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Posts Tagged ‘Photography’

5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos

12 Feb

The post 5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

benefits-of-using-photography-filters

Filters are optical attachments that attach to the front of the lens. They can be made of glass or resin and are used to restrict the light coming into the camera. Filters are a great piece of kit to consider carrying with you in your camera bag, particularly when you have been doing photography for a while and are more up to speed with how to use your camera. Described below are several key reasons and benefits to using filters as well as how to use them and the different types of filters available.

Image: Filters, like this kit from NISI, are a great addition to your photography kit, particularly...

Filters, like this kit from NISI, are a great addition to your photography kit, particularly if you do a lot of landscape photography.

1. Add color and contrast

Filters are a great way to improve your landscape photos. One of the most popular types of filters available on the market today is a polarizing filter.

There are a few reasons why it is beneficial to use polarizers.

Polarizing filters reduce reflections such as those found on glass or water. They can also help to restore natural color saturation and improve the contrast in your images. An example where a polarizer can be beneficial is when photographing woodlands, waterfalls or greenery to bring out more color in the vegetation.

using photography filters 01

You can vary the intensity of the polarization effect by rotating the filter until you achieve the desired effect. For the optimum effect, you are best to point your camera at around a 45-degree angle to the sun.

There are two types of polarizers available: a square and a circular version. You can use them as part of a square or round filter system.

You can place a square type of polarizing filter into one of the slots of the filter holder system that is attached to the camera lens via an adaptor ring.

The circular polarizer option either screws onto the front of the lens directly or attaches to the front of the square filter system by a ring. The front dial of the filter is then turned to polarize the light on the scene you photograph.

2. Create movement

5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos

Another great advantage of using photography filters is to create some motion in your pictures.

Have you ever wanted to create more movement to a static looking scene?

Well, by using a Neutral Density (ND) filter, you can.

The way an ND filter works is by reducing the level of light that passes through the camera lens. If you haven’t used them before, they are quite straightforward to operate. You simply slot the ND filter into a filter holder attached to the camera lens. It then blocks some of the light that enters the camera sensor so that you can still use slower shutter speeds in bright daylight.

They come in a range of different densities varying from one, two, three, or even 10 or 16-stops of exposure. The darker the filter, the more significant the loss of light and the stronger the effect they can generate.

You may be wondering, do you really need one? Well, that depends on what you are photographing.

The 10-stop and 6-stop ND filters are specifically designed for long exposure photography. The 10-stop works very well for extending exposure times and blurring moving subjects in your images. It is great for capturing the motion of foliage, clouds, or water.

In comparison, the 6-stop can be beneficial for low-light conditions at dawn and dusk.

They are both advantageous. You can use them to accentuate cloud movement, create cloud patterns, or make running water appear smooth.

3. More balanced exposure

You can use filters to help capture a scene accurately. The fundamental reason for using a Neutral Density (ND) graduated filter is to reduce the amount of light entering the camera across the shaded gray part of the filter and correctly record the scene.

ND graduated filters are very popular for landscape photography as they help to provide more balanced exposures.

As great as modern cameras are you will often find with high-contrast landscape scenes, your pictures will either have a burnt-out sky or a dark, underexposed foreground. This is where the Neutral Density (ND) graduated filter works its magic.

using photography filters 02

In these high contrast scenes, when there are two different very unevenly lit subject areas, an ND graduated filter can be an appropriate solution.

For example, when shooting bright skies or sunsets, the exposure between the sky and the foreground varies significantly. Hence, an ND filter helps to capture the entire tonal range from the brightest to the darkest parts of an image, thus achieving a balanced exposure.

Start by placing the ND filter in the filter holder and position the dark section of the filter over the bright sky. This reduces the amount of light transferred to the sky part of the image whilst allowing the foreground to expose correctly.

This way, you capture detail in both parts of the image without the sky washing out due to too much light.

5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos

In terms of the different types of ND grads available, they will either have a hard or soft edge where the gradation line gives a stronger or smoother transition from color to clear, respectively.

Hard ND grads are better suited to scenes with straight horizons, while soft grads are favorable when objects like buildings and trees cross the horizon.

ND graduated filters come in different strengths from 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 gradations. A 0.9 ND filter reduces the exposure by 3 stops of light. ND graduated filters alter the transition from dark to light, with 0.3 being a weaker gradation, and 1.2 being a stronger gradation.

4. Enhance images

Using photography filters can help to enhance your photography and different types of images, especially when using special effects filters.

You can get specific special effect filters that slot into your filter holder, such as infrared or black and white filters. Other filters you can use to develop wonderful in-camera effects include sunset and sunrise filters. These provide warm colors for dawn and sunrise.

using photography filters 03

Mist and fog filters are another popular type of special effect filter. They are used to imitate the effects of mist by carefully positioning the filter in the holder. You can also use these filters to clean up images by the removal of distracting backgrounds to create minimal compositions.

Other various filters can enhance effects in your photos. If you love to capture vivid, saturated shots, investing in color intensifiers is of benefit.

The intensifier filters broaden and enhance specific colors without affecting the other tones in your photograph.

Alternatively, there are sky filters available to enhance the colors in the sky, as well as autumn tint filters designed to accentuate golds, reds, and browns.

5. Change white balance

5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos

When you are out capturing landscapes, you may want to alter the color temperature of the scene. Using specialist color temperature filters can be great for changing color tones with no added color cast.

Consider using photography filters that help to brighten up or cool down the white balance and give accurate color temperature corrections.

Coral filters are a great way to warm up a scene by adding pinks and reds.

Conclusion

In summary, popular filters, particularly amongst landscape photographers, include polarizers, graduated and neutral density graduated filters, and special effects filters.

Consider using photography filters as a way to add color to your images, manage variations in contrast, and to create more dynamic movement such as with clouds or water.

Filters are also a wonderful accessory to help protect your lenses and balance your exposures where tones are significantly different.

Do you use filters? What benefits do you find they provide? Share your comments with us below.

The post 5 Benefits of Using Photography Filters when Taking Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.


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Video: Photographer Alan Schaller offers seven tips for black and white street photography

12 Feb

Cooperative of Photography (COOPH) has published a new video featuring London-based photographer Alan Schaller, who introduces viewers to seven tips for shooting black and white street photography. The video packs the seven tips into five quick minutes.

