The post 10 Creative DIY Photo IDEAS when Stuck at Home (video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.
In this video from Nicolas Doretti, he gives you 10 creative DIY photo ideas for when you are stuck at home. They are fun, interesting, and best of all, they may teach you some new techniques you hadn’t thought to try.
So try some of these ideas out, and share your results with us in the comments section!
10 Creative DIY Photo IDEAS when Stuck at Home
Use everyday props to play with the light while making portraits. Play with colanders, cut shapes into cardboard, or use pieces of material to filter the window light or other artificial lighting.
Use glass and ice as a foreground for some cool portraits.
Use fairy lights for some great portrait effects, or if you have no model, just photograph the lights themselves and create bokeh.
Do some food photography. Make a seamless DIY backdrop using a pillowcase or similar.
Do some Ninja photos using oranges or similar. Cut them in half and use skewers to make them look like they are floating. Photograph yourself making a Ninja move, so it looks like you have just cut it in half. Or, if you don’t want to be in the photo, simply make them look like they are floating.
Duplicate yourself in photos by placing your camera on a tripod and taking multiple photos of yourself in different positions. Then composite the photos together in a program such as Photoshop by using Layer Masks.
Try levitation photography. Use masks again to remove your chair (or whatever you have used to make it look like you or the person you are photographing are levitating).
Try some birds eye photography by attaching your phone to the ceiling and taking some shots of the room below.
Make some cool lighting effects using reflections! Or shoot using objects that refract or diffract the light, such as reading glasses, crystal, drinking glasses, CDs, or knives.
Create your own neon background. Do a search for colorful or neon backgrounds, and place the image on your TV or screen. Then photograph your subject in front of it.
You may also like:
The dPS At-Home 7-Day Photography Challenge – Week One
Next-Level Selfies – 7 Tips for Creative Self-Portraits (video)
How to Make a Cool Double Exposure Effect Using Photoshop (video)
How to Create Dramatic Portraits with Shadow Photography
5 Ways to Use a Piece of Glass for Unique Portraits
How to Take Floating Photos – Levitation Photography
Challenge Yourself by Photographing One Object
Easy to Create Fake Underwater Photography Hack
The post 10 Creative DIY Photo IDEAS when Stuck at Home (video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.
The post Stuck at Home? – Ways Still Life Photography Can Keep Your Skills Sharp appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Rick Ohnsman.
As I write this, many of us are holed up at home. So what can we do to continue to practice our craft as photographers, have a bit of diversion and enjoyment, and maybe learn some new techniques? I suggest you give still life photography at home a try.
Still life images like this were what painters often did back before there was photography. This shot needed no fancy equipment. The “light-painted” shot used only a flashlight and a long exposure. This is just one of the techniques you can try if you want to give still life photography at home a try. Canon 6D with Canon 50mm “nifty-fifty” lens, 5 sec. f/14 ISO 100
If you’re a landscape, sports, fashion, portrait, or type of photographer who does work requiring you to get out and about, working at home doing still life photos on the kitchen table could be a new thing. Still life? Really? Why? Well, stay with me here and we’ll explore all the things you can learn.
1. Composition
In much of photography, you deal with the scene as you find it. Maybe one of the best things about still life photography is you are in complete control. You pick the subjects, the arrangement, and the background.
Making a shot in a hurry before the moment passes isn’t an issue. You can take your time, practice compositional concepts like the Rule of Thirds, the Rule of Odds, leading lines, negative space, simplification, background choice, depth-of-field, and many other artistic concepts of composition.
You set the scene and are in complete control. Few other genres of photography offer such an advantage.
A simple photo that explores some of the standard composition rules – Rule of Thirds, Rule of Odds, Leading Lines, etc. The monochrome version simplifies the image even further, making the shot even more about shape, line, tone, and texture. Sony DSC-HX5V, 1/100 sec. f/10 ISO 125
2. Lighting
Let there be light.
You decide what type, how many sources, whether to use hard or soft lighting. Might some colored lighting using gels give the look you want?
How will you use light to draw the viewer’s eye where you want it?
Have you explored the use of reflectors, fill light, or “flags” to block light from certain portions of the scene? Do you know what a gobo or a cucoloris is? A shoot, grid, or gridded-snoot?
Still life photography at home lets you be the set and lighting director.
It’s all about the lighting. I photographed the clock in front of a computer monitor with clock-themed images on it. The clock itself, I light-painted with a flashlight. Canon 50D with Tamron 17-50mm lens, 10 sec. f/18 ISO 100. The kiwi slices were placed in a glass dish and lit from below with an LED flashlight. LG G4 cellphone camera, 1/30 sec. f/1.8 ISO 200
3. Explore camera angles
A distinction between a snapshooter and a photographer is the former sees a scene, raises the camera to their eye, and snaps a shot. Little thought is given to composition and most photos are taken from the eye-level of the photographer. Yawn.
In a world where we are inundated with images, making yours different is the only way to stand out. Finding perspectives others haven’t thought of is one way to do that.
Learn to see differently. This is a window blind shot as illuminated by the morning sun. The photo was then rotated 90-degrees counter-clockwise. Canon 6D with Canon 24-105 f4 Lens, 1/6000 sec. f/16 ISO 800
Rather than always shooting from eye or tripod level, mix it up. Get up and look down for a birds-eye vantage point. Get down and try a worms-eye view. Have you heard of a “Dutch-tilt”? Maybe try looking through objects, using them as frames for your subject.
Much of my photography is landscape work, so I’m a dedicated tripod shooter. The advantages of that are, of course, stability and repeatability. I can leave the camera in a fixed spot and move other things; the lights and subjects, use long and different exposures and have variations of the same shot.
There’s something to be said, however, for getting off the tripod.
Going handheld will help you move more easily and explore different angles. Whatever you do, let me repeat something I said earlier…work to make your image different.
See if you can identify these household objects. When doing macro, and seeing differently, even stuck in the house you can find subjects for still life photography. (Clockwise from top left – Canon 6D , reversed lens, 1/40 sec. ISO 400, Canon 6D w/ reversed lens, 1/40 sec ISO 400, Canon 6D with Tamron 90mm macro lens, 1/4 sec. f/32 ISO 1250, Canon 6D with Tamron 90mm macro lens, 1.3 sec, f/32, ISO 1250
4. Lens selection
Doing still life photography at home is a great time to explore how different lenses can give you different looks.
You won’t have to worry so much about dust getting on your sensor as you change lenses and you’ll have a place to put lenses down while you do change them (rather than fearing a fumble onto the ground).
