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5 Ways to Build Confidence As A Photographer

Taking your first steps into photography can be daunting, so let’s discuss the best ways to build a more confident version of yourself to help you become a better photographer. Before we get into any of this, it’s important to remember that everyone has the capability to become a good photographer. I firmly believe that most people have the talent to be good photographers but often lack confidence. So keep reading to understand the best ways to develop this confidence and in turn an improvement in your photos.

Constantly practice

As a photographer, it is essential to create new work to help you grow your craft continually. In every profession, it is crucial that you stay active to support your progression through your work. Photography is no different.

The more you practice the more confidence you will gain in different scenarios. This practice will also make you more confident because you will learn how to take photos in different scenarios.

But practising requires effort. So aim to take time out of each day at specific times to focus on learning the best way to take photos with your selected equipment or testing out newer pieces of equipment. You can also extend this strategy to areas that you may struggle in. For example, if you struggle with action photography, bird photography or even taking portraits, make these your focus.

Taking professional advice

It is also essential to consider that sometimes, to help develop your confidence in a particular industry, it is best to get advice from the professionals. Going onto websites, YouTube or even doing workshops or taking some photography classes from masters in their industry is undoubtedly the best possible way to help yourself build confidence by learning various new skills applicable to your work.

However, it is also a great idea to take advice from different people, such as family and friends, who are likely only to want to see you improve yourself. Not only are they are likely to give you some great points and care about you, but they will also be able to give an opinion from a completely different outlook than someone in the industry.

Consider your past

While the other two points are great for building confidence in the future, it is imperative to look at the past and compare it to where you are now. You will see a healthy growth pattern between the artist you used to be, and who you are now. I sometimes look at my early work as a photographer and I’m embarrassed by it. That’s OK because it tells me I’m a better photographer now than I was when I started.

Using your past as a focal point to work from can be a great way to consider areas you improve. You will feel more confident about your potential future in the industry, as you can pinpoint the best facets of your work that have been improved.

So just as you can be proud of your successes, also look at the areas that have not grown as much and focus on improving those as well. Over time this will make you a more rounded photographer with more skillsets.

Always be willing to learn

Further to this, it is vital that you consistently grow your mindset and expose yourself to new methods that could help you succeed. For example, you should use constructive criticism from others not as a negative thing, but as an avenue to help your potential success. By having the mindset that you will eventually reach your goals, it is crucial to consider other photographers’ alternative approaches to developing your craft.

Be confident as a photographer in your abilities and methods to produce the best work possible. Still, there is no harm in testing other people’s practices and incorporating these into your work to see if it improves your work.

Creating goals to work towards

It is essential that you have photography goals for the future. The points discussed above can be some great goals to consider. Or you can set specific achievements like winning a competition or selling your first photo.

Try to create short and long term goals with deadlines to work towards, such as hosting a bi-yearly exhibition of your photography. This gives you something to work towards, allowing you to look forward to potential future events with the aim of making it better each time. Photography is often a lonely hobby or profession. Having tangible goals can help ensure you have a purpose to work towards.

There you have it. Here are a variety of ways to develop your confidence as a photographer. It is important to continually practise your craft to help keep you focused on implementing new ideas. But also to help build your photographic skills and become a more confident artist. Just remember how far you have come as a photographer. Be proud of that and be confident that you can get even better.

5 Ways To Improve Your Photography Skills

I’ve yet to meet a photographer who doesn’t think they can improve some aspect of their skillset. For beginners, it might be how to improve their composition or how to avoid their photos being blurred. For more advanced photographers it might be how to use a new piece of technology or even shooting a different genre to what they are accustomed to. For example, I recently added a drone to my photography kit and so it took some time to learn how to use it properly and safely. But I’m by no means an expert yet and it will take more practice to get to the level I would like to be at. Whatever level you are at, there are always ways t improve. So here are some ideas for you to implement to improve your photography skill set.

Shoot more

The easiest and most common way to improve your photography is to simply take more photos. That doesn’t mean keeping your finger on your shutter button and shooting at high-speed burst mode. But rather, it is about shooting more photos. Photography is like any other skill and the more you do it and practice the better you will become. So set yourself a target of doing the type of photography you are interested in a few times a week or month. But instead of just wondering around aimlessly and shooting, set a plan and treat it like a real shoot. You will be far more likely to do it well if you have prepared.

You can also set yourself a target of practising something that you may not be good at. For example, if you struggle to shoot in low light conditions, make a point of practising this over and over again until you see an improvement in your photos.

Do something new

As photographers, we all have a genre that we specialise in and enjoy doing. For me as a travel and landscape photographer, locations and people are what I prefer to take photos of. But at the same time, over the years, I have also photographed weddings, events and food. So even if in the long term you prefer to stick to what you enjoy, it is still worth trying out some new things. Besides the new skills that you will learn, it will also help you take your mind off what you usually photograph which can sometimes help you when you then return to your forte. So make a plan of trying out some new types of photography over the course of the year. You never know you might end up enjoying the new genre more than your thought.

Watch and read

One of the biggest advantages photographers have these days is the sheer wealth of information that is out there for them to access. You literally have access to thousands of photographers who generally all write blogs, create videos and have social media accounts. Not only can all of this inspire you to improve your own work, but you can also find answers to specific questions you may have. For example, the LifePixel blog alone has almost 500 posts on pretty much all aspects of photography.

But all of this information can seem overwhelming so try to set yourself a learning plan that you can follow. Let’s say you want to improve your portrait photography. Instead of watching a few videos and then switching to videos about landscapes, spend a few days or weeks purely on portrait photography before moving on. Make a list of things you would like to learn, what you want to improve and then practice what you have watched or read. It will help you retain the information better.

Even your camera manual is worth reading a few times!

Join or attend…

Whether its events, workshops, talks or camera clubs, being surrounded by others who share your passion is a great way to improve your photography. For most people, photography is a lonely hobby or profession. Even when you are surrounded by people like, say a wedding photographer you are still usually on your own. So look to join a local camera club or even go on a photography workshop where you will spend several hours or even days with other people who love photography. Often this can lead to you forming friendships with people who you can then practice photography with (like a photography buddy). You may find that having someone to bounce ideas off, for inspiration or support really helps you improve your own photography.

Get better equipment

Ok, you may think that I’m contradicting myself as I have always been an advocate of people not using the phrase that I hear often: “if only I had a better camera my photos would be better” as an excuse for their photography. I firmly believe that anyone can take great photos with any camera. So I would always recommend that you spend your time and money in actually improving your photography rather than improving your kit. However, there are some exceptions when it comes to photography equipment where the quality does make a difference.

The two obvious candidates are your tripod and your filters. Using cheap or flimsy tripods and filters could mean you end up with poor photos. For example, a flimsy tripod might mean vibrations make your photos blurred. And poor quality filters could mean your photos suffer from colour casts. Over time you will naturally improve your kit, so make a list in order of priority and upgrade when you can afford it.

Over the years I have met many amateurs or even experienced photographers who have gone on to achieve great things with their photography. They all have one thing in common in that they were all willing to work hard and practice to perfect their craft. Photography is something that I believe anyone can improve in. Of course, some people have a natural talent whilst others just have to work harder. Use the ideas above to see if you can improve your photography.

How To Add The “Wow Factor” To Your Images

We would all love to make sure every photo we take has that “wow factor”. You know the type of shots that I’m talking about. These are the types of images that stand out in your portfolio and make people take notice. Whether it’s a beautiful landscape, an iconic landmark or an emotive portrait, these types of photos are the holy grail. But how can you ensure you capture these types of shots? Here are 7 tips to help you capture those “wow factor” shots.

Accept it won’t always happen

The first thing that you should know and accept is that these types of photos won’t happen every time you pick up a camera. Unless you are photographing in a controlled environment like a studio, you will have to rely on the elements out there to make your shot special. Great photos require many factors to come together and sometimes this just doesn’t happen. At other times you have to be patient and wait for them to occur. The important thing is to simply be aware of the fact that sometimes you won’t be able to capture those “wow factor” shots. If it was that easy to capture them, when you do take one it wouldn’t be as special.

Look for the “extraordinary”

The easiest way to capture stunning photos is to find scenarios where amazing things are happening. This could include everything from an interesting subject to amazing light. Or it could be that the weather conditions are serving something spectacular. These are the easiest ways to capture those unique and unbelievable photos. But of course, this does mean that you will have to look or wait for them to happen. For example, a seascape will look nice and pretty in beautiful sunshine. It may even be a more commercially viable photo to sell. But a big storm and crashing waves are far more likely to cause people to look again. So be on the lookout for these unique scenarios and as soon as they occur head out to take your photos.

Unseen angles

All photographers would love to have these amazing conditions happen whenever they take photos. The reality is that it doesn’t happen often. So most of the time you have to try and capture the best shots with the conditions that you have. One way to give your photos the “wow factor” is by showing an angle or point of view that people may not have seen before. For example, this could be from a low angle view or an elevated view which isn’t the usual “viewing area”. This might require more effort to get to like having to hike further, specialist planning or equipment like hiring a helicopter or using a drone. But the shots you will end up with will be far more interesting to the viewer than the standard eye-level ones.

