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Archive for July, 2008

Photography Jobs: Do You Have a Future in Photography?

July 31, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

There is a wide world of photography. It touches each of us in our lives on a daily basis in some form or another. Photography is so much a part of our culture now that we hardly even notice all the places that it exists. When you watch television, look at a magazine or even view a billboard on the highway, this is all because of photography. There are so many ways that photography crosses our lives each day. There are a lot of opportunities for someone looking for photography jobs.

What Photography Jobs are Available?

If you enjoy photography and are thinking of it as a career, there are actually many different directions you can choose from. Obviously, there is professional photography but even in that choice there are many other smaller options that you have as well.

You can become a photographer in a special field such as wedding or family photographer. You can choose to make money taking pictures of things you love such as animals, nature or ships. If you enjoy scuba diving, you can become an underwater photographer. Pretty much anything you can think of, there is room to take and sell pictures of it.

If you love taking pictures and the idea of a career in photography sounds good to you, just how do you begin finding photography jobs?

How Do You Find Photography Jobs?

There are different ways of finding photography jobs, depending on the type of job you are looking for and your experience. You can begin by creating a resume and portfolio of your work. Then you can search on the internet at freelance photography job boards or photography websites and message boards. Get specific into types of photographing you have done and look on the internet for those.

You can go locally and look for internships or local firms or companies that may need photographers. You can get the word out by doing small events such as birthday parties and such. Get your name out as someone who will work these functions. Show friends and family samples of your work and ask them to spread the word. You may even want to participate in a charitable or non-profit event to boost your portfolio.

You can also begin submitting your work to contests and magazines to get yourself known and build your portfolio. Placing or winning in contests and getting published in magazines can help you build clips that you can use for getting bigger and better jobs.

Lastly, you can actually apply to jobs directly. It is best to do this only if you have the proper qualifications for the job. You don t want to set your goals so high that you get let down but there is nothing wrong with going for what you want. Most importantly, get as involved with what you love as possible. Learn as much as you can about photography and what makes good photography. Subscribe to magazines, read books, look at winners of photography contests

Looking for information about Photography?

Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com

‘ASA Photography’ is published by Colin Hartness -

An excellent resource for Photography!

Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Why Not Start Your Own Photography Business?

July 30, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

If you want to start your own photography business, it is a good idea to check what competitors you have in your area or the competition in your style or subject of photography. Have you ever noticed that people s photography skills shine when they take photo s of things they really love and are interested in? A clever way to go about building for yourself a photography business is to start by taking photographs of things you really love, and create your own niche market and perspective in that area, that way you will stand out in the crowd.

All good artists, whatever format they use, project through their art, things that interest them, things that have impacted on them in some way, and they aim to share that same feeling with others viewing their work. It is the differences in art styles, the attention to different details that makes one artist appeal to you more than others. It is these differences that created fame for the artists Monet and Picasso, who painted as they themselves viewed the world, and not as someone else views it.

The most interesting photographs are those that reveal to the onlooker something that they have not seen, felt or heard of before. People are interested in learning how others see the world and that can be achieved through photography. An experienced and talented photographer is able to communicate the feelings that certain landscapes, architecture and events conjure up inside of them through their photos. Many famous photographers have gained popularity from photographs they originally thought wouldn t be that interesting to other people, and have ended up with a photography business from enjoying their hobby rather than from something they had planned. It is both the unusual and the common, that makes an interesting subject for photography, and it is up to the artist to place a particular perspective, or make a statement on that subject through their work.

Many great artists, who are or have been famous, were not born famous; they achieved their position through hard work, by following their inspiration, through perseverance and expressing their passion. People who want to break into the photography business must believe in themselves and their work, they have to think of themselves as an artist, and although they might not be as well known as other artists it does not mean that their work or their talent is of any less worth, it simply means that they are not well known yet.

There are many helpful websites that give tips on photography, and how to start your own photography business. There are even websites that give you ideas on how to sell your photos on different products to people or businesses around the world. If you want to start your own photography business, it is a good idea to begin by researching online on how other people just like you managed to create their business, what they have learnt from their mistakes, and their tips and advice for beginners. Placing your photography on a website will also give you a much greater advantage in being recognised either as an artist or as a business compared to other options that are available.