Try some things. Note how a wide-angle lens emphasizes the size of objects nearest the lens, how a telephoto compresses space between objects, or how a wide aperture reduces your depth-of-field. Learn what the “sweet-spot” is of each of your lenses, that aperture where the lens is at its sharpest.
Table-top photography is also a great opportunity to play with prime lenses, moving the camera or subject rather than zooming. I’ve grown to love my little Canon “nifty-fifty” for use in doing still life photography at home. This economical little lens might be one of my sharpest.
Using my shell/beach-stone collection and a pair of my wife’s sandals I was able to make this product-photography-like shot. Note the camera angle looking almost straight down. Canon 6D with Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, 1/80 sec. f/20 ISO 200
5. Get close with macro
If you’ve not tried macro photography, being sequestered at home is a perfect opportunity to give it a try. It requires practice, patience, and a controlled environment where you are in charge of the composition and lighting (and there’s no wind). Being able to slow down and pay careful attention is a real plus, as being meticulous is a key to making good macro shots.
Often, your cell phone camera can take a great macro photo. This feather was shot with my LG V30 cell phone.
So you don’t have a macro lens? Try some alternatives.
The reversed-lens macro technique is a great way to dip your toe in macro waters on a budget. You will also find that common household objects become fascinating subjects when photographed at a macro level. Just be careful – macro-photography is contagious.
Don’t have a dedicated macro lens? This extreme macro, (the drop was only about 2mm wide), was shot with an old Vivitar film camera lens. The lens was reversed and combined with three (12mm, 20mm, and 36mm) extension tubes combined with the reversed lens at 28mm. This is also a 2-image focus stack – one for the drop and the other for the flower inside. Extension tubes on my Canon 6D. 15 sec. reversed lens, ISO 100
6. Tell a story
When choosing your subjects for a session of still life photography at home, give thought to telling a story. Rather than just choose random objects, think like a movie set director using the scene to tell the story.
Use your objects, background, lighting, camera angle, and whatever other photographic tricks you can summon. Your objective is to make the viewer see the story in your photo. A picture can be worth a thousand words, if you choose those “words” carefully.
Carefully selecting your still life subjects can allow you to create a story. My titles might help you understand what I was illustrating here. “Awaiting Santa” – Canon 50D, Canon 50mm prime lens, .5 sec,f/5.6, ISO 100 , “Family Album Photographs” – Canon 6D, Canon 50mm prime lens, f/22, ISO 800 , “Doc Brown makes a housecall,” – Canon 50D, XX lens, f/XX, ISO XXX , “The Conchologist” – Canon 6D, Canon 24-105 lens, 1/6 sec. f/4, ISO 100
7. Simple is better
A photo friend once said something that has stuck with me about a good photo – “Anything that doesn’t add, detracts.”
It’s important that, with a glance, the viewer immediately “gets it.” Without even thinking, they know what your intended subject is and what you are trying to communicate.
Landscape photographers must find ways to simplify the scenes they photograph, but as a still life table-top photographer, you have complete control.
Carefully consider what to put in and what to take out, where to concentrate the light, what to leave in shadow, and what is in and out-of-focus. The strongest photos will be those with a single, powerful message.
Sometimes the simplest images can be the most powerful. Canon 50D, Canon 50mm prime lens, 8 sec. f/22, ISO 100. Frozen with flash. Ordinary objects can become much more interesting with dramatic lighting. This one was light-painted with a flashlight. Canon 6D, Canon 24-105 lens, 10 sec. f/11, ISO 100
8. Reflect on this
Reflections can elevate an otherwise ho-hum subject to a new and exciting level. When doing still life photography at home, a good method of creating a reflection is to use a piece of black plexiglass under your set-up.
Unlike a mirror, which will create two reflections due to the surface and the mirrored back of the glass, the acrylic sheet creates just one. Of course, the inventive photographer will find other ways to create reflections as well.
A piece of black plexiglass reflects the jar of marbles. The string of Christmas lights provides a background of bokeh highlights. Canon 6D, Canon 24-105mm lens, 1/8 sec. f/4, ISO 800
9. Bokeh and how to use it
“Bokeh” (however you pronounce it), is defined as the “blurred quality or effect seen in the out-of-focus portion of a photograph taken with a narrow depth of field.”
Still life photography is a great opportunity to explore how you can use it to simplify the background, keep viewer attention where you want it, and enhance the story you’re trying to tell. You can also try some special effects bokeh using patterns cut in pieces of paper and put on your lens. If you’re a shut-in frustrated photographer, why not brighten your day making some fun “bokehlicious” pics?
My Canon “nifty-fifty”, the 50mm f/1.8 prime which often isn’t much over $ 100 US, is one of my sharpest lenses. It also creates interesting bokeh highlights when opened up to a wide aperture. Canon 50D, Canon 50mm “nifty-fifty” lens, 1/25 sec. f/2.8, ISO 100
10. Food photography
Food photography is by its very nature, still life photography.
Top food photographers make good money by making food images look especially delicious. Study great food photos for clues as to composition, lighting, backgrounds, props, camera angles, and other tricks. Then see if you can emulate those tricks.
Maybe grab some cookies and a glass of milk, or a beer and some pretzels, and see what you can do to replicate great photo photography looks. Not only will you hone your photo skills, but when you’re done, you can have a snack.
Food photography certainly falls into the genre of still life. This is definitely something to try if you’re having to stay home. Canon 20D, Canon 50mm prime lens, 1/250 sec. f/4, ISO 200
11. For my next trick
Two different years I did what some call a “Project 52,” a photo assignment a week for an entire year. I made it a point to try some special tricks I’d never tried before – photographing smoke, water splashes, flames and sparks, and oil and water abstracts.
Using both long exposures, as well as the extremely short duration of a flash and a camera trigger, were things I learned.
If you need ideas, search dPS, or Google “creative photography” and see what catches your eye, then figure out how to do it yourself. Part of the fun of still life photography at home is using your creativity to make shots you’ve never before attempted.
Light for these shots is provided solely by the sparklers used. The long exposure allows for interesting light trails. Left – Canon 50D, Canon 50mm prime lens lens, 4 sec. f/11, ISO 100 Right – Canon 50D, Canon 50mm prime lens, 1 sec. f/11, ISO 100 Who says still life photos must be still? The “Raspberry Milk Splash” froze the action using the short duration of a speedlight, Canon 50D, Tamron 17-50 lens, 1/60 f/25, ISO 100. “Tumblin’ Dice” was a longer exposure with a second-curtain sync flash. Canon 50D, Canon 17-40 lens, 1.0 sec f/13 ISO 100
12. Advertising and product photography
Making the ordinary extraordinary is why skilled advertising photographers get paid the big bucks. Pick up a magazine and study the way common objects are staged, lit, and photographed. Then find some objects at home and see if you can emulate those looks.
