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5 Different Approaches to Learning Photography

07 Jul

The post 5 Different Approaches to Learning Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

different approaches to learning photography

There are many different approaches to learning photography. Some people would have you believe that one way is far superior to others. But the reality is, everyone learns differently. People have different lifestyles and learning methods, various time constraints, and different budgets.

You’re already on a site that offers one way of learning photography, but have you considered the other paths that you could take? Here’s a rundown of different ways that you can structure your practice and improve your photos.

1. Blogs

It doesn’t take much to find a myriad of blogs looking to help you learn photography. Anyone from the most experienced professional photographer to someone who just bought their camera can start a blog. I guarantee that you can learn something from all of these photographers.

approaches to learning photography

For some people, like myself, blogs are an excellent format for learning photography. I’m the kind of person who learns well from text and pictures, so I read a lot of different blogs by many different photographers.

There are two significant advantages of blogs over other kinds of learning. The first is that anyone can create them, which leads to all sorts of ideas being shared. The second is that they’re quick to respond to new technologies and techniques. You’ll probably see articles about near gear or styles on a blog way before you see the same information in a book.

2. Books

Having just said that blogs are more likely to have new information than books, books still have some advantages. They often go into much more detail than blogs, especially where the content is unlikely to change even with new technology.

I have several books that cover scientific aspects of cameras and photography, and they’re still useful almost fifteen years after I bought them.

This solid foundation of knowledge can be where it’s helpful to use a few different approaches to learning photography, topping up your foundations with videos or blogs.

5 Different Approaches to Learning Photography

You can often pick up second-hand photography books cheap in thrift stores and on online auction sites. I have some real gems from decades back. They are fascinating to use to learn techniques that were in fashion at the time.

My particular favorites are the 70s and 80s glamour photography books I own; when I started shooting male glamour models and wanted an 80s vibe, they were the first place I looked for inspiration!

3. Videos

YouTube is a great place to find both photographic inspiration and tutorials of all kinds. And just like blogs, everyone can start a channel and upload videos to help other photographers learn.

An advantage of video is that if you’re the kind of person who learns best visually, you can get to grips with a technique much more effectively as you watch a photographer demonstrate it. Different approaches to learning photography will suit different people – everyone learns in different ways.

approaches to learning photography

Some websites offer whole libraries of classes to watch, with some of the courses lasting several days! You can generally either buy the class to keep forever or take out annual or monthly subscriptions that allow you to view all the classes on the site for as long as you keep subscribing.

Many people find watching video tutorials a great way to learn. I’ve got several friends who have taught themselves photography almost entirely from YouTube. If you love watching videos, then you’re spoilt for choice. There is a video tutorial on just about every aspect of photography that you can imagine (and a few you’ve never thought of).

4. Workshops

If there’s one good thing that will come out of our global extended time at home, it’s that there are now many more workshops happening online. Participating in a photography workshop can now be as simple as firing up some video conferencing software and tuning in to listen to an instructor talk!

5 Different Approaches to Learning Photography

The advantage of live workshops over pre-recorded videos is that you can usually ask the instructor questions during the workshop. Many online video conferencing platforms have the ability for you to type our a question or virtually raise your hand. Do take advantage of this feature and ask all the questions you can think of.

Of course, workshops that happen in person are great too because you can often get hands-on with equipment that you might not have at home. Lighting workshops should give you the time to try out the gear that you’re being taught to use, and ideally, there’s scope to play around a be a bit creative while you have a go.

One type of workshop that it’s particularly helpful to keep an eye out for is when camera manufacturers release new equipment. Often they hold cheap (or even free) seminars that allow you to get hands-on with new lenses and cameras. Even if you don’t intend to buy a new camera or lens, this can be a great way to have access to a professional photography teacher who you can ask questions!

5. University

Perhaps the ultimate long-term commitment to learning about photography is going to university and doing a degree. It’s not an option for everybody, of course. But for those that can afford both the time and the money, it’s incredible to be able to immerse yourself in a single subject for three years and one of the most intense approaches to learning photography.

approaches to learning photography

If this is an option that you’re considering, then do think outside of the standard photography degree. Some universities let you combine photography with subjects like marketing. This combination would be an incredible option for those wanting to go into advertising photography.

If you wanted to go into photojournalism, then you might choose to find a way to combine photography with international politics.

And don’t forget fine art as a subject either! There’s often lots of scope for photography practice on a fine art degree.

