As a budding Pro you will eventually run into the “on location” portrait. For most of these you can just use a natural, existing, background for the picture. But sometimes you want to add that little extra something to take your subject out of the office, classroom, front yard, and put them into a “studio” like situation. You might think you need to drop a bunch of cash, but after the jump I’ll show you a cheap method of getting closer to a studio shot at any location. Read more…
Photography Basics
The Rule of Thirds
There are two things that separate a good picture from a great picture. Light and Composition. While lighting is something that requires gear of varying types, composition is something that everyone with a camera, be it camera phone or Pro D-SLR, can gain skill in with just a little attention to detail. More after the jump. Read more…
Tricks: Great balls of fire, and we ain’t talking Photoshop here.
I know I promised a long post with all sorts of info on the Rule of Thirds, but I found out I need surgery so I’ve been a little distracted. Nothing major, but I plan on trying to write up several posts for the time Im out of commission.
So, instead of leaving you high and dry this weekend, I thought I would post a fun tutorial on a type of time lapse trick photography. Ever wanted to hold fire in your hands? Well, now you can … sort of. The effect is pretty simple and Ill explain it after the jump! Read more…
PhotoTip: Shoot Book
Today’s tip is what I like to call a “Shoot Book.” This is basically a small notebook that I keep in my shoot bag, or with me when Im traveling without camera gear. In my case I use a pocket-sized ruled Moleskine. I use this book for ideas I have, studio shot plans or other important information I need to jot down in an instant. For the studio shot ideas I try to visualize the shot and sketch up the poses with “wire frame” people. Then on the same page I like to sketch up possible lighting diagrams. More after the Jump Read more…
Dust and Pollen and Sensors … Oh My!
Dust … composed usually of dead skin cells or pollen, it is always around us. We breath it in every day, we dust it from our furniture, and even take medicine for the allergies it may cause. But, something we as digital photographer should know is that dust on a sensor is a horrible thing. Hit the jump to read about how to find and eliminate sensor dust. Read more…
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…
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…
