This is a guest post from Adam Price from ACD Systems. They are the makers of ACDSee Ultimate 10 for Windows. 1. Shoot RAW Depending on your camera, try shooting RAW, if you don’t already. Shooting RAW gives you the most control in post-production. RAW files contain much more information than JPEGs. For instance, you’ll have greater control editing the shadows and highlights in a RAW file versus a JPEG. RAW files also contain more color information if you want a color version of the image. 2. Increase Exposure Time Increasing exposure … [Read more...] about 7 Tips for Better Black and White Photos
black and white
Photographer of the Day: Joan Manel Zamora Muñoz
Category: Sports Photography Photograph: "Climbing - Agulles d'engolasters” by Joan Manel Zamora Muñoz The emotion surrounding the rock climber in Joan's photograph is stellar, and the sun flare acts as a sort of "goal" to make it closer and closer to the top of the Pyrenees mountains in Europe. Originally shared with the Photofocus Google Plus community right here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Joan Manel Zamora Muñoz
Mirrorless Camera Guru: How To See The World Like A Photograph
Mirrorless cameras' greatest advantage is the fact that there is no separation between what the sensor records and what you see in the viewfinder. Seeing exactly what your picture will look like before you even press the shutter button is an incredibly powerful way to shoot. Personally, I now shoot far fewer pictures because I know that I've already nailed the exposure. When I look in the viewfinder, I see the world like a photograph. DSLR's require you to focus a lot of brain power on your camera's light meter. The skill to interpret what … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Guru: How To See The World Like A Photograph
Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype
Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype In the past few articles of this series, we’ve seen how the daguerreotype came about but we haven’t really taken a moment to look at just how far-reaching the effects of its “birth” were. For starters, the daguerreotype put an end to the portrait making business as it was known to the world. Skilled painters, who previously were the only means of creating a likeness of one’s self, were suddenly squeezed by the faster and cheaper process. Not only was the daguerreotype literally faster and easier to create … [Read more...] about Lasting Impacts of the Daguerreotype
Photoshop Tip: Advanced Black and White Conversion
If you'd like to create the most professional black and white conversion, be sure to head over to Adobe Photoshop. True black and white image in film are heavily influenced by the colors present in the original image (and are not just a desaturated photo). The Black & White adjustment in Photoshop is easiest to use as an adjustment layer. The interactive controls and On Image tool make it much easier to create a custom black and white conversion. Open your photo file with Photoshop (File > Open). To get the maximum dynamic … [Read more...] about Photoshop Tip: Advanced Black and White Conversion
Black and White at First and Last Light
I invited Jason and his wife Nicole Hahn to hang out on a special photo shoot I had lined up with about 20 people. Jason--a very talented nature and adventure photographer--expressed interested in seeing my group portrait workflow. He traded in his swamp boots for the day and traveled 3hrs on a Sunday just to spend a few hours watching me shoot portraits. Afterwards, we relaxed and had a nice dinner. He started talking about how he creates black and white sunsets images. After seeing a few samples of his work, I was hooked. I asked him to be a … [Read more...] about Black and White at First and Last Light
Photographer of the Day – Igor Kovalenko
Photographer: Igor Kovalenko – Jay Happy Monday guys! It’s Kristi Sherk here, Washington DC headshot photographer and Shark Pixel retoucher, with your Portrait Photographer of the Day! I was blown away when I came across this photo by Igor Kovalenko while browsing the Photofocus Flickr Community, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I think portraits are best when they tell a story, and everything in this image does that - from the background of the image to the wrinkles of the man’s skin to the sepia tone. I love how sharp every … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day – Igor Kovalenko
Mini Review: Tonality (Spoilers: It Makes Great Black and Whites)
So many of us started photography with black and white processing and the love of monochrome has stuck with us. Adams and Weston still haunt my dreams with black skies over Yosemite and pleated peppers. Digital black and white photography is even better because we have more control, far more options, and our fingers don't smell like Rodinol. There are several terrific ways to make your pictures black and white, but the most powerful and my personal favorite is by using Macphun's Tonality. Tonality has an intuitive interface, presets that make … [Read more...] about Mini Review: Tonality (Spoilers: It Makes Great Black and Whites)
Photographer of the Day – Dirk Marwede
