 Technique: The most important "secret" of good photography is the thought the photographer
puts into a picture before s/he even considers what type of film
to use! The point here is that we have to train ourselves to
think before we shoot! What color is our subject? How
can we make that color (or shade) stand out? By using an appropriate
background, of course! The choice of using even a simple, solid
color background that matches our subject's eye color can improve
our pictures. In the lovely picture to your left, notice how
the blue-violet shadows to the right of the model's head accentuate
her blue eyes. Notice, too how half the face is in a light shadow,
adding depth and texture. We have to ask ourselves: What do we
want to emphasize in our picture? How will we direct our viewers'
eye to our subject? If it's an outdoors photograph, how will
we separate our main subject from any other distracting elements
in our photograph? At which angle should we shoot? Is it important
to establish place in this photograph (i.e., is it important
for the viewer to know where our subject is? Or do we want to
hide the location)? If we're shooting people, what is our victim's
least appealing feature (i.e., a large nose, a bald head, pot
belly, lotsa wrinkles, etc.:)? How can we hide or de-emphasize
it? What's our subject's most appealing feature (i.e., eyes,
profile, smile, boobs - oops! sorry, I couldn't resist:) ? How
can we emphasize the attractive aspects of our subjects? These
are the questions photographers have to ask, before we
shoot. THINK before you shoot! MAKE a photograph - don't "take"
a snapshot! Review the "Tips" in this auction; take
the time and thought to prepare your photo sessions long
before your subject arrives! Learn to know what you want
before you put film in your camera. Learn to "design"
your pictures before you pick up your camera! Take a piece of
paper and a pencil, and sketch out what you want in the picture
you're considering; this will be a great help in the beginning,
and after a few weeks or months of doing this, you'll start to
do it all in your head, and won't need the pencil and paper any
more. Is your subject a child? If so, have some colorful toys
around. Is your victim a man? Have him bring a suit and some
jeans to the session. Is your subject an attractive and shapely
young woman? Ask her to bring a dressy outfit and a sexy outfit
or a bikini. Is your subject older? Be sure to have an umbrella
or softbox ready to hide the lines and wrinkles. Shooting outdoors?
Avoid placing a subject in the bright sunlight (which causes
squinting eyes and harsh shadows), and find some open shade to
shoot in (overcast days are great for outdoor shoots). I promise
you that a good photograph doesn't require the genius of an Einstein
- it just takes a little thought and preparation (creativity
and practice doesn't hurt either)! You don't have to study photography
for 20 years, just train yourself to think before you
shoot! Don't try to plan out 100 subjects all at once; think
about one or two, and then use 10 rolls of film on just a few
ideas. Shoot from different angles; shoot from different heights;
shoot with different lighting angles; shoot with color film;
shoot with black and white film; think, then shoot! Pretty soon,
you'll wake up one day and realize that you've changed; you'll
look at the world differently; you'll "see" things
most people never even notice; one day, you'll realize that you've
become something special; something different, but different
in a most amazing and wonderful way; you will have become - a
photographer!
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Quickie Technique #5: Exposure - All meters built into all cameras
are "reflection" meters; they read the light reflected
by our subjects AND everything else in our viewfinder! This often
causes incorrect readings, and pictures that turn out looking
like doo-doo. Instead of letting our camera's meter read the
exposure from our whole frame, set your built-in meter
to its "spot" setting. Then, center the most Important
part of your subject (i.e., the face of a person, the flower
petals of a flower, the coat of a dog, etc.) in your meter's
spot circle and take your reading; then, when our viewfinder's
spot circle is filled with our subject and NOT with the surroundings,
lock in exposure (e.g., press the shutter button half-way down),
re-compose the shot, and then press the shutter
button all the way down and make the exposure! I think you'll
be pleased with the results! More "quickie techniques"
information will be included in my other auction descriptions.
Thank you for viewing this auction, and may you have the very
best of luck!
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Photo
Tip #29: Go buy (or subscribe
to) at least a half-dozen top magazines (Vogue, Cosmo, GQ, Elle,
etc., etc. and don't forget my favorite, Playboy:). Then get
a 3-ring binder and a 3-hole punch; this will become your idea
and guide book. Go through the magazines and tear out every page
with an image that you admire, find interesting or striking,
or has dramatic lighting. Then take the pile of pages, punch
the holes in them, and put them into your binder. Separate the
images into categories. Study each picture to determine where
the strobes were located, how the shadowing was arranged, what
the background was (and how it was lit). When you're about to
do a portrait session, look at your victim's face; find similar
features and similar clothing on models in your binder, and see
how the pros lit them. Pay attention to where and how the hands
are placed in the pictures. Pay attention to where and how the
legs are placed in the pictures. Pay attention to what angle
the body is placed in relation to the camera; see how the clothing
is arranged, and how it relates to the background. Pay attention,
read the magazines, tear out pages, put them into your binder.
Study them. Emulate the best you find. This is the best way learn:
from those who are great - and successful - photographers! |
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From
whom should you buy your photographic equipment? Hey, it's your hard-earned money,
so you should buy from anybody you darn well like! However, one
of the advantages of buying from another photographer is that,
unlike "salesmen," who just want to "sell"
things to you, a photographer will know what you need,
and what you don't need; a photographer will know why
you'll need something, and why you won't need something;
a photographer will have actually used the equipment being sold,
and will be able to offer advice based on real-life experience.
Of course, the facts that photographers (like us) are usually
much better-looking, a lot smarter, definitely kinder,
and unquestionably much more creative than other folks, doesn't
hurt either, does it? ;-)
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Unlike the others who try to
cover up their own photographic illiteracy with not-so-vague
warnings cautioning you against buying from anyone else (but
them, that is:), I won't stoop to such reprehensible behavior;
I guess I'm just not greedy enough to do such things. In addition,
I trust you to be smart enough to make up your very own mind,
without my self-serving advice, telling you who you should
and shouldn't patronize. Sure, I'm in business to sell photographic
equipment, but I'd rather lose a few sales than insult my customers'
intelligence with admonitions like: "Buy from me! Don't
buy from the other guy!" So go ahead and check out what's
available, compare prices, quality, and customer service philosophies; see who you
think will provide more help and support. Then, check out the
feedback profiles; go look to see what the
other "photographic experts" were selling a few months
ago (that'll be a revelation:). Next visit the web sites, of
your potential suppliers (especially those who claim to be photographers
with "100 years experience," and see how much they
really know about photography). Then, in addition to the
usual, logical, informed, procedures for making your purchasing
decisions, check with the old standby that's almost always right,
your gut feelings. You might also want to consider the "Power
Fallacy" before making your purchasing decisions. Check
things out; make up your own mind. Then, without doubt, you'll
come to the right conclusion. [However, - just in the interest
of saving you time and trouble ;-) the conclusion you'll surely
come to is that "PhotoSource3"
on eBay (who is also the
beloved founder and talented creator of MyPhotoHome and Photographer'sSupplyStation)
is "Da Man" from whom to buy your photographic goodies!
=:-) ] Thank you for being kind enough to view this auction (I
hope you realize that my humor is meant to be fun, and is intended
with good will), may you have the best of luck, and don't forget,
as always, no matter who you choose to honor with your photographic
purchases, take (or better yet, "make") lots of great
pictures! And remember, you can't get good - unless you get started.
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