Schaller’s tips are relatively straightforward, including the recommendation that photographers should go out and shoot in black and white on purpose, should focus on what makes black and white photography interesting and that they should change their perspective.

As well, Schaller recommends that budding black and white street photographers learn to adjust to the lightning situation, ‘make good use of’ their environment, shoot images with a ‘good range of contrast’ and, finally’ to ‘edit wisely.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Street Portraits vs Street Photography: What is the Difference?

10 Feb

The post Street Portraits vs Street Photography: What is the Difference? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

street-photography-vs-street-portraits

One of the most popular and accessible forms of photography you can practice is street photography. In this article, you’ll learn about one of the key questions that get asked in this area of photography. That is when do you ask a person’s permission to take their photo? The answer to that question divides street portraits vs street photography.

Read on to find out about both areas of street photography, and how they relate to each other.

What is street photography?

This can be a difficult area of photography to define because street portraits can easily be mistaken for street photography.

It’s also true that it’s possible to practice street photography and still have permission from your subjects.

So what sets this area of photography apart?

Well, the simple answer is that street photos should be natural and not staged. So what does it take to get a good street photo?

Image: YOu can even use a fisheye lens for street photography. People’s faces aren’t rea...

YOu can even use a fisheye lens for street photography. People’s faces aren’t really shown here, yet there is a story.

The equipment

The camera body you use here is important for street photography that occurs in low light situations, where you’ll want to use a higher ISO.

The choice between DSLRs or mirrorless cameras is a personal one. However, the smaller size of mirrorless cameras is an advantage.

You really want to keep to one lens, so you can keep things lightweight while you’re on the move. There is an understandable desire to use different focal lengths, though, so consider returning to the same location twice, and with different lenses.

So which is the ideal lens for street photography?

Image: A lens of 135mm means you need to stand quite far away to include the context in your scene.

A lens of 135mm means you need to stand quite far away to include the context in your scene.

  • 50mm – This is many street photographers’ lens of choice. That’s because it has a similar field of view to a person’s eye. That field of view is also wide enough to give your scene context, and you have a large enough aperture with a prime lens to photograph in low light. Keep in mind the crop factor for DSLR cameras that have a crop sensor, as it will change the effective focal distance of your 50mm lens.
  • Wide-angle – Then there are those photographers who like to have even more stories in their scene and will look to use even wider lenses. That might even mean a wide-angle zoom lens. You’ll now be getting very close to the people you photograph, making it harder to avoid them noticing you.
  • Telephoto – On the other end of the spectrum are those who prefer to photograph from a distance. This allows you to photograph the scene without the chance of people posing, as they’re much less likely to see you. On the other hand, you’ll compress the scene. If you don’t stand even further back, you won’t show very much context in your photo.
Image: Market’s make great locations for street photography. They are even better at night, wh...

Market’s make great locations for street photography. They are even better at night, when there is more atmosphere.

The location

Street photography is the exploration of your urban environment, so it needs to happen in this setting. The photo might happen away from the street itself, for instance, in an indoor market, but this would still be considered street photography.

The best place to practice this will be a place that allows for plenty of moments of capture. With that in mind, locations like markets, train stations, or high streets would work.

The subject

Now you know the location for street photography, the next thing to think about is the subject. There are plenty of photos you can take from the location suggested above that aren’t street photos.

A photo that shows only fruit is more of a food detail photo than a street photo. That said, does every street photo need to include a person’s face? The answer to that is, no, it doesn’t. But there does need to be a narrative element to it.

A photo that just shows people’s feet can certainly still contain a story. However, in most cases, you’ll want to see a person going about their daily life, and that means including their face.

Image: A street portrait will see your subject fully engaging with the camera.

A street portrait will see your subject fully engaging with the camera.

What is a street portrait?

A street portrait is one that shows the person’s face. It’s almost certainly posed, and it will be taken on the street. There is an authentic element to it. You’re not taking a model out with you, and you never know if the person you ask will give you permission to take their photo.

Once granted permission, you’ll be able to control many elements of the photo. You might be able to ask your subject to stand in front of an interesting background, turn their face towards a light source, or control their facial expression.

The equipment

This type of photo, once again, will be taken with a good quality mirrorless or DSLR camera. The lens should be a prime lens with a large aperture to give you the choice of blurring the background. However, you don’t have to use bokeh when you can control where your subject stands.

The type of lens you could use would be the same ones portrait photographers use with a model. So a 50mm, 85mm, or 135mm prime lens is ideal.

You might even consider using off-camera flash to have further control over your photo – this is, after all, a posed photo now.

The location

This will be a location where people congregate and go about their daily lives. It’s likely you’ll take a mixture of street portraits and street photos in the same location. With that in mind, refer to the advice given above for locations for street photography, since this is broadly the same for street portraits.

Image: In this photo I asked the man to move to a better position for the light.

In this photo I asked the man to move to a better position for the light.

The subject

Now you’re looking for people who have personality in their appearance. Look for people who really tell the story of the place they are in. Do this through the clothes they’re wearing, the imperfections on their face, and the backgrounds you can find to place behind them.

One crucial aspect of this type of photo is gaining permission.

You’ll need to decide which types of personality are most likely to give you a positive response. You’ll also need to adapt the way you approach people, as different people may respond differently to varying ways you could break the ice. However you do this, always remain professional, and courteous. Perhaps bring a portfolio of your work and a business card with you to give yourself added weight.

Model releases

It’s worth mentioning model releases when it comes to photographing people. While it’s true that in many countries you’re allowed to photograph people in public places, you can then only use those photos for editorial and personal use. There may come a time you wish to use your photos more commercially.

If that’s the case, then you’ll need a model release. Even if you don’t use the photos for commercial reasons, getting a model release is always good practice.

In the case of street portraits, this should be easier to do since you’ll already be in conversation with the person in question.

Image: You can use the background for a street portrait, so it adds context to the rest of the photo...

You can use the background for a street portrait, so it adds context to the rest of the photo.

Street portraits vs street photography, time to decide.

Now you know your street portraits vs street photography.

