Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Photography as an art

Photography is one of the beautiful definitions of an art that expresses the picture portrayed. The three components linked with Photography are artist, medium and the art work. The three components are inter-related to each other.

Many people found photography to be a mere reproductive medium and hence the reason photography really struggled for one and half centuries.

Photography is definitely art work, it needs a lot of talent and imagination to portray and expression through a simple portrait. It is an art of recognizing the minutest effects on reaching the heart of the picture. It is not only clicking the photographs, but it is about giving them a sequence a background a picture, liveliness and a medium. A Photograph artist brings the Pictures to live once they are clicked. It is a beautiful art of recognizing the most behavior of nature, person or a situation.

There have been many artistic photographic giants in the past like Henri Cartier Bresson, Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange who proved themselves in the field of photography. Today there are many photographic artists like those of by the expressionofwendy.com who make their work known to the world through their finest art of photography by portraying it on the website.

Photography as an art has taken its place and fame in the market today. There are many people around the world who are crazy about Photography. There are people who want to choose these professions because of their artistic interventions. Photography has not diminished rather it has found a way to win hearts of many people.

Photography being an art is also a challenge; it is depicting the true self out of a non-living thing. For example, it brings life the picture that can be so dead. When we think of the simple image of nature, photography can bring those simple image of nature alive by adding colors and definitions to it to make it alive in the eyes of the viewers.

Photography is the best thing, it is the imagination of head and it is the imagination of thoughts. One can get easily engrossed in the line of photography. There are many photographers who spend hours throughout the day, in defining the simple clicks and making them alive.

Adding colors, adding a sense, adding a life to something that is non-living is an art. Photographs of various natural instincts bring to our imagination of photography being a defined art. Many at times Photographs depict a lot about a person, that person themselves are not aware of.

Photography as an art has just been recognized in the recent years, over the year people have accepted the secrets of photography and what it can portray. Photography depicts the known from the unknown; it is an art of going to the depths of understanding the vitality and the nature of any picture.

Photography also is a beautiful art of imagination, it is an art of dream and it is an art of bringing the dream to reality. The major sequence of photography can be seen through various examples given by the photographers of the past.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Dreaming Winter Photography

The sight of early morning snow, the shimmering frost in the trees, your sister falling off in your snow filled front yard and your stunning snow angel, don’t you ever wish you could just capture that moment right away and place them in your computer desktop? Right, sounds easy but for an amateur photographer this may sound too challenging and laborious. But thanks to the dawn of digital photography and winter photography need not be exclusive to the professional anymore.

You have to remember a few pointers though. Winter shooting can be tricky as majority of the landscape is white and the background is bright. When shooting a snow filled area, the brightness of the snow may often cause your digital camera to somewhat underexpose the scene, thus making the snow to look gray. To correct this, you might have to increase your exposure compensation so the whiteness of the snow can be appropriately captured. The time of the day you took the picture can also have an effect in your image. So if you want cooler shots shoot closer to midday but if you want warmer shoots, shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Although traditional photography belief tells us that using flash outdoor is not necessary but if you are shooting a winter photograph, using a flash can bring out details and highlights that might not be captured without it. However, if you are shooting close shots avoid using flash as much as possible as the reflection can greatly reduce any detail in your photo.

With the flexibility of processing available with digital cameras, you have better choices when in comes to choosing the finished format of your photograph. There is really nothing to lose to trying winter photography. You might even be surprised with the images that you captured. Once you have become accustomed to winter photography and have been familiar with the different techniques, you will find that winter is one of the best times of the year to go out there, take photos and make use of your digital camera. You will be surprised to see that the final results are worth the hassle.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Photography Q&A: The Basics Of Developing Photographs

* Can I develop my own photographs?

Yes, you can. By having your own darkroom, it is possible that you can develop your own photos. You first need to set up your own darkroom and buy darkroom equipment.

* What equipment and supplies do I need in a darkroom?

A darkroom requires many kinds of equipment to get you started in developing your photos. It is expensive, so you should prepare a sufficient amount of money to get into this hobby.

The darkroom necessities are:

• Enlarger
• Negative carrier
• Lens Board
• Lens
• Safelight
• Print trays
• Timer
• Thermometer
• Funnel
• Chemical jugs
• Developer, stop, fixer
• Printing paper
• Mixing rod
• Print squeegee
• Dust brush
• Graduates
• Negative Storage
• Dark Bag/ Dark room
• Film tank
• Film reels
• Film

Above is the equipment you need for a darkroom. However, you still need additional equipment to set up a complete darkroom above and beyond the former, which includes:

• Paper cutter
• Color print drum
• Motor base for print drum or rotary processor
• Color head or filters
• Color printing paper
• Color chemicals
• Jugs and graduates for color chemistry
• Color print viewing filter kit
• Light table
• Dry mount press
• Mounting tissue
• Bulk film loader
• Film cassettes
• Darkroom sink
• Water board
• Film drier
• Print drier
• Toners
• Jugs for toners
• Exposure/color analyzer
• Repeating printing timer
• Photo Oils/pencils
• Print tongs
• Hypo clear, photo-flow
• Easel
• Polycontrast Filters
• Film clips
• Print washer
• Blotter book
• Projection scale
• Antistaticum
• Canned air
• Loupe
• Cropping guide
• Film washer
• Cotton gloves
• Spotting dyes
• Spotting brush
• Contact printer
• Grain focuser

* What makes a good darkroom?

