Photo by wilde108

One of my fondest childhood memories is the field trip. Not only did you get out of classes for the day, but nine out of ten times the destination was an interesting one. This month I invite you to take a field trip with me into the world of Black & White HDR photography.

Are you good enough?

There are many levels of expertise when it comes to photographic technique, and I am no exception. I do not consider myself an “expert” in anything, whether it be parenting or photography, as I am continually learning just like you. When I was thinking about what to write about this month, I decided to pick something I know very little about, and perhaps using the basic tools and techniques we can take this project on together.

Please, no pushing or shoving, and let’s board the HDR bus single file and be on our way!

Photo by Edinator

What is HDR, and why should I use it?

HDR or “High Dynamic Range Imaging,” is nothing more than another way to take a “flat” photo and bring it to life. Much like “Tilt Shifting,” which is gaining immense popularity, or Panography which are wide-angle pictures composed of several individual photos manually stitched together, it all comes down to manipulating a photograph to give it a unique look, and if done correctly, can result in images that take your breath away.

HDR in Color

Photo by va-guy

Color HDR photographs are stunning, but when you see a black and white HDR done correctly, it is downright amazing.

HDR in Black & White

Photo by holala830

I invite you to take a walk just down the road to the Flickr HDR black & white pool, in fact, I am making it a mandatory part of our field trip, trust me, you will see HDR in an entirely new light.

What tools will I need?

To create an HDR image, you will need special software, which some of you may already own. Below is a short list of the more popular programs, however, for those of you who like myself may be unemployed or just short on cash, I have included some free or “trial basis” programs as well.

1. Photomatix

2. Dynamic Photo – HDR

3. GIMP (FREE) and yes it does HDR ~ See Here!

4. PTgui

5. Adobe Photoshop CS5

Your Assignment, should you choose to accept

Photo by xTheSpaz

Now that we have learned a bit about what HDR is, have the tools, and have seen some examples of the possibilities, I invite you to join me in creating our first black and white HDR together. This is my first time using this technique, so consider this a field trip into a new realm of photographic technique.

Your assignment, as well as mine, is to begin uploading your HDR black & white photos as you feel comfortable, and continue uploading throughout the month, but do not take your originals down as that will defeat the purpose of progress. Remember, this is NOT a contest, but rather a timeline to learn from each other. I ask that you upload a minimum of one new black and white HDR photo every week regardless of the quality. Should you have questions or comments feel free to post them hear, or if you prefer one on one communication you can contact me via Twitter by direct message, or head over to my blog and drop me a line via my contact form.

For your convenience I have created a Flickr pool exclusively for the readers of Fuel your photography’s “Zero Saturation,” which can be accessed at this link. When uploading images I recommend using your initials or first name so, we can keep track of everyone. Lastly, if you are proficient with HDR, this group is not for you, and I would ask that you respect the group policies. Please Feel free to engage in the comments below, but please do not upload any photographs.

Remember we are ALL in this together, and I truly believe that we can help one another become better photographers in the end, and who knows,  you may just get out of a few classes.

I will see everyone back here next month for part two of this series.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

©Photo-Fenix.com

About two years ago, a good friend of mine needed a change a pace and a change of perspective.  At the time I worked for an airline and I had won two free passes to anywhere they flew.  We looked at the flights and decided on a four day trip to Lima, Peru.  I know passable Spanish (Cerveza, por favor) and figured it would be different enough from my French Canadian joie de vivre. My friend is an avid photographer and we basically carried more camera gear than changes of clothes. We had a great time going to different parts of town, sleeping on a new found friend’s couch (thanks Couch Surfer!), and enjoy

the “occasional” pisco sour.  However, on one of our jaunts our cab driver got hopelessly lost and whether it was my poor communication skills or his lack of direction, we were zipping through the part of town we were told to avoid.  We were excited as we had decided to avoid this part of town because we would not likely come out with all our gear; so of course, out come our cameras as we discreetly as possible tried to shoot our environment.  Our taxi driver just about had a heart attack.  He told us to put the cameras away as he wagged his fingers feverishly.  And although I can’t be completely sure, I am sure he was indicating we were being followed.  For the first time during this perfect trip, I was concerned for my well being.  (Kindly note, Lima is one of my favourite cities in the world because of that trip and would move there in a heartbeat given the opportunity. Te amo, Lima!)

The camera gear between the two of us was probably worth at least 10 times the value of the car we were in.  The average monthly salary in Peru is $200 USD.  For the few people out there looking to improve their situation in a dishonest fashion, we would have been an easy mark.  I got to thinking about the privileged life I was born into.  While I am not sipping champagne on craving caviar, I might as well be compared to a large population of the world.   For example, I could work one wedding and clear the average yearly salary in Peru and still be giving a great deal.  We have an expensive hobby/passion/job and are fortunate to be able to partake in it.  And though it is a fictional web slinger’s who says, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” it is most certainly a truth that we consider in a non-fictional way.

So what can you do?  Glad you let me ask that for you.

Being aware

While we are just one in 7 billion humans to inhabit this planet, there are certainly things we can do.  I understand that it is a lot easier to care about what piece of equipment to buy or which cable package suits your needs best, than to think about oil spills, earthquakes, and floods.  If things don’t happen here and now, it’s hard to give it priority; there is a bigger world out there and it is even more beautiful than our small piece of it.  Photography is a huge vessel to bring awareness of the good and bad out there.  To see the pain of a family who have lost loved ones due to an earthquake helps us get one step closer to action.  To see the victory of a young child rescued from tons of rubble brought a worldwide smile and tears of joy.  Organizations such as Focus for Humanity’s mission entail “providing financial support, resources, and training for professional and amateur photographers who capture these stories of our shared humanity and to help fund their work with NGO’s.”  On a smaller scale Child Labor Photo Project focuses on “photographing individual children in their worlds – their families, communities, countries – hoping to see behind the child labor label.”  There are issues and problems that need to be addressed in your neighbourhoods and towns and using your gifts, talents, and equipment you can bring attention and draw others to a cause they may not know existed.  That’s the first step.

Take action

We know there are issues out there, globally and locally.  If you don’t you may as well continue on to another site for some celebrity gossip.  However, some aren’t necessarily issues, but ways that you can take action yourself.  There are probably friends and/or family in your circle that could never afford for a professional photo session for a pregnant mom, a newborn baby, or family portraits.  I know I couldn’t.  No matter what your level or equipment is have you thought of offering to spend an afternoon, an hour even, and giving them a red carpet treatment?  If you want an idea of professional already doing this, check out Help-Portrait; they are a “movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate.”  Make sure you check out their videos.

It only gets bigger from there.  There are community groups, beginning artists, actors, and musicians trying to get a leg up and a head start; some great photos for a portfolio or website would be really handy!  There are probably festivals, churches, community events that would welcome a willing photographer with open arms.  Do you know how animated kids can get when in front of a camera?  Think of the schools with sports, arts, and other extra-curricular activities that could benefit from photographic encouragement.

You’re in need

Do you know that there are programs all over the world the puts cameras into the hands of kids, of the disabled, the less fortunate to boost their creativity, to further their development, and to give hope?  Do you know that there is an emerging field within art therapy that encourages participants to take pictures as a way of expressing themselves and confronting their issues?  There is another side of it where clients look at pictures as part of their healing process? Now imagine, we get to do this all the time.  We can pick up our camera and express ourselves.  We can delve into a feeling, emotion, or subject like no other medium out there.  I can promise you, you will grow.  You will grow as a person and as a photographer.  Check out “Born into Brothels.” Get your creative juices going.

