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13 Child Photography Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

19 Aug

The post 13 Child Photography Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

Children are some of the most rewarding subjects you’ll ever photograph. They bring a sense of fun, excitement, and wide-eyed wonder to a photo session – but photographing children can also feel overwhelming and even a bit chaotic, especially if you’ve never done this type of work for clients before.

These 13 child photography ideas will give you lots to think about before your next session, and can hopefully serve as a starting point for you to think about your own style and techniques, too.

Let’s dive right in.

1. Ask the child to bring a prop

girl on a rock with toys child photography idea — Nikon D200 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Doing child photo sessions can be difficult, but imagine what it’s like for the kids. They’re in a strange location with parents fussing over their clothes, while other people are making faces and telling them to smile. It’s positively overwhelming!

One thing you can do to give the children a sense of calm and peace? Encourage them to bring a prop. Let their parents know beforehand, so they can help the child pick out something special and meaningful.

Stuffed animals, a favorite toy, or even just a photo or some artwork from home can go a long way toward making a photo session fun. These help children feel at ease, and while you can of course bring your own props, they just don’t have the same sentimental value as a prop that means a lot to the child. Years down the line, these props will help add a sense of context to the photos you took, plus parents will enjoy looking back at their children with their favorite toys or dolls long after the actual props have been relegated to a box in the attic.

2. Let kids be kids

two kids being silly — Nikon D200 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/80s | ISO 200

Kids see the world differently than adults. They find joy in little things, wear emotions on their sleeves, and march to the beat of their own drums. I have seen many photographers throw up their hands in frustration when working with children because the kids won’t listen to directions. I can certainly relate, especially since I have children of my own! It’s enough to make you want to give up on family photography and work with, say, inanimate objects.

But in these situations, the best advice I have is to just embrace the randomness that kids bring to a photo shoot. Let them be who they are, even if it’s a little goofy, eccentric, or out of the ordinary. Be ready to capture some photos with your camera on its high-speed continuous mode, and don’t be afraid to get your hands or clothes dirty in the process. (I’ve long since learned to wear comfortable pants and sandals to family photo sessions, and to put them in the laundry as soon as I get home!)

The best-laid plans of mice, men, and photographers often go awry, but these fun moments are when you can get some of the most memorable pictures from a photo session.

3. Show their personalities

kids interacting — Nikon D750 | 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | f/2.8 | 1/500s | ISO 400

Every kid is unique, and they express themselves in many different ways. One thing you can do to make your photos stand out is to encourage the kids to let their sense of individuality shine through. While the results might not be your own personal favorites, parents love images that capture a sense of who their kids really are.

So whether the child is making a silly face, doing an odd pose, or even picking their nose, moments that capture genuine personality often end up making for the most memorable photos.

By the way, personality-focused photos are a great way to build rapport with children. Kids often come to a photo shoot with a healthy dose of trepidation and skepticism, especially if they have been bossed around by other photographers at previous picture sessions. But if you let them show their personalities, they will usually loosen up and trust you a bit more, which helps when it comes time for more formal pictures, such as group shots or headshots.

4. Photograph the shared special moments

intimate moment between grandmother and child — Nikon D750 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Authenticity is a special thing. As photographers, we often aim for specific results, and while the resulting shots might be great on a technical level, these formal images can be bereft of substance and emotion. I always try to find a way of capturing special moments, especially between parents and kids, even if the resulting images don’t follow the traditional rules of photography.

Things like holding hands, a warm embrace, a special look, or a shared laugh help peel back the shiny veneer of perfection we often strive for, and instead let us capture something real. You can’t fake these moments; you have to be prepared with your camera so you can capture them if and when they happen.

In the photo above, I captured a grandmother holding her new baby granddaughter, and even though the child is sleeping and most of the adult’s face is not visible, the image tells a story that goes well beyond “Look over here and smile.” In the end, this was one of my clients’ favorite images from the entire session.