Which form of photography do you prefer, both as a photographer and a viewer? How often do you ask people on the street for their permission before taking the photo?

Do you have a favorite set of equipment for either of these photography genres?

Here at digital photography school, we like hearing your opinions, so please share them in the comments.

Likewise, please share your photos that show street photography or street portraits in the comments section.

 

 

The post Street Portraits vs Street Photography: What is the Difference? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.


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Weekly Photography Challenge – Street Photography

07 Feb

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Street Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

This week’s photography challenge topic is STREET PHOTOGRAPHY!

Learn How To Easily Improve Your Street Photography Portraits Market Shopping With Dad In Chiang Mai, Thailand © Kevin Landwer-Johan

Photo by dPS writer, Kevin Landwer-Johan © Kevin Landwer-Johan

Street photography can be a powerful genre of photography. It can also be one that many a shy photographer can struggle with. So, I challenge you to go out and give this genre a go this week and share your resulting images with us in the comments below.

You can use a wide-angle lens, a telephoto or a prime lens – it depends if you want to get in amongst it or photograph unnoticed from afar.

They can be color, or black and white. You can photograph from a low angle, high angle, wide angle or really close – the decision is yours! Try using negative space, or simply capture the action, emotion and atmosphere.

So, check out these pics to give you some ideas, have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Also, check out some of the articles below that give you tips on this week’s challenge.

women in a bus stop in Thailand. Photo by Kevin Landwer-Johan (copyright)

Photo by dPS writer, Kevin Landwer-Johan © Kevin Landwer-Johan

Image: Photo by dPS writer, Glenn Harper © Glenn Harper

Photo by dPS writer, Glenn Harper © Glenn Harper

Image: Photo by dPS writer, James Maher © James Maher

Photo by dPS writer, James Maher © James Maher

Tips for Shooting STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

The Ultimate Guide to Street Photography

How to Avoid Distracting Backgrounds in Street Photography

How To Easily Improve Your Street Photography Portraits

6 Tips for Aiming Low and Going Unnoticed in Street Photography

7 Steps to Improve Your Closeup Candid Street Photography

7 Gritty Tips That Will Create the Foundation for Your Street Photography

8 Advanced Street Photography Tips to Get You to the Next Level

 

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 favorite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge.

Share in the dPS Facebook Group

You can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter or other sites – tag them as #DPSstreetphotography to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Street Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.


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The importance of emotion in landscape photography

07 Feb
A land that time forgot: Iceland.

When you think about landscape photography you may not immediately connect it with emotion in the same way as if you see a portrait, documentary photo, wildlife photo or indeed pet photo (that emotion is why my dog, Pebbles, gets more love than me on YouTube!). But as with all art forms, landscape photography should connect with the viewer in a way that means something, and it has the potential to be more than just a gorgeous scene.

I remember when I started photography 35 years ago, a mentor at that time, when I was definitely the youngest in the camera club, 13 years old, said to me, “You photograph how you see and not what you see.” At that point I didn’t really get it but I never forgot it.

It’s interesting as there are thousands of videos and articles on technique, cameras and settings, but the photos that stick in your mind don’t get there because they were really sharp, had good bokeh or were shot on a certain camera. Have you ever looked at Van Gogh and said, “He must have had a good paint brush?” However, there aren’t as many on emotion and feelings in photography.

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.” –Ansel Adams

I think there are two forms of emotion in a photo: the one that the photographer has when they captured the image and the one the viewer has when they look at it.

They don’t have to be the same, but I believe that when you have an emotional response to the landscape that translates into a photo, it’s more likely to create an emotional response in the viewer. It’s why I don’t believe you can create a photo out of nothing. Too often, people say that you can add light and create dramatic impact with Lightroom and Photoshop. But they should be there to enhance what you saw and not create something that didn’t exist. After all how can you ask a viewer to connect with something you didn’t first observe?

What emotions do you feel with landscape photography though?

Sometimes a photo makes you stop in your tracks and look deep into it. It isn’t just perfect exposure or a beautiful scene. It has instant impact and creates a quick emotional response. Take the next image for example:

Kalsoy Lighthouse, Faroe Islands

Other times, you can pass by an image many times and eventually grow to love it and have an increased emotional attachment to it as you see new things and explore the intricacies of the scene.

Winter Colour, Lake District

Unfortunately modern social media favors the first of these two emotional responses. Instagram is all about that five second impact. Take the following photo from my Instagram feed. It got 50% more views than my average photo but it doesn’t really have any long lasting emotional response.

It’s why I love printed media so much and feel that having an image printed out and on a wall offers so much more value to the photographer and viewer alike. If I show my prints on a workshop or to other photographers then they spend a lot longer looking at each image than they would if I gave them an iPad to view the same shots.

Let’s look at the photographer’s and viewer’s emotion in more detail.

The photographer’s emotion

For me, getting out in the landscape is one of the most relaxing and fulfilling things to do. I love observing the scenes around me and just staying in the moment. Nothing is better than arriving at a location, finding a rock, pouring a coffee and taking in the surroundings.

Taking photographs is part of what I find relaxing. This process of taking in the scene around me, then taking out my camera, setting it up, visualizing the scene and capturing that emotion I have at that time.

“I think that emotional content is an image’s most important element, regardless of the photographic technique. Much of the work I see these days lacks the emotional impact to draw a reaction from viewers, or remain in their hearts.” Anne Geddes

But emotion in photographs is a personal thing and if I look back at my photos a lot have stories associated with them that others wouldn’t know. I believe this helps to create a better and more emotional response. It is very interesting for me as when I spend longer in a location I find I almost always produce a more interesting photograph.

The viewer’s emotion

Emotional response is regarded as a critical element to experiencing all forms of art. Various research such as this by Cupchik et al , ‘Viewing artworks: Contributions of cognitive control and perceptual facilitation to aesthetic experience’, show that the brain regions involved in emotion experience activation when seeing art compared to objects.

But, how do you go about creating something that invokes strong emotion in the landscape? It’s all about connecting with the viewer. Maybe it is through the changing weather or the patterns in the scene. Or maybe a photo leaves something out and the viewer has to get more involved in the image to understand it.