©Photo-Fenix.com

The tone of this post may seem aggressive at spots, but that’s only because I am wrestling with this personally.  I have to go out and do this.  I can make people aware of important issues; I can help.  I have friends and family I can serve by doing a free shoot.  If you have other ideas, I and others would love to hear them.   If you have given of your photography share your stories with us.  Let’s help each other out.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Ed.Notes

Photo Credits from top to bottom

Photo 2: Photo-Fenix

Photo 5: Danny C. Jackson

Photo 6: Nyúl Dániel’s

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

I’m not ashamed to admit: I’m a huge fan of Project Runway (there, I said it).  Something about watching people putting fabrics and materials together to create amazing pieces of clothing intrigues me.  I blame it on my culinary background, where throwing semi-random ingredients together to create an amazing dish fascinates me.  So, when I was approached to do a fashion shoot, I wasn’t sure what to expect – it’s not like the food or product photography I’m accustomed to.  I did my homework and made sure I read every bit of literature to get my head around what I was in for.  With this being the first kind of shoot I’ve ever done to this magnitude, it was nerve-wracking, but through the challenges I experienced, I learned valuable lessons and experienced an end result I am beyond pleased about.

I met the Tranquilista, Kimberly Wilson, after doing a previous shoot for a company that is releasing a DC guidebook that will be coming out TBD, and after reuniting at an event that was being hosted by this company, she discussed the photography for a book launch fête she was hosting (yes, she also writes books) and we talked about the possibility of also working on her upcoming clothing line launch.  It wasn’t something I’ve done before, but I certainly wasn’t opposed to the idea!  She always has a sweet disposition, and every time I’ve left her vicinity, I’ve felt at peace and, well, tranquil.  The model, Allison, works out in San Francisco (I’m jealous) and met Kimberly on a yoga retreat.  She blew my mind in how natural of a model she was – she had never done modeling before!  I was completely spoiled to have a model like her to work with!  Kimberly’s assistant was a fellow yogi, Eden, who was also a great pair of eyes to have around, as she noticed certain things before I even got to them and made my workflow easy.  I figured her clothing line would be a great step in the right direction for my business, and one step closer to shooting Michael Kors… err, I mean Heidi Klum.

You can read all the articles and publications you can get your hands on, but nothing prepares you for the challenges you face in your first clothing shoot!  Especially when you’re starting out, it’s hard to obtain some of the things you need to get going, and one of my biggest challenges is studio space.  Simply put, I don’t have any.  There are a few photographers that rent out their studio space, but trying to coordinate your schedule with theirs gets hairy, and I wasn’t able to get anything concrete on such a limited timeline (as in, only one day to shoot).  Fortunately for me, the designer is a do-it-all, and not only does she design clothing and publish books, she also runs her own yoga studio.  She had a room that wasn’t being occupied, so we converted it for the shoot with my portable seamless.  Another challenge was trying to properly light the subject.  The lights in the studio were adequate, but my single umbrella was going to make lighting tricky.  Plus, lighting products or food is completely different from lighting people!  I have used it before this shoot, so I understood how the lighting was going to work along with natural light from outdoors.  The biggest challenge was post-production: it SUCKED!  Because of my lighting, the white background turned almost a pinkish-gray.  This required a LOT of converting the background to white, which was excruciatingly painful.  Add to that the numerous photos I had to work on, it was an enormous headache!  However, now I’ve got the rhythm and technique down to make future shoots not so tedious.

I was certainly glad for the experience, but more so, for the lessons that resulted from this shoot.  I now understand the amount of time that results in these kinds of shoots, and that all of the time spent editing what was only a four-hour shoot needs to be compensated for.  With that, you must make sure that all of the terms of the agreement for the shoot are established well in advance, so there isn’t any confusion for future shoots and everything gets handled in a timely manner.  Luckily for me, she and I have worked together previously and were able to come to a mutual understanding relatively quickly, so nothing got dragged out, and we have already established terms for the next shoot months in advance.  Aside from that, more equipment is always helpful, especially to get the images that you want, so don’t be afraid to rent or borrow from a photographer buddy.  I was still starting out, so I didn’t have the connections or the equipment back then like I do now, and I know that I’ll be better equipped for my next shoot.  I’ve upgraded my camera and speed light since the previous shoot, which should make things noticeably better.  I’m still dreaming about better strobes and a Pocket Wizard, which are still out of my budget (for now – if I starve myself long enough, I’ll be able to get them), but thankfully I’ve made friends and have the hook-ups.  It’s all about networking!

The shoot was fantastic, and thanks to Eden for the help and Allison for being such a natural and wonderful model.  Because of them, the shoot went without a hitch, and we were extremely productive with a lot of great shots.  Most of all, thanks to Kimberly Wilson, who has been such a great client of mine for these past months.  I’ve had a lot of great work as a result of her, and she’s always such a pleasure to work with!  You can view her yoga and lifestyle clothing line, as well as other photos of the resulting shoot at her website: tranquilit.com. I am always surprised when I have a shoot involving something I never believed I’d get into and enjoy it beyond belief – it didn’t involve photographing food, yet was one of the most fun shoots I’ve had to date!

Next stop: Vanity Fair.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Model photography is an art, traveling and model photography is a whole different kettle of fish. Not being on your home ground may make you feel uneasy but with some careful planning you can overcome any obstacles real or perceived.

The Movement – a New York dance group shot in Federal Circle, New York City!

The Five W’s

Who, what, when, where, why and how? Answer these questions and you are well on the way to having a successful shoot. Planning is the most important part of any shoot. The old adage applies if you fail to plan you plan to fail, it really is true! I’ve seen many a shoot be bungled because simple obstacles have fouled up a shoot.

Model:  Irene shot in a room at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Who?

Who are you going to shoot? Choosing the appropriate models is key. You have a couple of choices, of course if you are working with an agency they will source and supply models for you to shoot. However,  if you are working on your own you have to source your own models with the resources on the Internet you can utilize a site such as Model Mayhem to source models. You have a couple of choices here also, you can either shoot Time For CD (TFCD) a common arrangement between photographers and models where you supply the model with copies of the images for their use as compensation for their services. Alternatively, you can pay the models for their services. In my experience if you are going to do a TFCD arrangement you should opt to source more than one model for a shoot as at times some models are not punctual or don’t show up.

Model releases are an important protection for photographers and should be executed prior to any shoot. A special model release should be executed for anyone under the age of majority. Model releases should generally, allow photographers to use the photos at their discretion, allow photographers to edit photographs and be non-rescindable. Model releases should also clearly state the compensation for the models services and have the signature of the model affixed along with their printed name and address.

Models:  Dennys and Paris – Holiday Inn, Saddlebrook, NJ USA

What?

You should have a concept of your shoot beforehand; this helps you to formulate the shoot in your mind so that you make sure to have all the necessary supplies to have a successful shoot. It is important to know what you are shooting so you have a suitable location. When you have your concept in mind you then shoot with a purpose instead of just randomly. Take your props along, ask models to bring shoot appropriate clothing.  Shooting a model just because they are attractive is a common fault as may gain you a reputation of being a Guy with a Camera (GWC).