A good darkroom should be light-proof, spacious, have dry and wet areas, have ventilation, have bench space, be organized, have a safe light, and be comfortable to work in. Since you will be working with chemicals, it is important that you have enough space to maneuver to avoid tripping over dangerous chemicals.


Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Photographing Flowers

Flower photography is one of the most popular forms of photography.You can photograph flowers growing in the wild, flowers that are cultivated in greenhouses and gardens, or photograph cut flowers and arrangements indoors,in a studio setting.

Both film and digital cameras work well for flower photography.

Any lens can be used in flower photography, from the ultra-wide angle lens (17mm),to the super-telephoto lens (300mm or 400mm),but if you are serious about closeup flower photography, buy a macro lens.

Most point-and-shoot digital cameras come with a built-in macro mode.Your digital camera's macro feature lets you get very close to your subject,and that is important when photographing flowers.

A tripod is essential because it reduces the chance that you'll get a blurry image.Many tripods, even when fully collapsed, are too high for photographing low growing flowers.That is why you need to get a tripod that allows you to get close to the ground. A special kind of tripod, called a tabletop tripod, is great for photographing small flowers and other objects.

Use a color-saturated type film. A film with an ISO 50 or ISO 100 will give you bright colors. Don't use film faster than ISO 400 for flower photography.

The ideal lighting for photographing flowers is the soft, diffused light of open shade or a cloudy day.Night photography is also an option.A flower photo can be very attractive when illuminated by flash.Wind is the most annoying factor when photographing flowers,so be patient and wait for the wind to die down before you take a picture.

Whether you're photographing flowers indoors or outdoors,consider unusual angles.Try photographing your flowers in early morning light and photograph them again in late afternoon light.Use warming filters to create mood. Add water droplets to the petal of your flower and give it that dewy,morning look. Experiment with backlighting and try to highlight the transparency of the petals.

Don't forget that, although most people love color photography, creative flower photography can be in monochrome as well.

The only way of developing successful techniques in flower photography is to practice, and also learn more about flowers.Botanical gardens and nature preserves are some of the places where you can not only take photos of flowers but also learn more about them.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Photographing Fish: 5 Tips For Frustrated Beginners

Photographing pets can often be a difficult proposition. Add water, glass reflections and the low lighting of an aquarium environment, and you've got the recipe for one extremely difficult photo shoot.

But it doesn't have to be that hard. Armed with the following tips, you can get great photos of your fish in just about any situation.

1: Get a tripod.

Tripods are usually used for non-moving subjects. But they can be immensely helpful when photographing fish, even ones that are constantly moving. Low light levels lead to slow shutter speeds. So anything you can do to stabilize the camera will be of tremendous help. The best way to photograph moving fish with your camera on a tripod is to loosen the levers on the tripod so you can move the camera freely left, right, up and down but the camera will remain in position if left alone.

2: Get your fish acquainted with the camera.

Now that you have a tripod (since you faithfully followed the first tip), set it up in front of your aquarium with the camera mounted on the tripod. Now leave it. For as long as possible... several days would be ideal. The purpose of this exercise is to get the fish used to seeing the "thing" you're constantly moving around, pointing it at them and making noises. When they're comfortable with the sight of the camera, they'll be more relaxed and less prone to dart around the tank or hide.

3: Use a digital camera.

Digital cameras allow us to "just take the picture" without worrying about whether we're wasting the film and processing money on a shot that won't be good. When you can focus on getting the best shot possible, no matter how many tries it takes, you're on the right track to get the shot you want.

4: Turn off the lights in the room.

Ambient light causes reflections on the tank glass that may ruin a perfectly good fish photograph. Eliminate all sources of ambient light that you can, and be very aware of any reflections as you shoot. If there are some reflections you can't get rid of, try putting your body between the light source and the glass to shield the tank from the light.

5: Clean the glass, cut the pumps.

Turning off the aquarium pumps before you shoot is an excellent way to clean up your shots of particles and bubbles in the water column. and if you happen to have a planted freshwater tank or reef aquarium, this will also prevent the plants or corals from swaying in your picture, turning into a blurry mess.

Cleaning the glass is probably the most overlooked step to aquarium photography, and quite possible is responsible for more ruined photos than any other issue. Remember, just because you don't see it now, doesn't mean you won't see it in the picture. Amazing how that happens. So clean the glass well, every time, before you pick up the camera.

6: A Bonus!

Have fun. Aquarium photography can become an interesting and challenging hobby all its own. Have fun with it, experiment freely, and be sure to share your pictures online!

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Digital Photography Creating A Photo Collage

Image might be a difficult project but actually it isn't, it will merely require a bit of time, practice and patience for sure. It will call for your editing software and that will usually come with your digital camera. Select the right software that you will require to assist you to create your photo collage. With using digital photography you will be able to create the most awesome photo collages ever, when you have worked out how to do it properly.

