Don't Be Afraid to Stage Your Wedding Photographs!‏

How often do you look at wedding

photographs and wonder how the

photographer did it? We're not talking

about just the pictures of the bride and

groom but also the photos of all the

decorative elements and items you see at

every wedding. How did the photographer

manage to get all those beautiful elements

together to look as if that place setting or

centerpiece or the wedding cake was staged

just for them?

That right there is your answer - they

probably staged those photos before

they took them! Some photographers

who handle weddings are very hesitant

to actually stage the things they're

shooting, not wanting to interfere with

how things are decorated or arranged

or feeling as if everything should be

candid and spontaneous.

Yes, it is recommended that you get

photographs of the reception hall, the

tables, the decorations, and everything

else as they are laid out, but this doesn't

mean that you should never stage a shot

as well.

Very often you can get some amazing

photographs if you just move some small

items around so that details really shine

through. For instance you can take one of

the wedding favors and move it close to a

place setting and pull some flowers in closer

as well. A champagne glass can be set on

its side for a playful touch.

You can even usually move larger items

closer together to get some good photos.

Check with the decorator and ask for some

help to move candle stands and balloons

close to the table where the cake is located

or to move around the centerpieces on a

buffet table.

Staging also happens with photos where

people are involved; we often call this

posing. But certainly you can use people

to help stage photos of inanimate things

and details of the wedding as well - have

a flower girl stand near the cake or have

the young ring bearer stand near the dessert

table and catch their expression. A caterer

or server can also stand in the photos,

perhaps holding out a plate of food or a

glass of champagne.

You won't lose the spontaneity of a wedding

by adding your own personal touches this

away. The bride will no doubt appreciate

the extra work and effort you put into photos

like this and will enjoy reviewing these photos

for years to come.

By Nick Smith

Creative inspiration for your photos

I hate it when I just can't think of anything creative to use on a
web site or a photo presentation of some kind - any kind!
These days, that tends to happen all too often.

Thank goodness for me there are other photographers who have
inspiration coming out of their ears.

Here's a little gem that I thought was unique. You have to slide
your mouse across it to see the affects.

The point being that these types of photographic affects can be
done with many different settings, lakes, beaches, trees, rain etc.

You get the picture! (sorry, unintentional pun).

Have a look at it here and let you're mind go wild with your own

personal fantasy applications. You know what I mean...

Time Lapse Photo

If you like the way that works or you've thought of something better

and you don't like code, html and techy stuff (like me) you can always

get help at 'rent a coder' where they will bid on any project you put up for
tender. It would probably only cost a few bucks to get a template
code that you could use over and over again. Too good to pass up if
you can use it. Here's the link if you want to take action and
create stuff like this yourself.

Rent-a-coder

...enjoy yourself,

Krister

Cengage Course Tech. Book: Adobe Photoshop and the Art of Photography: A Comprehensive Introduction by Steven Weinrebe





Cengage Course Tech. Book: The Digital Photographer's Software Guide by John Lewell

Three Secrets To Mastering Perfect Exposure

Memorize this short “mantra” in order to master photography – ISO, shutter speed, aperture. If you repeat this to yourself a few times you will be able to easily remember the three things that will always save, or ruin, an exposure. They don’t have to come specifically in that order, but nevertheless, these three things are what will determine your exposure.

Why are they so important?

When we talk about a photograph we usually speak of it in terms of subject matter, lighting, balance, etc. In reality, the three things that make that picture possible or effective were the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. If you can master these three activities then you will be able to always create the kind of results you want, regardless of conditions.

Remarkably, even the most modern of digital cameras cannot always guarantee success. That includes top of the range digital cameras. If the camera allows the photographer to shoot entirely in manual mode, however, almost any sort of lighting conditions or photographic requirements can be tackled. Even better, if the camera has “semi-automatic” features such as aperture or shutter priority settings the photographer’s life just got even easier.

Don’t know about these settings?

Well, there are all kinds of descriptions, metaphors, and illustrations as to how these three factors interact to make a final image, but these tend to make very little sense unless you really understand the fundamentals of the three settings. It begins with ISO, which is the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor to the light entering through the lens. The ISO can be automatically adjusted to ever increasing levels of sensitivity, but this comes at a cost, and that is digital “noise” or graininess in the photograph. Instead of making the sensor do the work, the photographer should consider letting more light into the camera.

