Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Concert Photography – Capturing the Essence of a Concert

By

The following post is by New York-based photographer and artist Angela Datre, who provides a thorough introduction into concert photography and delves into what it takes to capture the essence of a concert. Learn more about her at the end of this post.

“It’s very hard with a still photograph to capture the action of a concert. You try to see something in the face, the body, the lighting…Once I see a good shot in the viewfinder, it’s gone. The music gets inside of me, it’s in my brain, I’m close enough to the stage so that the vibration from the speakers is making my skin tingle, and I’m filling the viewfinder with the musician. I just always feel high.”

-Baron Wolman, Concert Photographer

When it comes down to it, I take photographs at the shows I attend because I can’t not take photographs when I am there. I feel awkward if I am not all the way up front-able to see everything, shoot everything. It started with snapshots in the crowd when I was younger and has now become a lifestyle, an obsession.

I thought I would write a blog post on live music photography because it is something that is so near and dear to me. And I’ll admit it; I started off the same way many young photographers start out-bringing a point and shoot digital camera to shows and shooting with a slow-shutter speed or tilting the camera so the image is askew. It took me some time to realize that there is so so much more you can do with live music photography and I feel the need to share what I have learned with others. [Read more…]

 

Turn Off Autofocus – Do it Yourself!

By

Light and Beer

Recently, I’ve been shooting all my shots without autofocusing and only relying on the manual focus wheel on my Olympus E-510. What I’ve discovered is that it’s making me think more about my shots, framing, and forcing me to concentrate more on achieving the perfect photo that I have set in my mind already.

In contrast, the world of commercial and event shooting has called for the “spray and pray” method of shooting. On top of this, your camera’s autofocusing may not always be up to par with your expectations and standards; especially in low light as is the case with the above photo. It was achieved with manual focus. [Read more…]

Free Bogen Webinar – A Budget Safari – Wildlife Photography at Your Local Zoo

By

Bogen is putting together another free webinar this Friday, June 17, 2009 from 2 p.m to 3 p.m EDT.  This one is all about wildlife photography and centered around getting great shots at your local zoo.  Bogen is also giving away a $195 National Geographic Walkabout Satchel to three winners at the end of the webinar.

Here’s more on the webinar from Bogen:

Listen to our special speakers, David Fisher, webinar host, and Julie Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society Staff Photographer.

During this session David & Julie discuss:

  • Best practices for shooting through fences, wires, and glass partitions
  • Selecting the best gear for a day trip
  • Best times to visit and developing a unique perspective

Also, learn about Julie’s recent trip to South America and a report on the ongoing Conservation photography efforts at the WCS.

Go here to register – it’s free.

Free Wedding Photography Webinar Today

By

This is a reminder for those of you who didn’t sign up when I mentioned it earlier.

Sign up here.

Press Release

Ramsey, N.J. (April 14, 2009)– Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled “Fashionable Wedding Photography: Roundtable with Claudio Basso.” Part of the company’s Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, April 17th. Seasoned fashion photographer Claudio Basso and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging’s Metz and Gossen Product Manager, will discuss new techniques and what photographers need to know when it comes to capturing stunning and fashionable wedding photographs.

Internationally renowned in the fashion-photography industry, Claudio Basso’s work has appeared in magazines including American and Italian Vogue, New York Woman, French Elle, Vanity, and Grazia. Basso’s remarkable images have also been featured in high-fashion catalogues, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bonwitt Teller. With over 20 years of experience, Basso currently shares his talents and knowledge with others as the primary trainer for Renovance.tv (http://www.Renovance.tv).

Topics for Discussion Include:

  • The importance of understanding the concept of fashion and how it is created
  • Making the most of one’s environment
  • Avoiding the “cheesy” image
  • What is “Fashion Flair” and how to successfully add that style to your photography

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one?on?one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three Metz 45 CL-4 Digital Handle Mount Flashes, each valued at $474. Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar, so participants must attend the event in its entirety to be eligible to win. A free recorded version of the webinar will also be available to registered participants within 24 hours of the event. Winners must be US residents.

To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/

Additional information about the Bogen Café as well upcoming webinars can be found at www.bogencafe.us.

About Bogen Imaging

Bogen Imaging Inc is a leading distributor of key accessories brands for the photographic, video, cine and lighting production markets. Bogen is an international company within the Imaging Division of the Vitec Group, which owns the following leading international brands: Manfrotto, Gitzo, Kata, National Geographic Bags and Tripods, Avenger, and I.F.F. As the exclusive US distributor of Metz, Gossen, Elinchrom, Lastolite, Reflecmedia, Formatt Filters, and Rotatrim, Bogen offers the most complete range of exceptional camera and lighting accessories in the business. The Bogen Imaging international network covers the USA, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan.

Free Webinar – Fashionable Wedding Photography

By

Bogen is putting on another free webinar, this time for wedding photographers – Fashionable Wedding Photography.  It takes place April 17th from 2 pm to 3 pm EDT.

At this Webinar our speakers, David Fisher & Claudio discuss:

  • The importance of understanding the concept of fashion and how it is created
  • Making the most of your environment
  • Avoiding the “cheesy” image
  • What is “Fashion Flair” and how to successfully add that style to your photography

Special guest Claudio Basso is renowned from Milan to London, Paris and New York for creating editorial for prestigious magazines such as American and Italian Vogue, New York Woman, French Elle, Vanity and Grazia. The elegance of his work has also contributed to such prominent catalogues as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Bonwitt Teller.

More details and sign up available at Bogen Imaging.

Simplifying the Rule of Thirds

By

In this article, contributing author and stock photographer, Rich Legg, offers some tips on using the rule of thirds. You can learn more about Rich and how to connect with him at the end of this article.

One of the first things commonly emphasized to novice photographers by those who claim to be more knowledgeable on the subject is to “Follow the Rule of Thirds”. While this is sound advice, the phrase can be confusing especially to someone who has never had it explained to him or her.  For me personally, I can still picture my high school photography teacher Mr. Cressop explaining it on the blackboard back in 1981 (wow, that’s a long time ago!). [Read more…]

Photographing with the End in Mind

By

In this article, contributing author and stock photographer, Rich Legg, provides a lesson on pre-visualization in photography. You can learn more about Rich and how to connect with him at the end of this article.

One of the skills I have worked to develop that has helped my photography is to take a page from the book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and “begin with the end in mind”.  How I relate this to photography is that I strive to always take time before I shoot a subject to create a mental picture of what I plan to photograph and how I will capture it.  Famed photographer Ansel Adams called this technique pre-visualization.  By taking the time to pre-think the shot, I find that I am able to create a better end result.

I make my living creating stock images that I sell through iStockphoto.  When I am planning a stock photo shoot, the first thing I do is take time to envision what I want the final images to look like.  I will generally come up with a few “signature” shots that I want to capture in the photo shoot.  Once I have the images visualized in my mind, I then make some quick notes detailing what I want.  These notes then serve as a sort-of blueprint which I use when determining what models, locations and props I will need to complete the photoshoot.

Here is an example of this pre-thinking and planning of a photograph.  This sample is one of my early stock images that began as an idea sketched out on a piece of paper late one night.

I had the idea of creating a simulated crime scene.  I was able to picture in my mind a body laying in a doorway with light streaming in through the opening behind the body and crime scene tape across the scene.  My original sketch (which I now wish I would have saved) showed a very similar scene to what was represented in the final image. [Read more…]

Bogen to Host Free Lighting Webinar on Friday, March 13, 2009

By

Bogen is hosting a free webinar this Friday on how to create simple lighting to enhance your images.  Will Crockett, a respected pro shooter, will be leading the session and it will be held this Friday, the 13th from 2-3 PM EDT.  Registrants will also have the chance to win a Metz flash at the end – so it’s quite worthwhile aside from the valuable learning opportunity.

While I can’t join in live, I’ve gone ahead and registered because you can watch the recording for up to 24 hours afterward.  Yeah, I’ve got big Friday night plans!

More details in the press release below, or just you can just go ahead and register now.  [Read more…]

Always Get the Window Seat

By

The following post is by Atlanta based photographer and writer Zach Matthews, who explains why it’s worthwhile to photographers to get the window seat when flying. Learn more about him at the end of this post.

Back in 2006, I went on my first assignment as a magazine writer. The Cloudveil company had just come into the fly fishing market (my area of specialty) and American Angler wanted me to cover the event. As the proud owner of a (then) new Nikon D70, I took every opportunity to take pictures, including candids of myself in my new role as a fancy journalist.

As we gained altitude on the Salt Lake City to Jackson, Wyoming leg of our flight, I snapped a shot or two out of the airliner’s window. Your modern airliner, say a Boeing 767, has double-paned window glass. The exterior skin has a thick glass plate, while the interior is a thin piece of Plexiglas, with an inch or two of space between. Generally, the interior pane will be very scratched, possibly distorted by oilslick defects, and in some cases flaking to pieces. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a picture through it, though—just as when shooting through chain link fencing, if your point of focus is far enough out, the glass will blur to a misty gray fog. [Read more…]