“I like photographs that leave something to the imagination.” –Fay Goodwin

This quote holds a really important element of landscape photography that people often miss out, and that is imagination. We all have amazing imagination, and a landscape photograph that shows less is often more powerful than one that shows the whole scene. It is something that I often say in workshops, leave more out than you put in.

The Power of Imagination

I am dyslexic and reading is difficult, so words have never meant a lot to me and photos have said so much.

“A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.” –Ansel Adams

So I thought it would be interesting to see if people would think differently when they looked at an image with a title compared to without.

The results were really interesting. Here they are for Passing Storm (below) when the title was shown. This was based on 1000 responses (500 had each image / title / no title)

Passing Storm

Response with title shown:

And response when no title was shown:

First of all, people are different and think differently about a scene. In fact it probably isn’t just about a person but the current circumstances that person is going through. A powerful photo is like a conduit to tapping into that emotion. You can see from above that the title has little impact on the emotion felt by the image.

Watch my video on emotion in landscape photography to see more survey results and detail how to provoke emotion in your art.

How do you react to a image? Do you feel an emotion when you see certain images? Let me know in the comments below.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How Practicing Abstract Photography Can Influence Your Photography

05 Feb

The post How Practicing Abstract Photography Can Influence Your Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

practicing-abstract-photography

Also known as experimental, non-objective or conceptual photography, abstract photography depicts imagery removed from the immediately identifiable subject matter. Gaining momentum at the hands of photographers like Alvin Langdon Coburn and Paul Strand, practicing abstract photography explores the bare bones of image-making.

Abstraction has performed a critical role in pushing the boundaries of the photographic medium. In this article, we’ll look at ways in which abstract photography can inspire your creative approach to all photographic genres.

Practicing abstract photography slow shutter speed

f/18.0, 1/25, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens

Focusing on detail

One of the most predominant ways to create abstracted imagery is through isolation.

Isolation in abstraction involves zooming in on detail, creating a study of subject matter that may otherwise go unnoticed. Through isolation, context is replaced with an emphasis on intimate detail. By elevating detail, the unnoticed subject matter is given a new visual significance.

Abstraction places a great deal of importance on details. As a result, many abstract photographers develop a strong sense of detail in any situation.

Naturally, an eye trained for subtle details proves useful in other facets of photography too. It allows a photographer to pinpoint interesting elements of a scene with greater efficiency.

By practicing abstract photography, the photographer becomes attuned to the visual weight of unique subject matter. This translates to deeper, more engaging photography as a whole.

Image: f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens

f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens

Experimentation

Abstraction expands on our understanding of the photographic medium through re-invention.

Of course, experimentation is not limited to abstraction. However, abstract photography emphasizes alternative approaches to subject matter. This stimulates creative thought which then flows through to other areas of photography.

Alternative processes, in-camera techniques, image manipulation…abstraction emphasizes the expression of fresh creative possibilities through constant experimentation.

Photographers like Andrew S. Gray, Wolfgang Tilmans and Barbara Kasten all push the boundaries of photographic art. Their work, and the work of countless other abstract photographers, is proof that practicing abstract photography expands the creative horizon of photography as a whole.

Practicing abstract photography experiment

f/1.8, 1 second, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens

Creating something unique

Abstract photography is highly subjective – every photographer approaches abstraction from a unique perspective.

This means that individual emotions, experiences, and ideas are embedded in abstract visual responses. The more you practice abstract photography, the easier it will be to identify abstract subject matter that fascinates you. It will open up more and more opportunities to hone your skills.

There is no right or wrong way to create your own abstract photography.

In fact, you may not even need a camera.

Because of this, practicing abstract photography provides a free space to forge a unique aesthetic that inevitably carries through to other facets of photography.

Practicing abstract photography blue unique

f/4.0, 1/40, ISO 500, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens

Pressing the reset button

Adhering to the more formal qualities of photography can sometimes culminate in creative fatigue. Abstraction tends to relax the grip of the photographic convention, adhering instead to the instinctual responses of the photographer.

This means that practicing abstract photography can provide a much-needed reset button for photographers suffering from creative weariness.

Abstraction beckons the photographer to capture subject matter that resonates on a personal level. Satisfying lines, intriguing textures, ephemeral colors…Practicing abstract photography reconnects a photographer with the basics of photography and creativity.

Practicing abstract photography color

f/2.2, 1/800, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens fitted with a 36mm Kenko extension tube

Honing in on composition

Although lacking in objective subject matter, abstraction still relies on the principals and elements of design to cultivate imagery. Elements like form, line, color, and texture are as relevant to abstract photography as they are any other genre. Likewise, precepts such as the rule of thirds or leading lines can also shape the way an abstract image is digested.

Practicing abstract photography coaxes out reflexive responses to image-making, revealing gaps in compositional knowledge and introducing new approaches to subject matter.

Compositional instincts honed within the bounds of abstraction spill over to other types of photography too, revealing practical insights into your own image-making process.

Practicing abstract photography composition pattern

f/4.0, 1/15, ISO 1250, Canon 5D Mk II with a Canon EF 25-105 f/4L IS USM II lens

Conclusion

Abstract photography is sometimes approached with confusion or trepidation. However, in practice, abstract photography is often a liberating and invigorating undertaking.

Though lacking in specific subject matter, abstract photography operates on creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth. Without the freedom that abstract photography affords, photography would be a much more rigid and prescriptive undertaking.

Abstract photography encourages a focus on detail, experimentation, and skill. It can also be a welcome respite from creative fatigue. Availing itself to the unique inclinations of the individual photographer, practicing abstract photography builds on the foundations of the photographic process.

Share with us your abstract photography in the comments!

The post How Practicing Abstract Photography Can Influence Your Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.


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4 Tips to Choose the Right Lens for your Photography

05 Feb

The post 4 Tips to Choose the Right Lens for your Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Karthika Gupta.

tips-to-choose-the-right-lens-in-photography

A few years ago, I came across the term ‘gear lust.’ Suddenly all those feelings of wanting, dreaming, and lusting over the latest and greatest lens and cameras that I would see in glossy magazines and catalogs were categorized as a known condition. How could I choose the right lens to use and buy for my photography when there were so many options out there?

Did I really need to choose? Couldn’t I just buy everything and make myself a happy camper?