I chose to go to university to study art history as a mature student. It is genuinely the best decision that I ever made as a photographer. It has matured my work, given me a greater understanding of issues when it comes to artistic practice, and it has opened my eyes to a whole incredible history of creativity and art. I liked it so much that I’m now doing a PhD. You never know where studying photography might lead you!

Pick the right option for you

The advice that I always give when photographers ask about how best they should learn is that they should pick the route that makes the most sense for them and their photographic aspirations.

There are so many different approaches to learning photography that everyone should be able to find an option that suits their life, budget, and their dreams. And remember that if you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, then try something new! You can always ask photographers that you know and see what worked for them.

Do you have anything you’d add to this? Feel free to share any other tips, or your experiences of learning photography with us in the comments section.

The post 5 Different Approaches to Learning Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.


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5 Different Approaches to Photographing Wildlife

25 Jul

The post 5 Different Approaches to Photographing Wildlife appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

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Brown bear, Yellowstone National Park, USA © Jeremy Flint

Wildlife photography is a popular genre of photography that documents various forms of wildlife in their natural habitat. Seeing and photographing animals in the wild has to be one of the most awe-inspiring experiences imaginable. Nothing compares to sighting a lion running across the Serengeti plains of Africa or a bison family roaming the lands of Yellowstone in the USA. Photographing your pets or animals in zoos can also be just as rewarding. Whether you are new to this genre of photography or have had some practice, here are 5 different approaches to photographing wildlife:

1. Shoot from the vehicle

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Tourist taking pictures, Yellowstone national park, USA © Jeremy Flint

When viewing and photographing animals in the wild you will want to keep a safe distance. They are wild for a reason and should not be approached. The best way to photograph them is generally from the comfort of your own vehicle.

Encountering animals can be a wonderful thrill, and although there may be an urge to get out of your vehicle for a better look, it is better not to take the risk. You can’t predict the behavior of animals very easily, so it is always safer just to stay in your vehicle and avoid any potential conflict.

Whether you have your own transport or are in a vehicle on a guided tour, they make great places to take pictures from. You can potentially position yourself nearer to the animals than if you were on foot and you can take pictures from a closer range compared with standing out in the open far away from the animal.

Photographing animals from a closer vantage point, and from the safety of your own vehicle, enables the use of a wide-angle lens. This can help to give your images more variety and a different angle to those images generally shot with a telephoto lens.

2. Aim for the skies

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Bald eagle in flight, Yellowstone national park, USA © Jeremy Flint

Another way to photograph wildlife is to keep an eye out for animals above you. Look upwards and aim for the skies. Photographing majestic birds in flight or circling above you are wonderful subjects to capture.

The beauty of birds in motion can be mesmerizing, especially when the light catches their body and lights up their feathers and wings. With so many different species of birds around the world, photographing birds can be inspiring. Birds move swiftly so be sure to select a fast shutter speed to capture the action.

3. Get on their level

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Elk, Yellowstone National Park, USA © Jeremy Flint

One of the best options for photographing wildlife is to get on their level. To add interesting shots of animals, crouch down and get yourself on the same elevation as the animal. Whilst taking pictures from the same height as the animal may be more demanding in the wild, it can result in cute pictures of pets, especially if they are looking right back at you.

4. Shoot from an elevated view

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Beaver, Yellowstone National Park, USA © Jeremy Flint

Wildlife can be notoriously challenging to photograph, and some wild animals, such as leopards, are renowned for being particularly elusive. Taking shots from an elevated view such as from a tower, the air or from a building can help to improve the sightings of these animals that may be hiding in the long grass.

Also, if you are on higher ground, you are more likely to be at the same height as birds flying past you. Taking photos of birds is surprisingly addictive, and capturing them flying by can produce great results.

5. Shoot from an enclosure

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Coyote, Yellowstone national park, USA © Jeremy Flint

When photographing animals in captivity, you will likely have restrictions in terms of where you can take photographs from. For example, visiting zoos, an enclosure, viewing area, or platform are great places to shoot from to capture the animals inside. By practicing shooting animals in your neighborhood or at your local zoo, it will help you to improve your wildlife photography and become more comfortable when shooting in the wild.

Conclusion

Photographing wildlife in their natural habitat can be a great photographic adventure for any aspiring photographer. Different ways to photograph wildlife include shooting from a vehicle, from the same height as the animal, from an elevated view, and an enclosure. Pointing your camera upwards is another great way to give a different perspective to taking pictures from inside your vehicle.

