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What Constitutes Fine Art Photography?

April 8th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Sometimes when wandering an art museum or flipping through the pages of a coffee table sized book, you have to wonder what makes so-called “fine art photography” any different from the everyday photos that you and I take. There is a subtle difference in fine art photography that doesn’t gel with every onlooker, just like any kind of sculpture or painting might not be liked by everyone who looks at it.

So, What’s The Difference?

The difference in fine art photography is not in the camera, the film, the lighting or subject matter. It is something a bit more intangible – fine art photography lies entirely in the intentions of the photographer. In fine art photography, the photographer is not trying to record faithfully what everyone can see now for posterity. What he or she is trying to record for posterity is how that photographer views the world.

So, in a photo of, say, a dog, a portrait photographer would usually make the photo bring out the cutest angel of the dog, centering on the dog’s face and expression. The photo of this dog is meant to say “this is Fido; our beloved family member and this is exactly what he looked like.”

But in fine art photography, the photographer would take a vastly different picture of the dog. Perhaps Fido has really big feet. The fine art photographer might take a photo of Fido’s big, muddy feet to see how he or she views Fido.

Is It Real Photography?

Perhaps some of the photos that truly capture what is going on in the photographer’s world are ones that are posed in some way. Infamous American photographer Dorothea Lange made her reputation on portraits of Americans who suffered through the Depression, particularly in the Dustbowl. It was popularly thought that Lange snapped these images on the spur of the moment, and she never discouraged the notion. Long after her death, it was discovered that some of her heart-wrenching portraits were staged. The model was brought in, dressed and made up to look like a usual American in the Southwest leaving the useless farmland in search for survival in the big cities.

So, are Lange’s photos still to be considered fine art photography? You betcha. Although many of her portraits wee printed in news periodicals, she also took them for posterity and to make a monument in film to those who survived the Depression. The rich and powerful may have done nothing to help the millions of unemployed and impoverished fellow Americans if not for Lange’s portraits. So, in the end, her purpose was the same for her spur of the moment and her posed photos – the plight of the Depression era sufferers was accurately reported. And that is fine art photography.

The Glamorous World Of Fashion Photography

April 7th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Fashion is big business in the twenty first century, and fashion photography plays a huge part in getting the clothes shown to a worldwide audience.

While many fashion models are world famous, the photographers themselves also attain a certain level of celebrity. While not always known worldwide, they are certainly known by many of those aspiring to play a role in fashion photography themselves.

One Photo – Two Subjects?

Where fashion photography is concerned, every photo actually has two subjects – the model and the clothes. When the model is world famous, it is vital to make sure they do not detract from the clothes themselves, as it is the clothing that is the primary reason for the photograph being taken.

The photographer has to consider how the backdrop and composition of the photo can enhance how the clothing is presented to the public who will see the picture. Fashion photography has the power to persuade people to buy clothes they might not otherwise buy. Many hours can be spent trying to create the perfect picture that shows the clothes to their best advantage.

It’s All About Image

Clothing is an object. It is the job of the photographer to give that clothing an image that will sell it to the masses.

Take underwear for example. A top model will no doubt look better in it than any average person and most of us will know this. Fashion photography has to convince us that if we buy the underwear, we will also be buying into the image and power conveyed in the photograph. In other words, buy the underwear and you too will feel empowered and alluring.

The best fashion photography creates a story behind the clothes themselves. All the different elements in the photograph come together to present an image, a feeling and a way of life that can all be attained if you buy the item yourself.

Not surprisingly, the world of fashion photography is as hard to break into as the world of fashion modelling. Perseverance and determination are required if you hope to make the grade. The best advice is to attend a college or university to gain a recognised qualification, enter as many fashion photography competitions as you can, and get your name known. Build yourself a website and promote it as heavily as you can.

Success didn’t come overnight for any of the world’s most successful photographers. Maybe in a few months or years from now, it will be your turn.

Capturing Memories With Family Photography

April 6th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

There’s no better way to preserve your family history than by taking regular photographs of your relatives. Family photography can become a whole new hobby, and even without captions the photos you take can tell an intriguing story.

Ages And Relations

Posing for portraits doesn’t have to mean resorting to traditional family photography. It’s quite easy to create different looks and angles to turn family photography sessions into something fun and adventurous, that will in turn produce better and more memorable photographs.

It’s always fascinating to see which relatives look like each other, and reflecting this in your photos is an excellent way of capturing those likenesses over time. It’s not uncommon for girls to look more like their maternal aunts than their own mothers, which could provide an amusing shot if the aunt and niece are in the foreground with the mother in the background, looking somewhat confused.

Making An Occasion Of It

When we think of a family photography session, our first thought is often of a professional photographer, lots of backdrops and having to hold a pose for longer than is comfortable.

When you decide to get out your digital camera and do it yourself however, the occasion can be very different. If you want to use some backdrops, try hanging up some different colored bed sheets to use in different areas of the room.

Clear away as much furniture as you can and use beanbags and other more creative things for people to sit on if they wish. Wooden crates look good in photos and are much more versatile than trying to crowd everyone round an armchair to get a photo.

Relax And Enjoy It

It’s very common for a family photography session to begin with everyone feeling rather self conscious. You should expect the first few photos to be rather flat and uninteresting. Once everyone relaxes and starts to enjoy themselves you’ll be able to get some better photos.

It’s always worth having a few ideas mapped out in your head before everyone arrives for your family photography session. This will save time when you begin. Get everyone else involved as well – Uncle Joe might just have a cracking idea for a memorable photo.

Parties and celebrations are ideal occasions to get some excellent family photography down on film. If you set up a backdrop in advance you will have a specific area people will flock to in order to have their photo taken.

