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May 10 2012
81 Links That Are Like Chocolate for Photographers
What an epic week in the world of photography! The folks at Toad Hollow Photography have been collecting links to tutorials, great photography and interesting blogs to share with everyone, and the result of all that work is this week’s list. We really hope you enjoy looking at the images produced by these great artists as much as the Toad did in bringing them to you.
Check out the Toad’s latest photography adventure as he kicks off his inaugural post for TLC, The Land Conservancy. They are a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia focused on preserving the history and heritage of the area. The Toad begins his first assignment with the blog post “A New Beginning” which talks a bit about the group and shares a few details of upcoming posts that were a result of his first photo-shoot working with TLC.
TUTORIALS
Food For Digital Thought: 101 Things To Know About Photography – Joe Baraban shares an educational and insightful piece here, full of GREAT tips and pointers to give you that little extra edge in your practice.
Shutter Speed Explained: Easy and Simple – a brief but well-written piece detailing the effects of the shutter speed in photography. This article is sure to shed some light on this topic for those who are in process of learning about the 3 keys to photography; shutter speed, aperture setting and ISO.
The Law Of The Light Part II: Lighting People – another brief but highly informative post from Joe Baraban shares some principles in using light for capturing portraits of people. Great article, well worth the short time required to read and absorb it.
Ten travel photography tips that you need to know – Tristan shares a 5 minute video containing some gems for those who are doing or want to do travel photography. Tristan’s videos are typically excellent, and this one delivers some useful insights.
The F.I.L.M. Project, VSCO Film and Lodge No 51 – Jim Denham shares a screencast presentation that shares some tips on using Aperture for image processing. This roughly 10 minute video is definitely well worth the time to view.
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY
Notes from the camera Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 – our very own Tom Dinning (@tomdinning) here on Light Stalking shares a new series of posts and images. Tom has a wonderful and unique way of merging stunning photography with deep and profound words to create an entire vision and message. These are wonderful posts that can each stand on their own, but when taken as a collection deliver a message of importance.
Balestrino Abandoned Village – Mark Blundell delivers another one of his stunning 360* panorama HDR presentations. This time we are taken to an abandoned village in Europe where all the inhabitants are long gone and all that remains is the empty structures and homes.
First Encounter – a lovely experience is shared by Ashley Vincent with this truly incredible image. A clouded leopard is brought into the world, and Ashley has a chance to grab an image of this wonderful little baby as it begins to explore the new world it finds itself in.
Elbow Grease – it would seem that this place needs more than just a solid cleaning. With that being said, Rob Hanson pokes his camera inside this falling down farmhouse and comes away with a gritty, textured image that is absolutely captivating.
Boathouse, Obersee – a scene captured from another planet entirely! This wonderful image of a half-submerged boathouse in a pool of water with an incredible mountain backdrop delivers a compelling shot from the studio of Mark Whale.
Iron in the Silhouette – CJ Schmit captures and shares a dramatic silhouette in this photograph. An iron train bridge creates great shapes and lines against the sky, a shot that leaves the viewer with many unanswered questions.
Hellboy – an extreme macro close up of a spider is shared here by Anusit Sarerattanachai. We get such a detailed shot, you can almost read this spiders mind.
The Lake – Scott Wood is well known for his great infrared work in the realm of photography. In this post, he shares a lake scene with really great details and interesting tones that are sure to be enjoyed by all.
Sky high – get ready for a real birds-eye view of the city of Pittsburgh in this wonderful post by Dave DiCello. Once again Dave shares a shot that showcases his incredible talents in this genre of photography, producing a pair of shots that are sure to amaze all who pop by for a visit.
Art & The Vintage Car – we get a fabulous series of iPhone images here in this post from Edith Levy. A taste of architecture is punctuated by a set of great shots of an old Dodge truck. Good Lord, I want to go for a ride in that gorgeous thing…
The Loneliest Road in America – Bob Lussier takes us on a far-away journey, to a place where people and cars no longer exist. This stretch of road is the perfect subject for Bob to shoot, complete with a wonderful vanishing point that adds so much drama and tension to the scene.
Weekend Relaxer #18 – another beer review and incredible label photo graces the blog of Chris Nitz. If this doesn’t make you want to head right out to your local beer haberdashery for some of the goods, we really don’t know what will.
Carolina Dreamin’ – a beautiful house sits on the shore in the Carolina’s, creating a spectacular subject for the photography of Rob Hanson. This house is absolutely gorgeous, and the setting really makes it stand out.
Ink On The Half Shell – a giant sea turtle is carefully captured and processed in this post by Aaron Barlow. Using high-key techniques in post-processing, Aaron creates a compelling image by accenting the shapes and lines of the turtle, in turn creating an absolutely mesmerizing piece.
Top Shelf Feeds – a local photographer shares a shot here of a facility we’ve photographed before ourselves, as featured in our blog post “The Toad At Top Shelf”. We are always amazed to see another artist’s interpretation of the subjects we have shot, and this picture is a great example of this.
Harris Hawk – all the character and spirit of this magnificent bird is captured and shared in this epic photograph by Christopher Dodds. Rich details in the face and feathers of the graceful bird are perfectly photographed here, creating a very compelling image to view and enjoy.
Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal and Clock Tower – this is a wonderful architectural study of an old terminal and clock tower from Mark Garbowski. Great tones in the building are accented by the really rich lines and details.
Orange Juice – bright, vibrant colors are all captured here for us to enjoy in this photograph from Rachel Cohen. An incredible spring flower is perfectly shot and shared, giving the viewer a strong sense of the new season and pending summer.
A Patient Gator – oh wow, now that’s why I call a serious looking fellow! Tim Stanley takes a photograph of one very grumpy looking half-submerged alligator, and delivers an image full of character.
Tennessee Valley Morning – you just have to love the incredible sense of expanse this photograph brings. Jerry Denham captures and early morning landscape complete with a gentle fog that helps to create a quiet feeling of breaking dawn.
Canadian National Railway – Scott Hovind takes us on an inner exploration of some iconic CN rail cars. These great shots are composed with awesome leading lines, vanishing points and tons of great details to take in and enjoy.
The Road Ahead – Kathleen and Erik Kerstenbeck share a visual metaphor that is sure to resonate with everyone. This great shot of an iconic building in NYC is accented by a fast moving taxi to create the entire visual representation of the message being shared.
Safeway, Winnipeg, 2012 – Ren Bostelaar captures a shot of a Safeway store front that really gives us a strong taste of nostalgia. For many of us of advanced years, this store represents something from the past, and the composition and natural light found here really brings that notion to life.
Supermoon 2012 – what is sure to be the first post we highlight of this years Supermoon full moon event, we share a strong series from the studio of Adam Allegro. This super-sized orb is perfectly captured by Adam, delivering a must-see set in this week’s list.
Dawn on Prescott – a really fascinating rail bridge is the center of attention in this great photograph by Jim Denham. Unbelievable engineering has gone into the design and creation of this monolithic structure, and Jim’s picture here brings it all together.
Supermoon Over CityCentre – our second blog featuring this years supermoon is posted here by Jay Taylor. With this shot Jay grabs a scene of the moon partially obscured by cloud cover with the beautiful city of Seattle as a foreground.
Supermoon 2012 – we join Jason Hines on the edge of the Grand Canyon as the moon emerges from behind the rock formations. The incredible canyon is gently lit from the wonder light tones emitted from the moon, creating an absolutely mesmerizing landscape to view and enjoy.
Supermoon at DIA – Hansrico Photography takes us to the Dallas International Airport in this post to share a pair of photographs of the epic supermoon. The second photo is my favorite, displaying all the natural intrigue and mystique inherent in such a phenomenon.
The Daisies of Namaqualand – our winter and spring have been dark and cold up here in the Pacific Northwest this year, and we are all looking forward to any small sign of better weather. This wonderful and colorful shot by Barbara Youngelson whisks us to a bright and cheery place in this photo of vibrant wildflowers.
Sound of Speed – this post is a great study in the elegance and beauty of modern avionics. Blake Rudis shares a series of shots of planes, including the F-22 Raptor which is a modern day marvel of electronics and ingenuity.
Piccadilly Rain: A photo collection – abstract shapes and colors are captured in this set of images taken of reflective pools of rainwater in the city streets. In this post the simplest of concepts delivers strong drama, producing a piece that is a must-see in this week’s list.
Route 66 Vintage Car and Trailer – you half expect Ricky and Lucy Ricardo to jump out from this classic Hudson car in this nostalgic scene captured perfectly by Anne McKinnell. The old cars and RVs were full of intrinsic character, and in this case Anne captures the pure essence of this scene perfectly.
Capital – Scott Wood begins to explore his new home, Olympia, WA, in this blog entry. In this shot Scott brings us the capital building, creating a great image through a totally unique and captivating composition.
Venice – this post features a pair of highly dramatic black-and-white images and a pair of vibrant and colorful photographs. The inherent beauty of this storied place is carefully photographed and shared in this excellent post.
1968 280SL – one of my personal favorite Mercedes models is presented in this photograph from Bob Byington. Bob used a selective color technique to bring the viewer directly to the classic car, and then the surroundings are exposed in black-and-white creating an image full of really great tension.
On the backs of Angels – the bluest blues, the orangest oranges, and a heart-stopping reflection merge in this epic photograph from Mauro Tronto. I believe we are looking at some form of an ice-field in this shot, and I can honestly tell you this is a breathtaking image is well worth the time to visit.
‘R’ – Reflections, Rest, and Relaxation – as you may have guessed, this post is rich in reflections. The folks from Dakota Visions Photography create a great series that takes the viewer to a restful place that causes you to stop and reflect, if you will, on the world you find yourself in.
Debod-ión por Madrid – our own Light Stalking member @astaroth takes us on a journey to Madrid, Spain. He captures a varying set of images depicting different aspects of this fabulous city, producing a blog post that is sure to delight everyone who visits.
The Google + Photowalk in Salt Lake City – A Surprise Ending! – Howard takes us along on his recent photowalk of Salt Lake City. The variations in the subjects and styles of the included images in this post brings a wonderful series to his audience and creates a blog post punctuated by some breathtaking shots of the Salt Lake Temple.
Old Barns, Manitoba – great old barns, particularly when they are leaning or in a state of disrepair, produce the most striking photography subjects. Ren Bostelaar captures a scene in Manitoba of a set of these old barns, leaving the viewer with many questions left unanswered. Great drama and tension in this photo.
Cerillos, New Mexico, USA – you’d expect a horse drawn carriage to come across your scene in this wonderful photo from Helene Kobelnyk. An iconic American scene is captured and shared here, full of rich textures and details to enjoy.
Moonset – Jason Hines creates a really stunning image of the supermoon as it begins to set on the horizon. The drama in the surrounding landscape is really accented by the effort and planning that went into this shot by Jason.
Let The Light Shine Down – the heavens part and glorious sunlight drapes across the countryside in this gorgeous image from Curt Fleenor. The breathtaking mountain slopes are bathed in the sunbeams generated by the dramatic clouds, producing an image displaying all of nature’s beauty.
Bluebonnet Siesta! – this is a wonderful image from John Mead, full of character and intrigue. A large bull peeks out above a field of flower, creating a really dramatic scene that is a pure joy to view. Guaranteed to leave you smiling.
L C Smith & Corona – these old typewriters make for great photography subjects. Len Saltiel takes a photograph of one in an antique store that is full of great textures and details, and really showcases the character and beauty of old and historically significant artifacts.
Hell Wagon – this shot of a ‘57 Chevy Wagon complete with incredible flames and a token dead-guy in the driver’s seat really delivers a strong and compelling piece to view. Tim does a great job of capturing the essence of this iconic car, and in turn delivers a must-see shot.
North Side – Rich McPeek shares a really wonderful cityscape shot showcasing the surrounding countryside and the architecture of the locale. This detailed shot is really a great shot to view, and we hope that Rich feels better soon so he can get out there to pursue his passions.
me & my dad – cute doesn’t even begin to describe this great photograph by dragonflydreams88. We have an emu baby plodding along beside its father in this great picture, one that is sure to elicit an “awwww” from everyone who pops by to see.
Pileated Woodpecker Feeding Young – the wonder of life and nature is explored in this great shot by Steve Creek. This woodpecker family is going about the process of feeding their young, and Steve is there to capture and deliver a really captivating set of images.
Santa Fe’s Historic Adobe Architecture – when you live somewhere else, being able to see photographs of places far away is a great experience to have. Anne McKinnell takes us to Santa Fe and showcases the wonderful tones, lines and details that are found in the local architecture.
