4th of July Fireworks

Here are a few pictures from the 4th of July fireworks in Allendale, MI.
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Nikon 28-80mm
F-Stop:  F/11
Shutter Speed: Variable from 2-6 seconds

Street Performers

During Thursday evenings in the summer, the city of Holland, MI has various street performers that entertain the public.  Here is just a sampling of who was out on July 3, 2014.  For more information on this series, go to http://www.holland.org/includes/calendar-of-events/Street-Performers-Series/1512/

Photo 101 - Composition

Something that many people have never been introduced to is how to take a good picture.  Don't get me wrong, there are a number of people who take great images without having a PhD in photography.  However there are a number of things that people don't consider when taking that final action of pushing the button. Fortunately there are a few tips that you can do to ensure that the picture is "set up" properly.  Let's take a trip, shall we?

#1 Let the Picture Tell the Story?

Have you ever read a good book?  one that you had a very difficult time putting down or were sad when you reached the end because you were so enthralled by it?  This was probably because the author took you places that you recreated in your mind.  You brain began composing a scene based on the author's words and the characters actions.

Photography takes a similar approach, but rather than reading words and having your mind develop a picture, we give the "Readers" a picture that can allow them to see the story. Every image that we take is a reflection of something that we see as beautiful, touching or poignant. It is our job to make sure our readers understand the story that we see.

But how does someone do that?  Start by looking at your subject. It might be a bolt, it might be a child playing, it might be a tree. Whatever the subject, think about what makes it touch your heart.  Focus on that thought and try to compose a shot with that in mind.

#2  The Rule of Thirds

One of the most basic principles of taking a good photo is knowing where to place the subject.  So many people tend to place the subject in the center of the picture which, to be fair, seems to work some of the time.  However, by offsetting the subject in the frame, more times than not, it enhances the image and makes it more pleasing to the eye.

Photographers and painters do this bu utilizing something called "The Rule of Thirds."  Put simply, imagine a Tic-Tac-Toe board in your viewfinder.  By placing the subject at one of these intersections, you give the image a sense of flow and it becomes more pleasing to the eye.  Now, that being said, the Rule of Thirds is merely a guide, not a hard and fast rule.  Some images lend themselves to being centered.  Play around with the placement and see what you get.

#3  Where is Your Light Coming From?

This is one thing that gets overlooked many times when taking pictures, especially outdoors.  Many people feel the sun needs to be behind them so the subject is lit properly.  However, this causes the subject to start squinting and yields a poor image.  Others believe the sun should be behind the subject so they are not squinting which will ultimately lead to a HUGE shadow on the face and body (this can be corrected somewhat by using a fill-flash which we will discuss in another session).  

Ideally, you want a combination of light and shadow.  Consider placing the sun behind and to the side of you so that the subject's face is lit, but they are not squinting.  Another great option is to take the picture in the shade with a flash.  That way, they subject is not squinting and the background is not washed out.  Sometimes shade can be provided by bringing a reflector panel or even a large sheet to help block the sun on the subject.

#4  Posing vs. Candids

Depending on the picture, there are times for each.  Sometimes, you may want a nice, formal family portrait or a group shot of some sort.  For this, make sure that you not only look at the individuals in the shot, but look at the group as a whole.  The general outline of the group should look pleasing to the eye.  Normally you do not want to have a short person in between two tall people in they are in the same plane (i.e. Standing in line with each other).

When taking a picture of an individual, do not have them face you directly (i.e. do not have their shoulders perpendicular to the camera.  Instead, go for a softer look by having them turn slightly.  Also, to create an interesting image, have them look at something other than the camera.  Make them laugh or have a contemplative feel, but indirect shots seem to work out very well.  

There are those times, though, where you want to capture the moment and this calls for a candid.  Personally, these are my favorite types of images.  You want to remember that there are other angles to look at, but try to frame the subject in good before you snap the picture.  There is no one way to take candida other than just try to keep it a surprise so they story of the individual is kept in the foreground.

Final Thoughts

Anyone can be a better photographer.  Professionals strive for this daily which makes them good at what they do and i question the person who is not continually trying new things.  The good photographers are constantly looking for new techniques, new angles, new methods of telling the story in every image they take. These are just a few of my suggestions to you on taking basic pictures.  Try them out and see what works for you.  Try different stances, different focus points, different lighting techniques and see what fun you can have.  But most of all, enjoy telling the story!

This is Probably the Biggest Myth in Photography

There is one comment that I always seem to hear from people who are not professional photographers:  "I can't take good pictures because I don't have a good camera."  Well, I'm here to tell you why this comment is not entirely true.

I will say that camera technology has come a long way from the days of film. Every 6-months to a year, camera manufacturers seem to come out with bigger, better, more expensive cameras that have higher megapixel rating or faster shutter speeds.  They strive to stay ahead of the competition in what they can offer consumers.  But do you really need a 36-Megapixel camera with a super-telephoto lens to take good shot.  The Answer is most definitely NO!!!

Believe it or not, cameras have very little to do with the quality of a photograph.  Sure, more megapixels will yield a more detailed image.  However, what many people don't realize is that it is the composition that is the most important to an image.  Being able to convey the story in a scene or give it a sense of "flow" makes a huge difference in an image.  iPhone or DSLR, anyone can take great picture by setting up the shot.

One movie that had an awesome example of this concept was "Dead Poet's Society" with Robin Williams.  In one scene, he has all of his students in his class take turns standing on top of his desk and looking out at the classroom giving them a different perspective.  We become so accustomed to what we see every day from "our vantage point" that we forget that there are so many other ways to look at something.  You can get lower, get higher or even get a different angle on something and you will start to see the beauty of the object and begin to explore the "roads less travelled" when looking at something.

The next time you are taking pictures, take a moment and mentally set up your shot.  For instance, if you are taking pictures of the kids, don't just stand them in a line and have them face you.  Instead, have them stand back to back or lay on the floor and take the picture looking up at them.  Maybe you are at the beach or the playground, get some pictures of them AT THEIR LEVEL so you are not looking down on them, but you instantly become their equal for the shot. 

The thing to take away here is that EVERYONE can take great photographs.  Just remember to think before you shoot and to practice, practice, practice!  Set up your shot, get a different angle and enjoy taking the picture.  Trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

New Technology Aquired

Picked up an Eye-Fi card today. What is it you may ask?  Well, it gives the photographer the ability to wirelessly transmit a JPEG copy of the image to an iPhone or iPad to be immediately previewed by myself or a client. I'm looking forward to playing with this on future shoots!

What a sky!

The sky looked great the other night after a day full of storms!

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog!

I will be working on keeping you up to date on some of my latest endeavors as well as different photography news that may be of interest to you.  Speaking of new endeavors, I have two project lined up for the summer into fall:

Project #1:  Vintage Photo Shoot
This is something I have always wanted to play with.  Taking pictures that are reminiscent of the 1940-1950's era.  I am talking the classy ladies:  the hair, the lipstick, the dresses...everything that screams that era.  I am still ironing out the details, but this will be happening soon so lookout!  If you might be interesting in being a model for the shoot, let me know!

Project #2:  Classic Cars
What is more beautiful than a polished car on a remote section of road?  I have a few people who have cars, but if you or someone you know is part of a classic car club, get in touch with me.

Keep checking back for some of my latest work and contact me if you want to set up a photo session.

-Chris