What might look like a simple shot is often much more complex if you were to take a look behind the scenes. Don’t have a studio with a bunch of fancy lights and modifiers? No worry, see what you can do “on the cheap” with simpler lighting equipment. You might be surprised at how using brains rather than bucks can still result in a stunning photo.
When doing still life photography at home, remember that rather than having powerful studio lights or even Speedlights, you can simply increase the exposure time since your subject isn’t moving and you can shoot using a tripod. Small, inexpensive hardware store LED lights like these can work surprising well.
Something else to consider is making photos for items you’d like to sell on places like eBay, Craigslist, or other online sites.
Your item with a nicely lit and composed shot will attract much more attention (and perhaps even fetch a higher price) than a “quicky” snapshot someone else made with their cellphone.
If you plan to do a lot of this kind of work, you might also look into buying a simple light tent or perhaps making your own. For smaller objects, a collapsible light tent can be had for under $ 20.00 U.S. and will give you pretty good results.
Note the lighting set-up in the inset shot using just the cheap LED flashlights for illumination. When doing still life photography at home, learn how you can get big results with little lights. Canon 6D, Canon 24-105 lens, 3.2 sec, f/14 ISO 100I wanted to accentuate the “emergency feel” of this police badge and so used a blue-gelled light on camera left and a red-gelled light on the right. Canon 6D, Canon 50mm prime lens, 2 sec. f/20 ISO 100.
13. No travel required
Even in times when we feel more comfortable traveling, not all of us can get to the exotic hot spots where we see other photographers going. I’m not expecting to get to Iceland anytime soon.
When doing still life photography at home, that’s not an issue. No one is going to guess that the location where you took that really cool still life photo was your kitchen table.
I formerly wrote for another now discontinued online photo site, Improve Photography, and did an article called “Tips for the Non-Traveling Photographer.” I’d encourage you to have a look, as almost all of the images in that piece were done at home or within 20-miles of my house. Imagination can often take you much further as a photographer than a passport.
Stuck at home? Drag out that collection of whatever you might have and photograph it for fun. “Campaign Buttons” – Canon 6D, Canon 24-105mm lens, 6 sec. f/22 ISO XXX. “Foreign Coins” – Canon 6D, Canon 24-105mm lens, 2.5 sec. f/22 ISO 100
14. Exercise for photo fitness
Want to be more photographically-fit? The key is the same as increasing your physical fitness – work out more.
The key to being a better photographer is routinely making more photos, learning new techniques, and practicing. Waiting to pick up the camera until you go on a special trip, attend an event or make family photos isn’t going to cut it if you want to be good. Unless you’re taking photos at least a few times a week, you’re probably not getting enough “photographic exercise” to be a strong photographer.
No flash, but high noon sun, a reflector, an aquarium, a high shutter speed, a fast trigger finger, timing, some luck and a lot of tries were what was needed for this shot. I had a fun afternoon making all kinds of splash photos on a picnic table in the backyard. Canon 50D, Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/3200 sec. f/4 ISO 400.
These are unusual times. You may find you’re not able to get out as much, perhaps not even going to your regular job. So why not use that free time to keep yourself engaged, entertained, and further your photo education?
Try some still life photography at home. Shoot, review, repeat.
As you get better, do as you would with exercise, and make the next session more challenging. Then post your images online and here in the comments section of this site so we can admire your work.
Be engaged, be productive, be learning and growing as a photographer and above all… Until next time, be well my friends.
The post Stuck at Home? – Ways Still Life Photography Can Keep Your Skills Sharp appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Rick Ohnsman.
As the number of newly-diagnosed Coronavirus cases continues to increase, so do the strict orders to stay home. For some, this means an increase in free time along with a decline in disposable income. Across the photography community, multiple retailers, software manufacturers, teachers and more are offering discounts, extended trials or freebies to help pass the time and (hopefully) make your dollars go a little further in this time of economic downturn.
We’ve rounded up just a few of the offerings from around the photography world and are sharing some of our favorites below. Keep in mind not all of these specials are specifically made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, but we’ve included them below, unaffiliated, to ensure as little goes unseen as possible.
This will be a living list, so as we come across more deals and freebies, we will be adding them to the collection, which is split into two categories: ‘Deals and discounts’ and ‘Classes, courses and webinars.’ If you know of any we’ve missed, please share them in the comments below and we’ll be sure to add them to the list.
Deals and discounts
Adobe
In addition to granting free access to its Creative Cloud suite for qualifying students and educators alike, Adobe is also giving everyone two months of free Creative Cloud to help creatives affected by the ongoing pandemic. PetaPixel has shared a thorough guide on how to get your two free months.
Affinity
Serif has increased the length of its free trial to 90 days (from 30 days) for its entire Affinity suite and is offering all of its apps, both desktop and mobile, for 50% off. This includes Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher. Additionally, Serif has pledged to ‘engage more than 100 freelance creatives for work, spending the equivalent of our annual commissioning budget in the next three months.’ Serif says more details on that initiative will be announced soon and has in the meantime shared a letter regarding this news.
Adorama
As always, Adorama has a number of special offers and discounts across various photo gear, as well as a ‘Deal of the Day’ that kicks off with a new product at 10am EST everyday.
B&H
B&H too has its own ‘Deal Zone’ that features ‘unbeatable specials.’ Not everything is photo-specific, but you can count on at least two or three photography-specific deals going on every day.
DaVinci Resolve
While not exclusive to the COVID-19 pandemic, DaVinci Resolve 16, an inline video editor akin to Adobe Premiere Pro, is free to download for Linux, macOS and Windows computers. Whether you’re looking to cut your Adobe subscription to bring down your monthly bills or simply want to try something new, it’s hard to beat the price of nothing and the app itself is a treat to use, as we’ve been over before.
DxO
DxO is slashing prices by up to 30% off through March 31st, including the recently-released DxO PhotoLab 3.2 update as well as its Nik Collection. With the discount, PhotoLab 3.2 and the Nik Collection cost $ 99.99 each, compared to the usual $ 129.99. You can also try out both programs for 30-days with free trials.
ON1
ON1 is currently offering 50% off Photo RAW 2020.1, bringing the normal $ 99.99 price down to just $ 49.99. ON1 is also offering 50% off its ‘Gold Package’ version of Photo RAW 2020.1, which includes the program, 50 fine art texture overlays, the ON1 Foundations video course, a one-year SmugMug Portfolio membership (normally a $ 180 value), as well as a pack of presets, LUTs and ‘styles.’ You can find both the standard download and the ‘Gold Package’ download at ON1’s online store. The deals end March 31, so you only have a few days left to snag this deal.
