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The post How to Take Better Beach Portraits at Anytime of the Day appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jackie Lamas. Golden hour is famous for being the most ideal lighting for portraits, especially at a beach location. Unfortunately, sometimes, the golden hour isn’t an option. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to photograph portraits at any time of the day. That way, you can always create beautiful photos for clients. Know where the sun is at all timesFirst, you’ll need to know where the sun is at all times. The easiest way to do this is to use an ephemeris (I personally use this one). This is a tool that can help you see where the sun will be at any time during the day. Before, or even while you’re scheduling your session, you can quickly check this tool to see the sunrise, midday, and sunset times. An ephemeris can give you the details on the direction the light is coming from at a particular point in the world. Simply plug in the location of your session, and you can see all of the important details. This is really helpful since no beach is alike and the direction of light differs from one side of the world to another. For example, in California, the sun sets behind the beach. Whereas on the east coast, the sun sets in the opposite direction. Also, different beaches may face differently and therefore it’s good to know where the sun will be during your session. Morning lightMorning light on a beach is magical. It has a whole different color temperature than that of the golden hour and can provide a nice soft glow if you have your session early enough. The light is a little bluer, and depending on the beach where your session is taking place, the sun can rise overlooking the ocean or peaking through the trees. For example, a beach on the east coast like Cancun can mean during your session in the morning you’ll catch the sunrise behind the beach. Alternatively, on a beach in California, you’ll catch the sun hitting the water from the land side. This will give you that beautiful yellowish-blue glow if your session is before 9 o’clock in the morning. Use a simple reflector to bounce light back onto your subject if you feel the sunrise light causes shadows. This is especially useful if sunrise is behind the water at the beach. Midday lightMidday light at a beach is pretty harsh and therefore it’s good to have some kind of additional lighting equipment to help with shadows. You can use an external flash, popup flash, or a reflector. You can also go without an additional light source. However, it’s good to underexpose your photos a bit so you can bring up the shadows in your editing software. Otherwise, you’ll end up with really blown out skies. Of course, this all depends on your style of photography. When the sun is at it’s highest point during the day, it might be a good time to take your clients under the shade of some trees nearby or opt to have more playful photos of the family. Have your client’s walk, run, splash in the water, build sandcastles, or just have a bit of fun together. The sun is at it’s highest at different times around the world, so make sure to check the ephemeris for your exact location to know the time. Once the sun passes the highest point, it will be at a bit of an angle as it starts to go down for sunset. This is the sweet spot of photographing during midday sun at the beach! When the sun is at a bit of an angle, you can pose your clients with the sun behind them to alleviate having the sun in their eyes. This means you’ll be in the sun, but it’s better than having your clients facing the sun. This avoids causing shadows, uneven lighting, and squinting. The sand can also work as a natural reflector, bouncing light back into their faces. After midday lightAfter midday light can be different in the winter than in the summer given that daylight savings can change the amount of light you have left. Either way, the sun sits lower to be at an angle behind your clients. All while still hitting the sand to reflect some light into your client’s faces. During this time, depending on the angle of light, you can get some really interesting light. It gets more golden by the hour as you approach sunset. Still, if you find yourself at a beach where the light is still harsh during this time, try and angle your clients away from the sun. You can also try and use your external lighting to help fill in some light. Golden Hour (Sunset)Actual sunset only lasts about 5-10 minutes. However, golden hour is just that – about an hour before the sun dips behind the horizon, which means the angle of the light is pretty low and directional. It can mean flooding your photos with lots of that pretty golden light. However, it also makes it difficult to capture your clients evenly lit against the background. This is especially troublesome if the sun sets behind the water. It can be difficult capturing the beautiful colors of the sunset while also lighting your clients. Using a flash or external light source pointed directly at your clients can help light them while capturing the sunset behind. You can also underexpose your photo a bit to bring up the shadows later without compromising the sunset. Try silhouetting your clients behind with the sunset light to offer a different look to the final images. Golden hour is also a perfect time to turn your clients toward the setting sun to get that beautiful golden color cast on their skin tones and in the overall look of the photo. Blue hour (After sunset)Blue hour is the 20-30 minutes (sometimes less time) after the sun has completely gone from view. Blue hour is nice to photograph in because of the beautiful sunset colors like blue, orange, pink, and purples that come out after sunset. The lighting is a bit darker, so you might need a tripod. During this time you can attempt some slow shutter speed photos while your clients hold still. Getting the movement in water can create a more fine art approach to beach photos! During any time of day try these ideas:It doesn’t matter the time of day, it’s good to get variety in your portraits during beach sessions. For that try some of these ideas:
ConclusionPhotographing at the beach during golden hour isn’t the only time that you can create one-of-a-kind and amazingly beautiful images for your clients. It is incredibly beneficial to learn to photograph at the beach at any time of the day. Moreover, it can mean the difference between a client choosing you and another photographer.
