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How to Make the Ordinary Look Extraordinary in Photography

23 Jul

The post How to Make the Ordinary Look Extraordinary in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

how to photograph ordinary things feature image

A good subject does not make a good photo, a good photographer does. How can you photograph ordinary things to make them look extraordinary? This is a question I am sure many people are contemplating as they are confined to their homes.

how to photograph ordinary things — © Kevin Landwer-Johan Nikon D800, Lens 105mm, 1/100 sec., f/7.1, ISO 800

In and around our homes, we are familiar with the environment and what’s in it. These things are ordinary to us, and often we don’t think about photographing them. The exception may be after we buy our first camera. Then everything is interesting to photograph.

I love what British photographer Martin Parr says about his work. He says he aims to make the ordinary look extraordinary. This is a relevant challenge for many photographers who cannot get out and photograph the things you typically point your camera at.

How to Make the Ordinary Look Extraordinary in Photography — © Kevin Landwer-Johan Nikon D800, Lens 105mm, 1/320 sec., f/7.1, ISO 800

Be creative when you photograph ordinary things

To make the ordinary look extraordinary, you have to think outside the box. Don’t rely on what you normally do. Push beyond the rules and techniques you may typically follow and think about how you can photograph things differently.

Pick the best time of day to photograph some flowers in your garden. Then, tomorrow, photograph the same flowers at a different time – perhaps from a different angle. Compare your results. Don’t limit your thinking to what you’ve learned is the correct time or the right way to photograph flowers. Get yourself out of that mindset.

Observe how the light changes during the day. What’s it like in the morning, midday and in the evening? Challenge yourself to find things to photograph during a time you normally would not because you think the light is no good.

If you’re not used to being at home in the middle of the day, pick up your camera while you take your lunch break. Press yourself to find interesting light somewhere in your home to take some photos.

how to photograph ordinary things - frying pan hanging on a wire fence — © Kevin Landwer-Johan Nikon D800, Lens 105mm, 1/160 sec., f/6.3, ISO 800

Choose your favorite things to photograph

The very first photography assignment I completed was simple. I was taking a night school class on black and white photography shortly after purchasing my first camera. The task assigned was to photograph ordinary things. Something that we were familiar with.

We had to take one roll of film. Yes, it was a while ago! The choice was ours to load a 12, 24 or 36 exposure film. I made 36 exposures of my bicycle. I photographed it from every conceivable angle.

I loved riding my bike (and still do), so it was not difficult to photograph 36 times. Each frame was different. Some were close up, others were from further back.

how to photograph ordinary things - bicyle wheel cog and chain — © Kevin Landwer-Johan Nikkormat FTN, Lens 50mm. One of the photos of my bicycle from my first assignment.

Photographing something you love will make it easier because of the connection you have with it. Your mind will imagine the type of photos you can make of it because you love that thing.

When I photographed my bike, I did so all in one session. You could do this too, or spread out the challenge and make a series of photos of your chosen subject(s) over a period of time. I have done this too. For the past 37 years, I have been photographing bicycles.

Ever since that first assignment to photograph ordinary things, I have loved taking pictures of bikes. You never know how a simple assignment might grow on you.

Experiment with your subject

Try many different styles of photography. Practice new things. Improve on techniques you are already familiar with.

If you are someone who generally only photographs things once, now is the time to push beyond this. Challenge yourself to photograph ordinary things over and over again. How can you keep making interesting photos of the same stuff? It’s not about the subject or your camera. It’s up to your imagination.

Change the lighting. Move the thing you’re photographing to another place. Use a lens you’d never before consider using for this subject. Press beyond your preconceived ideas of the ‘right’ way to do things. There is no right or wrong way when you are a creative photographer.

Come at your subject from every imaginable angle. The first angle you think to take a photograph from is not always the best. Move around. Lie on the ground. Stand on a chair. Look at your thing from as many interesting angles as you can think of.

how to photograph ordinary things - unused wine glasses on a table — © Kevin Landwer-Johan Nikon D800, Lens 35mm, 1/100 sec., f/2.8, ISO 400

Limit your gear choice

Attach one prime lens to your camera and leave it there. Force yourself to use just one focal length on your favorite zoom lens.

