Photographers in need of portable tripod stabilization have a new option called WaterWeights. These balloon-like devices are made from PVC and weigh 139g / 0.3lb when in storage, expanding to a weight of up to 1.3kg when filled with water. A WaterWeight can slide down the length of a tripod to rest over its feet or can hang from its handle to keep gear stable. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
We have been trying some pretty cool new gear out over the last few weeks. Michael has already shared his First Impressions of the Samsung NX1. A lot of the products we are now working with and will report on soon were announced at Photokina. One of these products was a new style ball head. Just when you didn’t think you could improve on a ball head concept any further we see a new player from Hungary introduce a new style ball head. Today, Nick Devlin gives us a look at the Uniqball, A Unique Approach To Leveling. This ball head is available at B&H Photo. I ordered one.
We also have a new advertiser on board as of today, DXO. DXO has three very cool applications for working on images. Check them out!
We have a single cabin on our first Antarctica Trip in January available as well as 2 berths on our second trip. It’s not too late to be part of an amazing adventure to one of the most beautiful places on earth. Check It Out!
Also until the end of tomorrow (Monday) you can get 25% off of our entire Video Catalog. Ends at 11:59 December 1st.
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The Luminous Landscape – What’s New
We have been trying some pretty cool new gear out over the last few weeks. Michael has already shared his First Impressions of the Samsung NX1. A lot of the products we are now working with and will report on soon were announced at Photokina. One of these products was a new style ball head. Just when you didn’t think you could improve on a ball head concept any further we see a new player from Hungary introduce a new style ball head. Today, Nick Devlin gives us a look at the Uniqball, A Unique Approach To Leveling. This ball head is available at B&H Photo. I ordered one.
We also have a new advertiser on board as of today, DXO. DXO has three very cool applications for working on images. Check them out!
We have a single cabin on our first Antarctica Trip in January available as well as 2 berths on our second trip. It’s not too late to be part of an amazing adventure to one of the most beautiful places on earth. Check It Out!
Also until the end of today you can get 25% off of our entire Video Catalog. Ends at 11:59 November 30th.
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The Luminous Landscape – What’s New
Well it’s back to business as usual. Photokina is behind us and we look forward to seeing some real products that we can try out soon. Many of our reader who frequent the forum will recognize Bernard Languillier who’s article we share today. Bernard has done a follow up on a previous article on LuLa Having Fun With Panoramas by Kevin Raber. Bernard takes image stitching to a new level using different software other than Photoshop. His article Stitching – An advanced Approach will allow you to take your Panos and stitched images to a new level.
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The Luminous Landscape – What’s New
Recently, I gave you a look inside the bag of a hobby photographer on a budget, and after reading all the comments on that post, I got to thinking about a topic that doesn’t really get all that much attention…
There are technical posts that detail things like getting sharper images and even plenty of advice on going pro, but what I have not found in my search, is any solid advice on how to approach photography as a hobby.
Sure you’ll need to learn the technical stuff in order to make quality photos, but there’s more to approaching this craft than just learning, you have to have the right mindset going in or, more than likely, your camera will be collecting dust-bunnies in your closet next month.
I thought about this for a while and really only two standout differences come to mind – money and time.
Notice that quality is not one of the two differentiating factors. As a hobbyist you can certainly still make great photographs, there are many hobbyists that do just that, but it’s not something you can do overnight. Professional or not – photography is a journey.
One of the best parts of being classified as a hobbyist is you don’t have anyone paying you to take their photos which means you can take your photos.
You can experiment with different styles of photography like HDR, light painting, black and white. You can photograph people or landscapes. I’ve always believed that the best way to learn how something works is to just get out and start using it. After you’ve played around with a camera a bit and done some own experimentation – the tutorials, guidebooks, and even the camera’s manual will make more sense, allowing you to learn even more.
