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Posts Tagged ‘Photographer’

I made a book of pictures of my cat, and I think it’s going to make me a better photographer

29 Jul

Hear me out.

Many years ago I made a Blurb photo book that was beautiful, but required hours and hours of my time to get it all just right. It was an enjoyable process really, but I just don’t find I have that kind of time or patience anymore. But I love a nice photo book – what better way to get photos off your phone or hard drive and make them into something tangible?

Whatever your level of interest and
time commitment, there’s a photo book
service for you

In the years since I made my first book, options for would-be photo book makers have exploded. They range from time-intensive to almost totally automated. Whatever your level of interest and time commitment, there’s a photo book service for you.

The other part of this story is that I’ve been struggling with finding inspiration for my personal photography lately. It’s hard to find a reason to bring a dedicated camera when I know I can get usable snapshots with my phone. Above all, I don’t end up doing anything with the photos I do take. I post the stray photo to Instagram or Facebook, but that’s as far as they go.

But recently, I downloaded Mosaic, an app from Mixbook that creates incredibly simple photo books out of 20 of your photos – no more, no less. You pick the photos from your camera roll, Facebook or Instagram account, put them in an order you like – and that’s about it.

The photos are arranged into a mosaic (see what they did there) for your front cover, which you can ‘shuffle’ to re-organize, but you can’t manually select how the images are arranged. Text can be added to the first page, but none on the following pages.

In trying it out I dove into my camera roll and looked for a story I could tell in 20 photos and by pure coincidence, I happened to have a large number of photos of my cat. I saw a theme emerge and began filling the pages of my book with pictures of him sleeping.

I know, I know. But you wouldn’t believe this cat. He sleeps in the strangest positions, and the photos fell into a neat symmetry as I placed them on opposing pages: two photos of him curled into a donut shape in his bed, two photos of him sprawled on the floor next to his bed, for some God damn reason. The book materialized in front of my eyes, and the temptation of the ‘order now’ button became too great.

See what I mean? He’s ridiculous.

Cats are bona-fide jerks but I’m in the part of the population that finds them irresistible against better judgement. And I know this sounds ridiculous, but my cat really does have a funny personality. One day he’ll be gone, not roaming around my apartment screaming for treats and attention, and I’ll have this silly little book to remember him by.

Mosaic is definitely not designed for professional photographers. For one, it only exists in app form, so it lends itself best to photos taken with your phone. You can source them from your Dropbox or a social media account, but the app certainly lacks the customization features a pro would want.

Creating a book is dead simple, and without the option to add text or captions, all emphasis is on the images and the story they tell

So Mosaic isn’t really intended for ‘serious photography,’ but to me there’s beauty in its limitations. Creating a book is dead simple, and without the option to add text or captions, all emphasis is on the images and the story they tell.

By making this book I may have unlocked a new cat lady achievement, but it also made me think about other stories I could tell in 20 photos. Open-ended photo projects feel too overwhelming to me, but the thought of assembling just 20 photos on a theme and having an easy, yet polished output mechanism for them is very appealing. Suddenly, I’m reconsidering the projects that seemed too onerous to take on. Documenting a trip or a social outing seems doable with a purpose, vision and boundaries for the final product.

Maybe this experience will help nudge me forward on a path I’m currently stalled on

Realistically, I’m not going to be making huge number of $ 25 photo books (plus an extra $ 5 for shipping). But maybe this experience will help nudge me forward on a path I’m currently stalled on. And isn’t that what it’s all about? At the very least, I’ve got one very fancy book of cat photos.

Also read: Ten ways to shake ‘photographer’s block’ for good

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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31 Days to Becoming a Better Photographer

27 Jul

Do you want to level up your photography with a powerful burst of learning?

If your answer is yes – you’ll absolutely LOVE our brand new course – “31 Days to Becoming a Better Photographer” which we guarantee will improve your photography.

31 days become a better photographer

It only launched today with a massive 75% early bird special – but be quick, the discount ends and enrolments close in less than 3 weeks.