By experimenting with one lens you will come to know it better. The more you use this lens, the better feel you will develop for it. Taking photos of the same subject, with the same lens may seem limiting – and it is, in a way – but this limitation will hopefully press you to develop your creative thinking.

Photograph ordinary things using the most basic equipment. This is a sure method to encourage your creative thinking. The best thing you have to rely on is your imagination.

Use your flash

Take the lead from Martin Parr and use your flash more. Either on or off-camera, add flash to photos when you normally would not.

By adding artificial light to what you have chosen to photograph, you will see it in a whole new light. This is a fabulous way to become more proficient with your flash. By using it at times when you typically would not, you will discover new possibilities. It may give you the boldness to use flash more frequently in the future.

Take your time and try using your flash in different ways. Fixed to your camera’s hot shoe, you’ll get very direct, harsh lighting. Tilting the flash head so that it points at the ceiling or a nearby wall, will add a softer light to your subject. Taking your flash off-camera, you can add light from a fresh perspective.

Learn from the Masters

I’ve mentioned Martin Parr a few times in this article. He’s known for his somewhat garish captures of normal, everyday objects. He can photograph ordinary things and make them grab our attention. It’s his way of seeing that he shares with us.

Look at how your favorite famous photographers photograph ordinary things. You will find that many of them do. Irving Penn’s still life images are exquisite. Edward Weston’s photo of a pepper is somewhat iconic. Man Ray came up with all manner of wonderfully experimental images of things from within his environment.

Conclusion

Focus on what is around you. Challenge yourself to take photos of things you normally would never consider worthy of a picture. I am sure you will surprise yourself a few times with what you come up with when you put your mind to it.

Use this time to learn to photograph ordinary things. Inspire yourself out of the rut of thinking that ordinary is boring. Make great photos of ordinary things, or at least have fun trying.

And when you’re done post-processing your photos, share a few of them in the comments below and let us know your thought process behind them. This way, you can encourage others to become more diverse in their creative photography.

The post How to Make the Ordinary Look Extraordinary in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

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Nikon says it’s expecting ‘extraordinary losses,’ has updated its FY2020 projections

12 May

Nikon Corporation has issued a statement to investors warning the company ‘expects to post extraordinary losses’ for its 2020 fiscal year (FY2020) that ended on March 31, 2020, and has subsequently made a revision to the financial forecast ahead of the upcoming release of the results on May 28.

If Canon’s latest financial results were anything to go by, it was inevitable Nikon’s were going to look even worse. While we don’t have the exact numbers yet, Nikon has preemptively warned investors that it won’t be pretty. In a document titled ‘Notice Regarding Recognition of Extraordinary Losses and Reversal of Deferred Tax Assets in Non-Consolidated Financial Statements,’ Nikon says the following:

‘Using the future plan that reflects the impact and more caused by the spread of COVID-19 to business activities, the Company has assessed an indication that fixed assets may be impaired, performed valuation of financial assets, and examined the recoverability of deferred tax assets.’

Put more simply, Nikon is saying the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused much of its business to slow or stop production in its facilities and dramatically reduced sales, leading to a drop in value of its production line and equipment. In turn for reducing the value of these departments, Nikon will be able to reduce its taxable income equal to the amount it’s decreased the value of these divisions. Nikon specifically references its Imaging Product Business, saying it is posting a 5.7 billion yen impairment loss.

A worker pieces together a custom sensor rig for testing in Nikon’s Sendai factory.

In addition to the above notice, Nikon has also published revisions to its projections for the forthcoming FY2020 results. As you might expect, the numbers are down dramatically.

Nikon expects revenue and operating profits to be 591 billion yen and 6 billion yen, respectively, a decrease of 4.7 percent and 70 percent, respectively, compared to Nikon’s previous forecasts. Nikon notes these figures are amplified due to the ‘recognition of impairment losses of 11.1 billion yen’ mentioned above. Nikon specifically notes the 7.5 billion yen in impairment losses for its Imaging Products Business is ‘mainly for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.’

