Original post by Andrew Barrow

Many pet lovers want professionally done photographs of their pets and they often put these on display for all to see and appreciate.  Photographing pets can be quite a challenge because pets usually can’t pick up instructions the way people do.  There are also certain limitations in pet photography that makes it more difficult than most other kinds of photography but the rewards are great if you are able to create a really beautiful photograph of your beloved pet.

Capturing the character and essence of a pet not only gives a stunning pet portrait but also priceless memories of pets for pet owners.  When dabbling in pet photography as a hobby or a business, here are certain things you may want top bear in mind.

Have Patience.  To get awesome photographs of a pet, you need to realize that the process calls for a lot of patience.  It would usually take some time to be able to take pictures of the pose or expression from the pet that you have been looking and waiting for.  There may also be times when you don’t have to wait long to get the perfect shot but you must also be prepared to wait and be patient.  Though there may be times when it will get frustrating but those who are patient would eventually reap the rewards.

Timing Is Everything.  Pets also have moods just like humans.  Sometimes they are just too lazy to move around and wouldn’t respond to coaxing.  This is why you need to consider good timing whatever type of shot of a pet you may have in mind.  You should adjust to an animal’s moods instead of forcing it to a pose.  If you want to take a picture of it lying around, you just need to wait for it to get tired.  If you want to capture the image of the pet in a playful mood, wait for it to get up and be in the mood to play.

Try Different Shooting Angles.  In most kinds of photographs of living creatures, be it pets or humans, the most important aspect is the eyes of the subject.  By getting down to the eye level of a pet, you can dramatically capture its character and soul.  You can also try other angles by shooting down from above while standing on a chair to create unique and effective photographs.  It would also be wise to experiment with different angles and just keep the pet’s eye always in mind.

Shoot As Much As You Can.  Just like in most kinds of photography, it is better to take as many pictures as you can because it is way better to use up your camera’s memory space rather than missing the perfect shot.  Besides, with digital cameras, you need worry about wastage in film and all you need to worry about is the memory space of your camera.  Since memory cards and memory sticks are much more affordable nowadays, you ca even afford not to worry about memory spaces as you can just transfer your shots to a computer right after the shoot or just delete the ones that you do not like.

By taking as many pictures as you can, you can capture a pet at its best whatever its moods are. Also, if you shoot continuously, you can make the pet get used to the sound of the camera.  This way, it can get more relaxed with you around making clicking sounds with your camera.  You are also in the better position to capture candid shots in between your pet’s formal posed if you are shooting continuously.  By doing so, you may be surprised at some of the shots you were able to capture when you review them.

Manipulating Situations.  If you want a really special and unique pet portrait, you can try bringing it to a nicer environment.  For example, you can bring the pet to the beach where you can throw it into the water or to the field where you can allow it to romp and run freely.  You can also try to take some shots at the park, or when you jog, or when doing something that both you and your pet find enjoyable.  A nice, relaxed, and laidback environment can give you an opportunity to take awesome random shots of your pet.

Using Toys And Treats.  The use of pet toys and treats to stimulate a pet can be quite tricky.  There are two possible scenarios here.  One scenario is that by using toys and treats, you can stimulate a pet in order for you to make a more appealing shot and create more striking and intense images.  On the other hand, the other scenario would be getting the pet over-stimulated and they could be harder to work with when it is in the state of over-stimulation.  If you are taking the photograph of other people’s pet, talk first with its owner and observe the pet under both circumstances and see which works best.

Catching The Action.  Instead of the generic and tamed setup, many pet owners want to have photos of their pets in action. Animals are supposed to be free to express themselves and they are best to look at when they are feeling carefree and gay.  For you to be able to get a good shot of a pet in action and in a jolly mood, you would need to set it to an active and playful mood.  You can try to initiate some kind of a game with it.  You can also give it its favorite food or favorite toy to stimulate it and keep its mood up.  You can try doing a lot of things to get the pet up and get it on with what you are planning to do.  For really interesting shots, you can get the pet do some tricks.

Some Thoughts On Composition.  There could be times when you could be very busy trying to capture a pet’s perfect expression or trying to make an interesting shot that considerations about the background is overlooked or forgotten.  The rules of good composition must always be on the mind of every photographer and you can easily make a visual check on your camera’s viewfinder.  Is the background cluttered or not? Are you using the rule of thirds? How much depth of field do you want for your picture?  Have you checked whether the background complements your subject?

If you are taking pictures of a black dog, for example, it may not be wise to shoot it with a dark background.  Check whether your location is working for you or not.  If not, consider moving to the other side or completely change locations.  This could make a big difference in the outcome of your shot and you could get either an ordinary shot or a really stunning portrait of the subject.

..hope you’ve enjoyed this. Go to this link if you want to learn more on pet photography.