Unique stories

Another way in which you can look to find those amazing photos is by looking for unique stories such as events that are not always happening. For example, a photo of a supermoon or a celestial event that might not happen for another 100 years will give people more reason to be “wowed”. Or it could be a unique festival that only happens every few years or one that is in a hard to reach location. The fact that it is in a remote location will mean that not as many people would see or photograph it. So your photos will be more unique anyway. But it’s important to remember that simply capturing these photos won’t make them spectacular. You still need to factor in your composition, light and other elements to make the best of the opportunity you are given.

Manipulate the scene

There are plenty of techniques and accessories these days that can help you manipulate a scene to turn it into a spectacular image. For example, using filters is an easy way to manipulate and control the light and even the subject in your shot. Use a neutral density filter and you can slow your shutter speed down even in daylight for long exposure photos. Or you may deliberately add something your shot like person positioned perfectly in the foreground of your epic landscape. There are also things like mist filters and even gadgets that can add elements into your photos. If you are a purest you may not agree with this type of photography. But if you are treating your photography as art then there should be no limit to what you can do.

Keep going back

Getting the perfect conditions for a shot can be extremely difficult. That is why often the best way to capture those “wow factor” shots is to keep going back to the same locations over and over again. The more times you head to a location the more chance of encountering great weather or interesting light. But also often you will find that you will be more inclined to try different things because you have taken the classic shot already. So you will spend more time looking around and trying different compositions which will be more likely to give you a unique shot. Obviously, this will be much easier for you to do if the location is near you. So keep going back to those locations in your vicinity again and again.

Give it your treatment

One of the things that often makes photographers stand out is their style. Look at famous photographers through the years and often you can tell them apart from the style and look of their photos. Sometimes this might be in the treatment that you give your photos. So try to find your unique style and show your photos with that treatment whether that is at the time of capturing photos or in post-production. Don’t be afraid to edit your photos the way you want to as sometimes your editing of photos can turn a good photo into a spectacular one.

To capture spectacular photos you have to be willing to work hard for them. Sometimes this means lots of research and planning. At other times this might mean walking further, higher or longer. It might also mean putting yourself through more like walking in the rain or cold in the early hours of the morning. But if you put the work in and have a little bit of luck, you might just end up with some spectacular photos.

15 Tips For Capturing Stunning Summer Photos

Summer is a busy and bright season. It can be an excellent time for photography since there’s so much happening, and nature looks great. However, the summer season can also be a challenging time – bright light isn’t always flattering, there’s often haze in the sky and the sun’s glare can get in the way. How can you make your summer photos look stunning? Here are some top tips to make your summer photos pop!

1. Know your conditions

Download a weather app and keep an eye on the sky. Mother Nature can either be your friend or enemy, depending on the type of photos you want to take, planning will help you find the best time for your photos. As much as we love the summer sun, even a dreary and rainy day can make a beautiful photo. Work with your environment!

2. Be prepared

Once you know the weather conditions, you can plan on what you’ll need for the day. A lens hood will come in handy to help reduce glare in your photos. A mini-tripod will be much easier to carry in the summer heat so consider a lighter alternative your main bulky one. Also, bringing along some sunblock and water is just generally good advice if you’re going to be outside for a while.

3. Bring the shade

Shading can add extra dimensions to a photo. Sometimes you’ll find natural shade in trees and buildings, but you can always make your own if there’s none around. Try using an umbrella to make shade where you need it. A good tip is to carry a piece of cardboard with you that you can use to block the sun when photographing people for example. Rather than getting a harsh shadow on someone’s face by putting their face in the shade, you will get a much nicer evenly lit image.

4. The path less travelled

Explore! You may find something unexpected. Whether it’s going on a natural trail or searching for quiet spots in the city, photography can be a great adventure. Be careful not to trespass or to enter dangerous areas. Other than that, the world is your oyster.

5. Tourist destination

Although going off the beaten track can be exciting, don’t be afraid of tourist spots. Get lost in the crowd. Summer is a busy and exciting season. Sometimes capturing that busy street may just help you capture the dynamic nature of summer.

6. Go to events

Plenty of holidays and events happen in summer that won’t appear in other seasons. Check to see what events are happening near you. It could be a food festival or pop-up theatre. Either way, you may just come across a great moment.

7. Infrared

Infrared photos can be beautiful and fantastical when done right. If you want to see nature from a new perspective, try taking an infrared image. Summer is an excellent time for infrared, especially when the sun is glaring, because of the high contrast. Take advantage of the light and snap up those infrared photos. Even the city can look surreal!

8. Get a polarizing filter

A polarizing filter will help you get the best photos in the summer sun. If you’re struggling with reflections on water, glass or even the pavement in your photos, a filter is just what you need. You can also try taking the photo from a different angle or waiting until later in the day. But, that might mean a photo slipping away. A filter is a convenient and easy way to make sure you get rid of those unwanted reflections and cut through some of the haze in your image.

9. Enjoy the nightlife

There’s no better time to be a night owl than the summer. Not only are summer nights cooler, but they also look great on camera. Enjoy the cloudless nights where you can see the stars or capture the city just as the nightlights are coming on. Keep in mind though that summer usually means sunsets being later in the evening so be prepared to have to stay out later.

10. Set those alarms

Later sunset will also mean earlier sunrises. Make the effort to get out to photograph in the early hours as this will usually give you the best light not to mention fewer crowds. Make sure you set the alarm on your phone so you’re awake to get that photo. While everyone else is in bed, you can be out taking all the images you want. That being said, sleep is essential! Don’t skip too much rest. You want to be awake and active, so you’re at your creative best.

11. Take your time

Taking a break may even give you that creative idea you didn’t know you needed, according to Harvard researchers. This could be on location by just taking some time to enjoy the view before starting to take photos. Or you could just take a break from photography for a few days to recharge your energy levels. After all how many times have you had your best idea in the shower? If you’re getting frustrated or just feel like your brain is frazzled, take a step back. Grab a coffee or check your emails. You can’t force creativity.

12. Photograph the outdoors

What does summer mean to you? Maybe, like me, you think of being outdoor and in parks where some flowers will be in full bloom. Take advantage of flower gardens near you or go on nature walks to find them in the wild. You can zoom in to make the flowers the main focus of your photo or use them as a colourful background. You can also photograph people being outdoors. Whether it’s kids playing, someone cycling or even a couple enjoying a romantic picnic, it will all make great subjects for summer photos.

13. Experiment with editing

If you feel your photo is missing something or could be better, don’t be afraid to experiment. Try out different filters. Changing a bright summer photo to black and white can dramatically change the feeling of the image.

14. Use silhouettes

Silhouettes look simple but stunning. Summer is an excellent time for silhouettes as the sun is usually bright. You can plan and bring props to create your silhouette and ask your friends to pose or find something in your environment to use. Silhouettes may even happen spontaneously. If you come across a decent silhouette set up, change your settings from autofocus to manual to make sure your camera gets the best shot possible. Your camera may struggle with autofocus when capturing a silhouette! Expose your image for the background (i.e. the bright source of light) otherwise, your highlights will be clipped.

15. Plan for the future

Sometimes you will come across a location or subject and find that summer won’t be the best time to photograph it. It might be that the light doesn’t fall on it at that time of the year. Or it could be that it will just look better in the fall with colourful autumn colours. Keep a notepad and make notes on potential ideas and locations for future shoots in other seasons.

Summer can be a great time for photography. There will be people out and about enjoying the outdoors, there will be laughter, music and plenty of photo opportunities along the way. Whilst it can be more tiring, longer days mean more time to be able to photograph outside. Use the tips above and you will be on your way to capturing great summer photos.

6 Great Reasons Why You Should Take Up Photography

We live in a digital age where everyone has the capabilities of capturing photos straight from their smartphones. Whilst this genre of photography is certainly on the rise with plenty of acclaimed photographers already out there, there are some benefits from actually picking up a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. So here are 6 reasons why you should take up photography.

1. It will make you have to learn something new

Smartphones are great in being able to capture moments where you may not have a camera with you. But the big problem with smartphones is that most people just use them with all auto settings that are already set up. So even if you take nice photos, you are not actually understanding the process and the setting you are using. By using a digital camera you will b forced to actually have to learn how to take photos rather than just relying on auto modes. If nothing else it’s never a bad thing to learn something new as it can get your brain working on something other than what you are used to. This will help keep your brain working and learning new things.

2. You will be outside more

Taking up photography will force you to go outside more often. Because even if you decide that your interest is in interior photography, you won’t be able to spend forever more photographing your home. At some point, you will have to get outside and photograph other houses. Interior photography is an extreme example as in for the vast majority of photography genres you will have to be outside anyway. For example landscape photography, street photography, wedding photography, travel photography and even sport photography will require you to be somewhere other than your house. Let’s be honest all of us can probably benefit from being outdoors more these days. So taking up photography could actually also have a beneficial impact on your health.

3. Help your confidence

If you are the sort of person who suffers from shyness or low confidence, you may find that photography can help you. Being a photographer seems to always invite conversation with strangers and also forces you to interact with other people. But also if you are able to hone your skills and take good photos, you will undoubtedly receive compliments from other people on social media or even directly. This can be a real boost to your self-esteem. Even if you are the shyest person in the world, you may find that photography helps you come out of your shell.