Mental State – I actually really like the composition and tilted horizon in this shot from Mark Garbowski. To me it adds drama and a touch of intrigue to the scene. This is taken in what appears to be an abandoned attic or storage area, and Marks processing here really delivers a one-two punch of drama.
Moonlight Sonata – this is a very beautiful photograph of the supermoon making it’s way up the night sky. Michael Lewis Glover captures an exquisite image of this phenomenon, creating a breathtaking piece that is sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.
Lone Bison – a striking figure of a lone Bison standing in the field produces a very dramatic scene to be enjoyed. Hansrico Photography captures and shares this captivating scene, one that is a great image representation of this large, graceful creature.
The Boat Workshop – we find ourselves mesmerized with great tones and textures in the wood in this photograph from Len Saltiel. This active boat workshop provides the perfect subject for Len, and in turn he captures and shares a top drawer shot.
The Forgotten World – Jason Hines takes us to a whole other place in time and space with this wonderful landscape photograph. Great details in the never ending canyon produce a wonderful leading line to guide the viewer perfectly through the frame.
Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua (Part 2) – you simply have to see this post from Mark Summerfield. Here we see a set of images captured of an old British docking station complete with fabulous artifacts and compelling architecture.
Enter At Your Own Risk – we get a peek inside a house under construction in this post from Edith Levy. It’s amazing how much detail can be found in such a place, and Edith really showcases this concept rather perfectly!
Safe & Sound – I just love the shallow depth of focus that John Sotiriou used to capture this wonderful photograph. A door to a safe is wonderfully explored by John and his lens, creating a piece that is a joy to view.
Patience vs Faith – absolutely epic tones and reflections are captured and shared in this breathtaking image by Fakrul J. This is a crisp and sharp image, full of details that are guaranteed to delight and amaze everyone.
Hot Seat – you’re going to want a glass of cold water, or a fire extinguisher, handy for looking at this fabulous photograph by Scott Frederick. An abandoned facility forms the back-drop and creates incredible textures and details to be taken in.
Have You Slept In A Wigwam Lately? – this is so cool. I just love the historic details and the rich tones that Anne McKinnell carefully composed and shot in this set. This old motel on Route 66 lit up at night is the absolute perfect photography subject for Anne.
American Muscle Car – a bright and vibrant monster awaits the visitor in this great post from Wayne Frost. This classic Camaro is heavily modified, sporting a very serious looking blower strapped on.
The Pond – Dave DiCello takes us to Central Park in NYC to see the beautiful pond with the backdrop of NYC. These great shots, one taken during the day and the other at night, are really beautiful representations of the park and the city it inhabits.
Walton Street, Syracuse – another dark and gritty piece by Mark Garbowski takes us on an adventure in a back alley where we find ourselves mesmerized by an old and worn loading dock. Great details and textures in this picture bring the subject to life, presenting a shot that is a real must-see in this week’s list.
INTERESTING BLOGS
13 Spectacular ‘Supermoon’ Photos – this multimedia presentation delivers a series of 13 really interesting perspectives on the recent supermoon. These shots were procured from all over the world.
History & Care Institutions, Martin Widlund – May 2012 – this incredible interview features the thoughts and images of a leading UrBex photographer in Europe. The well written piece takes us inside the mind of the artist, which helps us to understand the drive behind his work. We also get to see a substantial series of photographs he has produced, creating a complete piece that is a joy to read and view.
A Family That Time Forgot: Traditional Kentucky Living – an inspirational story that shows the true power and potential of photography. This is an absolutely fascinating post, one that is sure to captivate the imagination of everyone who visits.
We Love Friday! – Graffiti Around the World – a brief but really great collection of grafitti images is shared here. Coming from locations all over the world, this collection is really dramatic and insightful in places.
Interview with David Lykes Keenan – a really really great and truly inspiring interview with a photography great. As many of us try to chase down our dreams of being full-time photographers, stories like this help fuel the passion and desire to continue.
Tango in the Galleria – you are about to discover a ton of great expression and drama in this wonderful series of images posted by Adam Allegro. The Tango is one of the most passionate forms of dance and by many is considered to be very romantic in nature. This great series by Adam takes us to a dance and showcases in splendid fashion why.
China Beach – travelling photographer and writer Jordan Oram explores the wonderful West coast of Vancouver Island in this extensive post. We get a large series of images captured in this beautiful park, really showing off the natural wonder and beauty of the island and its rugged coast.
2 Essential Corrections to Know When Post Processing Underwater Photos
With the market today providing an assortment of underwater casing options, more and more of us are beginning to bring our cameras under the surface to explore this fascinating world. From the more affordable soft casings for our DSLRs to the simple waterproof coverings for our smart phones, underwater photography is becoming more and more popular among photographers.
Often times for those just starting out with underwater photography, our pictures don’t always come out exactly the way we remember seeing it. There are likely a few reasons for this, but this article will focus on two simple techniques we can use during post-processing to help improve the quality of our underwater photos.
1. Correcting for Color: The biggest challenge we often come across with our underwater photos is the loss of key colors in the image. Water absorbs different wavelengths of light, so even at shallow depths red starts to be absorbed, followed by orange and yellow. With these colors absent our photos can look flat and uninviting. Many expensive underwater housings will attach strobes to help bring back in these colors, however, with simple casings we must rely on ambient light and tend to lose some of the photograph’s color. In post-processing we can help bring back these lost colors and correct our white balance.
You can see in the original RAW file above that there is an orange cast across the photo. This is because of the slightly warm white balance (5500K) the automatic setting gave when shooting. Most underwater photos will show the best blues with a white balance of around 4500K which you can set manually. If you are shooting in RAW you can easily adjust your white balance in post-processing. Likewise, the photo above lost some of the yellows and reds inside the coral reef. Bringing back these colors will make the image more vibrant.
First, correct for the image’s white balance using the temperature slider in Lightroom. This photo’s white balance was brought from 5500K down to 4500K. Second, use the Selective Color tool in Photoshop or the HSL/Color/B&W panel under the development module in Lightroom to focus in on key colors of your image. These two selective tools are very powerful and allow you to precisely adjust each color. There is really no road map for doing this because each photo will vary. It’s best to get familiar with these tools and see what works best for bringing back the lost colors to your image. Keep in mind that the Selective Color tool in Photoshop is a little more powerful and specific than the HSL/Color/B&W panel in Lightroom. In the photo above adjusting the cyan colors within Photoshops Selective Color tool gave this image the best result.
2. Correcting for Contrast: Water has a tendency to take the contrast out of photos, making this correction an important step in our post-processing. Contrast is the difference between light and dark tones and water tends to lighten dark tones – decreasing a photo’s contrast.
In the original RAW file above you can see that the image looks flat. A quick look at the histogram will reveal that the light and dark tones need to be increased. A quick levels adjustment within Photoshop would be an easy way to add contrast to this image, but other tools such as the contrast slider in Lightroom will also work.
The edited image below with added contrast makes for a more dynamic photo. A simple levels adjustment was done to increase this photo’s contrast.
Jacob Maentz is a freelance travel, culture and documentary photographer currently based in the Philippines. You can visit his website here, read his articles on his blog, follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
May 08 2012
Cameras for the Comrades: 4 Soviet Era Cameras That Are Worth Checking Out
Like many people, my path into photography came from a Soviet SLR, in my case a Zenit 11. For my 16th birthday I had the choice of an Olympus Trip or the big clunky Zenit with lots of buttons and dials. Even in those days I was a budding gadget freak and was instantly attracted to the complicated camera despite knowing nothing about photography. The Zenit was bought and the rest is history. Zenit however was just one of a large number of Soviet camera manufacturers who produced a range of functional if not exciting cameras. Today we will have a little trip back and take a nostalgic look at some of the iconic Soviet cameras.
The Kiev 88
Most of us brought up in the film era had secret desire to own a Hasselblad. It was the top dog when it came to cameras and had a price tag to match. Meanwhile back in the USSR, a company called Kiev were busy virtually cloning the Hassleblad 1600, with its Kiev 88 model. Although it’s engineering was decidedly communist, the viewfinders were in fact interchangeable with the Hasselblad’s. The Hasselbladski as it was affectionately known featured interchangeable backs and used Ukrainian made lenses that were based on old Zeiss designs with a surprisingly wide range of optical choices. Today a search of eBay will reveal plenty of secondhand Kiev 88’s around for budding film photographers, but buyers beware, most of them still have Soviet manufacturing quality so make your choice wisely.
The Zorki 4
Another of photography’s iconic brands is of course Leica and not to be outdone, the Soviets created numerous clones of Leica cameras. Among the most significant were the Zorki 4 “Mir” cameras which were manufactured between 1956 and 1978 by the KMZ company in Moscow. Originally based on the Leica II, they did in fact accept Leica lenses, although they were usually supplied with lenses from the Jupiter company. Over 1.5 million Zorki 4 were made and many examples can still be found today in good working order. Although very quirky and despite having no light meter, Zorkis were capable of taking some good quality images in the right hands.
The Lubitel 166
For many of us taking pictures in the 80’s the Lubitel 166 was heavily advertised as the cheap way into medium format. A twin lens reflex camera taking 120 roll film, the Lubitel was an enigma, a plastic camera costing £15 which if used “very” carefully could produce good results. Manufactured between 1976 and 1986 about 1.5 million units were made in total. Lubitel means amateur in Russian and the camera’s were designed as cheap starter cameras for Soviet citizens and featured a manually cocked leaf shutter with speeds up to a whopping 1/250th of a second and a frame counter that, at best, gave a rough indication of the number of shots taken. The DNA of the Lubitel lives on today in the resurgent Lomo photography craze, Lomography being the company that produced the original Lubitel 166.
The Zenit 11
My entry into photography and one of the best selling Soviet cameras outside of the USSR, the Zenit 11 was manufactured by the BelOMO company in Belarus. The camera featured the M42 screw thread mount which was also used by Praktica. It was the last of the line from the original Zenit E series and features an unusual, uncoupled Selenium cell light meter that sat atop the pentaprism and required no power. The exposure was calculated using a dial on the left top of the camera and aligning a needle in a small window. All the features of a manual SLR were present, ISO setting, shutter speed from 1/8 to 1/500 plus bulb, a pc socket for flash etc. The camera was usually supplied with a good if not exceptional 58mm f2 lens which had a reputation for excellent build quality.
This is just a brief glance at what was in fact a very wide range of cameras and lenses produced in the USSR. Many of theses cameras are still available on the second hand market and on eBay and can make great tools for practicing the dying arts of film photography, manual exposure and manual focus. My local camera store is awash with such examples, but perhaps that is no great surprise as ironically I now live in the former Soviet Union.
Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union
A Photographer’s Guide to the Gorgeous Colours of Venice
It’s romantic, beautiful and a photographer’s paradise yet Venice can at times be a hard place to photograph. It is one of the most visited cities in the world and as such you can have a frustrating time trying to capture its beauty. In this short guide we will show some of the place to see and when to see them.
Practicalities
For Europeans, Venice is highly accessible with numerous budget and full cost airlines flying to Marco Polo airport on the mainland. Non Europeans will be able to connect via most European capitals. There are also very good train links from other Italian cities.
As a photographer the best time to go is the spring or autumn, April/May and late September through to late October. The reasons for this are that it is less crowded, cooler and the light is less harsh than mid summer. Hotels on the main islands are expensive but off peak you may find deals.
The other option is to stay on the mainland and take the train or water bus to the city but you need to factor in the time that this takes plus the additional costs. Water buses are the very best way to see Venice itself and the network covers the whole of the lagoon. Budget wise it is best to buy a multi day pass which will enable you to travel any bus at any time during it’s validity.
What to Shoot in Venice
Perhaps the most iconic location in Venice is St Mark’s Square and in my opinion there is only one time to shoot it – early. Plan on getting to the square either on foot or by water taxi about 45 minutes before sunrise. At this time the square is deserted and as the sun rises, the light is truly magical. The water front by St Marks is a great place to shoot Venetian life before the tourists arrive, waiters setting up their tables, elderly Italian’s sitting in the sun reading the morning newspaper and the unmanned Gondolas make fantastic foregrounds to the cityscape shots. From sunrise you will have perhaps 90 minutes of good shooting time before the crowds arrive.
As the crowds do arrive, it is worth a walk to the nearby Arsenal, the very photogenic old fort of the city and largely ignored by tourists. A bridge crosses the canal in front of the grand entrance and makes a great viewpoint for shooting from.
By now, the heat of the day will be kicking in and the light can get a little harsh. Shooting-wise, now is the best time to wander the alleys and backstreets. It is here that you will find fantastic little details such as Venetian masks in shop windows or quirky stuff on buildings such as lion shaped door knockers. The light and shade in the back streets can be used to create images with great atmosphere and the streets themselves tend to remain quiet through the day. Be careful with your exposure here, the contrast between the shadows and the highlights can be very high, expose to get definition in the highlights and if needed pull the shadows back in the post production.
