Photography Minute » Photograph

Photography Links for May 23 2010

Eric D. Brown — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:27:03 +0000

Photographer’s Just Do It List « Dave Cross – the website
Earlier this week I had a chance to listen to Jeremy Cowart speak at Escalate Live and to read his guest blog over on Scott Kelby’s blog. One of the things that I heard from him (and other speakers at Escalate) was to get out there and “just do it”. This included practicing our craft as photographers, trying new things and being creative with out experimentation.
Step by Step Guide for Building a Seamless White Backdrop | Phototuts+
When focusing on a very specific subject, the last thing you want is a background full of distractions. Studio photography allows you to control every single aspect of the picture, and that’s where a white background comes handy. A smooth white background and some carefully positioned lighting will really help achieve great results. Today we’ll explain how to create your own!
Slow Shutter Shoot-Out – 3 Slow Shutter Speed Techniques
There have been some great articles and interest lately on long exposures so I thought I would put together a hodgepodge of techniques and then turn it over to DPS readers to see what they can come up with. I’ve broken this slow shutter shoot-out into 3 categories. When you submit your photograph, do it under one of these styles. I’ve thrown in a few of my own as examples into the article just to give you an idea. Get a tripod, set your cameras to shutter priority and fire away.
No Tripod? No Problem! Use Burst Mode – PictureCorrect
By setting your camera to burst mode you’re now taking 3-5 photos in a very short time frame. Come on! At least one of them is bound to be fired when your not moving. If nothing else you put the odds in your favor.

Photography Links for April 25 2010

Eric D. Brown — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:00:53 +0000

Simple Steps for Shooting Amazing Silhouettes | Phototuts+
Quote: Silhouettes can be an excellent way to add drama to a scene. The stark contrast and lack of detail in the subject infuse a psychological effect into the image that can be beautiful, mysterious, or even frightening.
Break the Ice to Get Better Pictures of Your Subject | Black Star Rising
Quote: how your subject feels while you are taking their picture is often the difference between a ho-hum image and a great one. That feeling, even if fleeting, is something that viewers experience when looking at the completed image. And it’s something you have the power to impact with small talk.
More on Branding Your Photography Business- Going Pro 2010
Quote: Building brand awareness is simply about noise – your noise – and it’s got to be consistent and loud enough to get through everything else out there. You’re literally competing with every person, manufacturer, product and event that your target audience is also listening to! The key word is “every” – think about that for just a second.
My Five Favorite Landscape Photography Tips by Scott Bourne on Photofocus
Scott Bourne provides five tips for landscape photography
The BeetleCam Project on Digital Photography School
Quote: As wildlife photographers, we are continually trying to take unusual and original photographs of our subjects. In recent years this has meant going to ever increasing lengths as more and more photographers continue to push the boundaries with fantastic photographs.
The Polarizing Filter – Not Just for Pretty Skies
Quote: Most folks only turn to their polarizing filters for one of two reasons; to eliminate reflections, or to make blue skies appear darker. A polarizing filter will definitely help you accomplish those but if that’s the only time you use one, you are really missing out on the benefits of this little piece of glass
Got a New Camera? Don’t Forget These 5 Essential Next Steps | Light Stalking
Quote: You’ve just bought a new camera and couldn’t be happier to start using it, but there are a few things you need to do before you actually start taking photographs to ensure your camera is operating correctly, protected and enjoyable to use. Skip them and you could be in for a world of heartache!

The Naked and the Lens Book Review

Eric D. Brown — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:00:43 +0000

Just finished reading through “The Naked and the Lens: A Guide to Nude Photography” and have to say it is an excellent book.

Unlike my wife Tracie (a great people photographer based in Dallas), I’m not really interested in shooting people. That said, this book provides some excellent advice and guidelines for shooting not only nudes but people in general.

Don’t let the title fool you…this book is much more than just about shooting naked people. It provides a great deal of information on how to prepare for shoots (equipment, etc), what to do during shoots (how to work with people) and post processing skills for making those photographs pop.

Of course, the book has a lot of nudes in it. They are all done perfectly tastefully and artfully so don’t worry about seening anything that might offend you.

If you photograph people, buy this book. It does much more than just talk about shooting nude people…it teaches the skills needed by any photographer.

Canon 7D Bird Photos – Samples

Eric D. Brown — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:00:21 +0000

I took my new Canon 7D along with me to my parents house in Oklahoma and found a great opportunity to take some photos. I love this camera! The Canon 7D gives users some excellent options with great still photos and excellent video capture.