31 Days to Becoming a Better Photography has been specifically created for anyone who’s ever dreamed of taking amazing photos – but who is not sure where to start.

Great Teaching, Practical Exercises and Mentoring

The great thing about this course is that it’s incredibly practical. You’ll learn a lot but you’ll also be actively applying what you learn. Here’s how it works.

  1. 31 Easy to Understand Lessons – The course is broken down into 31 easy to understand lessons – designed to give you more knowledge of how your camera works and how to get more control over it.
  2. 31 Practical Exercises – Each lesson comes with a practical exercise – designed to help you apply that knowledge.
  3. Mentoring from a Pro Photographer – All early bird participants also get access to a secret Facebook group where course creator – Jim Hamel – will give group mentoring, offer extra support, answer questions and where you can share some of the results you’re getting.

Access to a professional like Jim would normally cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but when you purchase this course, you not only get over 7 hours of great teaching, 31 exercises to try, you get to ask Jim questions, follow along with assignments, and become part of a group of other like minded photographers.

This course is designed to be taken over 31 days but you get immediate lifetime access to it so you can take it at your own pace – whipping through it faster or taking it slower if you like.

Here’s a taste for the course – straight from the mouth of course creator Jim Hamel:

Enrolments End Soon

But hurry – because of the mentoring component of this course spaces are limited and will only be open for enrolments for a short time and the massive 75% off is only for a short time too!

Check out all of the course modules and enrol here.

P.S. As always, we offer a 60 Day Guarantee, so if you find the course isn’t for you, we’ll be more than happy to refund you – no questions asked.

The post 31 Days to Becoming a Better Photographer by Darren Rowse appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Learning to ‘see’ light, tips from a National Geographic photographer

24 Jul

National Geographic photographer Bob Holmes takes stunning photos all over the world. But when you ask him how he captures these images, he won’t tell you about his favorite lens or any specific technique he uses. He’ll talk to you about what he sees. He’ll talk to you about light.

That was the subject of a recent conversation he had with Marc Silber of Advancing Your Photography: light. “Most people ‘look’ and don’t really ‘see.’ You’ve got to learn to see,” says Holmes. “We all look, everybody looks, but you’ve got to go beyond that and analyze what you’ve seen… to start with anyway.”

Once you acquire this ability to ‘see,’ explains Holmes, photography becomes about reacting to and capturing what’s in front of you—the camera is no longer ‘in the way.’

The duo goes on to talk about learning about light from iconic painters, and why it’s important to find work that speaks to you and try to unpack why exactly the lighting, composition, subject etc. evokes a certain emotion. The whole conversation, about 10 minutes long, is well worth your time and packed full of little gems. Check it out up top and let us know what you think in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer duo reinvents Emil Busch’s 1910 Glaukar portrait lens on Kickstarter

20 Jul
A pair of photographers from Germany are trying to bring the Emil Busch Glaukar 3.1 portrait lens from 1910 back to life.

A portrait lens from 1910 might be coming back to life if two photographers from Germany succeed in a new Kickstarter project—the latest development in the craze to remake vintage optics.

The Glaukar 3.1 was originally made in Rathenow, Germany by Emil Busch AG for plate camera users, and was considered in its day well corrected for astigmatism, as well as fast with its f/3.1 aperture. The reinvented lens will share the original’s maximum aperture and three-element symmetrical construction, but will use different glass and lens designs to bring it into line with modern technology, while attempting to retain the characteristics of its ancestor.

Photographers Benedikt Ernst and Firat Bagdu say they have tried to maintain the same angle of view that the Glauker would have delivered on a 13x18cm plate camera so the new version—which is aimed at full frame, APS-C and MFTs users—will have a focal length of 97mm. It will feature a 12-bladed iris, will use glass from the Schott and O’Hara factories, and will be made mostly in Wetzlar, according to the pair.