Venice is so full of details that you can spend many hours just photographing them. So many of the buildings feature multiple arches and these can make great frames for a wider shot Another thing to do during the middle of the day is to take a water bus along the Grand Canal. Put on a good long lens and find a spot by the boat’s side and you will find fantastic shots all along the canal, from the suave Italian water taxi drivers to the the delivery boats and even emergency boats such as police and fire whizzing past.
Towards the end of the day and into the early evening is a great time to shoot the bridges. The golden light makes the Rialto Bridge almost luminescent whilst further down the Grand Canal at the Scalzi Bridge, there is some great opportunities to get night shots of the bridge itself as well as some of the surrounding architecture. Many of the main sights of Venice are well lit at night and the hour just after sunset, whilst there is still some blueness in the sky, is a great time to shoot these.
There is so much to shoot in Venice that this short article can only give you just a taster of it. It is a wonderful place to just wander with a camera, there are great shots around every corner. One little non-photographic tip – eating in Venice can be horrendously expensive, but if you look in the back streets, away from the tourist hot spots you will find plenty of cafe’s catering for the locals. Here you will find great food at reasonable prices.
May 07 2012
What Photographers Must Know About Using Extreme Wide Angle Lenses
Many photographers dream of owning one of the super wide lenses. Not a fisheye but a lens so wide it verges on fisheye. However as well as being expensive, there are some steep learning curves to overcome when using such wide lenses. In this brief article we will discuss a few of the more prominent ones and some ways of using these lenses to get get good images.
One of the first things that takes some getting used to is the exaggerated perspective, in other words where the foreground and background seem to been stretched far apart. This can make composition difficult and you need to think about your foreground a lot more than with a normal range lens. To get the best out of a foreground subject you will need to move in really close, depending on the size of the subject – sometime within a few centimeters. It is here that you will really start to notice the effect of the rule of thirds on your composition, getting your subject on a third whilst leading the eye to the now distant background can be a challenge and requires careful positioning. Super wides can work well by positioning a horizon on the upper third and filling the lower two thirds with an interesting subject matter, this works particularly well on landscape photographs.
Another compositional conundrum with super wides is converging verticals. As with all lenses pointing the camera up or down when shooting, for example architecture, will cause the lines of the building to converge. This effect is greatly exaggerated with a super wide. Some solutions include getting further back at making sure the camera is pointing level to the vanishing point, finding an elevated position or using the converging verticals as a feature of the image, creating a dramatic, abstract look.
Super wides can be great for interior shots, particularly cathedrals and other large spaces. The converging vertical issue is prevalent here as well but the points above are equally useful for interiors. Look for lines to lead your eye into the image.
One thing super wides are really great for are symmetrical shots. The exaggerated perspective combines well with a symmetrical subject often producing striking, abstract images.
One of the great advantages of super wides is their immense depth of field at most apertures. This is extremely useful for landscape photography where you want a good foreground subject to lead the eye to the sweeping vista behind and need both to have good focus. However, with a fast super wide you can also create dramatic images by coming in super close to your subject, focusing directly on that subject with a wide aperture. The resulting image will draw the eye straight to the subject matter whilst maintaining a dramatic, but out of focus background.
One of the biggest issues with a super wide lens it that of flare. Because the lens is taking in a large field of view and will often have an extremely convex front element, the chance of light falling onto the element is high. Because of their nature, lens hoods have to be short and stubby and not actually that great at shielding the light. Be aware of the position of the sun or other lights and check you images carefully, one technique for reducing lens flare is to put the camera on a tripod and position your body, just out of shot, to shield the light.
Another issue is that of filters. Some super wides have such convex elements that they cannot take standard filters, the Nikon 14-24mm 2.8 is a classic example. Others may have filter threads but at their widest aperture you may start getting vignetting even using just one filter. There are some manufacturers that produce filters with thin rims to help overcome this problem.
One of the hardest filters to use on a wide angle is a polarizer. Because of the wide sweep of sky that can be included in shot, when trying to punch out a crisp blue sky, you may find that some of the extremities of that sky will go so dark as to appear almost black. Monitor this carefully and if doubt shoot a series of shots with the polarizer at different angles.
So, this is just a very few hints and tips on using these versatile but difficult lenses. One of the great things about super wides is that you can break all the usual rules of composition and still end up with stunning shots.
Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union
May 06 2012
A beautiful afternoon (Taken with Instagram at Bare Island)
May 05 2012
Photographers: You Won’t Want to Miss This
Light Stalking just got a whole lot better for photographers
Our community has grown incredibly fast over the last few years. We are now a strong group of over 500,000 photographers (and growing daily) We know that you are extremely passionate about the art of taking beautiful photos. So, we are about to introduce a way for you to make the most of this HUGE community.. Get ready to fast-track your journey to taking even better professional photographs.
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Photzy <check it out here> is a platform for the best premium photographic products. We’re using the power of the massive Light Stalking community to negotiate huge discounts for YOU. Photzy aims to provide exclusive offers on the best courses, tutorials, presets, filters, videos, books, training and much, much more for you. Think of Photzy like your personal filter. A team of photo-pros doing the dirty work for you. We’ll be bringing you the best photography products at the best prices – Faster and easier than ever before.
But first – There is something very important to point out to you
With Photzy, not only can expect up to 90% off on premium photography offers. But – and here’s the exciting part – we are also going to be listening very closely to YOUR requests and developing our very own advanced courses and products just for you! And as part of Photzy you will automatically get exclusive priority access. Don’t be shy to let us know what you want to see. There will be a lot of great things to look forward to in the next few months from us at Lighstalking and Photzy.
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May 04 2012
The Coolest Photography Links Of The Week
The folks at Toad Hollow Photography never seem to rest. This week’s list is a great compendium of some of the finest tutorials, photography and interesting blogs encountered during their weekly online adventures. We really hope you enjoy viewing these works of art, produced by some mighty talented artists, as much as the Toad did in bringing the list to you.
As spring rolls in, the Toad has been busy with automotive car photography and this week’s feature “The Deafening Sound Of Fury” showcases a series of 30 HDR images captured during a recent slalom event hosted by the local Corvette club. If you love supercars half as much as the Toad does, we think you’ll really enjoy this post!
TUTORIALS
Food For Digital Thought: “The Law Of The Light” Part One – if you read one thing this week, this really ought to be it. Joe Baraban shares a great tip on how to use light to your advantage to capture truly stunning images.
Dynamic Brushes In Photoshop CS 5 – Blake Rudis delivers a concise tutorial showing you how to use custom brushes in a very unique way. Blake’s tutorials are always great, delivering a valuable tip or trick well worth the time to both read and view in the brief video included.
When the lights come on – a great video tutorial is shared here by Edin Chavez, as well as a top drawer photograph. Edin shows us how he goes about creating his long exposure photography, and shares a shot of a rolling and hilly coastline that is sure to be enjoyed by all.
Camera Light Metering Modes Illustrated – Doug Pruden shares a great article that outlines the differences in various light metering modes that are available on most modern DSLR cameras. This easy to read and understand piece really sheds some light, if you’ll pardon the pun, on this concept. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for Doug’s Free Newsletter!
Shutter Speed Chart for Photographers – this is a great primer for folks interested in learning about appropriate shutter speeds for specific subjects and lighting conditions. This is a very brief article that includes a few really important insights.
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY
Tim Wallace Photographer: Automotive Car and Commercial Advertising Photography – we really love great photography of all things mechanical; cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, ride-on lawnmowers… we love it all. This week we have found the most incredible car photographer in Tim Wallace, and his site is a real must-see destination. While you’re there, make sure to see his “Car Photography” page.
Grandpa’s Garage – another post that highlights a great automotive photograph. Blake Rudis sneaks us all into his Grandpa’s garage where sits the most incredible Model T, and as chance would have it magical light comes through the window bathing the entire scene in an almost mystical luminescence.
Yeti | Yet (i) Again! – wow, where do we even start here!! Edith Levy shares a great set of shots of this most beautiful Canadian Lynx doing what it does best! All three photos are truly incredible. Edith has really captured the spirit and character of this amazing cat for everyone to enjoy!
A Photo Walk on London’s South Bank – Part I – Craig Desjardins takes us on a recent photowalk in the UK. As the group travels around London capturing shots at night, Craig collects and shares his set of images from the event, all of which are well worth the time to view.
The Granite Dells of Prescott, Arizona – Renée M. Besta takes us away to Arizona in this wonderful post. We get to enjoy a detailed description of the area being photographed as well as some just terrific photographs. Renée manages to capture some of the most amazing reflections in this week’s list, frozen in time in the stillest of still waters.
Heaven’s Hallway – Before and After – Adam Allegro performs some photography magic, right in front of our eyes! He shows an image as captured, and then performs some post-processing to create an entirely contrasting image from the same frame.
Castel Fontana – a historic and character-rich old historic castle peeks out from the coverings provided by its surroundings to create a truly spectacular scene. Andrea Paolicelli does a top drawer job in capturing this amazing photo to share with everyone; a must-see image in this week’s list.
Portrait: my friend Rodri … – this wonderful black-and-white portrait really delivers all the character and expression in the face of the subject. Tomàs Rotger captures and shares a really fabulous photograph, one that is really well worth the time to visit and view.
Crazy.. – some really great elements are brought together in this photograph by LightChaser. A complete vision and story are shared here in a single frame, creating a truly compelling piece to view.
A Day at the Track – as spring approaches here in the Northern Hemisphere, the cars start to slowly come out of the garages and head for the highways or tracks. Hansrico Photography takes us away to a track and shares a great series of images showcasing all the character of these gorgeous cars.
iPhone fun in Amsterdam – Jim Nix takes us on a journey around Amsterdam, showing images of the streets and many canals that are present there. These fabulous shots are totally delightful and are sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.
Me and My Shadow – photography is just as much about what you do see as what you don’t in an image. Jimi Jones shares a great shot that has the added touch of his shadow draping across the wall creating a strong impression of drama and interest.
Got Milk? – great details, textures and tones are all present in this photograph by Len Saltiel. This old, classic sign really takes the viewer back in time, showing an advertisement from years ago.
Lightning 2012 – the power and grandeur of Mother Nature lies exposed in this wonderful photograph by Scott Ackerman. A lightning strike lights up the city skyline, producing a dramatic scene.
Razorback – both sharp and soft elements are explored in this wonderful black-and-white image by Andy Gimino. The long exposure used to capture this shot smoothes out both the water and the cloud in the sky, which in turn is juxtaposed against the craggy outcroppings of the shoreline.
his & hers . . . – a pair of Adirondack chairs sit on a pier, posing the perfect subjects to convey a strong sense of emotion. This wonderfully captured scene by dragonflydreams88 delivers a highly emotional picture sure to be enjoyed by everyone who visits.
A Brooklyn Morning – we join Dave DiCello in this post as he makes his way around NYC grabbing some fabulous photos. We get several different vantage-points captured using a few different techniques, creating a varied and interesting set of photographs to view and enjoy.
Radio Equipped – all the romance and nostalgia of trains are captured and shared in this post by John Sotiriou. John post-processes this image to create a certain feel emphasized by his color palette, in turn creating a really mesmerizing shot.
Stormy Moon, Minnesota – Mark Paulson shares a great shot of a full moon that really takes the viewer to an eerie, yet fascinating, place. The dramatic clouds that circle the moon really add a touch of drama that take this shot to the next level.
Spring Blues – a visit to our very own hometown finds the viewer seeing some of our spring flowers in their vibrant colors. Benjamin Madison captures and shares a pair of images with really great colors and details.
Weekend Relaxer #17 – you’ll never look at a beer label the same again after visiting one of Chris Nitz’s weekly features. Chris always manages to combine a really great beer review with a photograph that is sure to bring a smile to everyones face.
Gold & Blue – I absolutely love IR photography, the details it tends to expose are really second-to-none. It also has a wonderful effect of shifting the tones in the image radically, often producing an otherworldly experience as shown in this awesome photograph from Dacel Andes.
Woody – Jay Taylor always takes great wildlife photos, often of species that are local to us. This Downy Woodpecker is perfectly captured, with a wonderfully shallow depth of field to bring this lovely little bird to life for everyone to enjoy.
Fantasies – to say this is a wonderful image would be a huge understatement. Helene Kobelnyk captures and delicately processes this wonderful image that immediately takes the viewer to a spot of time in the 50’s. A must-see image in this week’s list!!