Passion is contagious, if you are passionate about certain people, music, animals, or foods in life, capture this with your camera, try and express your feelings through your photos, doing this is bound to stir up an interest in and draw people to your work. Maintaining your passion for photography must be sustained throughout your business endeavours because passion is visible, and your work will reflect your attitude. It is wise to seek the help from business coaches, or by following set business plans when you are starting out in a photography business, as this will enable you to concentrate on maintaining your passion and artistic flair for photography throughout the initial challenges

This article has been supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy often writes and works closely with Profitable Photography Business. If the previous link is inactive, you can paste this one into your browser - profitable-photography.com This site is dedicated to coaching you in starting your own photography business but places a strong emphasis on profitability issues & guidelines. You can also gain many photography resources (some free) from Photography or if this link is inactive, you can copy and paste this link into your browser - profitable-photography.com/resources.php If you seek further guides, articles and news, you can go to Photography Tips or if this link is inactive, you can paste this address in your browser photography-business-tips.com Why not bookmark these links!

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Portrait Photography

July 29, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

The market opportunities for Portrait photography are now so enormous, that they include every dwelling where you live. Everyone wants his or her photograph taken for some reason, or the other. Not only can you target every building, but also it is a type of business where repeat business potential is also enormous. Parents now repeat the opportunities for formal portraits; add to that is that they have more than one child, the possibilities for repeat business is also enormous.

It is a business that you can start very easily from home; it means that you are not working in outdoor inclement weather conditions. The equipment you need is comparatively modest. A camera, good lenses, a tripod, two or three lights and several pieces of cloth that will make various backdrops. Not only is the equipment modest it is also light if you have to transfer it to an event outside your home.

The most important rule to remember is that it is a portrait, not necessarily of just the head, but the person, or group is the focal part of the picture, so it is important to take the photograph without any extraneous clutter. Because you will always be dealing with people you have to maintain control, not as a tyrant, but you have to guide your subjects. Therefore a certain degree of self-confidence is necessary. If you are taking a formal portrait of a group of children it is necessary for you as the photographer to ensure that none of the children are making faces.

When you have signed up a person for a photographic portrait take a few extra shots, and offer them as wallet or purse photographs at a smaller fee. You already have the start business capitalise on it, few people can resist the feeling that they have got something for nothing . This may seem a waste of time; they can be important additives for your portfolio.

Portrait photography has undergone many changes of style since the introduction of the formal portrait. The modern emphasis is to bring out each individual s personality. Top glamour models are paid enormous fees to express a distinctive personality, but to bring that aspect forward in your subject is as much about people skills as camera techniques. It is imperative to be able to create a rapport with your subject to bring out the expressions that display their personality. Anyone over the age of two can pose for the camera, with a vacuous expression, but the secret of saleable portrait photography is capturing more than the pose. To be a really good portrait photographer you have to be able to connect with people, if you have not got these skills, then it is better that you concentrate on some other types of photography

If you want to flatter your subject, you’ll probably want to minimize their nose. Stand about twelve feet from your subject, so that their nose isn’t significantly closer to you than the rest of the face. However, at such a large distance from the camera, if you want to fill the frame with just your subject’s face, then you need a high magnification lens. Typical “portrait” lenses are therefore between 90 and 135 millimeters long when you are using a 35mm camera.

Whilst a lot of portrait photography is completed inside a studio, the prospect of natural light can be very flattering. This can be achieved inside by positioning your subject in front of a window. Environmental portraiture presents different challenges. These portraits are best enlarges, otherwise the subjects face gets lost in the background. Slow film and the use of a tripod; help to keep your images sharp. There are a number of professional photographers who argue that a portrait is not shown to it s best advantage when it is clinically sharp and they use a filter, but with modern digital cameras, you can make an adjustment in Photoshop at a later time. However if you are using a digital camera you will achieve the best results with a camera with a true single reflex lens.