4. Gives you a goal

Ask any professional photographer if they have a set of shots in their head that they would love to take and the answer will usually be yes. But even as an amateur you will begin to set yourself goals that you would like to achieve. At first, it might be just being able to master all the controls of your camera. Then might come specific shots that you have in mind that you want to take. This could be photographing your local town or city in a unique light. So you have to wait months and sometimes years for it to occur. Later it might be that you just want to be able to have a photo appear in a magazine or newspaper or even to win a competition. Your goals will change throughout your photography journey but make no mistake they will be there in the back of your mind.

5. Make some extra money

Whilst it isn’t going to make you rich, you can use your photographs (or photography) to make some extra money. You may choose to sell your photos through stock sites. Or even try to sell them directly to clients. If you have great photos you may find that you have a following who are willing to buy them as prints. There is also, of course, the opportunity to actually photograph part-time or at weekends for some extra cash. But don’t rush out and quit your job straight away. Unfortunately, the photography industry has taken a big hit over the last 10 years and is suffering from oversupply. So think of it as extra money rather than vast sums that will change your life.

6. Sense of achievement

Even if nothing else comes of your photography or your photos, I guarantee you that you will have a sense of achievement when you capture that amazing shot that you worked so hard for. It will take pride of place in your collection and you will always remember it. But you will also have a sense of achievement in just starting and learning something new. The great thing is that you would have done it all by yourself.

Photography can be addictive. You can get addicted to that feeling of joy when you capture a great photo. But you will also find that the more you learn it will drive you to learn even more. It becomes a challenge to be able to better your photography every time you pick up a camera. Not only can this help you to focus on something different and creative but also keep you active and busy. You may just look back at the moment you decided to take up photography as one of the best decisions in your life.

5 Tips To Help Your Timing For Taking Travel Photos

How often have you looked at a fleeting moment, lifted your camera only to find that you have missed the shot? The first thing is that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it as it can happen to anyone. But there are ways that you can ensure you nail the shot more often than not. So, here are 5 tips to help you get your timing right when taking photos.

Know what you are likely to encounter

Not even professional photographers will be able to change all of their settings quickly enough sometimes to capture a fleeting moment. The big difference is that they often already have settings as close to what they need already selected. No, it’s not a crystal ball. It is simply trying to predict what you are likely to photograph. For example, if you are walking along a road where there isn’t much light, you will need to raise your ISO to be able to have a fast-enough shutter speed to capture the action. You may also need to have a wider aperture. So, don’t wait for something to happen before you make the change, get into the habit of adjusting your settings as you move from one environment to another. At least this way you will have a chance of capturing the photos when they arise.

Greater depth of field

There will be times where you won’t have the option of having a greater depth of field by selecting a bigger f-stop number. For example, low light might mean you are forced to select a wide aperture. But if you have some room to manoeuvre, go for a greater depth of field. For example, if you select f/1.8, your focus plain is going to be fairly shallow. That means you are only going to have a very small amount of detail sharp. So, where you are focusing becomes incredibly vital. But if you select f/8, then if make an error in your focus, you may get away with it because of the greater depth of field.

Select the correct focus mode

One of the biggest challenges of getting shots of fleeting moments is focusing correctly. It is much easier to photograph something that is permanent like a building than a person moving. But if you have already selected the best focus mode for that scenario, you’ll have a better chance of capturing the photo. There are generally two main focus modes that you need to use. The first is the Automatic Focus (i.e. AI Focus on Canon cameras). This works by focusing on a point and holding that focus for as long as you hold down the back-focus button or the shutter button halfway. The other main focus mode is continuous focus. This is ideal for scenarios where your subject is moving, and you need the camera to continuously focus on the moving subject. So, for example, a car that is driving towards you. By anticipating what focus mode you need, you’ll have a better chance of capturing that fleeting moment.

Be pro-active rather than reactive

If you have more time to compose your shot and select the right settings, you are more likely to be able to capture it. Seems pretty obvious, right? The thing is that sometimes you can actually do this. It’s like setting a photography trap. Find the right composition and select your settings, and then wait for the right subject to come into the frame. This technique works well in things like street photography where for example you find a good background and can wait for the right person to walk across your shot. Because you already have everything ready in your camera you are more likely to get your timing right.

Shoot in high-speed burst mode

Trying to capture the perfect moment in a photo with one shot will require incredible skill but also luck. By shooting in burst mode you can increase your chances of capturing the perfect moment dramatically. For example, if you are photographing any scene that involves people, how can you be sure your subject has their eyes open? By shooting in burst mode you can select the best moment from the set of photos that you have.

Being able to perfect your timing, is a skill that you will develop over time. The more you shoot the more you will come to realise how to capture those fleeting moments with perfect timing. But as I said at the start, sometimes even the pros miss the shot when something happens too quickly. Live with the knowledge that there will be more opportunities. In the meantime, these tips should help you on your way to improving your timing of photos.

How To Take More Compelling Images

Being able to take a compelling image doesn’t really have anything to do with your camera or your accessories. It’s about you as an individual and how you see the world around you. Often the more you practice something the better you will become at it. So naturally the more you train yourself to be able to look for compelling images the better you will become at doing so. To get you started, here are 5 tips to help you take more compelling images.

Open your eyes

I always find it astonishing when I am looking for something in the house and I may even glance at it but I miss it over and over again. This is because even though our eyes process billions of pieces of visual data every second, our brains decipher what we really need to see. Yes, it means we may miss something but without it, we would never be able to focus on anything. This means sometimes things get missed. This is the same when it comes to photography. You may be walking along the street and you may be looking around for compelling subjects but are you actually seeing them? This is the hardest part of being a photographer. So you need to try to train yourself to not only Look but to see.

One exercise you could try is to get to your location and just wait for a few minutes with your eyes closed. Instead, listen to what’s happening around you. Can you hear anything different? Sometimes you will hear sounds that alert you to things that you hadn’t noticed with your eyes.

Commit to the image

One of the biggest feedbacks that I give on my photography workshops and holidays is that people are too busy thinking about their next shot rather than the one they are taking. I’m sure every single one of you has been guilty of this at some point. You get to a location or find a subject that you want to photograph take a couple of quick photos and move onto the next. If you want to capture compelling images you have to be willing to take your time and think about just that one image.

Try to train yourself to block everything else out. Think of this as the very last shot that you are going to be taking on that day. The more time you spend on that one shot the more you can feel the atmosphere, the light, and even visualise the final shot in your mind. Only leave once you’ve got the very best shot that you can get.

Go with your gut feeling

It’s amazing how often you take a photo that you may not necessarily think looks great at the time. It’s something deep down that just feels right. Then you look at that photo on a computer at a later date you think “wow, that’s a great shot”. For all the practice, tips and visualising that comes into photography, nothing beats that gut feeling or the instinct that says you should take this photo. The great thing is that in this day and age digital photography has made this a non-issue. It’s not like you have to worry about wasting rolls of film so you can afford to be much more trigger-happy with your photos.

Get out there

Let’s be honest you’re not going to capture compelling images sitting in your living room. To be able to take those compelling shots you have to be in places that give you the opportunity to do so. That doesn’t necessarily mean having to fly off to exotic far off places around the world. Anywhere that has people, nature or even wildlife has the potential to provide compelling images. For example, head out in a city at sunrise and you will be rewarded with endless photo opportunities. Or take a hike out in the wilderness and you will come across natural scenes that can provide compelling images. The key here is to actually put yourself in places that are going to give you that opportunity.

Forget everyone

Unfortunately, the world that we live in today has become synonymous with likes and shares. Put a photo up on Instagram and instantly you may have people liking or commenting on that photo. This has led to a whole new set of rules that seem to govern how you should take photos. I recently came across a guide that talks about the type of photos that will get the most traction on social media. But photography isn’t about likes and shares it’s about creativity and sharing your vision of the world with the viewer. So stop worrying about what other people think and do what you want to do. Never forget that.

Capturing compelling images is what drives us, photographers. Being able to see the world in a different way and capturing those unique moments can be incredibly satisfying. The great thing about photography is that everyone has a different view and vision of the world. We all see things differently and there are things we like and things we don’t like. This gives a huge amount of opportunity for any photographer to be able to put their own stamp on the way they see the world. If you can do that and stay true to yourself you will be able to capture some incredibly compelling images.

6 Tips On How To Turn A Disappointing Travel Photo Shoot Into A Positive One

There is nothing more frustrating as a travel photographer than getting to a location full of excitement and hope only to find that it ends up being a big let down. It could be the weather playing havoc with your plans. Or the construction site that is in your view. Sometimes it might be that the place you are visiting just isn’t very photogenic or it could be that there is an event that stops you capturing the shot that you want to take. But don’t despair you can still turn that disappointment around and capture great photos. Here are 6 tips to help you out.

Stay positive

The first rule in these situations is simply to stay positive. You have no control over the weather, construction work or even unplanned closures so there is no point dwelling on it. It’s incredible how often you will find that by simply staying positive you will end up capturing great photos. Photography is often about solving problems and if you look at the situation simply as a problem that needs to be solved you will be more likely to be able to come up with an answer.

Turn around and look the other way

Sometimes you will get to a viewpoint or even a destination and end up being disappointed. It just isn’t what you imagined. Maybe the photos you saw weren’t a true representation of what it looks like. Or maybe there are also a few hundred other tourists who are also facing the same direction taking the same photo. Often what really sets apart great photos from all the rest is something that is unique and different. So once in a while, if you see everyone facing one direction and taking photos, turn around and have a look if there is anything else.

