Category: Photography Page 13 of 24

Photography can be one of the most fulfilling hobbies (or professions) you can ever take up, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s something everyone can do well right off the bat. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to take good pictures, whether you’re doing it for yourself or for a living.

So how does one gain that knowledge, other than through experience? Sure, you could sign up for classes, but if you’re looking for a way to pick up some great tips and you don’t have a lot of spare time or money, there are a lot of great books out there that can help you get started.

Here’s a sampling of some of the most highly-regarded instructional photography books of the last ten years or so.

Close-ups of dangerous animals, incredible shots of dangerous landscapes, images of remote, lonely locales – these are the sorts of photographs that we see and think, “How did they get that shot?”

As it turns out, incredible pictures often require photographers to take incredible risks. For every nicely-posed portrait shot, there’s another photo for which a photographer had to get up close and personal in unexpected ways.

Often this risk comes from subjects in the animal kingdom, but they can also be due to bad weather, or precarious ground. Here are a few amazing stories from photographers about how they got the perfect shot in some very imperfect situations.

Octavio Aburto, environmental photographer

(image above)

Octavio Aburto takes photos to promote ocean and water conservation, and he often has to swim with some testy underwater animals, most notably crocodiles and alligators.

Aburto has gotten some frighteningly close photos of both these reptiles, and he’s done so by following one rule: Be absolutely still. Apparently, that’s how you can get great pictures of a crocodile’s rows of teeth.

Christian Pondella, climber extraordinaire

Source: Christian Pondella

Christian Pondella has gotten some truly breathtaking shots of icy wonders like a half-frozen waterfall in Canada and of climber Will Gadd’s ascent of Helmcken Falls in British Columbia.

The only way to do that, of course, is to follow the climbers. This often involves dangling perilously from frozen mountainsides, overlooking icy, cavernous ravines.

Chris McLennan and  William Burrard-Lucas, wildlife photographers

Source: William Burrard-Lucas

Photographers Chris McLennan and William Burrard-Lucas have both taken some amazing photos of lions in the wild, but they’ve used some modern technology to do so. Both men attach cameras to remote-controlled motorized buggies that are built for off-road work and send them into the pride.

They’ve caught some incredible images, and on at least one occasion, McLennan’s camera was carried off by a hungry lion, only to be unceremoniously dropped when they realized it wasn’t edible.

Amos Nachoum, shark whisperer

Amos Nachoum patrols the seas taking pictures of Great White sharks with the intent of proving that they’re not dangerous to humans. But he’s very different from most wildlife photographers – when he’s taking pictures of these deadly predators, he doesn’t use a cage. In just a diving suit, he uses his 50mm lens to snap his striking photos.

Nachoum doesn’t stick to just sharks, either – he leads wildlife photography expeditions all over the world for those who want to get a totally unfiltered look at nature.

Clark Little, surf photo snapper

Source: Clark Little Photography

Surfer-turned-photographer Clark Little has captured breathtaking images of monumental waves, often simply jumping in the water and clicking away with little regard for waves that can be powerful enough to break a human’s back.

But the risk pays off when his photos reveal larger-than-life waves and the people who ride them.

Tom Ryaboi, rooftopper

Source: Tom Ryaboi

There’s a name for photographers who climb to great heights on man-made structures like towers and skyscrapers: Rooftoppers. People like Toronto’s Tom Ryaboi, for example, who estimates that he’s climbed more than 100 buildings to capture dizzying shots from the very top of cities around the world.

Paul Bride, rock climber

Source: Paul Bride

Paul Bride, who calls himself the “Master Of Mountains,” has taken some amazing photos of rock-climbing while hanging on by only a few ropes and pulleys from some of the most gorgeous mountains in the world.

Bruce Omori and Tom Kuali’i, volcano viewers

Bruce Omori and Tom Kuali’i take some of the most dangerous photos on the planet: They capture pictures of hot lava inside and around active volcanoes, whether it’s from above in a helicopter or much closer to the source.

Predrag Vuckovic, thrill-seeker

Source: Limex Images

And then there’s Predrag Vuckovic, an extreme photographer who gets incredible shots in multiple situations, mostly centered around extreme sports.

His shots of gliders, motorcycle racers and underwater adventures are breathtaking enough, but Vuckovic truly excels in photographing what’s called “extreme canyoning.”

Dangling by a rope into some of the most beautiful canyons, valleys and waterfalls on Earth, Vuckovic gets up close to some of the most breathtaking scenes in nature, using his keen eye and quick instincts to capture images that no one’s been able to before.

