I do! I always try to improve my skills by pushing out of my comfort zone and create different images from different places.
I always try to improve my skills by pushing out of my comfort zone and create different images from different places.
So how do you do it? One of the best ways is to continually practice and expand your skillset. Anyone who is at the top of their game in any sport, yes I consider photography a sport as well as an art form, practice daily. Why do I consider it a sport? Depending on your photographic genre you need coordination, timing, and stamina. This goes for shooting sports, weddings, wildlife or other fast moving situations. Why art? Art because you need to create or recognize wonderful lighting in order to have your images rise above the ordinary. Both the ‘art and sport’ parts of your work can be improved by working on your muscle memory. And, you guessed it, that takes practice.
Guess what? Your composition gets better when you practice too.
You also need to practice your post production as well… And the more you do it, well you get the idea.
I always try to improve my skills by putting myself in different situations and today I’ll share some images from the Phoenix zoo. For a little accompaniment push the button to listen to Paul Simon’s song ‘At the Zoo’.
Paul Simon with Garfunkle “At the Zoo’ from around 1967. (am I showing my age here??)
Orangatang at Phoenix Zoo. Captured with Lumix FZ1000 1/40th sec f4 ISO 200 – With a range of 25-400mm the FZ1000 is a very handy lens covering a wide variety of situations.
“OK Bob, so how is this zoo practice good for practicing other types of photography?
I’m fighting crowds to get the angle I want. Looking to capture expression which happens very quickly. In this instance, I am also going to be working hard in my post processing because this image was made in less than ideal lighting conditions through a thick, colored, and dirty pane of glass.
Did I say it wasn’t an ideal situation? That never happens on a regular photo shoot… (cue the laughter bouncing off the walls!)
Here is the final image I was able to pull from the original capture.
A couple of post processing tips I picked up from working on this photo of the orangutan. Adobe Camera RAW has a feature called DeHaze. This was quite helpful in getting a lot of the reflections and dirt on the glass to disappear. Did a much better job than I thought it would!It was designed to help with scenics to take some of the blue out of a landscape image but it worked very much like a Polarizing filter in this situation. I will be revisiting this filter more in the future. I love how tools and setting designed for one thing can be leveraged to do more.
After the initial processing in Photoshop I moved over to my favorite black and white conversion tool NIK Silver FX Pro 2. I made my black and white selections in the filter. These process out onto their own layer, and with a Mask, additional adjustments can be made. One more time back into Silver FX Pro 2 (it’s free now!) and I made some adjustments to the Structure, dialing in very strong enhancements to the mid tones and the fine structure. I changed the Mode of that new layer to Luminosity and filled the mask with black. Then I was able to paint with white on the mask to selectively sharpen specific areas of the image.
Last on the list was a Soft Light Mode Layer to dodge and burn.
Many times it is a small thought shared that opens large passageways of ideas. If you have attended any of my programs you know I am a fan of quotes from artists, photographers, inspirational speakers and authors. Helen was sitting right there in the front row and noting some of the quotes I had collected and was sharing in a slideshow before my program began.
She said, “Oh, you know of Robert Henri and his book The Art Spirit.” “No,” I replied. She had seen one of his quotes go by on the screen and she said, “You really need to get that book and read it!”
So I did.
And, now I’m going to do for you the same thing Helen did for me. Get the book!
Here’s a quote from Henri…
“When the artist is alive in any person… he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature.” Robert Henri
When I took Helen up on her suggestion I had ordered the book but let it sit on my side table before grabbing it one day. OMG. There is so much inspiration packed into these pages I don’t know where to start. When I went back through my collection of gathered quotes I found four already in there… And soon I will be adding many more.
Henri pushes you to think in different ways about your art. He was an artist but he was known more for his instruction and influence of other artists who followed in his footsteps. As he said in his book, “I have little interest in teaching you what I know. I wish to stimulate you to tell me what you know.”
And, stimulate you he does.
You never know where the next piece of your education is coming from. One reason I love teaching is I get to learn so much, from my students.
Helen thanks again for the tip.I can’t wait to read it again and really absorb Henri’s message.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – By the way Helen is working on a book on the software program Painter with Amherst Media. If you are into Painter and want to push your skills you’ll be able to pre-order soon…
Always fun chatting with Skip Cohen about the photography business. This is a chat about Embracing new tech in photography. Being a Lumix Luminary has moved me from being the last to jump into new technology to getting to try out new things that are changing faster than you can imagine.
Embracing new technology. Weekend Wisdom with Skip Cohen Listen here
With new ways of processing and capturing images in camera there are more tools at our beck and call then ever before. If you aren’t checking out some of the new ways to leverage these tools in your business you may be falling behind… Many cameras are now more like a computer with a lens attached. Time-lapse captures have never been easier with in-camera processing. 4K video allows you to capture video and pull still frames that can easily be printed to twenty inches. Again the 4K video can be leveraged to give you the opportunity to choose your focus point after the fact. I’m sure there are a number of cameras capable of many of the things I’m sharing here but, I’m familiar with the Panasonic Lumix cameras. The GH4, GX8, G7, FZ1000, LX100 and others are changing the way photographers work and the way photography is growing into the future.