Models:  Carla, Alexis, Mark and Paul – Blue Trees Resort, Orlando, FL USA

When?

Shooting times are more important for outdoor shots than indoor shots, if you are using artificial lighting you are free to shoot at any time. If you are using natural lighting you must conform to Mother Nature. Use popular weather sites to find out what climate is like what time sunrise and sunset are so that you don’t  travel to a location to find unsuitable conditions. Choose suitable times that are conductive to models being able to make the shoot in addition to yourself if you have to travel to a location. If you are flying in to shoot be aware of possible travel delays you can check the reliability of any flight at FlightZoo.  Travel arrangements are important and you should have contingencies when flying, if you are driving you have more control of your own destiny, carefully check Google maps for commuting times between all locations. I highly recommend a GPS also, I program all my locations into mine before I leave home!

Member of The Movement dance group in Federal Circle, NYC USA

Where?

When you have a concept of the outcome of your shoot you can then select an appropriate location. Indoor shoots can be done in a studio or an adapted studio, outdoor shoots are best done outside instead of trying to simulate the effect. If you are shooting with an agency they will source a studio for indoor  shots or the location for outdoor shots. If you are shooting with your own personal concept this responsibility now becomes yours. In my own experience I’ve found that a hotel room makes an amazing studio and there are no travel problems in getting there as it is already your hotel room. Residence Inns or similar properties are great because you have your own bedroom and also a separate living room which makes a perfect studio, including a kitchen if you want to simulate shots in a home. If you don’t have this facility in your location, make sure you source a hotel room with 2 queen beds because when it comes to time to shoot you can literally flip one bed onto the other so that you have more space in your room to shoot. The curtain at the back of the room makes a perfect backdrop but more importantly it makes perfect place to hang your own background on with the application of a few clips or even hairpins. Contacting the hotel directly can also be very fruitful, I’ve done this for various hotels and properties such as the Hotel Diva in San Francisco gave me carte blanche for the entire property, they excel at rolling out the red carpet to accommodate virtually any guest request. For  lighting you should carry a couple flash heads, I carry 3 Nikon Speedlights and a SU-800 Remote Commander and they are sufficient to overcome any lighting situation (although I use Nikon primarily, I believe the best choice of equipment is the one that works for you, I also own Canons and Olympus and use them all). You can utilize these on backdrops or even using the armoire with a couple of translucent reflectors wedged between the ceiling and the top of the armoire at 90 degree angles with a remote activated flash placed on the inside to form your very own softbox. However, if you are shooting outdoors in a location that you are unfamiliar with be sure to do your research online, I’ve personally used Opacity, choose unusual sites, nothing ruins a shot like having a tourist like image as your background. Do you legwork on the internet before you even leave home for the shoot.

Models: Wilber, Donna and Jorge – The Diva Studio, West Palm Beach, FL USA

Why?

Why are you shooting? Answer this question and it will help to make sure you have asked the model to  bring the correct clothing for the shoot (if this is not the responsibility of the Agency/Stylist) in addition to seeing if a Make Up Artist (MUA) is required. MUAs can also be source using online resources such as Model Mayhem.  Possible scenes you may shoot are: fashion, haute couture, swimwear, lifestyle to name a few. Swimwear models need to have a suitable body for other models you may be able to use a model that does not have an overused gym membership. For all models the face is important, source a model that is conductive to your purpose.

How!

Shooting persons is has it idiosyncrasies.  If you are shooting on location not only do you have to be a master of shooting the type of location but you must also be a master humorist and psychologist.  To get  the most captivating images you MUST engage the model, they must have not only the concept of your image but they must also get feedback from you as you are the only one that can see the viewfinder unless you are shooting tethered and displaying the images live on a PC.  You should look all around your viewfinder for spoilers in addition to making sure that the model has the ideal post and expression.  I’ve found that instead of telling models “smile” you should have a repertoire of humorous jokes to tell (avoid politics, religion and off color jokes).  You must do all this while having control of your camera so it is important to know your camera well.  Model photography is like a fine dance, you must have a symbiotic relationship with the model to evoke the best results.  It is like a fine dance and you will often have to mimic the pose you want to achieve while operating the camera.  Making that connection and giving feedback will improve your images tremendously.  Practice with a friend or a family member.

Models:  Alice and Chris – Foul Bay Beach, Barbados West Indies

Wrap up!

With all the above elements addressed the next most important thing is production of final photographs.  Models are always excited to see the final product and you should give them a date that you can   reasonable process the images in. Under no circumstances should you provide the RAW images to the model and only provide them to the agency if expressly requested. Providing RAW images to models shows that you have no pride in your work. You should edit the photographs and provide only those images that you truly feel show the quality of your work. Don’t feel overwhelmed, you’ll realize that the process of model photography provides a few more issues than any other type of photography, inanimate objects do not have egos/feeling so you need to be a capable photographer in addition to a psychologist. I’ll leave you with the 3 most important words in model photography: plan, plan, plan!

PHOTO CREDITS

Photos listed from top down.

3 “Model:  Edric Hunter’s Point, Queens, NY, USA”

6 “Model:  Carla – Blue Trees Resort, Orlando, FL USA”

8 “Model: Manfred train depot near Saddlebrook, NJ USA”

9 “Models:  Wilber, Donna and Jorge – The Diva Studio, West Palm Beach, FL USA”

11 “Model:  Alexis – The Radisson San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico”

13 “Model: Wilber – Train depot near the Davie Blvd Tri-Rail stop in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA”

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

It occurred to me one day as I was driving about that I was limiting myself when it came to creating opportunities to shoot.  It had been a series of bright sunny days, and I found myself wishing that we’d get some overcast conditions so I could get out and shoot again.  Some point shortly after, I realized that was silly, and started lurking in shady places to shoot on sunny days.  I had subconsciously fallen into conventions I’d picked up along the way, and my creativity suffered for it.  Photography means  “painting with light.”  Maybe it wouldn’t hurt us light painters to take a fresh look at our magical palette.  This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive treatise on various types, temperatures and qualities of light, but rather a few observations I’ve made as I’ve discovered the joy of light all over again.

Over the years I’ve read many articles that give the impression, or state outright, that bright midday sun is to be avoided.  The middle of the day is recommended as a good time to edit and organize your photos, or do other business related chores.  Professional outdoor photographers speak of scheduling their shoots to catch the magical light that happens briefly at the crack of dawn.  (The pros have a second practical motivation for this: if they’re shooting at iconic locations, they need to beat the crowds.)  Most of the beautiful outdoor photos we admire are taken in the luxurious warm hues of sunrise or sunset.  These are just a few of the ways we can subconsciously absorb the notion to leave our cameras behind when the light is at it’s brightest.

So what about that bright, harsh midday sun?  One of my favorite applications is finding opportunities to blow out highlights to artistic effect.  Be careful here, as we’re flirting with breaking another photographic rule.  But in the right situation, this can provide stunning results.

Another thing that bright sunlight provides is the opportunity to capture fantastic shadows.  Brighter light means bolder and sharper definition of the shadows.  Keep your eyes open; shadows can appear in the most unexpected of places.  I like to walk in the woods on sunny days.  The sunlight filtering through the canopy always provides interesting and sometimes entertaining shadow play.

