The Use of Negative Space – Making Great Images
A few weeks ago I posted an image of a Red Wing Blackbird with a fair amount of negative space. I have been asked a lot about the "negative space" so have posted a brief in my "Tips" section. Negative space and its use is not new to art. Centuries ago Asian art used negative space to define the primary subject and to draw emotional responses.So what is “Negative Space” – it is that area or space between objects or around an object but it is not a part of the object. It could be considered that which defines the outline or the border of the object. Yet it may or may not be the subject of your images.More
Cape Cod - any day any time
Took our house guests to the Cape. The weather was great, so lunch in Harwich Port and then Chatham. Last stop Brewester.This is at the Chatham Fish Pier mid afternoon light - NIK Color Efex 4 applied for effect.
This was at low tide in Brewester - once again a bit of drama with NIK filters.
On Location Photography
On location photography, particularly for people and pets needs to be carefully planned and thought out. Where you shoot is the key to how you shoot and what you will need to create the best image. Your colors, lights, backgrounds, hair styles, clothing and makeup will be based on the location you pick. Sure – you can take the easy way out – shoot in the studio. That would be so convenient and you could do your photography blindfolded. By the same token, don’t take your client to your downtown gazebo just because its there. Sure it is convenient, but ask yourself, does the location suit the subject, do the colors work, does the mood work and most important will you capture an image that will stir some emotion in the viewer. The gazebo is a nice place, but is it the best place – usually not.A well thought out location is one that will represent your client’s personality, their activities, their hobbies and pastimes. It would not be appropriate to photograph a musician at a horse race track, nor would you photograph a jockey in his silks in a concert hall. You get the point……..
Every human has a personality it is this personality that identifies this individual and you, as a photographer must capture the essence of this in your photograph. The place you identify as the stage for your image must not only compliment the personality but emphasize it. Remember that every subject is a unique individual, with their own personality.A successful portrait mandates your taking time to getting to know your subject, be it a person or a pet. Ascertain what their likes and dislikes are, their favorite colors, locations, activities, etc. In a short period of time you must get to know them.Portraying the individual and their personality becomes easier if the surroundings compliment the subject. It is amazing how quickly a person will relax when they are put in a familiar place or a place that is representative of their preference. A comfortable and relaxed subject will provide you the opportunity to capture the personality not just a portrait.Once you have spent some time getting to know your subject you can scout out a suitable location. Look for areas that provide diffuse light, keep in ming the time of day when you will be shooting. If it must be an indoor location, try and set it up so as to have soft natural light, in the Northern Hemisphere, South facing windows are ideal. Fill in with artificial light but rely on natural light.Another consideration for location choice that needs consideration is if the place is public or private. Public places can be problematic for a shy subject or if the subject is self-conscious. They may never become totally relaxed – and as a result you may find it nearly impossible to get a truly good portrait. You too may face issues in public places, crowds, curiosity and other disturbances.The last point and probably as important is that your location and its elements must not be or become the dominant features of your image. Remember you sought out the location to photograph your subject not the location. Let the subject shine not the great location you proudly found.
Lighting Demystified - Date Change April 29 to April 28
The April 29 workshop will now be held on April 28thThere are two spots open for April 22nd - Yesterdays workshop was sold out and was awesome.Click Here for Details "Lighting Demystified Workshop"Here are some comments from the post workshop survey:
As an advanced amateur with limited lighting experience, this course gave me a good overview of lighting fundamentals and their application in a variety of challenging situations. In addition, this course will provide me with a good basis for future lighting exploration as I further my photography skill set. Thanks Shiv!
4/16/2012 9:14 AM
I learned a tremendous amount about lighting. Concepts were explained, misconceptions eliminated and techniques to succeed were taught. The best of all was how to do this without spending a ton of money on equipment!
4/15/2012 9:45 PM
The workshop was excellent, I am glad I was made aware of it from a fellow camera club member. I really liked Shiv's teaching style, he got into the technical details of light and made sure everyone understood each concept before he moved on.
