by successfulbob | inspiration, photography
Marco Polo on Netflix*
Lighting.
We talk of lighting on a regular basis as photographers. I wish to reinforce the suggestion I have heard over the years that we study cinematic films to learn and see lighting scenarios and patterns. This lighting magic happens with people moving through scenes not just still images.
Marco Polo Poster – Netflix
If you are a PPA member and participate in imaging competition you know how difficult it can be to create a single Merit Image. And even more difficult to have an image selected for the PPA Loan Collection. I challenge you to watch this series and see how many Merit images appear during each episode. Go one step further and decide based on composition and lighting how many images are created during each episode that would be judged into the PPA Loan Collection. It is a fabulous exercise in moving your imagery to the next level.
If you would like to take this study to the next level you can turn the sound off and pay close attention to just the visual information coming your way. View and absorb. See if you can figure out how the lighting effects were achieved. Take some note. Gather ideas.
Let me know how you make out.
Have any suggestions for other films to study? Sare them here,
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
* There is nudity and some sexual content in this production
Save
by successfulbob | HDR photography, landscape photography, Lumix FZ 1000, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography software
Earth Day Photography – Landscape Photography Magazine
Landscape Photography Magazine put out a call to photography artists to create an image of sunrise on Earth Day of this year. The image I created was accepted into the curated collection gathered from that day. Here is my entry as it appears in the Landscape Photography Magazine Earth day PDF. Download your copy for free & get a 60% off deal on a new subscription. If you are a landscape photographer I know you’ll love this. (disclosure: I am not an affiliate of LPM magazine. Just think they do a great job!)
Earth Day Photo – Capture Lumix FZ1000 25-400mm f2.8-4.0 @f8 Multiple Exposures ISO 800
Text from image follows below
“I was traveling and thought I’d miss out on the sunrise opportunity. Arrived at the airport gate and saw this east facing view. Major problems to overcome were minimizing the reflections on the thick plate glass & taming the wide density range of the scene. Used my arm to block as many of the reflections as possible and removed a few of the larger reflections in post-production. I captured a 7 stop exposure and processed 6 images in Aurora HDR *. Managed to hold the camera steady by bracing against the window frame. Timed the shot to capture the movement of the luggage cart.”
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
*Until July 5th there is a Fireworks Bundle available from MacPhun
Special Bundle price: $99 – Over $300 in Savings
Creative Kit 2016 – 6 Powerful photography apps
Creating Powerful Photos of Fireworks – Video Training from PhotoFocus
8 Intensify presets and 3 Noiseless Presets created especially for fireworks images
PhotoBulk app by Eltima Software – Resize photos and add watermarks
Uplet app by Eltima Software – Upload photos from your Mac to Instagram
Save
Save
by successfulbob | photography software
MacPhun Software Bundle – Fireworks!
Fireworks indeed.
Who doesn’t like photographing fireworks? It’s a blast if you’ll excuse the expression.
Ever been disappointed when you returned from session photographing the incendiary display? (I have in the past) Part of the problem is fireworks contains lots of challenges for the photographer and if you don’t study up previous to your shoot on proper techniques you set yourself up for failure.
Even if you’ve had success in the past it’s wise to review because we don’t get very many opportunities to practice.
This is a composite I put together for fun. (first fireworks image I could put my hands on to illustrate this post)
This was imaged during a trip to Chicago. The skyline was to the left and the fireworks were to the right from my vantage point. I took a bit of creative license with this.
SHOOTING FIREWORKS – CREATIVE KIT PROMOTION
Available: Now through July 5
Key Features:
Special Bundle price: $99 – Over $300 in Savings
Creative Kit 2016 – 6 Powerful photography apps
Creating Powerful Photos of Fireworks – Video Training from PhotoFocus
8 Intensify presets and 3 Noiseless Presets created especially for fireworks images
PhotoBulk app by Eltima Software – Resize photos and add watermarks
Uplet app by Eltima Software – Post photos from your Mac to Instagram
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | HDR photography, landscape photography, Lumix Lounge, Lumix LX100, photography gear, photography software
HDR Photo – Sedona, Arizona
The Professionals point and shoot.
That’s what I call it.