This can be done via the aperture of the lens or the speed of the shutter. Both choices also come with some valuable and steady compromise, and it is up to the photographer to select the right setting for their photographic intention. When they decide to allow more light in through the lens, by opening or closing the aperture they will instantly change the depth of field. This will make the background and foreground sharper or blurrier. When the photographer sets the aperture at a very low number, such as 2.8, they are actually flooding the camera with light. This shortens the depth of field and makes everything but the subject extremely blurry. Obviously a smaller or higher aperture setting will do the opposite, and this is usually what a landscape or cityscape photographer chooses.

If they decide to control light through shutter speed they will have to understand that slower shutters allow a lot more light into the camera, but this runs the risk of adding blur to the image too. Shutter speed also has a lot to do with controlling motion. When something is moving fast, you will be able to capture that motion as sharp and “frozen in mid air” or, alternatively, you may simply choose a “streaky blur” look to add more artistic value to your image.

A common problem photographers have is shooting fast motion in low light. There really is no “magic” answer to this. You need as much light as possible. Since there are only really three ways to enhance the lighting in your images, you really only have three options available to you; a slower shutter, a wide aperture or a higher ISO. Each have their advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you what you are prepared to gain and prepared to lose. You may want a frozen in mid air look of a fast motion subject and are prepared to have a little more noise in your image. Or you may choose a slightly blurrier look but a lot less noise.

If the photographer knows that they must have a specific aperture or shutter speed for the image, and the camera has priority modes, they can simply set the element that they want, and the camera will tackle the rest. The trick is learning exactly what is required!

If you like this article, please feel free to leave a comment below and bookmark it if you can spare a minute.

This article provided by Amy Renfrey (visit her website)

Photographing People and Foreign Cultures - Travel Photography

By Mark Eden 

As a travel photographer, one of the most interesting and rewarding
subjects to capture is the many different cultures and people the
world has to offer. Photographing people also brings its share of
challenges. This article looks at some of things to consider when
looking capturing a culture in an image.


Photography Outdoors: A Field Guide for Travel and Adventure Photograp



Do your homework

Before starting out, ask yourself this question. Do I know anything
about the people I want to photograph? If the answer is no, or not
really, then do some research. A little homework and you can gain
some helpful insights into how to approach your subject.

For example, some cultures might take offence to having their picture
taken, some will expect to be paid, while others will rush you
begging for you to take their photo. Having some idea of what to
expect gives you an advantage in considering how to approach
people. Research can also give you insight into the culture of the
people. You may discover a piece of clothing native to that part of
the world and look for people wearing that piece of clothing.

These small pieces of knowledge can make the images you come away with
more authentic and real by being able to gain people's trust and
cooperation.

Model releases

If you intend to sell your images, you may need a model release.
This can present some difficulty in language barriers and people
being willing to give their permission for their image to be sold.
It can be daunting to ask a stranger to sign a piece of paper
allowing you to make money from their image.

The best advice I can give is make it easy for them. Have your model releases
easily accessible and make them easy to read and understand. Be patient
and answer any questions they might have. Most importantly, be
honest. Don't hide your reasons for wanting permission. Most times,
if people see you are being upfront with them, they are more likely
to cooperate.

There will however always be times when people will
be unwilling to sign a release, or maybe even unable to sign
because of illiteracy or language barrier. In these cases simply
accept their decision with a smile. Arguing with them will not
change their mind.

Be considerate, give something back

It is important to remember that wherever you are, you are a guest
in someone else's country, and to behave accordingly. To take great
images of people, you need to get them to let their guard down, to
relax and open up to you. You will never achieve this with a grab
and run approach. Slow down. Stop and talk to people. Give
something back rather than making your photography only an act of
taking. This may be as simple as engaging in conversation with
someone before asking to take their photo, or you might carry
around small gifts to give people.

Whatever your approach, you (and for that matter your subjects) will gain
so much more from the procedure.