5. Go for a walk

parents and child walking — Nikon D750 | 85mm f/1.8G | f/4 | 1/400s | ISO 180

Do you shoot photos on location? Heading out for a walk is a great way to embrace your surroundings while also capturing some really interesting shots that parents and kids will appreciate for years to come. Have your clients take a short walk and document the excursion with your camera. Take shots from the front, from behind, and even from above (if you can find a high vantage point to shoot from).

One of my favorite types of walking shots involves parents holding hands with their kids. This conveys a sense of care and tenderness while also ensuring your subjects are all on the same focal plane. A zoom lens isn’t required, but it certainly is useful, as you’ll spend less time chasing after people and more time taking pictures. Make sure your camera is on its high-speed continuous shooting mode, since you might need 20 or 30 shots to get one that you really like.

And if the children aren’t old enough to walk on their own, just ask the parents to carry them (or give them a ride on their shoulders) for some equally memorable images.

6. Run for it!

children running — Nikon D750 | 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | f/4 | 1/350s | ISO 500

This is a tried-and-true technique for getting some outstanding images, and it’s a great way to impress your clients with photos they certainly can’t capture on their own.

Use a zoom lens (preferably a 70-200mm f/2.8 or f/4) and a high-speed continuous shooting mode. I also recommend Auto ISO with a minimum shutter speed of 1/500s. Back-button focus helps, but most modern cameras have such good autofocus that you can usually just rely on that.

Then stand far back from the kids and tell them to run toward you on the count of one…two…three…GO!

Start with your lens zoomed in as far as it will go, then slowly decrease the focal length as the kids run toward you. You only have 5 to 10 seconds to shoot before the children rush past, but that’s usually enough for some great shots. Your number one goal here is to get as many pictures as possible and sort them out later.

Most of your shots won’t be too noteworthy, but some will be amazing and one or two will likely end up printed, framed, and hung on a wall. I recommend briefly reviewing your photos as the kids are catching their breath, and if you’re not certain that you got some good shots, just tell the kids to repeat the exercise.

7. Let the kids play around

one child whispering to another child — Nikon D750 | 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | f/4 | 1/250s | ISO 160

This one isn’t always easy to pull off, but if you can catch kids while they are playing, laughing, or joking around, it’s like striking photographic gold. Some photographers choose locations that are more conducive to this type of freeform play, but unless you have your own private playground, it’s not always the simplest thing to do.

Instead, I try to laugh and joke with the kids by telling them a funny story or asking them to do something silly, which often leads them down their own creative rabbit hole.

For the photo above, I told the boy to whisper a joke in his sister’s ear, which made both of them giggle. Then I stepped back and started taking pictures while she told her brother a joke. They went back and forth like that for a while, taking my initial idea and running with it way beyond what I expected.

The kids had a great time just messing around, and I was able to get some photos that their parents absolutely loved.

8. Take photos from above

kids lying together on the bed child photogaphy ideas — Nikon D750 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/4 | 1/125s | ISO 400

Want to take unique shots that will make your clients call you for repeat photo sessions? Bring a ladder along with your camera gear.

Then stand up high – make sure to be safe! – and get some shots of the kids from above. These can be slice-of-life images with the children playing or reading, but I also like to have them look up at me and smile while I take their picture.

One nice thing about overhead photos is that you don’t need any fancy camera gear (such as wide-aperture lenses). Background blur isn’t an issue since the kids are so close to the ground or floor, and the kids usually aren’t moving around too much, either.

This means you can get outstanding images with a basic camera and kit lens. The uniqueness of these shots comes from the camera angle, which is something a lot of people don’t really think about. It’ll make the resulting shots memorable and unique, which your clients will greatly appreciate.

9. Get a group hug!

three kids hugging on a bridge — Nikon D200 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/320s | ISO 200

The key to a good group-hug photo is timing. It’s not difficult to have all the kids get together – just tell them to pile on or around the largest child, then start taking photos! The tricky part is knowing when to do it.

If you shoot a group-hug picture early in a photo session, you won’t get the kind of genuine emotions you might otherwise capture. If you get the group hug picture too late, the kids and their parents will be tired and may not be in the mood. However, if you can snag a group hug at just the right time, the results are amazing.