Not all of us are made for “extreme photography.” But thankfully, you can still capture beautiful photos without putting yourself in imminent danger – or even any danger at all. Get some pointers on nature and outdoor photography with our post “Expert Tips for Photographing Your Next Outdoor Adventure,” or read up on smartphone photography with “How to Make Your Smartphone Photographs Look (Almost) Professional.”

Spring and summer offer countless opportunities to get outside to capture some of the floral beauty with your digital camera. You often don’t have to go far to find subjects bursting with color. In fact, gorgeous flowers may be as close as your front yard. Here are 5 tips for taking better flower photos even if you’re a newbie photographer.

1. Get up close and personal

Walking around a garden can be peaceful, but if you want your flower photos to really pop, change your perspective. Get down near the flower and use a macro lens or the macro mode on your camera if it has one. (Often the icon for the setting is a flower, which helps you remember when to use it.)

2. Consider lighting

Most people think that sunny days are best for taking flower photos, but actually harsh, bright sun can wash out the colors, so it’s better to take photos on overcast days or near sunrise or sunset.

Another great time to shoot flowers is right after a rain so you can capture raindrops on petals. (Or you can cheat and bring a spray bottle outside with you to get a similar effect.)

3. Change the background

A beautiful flower sometimes may grow in an unattractive place like an alley or scrubby vacant lot. If the background doesn’t work, you can bring your own. Photos of flowers on white or black backgrounds can be particularly striking. Take a big piece of cloth with you in your bag. This trick works well for photos of flowers indoors as well. If you receive a gorgeous flower arrangement, put it in front of a piece of black velvet to show it off.

4. Use a tripod and remote shutter release

Spending a lot of time at flower level can be tiring and hard on the knees, and it can be difficult to keep the camera still.

Also, it’s almost inevitable that while you’re sitting there, a little gust of wind will come up right when you take the photo. Any movement of the camera or the flower will lead to blurry photos, so if you have a tripod, set it next to the plant. For the sharpest photos, consider using a remote or cable release to capture the flower at exactly the right time.

5. Get creative with composition

Many times, placing the flower right in the middle of the frame can result in a less interesting image than if you place it off-center. Photographers often refer to the “rule of thirds.” Imagine breaking the image into thirds horizontally and vertically so you have nine sections. By placing your subject along the lines or the intersections, the composition often is more dynamic. You also might consider photographing just part of a flower, such as the petals or a bud.

Taking photographs of flowers is not only fun, it also forces you to examine and truly appreciate the intricacies of nature’s beauty. For more tips on taking great photos, read our post “Tips for Taking Amazing Landscape Photos.”

Mother’s Day isn’t only a day to thank our mothers for everything they do for us (which we ought to do much more than once a year, anyway!).

It’s also a celebration of the bond between mother and child. And what better way to document just how special that bond is than with some beautiful mother and child photos?

Whether the “child” in that pairing is a newborn baby or an adult her- or himself, here are some great tips for taking beautiful mother and child photos.

Focus on the small, everyday moments.

Source: Sofi’s Snapshots

So much of mothering happens in the small, seemingly insignificant moments: making school lunches, wiping a tear, reading a book before bed. With an older child or adult, it might be taking the time to share dessert together, or having a fun or silly conversation.

And yet, as any mother knows, these are the moments that make parenting such a precious journey. These moments also, therefore, make beautiful pictures.

Try capturing mom and child when they’re doing the things they do every day. There’s no need to get too ambitious with your setting or activities. Especially with younger children, you’ll likely get the best results if everyone is in a familiar place where they feel comfortable.

Go for the close-up. 

two hour 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 #sweetdreamsfrancesca

A post shared by Elizabeth Antonia (@thelittlest) on May 23, 2015 at 2:42pm PDT

Close-ups can be wonderful for mother-child portraits, because it’s in a close-up that you can often catch a similarity of expression, or see the family resemblance.

These can work just as well for posed portraits as candid ones. You don’t always need to focus on faces, either – close-ups of a mother’s and her child’s hands, or feet, or even the backs of their heads can be very moving.

Get multi-generational.

Source: Shutterstock

Multi-generational portraits can be a wonderful way to show the bond between multiple mothers and children – from grandmothers or great-grandmothers right down to babes in arms.

To get a good photo, you’ll want to do some solid planning. It can be difficult to get everyone in one spot, especially if grandparents or adult children live in different cities. If you have a baby or young child, you’ll have to plan for a good time of day, too.