A little sensitivity can go a long way in photographing other
cultures. It is a practice that will allow you to come away with
more than great images. It will also allow you to gain an
education. Which, at the end of the day, could prove much more
valuable.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the
founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic
services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well
as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark
can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website
http://www.expansephotography.com

5371 Travel Pack 71 Backpack - 11.5 x 9 x 7.25 - Polytek - Red





Great Travel Photography

How to Find and Generate Freelance Photography Opportunities

By Kelly Gammon

If you ask most freelance photographers how they get work, you will
likely hear some variation on the same three answers: word of
mouth, referrals, and networking. Most freelancers in any field
will tell you that they typically spend as much time marketing
their services as they do providing service. But what other options
are there? This article will look at 5 ways to find and generate
more freelance photography opportunities. Let's begin.

1. Get a copy of the current year's Photographer's Market.
Photographer's Market is an outstanding resource. It is published
every year and lists approximately 1500 active buyers in a number
of different categories. In addition to providing full contact
information and valuable details about various markets, it will
definitely expose you to possibilities that you never knew existed.
Get Photographer's Market, gather a list of a few dozen potential
clients and start sending queries.

2. Set up a portfolio website, keep it up-to-date and market it
well. Include your website address in all of your correspondence,
both print and electronic. If you participate in online forums that
allow for signature files, put your portfolio website address in
your signature. If you follow other photographers' blogs, there is
usually an option, if you leave a comment on the blog, to include a
web address that can be associated with your name.

When you leave an insightful comment on posts you find especially interesting or
informative, an active link to your website will remain with your
comment, allowing others to find their way to you. They key is to
create an online portfolio and then spread the word to get people
there. Think of it as your business card for the twenty-first
century.

3. Write articles. Pick topics about which you are comfortable
writing and offer advice and guidance. How-to articles are an
excellent starting point for articles. They are simple to organize
and easy to compose from experience. Starting out you can submit
your articles to online article directories and hopefully get some
feedback.

As you grow more confident in your writing abilities,
branch out to your local newspaper, regional magazines and other
online avenues. Once you have built up a portfolio of articles,
query national magazines with article ideas. The key here is to
establish yourself as an expert and get a byline.

4. Do interviews. Once you have established yourself as an expert
in a certain area of photography, look for opportunities to do
interviews. Look for opportunities both online and offline.

Also, as you check out various job boards for photography work, be sure
to keep an eye out for individuals looking for industry experts to
interview. Once again, you are looking for ways to establish
yourself as an authority and get our name and contact information
in front of more people.

5. Teach an adult education class in photography. These are usually
non-credit classes and workshops offered through community groups
or colleges and universities. Depending on the interest level of
the participants you might even expand this is into a series of
classes covering different topics.

Teaching adult education is another way to establish some credentials for yourself while making
contacts in the community and getting your name better known. The
great thing about adult education is that the people who
participate in the classes have a strong desire to learn and are
very receptive and appreciative.

Bonus Tip: If you have a local public radio station in your town,
offer to do a 5-minute segment once a week geared toward amateur
photographers. Most public radio stations welcome programming ideas
and are often looking for new and interesting spots to attract
local listeners.

My favorite photos are always...‏

Hya

I don't know about you, but without doubt my favorite
photos are always those from my vacations!

Not because they are better quality, many times they are
not, but simply because they remind me of the fun and great
experiences I had travelling and vacationing with friends
and family.

And at the end of the day isn't that the real purpose of
photos for most of us, to capture treasured moments?

If you're anything like me, and you love travelling and
taking vacations, and taking lots of photos, then you'll
love what I am about to share with you...

--------------------------------------------------------
Do you love traveling too?
--------------------------------------------------------

I do, but the big problem with traveling (or just plain
taking an extra vacation) though is the cost.

Unless you know how to budget-travel "like a pro" then it
can cost you an arm and a leg to go discovering the world
(or just take your family away for a break!)

Until now that is...

--------------------------------------------------------
Let me introduce you to Brad Alexzander
(the budget travel expert)
--------------------------------------------------------

Brad is a genuine *budget travel* pro.

