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It’s easy to take autofocus for granted. This technology is amazing—your camera has to figure out what should be sharp in a scene, focus the lens and take the picture, all in a fraction of a second. We expect our cameras to do this frame after frame without fail. Of course, autofocus does fail us at times…
Backlighting is just as it sounds: light that comes from behind your subject. This can make a beautiful photo, or turn a beautiful photo into a disaster. The camera reads the brightness behind the main subject and sets its internal meter to expose properly for the extra light…
Photographing people is the most popular form of photography today. Everyone takes shots of family and friends, but the majority of portraits end up poorly exposed, out of focus, and in the trash can..
A successful portrait photograph should capture a person’s character and reveal something about their personality. A good portrait must be exposed correctly, with warm skin tone colours. The focal point of a good portrait image should be the eyes. This is the area of the face you must focus on accurately.
The eyes must be one hundred percent sharp to draw the viewer into the image. By choosing an aperture of F/8 or smaller and shooting at least three feet away from the subject you should create a depth-of-field to bring all parts of the face into good focus.
If you have a keen interest in portrait photography the potential to earn some extra cash or even set up your own studio is endless.
The equipment needed to get successful portrait images is basic. A standard 35mm camera is perfect. Cameras that use film are better than digital; portrait film allows you capture warmer skin tones. Digital cameras have their own advantage but the cost of having an up-to-date digital darkroom can be immense.
Once you have chosen your camera the next piece of equipment you need is a lens; lenses should have a focal length of between 85 mm and 135mm. They also permit you to fill the frame from a reasonable distance and help reduce perspective distortion, which I will cover in more detail in part 3.
Here is a list of equipment worth considering:
Exposure meter – this will help in calculating exposure
Cable release – is used to minimise camera movement
Studio lights – one studio light will do, but if you have more the effects can be a lot greater.
Reflector – this will be used to bounce light.
Now that you have your equipment, your next step is dealing with people.
Most people become tense in front of the camera – this is natural and the job of a portrait photographer is to make sure this doesn’t affect the final print. A tense subject will lead to a poor dull image that no one will want to buy.
The key to creating a good portrait is having a relaxed subject – this may be achieved by talking to the subject while shooting the portrait. If this doesn’t work play some music – people react to different kinds of things. Psychology plays an important part in the work of a portrait photographer and the younger the subject the harder it is to get a result.
Wedding photography can be very rewarding for a professional photographer, but for a beginner it may seem like a daunting task. But don’t worry – if you are capable of taking great images and willing to prepare in advance, the job is not that hard.
There are also great chances for any photographer to make a good living or few extra quid if done part time – assuming you do the job correctly.
Preparation is the key to becoming a great professional wedding photographer; this is assuming that your technical skills are up for the job. If you prepare properly the task at hand will be so much easier, and the family concerned will be most pleased.
You need to prepare well in advance of the big day – this means meeting the couple to discuss what they would like. It also means that you need to contact the priest or whoever is celebrating the service and find out about guidelines that he may impose. For example, in some churches they do not allow strobe units to be used.
Preparation also involves going to the church and hotel before hand to take a look around and pre-select locations for your photo shoot. Go at the same time of day a few weeks before hand. Find out where the light will fall and what objects may be in your way.
While these may seem trivial matters, they will turn out to be invaluable when the wedding day comes.
Beforehand, when discussing the details of your shoot with the bride and groom find out what they want and don’t be afraid to give your input. It also helps to have a few wedding deals so you can cater for people of all means.
Have a list of all the shots that are standard, and be on the lookout for anything that will earn extra cash. Always remember that the more images you take, the more money you will earn. Pictures of grannies usually sell well, as do images of young children.
When the big day comes arrive early. Make sure you have plenty of spare batteries and memory if you are using digital or film if you are using a film camera. Also have a spare camera as back up. If your camera fails it will be embarrassing.
