Posts Tagged ‘Photography’
One thing I discovered during my experience with digital photography after 20 years of shooting film, and I teach this point in all the many seminars that I’ve put on to hundreds of other full-time pros, is that digital photography is very well suited for the portrait photographer. So why are we the last to jump on the band wagon? Many commercial shooters have known about and mastered the use of digital in their business’s for far longer than the portrait photographer.
My guess is that we’re afraid. Afraid of the learning curve and afraid that the quality just isn’t there unless we spend an ungodly amount of our hard earned cash on some scary looking gigantic array of confusing and awkward, let alone “how am I going to learn how to use this stuff” equipment.
Truth is, you can easily get away with as little as a 3.5 megapixel camera. I know, I used my Canon D30 for the first eight months of my digital journey. That camera created more memories, more sales and more wall portraits that I ever thought imaginable.
Whoa, wait a minute you say, wall hangings? Can’t be!! When I put on my seminars I routinely display many large wall samples for all to see, with some of the older samples I created with the 3.5 megapixel camera; and the reaction I get is usually disbelief.
Listen. The quality is there. I’ve proven it over and over and I know anyone can replicate the same results. Yes, even with a 3.5 megapixel camera.
You’ve just got be careful, that’s all. We have a collection of images at our studio, even large wall hangings captured with our dinky little D30, and they are “jaw-dropping” stunning. I know other photographers who have had amazing results as well. I know that it works and file size is secondary.
There are many reasons, but I’ll work with the main list. Here they are:
*Quality. The quality of images captured with a high quality lens, properly exposed and well posed is more than enough, even if you shoot JPEGS. Yes, JPEGS. Over 90% of the more than 30-40,000 exposures I put through my camera every year is shot in JPEG mode. Why? Why would anyone in their right mind shoot in such a “low quality” mode? The answer is simple: It works.
I like to compare JPEG’s to shooting with portrait film. It is slightly softer (although not even noticeable to the human eye) and muted, ideal for skin tones, right? Besides, we slap on “softar” filters in front of these outrageously expensive lenses and degrade the image even more. Don’t bother. Shoot with a good lens, in JPEG mode, expose properly, pose and create as usual, and it will all come together. Add any effects later.
Look at what else portrait photographers have been doing to their finished images besides purposely degrading the image with “softars”. We retouch the surface of the print, sometimes extensively. We canvas mount. Add texture sprays.Oils. Linen laminates…on and on.
My point is simple. Portrait photographers do not need to create the very sharpest, highest resolution images available. If they have in the past, they’ve always degraded the image through these other means. It’s kind of ironic don’t you think? You can still shoot in RAW mode if you wish, but it isn’t really needed.
If we needed the absolute highest quality image at capture we would have all been shooting with Kodachrome 64 or Velvia on a 4″x5 camera. But we don’t. JPEGs work. I have many 30″ prints, and even a 70″ print, that was captured in JPEG. And they look amazing. Your can too.
*Control. People want their photos fast. We live in a drive-through world and minutes count. In our studio we create a slide presentation for our sessions and we show them to the clients within 20 minutes of every shoot. Clients love it. They get to see the results instantly. If you fight this you’re fighting basic human nature. We want, want, want, and want to see it sooner than later. Sales go up, the client is already in the studio ready to see the images, and ready to spend. Their is ample evidence that when you show the images sooner, and you create large projected images, which is a cinch with digital, sales go up. Digital gives the portrait photographer more control over the sales process, and ultimately it means more profits.
*Retouching. Let’s face it, people want to look good. What used to take hours and whole lot of aggravation with spray booths, smelly and dangerous lacquers, is now possible with absolute ease. Even when I decided to farm out all my retouching because I had had enough, it still took weeks or months, and huge retouching bills.