Here’s a few photographs from the weekend bird shoot:

Canon EOS 7D gets high marks all around (engadget.com)

Outdoor Photographer announces “Assignments”

Eric D. Brown — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:12:24 +0000

Outdoor Photographer has just announced a new section on their website called “Assignments“. In the announcement, the Editor of Outdoor Photographer writes:

As editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine, I want to let you know about a new feature on our website that I’m particularly excited about. Assignments is an area on OutdoorPhotographer.com where you can post your photographs on a theme which changes every two weeks. More than just an online gallery, it’s a place where you can explore a theme and share thoughts and ideas about technique, composition and equipment with other photographers.

Looks like a great place to showcase your outdoor photographs.

Tips for Great Photos during the Harsh Hour

Eric D. Brown — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:25:07 +0000

As photographers, we’ve been taught to get out early or late to get the best light and to pack up the cameras during the middle of the day. This time of day, called the ‘harsh hour’ by some, finds most serious photographers relaxing rather than taking photographs.

Would you be surprised to learn you can still some excellent photographs during the harsh hour? You can. Here’s a few tips on how to do just that.

Stay Close

During the brightest part of the day, shooting landscapes and wide-angle shots isn’t ideal. Rather than sitting around pining for better light, why not grab a long lens and find something to shoot up close?

When you’ve got bright sun, the ideal thing to do is find your longest lens or get as close to your subject as safety allows and shoot as tight as possible.

Take a look at my female cowbird photograph. This photo was taken at about 2PM on a bright Summer day. Most photographers would have missed this photo….not me! {note…this is actually pure luck on my part…I was sitting on my back porch and she flew so close that I had to get her photo}

By shooting close and tight, you can remove the distracting shadows caused by the harsh light. While still not as ideal as shooting in early morning or late evening light, using this tip will get you a few more hours of shooting during each day.

Use a flash

Another tip often overlooked is that of using a flash. Most outdoor photographers use flash as fill flash when working in low light or in shady areas. But flash can help fill in the shadows created by the harsh light. If you’re shooting your long lenses, grab a Better Beamer or other light shaper to throw your flash further.

Confront the Sun!

Another idea for beating the harsh sun is to actually confront it and use it to your advantage. There are two options here:

Put your subject between the sun and you - If you’re shooting birds-in-flight (BIF) try to get the the bird in a line between you and the sun. This will provide remove the harshness of the sun and the front of the bird should still be well lit from other ambient light sources. If you can’t get the BIF directly between you and the sun, do what you can. While this works best for birds-in-flight, it can also be used for many other types of shooting from portraits to architecture.

Use the sun to highlight your subject. Getting the subject between you and the sun is a tough proposition. If you can’t get situated correctly, use the sign to highlight your subject. Try to position yourself in such a way as to get the sun off to the side providing highlights.
Get in front of the sun. Another way to confront the sun is to look for your shadow and point it at your subject. This will get the sun directly behind you. Now…get low and close and be ready for the surprise. You’ll get some great shots as long as you stay close to the subject.

Find some shade

Another way to overcome the harsh sun is to find some shade….if your subject(s) will let you! Find some shade around…whether its man-made or natural. If there are clouds around and moving, wait for them to block the sun for a little bit of shade. Find a forest, a hill or even a building…find the shade and grab some shots.

As an example, look at this Gray Jay from that I took while in Yellowstone. The day was a harsh one and Tracie and I started looking for some shade and a nice place for lunch. We found some great shade around a river and sat down for lunch. After lunch we took a stroll along the river and I caught site of this beautiful Gray. I had my Canon 400 5.6 L and got in nice and tight. Using the shade and staying close, I was able to get a great shot during the middle of the day.

Can’t find any shade? Make it. For small objects, your body, your bag, a shirt or a friend can create shade to block that nasty sun.

Do you have other tips for beating the harsh sun? Any other photography tips? Send them in via email or drop them in the comments below.

Getting Great photographs of animals

Eric D. Brown — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:23:55 +0000

Stephen Oachs shares some excellent tips for getting great photographs of animals over on DPhoto Journal. The tips are:

Tip 1: Miss the eyes and you’ve missed the shot.
Tip 2: Use a telephoto lens.
Tip 3: Shoot with two eyes.
Tip 4: Adjust your shutter speed to stop/show the action.
Tip 5: Anticipate behavior.
Tip 6: Use a tripod.
Tip 7: Composition – Framing your shots.
Tip 8: Use a wide aperture.
Tip 9: Plan for the best light.
Tip 10: Use a flash to fill in shadows.
Bonus Tip: Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.

Now…i don’t think any of these tips are going to surprise anyone but they are great reminders that taking a picture is much more than just showing up and pushing a button.

Digital SLR Flash Fundamentals (digital-photography.suite101.com)
Get a Great Fire Photo (lifehacker.com)
Dark, lighter, lightest (debrabroughton.com)
Night Photography in a Nutshell (articlesbase.com)