That’s why I like to do group hugs about halfway through a photo session. It’s nice to get to know the families first, do some individual shots, and get photos of the kids with their parents. Then, after about 15 or 20 minutes, everyone is more comfortable – and your clients, especially the younger ones, start to lose a bit of steam. That’s a great time to get some shots of all the kids together!

Doing a group hug injects some much-needed energy into a photo session, helps the kids and their parents relax for a bit, and sets the stage for a successful second half.

10. Read a book

child reading a book — Nikon D7100 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/350s | ISO 200

Every kid has a favorite book. Whether it’s a picture book, a novel, or even a coloring book, these treasures work wonders for your photography. It’s easy to get kids to smile and laugh when you ask them to read their favorite story, and you’ll get the opportunity to capture photos of them lost in their imagination as they turn the pages.

One of the biggest benefits of photographing children with books comes years later and is not readily apparent during the photo session. You see, when parents look at the photos after time has passed, seeing their kids reading their favorite books always brings back a rush of emotions.

11. Bring a four-legged friend

kids and a dog — Nikon D750 | 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | f/4 | 1/250s | ISO 100

There’s one surefire way to add a lot of excitement and emotion to a children’s photo shoot: let them bring a pet. When you involve a cat, dog, lizard, or other animal friend in a photo session, you will get plenty of big smiles, genuine emotions, and great shots.

Pets put children at ease and give them something to focus on besides you and their parents, plus these pictures often make for great memories years down the road. However, photographing with pets carries some important risks, so you need to make sure you are prepared.

Pets, even friendly ones, can get nervous and start acting up during a photo session. I have never been bitten by a dog or other animal while shooting, but I have had them nip at me and my camera gear.

Animals can also be moody and uncooperative, which stresses out the parents – and even the children – at times. Generally, what I recommend is involving pets in a small portion of a photo session but not the whole thing.

Have a family member or trusted friend bring the pet in for a few minutes. Shoot some pictures, but then have them take the pet back home. That way, you get the benefit of shooting photos with pets without any of the hassles, and you and your clients can be happy with the results.

12. Get a classic headshot

Nikon D750 | 85mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/250s | ISO 200

There’s a temptation among photographers to try always try something new, break the mold, and chart their own course through the uncertain waters of child photography. And while that’s often a good thing, there is a time for everything under the sun, and this certainly applies to photography.

In other words: when you’re taking photos of children, it’s great to try new, creative, and innovative ideas – but it’s also good to include some of the staples of the genre, such as the classic headshot.

These photos aren’t complicated, but they are often overlooked by new photographers who are eager to try new things. In truth, you can’t go wrong with a traditional headshot, and many of your clients will expect these types of images along with the other, more creative photos you are able to capture.

To get good headshots, use a wide aperture between f/2.8 and f/1.8, make sure your subjects are evenly lit, ask them to look at you and smile, and start pressing the shutter button. If your subject’s attention keeps wandering, have a parent or sibling stand directly behind you (and if your camera has it, use eye-detect autofocus).

The resulting pictures won’t win awards for creativity, but they will look great when printed, framed, and hung on the wall (which is where many of your clients will end up putting them!).

13. Use an initialed prop

child with initialed item — Nikon D750 | 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | f/3.3 | 1/250s | ISO 400

Remember how I suggested you use a child’s prop? For a fun twist on this idea, ask your clients to bring something with the first letter of their child’s name on it. The object doesn’t have to be fancy, and you might even consider getting your own array of objects as a backup, just in case your client doesn’t have anything that works. The point is to add a bit of personal flair to your child photos – to give them a little extra pizzazz that they might otherwise lack.

This approach works best with very young children, generally no more than 18 months old. If you go much beyond that, it starts to look a bit cheesy and forced, though it can still work with the right prop (say, a t-shirt or jersey that prominently displays a first initial).

My favorite technique is to use simple wooden alphabet blocks. You don’t need to spell out the child’s entire name; just adding their first initial goes a long way toward making a standout photo. It also sends a message to the parents that you care enough to go the extra mile, and this helps lead to repeat business and referrals.

Child photography ideas: final words

My most important rule when taking pictures of children is to make sure they have fun. If the kids are angry, bored, or irritated, it will certainly come through in the photos – and the same goes for you. (After all, a surly photographer is not going to get great shots!)