Summed up, Nikon is expecting much less revenue from its Imaging Products Business and other divisions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as a result, it’s devaluing the assets of those divisions to account for the income said divisions won’t be making in an effort to reduce its tax liability. Put even more simply, Nikon is being clever with its accounting to help cushion the financial blow from what is shaping up to be a rough year.

Just how rough remains to be seen, but we’ll know for certain on May 28, when the full results are released.

Notices:

Notice Regarding Recognition of Extraordinary Losses and Reversal of Deferred Tax Assets in Non-Consolidated Financial Statements

NIKON CORPORATION (hereinafter “the Company”) expects to post extraordinary losses and to reverse a part of deferred tax assets in its non-consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.

Using the future plan that reflects the impact and more caused by the spread of COVID-19 to business activities, the Company has assessed an indication that fixed assets may be impaired, performed valuation of financial assets, and examined the recoverability of deferred tax assets.

As a result, the Company has decided to post an impairment loss of 5.7 billion yen for the fixed assets held by Imaging Product Business. And for Nikon Metrology NV, the Company’s consolidated subsidiary, a loss on valuation of the investments in subsidiaries and affiliates and provision for loss on business of subsidiaries and affiliates will be recognized 6.7 billion yen and 9.2 billion yen, respectively. The Company has also decided to reverse a part of deferred tax assets and post deferred tax expenses of 20.6 billion yen. However, the losses associated with the subsidiary mentioned above will have no impact on the consolidated financial results, as those losses will be eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Notice Regarding Revision of the Consolidated Financial Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2020 and Recognition of Impairment Losses

This is to announce that the consolidated financial forecast announced on February 6, 2020 is revised as below, reflecting our recent business performance trend, and to disclose that impairment losses are expected to be recognized.

1. Revision of the Consolidated Financial Forecast
Revised Consolidated Financial Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2020 (From April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020)

2. Reason for Revision of the Consolidated Financial Forecast

Decrease in revenue is expected due to factors such as the delay in installations of FPD lithography system, affected by the spread of COVID-19. In addition, operating profit, profit before income taxes and profit attributable to owners of the parent are also expected to be lower than the previous forecast due to the recognition of impairment losses of 11.1 billion yen for non-current assets, as indicated below in “3. The Recognition of Impairment Losses.”

Based on these situations, the consolidated financial forecast announced on February 6, 2020 is revised as above.

3. Recognition of Impairment Losses

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, indication of impairment for non-current assets was examined based on its future utilization and the impact caused by the spread of COVID-19 on business operations. As a result of measuring the recoverable amount of the cash-generating units in which impairment was indicated, a sufficient recoverable amount was not estimated in the Imaging Products Business and the Industrial Metrology Business and Others. Therefore, impairment losses of 11.1 billion yen are to be recognized. In the Imaging Products Business, impairment losses of 7.5 billion yen mainly for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are to be recognized. In the Industrial Metrology Business and Others, impairment losses of 3.6 billion yen mainly for goodwill, property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are to be recognized.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

14 Sep

How to Take Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects - leaf in the snow

How do you take extraordinary photographs of ordinary subjects? Many photographers think that this is impossible. They think that the best photography requires far-flung locations or sweeping landscapes. Yet creating beautiful photographs of everyday things is not only possible, it’s easy!

In this tutorial, you will find five ways to make incredible photographs of ordinary subjects.

5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects - close up of a white flower

1. Change your angle

I’ll start with a simple but very useful trick, that is changing your camera angle. Many photographers often shoot from a standing position, and this can be a useful starting point.

Yet when faced with an ordinary subject, it’s important to change things up. Otherwise, you’ll get a boring image that anybody could have taken.

red leaves - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

I stood underneath the leaves to get this image.

Instead, you should be more creative. Try crouching down low, so that you’re shooting up at your subject. This will create a sense of drama and your subject will loom in the frame.

I often lie on the ground, especially when shooting wildlife. Getting down on this level, even with the most ordinary of subjects, will give your images a sense of intimacy and draw the viewer right in.

