12 Creative Photography Ideas
Here are 12 ideas to get your creative juices flowing and increase your skills and value as a photographer.
TIP 1 - Time Lapse photos. I showed my niece how to do this with clay figures and stitch the resulting frames together into a video file, and she was busy for days. If you control the exposure consistently to keep the images consistent with one another, you can do some really fun stop-motion animation. Or, you can set up your camera to capture other slow motion effects such as flowers opening and seedlings growing.
TIP 2 - Night Lights. Things look very different at night. Shooting city scenes with available light creates some interesting images. And shooting outdoor images under moonlight or with "light painting", where you open up the camera shutter for an extended exposure, and "paint" your targets with colored or plain light, can create some truly bizarre images.
TIP 3 - Astrophotography. Hook that SLR up to a telescope, and you are ready to peer into the depths of space and time. You'll need some adapters, and ability to compensate for the earth's rotation for really long shots. Start with the moon and move on from there.
TIP 4 - Macro photography. From flowers to coins to stamps, you can polish your skills at close-up photography and capture some really detailed images. Often a macro lens or close-up attachment will help. See my tips on Flower Photography to get more information.
TIP 5 - Micro photography. If you can interface that camera with a microscope, you can get some really crazy images. Or, stack up a bunch of close-up magnification and try your hand at turning salt crystals into surreal imagery.
TIP 6 - Insurance Photos. OK, maybe a bit boring, but you and your friends and relatives will thank you. Take a couple hours and touch and photograph everything of value, with a full shot or two if each item of value, accompanied by a shot of the identifying marks - manufacturer model or serial number. Then burn a CD or DVD and store it off site. If you have a fire or other loss, this could save the owner thousands of dollars.
TIP 7 - Family Recipe book. Anytime those family favorites are prepared, copy down the recipe and take some photos of the food. You can produce a printed or electronic cookbook of family favorites that everyone will love.
TIP 8 - Stock Photography. This is a very busy market niche, but the cost of entry is low. Specialize in things you love, and you may be able to generate some income from your stock images. Search for stock photography sites, and make sure you understand your rights before you post images.
TIP 9 - Special Effects. Maybe you want to specialize in high-speed images of athletes, or surrealistic collages. Try your hand at using your editing skills to put someone in a soda bottle or floating on a candy lifesaver. Often more artistic than photographic, it will test your composition, lighting and editing skills to come up with believable artificial realities.
TIP 10 - Still Life. Ahh, the bowl of fruit. Sometimes a simple object or collection, properly lit, shot and edited, is a thing of beauty. It's a great way to study light. Start with an egg on a light background, a lamp and a window and see how you can learn about lighting and composition.
TIP 11 - Computer Control. Many cameras have a USB interface and remote control software. You can actually control the camera from the computer. See if you can get it to work to your liking, and maybe even program some time lapse or exposure bracketing experiments.
TIP 12 - Be Like Andy. Take some images of everyday items and try to create those neat colored backgrounds like Andy Warhol used to make. Create a 4-up print of the same image and change the colors of each quadrant to make an interesting square print.
Have fun with these ideas, and let me know when you become famous!
12 Creative Photography Ideas
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Video Clips. Duration : 6.83 Mins.
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
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Photographing Groups - A Professional Photographer's Guidelines For Taking Great Group Portraits
Photographing groups of any size can be challenging, but using the correct posing and lighting approaches can produce a winning image.
The more people you have in the photo, the smaller they appear, and the harder it is to see the individual faces. Ideally, you want to fill the camera frame with people both vertically and horizontally, and this is achieved with thoughtful positioning of the subjects. By doing this you can get closer to them and they appear larger and easier to see in the photos.
The first thing in any group is to have people stand at a 45-degree angle to the lens, rather than shoulder-to-shoulder facing the camera. This does several things. It allows you to get your subjects closer together, they appear slimmer, and it’s more professional-looking. And don’t have them all facing the same way unless they’re a ’60s Motown group. Better to have them turned toward center on both sides.
Small groups of three to eight can be taken standing together to produce a pleasing picture. They will fill the camera frame from top to bottom and side to side nicely.