Here is a set of sample photos captured with a prototype of the lens:

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The start-up has connections with Meyer Optik Gorlitz, a company that similarly redesigns vintage optics for modern cameras. Meyer says it has helped Emil Busch source manufacturing and parts, so we should expect the glass, iris and barrel to be similar to that of the existing German brand. The engineer for the project is Dr. Wolf-Dieter Prenzel, who is also responsible for many of the Meyer Optik Gorlitz lenses.

The Glaukar’s barrel will be aluminum finished with a brass-effect, and the lens will come in mounts for Nikon, Canon, Sony E, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, Leica M and Leica T. Shipping is expected to begin in Summer 2018 and the price is estimated to be around $ 2,000—though early backers can pre-order by pledging $ 700 via the Kickstarter page. For more information see the Emil Busch website.

Press Release

Reinventing the Legendary Emil Busch Glaukar 3.1 Lens

More than 100 years after the Emil Busch Glaukar 3.1 was introduced as one of the most important lenses of its time, two top German photographers have reinvented this classic as a modern portrait lens that promises to be as innovative as the original. The pair has partnered with well-known optical engineer Wolfdieter Prenzel on this project in which production will mostly take place in Wetzlar, Germany, to ensure the highest quality.

Fashion photographer Benedikt Ernst and portrait photographer Firat Bagdu launched a Kickstarter campaign today to bring the Glaukar 97mm f/3.1 into the modern age.

The new Glaukar 3.1 will have the same brass appearance and silhouette as the original but will be constructed from high-end aluminum with a brass-like oxidation, which ensures the durability and mechanical precision of a modern lens. But while the new lens will look very much like the classic, the inside has been redesigned by Prenzel, completely from scratch to meet today’s high-tech demands.

But due to its specially coated lenses the new Glaukar produces a fascinating mixture of sharpness, strong colors and, along with 12 aperture blades, wonderful bokeh effects.

Ernst and Bagdu, whose clients have included Rolls Royce, Redken, Chopard, to name a few, knew what qualities they wanted in a lens. They defined the principles and joined with lens designers and manufacturers in Germany to design the first prototype.

In fact, it was the success of one of their clients, German lens maker Meyer Optik, that inspired them to start their own project. Meyer Optik has even put the pair together with key German camera contacts in Wetzlar to help support the founders.

So, while the pair are a startup, they are backed by years of industry experience.

“We have seen some campaigns in the past where old lenses were brought back for the users of today’s cameras and appreciated them, but we wanted to go further and recreate a lens that would otherwise be lost,” Bagdu said. “But at the same time, the quality of the lens must be to the highest standards as well,” Ernst added. “Therefore, we are glad that we could ensure cooperation with some leading German firms.

Manufacturing will be done to a large extent by Uwe Weller Feinwerktechnik in Wetzlar, which was formed from the merger of several firms, including the mechanical divisions of Leica Camera and Zeiss-Hensoldt. The partnership with Uwe Weller GmbH will ensure that the high- precision elements of the lens will be produced precisely to Prenzel’s design, which will include the use of top-of-the-line Schott and O’Hara glass.

The exclusive use of Schott and O’Hara glass ensures that the goal of creating the perfect portrait lens is put into practice exactly as intended.

Part of their inspiration came from the legendary Glaukar 3.1 that pioneer German lens maker Emil Busch introduced in 1910. The original Glaukar was a groundbreaking lens because it corrected for spherical aberration, coma and astigmatism – something that no other lens in daily use could do at the time. Not even Zeiss and its famed lens maker Paul Rudolph had been able to match the Glaukar since their designs required coatings not available at the time.

The modern Glaukar will come in the following mounts:

  • Nikon
  • Canon
  • Sony E
  • Fuji
  • Micro Four Thirds
  • Leica M
  • Leica T

Lens Specs

  • Focal length: 97mm
  • Maximum aperture: 1:3.1
  • Aperture range: 1:22
  • Image circle: 43mm
  • Field of view: 25°
  • Electronic contacts none
  • Closest focusing distance: 1.5 m
  • Filter thread: 37mm
  • Max diameter: length 73mm/80mm (DSLR), approx. 85mm mirrorless
  • Weight: 410 g

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer sues Procter & Gamble for $75M over copyright violations

19 Jul

Mega-company Procter & Gamble is being sued by Cincinnati-based photographer Annette Navarro, who alleges that P&G used some of her photographs beyond the time frame and region for which she was paid.