Another option is to shoot from up high. You can hold the camera above your head, and use the LCD to compose your photograph. Or you can find some way of elevating yourself by using a chair, a balcony, or some stairs.

succulent plant - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

Regardless of which method you use, by changing your angle, you’ll find that you can make even the most ordinary of subjects come to life.

2. Photograph in dramatic light

A second way to take extraordinary photographs is to use dramatic lighting. Dramatic lighting can significantly add to the feeling and mood of your images. Therefore, by using dramatic lighting, you can create powerful images of ordinary subjects.

How do you create dramatic lighting?

One of my favorite types of dramatic lighting is with direct backlight. By this, I am referring to situations where the sun is low in the sky and directly behind your subject.

tree bark backlit - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

The sun was setting just beside the tree in the background.

Make sure that the sun itself is not in the image. You can either hide the sun behind the subject or photograph so the sun is just out of the frame.

Direct backlighting can single-handedly save a lackluster image. It will make viewers stop in their tracks. They’ll be pulled in by the high contrast and the drama.

Try it. I guarantee that you’ll see huge improvements in your photographs.

3. Find abstract compositions

A third way of taking extraordinary photographs of ordinary subjects is to look carefully for abstract compositions.

Abstract compositions are ones that don’t view the subject merely as the subject. A good abstract image emphasizes lines, shapes, and colors over any identifiable real-world elements.

dandelion - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

Often, good abstract photographs can be made by zooming in close (perhaps with a macro lens). But you can take beautiful abstract photographs with any lens.

How?

The trick is to forget about the subject as you would normally think about it. Say you’re taking a picture of a rose. You must stop thinking about the rose as a flower. Start thinking about the rose in terms of its delicate lines, its solid color, and its curves.

rose abstract - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

Compose with these components in mind.

Even if your subject is completely ordinary, being able to find abstract compositions will do wonders for your photographs of the most mundane subjects.

4. Use creative photographic techniques

By “creative photographic techniques,” I’m referring to tricks that professional photographers employ.

These tricks will add a special touch to any photograph. By using these tricks, your everyday images will come to life.

snow and ice - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

I’ll share two with you today.

The first technique is called “freelensing.” It involves detaching the lens from your camera and holding it manually in front of the camera body.

By tilting the lens in different directions, you can change the area of the image that is in focus, resulting in some very creative effects.

I use this technique quite often when photographing nature.

red leaf on a tree - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

I used freelensing to capture this photograph of autumn leaves.

The second technique is called “intentional camera movement.” You simply set your shutter speed for a significant length of time (anywhere between 1/50th of a second and 2 seconds is a good place to start).

Then, once you’ve pressed the shutter button, you intentionally move the camera during the exposure. You might try panning from left to right. Or you can bring the camera downward. Really, you can use any kind of motion, the possibilities are endless!

This intentional camera movement technique will undoubtedly result in some stunning abstract images. So go ahead and experiment!

camera movement - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

5. Add a touch of editing

Some photographers often skip post-processing, thinking it unnecessary. But while you don’t have to edit your images, even subtle editing can be used to accentuate certain aspects of a photograph. Editing can make a photograph moody, colorful, or dramatic.

In short, a touch of editing can make your ordinary photographs extraordinary.

One of my favorite tricks for editing a photograph of an ordinary subject is simple. Convert it to black and white.

cute dog - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

I liked the color version of this pet photograph, but I loved the drama of the black and white.

That’s it. If you have Lightroom, go ahead and use one of their free presets.

What’s so special about black and white?

Black and white emphasizes the contrasting elements of a scene while stripping away all color. This makes your images far more artistic and dramatic.

By lightly editing your photographs, you can make them pop off the screen. You can make them come to life. You’ll create images that you’ll be proud of, even years later.

palm leaf backlighting - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

In Conclusion

By changing your angle, photographing in dramatic light, finding abstract compositions, using creative techniques, and by lightly editing your photographs, you’ll be able to take stunning images of even the most ordinary of subjects.

abstract of a leaf - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

So get out there and start shooting!

Have another tip for taking great photographs of ordinary subjects? Share it in the comments!

purple flower - 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects

The post 5 Ways to Make Extraordinary Photographs of Ordinary Subjects appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Memorable Memorials: 10 Extraordinary War Monuments

28 May

[ By Steve in Culture & History & Travel. ]

These extraordinary war monuments stand out from the crowd in commemorating those who have fallen while performing their duty in the service of their country.

Memorial Day was formerly known as “Decoration Day” and was traditionally celebrated on May 30th – a date upon which no major battles had been fought. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day in that the latter honors veterans of war. We lead off with a unique war memorial designed to fulfill its mission, as it were, on only one day every year: November 11th, at 11:11am, no less. The Anthem Veterans Memorial in suburban Phoenix, Arizona, was dedicated in 2012. The monument’s white stones, red bricks and blue sky reflect the colors of the American flag.

The Anthem Veterans Memorial consists of five staggered stone pillars signifying the five branches of the United States military. Designer Renee Palmer-Jones precisely aligned the pillars so that at 11:11am on November 11th, the sun’s rays pass through elliptical cutouts in the five pillars. The sunlight spotlights a mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States set into the red-bricked Circle of Honor.

Soldierstone Memorial

Most people have neither seen nor even heard of Soldierstone… and that’s just as the memorial’s creator, the late Stuart Allen Beckley, intended. The retired Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam veteran sought to pay tribute to the uncredited people who assisted foreign soldiers over many decades of war in Southeast Asia.

Secreted in a clearing deep in Colorado’s 1.8-million-acre Rio Grande National Forest at 10,000 feet above sea level, Soldierstone‘s central 10-ft-tall monument bears quotes engraved in Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian and French – the languages of America’s allies through thirty years of fighting. Flickr user MJM1977 visited the memorial on July 24th of 2014.

Polar Bear Monument

The Polar Bear Monument in Troy, Michigan, commemorates fallen soldiers of the North Russian Expeditionary Forces. About 75 percent of the 5,500 Americans sent to Archangel, Russia as part of the post-WWI Allied Intervention were from the Detroit area and called themselves the “Polar Bears”.

96 soldiers were KIA in Russia and in 1929; the remains of 56 were recovered and subsequently interred on this site on May 30th of 1930. Flickr user Jazz Guy (flickr4jazz) visited the Polar Bear Memorial on May 2nd, 2011.

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Memorable Memorials 10 Extraordinary War Monuments

[ By Steve in Culture & History & Travel. ]

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How to Compose Better Images and Make your Images More Extraordinary

28 Oct

When we think about what goes into making a photograph most often our thoughts leap to camera settings like aperture and shutter speed. “What ISO should I use? Should I incorporate more or less of the foreground and is that tree branch really in the way?” We burden ourselves with the technical, while unfortunately overlooking other elements of the shot which potentially mean more to the outcome of the finished image. In this article, I will share a few of my own images and then break down a few key points that you can use to make your own images more consistently extraordinary. I won’t even mention the word exposure…well, maybe just that once.

dsc07896-edit

Don’t worry, this will not be an overly introspective study of the all the “feelings” which we might pour into making a photo. Instead, this is an examination of the how and why we include what we do in our images and it covers some of the thought processes which drive our own creative visions. Once we begin to have a general understanding of how our artistic nature approaches composition the better we can work towards refining our own techniques.

Photo #1: The Brooding

The Brooding

This is one of my personal favorite images. It came about very unexpectedly but it would turn out to be one of the most successful photographs of my career thus far. But why? There must be a reason this image was so well received. So let’s break it down and see what can be learned from the composition.

Use leading lines

This is a photographic methodology that has been mentioned many times. Leading lines are simply guideposts within a frame which lead the attention of the viewer to certain elements and essentially direct their attention within the photo itself. Oddly enough, leading lines can be worked into your composition in many ways and there are no set “rules” for using them. But generally, they originate in the foreground and extend into the frame. That isn’t to say that leading lines can’t be horizontal, diagonal, or anywhere in between.