Start by opening a blank document in your photo editing software this will allow you to begin creating your photo collage. You will need your blank document to be the equal size that you are want your photo collage to finish up being. Begin by selecting the digital photographs that you will want in your photo collage. Do not go overboard while selecting the photographs, you don't require that many when you are first starting out to learn how to create a photo collage.

Holding the shift key down will permit you to drag the digital photographs wherever you need them without distorting the images what so ever. This will give you the opportunity to work on resizing your photographs. Depending on the layout of your photo collage you will be able to go back and forth switching the sizes of the photographs until you get it the way that you like. Typically you will simply want to determine the perfect photograph that you prefer to be your centrepiece for you photo collage and that would go right on the center. It does not have to always go right in the center though, it merely depends on what kind of appearance you are trying to create with your photo collage.

One of the hardest functions of creating a photo collage is when you are at the stage where you have to blend the digital photographs. Blending can be very boring. It will acquire practice and time all right, just don't grow too frustrated. If you make mistakes and aren't pleased how the photo collage is coming out, you will be able to always go back and delete any mistakes. And then merely go back and recover that photograph and drag it back into your blank document and simply begin over until you get it just the way you want it. Just resize your digital photographs as you see fit, it all depends upon what it is you are wish for your collage.

Digital photography allows for you the opportunity to do so several awesome things with your photographs. You can create collages for one of your numerous collections. Some folks discover this kind of thing actually gratifying. The further you do it the more skillful you will get at it and in no time you will be showing friends and family how they also can create the perfect photo collage. It's just another cool thing to learn and possibly turn it into a very fun hobby for your past time.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs and career on Photography jobs based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Infrared Digital Photography

It seems to be that the bigger the location that you reside in the more the law-breaking degree increases. With the use of digital photography and infrared digital photography you have the fortune of catching some amazing photographs of criminals being arrested and there is no greater comforting feeling than knowing you made a small contribution in aiding the law enforcement capture some of the a few law breaking members of our society. To take a few of them off of the streets at a time ensures that our lives and the lives of our children will be in less danger. I know that you just as most others wants nothing more than to have a safer environment for our future and our well being as we know it.

Whether you are using daytime infrared digital photography or nighttime infrared digital photography the right lens and all the right factors will in fact give you the opportunity to create just the right digital photograph you are hoping to come up with. You'll need to remember with digital infrared photography that there are few matters you want to take in consideration in getting that great photograph. Never jump the gun too rapidly on photographing until you have all of your facts straight with the type of results that you are hoping for your digital photography shoots.

Think about what type of filter you will be utilizing, make certain that each of your settings are set at their appropriate availability for the precisest detailed appearance. The direction the objects in your digital photographs may be moving will give you an idea on what kind of angle you should be photographing from. Depending upon what type of filter that you selected will influence the quality of your printed digital photograph.

The lighting will obviously deliver a very dramatic effect in how your digital photographs expose themselves. Of course the poorer your lighting then the longer it will take for your photographs to expose. They call for a longer amount of time if the light isn't strong enough to make the photograph its correct imaging appearance. The correct lighting is real important in your digital photography success. However, I realize that with spur of the minute photographs being taken, you don't always possess the time you might want in order to capture that perfect lighting.

Exactly like any of the professionals out there you also want to apply your digital photography skills to their highest degree of accuracy. Try and be really creative with your digital infrared photography skills in photographing the objects that you desire to create on print.

Check over with your owners manual prior to you choosing to attach an infrared lens to your digital camera for your digital photography purposes. These infrared light and filters may cause a few difficult problems with your digital camera if you have not checked out this first before adding this accessory. It could completely mess up your lens and create some serious electronics malfunctions if you're not careful when choosing to do so. The most crucial thing about infrared lens is to never under whatever circumstances look through this infrared lens with your own eyes.This decision could cost you your beloved eye sight.


Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs based and career on Photography based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Memories Are Forever When You Create A Photo Album

It took the digital camera to make me finally create a photo album. You see, I had a virtual photo album on the computer, one which would show the images that I had taken, and where I could arrange them in whatever configuration I wanted.

I realized then, that I had to create a photo album, or forever lose track of all of my precious memories. I simply didn't know where anything was anymore, so I set off to by a lovely hardbound book to create a photo album to organize all of my most precious pictures so that I could show them.

With the prevalence of digital cameras and the fast pace of life, few people really take the time to create a photo album anymore. This is really a shame.

I could even design covers or text for my digital photo album, which was pretty neat. It was so convenient, that I rarely bothered to look at my old pictures any more. I just wasn't up for the effort of digging through them anymore.

I had always kind of wanted to create a photo album, but had never gotten around to it, and over the years I had become pretty good at hunting for just the image which I wanted in my box of pictures.

Then one day, I was having over my sons fiance. She's a sweet girl, and I decided to embarrass him and make her feel part of the family by showing off some of his baby pictures. But when I looked for them, try as I might, I couldn't find them at all.

When you create a photo album, you make something that not only showcases your photos, but arranges them in the personal style that shows you really care about what you are doing.

If you make your own photo album, you can not only select what photos to include, but what kind of book to use, how many per page, and where in your home to display it.
I first decided to create a photo album about a year ago.

