I wrote a detailed article on the topic of photographic inspiration recently. The aim was to keep the photographer in you and many others like you inspired, leave the fire burning so that you can keep creating beautiful images. That’s what we photographers do. We look for moments that are worth capturing, in the middle of the daily mundane and share it with others who were not fortunate enough to be there to see it with their own eyes. Those moments need not to be captured at the most pristine of locations. They need not to be of the most beautiful of people. Beauty, as they say, can be found in some of the most ordinary places, when you are least expecting. Read more...
Growing up as photographers one of the biggest source of guidance are the works created by already established photographers. It does not have to be one of the classical masters such as Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson or even the pioneers of photography such as Peter Henry Emerson; even contemporary photographers working at the present time can also serve as undeniable influences in one’s formative years. To be honest, one’s inspiration has a lasting impact on one’s work. Having said that, however, great photographers have always found a way to make their work stand out from their masters and the clutter of work produced by others. Read more...
As an amateur we see images taken by photographers like Eric Kim or Jeremy Cowart or Chase Jarvis or classical photographers like Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson and we figure out we could do the same if were to get a good enough camera. After all everybody raves and compliments our Facebook uploads! If we can be this good with our smartphones imagine what we can do with a professional DSLR? Thus, we save, and save and save and finally after a year of sacrificing some of our other indulgences, we finally get our hands on our dream cameras. The first few weeks after we receive our camera are exciting days. We wake up early in the morning, take images of anything that moves, make the exact same composition about a 100 times, each time thinking it is better than the last time and ask anybody we know to pose for a portrait session. We are truly one with our cameras. Read more...
A new spouse, a new last name, and photos - the three must-have takeaways of any wedding. Though every couple wants the obligatory wedding shots such as the posed family photo, the newly-ringed hands intertwined, or the bride getting dressed before the long walk down the aisle, photos of the big day should also include shots that are as unique as the couple themselves. Below are eight fun and unique wedding photo ideas that are sure to keep the memories alive for years to come.
Read more...
Having spent thousands of dollars on a dream vacation at some pristine holiday destination we come home thinking that the images we took would remain a constant source of reminder of that wonderful time spent together. That’s until we download the images on to the computer. A shocker awaits us. A number of under-exposed images, that mostly have our faces barely recognizable, welcome us. This to be only bettered by over-exposed photos where everything seems to be coated with a blinding flash light further depresses us. Not to mention the half-hearted compositions, that have everything going for them but for the background, cluttered, boring and plain shocking at times. Really our travel photos can be so depressing at times that the whole mood of coming back from a great vacation can be lost in just a few minutes. Most people would be inclined to think that it is their camera that should be blamed. “Boy, I wish I had a better camera!” Well, dear friend, that’s an excuse and nothing more. Your camera is only as good as you are with it. If you know how to shoot great pictures you would do a much better job with a simple 5 megapixel phone camera than someone who wields a 5D Mark III and knows nothing about how to use it.
Read more...
Photographers shooting landscapes in broad daylight or shooting objects with shiny metallic surfaces or may be shooting at places with a lot of reflective material around, have something common to counter for – glare. Glares from window glass, shop displays, automobiles lined up in a car show etc. are all potential nightmares to shoot. If you have your blinkies (highlight indicators) turned on, you are likely to be warned that you are passed the red line with your highlights. While there are some photographers, who don’t quite appreciate the concept of cutting down glares and reflections, for most these are quite offending. For the latter group of photographers, circular polarizers are the only way to cut down glare. Read more...
Portrait photography is like a bread and butter thing for professional photographers. No matter which other genre their passion might be so far as photography is concerned, they ought to be able to shoot portrait photos for a living. For many it is the only way to make some decent amount of money doing photography as a professional. Read more...
Everyone, even professionals, makes mistakes, although their mistakes are rare and usually caused by lack of concentration. Many mistakes can be easily avoided by just remembering them, understanding their causes and following the basic rules of photography.
Read more...
Exposure is the key concept that governs all forms of photography where light in some form or the other is used. Regardless of the camera, lens or other gear you may have, or post processing skills you may possess, if you are unfamiliar with the concepts of exposure and are incapable of getting a good exposure 9 out of 10 times, in camera, you will never be a good photographer. Even if your concept is a good one, a poor exposure is going to ruin the image. Read more...
I wrote a detailed article on the topic of photographic inspiration recently. The aim was to keep the photographer in you and many others like you inspired, leave the fire burning so that you can keep creating beautiful images. That’s what we photographers do. We look for moments that are worth capturing, in the middle of the daily mundane and share it with others who were not fortunate enough to be there to see it with their own eyes. Those moments need not to be captured at the most pristine of locations. They need not to be of the most beautiful of people. Beauty, as they say, can be found in some of the most ordinary places, when you are least expecting. Read more... 