Not to mention the loss of control I had over the retouching aspects. It was up to the subjective interpretation of the retouching artist to enhance the images the way I wanted them retouched. Now, with a few basic skills, and all those years of retouching experience all transferred over to the new darkroom, my computer, I can easily retouch to any degree I like. In mere minutes. With absolute astounding results. This ultimately translates to satisfying a basic need that needs to satisfied in our clients, their vanity. They want to look good, and they want it fast.
*Innovation. I could go on for days when it comes to what new products, ideas, services, sales processes, packages, etc, etc…I have been able to create because of digital photography.
Suffice it to say for now that I am excited and alive again with passion about my photography and about the possibilities. When you apply the power of digital, and get a handle on it in your workflow, you can create new and exciting products like never before.
I’ve seen it and experience it every week in our busy little small-city studio. The proof ultimately boils down to net profits, doesn’t it?
After all, we are in business first, and creative artists second, right? Right? Are you with me on this one? We are in business to make money and survive. We need new and exciting angles, ways to stay afloat, so we can pay our bills, keep the bankers happy and provide for our families. No one can predict will total accuracy how digital photography will ultimately evolve, but my betting dollar is with it all the way. I’m not taking any chances.
Anyone remember when colour film and paper was introduced as a mainstream commodity? I don’t, I was just a wee lad, but I heard stories about the many studio owners closing their doors and packing it in because they didn’t want to keep up with the demand and latest craze that colour film and colour paper had created. Dinosaurs. Every last one of them. Their loss, all because of a thick head and mis-guided egos. Don’t be a dinosaur.
My biggest discovery: Who the true expert is!
Ultimately the true expert in our business is not ourselves, or our peers. The real expert is the client. They open up their hearts and wallets and fork over hard earned cash for the memories we create for them. Do they care if it is shot on a JPEG? In RAW mode? Do they care if we use the biggest, best, strongest, fastest computers and software?
Of course not. When you get into your clients head and listen to the conversation that goes on these things are totally irrelevant.
Far more important to her, and to us, is the fundamentals of good photography. In a whirlwind of technological advances nothing seems to ever stay the same. Truth is, the fundamentals of good photography will never change. That’s where is all starts.
Master that and you have 99% of your digital photography challenges mastered.
Robert Provencher has been a professional portrait and wedding photographer for over 25 years. Robert has authored several manuals on digital photography and photogaphy marketing.
Photoshop tutorials & photography tips
One thing that I discovered during my experience with digital photography, after 20 years of shooting film, and I teach at this point all the numerous seminars that have been in hundreds of other professional full-time, digital photography is that it is very well suited to the portrait photographer. So why are we the last to jump on the band wagon? Many commercial shooters have known and mastered the use of its digital activity for much longer than the portrait photographer.
My guess is that we are afraid. Fear of the learning curve and I fear that the quality is just not there unless they spend an ungodly amount of our hard earned cash in some scary looking gigantic series of confusing and impractical, not to mention “how will I learn Things to use this “team.
Truth is, you can get away with as little as a 3.5 megapixel camera. I know, I used my Canon D30 for the first eight months of my trip digitally. This camera created more memories, more sales and more wall portraits that I never imaginable.
Whoa, wait a minute that you say, carpets? There can be! When I seminars routinely show many large samples wall in full view of everyone, with some of the biggest signs that he created with the 3.5 megapixel camera, and the reaction I get is usually disbelief.
Listen. The quality is there. I tried over and over again and I know that anyone can reproduce the same results. Yes, even with a 3.5 megapixel camera.
You have an open and close to beware, that’s all. We have a collection of images in our study, even large tapestries caught with our dinky little D30, and who are “drop-jaw” impressive. I know of other photographers who have had amazing results as well. I know that it works and the file size is secondary.
There are many reasons, but I work with the master list. Here are:
* Quality. The quality of the captured images with a high optical quality, well exposed and well-raised is more than enough, even if you strip JPEGS. Yes, JPEGS. Over 90% of the more than exhibitions 30-40000 put my camera through all the years is the way to shooting in JPEG. Why? Why anyone in their right mind shoot in this kind of “low quality” mode? The answer is simple: it works.