If possible hire an assistant for the day. Use the assistant to gather people for their image to be taken. Have a list of all the standard images that should be taken and make sure that the assistant ticks of the list when the shot is done. This will avoid confusion and is a good way to make sure you got all the shots.
Shoot detailed shots of flower, the wedding cake on its own and any other images that you think will sell. Even if it does not sell it will only take up a little memory on your camera. Finally – make sure that you have plenty of business cards on hand – if you have time to chat after the shoot, it may create extra business.
The true art of fashion photography.
Do you want to be a fashion photographer? Fashion photography is an extremely tough market to break into, but if you are willing to work hard, have a good imagination and hold the ability to take perfect images you are off to a good start.
A fashion photographer must be good in two photography disciplines. First, you need to be a great portrait photographer – second, you need to be able to create images for the advertisement market. You must be able to combine the two if you are going to succeed.
To be a successful fashion photographer you must also have a love of fine design clothes – without it you will never achieve the heights that bring success. A fashion photographer must stay up to date with all the latest fashion and have the ability to use his/her imagination to sell new designs.
Selling is the key – the fashion photographer must be able to sell his images to the fashion editor. Fashion photography is advertising and selling clothes.
To establish a reputation in fashion photography, the first thing you must do is set up a portfolio. Your portfolio should display your best work and be your first selling point. The second, and equally as important as the first, is to set up an online portfolio – your own personal Website.
To set up a portfolio you first must hire a model. Contacting your local modelling agencies can do this. You don’t need to hire a well-known model for your fashion portfolio – you need someone who will act well in front of the camera.
To be very successful you need to build a good relationship with models. Some models can be tough to work with so people psychology will play an important part. If you intend to shoot from your home studio supply a changing room for them.
If a model becomes unhappy for any reason the photo session will be a waste of time. Allow your model to make their own suggestions – regardless of how trivial it may be, it will help to keep them relaxed and you may get results that may be useful.
Once your portfolio is created you need to get exposure for it. If you have previously published work – use them as a statement with the picture editors. You need to establish a good working relationship with all fashion editors that you’ll be working with. So be professional.
Fashion photo editors are looking for concise images that clearly communicate an idea. You must, as a fashion photographer, have the ability to create unique settings.
When you do gather a large amount of fashion images, submit them to a fashion agency: Women’s magazines all over the world buy hundreds of stock shots every month. Photo agencies exist to sell photographers images – some of the larger fashion agencies have buyers all over the world. Some agencies can also re-sell your work in several different markets, and others will give you great career advice.
Keep up to date with fashion magazines, study the market and always be on the lookout for changing trends. Don’t be afraid to take the first step. If a fashion editor has no interest in your work – don’t worry – try contacting different magazines or agencies – most great photographers have their work rejected some time during their career.
With today’s digital technology, transforming colour images into black and white photographic prints is pretty straightforward but don’t throw away your rolls of black and white film.
Black and white photography is still regarded as a favourite with many photographers – dull landscape scenes become more dramatic with black and white photography.
Most subjects that are shot in colour can be taken with black and white film. Portraits are still widely taken by professional photographers all over the world.
One of the most popular uses of black and white photography is with wedding photographs. More couples are now opting for a combined wedding album of black and white images that really capture the mood and emotions of the special moment.
Black and white landscape photography is becoming popular again and is more suitable for taking images when the day is dull or too bright. If a scene does not have an entire spectrum of different colours, consider viewing it as a black and white photograph.
Do we need to learn black and white photography tips in a world of colour? You must choose the answer to this yourself – but here are a few pointers that will help you to make your decision.
1 Black and white photography is becoming more popular with the general public, and for that reason alone… new opportunities will open up for you.
2. In some situations, black and white photography has the tendency to make photos look more like works of art – fine art images will sell better in galleries.
3. Landscape images often lack a multitude of colours, using black and white film when shooting daytime photos will add impact to your photography.
4. There is also the value of using your own darkroom – the thrill of developing your own film and processing your images.
