Monday 29 April 2013
Food porn: Photography tips, tricks to make food look appetizing - Longview News-Journal: Food
Food porn: Photography tips, tricks to make food look appetizing - Longview News-Journal: Food: How do you make food look appetizing ?
Friday 19 April 2013
The Art of HDR Photography – A Beginner’s Course
The Art of HDR Photography – A Beginner’s Course
High Dynamic Range processing can turn your photos into stunning images that mesmerize onlookers. Yet, getting that ‘Wow’ factor is not an easy thing to achieve when you first start out. On top of the steep learning curve involved in using HDR programs, you also have to have awareness of the myriad of pitfalls that are a side-effect of the HDR process.
Jimmy McIntyre, experienced HDR photographer and trainer, has created this course to push you through that learning curve and arm you with the necessary skills in Photomatix and Photoshop so that you too can produce stunning HDR imagery.
Click here to view more details
Thursday 18 April 2013
Opinions Wanted re: Zazzle etc;
Monday 15 April 2013
Landscape Photography Tips
To put it simply, a landscape shot refers to scenery captured from one point of view. There are usually no children or animals or other objects in it, just scenery, like a sunset or mountain range. Once in a while, an animal or object may be used for composition or as a means of displaying scale and perspective. However, more often than not, it is just a view of the outside.
Purists argue that pictures of the sea coast or the ocean, or pictures of man-made structures are not landscapes. A picture of the coast is a seascape while that of a city would rightfully be called a cityscape. Any picture dominated by terrain or natural land is therefore a landscape.
There are three kinds of landscapes, representation, impressionistic and abstract.
Representational -This style is the most realistic of the three. There is no artificial manipulation or artifice added to the landscape. It is basically, a 'what you see is what you get picture'. It is a true snap shot of what you see.
Impressionistic -In this style the photographer uses techniques that play up the vague or elusive qualities of the scene. This kind of landscape retains the quality of what makes a landscape while at the same time giving an impression rather than a clear tone or representation.
Abstract -The photographer uses the elements of the landscape as components to be manipulated to produce greater effect. Components are juxtaposed and moved to create a design rather than a real picture of what is actually represented.
Here are some landscape photography tips for making better pictures.
1. Foreground -Focusing on an object in the foreground for framing purposes increases the drama of the shot. Also frame the shot with a center of interest to capture the eye of the viewer.
2. Move the Center -Moving the center of interest off to one side also heightens the interest of the shot.
3. Scale -Drawing attention to the size of the subject is sometimes important to the understanding of the scene. This can be done by adding people or a small object that would normally be in the scene to frame around gives the added dimension of scale.
4. Lighting -Lighting will make or break any photograph. Pay very careful attention to light source, shadows, clarity and diffusion. This is the number one frame of reference for all photography, included within landscape photography tips.
5. Tripod -Use a tripod to ensure sharpness in capturing the scene, especially in low light situations. Camera movement or shake will not add to the picture and may do it irreparable harm.
6. Composition is so Important -Really, really look at your composition. Make sure there is nothing in the picture or viewfinder that you don't want such as overhead electrical wires or errant branches from closer trees that might obscure the view and ruin the picture. Watch out for unneeded objects in the foreground. It may be necessary to move them out of your way, or barring that, if you can't move them, then move the camera.
7. Weather -Don't let the weather keep you from shooting. Sometimes the weather is just the dramatic effect that you are looking for. Rain has a way of adding softness and peacefulness to a scene, take advantage of it. Wind or ripples in water also add dramatic elements for a stronger photograph.
8. Maximize Depth of Field -This is done by choose a small aperture setting in over to deepen the focus of the picture. Bear in mind that a smaller aperture also means there is less light coming through, forcing other adjustments to compensate.
9. Lines -Find a way to lead the viewers eyes into the picture. In other words the lines that leads from the foreground to the background. Image depth and scale can make this happen.
10. Horizon Consideration -An old rule in photography is to consider the horizon on two fronts... is it straight and where is it compositional wise? A composition line falls in one of three areas of the picture rather than down the center, the upper middle or lower third. Trying working in these areas rather than always locating the main points of interest in the center of the frame. Finally, always be on the lookout for a different viewpoint. Changing the point of view adds drama to an uninteresting or routine scene. Before snapping the shot, look through the viewer and move it right, then left, then up and down. Zoom in and then zoom out. Change the viewpoint. Only then after looking at as many possibilities as you can, do you take the picture. I hope you have found these landscape photography tips useful.
Article By Jonnie Blaylock
One of my favourite Landscape Photographers is Ansell Adams a copy of one of many books available here
There are three kinds of landscapes, representation, impressionistic and abstract.
