Hey, Eastside kids and parents! Looking for a creative way to keep your child engaged on a non-school day? Send your child to Silver Lake Photo Camp! We follow the LAUSD schedule and offer a day of learning when school’s out. Each camp day is structured around a different theme and concept in photography. We use lessons, games and photo walks to explain the concepts and give the kids a chance to stretch their creative muscles.
The photographer Danish Siddiqui joined the Reuters agency as an intern in 2010 and a year later, at the age of 28, became its full-time stringer in Mumbai. He concentrated at first on images of the city’s streets – colleagues recall how he often spent weeks getting to know his subjects in order to convey the truth of their lives. This picture of the chicken seller asleep on his cart is typical of his pictures of that period. Siddiqui graduated quickly to frontline news for the agency, covering the war in Afghanistan and the battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State. He received two Pulitzer prizes for his work: the first as part of the team covering the Rohingya refugee crisis and the second for his profound images documenting the spread of Covid-19 across the subcontinent.
That latter prize was awarded to Siddiqui posthumously. On 16 July 2021 he was killed by Taliban fighters in Kandahar province, having been embedded with Afghan special forces, one of 80 working journalists to lose their life in that conflict. He was 38 years old. A book of his photographs was published this summer to mark two years since his death, with proceeds going to his widow and two children. The book is, on every page, an expression not only of Siddiqui’s talent and his courage, but of his determination to give a human face to some of the world’s injustices. He was, by the accounts of colleagues, always a man with that mission. He said in a Ted Talk in 2014: “As a photojournalist, I am exposed to the best of humanity and to the worst and everything in between. My role is as a mirror; I want to expose you to the raw truth [of the world] and make you a witness to it. You can look away – or you can stand up and act for change.”
Feeling insecure?
Launceston photographer Tamika McCall, would suggest you step in front of a camera in a professional photography studio.
As a ‘boudoir’ studio, Ms McCall’s photography business aims to exude sensuality.
Backed by over a decade of experience in psychosocial health, Ms McCall, believes the sessions, which she described as more fun than sexy, do wonders for body image.
In 2018, Ms McCall, who has a background in wedding photography, started Tasmania’s first boudoir photography studio.
“When I saw what it could do for people, I just knew that I needed to create that safe space,” Ms McCall told Drive Northern Tasmania.
Ms McCall, 36, is one of multiple photographers around the country rewriting conventional beauty standards.
She says she does this by inviting people to honour their bodies in sessions of pampering, playful posing and dressing up in outfits they’ve chosen for themselves, from up to 400 pieces of lingerie or other clothing.
She says once she gets shooting with her clients, it is not sexy at all.
“It’s me showing them how to booty pop and rolling around the floor with them … and it’s a fun experience,” she said.
“I’m asking them to be vulnerable with me and to bare parts of themselves that they’re still trying to love.”
Ms McCall has just over 400 clients, plus an online community of over 1,000 “VIP members” who connect and share their journeys.
“I see so many traditionally beautiful body types in media showing skin, or appearing sensual.
“If we could increase the images we see of all body types in these arenas it would help all people feel seen and appreciated, or enough as they are,” she said.
“The media can have a massive impact on our internal automatic thought patterns and feelings that we play subconsciously, without even realising it.
“You’re coming in for you, you’re not coming in for a workplace or to get a new job. You’re coming in because you want to see yourself in a different light.”
Launceston woman and former participant in The Second Chance Biggest Loser, 35-year-old Latisha Butt grew up in the 90s — back when, she said, it was all about “how you physically looked”.
Saying she’s “always been a yoyo-er” when it comes to her weight, Latisha competed on and off in weight-loss competitions and hit the desired weight many times, but found she was never satisfied.
“Even though I was at my smallest, I was mentally not okay,” she said.
The day of her first session at Bonny Photography was in 2020, she said she was feeling so down after a break-up with her then-partner, she almost didn’t make it through the door.
But she said the session transformed her relationship with her body.
“Tamika got me on my saddest day, but still made me look and feel beautiful,” Latisha said.
On getting her photos back, external criticisms of her body continued.
Latisha said others commented on “un-photoshopped” aspects or “unflattering” angles. Although for her, having her authentic self represented in a positive way that celebrated who she was, was pivotal.
“It’s me, it’s who I am, and [those parts of my body] they’re part of me, that’s why they’re there,” she said.
Latisha also said she was proud to be challenging online norms of body image content.
“If somebody else who’s my size, or smaller, or bigger can learn to love their body as well just by seeing mine, then I’m okay with it,” she said.