Skylum
Skylum is currently offering Luminar 4.2 and Aurora HDR as a bundle for $ 149, a $ 39 savings over the usual price. In order to see the deal, visit the Aurora HDR product page, click ‘Buy Now’ and scroll down to see the bundle with Luminar 4.
Classes, courses and webinars
Professional Photographers of America
As we covered earlier this week, Professional Photographers of America is currently offering its library of more than 1,100 courses for free. Usually these classes are limited to paying PPA members, but to help photographers and creatives affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, PPA has temporarily opened them up for all.
Advanced Aerial Photography with Vic Moss
In a webinar scheduled for this Thursday, March 26th, at 4:00 PM MST (6:00 PM EST), Drone U’s Vic Moss shares important lessons learned through his 30-plus years of experience as a photographer and 6-plus years operating drones.
‘Drone U has decided to offer some free courses and webinars during this time to give people an outlet. Many of us are cooped up and still need a creative outlet. Now is a good time to hone our skillsets, so Drone U thought we’d do this. We’re all in this together, so let’s get through it together,’ Moss tells DPReview.
Here are a few concepts that will be covered:
The exposure triangle and how the three parts work together (ISO, f-stop, shutter speed)
Megapixel vs. resolution: how are they different? Or are they?
The basics of composition
How to use the histogram to enhance your images
HDR and some basic editing concepts
While the webinar will be available for replay after it’s recorded, the live session offers attendees the opportunity to ask questions. Register here.
Introduction to Aerial Videography: Creative Direction for Drone Filming
This course is offered for free through Skillshare. All you need to do is create a free account to access a 2-month trial that can be canceled (it would be wise to set a reminder if you’re not interested in becoming a full-time member). Drew Roberts and Nathan Labruzza of Los Angeles-based Wild Rabbit Aerials, have created footage for major car companies including GMC, Ford, and Toyota, a Super Bowl ad for SodaStream, and footage for numerous feature film productions.
The duo walks through the basics of aerial cinematography including how to get started from the ground up. They share some hard-learned lessons from their years of experience, how they conduct the simplest to most complex shoots and run through the post-production process. Register for this course through a free Skillshare account here.
Various Beginner + Intermediate Photography Courses
Brit + Co, a lifestyle and DIY-based site, is offering all of their courses, which usually range from $ 27 – $ 107 each, for free through March 31st. Simply use the all-caps promo code ‘SELFCARE’ without the quotes at checkout. Click on ‘Have a Coupon?’ and you’ll automatically be registered without having to use your credit card or PayPal account.
Relevant courses include ‘How to Become a Wedding Photographer,’Phone Photography: Capturing Your Travels,’Family Photography: Capturing Your Little Ones, and their ‘Wanderlust Photography Bundle’ which gives an introduction to travel photography and walks you through using photo editing apps. ‘Some of us can’t work and are catching a serious case of cabin fever. All of us want to stay inspired, creative, and take care of ourselves,’ reads the official blog post introducing the initiative.
Adobe Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Photoshop, and After Effects Tutorials
YouTube hosts millions of free tutorials from creators around the globe. As with any major platform that goes largely unmoderated, save for removing objectionable content, the quality of information offered can vary. Justin Odisho has consistently created high-caliber content around showing creatives how to use Adobe products.
Adobe Premiere Pro is inarguably an industry standard when it comes to video editing software. In a series of 187 videos, Odisho walks you through everything from color correction to creating effects. Lightroom, Photoshop, and After Effects users will also find a wealth of information to master their respective crafts.
Kelby One
Scott Kelby’s Kelby One program is also offering free weekly webinars and memberships to some of its most popular classes. In a notification on the Kelby One website, it reads ‘We hope these resources help during this trying time as you work from home or self-quarantine for safety.’
The post Great Photography Ideas for When You Are Stuck Indoors appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.
In Australia right now, it’s bushfire season. And this year, it has been a particularly bad one. That means that for a significant part of the Summer so far, I’ve been stuck indoors trying to avoid noxious bush fire smoke. To top it off, now we have the Coronavirus to contend with. Usually, the majority of my photography is based outside. But to keep myself sane, I’ve been busying myself with photography projects around the house. Here are some tried-and-tested photography ideas for when you are stuck indoors.
f/7.1 1/40 ISO 500
Photograph the ordinary
When you’re stuck indoors, it can seem like the subject matter is limited. However, under the eye of the camera, ordinary objects can become extraordinary.
As photographers, we are trained to seek out unusual and distinctive subject matter, so day-to-day objects can fall by the wayside. But responding to the subjects in your immediate environment can offer a new creative perspective, expanding your photographic repertoire.
f/4.0 1/100 ISO 320 | f/4.0 1/100 ISO 1000 | f/4.0 1/40 ISO 1000
Try blurred or unfocused photography
Photographers generally strive to achieve sharply focused images. But if you’re stuck indoors, shifting your technique a little can be a refreshing change. Blurry or deliberately out-of-focus photography can render unexpectedly beautiful results.
During a longer exposure, try physically moving your camera around to cultivate streaks of light. Or, instead of focusing on achieving pin-sharp photographs, switch your camera to manual focus and embrace an intriguing blurry aesthetic.
f/1.8 1/40 ISO 320
Adopt abstraction
Abstract photography is a field of photography that doesn’t rely on objective subject matter. Instead, abstract photographers aim to convey ideas by focusing on the emotive experience of image-making and viewing.
There are plenty of subjects found indoors that you can use to generate abstract images. Try isolating subject matter with macro photography, or focusing in on interesting textured surfaces.
f/2.2 1/100 ISO 100
Pretty polarization
In terms of photography ideas for when you are stuck indoors, this has to be one of my favorites. This little project involves photographing the stress-points of plastic objects.
While it might not sound particularly exciting, taking photographs of polarized plastic reveals colorful, otherworldly visual attributes in materials that are often taken for granted.
With a polarizing filter, a computer screen and a selection of plastic objects, you can investigate the materials around you in a whole new light. Have a look at the full guide here.
Get into physiograms
Another great photography idea for when you are stuck indoors is physiography. Physiography involves recording the movements of a swinging light suspended over a camera during a long exposure. Because the light source needs to be suspended from a sturdy roof or beam and the project needs to be performed in the dark, physiograms are a great photography idea for when you are stuck indoors.
Check out the how-to here.
f/4.0 57 seconds ISO 100
Switch it up
This photography idea for when you are stuck indoors is a simple one – change it up a bit!
Photography at home can impact your practice in every environment. So, if you are inclined to photograph in color, why not take advantage of your time indoors and practice black and white photography instead?
