This is the first in a series I am writing about what makes a good photograph. The answer to the question is complicated - it is nothing - everything - who knows? Good is in the eye of the beholder. Since I am writing this post, Ill mention something that in my mind helps create good a photograph. I think this is a wonderful exercise for every serious photographer. Ask yourself what you like about an image - any image and start keeping track of what resonates. Heres how I approached this task. I started looking at some of my own images … [Read more...] about What Makes A Good Photograph? Series
photo
Instant Replay: Getting Started with Perfectly Clear (with Rich Harrington)
Join us for a free webinar to learn more about the Perfectly Clear Plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom. This amazing tool offers one-click corrections to perfection to bring out the best in your photos. This webinar will walk you through all of the essentials from working with presets, to customizing adjustments, to batch-processing your own photos. If you're looking to save time, then don't miss this session. You'll learn why 30 million prints a day are processed with Perfectly Clear and how you can take your photos to perfection in no … [Read more...] about Instant Replay: Getting Started with Perfectly Clear (with Rich Harrington)
Need a Studio? Try a Rental First
I'm a full-time, year-round people photographer. That means that even on snowy and rainy days, I still need to make pictures for clients, which means I need a studio. I've owned three studio locations, and I loved having them. However, the downside is that even on the days I wasn't using the studio, I was still paying for it, and it's not a good idea to spend money on things you're not using. 3 Reasons to Rent Fortunately, most towns and cities have studio space available to rent. I highly recommend rental studios. Firstly, you can quickly … [Read more...] about Need a Studio? Try a Rental First
Instant Replay: Photofinishing Showdown
In this episode, Melissa Niu hosts Rob Sylvan, Levi Sim, and Gerard Murphy as they compare different finishing techniques on the same few photographs. They'll show you how to use many of the tools in the Develop and Library Modules, including: Cropping tool Sharpening Import presets Lens corrections Default settings and preferences Organizing presets Radial filter https://youtu.be/Y63f-Um6nb0?t=6m5s … [Read more...] about Instant Replay: Photofinishing Showdown
March 31st is World Backup Day
That’s right…March 31st is World Backup Day! The stories and memories we capture through images are priceless, but they may not last forever without a solid backup plan. On World Backup Day, make sure that you’re precious files are backed up safe and sound. What should I Check Make sure your backup drives are all booting up and spinning Check that there is enough space to continue backing up, or look into getting a larger hard drive If your system has an automated backup, check and make sure it's completing it's backup without … [Read more...] about March 31st is World Backup Day
Crooked Shot? Get it Level
One of my pet peeves are crooked photos. You know the kind... where the image seems to be leaning to the left and right. Sure, maybe that's by design... but often it's just because of being careless. I'd like to offer you several ways to avoid this amateur mistake. In fact if you're shooting a panoramic photo, this type of error can be very problematic. Check your tripod. Many have a level to ensure that your shooting platform is solid. Add a hot shoe bubble level. There are many of these simple devices on the market. Just … [Read more...] about Crooked Shot? Get it Level
Preparing For That Next Big Photo Trip – Constraints
I’m heading out to the east coast of Florida to photograph wading birds and if I am lucky a few raptors. It’s a fairly long trip with lots of things on my to-do list. I could write a post about gear checklists, and travel arrangements, but I’d rather cover something else. When I am about to go on a big photo trip I try to develop what I call a constraints checklist. What are my goals for the trip? What photographs do I hope to bring back? What subjects or locations or conditions am I in search of? What places or gear or subjects can I skip … [Read more...] about Preparing For That Next Big Photo Trip – Constraints
Review: “The Mask” eBook and Video Tutorials for ON1 Photo 10
I recently had a chance to review a new ebook and video tutorials created by fellow Photofocus author, Nicole Young. "The Mask" is a 256 page eBook featuring in depth tutorials with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve perfect masking in ON1's Photo 10 software. The eBook is bundled with presets, full resolution practice files, and 18 video tutorials containing over 4 hours of in-depth masking demonstrations. The eBook: The Mask eBook comes in downloadable PDF format which can be uploaded to your tablet for reading on the go. It is … [Read more...] about Review: “The Mask” eBook and Video Tutorials for ON1 Photo 10