Natural light or umbrella lighting can achieve soft lighting; both of these reduce shadows and show the face in a better more attractive light . However there is another type of portrait photography, which is high impact photography. This is a very dramatic type of portrait photography, which uses very strong light with a high contrast of tonal color. This technique is more effective indoors, as it is achieved by controlling light, and their is too much light to control out of doors. Position your subject at different angles to the light, from one side, or from underneath. This lengthens the shadows, rather than muting them, and gives a distinctly dramatic effect. You can achieve this in varying degrees, but if the light source is placed at 90 degrees to the face, it will throw the whole of the opposite side of the face in shadow. If you are using a digital camera you can also manipulate the contrast later to achieve a more dramatic effect.

You can also improve your photographs if you include some motion shots, as well as the traditional stills. Just make sure that you use the correct film speeds.

About the Author
Publisher & author: Roy Barker. Roy is the author of the popular ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook which is a guide on how to start up and market a Profitable Photography business. It can be viewed at http://www.profitable-photography.com. Other related and reviewed services & research sources can be found at http://www.profitable-photography.com/html/117/

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

The 4C’s of Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

July 28, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You’ve probably dreamed of this day for years but how will you remember it when it’s over? Hiring just any photographer could be one of the worst mistakes you’ll ever make. Not all photographers are created equal, some have more experience than others, some have better equipment than others and some have more training than others. Interviewing and selecting the best one for you is difficult but we’ve created the “4C’s of Choosing Your Wedding Photographer” to help guide you through this process.

The first “C” is clarity. When looking through portfolios and albums, check to see how clear the expressions are. Are you able to see details in the photograph? Can you clearly see what emotion the image conveys? Only professional grade lenses will capture the highest clarity for your precious wedding images.

The second “C” is composition. A well-trained eye can capture images that are beautifully composed. Look for signs that the photographer is capable of composing your story in the way in which you’ve envisioned. Are there feet & arms cut off in the sample books? Too much floor or ceiling space in the samples? Many times what you see in the books is what you get in your album so make sure you’re certain this person can compose not only beautiful photographs but also interesting angles, points of emphasis and soft lighting techniques to provide you with the best possible photographs.

The third “C” is creativity. Are the images creative and different from the traditional posed images seen in your parents and grandparents albums? Do they show an element of art and design like magazine ads? Are there options to add bordered prints, sepia prints or hand-coloring into your package? Look for someone who is fun and creative to capture your day in a way that will stand apart from all of your friends albums.

The last “C” is caring. Is your photographer friendly and considerate of you and your fianc s wishes to not see each other before the wedding? Will he or she get along with your friends and family on the wedding day? You’ll want to make sure you build rapport with your photographer because many times, the photographer is the one wedding professional you’ll spend your entire day with. During your wedding, he or she will be present at your most private moments. In addition to having experience and knowing what to expect, a caring professional will seek to guide you through your special occasion without running your entire day.
About the Author
Erin Hession owns and operates a national wedding photography company, www.ErinHessionPhotography.com and she is the owner of the National Association of Better Bridal Businesses. (www.nabbb.com) She enjoys traveling and photographing weddings and events all over the world. Check out her site to see if she is available for your upcoming wedding or event!

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

When Food and Photography Meet

July 27, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Photographing food is probably one of the most challenging kinds of photography out there. It is considered difficult by most professional food photographers because there is a time constraint in the whole photo shoot.

And since the marketability of the food itself depends primarily on how it is seen in print, food photographers should be well trained and skilled in order to come up with satisfying results.

TIPS IN TASTEFUL FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Know your camera well. It is a must that you familiarize yourself with all its features and functions especially the basic operations like focus/auto focus, exposure compensation, white balance, image resolution and size, and flash modes operation. Know when to use these features in order to highlight the best angles of your subject.

2. Familiarize yourself with other equipment. Knowing the proper use of a tripod or stabilizer will help you focus on your subject better and will also avoid camera shake that usually causes blurring.

3. Fill the gap and the distance. If space and time permit, get close to your subject as close as possible. It is recommended that you fill the entire frame of with your subject to create a satisfying image. Distance will give a full view of the food s texture and ingredients.

4.Carefully calculated focus and depth-of-field (DOF). The use of depth-of-field never fails to create wonders in food photo shoots. With careful adjustment of focus and depth of field, you can bring to life any dish that is your subject. (TIP: Use wider or more open for a shallow DOF and a smaller or more closed one for a deeper shots.)