Photographer: Dirk Marwede - Untitled Hey guys! I have to say I am having so much fun with this Photographer of the Day project! I love having the chance to really go through the awesome content in the Photofocus Flickr community and picking out cool images to share with you. As a DC headshot photographer, I don’t always have the freedom to be creative with portraits, so I am always blown away by the creativity that is demonstrated by all of the photographers that contribute, but Dirk Marwede really stood out to me today. The lines in … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day – Dirk Marwede
Book Review: Black and White Artistry, by Chuck Kimmerle
Black and white photography is a passion for me which I actively pursue. I've just read a good book on the subject by Chuck Kimmerle called, Black and White Artistry, The Creative Photographer's Guide to Interpreting Places and Spaces. Kimmerle's made a living in pictures first as a photojournalist at several papers and then as a staff photographer at a college and always as an artist. This book emphasizes that art and creativity are subjective. He doesn't try to teach elementary principles like form and pattern and texture by describing them … [Read more...] about Book Review: Black and White Artistry, by Chuck Kimmerle
Photographer of the Day: Joaquín Alonso Arellano Ramírez
Category: Nature Photographer: oaquín Alonso Arellano Ramírez Title: Bear A great portrait of a a dangerous creature. Black and white post-processing produces an image with a ghostly feel. Over on the the G+ thread, the photographer talks about the fact that, perhaps, he got to close to the animal to get this image. The ensuing conversation is worth reading for some pointers. Photo originally shared in Photofocus' Google+ group. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Joaquín Alonso Arellano Ramírez
“Street Photography: First Steps and Beyond” by Valerie Jardin
Valerie Jardin's latest book is exactly what you need to get started with the wonderful genre of street photography, and it's a perfect refresher course for those with experience. Jardin is an energetic and passionate teacher who leads workshops for street photography in places like Paris and Chicago and when you read her book you'll feel that passion and it'll excite you to get out and shoot. The book is well organized and it is simple to read, yet it maintains an intelligent voice. Jardin's photography fills the book and the examples are … [Read more...] about “Street Photography: First Steps and Beyond” by Valerie Jardin
5 Ideas when faced with ‘blah’ light… but a GREAT location
Lately I've been working on a project which includes capturing ‘post card’ type images in and around San Francisco. A huge challenge with this project is that I'm doing on my own time, which ain't much, and it means that I can't often visit the best locations at the most ideal times. This presents a problem to solve which is, ‘How can I get at least a good (doesn’t have to be great) photo when the light isn’t very good?’ And I decided to share some ideas which have come from this experience. On one particular occasion, I took time to … [Read more...] about 5 Ideas when faced with ‘blah’ light… but a GREAT location
Photographer of the Day: Dan Warkentin
Category: Nature Photographer: Dan Warkentin Title: Mt. Kidd To often, landscapes are framed and executed as snapshots. Not so here. From location scouting, to composition & framing through to post-processing; Warkentin's deft choices show through in the final image. Photo originally shared in Photofocus' Flickr group. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Dan Warkentin
Instant Replay: Making Great Black and White Photos in Lightroom
Black and white photographs can be very impactful, but there's so much more to making great black and whites than simply removing the color. In this episode, Adobe's Bryan O'Neil Hughes is back to help us demonstrate all the great tools Lightroom has for helping us make the most of our monochromes. Hosted by: Rob Sylvan and Levi Sim Produced by: Rich Harrington and Photofocus.com https://youtu.be/IsmIa1KXTPk?t=5m12s https://youtu.be/yuOLQva1iZs … [Read more...] about Instant Replay: Making Great Black and White Photos in Lightroom
Lightroom Hangout: Crafting Fine Art Black and White Portraits with Mykii Liu
You gotta join us live for our next Google+ Hangout, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday 5/16 at 6:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Central, 4:00 pm Mountain, and 3:00 am Pacific. 7:30 pm in Newfoundland. RSVP here and it'll show your local time. This Month: Crafting … [Read more...] about Lightroom Hangout: Crafting Fine Art Black and White Portraits with Mykii Liu
Lightroom Hangout: Crafting Fine Art Black and White Portraits with Mykii Liu
You gotta join us live for our next Google+ Hangout, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday 5/16 at 6:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Central, 4:00 pm Mountain, and 3:00 am Pacific. 7:30 pm in Newfoundland. RSVP here and it'll show your local time. This Month: Crafting … [Read more...] about Lightroom Hangout: Crafting Fine Art Black and White Portraits with Mykii Liu
Photographer of The Day: Robert Johnson
Category: Wedding Photographer: Robert Johnson I chose this moment because Robert masterfully captured this bride in her veil. With a style evoking high fashion, Robert created a black and white photo with full tonal range (my favorite thing with black and whites) as well as a photo with a depth of field that catches every detail in the mesh of the veil and sparkle of the bride's eye. It is a beautiful job! Photo originally shared on our Photofocus Flickr Page here. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read … [Read more...] about Photographer of The Day: Robert Johnson