Pretty soon, I came crashing down to earth and realized that buying every single lens out there was not practical and near impossible given my finances and photography budget.

So, I learned fairly quickly how to understand my photographic needs and choose a lens that best fits that need – from a usability, functionality and budget perspective.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Karthika Gupta

Here are some tips on how you can choose the right lens that works for you, based on your photography style, needs, and budget. Remember, these are all very individualistic, so make sure you are honest when answering these questions.

1. Understand your photography style

When we are starting out as photographers, there is a need to master everything. And rightfully so.

The early stages of learning any art form is one of exploration, and we should try everything out there.

When I first started, I was exploring different genres and editing styles. I explored moody to black and white, to light and airy, and everything in between.

I soon found myself gravitating towards a light bright airy style. This meant photographing wide open and using a lot of natural light in my photos. I realized that my lens needed to be fast to focus and let me photograph wide open at apertures of around f/1.2 through f/2.

These needs saw me gravitating towards prime lenses. I found that they worked well for me in post-processing for the style that I wanted to focus on too.

So I invested in the Canon 50mm f/1.2 L and a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L. Now, 9 years later, I still have both of these lenses and use them consistently.

Even though my genre and specialization have changed slightly, my photography style has remained fairly consistent. So these lenses have served me well.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Karthika Gupta

Taken with my beloved 50mm f/1.2

So, take the time to understand what photography style works for you and then try out different lenses. Do you prefer working with zoom lens, or are primes more your style?

You will find that choosing the right lens for your style of photography becomes much easier when you take the time to understand what your photography style is rather than buying something and then adjusting your style to match the gear you have.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens 24-70mm Karthika Gupta

My 24-70mm f/2.8 lives on my camera 80% of the time. This is the lens I choose in a giffy because I know it gives me what I am looking for.

2. Understand your photography needs

When I first started photography, I considered myself a family and lifestyle photographer. Soon I added newborn and weddings into the mix.

I quickly realized that while I love kids, I just could not handle newborn photos. Newborn shoots take a lot of time and a lot of patience, waiting on babies to be cooperative.

However, I found my sweet spot with weddings and lifestyle photos.

As I tried out different lenses for this type of work, I quickly realized that speed and wide angles were important for family photos and weddings. With weddings, I often found myself in the back of the room, taking photos of the couple at the altar or interacting with family and loved ones. As I did not want to intrude on these special moments, I found that a lens with a good zoom was pertinent.

With this realization, I invested in the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 because this lens had everything I was looking for – the zoom and speed.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Karthika Gupta

Taken with the 70-200mm f/2.8 shot – I will love this lens till the day I die!

DPS Choosing The Right Lens 70-200mm Karthika Gupta

Choosing the right lens sometimes is like choosing your favorite child! You cannot voice it publicly but you know which one is the favorite!

I also found myself renting the Canon 35mm f/1.4 for larger weddings to take wide-angle photos. My second shooter would use this lens to get a different angle as we photographed side-by-side.

So, take the time to understand your photography needs. Do you want to focus on close-up portraits or do you want wide-angle photos of architecture? Perhaps you want to experiment with street photography? Do you want to do more macro or wildlife photos?

Choosing the right lens will become a breeze when you really narrow down what your photography needs are.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Karthika Gupta

3. Acknowledge your budget

If you have to pick only one lens because of your budget, understand that it is perfectly okay, and even the top photographers do that occasionally. The amount of gear you own does not equate to skill and proficiency.

For my very first photoshoot, I rented a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens and used that with my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8. I had no idea what I was doing other than the fact that I had read that the nifty-fifty was the best thing since sliced bread!

I hated that lens and couldn’t wait to return it. Fast forward a few years, and once I had the understanding and the budget, I invested in the L version of the 50mm. It is now my favorite lens for portraits of any kind. The bokeh from this lens is pure magic!

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Canon 24-70 Karthika Gupta

My 24-70mm f/2.8 is almost 9 years old. It has been readjusted multiple times by Canon Professional Services, but I will never get rid of it. It delivers day-in and day-out!

You can get creative with what you have.

Change up your angle. Change up the focal length by moving closer or backing out.

No matter what the limitations, for the most part, you can make it work.

4. Find the happy match between lens and photographer

This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it? With so many choices out there, what lens should you choose, and when? Investing in camera gear should always be a healthy balance between need, wants, and budget. The last thing you want is a closet full of gear that you never use.

Rent or borrow a lens that interests you so you can test it out for yourself first before outlaying a big amount of money on something that may not suit your needs.

An example of this is the Sigma 135mm f1.8 I was interested in buying. It is an incredible lens. I was so tempted to buy it having heard about its awesomeness from all my photographer friends. However, when I had a chance to test it out, I realized that I get a lot of the same results from my 70-200mm f2.8 for the way I was using it. So it would have been an unnecessary addition to my gear.

DPS Choosing The Right Lens Sigma 135mm Karthika Gupta

Selling off your unwanted gear is always an option, but it’s better to get it right to start with. Remember, needs and styles constantly change, and that is fairly common among photographers. That way, if you find yourself needing the same lens down the road, you can always keep using what you have or upgrade to a newer version.

As I slowly move away from weddings and more towards travel and culture, my needs have changed. I want to travel light and wanted the most bang for the gear I lug halfway around the world. Hence, I choose lenses that fit that need.

I’ve been lucky, because the lenses I chose for my initial needs, still suit my new needs. My go-to lenses are the 24-70mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.2 and 70-200mm f/2.8. I find that this combination works the best for travel portraits, wide-angle landscapes as well as the occasional wildlife photos.

Good gear is essential for a good photographer, but expensive gear does not make a good photographer.

If you only have a kit lens and cannot afford anything else, that’s perfectly okay. Master your craft with what you have, and when the time is right, choose the right lens based on what you need and what you can afford, not on what is the latest/coolest gadget on the market.

You may also like: 

Photography Gear You Will Need for Different Types of Photo Shoots

Do you have any other tips to choose the right lens for your photography? If so, please share in the comments section.

The post 4 Tips to Choose the Right Lens for your Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Karthika Gupta.


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Weekly Photography Challenge – Coastlines

01 Feb

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Coastlines appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

This week’s photography challenge topic is COASTLINES!

