Saturday Photography
Good morning and welcome to the inaugural Saturday photography thread. Coming up with catchy names is not my strong suit. If anyone has any better ideas please feel free to share -seriously. I’ll share a few links, post some snippets and the occasional longer piece. I envisage covering subjects such as aesthetics, technology, history, photographers, along with more political topics such as photographers rights, social justice photography, photojournalism, etc.
Please feel free to jump in and comment on anything to do with photography, however tangential. I’ll attempt to answer any questions to the best of my ability and if I don’t know an answer I’ll try my best to find it. I know for a fact that there are some photographers on C99 and I’m hoping that they will also jump in. Of course, there really is no such thing as a stupid question.
FWIIW I have a pretty good all round knowledge of photography and have worked in most genres. I am also a photography writer and am currently working on a book about creative macro photography -so expect many pictures of very small things over the coming weeks. I am absolutely not a photography snob and am as happy working with a smartphone camera as I am with the latest DSLR - it really is a matter of the right tool for the right job.
[video:https://vimeo.com/41174743]
Good clear explanation of exposure. Anyone who wants to get their camera off automatic really needs to know this stuff - believe me the effort is worth it though.[video:https://vimeo.com/25503274]
This is just really coolPhotoGraphy” is the creation of a process in which the environment, time and light react to each other and generate images on three-dimensional objects. The objects are coated with a “light-sensitive” layer, put in a black box with strategically placed holes, and exposed for 5 to 50 minutes depending on the brightness of the environment. It is a new way to capture a moment in time, no matter whether the image on the object is focused or losing focus – the object will carry the trace of its first moments of experience, its first exposure. -Shikai Tseng
[video:https://vimeo.com/66789270]
Some strong iphone images in this one
If you have Photoshop CS4 or later , Photoshop Elements, or Lightroom v3 or later this could well be of interest. I have used these plugins a lot over the years and they have saved me hours and produced some nice images. Originally they were $500 then they were reduced to $150 and now they are free.
Google/Nik has made its collection of plugins free from here: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/
From the website:Create stunning images faster
Add the power of the Nik Collection by Google to your workflow today.
Advanced editing, simplified
Easily create the photos you’ve imagined with six powerful plug-ins for Photoshop®, Lightroom®, or Aperture®.The downside is that these plugins will not work on their own so the software listed above is essential. The photograph at the top of this piece was edited using the old film plugin - imo this and the black and white conversion ones are the most useful.
Next Saturday I'll post an essay about decentralized composition. One thing that was drummed into me when I first studied photography was that every photograph had to have a clearly defined main subject. Well, over the years I've discovered that this is not actually true.Suggestions for future posts are always welcome - I am more than happy to cover just about anything photography related. The more that this is a community driven thing as opposed to a me driven thing the happier I will be.
As you may have noticed I accidentally published a draft yesterday evening. Apologies for that - this is the real version. I'll get the hang of this interwebs thing yet.
Comments
Very nice.
What a tough way to make a living. ;^)
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
We watched the whole thing
stunning!
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One has to have an "eye" for framing do they not?
My husband can take a fairly good picture. Me? Well I try.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I think composition
can be learned. There are some rules or guidelines which can really help initially. After a while it becomes pretty much instinctive though. Most photographers have a love/hate relationship with the rules.
This article gives a pretty good overview.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I don't know about Window$
But the Mac version of the Nik plug-ins are implemented as apps. They can be used on their own without needing Lightroom or Photoshop (I don't know if you can install them without a host). I don't mention Aperture because that is just as abandoned as the Nik suite...
I really only use Analog Efex and Silver Efex...
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Correct
Forgot about that. A couple of years since I used a Mac (circumstances rather than deliberate choice). The whole suite for both platforms is now abandonware for all intents and purposes. IIRC Google released one updated version of a couple of them after buying out Nik but am certainly not expecting any more updates. I always thought that Google bought out Nik to get there hands on Snapseed anyway tbh.
I use the same ones as you -especially silver effex. The sharpening and the noise reduction ones, are a long in the tooth now and have been superceded by native tools in photo editors.
Really like the photo btw - nice sharp eye
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
boriscleto, a stunning photo, and a beautiful subject--thanks!
Hope you'll consider sharing more canine photos with the Community!
Also, real cool avatar. So apt.
(Music City) Mollie, C99P & Daily Kos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"The obstacle is the path."--Zen Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
I'm just dog sitting.
Birds are my thing. I might start a Dawn Chorus here on Sunday mornings. That and the Daily Bucket are the only reason I visit TOP now.
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Hey, 'birds' will do! (says our 25-year-old Cockatiel) ;-) EOM
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Please do
I would certainly read it
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
This is wonderful and helpful. I'm going to forward it to my
wife, who adores everything about photography, and to my oldest, who is an illustrator (with an Honours BA in Illustration - you'll notice the dad-bragging :=) and loves the interface of digital illustration and photography - and that's all I understand about it! Thanks for this new feature, steve. Best wishes,
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Thanks Gerrit
Much appreciated. I do enough hack illustration work to know that if he has a BA Hons in the subject you are more than entitled to brag.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
morning steve...
excellent post! i'm looking forward to more of the series.