24 April 2012 Day 115 – another shot as shared by Helene Kobelnyk shares such a fabulous scene that it’s difficult to properly describe. This really incredible photograph is of a girl in a mirror with a captivating hat; just mesmerizing.
Need a Fill Up – these classic old gas pumps are great subjects to photograph. Rachel Cohen finds and shares a black-and-white image that accents the inherent drama in her composition.
Rocky Road – this picture has so many great elements at play. The first and most obvious one is the ribbon of road that leads the viewers eye to a fantastic vanishing point. From there, you are naturally taken to the incredible landscape in the backdrop that Michael Trauffer masterfully captures and shares.
Teach Him to Fish – Gareth Glynn Ash shares a great photograph that is punctuated by his fascinating accompanying blog post. Gareth’s perfect composition in this image accents the natural tension he has seen and expressed.
US Army Kitchen Car # 89639 – this answers one of those questions that many of us have, wondering what something looks like inside. Scott Hovind delivers a great series in this post, one that is sure to delight and amaze everyone who visits.
Breeding Bluebirds and Beautiful Photographs – what a wonderful set of photographs to view with a really heartfelt post! Lee Brown delivers a profound piece, one that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone.
Weekly Photography Challenge: ‘Q’ – Quarters – this is a great set! Dakota Visions Photography brings us a series of images of a quarter in action. Captured in various states of spin, we get to see this American icon in really unique poses.
Lufty Baptist Church – Michael Lewis Glover delivers a dramatic black-and-white photograph of a very old and historic church. He finds and really explores some great textures and details in the scene, creating a real must-see image in this week’s list.
Colorful Buildings, St. John’s Antigua – remarkable colors are captured in this set of really unique images by Mark Summerfield. The little shutters and their respective hinges really add a lot of character to the shots.
Texas Longhorns – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – no bull about it, these great shots from Steve Creek share a significant moment of angst between two rather large examples of this incredible animal. Steve captures and shares a great set here, sure to delight and amaze everyone who visits.
The Silent Withering – we find Mark Garbowski delivering a really dramatic shot of what appears to be an abandoned attic. Really great light drifts through the open hole in the structure, completing a perfect scene.
Limmer’s Workbench – Rob Hanson takes us behind the scenes at a bootmaking shop. This wonderful image is full of rich details, almost sharing a secret with the viewer.
Ready…action – an amazing underwater scene is carefully composed and crafted by Ellen Cuylaerts. A shipwreck being photographed by a group of students beckons Ellen as she creates an almost magical scene to enjoy.
Return of the Swallows – Laurie MacBride shares a splendid post highlighting the spring activities of these wonderful little birds. She accents her article with some really incredible photographs of the birds, sure to delight everyone.
Minimalism in Photography and Life – a minimalistic view of the world around us presents it in an uncluttered way. Anne McKinnell posts an almost abstract piece that is both profound in the message shared as well as absolutely fascinating with the images she posts.
Red Hot (hi-boy) – red is passion, red captures the mind and imagination, red speaks of love… and in this case it also presents itself on a beautiful old classic hotrod car that is carefully photographed by Bob Byington.
Crow Man – a composite image is created and shared by Chris Maskell in this image. Chris pulls several elements together in this creation, delivering a strong and dramatic piece that tells an entire story with a single viewing.
Moss – the Pacific Northwest area of North America is predominantly comprised of rainforest, and thus moss is a huge factor. Scott Wood has moved to our area here, and as the boxes begin to unpack he takes his camera out for the first time to explore his new environs.
Left Over – Scott Frederick takes us inside an abandoned hospital where an old wheelchair is left behind. The rich textures in the surrounding decay are truly accented by the dramatic and tension-filled presence of this lone remaining artifact.
Heritage Softail – a wonderful composition featuring the distinctive front clip of this classic American motorcycle awaits the viewer. Tim Stanley captures a shot full of great chrome, colors and shapes that are iconic in nature.
Mischeif – squirrels are awesome photography subjects, especially when captured in the middle of being a bit of a trouble-maker. Aaron Barlow delivers a great example of this as he encounters this little creature right in the midst of its plans to overthrow the power-base of the world.
A New Spin – Erik and Kathleen Kerstenbeck shares a metaphorical image of a wind farm. This photograph symbolizes some life changes they are making, and the picture is a perfect representation of this expression.
Lake Mead Panorama – this is a very detailed, colorful and visually expansive shot as captured and shared by Michael Trauffer. Taken at the Hoover Dam Overlook, the viewer is presented a scene so expansive it seems to go on forever.
Two For One – what’s better than a bright lightning strike to photograph? Two! Chris Frailey grabs a photograph of two very active bolts as they strike terra firma, delivering a truly dramatic scene to view and enjoy.
The One That Didn’t Get Away – we have several fabulous elements working together to deliver a really compelling photograph here. Jerry Denham captures a serene view of a morning on a lake, complete with a great reflection and the subtle silhouettes of fishermen in the distance to add a touch of tension.
Fox cubs – can anyone tell me if these lil’ guys would make decent pets? I ask because this photograph from the studio of Luke Massey delivers a picture of cuteness that is hard to describe.
Alberta Morning – once again Len Saltiel takes us to the glorious mountain ranges in the Jasper/Banff area of Canada to enjoy a serene scene. The early morning light casts a wonderful tone on the majestic mountains, creating an absolutely mesmerizing scene to take in and enjoy.
USCGC Taney – I just love the details and wonderful colors exposed in this great photograph by Jimi Jones. This iconic ship creates the perfect pose for Jimi to capture and share, resulting in a piece that is full of great elements.
Engine 61 Responding – fire trucks in action can be great subject for photography. In this example, Wayne Frost captures a shot of one as it leaves its home headed for an emergency. Great details, colors and tones bring the scene to life, creating an image that is sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.
Stillwater Design – I have a total weakness for great architectural photography that showcases heritage structures full of character. Jim Denham delivers a great example of this in his blog post here, sharing a view of an old home so full of interest and character it defies proper description. The variations in the surrounding iron fence just serve to add more interest to this absolutely captivating scene.
Breaking Dawn – almost magical rays of sun beam down upon this beautiful landscape scene. Mike Olbinski does a wonderful job of capturing this wonderful moment in time, creating an image that is sure to delight and amaze all who pop by for a visit.
Theme: “Coffee” – “Shrooms and Brew” – Howard delivers another strong theme based photo series in this post. Using Lego characters to create a specific, and absolutely delightful, set of scenes, he captures and shares a really interesting series that also branches out into the realm of expressionism.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada – one of Canada’s most iconic hotels is featured in this post from Doug Pruden. Nestled deep in the thick forests of Banff National Park, this beautiful facility is so stunning, the only way to describe it is through seeing it yourself.
Youghiogheny River, below Ohiopyle Falls – when the weather is overcast and grey, capturing incredible landscape photographs can sometimes be found in the world of black-and-white processing. Perry Bailey delivers a very dramatic landscape scene, complete with strong cloud formations and wonderful contrasts and details hidden in the surrounding area.
Seattle Nightscape – Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and in this epic photograph by Jay Taylor we get a glimpse of it as night falls. Incredible details and lights from the city bring this photograph to life, creating a true must-see shot in this week’s list.
Challenger RT – Bob Byington shares another image of an American muscle car. Bob has copied a popular composition and processing style to create a great shot that is truly his own. Strap yourself in, things are about to happen fast ’round here!
Moraine Lake Storm – a really incredible photograph full of drama and intrigue awaits the viewer in this post. Jeff Clow captures an image of Mother Nature and her incredible forces at work, creating a wonderful juxtaposition of static and highly dynamic elements at work together and against each other.
Balestrino – Abandoned Church – Mark Blundell creates and delivers the most compelling 360* interactive panorama presentations out there. This one showcases an old and abandoned church, full of great textures to be enjoyed through decay. This is an epic presentation, one that is sure to keep the visitor engaged for quite some time as you take in all the intricate details and points of interest inside this old structure.
INTERESTING BLOGS
Haunting Graffiti in the Heart of Abandoned Chernobyl – this incredibly emotional and heart-wrenching series of pictures depicts artwork placed in various spots in this now long abandoned nuclear city. The silhouettes of the children serve to create a echo in time, delivering scene full of power and raw emotion. Truly, a must-see post in this week’s list.
Famous Portrait Photographers of All Time – this great blog post highlights a list of the most influential and famous portrait photographers of all time. Definitely a list of greats to peruse and enjoy!
Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Tweets Amazing Photographs From Space – isn’t this the coolest job ever?
The adventures of film photography – this is a truly inspiring post by Tristan that takes us on his adventure with a film based camera. He even develops his own roll, taking us through the entire process in a really great way.
2012 London Olympics: The Buildings from the Air – this is a great set of aerial photographs showcasing some of the Olympic buildings for the upcoming games. These images share a view of these facilities that both demonstrates the scale of the building as well as its character.
Moving on a float house 1 | Moving on a float house 2 | Moving on a float house – Arrival – this is one of those series that really highlights the wonder that photography can bring. Joseph de Lange brings us along as his wonderful float home is moved from one marina to another.
Superhero Ancestral Family Photos – this is just so fun. What if Spiderman had an uncle that inspired him to pursue a life of crime fighting? His uncle’s portrait would be on the wall in the hallways of his home. This great post gives us a look into this concept, delivering an absolutely wonderful piece to read and enjoy.
Hello Victoria – roaming photographer and author Jordan Oram brings us along on his journey with a stopover in my home city of Victoria. Jordan takes us through the city, highlighting some of the sights that are unique to our place, and in turn creating a really compelling post to visit and enjoy.
May 03 2012
Using Lens Filters to Improve Your Photography
Whenever we can find ways to shorten the amount of time we spend editing in post-production, it equates to extra time we can spend in the field taking more photographs. As photographers, we should always be striving to take photographs that are as near to the finished product as possible. This means fine-tuning our knowledge of how photography works in the first place and pulling out all sorts of neat little tricks to get most of our “editing” done in camera.
One of those tricks that has been around for ages is the use of filters. With digital editing software as advanced as it has become, it’s easy to pass a filter off with a shrug of the shoulders and an “I’ll-fix-it-in-Photoshop” attitude. But not so fast – a good filter is capable of giving your photos a truly professional feel without looking over-edited. Plus, they only take a few seconds to attach to your lens and you’re ready to get shooting. Here’s a list of some of the most common filters available on the market and ideas for when you should be using them.
Neutral Density Filter – A ND filter is designed to limit the amount of light that passes through your lens and onto your camera’s sensor. They come in various strengths that will commonly block anywhere from 1 to 6 (and even up to 10) stops of light each and you can stack them to block just the right amount of light.
This is useful when you are trying to capture motion blur in bright conditions. Say, for instance, you are photographing a statue, but want the passing traffic in the background to be less visible. Slap on a ND filter and let your shutter remain open a bit longer so the moving traffic blurs itself out.
A common variation of the ND filter is called a graduated natural density filter. Its design gives a strong ND effect on one portion of the filter and gradually fades out. This type of ND filter is typically used to photograph landscapes as it will stop down the brightness of the sky, allowing the landscape to be fully exposed.
Neutral density filters are so helpful when shooting outdoors, that many of us neglect to realize the value they have have in the studio. If you your studio lights are powered down to their minimum and are still too bright, most will remedy this by simply moving the lights away from the subject. While this will decrease the harshness of the light, you will also be sacrificing light fall off, which can be crucial to some photographs. A simple way around this is to leave your lights put and just use a neutral density filter to bring down their intensity. The photograph below is a long exposure (notice the motion blur of the water!) taken during daylight hours using a neutral density filter.
Polarizing Filter – There are two types of polarizing filters: linear and circular. Both are great ways to eliminate glare from reflective surfaces such as water, making it appear more transparent, and to boost the colors and contrast of a photograph in ways similar to the neutral density filter. For most photographers, however, a circular polarizing filter (CPL) is the way to go. In fact, if your camera utilizes through the lens metering (TTL) or autofocus, you will have to use a circular polarizer as a linear variety will produce undesirable effects.
A linear polarizer is only capable of polarizing the light passing through the lens at single orientation (i.e. 90 or 45 degrees); whereas, a circular polarizer will polarize the light passing through at specific angles AND circularly. When using a circular polarizing filter, screw it onto the end of your lens and rotate it while looking through your viewfinder. You will notice the color saturation change as the filter rotates, giving you a live preview of what the filter is doing. In the photo below, the use of a polarizer minimized the reflections on the ocean and allowed the photograph as a whole to retain more of it’s natural color.
