Category Archives: Photography

Photography

Self confidence in your photo skills will trump a photo degree

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My diploma from Philippine Airlines Aviation School. It's real folks. What has this to do with photography? I'm not current and I haven't flown in years. Do I have the confidence to go up in the air? Probably if I were alone, but I wouldn't take any passengers with me.

Lately I’ve been asking myself how important a formal photography education is.

According to photographer Tony Blei, the degree gives you credibility, and offers you an opportunity to network.

My guest speaker Rick Sforza said a formal education in photography places you in an environment which fosters collaboration between  like-minded individuals .

Clearly both of them believe some sort of education is important.

I’m in agreement with them but the problem  is often the photography curriculum in the schools. Continue reading Self confidence in your photo skills will trump a photo degree →

Photography

Simple Beauty Dish Part 2

My homemade beauty dish.

Does it need a name? If it does, maybe you guys can help me name it/him/her.

Since  I finished it,  it has been sitting idle.

I have been dying to put it to use but until recently, when I taught my Small Flash Lighting workshop, I just didn’t have a model to do some test shots.

So… does it work?

You be the judge.

Mouse over the big picture above and see for yourself. Continue reading Simple Beauty Dish Part 2 →

Photography

Meet Callie the hydrophilic dog

Calliope enjoys the water fountain in an open air cafe area. 1/4000 sec @f2.8 ISO 400

I’ve said before but it’s always worth mentioning.

Even seasoned photographers who supposedly have their camera handling down, need to be taking pictures often.

That’s how you keep up your skills.

Prior to auto focus, the only way to get comfortable with a telephoto lens especially if you’re shooting sports is to use that lens often.

I watched Callie play with the jets of water shooting upwards. She was so caught up with it, she didn't even pay any attention to me as I approached. Note how the water stands out much more than in the other picture. When shooting something transparent like water, backgrounds play a very important part.

You learn, for instance, when tracking a subject that is moving towards you, you need to turn the focus ring clockwise or counterclockwise and at a rate proportional to how fast they approach.

These days with auto focus, you still need to make sure to choose the right ‘dot'(Canon uses red, Nikon a black dot) in your viewfinder in anticipation of where your subject is going to be. Continue reading Meet Callie the hydrophilic dog →

Photography

A class visit from photo editor Rick Sforza

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Rick Sforza shows what he carries on assignment

By the time we hit college age, the last thing we want is to listen to another lecture.

Why else do you think we want to go away for college? Freedom and escape from parental lectures!

In college, I was a glutton for punishment.

Actually I paid my own way, so I was hell-bent on getting my money’s worth. Continue reading A class visit from photo editor Rick Sforza →