Ironically, I didn't even think to create a photo album until I had been using my digital camera for a good while. Back when I used to use my normal, analog camera, I would keep all of my pictures in boxes, and I could go into them and look at them whenever I wanted.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs based and career on Photography based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Making The Best Digital Wedding Photographs Even Better

Brides and grooms alike are now enlisting the expertise of professionals to get the best digital wedding photography for that special occasion. And why not? They would surely want to have the best photo taken so that the memories will be preserved as long as they live.

Whether you use a digital camera, or a traditional camera for taking wedding photos, you should know that thanks to technological advances, any photographs or negative slides can be scanned, digitally enhanced and burned onto CD for preservation purposes.

Today, people are more dependent on their computers than ever before. With computers, they can easily upload their wedding pictures and share them with family and friends all over the world. This means that you do not have to rely on snail mails just to send your pictures. They can be sent and viewed nearly instantaneous.

This is one of the many advantages of digital photography. If taken properly, you are assured that you and you partner will never regret having used digital photography for your wedding pictures.

Below are some of the tips to get the best digital photography for your wedding. Choose the right background. Photos can really look great once they are shot with the perfect background.

You can use the decorations in the church and in the reception areas as a back draft for your photos. Be sure to fix some scattered decorations so that they will appear simply perfect on photos.

Always remind the photographer to check if the view is good when taking pictures. It does not mean that you have to stand on the same corner or place. The best photographer is able to make even the simplest of background look great on photo if it is taken in the right angle.

Look out for any kinds of glass. Glasses tend to cause reflections in photos. May it be an eyeglass, window or wine glasses. One way or another, they will cause a reflection or brightness to reflect back on the camera it is included in the picture.

To avoid this, the position of the camera can be altered so that it will not directly hit the glass. The photo can be taken sideways or downwards but never on eye level. The perfect timing. Persons being photographed should not always be looking at the camera. And they do not have to be smiling at the lens too.

One way of doing it is to wait for the right moment so that you can have a candid shot at them. You will see that catching persons on film when they are in their candid state is much better than having them wearing a fixed expression.

Candid moments make photos look real and natural. Review each photo. To maximize the memory that your digital camera has, it is best to review every shot taken. There might be duplicates that can be removed so that you can free more space for a different shot.

You will probably want the best and the maximum number of digital wedding photography shots so you need to make the most of the capacity of the digital camera.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs based and career on Photography based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Keep Your Photos Safe

Are your precious photos safe?

Are you backing up your precious photos? our computers and removable storage media are full with experiences and precious moments. However electronic media is not safe. Hard disks crash and removable media fails.

Disasters can happen. Digital photo albums are vulnerable and if not backed up you lose thousands of photos and a lifetime of moments in just one hard disk crash.

What are backups? backups are just copies of our files that are put in a safe place. Example of such copies can be photos put on a DVD and placed at a friend's house. The DVD could of course be placed in your own house but that would be less safe since in case of a disaster in your house you might lose both your computer and the backups.

A few years ago backups were hard to make. You practically had to be a computer guru to figure our those backup software. Today however backup was made easy using a number of software solution and online service. Below you can find two main options for backing up your photo albums: burning them to a DVD/CD or using an online backup service.

Backing up to a DVD/CD

Backing up to a DVD/CD is done by using a DVD/CD writer drive and software that can burn files on such media. Usually using such solutions requires more technical know-how. Backing up to a DVD/CD is a cheap solution. You can buy such writer drives and software for probably under a $100 and each DVD/CD media should cost in the cents. One such software that has been around for a while and used by many is from Roxio.

When backing up your photo albums to a DVD/CD please make sure that you put the DVD/CD in a safe place a good option would be somewhere out of your home maybe a family member, a neighbor you can trust or a friend. Another thing to remember with DVD/CD backup is that when you take new photos you should remember to refresh your backups. Ususally unless your photo album is very big the easiest way to do that is just to burn again you complete collection.

Backing up to an online backup service

As any other service backup found its way to the Internet too. A number of sites provide backup services today for everything from digital photo albums to your word documents. Those services usually charge a monthly fee in the $10 to $20 but some provide a more limited service for free. The idea behind the service is simple: instead of backing up to a DVD/CD you just upload your photos to a site and create copy there. The site stores the backups for you in a safe place far away from your computer. If a disaster happens and you need your files you can simple download them back from the site or ask them to send you a DVD/CD with the files (not all provide the latter option). A broadband connection is needed in order to use this option.

There are many advantages to using an online backup service. First they are usually very easy to use. Some provide software that you download and install on your computer. You then point to the folder where your photos reside and the software takes it from there. It will make sure new files are uploaded to the backup service and that your backup is always fresh.

Examples of sites that provide such service are: Streamload that starts with a basic FREE 10GB space (approx 10,000 photos at 2 megapixels) and Xdrive that starts from 5GB for $10 a month.

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs based and career on Photography based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Intro 101: Make Money Taking Great Photographs

You love taking photographs and people keep telling you that you have a great eye. How difficult is it really to make money from your photographs?

There's a lot to taking good photo's and there's no way that one article could cover all the aspects of a good photo. This is an overview on how to get started taking making money with your hobby.

