Dirty Little Secrets #3
There are so many movies that show high-tech video and photography capabilities. You see an image taken from a low resolution black and while ATM video camera. They will take that image and not only “enhance” it to be able to read the license place that only took up 4 pixels on the screen but also come up with a color of the vehicle. These abilities are pretty much impossible. But through movie magic, that license place pops into perfect detail and the black and while image colorizes those shades of gray into perfect hues. Let me give you a little test. Here’s an image I’ve made smaller and converted to black and white. Next week I’ll post the larger color version, but for now tell me what color are the walls of the room or the couch. How about, who’s photo hangs on the wall above the fireplace.
While you try to figure that out. Here’s the real dirty little secret, you can’t fix everything in post processing. A lot of people think that you can fix photos that are out of focus. You can’t. If it’s out of focus, you have blurred out the detail, and there’s no way to bring that back. Below I have an image where I blurred out the background. You have a clue what’s in the background based on the foreground objects, but there is no way from this image to restore the detail of the grape vines. The same is true if you “accidentally” have bad focus on your subject. So make sure you check your focus. One of the nice things about digital cameras is the LCD on the back. In most cases you can zoom in and check on the spot so you don’t have any nasty surprises later.
Dirty Little Secrets #2
“Expensive equipment doesn’t make better photos.” I know this is going to raise a lot of eyebrows and may cause an uproar in some photographers who have paid a lot for some impressive equipment. But you need to read that statement closely one more time. I’m not saying that you don’t need good equipment. Expensive equipment is often more rugged and can handle extreme conditions better than less expensive equipment. But to make better photos you don’t need to buy something, you need to have better vision.
More expensive cameras give you more options and possibilities, they don’t automatically make better photos. This includes almost all aspects of cameras. More megapixels don’t make better photos, more megapixels just give you more resolution and allow you to get finer detail in what you shoot. This also holds true for high frame rates in continuous shooting modes, faster frame rates just gives you more images and more possible images to choose.
As long as your equipment is functioning correctly, any camera can make extraordinary photos. It’s difficult prove this without side by side comparisons. So let me give you something from a DSLR taken back in the summer. It’s nice to get a photo of a rainbow, and the lens also had a polarizer, but the picture is pretty boring.
Fortunately my son was using his point-and-shoot and took a very similar picture. I don’t know how he does it sometimes, but this is a much better photo. It even has an almost HDR feel to it. All on a camera less than a quarter the cost of the DSLR.
The Photography Tip of the Week #048
048 Photography Tip of the Week (audio)
Make photos, don’t just take pictures
In recent days I’ve blogged about some of the negative terms in photography and the start of a series about dirty little secrets of photography. These lead up to something I’ve added to the site, some quotes. One of my favorites is by Ansel Adams, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” It is one of the most fundamental aspects of photography. When you are out taking pictures you are an observer of the world capturing moments presented to you. But when you are out making photos you have the mindset of an artist. You cease to journal what’s going on and begin to create emotion, passion and life.
So what do you need to do to make a photo. Here are a few things I feel are important to keep in mind while making photos.
1. Observe – Obviously you have to be observant. You have to be aware of your environment. From the direction of the light to background objects that may clutter your scene. There a lot of things you can fix after the fact, but why spend that time when in most cases being observant and making a few adjustments before you press the shutter will give you the image you wanted.
I was told a story yesterday about a photographer at a wedding who crouched down low to get the exact look he wanted. While he was crouched down he backed up to frame the image he was looking for. When he stood up, he hadn’t realized that while he was crouched down he had backed under a table and toppled the table as well as all of the contents during the ceremony. So you have to be aware of everything, not just what’s in the frame.
2. Anticipate – You have to have a good idea what’s going to happen and be ready for the action. This could be as simple as checking the weather forecast or it could be knowing a sport well enough to have your camera pointed to where the action is going to be. You need to know the rules of the game so you know when you have time to change settings, cameras or lens without missing the shot. If you are shooting a wedding knowing the order of service will tell you when to expect the important shots, like when they are about to kiss. In all cases, it’s about having your camera ready and pointed at the right subject at the right time.
But not all things are about following what’s expected. Sometimes you need to anticipate chaos or at lease who might be unpredictable enough to create some memorable images. When I’m at a wedding I always look to the children in the ceremony for these memorable images.
3. Visualize – While you are looking through your viewfinder, you have to have an idea of your final product. Even if you never follow through with the appropriate post processing, if you have a good solid idea of where you’re going, that will keep you motivated and give you direction. What will the purpose of the photo be? Is it a large print to hang in a gallery or an image for a mousepad.
This doesn’t mean to only make photos of things you have planned. Creativity is spontaneous. Conditions change and offer you some unique photographic possibilities. But remember, if your only purpose is to randomly take pictures, you will never make a photo.
Dirty Little Secrets #1
I’ve been doing the Photography Tips one a week for almost a year now. I easily have another year’s worth of tips before they become similar enough that they may seem like duplicates. Other books and sites you may see will use the terms “Tips and Tricks.” Personally I don’t feel that there are any tricks to photography. Photography is not magic, it’s not illusion. Some people may think we are magicians with what we can do, but anyone can make a good image. So there are no tricks in my mind. However, there are some dirty little secrets.
Dirty little secret #1 – press that shutter button like there’s no tomorrow. The more images you take, the better photos you make. Depending on the type of session, I’ll get 200-600 photos an hour. I have my shutter set in continuous mode. There are a couple of reasons for this. The most obvious is you have more images to choose from.
Here are a few photos from a recent session I did. As you can see there are problems with many of them. Focus, composition and just some plain boring images. But in that hour out of 204 Images I made 19 good photos the client loved. Below is one of them.
The second less obvious reason for having your shutter in continuous mode is vibration reduction. The second photo is generally much sharper than the first. As well as subsequent images in that burst. Sharp images make great photos.
Photography is so Negative
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but photography is filled with so many negative words. No wonder people are intimidated by photographers. You are probably wondering what I’m talking about. You see photography as a creative expression of your vision. But some words have negative meanings and even when put in innocent phrases you feel those negative words. Here’s the 3 biggies.
1) Take a picture – Are you stealing the picture? The term take implies without permission. It’s like you are now an art thief removing pictures from everywhere stealing moments in time.
2) Capture an image – This is almost like saying kidnapping an image. Once again forcibly removing the image from the scene. The camera is now a net or a snare for you the photographic hunter.
3) Photo Shoot – You shoot a camera and you shoot a gun. What’s the purpose of shooting? Destruction of whatever is in the way.
We need to change these words and phrases. Even a simple change in wording can have a big impact on how people view you and your photography. I continue to slip from time to time, but these are the alternative phrases I try to use.
1) Make a picture – This sounds like you are a photographic construction worker, building the picture from scratch. Actually this is closer to the truth anyway. There are many decisions you have to make when you take a picture. So take those decisions and make that picture.
2) Produce an image – The act of creation. Almost makes you seem like a god.
3) Photo Session – What can be more politically correct than the word session. It almost sounds like you are going to a meeting. In a way you are, you have to dress up for it. At least the people having their photos made need to dress up.
You may think I’m joking about this whole post. Really I’m not, even though I try to make it as lighthearted as possible. Just a simple change in terminology can set you above the rest.
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I am a top photographer in the Mocksville, North Carolina Professional Photographers guide on MarketingTool.com.
