how google is changing photo manipulation

For sometime now Google has been making steady progress in the photography applications market. With their acquisition of Nik Software that was viewed with great skepticism by the photography community and the even more alarming news of the excision of 'Snapseed' along with Google Reader earlier this year, there was much concern. This may explain why the Internet search giant has now offered the complete 'Nik Collection by Google' (notice the slight re branding) with all six plug-ins for £98.00 approximately. There are discounts available to make this offer even cheaper. With the plug-in costing about £17 each this is clearly good value for money and maybe a cynical attempt not to alienate the millions of photographers out there. Previously the software was aimed at the semi professional due to the cost but now it is much more accessible.  Is the collection any good and is it worth spending nearly £100 on? It does add another layer of control and functionality and this is a worthy addition. They do have slightly different features and the 'Sharpener Pro 3' provides increased texture and provides extra punch.  I used 'Viveza' on the image above and was pleased with the extra features and the end result. As for the rest I have not tried them sufficiently to offer an opinion but Google are doing a free trial period so worth experimenting with. On balance I think that this is great value and if you have the money and will make use of it then invest your hard earned cash!

how to capture the natural look

 While this image may not be the most flattering from a client point of view the picture is natural and reveals a great deal about the model. Perfectly capturing  the troubled soul of Marilyn Monroe it is poignant and a good example of how 'candid photography' can reveal the essence of the sitter.

Richard Avedon

 Capturing the natural or candid look is often a lot more skillful than people appreciate. 'Just pretend I am not here' is the same as 'Don't think of the colour red' it is very difficult to do or not to do. Rather than trying to be anonymous why not take the time to get to know your model, find out something about them and provide a bit of personal information about yourself. This empathy building will help you a great deal and like most good photographs the photographer will have a solid knowledge of their subject. Naturally professionalism will help enormously as it inspires confidence and trust so when sharing personal information it is not necessary to tell them about your affair with your partners brother/sister! You might want to use humor as a way to build a rapport but remember while 'bad jokes' show you do not take yourself to seriously stay away from the offensive and do not over do it.
Making the session enjoyable is the key, if people feel relaxed confident and happy then you are more likely to get the desired look. Once this is all in place you will then have the chance to capture those intimate moments when your subject is relaxed, off guard and ready to show you their true essence. Often a slow shutter speed allowing some movement (blurring) will help you to create a less formal image but you will have to experiment and find what works for you.

Five steps to create a more natural look in your portraits.

1. Know you subject.
2. Let your subject know you. (These are the empathy steps)
3. Act professionally but do not take yourself too seriously, the ultimate test is in the images.
4. Make the session fun. For most people having their picture made is not something they enjoy so if you can play some music and keep the people around you to a minimum. 
5. Be ready! When all is in place there is a good chance that you will capture the look you are after.

I used to be indecisive...

Often editing your own work is the hardest thing to do and it is difficult to know which are the ones worth showing and ones that should never see the light of day. This picture was taken a few months ago and I thought perhaps it was a little dull, never a good quality in a photograph! Upon reflection I feel as if this does have something to offer. The lighting is interesting and the composition is graphic with a strong leading line. Yes there is negative space but it is filled with texture, form and the two trees in the foreground offer perspective.  The picture was made in Derbyshire as part of the workshops that I am running, please click on the tab above to find out more. Feel free to comment as I would welcome any feedback.

how photography helped to free the 'Carolina Twins'

Millie-Christine McKoy (1851-1912), twins joined at the lower spine, was born into slavery on a North Carolina plantation. From infancy onward, she was exhibited to paying audiences as freak, wonder, and medical curiosity at venues such as state fairs and P. T. Barnum’s museum. The twins’ career was managed for most of their lives by Joseph Pearson Smith, a North Carolina merchant, and his family.  Joseph Smith was thier last legal owner even though they were abducted from his care twice by men who sought to exploit them. Smith toured with the girls throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe before the start of the Civil War. During the war, Smith hid the twins near Spartanburg, South Carolina, to prevent their capture. Freed after the war, Millie-Christine again traveled and performed in practically every state, and were seen by European royalty. Queen Victoria of England enjoyed their performances and presented them with jewelry. As she grew up, touring Europe and America as “The Two-Headed Nightindick,” Millie-Christine became a accomplished performer–playing the piano, dancing, and composing songs and poetry. Cartes-de-visite of Millie-Christine served an important role as publicity for her performances.  Carte-de-visite, literally ‘visiting card.’ In an article in Antiques Journal Lou McCulloch noted ‘The mounted card was approximately 2½ by 4 inches, slightly larger than a calling card, and, correspondingly received the French equivalent for a visiting card as its nom de plume. Millie-Christine’s performances earned her a great deal of money and she was able to buy the plantation on which she were born and retire comfortably around 1900..... gotcha

