Portraying-People

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Portraying People in Photography

Taking portrait photos can be an enriching experience for both you and the subject of the photo. Since this is the age of the selfie, one can see how this type of photography is being taken for granted. This does not mean that you have to abandon it if you find that you have an interest. These are some advice I can give you from my own experience.

Respect Peoples Intimacy

One can find himself in a situation where he can make a good portrait of someone, but the photo can insult the person. Especially if it is interrupting an intimate moment that person is having. This is why you should always ask for permission, and if the person asks you to delete the photo respect their wish.

When you try to take a photo of people while they are doing something, try not to be noticed. People can often change their expression or posture when they know someone is looking at them through the objective. This is why you should try to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Observe Human Behavior

A major part of portrait photography is knowing your subject sufficiently enough so you can predict what they are going to do. This is the only way you can capture what you want at the right moment. Watch people carefully and always have your camera ready. Prepare the device for the situation you are shooting, so you don’t have to do it while your subjects are moving, you can miss out on great opportunities that way.

Engage Different People and Cultures

womanApproach the people you want to take photos of and get to know them. Make them feel comfortable with your camera’s objective. Maybe you can discover something about them, that can help you in capturing their essence in a better way. Don’t rush into a situation with your camera blazing, maybe even leave it in the bag and take it out when you feel that the situation is right.

On the other hand, if you are interested in capturing cultures that are different than your own then you need some research before going into the field. Talk to people who have been there and find out if there are any taboos in public photography. And learn some phrases in the local language. Respect the culture you are visiting, and the beliefs of the local people. That way you will have their respect in return and that could give you an opportunity to make a great photo.

Authenticity

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In Photography 2018 is the Year of Authenticity

New trends in photography are calling for a change from the business and clean aesthetic, and a move to a more creative and organic feel in photos. This means that there will be more space for creative and artistic outbursts, nut just in photography. People want authentic accounts of events, and photos that show real life in a new and aestheticised way. These trends are emerging as a reaction to global culture, and the “modeling” of artistic expression. Creativity over conventionality.

Real People

New research shows that the search for the category “real people” has significantly enhanced in the past year. This is also reflected in photography, with a greater interest in portraying everyday people and their lives in an idealized way. This means that the glamorous celebrity lifestyle photography’s of the past are being abandoned, and people are searching for images of a more realistic life. Keep this in mind if you are preparing to make new stock photos.

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The Fluid Self

Some people are predicting this to be the year of unprecedented creativity in the way we portray our self. Photoshop has advanced over the years, and as more people learn to use the software we are beginning to see a greater number of examples of people experimenting with their ideas.

Have in mind that fantasy as them has always had a strong public, and this has not changed over the years. With the advancements that photoshop give us, we can expect a lot of wired and fantastic adaptations people will make to themselves.

The term “Fluid Self” is linked to the idea that a person is not something that is fixed and constant, and that it can change over time and thru interaction with others. People are taking this idea and using it to further their self-expression in many different ways, photography is one of them.

Multimedia

As technology for capturing and showing images advances so do the many combinations that artist make with different media in order to further our experience of art. This is something to look out for, and I expect we will be amazed at the year a couple of times. From hologram projections and 3D modeling, thru the representation of nature and outer space one, can only expect a growth in the multimedia representation techniques as well as some new methods in capturing images.

Nature-Photography-

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Nature Photography for Beginners

Doing photos in nature has its own set of problems, that are not like those you encounter in the city. That’s why I want to talk about some of the things you need to think about before embarking on such an expedition.

Do your Homework

Every environment has different conditions you can encounter. Remember this is nature, and you don’t want to be surprised by something all alone in the wilderness. That’s why you need to know what region you are visiting, and what to expect from the landscape and wildlife that you will encounter. Be thorough in your research, this can help you in different ways. You will know what camping equipment to take, what camera equipment to take, and just generally how to prepare for the journey.

Before embarking on the trip make a list of things you need to take with you and all the things you need to do in order to prepare for the stay in the wild. Like buying the things you are missing and making sure you have good protection for your camera and other equipment.

