Studying the Light to ramp up your Photographs

The study of light is so important if you want to learn to take great photographs. Without light there can be no photos so it only makes sense that we learn about its characteristics and how different light can affect the look of your photos.

By studying light before you take a shot you can determine what sort of mood your photo is going to capture. If the light is a beautiful golden colour then your photo will have a really warm summer feel to it. Similarly if the light is dark then the photo will probably have a cold and forboding look to it.

Strong Backlight adds lovely countour glow

So if light is so important to the feel and look of our photographs why do people pay so little attention to it when they are first starting out? Studying the light and what its doing well before taking your photo is probably one of the most important  photography tips that you can learn when taking your first photos.

In fact its so important that you should probably head down to a favourite spot that you shoot over a few days and just watch what the light is doing. Where are the shadows falling and at what time? Is the spot that you want to shoot going to be better as a sunrise shot or a sunset shot?

What other factors should you be looking for when looking at the light? How do clouds affect the light in the area that you are trying to shot? Quite often light that makes it through the clouds is really soft and diffused and really enhances colours dramatically.

When taking your photos and when you edit them afterwards you should always be conscious of the fact that a persons eye will always be drawn to the brightest part of the image. Knowing just this one simple tip will help your photography out tenfold. Next time you're out taking photographs think about where you want the brightest part of the image to be and see what a difference it makes.

The soft light highlights the subjects face

After being drawn to bright spots your eye will next be drawn to warmer colours. Your eyes will be drawn to oranges and yellows before it will be drawn to blues and greens.

Lastly, remember when taking the photo you're trying to capture a moment, not just a photo. You want people to feel what you felt when you took the photo. You're trying to convey to them what inspired you to take that photo at that particular time. What I do now when I see a scene that I like is turn away, then look back and see what my eye falls on straight away, or think what attracts me about this scene. Once I have worked that out I start to use my knowledge of light to try and enhance the scene and produce a stunning shot.

So next time you're out shooting think of how the light is affecting your subject. It is vitally important, for light is everything in photography. The more you start to think about the light when taking photos the better you photos will be.

Landscapes and Inner peace

When I first got into Photography all those years ago, it was the awesome beauty of nature that got me hooked. Wether it was some snaps of a Greek Island on holiday or some morning landscape shots taken back in the UK- it was the serene beauty and tranquility of nature that started me on the road to running my own photography business.

There is something so powerful and awe inspiring about the natural world that gets you hooked, I dont know if its primeval or just some good old fashioned peace and quiet - but deep down it resonates and remains with you.

Maybe its something that is missing in our modern day lives, living in our concrete castles and far removed from the natural world that sustains and supports us. So busy are we "making ends meet" that we rarely get a chance to stop and look at the world around us- but stop and look we must.

There is a serious disconnect in the way a lot of people live their lives in the modern world. Anxiety and Depression are more prevalent than they have ever been - Im not saying for one minute that a daily dose of nature will cure all ills, but what it does is give people a sense of place and peace, furthermore it helps people to think outside of themselves and create an enlarged focus.

Our lives have become so complex and multi-layered that all too often people feel constantly overwhelmed and helpless to stop the tide of so called progress. Getting back to what is natural and uncomplicated  even for a short while, helps bring a sense of peace and serenity to a stressed out mind. "Time Out" is imperative for a healthy existence.

Even though my business has expanded to being primarily focused in Portraiture and Architectural Photography, I make sure that I devote time to getting out at the crack of dawn to shoot the sublime sunrises on Sydneys Northern Beaches,  to getting out into the awesome country NSW and loosing myself for a day or two - to get back to where it all began and as a matter of course press the refresh button on my life.

Tips for Beginners Portrait Photography

A portrait made of superior quality always leaves a good impression. The same is with a portrait projecting and capturing the right emotions, feelings and character. Tips to achieve good quality photo portraits will enhance your knowledge on portrait photography. Although good quality portraits are an outcome of experience and art there are certain guidelines that allow you to improve on your skills quickly.

1.Background

A passive background is the essence of any photograph that has a person as its central attraction, so that the interest from the central object is not taken away. Portrait photography focuses on the face of the person. Therefore it becomes necessary to take photos within a neutral backdrop. By good background one basically means background that has soft and solid colors. A busy road with people in motion is not considered as good backgrounds.

2. A Blurring effect

The best way to draw the viewers' attention to the object would be to blur the details of the background. This will help the object to standout from the background. Making the background blur is very simple and just needs setting up the camera depth of the field. This can be done with the use of a zoom lens and by shooting at a short distance with the help of a broad aperture manual setup. easier with single portraiture than with group shots though, as you need a certain f stop 8-11 usually to capture all people in focus in the group - which renders a blurred background nigh on impossible in camera ( can be blurred using photoshop in post production).

A face consists of many features the eyes, the nose, the lips etc. Which part of the face do you think is important to focus on? Obviously the eyes, because the eyes is the window to ones mind and emotions. Focusing on the eyes will project the feelings better. Make your subject look straight into the camera or even sideways would do, this certainly depends on what you are trying to project or convey through the photography.