These 13 child photography ideas should give you plenty to think about as you approach your next session, but at the end of the day, make sure the experience is enjoyable. Relax, take a breath, lighten up, and have a good time. A positive attitude is one of the best things you can bring to any photo event, especially when children are involved.

What about you? What are some of your favorite child photography tips and tricks? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

The post 13 Child Photography Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

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15 Photo Essay Ideas (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing)

27 May

The post 15 Photo Essay Ideas (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

Visual storytelling is a normal part of our everyday lives, but coming up with good photo essay ideas can be challenging. So in this article, I want to share some topics you can use to create interesting, compelling photo essays.

A single, strong photograph can convey a lot of information about its subject – but sometimes we have topics that require more than one image to do the job. That’s when it’s time to make a photo essay: a collection of pictures that together tell the bigger story of a chosen theme.

Here’s a brief list of ideas to get you started!

Karen woman portrait — Nikon D800 | 105mm | f/8 | 1/125s | ISO 400
© Kevin Landwer-Johan.

1. A day in the life

Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else’s life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house.

The subject matter you choose is up to you. But start in the morning and create a series of images showing your subject over the course of a typical day.

(Alternatively, you can document your subject on a special day, like a birthday, a wedding, or some other celebration.)

woman with a backpack getting on a train photo essay ideas — Nikon D800 | 105mm | f/6.3 | 1/100s | ISO 400
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

2. Capture hands

Portraits focus on a subject’s face – but why not mix it up and make a photo essay that focuses on your subject’s hands?

(You can also focus on a collection of different people’s hands.)

Hands can tell you a lot about a person. And showing them in context is a great way to narrate a story.

people on a train — Nikon D800 | 35mm | f/5 | 1/80s | ISO 1600
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

3. A child and their parent

Photographs that catch the interaction between parents and children are special. A parent-child connection is strong and unique, so making powerful images isn’t challenging. You just need to be ready to capture the special moments as they happen.

You might concentrate on a parent teaching their child. Or the pair playing sports. Or working on a special project.

Use your imagination, and you’ll have a great time with this theme.

4. Tell a local artist’s story

I’ve always enjoyed photographing artists as they work; studios have a creative vibe, so the energy is already there. Bring your camera into this environment and try to tell the artist’s story!

An artist’s studio offers plenty of opportunities for wonderful photo essays. Think about the most fascinating aspects of the artist’s process. What do they do that makes their art special? Aim to show this in your photos.

Many people appreciate fine art, but they’re often not aware of what happens behind the scenes. So documenting an artist can produce fascinating visual stories.

artist at work with copper — Nikon D700 | 24mm | f/7.1 | 1/13s | ISO 1250
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

5. Show a tradesperson’s process

Do you have a plumber coming over to fix your kitchen sink? Is a builder making you a new deck?

Take photos while they work! Tell them what you want to do before you start, and don’t forget to share your photos with them.

They’ll probably appreciate seeing what they do from another perspective. They may even want to use your photos on their company website.

hot iron in crucible — Nikon D800 | 105mm | f/4.5 | 1/250s | ISO 1600
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

6. Cover a local community event

A school fundraiser, a tree-planting day at a park, or a parade; these are are all community events that make for good photo essay ideas.

Think like a photojournalist. What type of images would your editor want? Make sure to capture some wide-angle compositions, some medium shots, and some close-ups.

(Getting in close to show the details can often tell as much of a story as the wider pictures.)

7. Fresh market life

Markets are great for photography because there’s always plenty of activity and lots of characters. Think of how you can best illustrate the flow of life at the market. What are the vendors doing that’s most interesting? What are the habits of the shoppers?

Look to capture the essence of the place. Try to portray the people who work and shop there.

woman at the fresh market — Nikon D800 | 50mm | f/11 | 0.4s | ISO 100
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

8. Shoot the same location over time

What location do you visit regularly? Is there a way you can make an interesting photo essay about it?

Consider what you find most attractive and ugly about the place. Look for aspects that change over time.