Some Technical Advice

Try to save your photos in RAW format. It will take up more space than JPEG photos, but they have a greater pixel density and the detailing is better. So, don’t waste your clicks, take in the scenery and chose what you want to capture.

Use the lowest possible ISO. The high of the ISO number should always depend on the light exposure that you encounter in different situations. Lowering the number will make it possible for the camera to take in more of the natural light.

Use autofocus, especially when taking photos of wildlife. Since everything in nature moves, it can be hard sometimes to manually focus while taking photos. That’s why the autofocus can be a god sent, especially when you are a beginner. And never forget the tripod!

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Prepare Yourself Mentally

The wilderness can be overwhelming sometimes, especially at night. Make sure you have everything you need to feel safe. Protect your equipment from the elements. Take things that can make you feel comfortable. But remember this is not a hotel, in the wild, you encounter challenges that are worth overcoming so don’t get discouraged in the first step. Remember that some discomfort can go a long way, especially when you sit around waiting for an interesting specimen to pass bay.

How-to-Earn-Money

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How to Earn Money from Photography

Photography does not have to be just a hobby or a way for you to store your memories. The internet has made the border, between an amateur and a professional, something that can easily be crossed if you devote enough time to your photos.

Quality over Quantity

If you invested in a professional camera you have a good start, but phone cameras today can be just as effective if you are a beginner. The fact that you have a lot of memory on your devices does not mean that all of it has to be filed up. Take your time to make good photos, and don’t move your objective around. Murky images are useless, no meter their number.

When you want to share your images, make sure that you select the best ones. Don’t over clog your portfolio or albums with useless photos. You can be just as effective in representing your talent with few photos.

Use photoshop for practice or to enhance some features in your photos. When you are practicing let yourself loose and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. Try to make different versions of the same photo. Challenge yourself.

Freelancing

When you feel confident with your skills, you can see how good you are by trying to do some of the photography related jobs that are on offer over the internet. You can make stock photos, do simple editing jobs, or help someone realize their vision.

freelanceKeep your social media profiles updated with representative photos, you never know when a potential employer might be browsing the internet. When allaying for jobs always have a ready portfolio and be honest about the things you can do. Don’t overbook in the beginning, so you can do the job on time and earn a thrust wordy reputation.

Develop the skills you are good at and that you can market, and always practice if you are not certain you can do the job. Simple steps can go a long way in developing your career, and this can enhance your photography skill as well.

Try to be a Pro

Over time you can earn enough money to buy the camera you want or several of them. When you finish enough jobs and get a good following on social media you can get better jobs and opportunities. This can change the way you live your life, what you do for a living, and where you travel.

This does not have to be just a daydreaming fantasy if you prioritize and try to think economically about your photos over time you can build a career that can take you wherever you chose to explore your talent. Believe in yourself, pay attention to what you are looking at thru the objective, research, practice, and don’t forget to invest in your equipment and software. The photography market is large but competitive and in order to be a pro you need to be equipped as one.

museum

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Photography in the Museum

A major part of every travel is a museum, especially if you are a history and art geek like I am. They may seem to be lacking in material for photos, but this could be no further from the truth. These places are often rich in architectural details, filled with people from different cultures and of different ages, and they are full of artifacts that can inspire and amaze. That’s why you should always spend extra time, if the museum allows it, taking photos and thinking about how best to represent what you see. This time I am going to talk about different approaches to photography in the context of the museum.

A Museum is an Artifact

These warehouses of human imagination, culture, and history are objects in their own right. They are often interesting and historically significant buildings or artistic and architectural expressions. They can be inspiring, overwhelming, and emotionally draining. What one finds in photos that represent these institutions is a famous feature that is repeatedly used in representing the museum. No meter the size of the building, and the many different features it has it is always shown from the same angle. Try making a different photo of the building you are visiting. For instance, why is the Louvre always represented with the glass pyramid entrance?