Book Review: Jay Maisel’s “Light Gesture & Color”
Picking bookmarks is a little adventure for me. My daughter is constantly creating pictures and doodles, so I usually use one of these as a bookmark for whatever book (or books) I'm reading. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pick a bookmark for Jay Maisel's Light Gesture & Color. In fact, I didn't use a bookmark at all. It's so engaging and so easy to read that I only put it down twice, and the distinctive photos on every page it simple to find my place. Light Gesture & Color is a must read for all photographers. Every genre and every … [Read more...] about Book Review: Jay Maisel’s “Light Gesture & Color”
How To Critique A Photograph (Update)
(I've written about this subject before but it was quite a while ago. I wanted to go a little deeper on this so here we go.) Everyone is a critic - especially in the age of the Internet. Not all critiques are valuable. Those that are, come from knowledgeable photographers who look at a variety of factors to determine the quality of any given image. I think all photographers should learn how to critique an image, even if they are critiquing their own photo. So how do you do it? There's no right or wrong way but this post contains the … [Read more...] about How To Critique A Photograph (Update)
The Power of a Photograph
Almost twenty years ago Atlanta was frenetically preparing for the Centennial Olympic Games. Immediately after every Olympics, the Paralympic Games are held. These disabled athletes have lots of determination and heart. I set up a studio in one of the buildings where the athletes live in the Paralympic Village. Today it's part of Georgia Tech. The organizer's concept was to photograph Paralympic Athletes with their medals. Frankly, I made photographs of whoever wanted to pose. The Swimmer The first day of the scheduled three day shoot was … [Read more...] about The Power of a Photograph
How to take a Passport Photo
A passport photo is NOT a portrait it's a reference photo. Much like a drivers licenses, its sole purpose is to reference your likeness. A complicated three-light setup and extensive editing in Photoshop are not needed; in fact, the photo will be rejected. A simple white background, a non-emotional facial expression and available light is all that is needed. The complicating part: ensuring the correct 2 by 2 dimensions are followed exactly to the U.S. Passport and International Travels specifications. Inspiration for writing this article Let … [Read more...] about How to take a Passport Photo
Photographers: Start 2016 With A Resolution To Pay Attention
(This is what the match needle metering system looked like in the old Nikkormat cameras.) As we all get a chance to turn the page and start fresh, I am reminded of the first lesson my first photography teacher (a man named Jack Russell) taught me. He was a photojournalist who worked for a big newspaper and spent more than 30 years of his life at the same job. He never wrote any books or made any appearances on the teaching circuit. He never had a big social media following and never attended the big photo trade shows. (Most of the … [Read more...] about Photographers: Start 2016 With A Resolution To Pay Attention
Lens Distortion in Portraits
As a portrait photographer, I love getting a close, tight shot that really captures the personality of my subject. Understanding the limitations and effects your gear has on the final image is vital. Close up portraits are typically shot using a focal length of 85mm or longer, but when starting out, these lenses may not be an option. It is common for photographers to start out using a 50mm lens and grow their arsenal from there. I love my "Nifty 50." When shooting in a small space, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G is my go-to lens most of the time. I … [Read more...] about Lens Distortion in Portraits
Removing Glare from Eyeglasses in Lightroom
Whenever you use a very large light on a subject wearing eye glasses, you're likely to run into a problem with glare on the glasses. The is simply a reflection of the light in the glasses. I do my best to mitigate this problem by moving the subject, the light, and my camera, but sometimes I'm just stuck with glare--especially if I'm photographing outside on a cloudy day, in which case the entire sky is a big source of glare. Besides moving the subject, light and camera around to different angles and positions, a polarizer may also be effective … [Read more...] about Removing Glare from Eyeglasses in Lightroom
