Photography Trick

When the photography department at Utah’s Brigham Young University decided to do a photoshoot with the schools gymnastic team they opted to use an out of place prop — water. They set up studio at a pool in the campuses Richards Building and got to work. Using a Canon EOS 1D and a back lit black background, the photography team was able to capture poster worthy photographs (see below). You can watch the photoshoot here:

When the photography department at Utah’s Brigham Young University decided to do a photoshoot with the schools gymnastic team they opted to use an out of place prop — water. They set up studio at a pool in the campuses Richards Building and got to work. Using a Canon EOS 1D and a back lit black background, the photography team was able to capture poster worthy photographs (see below). You can watch the photoshoot here:
To give the photos a truly creative edge, assistants threw buckets of water at the gymnasts as they were performing kicks and jumps. It was up to the photographer to capture each water-splashed kick at precisely the right time. Their results were amazing:

Capturing Motion and Splashing Water in a Photo Session

The photographer’s timing was key. As you can see in the video, lighting the background created enough contrast to make the drops of water pop from the photos.

Samples of our work

Portraits

Portrait photography is probably the most popular form of photography out there.  By this I’m not necessarily talking about professionals, but photo takers in general.  The average family camera is most often used to take portraits of family members and friends in a given situation.

Taking a great portrait can be very hard work.  Note that I said “great.”  Any old portrait requires nothing more than a person, a pointed camera and a click. 

If you want to become a great portrait photographer the most important asset to have is an interest in people.  (If you’re looking to do pet portraits then you’ll need an interest in pets!!!)  Before technique and lighting and lenses a portrait photographer must be able to elicit a good response from their subject.  You have to be able to get the subject comfortable with you as the photographer as well as being around a camera in general.  Then you have to get the person to reflect the desired mood whether it be playful, sad, inquisitive or tired.  This all comes down to being good at relating with people.  It has been said that a great portrait photographer will know more about their subject in an hour than some people know about their own friends in a lifetime.

A normal portrait photo will exclude any background detail.  This can be achieved by using set backdrops or wide aperture settings to create a shallow depth of field.  It should also be noted that in a standard portrait the subject must fill the frame.  While different camera formats allow for more or less room around the subject (ie: square film vs. rectangular 35mm) you generally want at least 80% of the picture to be the subject. 

You will also have to consider what type of lens to use.  A wide lens is almost never used for portraits because it will always exaggerate a person’s features.  A normal lens is good only when the photographer wants to present a very natural look.  Even then, a telephoto is usually the best way to go.  For 35mm photography it is common to use an 80mm or a 110mm lens.  Larger lenses tend to flatter a person’s facial features by creating the illusion of a smaller nose.  Be careful though, because large telephoto lenses often give a very shallow depth of field and that could mean a subject with sharp nose and eyes but a blurred everything else. 

Other things to consider are types of film.  With digital the “film effects” can be toyed with later.  When using actual film though, you may want to keep in mind that people usually look best in black and white.  If using color film, shop for something that highlights skin tones the best. 

From here on out a lot of things come down to style.  There is a general belief that portraits should never be sharp and instead photographers are encouraged to use softening filters.  But when learning to become a great portrait photographer it’s up to you to decide what works best.  As in any other photo field, go out and experiment as much as you can. 

Abstract Photography

Abstract photography and abstract art are very popular and involve a merchandise trade of billions of dollars over a century. Most art galleries and exhibitions as well as photography events are never complete without a section on this form of depiction. Every year thousands of art students and photographers follow courses all over the world and try to vent their thoughts and ideas in the form of their own interpretation. In fact, abstract photography is a direct outcome of the earlier abstract art form that was made famous by many noted artists. Nearly everyone at some point of time has had a brush with this genre of photography and as we will see later in this article, has appreciated or collected the abstract photographs.

What is it really and is it the same as Abstract Art?

As the name implies "abstract" denotes what can be interpreted but not seen. The art form is many times debated to be complex and difficult to understand. Yet it attracts a horde of art critics and art collectors from every part of the globe, and several interpretations may accompany abstract paintings. Similarly, abstract photography draws the same popularity except it is done with a camera and not with brush and paint!