In the case of this image, the lines of the fence and road move from the foreground to the background thereby creating a sense of depth in the mountains. Meanwhile, the horizontal line of the mountains converges with the vertical lines of the road. This helps to highlight the central element of the photo which is the tree.

The Brooding Notes

Don’t fear the weather

It goes without saying that this photo was made during some less than hospitable weather. An incredibly strong mountain thunderstorm had moved through the valley the night before and the rain had just stopped as I made my way out to shoot. Normally, bad weather deters many photographers from venturing out to make images. This is wrong.

When the weather gets rough it brings with it interesting cloud patterns and awesome light that you wouldn’t encounter on clearer days. Not only do the clouds add a sense of moodiness to the photo but the wet asphalt imparts the feeling of the dankness in the morning air after the storm passed. The yellowish post-storm light works well with the hazy mist in the valley which was hanging low after the rain.

Work with proportions

Whenever you begin mentioning words such as proportions, scale, or ratio as they relate to photography – you lose people’s attention. Usually, because it can seem complicated. Stay with me here! Composing your images based on certain aesthetic ratios and proportions isn’t as difficult as it sounds and I’m about to prove it to you. Ratios don’t have to be exact or perfect in every case but can really add that something extra to your photographs.

Golden Spiral Overlay

The image we have here incorporates what’s called the Golden Spiral or a Fibonacci Spiral to add interest and draw attention to the main elements of the composition. It’s a proportion based on the Fibonacci Sequence and it occurs in nature frequently. In this case, the spiral has been tweaked (flipped horizontally) to guide the viewer, yet again, towards the tree and into the distant mountains. Have a look at this overlay set on top of the flipped photo above and you can see how it lines up.

Pretty cool, huh? Try the Golden Spiral or the simpler Rule of Thirds for yourself to see an immediate boost in your compositions.

Photo #2: Summertime

Summertime

When most people see this photo they either love it, hate it, or say “Adam, your feet are really, really dirty”. It’s true, this was a very impromptu and unorthodox exposure of yours truly as I swayed in my hammock during a hiking trip last summer. Unbelievably, it went on to win First Place Professional in a state magazine a couple months ago. No matter your initial impressions of this image there are still a few important lessons that can be gleaned to help you with your own work.

Find natural framing

This is a close cousin to using leading lines to enhance the viewability of an image. There are many cases when a strong composition makes use of what is referred to as natural framing. This is when a photographer composes certain elements (not always the main subject) in a way so that they are framed by other elements within the shot. Sometimes this framing is obvious, such as when a portrait photographer positions the client in a doorway or when a landscapist places the sunset between two mountain peaks. Other times natural framing is less obvious, as is the case with this image. Look closely.

Summertime Notes

You’ll notice that my beautiful feet occupy the empty space between the hammock at the left and the trees to the right. The empty space created between the structures offers a place for the central subject to really stand out from the rest of the elements of the photo. The lines created by the hammock also help with the overall framing of the image and gives it a very anchored perspective. Speaking of perspective…

Use perspective

This photo was shot using a Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 super wide-angle lens, mounted on a full-frame mirrorless camera. The 14mm focal length bulges the exterior aspects of the frame. This causes the trees to bend in towards the center of the frame. The camera was held relatively close to my feet so that the entire scene seems relatively compressed around them. The overall effect is one of first-hand perspective and allows the viewer feel as if they themselves are swinging in the hammock on a warm summer afternoon…with dirty feet.

Shoot what you want

When I was about to enter this photo into the contest (in which it eventually took first prize from among 2,000 other entries) there were some politely well-worded reservations expressed by some of my friends. Why would anyone want an image of some dirtbag hiker’s feet? Well, when I shot the image I knew it carried the feeling of summer. The earthy remnants of a day’s trek and the welcomed relaxation of a swinging hammock that chases away all worries. I knew the photo fit the theme of the contest which was Summertime. It was an image which I felt was worth entering even though it was slightly unorthodox.

Shoot the images you want to shoot. Hopefully, this is a lesson you already know and have been putting into practice for some time now. If not, now is the perfect time to start.