The post How to Take Better Beach Portraits at Anytime of the Day appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jackie Lamas. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 29, 2019 at 07:44AM
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The post Do’s and Don’ts of Putting Together a Photography Portfolio appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles. Are you having trouble landing a job? Do you keep showing your work but are not getting any clients? Maybe it’s time to review your photography portfolio. Whether you’re doing a digital or printed portfolio, here are some do’s and don’ts to improve the way you present your photography. Putting together a portfolioIt doesn’t matter what kind of photographer you are, a good portfolio is the most important tool you have to secure a job. The first thing to understand is that putting together a bunch of nice pictures isn’t enough. Your photography portfolio should be a sample of your work that showcases your technical abilities as well as your personal style. DON’T put watermarksLet’s face it, if someone wants to steal your photograph, they will find a way to do so. A watermark can be cropped or deleted. Instead, it will make it more difficult for the viewer to appreciate your image. Also, watermarks give an amateurish look to your portfolio as a whole. See at the difference: To legally protect your images, you can have them copyrighted. To get familiar with this concept, read ImageRights – Finding and Pursuing Copyright Infringement. Another safety measure is to never publish or hand out high-resolution images. For this, I recommend my previous article on How to Understand Pixels, Resolution, and Resize your Images in Photoshop Correctly. DON’T stick to one portfolioAnother big mistake is to collect all of your best photos and display them in one portfolio. You may think this shows quality, as they are a “best-of,” but it can make you look like a master of none. It is also a waste of time for your client. They want to see relevant examples that show how you would do their job, not how good you may be at other things. Take these two photos, for example – they don’t even look good together. And let’s face it, someone who needs a food photographer, doesn’t really care about how I can photograph a street fair and vice-versa. If you’re not convinced about limiting your practice, have a look at these 5 Things to Consider Before Deciding to Specialize or Not in Your Photography. DO feature what you’re sellingI was talking before about the importance of having different portfolios. This means that each one should display a different specialty that you offer. It’s always important to be coherent and properly organize your work. For example, a portrait portfolio shouldn’t just include any kind of photography that features people. Let me illustrate this: Take the two photos above, the one on the left comes from a photo-shoot I did for the press kit of a theater play. The one on the right is a behind-the-scenes job I was doing for a short movie. If I’m preparing a portfolio for a movie or theater producer I can include both. If I’m preparing a portrait portfolio then I shouldn’t include the one on the right. DO ask for helpIt’s always helpful to ask for opinions once you’ve shortlisted the images you want to use. If you can reach out to a colleague or an expert it would be great, but if you don’t, at least ask a friend. Often we have an emotional attachment to a photo we took that is actually not great. An external point of view can help you sort out your best images. Try putting two similar images from the same subject and asking them which one they prefer. A friend can also help you decide if you are putting too many or too few images in your portfolio. Keep in mind that you should never include something that is not good enough just to reach a certain number. Also, don’t overdo it – editors are busy people and have many portfolios to review. ConclusionTo sum up, there is no specific formula for putting together a photography portfolio that is great, but I hope you found these tips useful and time-saving. DO remember that the most important thing is for you to have a strong body of work. If you still need to work on that, here are some great readings to help you out:
The post Do’s and Don’ts of Putting Together a Photography Portfolio appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 29, 2019 at 05:14AM
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Today’s video (below) is one I did a while back but I still get questions about how (and why) anyone would want to move one of Lightroom’s Adjustment Brush pins. This short video will show you why this feature is more awesome than it may appear. Pretty handy in the right situation, right? I’m out adventuring this weekI’m off to Belfast Ireland, The Faroe Islands, and Iceland this week. Really excited, and hope to share some pics when I get back. Here’s wishing you a week of awesome discoveries. -Scott P.S. The special discount hotel room rate for folks attending the Photoshop World Conference out in Vegas next month (Aug 21-23) end today. The rooms are almost gone (over 95% booked up), so if you’re thinking of joining us (and you should definitely come), these discounted rates end today, July 29th. So, this is your last chance to snag a great rate. Conference details here. Reserve your discounted room here. – See you in Vegas, baby yeah! The post Why Being Able To Move Adjustment Brush Pins Can Be Really Handy appeared first on Lightroom Killer Tips. Photography via Lightroom Killer Tips https://ift.tt/2sh0aZ8 July 29, 2019 at 03:33AM
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Talented kids. Professional coaches. Life on the road. Adoring 5-year-olds, sitting around the ring just feet from the stars of Circus Smirkus, where big kids have been the stars of the show of this Vermont-based company for 32 years now. Frederick Buford, 13, adjusted his bow tie before performing in Circus Smirkus’ Big Top Tour in the heat of a Hanover, N.H., afternoon. This is Buford’s first season with Circus Smirkus. (Erin Clark for The Boston Globe) Photography via The Big Picture https://ift.tt/14DjxgC July 28, 2019 at 11:39PM
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Newsshooter has reported a RED leak/teaser for an upcoming camera called the Komodo. What’s interesting about the camera is one of the teaser images shows what looks to be an RF lens mount. A guy named Jarred Land has declared what this camera is NOT, but no information on what it is.