People make the Museum Alive

People in a mass are always an interesting theme for photographers. Especially when they meet in special occasions and places. The museum is not a concert, but it can have just as interesting an effect on the viewers as any pop artist.

bwThink about the emotions, famous piece of art, stir up in some people, and the ways they react when they view them. Think about the endless rows of people and cameras in front of the Mona Lisa, or the people crying in front of Van Gogh’s paintings. These are all interesting subjects you can explore with your camera. Just make sure that you are respecting the people you are taking photos of because emotions can be high.

Art and Artefacts

The main purpose of going to one of these giants is to learn something new about the region you are visiting or to see it’s the artistic and historic wealth. These artifacts, sculptures, and paintings are represented in many books, and on many websites. This doesn’t mean that you cannot make your own memory of that work.

Don’t concentrate just on the artifact, try and make a photo that balances the environment without losing the focus on a specific object. Maybe even accent an artistic feature in a room, rather than the exhibition itself. And always have in mind that these artifacts are often fragile and old so respect the rules of the institution you are visiting.

Everyday-Photography

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Everyday Photography as Art

The modern era has brought in an unprecedented use of photography, and in this everyday mundane use of photography, one can forget the capacity of photos to transmit emotions and concepts that can move an audience. This does not mean that one has to encounter such works in gallery walls and on art photography blogs. Social media can be seen as a gallery of its own, and the public that can see your work is much greater than in conventional ways of representing photos. This is why my advice to you is to art up your everyday photography.

Photography is Symbolism

The camera is like a brush, it just creates what you want to see, and it can help you transmit any message. Photographies are essentially a space with recognizable symbols, and they always convey a message. Whether it is a selfie, or a family photo, or maybe even an artistic expression photo there is always a message in what you see. You can share them easily, and experiment with forms and colors as you see fit. Especially when you think about all the features new photoshop software’s have.

Think about what you want to be the message of your photo. What elements you have to use? Some recognizable symbols or features. Think about emotions, and how they are linked to light and color. Make taking a selfie time to be an artist, to say something about yourself, and to think about you and the environment.

Art Up your Life

photoWhat I always find useful is to try out thing I am reading about, but also to experiment and research different examples of photography or even painting in order to have a constant flow of inspiration. This can be done by everyone. Find the will to take your camera walk around and have the patience to find the right angle or the right moment to make your photo send the message you want.

Maybe you just want the aesthetic part of the art photography on your photos, that’s fine as well. There are a lot of things you can learn by reading artists experience and trying to apply them to your own photos. Don’t feel discouraged because you don’t have a professional camera or the right surrounding to make your photos pop up. Take the time to look around, read and practice and eventually you could be taking photos like a pro.

Nature-Photography

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Casentino Valley and Nature Photography

The beautiful Casentino valley is part of the Campigna National Park, situated in central Italy between Florence and San Marino. This beautiful region is famous for its fields and hills that are covered in dense forest, together with pictures old towns and forts makes this region a great destination for practicing photography. Whenever I get some free time, I like to go there and walk around taking in the green scenery and the light.

Casentino Valley

Tuscany is world famous for its history, architecture, art, and food. People often forget that all that history is set beside a wonderful and rich natural landscape that makes this region look like a sample of paradise. This combination makes for an ideal trip, and I would like to mention some places in the valley that I often draw inspiration from.

Poppi Castle

A definite must-see and an inspiring feature in the landscape is the Poppi Castel with its infamous Torre del Diavolo (the Devil’s Tower), where a famous beauty was brick in by locals who rebelled against her sexual appetites. The castle itself is in excellent condition, and it has been inhabited since 1279 continuously, so there are layers of stones and features that you can explore walking around.

The Mountains and Woods of Casentino

Casentino ValleyWhen doing nature photography, you need to think about the way the landscape can absorb the details that your eye can see, and that makes the sight beautiful. Think about the clouds, and the fog, the snow, and rain think about autumn and the changing colors of the trees and fields these elements make nature photography interesting. That is if you are only concerned with the landscape.

Taking photos of the animal, especially the ones that are in the wilderness takes a lot of patience and many tries. Also, in order to approach the animals enough to make a good photo, I find it useful to respect its will and to observe its behavior so you don’t end up frightening each other.