The exact definition of this art is difficult but it is sufficient to understand that there are no rules or norms for creating and in layman terms "anything goes" as long as it appeals to the eye! The photography technique is used to capture almost any event in a subtle manner such as a drop of water splattering in a pool to look like a crown or a piece of hemp rope at close quarters that looks like a striated bundle etc. The composition is immaterial; it is only the way a scene (really a photograph) is captured on film. The interpretation may come later.

How is abstract photography carried out?

It is necessary to have a professional high speed camera and sometimes a special high speed film. The best results can be obtained by using a black and white film and many valuable photographs are of this monochrome variety. The following aspects need to be kept in mind:

• A perfect understanding of conventional photographic principles regarding shutter speed, aperture, focusing, film speed and lighting effects.
• Telephoto lenses and close up lenses and flash equipment form a part of certain trick effects one wishes to create.
• Films of different types like color, black and white, speed in ASA or DIN, tripod stands, remote shooting, filter lenses, shadow hoods etc.

Abstract photography is really the prerogative of a true artist and one who also has a scientific bent of mind. Composing a perfect shot requires the "artist" and taking the photograph requires the "technician"! Imagination knows no bounds and the best results are when one uses creative powers to its full capacity.

If you wish to try out your hand at this form of art, do read what some of the famous personalities like the Czech Josef Sudek and Jaromir Funk, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Ernie Yang, Latvian Wilhelm Mikhailovsky, Henri Bresson, and Ansel Adams have to write about abstract photography.

Winter Photography

Winter photography can be treated as a part of Nature or landscape photography and also as a separate discipline. There are many people who think that all you need to take winter photographs is a nice camera, patience, the right opportunity and passion. Well! They are almost right, except that there is much more than all this put together. So, if you are thinking about becoming a photographer specializing in taking winter photographs then you need to understand some of the fundamentals.

Although, the daylight hours in winter are short, it is fun working outdoors because of the variable weather patterns. Shorter days also mean that you can indulge in night photography, which is quite challenging. The best time for taking night photographs is always around 30 minutes after sunset because all though, it may be dark but there is usually a small amount of light in the sky. Let’s proceed to look at some of the components that can enhance your winter photography skills.

Photography equipment is one of the most important components of any kind of photography and the first equipment to look at is the Camera. They can mainly be divided between two types, one is the Pro Camera, and the other is the amateur Camera. The advantage that the top range pro cameras like Canon EOS-1V, Nikon F5, Nikon D70, and D100 have is weatherproofing. These cameras have been developed to work in poor weather conditions and as a result they prove a worthy asset if you are interested in winter photography. Then there are the underwater cameras like Nikonos, which can be great if you planning to take a jump in the cold waters of the Norwegian Sea. The Nikonos can work in all bad weather conditions including rainy and stormy conditions. If you have a normal or amateur camera then you will have to make alternate arrangements to take picture of a snowfall. You will have to cover the camera and lens with a plastic bag because snow or water will damage the lens.

Another important yet small component of a camera is the batteries. Most of the time, we are so engrossed in taking pictures that we forget to remove the batteries once the camera goes into the bag. The problem is that batteries run down faster in winter or cold weather conditions. To increase the life of the batteries, you can wrap your camera in some warm clothing like jackets.

A Film roll is something you cannot do without and hence, it should always be kept inside your jacket or any other warm clothes. In cold temperatures, the film can become brittle and may be difficult to load.

Snow problem is something you will encounter in winter photography. The snow covered mountains or landscapes will invariably fool the exposure meter built in your camera because snow adds to the overall brightness in the scene. So, you will have to increase the exposure although the amount will differ according to the lighting conditions as well as the metering system on your camera.

Using flash is an important aspect of taking spectacular winter photographs. If you are trying to shoot an animal in the snow then you will have to use fill in flash in the snow. The flash will help you to maintain a natural look if kept between -2/3 to -2 stops.

Remember, photography is not something you can learn in a day or two with a tutorial. It requires practical exposure. So go out there and start shooting some real ones!

Photography of Children

Try to get the kids in a good mood.  If you have time, wait for the child or children to be in a good mood naturally.  If you don’t have time, work with what you have.  A portrait of a child being sullen can be just as evocative as a smiling child (and sometimes more realistic!).