That’s quite the list! Head on over the Newsshooter to read more about the teaser. Below are comparisons between the EF, RF and unknown mount of the upcoming Komodo. Photography via Canon Rumors https://ift.tt/2v4dYqS July 28, 2019 at 08:00AM
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The post Canon and Nikon Will Release DSLRs With In-Body Image Stabilization appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey. In-body image stabilization (IBIS) has long been resisted by the two DSLR giants, Nikon and Canon. But recent rumors indicate that both Canon and Nikon will be breaking into new territory, with IBIS technology added to upcoming DSLRs for both brands. Up until now, in-body image stabilization has been confined to Nikon’s mirrorless lineup. And while reports indicate that the followup to the (mirrorless) Canon EOS R will include IBIS, there was no definitive information about DSLR in-body stabilization. Then, in April, rumors indicated that Nikon would be introducing in-body image stabilization to the D6, Nikon’s future flagship DSLR (with a possible release date in the first half of 2020). This was followed by further reports that the D6 was delayed due to the decision to add in-body image stabilization. And just last week, Canon Rumors reported that “Canon will ‘definitely’ bring IBIS to ‘select’ DSLRs in the near future.” Canon Rumors was uncertain “which camera(s) would be getting IBIS,” but explained that “the EOS 90D, which is coming in the next couple of months,” is a strong possibility. Sources have also discussed the possibility that the Canon 1DX Mark III will have in-body image stabilization, so it can go toe-to-toe with the upcoming Nikon D6. Both the Canon 1DX bodies and the Nikon D6 bodies are direct competitors, catering to professional photographers who require high frame rates and exceptional durability. Now, Nikon and Canon have always maintained that lens stabilization is superior to in-body image stabilization, due to increased flexibility in the lens as compared to the camera body. This may well be true, but many phenomenal Canon and Nikon lenses don’t include image stabilization. So photographers of all levels will undoubtedly appreciate this move to in-body stabilization. It will certainly be a boon to those who tend to shoot handheld in low light. So let me ask you: Are you excited about the possibility of IBIS in new Canon and Nikon DSLRs? And would you like to see IBIS in the upcoming Canon 90D? Let me know in the comments! The post Canon and Nikon Will Release DSLRs With In-Body Image Stabilization appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 28, 2019 at 07:44AM
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The post Should You Purchase Lightroom Presets? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss. The discussion of using presets or not comes up time and time again on various photography groups and websites. Some people are for them and others are against. Just like camera brands, it seems there is no clear answer, and everyone believes that their way is correct! For or against, it’s undeniable that presets are here and they’re not going anywhere. Many people find them useful in their workflow and so they will keep using them. So, should you purchase Lightroom presets? The case for buying presetsA quick search online will give you hundreds of places you can buy presets and they will all have varying quality. Before you make your purchase, be sure to read some reviews to see if others are happy with their purchase. Remember that your style of images will heavily affect the way presets look when applied, so expect some trial and error! But why would you buy presets rather than make them yourself from scratch? Here are some reasons to help you decide if buying presets is for you. It will save you timeThere’s no doubt about it, buying presets will save you time in your workflow. You won’t have to spend time coming up with looks that you like. Instead, someone else has completed the initial hard work for you. In reality, using presets in this way is no different from choosing what film stock and developer you’d like to use if you’re shooting analog. You’re using someone else’s color toning ideas to achieve the images you want to produce. Being able to quickly apply lots of different looks to your photo can help you quickly make decisions about how it will look. And then you can set about refining it and doing the fun part of processing. It gets you away from the computerNot everyone loves the digital darkroom. During the summer, I’d rather be taking advantage of the good weather than sitting at my computer developing images. Having a set of presets available to me that someone else has created means each shot takes less time to process. That way, I’m spending more time doing the things I love. I can share stylish images that I’m proud of within minutes of loading my images into Lightroom thanks to my preset library. That’s a big draw for me, and that’s why I love having a bank of presets ready for me to choose from. You can borrow the best of other peoples ideasEverybody sees the world differently. You might never have thought to put a pop of pink in the shadows or add just enough grain to make your black and white conversion look like it was shot on fast film. By purchasing a library of presets, you can see how other people might have chosen to process your images. And that might give you a few ideas for a new direction that you want to head in. Purchasing Lightroom presets really can boost your creativity and help you see new possibilities for your images. Some people would say this is ‘cheating’ somehow, but I think of it as gathering inspiration. It’s like an artist going to her friend’s studio, finding the most beautiful custom blue paint and then asking if she can have the recipe to use the color in her own work. The two artists won’t be producing the same artwork even if they use the same color paint! Your photos will still have your own touch and your own style even if you use other peoples ideas