In the end, most people are not too shy about having their photo taken. Over time, your portfolio of family photography will tell a story that will mark the history of your family for years to come.

The Many Wonderful Meanings Of Exotic Photography

April 5th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

The word exotic brings to mind many things – beautiful locations and sandy beaches are probably near the top of your list. But exotic photography can cover far more than just attractive locations.

Some photographers specialise in taking exotic images, mainly to sell through online photo libraries. Exotic images have the power to give life to articles that would otherwise look flat on the page, and they bring color and depth to calendars, posters and many other photo objects.

But even if you are a beginner at taking photos, it’s possible to start experimenting by taking some exotic photography of your own. Here are some tips on finding some subjects.

Beaches, Boats And Views…

With a bit of practice and a digital camera (so you can instantly delete any pictures you don’t like), your annual foreign holiday could result in an array of exotic photography to pack into your photo album.

Brightly painted boats and the deep blue of the sea and sky look fantastic in photographs. Try taking them at different times of the day to obtain different results.

A different angle can often turn a mundane shot into a more exotic one. A palm tree on the beach would look nice in any photo, but if you stood underneath it and took the photo looking up, you’ll get a more unusual result.

Finding Exotic Photography Subjects Close To Home

Exotic photography is all about far flung places, unusual animals and birds, bright colors and different foods. What’s more, you don’t always need to go abroad to find them.

Pay a visit to your local market to see what kind of foods they sell. Have a chat with the owners of the stalls – they will probably be happy to let you take some photos if it gets them some extra publicity.

Fruit and vegetables may sound like dull subjects to photograph, but exotic ones can look sensational if they are photographed close up against the gritty backdrop of a bustling market.

Taking Advantage Of Costumes

Finally, don’t discount the option of hiring costumes to take some exotic pictures at home. For example, you could enlist a friend to wear a Geisha girl costume and take pictures against a jet black backdrop.

While we’d all like to head to Hawaii or the Mediterranean to take some exotic photography, we don’t always need to travel so far from home to get the pictures we want.

Sometimes our imagination is enough to make the leap successfully.

The Ins And Outs Of Event Photography

April 4th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Event photography is the area of photography that concentrates on covering sporting events and other occasions such as dog shows, fun runs and sponsored events. Some photographers specialise in offering their services only for events like these, as there are usually plenty of opportunities to take photos and make sales to the people involved.

A New Business?

If you think that event photography might appeal as a career, get some practice in before making the leap to starting your own business. Attend some local public events with your camera and see what results you get. This is a good way to gain confidence and see what techniques produce the best pictures.

It’s worth remembering that the term event photography covers a wide range of subjects. It can mean someone’s leaving do at the local hall, a full scale air show to mark the anniversary of the first flight, or a local amateur tennis tournament.

You need to be extremely versatile and ready for anything if you decide to take the plunge into the world of event photography. One camera probably won’t be enough to do the job - you’ll need several different ones, each one loaded with different film. In the case of digital cameras, each one will need to be set up to take a specific type of photo.

Speed Is Of The Essence…

Covering sporting events means you need to be alert and ready to take the photos that matter – and the photos that people will want to buy. Preparation is the key to your success.

Arrive early if you can and walk around the location to find the best spot for taking your photos. A tennis tournament will require you to be at the side of the court, for example. Anywhere else will mean you won’t get the shots you need.

You also need to make sure you have plenty of film or plenty of room on your memory cards. Don’t be afraid to take lots of photos; it’s the only way you’ll get the ones that matter.

Event photography can be a lucrative sideline or a full time career if you approach it in the right way. But as with anything worth doing, it’s advisable to spend a few months gaining experience by attending events with no expectation of selling any photos.

The more experience you can gain in the early stages the better, as it will cement the foundations for a successful career in event photography in the future.

Getting the Most from Makeshift Digital Photography Backdrops

April 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Digital photography backdrops are just as important as every other backdrop or background for photography. Without them, you cannot control the outcome of the photos you or someone you know takes. While taking photos outside and in crowded areas, there’s no real opportunity to control the background of your photos.

However with a little planning and guidance in regard to knowing where to get the most from your digital photography backdrops, even taking pictures outside can come with some control to the outcome. So whether you prefer photography inside or out, there’s always an opportunity to make the best of what you have and turn it into a great digital photography backdrop!

This doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money on backdrops. In fact there are plenty of materials that most people have at home which can make wonderful digital photography backdrops. With a little imagination and creativity, you may even be able to make a business out of making and selling your own hand made backdrops.

Ideas for Homemade Digital Photography Backdrops

The first thing to think about is whether you have any lightly colored sheets or blankets that you don’t use anymore. These make great starts to homemade digital photography backdrops. If you don’t have any unused sheets or blankets, a thrift store is a good alternative to purchasing them new.

Once you’ve got a couple pieces of “canvas” to start, you will want to decide what the digital photography backdrop will be used for. For example, if the backdrop is going to be used to photograph your children or pets, you can take screenshots of the children or pets and connect them in a pattern of your choice on the backdrop cloth.

Starting with white sheets or blankets, you can also dye the material to meet the needs of your color pallet. Using markers or colored pens will work as well, and tie dye is becoming popular again so it’s a good choice.

The bottom line is that with a little patience, creativity and time you can create for yourself a large array of digital photography backdrops to use for just about any occasion you may need them for.

When it Comes to Selling Them….

Using the Internet to help peddle your homemade digital photography backdrops is a great idea, because websites like eBay and Yahoo! Auctions make it easy to sell your products for a minimal fee, and create some exposure for you.

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