Sunny days can also present excellent backlighting situations.  You can go for the silhouette variety of backlight, or you can keep your eyes open for translucent surfaces through which to shoot.  In this example Yaz has done a magnificent job capturing a super hot highlight and amazing detail in the backlit leaf.  She has also caught a nice burst of flare, which adds to the high drama of the shot.  This is another rule I like to break.  Over the years I’ve heard lots of warnings not to let flare ruin your pictures.  Flare can ruin your pictures if you don’t know what you’re doing, or if you’re not paying attention.  But in the right situations it can add an extra dimension of wonder to your shot, as Yaz has ably demonstrated.

You can also keep your eyes open for any type of different or unusual surface that reflects the light in that magical glinty way.  Water, glass, and shiny metal are obvious candidates for this technique.  Dew drops on flowers and pond reflections are the first things that come to mind.  Never pass those up, but always be on the alert for more unusual combinations. For example, lately I’ve been noticing litter.  I’ve found wonderful condensation in discarded juice bottles, and colorful luminescence in broken glass.  Not one’s usual vision of outdoor photography, but hey, its outdoors!  The world is our canvas, and we paint with light.

I’ve always enjoyed shooting on overcast days, because cloud cover disperses light evenly and generally provides excellent opportunity to capture vibrant colors.  Unless the weather provides the dramatic clouds of a gathering or dispersing storm, overcast conditions are usually best suited to keeping the camera close to the ground; Too much dull gray sky will often render photographs lifeless and boring.

Light diffused by a cloud cover can provide a different kind of highlight.  This is especially true when the clouds bring a bit of rain into the mix.  Water always has a way of making colors pop.  It also reflects light, and can add some nice highlights to a scene that wouldn’t be there on a dry or sunny day.  Richard has utilized several of the techniques outlined above in this shot.  The rain water yields some nicely muted reflections, and brings out the gorgeous color and detail of the snail’s shell that couldn’t have been achieved under less damp conditions.

Even the best among us can fall into habits of shooting that by definition limit creativity.  Identify some of the conventional habits you’ve formed and bust yourself loose.  Go out and break all the rules; explore the full range of your magical palette of light.  You will be continually amazed and delighted by the diversity of possibilities with which nature will reward you as you expand your powers of observation.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Next to the birth of my child, this was the most beautiful scene I had ever laid eyes on. Most people are uncomfortable in a cemetery during the day, and would not even give a second thought to venturing out at night, but I am not most people, and for that I am grateful.

Since my earliest childhood memory, I have always been drawn to the “darker” side of life. Although looked down upon by family and peers, it is this very thought process that introduced me to the world of black & white photography, and ignited my imagination which is made evident in my writing and music.

This month I have decided to showcase five extremely talented photographers from France, Poland, Portugal, Thailand, and Bangladesh.

They have agreed to share their work, techniques, and inspiration with the readers of Zero Saturation, and although the photographs are not all “dark,” in the sense of “gloomy” or “unnatural”, they portray their work from a perspective that most of us will never comprehend, which is still a form of dark photography.

Below each biography are links to the photographer pages and social networks, to which I implore you to visit, as you will not find this caliber of work and imagination elsewhere.

“La mare aux fées” by Bloody Countess (Sylvain)

“La mare aux fées” by Bloody Countess (Sylvain)

This photo was taken in the forest of Fontainebleau, near Paris, France, where Sylvain calls home. When translated, La mare aux fée means “The Pond Fairy.” Sylvain, or “Bloody Countess” as he is known on Deviant Art has always had a passion for photography and is influenced by the works of Doisneau, Arbus, Caron and Marsden.

“I love the thought of being transported beyond the image, and freeing my imagination and emotion much like that of a painter,” expressed Sylvain.

The photograph was taken during a walk in the forest using an Olympus Reflex with an objective 14:42mm lens. The photo went through very minimal light and color adjustments in Photoshop, so what you see is very true to the original photograph.

If you would like to learn more about Bloody Countess, or Sylvain as we know him, please take the time to visit his Deviant Art site, as well as his MySpace page where he works artistically with many bands.

“The Place of the Devil” by by Maciek Mutwil

“The Place of the Devil” by by Maciek Mutwil

This photo was taken in the city of Bytom, Poland at an old workers area. Maciek or “breathofindustry” as he is know on Deviant Art was born In Katowice, Poland, which is an industrialized area. He has been interested in photography since the age of four, however, in 2009  Maciek decided to take it up a few notches and pursue it on a more serious level. His focus is industrial landscapes and anything closely related such as workers settlements, cities, and urbanization in general. A secondary interest is photographing people, and his work can be divided into two groups, Reportage and Turpizm.

The photograph was taken two and a half years ago in a section of the city typically known for abandoned industrial buildings. He noticed a stray dog walking by, however, the movement made it a difficult capture due to the camera setup. Maciek could have easily tossed the photograph due to the blurred dog, but instead decided to remove the color, add some texture, adjust the channels, and add a pinch of gray. This became “The Place of the Devil,” and in the photographers own words, “When I look into the picture, I see this as a place that the devil could manifest or perhaps take up residence.” A Minolta Z5 was used for this and many other photos, however, Maciek’s choice of camera is the Canon 30D with an array of lenses for different effects.

Maciek is going to create his own website this summer, however, in the mean time you can find his photography at Deviant Art. He is also a musician, and describes his music as “Ambient sounds which compliment his photography.” If you are interested in checking out his music, you can visit his Myspace page.

“Rossio” by João Neves

“Rossio” by João Neves

This photo was taken in “Praça D. Pedro IV” (usually known as Rossio) in Lisboa, Portugal. João or jpgmn as he is known on Deviant Art was born in 1975, and is a professional software developer. His first camera was a basic “point and shoot,” however, nowadays he wields a Nikon D80 as his camera of choice. If we were to peek inside his camera bag, we would see a Nikkor 18-70, 50mm, 1.8D, 70-300VR and Sigma 10-20, as well as a SB600 flash, a Slik Pro 340DX tripod and some square Hitech filters. João considers his style of photography to be “urban.”

The photograph was taken in April of 2009 when his wife’s parents came to visit and wanted to visit Lisboa. A few weeks before, he had purchased a new filter and been eager to try it in an urban scenario. The filter was a 10 stop ND (neutral density) filter, which is known for long exposure in broad daylight. This type of exposures would allow him to capture the clouds movement for example. He packed up his gear and headed to Lisboa. The objective was to capture the cloud movement and “erase” the people from the street. João admits The 10 stop filter is a bit tricky to use and admits that he is still learning how to use it, however, the picture turned out better than expected. To read the entire story behind this photo, head over to http://thestorybehindmyphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/rossio.html

This particular photograph was shot with a Nikon D80 / Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC /  Hitech 85 ND 3.0 filter / Shutter Speed: 30/1 second / Aperture: F/22.0 / Focal Length: 12 mm and an ISO Speed of100.

If you would like to see more of João’s work, his main galley can be found at http://jpgmn.deviantart.com. “The Story Behind The Photos” can be found at http://TheStoryBehindMyPhotos.blogspot.com

“Shattered” by Sa’ad Abd Ar Rafie

“Shattered” by Sa'ad Abd Ar Rafie

This photo was taken on the photographers study desk in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sa’ad Abd Ar Rafie or “sarboom” as he is known on Deviant Art is 16 years old, and has been shooting for two years. He is currently preparing to finish his GCE A level examinations.

