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Tedric Garrison - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Tedric Garrison is an award winning writer / photographer with over 30 years experience in photography. As a Graphic Art Major, he has a unique perspective on the Elements of Design and how they relate to photography. His photo eBook; "Finding Your Creative Edge in Photography", proves creativity CAN be taught. Tedric shares his wealth of knowledge with the world, at: Better Photo Tips .com and on his Blog by the same name.
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- The Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Digital Photography
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Skills learned in traditional photography do not go away with digital technology, they are enhanced. It's like getting an upgrade on the software you already have. The rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing become more important in the digital world, not less.
- Better Photo Tips - More Vs Better
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Eventually, he only gave me a single 24 exposure roll to shoot ANY event. "Don't show me how much you can shoot," he would say, "Show me how good you can shoot."
- Better Photo Tips - Walking the Line
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Thus the line is; and always will be, the master of direction. It can lead the viewer deeper into the work; or it can say, "Let's take a walk," and take you in a whole different direction.
- Better Photo Tips - Group F 1.2
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Let's face it, if a person looks at your photo and they don't know what the subject is, you have a major problem. This can not be overstated; the three greatest rules in photography are, simplify, simplify, and oh yea, simplify.
- Better Photo Tips - Consistent Change
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] We are they who seek every day to show the ordinary in extraordinary ways. It is our job to think outside the box. Don't let your routine limit your future.
- Better Photo Tips - To Tweak Or Not to Tweak?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] It all started when a student of mine, emailed me with a question. She said that her cousin wanted a copy of her photo we had posted on my site. She (the student) had the original photo but noticed the one on my site looks brighter and richer than hers. She wrote how come there is a difference, and how can I make my picture look like that?
- Better Photo Tips - To Pay Or Not to Pay?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] I had a question the other day that to some, may or may not be considered controversial. The question basically put was should this photographer spend $69.00 on one of those books that claims to have selected one of her photos as "The best photography of 2009"?
- Better Photo Tips - Photo Contests
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If no one ever saw your work, would you still be a photographer? It's a personal question we all have to answer for ourselves. Photo contests promote personal growth not only for the photographer but for the viewers as well.
- Better Photo Tips - Fear Factor
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Every time you offer someone the chance to purchase your work, you offer them a part of yourself. You are telling them, "I think you, or your daughter, or son is pretty special. That's why I captured this memory." If you think of your services as a gift; you are more likely to succeed, and less likely to have to face the fear factor.
- Better Photo Tips - Street Photography
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Like many of you, I was raised with the idea that when you take portraits you say things like; "Chin up, eyes forward, and look into the camera." For many years when shooting adults this seemed to work just fine, then I went to Korea for a year. For some strange reason it seems a whole lot harder to coach a person, if you don't speak the same language. Sure I went through the motions; gesturing with my hands, and speaking louder and slower. Don't ask me why Americans think louder and slower will magically make others understand a language they never spoke before. But eventually; I stopped trying to change the subject, and realized I was the foreigner here. I had to change how I was shooting.
- Better Photo Tips - Starting Digital
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In the beginning, there was light and it was good. Then there was film, and it was great. Then there was digital and . . . well you get the idea. Digital media and digital cameras have definitely changed how the world views the world. Super mega pixel cameras under $200.00 puts the power of creativity into the hands of more people than ever before. But if I were to hand you a paint brush and a huge palette of colors, does that mean you could paint me a mural in just a few days? Of course not; even if you had all the colors you could imagine, it doesn't mean you would have the knowledge or experience to know what to do with them.
- Better Photo Tips - Creative Eye
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you are a true movie buff and you watch all those "Behind the scenes" or "Making of" features that are often included on DVDs today, you have probably noticed something. Quite often the director has some type of small one lens eyepiece hanging around their neck. What is it, and why do they use it? It's called: a director's finder; and the director uses this device to see how the shot is going look thru the lens of the camera.