Lumix LX100. Built on a solid magnesium body with all necessary controls on the exterior of the body with machined knurled knobs or solid switches. Fast f1.7-2.8, 24-75mm, Leica DC zoom lens. While this camera is only 12.8 MP, it has 4K video and Photo Mode which enables printing of images pulled from still frames. Features are coming out the wazoo of this camera including several ways to capture HDR images, bracket your aspect ratio, bracket white balance, 11 frames per second burst rate, and more.
Here’s an image I created from a three-stop bracket of the red rocks. The frames were processed in Aurora HDR software from MacPhun.
Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona – High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photo
Here’s the three stop bracket. Images Straight Out of Camera (SOOC) Middle exposure was 1/160th sec f8 ISO 200 34mm (FF equivalent 75mm)
I’m liking the Aurora HDR software as it has LOTS of controls for processing the image without having the ‘HDR halos’ and other problems I always associated with using software to process multiple exposures. There are many presets for getting into the ballpark of the image you would like to create. You can still go HDR crazy if you want to push it that way. It’s up to you.
Aurora HDR software window. There are many more controls available by scrolling the right-hand panel. There are also a plethora of presets with the ability to create and save more of your own.
I feel we are living in a time of unlimited creativity. Between the new camera capabilities and software options imaging is moving into a whole new world. Yes, it’s easier for the average person to obtain a correctly exposed image. But, for those of us who have been working photographers for a long time, we can leverage that knowledge and push the tools to give us more possibilities for creating images with solid depth and dimension.
Try Aurora HDR for free and Switch
For photographers that are looking for a new and improved HDR photo editing experience, MacPhun is offering a very special competitive upgrade price, and some very special bonuses when they switch to Aurora HDR Pro from their current software.
Key Features:
*Special Competitive upgrade price: $79.99 $20 Savings
Exclusive live webinar with Trey Ratcliff
20 Minute Deep Dive Aurora HDR tutorial with Trey
Jeff Carlson HDR ebook
A collection of full resolution textures from Flypaper textures
How to HDR video training with Matt Suess
*competitive upgrade pricing requires screenshot of their existing HDR app to qualify, qualifying competitive upgrade apps include but are not limited to: Photomatix, Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, HDR Efex Pro, and many more
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography creativity, photography education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Eugene Delacroix
One of the original, and leader of French Romantic painters, Eugene Delacroix was quite the prolific artist. That may be an understatement.
That may be an understatement.
I recommend you take a few minutes and head over to the Wikipedia page and view the gallery images there. Be aware that the gallery is only a small sampling of his work. Then poke around the web for more.
“Bob, why should I be studying this painter’s work? I’m a photographer!” The simple answer is that photography is rooted in art. Composition, color, ad the assembly of subject matter is all part of both arts. Delacroix was a master at the use of color and its effects upon a scene and how it interacted with his subjects.
The simple answer is that photography is rooted in art. Composition, color, and the assembly of subject matter is all part of both arts. Delacroix was a master at the use of color and its effects upon a scene and how it interacted with his subjects.
I believe the study of his work, and other artist’s paintings, can inform your work and move it to a new level.
“The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing.” Eugene Delacroix
At the very least we can take Delacroix’s words to heart as in the quote above. These words can pertain to the art we create as well as in our marketing and business. I know of many photographers who spend so much time trying to reach perfection on a piece of art, or a business campaign for that matter, that they hardly ever show their work or move on to the next business idea. They frustrate themselves and deprive the world of their creations.
I remember being in art class as a high school student tearing up art, that according to my instructor Henri Yost, was perfectly wonderful. Had I taken some time away from the work and not felt the need to be ‘perfect’ I might have shared some fine work.
Self Portrait – Eugene Delacroix 1867
Note the color harmony and the sometimes bold, sometimes subtle, brush strokes. The sharper strokes and lines attract more attention, the softer brush strokes work as supporting characters. This kind of study has led me to sharpen parts of my photo images selectively to help lead the viewers attention where I want her/his eye to go.
What other lessons can be gleaned from study of the master artists that came before us??
I’ll leave you to think about it.
Yours in creative Photography, Bob
Save
Save