Before you start you will need:

- a decent camera doesn't have to cost the earth but it can be all the difference when it comes to making beautiful photo's

- to understand the different features on your camera learning to use the special features on your camera can make all the difference.

- to keep your eyes peeled for good photo opportunities at all times.

When judging photos generally the three main elements are judged. The crispness/ sharpness of the image, the composition and the subject.

The sharpness of your images can be improved by focusing properly. Zoom all the way in to the intended subject and focus. Then zoom out to the desired distance. The focus should be sharper.

The composition: whole books have been written about composition and there is a broad and fascinating science behind it. In general the law of thirds should serve you well when trying to make a well composed shot. Divide the frame into 3x3 lined sections. All the action should center along the lines. This means the subject should never be entirely in the center of the frame. When trying to compose your shot always try to balance the elements within the frame. You will get a feel for this with practice.

The subject - when taking commercial photo's this is obviously very important. You will want to photograph a wide variety of subjects.

Anyone can make a good living from selling stock photos. Look online or even set up your own.

You must remember that selling anything takes work. You will need to spend a great deal of time marketing yourself and your work.

If you are serious about making money from your photo's then you need to start putting together a portfolio containing your best work. Having a portfolio on hand can be very useful when wanting to impress prospective buyers. Consider putting together an online portfolio to reach an international market faster. You could even set up an online sales system selling your photos.

If you really know a lot about photography consider sending some of your best work in to one of the photographic magazines with a step by step account of your procedure and equipment used. It's worth the effort because you gain valuable exposure as an expert in your field.

You could use some more unconventional methods to generate cash with your camera. What about making screensavers from beautiful photos? If you don't have the technical know how you can ask someone to show you quite easily. Many people make good money this way.

There are all kinds of other markets you can consider selling your photo's to. Online magazines, print magazines, newspapers, travel brochures and books all need photos. Keep your eye's open for any publications that appeal to your niche.

All that’s left to do it grab your camera and start shooting!

Author Bio :
Samuel is writing about Photography Jobs based and career on Photography based on his experience on a research for a website about photography jobs.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Shot Making ~ Photography Jobs

Source: Shot Making ~ Photography Jobs

PARIS—“We’ll see what Roger gives us,” Manuela Davies says. The 42-year-old German-turned-Floridian trains her big, light-gray Canon on Roger Federer as he gets set to serve. Federer has reached the second-most-important moment of a match for a professional tennis photographer like Davies: set point. He’s trying to close one out against Gael Monfils in their quarterfinal on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Davies and I are above the court, in the press section that’s primarily reserved for reporters. Photographers are allowed there, “as long as they don’t disturb the journalists,” Davies says. It’s not an ideal set-up. The writers sit in front of the photographers, which means they also stand up in front of them, often at crucial moments like set points. Which means they’ve been known to ruin a potentially classic shot or two. “You take your chances up here,” Davies says. It’s worth the risk to her and other photographers because this angle allows them to take shots with no background distractions. “You don’t see any ball kids,” Davies says, “or logos or umpires in the background. You just see the clay.”

The stadium goes silent as Federer tosses the ball to serve. The other photographers in the area, who have been clicking casually and a little haphazardly for the last 10 minutes, train their lenses on Federer. They all want the reaction shot, they all want Federer roaring in full fist-pump. Davies, for one, isn’t optimistic.

“When they’re playing a French player here,” she says, “they usually don't celebrate too much."

She’s right. Federer watches a Monfils ground stroke float wide and slides toward it. He cups the ball on his strings, then turns and shakes his fist three times while looking up to his box. You realize how much luck goes into any photograph. It appeared at first that Federer would react while facing away from Davies’ camera, toward the other side of the court. But he waited until after he had turned, right in the direction of Davies and the other photographers near her. Still, while Davies got the shot, Federer’s reaction was too subdued. “That one's dumpable,” she says as she previews the shot. It won’t make the cut.

(Aside: This reminds me of Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer’s story about getting his most famous shot, that of Muhammad Ali growling over a prone Sonny Liston in 1965. In between Ali’s legs, you can see the face of SI’s other photographer staring across at Leifer. He doesn’t have a shot; he was, by blind luck, on the wrong side of the ring.)

Davies is at the French Open on Tennis magazine’s photographer's credential, as she has been for the last few years. With that, she gets access to the grounds for the two weeks, and, just as important, a reserved space in the photographer’s pit at courtside for the finals. Davies and her husband, Jeff, who is also a photographer, began shooting tennis at a small tournament in Orlando in 2000. She had loved photography since she was 10, but hadn't pursued it as a career when she was young. "My parents didn't think it was a real job," she says.

Rf-rg Davies met Tennis’ photo editor, David Rosenberg, on a side court at Key Biscayne a few years later, and sold him her first pro shot. “It was Alex Corretja pouring water over his head,” she says. “Which was nice, because he was one of my favorite players.”

Federer is also a favorite, she says, as we make our way up to another photographer’s position at Chatrier, at the very top of the stadium, on the roof above the TV booths. But he’s not necessarily a great subject. “He’s very elegant,” Davies says of Federer, “but he doesn’t show too much emotion. He’s not great for reactions. His photos tend to be similar.” It’s emotion rather than elegance, the unusual rather than the typical, that sells.