- Better Photo Tips - Background Factor
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Most people spend 90% (or more) of their efforts on getting the subject to look just right, for the photo and that's important. But considering how much the background can help or hurt the over-all image, it is also critical to be aware of other factors as well.
- Better Photo Tips - Creative Influence
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "In the evolution of photography we went from 5x7 films to 35mm film and we did not destroy the art. We moved from Black and White to Color and did not destroy the art. Moving from Film to Digital is not a limitation. It is the next step in the creative process."
- Better Photo Tips - Hand Guide
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The Key to taking good quality pictures that include hands is for you the photographer to be aware of the visual lines that are being created. A good rule of thumb to remember is this: "If lines point away, save it for another day. If lines point in, you're ready to begin."
- Better Photo Tips - Photographing People
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The idea behind taking a portrait verses just another snap shot is to clarify, intensify, or otherwise enlarge our experience of life. Use each of these rules as a piece of the creative puzzle you are trying to design.
- Better Photo Tips - Keep it Simple
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Your job is NOT to capture the universe of possibilities and confuse your viewer. Your job is to point out the individual miracles within the universe so your viewer can appreciate them.
- Better Photo Tips - Great Photo Recipe
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Similar to great cooking; great photography is a matter of knowing what to put in, what to leave out, or what to substitute. Learn basic ingredients, and items to spice up your photos.
- Better Photo Tips - Flash Points
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Electronic flash can be a powerful ally, if you know how to control it. This photo article covers several creative options to use your flash more effectively.
- Better Photo Tips - Camera Support
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] At one point or another; all of us have probably heard something to the effect that using a tripod is the best way of getting clear sharp photos. While this may be true, many of us get intimidated by the idea of dragging a 10 pound accessory along with us. This is especially true if you are talking about nature photography and you may be hiking 3 to 5 miles to get to the destination you want to take photos at.
- Better Photo Tips - A Picture Thinker
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Learning to think creatively has more to do with how we think than what we think. Becoming a picture thinker, releases you from your own limitations. As a man thinketh, so is he. Learn how to think as a Master Photographer, and then become one.
- Better Photo Tips - Making Vs Taking
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] With today's technology anyone can take a pretty good picture, but what happens if you want more? Making a photograph and taking a picture are two different mindsets. One is creative; one is just going through the motions. Which one are you?
- Better Photo Tips - Photographic Standard
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you don't know where you're at, its hard to know where you're going. Having a photographic standard is like having a road map. It is possible to get from here to there without one . . . but it's a whole lot easier with one.
- Better Photo Tips - New Photo Insights
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] We all have things we like to photograph best, but part of being a great photographer is keeping an open mind and shooting outside your comfort zone. To stretch your imagination and creativity sometimes you NEED to shoot different things. Just because you shoot different things, doesn't mean you have to shoot things different. Remember the basics.
- Better Photo Tips - Writing a Photo Article
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Web pages and articles have several things in common, the most obvious being that both do better when "Key Words" are included. This article covers the importance of Key Words in both the title and body of any article you are writing.
- Better Photo Tips - Photo Filters and More
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] When it comes to taking your work to the next level, sometimes you need an edge. Often the little things are those that make the biggest difference. This article covers some of those little things that can help improve your photography.
- Better Photo Tips - Studio Light Patterns
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] It is not a big secret that all photos are made of light. What to do with that light on the other hand, often confuses many photographers. The goal here is to help you see that light in a much simpler way.
- Better Photo Tips - For Photo Composition
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The difference between a photo being considered a work of art or just a snapshot, has to do with basic composition. Composition is made of several different elements of design. This article reviews those elements.
- Better Photo Tips - Lines In Your Photos
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] All photos have lines in them. Lines can support your subject or distract from your subject. In some cases, lines can actually be the subject. Knowing what lines do and represent will make all your photographs better.