Image: © Jeremy Flint

© Jeremy Flint

Coastlines are a stunning place to visit (or if you are lucky enough, to live). They can be dramatic and moody or sunny and light depending on the weather and the landscape itself.

So go out and capture coastlines near you. Take note of the wide expansive shots or the details that you find there such as rocks, shells, boats and shacks.

So, check out these inspiring pics, have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Great Coastal Photography

The Gower Peninsula, Wales by © Jeremy Flint

Image: Photo by Jim Hamel ©

Photo by Jim Hamel ©

Image: Photo by Nisha Ramroop ©

Photo by Nisha Ramroop ©

Check out some of the articles below that give you tips on this week’s challenge.

Tips for photographing COASTLINES

6 Ways to Capture Coastal Scenes to add Impact to Your Photos

Important Considerations for Great Coastal Photography

Travel Photography Tips – Photographing the Coast

5 Quick Tips for Coastal Photography

How to Photograph Coastlines [10 Tips]

How to Take Better Beach Portraits at Anytime of the Day

4 Tips for More Dramatic Beach Photos

7 Tips for Better Beach Photography

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 favorite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge.

Share in the dPS Facebook Group

You can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter or other sites – tag them as #DPScoastlines to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Coastlines appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.


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7 of the Best Photography Podcasts to Inspire!

31 Jan

The post 7 of the Best Photography Podcasts to Inspire! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.

7-best-photography-podcasts

While this is an article that I want to be educational for us all, it is a bit of a selfish one – I love seeking out new recommendations for podcasts! Rather than position this as the definitive list, I wanted to give you the best photography podcasts that I love to listen to in the hope that some of you may find a new podcast to love in 2020.

However, I also want to hear your recommendations for the best photography podcasts I can check out in 2020!

Podcasts are currently seeing serious investment, with streaming giant Spotify investing over $ 400 million.

This has paid off for Spotify, with their podcast audience doubling in the first half of 2019 alone. With that investment, means more podcasts produced, and the quality is getting higher all the time. This is a serious win for us as Podcast listeners.

For me, at least, Podcasts have made their way into part of my daily routine. Like waiting for the next episode of a TV show, I look forward to hearing the latest episodes of my favorite podcasts each week. I tend to listen to them whilst working, commuting, or just to chill out.

The podcasts I listen to tend to be less gear-based and more based on the story of photographers or how to improve in business. This type of content makes me excited to check out the work of photographers I haven’t before. It also inspires, either for strategies to try, or just visual inspiration from the discovery of new photographers.

Not only are big companies investing, but the quality of podcasts on all levels is better than ever. People are spending serious time in making their podcasts sound great. Gone are the days of what felt like listening to a phone conversation between people. Many modern podcasts are well-produced, great-sounding shows that allow me to imagine my perfect radio station, curated just for me.

The 7 Best Photography Podcasts

Why 7? Well, to be honest, I like to try and listen to one podcast per day. I could give you the top 15, or top 20. If you’re not careful, though, your podcast feed (like my own) will be jammed with episodes or entire podcasts you never get round to listening to.

So, in no particular order, here are my 7 best photography podcasts. 

Best photography podcast for business Photobiz X

1. Photobiz X

Seen by many as the number one photography business podcast, Photobiz X is also the only podcast on this list with a premium version alongside the free version.

The podcast will give you great tips, whichever you listen to. Premium listeners get more of a deep dive into business techniques and access to the excellent PBX group on Facebook. As a member myself, I find the amount of help and support you get from the premium version worth the price. If you do find yourself enjoying the podcast, you can try it free for 30 days to see if it is a worthwhile investment for you.

This podcast interviews a huge variety of photographers and related business experts that can help you improve your photography business. Previous topics have included selling more wall art, website design, copywriting for your business, and a whole host of other topics.

Andrew, as a host, intuitively asks the questions that you find yourself asking as you listen along. He picks away the guest’s layers to get to the heart of the strategies that make their businesses successful.

Also, every episode has actionable takeaways that you can take and apply to your business. The only issue may be that you have too many ideas to try!

Best enjoyed: Monday morning, setting you up with business inspiration for the week.

 

The FujiCast Logo

2. FujiCast

This is a podcast with two UK-based wedding photographers, whom both shoot with Fuji.

You would think that this would be a pretty niche podcast. However, if you can get beyond the name, what you will find is a funny, beautifully-produced podcast that has a great mix between answering readers’ questions and interviews with photographers.

FujiCast is the perfect listen on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee.

The tone of the podcast is that of two mates chatting about photography, except these mates are very knowledgeable and regarded as some of the best UK wedding photographers.

Yes, the gear talk that features usually has a Fuji slant, but gear talk isn’t where this podcast sings – it is the interviews and stories of the guests that are inspiring.

Again, one of the best things about this podcast is the community that Neale and Kevin have built. They host regular meet-ups for recordings, etc.

The FujiCast is a great listen that will introduce you to some amazing photographers.

Best enjoyed: Sunday morning after a leisurely breakfast, whilst enjoying a coffee. 

 

The Candid Frame. Perhaps The best photography podcast voice

3. The Candid Frame

The voice! The Candid Frame begins with smooth Jazz, which leads into possibly the smoothest podcast voice ever in Ibarionex Perello. One of the longest-running podcasts, The Candid Frame, has been running since 2006.

You can tell Ibarionex puts loads of work into researching every guest he interviews. His interview technique, honed over nearly 500 episodes, gives the interviewee the chance to tell their story beautifully. He asks questions that help him (and you as the listener) delve into their photographic journey.

Best enjoyed: Late at night, with a glass of your favorite tipple.

 

He shoots he draws podcast logo

4. He Shoots He Draws

This podcast consists of a photographer and designer who describe their podcast as a chat over a cuppa. Episodes range from twenty minutes to well over an hour.

He Shoots, He Draws, is as laid back as the title suggests. However, that would not do justice to the huge amount of knowledge that both Glynn and Dave bring to each episode.

While bringing the angles of photography and design, this podcast covers a variety of topics with a wide-ranging variety of guests.

Best enjoyed: Tuesday morning, to help you make it through the week ahead.

 

7 of the Best Photography Podcasts to Inspire!