On your next adventure outdoors, whether that is a walk in the countryside, a visit to your local zoo or a trip of a lifetime to see majestic wildlife, don’t forget to take your camera.

Share your pictures with us below!

 

photographing-wildlife

The post 5 Different Approaches to Photographing Wildlife appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.


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5 Different Approaches to Taking Photos of Strangers

01 Apr

The post 5 Different Approaches to Taking Photos of Strangers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Nils Heininger.

As travel photographers, documentary photographers or photojournalists, we all share the same unique challenge: Building up a relationship with our subjects from scratch. Commercial and wedding photographers also need to create closeness to their subjects, but they usually have a foundation that connects them. Models are usually paid to cooperate. Customers of wedding photographers want good images themselves. This is a foundation on which photographers can build their relationships. Our challenge is different – we enter a new environment and have nothing but our camera and ourselves.

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When we find ourselves in a special environment in a different culture and amongst strangers, we have to find strategies to approach them. A great portrait exists not only through light and composition but also the emotional connection between the photographer and photographed.

If as a photographer you don’t feel comfortable shooting a situation, it influences the quality of your images negatively. Also considering moral aspects, it is always better to connect with people and be sure they appreciate (or at least tolerate) you taking their pictures.

We (almost) all struggle with approaching strangers. Even Steve McCurry admitted he is often shy and feels awkward when he takes pictures. However, the good news is, there are strategies to make the best out of the situation and subsequently create more possibilities for good images. Here, I share my best strategies to get closer to people and come home with more good portraits.

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1. Ask and shoot

The first strategy is quite simple, yet often a challenge – just go and ask. How many times did you not have the courage to approach a stranger and ask for taking an image? And how many times did you regret it? If you are like me, then far too many. The more you approach people, the more you will realize most of them are happy to have their picure taken and might even see it as a compliment.

But, what if they say no? What does it matter if they reject you? So what? There are billions of other people out there. Fear is generally one of the biggest barriers to getting good pictures.

You have to overcome it.

One of the best ways to do so is to go out and practice. You will be surprised how many people pose for you if you approach them the right way.

Stay confident, do your thing and do it well.

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The challenge with this strategy is to stay calm. When I started out, I found my images composed weakly or a little soft because I tried to get it done as quickly as possible. My hand was perhaps too shaky, and I rushed through the process without considering the right camera settings.

Later, I realized it is not necessary to be in such a hurry. Yes, you should not take too much time from people. However, if you become too nervous and ruin the moment, all the time is spent for nothing.

Be aware of what you do and how you do it. Stay calm and confident then you will succeed more easily. People appreciate it most if they see that you act professional and portray them in a good light.

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2. Be patient and drink tea

As I find myself mostly in South Asia, drinking tea is an activity to socialize and get into contact with people. In other areas, you might replace it with coffee, maté or beer. Be mindful to the fact that taking pictures of people is not just hitting the shutter button. If it were that easy, we would not have all those amazing professionals who still stand out with their images of people. Each of these pictures involved much work behind or beside the camera.

Most of the photographers who accurately capture the culture and atmosphere of a place through a local person have spent a lot of time choosing the person and building a relationship. While you can run through the streets and click away thousands of images of everyone, you may want to spend your time more efficiently. Stay calm and invest some time into building a network. Go to places where the people you want to take portraits of hang out. Socialize and take your camera out when it is time to do so.

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3. Find a fixer

If you have found the right people and still could not get into contact, sometimes it is useful to find a fixer. Fixers are people who arrange access to a story for a photographer, videographer or journalist. Mostly, they belong to the area and act as a mediator between the professional and the people.

Fixers can also help with translating, and they know a lot about the covered issue themselves and have an idea of what you are looking for. While fixers usually get paid in the case of professional journalism, you can also find guides, community members or other locals who can help you out. Sometimes this happens while you are drinking tea, sometimes it is enough to walk aimlessly through a street in a strange neighborhood.

Find the people, who look like they could help you. Often, locals are happy to share their stories. Introduce yourself and show that you don’t mean any harm.

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For example, I wanted to cover the life of a fisherman in Puri, India but I did not know anyone at the place I was visiting. When I arrived, I quickly found a boy who could introduce me to the community while I was wandering around an area where you usually do not find too many tourists. The young man asked me what I was doing, and we talked. I did not even have to find someone who connected me. The person found me within a few minutes!

