Posts Tagged ‘photography’
Two things make up a great performer’s headshot.The first, of course, is the performer as he poses. The other is the photographer, snapping. Dallas photographer Mark Oristano works both ends of the equation.
As a 30-year stage veteran, Oristano has appeared in over 50 productions, in works from Shakespeare to David Mamet. And as a portrait photographer, Oristano has helped the Dallas-Fort Worth theater community with quality headshots at a very affordable rate.
“Once they know that I go through the same stuff they do as an actor, it’s pretty easy to get people to relax for their session,” Oristano says.
The key to any good portrait shoot, obviously, is to get the subject to relax.Being used to being in public and used to being photographed are two very different things.
“It’s very rare that a headshot choice comes out of the first twenty or so shots of a session,” Oristano said between breaks at his Dallas studio. “But since I can talk with them about roles they’ve played and roles I’ve played, we hit a godo rapport pretty quickly.”
Mark works in studio with hair/makeup stylist Kari Engelbrecht to create the proper look for each subject, which changes with age, coloring, wardrobe etc.
Kari is superb at judging hair, makeup and coloring. I bow to her knowledge completely and I let her set the pace as far as styling goes.”
And how much does he trust himself as a photographer?
“I use a remote shutter releae, and I take my own headshots. I’ve even taken the book jacket photo for my new book, A SPORTSCASTER’S GUIDE TO WATCHING FOOTBALL.“
Oristano also shoots in an old-style black-and-white fashion, which he calls “Hollywood/1935.”Shots like those from the 30’s of the great George Hurrell.
When you think of Hollywood in the 1930’s, you think of photographs by people like George Hurrell.Amazing shots of the great stars of 30’s film… Harlow, Bogey, all of ‘em… Hollywood stars of that era. But the painstaking technique that went into such shots doesn’t seem to be seen much in this digital era.
Dallas Photographer Mark Oristano has decided to bring back those difficult but glamorous photo techniques of the 1930’s.”
“I always loved Hurrell’s work,” says portrait photographer Oristano, “and a couple of years back I studied with Michael Grecco, the great portrait photographer from L.A.Michael showed us Mole-Richardson’s and other old, constant-style lighting. When I got back home, I hit ebay and found some old lights and went to work with them.”
But to get the true effect, Oristano decided to step back from digital and return to the film camera.But this was a very special film camera.
“It’s a 4×5 Speed Graphic from the US Army Signal Corps from World War II. It’s the same model camera that Joe Rosenthal used to take the famous Iwo Jima photo. It’s sixty-plus years old and it still takes great shots.A 4×5 negative gives a detail and a softness you don’t get digitally.”
The old-time look has begun to catch on in Dallas, where former sportscaster Oristano has been shooting engagement shots, senior portraits and more in the Hollywood/1935 style.
“Probably the most fun is the look on people’s faces when they see the final result.when they see their 17×22 fine art print they usually just gasp.”
The shoots take about twice as long as an average portrait session given the delicacy of the lighting. The techniques, while fairly simple to figure out from the old Hollywood photos, are often difficult to replicate.But with a little bit of work, you can find out how to create this 1930’s magic.
USING LINES AND SHAPES TO CREATE INTERESTING PHOTOS
Photos are about individual preferences, but there are a handful of rules of photo composition that can help build the basis of an interesting photo that you can print on canvas. One of the key elements to look for when creating a photo is ‘lines and different shapes’. It is helpful to train your eyes to look for lines and shapes. They can be a powerful building block that can lead to a significant impact on your image. It can be useful to add lines and shapes to add mood and atmosphere to your finished product or creating a desired effect. They can be useful in either leading the eye’s to a part of your image, or leading the eyes from one part to another.
