Posts Tagged ‘Photography’

Learn Digital Photography – 5 Keys To Learning Photography

Friday, February 11th, 2011

When making the decision to learn photography or improve your existing skills, there is just so much material bombarding us making it difficult to know where to start. Where do you start and how do you get started.

My journey started many years ago, before the digital revolution when life was more structured, great material was available and the choices were limited. Now you can do a search on the internet and come up with a hundred sources. The unfortunate thing is that most of the material doesn’t offer you a preview and you can’t browse through it like a printed book or course. So where does one start? It’s essential when starting out on a photographic journey to get the basics right. Learning the fundamentals properly will prepare you for a bright and very fulfilling future in photography. Let’s take a look at a few important steps.

1. Find a practical ebook or course

Photography is a practical hobby and although theory is a part of it, one enjoys it by going out and doing. The operative word is doing. Any course must get you doing something from the very first chapter or if possible from the first paragraph. In teaching and training I have found it most effective to offer on the job mentoring while we are taking photos. With the instant feedback digital gives, it is the perfect way of teaching someone. That, of course, is great when dealing one on one with live people. Through a book or ecourse it may be a little more difficult but the author must get you shooting images immediately. The method I use in my books is to start people out shooting images and then afterwards giving them the criteria with which to evaluate their own images and improve them. Shoot, improve, shoot improve is the perfect way to learn because it’s practical. I cannot emphasise this point enough. A quick tip for looking at ebooks and courses, make sure that the author offers a money back guarantee. If the ebook or course doesn’t offer real practical advice you can get your money back. If they are not transferring their skills to you then the ebook isn’t worth it.

2. Start doing assignments or projects

The course or ebook you have decided upon should have practical assignments and projects or you have made a bad choice. I love acquiring knowledge through reading and research but after all these years it has done nothing to improve my photography without its practical application. So, start working through the assignments or projects carefully and try to apply the skills or techniques you are learning. Don’t proceed to the next chapter until you have mastered the lesson or skill. If you’ve bought a book that doesn’t have assignments then you need to create you own based on the material you are learning. Write it down so that you are clear as to what you should be doing then go out and shoot. You must have an end in mind and achieve a practical goal when your assignment is complete.

3. Use a journal

This is a photo journal and not a writing journal. You want track your progress and watch your learning journey develop. It can be a regular journal where you paste in your photos and make notes of location, date, time, the settings you used to take the image and how you felt. Or, you can maintain it on your computer. The key here is to watch your progress and see where you are improving and where you need to give more attention. Besides this, it’s a fun activity and a showcase of your photography. The key here is that it should help you keep focused and maintain your photographic journey. You are able to leave photography for a few weeks then pick it up again, revise and begin where you left off. It gives you structure to your learning and allows you to remember where you were last at and can continue on a logical course.

4. Teach someone else

This is where my photo journey took off like a rocket. As soon as I started teaching others I cemented the principles in my own mind and my own photography improved a hundredfold. I got together a group of friends for the purpose of enjoying my photo outings on the weekends. Because I was the most experienced they asked questions and I gave the answers. The ones I didn’t know I refreshed from my books and courses and the rest is history. Once you explain something to someone else you have to think about it more logically which often results in a better understanding on your own part.

5. Practise, practise, practise

The famous South African golfer and winner of many major international tournaments said, “the harder I practise the luckier I get.” You don’t think the master National Geographic photographers shot those fantastic magazine photos by chance do you? They come as a result of years of practise, trial and error. Go out and find your favourite subjects and practise shooting them from different angles, perspectives and viewpoints. It’s logical that if you shoot a subject in three different ways you won’t get the same results as if you did it in a hundred different ways.

Photography is a journey of discovery and learning. And, as you discover new things about your environment, subject or location and include them in your images you will start to improve at a rapid rate. These are just some of the principles that if applied correctly will help you learn photography like never before.