The photograph was a result of “fiddling with my camera” according to Sa’ad. He goes on to explain that he was in the living room one day when he noticed this blue colored flower vase on the coffee table. It is one of his mother’s favorites and was of the contemporary glass look with the shatter or crack as part of the piece. Sa’ad  thought it would be good for a still life photo so he took it to his desk and shot a few random stills. He then changed the settings on his camera to black and white and placed a table lamp at the neck of the vase so that the interior was illuminated. At that same moment his sister turned off the room lights giving the vase a completely different look. He took a few shots with the camera set on black & white, which became the photo “Shattered” that you see above. The photo was a series of events he was not planning on, however, it gave him a beautiful photograph that wold have never happened had it not been for the events that tok place.

Sa’ad Abd shot this photo with a SONY DCS-W120 5mm / Shutter speed 10/1 second / Aperture F/7.1 and an ISO speed of 125. He made some minor adjustments to the contrast/brightness and saturation, but nothing more.

You can find out more about Sa’ad and his photography by visiting him on Facebook, Deviant Art, or on his personal portfolio located at http://saadabdarrafie.daportfolio.com/

“The Orchestra” by Pansa Sunavee

“The Orchestra” by Pansa Sunavee

This photo was taken at Baray (huge pond) at the front of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia on 30 December 2006. Pansa Sunavee or PansaSunavee as he is known on Deviant Art was born in Saraburi, Thailand, and has participated in five solo exhibitions and more than 40 group exhibitions. Educational accomplishments include Faculty of Art, Lopburi Technical College, and Diploma of Thai Art, Poh-Chang Institute. B.A. Philosophy, Ramkhamhaeng University.

The photograph as described by Pansa:

It was my second visit to Angkor Wat because of the magnificent architecture which was honored as one of the World’s man-made seven wonders. Everything was so fabulous. All the travelers stared to the buildings, regardless of the environment around Angkor Wat. On that day, I woke up in the early morning with the determination to see the sunrise on the top of the palace.

I took a rest under a huge tree besides the Baray. The atmosphere was unusually calm and serene despite the amount of travelers walking nearby, so I took advantage of the quietness and closed my eyes to meditate. When I photograph, I normally calm myself down with meditation which ultimately leads me to see hidden beauty all around.

When I opened my eyes and looked at the surface of the pond, it appeared to be waving in a circle shape as leaves and branches fell around the circles. The meditation had emptied my mind of distractions, and I could now hear sounds coming from the pond. The circles were waving and harmoniously making a melody like an orchestra. The pond was the musician while the surrounding branches were the audience. I felt an unexplainable happiness and couldn’t help taking photos of what was happening in front of me.

I took 5-6 shots with Olympus E-500 and 14-54 mm., ISO 100, and 1/60s F.4.5 as I did not need much in depth of field. I changed the photo to B/W with Gradient Map command in Photoshop CS3 that I normally use because of its contrast level. I like adding the vignette to the photo but, for this one, I decided not to do it as I wanted it to be as much natural as it could be. I selected the most two favorite photos for combining. I did not consider merging the photos  initially, however, using only one photo would not convey the feelings I felt that day so I merged it with another in the series. I was both surprised and amazed, when the two photos merged perfectly without any adjustment.

The reason I decided to make it black & white was due in part to the color photo not staying true to what I actually felt and saw. The black & white also entices the audience to use their imagination when viewing the photograph. When we see the color photo, we may not challenge ourselves to ask questions, however, as a black and white, the photo arouses our thoughts to ponder the photograph, which is why I love creating conceptual photographs in black & white.

For me, photography is a way to bring reality to life through my eyes. It’s so much fun to seek for the hidden beauty and not limit myself to any specific “form” of shooting. All of my work has been created naturally, depending on what message I am trying to relate to the viewer.

You can find out more about Pansa by visiting his personal portfolio at www.pansa-art.com, http://pansasunavee.deviantart.com, or http://photo.net/photos/Pansa

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Colourful insects surrounded by beautiful and luscious greenery; Gorgeous, delicious fruits floating in water, covered in minuscule bubbles; A drop of water hovering over a pool of water, where colour is created by reflections. These images are what typically make up the macro photography genre nowadays. Of course, they are, among countless others, amazing photographs that are wonderful to look at, but what about them is new? Not much. Having looked through a couple of websites, there are only a small amount of photographs in the macro genre that are different and unusual.

I have challenged myself to attempt to take macro photography to another level, and find (and create) some photographs that are a little bit different to today’s typical macro photographs.

"The Traveller" by healzo.

"Blue" by chansie.

"Escape" by aurelia.

Abstraction is easy to create using a macro lens, but is not commonly found in macro photography.

The images that do exist, however, are of excellent quality, and more importantly, different.For example, below are a few images of this genre; as you can see, the subject is the same, but the way in which the photograph was executed, and the way the photographer has chosen to portray it, is unusual and much more appealing in my opinion.

"Abstract splash" by ilpavone2004

“Abstract splash” by ilpavone2004′ (above) is my favourite photograph on this page.

The simplicity of it , and the eye-catching, almost blinding red background works so well with the isolated droplet, splash and reflection. In my opinion, it is much better than the typical water droplet image.

"The Abstract" by missjessicajoy.

Again, “The Abstract” by missjessicajoy (above) consists of a typical subject, a flower, but the angle and the colouring are most definitely not typical. The thin, white, flowing strands make the flower look almost as if it were underwater, and the blueish tint also has this effect.

"Minimal" by deedeephoto.

Although more minimal than abstract, this macro photograph by deedeephoto (above) is quite unusual and a nice change.

Having spent my time looking at numerous macro photographs, I felt inspired and determined to take my own macro photographs, especially as I only just recently purchased my own macro lens (a Sigma 70-300mm).
Unfortunately it is not true macro and only has a ratio of 1:2, but it does the job excellently.

Below I have picked the best two of the photographs I took:

"Scratched" by Ameena Rojee.

This is a photograph of a plastic table top. Did you guess that when you first looked at it?

When taking this photo, I was certain that it would not come out well as I thought it was quite a boring subject matter; however, upon looking at the photo when it showed on the screen, I was surprised at how much detail there actually was in the table top that I had not noticed. In terms of post-processing, I used the ‘Curves’ and ‘Colour Balance’ tools in Photoshop CS3 to adjust the photograph. This turned out to be one of my favourite photos from the lot.

"Fur" by Ameena Rojee

This is my take on a extremely overused subject; a cat. This is actually my cat Jacko’s leg; as I was taking the photo, he turned around and lifted his paw slightly. What a poser.

I played around with the colours on this one in Photoshop using the ‘Colour balance’ tool (I also used the ‘Curves’ tool); I did an overall colour adjustment, then selected the background only and edited that to bring out and emphasise the variety of colours.

And this brings me to the end. Perhaps some of you will take some inspiration from today’s article, and go out there and be different!

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.

- Cecil Beaton.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

#WEEKENDPHOTOFOCUS SUBMISSIONS:

"Water Horizon 002" by RGM Studios.

"Just Beachy" by jezconk.

"Under the apple tree swing" by RGMstudios

"Schnow" by zombiemeena.

