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5 Tips for Photographing Children

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

1. LET THE KIDS HAVE FUN

Children are most expressive when they are being themselves.

2. FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT

3. PLAY THE EXPRESSIONS GAME

4. PARENTS OR NO PARENTS

Some kids feel shy with other people watching them including their parents. Other kids love having an audience.

5. KEEP IT RELAXED

Family and especially children portraits are nothing like other high stress photographic assignments like wedding or fashion shoots. Keep it easy, relaxed and conversational. Sell your personality before anything else and the bonds you make will last as long as the pictures.

See more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: children, dps, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 3 months ago

Photography 101

Amplify’d from www.johnwaller.co.uk

cameras are fairly complicated pieces of equipment these days but that shouldn’t be a reason not to learn the basics of photography if you’re looking to improve your skills.

‘Seeing’ the Shot

You’ve got to put a little effort and thought into what you’re going to shoot before you even pick up the camera. Your eyes have such a wide field of view and can quickly adjust to all kinds of lighting situations but as a photographer you’ve got to learn how to see the world through a camera lens.

There’s a quote by Marcel Proust that I try to incorporate in my approach to photography “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”.

The best way to understand what makes a good shot is to study (not copy!) other people’s work. If you see a shot that you like try to understand exactly what it is about it that you like.

Composition

Aperture

Shutter Speed

ISO

the single most important thing about your photography is making sure you enjoy itRead more at www.johnwaller.co.uk

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Tags: photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 4 months ago

How to Photograph…

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

Many of the questions that we get at Digital Photography School start with the words - ‘how do I photograph…’

Below are some of the more popular ‘how to’ photography tutorials and tips.

Wedding Photography Tips

How to Photograph Fireworks

How to Take Great Group Photos

How to Photograph Waterfalls

How to take a Photograph out of a Plane Window

Backyard Bird Photography Tips

Christmas Photography Tips

Candlelight Photography Tips

How to Photograph Mushroom, Toadstools and Fungi

Airshow Photography Tips

Urban Landscape Photography Tips

How to Photograph a Spider’s Web

Food Photography - An Introduction

Beach Photography Tips

How to Photograph Silhouettes

11 Surefire Landscape Photography Tips

Tips for Better Candid Photography

How to Photograph Pets

Tips for Photographing Stunning Sunsets

Halloween Photography Tips

Zoo Photography

How to Photograph in Direct Sunlight

How to Photograph Rainbows

These Tips just scratch the Surface of our archives.

Subscribe to Digital Photography School for more great tips today!
Read more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: dps, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 4 months ago

10 Traits of a Good Photographer

Cliff Plumlee says:

More details at the site.

Amplify’d from photofocus.com

Both Rick and I have recently posted on what makes a good photo. But what about the other side? What makes a good photographer? See how many of these traits you possess.

1. You need passion.

2. You need to be dedicated to the craft of photography.

3. You need to be a story teller.

4. You need to care about your subject.

5. You need patience and lots of it.

6. You need a sense of wonder and imagination.

7. You need to share.

8. You need to be the kind of photographer who makes OTHER people want to become a photographer.

9. You need to try a little bit harder than the next guy.

10. You need to develop a recognizable style – even if that style is – no style!

Wow! What a list. Re-reading this it looks like it’s hard to be a good photographer. Guess what – it is. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would be a good photographer.

Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 - All Rights Reserved
Read more at photofocus.com

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Tags: photofocus, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 4 months ago

Photo Adages From Photofocus.com

Cliff Plumlee says:

There are 15 total.

Amplify’d from photofocus.com

over the years, Rick and I have compiled a bunch of sayings we use to help people improve their photography

1. The name of the game is fill the frame. (Rick)

2. When in doubt, leave it out. (Scott)

3. Light illuminates, shadows define. (Rick)

4. Before shooting, look up, look down, look all around (LUDA).(Scott)

5. Make pictures, don’t just take pictures. (Rick)

7. Don’t photograph the world as it is, photograph the world as you’d like it to be. (Scott)

8. 99% of all lenses are better than 98% of all photographers. (Scott)

10. Beware (be aware of) the background – it can make or break a photograph. (Rick)

11. When you think you are close, get closer. (Rick)

Follow Scott Bourne on Twitter

Follow Rick Sammon on Twitter

Copyright Scott Bourne 2002 - All Rights Reserved
Read more at photofocus.com

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Tags: photofocus, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 4 months ago

7 Photography Projects to Jumpstart your Creativity

Cliff Plumlee says:

More great ideas from Digital Photography School. If you are into photography this is one site you should keep up with. They have a weekly newsletter that makes it easy too.

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

Let’s face it, no matter how much we take our camera out, there’s only so many pictures we can take of our kids, pets, house and garden before we start itching to shoot something else… but what?

Hopefully this list of projects you can undertake will inspire you to find something creative to shoot.

