Saturday, August 8, 2009
Responses to Comments
As I am starting to get more comments on certain articles, I find it easier to also respond to the comments in the comment section. In other words; if you had a question that was asked in the comment section under a particular article and the next day you see there are now two comments for the same article, it is very possible that is either me, or one of the others who also read this responding to your comments. I do get emails showing me which articles have comments on any given day. So just as a general bit of knowledge; if you ask a question, check back in the same section you asked it under to see possible answers. And if others, see my answers and want to add more, feel free to do the same. Some questions can very easily have multiple answers depending on your own experiences.
Depth of Field
Just wanted to put my two cents worth in on the depth of field question. I will not comment on what depth of field that I find most realistic, but I would like to state my opinion on what depth of field I find the most pleasing.I find that a shallow depth of field not only isolates your subject, but also can give your photo an almost dream-like quality and a sense of wonder or mystery.
For me that's what photography is all about--creating a daydream that we can share with others.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Photo Favorite
As I said earlier, I am still new to "Blogging". I just figured out that I could also post photos here too. Actually any of us can, so I encourage you to do so. This is one of my favorite shots, and what most people do not realize is that the overhang in this shots is only sticking out about 1 foot.
If you want to give feedback about this shot, or post one of your own, feel free. The point of this blog is it is to be used as a tool for all of us, not just me. If any of you also have other photographer friends that might be interested in this invite them to view both the website and the blog.
I agree with Ansel Adams who said: "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Who motivates the motivator?
Some people have said that not only do I burn my candle at both ends, but sometimes it almost appears that I have a blow torch going in the middle. To those people I reply; "If I shoot for the stars and ONLY reach the sky; am I really a failure, compared to those who were too afraid to reach beyond their own limitations?"
I try therefore I am. Note; I did NOT say I think therefore I am. Many people think about what they want. Many people hope, plan, and dream to accomplish something, someday. I am all about trying new ideas, DOING something different. Some people would say I'm setting myself up for failure. If I try 10 new things; that nobody thinks I can do, and I only achieve 1 does that make me a failure? What if by some miracle I actually achieve 2 or 3? Since nobody thought I could do it to begin with, failure becomes kind of relevant, don't you think?
One of my heroes is Thomas Edison who stated, "I have NOT failed. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work." I treat my photography, my website, and my personal ambition to leave a positive influence on the world with the same attitude. If I offend any who think I spend too much time with my head in the clouds I reply, "Only my shoulders are in the clouds . . . my eyes are staring at the universe beyond."
I try therefore I am. Note; I did NOT say I think therefore I am. Many people think about what they want. Many people hope, plan, and dream to accomplish something, someday. I am all about trying new ideas, DOING something different. Some people would say I'm setting myself up for failure. If I try 10 new things; that nobody thinks I can do, and I only achieve 1 does that make me a failure? What if by some miracle I actually achieve 2 or 3? Since nobody thought I could do it to begin with, failure becomes kind of relevant, don't you think?
One of my heroes is Thomas Edison who stated, "I have NOT failed. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work." I treat my photography, my website, and my personal ambition to leave a positive influence on the world with the same attitude. If I offend any who think I spend too much time with my head in the clouds I reply, "Only my shoulders are in the clouds . . . my eyes are staring at the universe beyond."
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wanted: Motivation
OK, here's the deal. Ezine Articles.com is having a contest. Write 100 articles in 100 days, win cool stuff. Prior to this contest, I wrote 80 articles in 2 years. Besides creating this blog to help interaction between our group of talented photographers; I was truly to hoping to get more feedback on the type of things, you guys as photographers wanted to know more about. Yes, in case you were wondering, I am talking about photography articles.
So far, I'm at 4 articles in 4 days. Only 96 more to go!! Besides the prizes, I was also hoping this would give me more material to update my current photo ebook. So let me not beat around the bush any longer.
If you were to buy an ebook on photography, knowing what you already know, what subjects would you want it to cover?? The goal of this ebook would be to take you to the next level in photography. This is NOT aimed at the beginning photographer, rather it is to help existing photographers to become even more successful.
I will continue to post here as ideas occur, but I am looking for motivation, ideas, inspiration, etc; not only for the contest, but so that I can create something that will benefit as many photographers as possible. I know I don't know it all, but I can research and find answers that people really need . . . if I know what the questions are to begin with.