- Capturing Motion - And the Photographic Blur
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The fans are screaming; the Bulls have the ball, and you are following number 23 as he approaches the basket. He jumps, he shoots ... you score! You did get that picture just as the ball left his fingertips, didn't you? If you got that sports illustrated cover shot, the ball would be frozen just past the tip of his fingers.
- Photographic Insight - A Worms' Eye View
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "Let's take a mushroom for example; from above you see the top of a small round dome. Think of the most interesting building you have ever seen. If you saw it from directly above, would it still seem interesting? Now if you get down on the same level as the mushroom, you can see the overall shape of the dome, the stem, and how the two interact. Definitely more interesting, but aren't you still missing something?"
- Close Focus, Macro, and Micro - How Close Is Too Close?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "In most cases, when you use a Close Focus lens you can only get within 18 inches of your subject. When you use a close focus on a zoom lens, it may appear that you were closer than 18 inches; like a single human eye in your photo. But what happens when you start to photograph something that most eyes never see; the reflection within an eye for example? How close is too close?"
- Triangles and Diamonds - Building Blocks For a Great Portrait
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "Similar to building with blocks, when we start "stacking people" in a portrait it really does matter where you place each person. With only two blocks you can go sideways or on top of each other and things are still pretty stable. However, when you talk about people and photography, there is another factor to consider. Generally straight lines are boring and diagonal lines are visually more interesting."
- Darkroom Background - Digital Future
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Photography is still a two- sided coin. There is taking the picture and there is enhancing the picture. Before we used enlargers, timers, and chemicals; now we use, computers, software, and media card readers. It may all be overwhelming at first (I know it was for me.) But look at it this way; after two or three hours at your computer, have you ever been told you smell like chemicals?
- Photography Life Lessons - Back In the Zone
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "Those who learned B/W photography first, were taught more art concepts. A great photo has to do more with leading lines, composition, and contrast than a single color theme. Most B/W photographers learn to capture the full range from black to white (the Zone System), most people who only see color rarely create as much visual depth."
- Shadows and Highlights - The Mark of Excellence
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] "With that in mind, I would like to redefine highlights as: the brightest area in a photo in which one can still see detail. The same is true of a great shadow. A shadow is defined as the darkest area of a photo in which you can still see detail. If you see a picture of a cave opening and all is black, you don't really have any shadows (you have darkness.) If you can see eyes and a hairy outline of some type of creature breathing the cool night air, you can honestly say you caught something lurking in the shadows."
- The Photo Patch - A Background Reminder
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If I were taking a picture of a big impressive tractor and there was a barn in the background; that barn would be like a supporting actor in a movie. If on the other hand, I was shooting a Motorcycle and there was a barn in the background, it would seem out of place. It would be distracting.
- Just the Right Angle - A Photographic Perspective
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The point of finding the right angle is not to be different for difference sake. The point is to find the angle that gives you the greatest insight to your subject. The right angle can be dramatic; the wrong angle can be boring.
- Five Key Ways To Promote a Photographer
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Let's face it, most of us do photography on the side. Our dream or goal may be to make a living at it, at some point in time. But to do that, we have to make a lot more sales. To make the sales we need more customers. To get more customers, we need to promote ourselves.
- Top Ten Reasons - I Love Photography
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Photography can unite your family. From baby pictures to high school dances, to marriage and beyond, nothing helps you relate or draw closer to someone than seeing what they've been through. It helps you hold onto the memories when everyone else is gone.
- The Creative Zone - Pushing Your Own Limits
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The more you shoot, the more you know. You learn what worked and what did not. You learn what you liked and what you did not. You learn what time of day looked better and what did not. You are not going out to be the greatest photographer every day . . . you are going out to become a better photographer everyday.
- Weathering the Storm - Shooting in Extreme Weather
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In this case is would be worth upgrading to insulated bags, like those found in many grocery stores. Another alternative to a traditional camera bag is a small lunch cooler, lightweight and insulated. If you want to use blue ice, put it in its own baggie just so no moister leaks out. Again you will want to tape off the exposed metal parts of your camera.