5. Identify the standout ingredient. Before taking any shot, assess the scene closely and look for something that can grab people s attention right away. You can use this main feature of the food as the subject of your subject.

6. It s all in the lighting. Like in any photography styles, lighting or available light can make or unmake any photograph. Since food is the major subject in food photography, it is better that the setting is bright and the lights are soft so as to make the food more appetizing. In digital cameras, turning on the White Balance feature of the equipment can solve dark settings in an instant.

7. Pay attention to your set-up. It is a must to take the time off to setup your food photo shoot. If there are distracting elements in the background, remove them. If you think there s something missing in the set up, then think of something else that would fill the empty space or gap. Prepare the garnish, the props, and other materials you might need for the shoot.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Photography, please visit http://photography.articlekeep.com

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Photography - Famous Photographers

July 26, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Thinking of joining the ranks of the greatest photographers of all time? Well, it might be a good idea to check out a few of them and the works they’ve done so you know just what it is you’re up against.

Probably one of the most famous photographers of all time was Ansel Adams. Adams was born In San Francisco California in 1902. He lived in Carmel until he died in 1984. His most popular photo was titled “Moonrise Over Hernandez, 1944″. This is a breathtaking photo showing a beautiful night view and the small town below it. Other famous photos by Adams were “Clearing Winter Storm” and “Winter Sunrise”. Adams did a lot of outdoor photography with some breathtaking views. His most popular photo has about 1000 copies in print. The price range of these photos, depending on condition goes from $5,000 to $175,000 if you can find one.

Moving from outdoor photography of landscapes to nude women on beaches we have the works of Jock Sturges. Sturges was born in the big city of New York in the year 1947. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington. His most popular images, all of beach nudes, are “Misty Dawn 1991″ and “Northern California, 1991″. His prints range in price from $1,000 to $3,000. His most expensive print sold for $4,000.

Herman Leonard was known for taking great photographs of jazz legends. He was born in Allentown, PA in 1923. He currently lives and works in New Orleans. His most popular images are photos of great jazz legends Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Herman Leonard was one of the more active photographers even when not working at his craft. He often traveled with great entertainers like Marlon Brando, who he hung out with in 1954. His photos range in price from $950 to $5,500.

Another great photographer was Irving Penn who was born in Plainfield, NJ in 1917. Penn was actually known for a number of different styles of photography including fashion photography and provocative life style portraits. His most famous work was “Cuzco Children” which sold for as much as $175,000 at the turn of the century. Penn worked for some of the most popular magazines of our time including Harper’s Bazaar, Saks Fifth Avenue and Vogue Magazine.

Another great photographer, who most people have actually heard of, was the one and only Helmut Newton, who just recently passed away in 2004. He was most known for photos involving fashion and nudes illustrating themes of mass media, glamour, sex and theater. Newton’s work was often categorized as bizarre. He was once quoted as saying “My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain”. He most certainly did that better than just about anyone else. His most popular image is “Sie Kommen I, II”. His photographs are in such demand that some go for as much as $400,000 each.

The list of famous photographers goes on, literally forever. So if you are thinking of joining the ranks of these greats and many others, then you’re going to have to work hard at your craft.

Very, very hard.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Photography

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Wedding Photography: How to Avoid Shooting Yourself in the Foot!

July 26, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Wedding photography is the one discipline in the wedding industry that does not produce a product that you can enjoy on your special day. Instead, the money that you spend on wedding photography is an investment in capturing the joy of your wedding day for you to look back on for years to come. The trick is to coordinate everything so that your wedding photographer is able to actually capture everything that you want recorded.

Start by sitting down as a couple before you book anything and deciding specifically what you want wedding pictures to record. Coordinating and compromising your expectations may turn out to be challenging enough. If it is, imagine how challenging the wedding photographer would find it during the craziness of the actual wedding day when most everyone is dressed so that the wedding photographer can t tell the difference between Aunt Betty and Betty Johnson that lives down the street (Chances are you will want a picture of Aunt Betty in some form where Mrs. Johnson might be a lesser priority). If deciding what the two of you want from your wedding photography is not a challenge, count your blessings and move ahead.