Check out the podcast and let me know what you think…
I enjoy photographing musicians and entertainers. Whether it be a studio or location shoot for marketing or CD covers or live performances there are challenges to be met. In a studio or controlled environment creating the lighting that tells the story and eliciting emotion and expression is the challenge. During a live performance, lighting is what it is and the emotion is always there but the challenge becomes capturing the right moment when all the pieces come together.
Whether it be a studio or location shoot for marketing or CD covers or live performances there are challenges to be met. In a studio or controlled environment creating the lighting that tells the story and eliciting emotion and expression is the challenge. During a live performance, lighting is what it is and the emotion is always there but the challenge becomes capturing the right moment when all the pieces come together.
I love a challenge.
Here are some images from a location photo shoot for the Saith band (here’s lead singer Nathan’s web site). I was hired by Valerie Romanoff (Sedona/New York Musician) to capture here working with the band over in Jerome at the Spirit room. And here’s bass player Dom’s web-site.
In between sets we needed to make a band/group photo. The awning out front with everyone standing on the bench with a little fill flash was just the ticket.
Here’s one of my favorites of Valerie. It shows her in her element. Action and energy! The Lumix GX8 and the 7-14mm Lumix G Vario f4.0 lens was perfect for getting in all the action from a very close position.
Another fav… Shows the sparkle in her eyes and smile!
Images in this post were captured with the Lumix GH4 and 35-100mm Lumix Vario f2.8 lens (except for the ‘dancing guitar’ image) I’m still enjoying the smal, lightweight form factor of the Lumix line of pro camera gear. It allows me to be low key in live situations but still gives me the quality I need!
Just a reminder I am a Lumix Luminary and am sponsored by them for speaking to photography groups. That means I get to try out a lot of the new gear too!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – Need a speaker for your photo group or organization? Get in touch and let’s see what we can put together! Contact info is right at the top of the page. Here are some of the programs I teach.
Set aside the weekend nights of November 4-5 and think about joining Arizona Professional Photographers Association as we head out on the road again for our annual Fall Fest. Of course, since this will be a limited number of people event seats will be opened to AZPPA members first. If there are still places available they’ll be opened to non-members. If you want to be sure to be included in the event you can become a member and get all the benefits including first shot at signing up for events like this…Page Arizona
Page, Arizona is home to the beautiful slot canyons and while some have become quite busy like the well-known Upper & Lower Antelope Canyons, there are still some off the beaten path places you can tour. One is known as Secret Canyon and arrangements are made to tour this as a part of AZPPA’s Fall Fest.
Here are a couple images I made while on a scouting mission with Bruce Roscoe for the association. We’ll be producing a video with more info but here’s a taste to whet your whistle!
Secret Canyon – Page Arizona
This image was captured with the Lumix GH4 and the Lumix G Vario f4.0 7-14mm lens. Settings were 1/6th sec at f13 ISO 200 14mm (28mm 35mm equivalent) When in low light high contrast situations like this bracketing exposures is almost a requirement and a tripod is a necessity. A great feature with the GH4 is a dial on top of the camera allows you to quickly access the bracket setting. You can be shooting a single image one moment then with two clicks you are in bracket mode. I have mine set for five exposures one stop apart in this situation. This gives me all the information I need to get detail in the shadows and detail in highlights.
Once back in the studio there are several methods to combine the bracketed exposures including Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop. If you are on a MAC computer there’s a new HDR software called Aurora HDR from MacPhun which I have been enjoying. I choose four of the exposures to process. Even though I was on a tripod I had the software align the images in order to assure the best results because pushing the shutter button might have moved the images ever so much. After processing in Aurora I did a little dodging and burning to open up a little detail and guide your eye through the image.
Secret Canyon – once again
Settings a gear were the same for this image as outlined above. I added a little trip into NIK filter land for a little glow (which could have been added in Aurora) but I wanted a slightly different look and didn’t want to blow out the highlight on the log. I’m still learning the Aurora HDR software or I would have completed the image in there. Sometimes it’s just a little easier to go with what you know but I have been getting better and better results with Aurora the more I work with it.
For infrared conversion of my cameras I use LifePixel. Infrared allows you to put an older camera to use and opens up a new time time of day for productive image creation.
Learn Photoshop in a fun environment. Aaron Nace applies the right amount of fun with easy to understand and follow tutorials. Actions and brushes are included with lessons!
Best embroidery ever. Give Queensboro a try, get a $20 instant credit to get started by clicking on the logo! They specialize in great quality custom logo apparel and promotional products with the best customer service.
Platypod has become a great resource for being creative in getting your camera gear easily into unusual places. As an Platypod Pro I get to work/play with the gear even before it comes out. Head over to Platypod, subscribe to the newsletter and you will get special discounts reserved only for subscribers.
Orangatang at Phoenix Zoo. Captured with Lumix FZ1000 1/40th sec f4 ISO 200 – With a range of 25-400mm the FZ1000 is a very handy lens covering a wide variety of situations.
Here is the final image I was able to pull from the original capture.
