Digital Infrared Photography
Would you like to discover all about digital infrared photography? If you are looking to find some extraordinary results from your digital photography which also does not require any extensive techniques to master, then look at digital infrared photography, in which light that is not visible to the eye can still be captured through your digital camera’s lens. You will be more than pleased with the type of photograph obtained using digital infrared photography techniques and your photographs will also be quite astoundingly wonderful. The reason why your photographs look more surreal is that digital infrared photography will ignore visible light and only take into account infrared light which will result in very stunning compositions.
Take A Course
You will of course require the proper digital infrared photography equipment though the technique itself is not at all hard to learn. In fact, you could take a course in digital infrared photography and many courses are available even online; so, you can easily get started on a course of your choosing. To check whether your digital camera supports infrared shooting capabilities you could press your TV remote from close to the camera and if you see a resulting light in the LCD of your camera then you will be in luck.
Having ascertained that your digital camera is conducive to digital infrared photography, you will then need to have a few accessories to make the experience better. The first thing you will require is a filter that obviously filters out the visible light to allow only infrared light into your camera. You can easily buy a filter for about twenty dollars and Hoya R72 is very popular in this respect. In addition, most digital cameras does not have thread adapter and so attaching the filter requires a bit of creativity, otherwise you can purchase an adapter. The other accessory you will need is a tripod that is required because digital infrared photography needs higher aperture and lesser shutter speed.
You will next want to try getting the most from digital infrared photography and so you may want to choose a landscape as a subject or even try shooting people when there is enough sunlight. There is also a need to adjust your settings so that you get the desired effect and there are many digital cameras that provide excellent photos when used in automatic mode. So, that is a good starting point though in other instances you should keep the flash off, switch to black and white mode, keep the film speed at maximum possible and shutter speed at as slow a rate as is possible with a fifteenth of a second also quite useful.
When you choose digital infrared photography, your horizons are greatly expanded and it is possible to get stunning photographs even when using basic equipment. Once you master the basics, there is plenty more for you to explore and learn, and if you are very serious about this form of photography, you should seriously consider taking a course in digital infrared photography which will help you get the ultimate results from such a form of photography.
May 12, 2008
Artistic Photography
Would you like to know exactly what artisitic photography is? Artistic photography is perhaps one of the easiest routes into the world of photography for the complete beginner. You can start with the most basic of cameras and experiment as much as you like before investing in a better one.
What Is Artistic Photography?
Artistic photography is the art of turning the mundane into the amazing. Most artistic photos contain things we wouldn’t normally want to take photographs of. Blocks of wood, an old decrepit building, a broken gravestone, even a drainpipe – all of these things and more can and do appear in artistic shots that are fascinating and even beautiful to look at.
Tips On Getting Started
The best piece of advice to any beginner aiming to take artistic photographs is to open their eyes to the world around them. It’s very easy to pick up your camera, look around and wonder what to take a picture of. We’re almost spoilt for choice.
You need to start looking at your surroundings in a different way. Look for the details you might otherwise miss. The better the zoom is on your camera, the more adventurous you can be with your artistic photography efforts.
You could start by going out into your garden and looking at what you see there. Grab a chair and spend some time really exploring the whole area with your eyes. What really attracts your attention?
Don’t just look at the flowers and foliage – look at the cracked paving slabs and that plant that never quite made it as well. Your subject doesn’t need to be an attractive one to make it into a successful artistic photo.
Tricks And Techniques
Get into the habit of taking more pictures than you think you will need. Vary the angle, distance and light (if possible) with each one. This will give subtle but noticeable differences to the final photos. Even the smallest difference can turn an average picture into an outstanding one.
Always be prepared to experiment and try new ideas and subjects for your artistic photography. You can incorporate people into your artistic photos, but think about what you can do to transform the photo from a straightforward portrait shot into an artistic one.
The main advantage of artistic photography for the beginner is that it gets you into the habit of looking at things differently. It allows us the freedom to use our imaginations to get photographs that are out of the ordinary, or turn the ordinary into something quite different.