Once you have decided what posed pictures you want, take the time to speak with a couple wedding photographers and find out how much time and what kind of schedule a good wedding photographer will need to actually capture the pictures you want. This seems obvious, but often weddings are planned in such a way that the wedding photographer is put in the awkward position of having to try to keep up with what is going on, which could leave you with less than the best in wedding photography.

Chances are the wedding photographer will want to know how important it is to you that the groom does not see the bride before the wedding on your wedding day. If it is not important, there is probably a good chance you can arrange for all of the wedding party to show up at the church (or wherever the wedding ceremony is held) early to get most, if not all, of the posed wedding photography taken care of. Even if you do not want the bride and groom to see each other until she walks down the aisle, it might be possible to schedule your wedding so that most of the posed wedding photography are taken care of and only those pictures that include both the bride and the groom are left until after the wedding ceremony.

If not, however, you might need to consider a schedule that includes a considerable gap of time between the ceremony and the reception (In some parts of North America this is very common, while in other parts it is quite uncommon) to make sure your wedding photography turns out to be the photographs that you will treasure (and make sure that Uncle Floyd doesn t disappear on you).

After, and only after, you have determined what schedule will be required for the photographer to give you the wedding photography that you are paying for should you actually go out and book your wedding location.

Jeanette Shinn is the founder, operator, and edible design artist behind Layer By Layer, http://www.frostingonthecake.com, a special order bakery serving weddings and other special occasion needs of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Jeanette is also the co-owner of Your Wedding Cake and Favors http://www.wedding-cakes-portal.com a website dedicated to helping brides realize their wedding day dreams with advice and resources for the entire wedding experience.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Things To Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

July 25, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Your photographer is a large portion of your budget. Compare at least three photographers for quality, value and price. If Uncle Harry wants to do your photography that is great if he is a professional. If he is not and you don’t want to offend him, have him take all your candid shots and leave the more important ones to the professionals.

Provide your photographer with a timeline of your entire wedding from the beginning to end. Assign one person from both the bride & groom’s family to help point out important guests and to get everyone gathered for the next shot. Be sure your photographer understands the rules and regulations of taking pictures at your church/ceremony site. By providing a detailed list of moments you would like to have captured will ensure there are no misunderstandings. Most will already have a check list of recommended poses.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Photographer
-Specializes in weddings
-Personal Rapport
-Experience - How many weddings photographed
-Formal, creative/photojournalistic or both
-Quality of portfolio
-Does a pre-visit to ceremony site
-References
-Familiar with Ceremony & Reception sites
-Contract
-Will he/she be the actual photographer
-Does black and white
-Have an assistant for larger weddings
-Provide a photo CD
-Discusses ownership of negatives and provides it in writing
-How many proofs will be available to choose from

Wedding Photo Album & Parents Album
Your photographer may have included this in his/her package or offer separately for you to purchase at a later date. Whichever you decide protect your photos with an archival quality album to preserve them for years to come. Prints can fade over time and are adversely affected when exposed to humidity so store them in a dark dry place.

http://www.directoryforweddings.com is a local online source for planning the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams. From your Engagement, to your Wedding Ceremony and Reception, to your Honeymoon - we have over 1000 wedding professionals to assist you every step of the way.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Photography Contest - a Fun and Rewarding Experience

July 24, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing by with your camera waiting for that moment that is meant to be captured on camera? You may even be taking photography classes or maybe you have already completed a photography course and you want to share your photos with others. You may want to get into photography as a career and winning a photography contest will help you get recognized. Maybe you are just an amateur that has a favorite photo that people keep telling you to enter.

Whatever your reasons, a photography contest can be a fun and rewarding experience for you. To find out all you need to know about entering a photography contest, read on.

How to Enter a Photography Contest

There are some excellent photography contests out there, some even offer large cash prizes, scholarships to photography schools and really nice cameras and camera supplies. Aside from the prizes, winning a contest may be your opportunity to showcase your photography skills in a national magazine. It s easy to see why someone would want to enter a contest.