The idea here isn’t to simply shoot in a different direction as for example there might not be anything interesting. The point here is to try to find something different. A different angle, composition or even a completely different shot.

This is the main viewing spot for Alhambra in Granada, Spain

This is another spot just a few minutes walk further along with far fewer people.

Think of a different story

I always remember my first trip to Angkor Wat. It was somewhere that had been on my bucket list for a long time. But when I arrived I was bitterly disappointed to see that there was scaffolding everywhere. Not to mention thousands of tourists all wanting to capture the same photos. But rather than trying to force a photo of the main complex which wouldn’t have looked very nice with all that scaffolding I decided to focus on other elements. Things like close-ups of the engravings or even some of the smaller temples that ended up providing a much better subject and ultimately better photos.

So if you find that you are disappointed in what you are seeing, maybe changing the story you are trying to tell will help change your mind on things. For example, if the weather isn’t great you can try to photograph people, food or even close-ups instead of your landscape or cityscape shots.

Experiment

Sometimes through these situations, you will end up inadvertently capturing something unique just by experimenting a little bit and trying something different. This could lead to learning something that you didn’t know or even developing a technique that you can use in the future. If nothing else comes of it, at least you’ll be able to have some fun and it’ll stop you feeling disappointed.

Just do it anyway

I find that there is something really rewarding about capturing a great shot when you least expect to do so. I often take more pride in these shots than the ones where everything comes together perfectly for a great photo. Maybe it’s because you have to work harder in those situations to be able to capture the photo that you want. So there is always the option to just go ahead and do the shoot anyway regardless of what occurs. Who knows when someone might want a photo of Angkor Wat with scaffolding on it. When that day comes I will have some photos to be able to sell. The thing about photography is that you never know when photo opportunities will arise that will give you a great photo. So, rather than being despondent, snap away and persevere. You’ll be amazed how often you will end up with a great photo when you least expect it.

Sit and admire

Even as a travel photographer it is sometimes nice to just relax and admire where you are. Sure, that beautiful location that you have travelled to isn’t giving you the pictures that you want but it can still give you great memories. One of the big disadvantages of travel photography is that often you have little time to simply admire where you are. If you get the chance to sometimes remind yourself of that, then take it.

A disappointing shoot happens to every photographer throughout their lifetime. When you are dealing with any sort of photography outdoors than there is always a chance that things can go wrong. Whilst this can be frustrating, by staying positive and just changing your perspective on things you can still come away with amazing photos. They may not be what you expected, but who knows, they could be even better.

6 Tips To Ensure You Can Capture Key Moments

Every photographer has been there at some point in their journey. You have spotted that fleeting moment, picked up your camera and thought that you have nailed the shot. But you look back afterwards in disappointment when you see that you haven’t been able to capture it. It might be that you missed the moment. It could be that someone walked across your shot. Or it might just be that your shot is blurred. Whatever the reason, missing that crucial moment is so frustrating as you often won’t get another chance. So to help you, here are 6 tips to ensure you can capture key moments.

Be ready

You can never know for sure when these fleeting moments will occur, but you can predict when they are more likely to be there. For example, if you are walking around a bustling city like New York, London or even Delhi, the chances are that things will happen. People going about their everyday lives and people interacting with each other is a combination that is likely to produce those unique moments. So naturally, in these situations, you need to be ready to take a photo at any moment. Whereas on the other hand if you are waiting for sunset in a remote location you are less likely to have to rush to take a photo.

The first rule of being able to capture those key moments is to make sure that your camera is on, with memory cards (which are not full), battery and importantly the lens cap off. In addition to this, you should get into the habit of continuously adjusting your settings for the scenario you are in. For example, if you are photographing inside where it’s low light you may have to raise your ISO. But then when you go out into bright sunshine, you will need to adjust this, otherwise, your shots will be overexposed. Rather than waiting for that moment when you are needing to take the photo, do it as soon as you step outside. This will mean you are ready if any photo opportunities arise.

Become faster

This might seem like an obvious solution, but by becoming faster in your thought process, being able to change settings quickly and executing the shot, you will find yourself capturing more of those unique moments. This isn’t impossible to do. Like anything else, with practice and experience you will find yourself becoming faster in everything that you do when a potential photo opportunity arises. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut for this. You just need to go out and practice these situations over and over again until it becomes second nature to you.

Just walk around your local town or city and aim to capture some of these unique moments. After each shot zoom in on your camera’s LCD screen to check that it is sharp and you have captured the right moment. If you have missed the moment or the photo is blurred, evaluated what you did wrong and try again. Keep repeating this over and over again and you will notice that your mistakes will get less.

Keep both eyes open

A good tip for avoiding getting people, cars, bicycles or anything else walking across your shot is to actually look beyond your main subject when taking the photo. Often in these scenarios, I keep both eyes open looking through the viewfinder with one and glancing around with the other. This is especially useful when photographing something where there is a constant flow of traffic across your shot. By keeping an eye out, you can take the photo at the perfect moment rather than guessing.

I didn’t notice the man walking to my left and as a result, he walked into my shot.

This time I made sure I was watching and caught the perfect moment without anyone walking across me.

Set the “trap” and wait

Usually, things happen in front of you and you have to react quickly. But sometimes the best way to capture those key moments is to actually wait for them to happen. You can set a “photography trap” where you find a potential situation where something interesting might occur and then simply wait for it to happen. For example, if you are photographing in a market, you can compose your image to have the market vendor in the shot and then till he interacts with a customer before you take the photo.

The benefit of doing this is that you can pre-determine your settings and even take a few test shots to make sure that you have got things right. So when the opportunity arises you will be more prepared to take the photo.

I wanted to capture this trendy part of London so I found the composition and waited untill the right person walked into the frame.

Select your settings

This is usually the main question that amateur photographers want to be answered. What settings do I need? Unfortunately, there isn’t one setting that can capture perfect photos in these situations every time. In reality, you will need to determine your settings based on the scenario that you are facing. Everything from the available light to how quickly things are happening will have an impact on your photo. Not to mention your own creative vision of the shot.

The best way to know which settings to use is to understand the basics of photography and know your camera fully. For example in some situations where your subject might be moving around, you’ll want to set your camera to continuous focus. Or sometimes you will need a shallow depth of field because you are just focusing on someone’s face whereas at other times you will need to have a greater depth of field to capture more of the surroundings. One setting that you will find useful is setting your camera to burst mode as you will be more likely to capture that perfect moment. So one of the most important tips to help you capture key moments is understanding the basics of photography and your camera.

Stay focused on the task

Photography can sometimes be infuriating, frustrating and even exhilarating. You might be tired, hungry and even bored. None of these are particularly useful when you are trying to capture that perfect and decisive moment as they can affect your mental focus. This will lead to mistakes and ultimately poor photos. If you need to have a rest, then do so, but make sure you are completely focused on the task. Don’t let your mind wander and keep looking and tweaking the composition to keep yourself alert.

It can be incredibly frustrating when you look at your photo and see that you have missed out on that unique photo opportunity. But you should also be comfortable in the knowledge that regardless of how many times you get it wrong, eventually with practice you will begin to see the number of times that you “nail” that shot improve. So stay positive and most importantly keep shooting!

7 Photography Myths Busted

Photography like anything else has its own myths. Things that you supposedly should and shouldn’t do. But are they actually true? Here are 7 photography myths that you should avoid.

You need better gear

This is always one of the first things that amateur photographers think. It simply isn’t true. A poorly composed photo that is lacking an interesting subject will be a poor photo regardless of what camera it is taken with. A better camera and lens does improve the overall quality of your image. It will also allow you to take photos at a larger size which in turn means it can be printed at a bigger size.

A better camera will also often give you a bit more control in the photo taking process. For example, a higher end camera might allow for more bursts in a second which will allow you to capture fast-moving subjects better. But what the camera cannot influence is the subject, the lighting and the composition. That’s down to you! So, don’t believe that you need more expensive equipment to make your photos better.

I never need to use a flash

Whilst it is always preferable to use natural light as it gives a pleasing result, there are times that using a flash is necessary and will improve your photos. The key to using the flash effectively is knowing how to use it and when. For example, one of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they use a direct flash when there is a dark scene in front of them.

Using a flash directly onto your scene will give a very harsh light that will often wash away the ambience and contrast of a scene. If you have ever taken a photo with a flash of a meal in a restaurant, for example, you’ll know what I mean. Instead, you need to look to bounce your flash off a surface like ceiling or wall.

To say that you will never need a flash in photography is like saying you will never need a tripod. The key is knowing how to use it and when.

A cheap tripod will do

I always find it astonishing when I see people with very expensive cameras using a flimsy tripod. In the same way that not all cameras are the same, not all tripods are the same either. The big difference is that a poor tripod can have a bigger negative effect on your photos than a lower end camera. Besides the fact that a flimsy tripod may not be able to support the weight of your camera, it is also more likely to be blown over by a gust of wind.

The other big issue is that cheap and poor-quality tripods will also suffer from small vibrations which can make long exposure photos look blurred. Instead, look for a sturdy carbon fibre tripod. They are expensive, but they will last you for a long time. So don’t forego the quality of your tripod as in some instances it’s more important than the camera itself.