Morning Joe
and thanks, really appreciate the kind words! Future ones will have a bit more too them, this one was really just to get the ball rolling so to speak.
Beautiful image btw - a coneflower and a fritillary butterfly if I am not mistaken
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
exactly...
thanks!
So crisp!
So crisp!
Hey Steve! Is that your painting over there--->? Nice!
Back to photography. So glad to see your new series. You wrote the book on photography and I mean that literally.
I subscribe to Adobe's combo Photoshop/Lightroom on a monthly basis. I have a problem with the new Photoshop which I use for very simple things. Because I never did master the layers thing.
Recently, I tried to "stitch" two photographs together under Photomerge and I just couldn't do it since the latest upgrade. What have they done?
To thine own self be true.
Thanks Marilyn
Mixed media - some of my photographs and acrylic paint and . It is one of a set of six that I did last year sometime. The piece is 12in x 12in x 2in deep on cradled panel. Of course it looks very different in real life.
Is your avatar one of your paintings? - I like it a lot.
I have the same subscription I think $10pm here. I use Lightroom a lot more than Photoshop because I'm not that into compositing. On the odd occasions that I use layers I have a mental picture of sheets of thin glass for the layers and a piece of white board as the background layer -sounds clunky but it works for me.
I've never tried stitching images together - one day I'll get brave
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Thank you. I don't want to know too much
about layers, I just like that Photomerge capability which is now lost to me.
I'll bet that your avatar painting glows in real life, nice work. I'm very busy painting these days. I use my camera for photo-documentation of art work and my iPhone for snapshots. But, I'll be checking in on Saturdays for your post.
To thine own self be true.
Thanks Marilyn
Yup Photoshop is a necessary evil - I do enjoy working in Lightroom though. Next weeks post will be some links to interesting stuff but the main part will be about composition and will bring in some references from the painting world - Mondrian and one or two others.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
This is a really cool article, stevej!
I was pretty good with the old SLR's back in the day, (Pentax Spotmatic f),even Minored in Photography,
and always developed my own black & white prints. I dug that process; used mostly Agfa film.
Life got busy, digital cameras arrived, and in 2001, or so, I picked up a used Canon PowerShot S100.
Then came cellphoneswith higher resolution, so all of my photos have been with cellphones since late 2010.
My technique is still primarily framing-based, as I don't like to manipulate my photos in any way after
the fact except perhaps cropping, or enlarging portions of the photograph; nor do I want to spend hours
learning Photoshop, etc. My question is this: What really good digital camera, say, under
$500-$600, would you recommend for someone that would like to get back into the fold? I have read reviews and
they all are so different and confusing. I am leaning towards a Canon product, but need advice from someone who
really knows, other that a counter salesman. Many thanks...SSK
Thanks SSK!
I must admit that I don't miss the chemicals. I used to develop my own but then used Ilford XP1 (IIRC) which was a color process black and white film - think it was iso 400 and I really liked the look.
As far as a camera under $600 I would definitely go for something with an APS-C (crop) sensor but then its down to personal preference. I still use a Nikon D3200 which I like a lot. The Canon equivalent would be the The Canon EOS Rebel T4i but the price seems to be slightly higher -very good camera by all accounts though.
I am finding that I'm using mirrorless a lot now - same size sensor and basically same quality of photograph. I use a Samsung NX which I really like and its within the price range but it looks as if the company are abandoning the camera. Upside -there may be some really good deals but the downside is no more lenses or software updates. Sony would be the logical choice for a mirrorless but the prices are a bit higher. Not all mirrorless come with a viewfinder which is a bit of a minus for me.
A quick thought - I tend to buy camera bodies that have been around for a couple of years because by that time any serious problems have come to the fore and they are usually much cheaper than the current versions. I am still using a Nikon D40X that is ten years old for some work. All the cameras mentioned above are older models.
Hope that makes some kind of sense -
tbh I haven't looked at reviews properly for a couple of months now but I don't think that there is anything earth shattering in recent releases.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Cameras...
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. It gives me a good baseline to work with, stevej...SSK
Sorry it was was so garbled
- I was falling asleep when I wrote it - too much vin de Target
Bottom line the camera body doesn't make a huge difference- may as well go for something prior to the latest model.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
My thanks to stevej, also! We had a
Canon SLR during our years in Alaska, and Mr M actually became a fairly decent/proficient photographer. Unfortunately, the hobby eventually fell by the wayside when we returned to the Lower 48.
So, I look forward to reading your new column, and obviously viewing the gorgeous and interesting photos.
I'm challenged using the dinky and simple camera on my cell phone. Hopefully, I can pick up some tips from your writing.
Have a good one!
(Music City) Mollie, C99P & Daily Kos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"The obstacle is the path."--Zen Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Thanks UB!
Confesssion - I find it harder to take pictures with my iphone than I do with a full sized DSLR with a battery pack attached - just doesn't feel right but I really like the results so I keep trying.
I have a friend who is retired and spends three months a year taking photographs in Alaska and I am extremely jealous! Photography aside Alaska has done the country proud today
Plenty of tips to come - I suspect that I will learn a lot from others too.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire