by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Henri Cartier-Bresson.
If you are a photographer the mere mention of the name brings at least one if not more images to mind. Well today I turn to Henri to help us think about photographic creativity, inspiration and art.
“Make visible what, without you might never have been seen.” Henri Cartier-Bresson
Many of these things only we can see which means only we can share. Sometimes it may be as simple as a snapshot capturing a fleeting moment. It’s important but is it art? Only time will tell which is which. I believe the answer will be art more times than not depending on how much we practice. How well we know our equipment. How we can pre-visualize the result of what we may be photographing because we know our craft so well.
Photography is so much more than just pushing a button. Although today the technology has gotten so good a mere push of a button will often give a result that is exposed OK and probably in focus. The difference lies in our ability to harness the camera by knowing what and how the camera sees verses what and how the eye sees.
This, I believe, is the difference between an artistic photographic image… and a picture.
Learn to see as the camera sees, Create art. Help people see.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Henri Cartier-Bresson photo
by successfulbob | lighting, Lumix GH4, Lumix GX7, photography, photography education, photography lighting resources
We all use social media to promote our photography business. But, I ask how do you show up? Do your have a professional portrait that shows that you value professional photography? Or, have you posted a snapshot, or worse, a cellphone selfie?
I’ve made many self portraits with the camera mounted on a a tripod and triggering the camera with a remote or worse yet using the timer and running back to get the photo. It takes lots of effort. And, while it has a professional look I haven’t always ended up with the ideal expression.
I have an idea for you. Get together with a fellow professional photographer and take each others head shot. I guarantee you’ll have a good time, learn something new, (‘cuase we all lend to light a bit different) and end up with a portrait you’ll be proud to use for the next year…*
Here are some results from working with my friend Silvio of Silvio Portrait Design.
This was photographed using a wide open garage door as the light source. A black fill was used camera right to add some dimension. Captured with the Lumix GH4 and the 35-100mm Lumix Vario f 2.8 lens
Here’s a different look clothing and pose same lighting.
And here’s one that has a totally different lighting scheme. This was done with three Pro Photo B1 lights ** and a white reflector. The main light was camera left and encased with a 36 inch Octobox. The fill light was an umbrella bounced into the white ceiling of the 8 foot garage. A third light was used to add a background light. You can see when you craft the light you can get lots more depth to the photo.
* Notice I said next year, not the rest of your life. If there’s one thing that’s worse than a crappy selfie it would be one that is out of date…
** The Pro Photo B1 lights were pretty sweet to work with. Very powerful and versatile. They are battery powered heads meaning no cords to be tripping over and these were matched to the TTL of the canon camera that Silvio uses.
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Not sure if I’ve written about this quote before but I believe it needs exposure and a reminder never hurts on important stuff!
“The difference between a good photographer and a bad one? You never the the good photographers’ bad pictures.”
As photographers we have a tendency to not edit tight enough. Not get to the best of the very best and only show those images. Not using a critical eye enough. It is always easier to see problems in others images than our own because we are too close. I am guilty of this myself. I know what went into the making of the image and that info colors decisions. But, people viewing your image don’t have that information. Only the image you see. As an excellent photographer once told me an image needs to stand on it’s own. No back story. No information other than what is in front of the viewer at that moment.
A way to get around this problem is to get a ‘photo critique’ buddy. Someone who’s opinion you respect. and you can critique each others images for only showing the A+ winners. Maybe even run your photos past multiple people to see which images rise to the top from all viewers.
This brings me to one more problem. Insecurity. Happens to me all the time. I don’t always feel my images hold up to other that I see and I end up feeling I’m not a very good photographer. Let’s keep this between you and me shall we? We have to remember that we are making comparisons to other peoples finished and polished images. We don’t see their discards and to use a video term using our B-roll as a comparison.
Stand tall. Make the best images you can. And only show the best to help show others how good you really are.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – I’m heading to the editing room shortly to start getting getting rid of the image that don’t have the most impact on my web site. How about you?
by successfulbob | photography software
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by successfulbob | black & white, Lumix Lounge, photography
Heading to Denver tonight to do some speaking at Mike’s Camera stores Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Photo Expo. I’ll be talking about the Lumix 4K video capabilities and some of the new cameras Panasonic is putting out. It’s some pretty amazing stuff. If you are in the Denver area stop by Mike’s and check out the new Micro 4/3rds 4K video gear!
Here’s the the stuff I’ll be touching on…
Fine Art, Commercial Photography and 4K Videography
Program description – Fine Art and Commercial Photography is a specialty of Lumix Luminary Bob Coates. 4K video capture is a specialty of the newest cameras in the Lumix line. Bob has been working on ways to use the 4K video capture to enhance his commercial and art captures by pulling stills for processing into artistic images. Bob will also share some of his ideas on using Photoshop to max out the potential of the capture possibilities.
Friday in Boulder. Saturday in Park Meadows. Sunday Colorado Boulevard store.
Had to add some photos to the post so I thought a couple details from the Denver airport would do nicely…
Took away the clarity and most of the color in post…
The brushed metal and slick floor called for the exact opposite treatment and all color was removed and more sharpness added.
Images were captured with the Lumix GH2 and the 14-140mm lens. This is the gear set-up that got me excited about the Micro 4/3rds system. And it’s only gotten better!
Yours in creative Photography, Bob