5. This Week in Photo

This podcast really doesn’t need an introduction, and I am sure it is already on many of your weekly listens. One of the longest-running podcasts (it’s been around since 2008), This Week in Photo has a great mix of roundtable discussions and interviews, so this podcast still feels fresh.

Not every topic will appeal to everyone, but with each episode usually in the 30-45 minute range, I find myself listening along and getting something of interest that stops me from skipping.

I did think about not including this podcast due to it being so popular, but a podcast is like an old pair of jeans. It’s the one you always go back to because it feels so comfortable.

Best enjoyed: On a lazy Saturday, slouching in your favorite pair of jeans.

 

One of the best photography podcast. So You Want to Be a Photographer

6. So You Want to Be a Photographer

Gina Milicia is a renowned Australian photographer who has photographed many celebs in her time. (She has also written e-books for dPS including Portraits: Making the Shot,  Portraits Lighting The ShotPortraits: Striking The Pose14 Amazing Portrait RecipesPortraits: After The Shot, and Fast FLASH For Portrait Perfection.) 

Her podcast, which she hosts with her friend and photography enthusiast, Valerie Khoo, is exactly the opposite of the type of podcast you would expect from such a high-end photographer. Gina is down to earth, and this podcast is full of advice for those on all levels. 

The two hosts bounce off each other, and the enthusiast and expert balance between them really helps keep the podcast accessible to everyone. Episodes are full of great advice for people at differing stages of photography from the beginner looking for inspiration through to those taking a step into making money from photography. 

Best enjoyed: On a bad Wednesday in the office. When you have decided that you want out of the 9-5 and want to start getting paid for your photography. 

 

Photobomb Podcast logo

7. Photobomb

This podcast is like listening to two radio personalities with the humor of the naughty kids in class.

Booray Perry and Gary Hughes are a duo who will tend to let their episodes wander off-topic, but in a good way. A perfect example of this is starting a recent episode discussing the new Star Wars movie and which Star Wars films get a raw deal.

Booray and Gary are both experienced photographers with personalities that you will either love or hate. Quick-fire banter between them brings all the news and opinions you need for the week. Booray spent twenty years in radio before becoming a photographer, and that definitely comes through in this podcast.

A great listen in the car or at the gym too.

Best enjoyed: On the daily commute, as long as you are happy with occasionally laughing out loud on public transport.

 

Scenario podcast logo

Bonus podcast: Scenario

I’ve left the most fragile until last. The Scenario podcast by Jessica Mcdermott is made up of only six episodes recorded between November 2017 and March 2018. The only updates since then come in two, 2-minute notes about an update and #PodStrike.

You may be wondering, why would you tell us that this is one of the best photography podcasts and one that we need to listen to in 2020? Simply put, each episode is a beautiful little documentary on a fascinating photography story. There is the photographer who shoots landscapes to send to her pen pals on death row and the story of a photographer who is documenting his brother’s gender transition.

Each episode is beautifully put together and reminds me of a documentary that you would hear on Radio 4 (or NPR for you US-based listeners). Every story is fascinating, and I can see them appealing to many people outside of the world of photography.

Jessica allows each photographer to open up and tell their story, so each episode feels very intimate.

My only wish is that this podcast returns with more episodes. Although maybe it is destined to be these six perfect episodes that should be appreciated just as they are.

Best enjoyed: All in one. Find a weekend and listen to these wonderful stories in one sitting.

Conclusion

So there you go – a podcast for every day.

As I said, these are some of the best photography podcasts and are not meant to be an exhaustive list.

There are so many more I could add here, including more of the usual suspects. I am sure there are many more that you could add as well. 

So, as I said at the start, I wanted to throw this out to you as the readers. Let’s hear in the comments below one of the best photography podcasts that everyone needs to listen to in 2020. I look forward to adding a load more podcasts to my list from your recommendations. 

The post 7 of the Best Photography Podcasts to Inspire! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.


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Ways to Correct Perspective in Photography

29 Jan

The post Ways to Correct Perspective in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Glenn Harper.

correct-perspective-in-photography

Back in pre-digital days, the only way to correct perspective in architectural pictures was with a tilt-shift lens. Using such a lens remedies the “keystoning” effect you get when pointing a lens upwards at a building, where all verticals in the picture converge.

Nikon 19mm f/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens

A Nikon 19mm f/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens. Photo: Jeffrey M Dean at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA]

The main disadvantage of a tilt-shift lens has always been its price, especially if you stick to marque brands like Canon or Nikon. That hasn’t changed. With perspective correction now being widely available in editing software, why would you even think of buying such a lens today?

Tilt-shift lens vs digital perspective correction

Two benefits spring to mind when comparing a tilt-shift lens to digital perspective correction:

  • Image quality suffers when you digitally alter perspective in editing software. The degree to which this is noticeable varies and is likely to be trivial for most purposes. But, you’ll often notice mild degradation at 100%.
  • Most digital perspective tools crop the image, effectively reducing the resolution of the image sensor. And because the image is cropped, you lose WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) predictability when taking photos.

These factors are serious if you’re a pro photographer creating architectural photos for commercial clients. A tilt-shift lens maintains image quality and full resolution. You’d normally use a tripod with such a lens.

Using Adobe software to correct perspective

Correcting perspective has been possible in Photoshop for a long time, but it became easier from CS2 onwards. That edition introduced the Lens Correction tool.

Image: Fixing perspective using the Lens Correction tool of 13-year-old Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Fixing perspective using the Lens Correction tool of 13-year-old Adobe Photoshop CS3.

In 2013, Adobe introduced automatic perspective correction, which saved considerable time compared to manual adjustments. Even today, many of Adobe’s competitors do not offer this luxury. You can fix the perspective in ACR or Lightroom within seconds.

If this feature is important to you but you don’t necessarily want to sign up for Adobe software, what else is out there?

Correct Perspective in Other Software

The idea for this article came about when I decided to break away from my Adobe subscription. I take a lot of building photos, so perspective-correction tools are useful to me. Programs vary a lot in what they offer in this regard. (In fact, a lot of the stuff you take for granted with Adobe goes AWOL if you go-a-wandering.)

