Photography Tips And Tutorials

Those who were with me last week know that my laptop pretty much died. With my new, more powerful one here, it's time to my Lightroom catalog and all my settings to it from the old one....

Creating dramatic photography in an unusual location is a good exercise for photographers who are hoping to build their skills. In most cases, the stranger the location, the more difficult photographing can be. The lighting can be tricky and you may have to learn to get comfortable in all sorts of environments. On a recent fashion shoot, photographer, Aaron Nace, scouted out the perfect location for the shoot, but it just so happened to be on a very tall ledge which made things tricky right from the start. Luckily, Nace was able to overcome the obstacles to create some great images and he shares is insight with us in the video below: For the shoot, Nace chose to work with fifty/fifty lighting, meaning half of the light comes from a soft box and the other half comes from natural light. The softbox, which housed an Einstein strobe that was set at half power, was used to brighten up some of the shadows left on the model from the natural light. In the two photos below, you can see what an impact the diffused strobe has. Without the softbox the shadows are very strong and distracting. Even set at just half power, the strobe evens out the contrast. Nace emphasizes that it is important to find balance in the output of the softbox because if the light is too strong the photograph will look too lit and artificial. Contrarily, if it is not enough, then the shadows will overtake the picture. “You want to balance. Half of the light coming from the ambient and the other half coming from the softbox. It should look like we did not use a softbox at all. It should look very natural, that is if we do it correctly.” He also advises to use a loupe to discern if the photographs are good or not, especially since it becomes very difficult to identify what the photographs look like in a sunny setting. It helps you “not see the glare or anything like that,” Nace explains. “It may seem like a silly accessory, but it really helps when you are shooting outdoors.” Go to full article: How to Create Dramatic Photography in an Unusual Location What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Our Christmas card from Molly's first Christmas The last few weeks the stress level in our house has been a bit higher than usual... because it has been filled with the drama that comes with the a fancy shmancy dress, bigger than normal hair, and all the other things that go with senior prom. If you have been a friend at Weekly Photo Tips for very long you've seem my oldest daughter Molly grow up and this weekend she attended her senior prom. I have celebrated Molly's birthday and shared her humor here on the blog because she is one of the things of which I am most proud. And as my daughters reach more of these millstones, it means the day is getting ever closer when they'll be leaving for college, and the thought of them no longer being under my roof fills me with sadness. The morning after her prom Molly said "thanks dad, you really made it awesome" which made every penny and all the effort worth it, and yes, it made me just a little emotional too. Molly in her Wizard of Oz phase At Homecoming Senior Prom