“Rafa is good for facial expressions,” Davies says, “and Monfils is one of the best.” Monfils is also popular with photographers because of his penchant for hitting shots at full stretch. “He fills out the frame.”

But the all-time best player for emotion on a tennis court isn’t in Paris this year. “Serena Williams is No. 1 for reactions,” Davies says, with awe in her voice.

It’s a little dizzying at the top of the stadium. The flags snap in the wind, and only scattered claps and cheers from the audience make their way up this far.

“I’m a little afraid of heights,” Davies says, “so this took some getting used to.” She hoists her other camera, the “big gun,” a 400 mm Canon that's about half Davies' size and powerful enough to capture the players from this distance. Davies' husband thinks it’s too big for her to be lugging all over the grounds, but she says she has to use what the other pros use to compete.

The trick from this vantage point, it turns out, is to watch the players’ shadows. They have to fit inside the frame, along with the player. A shot with a shadow cut off is useless. It’s not easy. Their shadows appear huge from here, like separate people following alongside them. Getting the right shot requires patience; you can go days without anything. Davies still marvels at a shot of a diving Juan Martin del Potro she took from here two years ago.

You also have to be on your toes; you never know when something shootable or memorable is going to happen. Davies is frustrated when Monfils suddenly “does some crazy stuff” around the net in between points. She didn’t catch it.

“I’ve gotten in the habit, after every point ends, to look back down at the other player,” Davies says. “You never know what they’re going to be doing, celebrating or falling on the court.”

It isn’t just the players she has to keep an eye on. Celebrities in the stands sell too. “I missed a good one yesterday,” Davies says. “Pippa Middleton was here. But then I had a picture of Rafa playing where you could see her up in the corner in the stands.” Davies sent the shot to an agency but wasn’t optimistic.

As in every other industry, it seems, photographers' days have gotten longer even as the business has changed and shrunk. Davies works 16-hour days at the majors. Nine of them are typically spent shooting, and seven spent editing, cropping, and downloading the best shots to her website and sending them to various agencies. Her day often ends at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning.

“You hear the stories of the old days,” she says, “when everyone worked with film. They just took their shots and dropped them off to be developed, and then went carousing together. That’s pretty much over now. There’s more work for us with digital.” Davies got into the business just as film was on the way out. She never worked with it.

Technology has made one part of the photographer's jobs easier, though. "The cameras have gotten much quieter," Davies says. McEnroe-esque rants at rampant shutterbugs have become less frequent, though Davies has gotten a few dirty looks.

"In Monte Carlo one year, Coria slid toward me while I was clicking. He missed the shot and gave me an iritated look."

Biut it isn’t just the technology that has been transformed. “The business is different than it was even two years ago,” Davies says. More magazines have yearly contracts with Getty Images now, which allows them to use more photographs. There’s less opportunity for independent photographers, so Davies has shifted to doing work for equipment companies, player websites, and memorabilia firms. It often means she has to shift what she’s looking for in a shot as well.

ManuAAG_9675-2 “The player sites don't like the shots of their players straining,” she says. “They want them to look calm and relaxed and pretty while they’re playing.”

Davies works all four majors, though she's not doing the French/Wimbledon double this year. It would be too much time apart from her husband in Florida. It was a tough decision for her, because she loves Wimbledon. “It has the best light," she says, "And you can get really close there. The players are all in white, and there are no ads in the background. The only problem is that you might not see the sun there for three days.”

On this day, from high above Chatrier, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance, the sun begins its slow—very slow, in Paris—descent, and a shadow creeps across the clay. It makes for striking images—when the players move into the shadow, it can look like a natural studio shot (see the Federer pic above). Other photographers begin to gather. Davies, despite the dumpable Federer reaction shot, manages to capture a spontaneous moment. Monfils double faults, raises his racquet, and slams it to the court. Davies has the moment, in pixels, forever, shadows safely inside the frame. Not bad for 16 hours of work.



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Digital Photography 101: How to take family portraits that will become treasured keepsakes

Source: Digital Photography 101: How to take family portraits that will become treasured keepsakes

There's certainly an art to portrait photography, and even more so to taking portraits of children. Photographing entire families (or other large groups) comes with its own set of challenges but can also be incredibly rewarding. Today's mobile society can make it hard to gather the family together (let alone extended family members), so when it happens that everyone's in the same place at the same time, it's even more important to immortalize the moment.

Gather the troops
Whether you're photographing 20 cousins at a family reunion or a bride and groom and their 10-member wedding party, the first step is obviously gathering everyone together. You might not have much control over your location, but go for somewhere with a background that won't be distracting. Watch out for backgrounds that are too colorful, as they can end up distracting from your subjects and clashing with their coloring.

A field of green grass is perfect, maybe in front of thick shrubbery. A wide set of stairs or props such as chairs that let you position subjects at different levels can help, especially with a large group.

Should subjects coordinate outfits?
If you have the chance to give instructions to your subjects prior to the photo session, remember that the focus of the photos should be the family, not what they're wearing. So encourage your subjects to resist the urge to all wear matching outfits — chances are high that while it might look cute on some members of the family, it won't look good on all of them and will look forced and staged.