Representational -This style is the most realistic of the three. There is no artificial manipulation or artifice added to the landscape. It is basically, a 'what you see is what you get picture'. It is a true snap shot of what you see.
Impressionistic -In this style the photographer uses techniques that play up the vague or elusive qualities of the scene. This kind of landscape retains the quality of what makes a landscape while at the same time giving an impression rather than a clear tone or representation.
Abstract -The photographer uses the elements of the landscape as components to be manipulated to produce greater effect. Components are juxtaposed and moved to create a design rather than a real picture of what is actually represented.
Here are some landscape photography tips for making better pictures.
1. Foreground -Focusing on an object in the foreground for framing purposes increases the drama of the shot. Also frame the shot with a center of interest to capture the eye of the viewer.
2. Move the Center -Moving the center of interest off to one side also heightens the interest of the shot.
3. Scale -Drawing attention to the size of the subject is sometimes important to the understanding of the scene. This can be done by adding people or a small object that would normally be in the scene to frame around gives the added dimension of scale.
4. Lighting -Lighting will make or break any photograph. Pay very careful attention to light source, shadows, clarity and diffusion. This is the number one frame of reference for all photography, included within landscape photography tips.
5. Tripod -Use a tripod to ensure sharpness in capturing the scene, especially in low light situations. Camera movement or shake will not add to the picture and may do it irreparable harm.
6. Composition is so Important -Really, really look at your composition. Make sure there is nothing in the picture or viewfinder that you don't want such as overhead electrical wires or errant branches from closer trees that might obscure the view and ruin the picture. Watch out for unneeded objects in the foreground. It may be necessary to move them out of your way, or barring that, if you can't move them, then move the camera.
7. Weather -Don't let the weather keep you from shooting. Sometimes the weather is just the dramatic effect that you are looking for. Rain has a way of adding softness and peacefulness to a scene, take advantage of it. Wind or ripples in water also add dramatic elements for a stronger photograph.
8. Maximize Depth of Field -This is done by choose a small aperture setting in over to deepen the focus of the picture. Bear in mind that a smaller aperture also means there is less light coming through, forcing other adjustments to compensate.
9. Lines -Find a way to lead the viewers eyes into the picture. In other words the lines that leads from the foreground to the background. Image depth and scale can make this happen.
10. Horizon Consideration -An old rule in photography is to consider the horizon on two fronts... is it straight and where is it compositional wise? A composition line falls in one of three areas of the picture rather than down the center, the upper middle or lower third. Trying working in these areas rather than always locating the main points of interest in the center of the frame. Finally, always be on the lookout for a different viewpoint. Changing the point of view adds drama to an uninteresting or routine scene. Before snapping the shot, look through the viewer and move it right, then left, then up and down. Zoom in and then zoom out. Change the viewpoint. Only then after looking at as many possibilities as you can, do you take the picture. I hope you have found these landscape photography tips useful.
Article By Jonnie Blaylock
One of my favourite Landscape Photographers is Ansell Adams a copy of one of many books available here
Saturday 6 April 2013
Photo Tips
Composition
My tips on how to take good pictures usually starts with composition.
There are many rules and techniques that deal with composition. One of the most common rules of thumb is the rule of thirds.
This works under the concept that tension in the picture will bring more interest. The way that the rule of thirds is used is by splitting up the scene in the viewfinder into 9 equal parts like a tic-tac-toe board. Where the lines intersect is where points of interest in the photograph should be located. If there is a horizontal line of interest such as a horizon or edge of a table, it should be placed on the top or bottom one third line. The picture to the right shows the proper layout using the rule of thirds in a outdoor portrait setting. Do not forget that with a point and shoot camera, what you see is not exactly what you get. Instead of looking through the lens, as an SLR allows, point and shoots use a viewfinder commonly mounted above the lens.
