It has certainly been an interesting and exciting year, and last night was one of the high points, as our image “Beauty from Behind” created by Mel Carll was awarded “2010 Image of the Year” by the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County (PPLAC) during their January 2011 meeting. The image was created at the SCV Center for Photography studio, and has won several awards this past year, including a “Best of Show”.
When you are out on location it is very easy to get caught up in the moment of taking photos and you forget to look at your composition and what is happening within the frame.
It is very easy to miss the unwanted items within your image, so you need to check you viewfinder and make sure there is nothing in your frame that will require you to remove it in Photoshop.
Make sure your horizon is straight, as it is very easy to tilt your image is you are not using a tripod, or if you are using a tripod, that it is level. If needed, you can get a bubble level that slips onto your hotshoe to assist you getting a straight horizon.
And lastly, consider your depth of field, and the control you want with you foreground and background. It is much easier to determine this in the field and select the aperture in the field, than it is to blur an image in Photoshop.
So just be aware of what is going in your image before you snap the shutter…..
If you need additional assistance, we offer Basic and Intermediate Camera workshops at the SCV Center for Photography. See our workshop schedules for more information.
I hear so many beginning photographers that come through our workshops talk about how you need to spend thousands of dollars in order to take great pictures. But in reality, the equipment is just the vehicle that helps you create the photograph. Yes, certain cameras have different functions, or handle things better or worse, but all of the current DSLR’s give you the basic functions to take that photograph. No question, having a wider range of lenses and accessories helps, but acquire those items over time as you find what interests you and while you are learning and growing as a photographer.
So take your time in buying equipment, so that you only buy an item once. As you grow as a photographer, let your creativity tell you what equipment is necessary in capturing the photographs that move you, thus not purchasing equipment that will just sit in a camera bag.
JUST ADDED: Nik Software is providing a 1 FREE copy of their awesome software Silver Efex Pro to be given away during the Black & White workshop.
Digital Silver Imaging is providing an 11×14 Fiber Print of your image to one lucky winner as well. Also, Digital Silver Imaging is providing a 25% discount coupon to all attendees of the Black & White workshop.
So hurry on over to our January 2011 workshop page and sign up today, and just maybe you will go home with an awesome giveaway, not to mention the added knowledge gained from David in our Black & White Photography workshop on January 13, 2011.
Show your camera some love. Always clean your camera after a shoot. You take it out in to the world and ask it to capture some amazing images for you. It gets exposed to the air and wind and dirt – maybe even some sea mist. Give it some TLC afterwards by using a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the dirt and grime. When necessary, take it in to your local camera shop for a thorough cleaning – including the sensor. You can, of course, clean the sensor yourself, but this can be tricky business and cause major harm to your camera. Unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing, do not attempt this at home! Take it to a professional. When you take care of your camera, it will take care of you! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the SCV Center for Photography.
Today I got to do one of my favorite things – take pictures of cupcakes and cookies from Lady Di’s. What a perfect way to end the week! These mouthwatering treats are as good as they look. Stop by her shop located on The Old Road and Valencia Blvd. in Valencia and take some home today. Tell them we sent you!
On Sunday SCV Center for Photography hosted our Wedding Photography Intensive workshop with the awesome Wedding Photographer William Innes as our fearless instructor for the day. The dedicated group started at 8am, yes, on a Sunday morning, and the entire group was early at that. By 9am the group was shooting our totally decked out models Sarah & John, who did a fantastic job. We were back in the studio b early afternoon for lunch and Q&A. After lunch, it was all about workflow and editing the images from the day. By 5pm the group was spent, but thrilled with the images and new found knowledge. To see more on the workshop and about our totally awesome instructor, head over to http://williaminnes.com/blog/
In looking at some photos on the web today, I noticed a lot of silhouetted photos on the beach that really made me think about how little I have seen this in our local photography. So after doing some looking into my own images, I realized that I have done some of this, but really not enough lately, so I thought I would post some basic thoughts in creating a nice silhouette.
Making a silhouette can lead to a great image, both in bright daylight, or even at sunrise or sunset. So get out there and make some images, and if you need additional inspiration or assistance, check out our workshop schedule at the SCV Center for Photography via our website www.scvphotocenter.com.
On Saturday 8/14 we photographed Eric’s 16th birthday party at the Hyatt Valencia. What a grand party indeed. He invited 90 of his close friends for an evening of music, food and all around fun. Thanks Eric for letting us share and photograph your birthday event, and I do mean event. Here are just a couple of tease photos from the event. SCV Center for Photography supplied 2 photographers for the evening, and it was more fun than work, as the kids were a blast.
There are times when your photographic creative juices fail you, and you just can not come up with any ideas of what to photograph, but you want to photograph. Here are a few ideas for you to consider:
Hopefully these tips can you help you jump start your creative juices on those slow days. Enjoy, and keep shooting. If you are interested in other ideas, please log onto our website at www.scvphotocenter.com and check out our many workshops each month at the SCV Center for Photography.