Any outdoor location will look different throughout the day. Also think about the changes that occur from season to season. Create an essay that tells the story of the place.

9. Photograph a garden through the seasons

It might be your own garden. It could be the neighbor’s. It could even be the garden at your local park.

Think about how the plants change during the course of a year. Capture photos of the most significant visual differences, then present them as a photo essay.

lotus flower — Nikon D800 | 105mm | f/11 | 1/125s | ISO 400
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

10. Pick a local cause to highlight

Photo essays can go beyond passive documentation; they can become a part of your activism, too!

So find a cause that matters to you. Tell the story of some aspect of community life that needs improvement. Is there an ongoing issue with litter in your area? How about traffic; is there a problematic intersection?

Document these issues, then make sure to show the photos to people responsible for taking action.

11. Making a meal

Photo essay ideas can be about simple, everyday things – like making a meal or a coffee.

How can you creatively illustrate something that seems so mundane? My guess is that, when you put your mind to it, you can come up with many unique perspectives, all of which will make great stories.

plate of Thai curry photo essay ideas — Nikon D800 | 55mm | f/5 | 1/125s | ISO 160
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

12. Religious traditions

Religion is often rich with visual expression in one form or another. So capture it!

Of course, you may need to narrow down your ideas and choose a specific aspect of worship to photograph. Aim to show what people do when they visit a holy place, or how they pray on their own. Illustrate what makes their faith real and what’s special about it.

photo essay idea monks walking — Nikon D800 | 35mm | f/4 | 1/200s | ISO 800
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

13. Historic sites

Historic sites are often iconic, and plenty of photographers take a snapshot or two.

But with a photo essay, you can illustrate the site’s history in greater depth.

Look for details of the location that many visitors miss. And use these to build an interesting story.

14. Cover a sports game

Most sports photographers aim for a stunning photo of the decisive moment – when the action is at its peak. But nailing shots like that can be very challenging.

So why not focus on something else? After all, sports involve so much more than a single moment. There’s training, preparation, and stretching. There’s the emotion following a victory or a tough loss.

These other subjects, when photographed carefully, can make for an interesting photo essay, too.

15. Photograph your pet

If you’re a pet owner, you already have the perfect subject for a photo essay!

All pets, with the possible exception of pet rocks, will provide you with a collection of interesting moments to photograph.

So collect these moments with your camera – then display them as a photo essay showing the nature and character of your pet.

Woman and elephant — Nikon D800 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/400s | ISO 400
© Kevin Landwer-Johan

Photo essay ideas: final words

Look at the world around you. Consider what you see every day. What aspects interest you the most? Photograph those things.

You’re bound to end up with some beautiful photo essays!

Now over to you:

Do you have any photo essays you’re proud of? Do you have any more photo essay ideas? Share your thoughts and images in the comments below!

The post 15 Photo Essay Ideas (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

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Heaps of Fun Creative Photography Ideas to Keep Your Photography-Juices Flowing

30 May

The post Heaps of Fun Creative Photography Ideas to Keep Your Photography-Juices Flowing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

This week, I thought I would compile a few videos of creative photography ideas that will get your photography juices flowing.

These videos are from Jordi Koalitic, who shares some of his unique, fun ideas.

Some of these you can do in your own home or out and about. Check them out, try them out, and share some of your photos with us in the comments section!

Still looking for more creative ideas?

Then you may also like:

10 Great At-Home Creative Photography Ideas
Creative Photography Exercises to do at Home (video)
10 Creative DIY Photo IDEAS when Stuck at Home (video)
Creative Abstract Photography with Food Coloring and Milk
Creative Water Photography – A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Water Monsters
Creative Photography Exercises: Setting Limitations to Achieve Better Photography
How to Use a Pinhole Body Cap for Awesome, Creative Photography

The post Heaps of Fun Creative Photography Ideas to Keep Your Photography-Juices Flowing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

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Photo story of the week: Flowing under a solar storm

17 Mar

A night of stunning Northern Lights dancing above Haukland Beach, the Lofoten Islands, Arctic Norway, on a moonless evening.

The serene stream that flows from the surrounding mountains and pours into the Norwegian Sea curved into a beautiful shape, paralleling the curves of the Auroral display. Haukland is a very good location for shooting Aurora, since it has numerous interesting features (such as the mountain and the stream), and since any water left stationary frequently freezes over and supplies more variety and interest. It’s also relatively shielded from artificial lights.

This image was taken in the winter of 2016 during my Lofoten workshop. I used a Sony A7R and a Samyang 14mm F2.8 with a Metabones adapter. The photograph was taken at F2.8, ISO 3200, and 8 sec exposure. The high ISO, wide aperture and long exposure were used to counter the darkness and produce a balanced exposure.

Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveler based in Israel. You can follow Erez’s work on Instagram, Facebook and 500px, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates. Erez offers photo workshops worldwide.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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This time-lapse captures the awe-inspiring power of lava flowing into the ocean

25 Jan

Any seasoned landscape photographer can tell you that the moment spent actually pressing the shutter is just the tip of the iceberg – hours and even days are spent planning, getting into position and waiting for the right conditions. So the story behind Jack Fusco’s impressive new time-lapse, 61G Ocean Entry, might be familiar to landscape photo veterans.

Fusco and team traveled to Hawaii’s Big Island hoping to capture a somewhat rare occurrence: lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean from Kilauea Volcano. The goal was to capture a time-lapse of the stars along with the spectacular light show created by the flowing lava meeting ocean water.

If you watch the video above and you’ll see that Fusco’s mission was a success, but the behind-the-scenes story is equally fascinating. A rainy forecast and logistical challenges meant that the crew had to do a lot of thinking on their feet. All told, they came away with 1.3TB of data after 20 miles of hiking, hundreds of miles driven and very few hours spent sleeping. Was it worth the trouble? Take a look at the video and see for yourself.

Read the full behind-the-scenes story at Macphun’s blog.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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23 Moving Images of Flowing Water

28 May

Water, especially that which is flowing, is a popular subject for photographers. You get to make artistic choices about whether to freeze or blur the water, and to what degree. That will affect how the final image looks.

Take a look at these images of flowing water and see how the photographers chose to capture the scene.

By David Kingham

By Darlene Hildebrandt

By little shiva

By Christopher

By Kamil Porembi?ski

By ~ lzee. . . mostly out

By James Bremner

By Nick Kenrick

By Andi Campbell-Jones

By Andy Rothwell

By Crouchy69

By Christian Barrette

By Billy Wilson

By Neil Howard

By Christian Ronnel

By Dirk Dittmar

By Nicole Quevillon

By Jonathan

By Marjan Lazarevski

By John Fowler

By Susanne Nilsson

By Louis du Mont

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The post 23 Moving Images of Flowing Water by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Weekly Photography Challenge – Flowing Water

28 May

By Franck Michel

Start by viewing these 23 images of flowing water to get some inspiration.

Then read some articles on the subject:

3 Tips for Waterfall Photography Beyond Just Using a Long Exposure
Simple Tips for Photographing Waterfalls
7 Tips to Help Improve Your Seascape Photos by Controlling the Waves
How to Create a Silky Water Effect in Post-Processing without Using Filters or a Tripod
9 Top Tips for Shooting Waterfalls, Creeks and Streams

By Jacob Surland

By Jon Rawlinson

By Andy Rothwell

Weekly Photography Challenge – Flowing Water

This week your challenge is to find some running water and photograph it. Here are a few ideas, you don’t have to be near a waterfall:

River
Stream
Waterfall
Ocean waves
Fountain
Shower in your bathroom
Kitchen tap

By James Niland

By Tarek

By Riccardo Cuppini

Share your images below:

Simply upload your shot into the comment field (look for the little camera icon in the Disqus comments section) and they’ll get embedded for us all to see or if you’d prefer upload them to your favourite photo sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge. Sometimes it takes a while for an image to appear so be patient and try not to post the same image twice.

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Flowing Water by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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In photos: Flowing fins of Siamese fighting fish

25 Dec

Thai photographer Visarute Angkatavanich has created a stunning series of close-up portraits of Siamese fighting fish. With simple backgrounds and dramatic lighting, the images show off the species’ vivid colors and graceful fins. Siamese fighting fish, also known as Betta, now days are a popular aquarium fish. See gallery

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Get Your Creative Juices Flowing with Different Focal Lengths

22 Dec

Get Your Creative Juices Flowing with Different Focal Lengths

14mm lens

I’ve gone through periods of low creativity in my photographic journey. Times when I don’t have compelling ideas or nothing seems new. When the excuses why not to go takes pictures (“It’s too cold, it’s too hot, the light isn’t right, it’s too cloudy, it’s not cloud enough”) manage to outweigh my need to photograph, and I go into an unproductive slump. It can be hard to break out of these slumps, but there are lots of ways to get the spark back including everything from: getting on dPS to read articles; to looking at galleries of other photographers’ images online for inspiration; to choosing a slightly different route or time to work, in order to see the world in a different way.

In this article I’m going to touch on just one of those “creativity sparks”, specifically, getting creative with focal length, even the point of breaking the “rules.”

Before I get to the meat of the article, please note I’m not saying you have to go spend thousands of dollars on new lenses. If you can afford to, want to, and need to, then by all means do so – new gear is one more method of lighting the creativity fire in your soul again. Instead, however, I’m suggesting you work on finding new ways to shoot with the gear – the lenses – you already have.

100mm lens

The “Rules”

When it comes to lenses, most new photographers learn the typical applications of different focal lengths pretty quickly. Here are a few examples of what I learned, when I was first teaching myself this complicated art, about how different focal lengths *should* be used (Note: all focal lengths list here refer to 35mm full-frame format):

10-14mm: distorted fisheye, not really for ‘serious’ photography
14-24mm: landscapes, seascapes, waterfalls, starlight and astrophotography
24-35mm: street and architecture photography
35mm-58mm: “normal” and most closely approximates our natural view of the world, useful for portraits and still life photography, etc.
85mm: the classic, flattering portrait length lens
90-105mm: the province of macro lenses (close ups)
135mm: the other classic portrait length
200mm: the other, other classic portrait length also getting useful for nature and sports telephoto shots
200-500mm: sports, wildlife and birds
500-800mm: for wealthy and/or partially crazy Antarctic nature photographers who want close-ups of polar bears

Are there problems with the above gross simplifications? Sure, tons! Even novice photographers will understand the above list is just a shorthand, a way of reducing a radically complicated subject into more easily digestible chunks. More experienced photographers will be able to name a dozen exceptions to the list above. But, that’s also where the fun – the creativity spark – can begin: in the exceptions, in shattering of rules.

14mm lens

Breaking the “Rules”

I’m going to re-write the list from above, presenting just a few alternative ideas. This is also hardly a comprehensive list; instead, I’m trying to get your creative juices flowing with regard to what you can do with those different focal lengths, how you can go about breaking the rules and producing something new, unusual and outside the expectations.

10-14mm: still life, product shots, cityscapes, purposefully distorted architecture, sports, hiking
14-24mm: pet portraits, street shots, extreme close-ups (thanks to the design of many ultra-wide angle lenses you can actually get really close to the subject, and, thanks to the wide angle, still show a lot of the surroundings), flowing architecture, cloudscapes
24-35mm: babies, landscapes, cityscapes, portraits
35-58mm: anything anti-“normal” with these “normal” lenses – get close, get far, turn the camera, close down to f/16 even with your expensive 50mm f/1.4 because it’s different, because it makes you think
85mm: landscapes (start to pick out specific areas to focus the viewer’s attention), cityscapes (ditto), architecture (same again), still life, street scenes
90-105mm: more of what I offered for the 85mm; just because you have a macro doesn’t mean it won’t happen to make a great landscape lens (e.g. the Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro Planar) or a great portrait lens (e.g. Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR)
135mm: street scenes where you really separate a subject or object from the crowd; detail shots of antique or expensive cars; clouds (picking out the special parts to focus on), light trails, long-exposure shots of the sea (at 135mm? Crazy talk! But that’s the idea!)
200mm: waterfalls, mountains, sunsets and sunrises, fog in the trees, autumn leaves on the long roadway, the shadows cast by that old oak tree on the fence in the neighbour’s yard
200-500mm: rolling plains and wide open vistas; sections of the Grand Canyon at sunset; night life in the city, your pets
500-800mm: polar bears

Just kidding on that last one. I think you get the general idea, though: take the stereotypical, “classic” uses of any given focal length, and turn those ideas on their head. Have a go at something you’d never thought would work for that lens. You might be shocked by what you come up with, and if nothing else it will get your conscious and subconscious mind churning and that creative flame burning.