Portraits Of course, just about the most popular venues of the art is portrait photography. The techniques in this section are meant to be used in all kinds of portraits: family, friends, and professional. Here is a scenario that I am sure we have all seen - The Vacation Portrait - A family is on vacation and wants to get a nice portrait shot with the wondrous background scene. The problem is when the family gets home and looks at the portrait and realizes that they tried to get too much background into the shot and they can barely tell who is in the picture. This scene can be anywhere: on vacation, at the beach, even in the backyard. The most important thing to remember with portraits is that the subject is the person or people in the photograph. I recommend head and shoulder shots for the most part. It is okay to pan out a bit to let some background in, but too much background may cause a subject conflict and the viewer's eye may not be able to tell what to focus on. If you pan out to get a better picture of an action portrait (children playing) and the background is too distracting there is something that can be done. Decrease the aperture setting on your camera to narrow the depth of field. This will cause the background to be out of focus while keeping the subject in focus. This technique takes a bit of practice but the effect is worth it. While a point and shoot camera usually does not allow the user to change aperture setting, this same depth of field effect can be obtained by simply moving closer to the subject. The closer the subject is to camera, the narrower the depth of field it will appear in. I think I will write a new article about how to take good pictures with a point and shoot camera. Landscapes Most photographers prefer that the scene in a landscape be in clear focus from foreground to background. In order to achieve this, wide angle lenses are commonly used. This lens's short Focal Length combined with the appropriately high aperture setting, causes a near infinite depth of field (everything equally in focus). Since the aperture setting should be set high to help increase the depth of field, the shutter speed will have to be slowed to compensate for the decrease in the amount of light (higher aperture setting = small opening in camera lens). The ISO setting may also have to be changed to get the exposure right. Getting the exposure correct in landscapes can take some practice, but thanks to digital cameras, we can practice as much as we want without having to waste film. The slower shutter speeds associated with landscapes makes it essential to use a tripod. The slower the shutter speed the more essential a tripod is. With landscapes, they are an absolute must. Some photographers even use a remote shutter release so they will not shake the camera by pushing the button. Good landscapes are often difficult to obtain using a point and shoot camera. Point and shoots come with a standard lens that can not be changed our for a wide angle lens. I hope this article has offered a basic scope on how to take good pictures. As always, happy shooting.
There are many rules and techniques that deal with composition. One of the most common rules of thumb is the rule of thirds.
This works under the concept that tension in the picture will bring more interest. The way that the rule of thirds is used is by splitting up the scene in the viewfinder into 9 equal parts like a tic-tac-toe board. Where the lines intersect is where points of interest in the photograph should be located. If there is a horizontal line of interest such as a horizon or edge of a table, it should be placed on the top or bottom one third line. The picture to the right shows the proper layout using the rule of thirds in a outdoor portrait setting. Do not forget that with a point and shoot camera, what you see is not exactly what you get. Instead of looking through the lens, as an SLR allows, point and shoots use a viewfinder commonly mounted above the lens.
Portraits Of course, just about the most popular venues of the art is portrait photography. The techniques in this section are meant to be used in all kinds of portraits: family, friends, and professional. Here is a scenario that I am sure we have all seen - The Vacation Portrait - A family is on vacation and wants to get a nice portrait shot with the wondrous background scene. The problem is when the family gets home and looks at the portrait and realizes that they tried to get too much background into the shot and they can barely tell who is in the picture. This scene can be anywhere: on vacation, at the beach, even in the backyard. The most important thing to remember with portraits is that the subject is the person or people in the photograph. I recommend head and shoulder shots for the most part. It is okay to pan out a bit to let some background in, but too much background may cause a subject conflict and the viewer's eye may not be able to tell what to focus on. If you pan out to get a better picture of an action portrait (children playing) and the background is too distracting there is something that can be done. Decrease the aperture setting on your camera to narrow the depth of field. This will cause the background to be out of focus while keeping the subject in focus. This technique takes a bit of practice but the effect is worth it. While a point and shoot camera usually does not allow the user to change aperture setting, this same depth of field effect can be obtained by simply moving closer to the subject. The closer the subject is to camera, the narrower the depth of field it will appear in. I think I will write a new article about how to take good pictures with a point and shoot camera. Landscapes Most photographers prefer that the scene in a landscape be in clear focus from foreground to background. In order to achieve this, wide angle lenses are commonly used. This lens's short Focal Length combined with the appropriately high aperture setting, causes a near infinite depth of field (everything equally in focus). Since the aperture setting should be set high to help increase the depth of field, the shutter speed will have to be slowed to compensate for the decrease in the amount of light (higher aperture setting = small opening in camera lens). The ISO setting may also have to be changed to get the exposure right. Getting the exposure correct in landscapes can take some practice, but thanks to digital cameras, we can practice as much as we want without having to waste film. The slower shutter speeds associated with landscapes makes it essential to use a tripod. The slower the shutter speed the more essential a tripod is. With landscapes, they are an absolute must. Some photographers even use a remote shutter release so they will not shake the camera by pushing the button. Good landscapes are often difficult to obtain using a point and shoot camera. Point and shoots come with a standard lens that can not be changed our for a wide angle lens. I hope this article has offered a basic scope on how to take good pictures. As always, happy shooting.
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