Newsweek Elephant Stampede Cover Photo ? Successful Stock Photography

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

 

I just found out that one of my Getty Images, a herd of stampeding elephants, is on the March 1st Cover of Newsweek. Fame for a week! What is really amazing to me, and what continues to amaze me, is how easily the market can accommodate multiple uses of an image. Had it not been for Charlie Holland, and a couple of others who pointed it out to me, I would never have known the image was a Newsweek cover.

 

 

Stampeding Long Horn Cattle and a Need to Get out More

 

I have images that have been used hundreds and hundreds of times and have never seen them in use! A couple of months ago Time used one of my elephant images in a spread…never did see a copy of that! Another “stampede” image, a herd of stampeding longhorn cattle, has been licensed more times than I can count; yet I have never actually seen it used.

 

Amazingly, it is very rare that I ever see any of my photos in use. It has only been about a half-dozen times over twenty plus years that I have actually just “happened” on one of my stock photos being used. Maybe I need to get out more!

 

 

The Devil, the National Enquirer and Maxim

 

A photo of me as the devil was used in the National Inquirer…and no I didn’t see it while standing in line at the grocery store…someone else did and alerted me to it. The same image was once also used by Maxim magazine. I set a pretty high standard with my self-portrait!

 

In another case in which someone else alerted me to the use of one of my images, a shot of a fisherman on Inle Lake, in Myanmar, was used on the paperback copy of Amy Tan’s Saving Fish From Drowning. The publisher used an image shot by my friend and colleague Nevada Wier (great blog by the way), for the hardcover version. Oh well…

 

 

A New York Street Artist

 

I do remember one time when I personally saw one of my photos being used. I was perusing a sidewalk gallery in New York where street artists were selling their wares. One of them was selling photo prints, including one of my silly animal images. Close inspection revealed it to be a rather poor color copy of one of the greeting cards. I chose not to pursue the matter.

 

 

A Lighthouse in a Storm and Success

 

Another time I was photographing an executive for an annual report. He wasn’t being exactly cooperative, until I pointed out that the poster on his wall, a shot of a lighthouse in a storm in a “Success” poster, was one of my photographs. He must have really liked that poster because his whole attitude changed and suddenly he couldn’t have been any more cooperative!

 

 

Image over Use and Micro Stock

 

It is with the above in mind that I rarely, make that never, worry about an image being over-used. Of course, over-used is better than over-emulated (using a “nice” word there). One thing that would make me crazy if I were in micro stock would be the option people have of seeing which images are best sellers.

 

I don’t think that is good for the company, for stock shooters, or for clients. It has to have some limiting factor on the diversity of a collection. But I digress. I think I will go back to enjoy my brief pleasure at seeing one of my photos on the cover of Newsweek!

Digital Photography Courses London UK

Monday, January 17th, 2011

A lot of photographers train from these academies in London. Their passion for the visual element encourages them to get enrolled into these courses. The academies train well and the photographers get to learn the latest trends in photography and become masters in their craft. There are a variety of photography courses being taught in London, UK. Every digital photography course is unique in its own way and has its own set of benefits. The photographers get to learn a lot and enjoy their tenure in the academies.

 

The first type of digital photography course is for beginners. The camera is given to the photographer and he is taught the fully advanced exposure mode. Practical training in this mode of photography is invaluable. The photographer gets to know basic elements of photography such as Mega Pixels, Resolution, Print Size and File Formats. The range of lenses trained with too is diverse. These include the likes of focal lenses, zoom lenses, prime lenses and micro/macro lenses. Manual and Auto Focus Points are also teaching grounds. Other aspects taught include metering modes, light and aperture priority.

 

The next in line in the digital photography courses is the one for those who know photography to a certain extent. More in depth skills and details are imparted into the photographer, helping him master the art. These details include creative exposures, composition and elements of design. Photoshop and Image manipulation are also taught. Other aspects include white balance, color of light, composition, portrait photography, places and theme photography, flash, histograms, black and white, sepia effect, selection tools, filters and contact sheets.