- Which "Q" are You? - Quality vs. Quantity
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In other words, quantity is not always just about the numbers. The more I shoot, the more I understand. The more I understand the better quality I produce. If I take a subject (any subject) and only shoot it from one position, with one type of light...
- Zen Photography - Being At One With Your Camera
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Eventually, he stopped what he was doing and explained. I was shooting ASA speed film of 125, so that was also my starting shutter speed. When shooting totally manual the rule is simple: film speed = shutter speed + f-16. What he told me about "plus two" was that the rule is designed to give you an average reading for average light; since we were shooting in brighter than average light, I should increase the f-stops by two.
- Zen Photography 2 - Being At One With Your Image
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] It is said that the tip of an iceberg represents only about 10% of what's really there. That means that 90% of it lies just below the surface. I'm willing to state that a great photo is much the same. If you don't consider things like: background, line, texture, lighting, contrast, size, shape, balance, and depth of field... you are only focused on 10% of the shot.
- Learning How to Learn - Making Experience Count
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] To keep your work exciting and vibrant, you, the photographer have to be the same. Seeing things in new and exciting ways is a learned skill. Learning to see creatively is not something you only learn once and then you're done. The truly great ones; those who will live on forever in the field of photography (Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Imogene Cunningham come to mind), are those who continued to learn and then relearn their craft every day of their lives.
- Ready, Set, Frown - Shooting for Emotional Response
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Some of mans greatest moments come in the moment of overcoming something else. Sports, drama, playing, dancing, morning, building, and exercising are all very real to those participating in those things at the moment. Each will bring up different emotions, each will show different expressions. Rarely do these everyday things involve a big cheesy ear to ear grin. Don't get me wrong, smiles are great, but they are not the only things worth photographing.
- Thinking Outside the Box - Eliminating the "Dead Zone"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] What I'm suggesting is that the background is your supporting actor. The good guy is only good because he over comes the bad guy. The bad guy is only bad because of what he does to the innocent victim. You, the photographer, have to be aware of BOTH the foreground and the background. The difference between a good shot and a great shot is how much or how long it holds the viewers attention.
- The Creative Eye - A Journey of Discovery
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you know how to knit, take so many shots, that someone could learn the entire process just by studying your images. Include all the details you would need to know. Get close-up shots of how the yarn sets on the needle. If it takes ten shots for someone to understand a certain stitch then do it. The greatest test any photographer can put his or herself through is to be able to teach something to someone else who knows absolutely nothing about the subject.
- People Pictures - Different Types, Different Problems
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] The old cliche that says: "smile and look at the camera" is not always the best way to do a portrait. Many informal or candid portraits don't have the subject looking at the camera at all. The biggest difference between an informal portrait and a formal portrait is usually lighting and location. Informal portraits are usually shot outdoors with available lighting.
- Format and Resolution - What You Need to Know
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] There are several different types of media cards, the manufacture of the camera determines which media card works with your particular camera. The media card itself is like a blank canvas. What matters to you is what format you are saving on the media card and what resolution you choose to save the image at.
- Shooting the Minds Eye
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] To correct what I said earlier; grandpa may have actually been satisfied with a snapshot from a point and shoot camera. Both mom and dad would look at that picture and feel something just wasn't right. It's not that his picture was a bad picture; it just didn't match what they had in mind. By using depth of field you can make people see what you saw, not only with your natural eyes, but in your mind's eye too.
- Starting With Basics - Shooting With Knowledge
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In Digital photography there are still only three basic things to worry about in regards to your camera. These are: the aperture (also called F-stop), the shutter speed, and the pixels. The difference here is that newer cameras, both digital and non digital alike have simplified things. You don't usually see the actual F-stops or Shutter speeds, but the pictures they left behind still control the same things.