If you can, have the children dress in plain clothing.  Shirts should be monochromatic to keep from distracting attention from the child’s face.  When photographing a group of children, try to get them dressed in similar colors to keep clothes from clashing and distracting from the children themselves.  Suggest a color scheme or outfit: jeans and white shirts are classic.  Khakis are more formal.  You can try for color, maybe telling the children to dress in primary colors or all-American red, white, and blue.

Let kids be kids.  A photo of a child posed like a miniature adult might be amusing, but it won’t be a real portrait in the sense that it won’t capture the magic and personality of the child.

It helps to know the children.  If they are your kids or relatives, you probably know their favorite toys or their favorite blankets or clothes.  Let them play with their toys.  Let them dress the way they wish.  The pictures will be candid and natural.  They’ll feel more comfortable in front of the camera, and then they may be more receptive to instruction.  On a related note, use telephoto lenses for close-up face and portrait shots.  It will keep you from crowding them and possibly frightening them.

Vary your height.  Try taking pictures from the child’s level.  Try taking pictures from below – kids like feeling tall.  Let the kid play at being a giant, and see what you get.

Children move.  Try to capture this movement.  Experiment with shutter speed.  A slow shutter speed will blur the child, and a fast shutter speed will stop the movement in action.  If a child is running or skateboarding, try panning.  Panning is a method of keeping the subject in focus but letting the background streak in motion.  To pan, hold the camera with your elbows against your chest for stability.  As the child moves past you, follow with the camera, keeping the child in the same place in the frame.  Use a slowish shutter speed, and don’t stop moving the camera when you click the shutter.  Be prepared to use a lot of film while perfecting this technique.  Another way to use running in photographs, especially when photographing a group of children, is to have the children run toward the camera and take several pictures in rapid succession (you will never be able to predict which picture will come out best).

Be aware of the background.  Make sure nothing distracts from the child.  At the same time, a photograph of a child at play can let the playroom fill the frame while still keeping the focus on the child.

When taking posed pictures of groups of children, try to make them relaxed and natural, even for formal portraits.  Kids don’t naturally stand in a single-file line.  Use different levels.  Have one child kneel or sit on the ground.  Have the kids sit on different levels of the stairs.  Have the kids climb on each other for a more casual portrait – encourage them to make a pyramid or give piggyback rides.  Keep the background simple to maintain focus on the kids.

As usual, be prepared to use a lot of film.  Kids are unpredictable, and they make faces sometimes instead of smiling.  Let them have fun, because if they have fun, your pictures will show that fun and life.

Travel photography: Taking pictures on your travels

An important consideration is the weight of your camera and equipment.  Remember you have to carry it.  If you’re using a point and shoot camera, your choices have already been made.  If you have an SLR system, you have to think about what kind of pictures you want when deciding what lenses to bring and what filters to bring.  Regular disposable cameras can be useful, too, if you want to go on a relaxing tour without carrying all your gear.

Focus on what’s new and different from home.  Do stores look different?  Are the trees different?  The flowers?  The landscape?  If you plan to go snorkeling or scuba diving, do not forget an underwater camera – you can get disposable underwater cameras for very little money these days.  If you plan to do a lot of underwater photography, investing in a high quality camera may be worth it, but many people will only go through a single roll of film on one trip, and the disposable camera is a better value.

Remember to take pictures of your traveling partners, whether they are friends or family.  And remember to get in some pictures yourself.  If you’re in a relatively safe place, you can hand your camera to a friendly local or group of tourists for a picture of the whole group of you.  A tripod offers another option to include yourself in many of your pictures.  Pictures with people will be more memorable that just pictures of landscape and tourist attractions.

If you want to take pictures of locals, be sure to ask their permission first.  And depending on the culture, be prepared to offer a tip.  Striking up a conversation before asking for a picture will often give you a chance for more candid and comfortable poses, since your new friend will be more comfortable with you.  You can offer pens or candy to local children.

A final tip: take lots of pictures your first day.  Everything on that first day is new, and your eyes are open.  The second or third day in a new city, you stop seeing everything new.  What was once foreign becomes expected, and you no longer think it is unusual enough to warrant a photograph.  But these “everyday” images of the new city are the images that you really should take.  These are the images that will remind you most of your trip.  So take these pictures of the new and unique before they become everyday and you no longer think them worth photographing.