Left to pose for a picture without direction from the photographer, a large group of subjects will usually stand shoulder to shoulder in a long line. This produces a photo with small people and excess space at the top and bottom of the frame.
Any group larger than eight or so should be positioned in levels, either by having some people in front sitting on chairs, or in back standing on steps. I like to have somewhere around 35-40% of the group in chairs and the rest standing behind, as this fills the frame better than an equal number of seated and standing subjects. Alternatively, you can have the first row standing in front and the second row on a step behind. Try to keep your rows close together, and try to position them so the people in the back row are standing between the two people in front of them, not directly behind them and hidden from camera view. A good way to check this is to ask each subject in back to make sure that they can see the camera with both eyes, thus ensuring that you’re not photographing just part of their head.
For a group of around 25, a good posing scheme would be some people on chairs, some standing behind, and some seated on the ground in front. Alternatively, you can have a second row standing on a step a level above those standing behind the chairs. The point is to fill the picture both side to side AND top to bottom.
The larger the group becomes, the more imperative it is that you find stairs to put your subjects on. Estimate how many rows you have to make in order to fill the frame top to bottom and side to side. The best approach is to have the subjects line up according to height. Start the bottom row with the shorter people, and end the top row with the tallest. This keeps a taller person from blocking a shorter one behind them. Subjects seated in bleachers or stadium-style seating is also very popular in schools and sporting venues, and can produce good results. You can follow the same principle as positioning on stairs.
If stairs or bleachers are not available, you have another option: setting the camera at an elevation above the crowd and shooting from above. This can be accomplished by using a ladder to get slightly above a small group, or a rooftop or balcony for a large group. Everyone can just look up, but you may still have to position people so taller subjects are to the rear of the shot.
Having someone to assist the photographer in positioning larger groups is extremely valuable. Only from dead-on camera position, that is, looking through the viewfinder, can you judge whether a face in the crowd will be fully visible or partly or totally blocked. Having an assistant position subjects while the photographer looks through the camera saves a lot of time and footwork.
The easy way to light is to just have everyone looking toward the sun, but the results can be disappointing. Your subjects will be squinting, they will have shadows under their eyes, and if it is hot they will be uncomfortable. The preferred method is to have the subjects’ backs to the sun, and to use flash to illuminate them. For a small single-row group, you can use your camera mounted flash. Multiple row groups will need a flash mounted on a camera bracket or light stand. This is to prevent shadows being thrown onto the people standing in the back rows. Large groups will need multiple flash units on tall stands. You can trigger them with remote receivers from your camera-mounted transmitter. Three flash units work well, one on the left, one on the right, and one next to the camera. And make sure they are high enough so they don’t produce shadows on the faces in the back rows.
You’ll also need a good lens hood to block the sunlight from hitting the lens and producing a flare. If the sun is low or you’re shooting directly into the sun, you may also need to position something above the camera to block the sunlight, and throw a shadow on the camera lens. This can be done with something as simple as a piece of cardboard or a magazine, or even an umbrella. There are also professional devices you can buy.
A good example of all the above guidelines being applied to a group portrait can be seen here:
[http://www.ambiencephoto.com/event9.html]
Finally, make sure you have everyone’s attention when you’re about to take the photos. Remind them to make sure they can see you with both eyes, and to Smile!
Photographing Groups - A Professional Photographer's Guidelines For Taking Great Group Portraits
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Tube. Duration : 6.83 Mins.
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
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Studio Photography and Digital Backgrounds
The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and 3.
Most photographers who are serious about improving their portrait taking skills have realized that a beautiful background can greatly enhance their photographs.
Muslins are a very popular choice among professionals. However, they can get very costly at several hundred dollars each. For the professional who is well established, this may not seem too much, but for the hobbyist, this may be a stretch.
A less costly alternative is a digital background. With a digital background, one can get the look and feel of a professional looking portrait without the additional cost of muslin.
Many Photography websites also sell digital backgrounds on cd. In some cases...as low as .00 dollars for an assorted collection. As with anything else...you usually get what you pay for. Some of these pre-made digital backgrounds are not worth the cd they're printed on, but some of them are very beautifully made. Even so, you may be wondering how YOU can make your very own digital background. That being said, the following information will help guide you along the way.