The Valley of Casentino is nestled between mountains, with rivers flowing through its fertile soil. The landscape is crisscrossed with vineyards, hills covered with forests and pastures, and mountains in the backdrop. This is what makes this place so special and full of different animals, and plants that can catch your attention. This valley is my recommendation to all of you who want to practice their nature photography skills and enjoy a rich landscape full of colors and features.

Food-Photography

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Food Photography Trends

Over the past years, there have been many changes in the style of food photography. The photographers who are starting the trend are mainly from England and Sweden, where there has been a boom in the art of food making. These new trends are called:  gorgeous grey, perfectly imperfect, mystic light, granny chic and back to the country. This time I will talk about these trends, and how to apply them to your photography. The main focus of the new stiles is on styling, decoration, atmosphere and color combinations.

Gorgeous Gray

This trend is relatively new, and it started around in 2015. The main focus of this type of photography is to accentuate the different nuances of the gray color while representing food. In order to achieve this photographer works with clean natural materials, like marble or wood, in the background. The rough surface helps to accent the food and to make it look delicate and graceful.

Perfectly Imperfect

This style originated with the food blogger culture and is a sort of opposition to the traditional and crisp style of food representation. These images are spontaneous and taken during the meal. They give you a lot of space for experimentation with light and color, and generally with the arrangement of the food on the plate or table.

Mystic Light

mobileThis style comes from Scandinavian countries, where photographers have encountered with natural features that influence the light of the day- like the northern lights.  The style relies on dark velvety colors, graphics structures and the special light that lends the compositions their magical, mystical look. The food on these photography’s looks like it came from an elf banquet in a dream.

Granny Chick

This stile takes as its team traditional food from different countries all over the world, the special feature on these photos are old props (like enamel pans, earthenware plates, everyday cutlery, lace doilies and old silver plates) that remind us of our grandmothers’ kitchens. The backgrounds are kept natural, with the accentuation of dark purple, violet, fuchsia, mauve or burgundy colors.

Back to Country

This idea and style originated from an ever-growing trend of rediscovering the life in the country. These photos depict people vegetable gardening and making their own flower beds. Strong natural colors, the pure light of the sun, and lots of atmospheres create a desire to leave the urban setting and start a healthier lifestyle.

Hotel-Bayerischer

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Hotels and Photography

When one takes photography as an occupation, he can find himself in need of constant stimulation. Since I had the chance to travel to different destination and cultures I was able to experiment with different themes. I want to talk about two very important aspects of travel that I think everyone should consider as the main focus if they want to improve their skill with the camera. They are architecture and food. First of all, because they are the most recognizable features of a region or culture you are visiting. Secondly, because they give a range of subjects that will test your skill in photography. This is what I want to talk about in this post: architecture, food, and the Hotel Bayerischer in Munich.

What to look out for?

When I went to the hotel for the first time the massive neoclassic building struck me in the face. There was an obvious contrast of scale with a simplicity that makes the entire building stand out. When I took my camera on the street to make some photos I walked around the building for some time, looking at how light influences the color of the facade. Under a certain angle and with the right whether the building looks like it is part of a Mediterranean city. So, look at the building you want to photograph find the right angle and wait for the clouds to pass.

Hotel Bayerischer has five stars, and with that everything you need to make your stay as pleasurable as possible, with an addition of an old building feel. When you think about hotel and restaurant photography, what I find useful, is to think of everything like interior architecture. It’s all about objects, angels and light, and the balancing of those three elements.

hotel

Rooms and Plates

As I said earlier, the hotel is in a neoclassical building, but the design of the interior they played around with modern furniture, art, and different colored light. The rooms themselves are modern and crisp, and I always like to portray them full of light and clarity while at the same time accenting the features of the room. In the facilities of the hotel you can find the Garden restaurant, with a menu that offers both traditional and modern dishes, every serving is arranged to perfection and I found it difficult to destroy the arrangement by eating it. The wonderful food reflects the interior of the restaurant and this is something I tried to capture on the photos.