These can make beautiful gifts for all the mothers in your family.

Let the children be children

Source: Rock Steady Original Photography

Mothers of young children know that expecting children to be portrait-ready at any given moment is a recipe for disappointment. So instead of having a very specific idea of what you want, it may be better to come up with a range of ideas, and focus on staying flexible throughout the portrait session.

This is why candid photos can be so effective with younger kids. This setup allows mothers and children to simply enjoy being together – which is what you want to capture in a portrait, anyway.

After you’ve snapped those lovely images, make sure you display them – don’t keep them locked up in a file on your computer or stashed in a drawer!

Whether that means adding them to a special Mother’s Day playlist on your Nixplay Iris, or decorating your family room wall with a few framed prints, getting those photos off your email and into the light of day will allow you to enjoy those moments much, much more.

For more tips on taking great family portraits, read our post “5 Inspiring Tips to Capture Family Portraits.”

Wedding season has arrived, and if you’re one of the lucky men or women tying the knot this year then you’re probably neck-deep in preparations.

While you’ve (hopefully) already picked a photographer by now, you may not have taken the time yet to think of particular shots that you want. In fact, many people assume the photographer will just start snapping away, and that they don’t need to offer much or any direction.

While that is certainly an option if you trust your photographer, you might be happier with the results if you think about specific images, poses, or scenes that you’d like to have. From your typical posed wedding party photos to candid shots of you and your new husband or wife, there are tons of “standard” shots that most wedding photographers try to capture.

If you want something more than standard, here are a few ideas to help make your wedding photos as unique as you are.

You and your bride/groom holding your parents’ wedding photos

Source: Ana Lui Photography

This is a lovely idea for couples who want to honor their parents’ legacy of love. Find a print of your parents’ and your spouse-to-be’s parents on their wedding day, and hold them out in front of you.

You and your spouse can either be facing the camera or turned toward each other, but you want to have the photographer frame the shot around the photographs. For optimal results, make sure the prints are the same size.

An aerial view of the wedding dress

Source: Yvette Roman Photography

It’s nearly impossible to have too many shots of a bride in her wedding dress. After all, she’ll only wear it once!

In addition to the more traditional shots of the dress on its hanger and of the bride getting ready, consider an aerial view. There are a few ways to pull this off, but the easiest is to having the photographer shoot the bride walking down the stairs from an upper story. Make sure he or she captures the full train and veil.

Another great pose is to sit or lie down, and have bridesmaids or attendants spread the dress out to showcase its full glory. A photographer can then shoot a photo of you from above.

Individual portraits of the wedding party 

Source: Yeah! Weddings

Bridesmaids and groomsmen always get photographed together. Why not give each of them their own moment in the sun with an individual portrait? It’s a great way to showcase each attendant’s personality, and the portraits themselves will make wonderful gifts.

Photos of your musicians

Source: Style by Bravura

If you opted for a live band instead of a DJ, you’ll definitely want some photos of the musicians for your wedding album.

Photos of the band during a particularly swingin’ tune, as well as ones that capture the energy of your guests on the dance floor along with that of the performers, will interject some action in among the rest of your wedding photos.

Multiple generations

Source: Preston Bailey

Pictures of multiple generations of your family can be a touching reminder of the continuity of life.

Whether that’s a grandfather, father, and son, a grandmother, mother, and daughter, or even a grandparent, the bride or groom, and the bride or groom’s child, generational photos add a beautiful touch to the traditional wedding photo lineup. In addition to the typical posed portrait, you could ask your photographer to take a shot of your clasped hands.

Style shots from the neck down

Source: Jose Villa Photography

Take a portrait from the neck down to really emphasize the stylish beauty of the wedding dress and groom’s suit. It might feel a little odd at first, but having the photographer leave your head out of the picture will focus the viewer’s eyes on your clothes. You’ll be able to notice details that you otherwise might miss.

No matter what kind of wedding photos you decide on, making sure you have an effective way to display them after the guests have gone, the cake is eaten, and you’ve started your life as husband and wife.

With a wedding playlist on your Nixplay Cloud WiFi Digital Frame, friends and family will be able to see all your beautiful images – not just a single one.

For more on wedding photography, read our post “3 Ways to Take a Memorable Wedding Photograph.”

Looking for more bridal advice, read this article “How to Get That Bridal Glow 5 Days Before Your Big Day“.