Photo# 3: The Stars Fell

Falling Stars

On the night this image was made my girlfriend and I had been out chasing the Milky Way through the mountains. There was nothing planned as far as a self-portrait was concerned. This was one of the last photos to be made that night and it came about completely by accident. It is the only exposure I made of us under the stars, which to me makes it even more special, but I digress.

Incorporate the environment

Consider your environment as another subject and use it to enhance the image. This may go without saying when working with landscapes or nature photography, but it can’t be overstated when it comes to portraiture and working with human subjects in general. In the case of this image, the stars wheeling overhead become almost a completely separate subject. Add in the human element and it produces a wonderful duality between man (or woman) and nature.

Here we see a few of the environmental elements which came together in the photo. Some of them may be familiar.

Falling Stars Notes

Open yourself up

Let’s face it, not everything goes to plan. There have likely been many times a shot didn’t pan out, your camera wasn’t set on the ISO you needed, or the light faded before you could click the shutter. Other times everything goes completely to plan. So much goes to plan in fact, that you consider it a job well done and stop thinking creatively.

While it’s great when everything goes right, we shouldn’t stop looking for the next exceptional image. Be open to those great moments that produce great work even if they go beyond what you had set out to do originally.

We were on the verge of packing up and heading back to camp when I had the idea for our spur of the moment self-portrait. I had already produced all the images I wanted to make so we had chalked it up as a success. But as it turns out, the image I never intended to make that night ended up being the best.

Trust your instincts

The reason this photo came about was due to a feeling I had that the image was there before I made the exposure. I was told later that my exact words were, “Want to try something weird?”

Even though it had already been a successful night of shooting the stars I knew there was one more frame to take and that frame should include us. It wasn’t something that was planned but it turned out being one my most cherished images to date.

When shooting any type of image it always pays to go with your gut. More often than not, your instincts will be right. If it feels like a photographic opportunity is presenting itself then it’s usually a good idea to follow your intuition and pursue the idea. Don’t think you have astute instincts? Don’t worry. They will develop and mature as you do as a photographer.

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Conclusion

Remember, strong images are made by more than just perfect camera settings. Begin looking beyond your exposure and aperture to understand how your photos impact you and ultimately the viewer. The methods mentioned above will give you a great start to producing consistently better images time and time again.

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The post How to Compose Better Images and Make your Images More Extraordinary by Adam Welch appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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MIT researchers use ordinary cameras to create extraordinary interactive videos

03 Aug

Augmented reality is in the news plenty lately, but some researchers from MIT have put an interesting twist on the popular technology. Using new algorithms and as little as a few seconds of video created by a traditional camera, they’ve been able to create Interactive Dynamic Video, or IDV. The objects respond in a surprisingly realistic way as they’re poked, prodded and manipulated.

IDV records the tiny vibrations of an object in motion during a short video clip, and then uses that information to allow users to interact with the object virtually. The potential applications include things like monitoring the structural integrity of bridges or buildings. The technology could also provide filmmakers with a cheaper, less time-intensive alternative to 3D modeling. Case in point: this little green monster running around a playground.

See the video below to learn more about the research and its applications.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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‘I instinctively felt I had an extraordinary image’: Ansel Adams on capturing Moonrise over Hernandez

25 Jun

In newly released footage, legendary landscape photographer Ansel Adams recounts capturing one of his most popular images: Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico.

Adams’ son Michael recently explained in an interview with Marc Silber of Advancing Your Photography how the events unfolded the day the photo was taken. Riding along with his father, he remembers how Ansel caught sight of the moon rising over the landscape and pulled the car over to take the photo. In the clip above, you’ll hear Michael and Ansel Adams himself explain how the image was created, thanks to some quick thinking when a light meter couldn’t be found. The resulting image is, of course, a classic.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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No Place (to Work) Like Home: 15 Extraordinary Office Designs

21 Apr

[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Warning – your cramped, cluttered cubicle might seem even more soulless than usual compared to the magnificence of these beautifully appointed home offices, some with all glass walls overlooking the ocean, others set into the backyard for privacy and connection to nature. From prefab pods to brilliant DIY creations, these unusual home office designs make the prospect of working feel downright pleasant.