4/15/2012 9:06 PM
I just spent a day at Shiv Verma's workshop on understanding Artificial Lighting. I came away from the workshop with a clearer understanding on the importance and the use of artificial lighting as well as the different types of lighting currently available. I highly recommend this program to the serious photographer interested in improving their skill set as well as gaining a better understanding on mastering light. Zig Cape Cod
4/15/2012 8:48 PM
New photography Classes - Novice to beginner and more
Announcing two new photography classes. One for the real novice - suitable for non working parents, or someone who just wants to learn how to take better pictures. Individuals with point and shoot cameras are welcome. Classes will be on Monday mornings for two hours and will run for 4 weeks. Click Here for details Photography Basics ClassThe second class is a photography one on one class that will be run on Monday evenings for 5 weeks. This is for photographers who have advanced beyond the point and shoot and want to become better at making good images. Click here for details - Photography 1-on-1See also "Lessons"
Lighting Demystified Workshops - Status and Date Change
The workshop on April 15 is now full. April 22nd has two spots available. April 29th will now be held on April 28th as a number of photographers have requested a Saturday Workshop instead of Sunday.
Finding your style
A statement/comment I made on Facebook a while back keeps echoing. "When you find your style - your photography becomes your signature."The more I think of it the more real it becomes. So go out and photograph for yourself not for others - you will find your style.I reposted it and it stirred up a number of very interesting responses. So I added some fuel. Here is the post:About what's not. I am linking to an article that I loved - the best is stated by Ed Ruscha midway into the article - http://www.guardian.co.uk/
New Pages - Photography Tips
I know there is tons of information on thousands of cyber space pages and probably an equal number of physical pages, but when I am asked a question of a friend need a tip or trick on how-to, where do I send them.........An easy response is "Google it", now they have to sift through pages and pages of articles from the simple to PHD level theory and this can become overwhelming.When asked last week, if I could help someone on a FB group with some pointers on photographing the moon I decided to create a page of "tips" on my web.The idea is to provide tips in no more than a single, easy to read page. A place on my site where you can create a book mark and have easy reference. This is not meant to contain multi-page articles - I will find another place for those.At this time I have added two tips and will add more. If you have an idea for a tip or just need one - please post a comment on this blog or email me. I will do my best to sequentially add to the page and segment the tip in groups as the volume grows.Here is a link to the "tips"
Lighting Demystified
Announcing three One Day Lighting Workshops April 15, 22, and 29, 2012. Each workshop is limited to 8 participants and is from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Workshops include a Pizza Lunch. Click Here for Details.Information on these and other workshops is available in the Workshops section of this web site.
There is beauty in a dead flower
This is a single flower from hydrangea bunch from our back
yard. Last year's bloom that was nice and crisp. The lines and forms were so inviting. This was shot indoors with cross-lighting so as to bring out detail and texture. Conversions to monochrome in NIK Silver Efex Pro.
Using Lightroom 3 Develop Module Presets in Lightroom 4
For Lightroom 3 users upgrading to Lightroom 4 or 4.1 who have lots of presets that are applicable in the develop module be cautioned. These LR3 presets will not have the same effect when you convert your image to PV 2012 (Process Version 2012)The best way to handle this is to select your image in the Develop module in LR4. Next select the preset and click on the exclamation icon on the lower right of your image. Using the pop-up dialog allow the update version to execute.Now you will need to make necessary modifications with the sliders in the basic panel as these are no loner the same as in LR3. Once you are satisfied with the results of your adjustments you can save this as a new preset.