If you shoot in aperture priority, try switching to shutter priority.
If you are used to shooting landscapes, try focusing on details around the house. Have a go with a lesser-used lens, or even have a go at improving your camera-phone skills.
Study time
Whether it’s online, in a book or a magazine or on a podcast, there is a wealth of information about photography available. Reading up on photography is a great photography idea for when you are stuck indoors. Study new techniques, brush up on your photographic history, revisit camera theory…the options are endless.
Grab a book or kindle etc, settle in and get some knowledge.
Re-visit old photos
If (like me) you have a steadily growing stockpile of digital images that need a little TLC, you’re in luck. Being stuck indoors is a great time to revisit those old files hidden in the depths of your hard drive.
If you aren’t in the mood for photography around the house, editing old photos is a great alternative. Plus, you may find some gems that somehow went under the radar!
f/4.0 1/100 ISO 320
Conclusion
Being stuck indoors may seem like a real pain…until you realize the wealth of photographic opportunities around you! Whether it be experimenting with abstraction, polarization, or physiograms, or taking some time-out to study or re-visit old photos, there are plenty of photography ideas for when you are stuck indoors.
The hard bit is choosing which one to try first!
The post Great Photography Ideas for When You Are Stuck Indoors appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.
Do you remember that game called Stuck in the Mud we used to play as kids? It goes something like this; one kid is elected to be “it” and runs around to tag as many people as possible. When tagged, the other players have to freeze and stand with legs and arms apart, as if they were stuck in some glutinous mud. The only way to get free of the mud is when a non-tagged comrade climbs through the legs of the trapped players. It goes on until everybody inevitably gets stuck in the mud.
I was thinking about this game rather nostalgically over the course of this project.
Um… What has mud got to do with photography?
Actually, a fair bit sometimes. Fortunately, this project doesn’t involve wading in sticky mud (unless you want to). This project is about parking your feet for a few minutes to have a good look around – as if you were stuck in the mud yourself.
Even when going for a dedicated photography walk, you are bound to miss the subtle details of a landscape. You can’t help it. The brain prioritizes images that portend to the mission at hand – surviving. Physical activity, self-preservation – it’s all the ingredients a brain focuses on to sustain its host. That’s why the best way to draw more detail out of a location is to slow down.
We know this because often when we see a potential photograph, we stop in our tracks to take the shot. So rather than halting for a brief second, the idea of this project is to and make a little extra time to investigate an environment. The shapes, colors, people, graffiti, or details in a window sill. There are countless moments that are ready for the taking, they just have to be caught.
How to play stuck in the mud with a camera
It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? The thought of my camera even coming near mud makes me sweat. But playing photographic stuck in the mud is easy.
The first step is to grab your camera and head out the door. Wander around, find a place to take a few shots and hold your position. Keep in mind that your spot doesn’t have to appear instantly enticing. In fact, choosing a boring location would be a quicker way to train yourself onto detail. Plant your feet on the ground and have a good look around. I would recommend holding your position for a good one to two minutes at first. You’ll notice the time tends to go faster each try. In order to concentrate, set an alarm on your phone and get shooting!
Rules of the game
Apart from taking a few minutes to study the spot you’ve chosen, there aren’t any hard and fast rules to the stuck in the mud project. To advance, add a higher photo count or hang out in one spot for a longer period of time.
Want to stop every 100 steps? Do you want to be able to swivel around in a circle? Want to halt at particular points on a map? It’s totally up to you. You could even go out with a friend and compare shots from the same spot after! But I do recommend staying in the one spot for at least a minute or so – to truly get into that state of mindfulness and awareness. Sometimes it can be hard to get into that creative flow, so slowing down your process can help activate what I like to call “The Photography Zone”.
Also, it’s probably obvious, but don’t stop in the way of others or get yourself in a dangerous situation. This isn’t Pokemon Go, okay?
This is an example of a street corner I parked my feet on the other day. I was waiting for a friend and decided to take advantage of the surrounds. It doesn’t look like much, right? A fresh construction zone impeded by scaffolding. But, embracing the challenge I honed in on some of details that really make up the urban landscape.
This dark blue scaffold retains a sharp contrast in the midday sun.
A vibrant red scaffolding hanging just close enough to get a detailed shot.
You never know what you are gonna find! A cute little button.
And of course, don’t forget the selfie!
Pleasant Surprises
This short collection below surprised me a little because I’ve walked the route many so times before. But that’s what is so great about this project. It slows down your photographic practice, making room for unusual subjects to peek through.
The black and white conversion was a no-brainer to match tones in this image
I’ll often use these manholes to mark where I’ll stand next. This time, I decided to photograph one instead. I really enjoy the light filling out the overall image.
This tarp has been under construction for weeks but it took me a concerted effort to stop and explore the panorama of the city to capture this picture.
Sometimes the stuck in the mud project yields a cohesive series in itself. This image is the remains of Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station in Australia. But instead of walking around to hunt out the obvious subject matter, I took a few minutes to plant my feet and take a good look at the detail around me.
It’s the act of staying put in the one space that allowed me to capture a different perspective of the old station.
The site of the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station. Before I set off to scurry around for subjects I deliberately took a minute or two to survey the details of the overall environment.
The results of a few minutes stuck in the mud. The detail of the ground around me lit up like an abstract artist’s canvas.
The variation from one tile to the next is a striking contrast. Perfect for focusing on the historical site in a different light.
Over to you
I would love to see the results of your stuck in the mud sessions. By taking a few moments to truly check out a landscape, odd little moments become clearer. You’ll almost definitely leave your spot thinking, “Wow, I never noticed that before!” So have a go! and share your images in the comments below.
The post Playing Stuck in the Mud – A Creative Exercise for Photography by Megan Kennedy appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Lately, I have been feeling very burned out and unmotivated with my photography. Several months ago I was preparing for a summer away from my business. My days were spent photographing editorials, working on client images and writing photography articles to prepare for a three-month sabbatical. I was working non-stop for several weeks as well as managing other aspects of my life. All that hustle to be prepared seemed to have gotten the best of me. I was feeling completely unmotivated and stuck, almost to a point of being irritated to pick up my camera and take a few shots.
I knew this was a phase, and that I just needed to ride it out. But at the same time, I was trying to understand how to effectively manage this so that my craft and my business wouldn’t suffer too much.
This was the scenery outside my bedroom window. I was so out of it that I did not even bother cleaning the window of raindrops before I took this shot (smudges seen in the bottom left of the frame) – I took the shot because I had to not because I wanted to!
