Archive for the ‘Style’ Category

Bench (1/250 sec at f/6.3 at 16mm, ISO 100)

Today’s blog is going to be quick and dirty since I’ve been running around the last few days in preparation for my trip to Tulum, Mexico.   I want to remind everyone to check out Kajsa’s blog about travel preparation HERE (we’re giving away a few free gifts too).  I’ve chatted a bit on this blog about changing your perspective.   Point of view (P.O.V.) can make or break images.  I think today’s image is case in point.  This type of shot, if taken straight on, just doesn’t work.  I shot this image last week in Chicago after we received six inches of new snow.   Now, everyone shoots park benches, so nothing new here, but I really like the way the trees embraced this particular bench.  I sat there looking at the setting and an image popped into my head.   I immediately realized in order to make this work, or even come close to working, it was going to require me to lay flat on my back to frame it right.  I proceeded to get down in the deep, freshly fallen snow, and laid on my back with my 16-35mm on the camera.  I had the focal length set at 16mm and slowly slid toward the bench stopping every six inches or so to shoot.  The 16mm provided a nice optical effect by slowly bending the trees inward toward the bench. I tried to balance the shot so that the bench was the center point and the frame was as symmetrical as possible. I took some final shots, and later that day worked on the image in Lightroom.  Once in Lightroom I cropped in on the image keeping the bench as the center element; then I added a small vignette to help keep our focus on this lonely bench.  The last thing I did to the image was add a slight selenium tone to add to the feeling of the cold winter morning.  So there you have it.  Now, the next time you shoot an old familiar object consider a new P.O.V…….you might suprise yourself.

Tumacácori Infrared (1/640 at f/6.3 15mm, ISO 400)

How would you describe your photographic style? I get asked this question almost as often as what “type” of photographer are you? Simply put, style is an extension of yourself. It’s the manner in which you embrace your subject matter, equipment, colors, textures, relationships, etc. Not to mention, how you chose to showcase your images to the world. I think it can be a difficult question to answer because it requires a level of self awareness akin to asking someone “how they see themselves perceived by others.” Often times, the answer can be very different than reality. Your style will be determined over time and may change along the way. It’s not uncommon for photographers to want to create a unique vision or style that sets them apart. It’s a difficult process, and frankly, one that requires a lot exploration and experimentation. I’m still in the middle of defining my style and I can tell you it requires time, patience and a willingness to forgive yourself for mistakes. One of my favorite quotes that I use jokingly with style, states, “one photo out of focus is a mistake, ten photos out of focus is an experimentation, one hundred photos out of focus is a style.” So check your lens and your settings, but if ‘blurry” photos are a recurring theme in your work, well, then you might have just identified your style! What style are you striving for?

Groovy Chick

I often get asked “what kind of photographer are you?”  I’m not sure I have the answer, as of yet, because my style is an evolving process.  I can tell you I enjoy shooting landscapes and people, but I like photos of animals and buildings too.   I’m not sure labels such as a “landscape photographer” or “studio photographer” due justice to who we are as people.  Often times I think labels pigeon hole us into a myopic understanding of who we really are or want to be as a photographer.  Don’t get me wrong – I totally understand the benefit of labels from a business perspective.  Clients need things distilled down into simple terms.  I mean you wouldn’t want to hire a “photographer” for a wedding to find out his or her specialty is “underwater photography”.   That is unless you’re a couple of crazy scuba folks getting married at your favorite coral reef 150 feet below sea level!   If so, then that’s exactly the person you’ll need.   I think many photographers, labeled or not, have the desire to try new things. I wouldn’t say my strong suit is studio photography but I must admit I enjoy shooting it from time to time.  It’s an area of weakness and when I get a shot I really like, it really feels good.  Now do I plan on becoming a studio photographer?  Probably not, but that won’t stop me from venturing out of my comfort corral on occasion to try something new.

p.s. As promised from yesterday’s blog:
Here are a few photographers that have very well defined styles. Steve McCurry is probably the best known travel photographer in the world. His style is very distinct, but I’m sure he didn’t get there overnight.  Another very talented photographer who I’ve grown to appreciate is Mitchell Kanashkevich.  His work is….well, incredible and simply speaks for itself.   Lastly, you do run across the rare talent such as Joey Lawrence who’s distinct style and vision is well beyond his ripe old age of 19.

JOBLESS IN K'ZOO

Visiting Kalamazoo this past weekend reminded me of my days at the student newspaper and the many journalism classes I took in college.  I remember professors hammering home the five W’s of Journalism: who, what, where, when and why.   Writing always seemed to be a lot of work and I was horrible with deadlines, but I loved the idea of a photograph conveying the same information.  I’ve read my share of newspapers, magazines, blogs – you name it, and no matter what I glean from the written word it always seems to pale in comparison to a well composed photo.   Photojournalism is every bit as powerful as the written word. The key to being a good photo journalist is focusing in on a image that tells a  story, while also being timely (meaning relevant to what’s happening now) and most of all, being objective.  I started my photography career taking photos for a small paper and it was there that I learned to love my craft.  Like many of you, I enjoy taking pictures of landscapes, buildings, people and family. But I also enjoy telling stories.  The pinnacle is reached when I’m able to do both in a manner that makes one pause, step back and reflect.   It doesn’t matter if you want to be  photo journalist traveling around the world or covering stories at home.  It doesn’t matter if you want to make a living taking senior photos or shooting stunning landscapes.  What does matter…what makes a good image is a photograph’s ability to tell a story.  What story will you tell?