Summer Watermelon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mballard/4719304969/?edited=1

Other Links:

"Silence" by watermelonkisses.

"Calm down" by sugarock999.

"Cold desert" by alexandru1988.

"Winter Tree" by Ilva R.

"Moll Magee" by hollyjools.

"Without a trace" by norynn.

"Grey rainbow" by totorino.

How it works:

Weekend Photo Find is a weekly series, each Friday we will post a Weekend Photo Focus (also hash tagged on Twitter as #weekendphotofocus) on a certain subject, something to spark your creativity. An empty weekend for a photographer, is like an empty canvas, we could always use something to do when we have nothing planned right? So with this in mind we created this series, one that will get you out doing what you love. The premise is simple: snap some photos over the weekend dealing with the weekends focus, and if you send them to us, or Tweet them to us, we will post them for others to see. Having a focus will help us as artists & photographers see things that we might not always see, make us take a shot at something we might otherwise have not. In seeing other photogs chase after the same focus, it can only breed even more creativity in our own work.

At the weekends close, we will follow up our weekend focus, with what we found on Flickr (including some of the photos from you) that falls in line with our focus. We hope you join in the fun and help us spread the creativity. If you have any ideas for future Photo Focuses lets us know, we’ll give you credit!

example of a tweet to us:

@fuelphotography One more submission for this week’s #weekendphotofocus, New Life & Spring: http://bit.ly/aY1oC7

*If you have something to share but couldn’t get it to us, feel free to post it in the comments below*

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

While photography presents its own unique challenges to practitioners across all disciplines, I think that some of these challenges are magnified when we take a camera outside and start pointing it at nature stuff.  Nature is art itself.  In real life, it’s wonderful enough to savor and enjoy in its own right.  The best we can ever do is make a representation of that art.  Whether photographing a flower, an insect, or a sunset, no matter how well composed and well exposed, we are limited to making a 2D impression of a glorious work of art that existed, for a moment, in time and space.

Compounding this challenge is the deceptive simplicity of photography.  After all, no matter how fancy your equipment, the shot is made with the simple press of a button.  How difficult can it be?  Run out into the yard, find something pretty, point your camera and…voila!  Instant art!  If you have an ounce of the artistic in you, you will be quickly humbled by the results of this approach.  You will find that even if your photos are well composed and well exposed, often they will still lack the beauty and the wonder of the original scene.  So what’s the problem?  Why do some photographers take a nice but forgettable image of a beautiful sunset, while others record the same scene and produce an image that people want to look at again and again?

If we take the time to examine our favorite images, we will often find that they are not mere representations of something pretty or interesting that happened once.  They’re powerful images that move us on some deeper level.  If we look and listen closely, we’ll notice that we’re moved, not by the things in the photographs, but by the stories the photographs tell.  And we discover a secret.  If we learn to take pictures that tell stories, we are then using elements from one artistic realm (i.e. nature) to produce a work of art that is greater than the sum of its parts.

While a photographer has many tools in his bag that can help him achieve this result, I’d like to focus on one of the most powerful.  This tool is so powerful that if it is done well, it can single handedly overcome other compositional issues or mistakes within an image, turning something otherwise forgettable into a thing of beauty.  That tool is juxtaposition.  Creatively combining similar or disparate items within the frame automatically gets the mind working, subconsciously asking questions about the scene depicted: “How did that get there?” or “What’s going to happen?” or any number of similar queries to delight the imagination.

When I first viewed this image, I was mesmerized.  Even now, after having looked at it many times, I still gaze in awe.  This photograph has so many things right about it.  First, with Niagara Falls receiving upwards of 12 million tourists a year, it is one of the most photographed icons in the world.  It is very difficult to capture a unique image of the Falls.  With her close cropping and perfect composition, Phyllis has captured the power and ferocity of the falls in a manner rarely seen.

But what is it about this image that takes it over the edge (no pun intended)?  It’s that tiny speck of humanity standing precariously on the precipice.  In a moment where serendipity met preparedness, Phyllis recorded an epic moment of juxtaposition.  Try to imagine this shot without the person.  It would still be a strong, well composed image.  But it wouldn’t tell the same story.  What might the story be?  Here is where our imagination can run wild.  Does it tell of the raw power of nature versus the frailty of humanity?  Or does it tell of man’s sheer stupidity, or of his insatiable need to be noticed?  What does it say to you?

Here is a photograph with a completely different feel, and a completely different story to tell.  Again, Gary has taken a perfect image, utilizing the tools of perfect composition and selective focus to direct our attention to the most important element of the picture: the book.  But is the book the subject of the photograph?  Gary’s excellent eye and brilliant juxtaposition within the frame confronts the viewer with a picture that tells a sad story of neglect.  Or is it wistfulness for happier times?  How did the book get there in the first place?  Where is its’ owner now?  Did he ever miss it?  Again, these are a few questions to get you started.

As you look at more and more photographs, you’ll begin to see that most great pictures have an element of juxtaposition in them somewhere.  Some are just more obvious than others.  If you keep your eyes open, you’ll see juxtapositions happening naturally all around you.  It’s simply up to you as the artist to frame them in such a way as to tell that story that makes your viewers return time and again to see told.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Black and White by NegativeFeedback

There is a cover up so big that it rivals Watergate, Enron, and the Iran-Contra Affair put together. It has caused an uprising of photography circles across the nation, and has even sent a small clan of rouge photographers on a rampage to destroy evidence at any cost. I speak of the “Black & White Conspiracy,” which has proven that black & white photography is a myth and does not exist as we perceive it!

I smell the makings of a blockbuster film set to hit theaters this summer grossing millions of dollars and . . . . OK, maybe not, but hey, everyone has a dream!

But I digress.

My introduction might have been a “tad” dramatic, however, the truth remains that in reality, or our perception of reality, Black & white “photography” does not exist. What does exist is the absence of color, which when manipulated correctly and then removed, can create a stunning black & white photograph, or a stunning absence of color photograph. I think I will stick with black and white. To produce a stunning black & white photograph, you must first produce a stunning color photograph that will compliment it. I am going to go over my workflow for producing a quality black & white photograph, however, please keep an open mind, as this is MY workflow and may not be yours. This is merely a springboard for you to devise your own workflow, and if you feel so inclined, share with others.

Let me begin by stating that it does NOT make a difference what flavor of software you use to process your photos; Remember, Ansel Adams had no software, and produced beautiful photos. I use Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop in conjunction with each other to process my photos, however, this is by no means the be all, end all workflow. It took many years of experimenting with various programs until I finally decided on this combination.

I begin by bringing my photos directly into lightroom as DNG files, or digital negatives. DNG is an archival format, so in the event that TIF or JPG formats go away 20 years from now, I will still have access to the raw data. Explaining this format would encompass an entire article, so I highly suggest checking out Adobe’s informative article on the DNG format at the Adobe Products Page.

Black and White by mariemadame

From this point, I begin to work my way down adjusting temperature and curves to contrast and tonal adjustments. I find the best black and white photos are the result of good tone, contrast, and exposure settings. Again, this is something you will need to experiment with; Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as THE “formula.” Sometimes, if you are lucky, the photograph needs little or no processing at all, which is always a good thing.