Even though he was not a fisherman himself, he was very helpful in giving me information about the community and connecting me to others. After a while, people got used to me. Even though the boy himself could not arrange a boat ride for me, I was able to connect to others. One morning, I finally found myself out on the sea with some fishermen.

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4. Visit a festival or event

Special events or festivals are a great opportunity to capture the culture of a place and to get to know people. Festivals offer the opportunity to take pictures of important moments. Often, you will also be asked by people if you could send the images to them. Be helpful and share what you have. My experience is that everything you share will be paid back in multiple amounts. When I photographed the wild dances of the Dervishes at a Sufi Shrine in Pakistan, one of the performers asked me to send the images to him. As I became acquainted with him, I could stand in the first row during the next week’s event. Once connected to the people, they made sure that I could capture some great images.

Often, it might be tempting to push your limits for getting the image. Always be aware of what is allowed and appreciated during certain events. Some people might not want their images captured, or you might disturb a significant moment (DSLR users will know the curse of the loud shutter noise). I have a rule of thumb for these situations – when I have an awkward feeling in my tummy or get more attention than the actual event, I’d prefer to ask someone if I should step back.

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Imagine a photographer placing his camera right in front of your face before the kiss at your wedding. You cannot even see the bride properly. That would totally kill the moment. At unknown events and rituals, you have to be aware of what is going on around you.

As a bad-mannered photographer, you can also ruin the name of a whole community of professionals and hobbyists. Always be kind and considerate. Others might also want to shoot wherever you have participated. If you behaved in a bad way, they may not get permission anymore. In the most extreme cases, you can even put yourself in danger if you unintendedly cross a line. Get your image but try to not focus the attention on yourself. For you, a certain event might be an opportunity for photographs. For others, it might be a very important day in their life.

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5. Make a project and be open about it

Approach a community and openly tell them that you want to photograph their everyday life. On the first day leave your camera at home and introduce yourself to the people.

While this may be frustrating (because you will undoubtedly see opportunities you could capture), remain patient. Drink tea, talk and explain what you want to do and why. In this way, people get to know you and your intentions. You also get a better idea of what to capture and how.

When I took photos in a slum, people were suspicious because NGOs go in and out taking images of poverty. I explained that I want to take images of normal life and portray them as normal human beings, which I knew they were. The results were less staged images of their everyday life, which they appreciated.

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In such a project, you can even give something back to people.

Print some images and hand them over to the community. You may be surprised at just how happy that makes people. Moreover, you may also find that people who did not want their photograph taken before will approach you to take their images too. It’s small gestures like these that keep you welcome in an area.

Long term projects may not cover a large variety of places and people, but they can cover a deeper insight into a community and connect the audience to the subject.

You don’t have to make your project too big. It all depends on your capabilities. There are many small ones which you can pursue within a week or even a day.

Developing a project does not only open gates for you but also gets you out and enhances your creativity. Shooting with a concept in mind can make you feel less awkward when out on the streets. It may also help you explain to people why you would love to take their image.

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In a nutshell

Invest time in your photography as it is more than just hitting the shutter button.

Commercial and wedding photographers need to invest time to set up a team and develop ideas for clients, and landscape photographers have to hike, look for the weather and the sun. Photographing strangers also takes some preparation, even if it is just mental preparation to get over the fear of approach.

However, be patient and wait for the right moment. Do not get frustrated if you don’t get a five-star image every time. Make connections and enjoy the experience too.

What are your best ways to approach strangers? Do you have similar anxieties of just talking to them? How do you get over this? Sharing troubles and advice can help us support each other. Feel free to share your story in the comments.

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The post 5 Different Approaches to Taking Photos of Strangers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Nils Heininger.


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Tips for Different Approaches to Architecture Photography

17 Jun

Architecture is all around us, it is an integral part of our lives. We live in it, we work in it, we eat out in it, and in most towns a lot of money has been spent on it so they stand out to say something. We all know what those buildings are, and have maybe even taken photos of them, but they are often just snaps. There is nothing wrong with getting those, but it could be nice to try and get a lot more with the image, such as the essence of the building, what it says about its placement and where it stands.

So here are some tips for how to photography architecture to help you get started:

LeanneCole-architecture-006

An old home that no one has lived in for a long time. The clouds in the sky look like a long exposure, though they were just like that.

Architectural photography is not a prominent genre, yet so many people take photos of buildings, so why is it a subject that is not discussed a lot? Think about how often there is a building in your images.

