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Photography Unfiltered Update
Photography Unfiltered Update
Quick Tip: Seeing the Light
Tips + Tricks 
0
Tue 11.20.2012
Photo Credit: Digital Camera World
Whatever subject you shoot, choosing the right lighting is crucial. If you’re looking to improve your subject lighting, check out the cheat sheet above from Digital Camera World.
Photo Credit: Frieke Janssens
Photo Credit: Frieke Janssens
Photo Credit: Frieke Janssens
Your last shot, It can be an eerie yet interesting topic to think about. If there’s anything photographer Frieke Janssens has to say about it, your last shot will certainly be one of your best. In her new project appropriately tilted, “Your Last Shot“, Janssens takes the guess work out of choosing a photo for a loved one after they have passed. The project treats customers (who are alive and well) to a full hair, makeup and styling team to capture an image that will stay with them forever.
The goal of the photo shoot is to capture a timeless yet iconic image that will represent the customer. The project will only run for a limited duration of time and will set you back around $1060, but can you really put a price on something like this?
If you were to have your “Last Shot” taken at what age would you chose to be remembered?
Quick Tip: Create a Visual Narrative
Tips + Tricks 0
Tue 11.13.2012
Quick Tip: Visual Story Telling
Your shooting environment can offer up an endless supply of props that can enhance the narrative of your photo. In this image the Boston terrier was not apart of the original concept. In fact, he was graciously loaned to be by a man who happened to be walking by. Adding the additional character gave the story line depth and interest that may have not been otherwise achieved.
How do you incorporate props within your environment to tell a story?
Photo Credit: Lori Nordstrom. This was shot at F 2.8 @1/640 sec. using Canon MIII @ 150mm.
As photographers, to say that our lives depend on our gear is an understatement. It is our livelihood the same way a scalpel is to a surgeon. Seeing that September was my busiest month of the year it would only make sense that my workhorse lens (Canon 70-200mm) would stop working (or focusing which is pretty much the same thing). I immediately called Canon. As I am “Gold” member, I knew that they surely would send me a loaner while my lens was in for repair. I was wrong. They would only send me a loaner if the repair took more than 3 days … which they wouldn’t even know until they received my lens and they had time to evaluate it. Crap. This was obviously not a solution in the midst of back-to-back jobs (why couldn’t this ever happen in say … January?). In a bit of a panic I had my assistant call all the lens rental houses in San Francisco – living close to a big city has its advantages! … Right? I mean, how hard could it be to find such a standard lens? Evidently, VERY difficult. Every rental house was out of stock for at least 2 weeks.
At this time I had to reach beyond my typical habits and think about alternatives. I had heard many good things about BorrowLenses but I assumed due to their popularity they would also be out of stock. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did they have the lens I needed, I got it the next day, in immaculate condition. After a few days, Canon sent me back my lens. It was still broken. And because they had shipped it (broken) to me within three days of receiving it, guess what? … Still no loaner lens. Canon’s solutions were obviously useless for my work. BorrowLenses, however, saved the day. They easily accommodated my needs and extended my rental on the fly. A Big Thank You to Jim Goldstein, Samantha Strauss and the rest of the BorrowLenses team. For the next (inevitable?) crisis, I’m happy to know there is a company I can depend on.
Cover Photo of my Instagram Web Profile
In an effort to keep up with the overwhelming demand for online profiles, Instagram has rolled out its very own web-based forum. The outline is very similar to Facebook’s timeline and cover photo layout. This comes at no surprise since Facebook’s acquisition of the company in April of this year.
The “cover” portion of user profiles will display a selection of recent captures, some alternating in a slide show fashion. At this time, all the displayed photos cannot be customized or rearranged. Below the mosaic style cover image is a brief bio and a small inset profile picture. In the ‘timeline’ portion of the page all photos posted to Instagram are shown as thumbnails and arranged in chronological order.
If you’re an Instagram user you can check out your profile by following the provided URL: http://Instagram.com/your user name
The lack of customization features and absent news feed makes me question how many people will actually use this profile-based site. What are your thoughts on Instagram’s move to the World Wide Web?