- Help! My Meter is a Moron! - Creative Controls For DOF
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Exposure Values are those numbers that refer to the combinations of f-stops and shutter speeds that can give you an accurate exposure under a given light situation. Keep in mind that your meter is a moron! Meters do not see in color, in order to make up for this it will average your scene, and give you a reading for 18% gray. All meters do this; it's not their fault, that's how they were designed.
- Film Verses Digital - What's the Difference Anyway?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] I mean after all; the only thing you needed the battery for was the light meter, it's not like your whole camera will shut down if you have no battery. Oh, I'm sorry if you are using all digital that might have stung just a little bit. But besides the obvious dependency on a charged battery, there are other differences between film and digital cameras.
- Sports Photography- Learn from the Shoot
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Team sports like volleyball, football, basketball, and baseball were totally unknown to me, yet
that was what I was supposed to shoot. At that point in time, I was already aware that clutter in the background was not a good thing. My rule to live by was "simply shoot simple." The problem that arose is how do you simplify the shot, if you shoot two teams (us and them)
who both have 10 or 20 people, and are running all over the place?
- Depth of Field - A Major Player in Creative Control
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Most set lens range from 28mm - 38mm, there is less to adjust, less to think about, and unfortunately less control. Another photo tip is this; if you photograph someone using the 35mm end of the scale, more of the photo will seem in focus (wider DOF.) However . . . if you have a zoom lens and shoot with the 200mm end, much less of the photo will seem in focus, because you are using a narrower DOF. This is selective DOF, and it has nothing to do with the f-stops.
- Dominance Within You
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Dominance takes you by surprise - forces you out of your comfort zone, and turns you upside down and backwards and spits you back out again. In other words, it's an emotional roller coaster that changes your perspective. Even if you have never been to a particular location before, picture in your mind what you want to accomplish. When you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, you're on your way to taking your best shots ever.
- Dominate Color - For Emotional Impact
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Don't get me wrong - I'm all for color, but I consider it a great supporting
actor, NOT the star of the show. If the only thing you can state about a
particular shot is that you love the colors, then you are guilty of being
sloppy with color. Regardless of how vivid or exciting a color is, that in
and of itself does NOT mean it will be a great photograph.
- Dominance in Photography - Guaranteeing Success
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Dominance is the part of a composition that is emphasized, has the greatest visual weight,
the most important, powerful, or has the most influence. It is the main character in a novel,
the hero of a major motion picture. Even in a crowded room there are things and people that
draw your attention. If you want to capture the moment or feeling of the event, you have to
look for what is most dominant.
- Dominant Space - Directing a Viewers Attention
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] We've all heard about foreground and background. Generally the foreground is
where you find the main subject. The background is, well - in the back. It's
just back behind everything else, right? Wrong! The background is just as important
and in some cases even more important than the subject itself.
- Keeping Dominance in Mind – Provides Photographic Insight
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If all the subjects in your image are of equal size, shape, or visual weight, with nothing being clearly dominant, it becomes very difficult for your viewer to know what to focus on. In a great photograph, things that are dominant have the most visual weight. They are the most important, powerful,
influential elements in your image. Things that can dominate in a great photograph include: the
subject, color, line, size, shape, or texture.
- DPI and Why - Resolution Does Matter
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you take an image that was originally 5x7 inches at 72dpi and just try to convert it directly
to 300dpi at the same size, it will not turn out very well. It is much easier to make something
smaller that looks good; than to enlarge something after the fact and make it look even close
to the original quality.
- Positive and Negative Space - Understanding the Tip of the Iceberg
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Imagine if you will that no matter what you are shooting, no matter what it is, the subject is only 10% of the problem. How is that even possible, you ask? To become the best photographer you can be, you have to open your consciousness to see multiple possibilities. I encourage you to simplify the background when ever you can. But don't close your mind to the possibilities of images within images.