The same principles for colour photography apply to black and white photography. If you have mastered the art of photography, taking images with a roll of black and white film should be easy.
Filters are just as important with black and white photography. There are fewer filters available for black and white photography, but one that you should use is the polarizing filter. This filter is very effective for both black and white photography and colour photography. The polarizing filter makes the sky stand out to give your landscape images serious impact. It also helps to reduce glare from the sun’s rays – which is very handy for urban or architectural photography.
Exposure with black and white photography is a small bit easier. Black and white film handles light more easily than colour film can – which gives you greater room for error. Most black and white film allows you to capture detail when you underexpose at two stops. With overexposure the range is greater – between five and seven stops are allowed. This is known as film latitude. With colour film you are limited to a latitude of one stop each way.
This does not mean that you can become lethargic when taking black and white images. It means that if you do make a mistake the results may be acceptable.
The Art Of Glamour And Nude Photography.
Creating nude portraits has long been an element of art – instead of capturing these portraits with the brush on canvas; today they are captured with the pixel. Since the invention of photography the naked human body has been a natural subject for photographers and there has always been a large audience there for it.
What is glamour photography? Glamour photography covers a wide range – from the partial nude body, which you may see an a billboard advertising ladies underwear to the erotic images or the full nude body you may see on Page 3 of some papers or adult magazines. There are no special elements to photographing glamour; all the standard photography techniques remain the same. Care should be taken when photographing models, nude or partially nude because some may find a sexual element attached to it.
Finding a market: Glamour photography remains one of the most lucrative areas of freelance photography. For a student trying to break into the glamour photography market, he would be well advised to use a film camera over digital. Film will give you warmer skin tones and give you a greater chance of being published.
When trying to find suitable markets for your glamour photography, the same principles apply as in any other photography field. You must study “Glamour Photography Publications” to find out what sort of material they use.
Where to shoot: If you don’t have your own studio, don’t worry. Most of the great glamour images are shot on location. Shooting in the natural environment will be rewarding – use the early morning light to give extra warmth to the skin. Try different places – your neighbours hay barn can make an effective setting for a glamour image or if you have an attractive garden – perfect.
Choosing a model: One of the basic elements of glamour photography is a willing model. If you are having trouble finding one try your local art classes. People with an ambition to be a model may let you do test work. But if you are serious about being a glamour photographer you should work with a professional model.
Glamour images don’t always need to be sharp. Many of the great glamour photographers defuse their image with a filter to add mood to their nude portraits. The best way to get good is plenty of practise and sharpen your eye by looking at glamour publications.
There should be greater emphasis on controlling light contrast to ensure that the human body isn’t lost in heavy shadows or bright highlights. Controlling exposure is very important to get the perfect body tones.
While many may find this type of photography offensive, the glamour photographer is an artist and should be respected as one. It’s not for me to comment on whether the use of glamour material is good or bad, but to explain the art of this competitive and lucrative market.
Photography and Photojournalism
Did you every pick up a newspaper or a magazine were a single image is used to tell a story. This is known as photojournalism. Photojournalism can fall under all subjects’ of photography but the image needs to be news wordy to end up being published.
There are two types of photojournalism.
The first type is where an image is used to illustrate a story. Many feature journalists work closely with photographers and commission them to produce images that will be published with their articles. There is no limit to how many images used. This is usually the photo editor decision.
The second is where an image is used to tell a story without any words. One single image may be used or as many as ten images are often used in magazines. If you can write – do so; it will be an advantage when you submit some images.
One of the most important qualities of a photojournalist is his ability to react quickly when he comes along a scene that may be news wordy.
Other than the obvious, here is a list items which may be news wordy.
Impact pictures. Pictures of the Environment People. New buildings.
If you are serious about photojournalism build a collection of images from your area. Many of these pictures will not be immediate news wordy but may be news wordy down the road. Take pictures of all the factories and buildings in the area. Some day a factory may close and you may not be able to get to the scene. Also have plenty pictures of local businessmen and politicians.