There’s a lot to learn when you first get a DSLR. The first things you need to know is how to get out of auto mode and start using your camera’s manual function. This tutorial will show you the 15 things you need to know when starting out: The 15 Things You Should Know: Shooting Modes - Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode. Each has their own purpose. Depth-of-Field – This is a measure of how much of the scene is in focus and is most easily controlled by changing the aperture. ISO – This increases the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light, but also increases that amount of digital noise. Focus Modes – There’s fixed focus and servo focus, as well as a hybrid mode. Which is best to use depends on the movement of your subject. Focal Points – Selecting one or several focus points can help you fine-tune your focusing. Back Focus - Using the button on the back to focus can help you snap photos faster. Exposure Compensation – This is handy for tweaking the exposure values that the camera determines. Custom White Balance – If you want perfect white balance, customizing it is you best option. Highlight Control – Shows areas of the photo that have been blown out. Metering Modes – This controls how your camera determines the exposure. Live View Mode – This helps for previewing your exposure and fine-tuning your focus. Flash Control – Knowing when and how to control your flash is important when lighting your image. Image Stabilization – More importantly, when NOT to use this because it’s not always needed. The Beep – That beep when you focus for the most part is unnecessary. Customizable Menu -  For an easier time navigating your menus, you can make your own. Depth-of-Field is a must know Go to full article: Top 15 Features of Your DSLR Camera That You Should Know What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Those new to the idea can be taken by surprise and even feel a little uncomfortable at the prospect of running a photography business. Their photography is now a product that needs to be sold. However, no one can run a successful photography studio in the long term if they persist with the idea of being primarily a photographer, while ignoring the necessary business aspects. Professional Photography Is Fun, But It’s No Game “Photographer” captured by Mert Oneyli. (Click image to see more from Mert Oneyli.) Despite the serious nature of the photography business, being a professional photographer can be fun, highly rewarding, and deeply satisfying in the creative sense. Unfortunately, too many new pro photographers treat their business like an easy game, which is the fastest path to a business meltdown and ultimate failure. But how can an amateur photographer who does take this seriously actually make the leap to becoming a professional photographer? Start With An Inventory The first thing to do is to take a complete inventory of everything the photographer already has that can be used for the business: Cameras and lenses (both primary and backup) Lighting equipment (indoor studio and portable lighting) Backdrops, props, and stands Miscellaneous photographic and studio gear Computing equipment, software and hardware Office equipment and necessary supplies (for example, printers and ink) Physical studio space (rented or at home) Most amateurs probably have many of these things to begin with, but it’s important not to get bogged down by the details. Instead, list the available resources as a starting point. There will undoubtedly be gaps that need to be filled. For example, backup cameras are critical for the wedding photographer; failure on someone’s wedding day is not an option! With that said, this is no time to start shopping for all the latest and greatest gear! The idea that photographers must own the newest high dollar camera in order to be successful, for example, is a myth. The time to invest in better equipment is later on, when the business is generating sufficient revenue. When making the jump from amateur to professional photographer there’s something far more important to invest in: business and marketing education. Photo captured by Henrik. (Click image to see more from Henrik.) Invest In Knowledge–Not Just Equipment For some reason, business education is a difficult thing to persuade many photographers to invest in, but taking the time and effort to learn about running a business separates the wannabes from the truly dedicated professionals. As soon as the photographer makes the decision to go pro, it’s the time to figure out where his or her personal strengths and weaknesses are with regard to business, accounting, marketing, and sales. Of course, technical skills and a dedication to the art of photography are still important for creating a quality product, but skills and passion won’t matter if the photographer has very little idea of how to run a business. The early days in starting a business are the time when the photographer is simply unaware of the things he or she needs to know, but doesn’t (in other words, “blind spots”). A better understanding of where photographers are in their personal business development is of critical importance. Some areas to which most newcomers to the business should give serious thought include the following: Branding The importance of a positive business attitude and mindset Creating an attractive product range and price it accordingly Business communication skills–written and verbal Search engine optimization Persuasive copywriting Marketing know-how Building relationships with other businesses Sales techniques and overall confidence in selling Creating and maintaining positive client relationships Business administration, such as legal and accounting tasks Some of these may require extensive trai

Photography has conquered new grounds and has seen its popularity grow by leaps and bounds with innovation in the field of camera electronics, expression styles, medium of sharing one’s work with the world and of-course with the help of new age editing software and techniques. Digital photography has swamped this creative discipline but the art of Analog photography still finds its existence within a select few. This short documentary video from Thai Anh Duong takes you behind-the-scenes of Billy Mork’s passion involving analog film printing. Billy Mork, the founder of Imagini, took up photography during his teens and has seen different trends come and go involving the art of taking photos, processing them and creatively coming up with amazing works. He got himself involved quite early with dark room analog film printing initially but then took a back seat when the digital megapixel war began. During that period he briefly transformed himself into a art director and later found himself working in the architecture domain. Finally, his passion got the better of him and Billy went back to doing what he did best – black and white analog film printing. Billy shares his insights on why Analog photography is challenging at times and how one can master this art of analog film printing - The image must already be framed at the back of the mind for a photographer even before he picks up the camera to shoot. There are no second chances in analog photography. One does not have the luxury to shoot an image, review it, delete it for not liking it and then going on to shoot another one until it comes out perfect. Analog photography is all about working on the image in post processing in a dark room. One cannot afford to miss on any details while shooting. Photographers need to be precise in what they are shooting. One cannot miss on any subject matter. When it comes to post processing the film to get the actual prints, Billy mentions it is at that time as a photographer that you can manipulate the images such that it reflects your unique taste and style. You decide whether your images should have a high contrast, low contrast, dodging, burning or any other acceptable edits that you can make. Everything needs to be performed in the dark room and that itself is a challenge of its own. The ability to get people to focus on what you would like them to see is an art which requires creative skills. “Analog film printing represents a photographer’s unique personality, style and provides an identity to his or her work. It gives a signature style and an essence of creativity!” Billy reflects on the thought that a photographer should be able to build their own zone which can depict one’s personal signature work. As per Billy, photography in black and white will never die based on various experiences he has had and the feedback that he has received from photographers world-wide! Go to full article: The Delicate Art of Analog Photography & Film Printing What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