Using lines and shapes takes some practice and it is often helpful to go back through previous photos you have taken to see what has worked and what hasn’t worked. Have a look at all the lines and shapes that you can use including horizontal, vertical and diagonal. Using these tips will add to your finished print.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines can be useful in creating photos that are tranquil. They can have the ability to convey stability and restfulness. An example of this may be a foal sleeping in flowers. The most common horizontal lines to be found in photographs are normally horizons, but be careful not to run the horizon directly through the centre of the photograph dividing the equal amounts of the sky and landscapes. This may often have a adverse effect and possibly create a dull image. This is not always case. It is good practice to pick out the more impressive part of your scene, for example sunsets with dramatic clouds. It is worth noting that broken horizons may lead to a dull feeling photograph.
If you want to add rhythm to your photo, look for layers of horizontal lines, for example layers of rolling waves. The rhythm can than become the focus or subject of the picture itself.
Another good idea when using horizontal lines is to try it to try to keep the lines square with the edges of you frame and to also shoot your image in a horizontal format. Adding horizontal lines into your image can really make a difference to how your photo on canvas will feel .
Using Vertical Lines
Vertical lines can convey a variety of different moods from grandeur and dignity to rigidity. Objects such as trees and buildings represent horizontal lines. If you want to create a very powerful and dynamic picture combine vertical lines with horizontal lines. If you really want to emphasize the power of the vertical line, try switching your camera to the vertical plane. Although, as with all photography this is only a guide. If you want the lines to appear as if they are bursting out of the top of the photo, it then becomes useful to leave your camera in a landscape format. Take your picture so that the lines move from the bottom to the top of your picture.
Diagonal Lines in Your Image
Diagonal lines that are used in your picture are often considered the most interesting. They are representative of movement and action. They can lead you into the frame of the picture and to the centre of interest. A good trick is to avoid splitting the frame of your image in two by running diagonal lines from one corner of the picture to the other. The image my lose it’s drive from this particular cause. To achieve a more balanced image within the confines of your frame try to create a diagonal that starts just to one side of the corner and travels to the one side of the opposite corner. Using curved lines within your frame can also be representative of moods such as grace and dignity.
If you really want to add an interest to your finished canvas to photo print look for different ways to incorporate interesting diagonal lines into your image. Remembering the different moods and feelings that they can convey.
Using Shapes in Your Image
Shapes are basic two dimensional elements in the composition of your photos. You can use different shapes to achieve different moods within your image. Shapes can include anything from odd numbers to triangles to create photographic geometry. Shapes such as squares and rectangle can be less interesting as they basically mirror the frame of the image, so it lacks interesting conflict. To make them more creative use them with diagonals and triangles to create a more dynamic picture. Make shapes more interesting by placing them against a contrasting background for example a red triangular tent against a snowy white backdrop. Silhouettes are also an ideal use of shapes. The use straight lines and curved lines or circles and can have a ability to create tension in your picture.
Conclusion
Shapes and lines can add a very dynamic and interesting element to you photo composition, so next time you have your camera out keep in mind these basic rules. To find out about printing your photo to canvas visit Canvas Prints Online.
The Art Of Photography
Skeptics think that photography is just a case of luck when taking pictures. While this can happen, there are also many fashion photographers who can transform their shots into masterpieces just by considering the many factors that make a picture awe inspiring. Others think that it is not at all in how good your camera is but in the talent of the photographer.
Focus On The Product
The focus of a fashion photographer is to amplify the look and value of a certain fashion or design that needs to be advertised. Most professionals who take pictures that focus on fashion and glamour are either hired to take pictures of models, designer products and other subjects focused in the fashion industry. Many of these professionals make a name for themselves by making very attention catching pictures and even by being a baby photographer.
A fashion photographer has the choice to get a model to model the product or have the product stand on itself and model. There are certain designers or fashion clients who prefer that their product be worn or used by a model instead of standing on its own, while others would like the focus to be entirely on their product and not on the model. The fashion photographer can make recommendations and voice his or her opinions regarding the use of models but it is almost always the clients’ preferences that are followed.
Another important factor to photography is the framing of the shot. Some scenes look so great in person but turn out not as awesome in pictures. The reason for this is that what we see through our eyes is not limited by the frame of the picture but the picture is. In photography, the person taking the pictures needs to consider the fact that the pictures are cut to a certain size and when they take pictures, what is in the frame in the viewfinder is what you get. You might find it useful to bring a small frame with you when taking professional pictures, especially of landscapes or nature since these are usually large scale.
Being a fashion photographer means that one has to draw out the model and make her or him express certain emotions. This is the reason why some of them talk to the models before the photo shoot to be able to get their message across to the model and tell them what they expect from the model. Being able to draw out what a fashion photographer wants from the model is something that is dependent on the rapport between the model and the fashion photographer.
Photography can be tricky in the sense that the combination of the person taking pictures and the digital camera and the scene needs to work in order for the photograph to work and be understood.
If you are thinking about taking up photography as a hobby, you should think about learning more about it so you’ll get more from it. Photography is not something that you can just pick up overnight. This hobby requires that you at least familiarise yourself with it before you can really start.
For starters, there are techniques that you need to become acquainted with so that tou can get great photos. Then you should also learn about about the different types of photographic equipment. That is just as important.
If you want to make more of photography as a hobby, the simplest way to start is by picking digital photography. Why? Because it’s simply the most convenient route to achieving good results. With digital photography, no longer is the photography hobbyist limited by the rolls of film that must be carried.
Digital photography provides a way for amateur photographers to continue on their hobby until their camera’s memory is full. Today’s camera memory cards can hold hundreds of large-sized photos (compared to a roll of film’s 36 exposures).
Digital photography also offers hobbyists a way to cheaply learn about photography in general. Most digital cameras are pretty simple to use. They provide easy ways for beginner photographers to learn photo techniques bit by bit.
In digital photography, mistakes are not as costly since most digital cameras allow you to take a considerable amount of photos without having to incur the expense of film. As well, with digital cameras, it is quicker and easier to get prints from your shots. All you will need is a PC and a printer in order to get prints. It can even be easier for you to send copies online anywhere on the world.
If you want to discover more about photography, many digital photography courses are now available that would really help. With these courses, you would learn more about digital photography techniques, both as a hobby and possibly as a profession. One of the basic techniques that you will learn is how to properly shoot pictures by using the digital camera.
You can also learn how best to use your digital camera given certain lighting conditions and weather. This will greatly help improve the photos that you will be getting, now that you have a pretty good idea on how each photo can be set under ideal conditions.
Digital photography can be an amazing hobby as not only will you find out how to take stunning photographs but you’ll also learn that the world looks more vivid through a true photographic eye.
With just a cheap digital camera,photography can be an inexpensive and satisfying hobby. In the past, before the advent of digital cameras, it was very much more time consuming, expensive, and tried the patience whilst you waited for your results from the processing lab. Now you can instantly see the image you have captured. You can take another if it is not exactly what you wanted or digitally alter it on your computer.
If you need a good reason to walk out in the fresh air,like many of us, photography gives you the perfect reason.Nature Photography can be very rewarding. Once you start to look through your viewfinder, you will discover that the whole world looks different with exciting possibilities. Different lighting and aspects will make images take on different forms.
There are a number of different types of photography and they can be split into two different catagories – Amateur, ie those just for personal use, and professional, where you are earning some income from them. eg. wedding photography. Sometimes these will not be quite so easy to differentiate when the photograph you took intending it to be a memory, turns out to be special in one way or another .
Two main areas can be created for the personal use photographs, memories – photographs of your child’s first step, bike ride etc; holiday photographs; Family parties, anniversaries etc and ‘art’ photographs – pictures (often of everyday objects) taken because they created an image which impressed you for some reason. An important part is often played by lighting in these pictures.
Once you get hooked on photography you will find that you will never want to go out without your camera. Once your camera becomes part of your regularly carried accessories, you will be able to capture anything you see that excites your imagination.
Be it a baby held in loving arms or an elderly couple sitting on a park bench, everytime you take a photograph, it is important to really look at the image and compose it so that it conveys the image you want it to and so that it looks natural. The outsides of the picture are as important as the central image, it should be well balanced and most of all sharp and focussed (unless of course you are trying to convey movement which is a whole different ball game). whilst modern Digital cameras can greatly improve standard protographs, they can also create difficulties if you are trying to be creative. If you are trying to depict speed or movement, it is often harder to do this with modern digital cameras with anti-shake, and auto focus functions.
The more you analyse the images you capture, the more satisfying it will become and the better you will get at it. This is one of the areas in life there age really does not matter. You can take really good photographys when you are nine or ninety. All you have to do is look at the world around you – then capture it through the viewfinder.
Are you considering photography as a hobby? But you don’t want to spend to much in an SLR before you can be sure that you like photography.
You can capture picture close up or far away like a pro with Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP digital camera.
Canon Powershot SX10IS is the latest model in the SLR series. It is an enhanced model of the S5IS. The latest digital SLR camera now includes upgraded DIGIC4, letting you to shoot continuous shots for moving subjects, and magnified resolution of 10 mega pixels.
You can now take shots at astonishing range with little distortion using its big 20x optical zoom. You’ll impressed as you can take off guard shots that the subjects are not aware of.
The wide angle of SX10IS is pretty impressive. It has a range of 28mm to 560mm. It makes a breeze for any photographer to shoot shots at close ups or far away.
With the new face recognition technology, the camera can detect faces at most angles. Upon finding the faces, you will notice a focusing rectangles on the faces. This makes it easier for you to focus on them.
The optical image stabilization (OIS) and motion detection benefit you when you attach the long lens on the Canon Powershot SX10IS.
Compared to its predecessor, Powershot SX10IS is bigger. It can be bulky for beginners. However, you’ll get used to the size after awhile. You can take steady shots easily. Thanks to the better grip. Another good thing about the new grip is that you can prevent the camera from dropping.
The improved design allows you access the buttons on the Canon Powershot SX10IS. You can adjust a variety of settings easily such as Shutter-speed priority AE, Custom mode, Aperture priority AE, Manual exposure and Program AE.
You’ll be amazed with the quality of the images. Taking photographs at close range with SX10IS 10MP camera will reveal the astonishing details. Capturing photos under normal light is amazing with its i-Contrast.
However, the quality of the shot taken with a standalone DSLR lens is better than SX10IS. Overall, it is easy to use. It starts up fast. For beginners, this camera would be a perfect choice. You can save money instead of investing in a DSLR camera.
Probably you have seen the reviews at CNET or DPREVIEW. Are you getting the real experiences and opinions from the consumers? These customers’ reviews on Canon Powershot SX10IS are taken from Shopping.com, Amazon.com, and digital camera forums. Following this Canon Powershot SX10IS review, it would justify the purchase of Canon Powershot SX10IS.
“I have found the lens to be just fine, even at max zoom. I also found that the lens is fast enough for indoor non flash photography.”
“But for the price this camera really does it all – the video is awesome and easy to use – clear, great picture and being able to use the 20X optical zoom (which you cannot hear at all when used!) is a huge plus.”
“The image stabilization is pretty good and even if you are moving (hands not stiff as well) the picture comes out great.”
“Forget the time setting up a tripod since it has built-in image stability. Forget changing lenses for the scenery shot versus the distance shot. The image quality is very good, has more mega pixels than my Rebel, and even fits in my wife’s purse.”
This is a very good camera for both beginners, intermediate and advanced users. Canon has given great features in this hybrid camera giving a 10MP and 20X optical zoom. The image stabilization is pretty good and even if you are moving (hands not stiff as well) the picture comes out great”
“The zoom made full frame shots a breeze.”
“The picture quality is better at higher ISO’s than previous models.”
“Functionally, I’m very impressed so far. This is a significant reworking of the S5, rather than a previous model lightly warmed over.”
This camera in a good investment for taking great photos.