UV Filter – This simple filter is probably the least likely of this list to give you immediate results. Yes, it can reduce haze when used with some types of cameras, but the real usefulness behind this guy is the way it acts as a bodyguard to your expensive lenses. You can keep one of these on your lens at all times without affecting your photographs and it will help seal your lens off from dust and moisture in addition to giving your lens an extra layer of cushion to protect it from scratches and breaking. Because they are very inexpensive, they’re a great way to protect your investments.
Infrared Filter – An infrared filter is less useful in everyday photography than it is in producing awesomely unrealistic images. The digital revolution has made using infrared technology a breeze and it has been enjoying a rather cult-like following. The filter, so red it appears to be almost black, works by blocking all light except infrared light from passing through the lens. Because they block so much light, it goes without saying that you will need to use a tripod and long exposure times. The results are dream like images with interesting color shifts and a very snowy appearance. These are really fun filters to keep in your bag.
When buying a lens filter, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, always try to buy the best quality filter you can afford. You are essentially layering an additional piece of glass onto your lens. If you are shooting through a very expensive lens, why would you want to degrade its quality by using a cheap filter?
Finally, rather than buying a different sizes of the same filter for each of your lenses, purchase a filter sized to your largest lens and use a step down ring to make it work on your smaller lenses.
May 02 2012
Evening (Taken with Instagram at Port Macquarie)
These Tactics Will Give You Great Video With a DSLR
With news DSLRs becoming better and better, more photographers are taking the leap to using their gear to shoot video. Let’s take a look at some of the strategies you can use to make sure your video turns out as well as your still shots.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that when you shoot a still photograph, you are attempting to capture a moment in time, “The Decisive Moment” as Henri Cartier Bresson described it. With motion photography your primary goal is to tell the story in which the moment happens. Theoretically you could do this by just letting the camera run in a single position, but this will lead to a somewhat boring video clip, where the decisive moment just comes and goes. The key to compelling video, is to create a combination of interesting shots, that combine to tell a great story.
Compositional Rules are Still Important!
So what are the compositional differences between stills and motion. Well believe it or not, most of the rules that apply to stills, also apply to motion, the rule of thirds, leading lines, all have a place their place in video. However bear in mind that High Definition video works in the 16:9 format not the more common 4:3 found on most still images. This is actually an advantage – you have more space to the sides of the image to create framing effects or to lead the eye to the subject. It also gives that cinematic feel matched only by panoramic stills.
One of the most important aspects to motion composition, is getting it right in the camera. Because at best your image size will be 1920×1080 pixels, you have very little room for cropping, and indeed cropping into video footage even 10% or so can dramatically reduce image quality.
Don’t Make These Common Mistakes With Video
The most difficult aspect that photographers find when moving from stills to motion, is movement. The natural tendency for people new to video, is to use movement in every shot, zooming in and panning around being very prevalent. Take a look at a well crafted film and see how many times the camera is panned or zoomed. In the case of zooming virtually never. The way it is done in film is to take a wide shot, change location and take a medium shot then change location again and take a close shot. Panning is reserved literally for panoramic views, it is done on a tripod and it is slow and smooth, it is not done often, and only to convey the sense of place.
It’s Video So Take Advantage of Motion in Static Shots
Another element key to motion photography, is using static shots with motion in them. Here the camera will be locked off and the subject will be moving through the frame or within it. For example in a close up of a flower you would wait for the wind to blow or for an insect to land. If shooting a building, wait for traffic or people to pass through the shot.
Combine Shots to Tell a Story
To create a great story you need to have a wide selection of interlinking shots that can be edited together to lead the viewer through the story. For example a simple scene of a person walking along a beach would comprise a wide shot, to establish the scene, a closer shot of the person walking and maybe a series of detail shots to establish the story, these could be the person’s feet walking across a close up of the sand and leaving footprints, the waves of the ocean both wide and close up and palms leave gently blowing in the wind. When all these element are combined with good editing the will convey not only the story but the sense of place.
Using Depth of Field
One of the big advantages of DSLR’s as video cameras is their ability to shoot a shallow depth of field. This allows a cinematic technique called pull focus to be used. Here you will focus on one element of the scene with the rest out of focus. Then by slowly refocusing the lens whilst shooting, to another part of the frame you instantly draw the viewer’s eye to that part of the image. Because DSLR lenses are not designed with this effect in mind, you will need to practice it and you will also need your camera to be mounted on a good tripod.
These are but a few of the differences between stills and motion shooting. The stills from this article were taken from a short film we made about Havana.You can see the whole film here. Today’s DSLR’s are capable, in the right hands of producing stunning, cinematic quality footage and there is no reason, why you cannot use your photographic creativity to produce some great looking movies.
Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union
May 01 2012
Five Easy Tips for Better Indoor Architectural Photography
There is an art to photographing indoor spaces and truly capturing the essence of their architectural design. Not only does it take a skilled photographer, but also one that has a solid grasp on the elemental aspects of the space they are photographing. The point of architectural photography is, after all, photographing a structure in a way that brings out the highlights of its design. Like any style of photography, it’s a skill that takes time and practice to master. Here are a few tips that can help you along the way:
Child’s Eye View - As a general rule of thumb, start with your camera position at about the same level as a child’s eye. Avoid shooting from too high or too low, you’re ultimately looking for a nice middle ground between the two. Somewhere between waist and eye level is typically a good range to stay within and will help create depth in an image.
Understand the Floor Plan - Study the layout of the room and look at how all the objects within it interact with each other aesthetically. One of the most important factors of indoor architectural photography is shooting at the correct angle. In other words, think about where your camera is pointed. How do the angles of the room align with it’s furnishings when looking at the viewfinder of your camera? In the photograph below, you can see how the photographer used the foreground objects (doorway, wall-mounted towel rack, and candles) to lead the viewers eye to the background objects in the photograph, all while keeping the corner angles perfectly in line.
Interior Staging – As we learned above, the camera angle is as important as ever. If you encounter a room that seems cluttered and awkward to photograph, it’s perfectly acceptable to stage it. Before you go through the trouble of redesigning a space however, a quicker remedy could be just moving your camera. Sometimes a quick zoom adjustment or a slight 6-inch shift in position can align an image perfectly. It won’t always be effective, but definitely worth a try.
One Point Perspective - In a nutshell, this architectural term means that you have placed your camera so that the horizontal lines run horizontally and the vertical lines run vertically. That means your camera has to be absolutely parallel to the wall in which it is pointed at, like in the photograph shown below. While this seems easy enough, even few degrees can throw the entire photograph off. Keeping that in mind, if you can’t quite get the one point perspective down, it’s best to use shots that don’t utilize the technique rather an image that looks like a failed attempt.
Real Estate Orchard 3 by Andrew Morrell Photography, on Flickr
Wide Lenses - It’s no secret that using a wide angle lens adds depth to a room, making appear larger than it actually is. It’s because of that very reason, real estate photographers use the lenses so freely. But, a wide lens isn’t always the best choice. They often distort images and can be very distracting to look at. In many situations, it’s better to just take two photographs of the room. When doing so, make sure there is an object common to both images, such as a chair, that will help viewers associate the two.
What’s great is that many of these pointers will translate well into other styles of photography as well, so even if architectural photography isn’t necessarily your thing, understanding how it works can still improve your craft. Get shooting and feel free to share your architectural photographs in the comments below!
Tiffany Mueller is a professional music and fine art photographer. Published in various publications including magazines, art journals, as well as books, Tiffany has been fortunate enough to have been in a perpetual state of travel since her youth and is currently working on a 50-states project. You can also keep up with Tiffany via Twitter at or on her personal blog.
April 30 2012
How to Avoid Common Scams to Steal Your Camera Gear and Rip You Off
For most of us, base jumping Go Pro photographers excepted, photography is a pretty safe hobby or profession. However sometimes we forget that the pride and joy hanging around our neck, is in fact, an expensive, hi-tech piece of equipment that may have cost several thousand dollars. The aim of this article is to inform but, not scare you, of some of the more frequent scams, both out on the streets and online. Being forewarned is being forearmed and understanding what is going on has helped me on more than one occasion.
How to Stay Safe on Location
There are a number of common scams on the streets at the moment. One of the most common, particularly in South America involves being stopped by a concerned passer by who points out some sort of dirt on your backpack. Often this is shaving foam as it can look like bird droppings. The passerby will attempt to wipe the dirt away, creating a diversion for co-conspirators to rifle your pockets, or even your backpack itself. If you are approached in a street under these circumstances, the best policy is do not stop, keep walking to a secure or busy location and then clean off the dirt yourself.
A fairly new scam, particularly in Eastern Europe is lens theft. You will be walking down a busy street, pull you camera up to take a photo and find the lens has gone. The teams carrying out these audacious thefts are very good at it, they know an expensive lens from a cheap one and they know which way the lens rotates on its bayonet. They will be long gone before you even notice it is missing. It nearly always happens on busy streets in crowds of people where you are easily distracted. Best policy to prevent this, is to keep you camera in a secure camera bag, until you actually need it, and avoid using the camera in large crowds.
The Mediterranean is not without it’s problems either. One very common scam in Naples, Italy but prevalent around Med countries is the moped grab. This usually happens down quiet streets with no pavement or sidewalk and involves two people on a moped coming up behind you and pinning you to a wall with the front wheel of the bike. The moped passenger will then cut the camera straps and the two will ride off. Always stay alert down backstreets and only bring out your camera when you need it.
If considering buying a camera in a duty free location be aware that the prices in the shop window, whilst looking a bargain may be a scam to get you in the door. Very often the vendor will tell you that you need to buy a charger, battery and memory card, which all together greatly inflate the price. All camera manufacturers will provide a battery and charger by default and these should be included with any purchase. Before purchasing, do your research, check the prices at home and in reputable dealers where you are going. Also look at the warranty details, often cameras bought in one country will not be covered by a guarantee in your home country. Be aware also, that you may need to buy power socket adapters for the charger if you buy your camera abroad.
Here are a few little tips for staying safe outside, if you have an expensive brand camera, us a little black electrical tape to cover the logo. Use generic unbranded camera straps and a camera bag that can be locked using luggage locks. When carry your camera, double wrap the strap around your hands and keep a tight grip on it and if hanging it from your neck, put your camera bag straps over the camera straps making it difficult for a snatch and grab.
How to Get Safe Camera Deals Online
Many of us buy our equipment online these days – the internet has become a great place to research and find the best deals on cameras and lenses. There are some superb retailers online with great prices and reputations but there are also many scam sites. If you find a camera online with a great price, check the company out. Google the business and in particular, search discussions via Google. This will give you real peoples’ experiences of a company. Some sophisticated scams will pay people to write positive comments on forums so always visit plenty of different sites and get a wide range of opinions. The simple rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Generally you will not get better prices than the well known big international sites, due to their sheer purchasing power.
Love it or hate it, eBay has a massive market for photographic goods. If buying from eBay, always check the sellers reputation in detail. Very often scammers will steal accounts or sell many low price items to get a good reputation. Look for established eBayers that have an excellent reputation selling photographic equipment and ask detailed questions about the equipment. A genuine seller will almost always have their own photos of the product rather than generic ones stolen from the web.
If selling equipment, its best to specify mailing to your own country only and specify that the buyer must be Paypal verified or pay cash on collection. Never send an item until you are 100% sure the money has been received and you have transferred it to a safe bank account. Many scammers try to use money sending services such as Western Union, these are nearly always a scam and to be avoided. If you suspect the leading bidder is a scam report it immediately to eBay.
Ebay is also a breeding ground for fake memory cards. Many of these look identical to the real branded versions but will be made from inferior components and more prone to failure. Alway buy from a reputable company either through eBay or from their direct website.
You may never encounter any of these dangers or scams, but we hope that by being aware of them you will less likely to fall victim to them. Stay alert and focused and most of all, enjoy your photography.
Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union
April 27 2012
89 Awesome Photography Links and Photographs
Never one to spend too much time lounging, the Toad is always searching the internet for tutorials, great photography and interesting blogs to share with everyone. This week’s list contains a set of links to some truly incredible pieces of art posted by some truly talented artists. We really hope you enjoy seeing and reading these posts as much as the folks at Toad Hollow Photography did in bringing them to you.
The Toad is well into writing his second publication of eBooks intended to share some tips and insights into the world of HDR photography. These publications are made available for free to subscribers of his Free HDR Guides, Tips and News. If you haven’t signed up already, head on over and subscribe to get your free copy of his first edition “The f-stops Here”.
TUTORIALS
Studio Photography Insights: shooting fabric, clothing and shoes – Alex Koloskov takes us behind the scenes on a video comprised of input from various top notch photographers. This video is fairly long and will hopefully present some great insights and details into this genre of photography for anyone interested.