Some photojournalism are lucky enough to get assignments from newspapers or magazines, most have to follow or find the news to make a living.
The world of digital photography has made the work of the photojournalist a lot easer. Being able to view, scan and e-mail images to a publisher instantly is a massive advantage.
The work of a photojournalist can be extremely harsh – taken pictures in all kinds of extreme conditions and in very dangerous situations. Many photojournalists die each year in war zones and at different natural disasters around the world.
We live in a world, where today’s news is forgotten tomorrow and the need to get the images quickly to the publisher is so important. If you have images that are news wordy don’t delay sending them to a news agency or publisher. They won’t stay in the news very long.
Tips for Improving Your Landscape Photography.
Landscape photography can be a challenge, but with the right composition and good natural light it can be made a bit easier.
All the world’s cameras, films and other photographic equipment are no more than tools for making landscape pictures. Cameras don’t think for themselves. Whether we use digital or film camera, the same photographic principles apply.
We don’t have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape images, but knowing what they are will make your pictures more successful. There are two salient points in landscape photography: how to compose your image, and how to use available natural light in any given situation.
Lets start off with light: There are three basic qualities of light: intensity, direction and colour. Intensity: refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring soft and defused light. Direction: this refers to light placement. There are three categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade. Colour: the colour of sunlight varies depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.
Understanding natural light will develop your ability to see. You will start to see the beauty of light in a different and exciting way.
In landscape photography it is very important to take care with composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange the elements in front of you.
Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.
Lead with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will draw your viewer into your image. These lines don’t have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work successfully.
Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.
Natural frames: Frame your scene with the elements all around you. This will focus attention on the main part of the picture. Trees make great natural frames.
These are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a good eye, you have all you need to get the best out of photography – especially landscape photography. These are just a few rules to get you started, but like all rules, they are there to be broken.
Tips for improving your macro photography.
Exploring the world of miniature objects with a macro lens is a special and exciting area of photography, and once you start, you will quickly become addicted. The world of macro photography holds many delights and is an area that cannot be appreciated with the human eye.
Macro photography is the name given to close-up photography, and is best explained as images that are taken at reproduction ratios of life-size and above. Ratios of between 1:7 and 1:1 fall into the macro photography category.
Understanding Ratios: This is a term used to express the magnification of a macro lens or other macro equipment that relates the real life-size object to the reproduction size on a slide or negative. If you shoot an object that is 3cm in length and it measures 1.5cm on a 35mm slide or negative – the ratio is 1:2. When both are equal length the ratio is 1:1
Choosing the right lens is the most important factor with macro photography. While a telephoto lens may be acceptable with some types of close-up photography, the macro lens is invaluable to get really close and really accurate focusing.
There is an endless range of subjects that fall under the range of macro photography. The most common subject for macro photography is the natural world – all types of flowers, plants, and insects. For the more creative photographer, macro photography is used in abstract imagery.
With many forms of macro photography, especially with insects, a lens with a long focal lens – minimum 200 mm is required for some nature subjects. You need to keep a working distance from the subject to get a successful image – you don’t want to frighten your subject away.
When shooting close-ups you are limited with depth-of-field – to get an attractive image you must focus on the most important part of the subject. This will be achieved easier if you place your camera on a tripod or monopod.
By using your tripod you will reduce the risk of camera shake. Subject movement is also an important factor to consider. Macro photography magnifies the subject, leaving more room for blur. A strobe unit can be used to freeze movement – even on the brightest of days you should consider using your strobe unit. Try bouncing light from your strobe unit off a reflector. This will give your image a softer illumination.
Many amateur photographers stay away from macro photography because they feel that their technical ability is too inept – your personal ability should not turn you away from this exciting part of photography – macro photography is like all types of photography – practice makes perfect.