how to build a narrative in a photograph

Nicholas Brewer

This picture was taken today in London at Pillow Fight Day that took place all over the world including Trafalgar Square. What made this particular image stand out for me, amongst the couple of hundred that I made this afternoon, is the  story within the frame. There is the pointing finger accusing the older of the two brothers. I believe that they are brothers as there is a strong resemblance between them and as the elder sibling he is most probably the leader. There is a relaxed and mischievous smile of the younger man so maybe the pointing hand belongs to a friend. Due to the (relatively) warm weather and the fun nature of pillow fighting it could be a stranger caught up in the excitement. The closeness of the subjects to the camera helps to create a sense of intimacy and the wide angle lens which was 18mm adds to this. There is a great deal of repetition in the images that I created today which is to be expected. I have included a couple of others for your appraisal.  The most important thing is to keep taking pictures of what you can, when you can and with what you can.

what is a holga camera?

Inggrid kurniawan

In the digital age why should any one use a camera that leaks light, is unpredictable and expensive to run? The reason is this amazing image I found on Tumblr and taken with a Holga 120GN camera. The colour cast caused by leaking light through the back of the camera is part of the charm. The image proves a fundamental point about photography.  A good picture touches the viewer regardless of being shot on a Phase 1 or a cheap plastic toy, which is how some describe a Holga. They have a fixed lens which is slightly wider than the eye sees and the aperture ranges from about F8 to F11. One of the settings on the Holga is from sunny to cloudy and this opens the aperture by one stop. The shutter is fired manually by a leaver on the side. They use 120 film so you can scan the negs or get  darkroom prints made. There is a 35mm version but is not recommended. The Diana camera's were popular during the sixties. The Holga is the child of Diana! If you like safe predictable out comes then Holga or Diana cameras are not for you. If you have an open mind and want to experiment rewarded by exciting effects you may have found your medium.

tips for landscape photography

nicholas brewer

Welcome to the latest blog.
My recent images of the Peak District have helped me to understand a different type of photography and do some soul searching along the way. Standing out in the cold waiting for the right light provided a valuable lesson in patience. Definitely a quality we need as photographers. Make sure that you have a comfortable camera bag, tripod and a selection of formatted memory cards. With quickly changing light it is advisable to have a few cards so the work gets spread around. It is another good way to back up your work so get decent ones. I always use a tripod, a sturdy one which is easy to carry makes the experience much more enjoyable. The picture above is very pictorial, it looks like a painting. You may have noticed the small white flower near the bottom of the picture in the middle. I will remove this slightly distracting highlight and improve the view.

nicholas brewer

how to photograph a bridge?

Nicholas Brewer

From London this morning. The image has been cropped slightly to try and get it a little straighter apart from basic tweaking in Photoshop this is how I saw it. 'Visualization' as Ansel Adams would say. I used a tripod, self-timer as the exposure was six seconds, and an aperture of F5.6 @ 400 ISO.

It was very overcast this morning and dark under the bridge. The first image I have taken this year!

what to look for in a photography weekend

Nicholas Brewer

Learning about photography is not only fun but opens up new and exciting opportunities during the process. I know that not everyone will have the time or desire to go to college learning  hands on  with expert tuition. Learning at a college, which I was fortunate enough to do, helps to make life long friendships and a shared experience is more enjoyable and increases knowledge by learning from each other. Next month I am starting a series of photographic workshops in the gorgeous English countryside in the Peak District National Park. With small class sizes and plenty of active learning you will make stunning landscape pictures supported by plain English theory lessons. If you are a beginner or intermediate and looking to step up then this could be for you.The workshops are held at Biggin Hall Hotel a grade two listed building that sits 1,000 feet above sea level providing stunning views and clean air. With a diverse landscape and ancient market towns there are plenty of locations to photograph. There are many providers of this kind of activity holiday so how do you find the quality ones and avoid those simply looking to take your money with little in return.
Here are the three key points to consider:

• Is the tutor qualified? This does not just mean that they hold a qualification in photography but do they have a teaching qualification?
• How will they check your prior knowledge? If the group has a wide gap in knowledge the more experienced will get bored or the others may get left behind. Making sure the gap is measured improves your knowledge and is a more enjoyable experience.
• Will your learning be supported after your break? Staying motivated once you get home is essential otherwise your knowledge will disappear.