As a side note; I am strongly considering promoting this next ebook through "Clickbank". What that means to you is, I will make this a money making venture for all of us. You can get a percentage of any of my e books that are sold from your website. But not to get ahead of myself. First, I need to write 100 more photography articles. Second, I will totally redesign my current award winning ebook. Third, together we will make a lot of money.
For now, just keep sending ideas my way please!!!!
So far, I'm at 4 articles in 4 days. Only 96 more to go!! Besides the prizes, I was also hoping this would give me more material to update my current photo ebook. So let me not beat around the bush any longer.
If you were to buy an ebook on photography, knowing what you already know, what subjects would you want it to cover?? The goal of this ebook would be to take you to the next level in photography. This is NOT aimed at the beginning photographer, rather it is to help existing photographers to become even more successful.
I will continue to post here as ideas occur, but I am looking for motivation, ideas, inspiration, etc; not only for the contest, but so that I can create something that will benefit as many photographers as possible. I know I don't know it all, but I can research and find answers that people really need . . . if I know what the questions are to begin with.
As a side note; I am strongly considering promoting this next ebook through "Clickbank". What that means to you is, I will make this a money making venture for all of us. You can get a percentage of any of my e books that are sold from your website. But not to get ahead of myself. First, I need to write 100 more photography articles. Second, I will totally redesign my current award winning ebook. Third, together we will make a lot of money.
For now, just keep sending ideas my way please!!!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Group F 1.2
In 1932 a group of eleven American photographers formed Group F64 to promote a new direction in photography. The name referred to the smallest aperture available in large-format view cameras at the time and it signaled the group's conviction that photographs should celebrate the medium's unrivaled capacity to present the world "as it is."
These were some of the biggest names of the day, to include Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston to name a few. As most of you know, the higher the F-stop number, the greater the depth of field. So what their name sake implied was the greater the depth of field, the better.
In the world of photography these masters, were and are some of the greatest photographers of all time. I am not, and will NOT criticize any of their wonderful images; but I will ask this, "does more depth of field really show the world as it is?"
Try this experiment. Hold your thumb up and extend your arm out at full length. Focus on the tip of your thumb, then try to focus on anything 10 feet past that. You can not do both at the same time. The human eye does not have the ability to see everything sharp from edge to edge regardless of the depth of the image. If I were to form a group today, I would call it Group F1.2 .
A narrow depth of field has several unique advantages. A) It is much closer to how the human eye views the world. B) It forces the photographer to be very selective about what they want to show. C) Distracting backgrounds are almost nonexistent.
Obviously, no one rule can fit every situation, but . . . let me open this for discussion, which type of depth of field do you folks find most realistic??
These were some of the biggest names of the day, to include Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston to name a few. As most of you know, the higher the F-stop number, the greater the depth of field. So what their name sake implied was the greater the depth of field, the better.
In the world of photography these masters, were and are some of the greatest photographers of all time. I am not, and will NOT criticize any of their wonderful images; but I will ask this, "does more depth of field really show the world as it is?"
Try this experiment. Hold your thumb up and extend your arm out at full length. Focus on the tip of your thumb, then try to focus on anything 10 feet past that. You can not do both at the same time. The human eye does not have the ability to see everything sharp from edge to edge regardless of the depth of the image. If I were to form a group today, I would call it Group F1.2 .
A narrow depth of field has several unique advantages. A) It is much closer to how the human eye views the world. B) It forces the photographer to be very selective about what they want to show. C) Distracting backgrounds are almost nonexistent.
Obviously, no one rule can fit every situation, but . . . let me open this for discussion, which type of depth of field do you folks find most realistic??
Monday, August 3, 2009
To Pay or Not To Pay
Before I had invited anybody to join this blog, I got an interesting question sent to me through email. The question basically put was should this photographer spend $69.00 on one of those books that claims to have selected one of her photos as "The best photography of 2009"? Sometimes things like this come from photo contests; sometimes they approach you totally at random and state they are part of some national or international photography organization you may or may not have ever heard of. Here was my response:
Having gone through something similar in 2007, I will gladly share my opinion. This is very similar "xxxxxx" International Photo Contest. They will send you many ads that make it sound like it is such an honor to be chosen as part of this select group of photographers. All ads are created to appeal to your own self confidence and self esteem, but the bottom line is this . . . you pay them, not the other way around. Look at it this way, 300 pages x 6 photos per page = 1800 photographers paying them $69.00 each. That's $124,200 if each photographer only buys one copy. Make no mistake about it, if you are not willing to buy the book, you will NOT be included. The only way your family and friends are going to know about it is if you buy them copies too!