 

There are specialized courses for photographers who would like to specialize in certain domains and branches of photography. These would include the likes of wedding photography, occasion photography, still photography, aerial photography, wildlife photography, underwater photography, photojournalism etc. All of these are taught separately and extensively at different academies. The applicant or student gets to learn every possible leaf out of the book and each nuance involved in the art. He gets assignments on the field and is entitled to go and shoot them. The pictures become a part of his portfolio that he can circulate when he graduates and start looking for employment.

 

All of these courses are exceptional. They tend to train photographers thoroughly and teach them, everything that a photographer ought to learn to be good. These courses are renowned all across Europe and the World and students of various nationalities come here to London to study these courses for embarking careers as professional photographers. They remuneration is good, and aspiring and ambitious photographers feel like studying these courses from the best of institutes.

 

Photography Courses are good and the studios where they are taught have state of the art equipment. This helps the photographers learn photography better. Various angles involved in camera handling, lens positioning and changing and certain other variables help the photographer become a veteran in his art. Counting on these is the best thing to do.

 

 

Lessons In Digital Photography

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Many people buy their first digital camera but have absolutely no idea how to use it. There are many options available for learning how to master digital photography, such as, for example, the internet. The internet certainly has many sites available to help you understand your digital camera and find answers to any questions you might have. There are many books available on using a digital camera, taking photographs and editing them. Many people find they learn faster and it is far easier for them when they have one-on-one lessons instead of reading a guide. Digital photography lessons are the answer for these people.

Digital photography lessons are great for anyone that is interested in photography as a hobby, or even for people considering it as a profession. You learn important facts that allow you to take the best quality pictures possible. More people than ever are interested in digital photography, and with a few digital photography lessons they can become experienced at photography. For anyone that is passionate about photography and wants to learn how to take the best pictures possible, digital photography lessons are wonderful. Many community colleges and night schools offer lessons that are flexible and usually run once or twice a week. Even though digital photography lessons may cost a little more than purchasing a book or searching the internet, you have the opportunity to learn about in-depth digital photography. While some people will be naturally gifted at photography, most individuals will require some formal training and guidance. An instructor teaches you and offers guidance but also gives constructive criticism when necessary.

Digital photography lessons teach you everything there is to know about the camera and accessories. This will include how to maintain and care for the equipment. You will learn photography terms, equipment basics, photography applications and theory. The lessons teach you different tips and styles, such as composing and framing the subject. Other things you learn by taking digital photography lessons are:

* Proper lighting techniques – They teach you that this is one of the most important aspects of digital photography. Lighting has the ability to make a picture look wonderful or ruin the entire look
* Identifying special elements – Being able to capture a special feeling or even a look takes practice and skill. It also takes knowledge, so you understand and are able to identify these elements. Teachers show you how to do this and explain which elements make your pictures interesting and what distracts from them

Digital photography lessons are great for a beginner, wanting to take pictures for their own personal pleasure or for professional photographers that are always searching for new ideas and techniques.

How to Master Photography Using PhotoShop and PhotoShop Tutorials

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Those who are into digital photography are almost certainly experts when it comes to PhotoShop. This software is essential in editing normal photos in order to achieve perfect and artistic photographs using different kinds of effects such as the appropriate color saturation.

However, not all individuals have the knowledge when it comes to PhotoShop and a lot of people want to know how to transform a simple photograph into an artistic piece. If you want to learn the tricks of PhotoShop, you just have to use certain books and PhotoShop tutorials. Most people rely in  PhotoShop tutorials especially in learning new things because with PhotoShop tutorials, they do not need to go through different books and seek advice from their friends.

PhotoShop tutorials are designed to help everyone be familiar with the software. You can find these free tutorials on the Internet, which are usually divided into numerous categories for you to be able to use them faster and easier. Categories include photography tutorials, the basics category, special effects, texturing category and web design tutorials. There are other websites providing different versions of the program where you can learn the entire set of lessons made for the type of PhotoShop you use. With PhotoShop tutorials, you can easily learn tricks and techniques in video, graphics, films and special effects.