First you are going to want to choose a contest. In fact, there are so many out there you should make a list of ones you are interested in competing in. There are contests in almost every category you can think of; wildlife, underwater, boats, boat docks, people, children, self portraits, birds, tress, flowers, and much more. Some contests are not category-specific but leave you freedom to use your creativity.

Next, you will double check the dates for entries to make sure you are not wasting your time sending to one that has already reached its deadline. You will also want to check any and all requirements to the contest and make sure you qualify. You will then want to check for any fine print and be sure you agree with the terms. For example, some contests have rules about copyright and you give up copyright by submitting, others ask for print to publish even if you don t win, and without notifying you. If you do not agree to the terms of the contest, you should not enter. By entering, you are agreeing to the terms. There may also be entry fees required for the contests.

Tips for Better Photos

You may be amateur but if you are entering a photography contest, you are competing with the best of the best. You are going to need your photos to be excellent if you expect to win. There are different things that make up a good photo. If your photography contest is based on a topic, then that topic is going to be counted as part of the score. You will want to be original and if possible, catch a scene that has not been done before. You really want to impress the judges with something you do not normally see.

Next to consider, are your technical aspects of your photograph. You are going to want to have excellent composition, lighting, focus, contrast, exposure, perspective and more. There are many factors involved in taking the picture that will win the photography contest. You may not win every time but you should learn something about photography and how to make yours better each time you enter.

by Colin Hartness

http://www.asaphotography.com

Looking for information about Photography?

Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com

‘ASA Photography’ is published by Colin Hartness -

An excellent resource for Photography!

Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Specialized Styles of Photography

July 23, 2008 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Photography is an all encompassing term used for all types of image capture but there are in fact distinct variations in the manner in which photography is approached in different genres. Different genres of photography require a different style and perspective. The techniques used by photographers vary based on the subject, the situation and the end use of the image or scene.
Photography has always been considered an art and a creative process. This creativity is enhanced by the availability of camera features that make possible a wide range of ideas and styles.
Outlined below is a list of genres that call for specialized treatment in the process of creating outstanding photographs. These thematic approaches will be discussed in detail here, though there are few more categories and sub-categories in thematic photography like ad messages, corporate brochures, under-water photography and so on.

  • Wildlife photography
  • Landscape photography
  • Sports events
  • Photo-journalism
  • Fashion photography
  • Black & White treatment
  • Shooting Celebrities

