting in Remote Locations Rev 1.1
Back from Tennessee
Been a few days since I’ve posted. I took a few days off and travelled to some pretty out remote locations in the Smokey Mountains in Eastern TN. Click through to see the full size on Flickr.
I had planned for this to be a photo free weekend, so I left the tripod at home. It might seem strange, but I find I don’t take photography as seriously if I don’t have my tripod along. My framing and “capturing the light” skills still hold, but without a tripod I feel like my photography takes on a much more “playful” tone, and play is always good for the soul. But, my photo-free weekend didn’t happen since I did have my camera with me. Just a few of the best things though. So this leads into my rules of Photography that Illl be expounding on each day for the next several days. So stay tuned for them all. Read more…
Book Release!!
So today, Friday the 20th, 2009, Im really happy to announce I am releasing my first Photography book, [ life in situ ]. I decided to self-publish via Blurb without even attempting to look at more traditional means. I felt that Blurb was an obvious choice for several reasons. First off, it forces me to be responsible for marketing the book and selling it’s merits. Secondly, it doesn’t kill thousands of trees and increase greenhouse gases needlessly in the event the book completely tanks. Lastly, it allows me to retain creative control over the process. As a former Art Director I have a certain level of need to maintain control of my creative process. So, in the end, the product you purchase from Blurb is my vision, not a collaboration of various publisher’s Creative Directors. Does this mean I won’t ever publish with a mainstream publisher? Not at all. But, only if I feel it is worth it. If you’d like to check it out or maybe purchase a copy, visit the link …
Welcome to Three Five Photography!
If you’re reading this you have probably linked in from various other sites. Three Five Photography is a site/blog about a budding Photography company, and the many ways I work to break into the elusive world of professional photography. I will be blogging about my triumphs, as well as my failures. In essence I am going to attempt to give my readers something the other “big names” in photography blogging fail at … the words and advice of a budding Professional. I once had a Professor in college who told me the greatest scientific discoveries were usually made by people new to the field because they weren’t set in their ways. The big guys can give all sorts of advice, but no matter how hard they try their advice will always be based on their previous success. Read more…