There are several thousand REAL photo contests on the internet, that if you win, they pay you (or at the very least they acknowledge you without you having to pay anything.) Is the book real? YES Is it a really good quality? YES Will it really help promote you as a photographer? NO. Most of those who got the book, got it to see their own work.
I'll be right up front with you. Yes, I got the book. But no one has EVER commented about seeing my work in it. I personally will never pay someone else to say my work is good enough to publish again. The longer I thought about it, the more upset I got with myself for doing it the first time. If it's that good, then the publisher should be paying me. I know it's not all about the money. But if they are willing to pay me for my work (regardless of how much), it sure feels like much more of an honor than if I have pay them.
One Last thought, for $69.00 you could print your own book with nothing but your photography in it. You can then use that as a very professional looking portfolio to show as many people as you want. There are several good print on demand publishers out there including either "LuLu.com" or "Amazon.com" that will print simply wonderful looking books about whatever subject you decide.
Having gone through something similar in 2007, I will gladly share my opinion. This is very similar "xxxxxx" International Photo Contest. They will send you many ads that make it sound like it is such an honor to be chosen as part of this select group of photographers. All ads are created to appeal to your own self confidence and self esteem, but the bottom line is this . . . you pay them, not the other way around. Look at it this way, 300 pages x 6 photos per page = 1800 photographers paying them $69.00 each. That's $124,200 if each photographer only buys one copy. Make no mistake about it, if you are not willing to buy the book, you will NOT be included. The only way your family and friends are going to know about it is if you buy them copies too!
There are several thousand REAL photo contests on the internet, that if you win, they pay you (or at the very least they acknowledge you without you having to pay anything.) Is the book real? YES Is it a really good quality? YES Will it really help promote you as a photographer? NO. Most of those who got the book, got it to see their own work.
I'll be right up front with you. Yes, I got the book. But no one has EVER commented about seeing my work in it. I personally will never pay someone else to say my work is good enough to publish again. The longer I thought about it, the more upset I got with myself for doing it the first time. If it's that good, then the publisher should be paying me. I know it's not all about the money. But if they are willing to pay me for my work (regardless of how much), it sure feels like much more of an honor than if I have pay them.
One Last thought, for $69.00 you could print your own book with nothing but your photography in it. You can then use that as a very professional looking portfolio to show as many people as you want. There are several good print on demand publishers out there including either "LuLu.com" or "Amazon.com" that will print simply wonderful looking books about whatever subject you decide.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
What Sets Us Apart?
In music; if you had to start at the very beginning, you would start with “Doe, Ray, Me” or so the song goes. In art it would be “Line, Texture, and Light.” Keep in mind that if you want to be a great photographer, you also want to be a great Artist. Anybody can go out and buy a cheap camera, and push the button. That does not make them a great photographer. But the truly great ones like: Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston all had one thing in common. These people knew art and the elements of design.
It is hard to think of a 5 x 7 camera on a 45 pound tripod as the same kind of tool as a 2 pound 10 mega pixel wonder that we use today. They are as different as day and night, aren't they?? In my opinion, no. They are the tools we use to create. No body asks the carpenter what brand of hammer he uses, they look at the end result.
The end result comes from knowledge, insight and experience. Things like leading lines, the rule of thirds, and formal or informal balance goes beyond the tools you use to create them with. Some will argue that you can not teach creativity. Again I disagree. With over 30 years experience in photography, I find it is my background in art and concepts like the elements of design that sets my work apart. To be a great artist you do not need to know anything about photography, but . . . to be a great Photographer, you must be a great artist.
It is hard to think of a 5 x 7 camera on a 45 pound tripod as the same kind of tool as a 2 pound 10 mega pixel wonder that we use today. They are as different as day and night, aren't they?? In my opinion, no. They are the tools we use to create. No body asks the carpenter what brand of hammer he uses, they look at the end result.