Canon 5D Mk III support now available in the Lightroom 4.1 Release Candidate
Adobe labs had made available release candidate Lightroom 4.1 - This corrects a bunch of bugs and adds support for the Canon 5D Mark III.Click here for a link to the release
Comments from attendees of my last Macro and Close-up workshop on the 25th
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of the participants for attending and helping make the workshop so enjoyable. I too learn from you during my sessions - photography is all about sharing and learning from each other. Thank you all for your wonderful feedback - I truly value and appreciate it.Here is what the participants had to say.I found the tips on how to do macro less expensively (Home Depot solutions) very valuable.I thought the presentation followed by the hands-on session was perfect. It allowed for questions to be answered and bugs to be worked out before you were alone trying it for the first time.I picked up lots of good tips in the morning session. All in all, an excellent day.Would like more hands-on - possibly a second day of all hands-on and outdoors.After hearing you speak last summer, I was looking forward to the workshop. Exceeded my expectations. Thanks, Shiv. Dan LoganShiv presented the overall basics of macro photography, but also gave specific training in Helicon Focus software. I appreciated advancing my macro skills with a technique I had not known. It was a very enjoyable day.I knew a lot of theory of Macro photography prior to the workshop, however I lacked the experience of actually taking images. Shiv's workshop gave me a lot of that experience. I had tried Helicon Focus about five years ago when it first came out. This workshop brought me up to date about Helicon Remote which automates much of the process of actually taking the multiple photos. This minimizes much of the manual frustrating work. Kent MessamoreShiv is truly a fantastic workshop leader. He shares all of his information with you freely rather than holding back "tricks of the trade". He is knowledgable and has come up with some ingenious ways of making your photography dollars stretch by making your own equipment rather than buying expensive gadgets. I look forward to taking another workshop with him in the very near future.Shiv is very technically knowledgable and has the organization to teach what he knows.Shiv delivers smoothly-paced training with lots of useful tips and plenty of visual examples, and he makes his expertise available during the hands-on session. A day well-spent.Shiv is truly a professional. His expertise is clearly evident. I would not hesitate to take another class with himIf you want to know more about macro and learn focus stacking this is a great workshop. The first part of the day is a comprehensive overview of different macro subject matter, as well as your "shopping list" and tips on saving money on the things you will need. The afternoon hands on part of the workshop has plenty of set-ups and items you can move around so you can shoot what interests you. Shiv is very patient and helpful, and will instruct on anything you ask to make sure you have a great experience.
Announcing Two Yosemite & Mono Lake - Photo Tours and Workshops in September 2012
Yosemite National Park is one of America’s most iconic landscapes offering some of the world’s most spectacular landscape photo opportunities. The valley is surrounded by high granite mountain walls carved by glaciers creating beautiful shapes. The waterfalls are spectacular as are the lakes and streams in the park.Mono Lake is unlike any other landscape in the world. Its beautiful tufas, alkaline water, desert-like vistas make it a remarkable place for photography. Sometimes it seems that you are on another planet or may be on a lunar surface. The late summer weather generally provides some interesting cloud formations.
Finally a universal camera plate that fits Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto Heads
Custom SLR a Kick Start funded company has released the M-Plate which is a universal camera tripod plate system that will work with either Manfrotto RC2 and Arca-Swiss mounting systems. it also include multiple attachment points for accessories. Priced at $75 it is made in USA.Note - this will not replace an "L" bracketClick here for more details on the Custom SLR web site.
IR imagery in Incandescent Light
Going a step further with the same Iris,
I took an image with my IR camera and adjusted it in Lightroom 4 so as to take the background to black. As the light was an incandescent source the true IR was not evident. Additional adjustments in LR4 yielded this.
Iris Close-up - the effect of white balance
Decided to do some close-up work this morning with an iris (indoors). The flower was lit with two simple reflector based workman's lamps each with a 60 W incandescent bulb. The first setup was created with auto white balance fooling the camera a bit to consider a cloudy situation thereby enhancing the warm tones.
This next image is with a slightly different composition and crop created after doing a custom white balance to have color accuracy despite the mixed light. Both images were photographed using the identical background.
Items for Sale
For sale one slightly used Canon 50D body with original packaging and all original accessories.One used Canon 1D Mark II with all original accessories, one extra battery and the 110 Volt AC power supply.One brand new never used Tamron 90mm Macro lens.Call or email me for details.
Adobe Labs releases a public Beta of Photoshop CS 6
Adobe Labs had released a public Beta of Photoshop CS 6.You can download the Mac and Windows versions at the following link:http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/photoshopcs6.htmlI have downloaded a copy and am installing it now. Stay tuned for my picks and comments on the new and updated features.
Canon - one big leap forward - the 600EX-RT radio based wireless flash
Canon's latest flash the 600EX-RT with built in radio-based wireless triggering that gives you full E-TTL and allows you to control 15 600EX-RT slave units (NO MORE LINE OF SIGHT). In my opinion this is a huge leapfrog over the competition. Yes everybody is talking about the 5D Mark III but this is the best new product – wow Canon!!! – you did listen to your customers and what an awesome response.
To get the most out of these units you will need to marry the unit with either the %D Mk III or the new 1DX. You can arrange the remote flash units in groups for a total of five and have total control over each group. What is even more impressive is a flash head zoom range from 20mm to 200mm.Also impressive is Canon's ST-E3-RT wireless transmitter, which offers all the triggering functions built into the flash without the need for one unit on the camera.I am providing a link to Syl Arena’s blog where he provides his first impressions of these fabulous units. Click here.