The company allegedly paid to use Navarro’s photos cited in the lawsuit for the duration of three years and only within North America, but continued to use them after the three years had expired, and put them on international products as well. If found guilty of copyright violations, Procter & Gamble could be on the hook for more than $ 75 million in damages.

According to the lawsuit, Procter & Gamble licensed some of Navarro’s photos for the North American market alone, something allegedly done as a way to reduce costs. However, complaints from modeling agencies alerted Navarro to the images’ use beyond the region for which they were licensed. Though P&G has since paid those modeling agencies, Navarro rejected the company’s proposed payment due to uncertainty about the extent of P&Gs alleged violations.

The complaint, which was filed with the U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio on June 14, also cites Saatchi & Saatchi X and LPK as defendants. Procter & Gamble hasn’t yet issued a statement on the lawsuit.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer duo captures incredibly creative architecture portraits

17 Jul

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Artist duo Daniel Rueda and Anna Devis have one of the most creative, fun, not to mention OCD-friendly Instagram partnerships you’ll ever stumble across. They travel the world finding creative, strange and colorful architecture, and then come up with creative, strange and colorful ways to interact with it.

Surprisingly (or maybe not) Devis and Rueda are not photographers who love architecture, but architects who love photography. The architectural education gives them a better understanding and appreciation of the spaces they’re working with, while the photographer’s need to tell a story is what inspires them to insert themselves into each pictures as ‘characters.’

As Rueda explained in an interview with design website More with Less, in addition to lending a sense of scale, “the role of these characters in my pictures is to tell a story that goes beyond aesthetics. That is, it is not enough to just have an image that looks more or less beautiful; it has to tell something without the need of putting it into words.”

Devis and Rueda’s work is, plain and simple, a treat for the eyes. You can find many more creative shots like the ones above on Instagram at @drcuerda and @anniset.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer behind famous ‘monkey selfie’ is broke after years-long copyright battle

14 Jul
The infamous photo, captured when the monkey pressed the shutter, has become the subject of a years-long copyright dispute that has left Slater broke. Photo: David Slater

Freelance photographer David Slater, once one of the most talked-about photographers in the world because of his serendipitous ‘monkey selfies,’ is now considering dog walking… or giving tennis lessons. According to The Guardian, the selfsame selfie that made Slater famous has left him broke after years of legal disputes between Slater and both Wikimedia and PETA.

In case you’ve not been following this strangest of copyright battles, the details are as follows. In 2011, Slater traveled to Sulawesi, Indonesia where, by his account, he managed to coax some macaques to start playing with his camera gear. Slater did this on purpose, he says, because he was having trouble getting a close up wide-angle shot of the monkeys with their eyes open.

His gambit worked. One of the macaques took a few ‘selfies’ that immediately went viral, earning Slater a few thousand pounds… then the legal troubles started.

Wikimedia refused to take down the photo at Slater’s request, claiming that he wasn’t the copyright holder since he didn’t press the shutter. Then the US Copyright Office ruled that animals cannot own copyrights, leaving the photo ostensibly author-less. And finally, since Slater continues to claim copyright, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sued him on behalf of the macaque in 2015.

That pretty much brings us to yesterday’s article in The Guardian, in which Slater admits that years of legal battles have left him broke and ready to ‘pack it all in.’ He couldn’t even afford the airfare to attend his own trial in San Francisco this week—instead, he watched a livestream of the trial from his home in the UK.

Slater’s current predicament isn’t just a cautionary tale for photographers who dream of going viral, it offers fascinating insights into the archaic laws surrounding authorship and copyright. Of course, the idea that this case might prevent future photographers from going through something similar is probably small consolation for Slater at this junction.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Pulitzer-winning photographer uses Volvo SUV’s built-in camera to shoot photo exhibit

13 Jul

Consumer vehicles are increasingly built with integrated cameras as part of safety systems, and the Volvo XC60 is no exception. The only difference? Volvo is using their car cam to capture a unique brand of photography.