One of the most frustrating experiences for a photographer is to get home from a photo trip with some great images only to find that some of the images are not sharp. To help solve this problem, this article covers seven things that a photographer can do to create really sharp images. “Twilight Inferno” captured by DailyTravelPhotos.com (Click Image to See More) Tripod When it comes to getting sharp images, the first place to start is with a tripod. A tripod provides a stable platform that holds the camera rigid — dramatically increasing the sharpness of the image. Weighting the tripod A tripod is a good start. However, a tripod can be made even more stable by using some object to weigh down the tripod. This produces even sharper images. This is so important that many tripods have some type of mechanism at the bottom of the center post that was designed for hanging objects to add weight to the tripod. A simple way to take advantage of this feature is to carry a small net bag with your photo equipment. The bag can be filled with rocks, or other materials, and attached to the tripod. Even if a tripod doesn’t have such a mechanism, other methods can be used such as hanging a camera bag from the center column of the tripod. Shutter release Just because a camera is on a tripod doesn’t mean that the camera will be steady. The simple act of pressing the shutter can cause vibrations that will cause a loss of sharpness. The solution is simple. A remote switch can be used to release the shutter. A remote switch is a device that attaches to the camera through a cable, or wirelessly, and allows the photographer to release the shutter without touching the camera. Mirror lock up Even if the camera is set up on a tripod, the tripod is weighted down, and a remote switch is used, image quality can still be degraded due to vibration from the movement of the camera’s mirror when the shutter is released. This vibration is primarily a problem with shutter speeds between about 1/30s and 1s. “Happy New Year Singapore” captured by fady (Click Image to See More From fady) This is easily solved by enabling the mirror lockup function on the camera. Once enabled, pressing the shutter button once swings the mirror out of the way. Pressing the shutter button a second time releases the shutter. This way, the mirror vibration dies out before the shutter is released. Aperture The middle apertures (around f/8 for most lenses) produce the sharpest images. The larger apertures produce softer images due to various aberrations while the smaller apertures produce softer images due to diffraction. Shutter Speed While a tripod eliminates camera movement, the subject that is being photographed may be moving. Thus, a shutter speed that is high enough to freeze the subject movement should be used. This may require that a larger aperture be used in order to get the proper exposure ISO Increasing the ISO will allow a higher shutter speed to be used in order to stop the movement of the subject. “Cloud Chafers” captured by DailyTravelPhotos.com (Click Image to See More) Following these techniques will put you on your way to creating some really sharp photos. About the Author Ron Bigelow has created an extensive resource of free articles to help you develop your photography skills. Visit Ron’s site at http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm. Go to full article: How to Capture Really Sharp Photos What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

We’ve all seen photos of the Grand Canyon, but I’ll bet you’ve never seen one like this. Last year, Travis Roe captured this image of a lightning bolt striking the rim of the Grand Canyon. Roe submitted the image to the U.S. Department of Interior who released the image recently. The image has become one of their most viewed and liked photos of all time: Grand Canyon lit by giant lightning bolt (Click to See Larger Size, Imgur) The lightning adds a beautiful and almost surreal lighting to the image giving a fresh perspective on an otherwise over-photograph landmark. Below is a video clip from NBC Nightly News that tells a bit more about the photo: Go to full article: Interesting Photo of the Day: Lighting Strikes Grand Canyon What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