Naturally as a qualified lecturer and photographer I can provide all of this and much more.
Biggin Hall Hotel  is near Buxton Derbyshire and there are spaces available in Feburary, March and April. Click on the link  to find out about dates and prices.

how to understand bit depth bytes and why they are important

For most aspiring photographers one of the biggest challenges is understanding the technical stuff especially if you are taking pictures to scratch your creative urges. Understanding some technical information will enable you to deepen your knowledge and make the whole digital world less of a mystery.

Digital means the 0s and 1, black or white or on or off. As you are probably aware digital cameras only record in B&W but they output in colour.

Bits and Bytes.

Bit stands for a binary digit: 0 or 1.   1 byte = 8 bits

A byte (or 8 bits) can therefore represent 256 different states; 2^8th power. Generally speaking there are 256 shades between black & white and this is what your camera will record in. Most of the digital world operates on 8 bits including your monitor and inkjet printer. 

This is why you don't want to print a B&W image on an inkjet printer using just black ink. The printer would only be able to provide  256 shades of gray, from black to white and these are not nearly enough for a decent image. Instead you should print using colour inks as well, which means that all three primary colours (Red, Blue and Green) will be mixed together to create 16 million shades of gray (256X256X256). More than enough.

As you can see from the diagram one of the biggest advantages is the smooth gradation of the tones that look more natural and are easier on the eye. The less tonal information that you have the less memory it will take up although the extra memory is a false economy if you are trying to achieve a natural and professional looking result.

 This is a 'byte sized' version of the subject of bit maps, yes I know but I could not resist, and will hopefully have answered a few questions.

how to use reflections for abstract

nick brewer

The photograph is a reflection in water taken on a recent trip to Derbyshire, England. The wind across the water has helped to obscure the shape of the trees.

how to use creative blur with waterfalls

Nicholas Brewer

How many times have you seen pictures taken featuring a waterfall with 'ghostly water' similar to the image above? Yes loads, but unconcerned by the many pictures already out there I thought I would add my interpretation for your appraisal and to explain how to get the simple effect.You will need a tripod, neutral density filter (ND) and the ability to set your camera manually.  Using a Nikon D200 with a focal length of 27mm a shutter speed of 1/2 a second and F stop 5, this image was created. Pretty easy however: the tricky bit was standing on the top of the waterfall on wet stone trying to maintain my balance. I managed to get away with using a faster shutter speed because the water was moving quickly as I was near the top. Typically ND filters will help you to get the slower shutter speed but of course it depends on how much daylight you have and the speed of the water. In this case there was not much daylight as I was under some large trees on an overcast day. A cable release ( a lead that allows you to fire the camera without touching it) is also helpful but if you do not have one set your camera on self-timer with the mirror up and this should avoid any camera shake. 
“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” - Ansel Adams

what is surrealism?

Man Ray

How many times have you heard the word surreal used and wondered what the true meaning is? Often it is used out of context with people describing Monty Python as surreal comedy for example. The word is now frequently used to describe something that is a little bit unusual. The surrealist movement dominant in the early 20th century, in terms of photography, is influenced  by the writings of Sigmund Freud and his work concerning the 'dream state' or unconscious mind.  The famous surrealist image above combines not only the 'dream state' but a sexual reference. When you hear the term 'Freudian Slip' it is frequently used in reference to a slip of the tongue implying a sub-conscious  sexually motivated desire. The naked girl and playing her like a violin is quite evident. This is naturally a vast subject and I wanted to provide a (very) brief outline of surrealism in photography.

Philippe Halsman

pictures of the olympics

Here are some outstanding pictures from the London Olympics via Chase Jarvis's blog on the link below.
Enjoy the Games!

Come on Team GB!

the olympics have arrived.....

The London Olympics are nearly here and I am a mixture of excitement and nerves. If the London Underground makes it through the next few weeks I will be convinced that it is an act of divine intervention- it could be nothing else! Hackney Wick, home of the Olympic Stadium,  is one of the biggest areas of photographers and artists anywhere in Europe. Sam Scott-Hunter, who is probably best known for his music photography, has produced a short piece made up of hundreds of still images considering the environmental impact on his local area.

Notes From Fish Island from Sam Scott-Hunter on Vimeo.

how determination paid off

You can just make out the 'boots' and was the glimpse of a sign I had walked past hundreds of times and not noticed. It was painted before the additional shops were added which would have provided a prime advertising spot.