There are countless websites that offer PhotoShop tutorials. If you are just starting to learn the basics, there are tutorials that are developed for those needs. You can easily learn how to make simple changes such as how to remove red eyes, change hair color, know the importance of layers, retouching pictures and knowing information about different tools necessary for photograph modifications.

If you are in need of comprehensive instructions on how to use PhotoShop, the Internet can provide you countless websites such as www.tutorialsite.org, which can help you, learn how to manipulate and improve your digital photographs. Most tutorial sites offer downloadable files and instructions where you can get useful information.

The first thing you need to learn before starting to create a new file is to know how to navigate the software. With PhotoShop tutorials , you will easily learn the different actions and icons found in the menu bar, palette, toolbox and status bar. Another important section of the tutorial is the part where you can learn how to work with your photos and existing documents. In this part, you will be able to learn how to enhance or improve your document and pictures in your personal computer. You can open, crop, resize, view and save documents with ease. In addition, you can learn different ways on how to edit photographs.

One of the most interesting elements in PhotoShop tutorials is the part about the different tools essential in enhancing, creating and retouching photographs. In this section, you will be able to learn how to have fun with colors as well as know more complex tools including the lasso section tools, the wand, layering tools and eyedropper.

In addition, Website owners can also benefit from PhotoShop tutorials especially in advanced tutorials where they can learn ways on how on create a hosting server using PhotoShop, make introduction pages and navigation bars easily. You can choose from a wide range of tutorials that are not restricted to PhotoShop enthusiasts only but also for everyone who are in need of useful PhotoShop information.

Though there are hundreds of tutorials on the internet, it is recommended to focus on a the basic tutorial sites if you are really interested in learning something in particular and eventually search for more advanced tutorials. This way, you will be able to learn everything slowly. With free photoshop tutorials, it won’t be difficult for you to learn new things everyday. Learning about PhotoShop is essential especially with the technological advancement. You may not dream of becoming a world-class graphic artist but having enough knowledge on PhotoShop can give you the edge in your career.

Top Photography Schools to become a Professional Photographer

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

By attending one of the top photography schools in the nation, you will be well on your way to an exciting career in the photographic field. Whether you want to become a fine arts photographer, advertising photographer, news photographer or freelance artist doing everything from portraits to weddings, you have to get the right education and have the proper tools to succeed. The following are some of the top photography schools in the nation that you should consider if you’re interested in pursuing a career in the photographic arts:

Academy of Art University– San Francisco : This large, private accredited university is located in one of the most creative cities in the world and has produced such graduates as Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice.

The Art Institute of Colorado – Denver: The Art Institute of Colorado is a private arts and crafts college that has offered associates and bachelor’s degrees in photography since 1952.

Brown College – Mendota Heights, Minnesota: Earn your Bachelor of Arts in Digital Photography and choose from fine arts, freelance, fashion and other specializations.

The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University – Washington: While earning a Professional Photography Certificate from this institution you will learn camera techniques, lighting, workflow and much more.

The Illinois Institute of Art: There are two branches of the Institute of Art in Illinois in Chicago and Schaumburg. Both schools offer a variety of photography courses and degree programs in a vibrant setting.

International Center of Photography – New York City: This photography museum in the Big Apple offers full-time and continuing education classes in lighting, photojournalism and other areas of study related to photography.

Miami International University of Art & Design: This is another school from the network of colleges within the Art Institute. You can earn a BFA in photography while living in one of the most picturesque settings in the country.

School of Visual Arts – New York City: This prestigious fine arts school is among the finest of the top photography schools, and has been offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in photography for generations.

