Black On Black Is Easy Still under cover, I photographed the church's Father Frank. I photographed him in black robes against a black background. My aim was to show detail throughout the portrait and separation between his robe and the background.
Among the things that people fear, psychologists tell us that giving a speech is number one, coming even before death or taxes or the appointment of a special prosecutor. But ask amateur photographers about their fears, and we'd bet a lot of them...
The 'Fabulously Photogenic' moments were brought to life in our recent photography challenge, hosted by Shutterbug and Gurushots. We asked photographers to share with us the moments that make them want to stop time and savor the beauty of life.
Judy Host (www.judyhost.com) only started her business 12 years ago but today you can find her working either in the home of a celebrity creating her award-winning portraits or in Africa documenting conditions in Rwanda and Uganda. By the time you read this, she may be in Ghana and Kenya or traveling to Cape Town, South Africa.
You might think in the digital age that anyone out there hawking traditional portraiture would be a dinosaur, pleading for people to have their portraits done. After all, it's now possible to put people on the moon without them setting foot out of the studio. You would be wrong.
There are portrait photographers out there who command high fees who have clients...
A few short years ago, many writers and photographers, myself included, were of the opinion that in a few short years film would be history, with the exception of a few "niche" areas of photography, like, say, infrared. Now that I've been...
A portrait is "a pictorial
representation," according to our dictionary. Right, but a bit
limited for our purposes; a snapshot is a pictorial representation,
but we ask a portrait to carry a bit morefreight.
I feel most at home in the
studio. Everything I need is right there. Right where it should be--and
right when I need it. If it's raining outside, and I want it sunny
in my studio, it's sunny. And if it's sunny outside and I
w...
Fall came late last year to Wisconsin. Either that, or my annual Whitewater class was earlier than it has ever been. Usually, we have autumn color. This time we had sunshine, rain, and a lot of fun (nothing new!). Through it all we learned...
Photo enthusiasts often ask me, "What's the most important accessory I need for professional-quality outdoor people pictures?" I reply, "A flash unit, of course." Then they ask me for my best tip for using a flash. My advice: Think flashy...
It doesn't matter if your interest lies in women, men, or children, I'm going to tell you right now that not having a "big" camera is no longer an excuse for not getting...
When the weather is nice outdoors, nothing beats an informal portrait. You do not want to shoot in the direct sunlight because your subject will be squinting. However, if you can find a shady spot under a tree, both you and your subject will be much happier.
So, how can you take the best portrait outdoors and still compete with the sun? The answer is usually right on top of your...
Shallow depth of field is a popular technique for all types of images because it accentuates a main subject and separates it from the background. This effect can be achieved in the camera with careful focusing and wide aperture settings, but today you'll see how to get it done in Photoshop with a minimum of work.
What I wouldn't have given for something like this when I was new to the business. Here's a quickie shot list of portraits that you can take the next time you're photographing a wedding.