One of the best ways to force yourself to experiment is by joining various communities. Digital Photography School runs a weekly challenge in which you are given a theme to photograph for the week and share your result in the comments of the week’s post. It’s fun and really can get you thinking about new ideas.
Join a community and share your work. There’s no shame in asking others for help, but it can be a bit scary to do so, especially when you’ve hit a personal breakthrough and are afraid someone might tear your photograph apart.
Making friends – both through the virtual worlds of social media and internet forums, and the real world photography club that meets in the basement of your local town hall – is a great way to gain support and keep the motivation flowing.
dPS has a huge forum with thousands of people sharing and critiquing each other’s photography daily. Google+ and Facebook also offer groups specific to various genres of photography. If all else fails you could always start your own website and start sharing your work on a regular basis there or find a local club that will give you a more real world experience. The key is to get yourself out of the bubble.
Whether you’re photographing pets or at the zoo
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Or on vacation, or in your backyard. The more you’re willing to invest the more it will show in your work.
Yes, this still about photography as a hobby, but it’s an expensive hobby and not just at the wallet, but in time as well – so be prepared to invest both if you want to succeed.
I’m not saying you need to buy pro gear, an entry level camera and kit lens can take you far and get you some great photographs – it may be all you ever need in terms of camera gear. But don’t forget about the accessories – tripods, filters and software are all part of the package as well.
Make sure you’re not only investing money into your hobby though, invest time. Quality gear and software will not fix a lack of experience, so get out and start taking photographs by following step one. Stay motivated by sharing your work and asking for critique by following step two. Then, as finances and time allow, invest both into improvement and you’ll have a winning recipe for success.
Block out some time this weekend and try and complete the weekly challenge here on DPS. Start a ‘photography fund’ even if it’s only five or ten dollars a month. This will go a long way in allowing you to invest in better accessories and new gear which, can’t make you better alone, can certainly improve your images when you combine them with the more experience behind the camera.
Finally, I’d love to open this post up for discussion. How have you approached your own photography as a hobby? Or how would you recommend others approach theirs?
The post 3 Tips on How to Approach Photography as a Hobby by John Davenport appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Much ado has been made about the sensor technology rumored to debut along with HTC’s newest handset launched today, the HTC One. While rumors of stacked sensors were predictably wide of the mark, HTC is taking a clever approach to improving camera phone quality by betting on fewer but larger pixels captured by a 4.0MP 1/3″ sensor, which are similar in size to those found in enthusiast compact cameras, and which HTC is calling ‘ultrapixels’. Combined with a fast F2.0 lens and optical image stabilization, the HTC One’s specs hold promise for better low-light photography – an area where mobile phones have fallen notoriously short. Click though for our detialed preview on Connect.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Many photographers are timid about “shooting strangers” on the street which keeps them from even trying. Street photography is all about telling a story in a single frame and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s normal to be reluctant or shy, but these 12 steps will gently ease you into the wonderful world of street photography that exists in your hometown or anywhere else your travels take you. There are lots of stories out there waiting to be told. Get your camera and let’s go!
There are stories waiting to be photographed everywhere you go.
In most countries, as long as you are in a public place, it is perfectly legal to photograph people for either editorial or fine art purposes. However, if you intend to use any of those images for stock photography, meaning using that photograph in advertising, then you need the proper model release form signed. Each country has its own laws and regulations about this, so please do your research before you photograph strangers in the streets.
It’s generally better to shoot street photography on your own. Why? You are more invisible that way. But if going on your own is a bit intimidating at first, take a friend along. It will help emboldened you, but also surprise you at how differently two people see the world.
In my workshops I encourage new street photographers to start with a busy public place such as a street market or an outdoor event as a comfortable start. You are more invisible in a crowd and can more easily overcome your fear of photographing strangers. Street performers are excellent street photography subjects to start shooting. After all, they are there to be seen and are used to being photographed plus they are part of the culture of the place you are visiting. Buskers perform to make a few bucks, so shoot away, and be generous with what you toss in their hat!