As I write this article, I have spent the past 10 days living in a mountain village with incredible views of the Nanda Ghunti mountain range of the Himalayans right outside my bedroom window. My days are spent completely cut-off from most of the outside world, having copious amounts of tea, belly laughs with family, and intimate conversations by the fireplace listening to the frogs and beetles chirping all night long. I have probably lost many followers on social media, and I have several hundred unanswered emails. But I have come to the realization that time away from the outside world is just the thing I needed to recharge and get back my mojo!
So if you are like me and feeling a little deflated with your art, here are a few tips to help you overcome that lull and get back into it with renewed passion.
#1 – Permission to take a step back
Let me tell you something – burn out is very real and happens to everyone at some point in their lives, no matter what field of work you are in. For people in the creative arts, burn out tends to happen faster and more often because as a creative, all your senses are heightened and you are aware of everything around you 24/7. For photographers, burn out manifests either as a lack of interest in picking up the camera or disliking everything you create. If this sounds like you, acknowledge it and please give yourself permission to walk away from it all – even if it’s just for a day. If you can afford to take a longer break then do so.
#2 – Capture heartfelt stories and frames
As photographers, we have an incredible opportunity to document life stories – whether it is of people or for landscapes. The wrinkles and toothless smile of an elder speak volumes about his life’s journey. Don’t just take the shot and walk away. Spend a few minutes and listen with both your heart and your head. Then when you do take the shot, it will become so much more meaningful and special – even if it is just for you and your subject.
On the left – A young village girl gave me the sweetest of smiles when I handed her an extra piece of candy that I had purchased for my kids. She pointed to my camera and asked me to take her picture and was giggling with laughter when I showed her the back of the camera! On the right – the local temple priest was going to town and as we were waiting for a ride together he started chatting with us. Everything about him calmed me down and gave me a sense of peace!
These three generation of women were chatting up a storm as I passed them by during a photo walk. When they saw a camera in my hand, they called me back to come take their picture! – I happily obliged and was offered a hot cup of chai in exchange – Before I walked away, I had made a new set of friends!!
#3 – Take a wabi-sabi approach to your images
A wabi-sabi method requires a slower, quieter approach to life. The concept is very similar to Japanese Zen gardens that promote tranquility and calmness. Slow down and quiet your mind. Stop chasing that next award winning frame for just a few minutes and open your eyes to all that is around you. Stop – Look – Feel and then click. This will make each frame more meaningful and help you convey the story better once you yourself understand what is unfolding around you.
The fog was so thick that it covered the whole valley and only the tops of some of the trees were visible – this scene was so soothing and almost like a painting. It was the perfect zen for my troubled mind!
#4 – Rule of Thirds and negative space
Try and step away from rules and conformity. Resist the urge to put everything in the dead center of the frame. Instead embrace negative space, the rule of thirds and/or focus on singular elements in your frame. Not only will you create work that is different from the rest but you’ll also learn to approach life in a very different way – more relaxed and free flowing as opposed to stressful and rigid.
#5 – Free-range photography
The best thing I can do for myself based on my personality is to practice free-range photography. For me, this means breaking free from my norm (leaving the status-quo and photographing something completely out of character). Not only does this clear your mind of preconceived photography habits and notions but also gives you a fresh perspective in the art of photography.
Do not approach this exercise with the idea of perfecting it and getting award winning shots. Instead, approach it with the idea of doing something different, making mistakes, and yet having fun with it.
I am fascinated with the old doors, windows, and archways found in India. To me, their textures, colors and characteristics speak volumes about their history.
Conclusion
So if you are feeling stuck and burned out in your photography, know that it is absolutely normal and expected. Don’t fight that feeling. Instead, accept it and embrace it with open arms. Once you accept it, you will figure out a way to work around it and create a meaningful body of work because you have given yourself permission to recharge, renew and get reenergized with your craft.
The post How to Find Your Photographic Zen – Tips to Recharge When You’re Feeling Stuck by Karthika Gupta appeared first on Digital Photography School.
What do you do when your cheap lens filter is so badly stuck on your very expensive Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM lens, that even a specially-designed filter wrench won’t get it off? If you are former MythBuster Adam Savage, you take that puppy to your band saw and scare the crap out of the lens owner.
That’s what he did for one of the latest videos on the Tested YouTube channel, when fellow host Norman Chan got yet another filter stuck (the second one in 6 months) on his $ 1,800 lens.
The footage is a bit terrifying for gear lovers, but have no fear: no lenses were hurt in the making of this video. What Savage does is cut two small notches into the rim of the lens filter, one on either side. Then, after expanding those notches with a file, he slots in a solid metal ruler and uses it to torque the filter clean off.
The moment of truth…
Watch the video up top to see the whole cringe-worthy process for yourself, and then send this video to the biggest Canon gear head on your mailing list. Nothing like a mild heart attack to really get you over that Wednesday hump…
Artists are funny creatures and many of us struggle with creativity. Working out what we want to do, how to stand apart from others. What is really needed is to find your muse, or in other words, finding inspiration.
It is a rare artist that doesn’t need inspiration to work. For the rest of us, we need help and we need to find what will inspire us to create our work.
One of my very first responses to the environment, the idea of cities becoming unlivable and animals taking them over.
1 – Movies and television
Movies are just moving images and they can provide a lot of inspiration. Think about the locations where they are shot. You can find new places in the world to take photos. Through films like Lord of the Rings, I have decided that I want to travel to other places and see them.
Look at the way they are filmed and processed. The angles they use can give you great ideas, but sometimes the processing is even better. Pay attention to what they do in the films and how color is used, and what special effects are done.
The Matrix has been a great inspiration to me and how they used color in the films. When they are in the Matrix it is different than when they are out of it. You can see that there is a lot of yellow in the highlights, while they have put blue and green into the shadows. In the other parts, there is almost no color at all. With a film like this, you don’t have to like the story to find inspiration, it is about the special effects. See what you can learn, and use in your own work.
Television shows can be just as inspirational and often it will be the least likely place that helps you. Recently I was watching, don’t judge me, Project Runway. My mind was racing after watching several series. The way they had to come up with a concept, work out how to do it, design and construct it, then finally present it. It was amazing, and throughout watching it, I started thinking about my own work. For the first time in ages, I find myself feeling incredibly inspired to do new work.
Dark lanes, creepy shadows, almost no color, were all inspiration from movies that have shown up in my photography.
2 – Fine Art
Painters from the past really were early image manipulators and we can learn a lot from looking at what they did. Look at the colors in their paintings and how they used them to emphasise what they saw in the scene. Find out what methods they used to add drama to their images, along with the lighting.