Post-processing is cheating

One of the greatest benefits of digital photography is the ability to manipulate photos in post-processing. But this is nothing new. Even in the days of films and darkrooms photographers used burn and dodge techniques to tweak the brightness and contrast of photos. Off course it is always best to try and capture the photo as best as you can at the time of taking the photo. But if that fails you shouldn’t be afraid to make adjustments in post-production.

You can’t take photos at midday

All photographers will tell you that the best light is early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. This provides a wonderful soft light and long shadows that will enhance a scene. Midday light is typically the contrast of this and very harsh. It often washes out shadows in scenarios like landscape photography and creates harsh shadows in things like portraits.

Whilst not ideal or easy, to say that you can’t take photos at midday is a myth. You just have to think about what you are photographing and be able to control the light in the scene.

More exotic destinations mean better photos

This is something that I’ve encountered a lot in my time speaking and helping amateur photographers. They feel that if they were to travel to faraway places it will automatically improve their photos. The reality is that you can capture great photos anywhere. That includes your local village, town or city.

The big difference between these and more exotic destinations is that you become immune to it as you see those scenes all the time. But if someone from another country visited, they would likely be able to see things that you miss every day. So don’t let this myth stop you photographing things that are local to you because often there are interesting things that you are just not seeing.

Auto mode is a good choice for beginners

I think this is one of the biggest mistakes that beginners should avoid when wanting to learn and improve their photography. The reason is that by using auto mode you are not actually learning how to take a photo. You are not understanding how each element of the exposure triangle effects the other and you are relying on the camera to make the decisions.

Whilst auto modes in cameras have come a long way, they are still no match for human intuition and problem-solving. For example, a camera might increase your ISO to 12800 just to be able to take the photo at the exposure you want. But if you were manually selecting the settings you could underexpose the image slightly and get away with a lower ISO. If you want to use auto made, first learn how to take photos manually.

These are some of the most commons myths that are often used by amateur photographers. Don’t let these have an impact on your photography or learning. If you can avoid these myths all together, you might be surprised how much faster your photography improves.

Basic Photography Tips For Beginners

For anyone new, photography can seem like a daunting hobby to get into. There are so many things to learn. So many different scenarios to master and so many challenges along the way. But you needn’t worry because there has never been a better time for learning photography as it is today. There is so much free information online that there are many full-time photographers that learnt on their own just using this free information. So if you are new to photography, here are 10 basic tips for beginners to help you get started.

Learn the basics

I often tell newbie photographers that one of the first and best things you can do is to just read your camera manual. Yes, incredibly those big booklets that come with your camera have a whole wealth of information in there not just about your camera, but also about photography. So, start by simply reading your manual all the way through a couple of times.

Then go online and spend time actually learning the basics of photography. Things like shutter speed, aperture, ISO are together known as the exposure triangle and should become second nature to you. Learn the basics of composition like the rule of thirds and how to frame your shots. Basically, the more you learn the better and quicker your progress will become.

Look after your gear

Even though camera equipment has become more accessible than it was many years ago, it does still come at a cost. By the time you have a collection of equipment that you need it will add up to a hefty sum. Looking after your equipment should be of the utmost importance. So, make sure you learn how to look after your camera gear.

For example, fitting a UV filter to your expensive lens means protecting the lens glass from scratches. It’s much cheaper to replace a UV filter than repairing a scratched lens. Or for example, know that you should avoid touching your sensor. There is plenty of advice on camera care online so spend time learning it. It can save you money in the long term.

Put together a shot list

Whether you are a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, it always helps if you have a shot list. Professional photographers use shot lists to ensure that they cover off all the different photos that they need to capture on a shoot. But as a beginner, a shot list can be equally useful in helping you write a list of what you want to photograph.

It could be a place, a specific scenario like a blue hour shot of a famous landmark or even a specific image that you have in your mind. The good thing about a shot list is that it gives you goals and targets to achieve by ticking them off. But also helps you capture a diverse set of photos rather than the same thing over and over again. So, if you haven’t written out a shot list yet then go ahead and do so.

Carry your camera with you

It might be cumbersome and a pain to carry your camera with you all the time, but when you are starting out it really does help. One of the big challenges for newbie photographers is finding time to practice. Juggling a job, family and other commitments mean you might not have a lot of time to actually take photos. By having your camera with you all the time it gives you more opportunities to practice taking photos.

If you find it really cumbersome to carry your camera with you then simply use your camera phone.

Get off auto mode

The automatic modes on cameras have improved dramatically in recent years. But the problem with using automatic mode is that you are not actually learning about photography and how to take photos. The other issue with auto modes is that sometimes you need to compensate to be able to capture the shot you want. In auto mode, the camera will make that decision which might have an adverse effect on your photo.

For example, if you are shooting in low light conditions the camera might bump up your ISO to 6400! This means a lot of noise in your photo which will make it look soft. Whereas if you were controlling the exposure triangle yourself, you may have been able to underexpose your image by a stop or two to then brighten post-processing. This might have given you a better image. So, instead of settling for auto mode, learn the basics and do it yourself.

Experiment

One of the great things about starting out is that you are allowed to make mistakes. You are also allowed to experiment with different genres and even different settings to find your own style and preference. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with your photos and if you get something wrong, learn from it and move on.

Find people to inspire you

Photography is a lonely profession and you will quickly find that there aren’t too many people who want to wait around for you to take photos at sunset. Finding a photo buddy, especially one whose work you admire can really help push you to become a better photographer.

But even if you don’t have anyone to act as a photo buddy, find photographers whose work you like and follow them. The key is not to copy their work but instead use it to inspire your own.

Share your photos

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to find an outlet for your photos. Anyone can do it and you should because it can help you become better. I said earlier that photography is a lonely profession and for many, their only interaction on photography comes online through social media. Don’t be afraid to find a way to share your photos with others whether that is online or in person. It could be your own website, Instagram, Facebook or even a local camera club.

Learn basic photo editing

Even if you are completely against photo editing, it still pays to know the basics. As inevitably most photos will benefit from some level of post-processing. That could be as simple as just straightening the photo or cropping it slightly differently. Or sometimes you may need to add more extensive retouching like removing the trash can that is in the shot.

Whatever you decide is the right approach for you, as with everything else, there are lots of free learning material online. YouTube videos can walk you through the entire process from the basics to more advanced functions. So, don’t be lazy, learn the basics of post-processing.

Get a workflow

One of the biggest benefits of digital photography is that it allows you to build a workflow that can get the work you need to get done in a fraction of the time. Your workflow will naturally evolve over time but it’s still worth thinking about it and putting a process in place. Think about how you want to store your photos like a filing structure? How do you want to back them up? How to flag the good ones and if you want to delete the bad ones? Don’t worry if you don’t have the answers straight away, that will come over time. But it’s good to think about it and have a process in place.

As a beginner, you are starting a wonderful journey. One that will at times be frustrating whilst at other times gives you an enormous sense of pride. The most important thing when you are starting out is to enjoy yourself, learn as much as you can and practice, practice and practice. Don’t worry it won’t always be this daunting.

8 Tips To Make Your Travel Photos Look As Good As The Pros

Have you ever looked at your photos and wondered why they don’t look as good as the ones in magazines and newspapers? It’s one of the most common questions that most professional photographers get asked – “how can I take photos like you”. The answer is that you can! With practice, experience and hard work anyone can take great photos. But in the meantime, here are 8 tips that will help you on your way.

Give yourself lots of time

Often one of the main reasons that the photos in magazines and newspapers look better than yours is simply because the photographer had more time. So, when you turn up to a location and take a couple of photos and leave the pro is still there and waiting for the perfect moment, light and subject.

Of course, sometimes it simply isn’t possible for an amateur photographer to spend the same amount of time at a location as a full-time photographer. But the key is giving yourself more time than you usually would. Always remind yourself that it is much better to come back from a trip with 5 or 6 stunning photos than 100 mediocre ones.

Set up a shoot

Even professional photographers sometimes will set up a shoot to capture the photo that they want to take. This could be as simple as putting themselves or a companion in the foreground of a landscape scene to add a point of interest. Or on the other hand, sometimes they will compose the shot and wait for something to happen.

For example, an alleyway might look uninteresting without someone in it. So, you’ll compose the shot and wait for someone to walk into the frame where you want them.

At other times a shoot could be a more extensive set up by getting models or arranging with local properties. This obviously takes a bit more research and planning but can give you real control in the final outcome.

Step out of your comfort zone

You won’t find many professional photographers who enjoy getting up in the early hours of the morning or like standing around in the cold and wet to capture a photo. But sometimes it is just this notion of being uncomfortable that can mean stunning photos.

If you want to capture truly unique travel photos you have to be willing to travel and put yourself in situations that might not be comfortable. Sure, the Hilton hotel will mean better night’s sleep, but will it give you the same photo opportunities that photographing a local family in a farmhouse will?

Find the story, then the photo

Another attribute that professional photographers have is that they can often visualise the story that an image tells before even taking the picture. Even a traditional landscape shot can tell a story. This is a skill that you need to try to develop if you want to capture great photos.

So next time you see a scene in front of you and are about to take a photo unless it’s a fleeting moment, take a few seconds to think about what story the photo is saying. Then once you are sure you know the story, compose your shot and take the photos. You will probably find a big improvement in your photos just by doing this.