Wearing clothes of a similar color and style (for example, different shades of blue) will look much more relaxed. On the other hand, if your group happens to love dressing up, it might be fun to do a session in costumes!

kmg 300 family dog flickr kevinstanchfieldRelaxed people make great pictures
Gone are the days of stiff, posed studio portraits. Today, most people prefer a group photo that shows them as they really are: smiling and happy, without looking forced. Strive to capture the group in ways that appear spontaneous and candid.

To achieve that goal, get your subjects to relax and feel comfortable being themselves. Get them talking and telling stories — you might need to encourage this by asking questions. Make sure to talk to your subjects in private before your session, to find out if there are any issues you should be aware of. Don't try to pull them outside their comfort zone — that will result in the opposite of relaxed, happy subjects!

Assume the position
If possible, shoot from eye level or slightly above your subjects. This will emphasize their eyes and reduce the pesky double chins and undereye circles you sometimes get if your subjects are looking down. There are a multitude of different ways to position your subjects, of course, and you'll want to try several different groupings so they have options to choose from.

However, there are some general guidelines to help you get the best pictures possible.

  • Make sure your subjects are touching each other. This might require some convincing, especially for kids at various stages of "Touching! Eww!" — but it will really bring home the fact that this is a group of people who care deeply for each other. It doesn't have to be more than a hand on a shoulder here, an arm around a waist there, or someone leaning against someone else, but try to get some physical contact going. One of the best positions for pairs (for example, two brothers seated in front of the parents) is back-to-back, giving the feeling that they're firmly supporting each other.
  • Arrange your subjects by height, with the tallest in the center. You can also put taller people behind shorter ones, but be sure that their heads and faces aren't being blocked; give them something to stand on, if necessary. A simple pyramid arrangement works best, but you could also try a diamond, with someone kneeling or standing in the back, two people sitting or kneeling in the middle, and one sitting in the front. Just be aware that kneeling isn't comfortable for long periods of time, so try to avoid it if possible!
  • Get older family members to hold younger ones, if appropriate. Try having an older sibling give a younger one a piggyback ride or sitting a child up on a parent's shoulders.
  • Huddle up! Have everyone lean in toward each other. Not only does this let you get a closer photo, but it also helps give the impression of closeness. You can even try a literal huddle, like a football team on the field. Position yourself on the ground in front of and underneath them, shooting up, for an unusual photo.
  • Especially if you're working with a very large group, try organizing them in smaller clusters, then arranging the clusters together. Group smaller family units together at a family reunion, for example, rather than having everyone stand in a big, messy bunch.
  • Get some action shots. Have the family play a game, throw a ball or Frisbee, or run a short race, and snap candid shots of the action. It's sometimes a bit tricky to catch everyone looking good, but if you luck out, these can be some of the most memorable portraits.
More people, more photos
The more people you have in the picture, the more tries it will likely take to find a shot where everyone's looking more or less at the camera and smiling, and no one is blinking or frowning or staring off into the distance. Don't forget that with photography, rules are meant to be broken, so don't be afraid to try different things. Experiment with lots of different poses and setups — you're bound to end up with something wonderful!

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The Photography Jobs In Seattle Guide

Source: The Photography Jobs In Seattle Guide

How Find Photography Jobs in Seattle

Have you ever been curious to know of what photography jobs are or might be available in the Seattle area of the United States, but didn't know where to look to Find Photography Jobs? Well you've certainly arrived at the right place for this specific type of information.

Seattle is the northern most major city in the US and close to the border with Canada and is the largest city in the state of Washington. There are various types of employment available in this relatively large city with a population of just over 600,000. The wide and varied Seattle job vacancies cover a range of different employment opportunites including photography.

What type of photography jobs are available in Seattle?

Real Estate Photographer – Is a job which requires the person to take pictures of available properties to rent or buy and making the most of your camera work with different angle shots and with a view to them being used in real estate brochures and website slideshows.

Graduation Photographer – The area has lots of college and further education and Seattle has quite a high graduation rate and therefore offers up photography opportunities. People love and take pride in getting their picture taken from a professional photographer on one of the biggest moments of their lifes with all of the graduation regalia.

• Sports Photographer – Seattle is known for being an active place and there are well placed teams in the mains sports leagues including Ice Hockey, Football, Baseball and Basketball and therefore offers up constant opportunities in photography. Various companies are always on the lookout for photographers to give them that special shot of a sports star or event.

Studio Photographer – Offers up more of an indoor role and involves a lot of brochure and catalogue assignments. This type of photography jobs involves online work, with various websites and digital studio and enhancement skills come in to play. Wouldn't be a suitable type of photography jobs for someone who enjoys the great outdoors.

Finding photography jobs in Seattle shouldn't be to difficult, as this thriving northern city has plenty going for it, is relatively big in size and population and has a wide and varied amount of companies operating from the area who are looking for various photography jobs to be filled for the right candidates.


The Hollywood Secret Photography Jobs Market Guide

The Hollywood Secret Photography Jobs Market Guide

Have you ever wanted to get in to photography in the prestigious Hollywood area of Los Angeles, but were unsure of how to find the required information? Well you've certainly arived at the right place for sought after photography jobs opportunities in the showbiz capital of the world.