35mm lens

The “You Should Never” Rules

These are one step beyond the regular rules. You’ll find these on Flickr sometimes, as well as other online photo communities, where someone will passionately argue that a given photo (or set of photos) is utter garbage because the photographers in question “misused” their lenses and “you should never do” whatever it is that they did.

For example: “You should never take a portrait with a fisheye lens.”

This might even seem reasonable at first glance – after all, fisheye lenses are defined by their hefty distortion that is not generally considered a good look by most models. But here’s the thing: as long as you are using your lens on your camera to take a photo, you aren’t “misusing” it. Especially if you are experimenting and learning new ways of seeing the world, and stoking that creative fire a bit.

You can take a portrait with a fisheye lens. I guarantee it. And a good portrait, no less. It might be harder, more challenging than firing away with that 85mm, but that’s the point: it’s new, it’s different, it’s outside the norm and it’s outside of the rut in which you can sometimes find yourself.

17mm lens – Image by Darlene Hildebrandt

So, if you are in that creative rut, search out the “You should never rules” online, and then do whatever it is “they” say you should never do. Within the bounds of the law, of course!

One Last Idea

I’ll end here with one last idea to make creative sparks out of focal length – check out some popular or famous photographs, consider what focal length the photographer used and why, and then think about – and experiment with – how that photograph would have turned out differently with another focal length.

I’m sure there are many other ideas to spark creativity, please post your thoughts in the comments below, and help us all spark our creative fires.

105mm lens

500px can be a great site for inspiration. Check out the “Popular” or “Editor’s Choice” streams for the latest and greatest to find some photographs you love, and then investigate. Often the focal length is included in the photo’s information so you don’t even have to guess what they used. Think: why did the photographer pick that focal length? Ask yourself; “What if I used the extreme opposite in that exact situation?”.

Then, of course, go out and take some pictures!

Remember, it’s the experimentation and thought process behind it that is worth the effort, even if none of your photos that break the focal-length “rules” end up working out. It will get the creative juices flowing and that’s the goal.

14mm lens

The post Get Your Creative Juices Flowing with Different Focal Lengths by Joseph Eckert appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Flowing Forms: Curved New Cultural Center by Zaha Hadid

19 Nov

[ By Steph in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

Zaha Hadid Heyar Aliyev 1

Architect Zaha Hadid’s designs are graceful and sinuous, imbued with dance-like movement, and the new Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan is no exception. This landmark structure, which will host the former soviet nation’s cultural programs, swoops over itself in glossy white ribbons, looking as if it were stretched and pulled into place by human hands.

Zaha Hadid Heydar Aliyev 2

Zaha Hadid Heydar Aliyev 3

This malleability and the organic forms that inspired it forms a stark contrast to the traditional, historical Soviet architecture of the city of Baku. While not so well-known in the United States, this city stands at the forefront of architectural innovation as the Azerbaijan government spends an estimated $ 6 billion per year on new buildings. Other notable works of modern architecture in the city include the Flame Towers.

Zaha Hadid Heydar Aliyev 4

Zaha Hadid Heydar Aliyev 6

Hadid’s design is a modern interpretation of Islamic architecture as a composition of rows, grids, or sequences of columns that collectively form a non-hierarchal space. An architectural skin flows from the plaza up onto the roof of the first floor, and then rises several stories to form a shell-like canopy.

Zaha Hadid Heydar Aliyev 5

The clean, curving lines of the roof structure are already inviting passersby to ascend the roof, and it’s probably only a matter of time before skateboarders turn it into one big exhilarating playground.