Author Archive for Guest – Page 12

HDR…Fact or Fiction…A Physicist’s View: by Georgia McCabe

By Guest
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Every day I find numerous articles and testimonials about the possibilities inherent in the exciting field of  HDR photography. Some even claim that you aren’t a true practitioner of HDR art if you don’t shoot multiple exposures.

So, what’s the real deal with HDR photography? I sat  down with Scott Brownstein, to sort through everything.

Scott is a well known photo market and digital technology consultant and pioneer. His clients include large retail and professional photo labs, equipment and consumable manufacturers and software and digital service providers. During his 23 years at Kodak, he was responsible for many advanced digital products including dye sublimation printing, “Create-A-Print” consumer operated kiosks and finally the Kodak PhotoCD system.

In addition, he was also the founder and Chief Technology Officer of FujiFilm e-Systems where he was responsible for the conception and development of advanced digital solutions for the professional and retail markets alike. While at Fuji he was also the creative force behind 1 hour web to retail printing at more than 1000 Ritz camera stores and 1 hour web to retail printing at over 3500 WalMart and Sam’s Club locations. Scott was one of the founders and first presidents of the Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA), a member of board of trustees for its parent Photo Marketing Association and sits on the Board of Directors of PhotoChannel Networks Inc.

He holds 18 U.S. patents ranging from innovative film camera systems to dye-sublimation printing to CD-R. Scott was awarded a BS degree in Physics from the University of Maryland and numerous industry awards and honors, including Germany’s Edward Rhein Prize for Technical Achievement, for the creation of the PhotoCD system. Read More→

Categories : Guest Bloggers, HDR Photography, Make Better Photographs
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The Water Logged Alien Bee Zombie Lights: by Ryan Armbrust

By Guest
Monday, October 18th, 2010

A few days ago, I set off to snap a senior portrait session at a football field. The guy I was shooting is a football player, so it seemed like a fantastic idea. We had keys and permission to use the field. I packed up my trusty Alien Bee 800’s as well as a battery pack to power them, some grids and the rest of my camera gear and headed to the field. When we arrived, I quickly found the shot I wanted. I would place him in front of the score board right at sunset. I set my lights up and popped off a couple test shots. I wanted to get everything in place so I would not be rushed at sunset. I wanted that nice cobalt blue sky that last about 10 minutes. After everything was set up, we headed to the other end zone to grab some natural light shots.

AS SOON AS WE GOT TO THE OTHER END OF THE FIELD, THE SPRINKLERS CAME ON!

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Categories : Guest Bloggers, Lighting Tips, Make Better Photographs
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5 Easy Tips to Improve Your Portraits (and they don’t cost a dime)

By Guest
Friday, October 15th, 2010

Often times a portrait photographer does everything right; perfect lighting, great location, correct exposure and flawless composition. However, the photo still comes out flat. Something isn’t right. Smiles are forced, people are uncomfortable and the emotion is just not there. The fact is, if you’re photographing people don’t forget about the most important part – the people. When was the last time you were in front of the camera? Do you remember how that felt? If not, please ask someone to take your photo and come back to this post after you’re done. The bottom line is that being in front of the camera can be rather difficult and stressful for some people and it’s our job as photographers to make them feel at ease so that they in turn will look better in the image. Here are five tips to improve your attitude (and in turn your portraits):

  1. Don’t put the blame on the subject – remember that your attitude is everything and it’s only your attitude that you can control. Consciously or not, people will sense if you are angry, annoyed or uneasy in any way so check the grump factor at the door. If you’re photographing children or pets your attitude is even more important because both of these will immediately sense your frustration and then you might as well pack up and go home.
  2. Take the time to talk to (and listen to) your subject (yes, even works with pets). Show an honest interest in them. If you have serious disdain for whatever you are photographing please consider another line of work before you take on something that will only lead to disappointment. Read More→
Categories : Guest Bloggers, Make Better Photographs, Portrait Photography
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Go Behind-the-Scenes of a Carnival Pinup Shoot: by Boudoir Louisville

By Guest
Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Since we had such a good time the first go around, I just had to make another trip to the Kentucky State Fair’s midway for a few more pinup shots! This time, I took a past client as well as my hair and makeup artist, Scooter. Turns out, there is a ride called the “Scooter”! Needless to say, he got a little excited!

We started off shooting on the Bumper Cars, then made our way over to the balloon dart pop game thing. After, we had to hit up the funhouse and ferris wheel. While shooting in the funhouse, I told Christy that I was going to shoot her and edit the pic to look like she was upside down. She proceeds to just flip herself upside down! Gotta love her…

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Categories : Boudoir Photography, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Make Better Photographs
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Ethics in Photojournalism: by Becky Patterson

By Guest
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

It’s true that a picture is worth more than a thousand words, and that’s why newspapers splash their front pages with large photos that are far more likely to capture audiences than the best crafted words. Photos not only augment the story and lend credence to the written word; they also draw attention to the story with their starkness and candor. And although it’s not something that we like to admit, when it comes to making news and headlines, it’s the pictures of natural disasters and people struggling to cope with them that steal the show and grab the largest and most prominent space. In fact, the more the photo tugs at your heartstrings, the more valuable it is.

But as both recent and past events have shown us, there is always a thin line between shooting great pictures and following ethics in photojournalism – the recent earthquake in Haiti has created photo ops for people who want to show the world the extent of the destruction that has ravaged this tiny island; at the same time, it has raised serious questions about the moral responsibilities of people who are in a position to help those affected, but who choose instead to shoot photographs of them. There was one of a woman trapped in rubble from below her waist, with a few other affected and bleeding people standing by. Should the photographer have helped her first, or was he just doing his job by snapping this picture? Read More→

Categories : Guest Bloggers, Make Better Photographs, Photojournalism
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Tweak Your iPhone Photos on the Fly: by Pamela Flora

By Guest
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Oct 12, 2010 – Adobe Photoshop has an entry in the iTunes App Store that allows you to edit your iPhone photos on the fly – on your phone or on your iPad. Better still, this app is free!

Adobe Photoshop Express is a lightweight but adequate app that lets you crop your photos; change exposure, saturation, tint, and contrast; filter your photos to look like a sketch, sharpen your photo, or throw it into soft focus; and add borders and effects (like vibrant, pop art, vignette blur, and more) to your photos. You can share your edited photos with Facebook, Twitter (via TwitPic), or on Photoshop.com,

Read More→

Categories : Guest Bloggers, iOS Apps, Mobile Devices and Apps, News and Reviews
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