Archive for the 'Photography' Category
The fashion industry has lost its mind
I don't think it's anything new that the fashion industry will have crackpots pushing impossible body standards on women. My usual reaction when I see some blurb about a beautiful woman deemed as "fat" is to roll my eyes and move on. That or laugh at a badly-done Photoshop retouching that clearly displays how fake the image is.
The other day, I saw a link posted to an article where supermodel Kate Upton proclaimed that she would not starve herself to be thin. At first I smiled and thought it was cool that she was standing up to the insanity, but when I dug deeper I was appalled at how far this drama had gone.
What I've learned about Travel Photography
Probably the biggest reason I ever wanted to get into photography was for travel. When I went to Greece in 2006, we only had simple point-and-shoot cameras, and while the photos were ok, I always wanted to get those "National Geographic" quality kinds of shots just so I could really have lasting memories.
I've been on several trips now with my DSLR, and learned a few lessons specific to when you're traveling with a decent camera and gear. I've made mistakes in my travels, but learned from them, and hopefully my past mistakes become help for your own vacation shooting.
What I've learned about Digital Photography
Back in 2008, the Federal Government handed out $600 checks to each and every American with the simple idea of "go buy stuff and stimulate the economy". I made the easy decision to invest that $600 in an entry-level DSLR camera and learn Photography.
It's been three years after the fact, and when I look at photos from the beginning compared to recent shots, I'm proud that I've learned a lot and have become pretty decent with my shooting. I wanted to share what I've learned over a series of articles and hopefully inspire others to give Photography a shot as well as help them get over the learning curve much faster.
To HDR or not to HDR
It's no mistake that the technology of High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging has enhanced and taken photography to a new level. The popularity can't be mistaken not even with the functions in Photoshop since CS2 and the release of software titles like Photomatrix Pro and HDR PhotoStudio. More and more portfolios now are showing a lot of HDR photo creations, and the general consumer has gotten into HDR through apps, functions on lower-end cameras, and other various software outlets.
So we're seeing the joy of vivid color, wild dramatic scenes, and greater detail, but are we ready to chuck normal photography for an HDR-imaged world? While I think the artistic value of HDR is amazing, I don't think every single photo needs the treatment. So when should we apply the treatment and when should we not?
Perfect Shooting VS Post Production
Ever since I got into photography I've been blessed to meet and network with many professionals in the field. In my exploration, I've come to find two circles of reasoning in how they look at it all. Circle A is of the mind that one should shoot perfectly right from the start. Lighting, white balance, etc. all set and repeatedly tested so you do your shoot and the resulting files are ready to go. Circle B is of the mind that while good shooting skills are a must, post-production is now a vital necessity in modern photography. Often times I see the two circles of thought clash, as old school film shooters think software has now cheapened and made a fakery of the art, while others believe software and even digital has taken photography to new levels one could only dream of in the past.
Who's right? Has the realm of digital, Photoshop, Lightroom, and all the added tools made the basic photo skills "optional"? Or are the old ways antiquated? Let's explore.
The Long Journey Home
Back on December 16, 2008, Chicago was hit with a record snowstorm for the year. It was also the first big snow Chicago had seen of this recent winter. If you've ever lived in a major city where it snows, you'll know a snowstorm means you're in for a long commute home.
Despite that I had the week off from my normal job, I was down in Hyde Park doing a freelance photo shoot of a dental office. I left my client in the early afternoon when I started to see the snow come down, but alas I was trapped in what turned into a four hour commute back to my home. Normally, this trip would take 40-60 minutes depending on traffic.