36 Hours in Pittsburgh | Tips for Packing Essential Gear
What started out as a quick 36-hour trip to Pittsburgh turned into a full-scale video production to help out a friend of mine with a shoot. Luckily for me I was traveling as a one-man band and because Im flexible, I was able to gain a new client. Originally I was headed to pick up a production van for one of my main clients when I saw a Facebook post looking for somebody to shoot a testimonial video of a lawyer. At first, the idea was to just take a backpack to Pittsburgh and drive the vehicle back to Connecticut, but then things got a little … [Read more...] about 36 Hours in Pittsburgh | Tips for Packing Essential Gear
Beat the Bracket Racket – Shooting HDR Base Images the Right Way
Photographers have struggled with limited dynamic range for as long as there have been photographers. Expose for the highlights in most scenes, and you will end up with crushed shadows where no details can be extracted from the inky blackness. Conversely, if you expose for the shadows, the highlights will blow out, leaving nothing but garish white the absolute absence of detail. To capture the broad range of light in many scenes, photographers use High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing to combine multiple images shot at different settings into one … [Read more...] about Beat the Bracket Racket – Shooting HDR Base Images the Right Way
Photofocus Hangout: Portrait Retouching Like a Pro, with Kevin Ames
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 for Lightroom and Photoshop. We kick off Wednesday 12/30 at 1:00pm Eastern, 12:00pm Central, 11am Mountain, and 10:00am Pacific. 2:30pm in Newfoundland. RSVP here and it'll show your local time. Kevin will show some basic techniques as well as … [Read more...] about Photofocus Hangout: Portrait Retouching Like a Pro, with Kevin Ames
Photographing Wildlife/Birds From Your Car
Animals are skittish around other creatures with legs, but not so skittish with cars. Ive been in situations where approaching certain birds for instance, I can't get within 200 feet before they flush. But if I drive into the middle of the flock in a car, none of them moves an inch. For whatever reason, most animals are not wary of cars. By using a window mount with a ball head or a bean bag to support your lens, your car can easily become a comfortable and portable blind. Not only does this make it easier to photograph the wildlife without … [Read more...] about Photographing Wildlife/Birds From Your Car
Photofocus Photowalk: San Diego’s Embarcadero with Levi Sim and Erika Thornes
This is a hands-on shooting time when you can practice various techniques, like dragging the shutter, long exposures, and light placement for the most flattering portraits. All skill levels are welcome! Here are some pictures I've made during other photowalks. We're really pleased to team up with Perfectly Clear for this event. This is a free event, and we've got several raffle prizes, including a license to Perfectly Clear. The photowalk is a hands-on shooting time: bring your camera and tripod with fresh batteries and empty memory card, … [Read more...] about Photofocus Photowalk: San Diego’s Embarcadero with Levi Sim and Erika Thornes
Preparing for a Long Production Day
Media professionals can all relate to the long production day. Whether youre a landscape photographer waking up at zero dark thirty to capture the first light or a wedding photographer shooting from bridal prep straight through to the reception, weve all had those days. In the video world, Ive had my share of long production days, especially when theyre back to back. While Im not one to jump out of bed ready to go, there are a few routine things I do to make dealing with long production days easier. Get Yourself Organized Have the location … [Read more...] about Preparing for a Long Production Day
Check It Twice. Photography Gift Ideas for less than $100
Every holiday season I face the same issue that many other photographers face: my loved ones want to get me photography-oriented presents but they have no idea what to get me. This problem is compounded by the fact that anything affordable that I can use in my photography I bought long ago, leaving only the big-ticket items left on my wish list. I don't have Saudi royalty in my inner circle, so asking for that adorable new Leica or amazing new Zeiss lens is out of the question. So whats a photographer to do? Sub-$100 Accessories every … [Read more...] about Check It Twice. Photography Gift Ideas for less than $100
Hate Noisy Pictures? This May Help…