Photographing Animals at the Zoo – Photography Tips – this is a well thought-out post with some great tips for this style of photography. You will find some pointers and inside tips here that are sure to help with achieving the results you want.
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY
Documenting Madness: Lauren E. Simonutti – this special post is so incredible, we find it difficult to find words to describe its importance. This dramatic and captivating series of images was captured by an artist as they struggled with their illness. The results are a profound and poignant collection of engaging and mesmerizing photographs that give the viewer a glimpse into the inner workings of the creator. Prepare yourself for a heartbreaking story, but it’s also an important one that needs to be shared and seen.
Stone Mill Revisited – Bob Lussier once again shows us why he is the “stair whisperer” in this incredible photograph. Bob captures and shares an image complete with great geometry and lines as created by the architecture of this old mill.
Fort Tryon Arches and George Washington Bridge – we’ve got all the best elements in this picture by Mark Garbowski. The arches deliver great textures and details to enjoy, and as you spend time viewing the image further elements of interest begin to emerge.
Hot Frosty Buzz – beautiful flowers take the viewers eye down and through a valley, coming back up to a tall and snow-covered mountain range. All these wonderful details are accented by a mysterious fog shrouding the valley and a full moon hanging in the sky.
Adrenalin foot – this is absolutely mesmerizing and absolutely creepy, both at the same time. This highly detailed macro shot of a fly drinking from a drop of water is captured and shared by Ondrej Pakan.
Sunrise Silhouette – there are a lot of great elements working together in this image by Jerry Denham. A fog covers a lake as the sunrises, with a very dramatic pair of trees producing a really wonderful silhouette to enjoy.
Calming Charm – exquisite brickwork is explored by Rachel Cohen in this great photograph. There is so much to enjoy in this shot, including a wonderful old wooden door, a bell in the courtyard and a gorgeous blooming tree adding color.
The Mystery Church – Adam Allegro shares a short series of great black-and-white photos of a church in Sweden. Adam doesn’t remember where these were captured, but we sure are glad he took these images to share.
Wayside 905 – all the romance and mystery of classic trains is captured in this great shot by John Sotiriou. Great tones as expressed in post-processing really bring this scene to life for everyone to view and enjoy.
Weekend Relaxer #16 – if you like Stormtroopers and beer, you will love this post by Chris Nitz. He continues his regular feature with another installment of a great photograph of a beer label, accompanied by a really awesome review of the beer itself. Tough job, but someone has to do it.
Violet Green Swallow – perfect depth of focus coupled with a wonderful and eager subject combine in this great shot by Jay Taylor. This beautiful bird is wonderfully captured, producing a piece that is sure to delight and amaze everyone.
A1 Auto Service, Toronto – we find a candid street photograph from Ren Bostelaar in this post. Ren has a great ability to capture natural looking images, full of great tension and drama. This is really a good example of this, well worth the time to visit.
A Vibrant Flower – gorgeous colors await the viewer in this detailed macro shot of a beautiful red flower. Helene Kobelnyk shares a really wonderful image of this flower, producing a piece that is sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.
Moon – Andy Gimino shares a slightly abstract piece captured at Old Mill Park. The rocks have been smoothed by countless years of gentle friction by running water, producing a scene that Andy finds and shares with us.
The Clear Path – a fabulous selective focus technique is applied during post-processing by Eden R. Ellis to create a really compelling image. A pathway in the forest creates a perfect natural leading line for this picture.
Lavoir à Charbon A – Pincer Action – this is an incredibly grungy, dramatic and texture-rich scene as photographed and shared by Mark Blundell. The poor condition of the facility is full featured in this epic photograph, delivering an image that is sure to be enjoyed by all who pop by for a visit.
Brick and Stone at Fort Macon – great textures in the old brickwork are accented by a wonderful shadow in the back hall adding drama and tension to the scene. Mark Neal delivers 2 version of the same image, each post-processed slightly differently, creating a post that is really quite captivating.
Looking Down at The Fort – this is a follow-up post by Mark Neal. In this image, we see a top down look of the fort which in turn creates the most incredible natural leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye through the frame.
Down – what an incredible sense of motion. Jonas Nefzger creates an image taken on a moving skateboard that creates such a strong sensation of speed, it’s sure to take your breath away.
A Fun Campout! – we get to join John Mead on a camping trip in this post as he explores the great outdoors and comes back with some awesome photographs. John is a science teacher and really does a great job of sharing his perspective of the world with a larger audience.
Urbex Palace – NON PLUS ULTRA – the most incredible details are captured and shared in this epic image by Mark Blundell. An abandoned palace with exquisite detailing is the source of this breathtaking image; truly this is a must-see shot in this week’s list.
Pere Marquette 1225 – a glorious piece of history is explored in this post by Scott Hovind. Old steam trains make for the best subjects in photography, and Scott really takes us on an in-depth exploration of this storied steam train.
How much wood would a wood chopper chop? – this is just such a neat image. Chris Maskell takes a photo of a pile of wood, and then uses specialized treatments in the post-processing phase to bring the scene to life.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – a commanding church built with limestone is the subject in this series of images by Scott Hovind. Really incredible details and textures are explored in this study, delivering a post that is really a must-see in this week’s list.
Country Church – Jimi Jones takes a photograph of an old church as night begins to fall. The great colors and architectural details are all exposed for everyone to enjoy, and these are accented by the strength of the sky overshadowing the scene below.
Blackberry Falls Revisited – a beautiful waterfall is captured and shared in this post by Len Saltiel. We majesty of this waterfall is captured by Len, bringing all the drama out of the scene for his visitors to enjoy.
To Grandmother’s House I Went – one of our alltime favorite photography subjects is old character homes. The details in the architecture in the houses built during this time are truly second-to-none, and Blake Rudis does an absolutely wonderful job of capturing a pair of these beauties to share with everyone.
The Old Model A – this is a stunning photograph by Tim Stanley. This wonderful old historic vehicle has been meticulously restored, and Tim takes a shot of it against a timeless backdrop, producing a piece that is guaranteed to delight and amaze everyone.
Sunday Reflections & Lessons Learned – a delicately processed image delivers a really strong reflective scene in this photograph by Edith Levy. Edith uses a really great texture overlay to create the vision she wants to share, producing a wonderful image well worth the time to visit.
Three Male Wood Ducks, Minnesota – Mark Paulson grabs an image of 3 ducks that is so crisp and sharp, you might mistake it at first for a painting. Mark captures the character of the ducks in this really wonderful composition.
Carpet Flowers – an accident by Aaron Barlow in the field delivers a most beautiful image to view and enjoy. It just goes to show that even the most innocuous accidents can bring the most incredible results.
Watcher – if you’re looking for superb tension and drama, look no further. Mark Garbowski captures and shares an image taken in a great urbex location, with his fellow photographer adding a touch of real interest to the overall scene captured.
frontier – in what appears to be a landscape from an entirely different planet, a man stands against a lone telephone booth. David Mar Quinto shares a highly emotionally charged piece, one that is sure to take your breath away.
Chicago at 4am – a crisp and highly detailed city skyline awaits the viewer in this great shot from CJ Schmit. This is definitely one of those shots that gives more to the viewer as they spend time taking in all the lovely details. Great colors and lights merge with the composition to create a compelling and unique piece.
Eastern Woodpeckers – Troy Stewart delivers another wonderful set of images of birds in the wild. This post focuses on the woodpeckers of the area, and Troy captures and creates a series sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.
New York International Auto Show: My favorite shots – Jason Knight takes us on a tour of the NY auto show. These gorgeous cars are all carefully captured and shared in this post by Jason, creating a piece that is really something that most car fans will absolutely love.
Death Ship – this dreamy and dark piece straight from the studio of Omur omur creates a scene so dramatic it’s sure to take your breath away. The long exposure technique gives the water an almost silky feel to it and the lone boat lying half sunk brings all the drama to life.
The Eye – really vibrant colors and subtle details are captured in this great flower photograph by Rachel Cohen. She uses an abstract vision to create this special piece, a shot that will delight all who visit.
Little House on the Prairie – a very dramatic and profound image awaits the viewer in this photograph straight from the studio of Hansrico Photography. The wonderful composition used to create this image really brings all the inherent drama in the scene to life.
Linden United Methodist Church – what a beautiful old church masterfully captured and shared here by Michael Lewis Glover. The surroundings that Michael has included in his composition here brings a lot of interest and context to the image, one that is truly well worth the time to visit.
Rugged – a majestic and commanding mountain scene is presented here by Len Saltiel for all to enjoy. The wonderful reflection in the lake in the foreground serves to add so much further interest to this already jaw-droppingly beautiful scene.
The Flower Way – if you love beautiful flowers, you will love this post. Our own local photographer Ehpem takes us on a brief journey to admire the inherent beauty in some of our local flowers.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – Steve Creek takes us on a wonderful photographic journed to a wildlife refuge. Steve captures a set of great images of the landscapes in this rugged and beautiful place, as well as a couple of shots of bison doing what they do best…
Stasis – Andy Gimino creates a complex image in post-processing that delivers a great landscape shot of a gorgeous waterfall as spring sets in. Andy captures some fabulous colors and details in the creation of this must-see shot in this week’s list.
Dolphin @ sea – a really fabulous candid shot of a pair of Dolphins playing it appears. Basem Habib gives us an insight into the spirit and character of this incredible animal in this wonderful photograph.
Reprocessing An Old Favorite: “Full Glory” – this image is gorgeous and will make you instantly happy, guaranteed. Eden R. Ellis shares an original version as well as a re-processed version of the same image with its subtle variations.
Everything Passes – there’s something distinctly emotional and captivating in this great image from Mark Garbowski. I love the look and feel of classic NY architecture, and this shot delivers the goods on several levels.
My Girl – what a wonderful set of portraits as shared by Chris Frailey. His daughter presents the perfect beautiful subject for Chris and his camera, and he in turn delivers a set of images sure to delight and amaze everyone who pops by.
Sunset at Nyhavn – Jim Nix captures a stunning image perfectly composed of a canal in Denmark. The beautiful colors of the surrounding buildings and the exquisite wood found in the boats converge with a breathtaking reflection in the water.
Keep This Door Closed – I don’t even know where to start here! We’ve got incredible textures and interesting elements at play in this really awesome photo by Rob Nopola. The graffiti punctuates a scene with really captivating elements to it; a piece that is sure to be enjoyed by all who view.
Traffic snakes along reopened mountain pass in Kashmir – a really epic set of images taken of this mountain pass that has just reopened. This photo expose takes the reader right to the site, sharing a really unique view of this part of the world.
Sweet Spot – Steve Beal takes us to NYC in this top drawer cityscape image. Steve manages to capture so many intricate details in this photograph, the viewer finds themselves immersed in the scene constantly discovering something of interest.
The Rock – a most perfect composition awaits the viewer in this moody and dramatic natural piece from the studio of Mike Olbinski. Mike delivers an emotionally charged image here, accented by a really great reflection.
Spicket River – Bob Lussier shares an image sharing a totally unique vantage-point. The Spicket River has a section of a waterfall, and Bob is there and ready to capture and share this dramatic photograph.
A Quiet Place – a lovely little B&B presents the most wonderful photographic subject for Perry Bailey to snap an almost iconic image full of American character. The fabulous light posts in the foreground really bring the scene to life, a true must-see image in this week’s list.
Reappearance of Method – a stark but compelling piece by Gareth Glynn Ash is presented in this post. The snow covering the landscape combines with the sharp elements found in the bare trees in this shot.
Salford Quays, Manchester – Dave O’Keefe delivers a most dramatic and moody study of architecture that comes complete with a great reflective element. Dave’s perfect composition brings all the character from the scene out for everyone to enjoy.
S i l e n t . m o r n i n g – romance and mystery are all to be found in this awesome photograph by Pedro Terrinha. A gentle fog drapes the scene and is accented by the most perfect natural leading line as created by a meandering pathway.
Backroad Storm – a great shot taken at a very low perspective serves to punctuate the incredible vanishing point in this photograph by Scott Ackerman. The viewers eye naturally comes to settle upon a brooding, cloudy sky, giving a strong sense of wonder and drama.
Old Lighthouse Museum, Stonington, Connecticut – this is a wonderful image from Mark Summerfield. This old historic lighthouse is perfectly captured on 35mm film, and Mark has scanned and processed the image with a great texture, creating an image with a very old and historic feel to it.
Mean & Green – you know how much we love hotrods here at The Hollow, and when you have an example with a Roots style blower on it, you’ve got pure heaven. Bob Byington does a perfect job in capturing and delivering all the inherent character in this classic coupe, creating a piece that is truly a must-see in this week’s list.