All photographers hope to capture a once in a lifetime moment whether it be photographing people or nature. In the photo below, Owen Deutsch, was clearly in the right place at the right time. He was able to capture an incredibly rare moment as a Bald Eagle chased off a Great Blue Heron in effort to protect the eggs that were resting in the eagle’s nest. The photo was taken in Fox Lake, Illinois: Bald Eagle Gives Chase to Great Blue Heron In an interview with National Geographic, where this same photo made it’s Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of The Week, Deutsch says, “This Bald Eagle was chasing the Great Blue Heron away from the eggs in her nest. It wasn’t trying to kill the Heron or she would have done so long before this once in a lifetime shot was captured.” Deutsch got his start in professional photography working as a fashion photographer, which he did for twenty years. After a hiatus from photography to pursue other goals, he made his return to photography, this time working as a bird and wildlife photographer. Go to full article: Interesting Photo of the Day: Bald Eagle In Pursuit of a Great Blue Heron What are your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook or Google+ Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

1. Move closer to your subject. Nothing kills a photo quicker than a distracting background. If you have a great background try bringing the subject closer to the camera so they don’t get lost. Remember this tip if nothing else. “chit-chat” captured by Raluca Mateescu (Click Image to See More From Raluca Mateescu) 2. Take lots of pictures. Digital photography is cheap and it is good! It is okay to shoot multiple photos with only slight variations…keep and share your best photos. Also you don’t need an expensive camera; I have photos from all over the world hanging on my walls that were taken with a $300 point and shoot. 3. Get creative. It doesn’t take much to enhance a photo. Pictures taken from 5 ½’ above the ground can look repetitious. Think about changing the perspective – get down on one knee or on your stomach if possible. Stand on a chair. Experiment with different lenses if you have them. Experiment with composition. 4. Rent equipment. Professional camera stores are not just for professionals. They have rental departments where anyone can pick up an exotic lens for a day or more. Many that can be used on non-professional cameras. These rental departments are manned by people with lots of photo knowledge and people are generally more than happy to “talk photography” if not too busy at the moment. Don’t be shy. “The Catcher in the Rye” captured by Arman Zhenikeyev (Click Image to See More From Arman Zhenikeyev) 5. Use the camera’s flash. Especially outside. Your eyes can look at a person in front of a sunset and see their smile but your camera can’t. It is either going to record the colors of the sunset and your subject will be a silhouette or your subject will be visible and the background will be overexposed. Be conscious of shadows on people’s faces – again utilize your flash. If your subject is looking into the sun they are squinting – turn them away from the sun and fill shadows with flash. 6. Think of your camera like a painter’s canvas. Be the artist. Is there a garbage can or other unwanted item in the frame that can be eliminated by simply moving a foot or so to the left or right? Look at the entire frame you are about to capture, not just the one main element you are focusing on. Sure you can fix it in Photoshop but it is better to capture it the way you want to see it. 7. Study Pictures. Pictures you like. Cut them out of your favorite magazines or newspapers. Keep a file on your desk and just take a moment to look at them and tell yourself what you like about them. Bookmark web sites that have photos you like. Go to them often. Develop your eye. Oh, and move closer to your subject ;) 8. Learn to take a little criticism. All photographers love their own photos. You put your heart and soul into them. You want to show them off. They are pictures of your kids, taken with the camera you always wanted and just bought. How can people not love them? Remember art is subjective. Not everybody is your mom. 9. Get your pictures published. Local newspapers have photography contests, generally centered on a theme: children, pets, travel. If you are in the right place at the right time, CNN might be interested. Don’t forget about the internet. There are always photo contests you can enter online. Publish your own website. There are plenty of free sites that will allow you to build a web site using your photos. They are a great way to share our art and these days you don’t need a degree from MIT to do it. 10. Learn from your mistakes. But don’t be afraid to break rules. Photography is fun and creative. Nobody is going to die if your snapshots are a little off or weird. What might not work one day may be a stroke of genius the next. And one last time, move closer to your subject. “Kelso Dunes” captured by David Urban (Click Image to See More From David Urban) For the