Volvo recently tapped Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Barbara Davidson and Swedish agency Forsman & Bodenfors to create a first-of-its-kind photography exhibit called ‘Moments’ that features images taken by Davidson using the SUV’s built-in camera. “Through art we’re connecting [viewers] with really important technology that saves lives,” Davidson explains in a video from Volvo Cars, “and I think we’re bringing the technical world and the artistic world together.”

Pulling photos out of the car’s video feed, Davidson managed to create a unique set of photographs using the Volvo.

Davidson staged the shots, a process highlighted in Volvo’s video. Talking about this, Davidson explained, “I’m really using the car as a camera, and I’m framing it as I would frame with my 35mm camera. So it’s very similar to how I would work as a photojournalist.”

Volvo premiered the ‘Moments’ project on July 4th in London, and will be showcasing it in various parts of the world throughout 2017.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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What makes a great photo: Wise words from a veteran photographer

09 Jul

What makes a ‘great’ photo? The question keeps professionals and weekend warriors alike busy arguing, practicing and learning. In this video, one photography veteran shares his insights into that question, born of decades immersed in the world of photography.

The video is, first and foremost, a tribute created by photographer Jesse James Allen for and about his mentor Charlie Howse.

“This is a tribute my mentor, who in 2007 showed me how to create an image before the shutter was ever pressed,” writes Allen in the video’s description. “His time and teachings greatly influenced my career.”

But throughout the video the same theme comes up over and over again: what makes a ‘great’ photograph?

Howse touches on several different aspects of ‘great’ photography. He starts with the personal impact of an image—a photograph that’s indelibly tied to what you were feeling and thinking at the moment you pressed the shutter—before moving on to a common debate topic: technology vs art.

“For far too long, I thought that in order to have a great image, it has to be technically a great image,” says Howse. “And I’m coming to realize that the technical aspect of an image is less important than the artistic or the compositional aspect of an image, or the interestingness of the subject matter.”

More important by far than the best gear, says Howse, is knowing how to ‘make an image’ rather than simply ‘take a picture.’ How to pose. How to compose. How to connect.

What we’ve written above just barely scratches the surface of the full video. Howse goes on to talk about the difference between a snapshot and a portrait, about why he chooses to shoot large format, and about the next generation of photographers and what they should focus on.

Maybe it’s too much to hope that a five minute video can shape the way you look at the world and capture a photograph. Then again… what do you have to lose? Click play up top and let us know what you think of Howse’s advice in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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These Courses WILL Make You a Better Photographer (70% Off Today)

02 Jul

We’re already halfway through our popular mid year sale and we’re really excited to offer you this deal, because we love helping people discover how to take great photos and we know this one will help do just that.

For the next 30 hours we’re offering our entire range of online photography courses at a massive 70% OFF.

Normally $ 99 each, today you can get any of our five courses for just $ 29 (USD) each. That’s incredible value!

These step-by-step courses created by talented photography experts include:

  • Night Photography by Jim Hammel – released just this year so that you can take amazing photographs at night
  • Lightroom Mastery by Mike Newton – every photographer should have a copy of this to create perfect photos!
  • Lightroom Mastery: People & Portraits by Mike Newton – will help you transform dull headshots into stunning portraits
  • Photo Nuts and Bolts by Neil Creek – the ideal course for the beginner photographer
  • Photo Nuts and Shots by Neil Creek – creative photography advice from a pro so you can get off auto

Each course is packed with series of tutorials, with demonstrations shot in high-quality video by professional photographers, and you can follow along at your own pace.

You get lifetime access to these courses, so you don’t have to rush to finish them and you can go back and review topics any time you like.

Check out all the discounted courses here on our courses page for the next 30 hours only and start improving your photography today.

The post These Courses WILL Make You a Better Photographer (70% Off Today) by Darren Rowse appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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