I like to compare the shooting of JPEG picture film. It was slightly softer (but not even noticeable to the human eye) and silent, ideal for skin tones, right? Furthermore, the slap “softar” filters in front of these outrageously expensive lenses and further degrade the image. Do not bother. Shoot with a good lens, in JPEG mode, display properly, raise and create as usual, and we all come together. Add any effect later.
See what else portrait photographers have been doing with regard to their finishes in addition to the degrading images of the image “softars.” We tweak the surface of the print, sometimes heavily. We mounted canvas. Add texture sprays.Oils. Linen rolled … And continues.
My point is simple. Portrait photographers do not need to create the very acute, the highest resolution images available. If they have in the past, it always has degraded the image through these other means. Which is rather ironic, no? You can still shoot in RAW, if you wish, but it is not really necessary.
If you need the absolute highest quality image capture would have been shooting with Kodachrome 64 or Velvia by 4 “x5 camera. But no. JPEGs work. Many I have 30″ prints, and even a 70 “print, Que was captured in JPEG format. And they are incredible. You can too.
* Control. People want their photos quickly. We live in a world in unity-and minutes count. In our study we can create a slide show for our meetings and we show to customers within 20 minutes of each branch. Customers love it. They get to see the results instantly. If this struggle is essential in the fight against human nature. We want, want, want, and what we want to see sooner than later. Sales go up, the client is already in the studio ready to see the images, and willing to spend. Its abundant evidence that when displaying images before, and to create large images projected, which is a bread with digital sales rise. Digital gives the portrait photographer more control over the sales process, and ultimately, that means more profits.
* Retouche. Let’s be realistic, people want to look good. What once took hours and a lot of aggravation with spray booths, smelly and dangerous lacquers, it is now possible with ease. Even when I decided to farm all my editor because I had had enough, it still took weeks or months, and large bills retouching.
Not to mention the loss of control he had over aspects of retouching. It is up to the subjective interpretation of the artist retouched to enhance the images of the way I wanted to retouch. Now, with some basic knowledge, and all the years of experience of retouching all transferred to the new darkroom, my computer, I can easily tweak to any degree that I like. In just minutes. With all surprising results. This ultimately leads to the satisfaction of a basic need that must satisfy our customers, their vanity. They want to look good, and they want quickly.
* Innovation. I could go on for days when it comes to what the new products, ideas, services, sales processes, packages, etc., etc. .. I have been able to create, because of digital photography.
Suffice it to say for now that I am excited and live with my passion for photography and on the possibilities. When you apply the power of digital technology, and get a handle on it in your workflow, you can create new and exciting products like never before.
What I have seen and experienced every week in our busy little town study. The ultimate test is reduced to the net profit, right?
After all, we are in business first, the creators and, secondly, right? Right? Are you with me on this? We are in business to make money and survive. We need new and exciting angles, ways to stay afloat, so we can pay our bills, keep bankers happy and provide for our families. Nobody can predict how it will be total precision digital photography, ultimately evolve, but my bet is in dollars with it all the way. I am not taking any chances.
I remember when nobody color film and paper was presented as a major commodity? I do not, I was just a wee lad, but I have heard many stories about the study of the owners to close their doors and on the packaging because they did not want to keep up with demand and the latest film fashionable color and color Added paper has. Dinosaurs. Every one of them. His loss, all because of a thick head and badly guided egos. Not being a dinosaur.
My most important discovery: Who is the real expert!
Ultimately, the real expert in our business is not ourselves, or our fellow men. The customer is the real expert. They open their hearts and their wallets and fork over hard cash earned by the memories we create for them. Would you mind if it is shot in the JPEG? In RAW? Will Care if we use the bigger, better, stronger, faster and the software of computers?
Of course not. Upon reaching their clients in the head and listen to the conversation that follows these things are totally irrelevant.