3.Lighting

Natural lighting should be used wherever possible. It is the best solution for capturing the full range of color as well as the skin warmth. So photographs must be taken outdoors during daytime. The object must be positioned in such a way that the object is hit by the sunlight from the sides as you will get only a silhouette. Never take photographs when the sun is behind a. object, as this will lead to overexposure and distortion of color.

4.Experiment

Experiment with a digital camera as the film cost here works out to literally zero. So experimenting will help you to make the required adjustments and thus help you to get the perfect shots.

Better Photography - 10 tips

Getting a great picture is not difficult. While a great camera is good to have, these pictures can be attained with just an inexpensive one too. The following ten tips are going to help get much better pictures:

Tip 1 - Space

The subject of the picture can either encompass the whole frame or can be used with a subtle background as long as there is nothing in the background that detracts from the picture.

Tip 2 - Form

The form of the subject of the picture is the most important aspect of it. Find the best light and way to shoot the subject to get the most out of it.

Tip 3 - Action

There should never be fake action in a still picture. Keep the action out and use the horizon in either the upper or lower part of the frame.

Tip 4 - Contrast

Black and white pictures are so striking because of the contrast. The same goes for colors, look for contrasting colors to really set the picture apart from the rest.

Tip 5 - Distance

Get up to the focus of the picture. Standing too far away is going to render a pixilated picture that can't be blown up.

Tip 6 - The Shutter Lagging

Those who use a non digitized camera really do not have this issue. With all the advances in high definition cameras, they still have not been made to avoid shutter lag. This is when the picture is being shot and the shutter needs time to close. Set up your shot for a second or two before you want to take it to avoid this issue.

Tip 7 - Pan

Panning is simply moving the camera with an action shot. This is vital when the subject is in motion to get the feel of movement with a subject that is still.

Tip 8 - Shooting Continually

A camera that can take shot after shot without stopping is a great investment because you can get second by second shots to choose from.

Tip 9 - Shots in the Dark

Taking shots in the dark is all about lighting. If the lighting is correct, the results are going to be stunning. Try using different colored lights in combinations with white lights to really get the subject to pop.

Tip 10 - Read the Manual

Know how to use your camera. Each camera offers its own unique functions that can offer variations on photographs. Learn what the camera can do before you use it.

Preparation for a photo shoot

One of the things that Im most often asked about Photoshoots by clients, is:


 "What should we wear" ?


while there is no one definitive answer to this question, but some rough guidelines to help clients get the best from their shoot and of course that includes great images. So I've put together a few notes that may help people decide on whats best for their family to wear on the day of the shoot itself and a few other tips !

Preparing for the Photo-shoot - Family Portraits / Corporate Portraits

In order to prepare for the photo shoot as best we can, we offer a free initial consultation (this will usually take place prior to the day of the shoot), so we can get to know you a little better and to find out what type of shot you are looking for, wether it be a formal corporate shoot or a laugh with the kids down at the beach. If possible we will visit you in your home/business so we can get a feel for the type of shot you are looking for, we also ask you to have a think where in your home you want to place the artwork/ what the corporate shots are to be used for, as this will have a significant bearing on the type/location of the photo-shoot.

What to wear for the shoot itself? –Family

Depending on what type of shot you are looking for will determine what you should wear on the day of the shoot, this can be determined at the initial consultation, however you should always wear something that is comfortable and feel good in. Try not to wear distracting spots or stripes, it is unnecessary to have everyone dressed the same ( unless you really want to), we feel that clothes help to bring out an individuals personality. As a general rule of thumb for Family shoots,smart casual clothes are great, the guys always look good in a collared top, the ladies  in flattering flowing dresses and the kids in bright colours, try not to dress the kids in something too new as they never need another excuse to fidget. Don't worry too much about what to wear, often the simplest outfits work best.

What to wear for the shoot itself? - Corporate

For Corporates, you may not have to look further than business attire, however, if you have more scope we will discuss possibilities at the initial meeting and work out what is best to reflect the image you wish to portray.

Hair/Make up

You might want to consider getting your hair and/or make up done for the shoot, but not to go over the top as we find looking as natural as possible always works best, again whatever you are comfortable with and used to. Maybe get the kids to have a trim if they are looking a bit straggely, but again we find that as natural as possible works best. Also bear in mind that we can re-touch any blemishes post production.

What else ?

If your Portrait shoot involves children, there are a couple of extra things we ask you consider:

If you have really young children please schedule your shoot well away from nap times, there is nothing more impossible that trying to get a smile from an overtired toddler.

Bring something the kids can play with along to the shoot, a favourite toy or some other distraction

Please also arrive a little early so the kids can get comfortable in the presence of the photographer thus enabling a smoother shoot, which will result in better/more natural pictures.

What to expect at the shoot itself ? - Family

You will spend between 60 - 90mins on location/at home with the photographer having fun and capturing beautiful photos. The length of the shoot will be dependant on wether the photographer is happy with the quality of the shots captured. David has over 15 years experience behind the lens and is very relaxed and easy going. All you need to do yourself is relax, enjoy the shoot and look forward to great family images that will last a lifetime.