- Shooting Mother Nature - With the Respect She Deserves
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] When shooting nature, you must show her as much respect as you would a human subject.
There is an unspoken rule in portrait photography, that the photographer should never physically
touch his or her subject. If you need to move a branch or a rock that seems out of place, this is
NOT cheating. This is showing your subject at her best.
- 5 Points of a Masterpiece - A Basic Composition Guide
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] When you press your eye to the viewfinder of your camera, a blank canvas is placed before you. Similar to more traditional artists, you can paint a vertical shot or a horizontal shot. That's your first decision in basic composition. "Is my subject up and down, or does it go side to side?" Too often people say, "oh, they can crop that later." Yes, they can. But why let them? This is your masterpiece, why hand them the brush?
- Money in Photography - Up Close and Personal
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Always remember to shoot more than what you are asked for, or even more than you might think is enough. Especially with one time events, it is often impossible to go back and do it again. If you can figure out what it is that people are into, you can figure out what they need pictures of. The key to making money in this business is making memories.
- Emotions Inside - Often Start With a Color Outside
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Look at it this way, the worse thing a parent can do to a child is NOT to let that child know they are loved.
Like wise - a photograph that does not evoke emotions or feelings in the viewer, has robbed the viewer. Your job as is not just to "document" or "point and shoot." Your job is to touch the hearts of those who
have not experienced what you have.
- Dominance The Key - To Keeping it Simple
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In music there is a dominant beat or rhythm. In drama there is a dominant character. Like wise it is important to have something- whether it is the subject or the background that dominates the shot. If someone looks at your photo and has no idea what the shot was about, then you've lost your viewer.
- Depth of Field - Making Them See What You Saw
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Although some sports photographers might disagree, I believe the aperture is the single most
creative tool one can use on any type of Camera. The f-stops (numbers ranging from f-1.4 to say f-22) represent how much the aperture is or is not open to expose light to the film (or digital media card). It's
not an exaggeration to say that 80% of the time I shoot at f-5.6 or less. The reason I shoot that way is because I like to control where you look.
- Close-Up Magic - Without Spending a Fortune
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you are thinking that you still have to have that super powerful lens, be aware of one thing. Macro and Close-Up is not the same thing. Some camera manufacturers use the phrase "Macro" when in reality they should be saying "Close-Up." A close-up lens will take a photo of a butterfly; a macro lens will take a photo of a close-up section of the detail on a butterfly's wing.
- Be a Mentor - the More You Know, the More You Grow
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] You can take pictures and show them to your friends and family, who probably know less than you do . . .
or you go out and find someone who already has experience and learn from them. Fact of life; there will always be someone who knows more than you do. Don’t be ashamed of it, embrace it and grow.
- Light is Your Crayon - And There's Always Another Color in the Box
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If you want your shots to look extraordinary, don't rely on just an average reading. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, but not every combination makes a great novel. What you do with those 26 letters determines if you are a great writer. What you do with the information your camera gives you, determines whether or not you are a great photographer.
- Lines Your Best Friend - Or Your Worse Nightmare
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In music; if you had to start at the very beginning, you would start with "Doe, Ray, Me" or so the
song goes. In art it would be "Line, Texture, and Light." Keep in mind that if you want to be a good photographer, you also want to be a good Artist. When your picture says one thing, and you shoot
in the opposite direction, you've lost all credibility as a great photographer.
- The Rule of Thirds - Raising the Bar of Excellence
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] By placing your subject (or point of interest) at one of these natural focus points, you have greatly increased the odds that the viewer will indeed be captivated by your work. As you do this more and more; people will notice that for some reason your work seems more interesting than their "Bull's-eye" type snap shot. They won't understand it, but they will be drawn to your work just like a magnet.
- Size Does Matter - Creating a Visual Reference
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] You climbed over rocks; you walked through streams, and pushed pine branches out of your way. When you looked through the view finder of your camera, these images were also in the back of your mind. The human mind is a wonderful creation; it takes images, sounds, and smells and blends them all into wonderful memories. The problem lies in the limitations of the medium. In other words, we experience in three-dimensions, we document in two-dimensions.