Be bold and confident

Just because you are not a professional photographer doesn’t mean anyone should get priority over you in taking a photo. It also shouldn’t stop you from approaching people and asking to take their photo. Always be confident in your ability and the photo you want to take.

Don’t be afraid to use post-processing

Some people see post-processing as taboo and it’s almost like it shouldn’t exist. Whilst there are some places that this should be exercised such journalism for example, in other situations, there is nothing wrong in using a post-processing software to enhance your photo.

How much you do will depend on you and your preferences and what the photo needs. If you are unsure what to use in a post-processing software, starting out by just adjusting the white balance, brightness and contrast. Just tweaking these will enhance your photo for the better. Further post-processing might include things like vibrancy and saturation to make the colours stand out more.

Work with a pro

One of the best ways to really boost your photography skill and knowledge is to actually accompany a pro. You will be able to get a first-hand glimpse of how they work what they see and how they go about seeing and composing their shot. This can be invaluable.

There are two ways you can do this. You can either contact a professional photographer whose work you admire and see if they are willing to have you come along on a trip with them (but don’t be surprised if you have to pay your own way). Or the more likely scenario is that you will need to go on a photo tour or workshop. Whilst this extra cost might seem unnecessary, what you will learn could invaluable.

Stop trying to take photos like the pros

This might seem like a big contradiction based on this article, but ultimately you shouldn’t be looking to take photos like the pros. You should be taking the best photos that you can for yourself. One of the great things about photography is that it is subjective and as long as you are happy with your photos and love what you are doing that is the most important thing.

Everyone sometimes looks at travel photos that are in magazines and guidebooks and wishes that they had taken that shot. There is nothing wrong with admiring other people’s work and even being inspired to be able to take photos as good as them. With practice and experience, you will see an improvement and the tips above should help you improve your photos. But ultimately the only opinion that matters is yours.

Bare Bones Photography: What Gear Do You Really Need?

What is the end game of photography? To make a photo, right? Not always a print but nonetheless an image of some kind is the final goal of most photographers. The tools needed to complete what can sometimes be a world altering task are simple. At their minimum, you’ll require some type of otherwise light-proof box which has a relatively small opening-i.e. a camera, and some way of recording the incident light which enters-i.e. film or digital sensor. You don’t even truly need a lens(pinhole cameras) to make a photograph but of course that helps immensely.

Now, that list of gear might sound incredibly lacking but when you think about it everything else that we throw into the mix simply expounds on or enhances those basic pieces. There are multitudes of cameras, both film and digital, with equally vast selections of lens and filters for each. Everything else aside, this article will help you if you’re just starting out on your photographic journey in that you will learn what basic photo gear you will actually need…not just what someone might want to sell you.

What You’ll Need

Below is a list of the bare-bones gear that you will need to get rolling in making photographs. Of course there are not real absolutes as you will soon find out but in order to reach the end result, a picture, you will need these few things:

The Most Important Item

The single most important tool you can possess isn’t actually a piece of gear at all but rather the correct mindset. I’m listing this first because everything else is secondary to your ability and to adapt and make the most of whatever camera or lens you have available. When I first started out in photography, eighteen year old me saved $265 and bought a 35mm SLR kit that included one 18-55mm F3.5-5.6. I shot on that one lens for about five years and managed to make some wonderful photographs despite it being a “kit” setup. After I switched to digital photography(I still shoot film as well) the progression evolved much the same way with me beginning with a kit lens and later branching out as I learned more about the craft.

Don’t think that you need incredibly expensive cameras or lenses to get started doing photowork. Granted, there are some things that even the most determined effort can’t make happen without the necessary equipment but you might be surprised how much you can get out of “low end” gear when you approach the problem with creative solutions.

A Camera

The importance of a camera can’t be overstated but that doesn’t mean that it has to be the latest and greatest piece of tech to roll off the line. In fact, if I could back in time I would have spent much less on my first digital camera and much more on the lens. More on lenses in a minute but ironically the camera you use usually plays much less of a role in the final image quality(sharpness/color/contrast) than you might think.

Whether it be film or digital, find a camera that is well built and feels good to you. If you can’t readily handle the camera before you buy then become a review hound and learn everything you can about other users experiences. Luckily, most digital cameras today are so good in terms of ISO performance and build that you won’t really go wrong in most cases. Again, if I can offer a little advice in hindsight, invest more in your glass instead of your camera.

A Lens

The lens is the eye through which your camera sees and there are apparently hundreds of different eyes out there. Like I mentioned earlier, the quality of your lens is a huge factor in the final quality of your photos. If you put a poorly made, blurry and sluggish lens on the most expensive camera in the world you will still get poorly made, blurry and sluggish photos in turn

In short, if you aren’t sure yet which genre of photography you’ll gravitate towards, what’s called a “normal” focal length lens will be the best bang for your buck. The term “normal” refers to a lens approximately equal to the field of view of the human eye which is arguable in the 30-50mm range. Most kit lenses included with cameras hover in the normal range. In any case, find the fastest lens(small F-number/large aperture) that will fit the most situations be it landscape, portraiture or street photography. Fortunately, a fast 50mm lens remains of the cheapest lenses you can currently buy.

Finishing Up

Yes, that really is all you need. While there are a few accessories like film or memory cards that you’ll require the overall basic gear to start making images really is as simply as that.

As you progress you will learn what makes you tick photographically and you can adjust your tools accordingly. Find a camera, find a lens, and start shooting.

A Simple Explanation of Aperture

If there’s one thing about photography that confuses newcomers(and often the rest of us) it’s the idea of aperture. What is it? Why is it so complicated? How does it affect your photos? Well, aperture isn’t complicated or impossible to understand, it’s just unfamiliar. And like most unfamiliar things the more you learn to about it the less intimidating aperture will be.

In this article I’m going to show you just how not complicated aperture can be. You’re going to learn the basics of aperture and how it relates to the focus and shutter speed of your photographs.

Aperture and the Dreaded F-Number

Let’s start off by explaining what aperture is and how it is measured. The idea of aperture in reality is astoundingly simple and there’s honestly only a few things you truly need to know to conquer the subject.

What is Aperture?

OK, let’s just get this out of the way right off the bat…aperture by its very definition is simply a hole. As it pertains to photography, aperture is the hole in the lens where light passes into our cameras. That’s it.

See, not so scary! However, the way aperture is measured is the cause for anxiety in some because, there again, it’s measured in a fashion that most of us don’t readily understand. But don’t worry, much like everything it becomes easy once you understand one fundamental thing….

F-Numbers

Trust me. You are neither the first nor the last person to be completely perplexed when it comes to understanding the way aperture is measured. The notion of ‘F-Numbers”(sometimes called f-stops) has been the source of a lot of confusion because they simply don’t make much sense in terms of how we normally think about our physical world. In short, the F-Number is nothing more than a ratio between the focal length of the lens and the diameter of the aperture being used. So an aperture of F4 means that the focal length is four times larger than the selected aperture. An aperture of F8 means that the focal length is eight times larger and so on and so forth. Now this is where things get a little weird….The larger the F-Number, the smaller the actual opening. The smaller the F-Number the smaller the actually opening. Look at this quick example:

It’s going to be OK…take a deep breath and realize that it actually makes sense mathematically but you’re not going to have to understand anything more in depth than that for most practical purposes. Just know that it the larger the physical opening of the aperture the smaller the F-Number will be.

Aperture and Depth of Field

There are a surprisingly large amount of factors that determine the final depth of field or your image and aperture size is one of them. Generally speaking, the wider the aperture(smaller F-Number) the more shallow depth of field will become. This means that smaller apertures(larger F-Numbers) will bring more of the scene into the range of focus than will larger apertures. Take a look at these Chess pieces and see what I mean.

Not only does aperture play a key role in focusing but it also spills over into your shutter speed. Speaking of shutter speed….

Aperture and Shutter Speed

The relationship between aperture and shutter speed is extremely simple and yet extremely important. Simply put, larger apertures allow more light to enter through the lens. More light means faster shutter speeds can be used. This is where the phrase “fast lenses” comes from because lenses with larger aperture allow for faster shutter speeds.

So, faster lenses with wider maximum apertures are capable of shooting more effectively in low light conditions because they allow more light to pass through them. A lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8 is considered to be “faster” than a lens with a maximum aperture of F4.

Final Thoughts on Aperture

In a way all this might sound like an oversimplification but it’s essentially all you really need to know about aperture. The manner in which aperture selection relates to depth of field and shutter speed will take you a long way in photography. Aperture isn’t scary! Having this simple knowledge will help you better understand exposure, make smarter lens choices and generally control your images much more effectively.

The Case for Black and White Photography

Brace yourself because here it comes…it’s another discussion about black and white photography. Don’t worry, it’s not going to be the same old “which is better?” or even worse, another “how to convert your photos to black and white” type of articles. Admittedly, I have written on both of those subjects extensively before but this time will be a little different.

Today, we’re going to strip down the idea of black and white photography and attempt to locate how this tried and true area of photography has managed to maintain its status in an arguably over saturated(pun intended) world of photographic modernism.