Okay, let's create a digital backdrop using Adobe Elements 2.0. We will create an 8x10 300dpi (dpi = dots per inch or ppi = pixels per inch) digital backdrop. For printing purposes, 300dpi is strongly recommended for a high quality print. This will also create a large file approximately 20.6megs.
Having a fast processor (Pentium 4 or Athlon XP) and at least 256megs of ram will definitely help. Also having your screen resolution on your monitor set to its highest setting 24 or 32bit will give the best results.
Okay let's begin! If you haven't already opened Photoshop Elements, do so now.
1. Click on File
Studio Photography and Digital Backgrounds
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Video Clips. Duration : 6.83 Mins.
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
No URL Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Head Shots and Portrait Sessions - What to Bring, What to Wear
If you're getting professional headshots taken, or if you're having a professional photographer do a portrait session for you, here are the things you might find useful to know in advance...
HOW TO PREPARE BEFORE YOUR SHOOT:
- Get a good night's sleep the night before. This isn't always the easiest thing to do, but it's really important to try. The more rested you are, the better you'll look.
- Drink plenty of water at least an hour or two before your session. Hydrated skin looks much healthier than dry skin. Try not to drink too much coffee that day and avoid eating greasy, salty or fatty foods for at least a day or two before your shoot.
- Apply moisturizer. Men as well as women should use this tip. Moisturizer prevents your face from looking dry and it gives your skin a fresh, smoother texture. Use a plain moisturizer without any color or shine in it. Be sure to do this before you apply any makeup or powder.
WHAT TO BRING:
1- A comb or brush and a light hair-spray. Heavy sprays and gels make your hair look unnatural and stiff, so something with a light hold is a better idea.
2- A light face powder (yes, also for men) and a powder applicator. This is to reduce any shine on your face that may build up during your shoot. Make sure the powder is a good match for your skin tone.
3 - A plain lip-balm. For men (or women who prefer not to wear much or any makeup), bring a lip-balm. Dry lips show up very badly in photos. A non-shiny, non-waxy, no-color lip-balm is essential! Avoid chapsticks and beeswax lip-balms, as they tend to leave a white residue.
4- If you normally wear makeup, bring it with you. Blush, concealer, eye-shadow, mascara, lipstick etc. Be sure to bring a few different shades of eyeshadow and lipstick, as some colors may not look as well on camera as others. Avoid anything with too much gloss or shine. In particular, don't wear high gloss lipsticks or very shiny lipgloss. Also avoid any face creams, bronzers or blushes that contain any sort of shine or sparkle. These often look too unnatural and reflect too much light in photos.
5- Deodorant. If your session is indoors or in a studio, you can usually expect to be under warm lights for quite some time. You don't want to have perspiration stains in your photos, so remember to apply an extra 'layer' of deodorant right before your session begins.
6- A toothbrush or dental floss. Just in case you have the remnants of your last meal stuck in your teeth!
7- Eyedrops. Sitting and not doing much blinking for any period of time, can be very irritating for your eyes. Especially if you're in bright light of any kind. Red, watery or puffy eyes will ruin your photos, so having eyedrops with you is essential for your photo session. Chances are, you won't need to use them, but it's better to have them just in case you do.
WHAT TO WEAR
For headshots, it's usual to have at least two or three different 'looks'. These tend to be
1: Casual and informal.
2: Elegant and slightly formal.
3: Edgy and/or unusual. This means you should bring the following clothing choices:
1- Casual and informal clothes. A simple shirt (or sweater) and jeans, is always a good bet here. IMPORTANT: Do not wear shirts with logos, brand names or any obviously printed words on them. These draw the eye away from your face, which is the last thing you want in a head shot! Do not wear work-out clothing or sweats, although a plain hoodie is fine. Make sure your jeans are basic as well. No applique, no artfully splattered paint or bleach marks and if there are rips or holes, make sure they're small and fairly unnoticeable.
2- Elegant and slightly formal clothes. A well tailored jacket and a well tailored shirt is a very good choice for men. For women, a fashionable, figure-flattering top, dressy sweater, nice trousers, or casual cocktail style of dress is a good choice.