1. 365 Days

there are multiple variations of the 365 project

self-portrait

kids

open-topic

2. 52 Photowalks

get out of the house once a week with your camera

3. 100 Strangers

the 100 Strangers group

4. A-Z

You can also try this with numbers

5. Pick-A-Something

Pick something and try to get a collection of photos representing it

For instance, pick a color

or try only getting pictures of things that are square

photos of people’s shoes

6. Go Mono

During my 365 (open-topic, not self-portraits), I decided to take one month and do all my photos in black-and-white

7. Scavenger Hunt

DPS Scavenger Hunt group

PS from Darren: Also check out our weekly Assignments in the DPS forums for a little inspirationRead more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: dps, inspiration, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 5 months ago

I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist - How to Shoot in Public With Confidence

Cliff Plumlee says:

Yep, number 7 is definitely a tough one for many of us.

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

Would you believe that in the UK, anti-terrorism laws include bits for photographers?

These days, photographers are routinely made to feel like terrorists. Highly suspect criminal characters who must be watched closely. Case in point? Picture me walking around the Winchester Saturday market taking macro photography of the fruit & veg stalls…followed by two police officers (see the dangerous photo in this post). It happened. Seriously. Another example? Trying to photograph my son’s baptism in a privately rented swimming pool and being denied because it was ‘against child protection laws’. My son’s baptism! Once in a lifetime event, people!

1.) KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

UK, America, Australia

2.) BE PREPARED

3.) ADMIRE OTHERS

There are so so many amazing, inspiring photographers

4.) BE REALISTIC AND FLEXIBLE

5.) DISCONNECT

6.) JUST BE POLITE

7.) TRY TO BE A WOMAN

This might be the most difficult tip for some

8.) ASK FIRST

9.) HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION

10.) SAFETY IN NUMBERSRead more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: law, photography, public, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 5 months ago

How to improve your Photoshop Skills

Cliff Plumlee says:

More goodness from abduzeedo.com

Amplify’d from abduzeedo.com

Here I list my 10 tips to improve your skills in Photoshop, but they can be applied to other tools as well

1 - Start with something

2 - Don’t be dissappointed

3 - Try to recreate the effects you like.

4 - Read tutorials before start doing your design.

pixel2life.com

good-tutorials.com

psdtuts.com

veerle

100 Photoshop Tutorials

5 - Learn how to use Masks.

6 - Play around with filters

7 - Spend some time learning the Layer Styles

8 - Brush Engine

Very good video explaining how the Brush Engine works

9 - Listen and watch podcasts

Pixel Perfect with Bert Monroy

Adobe Photoshop Quicktips - Video Podcast

List of Photoshop Podcasts

10 - Share what you have learned with everybody

Your Design Forums

PSDTUTS - They pay you for tutorials

Flickr

Deviantart
Read more at abduzeedo.com

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Tags: art, photography, photoshop, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 5 months ago

10 Questions to Ask When Taking a Digital Photo

Cliff Plumlee says:

Number 7 is one I don’t actually worry about that much when I shoot, but it is usually one of the very first corrections I make as I crop my photos.

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

Here’s 10 questions to get in the habit of asking while framing your shots.

1. What story am I telling?

2. What is the visual focal point of this shot?

What will viewers of this picture naturally have their eye drawn to in this scene?

3. What competing focal points are there?

4. What is in the background and foreground?

One of most common places for distractions in digital photography is the background of your shots.

5. Am I close enough?

Shots that fill the frame with your subject tend to be much more dynamic

6. What is the main source of light?

Always give consideration to how your subject is lit.

7. Is my Framing Straight?

Sloping horizons and slightly leaning people or buildings should always be in the back of your mind to check.

8. What other perspectives could I capture this subject from?

9. How would holding the camera in the other format change this shot?

10. How will the eye travel through this image?

our free weekly digital photography schoool email newsletter.Read more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: dps, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 5 months ago

9 Pet Photography Tips

Cliff Plumlee says:

I just love Digital Photography School.

Amplify’d from digital-photography-school.com

Pets, unlike humans, do not understand what we are trying to do and won’t just pose for the camera!

1. Use Natural Light

2. Keep the Eyes Sharp

Having sharp eyes is important in any kind of portraits photography.

3. Go to Them

Most important is to get down to his level

4. Give Value to their Character

5. Go Macro

close up shots often make beautiful animal portrait

6. Surprise Them

7. Schedule your Session

8. Be Patient

Pet photography requires a lot of patience.

9. Experiment

Take your time and enjoy the session, try different approaches, angles and compositions.Read more at digital-photography-school.com

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Tags: animals, cats, dogs, dps, pets, photography, tips

Posted by Cliff Plumlee 6 months ago

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1. LET THE KIDS HAVE FUN

2. FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT

3. PLAY THE EXPRESSIONS GAME

4. PARENTS OR NO PARENTS

5. KEEP IT RELAXED

‘Seeing’ the Shot

Composition

Aperture

Shutter Speed

ISO

Cliff Plumlee says:

Cliff Plumlee says:

Cliff Plumlee says:

1. 365 Days

2. 52 Photowalks

3. 100 Strangers

4. A-Z

5. Pick-A-Something

6. Go Mono

7. Scavenger Hunt

Cliff Plumlee says:

Cliff Plumlee says:

Cliff Plumlee says:

Cliff Plumlee says:

1. Use Natural Light

2. Keep the Eyes Sharp

3. Go to Them

4. Give Value to their Character

5. Go Macro

6. Surprise Them

7. Schedule your Session

8. Be Patient

9. Experiment

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