–>Wildlife Photography
Wildlife photography is often assumed to be an exciting and high adventure genre of photography. In reality it is extremely challenging and wildlife photographers find themselves at the mercy of inclement weather and sometimes even face danger. Here are some suggestions for this specialized form of photography.
Understand the life form that you plan to photograph in terms of living habits, habitat and behavior. In other words you need a perspective on a day in the life of your wildlife subject. Books and online research will throw light on your subject. The importance of getting acquainted with the behavior of the animal is a lot more important when you have to shoot dangerous jungle animals that can attack like lions or tigers or even bears. Animals will become aware of you when you enter close to their habitat but will usually not attack if you keep your distance. But you have to be clear on the distance at which an animal will begin to feel threatened by your presence and decide to attack you.
It goes without saying that you can t expect any kind cooperation from your subject! You have to fit yourself in, place yourself in a vantage point and have your camera set and ready and then wait for the right moment to take the shot that you are looking for.
You may have to wait many days before you can capture the right shot. Your subject could not care less if the light is diminishing or the light is at its best. You may have perfect light conditions on a particular day but your subject may not be in the right spot for you to take the shot.
You need telephoto lenses to shoot from a distance and other camera features like Center-weighted metering. The Center-weighted meter allows you to meter the wildlife subject at the center of the frame and vary the size of the sensing area based on the dimensions of the subject and its distance from you.
–>Landscape Photography
Taking landscape pictures within a city from atop a building or on the beach is one type of landscape photography. But if you want to get closer to nature and shoot unique pictures of nature and environment in remote locations like wild forest area or mountain ranges, then you have your task cut out for you just like a wildlife photographer. You need the spirit of adventure within you in order to travels around to different places and scour different regions for landscape opportunity.
It is tough to firstly identify the right spots, you may have to explore for days before you find an idyllic panoramic landscape to shoot. You then have to wait for the right light conditions while braving the weather and the rough living conditions. In terms of equipment, landscape photographers need to go in for a variety of wide-angle lenses since this type of lens is capable of lending depth in the photograph. A wide-angle zoom lens is useful in this type of photography because of the range of focal lengths it can provide while fine-tuning a shot. But there is also the need for telephoto lenses for certain shot though not of the high focal length required by sports photographers. Landscape photographers usually go in for telephoto lenses with focal length less than 300mm (a telephoto lens has a focal length greater than 50mm, a wide angle lens is less than 50mm, and a standard lens has a focal length of 50mm)
–>Sports Events
Those who have made a career of photographing sporting events have a different style of operation to capture the high action of dramatic moments in a game. The length of the lens, the location of the photographer taking the shot and the need to limit blurring are the three critical aspects in sports photography.
Sports photographers use a telephoto lens. This type of lens magnifies the subject. The focal length to choose from in telephoto lenses varies from 60mm to 1000 mm. A lens with a high focal length can give you a wider visual area which is a necessity when you photograph field events. Sports photographers by and large prefer 35mm cameras and use focal lengths of 300-600mm especially for field events like soccer.
The location where photographers position themselves to take different shots is directly responsible for capturing the relevant high-points in a match. It also helps if you have a good knowledge of the sport. This ensures that you identify the right moments and are alert and ready when a memorable situation occurs during the sport. You can get the right shots if you are able to move around and use the right location in different points in a game. However, quite often the areas of movement are restricted for photographers and the best way to tide over this problem is to use a lens of focal length in the region of 600mm to enable shots of the far end of a court or field. Though a good location is usually described by the angle and distance from the court or field, the other aspect of a good location is also the play of light from your vantage point. Most photographers have the task of avoiding shadows caused by the quality of light. The intensity of color in a photograph is re!
duced in dull light conditions while bright sunlight can create shadows in certain angles
To limit blurring and capture action during a special game moment, you need to have fast shutter speeds at your disposal. A 35mm camera that is generally favored in sports photography can provide the high shutter speed necessary for action shots. Besides shutter speed, the speed of the film also plays a role. Higher film speed enables higher shutter speeds. A film speed of 100 is inadequate in sports photography. You need a 400 and above speed film.
The autofocus mechanism in is also useful in sports photography especially when manual focus is difficult to achieve quickly in certain sports situations.
An interesting technique called panning is applied in capturing action shots. You have to avoid holding the camera still when you shoot action. A rule-of-thumb is to hold the camera steady but move it along with the action rather than attempting to hold still. This steady movement of the camera along the path of motion of the player; incredibly, has the effect of minimizing blur. On the other hand, you will get a blur if you hold your camera still while the action is taking place. This technique is actually based on sound scientific principles.
It should also be mentioned here that the art of sports photography actually goes beyond capturing action or high points in a game. The readers who view these photographs in newspapers and magazines want to see player expressions, the thrills, the disappointments, the concentration that players display is something that readers find captivating and it becomes a talking point. Readers also like to see crowd reactions and reactions of family members of the players in certain critical game situations. To cater to the public sentiment, a photographer has to also attempt to click these special poignant moments during a game by capturing reactions and facial expressions.
–>Photo-journalism
