I’m writing this from a hospital room. Not my room, a family member. I’ve been through this to some extent or another before and I’ve used my photography to help me focus on the light, the good and the beauty that surrounds us daily no matter what the circumstances. Endless Hours How do you occupy yourself for countless hours of basic idleness? Work? Editing? Writing? All three of these activities are acceptable but if you’re like me and your heart and mind aren’t really into them or you can’t focus, they are only options for a short period … [Read more...] about Using Photography to Get Through Tough Times
Lauri Novak
Lauri Novak is a fine art photographer, traveler, wonderer and wanderer: inspiring and challenging you to see the world in a new and unique way.
You can find her on social media at those listed under her profile pic and also at LauriNovak.com
You can find her on social media at those listed under her profile pic and also at LauriNovak.com
Latest posts by Lauri Novak (see all)
- Using Photography to Get Through Tough Times - October 23, 2017
- Photographer of the Day: David Cheresna - October 16, 2017
- Photographer of the Day:Robertino Radovix - October 9, 2017
Photographer of the Day: David Cheresna
Category: Travel Photographer: David Cheresna "Leave the Light On" This is a very well seen shot with great lines and symmetry. Great job of noticing that one small detail of the light being left on making this shot that much better. Finding new and interesting architecture and color palettes is one of the wonderful things about travel photography. Always look for the unique and find what you would never see at home. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: David Cheresna
Photographer of the Day: Robertino Radovix
Category: Travel Photographer: Robertino Radovix "Yellowstone" This image makes me feel like I was the one who took the shot. The wooden walkway is the perfect lead to take us on a walk through this part of Yellowstone. The squiggly lines of sand in the water, the slope of the hills and the curve of the boardwalk all lead the viewer into the image. I love the reflections of the visitors and trees on the right as they both add interest to the shot. Really great summer tones and it all just takes me back to when I was 10 years old and … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Robertino Radovix
Photographer of the Day: Jim Denham
Category: Travel Photographer: Jim Denham "Fog in the Valley" So much tranquility and stillness in this shot. I love the composition (please take a look at the full shot if you get a chance) and all of the shapes that make my eyes wander through the entire scene. Great use of contrast and highlights to bring out the texture of the tree, rocks and grasses. Beautifully done. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Google+ here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Jim Denham
Photographer of the Day: Lee Dolman
Category: Travel Photographer: Lee Dolman "Summer Lunch" Please pour another glass. We all take images of our food and share, so why not make them artistic and go beyond the mobile phone close up of what you're having? Food is a big part of travel, we go to local, authentic restaurants or wineries, try new things and along with the landscapes, cityscapes and images of where we are it's a great idea to also include images of what you eat, especially if it's unique and different from what you have at home. Lee has done a wonderful job … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Lee Dolman
Photographer of the Day: Milosh Kosanovich
Category: Travel Photographer: Milosh Kosanovich "Scattered Storms" I may be a bit partial to this because I live near Chicago and am in the city quite often. I love the drama in the light and clouds and it's always great to see a new point of view of an old familiar city. It's about being in the right place at the right time, but also about planning to be there and returning to the same spot over and over as conditions are constantly changing, different times of the day, different times of the year and ever changing weather … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Milosh Kosanovich
Seeing the Final Shot While Shooting
Do you ever see an image and wonder how the photographer got so lucky as to be in the right place, at the right time, with just the right lighting and just the right moment to capture the perfect image? It's not luck, well maybe once in awhile it is, but usually, it's work, being prepared and ready for that perfect image to happen in front of them, whether it's there, to begin with, or needs a little post processing help. Here are a few tips to help you be lucky and get that shot. Be Aware of Everything It’s impossible to be aware of every … [Read more...] about Seeing the Final Shot While Shooting
Photographer of the Day: Wasim Muklashy
Category: Travel Photographer: Wasim Muklashy "Along the Watchtower" Wasim's caption for this image is "An olympic national park high divide loop zen moment, along the watchtower." I love finding these Zen Moment images and can just imagine standing there breathing in the mountain air and witnessing such beauty. A very beautifully composed and captured moment. The whole scene is so serene and just screams nature. I highly suggest clicking on his name to see the full vertical image as I had to crop for this feature post. Originally … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Wasim Muklashy
Photographer of the Day: Tom Turnwald
Category: Travel Photographer: Tom Turnwald "Park Avenue Trail Moab" I really like that this is a shot I've not seen before from Arches National Park. The string of clouds across the sky really adds a nice soft contrast to the sharpness of the rock and creates triangular shapes across the image bringing us from the top corner down to the right and back down to the left so we can explore the whole scene. A centered composition really works here. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Facebook here. To learn how your work can … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Tom Turnwald
Photographer of the Day: Steve Stanger
Category: Travel Photographer: Steve Stanger "View from 9/11 Memorial" This is a really unique perspective which I have never seen. There are great leading lines and framing to guide us down through the image to the city and reflections. The tones emphasize the steel, sterile and cold feeling this has which I imagine is how it feels to be standing there at the 9/11 Memorial. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on flickr here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Steve Stanger
Photographer of the Day: Michael Hutchinson