- Visual Balance - Means Taking Another Look
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] I'm sure all of us have seen or taken a shot of a mountain reflected off a perfectly still pond or lake. If you get in close enough (leaving out the things on the edge of the lake) the shot almost becomes an abstract work of art. Very interesting, very intriguing, very much a formal balance shot. But what happens if in the lower left hand corner we add a man in a fishing boat trying to net the big bass that's on the end of his fishing pole? Is it any less of an interesting shot now?
- The Art of Framing - Before You Make the Print
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] How do you let a total stranger know that what you have shot is important? Well, there's only one thing that can possibly draw your attention better than a good frame. That's two frames. If your photo is naturally framed; and then you add a frame and hang it on your wall, it's no longer a photo, it's now a work of Art.
If you believe in your work enough to frame it, others will take notice too.
- Seeing the Light - Knowing What's Right
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Most photographers when shooting outdoors prefer early morning or just before dusk. When you
use a fill flash outdoors with someone wearing a baseball cap you will actually be able to see their
face. Others who think: "Oh, there's plenty of light" will get really dark shadows and wonder why
yours look so good.
- Semi-Automatic Control - Creativity Even in Auto Mode
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] In this world of automatic cars and power windows, it stands to reason
that automatic cameras, would some day dominate the market.
That day has come. Remember your camera is like a paintbrush to the
painter, you control how much light to apply to the photo.
- Repetition a Visual Tool - For Turning Chaos into Art
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Patterns are to photography, what Rhythm is to music. Without the limitation of just a single point of interest, repetition helps your eye dance from point to point with pure delight. The goal here is not to just witness a good photograph, but to experience it.
- The Power Of Opposition - Make Them Feel What You Felt
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Let's take flowers for example; they can be as small as a dime, or as big as a basketball. If you shot a picture of a flower and a bee hovered over it looking almost twice it's size, is that flower big or small? On the other hand; say you shot a picture of a huge sunflower and you had to look twice to notice there was a bee on it, is that flower big or small? Believe it or not, not everyone has seen flowers bigger than a human head.
- Finding Your Passion - How Into It Are You?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] If we take a nice picture of a flower with early morning dew, we probably like photography.
If we hike into a canyon for two hours to find a certain waterfall, we probably love photography.
But, if after two hours of hiking, we wait two more hours until the light is just right, that's Passion.
- Digital May Be King - But the Queen is Not Dead
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] That works out to about .29 cents per print. If I bring in my digital card and want
a jumbo "5x7" size print, it cost me (at the same lab): $1.47 each. Let's say I shoot
five rolls . . . which would you rather pay $35.00 raw cost, or $176.00 raw cost?
Will I ever go totally 100% digital? Not as long as there are still Photo Labs on the
planet that allow me to print from negatives.
- Bigger, Newer, Faster - But is it Better?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] A few may make enlargements as big as 8x10; but who on earth do you know that regularly makes
30 x 40 prints? Some people claim, "but then I can blow up a small portion of the shot and make
a cool print." My answer to that is: "learn to take better pictures to begin with."
- Adding Texture - Adding A Whole New Dimension
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Many photo classes are taught that never even mention the word texture.
Can you take a picture without texture? Probably not... but even if you could,
would you really want to? Even in nature shots- you can shoot water as smooth
as glass or as violent as a volcano.
- The Shape of Things - What to Leave in, What to Take Out
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography] Why do some photographers seem to take forever to arrange a group of people? What is it they're looking for? More than likely, it has to do with shapes. Three people standing in a straight line is boring. Move one of them up or down and suddenly you've formed a triangle. Add one person in the opposite position of the point and now you form a diamond. Shape adds feeling to the unemotional canvas of a photograph.
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