As much as I enjoy walking for hours searching for that special moment, I often do a lot of standing and waiting if I find a really compelling background to use as a stage. Once you find your stage, be patient and eventually the right people will walk through your frame. When I am traveling I like to add a sense of place by carefully selecting the architecture in the background or finding signage in the local language.
Silhouettes are interesting subjects only if they are easily recognized. There should be no doubt as to what the image is. People with umbrellas, bicyclists or lovers holding hands are terrific silhouette images.
I love the thrill of engaging a subject in a conversation! For some of you this may be more intimidating than shooting candidly. For others, you can get over the apprehension by asking permission to make a portrait, so they are more at ease with the process. If you ask permission and it is granted, take your time. Then show them the picture on the back of your camera. Tell them why they caught your attention. Everyone enjoys a compliment!
Basically, if they are in a public place, you have just as much right to photograph children as anybody else. Even so, it’s a good idea to get the okay from a parent first. My way is to simply nod towards them, show my camera and wait for their nod back. For the times when no one is around to give you the okay, use your best judgement.
When I do candid shots, I occasionally interact with my subject after I make the photograph. But mostly I’m invisible and they never know I took a picture. When I make a street portrait I engage them in a conversation and show them the picture on the back of the camera. If they ask for a copy I give them my card so they can email me for a digital file of their portrait. That’s the least you can do to thank them for their time.
You are not doing anything wrong, but if someone objects to having their picture taken, don’t shoot! It’s not worth an argument. You may be well within your legal rights, but the most important thing is to be respectful of others. I would also urge you to avoid photographing people in vulnerable or embarrassing situations. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you feel comfortable being photographed that way? If the answer is no, then use your common sense and move on.
That’s an important step towards making street photography an enjoyable experience and one I always teach my students right away. If the situation feels wrong or dangerous, then it probably is. Trust your gut.
This is totally a personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer. I prefer to process my images in black and white for its timeless quality, but some images are better in color and sometimes the subject is color. Let your artistic eye guide this decision. But I will say that another advantage of monochrome is its ability to remove any distracting colorful elements from the frame, allowing the viewer to the be more drawn to the subject.
Don’t let anyone tell you what does or doesn’t qualify as street photography, or what camera you should use. There are no official rules here. Street photography is all about telling a story, communicating an emotion. Your camera is an extension of your own artistic vision. Be patient. Trust your gut. Go out there and have fun!
Finding a stage and waiting for the right person to walk through your frame is part of story telling with a sense of place.
Silhouettes are interesting subjects only if the action is easily recognized.
When photographing children, use your best judgement if a parent is not present.
Street photography is about gesture and expression.
Street performers are great subjects, especially when you first get started.
Sometime the subject is all about color!
Street portraits are also part of street photography. I walked by this gentleman and thought he looked cool and told him so. He gave me the ok to make a portrait.
Several stories can happen in one frame.
The only time I bother to carry a tripod to do street photography is to shoot long exposures for some motion blur.
Street photography is not only about people…
Are you currently a street photographer or aspire to become one? Please share your experience with the dPS readers.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
How To Approach Street Photography In 12 Easy Steps.
Go behind the scenes on a collaborative photoshoot with photographer Kelsey Beacco of Kel-Z Photography and professional photographer and cinematographer, Ben Sant of BTS Photography. This shoot’s concept is based around high fashion with a Macabre twist. We head to an abandoned set of homes and industrial buildings to shoot 3 models with natural light and flashes in a dedicated strobist approach to off camera lighting. Visualize the techniques and listen to the commentary on how to light with speedlights.
Adobe has developed a set of three online tools as the primary way of interacting with its Photoshop.com online storage and editing site. The Photoshop Express Editor, Organizer and Uploader have been optimized to integrate with the company’s recently released Photoshop Express apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android devices and promise faster and ‘more intuitive’ uploading, editing, and organizing abilities.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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