Photographer of the Day: Marianna Roussou “Into the White”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Marianna Roussou Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Marianna Roussou “Into the White”
Photo of the Day: Emily
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Berit Alits Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Emily
Photographer of the Day: Kong
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Luis Alvarez Marra Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Kong
Photo of the Day: That Look
Category: Family Photograph: "That Look", by Juliano Kki, originally shared in the Photofocus Facebook Group community right here. Join the group to see some of Juliano's other work, as well as other excellent work from our readers, and to share your own, too. It's a also a great place to get answers to your questions. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: That Look
How to Create the Look – A Rugged Black & White Portrait
Background story After a few weeks of traveling on how to quickly enhance images, I found myself home with an open schedule. My friend Richard Thompson, President of our Melbourne camera club, called and asked if I could fill in for a canceled speaker. I have to admit I accepted the request partially out of guilt. I haven't taught in my hometown for a while and as tired as I was, I couldn't pass up this opportunity. The first part of my lecture was creating a Black & White portrait. I knew exactly who I wanted to photograph, my buddy and … [Read more...] about How to Create the Look – A Rugged Black & White Portrait
Photo of the Day: My Man at Porch Fest
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Originally shared on the . To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: My Man at Porch Fest
Photo of the Day: Under the Gateway
Category: Architecture Photograph: Under the Gateway, by Murray Fox Originally shared on the Photofocus Google Plus community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Under the Gateway
Push the Right Buttons
One of the keys to successful portrait photography is learning that the most important buttons you can push are not on your camera. On the eve of the 2006 NBA finals, I got a call to shoot Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade for People Magazine. Dwyane was sick as a dog with a 103 degree fever, yet he was happy to give it his best shot. Im often asked what I say to bring out the expression I want when photographing a portrait. The truth is there is no magic phrase but there is a method. Rather than telling someone to smile or look … [Read more...] about Push the Right Buttons
Joel Grimes – The Story Behind the Photo
Join Photofocus' Melissa Niu and commercial photographer Joel Grimes as they explore the story behind one of Joel's favorite photo composites with soccer player, Bailey. https://youtu.be/0iDhvIGaA4U Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Joel Grimes Joel is a commercial advertising photographer with a distinct style. His unique approach has earned him work from top advertising agencies and art buyers. View all of Joel Grimes's work … [Read more...] about Joel Grimes – The Story Behind the Photo
Painting In HDR With Snapseed
Google's Snapseed has undergone a facelift of late and one of the things Ive found helpful is the ability to brush in the HDR filter. Applying The HDR Scape Filter To apply the HDR filter tap the pencil icon in the bottom right corner Then slide up to reveal the filters. Among the filters is the new HDR Scape. This works much better than the Drama that you may have added before. Here add the adjustments to suit. In this example Im only adjusting for the portion of the image under the desk. The wall and windows Ill do later. Ill tap the … [Read more...] about Painting In HDR With Snapseed
Shooting Raw on a Smartphone with the LG G4
I was recently given the new LG G4 smartphone to try out by my friends at ThreeUK. Theres a lot I could write about the software, shape etcetera, but Im a phoneographer so lets get straight to the camera. Go Manual The camera is good on this phone but really comes into its own when you opt to switch to Manual mode. Here you can opt to change; White Balance Focal depth Exposure compensation ISO Shutter speed All pretty cool and opens up some great photographic opportunities, but what really got me excited was the option to shoot jpg or DNG … [Read more...] about Shooting Raw on a Smartphone with the LG G4
Great Black and White Images with iOS 8
Editing photos on the native iOS platform has always been lacking in refinement, that is until iOS 8. Apple introduced a photo editor that was a one touch simple editor with a second layer of editing control that allows for far more refinement. No Pixels Were Harmed. When viewing an image you can access the editor by tapping on Edit in the top right corner. If youre image was taken with your iOS device then the editor will open, however if you added an image from another source as I have here, then youre given the option to duplicate the image … [Read more...] about Great Black and White Images with iOS 8