The end result comes from knowledge, insight and experience. Things like leading lines, the rule of thirds, and formal or informal balance goes beyond the tools you use to create them with. Some will argue that you can not teach creativity. Again I disagree. With over 30 years experience in photography, I find it is my background in art and concepts like the elements of design that sets my work apart. To be a great artist you do not need to know anything about photography, but . . . to be a great Photographer, you must be a great artist.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Consistant Change
Like many others I know, I often find myself resistant to change. When I first started shooting black and white film, I shot 400 speed film for a long time. When I first moved to Color I only shot Slide Film. I resisted going from a film camera to a digital camera for at least 5 years. I have used Photoshop 7 for over 10 years. I don't say these things to boast; in fact, it's just the opposite. When I first used a digital camera, I almost threw it away. Of course, shooting a soccer game with a standard grade SD card may have had something to do with that.
As time goes forward, so must we, if we want to continue to have any hopes of success in photography. I have a friend who collects digital backgrounds. She shoots most of her portraits on green screen then adds any one of several hundred choices after the fact. I'm not saying this is the way we should all start taking portraits, but I do admire her for thinking outside the box. She has no studio overhead cost. She can shoot her subjects almost anywhere, and she gives her customers choices they can NOT get with any studio in the area.
My current website, 700+ pages in size was all created with Front Page, which is not being supported by more and more web servers. In the next few months, I will be redesigning my site with Dreamweaver CS3. I will be learning the ins and outs of this "blog" stuff, and . . . believe it or not I will be moving up to Photoshop CS3. These changes will be a little overwhelming at first, I'm sure. But in the end I think it will all be worth it.
If we can share insights and motivation on this Blog, I believe we can all benefit. I thought at first, it was I that entered your email addresses to allow you to post to this site for example. I was wrong, you sign up with your own personal information in the section that says: "Join this Site". I invite one and all to do just that. If you will forgive my learning curve, I think you will find we can all grow and become more successful from sharing each others combined experiences.
As time goes forward, so must we, if we want to continue to have any hopes of success in photography. I have a friend who collects digital backgrounds. She shoots most of her portraits on green screen then adds any one of several hundred choices after the fact. I'm not saying this is the way we should all start taking portraits, but I do admire her for thinking outside the box. She has no studio overhead cost. She can shoot her subjects almost anywhere, and she gives her customers choices they can NOT get with any studio in the area.
My current website, 700+ pages in size was all created with Front Page, which is not being supported by more and more web servers. In the next few months, I will be redesigning my site with Dreamweaver CS3. I will be learning the ins and outs of this "blog" stuff, and . . . believe it or not I will be moving up to Photoshop CS3. These changes will be a little overwhelming at first, I'm sure. But in the end I think it will all be worth it.
If we can share insights and motivation on this Blog, I believe we can all benefit. I thought at first, it was I that entered your email addresses to allow you to post to this site for example. I was wrong, you sign up with your own personal information in the section that says: "Join this Site". I invite one and all to do just that. If you will forgive my learning curve, I think you will find we can all grow and become more successful from sharing each others combined experiences.
What I want to do with this Blog.
Unlike a forum, where everybody and anybody can post things that may or may not have anything to do with what you originally said, a Blog has a limited number of authors. I would like to open this blog to photographers already submitting photos to my website www.betterphototips.com
To do this, send an eMail to: tedric@betterphototips.com and say "Yes, I would like to be included on your blog." Once you do this, I can add your name to those who can post on this blog.
The goal here is to make a community of photographers that can interact with one another on a regular basis. I would love, for example; for other photographers to be able to comment on the winners of our monthly photo contest.
If there is a particular subject that you would like to see an article written about, like; posing your subjects, then I could respond and give more information in that area. In other words, I want this blog to be a useful tool for all of us, not just me rambling on everyday like a public journal.
To do this, send an eMail to: tedric@betterphototips.com and say "Yes, I would like to be included on your blog." Once you do this, I can add your name to those who can post on this blog.
The goal here is to make a community of photographers that can interact with one another on a regular basis. I would love, for example; for other photographers to be able to comment on the winners of our monthly photo contest.
If there is a particular subject that you would like to see an article written about, like; posing your subjects, then I could respond and give more information in that area. In other words, I want this blog to be a useful tool for all of us, not just me rambling on everyday like a public journal.
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