According to various studies, including one by UNSW of 159 women in 2023, the negative hold social media has on body image has long been observed — with the online world being flooded by unattainable and narrow perceptions of the human body.
Another 2023 study, by BMC Public Health, found while many popular Instagram accounts offered credible fitness content, many also contained sexualisation, objectification or promotion of unhealthy or unrealistic body shapes.
But while thousands of influencers are upholding the beauty status quo, those like Ms McCall are fighting against it by flaunting diversity through their work, nurturing self-acceptance and sharing it all online.
The previously mentioned 2023 UNSW study found in just a two-week period, viewing even a small amount of body positive or body neutral posts on social media can reduce a woman’s body dissatisfaction and tendency to comparison.
Ms McCall said she works with people no matter what size, shape, or gender.
And on self-acceptance, she said lack of it was a common story often ending with regrets later on in life.
“I think all of us, when we think about when we were the hardest on ourselves, we’d look in the mirror and not be happy with what we’ve seen.
“Then by the time we reach 40, we think, ‘What was I thinking?’ We were so beautiful back then. We should have appreciated it more and loved our bodies more and been kinder to ourselves.”
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Shayan Asgharia never anticipated a career that would take him from shooting celebs – including the likes of The Roots, Lady Gaga and beyond – to the decidedly more niche space that is animal portraiture.
But lately, it’s been all in a day’s work for the Los Angeles photographer, 33.
And earlier this summer, a commission for a bald-eagle portrait ultimately ballooned into a larger series during Shayan’s visit to the wildlife rehab at Sweetbriar Nature Center on Long Island, New York.
There, he captured on camera a flightless bald eagle named Franklin, who’s been living at Sweetbriar for the past decade.
Looking back on his professional trajectory, Shayan can readily point to the moment that inspired him to branch out from human subjects.
It was during a photoshoot for Questlove’s blog Okayplayer in 2016 when a Dalmatian named Henry wandered on to the set.
‘It was an old Dalmatian, droopy face. The dog owner runs in, apologizing,’ he recalled.
Shayan assured the owner he didn’t mind before adding, ‘Actually, do you mind if I take your dog’s portrait real quick?’
The embarrassed owner, no doubt relieved at the warm reception of the pup, readily agreed.
On taking in the resulting photos, Shayan remembers thinking to himself: ‘I’m seeing something there that is not just a dog.’
The revelation ‘was the genesis of it,’ he explained of his professional foray into the animal kingdom.
What started as a passion project for the artist soon ballooned into a full-fledged arm of his practice.
That’s no doubt what led a Wall Street Journal photo editor to reach out to Shayan a few months back, asking him if he’d be able to rustle up a portrait of a bald eagle for a July 4 story about the history of the national symbol.
Shayan, determined to find an ethical means of photographing the iconic bird of prey, put out feelers via his Instagram.
When he learned of Sweetbriar – and that the center housed a bald eagle ineligible for release – he flew out to the East Coast on his own dime for the photo shoot.
The center treats and releases on average 1,000 creatures annually, and permanently houses more than 100.
During his visit, he ended up taking portraits of several more of its residents.
These included a fawn coming from a ‘Bambi situation,’ as Shayan put it, after losing her mom to a highway traffic accident and an American kestrel kept as a pet before being confiscated from a smuggler trying to sneak it across the southern US border.
Another rescued animal was a mallard who had been disfigured in a snapping-turtle attack.
Here Shayan has shared his stunning portraits of the center’s residents and the heartbreaking stories of how they ended up there.
Franklin: The flightless bald eagle who’s lived at the center for 10 years after falling from his nest
A good Samaritan found Franklin as a fledging on the ground on Long Island a decade ago, bringing him to Sweetbriar shortly after. It soon became clear that he’d broken his wing after a fall from his nest.
He turned out to have broken a wing – which seemed to be on the mend, until, in his aviary at the rehab, he tried to fly, crashed into a wall and again broke his wing, this time causing irreparable damage.
Ever since, Sweetbriar has been his permanent home.
‘Ten years ago, there really weren’t any eagles on Long Island. They’d just started making a comeback,’ Janine explained.
‘Now they’re more plentiful. But back then it was like, “Oh my god, we have to get him back. We need these eagles. It was really sad.”‘
That hasn’t stopped Franklin from thriving throughout the years at an outdoor enclosure at the center.
‘He is very vocal,’ Sweebriar’s wildlife-rehab director Janine Bendicksen told DailyMail.com.
The typical, epic screeching associated with bald eagles in the movies are in fact the noises of red-tailed hawks. So from Franklin, ‘you hear this chicken sound,’ Janine described.