Category: Travel Photographer: Michael Hutchinson "Window Treatment" Travel images aren't always about the big picture, it's good to also capture the bits and pieces of where we are. Images like this one take us back to smaller, more intimate moments that occur when we are traveling. The juxtaposition of the bar warning us to keep out with the warm yellow flowers welcoming us makes an interesting subject here. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on flickr here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Michael Hutchinson
Seeing and Composition in Photography
Recently someone commented on one of my images: “I wish I had your eye for composition.” My reply: composition can be learned. Art classes in high school and college helped me learn the basics of composition, color, lines, shapes and the elements of design that go into creating good compositions in art, drawing, painting and yes, photography. There are plenty of online resources about art and learning basic composition. Normally my process is to get it as right as I can when I shoot it. Sometimes, though, I know what I want in my head but … [Read more...] about Seeing and Composition in Photography
Photographer of the Day: Prabhu Ravichandran
Category: Travel Photographer: Prabhu Ravichandran "Serenity" I love that Prabhu chose to put himself into this amazing landscape. So many times we don't want to ruin a natural setting with people or ourselves but then we get back from our holiday and have no photos of ourselves from our trip. Prabhu's done this in a very tasteful and storytelling way. He is not obstructing any of the scenery and has evoked exactly what he titled this in his image. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on 500px here. You can be the Photofocus … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Prabhu Ravichandran
Photographer of the Day: Len Saltiel
(Editor's Note: Please welcome Lauri Novak to the Photofocus Photographer of the Day curators. Lauri is the new curator of travel photography. Her picks lead off every week. They publish on Mondays.) Category: Travel Photographer: Len Saltiel "Tranquil Morning" Tranquil indeed. This image made me stop, inhale deeply and sigh. The light and reflections are superb and I love how the color of the canoes and boats reflect the oranges and blues in the mountains, sky and water. It's peaceful and I just want to be there to sit and take it … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Len Saltiel
Shooting and Seeing Art in Automobiles
I thought I would build on (pun intended) my last article Seeing Art in Architecture. It’s car show season here in the Midwest and shooting them can be quite fun, yet they pose some unique challenges. Many of the techniques and principles used in photographing architecture can be applied to shooting vehicles. Put Your Camera Down It can be overwhelming when you first walk onto the grounds of a car show, so many cars, so many shiny objects, and so many people. Walk around first and get the lay of the land. Are there groups of certain … [Read more...] about Shooting and Seeing Art in Automobiles
Shooting and Seeing Art in Architecture
Art is all around us. Sometimes we use our cameras to create art from what we see instead of merely capturing moments. Here are a few suggestions to help you see the art in architecture the next time you head out to shoot it. Put your camera down Too many times we get caught up in the moment and just start shooting everything and anything that is in front of us. When you find an interesting building you want to shoot, stop, put the camera down and look. Look up at the top of the building; does it create interesting shapes against the sky? … [Read more...] about Shooting and Seeing Art in Architecture
Photography Marketing: Is an Art Fair for You?
Art fairs are a terrific way for potential customers to view your work up close and personal. However, before jumping into this type of self-marketing scenario, there are a number of variables you should consider before committing to an art fair. Are you getting your work out there? We all have thousands of images these days. Hopefully, you’re starting to print them and put them in books or albums so they don’t get lost as time passes; the family vacations, the momentous events and even just the silly and fun family photos that are lurking … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Is an Art Fair for You?
Double Your Film Fun with Double Exposure Photography
There are plenty of articles and videos on Personal Projects here on PhotoFocus and how important they are for us to learn, grow and have fun with our photography. I wanted to share a really fun and different project that involves collaborating with other photographers. Film. Yes, film. It’s popular again, didn’t you know? All the kids are using it. Quite honestly it’s smart to continue shooting film, even after you get that digital camera. It keeps you in that back-to-basics, let’s not forget to slow down and think about what … [Read more...] about Double Your Film Fun with Double Exposure Photography
Make It Work With The Tools You Have
(Editior's note: From time to time we welcome guests to contribute to Photofocus. Lauri Novak, like many of us, began making photographs at a young age. Words she lives by are; play, seeing, live and love. Welcome to Photofocus! Lauri Novak. So many of us feel like we need to have the latest and greatest gear to get the images we want when in fact a lot can be done with what we have. I was given this shoot as an assignment four years ago and it taught me a lot. This was shot with my first DSLR and a used lens I purchased from a friend. I did … [Read more...] about Make It Work With The Tools You Have
5 Exercises To Help You See
Guest Post by Lauri Novak. We are all photographers. Phones. Tablets. Cameras. Every one of us can at almost any given moment take a photo. The question is how can you make your images different than anyone else’s? "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -- Marcel Proust Here are five exercises you can do to help you to start being more aware of the world around you, to help you start seeing differently. I teach this as a workshop and there is no editing allowed during these lessons, … [Read more...] about 5 Exercises To Help You See
Photography Workshops – Things to Think About
Guest Post by Lauri Novak. How many of us have paid for and attended a workshop we thought was going to be fantastic and just what we needed only to find out that it wasn’t really what we thought it would be? I’ve done this more than once and finally decided to pay more attention to what it was I was signing up for and what my thinking was behind the decision. Here are a few things to consider before signing off on that Pay Now button. Do Your Research Research the subject matter. There are plenty of options out there for learning. … [Read more...] about Photography Workshops – Things to Think About