Whether you seek to gain employment from a company or wish to use your photography skills with various companies in a freelance capacity, the opportunities are huge in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.

There are companies all of sizes seduced by the glamor of Hollywood and with that a ton of job and huge income opportunities in various fields including photography jobs. Most of these companies don't need to advertise, as there is a constant flow of people looking to fill these positions.

So how can I find these secret photography jobs in Hollywood?

It's important to have all of your own credentials prepared and ready and to concentrate on an area of photography that you're good at. Find out which companies are involved in the area you're best at and wish to concentrate on and then arrange to visit these businesses to showcase your talents, as there's no point in sitting back and waiting for things to happen in one of the world's busiest places. Always be pro active, look to be unique and stand out from the rest of the crowd and watch for any new trends forming and areas which your photographic skills can be utilized.

There are lots of unadvertised photography and entertainment jobs in Los Angeles and in particular Hollywood and huge entertainment companies like Walt Disney and Universal Studios certainly don't go chasing people to fill their job vacancies, as they know from past experience, the amount of people who come looking for fame and fortune at their doorsteps.

Hollywood will never be short of photography job opportunities, so having the right attitude and approach are essential requirements. If you can demonstrate your camera skills then, there will normally be opportunities which will present themselves quite often and from companies who don't need to tell the world of any job openings. Some of these companies have accumulated vast amounts of well over the past few decades and if you can position your self correctly in the job marketplace then, you can get yourself a piece of the action and gain yourself a nice income from a job which brings you great pride and a sense of well being.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Top 10 Photography Jobs To Die For

Source : The Top 10 Photography Jobs To Die For

“Are you wanting more details on the photography jobs to die for and paying particular attention to the top 10? Well you've certainly come to the right place for this kind of information.”

There are a wide and varied amount of available opportunities for photography jobs hunters, but finding the best ones to suit your particular style and that also pay well can be an arduous task, as there's so much conflicting information both offline and online.

We have set out a general guide of the best photography jobs in no particular order and what the expectations are with each position.

What are the top 10 photography jobs to die for?

Glamor Photography Jobs – Would be an excellent job for any red blooded male who wishes to take pictures of women in various different outfits and can involve exotic locations or catwalk assignments.

Sports Photography Jobs – Someone who enjoys sport and has a sharp eye for that exclusive picture of a famous sports star.

Police Photography Jobs – Taking pictures of various crimes scenes and to be passed on as evidence in court. A strong stomach is required for this particular job.

Commercial Photography Jobs – You would be involved in taking pictures of famous buildings and landmarks in different weather conditions and would require travel flexibility.

Science Photography Jobs – A knowledge of science is an essential requirement, as not only will you be taking pictures of scientific facts, but you'll need to know what the subject matter is about.

Arts Photography Jobs – Involved taking pictures which will be sold on at art houses and galleries and a general love for art would be advantageous.

Freelance Photography Jobs – This involves working for yourself and requires a flexible approach. You get paid an agreed amount from various different companies and are responsible for your own tax and insurance.

School Photography Jobs - Having the ability to communicate with children and to get the right pose and smile for the camera are general requirements for this type of assignment.

Portrait Photography Jobs – Someone who takes pictures of people and has a special quality in making people feal at ease in front of the camera. This type of work can also involve family portrait work.

Wildlife Photography Jobs – Someone who enjoys the great outdoors and isn't easily spooked in getting up close and taking pictures of animals in unusual situations. Requires flexibility with travel due to the location work.

There are other specific jobs to be had in photography Jobs to be had, but these are the top 10 photography jobs to die for, as they involve interesting topics, some traveling with specific type of assignments and the majority are well paid.

Getting paid for a job you enjoy doing and getting to travel to various and exotic locations across the globe is a very appealing proposition and the bonus of getting a healthy wage as well. Photography is a hugely enjoyable occupation and once you've started and found your feet in this type of employment, you'll usually never look back, as the rewards and self satisfaction are truly amazing.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Photography Jobs – Pursue Your Passion Sitting At Home

Photography Jobs from home! You are only a click away in order to pursue your passion for photography with minimum investment. All you need is a digital camera and a personal computer with an advanced photo edit program to convert your passion into a regular income earning profession. Because of the advancement in technology, you no longer need a dark room if you have a digital SLR camera.

You can take up these photography jobs as part time or full time jobs. The main advantage of home based jobs is the flexibility they offer. You can continue to have a full time job and still pursue your passion for photography during your free time which can fetch you a substantial income. Taking up photography as a profession can also fetch you a good income.

If you are new to this field of home based photography, you can start with taking up freelance photography jobs in newspapers, magazines and the net and promote your pictures. To promote your photos, you have to analyse the market trend and find the hot subjects which are on demand and start clicking your camera on these subjects. This would help in building your reputation.


A lot of professional photographers are working in this field. But this cannot stop you from succeeding, if you are creative and have a flair for photography. You should be able to capture the various emotions of life in a catchy and innovative way to grow in this field. Your work should stand apart from others in the field. To achieve this in your photography jobs, try clicking your camera on anything and everything that influences you in the daily walk of life and guess what! You will sometimes end up catching a beautiful rare moment ignored by other photographers.