Photography School is your Next Step to Becoming a Pro

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Photography school is a great option for someone who wants to try a new and innovative art that is constantly changing. One of the oldest photography schools is located in New York city. The New York Institute of Photography allows anyone to attend their school from anywhere in the world. They offer three correspondence courses that are beneficial to the budding photographer.

The first class that is offered for the new student introduces them to the world of the digital camera and all that it offers the photographer. By using online access, DVDs, and a professional advisor that can be contacted at any time, the student works their way through the course and learns a ton of information. At the end, the student is given an assignment that is submitted for grading purposes by instructors. After completion, a certificate will be issued to the student. This is a wonderful class that can help anyone become acquainted with any type of digital camera.

Another course that this particular photography school offers is the complete digital photography complete. With this course, Adobe PhotoShop will be completely taught. The instruction will include how to “to retouch photos, post pictures on the web and how to take better digital photographs.” Also taught in this course will be how to restore old black and white photography pictures that may have suffered damage with age. This instruction is always helpful to photographers because many people have old photographs that need restoring, and they are not sure who to take them to or what to do to restore them. By having this instruction at this photography school, the future photographer will enhance anyone’s budding photography business.

The last course that this particular school offers is more than likely the most important. The NYI complete course in professional photography is the last correspondence course that this school offers. Here the photography student will learn all of the in’s and outs of the photography business including: wedding photographers. nature photography, art photography, and many more. If someone is serious about becoming a professional photographer, this is the course that is for them. After completing the other two courses, this one is the icing on the cake for the budding photographer.

One of the oldest photography schools around is the New York Institute of Photography. This school offers several classes for would be students to learn everything about photography from the fundamentals to the in’s and outs of the photography business. By taking advantage of this trusted schools instruction, a budding photographer may become a world renowned master of this particular art form. &nbsp

Easy Digital Photography Classes!

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

Mastering your camera can be a long hard slog or it can be a fun and perhaps a profitable stroll. Everything depends upon how you learn to do the shot. Digital photography classes provide the answer that almost all people are searching for.

Here is the issue…

Nearly all of us get a brand new camera – we open the box – read simply enough in the manual to learn to turn it on and we start shooting away!

The problem being, that without any formalized, systemetized education, we customarily wind up just putting the camera on its automated settings and thinking that’s “ok!”

It’s not ok!

True the camera on its fundamental programmed settings can perform a useable job in trouble-free, basic situations, but there is a whole new, creative world out there that we’re missing!

To get past the snapshot point – where we view our snapshot once and then “file it away” never to be seen again – to creating shots that get people to say “WOW”… We absolutely must take the camera off automatic and begin controlling the darned thing.

That’s when we commence our trial and error, random strategy of trying to figure out all the varied knobs, dials and buttons. Some we’ll learn use, some we are going to get a completely WRONG understanding of, and other options we won’t ever even know exist.

The bad news is…

Using this trial and error tactic, we end up with gaping holes in our photo training. It’s not that we are not smart enough to understand, it really is that we just do not know enough of what creative opportunities are workable to ask the correct questions.

There IS an easy resolution…

Take a formal course. Therefore, the materials are presented in a systematic logical manner which will plug many of the holes in out random education. It’s surprisingly effortless and speedy!

We don’t have to enroll within a degree program, there are tons of cheap internet programs where we can get the needed information on our own schedules and at our own pace.

When searching for a web based course, don’t shy away from a course that starts in the very basic beginnings. It’s startling how few of us truly understand the basics.

Two areas to avoid in the beginning…

Don’t bother using the free “101 tips” form of information. That tends to be just more of a haphazard training we are trying to avoid. AFTER you finish your systematic digital photography classes, THEN is the perfect time for 101 tips sort of thing.

Avoid courses that cost many hundreds dollars…

There are many – top notch – courses that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For the most part, they are far too involved for what the majority of us need. You can get into one of those if you happen to later decide you need to turn pro or really get into advanced techniques.

Like Goldilocks, you can also find online digital photography classes which are “perfect for you!”

The best Photography Schools for Masters?

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

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