It doesn’t have to be just painters from the past, you can also look at modern ones as well. But also look at what other artists are doing, printmakers, drawers, and sculptors. They are potentially good sources of inspiration. It may not be specifically the work they are doing, but their motivations for doing what they do. If you find out why they work it may give you clarification for your own.
It is so important to find artists whose work you love and read about them. Make it your mission to find out where they get inspiration, why they do what they do. You don’t want to copy them, but you can get something from them. Often if there is an artist that I love I will look at their work, decide what aspect of it I like, then go away and start my own.
Painter Edward Hopper has been a big influence on my work. I think what he paints is incredible and while my work is nothing like his, what I get from his work is the sense of drama. It is like he is creating scenes everywhere. He puts people in his paintings, which I never do, but I do like to imitate that sense of drama.
Like movies, paintings can control the light and create moody images.
3 – World Events and History
There is a wealth of information available on what has happened in the past and is occurring now. Watching what is happening in the present can give you a lot of inspiration. You will find many artists who have used politics and world events to get ideas for expressing themselves. It is often their way of responding to what is going on around them. They will use their art to lend their voice to what is happening.
There are many artists that do this and one that I thought of first was an Australian artist, George Gittoes. His work is really raw and quite confronting, but he has created it in response to what he had seen in many war torn countries. That may not be what you are interested in doing, but he is inspirational in that he isn’t afraid to show the devastation that has happened in the places he has visited.
This website showcases The 50 Most Political Art Pieces of the Past 15 Years.
II created this image was in response to the world changing and how they want to put a freeway through this area.
4 – What happens in your day to day and memories
It can sound a little weird, but what you do every day can be very important in finding your muse. The trick is to be observant. Look to see what you can observe and what you could use in your work. It could be the area you live in, the architecture, you just never know until you look around.
I was going over a bridge once and one of the people I was with looked at me and said, “You’re trying to work out how to photograph that aren’t you?” She was right, that is exactly what I was thinking about. For me Melbourne is most definitely my muse. It is the base, my blank canvas for everything I want to do.
The bridge where I was trying to work out how to do a shot in my head. This is what I ended up creating.
5 – Environment
The environment can be more than just what you see around you. As many in the world become more concerned with what is happening environmentally, it can be political, but it doesn’t always have to be. You can help highlight what is happening in various places by photographing them.
You see a lot of photographers that photograph abandoned places. The images can show you how much a place deteriorates once no one is using them, or they can be a reflection on our society and how everything is changing.
The environment and the impact of coal on it is a big reason to photograph power stations. They look amazing, but they are destroying the world we live in.
6 – Social Media and Instagram
There are so many platforms for social media and they are all flooded with images. One in particular that shows a lot is Instagram. You can find images there that cover so many topics. You can pick the ones you are interested in and follow them. They will give you ideas and fill your head with inspiring images. There are many other sites that will do that, but being able to just flick or scroll through them quickly on Instagram is amazing.
You can look for images that have certain appeal by searching certain hashtags. For example, you could look for #moody, #environment, or even #inspiration.
I find it really inspiring, perhaps not for my fine art work, but as a location finder it can be brilliant. I’ve discovered a lot of places in Melbourne while scrolling through hashtags in Instagram.
A few months back someone had an amazing shot of Flinders Street Station at sunset, and I was inspired to see if I could do something similar. Mine isn’t the same, but I still got something interesting.
7 – Peers
There is nothing more satisfying than having a group of like-minded peers that you can talk to and go out and take photos with. Having people in your circle who have the same passion and understand what you are trying to achieve is really important. People think that artists have to work on their own, and perhaps for the most part they do, but peers are essential.
When I was studying I was surrounded by people that I could discuss ideas with and get inspiration. When I left school it was hard to get that same interaction and is something that I have really missed. Slowly over the years, I’ve found new people to hang out with. We go out and take photos together, discuss our plans and ideas, and help one another.
Another aspect of hanging out with peers is watching how they create their own work and what drives them. While you shouldn’t copy them (if you do you may find you are no longer one of their peers) you can watch and learn. See if there is anything they do that could help you with your own work.
I went to Craig’s Hut with a friend and we both got a very similar shot. I saw her processed image and it inspired me to do mine. In the end mine looked completely different, but that’s okay.
In the end
These are all tips that have helped me to get to where I am in my art practice. There is no reason why they can’t help you as well. Opening yourself up to finding inspiration around you can help you create some amazing images.
Where do you find your inspiration? Has something inspired you so much that you went on to do some amazing work? Please share with us what your inspirations are, from this list or from your own.
The post 7 Tips for Finding Inspiration When You’re Stuck by Leanne Cole appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Let’s face it, we’ve all been here before. We start off being in love with photography. We live and breath everything related to it, we take pictures of everything and anything, we obsess over the latest gear and gadgets until we almost alienate everyone around us. Who wants to get up at ungodly hours in the morning just to catch the most beautiful sunrise? But soon enough, the enthusiasm starts to slacken and you feel like you are taking the same photos over and over again. The good and the bad news is that photography is one of these art forms that is constantly evolving. Every day there is some new technique, new gear or even new post-processing style that seems to be quite the rage. So there are some simple and easy ways to stay inspired with your photography.
Draw up a plan for your success
Like any other professional industry, documenting your photography goals is also a great idea. Often just voicing and acknowledging what is in your head is the first step towards achieving success. If you are just starting out, maybe limit yourself to a couple of reasonable goals and while you are at it, also document some tasks that will help you achieve your goals.
Maybe it is getting comfortable in shooting in Manual mode, or maybe it is being comfortable using off-camera flash. No matter what the goal, it is easier to achieve when you have a solid actionable plan to help you get there. Take this even a step further by actually writing and planning the execution steps needed to achieve that goal. If you want to learn how to shoot in manual, check out the other resources here on dPS, like Getting off Auto – Manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes explained. Schedule time every week to shoot for an hour or so in manual mode. Ask a photographer friend to help you learn the ropes. There are many ways to execute on your photography goals.
Work on personal projects
While it is great to be busy and earn a living doing what you love, it can also start to drain the creative spirit. Give yourself permission to take on a few passion projects, otherwise known as personal projects. These personal projects are a way for you to fall back in love with photography without any pressures or expectations. They can be projects that last for years or they can be projects that get completed within a month. Not matter what you choose, choose a topic that is near and dear to your heart and give it your best shot (pun absolutely intended here!). Read: 12 Creative Photography Project Ideas to Get you Motivated
Here I am representing everyday elements in black and white, almost like I am reliving the good old days of black and white film photography. This is just a personal exercise in looking for monochromatic patterns and frames that will work well without any color.
To me, black and white for these blades of wheat brings out more texture than in the actual color image.