Photographs are wonderful things, and one of their amazing characteristics is the detail we can see in a picture. I'm pretty observant of details in face to face contact, so I enjoy the fact that my camera can record those details with great clarity and I can share them with others. However, digital noise sometimes obscures the detail and can create distracting color specs that I find really frustrating. In fact, when I first started photography, I wouldn't raise my ISO above 400 for fear that noise would ruin the images. I'd like to share with … [Read more...] about Hate Noisy Pictures? This May Help…
Bring Your Camera to Holiday Events… Others Will Thank You
Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. A day that many come together with friends and family. Around the world, we are entering into times of holiday celebration, reflection, and get-togethers. This is a great time to bring your camera to functions. Shooting candid portraits helps preserve memories for all who come. Even if you do not thinking of yourself as a portrait photographer, but youre likely the most qualified in the room. Here are a few tips. Pick up a Fast Lens. Opening up the aperture will give you a pleasant shallow … [Read more...] about Bring Your Camera to Holiday Events… Others Will Thank You
The Search for a Perfect Camera
Im in the market for a new camera and its been a struggle to decide which one I want. Being a techie, Ive analyzed every spec and feature from all the cameras, weighed cost and portability, and compared it to the gear I already have. And still no answer. But since Ive done the research, I figured Id share my thoughts with you and maybe it will help me make a decision. Before I decide, the best thing to do is rent each camera from LensRentals.com and test it out myself. While Ive considered it, I don't have any trips or shoots scheduled for the … [Read more...] about The Search for a Perfect Camera
Moose Hates Tripods | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
Join Photofocus' Melissa Niu and wildlife photographer Moose Peterson about using tripods for long lenses and how they restrict camera movement. https://youtu.be/qZn0DkhCjqc Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Moose Peterson Mooses true passion is wildlife photography and he considers himself incredibly fortunate to be amongst North Americas critters and bring back their story with his camera. Along the way Moose has been … [Read more...] about Moose Hates Tripods | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
Shooting with the Nikon DF | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
Join Photofocus' Melissa Niu and wildlife photographer Moose Peterson about shooting undetected with the Nikon DF. https://youtu.be/PytG95xZXPM Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Moose Peterson Mooses true passion is wildlife photography and he considers himself incredibly fortunate to be amongst North Americas critters and bring back their story with his camera. Along the way Moose has been fortunate to be recognized for his … [Read more...] about Shooting with the Nikon DF | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
The Camera of the Moment | Joe McNally – What’s in Your Bag
Melissa Niu of Photofocus and Chase Reynolds of LensRentals.com talk with commercial photographer Joe McNally about shooting Nikon cameras since 1973 and what his favorite camera has been. https://youtu.be/iUNJPbdakDA Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Joe McNally Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose career has spanned 30 years and included assignments in over 50 countries. He has shot cover stories for … [Read more...] about The Camera of the Moment | Joe McNally – What’s in Your Bag
Understanding your Subject | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
Join Photofocus' Melissa Niu and wildlife photographer Moose Peterson about understanding your subject. https://youtu.be/ep0nd8VPMI8 Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Moose Peterson Mooses true passion is wildlife photography and he considers himself incredibly fortunate to be amongst North Americas critters and bring back their story with his camera. Along the way Moose has been fortunate to be recognized for his passion. One … [Read more...] about Understanding your Subject | Moose Peterson – What’s in Your Bag
Aesthetic Judgments: Composition, Color & Story
In the first part of my thoughts on aesthetic judgments I introduced the first two considerations on my list of five that inform my work. This post discusses the rest of them starting with... Composition Composition is the pleasing expression of the elements in a space. I prefer to lock the camera on a tripod then adjust the elements in the frame. Shooting tethered into a computer also assists me in this quest. Finally, I always give myself permission to frame my subject loosely to allow for cropping. No where in any of the works on … [Read more...] about Aesthetic Judgments: Composition, Color & Story