Office In Flight

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A wing of this vacation house in the woods of California lifts up into the air as if it’s about to take off, its glass walls the only thing separating the home office inside from the natural surroundings.

Park-Like Office with Swing Table & Moss Carpet

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When you can’t actually take your work outside, you can just feel like you’re outdoors with a little creative decorating. Nidolab Arquitectura outfitted this home in Argentina with a hanging table and real moss floor covering in lush green hues, illuminating the whole thing with natural daylight via an oversized skylight.

Lush Ivy-Covered Backyard Office

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You can barely even tell there’s a building under all of the ivy that’s been trained to grow up trellises on the outside of this gorgeous backyard office in San Francisco. ‘Parkside Garden’ by Scott Lewis Landscaping Architecture creates a visual link between the main house on the property, and the adjacent public park.

Vintage Ikarus Bus Turned Office Cube

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The cab of an old Ikarus bus was cut in half and inserted into the corner of a living room to create a tiny enclosed home office in Hungary. The owner spruced up the vintage find and added a corner desk to the interior to make it a cozy place for concentration.

Shingled Spherical Office Pod

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This shingled orb by Archipod looks like it could have fallen right out of a massive tree and into the backyard. Each one of these luxury prefabs comes equipped with porthole windows, top-hinged gull doors, electrical hookups, a semicircular interior desk, lighting and a heater.

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No Place To Work Like Home 15 Extraordinary Office Designs

[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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PIX 2015: Benjamin Von Wong and the journey from ordinary to extraordinary

04 Dec

In his first year learning photography, Benjamin Von Wong created over 50,000 photographs, but none of them struck him as extraordinary. It wasn’t until he tried out a flash gun that he began to see new possibilities that could make his work stand out. Many more photos later, Benjamin Von Wong is well-known for imagery that blends practical effects, fantastic locations and post-processing into something surreal and extraordinary. Find out how he got his start and what inspires his elaborate shoots in his PIX 2015 talk.

See more panels, talks and demos from PIX 2015

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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101 Extraordinary Self-Portrait Ideas to Spice Up Your Facebook Profile

09 Feb

Do you feel uninspired? Have no models or interesting subjects available? You are the best model and photographer at the same time! You can always take a picture of yourself. A self-portrait has been a popular form of expression since man first saw his own reflection. When you are your own model, everything is up to you – posing, lighting, Continue Reading

The post 101 Extraordinary Self-Portrait Ideas to Spice Up Your Facebook Profile appeared first on Photodoto.

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Posts Tagged ‘Extraordinary’

Be creative when you photograph ordinary things

Choose your favorite things to photograph

Experiment with your subject

Limit your gear choice

Use your flash

Learn from the Masters

Conclusion

Notice Regarding Recognition of Extraordinary Losses and Reversal of Deferred Tax Assets in Non-Consolidated Financial Statements

Notice Regarding Revision of the Consolidated Financial Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2020 and Recognition of Impairment Losses

1. Change your angle

2. Photograph in dramatic light

3. Find abstract compositions

4. Use creative photographic techniques

5. Add a touch of editing

In Conclusion

Soldierstone Memorial

Polar Bear Monument

Next Page – Click Below to Read More: Memorable Memorials 10 Extraordinary War Monuments

Photo #1: The Brooding

Use leading lines

Don’t fear the weather

Work with proportions

Photo #2: Summertime

Find natural framing

Use perspective

Shoot what you want

Photo# 3: The Stars Fell

Incorporate the environment

Open yourself up

Trust your instincts

Conclusion

Office In Flight

Park-Like Office with Swing Table & Moss Carpet

Lush Ivy-Covered Backyard Office

Vintage Ikarus Bus Turned Office Cube

Shingled Spherical Office Pod

Next Page – Click Below to Read More: No Place To Work Like Home 15 Extraordinary Office Designs

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Double-Duty Desks: 14 Adaptable Office Furniture Designs

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Memorable Memorials 10 Extraordinary War Monuments

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
No Place To Work Like Home 15 Extraordinary Office Designs