There have been hundreds of books and videos released that claim to have the magic potion for the perfect black and white photograph, however, I don’t want a perfect photograph; I want a one of a kind Bryan J Zimmerman photograph. Now before I get flamed from authors and instructors, there are some excellent books and video on “technique” and “tips,” but as far as THE black and white photography resource is concerned, it doesn’t exist. If you really want to learn black and white photography, stare at a photograph from Ansel Adams, Dmitri Baltermants, Henri Cartier-Bresson, or Don McCullin for a few hours, and I guarantee you will learn more than any book or video can teach.

Once I am happy with the overall photograph in Lightroom, I continue editing in Photoshop where the real magic happens. The nice thing about using Lightroom and Photoshop together is how they work together seamlessly and non destructively. In Photoshop, I take my image to the next level using channels, and doing any burning or dodging. It is best to make sure that all of the goodies are out of the way before preparing for the transformation to black and white.

Black by simplyspoken

The final step for me is to create a color adjustment layer, and begin de-saturating, or removing color from the photograph. Once I have it just the way I want it, I choose “Save” (not “Save As”), and it saves the new black and white photograph that I manipulated in Photoshop right next to the original image in Lightroom. The Lightroom image is still in the original DNG format and has not been damaged in any way, so if I wanted to, I could start over and produce another black and white without ever changing the properties to the original. The great thing about this feature is you can make as many manipulations as you want, compare them and choose the best out of the bunch, all the while retaining the original image along with its RAW Metadata.

There is a ton of software on the market that will convert your color image to black and white with the push of a button and a few minor adjustments, but as I mentioned earlier, you are using settings that a developer “thinks” are the best for your project, which translates into giving up a piece of your creativity for the luxury of speed and ease. Some photographers do not have a problem with that, however, speaking for myself, I want complete control over my photograph right down to the last pixel.

Below is an example of a recent photo I took and converted into a black and white (removed the color), and as you can see the original is crisp and vibrant which resulted in a very fine black and white. Had I not made adjustments to the color photo first, the black and white would not have the look I was going for. As a side note, I did my dodging and burning after the conversion as the building to the right of the mausoleum was very bright as you can see in the color photo.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for the quick and easy software. You may have to present a photograph, or many photograph’s in multiple formats to a client on a strict timeline. For this type of situation, software solutions like the ones mentioned above are awesome. Perhaps after you have made the transition to black and white, you may want to add some additional effects. In these cases, third party software is a viable solution.

Now get out there and shot some awesome color photography so you can come back to your studio and get rid of it!

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

"Foggy Morning" by Briarah/Tina

Early one morning several years ago, I was shooting the sunrise over a small lake when a gentleman nearby asked, more to himself than to me, “Why do people take pictures?”  I was stumped by the question, because it seemed to me that the beauty of the scene before us should be all the answer anyone would need.  When I recovered from my surprise, I said, “It’s our best attempt to record the memory of such breathtaking places and moments in time.”  We exchanged a few pleasantries, and that was that.  I wish I could talk to that man again.

Why do people take pictures?  If you take yourself seriously as an artist, you would do well to consider this question.  The answer is vital to the growth and development of your personal style.  Don’t worry if you’re not feeling especially introspective at the moment.  If you’re out there shooting every day, constantly developing your eye and your skill, the answer already exists.  Your style will gradually emerge whether or not you’re consciously aware of your “why.”  But if you take the time to figure it out, you’ll have the benefit of that awareness to drive and inspire you.

"Alien Creature" by Jesse Conklin

All reasons for shooting distill into one overarching theme: to present worlds to the viewer that they might otherwise never see.  Some photographers do this through the beauty of exotic destinations, others through the horror of war torn or impoverished locales.  I do it through capturing the world that most people miss, not because it’s far away, but because they’re just not paying attention.  They’re so distracted by the stressful monotony of their daily existence that they forget the joy and wonder of the world that they once possessed as a child.

“Child-like wonder” is an attribute to which people refer with admiration and often a bit of wistfulness.  It’s almost as if there’s some cruel rite of passage on the journey to adulthood where we’re forced to exchange our wonder for experience, maturity, and “dignity.”  To a child, every day offers the prospect of new discoveries and exciting horizons, even if he’s confined to his own backyard.  I remember going on “expeditions,” planting flags all over the yard wherever I made a discovery.  I’m sure my mother lost count of the number of rocks, sticks, bugs and other treasures I brought into the house in those early years.  It is a wonder born of love and curiosity that sees the magic in a bird’s nest.  When  we grow up, we lose that curiosity, and we forget how to see.

"Light At the End of the Forest" by Jesse Conklin

I always strive to make my viewers feel as if they are in the world I’m presenting in the photograph, even if it turns out that the world they find is not the world I envisioned as the artist.  Firing the imagination is what it’s all about.  Through my photography, I can guide viewers on a tour into a world of discovery and imagination that fills them with that long lost sense of wonder.  It’s always nice when somebody says, “You have a great eye,” or “Beautiful shot!”  But it’s more gratifying to hear someone whisper, “I think I just saw Gandalf!”  This type of comment tells me that I’ve touched the viewer on a much deeper level than simply giving them something pretty to look at.  I’ve presented them with something that expanded their vision—their world—and I’ve shared with them a bit of mine.

Artists of all disciplines share this gift with the world.  In an instant, we can be transported into that fantastic realm as we gaze at a painting, study a sculpture, listen to a symphony, or watch a movie.  As grown ups, we tend to forget the importance of such journeys.  The pressures and distractions of everyday life blind us to the need to connect with something greater and more wonderful than ourselves.  Photography is one way I train myself to see again.  I capture the world that exists in plain sight.  The greatest reward to this approach is not achieving an amazing image, but in discovering something new about the world under my own nose.

My response to the man on the lake revealed where I was on my artistic journey.  I was recording beauty, and my pictures showed it.  They were nice enough, but something was lacking.  Today, I would give him a very different answer.  I would tell him that photography is my way of exploring my world, and that whenever I find something particularly delightful, I capture it and hold it up so everybody can partake in the wonder.  Discovering your reason for taking pictures is the secret ingredient that will lift your photography from a position of mere documentation and give it that spark that can only come from a greater purpose.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

“Mountain Climber” by Stephen Spink

When we think of outdoor photography, we often envision grand vistas and places we’d love to one day visit to get that perfect shot. But what is the perfect shot? What does it look like? Does the subject have to be an iconic location? Do we have to use top of the line, brand name equipment? While most of us know better, I fear too often many photographers allow themselves to be intimidated, albeit subconsciously, by what they see from the big guns in the business. Assuming you already have a good feel for your camera and have begun to develop an artistic eye for composition, you have what it takes right now to start making your own perfect shots. Don’t be intimidated by the great work of others, get out there and make your own!

The Perfect Shot

The ideal of the perfect shot is most useful as the holy grail for photographers of all skill levels in perfecting their craft. But as any of us who have finally captured that shot know, it won’t be enough. We’ll always need to find another…and then another. We’re greedy that way.

So what will your perfect shot look like? You are the only one who can answer that question, but I can give you some tips to get you started. First, look at the great work of other photographers. But don’t just look at it casually, study each image. Ask yourself why it is that particular photo appeals to you. Study compositional elements, lighting, colors, textures, shadows, reflections, angles, and perspectives. These are tools all good photographers use. One element done well can produce a good picture; combine two, three, or more, and most likely the shot will have achieved something truly special. But technical mastery alone, while vital, doesn’t make the true magic of a great photograph. Chances are there will be something deeper that draws you—something that you connect with on an emotional or even a spiritual level. Herein lies the real secret. Find that connection, and you will be on the fast track to discovering your own perfect shot.