May 8, 2008
Black And White Photography
What is special about black and white photos? With apologies to Paul Simon, writer of the hit song Kodachrome, everything does not look worse in black and white. To many people’s eyes, everything looks better in black and white photography because with the subtle palette of grey brings out the inner beauty of a subject much better than being masked by a riot of color.
Case In Point: Peter Gabriel
When British rock star Peter Gabriel was asked for a portrait to be on the cover of Rolling Stone for January of 1987, the magazine wanted a color portrait to emphasize the singer’s intensely blue eyes. As Peter Gabriel’s big hit So contained the song In Your Eyes, it was logically thought that a simple portrait of his face centering on his blue eyes would best portray the singer-songwriter.
Robert Mapplethorpe was honored to take the portrait. The sessions lasted over days as both artists battled heads over what constituted a good portrait. In the end, both artists wound up with a profound respect for each other. When Mapplethorpe generously gave Peter Gabriel the pick of the portraits as a gift, Peter Gabriel chose portraits done with black and white photography. That portrait would later grace the cover of his greatest Hits compilation in 1990.
Why Black And White?
Color can be blinding. Just ask anyone who has a red car. Even though there are no actual scientific studies done, it is popularly thought that red cars are ticked more by police than any other color of car. We are ingrained to associate specific color with specific meanings. Colors are archetypes in the collective unconscious. Black and white photography should really be called “grey photographyâ€, since even the colors black and white are softened. But “grey photography†just doesn’t sound as catchy, does it?
In black and white photography, there is no extra baggage hauled around with colors. You concentrate on the shape, the arrangement, the expression, the decay – anything that the photographer wishes to emphasize. Perhaps with the case of Peter Gabriel’s portrait, both Mapplethorpe and Gabriel thought the focus on Peter’s blue eyes and peaches and cream skin did not portray the true man. Gabriel’s music touched more people than just blue eyes white people. By using black and white photography, Gabriel was now race less, sexless and beyond fitting into any categories we automatically place strangers in – he was just a human being like any other one on the planet.
May 5, 2008
Baby Photography
Have you ever thought of setting up a baby photography business? Babies are known to make the world go round, with their beautiful little faces and innocent personas. Because of this, babies are always being photographed in order to maintain the memory of how they were when they were young.
Parents tend to get pictures taken of their children all the way through school ages, and it’s usually done on at least a yearly basis. However with babies, this process is known to be done multiple times per year, hoping to capture every part of their young childhood.
So no matter how many photographers specialize in baby photography, there never seems to be a time when the market is fully saturated. Like all businesses, starting a baby photography business will take time, effort and lots of exposure. So, it never hurts to pick up some tips along the way.
Don’t Forget the Portfolio
The importance of a baby photography portfolio is second to none. Without a portfolio featuring the work that you do, it’s hard to stir up interest in your business from others. As they say, the proof is in the pudding so don’t leave your proof at home. Take your time creating your baby photography portfolio, and then bring it with you wherever you go as you will never know when it will come in handy.
Get out There Baby!
You can’t get any business if you don’t get out there. Meet people, as many as you can. Go places where you’d expect to find parents and start talking! Local parks is a good place to start, but remember not to just start snapping pictures of children you don’t know yet as this tends to worry parents. Just introduce yourself, show them your portfolio and offer a business card that produces proof of your baby photography business.
Other places you can visit to create some buzz about your business include the zoo, local fast food restaurants and roller skating rinks. Anyplace parents are more than likely going to be with their children is a good place to associate yourself as a baby photographer.
Don’t Forget to Advertise
Advertising doesn’t have to be expensive. Use Internet resources that may let you advertise for free. Forums and discussion boards are good starting places. Using services like Craigslist are easy and usually free (Depending on the area you’d like to advertise in). Also, online parenting websites may offer inexpensive advertising which can work wonders for you. Creating your own baby photography website is not a bad idea either, just make sure you know that you’ll need additional advertising to drive traffic to your website.
