Tips for Using Shadows in Photography |  |
- Tips for Using Shadows in Photography
- The Challenges of Lighting for Night Ice Climbing Photography
- How to Take Great Product Photos
| Tips for Using Shadows in Photography Posted: 13 May 2013 04:20 PM PDT Quick Reminder: Only a few days left! in the deal on: Seeing the Light Guide Bundle Photographers tend to pay a lot of attention to light. In fact, we often think of light as one of the most important aspects of photography. On the other hand, shadows may seem to be less important – simply a lack of light. This would be a major mistake — for light is nothing without shadows.  “Apple Store in 5th ave” captured by Jet Rabe (Click Image to See More From Jet Rabe) Shadows are not simply a dark mass that borders the light. Rather, shadows are an entity as alive as the light. It is the shadows that shape the light, draw attention to the light, and integrate with the light to produce striking photographic opportunities. If we are to reach our full potential as photographers, we must think as much in terms of mastering the shadows as we do of mastering the light. This article details five uses of shadows in creating dynamic photos.
Contrast and DramaOne of the most powerful uses of shadows is for the creation of contrast to produce a dramatic effect. People’s attention is automatically drawn to areas of high tonal contrast. However, tonal contrast can not occur without shadows. Thus, it is the interplay of light and shadows that creates the attention grabbing contrast. An example of this use of shadows would be a dramatic sunset where the sun punches through gaps in the clouds creating areas of light which are surrounded by dark areas where the cloud cover is heavy.  “italianità” captured by aenimation (Click Image to See More From aenimation) FocusShadows can be effectively used to focus a viewer’s attention. The shadows help focus the viewer’s attention by removing detail from the less important parts of the image. An example of this would be a dramatic portrait that uses light to illuminate the eyes of the subject but allows the rest of the face to fall into deep shadow. The shadow would help to hide the detail of the face. Thus, the viewer’s attention would be drawn to the eyes of the subject. Directing the AttentionShadows can be used to direct the viewer’s attention. This is because shadows often have a shape. When a shaped shadow points to the center of interest in a photo, the shadow will direct the viewer’s attention to the center of interest. Conversely, the shadows can surround an area of light that points to the center of interest. In either case, the photo is strengthened as the center of interest is reinforced by the use of shadow. Revealing FormOne of the most common uses of shadows is for revealing form. This often involves the sun, at a low angle to the horizon, casting long shadows across the terrain. Any irregularities in the shape of the subject or terrain will be magnified. An example of this use of shadow would be a low sun casting long shadows across sand dunes just before sunset. Revealing TextureSimilar to revealing form, shadows can be used to reveal texture. Again, this often involves the sun, at a low angle to the horizon, casting shadows across the subject or terrain. The main difference is that the photographer moves in close to emphasize the texture of an object rather that the form. An example of using shadows to reveal texture would be using setting sun to emphasize the ripples in the sand of a beach.  “Walton-on-the-Naze” captured by Chris Petty (Click Image to See More From Chris Petty) SummaryPhotographers are often urged to learn to read the light. However, reading the light is only half the challenge — one must also learn to read the shadows. About the Author For Further Training on Harnessing Light:We were able to arrange a deal for our readers on a photography guide entitled Seeing the Light for the next few days. The aim of it is to give you a good understanding of the main types of light used in photography. Learning how to harness natural light in your photography and then bring out the best of it in post-processing are key skills for creating incredible imagery. More details here: Seeing the Light & Post-Processing Guide Bundle Go to full article: Tips for Using Shadows in Photography |
| The Challenges of Lighting for Night Ice Climbing Photography Posted: 13 May 2013 01:43 PM PDT Photographing climbers can be tricky. Photographing with strobes on location can be tricky. Photographing at night can be tricky. But if neither one of those are challenging enough alone, try doing all three, at once. This is what photographer Ray Demski‘s latest project involves. And if it doesn’t sound hard enough all ready, he’s also shooting climbers on ice in what can only be assumed as very, very cold weather (for those reading this by email, the video can be seen here): With warm puffy jackets and thick gloves, Demski and his crew spend the day scouting out the location and setting up the lights for the shoot, but it’s not until the sun goes down that camera comes out. Remember that Demski and his subjects are professionals and that this kind of shoot shouldn’t be tried by just anyone. In fact, even if you are working with professionals, a good amount planning should always take place beforehand so that you are ready for any kind of situation. Here are some things to keep in mind while working on location in potentially dangerous situations:
 Always come prepared when shooting in potentially dangerous situations like this one Go to full article: The Challenges of Lighting for Night Ice Climbing Photography |
| How to Take Great Product Photos Posted: 13 May 2013 10:11 AM PDT If you’ve ever scrolled through a page of thumbnails while searching for products, you’ve probably noticed how much more inclined you are to take a second look at the goods displayed in a strong and clear photograph. An eye catching image can make all the difference when it comes to selling products online. You don't have to be a professional photographer to bring attention to your shop. These four tips will help you create great product photos that will spark your customer's interest and boost sales (for those of you reading this by email, the video can be seen here): Here’s what you’ll need:
1) Experiment Experiment with different angles by moving around your product.Take close up shots as well as shots from a distance. This is where a simple and clean backdrop or work surface will really make a difference.
2) Edit Your Photos If you can, upload your photos and use photo editing software to crop, color correct, and adjust the brightness and contrast of your picture.
3) Keep Products in Context Make sure that viewers can tell the size, scale, and use of the product.
4) Answer Questions Answer questions by showing the details of your product. Include pictures that can reveal the texture and unique qualities of your goods. It’s also helpful to shoot them with other items in your shop.
Use these tips to take great product photos and you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd! Go to full article: How to Take Great Product Photos |
| You are subscribed to email updates from PictureCorrect Photography Tips To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment