Create amazing HDR photographs with Skylum’s Aurora HDR 2019. Purchase today and save plus get a free bundle of training, LUTs and Looks too! I don’t shoot landscapes (like, never, ever). So when the Skylum’s team asked us to give it a try on their Aurora HDR 2019 update, I wasn’t sure what I could write about. My amazing editor, Kevin, told me the articles didn’t have to be super long - and I just had to stay true to myself. So I thought about this big CrossFit event I covered a few days earlier. We were outdoors and the lighting conditions … [Read more...] about How I use the new Aurora HDR 2019 for NON-landscape photography
sports
Summertime fun: Take me out to the ballgame
We recently attended a professional baseball game for the first time in literally decades. We had cousins visiting from Japan for a few days and when asked what they would like to do during their visit to San Diego, they responded with a very specific request: To attend a game between the San Diego Padres vs. the Los Angeles Angels. I purchased tickets online months in advance and thought no more about it until later, corresponding with a Japanese friend who lives in Tokyo. When I mentioned that I would have cousins visit from Japan in … [Read more...] about Summertime fun: Take me out to the ballgame
Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
This week was a stepping stone for me. It was the third time I was covering the same annual CrossFit competition. Three years of hard work. Three years of experience. I thought it would be cool to do a recap of my three years of evolving as a visual artist in the sports field. I realize that lots of things have changed - and I'm not only talking about my cameras. 2016: Where it all began I remember when I got into photography. I started by taking pictures of everything. A walk in the park was an excuse to bring my camera and experiment … [Read more...] about Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
Tamron’s 70-200mm lens — is it ready for major league sports?
Our friends at B&H Photo sent me Tamron’s SP70-200mm F/2.8 G2 (Model A025) telephoto lens to see how it performs at a major league sporting event. I kept my Nikon 70-200mm on hand, just in case. At the end of the first quarter, my trusty Nikon lens stayed in my bag! What I liked about it Focus speed The autofocus is fast. I mean really fast. I had no problem keeping up with the fastest sport on two feet, major league lacrosse. Tamron uses an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) ring-type motor, along with two high-performance microcomputers to … [Read more...] about Tamron’s 70-200mm lens — is it ready for major league sports?
Charging the right price: Why is it important?
This article came to my mind a couple weeks ago, as I was approached by several event organizers. They likely were expecting my services for free and were almost hit by lightning when I educated them on the value of what they were asking for. That led me to one important question: Why some people believe that (our fair and right) prices are too high? I finally came up with an answer and found different ways to assert my services. Why do some people mistakenly believe that photographer's rates are too high? How many times have we seen on … [Read more...] about Charging the right price: Why is it important?
The InFocus Interview Show with Wes Maggio | Photofocus Podcast July 6, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/the-infocus-interview-show-with-wes-maggio-photofocus-podcast-july-6-2018/s-nVr8l In this episode: Specializing in volume sports portraiture, portrait photographer Weston Maggio shares how he produces Volume Photography and still gets Studio Portraits results. Topics: What is Volume Sports Photography? How long to spend with a subject. What gear is needed. What to expect during a shoot with 50 Plus subjects. The business side of high Volume Photography If you like these Infocus … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Wes Maggio | Photofocus Podcast July 6, 2018
Photographer of the Day: Peter Hickson
Category: Sports Photographer: Peter Hickson "Travelling at speed" Peter does a nice job here using panning in this shot of a windsurfer. With the background blurred, the windsurfer is crystal sharp, and the contrast between the different colors present really helps to elevate this to the next level. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Peter Hickson
Photographer of the Day: Johann Walter Bantz
Category: Sports Photographer: Johann Walter Bantz "we don’t play boxing" This portrait of a boxer does a really great job of showcasing the training process. There's some anticipation present with the boxer, and the capture gives us a great view of the world behind the sport. The black and white treatment strengthens the viewpoint here, as it gives a slight edginess to the shot. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Johann Walter Bantz
Capturing the Sports Grit Look Using Cross Light with Continuous Light
This is a follow-up article based on the article I wrote: “No Excuses! Making Photos No Matter What.” The article talks about what went through my mind when we were shooting. This article simply focuses on how I got the shot to create the sports grit look using a cross-light setup with continuous light. The Technical Stuff Placed the subject in the middle of two continuous lights set diagonally across from each other on a 45-degree angle Used a black background to isolate the subject Shot on a low angle with a 15-30mm lens at 30mm … [Read more...] about Capturing the Sports Grit Look Using Cross Light with Continuous Light
Gear Review: Ruggard Hunter Pro 65 DSLR Holster Bag
A holster bag is a terrific addition to your camera bag quiver. In fact, it's a very good choice as a first camera bag. You'll always find uses for it, even when your equipment needs outgrow its size. I have far more gear than will fit in this bag, but I use it as a convenient bag for keeping a camera and lens handy. It sits next to me in the car, it goes inside another duffle bag or backpack and I attach it to the belt of my backpack when hiking. In this video, I show you the 65, but it comes in various sizes, including a larger bag which … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Ruggard Hunter Pro 65 DSLR Holster Bag
How to Step Up Your Boxing Photography Game
Boxing combines two challenging components for a photographer: bad lighting and high speed. Challenging task, indeed. Impossible? Not! Here are a few tips I wish I knew before shooting my first fight. The basics Who hasn't seen an amazing shot where someone gets a punch straight in the face - with sweat and blood all over the place? Yeah, this is the ultimate action shot everybody is looking for at a boxing event. It's those kinds of when-preparation-meets-opportunity, you know, "lucky" shots. This instant lasts for such a brief moment, a … [Read more...] about How to Step Up Your Boxing Photography Game
Photographer of the Day: Mike Millspaugh
Category: Sports Photographer: Mike Millspaugh "Newgarden" A great example of panning, Mike captures a racer during qualifying for the Indy Grand Prix. Here, the background is simple yet helps to display motion with the white lines above the car. For its part, the car is very sharp here, and Mike does a nice job of framing it with the race track. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Mike Millspaugh
No Excuses! Making Photos No Matter What
After a long couple of days of teaching at Photoshop World, my good friends Ray and Kim insisted I join them for dinner and a quick shoot. Exhausted, I tried every excuse not to go but they are the type of friends you can't say no to—and I'm glad I didn't. Here's what went through my mind when we created the Sports Grit Look using a cross-light setup with continuous light. Not My Normal Lighting Gear Normally I use a 3-light setup using studio strobes or speedlights attached to strip boxes and a beauty dish. For this setup, I had one … [Read more...] about No Excuses! Making Photos No Matter What
Photographer of the Day: Mark Fletcher
Category: Sports Photographer: Mark Fletcher "Jamie Vardy - Leicester vs Southampton 19/04/18 (Explored)" Mark captures this soccer player mid-air as the soccer ball reaches his toes, in what is an excellent, well-composed photograph. The blurred background helps to separate the player and make him stand out in what is already an excellent, sharp scene. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Mark Fletcher
Photographer of the Day: Nic Taylor
Category: Sports Photographer: Nic Taylor "Dropping Bombs!" When sports and portraiture meet, it's often a really dynamic result. Nic's photograph highlights the emotion and energy of boxing by having the boxer punch a boxing bag. The dust and sweat that releases as he hits the bag, coupled with the boxer's energy, makes for a really telling sports portrait. The post-processing and reduction of saturation give this a moody and urban feel that fits the situation perfectly. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Nic Taylor
Photographer of the Day: John Sessa
Category: Sports Photographer: John Sessa "Gulfstream Park, Florida Derby Day 2018!" John gives a unique perspective at the start of the horse race — right as they're pushing out of the gates with great anticipation. The composition here is well done, giving enough space around the horses to draw in the viewer. John followed it up with a great photograph of the winner, too. Originally shared with the Photofocus Facebook community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: John Sessa
Photographer of the Day: George Adkins
Category: Sports Photographer: George Adkins "Morning Surf" George zooms in and captures this surfing image, which, is crystal sharp in showcasing the greatness of the sport. You can see the surfer anticipate the wave; George's composition of the surfer makes this a powerful image. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: George Adkins
Photographer of the Week: May 7 ~ 11, 2018
Weekdays, Monday through Friday, Photofocus curators share a great photograph in the categories of Travel, Beauty, Outdoor, Sports, and Street, respectively. Each selected picture earns its maker the title "Photofocus Photographer of the Day." Their work has impressed us and we hope, it touches, inspires & invigorates you as well. Our curators explain what they love about the image they have chosen. These are quick thoughts to help each of us become more aware of what's in an image and why it works. Every Sunday, the Photofocus Photographer … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Week: May 7 ~ 11, 2018
Photographer of the Day: tony.oleary5
Category: Sports Photographer: tony.oleary5 "Moon is low tonight...." Tony has a little fun with this image, showing the "moon" being captured by the field hockey player. The composition really shows the anticipation on the player's face, making for a nice sports capture. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: tony.oleary5
Photographer of the Day: John Sessa
Category: Sports Photographer: John Sessa I love John's capture here, because it shows the anticipation and emotion as the surfer is about to hit the waves. It gives a sense of place and has you guess at what's coming next! Originally shared with the Photofocus Facebook community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: John Sessa
Photographer of the Week: April 23 ~ 27, 2018
Weekdays, Monday through Friday, Photofocus curators share a great photograph in the categories of Travel, Beauty, Outdoor, Sports, and Street, respectively. Each selected picture earns its maker the title "Photofocus Photographer of the Day." Their work has impressed us and we hope, it touches, inspires & invigorates you as well. Our curators explain what they love about the image they have chosen. These are quick thoughts to help each of us become more aware of what's in an image and why it works. Every Sunday, the Photofocus Photographer … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Week: April 23 ~ 27, 2018
Photographer of the Day: Joan Manel Zamora
Category: Sports Photographer: Joan Manel Zamora "Mushing - Winter" Winter might be over, but the sport of dog sledding has always intrigued me. Here, the photographer showcases an individual dog, with the rest of the pack in the background, which creates for a fun, lighthearted scene. Processing the image in black and white helps to make the dog stand out and give it some additional depth with the scene behind. Originally shared with the Photofocus Google+ community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Joan Manel Zamora
Photographer of the Day: Allan Jones
Category: Sports Photographer: Allan Jones Photography "Panning Cyclist" Who says you can't be creative with sports photography? Allan Jones shows us how, by using a slow shutter speed to capture the cyclist in motion. What's great here is that the cyclist is perfectly sharp, but the motion here is obvious and fun. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Allan Jones
Photographer of the Day: Fitz Crittle Photography
Category: Sports Photographer: Fitz Crittle Photography "Gasparilla Run" Running is a sport that can bring out the best and worst in athletes, especially when it comes to showing their emotions. This runner, though, is photographed with a smile on her face, which captures the attitude of her perfectly. What's more, the photographer manages to feature a golden light with some hard shadows on her, making for what I can presume is a photograph taken around sunset. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Fitz Crittle Photography
Photographer of the Day: fiore_lla4ever
Category: Sports Photographer: fiore_lla4ever "fammi volare" This kitesurfing photograph struck me for several reasons. For one, the contrast. Black and white photographs in sports, in my opinion, are usually difficult to be effective versus colored photographs. But what the photographer does here is separate the subject from its background by using a dark contrast. The wide photograph helps to open up the scene and give the viewer an overall look of what's happening, instead of just focusing on the surfer. Originally shared with the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: fiore_lla4ever
Photographer of the Day: Pat Callahan
Category: Sports Photographer: Pat Callahan "Paris-Doorway Goal" Pat combines the world of sports and street photography in this image, which captures two boys playing soccer, using a door in Paris as a makeshift goal. You can see the readiness on the goalie's face, and the anticipation on the striker as he hopes it'll lead to the end result of a goal. It shows motion on the street, and is a perfect example of how you can combine photography mediums for a great end result. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Pat Callahan
Photographer of the Day: Johann Walter Bantz
Category: Sports Photographer: Johann Walter Bantz "The Main Event 5,Championnat du Monde IBF Féminin des Poids Super - Plume, M.Hammadouche / M. Dellal, Palais des Sports, Levallois" Johann's photograph of two boxers duking it out in the ring, is impressive for a number of reasons. First, she manages to capture a blow to the head. The action here is obvious, but Johann freezes it in time, having the elements that matter be super sharp. The black and white treatment also works very well here, as it adds a sense of grit and emotion to the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Johann Walter Bantz
Photographer of the Day: Ian Lewry
Category: Sports Photographer: Ian Lewry "Skiing in Slovenia" Growing up in Northern Michigan, I was surrounded by the ski culture. And while I didn't downhill ski personally (I was more of a cross-country skier), I knew the sport well enough to understand it. While Ian's photograph captures a casual skier, it's one that rings true to many of us who live in the northern parts of the world. Ian was smart to focus on this skier, as her colorful winter outfit pops against the white snow. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Ian Lewry
My First Aurora HDR 2018 Experience
I just got Aurora HDR 2018 and I couldn't wait to try it with different shots. What does it do? How do I feel working in this brand new environment? Here are my thoughts on my first hands-on experience with the software! Landscape I was pretty excited to edit some of the pictures we'd taken in Vegas last week. The sunrise was amazing and so was the scenery. I had an issue at the location: I forgot my tripod! That meant bye-bye to the standard three-or-more-exposures-merged-to-HDR technique and hello handheld camera. Since I wasn't in the … [Read more...] about My First Aurora HDR 2018 Experience
Photographer of the Day: Lee Dolman
Category: Sports Photographer: Lee Dolman "...Fast....." Lee's photograph is a great example of how to use panning in sports photography. The race car is crystal sharp, and by having a completely blurred background, he shows the fast action within the sport of racing. The colors here are also impressive, and make for a very dynamic and fun racing scene. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. You can be the Photofocus Photographer of the Day. Here's how. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Lee Dolman