Much more important to her and to us, is the basics of good photography. In a whirlwind of technological change nothing seems to be never the same. Truth is, the basics of good photography will never change. That’s where everything starts.
Maestro and you have 99% of their challenges mastering digital photography.
If you are looking for more resources about digital photography review, digital photography lighting or even about digital photography equipment we advise you to visit this links.
If you are looking for more resources about digital photography review, digital photography lighting or even about digital photography equipment we advise you to visit this links.
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What is Green Screen Photography?
A Green Screen Photography is a form of photography in which a photographer replaces the background screen by any other selected image. Another term used for this photography is Chroma Key photography. A person can create various types of images deploying this technology. You can create pictures artistically and creatively. One can dwarf the subject with the use of this technology. You can also make a subject appear a giant or add cloning effect in a photograph. This photography is often deployed in television stations. Film making extensively deploy this technique. That is why you can watch your favorite actor flying high in the sky or time-machine visible in a film. Techniques to use this form of unique photography:
There are various techniques to deploy the digital Chroma Key photography effectively and efficiently. A photographer should be able to light the foreground subject. One can illuminate a subject properly. However, you should ensure that a subject is not brightly illuminated. Bright light falling on the subject or background can cause glare on a photograph. Spots can occur either on the subject or at the background. You can also add effects to a photograph by using amber gels. These amber gels are colorful plastic sheets that add colorful reflection on a subject. The color of the amber gel should match with the clothes of the subject. This makes a colorful and well-matched combination of a subject with the background. These amber gels also cut the extra amount of light illuminating the subject and the background. You should also ensure that extra amount of light can also cause ‘color bleeding’. In ‘color bleeding’, the shade of the background reflects onto the subject. To avoid this refection, you can use butterfly sheets or reduce the amount of light falling on the subject and the background. Various tools to create vibrant images:
There are various tools available for a photographer to create beautiful and striking photographs. The chroma key editor offer different types of features. You can perform overlay transition of one or two photographs. One can even make a subject appear invisible or flames bursting out of the fingers. You can perform wonders by using this technique.
Myself webmaster of 123videomagic.com providing video editing software, green screen software, chroma key software helps in customizing video / images for replacing background, giving special effects as per your needs.
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Green screen photography is a technique of replacing selected image by the background image in the photograph. This technique has introduced advancement in the field of photography. It has the potential to create magnetic and emphatic pictures. A photographer can present unimaginable and artistic creations with the use of this process. This type of process is useful in conveying the essence of the pictures or images. One can create wonderful and beautiful images with the use of this technique.
What is color spill and how does it occur?
A photographer should consider many factors while using green screen photography. This form of photography has simple requirements. One should learn to handle these prerequisites for effective use of photography. Proper lighting, good quality camera and high quality background cloth are the requirements. Accurate lighting is essential to create high quality images. If the lighting is not proper it can cause ‘color spill’ or dark shadows on the subject. The dark shadows occur on the subject when you use less amount of light. The ‘color spill’ occurs when larger amount of light is used to illuminate the subject. The light at the background gets reflected onto the subject. In other words, the color of the background gets reflected onto the foreground area. It causes a colored tinge on the subject and this tinge is called ‘color spill’. This process takes place due to the property of the light. If you throw light on the wall or any surface it bounces back. The ‘color spill’ can be noticed in semi-transparent areas like blonde hair or glass material.
How to remove the color spill?
The color spill can be removed after taking the photograph through the digital means. While replacing the blue or green background you can use techniques and add effects to remove the color spill. However, this is a time consuming process. The easy way it to take care of the amount of light used to illuminate the subject. While photographing the subject you should deploy reasonable amount of light that is not very bright and not very less. There are other tools available that enable the photographer to edit the photograph and remove the color spill.
Myself webmaster of 123videomagic.com providing video editing software, green screen background software, chroma key photography helps in customizing video / images for replacing background, giving special effects as per your needs.