Monochrome and the Film Difference

It’s not secret that the black and white side of photo work is deeply rooted in film. Still, even though it makes for a solid title for this section, the term “monochrome” has been somehow mismanaged to the point where it is widely considered synonymous with black and white. This is wrong. Monochrome means “one color” or essentially an image made of shades of only one color. This color could be anything from black, yellow, red or pink. Grayscale might actually be a more appropriate term for true black and white. Even then the lines become somewhat blurred because it’s incredibly difficult to completely abolish all color toning from a black and white film negative. Take a look at these images of a 4×5 black and white negative(complete with film borders)and I’ll show you what I mean.

The first photo is a color rendition of the negative. You’ll notice that is is toned quite blue based on the development. This is due to a few factors but the point is virtually all black and white photographs aren’t exactly black and white. Rather, they are toned based on the type of film emulsion and the development techniques used. Now, look at that same piece of film after I have digitally converted it to black and white in Lightroom.

See the difference? I say all of that to say this: modern digital photography often paints a one dimensional representation of black and white images. True black and white photographs aren’t usually black and white at all or not even monochromatic. Instead, they are a carefully mapped presentation of tonal ranges. Remember this the next time you click a button to make your photo black and white. Sure, it might remove the color but the work shouldn’t stop there.

Speaking of color…

Is Color Necessary?

Yes, color is needed. Is it always needed? Absolutely not. There are times when a photo is suited to black and white and times when it is not. Well, who decides? That question is also deceptively simple to answer. It’s you, you’re the one who decides. Does the color play a role in the emotion or feeling you mean to convey or does it get in the way? These are most certainly murky waters to wade.

Today, we don’t even have to approach color or black and white photography the same way as we did thirty or even twenty years ago. Take the very site you’re reading this article on right now. LifePixel specializes in infrared converted cameras that brings the world of color into a new realm of creative exchange. Infrared cameras see light differently than our own eyes. As a result, completely familiar colors become foreign and black and white pictures take on a completely new feel. When you think about color and how it relates to photography you must understand that even the things we see are wholly subjective to our own perception.

Some Closing Thoughts…

If you haven’t been able to tell by now the purpose of this article isn’t to promote the merits of one type of photo over another. There’s plenty of room even now for both color and black and white photography. In fact, a lot of it comes down to personal taste and how we perceive the world around us. At the same time, remember to look deeper into your work and find what gives it meaning to you. Does color play a part? Does it make more of a connection in black and white? Whatever direction you choose just make sure that the original intent of the photo shines through.

Speed Up Your Processing with Lightroom Import Presets

We all know about presets in Lightroom and all the great things they can do your post processing. Presets help make your editing easier and make achieving a constant styling much more efficient. The biggest benefit of using presets is that they speed up your post processing so you can get back to making photographs, baking muffins, building model airplanes, or whatever it is you might rather be doing instead of sitting in front of your computer screen. But did you know you can use presets jumpstart your post processing efforts before you even import your photos into Lightroom?

In this article I’m going to show you how easy it is to apply presets to your photos as they import into Lightroom. These presets aren’t even limited to develop presets…oh no. You can even add in metadata presets like copyright information and keywording along with camera and lens profile information. This is the kind of thing that the pros use and you should as well. If you find yourself editing large batches(weddings, portraits, events) of similar photos then you’re going to love using import presets in Lightroom. Let’s get started.

Applying Presets on Import

It all starts here in the Import screen of Adobe Lightroom.

If you look to the right you’ll notice an ‘Apply During Import’ panel.

This is where all the magic will happen. Click on that tab to open up your options. From here we’ll have a few choices.

Develop Presets and Camera Calibration

Applying develop and camera calibration* presets as you import your photos into Lightroom couldn’t be easier. The process is essentially the same as it is while editing your images in the Develop Module. To begin, make sure you have the photos you wish to import with the preset. Next, click the ‘Develop Settings’ drop down. This will bring up a list of all the develop presets you have currently installed in Lightroom.

From here it’s simply a matter of selecting the preset you want to apply to the images you’re importing. After you’ve made you’ve made your choice click ‘Import’ and your photos will be brought into Lightroom with the chosen develop preset freshly applied.

**To apply camera calibration settings to your photos on import simply save them in a develop preset and then use the same steps as above.

Copyright and Metadata

Import presets aren’t limited to develop settings. We can also apply keywording and metadata(copyright information/location/creator) to each and every image we import. This helps to better organize or photos and perhaps more importantly, it allows us to protect them from unwanted use. Adding in keywords is super easy as you can type them right into the keyword box. Alternatively, you can add in keywords alongside your other metadata.

Assigning metadata to images is just as easy as applying develop presets. To start, click the ‘Metadata’ drop down arrow.

Select your preset or to add a new one click ‘New’. This launches the new metadata preset dialog box.

It’s here where you can add in virtually any information imaginable. When you’re finished be sure to name your new metadata preset. In the example above I’ve left the title as ‘Untitled Preset’ (I’m lazy) but it’s always a good idea to title any preset you make in such a way that you can immediately know what it contains. Once you’ve created the new preset it will then become selectable from the metadata preset drop down menu. After you’ve applied it, click ‘Import’. Your new metadata information will automatically be applied to each image you selected to import just as the develop settings were in the previous example.

Some Final Thoughts….

Import presets are a great way to easily jump start your processing workflow. By applying certain develop and metadata presets on import you can yourself a lot of time by having the settings you use the most already applied before any work actually begins. This becomes especially useful when you find yourself editing a large number of photos at once. Not only can import presets making editing a breeze but they can also play a big part in protecting your photos by attaching important copyright information to your photos. If you haven’t already give import presets a try and see just how much they can help you and your photography.

Smarter Sharpening with the High Pass Filter in Photoshop

What if I told you that sharpening as we know it in photography isn’t real? That might be a little hard to believe but the truth is that it is actually impossible to make an image physically sharper after it has already been made. Sharpening a photo is simply an illusion. We can make a photograph appear to be sharper. Our digital images can be made to look sharper by adjusting the contrast of the pixels around the edges of shapes within the photo and this is what we are going to talk about today. We will look at how you can easily make your photos more sharp quickly using the high pass filter in Photoshop.

What is the High Pass Filter?

The high pass filter is just a method of creating a sharpening effect to your photo based on the pixels surrounding the contrasted edges of the elements within the image. While Photoshop has some dedicated sharpening tools(unsharp mask, smart sharpening) the high pass filter is the method I tend to use the most because I love the total control it gives me over my sharpening.

Using the High Pass Filter

To get started with sharpening using the high pass filter it is highly recommended that you complete ALL of your edits prior to performing the sharpening. This means that if you’re like me and do most of your processing in Lightroom and then export to Photoshop for finishing you will leave your high pass sharpening for the very last step. When you’re ready to sharpen, open your image in Photoshop.

Next, duplicate the layer by using keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J(Cmd+J for Mac). This is the layer where the high pass filter will be applied. I’ve renamed it “High Pass Layer” so it’s easier to see.

Make sure the new high pass layer is selected and then click on the ‘Filter’ tab and then ‘Other’ and lastly select ‘High Pass’.

You’ll notice an abrupt change to your image. It will essentially go completely grey. Don’t panic because this is exactly what we want to happen. But we have a choice to make and that is what radius we set for the high pass filter.

The radius controls the amount of pixels which are targeted around the edges where the sharpening will be applied. There’s a lot of wiggle room here and it generally is based on the resolution of your camera. The higher megapixel your camera the higher you can set the radius without causing unsightly effects such as halos and glowing edges. Let me show you what I mean. Here is the high pass filter with a radius of ‘1’…

And now here it is with a radius of ‘36’.

The higher the radius the more of the image will be affected. This particular photo was made with a 36.4 megapixel camera and I find a radius of ‘4’ to be the proverbial sweet spot. Adjust your radius accordingly.

Click ‘OK’ to apply the high pass.

But wait, this still looks horrible and gray and not at all what we want.

The next step is key. We have to change the blend mode of our sharpening layer. There are multiple choices here but the ‘Overlay’ option tends to work best with virtually all images and is the blend mode I use. After the overlay blend mode is selected we have what is essentially our final sharpened image.

Have a look at the difference the high pass filter has made in terms of sharpness. Here is the unsharpened photo….

And now the freshly sharpened version….

Closing Thoughts on Sharpening with the High Pass Filter

Don’t forget, not only can the high pass filter be applied easily but like any other layer adjustment in Photoshop the opacity can be adjusted until you reach the exact level of desired sharpness. Furthermore, adding in a layer mask to the sharpening layer can allow you to take complete control over the sharpening effect and only apply it to the areas of the photo you choose.

The best bit of advice when it comes to sharpening an image using any method is that less is usually more. Always remember that an over sharpened image is often less appealing than one that is slightly soft. Enjoy using the high pass filter in Photoshop!

Remembering Why You Shoot

There are times when the most simple of explanations eludes us. When it comes to photography, or more specifically to the point of making strong photographs, we must be fully aware. Not just aware of our settings and camera placement but also our intent. Oddly enough, it’s frightfully easy to lose this awareness during the very process of doing the thing which we love. What I’m so gently hinting at here is this: do you know why you make photographs? Are you aware on an internal level why you you shoot what you shoot?

In this article we’re going to take a look at why we can so easily lose sight of our purpose while making photos. This artistic straying can happen gradually or on a picture by picture basis. Perhaps more importantly we will also examine how you can regain your a creative awareness and become a more deliberate, purposeful photographer.