In fact I have never met anyone who knows how to travel
quite like Brad. For years he has been showing people how to
get great deals (sometimes unbelievable deals) on flights,
hotels, cruises etc etc...

--------------------------------------------------------
Learn 15 Budget Travel Tips Right Now...
--------------------------------------------------------

Right now you can grab a free copy of 15 of Brad's top
budget travel tips (taken directly from his awesome "Budget
Travel Guide") from this link:
http://www.globecheap.com

These 15 powerful Budget Travel tips can easily save you
anywhere from 50% to over 80% off your flights!

They are extremely easy to apply, and are guaranteed to save
you money. Here's what you'll learn:

- the best days and times to book flights so you can save
big on airfare (pages 5-6)

- which website alerts you when the price of your ticket
drops (page 6)

- how to save on children's airfare (page 7)

- how small changes in your itinerary can make big cuts on
your costs (page 7)

- who can get discounted airline tickets - it could be you!
(page 8)

...and much more!

Go ahead and claim your copy of these tips right now:
http://www.globecheap.com

With Brad's budget travel information you may well be doing
more travel than you thought this year, and spending MUCH
less!

Enjoy!

Krister Laitinen

PS: Don't forget to take loads of photos! Here's the link
again for your free 15 budget travel tips:
http://www.globecheap.com

Know Your Camera and Take Better Photos

Review of "Photo Nuts and Bolts"

Improve my camera skills ...what for?

Learn to know your camera and take better photos.

Photo Nuts and Bolts is a how-to guide for the novice to intermediary photographer who would like to learn more about taking better photographs. Written by Neil Creek, this book is essentially a series of lessons to teach the basic fundamentals of photography and take the guesswork out of getting great shots. The author is passionate about digital photography and also loves to teach others. He has written a photography blog for over four years and is also a staff writer for Digital Photography School, and he currently is teaching a series of portrait photography classes.

This book grew out of Neil’s photography blog and writing for the Digital Photography School, where he ran a series of articles titled “Photo 101” which taught people how to use their cameras to best advantage, and venture away from the automatic settings to get truly great pictures.

Neil Creek offers a series of simple lessons that explain the how and why certain things are with respect to photography, and also explains why it’s relevant and important to the photos that you take. Each short chapter also gives you a series of resources to check out for further information, as well as some “homework” so that you get some hands-on experience with the theories and fundamentals he is introducing you to. Each chapter explains in detail, but in laymen’s terms for easy understanding, a different aspect of photography and how it can help you to take better photographs.

In ten relatively short lessons, the author begins by explaining light and how simple things like pinholes and bending light can make a great difference on the pictures you take. He moves on to more advanced things that many of us think are truly complicated- like lenses and F stops, and explains them so simply that anyone can understand.

The book gets into more complicated territory further on- like lessons on aperture, ISO, and shutter speeds, but if you start at the beginning and read all of it as well as doing the hands-on homework assignments, you will be well prepared to delve into those complex areas. By the time the author discusses light meters and explains how to get great shots of difficult images- like fireworks or shots with little natural light, you completely understand why you’re doing each thing and how to go about getting a great shot.

There is also a lot of information about white balance and metering modes that will help your shots to be perfectly exposed. The appendices offer a glossary of photography terms in easy to understand language, as well as a section about reading diagrams that helps to understand a lot of the concepts of physics and optics from the earlier chapters with charts and illustrations.

The book is very clearly written, in language that is easy to understand even for those who are photography novices. The author definitely lays out the information in a format that helps those who are new to the “non-automatic” world of photography to understand why it’s important for them to learn these things and how much better their good pictures can be by using these techniques.

Having once been one of the “novices” I referred to above, who only knew how to point and shoot my camera and hope for the best, I really enjoyed Neil Creek’s book, and his detailed explanations. I also like the way he presents a subject, offers additional reading resources, and then gives you some “homework” to help you learn in a more hands-on way. Though it might be a little basic for those with highly advanced photography experience, it is a “must-read” for those who wish they could do so much more with their existing digital camera.

Do yourself a favour and check this out. You know I wouldn’t go to this much trouble unless I thought this guide was pretty cool.

Review written by Roy Barker