If your headshots are for acting, online dating sites, etc., you don't want look as if you're going to a job interview. You do want to wear what you would for a nice dinner party or event. Dark colors are best for this look.
When you're choosing what to wear, ask yourself whether you want your photos to look corporate or not. Women: If you don't want a business-like look, don't wear button-up shirts. Men: If you don't want a business-like look, don't wear a tie.
3- Edgy and unusual clothes. Particularly for actors, musicians and entertainers who have a unique look or play a broad range of performances of any kind. For this 'look', bring the clothes that define your particular style. If you are from a specific ethnic background and have traditional clothing (saris, kimonos, sarongs, etc.), bring those! If you prefer to dress in vintage clothing, bring your favorite vintage suit or dress. Whatever your style, bring the outfit, accessories and makeup that you feel really exemplifies your individuality.
As for what to wear for a portrait session, the range is a bit more broad. It depends entirely on what type of portraits you're getting. However, the following rules will still apply...
A FEW BASIC RULES FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION:
1- Colors which look great on almost everybody: White, black, and greys are always a good choice. For color, choose earth-tones (reds and browns) and jewel-tones (turquoise and most blues). Certain pastels are also good: light blues, lavenders and pinks.
2- Colors to avoid: For most people, khakis, greens, oranges, dark purples and yellows are not flattering to the skin and should not be worn for photos. (However, if you are an exception to that rule, by all means, bring the colors that suit you best.)
3- Clothing choices to avoid: Large, bold prints, logos or patterns. Again, these draw the eye away from your face, which is not a good thing. You don't want your outfit to dominate your photos. Don't wear clothing that is too loose or too clingy. Very loose clothing and very tight clothing both have the effect of unflatteringly altering the shape of your body. Shiny fabrics should generally be avoided as well, anything with a lot of shine will reflect light and tends to overemphasize the figure.
4- Do not over-accessorize. Keep it simple. Too many extra visuals will detract from your face, which should be the only focal point in your pictures. If you have one particular piece of jewelery you'd like to wear, don't wear any other pieces with it. A big, bold necklace can sometimes look really wonderful, but not if it's also worn with big, bold earrings. Small, basic earrings, one or two simple rings, and no necklace are usually the best choice for women. Just a watch and one ring (if you wear any) is usually the best choice for men.
5- Heavy application of perfumes or body-sprays before your session is not a good idea. If you must wear a scent, wear much less than you normally would. Many people have allergies to scents, and you don't want a photographer who is trying to take your photo through watering eyes and sneezing fits.
Although there are a lot of things to factor in here, they're all quite simple. If you keep these tips in mind, you're certain to look and feel your best for your professional photography shoot!
Head Shots and Portrait Sessions - What to Bring, What to Wear
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Video Clips. Duration : 6.83 Mins.
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
No URL Portrait Photography Tutorial - Focusing - When to Focus on the Eye in Portraits ? Focusing Tips
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Keywords:
Portrait Photography Techniques
Head Shots and Portrait Sessions - What to Bring, What to Wear
Head Shots and Portrait Sessions - What to Bring, What to Wear
Head Shots and Portrait Sessions - What to Bring, What to Wear
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Tags:
Portrait Photography Techniques
Studio Photography and Digital Backgrounds
Portrait Photography Techniques
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Keywords:
Portrait Photography Techniques
Photographing Groups - A Professional Photographer's Guidelines For Taking Great Group Portraits
Photographing Groups - A Professional Photographer's Guidelines For Taking Great Group Portraits
Photographing Groups - A Professional Photographer's Guidelines For Taking Great Group Portraits
photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com I always talk about focusing on the eye when shooting portraits. In this video I explain why it's important to focus on the eye, when should you focus on the eye and when it doesn't make a difference. Photography Equipment used in this video. Camera Nikon D7000 Lenses: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 G lens. 85mm 1.8 D lens. Tokina 16-28 f2.8 lens and Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens Portrait photography tips tutorial
Keywords:
Portrait Photography Techniques
12 Creative Photography Ideas
Portrait Photography Techniques
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