Obsessing with the Technical

When you think about it there are arguably very few absolutes when it comes to photography. So, why does the pursuit of technical perfection occupy such a large corner of our creative minds? Never place more emphasis on the technical aspects of photography than you do on expressing the feeling of a scene.

How many incredible photographs have you seen that are underexposed? Over exposed? Maybe they are slightly out of focus. The worth of those photographs or any other image doesn’t lie in the balance of a histogram or tack focus. They move us because they were made with intent and show the truth and beauty of a moment. Don’t put so much attention into the way you capture a photograph that forget why you wanted to shoot it in the first place.

Burnout

If you make photographs long enough there will come a dark and wretched day when you simply become tired of it all. It might happen sooner than later or it might take years but to some degree or another you will have to face burnout. When you become tired of shooting there just doesn’t seem to be anything out there to make pictures of that interests you. You just don’t get the joy from the process as you once did.

Don’t worry…this literally happens to us all and it isn’t limited to one event. There are highs and lows throughout a photographer’s journey. The key remedy is somewhat paradoxical, however. To beat burnout you take a break but not altogether stop shooting. Try to take a rest from your camera(and it from you) and breathe for a while without making photographs. When you begin to say “Man, I wish I had my camera with me” you will know you are cured. Do this as needed or as directed by a photo writer….

Self-Doubt

The best way to forget why you make photographs is by trying to make them them exactly the way someone else does. Be mindful that there is an incredibly fine line between inspiration and emulation. Never allow yourself to sacrifice how you want to capture a photograph based on the idea that it’s not the “right way” or just because it might not look like someone else’s version.

There could be an entire book written on this point but I’ll do you the favor of brevity. It’s perfectly alright to absolutely love the way other photographers images might look; that’s great, learn how to make yours in a similar way. But only do this if it fits with your own vision. Don’t do it for ‘likes’, shares, or any other reason that would otherwise cause you to shoot with anything but your own photograph in mind.

Final Thoughts….

Today, it’s easier than ever to allow yourself to forget why you make your photographs. We are constantly bombarded by new and better equipment that make us lose sight of what makes a good photo. Sometimes we simply become tired of shooting and this causes us to forget why we love making images at all. And what maybe be the most common danger, sometimes we doubt our own instincts as photographers. All these reason, and no doubt others, can make us forget our own intent. Luckily, they can all be overcome and if you find yourself in any of the circumstances I’ve mentioned then I hope this article gives you a helping hand. Have fun with what you do and always remember why you do it!

8 beginner tips to help you become a better photographer

When you first start out in photography it can feel daunting. There is so much to learn, not mention the time it takes to put into practice what you learn. The good news is that most people go through the same thing when they start out and with patience and practice it will soon become second nature to you. But to get you started, here are 5 beginner tips to help you become a better photographer.

Learn the basics

Believe it or not, usually the best thing you can do at the start is to read your camera manual. Yes, those big bulky manuals can actually be useful when learning photography. Not only will you learn some of the basics of photography, but it will also help you understand and learn how to use your camera.

But you shouldn’t stop there. Try to go further and get a basic understanding of the theory behind photography. For example, what is the actual process that happens when you press to take a photo. Or the different kinds of light and how that impacts your photos. You should also aim to learn what the different terms are in photography. Things like “shutter speed”, “depth of field” and “white balance” are integral to photography.

The more you can learn about the theory side of photography the better you will become at actually taking photos.

Learn about your equipment

Besides learning the theory part of photography, you also need to learn how to use your equipment and also how to look after them. It would be pointless owning the latest camera equipment if you can’t use it to it’s full capabilities. Or seeing a fleeting moment unfold before you but missing it because it takes you too long to get your settings right. Remember that it isn’t just the camera you need to learn how to use. You also should make time to learn how to use accessories such as filters, a flash and even a tripod. These will all be absolutely essential at some time in your photography journey.

Learn post-processing

Whether you are a fan of post-processing or are a purist and prefer to capture images perfectly when you are taking a photo, the reality is that every photo will benefit from some level of post-production. For some images it might just be tweaking a crop or straightening the horizon. Whilst for others it means retouching and color corrections.

Ultimately though, you will need to learn how to use a post-processing software. The most common software to use are Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and they offer everything from basic controls like brightness and contrast to extensive retouching and correction facilities.

Don’t be daunted by using these bits of software as they are actually very easy to learn and master. The good news is that in this day and age there are a ton of materials, tutorials and videos that can cover everything you need to know. You just need to set yourself time to learn and practice.

Make a shot list

A shot list is something that most photographers who are working on a brief are either given by the client or create for themselves. It’s a list of specific shots needed that they can then cross off as they work through the list. For travel photographer, this might be a list of sights at a destination or specific foods that need to be photographed. A wedding photographer might be given a list of people or situations to photograph and so on.

Creating a shot list for yourself is a really great way of keeping yourself focused on photographing specific things. For any beginner this is a really good way of practicing what you may not be great at but also break down the learning process into small manageable chunks. For example if you have just been learning about capturing movement of water with a slow shutter speed, set yourself a shot list of different places local to you that you capture photos to show this.

Set yourself photography times

One of most difficult things for people new to photography is making the time in their normal daily life to take photos. Unfortunately, photography is one of those hobbies or professions that you can only improve in by practicing. The more you practice, the better you become at seeing and taking photos. Obviously for most people practicing photography will usually come second to other more pressing matters.

So, instead of just haphazardly popping out here and there with a camera for a couple of hours, set yourself regular periods dedicated to photography. Then whatever the weather or your mood, aim to go and practice whatever it is that you need to. Keeping that consistent practice going is the only way you will improve.

Take lots of photos

These days digital cameras mean that you literally can take as many photos as you like (as long as you have enough memory cards). So, don’t be afraid to take lots of photos, but also to really push yourself beyond your comfort level. Experiment with different settings, crops, different light and even different genres. The more photos you capture the better and quicker you will become in the long term. You will notice that as you become a better photographer, you will begin to be more and more selective about the photos you actually take. So, whereas at the start you might take 100 photos and have 1 or 2 that you love, a few years down the line and you will love 40 or 50. The key is practice.

Evaluate your failures

You will often learn more from your failed photos than from your successes. It’s important that you accept that you will make mistakes when starting out in almost every aspect. That’s just part of learning a new discipline. But instead of just ignoring the mistake, try to evaluate why and where it went wrong? If it’s an obvious mistake like for example a blurred photo, try to work out what settings you should have used instead. Every time you learn from one of your mistakes, you’ll be unlikely to repeat it again.

Set yourself a goal

Even if your intention is for photography to be a hobby, it is still worth setting yourself some photography goals for the future. It could be as simple as you want to have a great website to showcase your work. Or it could be that you want to enter and win a photography competition. Or it could just simply be a list of places or things you want to photograph brilliantly. Whatever your goals are, they are important as they can keep you motivated and the more motivated you are the better your work will be.

Photography is a wonderful hobby or profession to be involved in. But like learning anything new, it requires time, effort and dedication. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a better photographer.

A Quick Guide to Local Adjustment Presets in Lightroom

If you use Adobe Lightroom, I’m sure you’ve heard of develop presets and how they can jump start your creativity. But did you know that you can also create and save local adjustment presets just as easily? In this article I’m going to show you how to create and save your own local adjustment presets so you can make the most of your editing time in Lightroom.

What are Local Adjustments?

Local adjustment presets work a lot like develop presets in that they allow you to save certain combinations of edits for quick application later. The biggest difference between the two types of presets is that normal development presets generally work globally(affects the entire image) whereas local presets affect only the portions of the image you choose. These edits are applied either with either the local adjustment brush, graduated filter, radial filter, or a combination of the three. The great thing about local adjustment presets is that each preset can be applied by any of the local adjustment tools in Lightroom.

Here’s an example using the picture above. This is how it looked originally.

Let’s say we want to only lighten the leaf without disturbing the rest of the photo. Not only that, but the area could also use a little bit of a boost in clarity and sharpening. We can use the local adjustment brush and combine all this edits into one and apply them at the same time.

Now, that looks better.

This is an edit you might have use for in the future since adding a little exposure and clarity can might an image really pop. Instead of taking the time to go back in and adjust the sliders each and every time why not save this adjust as a preset? Saving local adjustments is even easier than saving a regular development preset because there’s no new folder to make and name, no check boxes to tick or untick. Everything is already set up for you and all you’ll need to do is make your adjustments and then name your new preset.

Saving the Preset

First, click the ‘custom’ drop down at the top of the local adjustments panel….

Find the bottom of the ‘Save current settings as new preset’ option at the bottom of the drop down menu and click on that.

Now it’s time to name your awesome new local adjustment preset. Just as with any other type of preset it’s a good idea to come up with a descriptive name that immediately tells you what the preset does. For this preset I’ve chosen ‘+Exp Clarity Sharp’.

And that’s it! Your new preset will appear as a freshly made preset name in the local adjustment presets dropdown menu.

Final Thoughts on Local Adjustment Presets…

Like any other preset in Lightroom, local adjustment presets save you time by eliminating the need to change multiple adjustment sliders each and every time you want to use a particular edit. Making a local adjustment preset is one of the easiest tricks you can use to speed up your post processing. Remember, every preset you make can be used with all the local adjustment tools in Lightroom. That means the adjustment preset we made above can also be applied using the radial and graduated filter as well. Local adjustment presets are great. Use this guide and find out for yourself!