DxO Viewpoint

I was using DxO Viewpoint a decade or more ago. It’s been around a while. At that time, it seemed quicker to use than Photoshop for perspective correction. Then, as now, ViewPoint worked as either a plugin or a standalone app.

ViewPoint 3 - correcting perspective

I shot this from below, so there was keystoning in the original image. The auto controls in ViewPoint 3 have fixed it, making it look like I shot the Art Nouveau sign from directly in front.

DxO Viewpoint also blends seamlessly into DxO PhotoLab as a module. It’s a little controversial that DxO makes you pay extra for perspective correction, but maybe that modular system helps keep the entry price down.

A short time ago, I upgraded from ViewPoint 1 to ViewPoint 3. The latter offers automatic corrections, so I no longer have to place anchor points on each image. Sometimes it’s necessary to correct perspective manually, but the auto function saves a lot of time.

Paintshop Pro 2020

Paintshop Pro has a good perspective tool that is akin to perspective cropping in Photoshop. While it’s not a one-click solution, it’s still quick and easy to use. A grid inside the crop area lets you check all the lines as you work. This is like using ViewPoint manually, where you force parallelism by setting the position of vertical and/or horizontal lines.

Paintshop Pro perspective tool

If you’re only fixing verticals with the Paintshop Pro perspective tool, you must keep the horizontal lines in the grid level (or vice-versa).

By checking the “crop image” box before applying your adjustment, Paintshop Pro will automatically crop the image to its largest usable dimensions. One thing you can’t do is adjust the intensity of the effect after applying it. You’d have to go back and redo it if you weren’t happy with the result.

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2020

I’m fond of ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate for its comprehensive dual-set of editing tools and its DAM capabilities. But how is it for perspective control? Like many photo editors, the tools are all manual whether you’re in Develop or Edit mode.

If you’re only looking to correct verticals, you can achieve that easily with the vertical slider in Develop mode. This mode is really meant for raw files, but you can run rendered files through it just like you can with ACR.

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate - fixing keystoning

An adjustment of the vertical slider in ACDSee’s Develop mode has fixed some mild keystoning here.

In ACDSee’s Edit mode, you get perspective cropping like that of Photoshop, but it differs in one notable way. As you drag the corner points, the perspective changes in real-time, so you get to preview the result before saving it. A downside is the lack of auto-cropping. That means you need to crop separately if you drag points inside of the image frame.

Hugin

The main purpose of Hugin is to stitch photos together for panoramas, but it also corrects perspective. And, it’s free!

There are downsides.

You have to go through the motions of creating project files, the software doesn’t preserve aspect ratio, and it strips out EXIF data. You also lose a chunk of the image to cropping, but that’s normal. Hugin will give you the largest usable area after the correction.

Correcting converging verticals in Hugin.

I fix verticals in Hugin by creating a fake one-image panoramic.

If you’re familiar with Hugin and know ways around the problems mentioned above, please let me know. Since auto perspective correction is absent from many high-end photo editors, this program is worth knowing about. Although its chief role is creating panoramic photos, perspective correction is an inherent part of that process. Hugin is good at it.

Below is a quick summary of the Hugin process (or the one I use) to correct verticals:

  • Open the panorama editor, then open the simple interface
  • Click on “Load Images” and load the file you want to correct
  • Agree to add image to current project if a dialogue box pops up
  • Click on “Align”
  • Click on “Create panorama” even though you’re not creating one
  • Set output parameters
  • Save project
  • Hugin says it is stitching – it isn’t, but it is processing the file. You’ll see “batch successfully completed” in another window.

That’s it. Your corrected image awaits.

You can also perform vertical and horizontal perspective corrections as per this article. I tend not to make drastic corrections because they have a negative effect on image quality. If you shift the subject a lot, a large part of the image will look soft.

Hugin perspective correction

A final Hugin corrected image with original in the inset.

Darktable

Darktable is a raw processor of amazing depth. Its learning curve is steep, but it deserves a place in this article for its perspective correction module. You can correct perspective with one click, which is rare in free editing software. It might be unique. As well, there’s automatic cropping with “original aspect ratio” or “largest area” options.

A “get structure” button color codes lines in the image and tells you what the software has concluded about them. For example, a green line is a relevant vertical converging line, while a red line is vertical but not included as one of the converging verticals. You can adjust the status of these lines if you think the software has made a bad call.

Perspective correction in Darktable - get structure.

This is what appears if you hit “get structure” in Darktable. You can see the software is pretty good at telling true verticals (green) from false angled or curving verticals (red).

The only thing you can’t do in Darktable is back off the auto adjustment if you want a slightly converging result. You’d have to edit manually for that. But still, this feature is superb.

Honorable mentions

Naturally, other photo editors also include perspective correction. Capture One is one of the most evolved pieces of photo software I’ve seen. Its perspective control is like that of ViewPoint in manual mode, where you line up verticals or horizontals by hand to correct the image.

Programs like ON1 Photo Raw, Luminar and Exposure allow perspective control via a familiar system of sliders. You align the architectural lines of a photo with the lines of a grid. It works, but there’s no auto mode.

Am I obsessed with auto mode? Kind of, because it’s fast and does a good job. If you can tweak the result, so much the better.

Luminar 4 perspective sliders

The clean interface and “Canvas” toolset of Luminar 4, including perspective sliders.

Bottom Line

If you’re straying from Adobe and need perspective correction, I’ve gotta give top prize to DxO ViewPoint 3.

You can manually adjust perspective to your heart’s content or have the software swiftly do it for you. Importantly, you can back up a bit from auto results if the verticals look too forced.

The standalone ViewPoint 3 also includes an attractive browser, corrects for volume deformation and offers a tilt-shift “miniature effect”. What’s not to like?

Viewpoint 3 image browser

The ViewPoint 3 browser.

For those that don’t want to pay extra for this functionality, look at Darktable. You might be scratching your head at its vast array of modules, but persistence pays off. Its perspective control is great at this price point!

All the software mentioned is eminently usable, so it’s a question of how valuable one-click corrections and versatility are to you. I hope I’ve helped in a few decisions.

Do you know any other software that helps correct perspective in photography? Share with us in the comments!

The post Ways to Correct Perspective in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Glenn Harper.


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