911 GT3 RS – if you’re into cars, you just won the lottery and the first prize is a great image by Hansrico Photography!! This truly epic supercar is perfectly captured here, with the end result being a photograph that is truly mesmerizing.
Waikiki revisited – I love this image by Kathleen and Erik Kerstenbeck. This beautiful sunset has all the best Hawaii elements in it, including a plethora of palm trees and a beautiful sun making its way below the horizon.
Vivid Dreamscape – this is a truly wonderful photograph accompanied by compelling and inspiring words. Adam Allegro captures a shot with a pier that creates a fabulous vanishing point. Guaranteed to delight and amaze all who pop by for a visit.
As far as the eye can see – I can fly! This is one of those epic NYC shots that captures your imagination and keeps you entranced as you move around the frame taking all sorts of incredible details in. Dave DiCello shares a picture that is without any doubt one of our must-see images in this week’s list.
Belly Of The Beast – gauges, dials, knobs, details and textures oh my! This highly dramatic image by John Sotiriou shares a great vantage of classic mechanics at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
“How do you get from Point A to B?” Slowly! – a great theme based set by Howard really shares a great experience in both the sharing of a great photowalk as well as some really great images. Personally, the second shot with the train coming right at you is my favorite, how about you?
53 Chevy – great lines, colors and reflective chrome are perfectly composed in this truly wonderful photograph of this classic car. Bob Byington shares another image from his automotive collection that is absolutely wonderful.
Victoria Harbour Ferry – taken right in our own hometown, this wonderful shot of our character filled harbour ferry is a real joy to view! Local photographer tugs5750 captures and shares a shot well worth the time to pop by and view.
On The Way To Lunch: Eastern-Kyoto Stroll – Jeffrey Friedl takes us on a journey through parts of this Japanese city, delivering a series that is absolutely wonderful to view. Jeffrey’s candid street shots are second-to-none, full of great emotion and interest.
Ethereal Portraits Taken Underwater – three really mesmerizing photos of a girl taken underwater await the viewer here. There is a dreamy feel to these dramatic black-and-white shots, a series that is sure to delight all who visit.
INTERESTING BLOGS
Long Term Solution – Blake Rudis delivers another one of his HDR Concerts whereby a group of HDR photographers all share the same brackets and share their personal vision of the end result. This week’s concert includes a submission from Yours Truly, The Toad, and we are honored and delighted to be part of it all.
Projector Room – HDR Collaboration – when these amazingly talented artists get together to work on one of their collaborations, great results always ensue. The image worked on by the group is of a long abandoned projector room in a theatre. That’s all we’re going to say on this, we’ll let the images do the rest of the talking.
Photo Restoration – a really interesting post that shows an original photograph that is very well worn, and after a restoration process we also get to see the finished results.
He always had to do things differently – Terry Border delivers another installment in his series of highly creative pieces. This is sure to delight everyone and bring a smile to your face.
Shorebird Migration 2010 – Steve Beal creates a really interesting video of birds in migration that is a real joy to watch. Steve does a great job using a lens with an extremely long reach to bring all the inherent interest in the scene to your computer monitor for you to enjoy.
25 of the World’s Coolest Concept Cars – a post of an entirely different variety, in this feature we get to see some really interesting concept cars. Whether you like them or not, I am sure that taking this post in will at least create a great discussion point.
Bohemian Dreams in Digital Art – this is a really astonishing set of images as produced by the talented Alexander Jansson. A certain feel is expressed in his work that is really a joy to view, well worth the time to visit.
Perfect Photo Suite 6: Review of Perfect Layers & Perfect Mask – this post delivers a quick review of these two photo processing applications. Dakota Visions Photography does a great job reviewing and describing these applications in a short review.
Shoot & Share – Getting Your Photographs Out Into The World – A New Craft & Vision eBook – Edith Levy shares a brief but concise review of this new publication. It looks to present great value for the money.
All The Wild Horses – a breathtaking series of images of horses is presented to the viewer in this post. Each of the images shares a view of this graceful animal with many of them highlighting the amazing muscles and wonderful colors that they exhibit.
Getting the Picture, Developing the Image – a profound bit of writing is shared here by LensScaper (Andy Hooker). Andy delves into the “why” of photography leading us on a private yet familiar journey as an artist in the field. This is a wonderful article, so very worth the time to visit and read.
April 26 2012
10 Unmissable Apps for Ipad and Iphone Photographers
When Apple launched the iPhone, most people realized there was about to be a revolution in mobile telecommunications, what perhaps, was not recognized was the quiet revolution in photography. Since the launch and the emergence of the iPad and Android devices, a huge number of photographic apps have become available, and in this article we will highlight some of the best apps for Apple’s IOS, although many of these apps may also be available on Android
Photo apps can probably be broken down into three defined areas, taking apps, manipulating apps and portfolio apps. Some cross the boundaries between all three and some may not fit into any.
Instagram – Unless you have been living in the jungle for a month, the chances are that you have heard of Instagram, but what exactly is it? Put simply its a free app that allows you to take photos, apply simple filter style effects to them and then share the results with your friends via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Camera+ – Somewhat more advanced than Instagram is Camera+. This inexpensive app is designed to help you take more creative images with your iDevice and features touch exposure and focus, a software image stabilizer, and compositional grid and digital zoom facility. The app also feature a simple image browser, the ability to geotag and like Instagram a sharing feature.
Camera Awesome – This app is a powerful image taking app that feature a number of tools to aid the photographer whilst shooting. These include a horizon tool, compositional overlays to aid setting up the image and the ability to select focus in one location and exposure in a different for the same shot.
The Photographer’s Ephemeris – This fantastic and underrated app is perfect for travel and location photographers. Using the phones GPS locator, and knowing the time of day, it can tell you exactly which way the light will fall across a scene at a given time. These can be done before traveling or if you have a wifi or data connection on location it can be measured live. The results are shown on detailed maps that can be saved. There is a free online version on their website, http://photoephemeris.com/
DSLR Remote – Another great shooting tool, this app allows you to control your Nikon or Canon DSLR from an iPad or iPhone. You need to have your camera connected to a computer via USB or wifi, if possible, but once a connection is established you can control the camera directly from your idevice. The app features an intervalometer to set up stop motion shots as well as a live preview mode, ideal for remote photography.
iPhoto for iPad - This recently announced app was one of the selling points of the new iPad 3 although it works on iPad 2 as well. Based on, but ergonomically different to the iPhoto Mac app, it allows you to catalogue, browse and manipulate images of up to 19mp in size, including Raw files. The app features a whole host of professional level manipulation tools allowing you to create the exact look you want.
Photoshop Express – From the makers of Photoshop, the IOS version features some of the tools of it’s big brother plus a Bridge style organizer, sharing options and a 2GB online account. It also has some tools to aid image capture. The basic app is free but their are add on packs featuring tools such as noise reduction filters and frames and borders. These are payware.
Filterstorm Pro – This is another powerful, browser and manipulation app that allows you to work on RAW files of up to 22mp (iPad 2 and up). It features advanced editing tools such as curves and levels and the ability to export via FTP to multiple locations. Other features include an unlimited edit history, image straightening and a clone tool
Foliobook – The iPad’s larger screen has made it an ideal tool for displaying images. Foliobook is an app designed to allow professional photographers show omages to their clients but is equally useful for the enthusiast. It features a versatile built-in customization allowing you to apply you own branding and look to the app. Images can be viewed full screen and swiping the screen moves onto the next image.
Portfolio for iPad – As it’s name suggests this is another portfolio viewing app, very similar in style to Foliobook, and also featuring a customizable interface. By wirelessly connecting through an Apple TV, you can stream the images from the iPad to a large screen display.
These are just a few suggestions of some of the more popular apps available, it is by no means exhaustive but one thing is for sure, if there is something you want to do photographically with your iDevice, almost certainly there’s an app for that.
April 25 2012
33 Magnificent Photographs of Horses
Some subjects provide a lot of opportunities for great photography and horses fit comfortably into that category. With a little skill a great subject becomes a great photograph. We think these photographs of horses show what can be done quite nicely. Share your own horse photos in the comments and check out the collection of links on skills you can use to get similar photos at the end of the collection.
[/url]=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustafakhayat/5201818792pride [/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/mustafakhayatMustafa Khayat[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelp1966/3889467338
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelp1966/3889467338HORSE HEAD 2[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/kelp1966kelp1966[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/3919853501
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/3919853501Abrar almusalam {explore}[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickharris/5530151531
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickharris/5530151531Horses[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/rickharrisЯick Harris[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/fenanov/5636227693
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/fenanov/5636227693[Explore][/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/fenanovFenanov[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/hapal/4982077130
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/hapal/4982077130Joyful[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/hapalhapal[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/5158921314
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/5158921314"arabian horse" bait al-arab kuwait . 201[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/17516529@N00/4738030335
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/17516529@N00/4738030335Buttercup beauty[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/17516529@N00jillyspoon[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4285687626
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4285687626Moment Between Me And Him {win EXPLORE}[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/gattou/4042763038
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/gattou/4042763038Azimut & Magali (2008-12-07)[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/gattouGattou au repos – on rest[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/clickflashphotos/3467806244
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/clickflashphotos/3467806244Spirit[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/clickflashphotosClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4354018179
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4354018179Arabian Horse[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4973174640
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4973174640arabian horse bait-alarab[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2935940364
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2935940364barry adamson:i could love you[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/visualpanicvisualpanic[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/5062193203
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/5062193203"arabian horse" bait al-arab kuwait .[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrismatos/6147448087
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrismatos/6147448087"I´m Watching You"[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/chrismatosCrismatos ♥♥Away April 22-27[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4485030072
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/baderalbassam/4485030072"explore "[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/baderalbassamBader AL Bassam[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/genewolf/382632838
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/genewolf/382632838DSC_0023[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/genewolfandreavallejos[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/e3000/107805474
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/e3000/107805474haze with horse[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/e3000e³°°°[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2418236684
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2418236684pep sala:fes-me un lloc al teu costat[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/visualpanicvisualpanic[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/joiseyshowaa/2334039682
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/joiseyshowaa/2334039682Springtime Nursery – early morning[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/joiseyshowaajoiseyshowaa[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/netsella/3623805682
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/netsella/3623805682El caballo[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/netsellaMaximo Lopez[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5952306754
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5952306754Horse[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/aigle_doreMoyan_Brenn[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenera/2175347920
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenera/2175347920Tender magic[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/zenerazenera[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/telmo32/4605770363
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/telmo32/4605770363race[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/telmo32telmo32[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpuppy/4248892891
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpuppy/4248892891Morro Bay : Horses on the beach[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/arcticpuppytibchris[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/3896448365
[/url]
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/3896448365Lots of good grass![/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/tambakoTambako the Jaguar[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/3092827102
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/3092827102Lonely rider on a damp winter morning[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/wheatfieldsnet_efekt[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2956803603
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualpanic/2956803603jon brion:a dream upon waking[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/visualpanicvisualpanic[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/51456203@N00/1549261847
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/51456203@N00/1549261847Miss[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/51456203@N00ellhoisa[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingslo/4433794999
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingslo/4433794999Horse At Dusk – Explore #139 3-20-10[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/goingslogoingslo[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/norbertloev/5215037117
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/norbertloev/5215037117There is no place like home[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/norbertloevNorbert Löv[/url], on Flickr
=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seyyed_mostafa_zamani/5104466830
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=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seyyed_mostafa_zamani/5104466830Excitement[/url] by =http://www.flickr.com/people/seyyed_mostafa_zamaniseyed mostafa zamani[/url], on Flickr
More Photography Resources for Photographing Horses
- How to Photograph Your Horse by Amanda Lockhart (VIDEO)
- Tips on How to Photograph Horses
- How to Photograph Your Fjord Horse
Photography Tutorials, Case Studies and Discounts - LightStalking Photography Newsletter.
April 24 2012
“ If you want great tips about photography, you have to follow @LightStalking, they're also on Facebook & Google+ Check em out. ”— PLPandersen
How to Bond with Strangers and Make them Relax Around a Photographer
As any photographer will know, getting a person to relax enough around you to get a few decent shots of them is no easy task. It seems like no matter how laid back someone is, the minute they see a camera they snap into posing mode – making it difficult to get a photograph that tells a story and brings out someone’s true nature and natural features.
Getting people to relax around you also has a second benefit: people who are relaxed are more willing to take irrational risks. This is why we do things with our friends (like making a funny face) that we don’t do with strangers and that moment of irrationality can make some of our most memorable captures.
This is why, to me, the difference between a good photographer and a great one is their ability to interact with and relate to people on a human level, without passing judgment or causing awkwardness.