Photojournalism is a different ball game altogether. It is visual storytelling. It has a strong social and cultural context and is a visual form of reportage based on newsy and current affairs topics. Being in the right place at the right time and understanding the situation as it unfolds helps a photojournalist deliver reader interest material. The objective is to usually pick up contemporary topics and portray a visual story that creates an understanding on the pattern in which people live their lives or social changes that impact them in different walks of life. Photojournalism also lends credibility to the written word and can support a public interest story with visual proof. The visuals complement the written reportage on the story.
A visual representation of contemporary situations is a powerful way to make a point and the photographer who is into photojournalism has to be a firstly aware of the socio-political and cultural scene of a region to be able to shoot the relevant pictures. The equipment required by photojournalists varies by the type of story they pursue. If a photojournalist is picking up images of a town or if the photography is the type that portrays cultural and historical sites, or if the task is to follow the campaign trail of a political leader, each of these require a different treatment.
–>Fashion Pictures
A fashion photographer needs to be a creative thinker with a good eye for aesthetics and the ability to use sound judgment in implementing out-of-the-box ideas. Fashion photography is meant to render an elegant, stylish effect on readers so the mundane and the run of the mill shots will not work. Each photograph is a piece of art in itself and has to be original.
Creating an impact in fashion photography requires the photographer to take a leap in imaginative thinking and to create images that are different and unusual. The treatments that have been tried over the years range from the surreal to muted black and whites, to geometric shapes to brilliant color schemes. A fashion product has to be portrayed creatively while at the same time conveying style and classiness. A fashion photographer needs a high level of visual sophistication combined with ideation skills. It also helps to try and understand the psyche of models that fashion photographers have to regularly interact with, in order to get the best out of them. Your choice of camera and accessories will vary depending on whether you shoot indoor or outdoor, light conditions, theme of the picture, etc.
–>Black and White Treatment
The black and white effect is used by artists and fashion photographers to create abstracts or classy other worldly images. The camera equipment required in black & white is not very distinct from other types of photography but the key actually lies in the processing and printing quality. This is an important area of emphasis in black & white photographs in order to get the desired effect.
You will need an assortment of lenses for different situations such as a combination of wide-angle lens as well as a standard lens. If you want large prints, you may need a camera with a high-resolution digital image sensor for sharpness of large format prints. The resolution should be more than 3 mega pixels.
Whether you develop your photographs in the darkroom (traditional film based camera) or process the pictures digitally (digital camera usage), when you develop the picture yourself you have the leeway to heighten or reduce the contrasts in tour picture based on the type of impression and visual impact you hope to create. You can also scan from traditionally processed negatives onto a computer and then process the images digitally.
To fine-tune the images digitally you need some basic knowledge of Photoshop software. Without manipulating the main picture in any way, you can enhance your black and white images by fine-tuning the contrasts. Photoshop assists in optimizing the images. The principles are the same as those used in a traditional darkroom. Using Photoshop you can apply various techniques like dodging (you selectively lighten a certain portion of a photo), cropping, optimizing density and fine tuning the contrasts. Fine tuning the contrasts is important in creating the right effect in black and white.
The print quality is another important factor in creating high impact black & white photographs. If you intend to print digitally processed images, you need a good printer and long lasting ink in your printer. You should also use photo quality paper to print your images.
–>Shooting Celebrities
Celebrity photography is challenging and the same time an exciting, glamorous field. When you deal with celebrities, firstly you have very little time to work within. There is always a time constraint even after you pin down a celebrity for a photo session. You have to therefore have good infrastructure and be ready with the necessary equipment. You have to plan the shot and adjust your camera, before asking your celebrity to pose.
Celebrity faces are well known so the key lies in attempting to capture something a little different, to create a different perspective. You need to build a good rapport with the celebrity and have to persevere to get the right mood to capture the real essence of the person. If you are photographing the celebrity for an ad, then the strategy behind the ad has to be considered to blend in the celebrity s expressions and posture to suit the requirements of the ad.
To sum up, the discussion - Wildlife photography requires you to brave rough conditions and thoroughly understand the habitat and behavior of the animal. The relevant and useful tools in your camera system are the right lenses and center-weighted metering if you are into shooting wildlife. Landscape photography requires you to be a wandering explorer, constantly seeking out those spectacular scenic settings. You mainly need wide-angle lenses in your camera system to demonstrate depth and scale in your picture. Sports events need a good vantage point and if you want to freeze the high action in the game, you have to learn and hone the skill of panning. Photojournalism calls on your social and political consciousness and is the art of visually unfolding a story, while Fashion photography requires ideation and out-of-the-box thinking. The impact of Black & White treatment can be heightened during the processing phase using various techniques and, Celebrity photography is not a!
ll glamour. Capturing the right mood and the essence of the celebrity becomes the key to a good shot and you often work within time constraints.
It is apparent that different photography streams each have their own specialized approaches and style of treatment. Your mind-set and your interests should influence the path that you choose as a photographer.

About The Author

Chris Haslego is founder of http://www.cameramanualstore.com, the internet’s foremost source of camera manuals. With over 4000+ camera manuals available from all major manufacturers.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]