A simple place setting looks more regal in B&W
Go shoot without an agenda
Pick up your camera – whether it’s a DSLR, film camera or even your cell phone, and photograph something – anything. Don’t put much thought or plan towards the outcome. Sometimes it’s just the act of pressing the shutter without thinking of the end result that can provide the right amount of stress release. You can either look at the images or choose to delete your work. The whole point of this is just to enjoy the act of photography without expectations or stressing about creating the perfect frame.
Take up another form of creative outlet
Creativity does not always mean artistic. Sometimes being creative has nothing to do with art but everything to do with creating with your own hands. Creativity can be found in cooking a meal from scratch, exercising a new fitness routine, knitting or sewing, gardening, writing in a journal, or even just going for a walk outside and studying leaf patterns (what can I say, I live in Chicago where it is cold for more than six months of the year!!).
Let any or all of these activities flow without structure or planning. They are simply a means to release all that creative energy building up inside of you. Be kind to yourself and just give yourself some leeway to take a break from photography.
Create a self-challenge and work towards that
Especially at the beginning of the year a lot of folks opt for creative challenges like a 365 project where you take one photo every day, or a 52 week where you document each week of the year with a series of images. There are other flavors of this like shooting a single color for a week, photographing your daily meals, etc. Whatever is your self-challenge, document it and work on it. Perhaps even join or start a group online where others can participate with you. That can motivate you even further to keep the inspiration alive.
My personal project is to become proficient in old school film photography. To me, this is a great way to learn the basics of photography yet again. Plus there is something about the quality of film scans – they just have so much more depth and character to them.
Using an old 30+-year-old film camera to capture some landscapes and animals.
Conclusion
I hope this article has inspired you to not give up if you are feeling uninspired or dejected with your photography. With a few simple exercises and a conscious effort to change your mindset, you can come back more inspired and hopefully more motivated to explore all these wonderful facets of this art form that has so many ardent fans all over the world!
What are some things you have found successful when you are in a photography rut? Feel free to share those in the comments below to help other readers as well.
As a photographer you must have flip-flopped back and forth between prime and zoom lenses. “Should I choose a prime today, or a zoom for its advantages?” If you have not done this for a purchase, you must at least have read the numerous articles which weigh the pros and cons of each. But what about when you are stuck with a lens that is not ideal for an event? For the sake of discussion and for this learning opportunity, let’s choose the 50mm prime lens, which is one of the most popular and affordable primes, and is made for every camera body known to man.
If something comes up that is unexpected, that’s a good thing! Not ideal if you don’t have a long enough zoom or wide enough lens, BUT it could be worse. What if you didn’t even have your camera at all? So stay upbeat and realize with some ingenuity you can overcome the confines of being stuck with a prime lens.
As a personal note:This tutorial was inspired by a real event in Guatemala. I had chosen my 50mm for a walk-around lens as it is light, and I wasn’t expecting much as I went out to get a cup of coffee. Well, with a caffeine buzz I climbed a hill, and at the top an ancient Mayan ritual of sacrifice was being conducted for the dead. Maintaining cultural sensitivity I knew that it would be totally inappropriate to get my lens in their face. It was pertinent to maintain my distance for respect.
1. Use shallow depth of field
Prime lenses are known for being sharp, especially when you close down your f-stop. Yet when you are confined, or have limitations about how close you can get, or how agressive you can come across as a photographer, using your lens creatively is important. Thus, you may sacrifice some sharpness, add a little chromatic aberration (CA), etc., but you will also get a different style of shot from a lens that inherently has focal length limitations. Go for bokeh.
2. Panorama for wider angles
Use panorama techniques to combine images later in post-processing. If you can’t get a wide angle view, make one. Yes the feeling of the final composition will not be exactly the same as a true wide angle, as your foreground and background compression will be greater, but you will be able to give a cinematic effect. Combining images is an easy way to encompass more into your scene when you are limited by your focal length.
These two images were combined to show the whole event of the shaman and the fire along with the family members.
3. Shoot with the intention of cropping
Be conscious that cropping is available to you in post-processing. Don’t worry if a hand creeps into your frame, or there is a plastic bottle in the corner. If you consciously shoot for a crop to be performed later you can zoom-in on something specific. This again gives you flexibility and diversity. If you combine this with a shallow depth of field (suggestion number one) you will find that you can achieve a telephoto effect.
This image was shot for a crop, so cutting off the top of the head is not a problem if you know you will crop in closer in post-processing.
4. B-roll footage
Get photos of activities, reactions, or environmental surroundings which will add to the narrative of the event. If you can’t get any closer, and you have pushed your boundaries of being discreet, then look up, down, and turn around. In film (movies), these are generally called B-roll shots, which helps to transition from one camera angle to another, while also telling the story.
The smoke rising up, into the sun, amongst the trees, gives a feeling of the environment around the ceremony.
5. Frame your subject with something in the foreground
Use a leaf, a stone or even another person to cut into the frame, which will both highlight your subject, by leading your eye to what you want the viewer to look at, and it will also create layers in the photograph. Layers add a sense of style and depth to your photography. Trying to use different techniques to create different perspective styles will really improve the overall quality of the group of photos you finally decide to keep.
The gravestone, then the grandmother, and finally the fire give layers to the photograph.
6. Use both horizontal and vertical photographs
Again this is about creating diversity in a final product. So turn the camera sideways and you definitely have a different style going for you. Some people get stuck in horizontal mode, or in vertical mode. This is a great opportunity to make a change of pace. When your eye sees a photo it follows a pattern, generally starting in the top left corner then moving, left to right (just as you read) looking for areas of light, contrast, lines, color and patterns. A vertical photo will automatically create a different reading experience to the photo. Or why not crop them into a square even?
A simple vertical photo changes the pattern during your final composition. Think both horizontally and vertically.
7. Just enjoy the event
See the event not only through your camera, but also with your own eyes. Experience the event, and it will not only give you great memories, but will allow you to feel the mood as well. Understanding the event will give you insight into what out-of-the-box shot may really highlight the event.
Summary
The general idea is to work with what you have, don’t lament what you left at home. If you do, you might just start lugging around simply too much gear to enjoy yourself. Think of how to diversify your perspectives. By confining yourself (in this instance, when confines are placed upon you) there is great opportunity to use your most advantageous feature… your creative brain!
For most people, photography is a hobby turned passion, and enjoying photography should really be priority one. Photography is always a game of tradeoffs, which can be simply exemplified by the basic lesson of the exposure triangle. By gaining one thing you lose another. So begin gaining something even when you are stuck with just a prime lens.
Maybe we could say, you are challenged to be better at what you love!
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