Photography Website critque

On this pirticular website it displays a work of her photography and also has the choice of veiwing the photographers portfolio, their biography, clients, contacts and more. I think having previous clients on the website helps with the photographers credibility and to see what the photographer is able to do. I like the work this photographer has displayed in his portfolio as well. It helps stir your interest in the work he does. I think that in using some of the more simple layouts such the one on this website it helps highlight the photo and makes you focus on the work that the photographer put much work into. Having the bio on the photographer helps you connect with the photographer on a personal level. I also think in general the website is very professional and gets your attention. 

http://www.hursey.com/about_los_angeles_photographer/about_los_angeles_photographer.html

A vignette is a tool in photoshop that allows you to place a dark border around the subject. It can add to a photo or hurt it and make it look cheesy. I sujest using this technique only when you have a simple photo. If you try to vignette a complicated photo there will be to much going on in the composition. On the other hand, if you use a simple photo then it can to the photo all while narrowing the focus onto the subject. In this photo the vignette focuses on the feather. The pattern on the material is just enough to make it interesting but not to busy. The vignette seems to open ones mind to maybe look into this photo as a metaphor for how one person is simply a delicate feather in a complicated world. Also this seems to be another photo

shop challenge and if you are not the most tech-sabby person then I sujest you pull out your photo shop guide book.

Useful Website

The National Geographic website has amazing photographs of various subjects. If you log onto the internet, go to the website, www.nationalgeographic.com. Click on the tab photography on the left side of the page. A list of topics should come up, ranging from history to travel and even travel/culture. Choose one and explore all the amazing photographs!

Manipulation Techniques

Photography is the process and activity of creating art. There are so many different objects and places just waiting to be captured in photographs. Once those objects and things have been captured, you have the ability to use different techniques and processes in an effort to improve your photographs. Photoshop is a computer program which allows you to manipulate or edit your photographs using different techniques. Photoshop allows you to collage your photos together. It also allows you to flip your photographs to black and white. Once the photo has been flipped, Photoshop then allows you to bring out certain specific colors in your photograph. These are just a few of the techniques offered by Photoshop. There are definitely more, just too many to list and describe in detail.

New Camera

I recently got a new camera the Cannon Rebel XSI and am really impressed with it. I am learning all the different settings and what lighting is needed to shoot clear photos with it. I am also adjusting to having a camera with an extended lens and zooming with the lens. I have found it easier to focus with this camera and to get better close up pictures as well. All together I think I will learn a lot from this camera and I will succeed in what I need to be doing.

Tips for Nighttime Photography

With nighttime photography a tripod is essential because photos at night need long exposure for the best photo and you are more likely to have camera shake. If you cannot use a tripod take many photos to compensate for the camera shake. Also, using the optical zoom on your camera can cause more shake. To help reduce camera shake you can use the self timer mode on your camera or a special lens. Flash may not always work with nighttime photography, so don’t rely on it. Also, if you have a nighttime preset on your camera and you are a beginner with nighttime photography use the preset to help you. If you add a full moon to your nighttime photo it can add a dramatic effect and bridges can be good photo subjects for nighttime photography.

Focus, Focus, Focus

Auto and manual focus can be blessings for every level of photographer.The focus on a camera is a wonderful thing that can help bring an extra edge to your photos. Auto focus is the setting in which the camera automatically focuses on a subject in a picture. The down side to this is that you might have to adjust where your viewfinder is shooting towards to get the camera to focus on what you want it to. Manual focus is the setting in which you must adjust the focus yourself. I would suggest manual focus only if you are having problems with auto focus. It takes master hands and sight to use manual focus. Many times pictures in manual focus come out blurry. In some cases this fuzziness may be what some photographer’s desire. They can then using photo shop to edit these photos and make them look different and more unique than sharper images that had been taken using auto focus. If a photographer wants a sharp image then they will most likely use auto focus, but if they want a fuzzy image or can’t get it just right with auto then they will use manual focus. Either way the availability to focus a camera is something that was not available when the first camera was invented and now today it is the basis of photography.

Changing Aperture

When shooting inside the lighting is not as clear as it would be outside. If you are in a dark lighting open up your Aperture to lighten your picture. To check if your picture will have good lighting, change your view format to view the Histogram. A well lighted picture should show the graph gathered in the center.

The Power of Black and White

In taking pictures and editing them, I've noticed that the use of desaturation (or turning a photo black and white) can be very useful. Sometimes in a photograph, color just isn't needed. For example, if I were to take a picture of a city street, with people, buildings, and traffic, I might not want to keep my photograph in color. If I turn the photo to black and white and up the contrast a bit, then bam! It's beautiful, maybe even more stunning than when it was in color. For me, black and white photos feel more real. They allow me to focus on the subject(s) and not their color.
Black and white is also useful when trying to make something look older. You can go all old-timey on your photo by turning it black and white. In an instant your masterpiece can look like it's from another era.

For example, in the photo of the VW Bug, I just did some minor editing. Since the car was older I figured I'd make the photo match. All I did was desaturate then fade said desaturation. The colors are then muted and the overall goal is achieved. Now for full desaturation. In this next photo, I chose to not put it

in color at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure I shot in black and white mode that day. In my opinion, if it

had been in color it would not have near the same effect.