Iconic Locations

I know the feeling: you’re looking through a photography or adventure magazine, wishing you lived closer to some of the fantastic vistas and destinations presented on the pages before you. Why did you have to end up living someplace so ordinary? Considering that great photography is first and foremost an attitude, location is actually your biggest asset, no matter where you live.

Locations are a lot like people. They only yield their secrets as you spend time looking, listening and learning. Travel back roads. Get out and walk. Look down. Look up. Get on your stomach. Lie on your back. Get curious, ask questions. Pay attention to details. Spend time just being. Visit places and explore them over and over again; return at different times of day, and different times of year. Challenge yourself. Experiment. If you have a favorite location or two, you’re ahead of the game. Chances are you’ve already given them plenty of attention with your camera; take that relationship to the next level. Photography is a creative journey. Rid your mind of distracting thoughts; free yourself to focus completely on discovery and creation. Find the shots that make your viewers wish that they lived where you live!

Once you have learned how to unlock the secrets of your favorite local spots, you can use the same principles to find and capture the more unusual and overlooked aspects of famous locations. Iconic travel destinations can prove disappointingly ordinary for the photographer without a well trained eye. If you haven’t disciplined yourself in the art of observation, you’ll finally take that dream photo trip, and come home with pictures that look like the vacation photos of millions of tourists who have gone before. When you first arrive in that photo hot spot, by all means indulge your inner tourist. Take all the first impression shots that say, “I was there.” Once you’ve calmed your first date jitters, if you’ve prepared ahead of time, you’ll be ready to capture the magic of the place that the average photographer misses. David Bailey said, “It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer… In photography everything is so ordinary. It takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary.” Learn that and you’ll create magic every time you trip the shutter.

Equipment

When I was shooting film, I shot with a variety of cameras. It took me longer than most to finally make the jump to digital. Right now, I am shooting with a Nikon Coolpix S560, a tiny camera that slips nicely into my pocket and is easy to have at all times whenever that special photographic moment may arise. Oh—and I’m darn proud of the pictures I take. If you’re beating yourself up over not having the “right” equipment, or if you’re letting that stand in the way of getting out there and making artistic magic, stop it. Right now. To this point, we’ve established that great photography is about attitude, imagination, observation, and connection with your subject. If these things motivate you, you will create great photographs no matter what hardware is in your hand. You are the photographer, not the camera. Don’t let your lack of pro gear stop you from getting out there and making your own award worthy images right now. Shoot your best every time, and greatness will follow.

Pursuing the perfect shot is really about finding your own artistic vision. Self conscious attempts at being unique will only serve to hinder your creativity. As your perfect shots begin to accumulate, you’ll notice your vision and perspective deepening. As you perfect the mechanics of your craft and study the world around you, your own singular style will emerge. It’s a highly rewarding journey. Just get out of your own way and let the magic begin!

extended photo credits:

Eiffel Tower by Ben Monshor

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Street Lights, Night & Day

Street lights surround us on a daily basis, some are bland some are unique. Each representing something different to all of us. What do the street lights around you represent? Security? Creepy? Tranquility? Get out there and show us what lies around you, day or night it doesn’t matter.

.. . Lost Highway . .. by tommatsch

Solitude by Hannes R

Chaos by since73

Haltestelle by 96dpi

The mist by Paul Marculescu

Other examples…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crouch/3063290822/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/insideman/2531038334/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie_kirk/4282378477/

Each Friday we will post a Weekend Photo Focus (also hash tagged on Twitter as #weekendphotofocus) on a certain subject, something to spark your creativity. An empty weekend for a photographer, is like an empty canvas, we could always use something to do when we have nothing planned right? So with this in mind we created this series, one that will get you out doing what you love. The premise is simple: snap some photos over the weekend dealing with the weekends focus, and if you send them to us, or Tweet them to us, we will post them for others to see. Having a focus will help us as artists & photographers see things that we might not always see, make us take a shot at something we might otherwise have not. In seeing other photogs chase after the same focus, it can only breed even more creativity in our own work.

At the weekends close, we will follow up our weekend focus, with what we found on Flickr (including some of the photos from you) that falls in line with our focus. We hope you join in the fun and help us spread the creativity.

example of a tweet to us:

@fuelphotography One more submission for this week’s #weekendphotofocus, New Life & Spring: http://bit.ly/aY1oC7

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Signs of the Past

Subway 2 by willowsbough

Ferris Wheel -7 by Timm Suess

Broadway by Timothy Neesam

Piano by *eshva*

Timeless classic by phill.d

#weekendphotofocus submissions:

The following are submissions of work by photogs based on our weekly Friday #weekendphotofocus post.

Bridg by Rich Maus

Valentown by Rich Maus

Windmill by Rich Maus

How it works:

Weekend Flickr Find is a weekly series, each Friday we will post a Weekend Photo Focus (also hash tagged on Twitter as #weekendphotofocus) on a certain subject, something to spark your creativity. An empty weekend for a photographer, is like an empty canvas, we could always use something to do when we have nothing planned right? So with this in mind we created this series, one that will get you out doing what you love. The premise is simple: snap some photos over the weekend dealing with the weekends focus, and if you send them to us, or Tweet them to us, we will post them for others to see. Having a focus will help us as artists & photographers see things that we might not always see, make us take a shot at something we might otherwise have not. In seeing other photogs chase after the same focus, it can only breed even more creativity in our own work.

At the weekends close, we will follow up our weekend focus, with what we found on Flickr (including some of the photos from you) that falls in line with our focus. We hope you join in the fun and help us spread the creativity.

example of a tweet to us:

@fuelphotography One more submission for this week’s #weekendphotofocus, New Life & Spring: http://bit.ly/aY1oC7

*If you have something to share but couldn’t get it to us, feel free to post it in the comments below*

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)

Signs of the Past

Around every corner there are signs of our past, sometimes they lie in plain sight and sometimes they are hidden. Go out and find something that reflects the past culture that once resided around you or made an influence on the society where you live.

Old rice factory by jvsafonso

Hallway by moggierocket

Tunnel to Nowhere by zfein

Beelitz: Light at the end of the stairs by Ole Begemann

Busted on Route 66 by jwoodphoto

Each Friday we will post a Weekend Photo Focus (also hash tagged on Twitter as #weekendphotofocus) on a certain subject, something to spark your creativity. An empty weekend for a photographer, is like an empty canvas, we could always use something to do when we have nothing planned right? So with this in mind we created this series, one that will get you out doing what you love. The premise is simple: snap some photos over the weekend dealing with the weekends focus, and if you send them to us, or Tweet them to us, we will post them for others to see. Having a focus will help us as artists & photographers see things that we might not always see, make us take a shot at something we might otherwise have not. In seeing other photogs chase after the same focus, it can only breed even more creativity in our own work.

At the weekends close, we will follow up our weekend focus, with what we found on Flickr (including some of the photos from you) that falls in line with our focus. We hope you join in the fun and help us spread the creativity.

Sponsored by

Advertise on Fuel Brand Network.
Fuel Brand Network 2010 cc (creative commons license)