Common types of architectural photography

Most people, if you ask them what architectural photography is, are likely to say real estate. It is probably the most common type and you do see it everywhere, but there are many other ways of taking photos of structures.

URBEX Photography

With the rise of URBEX (Urban Exploring) architecture is being photographed in a new way. Photographers are getting into abandoned structures to take photos. The decay and destruction that happens to a building after it has been abandoned, gives a new story to it. This is even more true with the items that are left inside the buildings, and these items help to give us a hint as to what was there before.

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URBEX exploring, an old school that was closed down and vandals have been into.

Long Exposure Photography

Long exposure photography is also very popular now. Neutral density filters (ND Filters) are used to give subjects a timeless feel, and using them on architecture has been as common, pointing the camera straight up to a building and photographing it as the clouds move behind it. Read: Using a 10 Stop Neutral Density Filter to add Drama to the Sky

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The long exposure helps give the image a sense of drama and a better look at the architecture of the bridge.

Alternatively

Those are the most common sorts of architectural photography, but you can do other types as well. You can make the building the subject, and create your image around it. You can do fine art images using the buildings, and create moods or stories around them.

Architecture around you

As stated earlier, architecture is all around, and you don’t have to go far to find buildings to photograph. It isn’t necessary that the building be architecturally important, more that you find it interesting, as that will help you to engage with it. It can be about what the building is or was, and how much it meant to the area it is in.

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An old hut on top of a mountain. Photographing it with the surrounds helps to place it, and the sky helps make it moody.

Different ways of photographing architecture

Most people seem to photograph buildings more as a record rather than as a work of art. Architecture can offer so much more, and you can get some amazing portrait style images.

There is the potential to tell stories. Whether that story is about what the building was used for, or what its function is now, you can use that to help take your images and process it afterwards. Maybe there is a certain part of it that you are very attracted to.

Photograph aspects of it

You don’t have to photograph the whole building. Think about parts of it that might make interesting images. It is so easy to forget that the light fittings are really interesting, or the doors might have wonderful carvings. If you find a building you like, tell the whole story of it and then select the parts that you like – photograph details. You can take more than one image.

I really like corridors, more so if no one is in them, the idea of it going somewhere, or nowhere. It’s interesting to see what mood you can create with the hallway. Use the image to create a story that is there, or not.

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A walkway beside a building with interesting lights.

Look at the surroundings and how they can help tell the story

There can be more to what you see than just the building. Look at where the building is situated, and if other buildings or subjects around it can help place it. For example, a modern tower that is surrounded by buildings from the Victorian Era, or the other way around, provide an interesting context. An elaborate theatre that is in the midst of many shops that have closed down. They all help to provide a sense of place.

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The sun hitting the building, then light being reflected on the front from somewhere else gives the station a great look.

Colour or black and white

It is easy to think that everything should be in black and white. It is the artsy way of thinking, but it really shouldn’t be the only way. It should be a personal choice and what you want with your image.

Maybe ask yourself some questions first. Does removing the colour add to the drama of the image? If you leave the colour in it will it distract from the story you are trying to tell? What time frame do you want to express? Is shape and form more important than what is there? If the answers to those questions are yes, then perhaps black and white is more suitable for that image.

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Looking straight up at a building is very popular, especially in black and white.

You get the idea, don’t just do black and white because you think that is what is expected for architecture. Make it a conscious choice, for a reason.

Processing

When it comes to how you process your images, it’s going to depend on the intention you have for the image. If it is to show the structure as it is, then you need to make sure that you only do basic processing.

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The wet ground was good for showing the reflections and making the most of an abstract view.

If you were commissioned to photograph a building, then you need to consider the goal, and how your client wants the final image. Do they want it to look like images that you already do, or perhaps with a different look? Remember your client is in charge of the final image and you need to be mindful of what they want.

On the other hand, if you have just taken the photo for yourself, then you don’t need to care about what other people want or like. You can process it anyway you like.

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Using the lines in the council chambers to take your eye to the clock.

This is where you get to show your individual style and experiment with your processing. Work out what you like, what you don’t, and create images of architecture that are uniquely yours. In many ways you have a lot more freedom to do what you like to it than other types of photography, like nature for instance.

In the End

With so many different types architecture, it is up to you to find what you like doing. Develop your style and make it yours. There is nothing better than people recognizing your work before they see your name.

Do you have any other ideas or tips for photographing architecture? Please share your thoughts and images in the comments below.

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