Photography Tips for the Snow and Winter

Penguin unsure of what it's seen..
Penguin unsure of what it’s seen..

How to Take Stunning Photos During Winter

One of the outstanding benefits of being a photographer, whether you’re an amateur or a professional are the many choices or areas to work or experiment in. None less than winter or snow photography. You can of course ‘luck it’ and of course most savvy photographers with lots of time can simply figure things out. To help you along the path I’ve prepared a few tips for you.

Snow Exposure

You may already be aware that the exposure meter in a camera (digital or film) sees everything in neutral or mid gray tones. For instance, if you take a photo of the snow surface, it will (your camera) try to make it a light gray. This occurrence will take place whether you are on auto focus or manual. It won’t matter where you are; snow skiing, snowboarding or simply taking landscape snow shots. It won’t matter how much you paid for your camera or how little, the most advanced camera or the least. They give different results to beach photography and all meters see snow the same as each other.

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5 Essential Photography Business Choices To Consider

Photography BusinessThis photography business article has been compiled from five articles of mine to consolidate some of the opportunities that are available for you to make money from photography. You may already be up and running which deserves congratulations. However, if you’re not, I can’t force you to take action but take heed; Do nothing and nothing will happen! – Ray Baker

That’s my own quote I’ve taken from my grandmother but here are some other more famous inspirational quotes;

* The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams
Eleanor Roosevelt (USA)

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8 Tips for a Successful Landscape Shoot

beach-sunset-palm.jpgPhotography equipment requirements are different for various settings or modes of photography. What one may require for portrait photography is not necessarily needed for landscape or outdoor photography. Of course, having a cupboard full of equipment is nice but can be a poor use of funds and much of it can just sit there gathering dust. When it comes to photography equipment, always purchase what you need and remember, even the best photographers improvise a lot of the time. Here are some suggestions and tips on equipment for landscape photography that work for me…

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Digital Photography: Negative Spaces and Positive Spaces

stockxpertcom_id255196_size1.jpgToday’s topic is a term borrowed from the art world. This term is negative and positive space. If this is something you have never heard of, then you will love this article. Additionally, it will assist you immensely with your photography.

Shutter speed, lighting, aperture and focus are factors you are dealing with in digital photography. Whether you realize it or not, you are also working with space very precisely. How does this affect your skills as a photographer?

Negative space is defined as “the space around the subject of an image”.

This refers to the empty space around your main subject. This may seem like unimportant background area, but this vacant area can add a crucial factor to your photography composition.

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Wedding Photography

Photographing The Wedding

Just about anyone wants to hire a photographer to capture their life-changing event of marriage in beautiful pictures for keepsake purposes. Most couples seek out a professional photographer to make sure they receive the highest quality photographs to remember their beautiful day with. Weddings provide some of the largest profit jobs available to photographers in this day and age.

Most weddings should include a contracted agreement between the couple being married and the photographer hired to capture the moments. This contract should include disclaimers for the sole purpose of relieving the photographer of grievances caused by poor lighting, failed equipment or any other events not readily under the photographer’s control.

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Fun, Morning and Evening Lighting Shots

evening lighting photoHere’s a fun exercise; Take your camera (digital or conventional film) out to a place you like to photograph early in the morning just before the sun rises. continue taking photos of this site as the sun rises and casts its morning light! Notice the variations!

Now, use the same site, only take the pictures at sunset and continue until the sun is nearly gone! Again, notice the changes in lighting (colors, textures, and contrasts). This is a fun exercise and you will be surprised in the dynamic variations in lighting and contrast you will see from morning to night!

I recommend taking oh, say 200 or so photos for a good sampling of night and morning light. You may then wish to

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Glamour Model Photography

Glamour modelYou see them on TV. You see them in every magazine, on billboards, on the sides of buses – simply everywhere. I am talking about fashion and glamour models. People young and old rich and poor aspire to enter this exciting and glamorous vocation. One thing they all have in common is they-need-YOU, the photographer. They need photos for portfolios.

Here’s the good part. You can be an amateur-beginner or seasoned pro and still attract models to shoot right in your own hometown.

Now lets be honest. If you are looking for a date try a dating service. Be professional and respectful and your reputation will shine along with your business or hobby.

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Outdoor Photography: Don’t Stop at Sunset

clip_image003.jpgI really enjoyed the article I read today entitled, “Fun, Morning and Evening Lighting Shots,” by Dave Corn. In the article, he wrote:
“….. take the pictures at sunset and continue until the sun is nearly gone! Again, notice the changes in lighting (colors, textures, and contrasts). This is a fun exercise and you will be surprised in the dynamic variations in lighting and contrast you will see from morning to night…..”This is excellent advice for anyone interested in expanding his/her photographic horizons. The soft light of early morning and late evening is great, and can truly enable you to take photographs of a scene that are totally different from the “so-so,” “Ho hum” results of a mid-day shoot, when the lighting is so harsh.

Mr. Corn was also right on with his suggestion to take a tripod. Even with a fast, vibration-damped camera or lens, trying to get a really sharp sunset photo is difficult without a tripod. Sure, you can do it, but most of the photos taken that way are softer than we would prefer. Use either a good tripod, or, at the very least, a rest or a beanbag. Use a fast shutter speed. Use mirror lock-up. Even use a cable release or a remote to trip your shutter. Your photos will be sharper for your efforts.

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Sports Photography: Race Car Shoot

Grand prix
Grand prix

Recently I was invited by Windsor Life Magazine to do a photo layout of the Detroit Grandprix held on September 02/07 on Belle Isle. I gained valuable experience and information in this highly competitive area of sports photography. Panning your shots is extremely important and very useful to capture a screaming indy car going past you at 160 miles an hour.

I used a Nikon D200 mounted with a 70 – 200 mm lens with VR and I shot the photos at iso 200 at f5.6 five frames per second 3200ths of a second shutter speed. The photos were excellent.

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A Photography Lifestyle

grasshopper1a.jpgHere’s the thing. I am not a professional photographer. I don’t have loads of useful photography tips or know what the best equipment is. What I can talk about is how taking pictures has changed my life and my feeling of passion for capturing beauty in pictures.

It all started about 3 years ago. I started to take my camera with me when I took my dogs for a walk in the woods. Soon, I found I didn’t want to go anywhere without my camera. I upgraded my camera to a Sony Cybershot 5.1mp and have found that it gives me consistently good results. I also picked up an Exilim 10.1mp to carry around with me. I love to get in the “zone” (forgive the cliché) and keep shooting my subject as many times as I can from as many angles as I can. Then, as soon I can, I go to my computer to download the shots and see what I’ve got. Usually, I get one or two good shots out of 10 to 15 pictures and that makes me feel great.

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