But here’s the problem: Humans are strange creatures and no two subjects are ever exactly alike. Putting people at ease in your presence involves more than just memorizing a few basic steps and following them.
Having said that, know that all is not lost if you’re not the most social of all people. Because there are a few things you can do that will increase your perceived friendliness – even to strangers – in a couple of minutes flat. It’s only a matter of understanding a bit of how the mind works.
Understanding The Power of Questions
It’s easy to get flustered or nervous during a photo shoot with a stranger but the pros know that you should never let your insecurities get the better of you. If you are stressed or uptight, your subject will feed off that energy.
It’s a phenomenon called “mirroring” and it’s an involuntary response that all humans are subject to. We mirror due to a part of our brain called “mirror neurons” – and these neurons are activated simply because of our observation.
Mirror neurons are also why you should never try to be someone you are not. You may have perhaps seen other photographers using a humorous approach with their models; cracking jokes or laughing about mishaps – if you aren’t naturally funny or spontaneous, it can take years to master the art of natural humour.
A (much) faster route is to simply be a good listener and encourage your subjects to talk about themselves – and trust me when I say that everyone loves talking about themselves.
Now I know being a “good listener” is a bit of a cliché and most people simply stop there with their advice.
Going a level Deeper
Being a good listener is NOT about your listening skills. It’s about making the other party feel understood. Read that again.
To create that “long lost friend you never knew” effect, always remember the 3 basic questions: the what, why and how – and relate each of those questions to whatever the previous reply was. So for example, if the other party said she has 3 children, you can ask about how it feels to raise 3 children. If she said it’s always hectic yet surprisingly fulfilling, ask her what she means.
Don’t even talk about yourself unless prompted. If you’re prompted, give your subject a short, succinct answer and direct conversation back to them.
Now some of you are thinking what a creep you’d be if you were to do that. That’s where this second advice comes in: display interest triggers.
There are certain things people do that signals how they feels. If your spouse yawns when you talk, you know they’re not interested. If your friend shakes her leg when talking to you, you know she’d rather be somewhere else.
“Interest triggers” are things you can do that signals you’re interested. These include:
- Lean slightly forward if you’re sitting on a table.
- Say things like, “That’s interesting, tell me more.” Or “What made you say that?” or “No way! Are you serious?”
- Maintain eye contact – and if you’re thinking, don’t look down because that signals guilt or boredom. Look to the side instead.
- And before you reply to any questions, always pause for a second to show that you’ve thought about what he/she just said.
And once the conversation has gone on for about 10 minutes, tell your subject you’re sorry for taking up so much time and allow him/her to go back to do whatever he/she was doing. Before letting him/her go, however, slip in “do you mind if I take a few photographs of you?”
That’s it.
Naturally, if you are working with someone who would rather not share personal details or talk very much at all then you should be willing to accept that. And that’s where the next part comes in.
How to Set the mood
The environment we are in has a strange grip on how we feel. We all intuitively know this yet few of us ever manipulate our environment to change how we feel. Certain places make us nervous, while others make us feel right at home.
What environment you’d set depends on the type of portrait you are trying to create. Are you working towards a bubbly and happy portrait that exemplifies your subject’s outgoing nature or are you hoping to capture a model’s more serious side? There is no one right answer – and that’s the beauty of it. It’s your art. Create it.
There are 5 factors of the environment that you can manipulate. I will include a basic guide for each and I will assume you want to make your subjects relax:
- Visual – This is a strange one: plants. That’s right. Plants have been shown to make people relax, which is why a walk by the park is such a great stress-buster.
- Sound – The sound of subtle running water or rain has been shown to relax – probably why they are often present in meditation CDs.
- Temperature (feel) – Your muscles only relax when you’re warm so keep your environment warm. Note: don’t confuse “cool” with warm.
- Smell – Aromatherapies work great in this instance. I won’t even pretend to be an expert on this because I get someone else to do it. Note: The smell of aromatherapy will disappear after a while but that doesn’t mean the effect is gone.
- Taste – The effect of taste on relaxation is small, in my experience. So I’ll suggest an alternative: a glass of wine.
Give clear and useful directions
Not knowing what is expected of them can make people insecure and unsure of themselves, so take some time to discuss what you would both like to get out of the shoot and exactly what will happen next.
And even when that’s done, don’t get stuck behind your camera for the rest of the shoot. It’s impersonal and prevents you from connecting with the person you are photographing. Instead, take time to give feedback about different poses or comment on how you think the shoot is going. Repeat this with me, “This is going to be awesome.” – that phrase works wonders in raising subject confidence.
Next, give clear instructions that they can follow, like “tilt your head a bit to the left,” or “lift your chin up just a bit.” If someone isn’t getting it, you can go ahead and show them what you mean. People like to be told what to do when they are in a new situation, so don’t worry about coming across as a control freak. They’d rather follow than risk embarrassment.
It is also important to tell your subject when they are doing something right because that will boost their confidence. Don’t mutter things like “Oh no,” or “Oops,” while you are working, because while you may just be commenting on the way you tilted your camera, your subject may worry that they have done something wrong.
And there’s one key point here: avoid “frustration trigger” like rolling your eyes, sucking in a deep breath, losing temper – even if it has nothing to do with the subject. Remember: mirror neurons.
You can also show your subject a few of the first photos before you wrap things up so they can see what it looks like and ask for changes if there is something they don’t like or aren’t sure about. Remember that it’s not about you. They are only worries about their personal insecurities, that is all.
Give your subject something to hold
This is a big one.
If you notice your subjects fidgeting, give them something to play around with during the photo shoot. This is because the two things that we just don’t what to do with when we are nervous are our hands. Should we cross them, put them in the pockets, on our hips or stand like soldier?
When someone is able to hold something it helps them to feel less awkward – and therefore more relaxed. If you’re just doing head shots it won’t matter what they are holding, it could be anything from a stress ball to a cup of tea.
If their hands are visible on the photo, however, incorporate the object into your shoot – it can help enhance the story you want to tell. It could be something that suits their personality or profession, like a stack of books for a student or a bat for a baseball player.
Don’t Forget to Respect boundaries
While you do want to be easy going and provide your subjects with a relaxed and comfortable environment, you don’t want to appear as a chum who assumes too much. We all have an invisible boundary reserved for different people.
Your spouse, for example can go 1cm off your face and you could remain relaxed. Your colleagues, however, need to stay at least 30cm away before you begin frowning.
How that invisible boundary is determined is an interesting subject that I won’t bore you with, but here’s the bottom line: you need to know exactly where it is. You don’t want to go too near and be a creep, but you also don’t want to be too far and make them feel like they can bite. Finding that subtle balance, however, is easier said than done.
If you’re photographing someone in their natural setting (like a dock worker), observe before you approach. If you’re dealing with models in your studio, experiment. Start just a tad close and move slightly away if he/she appears uncomfortable (usually by subtly stepping back). Don’t go from standing an arm away to right in front of him/her because that can be mistaken as inappropriate.
And lastly, boundaries also apply to seemingly “innocent” behaviours. For example, some people are uncomfortable with any physical contact, so don’t adjust a person’s hair or pose unless you have their permission to do so. It doesn’t have to be weird; just say, “Do you mind if I flick your hair out of your eye?” This is especially true if your subjects are not professional models. Most people probably won’t mind, but some will. Remember that the general rule is not to touch.
So there you go: be interested, set the mood, take charge, use props and respect boundaries – all of them can be done in less than 10 minutes.
Andrianes Pinantoan is a staff member of Open Colleges, an Australian distance education provider with a range of photography courses. When not working, he can be found reading a book or photographing random objects. He also finds it weird to write in third-person.
Photography Tutorials, Case Studies and Discounts - LightStalking Photography Newsletter.
April 22 2012
A Photographers Guide to Havana (With 9 Gorgeous Shots)
Just it’s name suggests cigars, 1950’s cars and of course Fidel Castro. Situated just 90 miles south of the Florida Keys, yet for all intents and purposes a different world, Havana is a photographer’s playground. From its people to its history, the city is so intensely rich in photographic possibilities, that it would be impossible to detail them all in this article. Instead I will concentrate on the most accessible points in the city center.
Havana Vieja
Old Havana, as it is known in English, is perhaps the most tourist centric part of the city. It is here that the most redevelopment and regeneration has taken place. The narrow streets are full of lovingly restored Spanish colonial buildings including the beautiful Havana Cathedral which looks over a small square, and provides great photographic possibilities. On the opposite side of the square from the Cathedral is a gallery, where you can get upstairs to get a better angle of it.
Plaza San Francisco is a beautiful square a short walk from the cathedral, with a basilica and beautifully restored buildings, best shot at dawn where the rich golden Caribbean light fuses with the yellow stonework of the buildings.
It is near here that you will find the distinctive Santeria women. Dressed all in white and often smoking huge Cuban cigars, they are a must on any photographers list. Be warned however, whilst the women are very happy to be photographed, they will expect some payment.
The main street through Old Havana is Calle Obispo, a narrow street that is full of life, both Cubans and tourists shoulder to shoulder. It is here that you will find the hotel Ambos Mundos, where Hemingway spent many years and wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls. Whilst difficult to photograph from ground level, the hotel has a terrace on the 7th floor with some good views over Havana.
Parque Central
At the top of Calle Obispo and considered the city center, Parque Central is another photographers paradise. In this tree shaded square you will find the classic Hotel Inglaterra and the GranTheatre de Havana both incredibly photogenic buildings. The square is also a great place to get shots of old American cars both in stationary and in motion as well as the unusual Coco Cabs, a three wheeled taxi unique to Havana. A ride in one of these can be exhilarating as well as a great photographic opportunity. The Hotel Inglaterra also contains a roof terrace bar with great views over Parque Central and down to the seafront.
The Capitolio Building
At first glance you might think that you are in Washington DC. Havana’s former parliament, the Capitolio was copied from it’s US counterpart yet is actually bigger. It is an iconic photo stop on any trip to Havana, with many angles to shoot it’s superb facade and dawn providing the best light of the day. Inside is now a museum and is well worth a look. You can have a personal guided tour for about $2 and there are no restrictions on photography. It can be quite dark so you will need a fast lens and or a high ISO. Take a good wide angle to capture the inside of the magnificent dome. The Capitolio is a short walk from Parque Central.
Plaza de la Revolucion
This massive square is a 10 minute taxi ride from the Capitolio and photographically it is relevant for two things. The massive memorial to Jose Marti that towers over the square and another of Havana’s iconic structures, the Ministry of the Interior, which features the famous mural of Che Guevara, which is based on the famous photograph by Alberto Korda. Some great shots can be had shooting wide angle and capturing a 50’s car with the mural in the background.
Cubans
The Cuban people are incredibly photogenic, the mixture of many races from African, Carib Indian, European and even Chinese has created a melting pot of different and unique looking people. Mix this with the incredible hospitality and vivacity you have the recipe for some great portraits. Cubans are very approachable and nearly always happy to have a photograph taken, but do have the courtesy of asking them first. Cuba is a very poor country and you will find that more often than not you will be asked for money, this is entirely you decision and generally you will not be pressured. Also be aware that some Cubans see tourists as a form of income and will hassle you for various things, being firm but polite will generally stop the problem.
The Malecon
The place to photograph people is the Malecon, Havana’s famous sea wall. At sunset, it is a truly magical place, the golden light lifting the pastel colors of the crumbling buildings, the rumbling V8’s of old American cars and the beams from the lighthouse of El Morro combine to make this a photographers dream. It is here at sunset you will find the Cuban people, socializing, practicing musical instruments or drinking Havana Club rum whilst listening to Son on an oversized stereo. A wide lens will capture the full sweep of Malecon whilst a good telephoto will let you concentrate of isolating those defining details. On some evenings the light of the setting sun can be incomparable, the rich yellow reds making for some great silhouette shots or intense portraits.
Practicalities
There is plenty of information available about getting to and from Havana and it’s modern airport is served by a number of international airlines. Travel restrictions for US citizens are easing significantly and be sure you have up to date information. For most people you will require a tourist visa, usually this can be provided by your travel agent on online from the Cuban embassy in your country, they are not expensive and are processed quickly.
For photographers, Havana is a very safe and tourist friendly city. You will find a police officer every few hundred yards and crime is very low compared to many Latin American countries. It is also a very poor country, so don’t flaunt your cameras and other equipment, although unlikely to be stolen you a may attract unwanted attention.
All in all, Havana is one of those place that should be on the list of any photographer interested in travel images.
Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union
Photography Tutorials, Case Studies and Discounts - LightStalking Photography Newsletter.
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