You are now looking at the view from the shopping center balcony in Wimbledon. The Center Manager kindly agreed to let me use this vantage point to help with the 'Ghost Signs' project after I explained what I was doing. While better not good enough. At the top of the building on the right are offices. I took the name of the company based on the top floor. After speaking with the Office Manager a few days later he let me lean out of his window and take this final picture.

exhibition week

Alice Hawkins

 We are rapidly approaching the end of another teaching year and busy with exhibitions. I feel a strange sense of frustration from most of the student's work and know that with effort, it would be much stronger. At 17 I was not the most dynamic individual and I enjoyed sleeping a lot but thankfully we have the capacity for change. Yesterday I went to another end of year show and was impressed with the quality of work. The overall standard seemed high and I could see the lecturer's influence quite clearly. Sarah has been a friend for a few years so I understand her taste and technical ability. There is a London theme which the students interpreted in an engaging and creative way.  I had the pleasure of meeting Alice Hawkins, a fashion and portrait photographer whose photographs are stylish and beautifully composed.  Click on the link to see more of her work.

Alice Hawkins

To make a success of anything hard work is a must and good contacts are vital. Finding the motivation to be a photographer is not always easy when there are easier and more profitable ways to make a living. The reality for some is that there is just nothing as rewarding as a photographic career who would rather starve then do anything else. A noble sentiment for such great photographers like Edward Weston  who died virtually penniless.

Edward Weston

"My true program is summed up in one word: life. I expect to photograph anything suggested by that word which appeals to me." - Edward Weston

Nicholas Brewer

This image, taken about 18 months ago, got over looked at the time. As this is a stencil by an unknown artist I sometime struggle with the idea of plagiarism. This image is shown full frame and and the colour was correct at the time taken in the 'golden hour.'

how to work as a fine art photographer and still be a gun for hire

Edward Steichen

The debate between the most noble use of the camera has been raging since photography first started. The  photographers of the post world war including: Eugenie Smith, Robert Capa and George Rodgers cast a compassionate eye on major historical events. Public opinion in America was more easily influenced by the still image in a magazine, without the benefit of television or the Internet supplying instant pictures. Our capacity to be amazed by and have faith in the images we see, has changed forever,  we are now more aware of post-production techniques and mass media manipulation. There are a wide range of photographers including Martin Parr, who have let their most prominent works be used for advertising the most banal products. Students of photography are taught early on that images can have dual meaning and that subject matter (what the picture is about not of) can be used in various forms has long been accepted. The rivalry between the two camps is astounding and feels very childlike in origin. Alfred Stieglitz chastised Edward Steichen for 'prostituting his art' by shooting commercial work which is demeaning to the ground breaking work that Steichen produced for Conde Naste. Working as an assistant in London during the early nineties for a range of photographers from still-life to fashion the sniping continued, although I did feel that some of this was 'tongue in cheek.' Still-life photographers often criticised fashion photographers for their lack of technical ability and felt that the use of colour negative  'proved beyond doubt' they could not expose film properly.

Nick Knight

Nick (we are so not worthy) Knight is a technical master and to suggest that he uses colour negative to compensate for dodgy exposures is laughable. Weather  you are being paid a lot of money to produce advertising images or you have fifteen minutes in a hotel bedroom to photograph a Hollywood star this requires very different skills and an ability to work under enormous pressure. Contrast this to images created from imagination that may take many months to plan and execute. The reality is that neither is easy and they are both equally challenging for different reasons. We are all part of the same family and while it maybe good fun to sneer at others (in a professional way) it is neither accurate or valid. Let us move on from professional snobbery.

always learning

Herbert Bayer

Young minds are incredible. Their fresh approach to looking at pictures is a constant source of wonder. The day has been spent having an end of project critique which is sometimes a nightmare. The class sits in silence for long awkward periods messing about on the latest iPhone with me telling them to stop every thirty-seconds. Not the case today I am pleased to report when they were energetic and engaged in the discussion. It is only by the constant reviewing of our images can we hope to improve. Critiques provide a great environment for work to be discussed in a style that provides mutual benefit. A photographer's work can flat line were you produce images that do not provide the jolt that you crave to help you improve and stay motivated. Considered and constructive advice can change the direction of a photographers work and is an effective tool for progression. We can always learn from others so long as we are willing and open minded. Naturally they are difficult forums for young people who are keen to fit in with their classmates and criticising the work of others might mean upsetting the status quo. Overall the students work is improving steadily and there are some who show real potential but no matter how much talent you have; without hard work to support it the chances of success are slim. Successful photographers work hard and take risks and this is what makes the difference between those who have a career and those who do not. As part of the process I asked learners to critique 'Lonely Metropolitan' by Herbert Bayer. They correctly identified the three words I was looking for; lonely city and montage. Top marks to them.

“ Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow. – Imogen Cunningham

Read more: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/photography-quotes#ixzz1obYe8KYi