Lighting an on-location photo session – Home Free
Lighting an on-location photo session - Home Free
I had another opportunity to do promotional photos for Home Free, the A Capella group. Some of the previous photo shoot was described in this article - On-location lighting problem solving. This time we met at another location - a farm which also doubled up as a reception venue. This offered us some outdoor areas, as well as a more barn-like area. From the art director and manager's description of what they wanted, as well as photos of the location, I knew that if I flat-lit this with large light sources, it would lose some of the Read more inside...Photographing wide-angle portraits
Photographing wide-angle portraits
In photographing wide-angle portraits, we have to make the decision whether we want to embrace the wide-angle distortion (such as Bill Brandt famously did), or have a more natural approach where the wide-angle is used to show more of the environment and to help with a dynamic composition. With this photo of Anastasiya, I wanted to include these massive billboards 5th Avenue. That meant I had to use a wide focal length. In this example, I had my 24-7mm zoom racked to 24mm. The idea here is that we need to be purposeful. Better to shoot in a Read more inside...How to get a blurred background in photos
How to get a blurred background in photos
Somewhere at the start of the adventure that is photography, a newer photographer will soon realize that having your subject stand out from the background, really gives the photo a near-3-dimensional effect. Your subject just pops out with the background blurred. The question of how to get blurred backgrounds in photos, is easily answered. There are two ways to blur the background in a photography - In-camera (i.e., optical) vs Photoshop. Doing it in Photoshop is in my opinion, a boring way to spend an afternoon when you could be out Read more inside...Planning to shoot a promo video
Planning to shoot a promo video
When planning to shoot a promo video - or any video for that matter - there should ideally be some narrative or some forward momentum in what is being portrayed. An idea that propels it forward and gives it meaning. A friend once tried to convince me that I should team up with another photographer who had video gear since we would make a really good video with the gear we had available between us. I immediately put a spanner in that by insisting that without an idea or a story, we're lost. We have nothing. Someone with an idea and a mobile phone would Read more inside...People skills for portrait & wedding photographers
People skills for portrait & wedding photographers
The articles on the Tangents blog have focused heavily on the technical aspects of photography - lighting, posing, camera settings and such. But there is another essential ingredient for you as a photographer when you work with people - good social skills. This is invaluable - you can be a phenomenal photographer, but if you don't quite know how to make people immediately comfortable and trust you, then the photo shoot will not be as successful. With New York’s vibrant culture and the imposing architecture, it’s often a Read more inside...Camera sensor cleaning
Camera sensor cleaning
You say you love photography? Well, a sure way to kill your enthusiasm is to waste hour upon hour cloning out dust spots in photos. All because you haven't cleaned your camera's sensor in a while. Then when check your camera sensor with a sensor loupe, you'll realize there are even more specks of dust than you thought! Therefore you need a thorough method of cleaning your camera's sensor. When you clean your camera's sensor, you want to do better than just swirl crap around on your sensor with a swab. Here are the tools I use, and the method I use to clean Read more inside...Studio photography lighting tips – your first time in the studio
Studio photography lighting tips - your first time in the studio
Since I make my studio here in NJ available as a Photo studio rental space, I frequently meet newer photographers who would like to dabble in studio photography a bit, but don't have much experience of working in a studio. Sometimes they have experience with off-camera flash on location, or with a small home studio - and they would like to try out working in a larger studio area, using a range of studio lighting gear. (Btw, aside from some continuous lighting, the studio flashes are all Profoto. There are reasons for Read more inside...How to photograph fireworks
How to photograph fireworks
Braving the crowds (and insane traffic) in Hoboken, I had a good view of magnificent 4th of July fireworks display on the Hudson River, overlooking New York. From this viewpoint, Manhattan is to my right, and barely visible on the edge of the frame. I wanted to include the reflections in the water as well, since the surreal blend of colors helped anchor the intricate fireworks. The photography technique is simplicity itself - a slow shutter speed, a low ISO and a medium aperture. In terms of photo gear - a tripod and remote release for the camera. Your Read more inside...Wedding photography tips
Wedding photography tips
When I first started as a wedding photographer, the biggest hurdle for me was feeling like I had a grasp over the entire day's time-line. For 8+ hours, you have to balance so many things - being creative, working with people, dealing with ever-changing environments and lighting situations, while still hitting every beat. You have to stay on top of things, and deliver the best images you can, as your clients expect of you. It felt over-whelming at the beginning, but eventually I found my stride - my own rhythm where I could more effortlessly do my work as a Read more inside...- « Previous Page
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