Roy Barker

Original post by Administrator

While food photography on the road may be fairly easy (it’s placed right in front of your or you grab it from a cart, after all) shooting food preparation is going to take a little more tenacity.  You’re going to have to get behind the scenes and often through kitchen doors to get the low down on where your food comes from.  For the most part, previous techniques of smiling and asking politely are a great place to start. If it’s a food cart out in the street or a market where everything is in the open, it’s always appreciated if you sample the fare first.  I won’t discourage you from simply walking around and shooting, but I have found I get a better response when I’ve stopped and made a purchase, shared a smile and show genuine interest in what’s being cooked.

Restaurants can be a different nut to crack.  In more developed countries, with their strict rules and health concerns, getting into the kitchen can take some work.  A good first step is, after enjoying a wonderful meal, ask to meet the chef.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If the chef is busy, they are busy.  But sometimes they will come out to talk shop.  Everyone has an ego and many of us enjoy hearing compliments about our work, especially if we pour ourselves into it.  If you’re a good conversationalist, you may be allowed to sneak a peek in the kitchen.  In third world countries there will be less barrier between the kitchen and the eating area and it may only require simply asking your waitperson if a photo is ok.

Another great way to get a feel for food preparation is to go couchsurfing.  Couchsurfing is the act of staying in someone’s home, either on a couch or spare bed, while on your travels.  I had great luck with the site couchsurfing.org (there are others out there as well) on a recent trip to Morocco.  While I don’t have a lot of photographs inside the home, I was welcome in the kitchen to watch the mother of the house prepare a tremendous, delicious couscous dish.  This wasn’t some cookbook method, it was simply the way she made it for her family week after week and it was a pleasure to be involved.  Cooked on a two burner camping stove with multiple washings and steamings and other techniques I don’t use, it was a delight to behold and I do have a few quick snapshots of the mother in action.

Chances are, if you’re not out in the hot sun of an open-air market, things are going to be dim.  Resist the urge to use your flash.  In the end you may need to, but cooking is an active, lively event, so let a little blur into your pictures (blur of motion that is, not blur of everything).  Practice at home with higher ISOs to see what is tolerable for you.  I’ve found great luck at times with ISOs as high as 6400 and used the grain in the image to an effect.   Be careful of getting in the way of the food preparation if you’re in small spaces.  Before your step in, observe the flow and understand what’s really going on in the cooking space.  Watch out for all the hot stuff, obviously, and slow your shutter to around 1/15th of a second to experiment with capturing better looking flames from a burner or direct fire.  Focus on faces and the action.  When people are really focused on meal preparation their faces will reflect the concentration and add emotion to the shot.  Cover the mechanics, but don’t forget to bring some emotion (smiles, frowns, curses, sweat, etc…) into the frame.

I’d like to see what you’ve managed to shoot while on your travels.  Share a photo or five of Food Preparation in the comments section below.

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Previous articles in the Travel Photography Subjects series include Water, Old People, Young People, Religion, Sports, Socializing, Icons, Rich, Poor, Transportation, Economy and Food. These posts are not intent on telling you everything you need to do, step by step, to capture perfect, cookie-cutter pictures while traveling.  Instead, they are intent on pointing out some vital elements to capture when on the road and highlight thought provoking questions you may want to ask yourself.  My hope is they help guide you to find your own means to better expressing what your travels have meant to you and present that in the best light possible.  Be sure to subscribe to this site to receive the other nine subjects as they are posted!

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

Travel Photography Subjects: Food Preparation

Original post by Peter West Carey

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Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

13 Fun Self Portrait Mirror Shots

Original post by Darren Rowse

Original post by Andrew Barrow

Original post by Andrew Barrow

What I find even more intriguing is how, as Australian photographer Peter Adams does in the majority of this book’s pictures, is how he convinces a model to pose outdoors in and on often forbidding — and uncomfortable natural landforms. Rocks, trees, seashore etc.

Adams pictures are never boring, never salacious and frequently with a touch of humour invested in them. His lighting is impeccable, compositions arresting.

However, The Digital Female Nude is not just a book nudes: Adams takes it further, into tutorial-land, telling you too how to shoot quality nude pictures.

His first message is for you to decide what sort of photographs you want to take, in colour or black and white, then he encourages you to take inspiration from other, successful photographers or the acknowledged old masters in art … da Vinci, Degas and the rest of the crowd.

More help: how to recruit models, choice of location; getting the legals right … release forms, the issue of copyright etc.

Then he gets down to the choice of camera gear. Whilst he admits it is possible to use a point-and-shoot, he stresses that using such a basic camera “can quickly become very frustrating.” His advice: jump in the deep end and acquire a DSLR.

There are a few vitally useful chapters on technicalities: exposure control; speed and lens aperture; ISO setting etc; lighting; useful accessories … and finally, 30 or so pages on the Digital Darkroom.

If you want to move into nude photography, this book would be hard to beat.

Author: P Adams.
Publisher: PIP.
Distributor: Capricorn Link.
Length: 176 pages.
ISBN: 978 1 86108 556 6.
Price: Get a price on the The Digital Female Nude at Amazon.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

The Digital Female Nude [Book Review]

Original post by Barrie Smith

Original post by Andrew Barrow

Original post by Andrew Barrow

Original post by Andrew Barrow