to help you shoot or post-process your images. Some people are just better at post-processing and color grading than youFace it – you can’t be amazing at everything. Even the best photographers often employ other people to help create their vision. Buying presets is like a real cheap version of having your own digital tech assistant available for your shoots. If you have a vision of light and airy photos but your post-processing skills aren’t quite up to it, then presets can help you get there – just like a digital tech assistant would on a high-end shoot. Over time, you can learn more about this side of photography. But you can start getting great results now by taking advantage of other peoples knowledge and creativity. The case for making presets yourselfOf course, if you love working in the digital darkroom, then the idea of buying presets to save time or get ideas might seem completely alien to you. Moreover, if you like spending the time to make your own presets, then that’s great! You should absolutely continue to do what makes you happy. There are other reasons too that you might want to make your own presets. The most obvious one is that presets available to purchase may not be exactly what you’re looking for. When you make your own, you can have exactly what you want rather than just getting close. You might have other considerations too. For instance, some camera clubs do not allow you to enter images into competitions where you have used purchased presets in their post-processing. Or you may feel that ethically a picture cannot be truly called your own unless you created every single part of the image. Perhaps try a combination?Personally, I use a combination of both. I have a large library of presets that I’ve purchased. I use this library to quickly see what images could look like with different color grading applied to them. When I’ve found a look that I love, I tweak it slightly to suit the mood of my images even more. If I think I’ll use the preset again, I then save my new custom preset in a folder with the others that I’ve tweaked to suit my style! I like this way of working because I enjoy getting inspiration from other peoples presets, and then finishing the images off to achieve something that is genuinely my own. What do you think about buying presets? Should you purchase Lightroom presets? Perhaps you have a library of your own that you’ve already purchased? Or do you prefer to make all of yours from scratch? Maybe you don’t use presets at all, instead preferring to start each time with a blank slate when it comes to post-processing images?
The post Should You Purchase Lightroom Presets? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 28, 2019 at 05:19AM
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Canon released their Q2 financials this week, and things are a bit of a mixed bag for the company. There have been a lot of external forces at play in the USA, China and Europe and that has affected Canon’s profitability. Canon breaks down their camera business in Q2:
All of Canon’s financial material for 2019 is available here. Photography via Canon Rumors https://ift.tt/2v4dYqS July 27, 2019 at 07:43AM
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The post Fujifilm GFX100 Camera Review [video] appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk. In this video by Georges CamerasTV, Andrew reviews the Fujifilm GFX100 camera. ? Overview of the Fujifilm GFX100This camera is Fujifilm’s large format size camera, designed for studio, landscape, architecture and any other form of photography to be printed in large format. On top of the camera:
On the back:
Battery Grip:
Body Size
Inside the camera
Video specifications
Performance
Features
User Experience
Image quality
Video Mode
ConclusionThe GFX100 is super-impressive in both photo and video mode. It won’t be for everyone because it is quite expensive at $10,000 USD. (They have a cheaper alternative in the Fujifilm GFX50S at $5000 USD with a 51.4MP sensor.) However, in comparison to other large-format cameras, the Fujifilm GFX100 is well-priced, particularly for the autofocus features, the sensor size, and the potential for it to be a game-changer for cinema users in the future. It would suit people shooting advertising, cinema or an enthusiast wanting to get large format landscapes without paying for a medium format camera. ~ Would you like to own this camera? I know I would! Share with me in the comments below. You may also like:
The post Fujifilm GFX100 Camera Review [video] appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 27, 2019 at 05:14AM
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The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Water appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk. This week’s photography challenge topic is WATER! Go out and capture absolutely anything that includes water. It could be waterfalls, seascapes, puddles, water splashes, people playing in water, etc. They can be color, black and white, moody or bright. Just so long as they include water! You get the picture! Have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Check out some of the articles below that give you tips on this week’s challenge. Tips for Shooting WATER
Weekly Photography Challenge – WATERSimply upload your shot into the comment field (look for the little camera icon in the Disqus comments section) and they’ll get embedded for us all to see or if you’d prefer, upload them to your favorite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge. Share in the dPS Facebook GroupYou can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well. If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter or other sites – tag them as #DPSwater to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun. The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Water appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk. Photography via Digital Photography School https://ift.tt/29wB9CX July 26, 2019 at 09:15PM |
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