Photography Tips & Tutorials1000 articles

The Victoria’s Secret Holiday catalog features beautiful models dressed in scanty lingerie, but for Russell James, photographing these sexy models is the highest pressure job of his year. A behind the scenes look into Pier 59 Studios in New York City was created by the CNBC network show, Best Jobs Ever. Russell does make it look easy; as the professional models pose and flirt with the photographer, he smiles and states, “If it looks effortless – if it looks like I’m not doing much, then I feel like I’m really doing my job.”

Look at something other than your computer screen for a moment and take note of the world around you. You should notice bright highlights and dark shadow areas without much of a problem. Film and digital sensors do not see as well as you do. The shadows and highlights may be quantified as numbers that represent the luminance of any scene. The standard measure of luminance is expressed as candelas per square meter or cd/m2. The luminance of the sun is expressed as a ratio of 1,000,000,000:1 or 1 billion candelas to 1 square meter.

As photographers, we are always trying to capture photographs that pop. That is, images that combine depth and fine details. This short clip explains how to mix strobe lighting with ambient light to achieve just the right feel. In this video tutorial, Jay P. Morgan demonstrates how to effectively use strobe lights to enhance the natural light of the sun. The lesson starts with a recap of essential exposure information, such as always working in manual mode to gain full control of the exposure settings.

In this nine minute documentary, the making of TIME magazines “The Protester” is chronicled. The Protester, which was included in TIME’s Person of The Year issue, is a series of photographers taken by TIME staff photographer, Peter Hapak, which showcases protesters involved with the Occupy movement across seven countries. Hapak briefly touches on techniques he used to capture the portraits, including a humorous account of bribing one particular subject with breakfast sausages.

How do you proceed to grow and develop as a fine art photographer? Basically, regular use of your camera with deliberate intent, while paying attention to the following, is what brings it about. With regard to your subject matter’s inherent ‘expression’ and ‘meaning’, it comes about through symbolism. You need to become acutely aware of the symbolism(s) inherent in any subject matter. Such are called ‘symbols of content. ‘You also need to become aware of those symbolisms that can arise within your picture because of the way you choose to photograph the subject matter, ‘symbols of style’.

With the help of a Canon 5D MKII, two Cannon 7D’s, a 16-35mm 2.8L lens, and the 24mm TS lens, Rochester, New York based photographer, Josh Owens edited together a four minute time lapse of New York City. Owens was able to secure prime vantage points at 12 hotels and various other Manhattan locations to create the film. He used the Dynamic Perception dolly rig, opting to upgrade from the standard MX2 intervalometer to The Little Bramper to control exposures. Owens says he was able to achieve the motion blur during daylight hours, “using Neutral Density filters which limit the amount of light that hits the sensor allowing you to use longer shutter speeds.”

Are you looking for portrait photography tips so that you can improve your picture taking skills? A really good photo should convey the subject’s character and personality, and communicate something distinct or identifiable about who they are as a person. Following a few key tips will help you learn how to take great portraits so you will never be disappointed again. What is the model’s personality or the attitude of the family? Are they outgoing, serious, or funny? What are they trying to create with the photo? What mood are they wanting to convey? Or, what are the reasons for having the photos taken? When you answer these questions, you will be able to choose an appropriate setting accordingly.

By the time you read this, Jeff Harris will have taken considerably more than 4748 self-portraits. For New Year 1999, rather than resolve, to write a diary for the year, Jeff set himself the task of taking a self-portrait every day. The result is an incredible record of his life through the ups and some very significant downs, not just for a year,but for the last 12 years. In his own words, at first his shots were somewhat boring and repetitive, but using photography as a tool, he found increasingly interesting and creative ways to portray his life. The initial focus on the project was to attempt to show his life as not being a mundane 9-5 existence but to show him enjoying life to the full.

Time lapse photography has always been a magic process where time is condensed and the familiar process of time experience is dramatically changed. Processes such as plants growing, a building being constructed, or an entire city changing through the cycle of a day and night, have become the subject of creative, expressive videos or films. Once you master time-lapses where the camera is stationary, you might wonder how professionals create sequences where the camera moves through a scene. These videos offer some helpful clues.

2011 has come and gone and we enter 2012 hopefully wiser and more experienced on our digital photography journey. If you haven’t learnt any lessons from 2012 it’s time to sit down and do a quick evaluation. If you still haven’t then takee a look at the lessons I’ve learned and maybe you’ll learn something as well. We all need to look back using our 20/20 vision and try new things, work at improving technique and just have some fun. If your photography isn’t fun then you need to ask yourself whether it’s the right hobby for you. Happy shooting as you learn to be more creative in your photography.