Franklin got his name in honor – or rather, in spite of – founding father Benjamin Franklin, who’d originally wanted the turkey to be the national bird.
Shayan told DailyMail.com of his animal photography: ‘When you look at my work, you’re not seeing animals in nature… You’re seeing a portrait, a bust, which in my mind’s eye is a way to almost anthropomorphize these individuals.’
Chupa: The food-obsessed squirrel with neurological irregularities that prevents him from jumping
The resident Sweetbriar squirrel who goes by Chupa was among a litter of kits found in a tree that had been cut down.
Speaking to the number of rescued squirrels in similar situations, Janine reported that Sweetbriar had already raised and released 70 infant squirrels so far this year.
When Chupa came in, it was immediately clear something was a little off. ‘We saw he wasn’t really the same as everybody else. You know, friendlier, wobblier.’
While his siblings developed normally and eventually returned to the wild, Chupa found a permanent home at Sweetbriar.
‘He’s all over the place jumping, running, going up your leg down your leg all over the place looking for food. But he can’t jump from one perch to another perch – he will miss. So he obviously has some kind of visual deformity.’
Earlier this month, Chupa made a break for it, slipping out a crack in a door and getting lost on the property.
‘Long story short, we found him sleeping in some rose bushes out front … He’d chipped a tooth. It was like he was in a fight. “Yes, you’re not releasable.”‘
Shayan elaborated on his mindset when it came to capturing human versus non-human subjects on camera.
‘What I’m really known for, and what I started to understand, is that I love getting to know human beings, and sharing time and space with them,’ he explained of what drives his passion. ‘Photography is strictly a conduit to doing that.’
‘Now, that is honestly the same thing when it comes to animals. Because, what I’m looking to do with my animal portraiture, is to make human beings see animals the way they see other humans in portraits.’
Beaker: The mallard with half a beak who fell victim to a vicious snapping turtle
As a teen, Beaker fell victim to a hungry snapping turtle that removed a chunk of his beak and caused lacerations across his body.
‘A Good Samaritan witnessed him being attacked and was able to rush him to our hospital,’ wrote Janine of the incident.
‘On top of the loss of a substantial part of his beak, he also sustained some serious bite wounds across his body. At first it was heartbreaking, seeing his unsuccessful attempts at eating.’
The team, after ‘several days and multiple failures,’ eventually determined how to best feed Beaker, given his injuries – ‘and it works perfectly for him.’
The duck, Janine added, ‘will live out his days as a permanent resident of Sweetbriar Nature Center.’
‘He’s been through a horrible ordeal that would have ended most ducks lives, and yet has come out of it a loveable, personable, and extremely vocal duck that we’re all thrilled to have around,’ she continued, adding he’s become something of a mascot for Sweetbriar.
In his telling, Shayan experienced a profound emotional reaction to Beaker.
‘The thing is, when you see animals that have suffered some sort of injury, and have something going on with them… you can’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion with what they went through at some point, the trauma of what they went through at some point,’ he reflected.
‘But then, you’re also witnessing them living – I mean living. Beaker’s not walking around in pain 24/7…. If Beaker comes in looking like that, and I photograph him, and I’m interacting with him, I feel this immense love when I’m with them.
‘With animals, I have this quick sense of like, I see them as an innocent life. And that innocent life deserves respect and protection.’
The unnamed fawn rescued from the side of a highway after her mother was killed
‘This sweet female fawn was found wandering on a main road crying at 6:30[am.] The Smithtown Highway Department chased her into the woods, but after driving by again at 11am, they found her back out on the road, crying,’ Shayan wrote in an Instagram post of how the baby deer was rescued.
The department called up the rescue, and it turned out a mother deer had been hit and killed in the same place the night before.
She’s with other deer orphans at the rehab, and the plan is to release her back out on Long Island come this fall.
‘Godspeed, sweetheart; you took my heart,’ Shayan added.
The center regularly emphasizes to not try and ‘rescue’ baby deer unless it’s absolutely clear they’ve been orphaned.
Mothers regularly leave their calves alone while they forage for food for up to 12 hours before returning.
The rehab advises that fawns need help only if it’s known that their mom has been killed, they’ve been attacked by a predator or otherwise injured, flies are landing them, it can’t open its eyes due to ticks, or if it’s been crying for four or more hours.
Shayan spoke of photographing the fawn with particular fondness.
‘Knowing their story, and what had happened, and now being in this room where it understands – at least, from my anthropomorphization – I feel like you get a sense that this animal understands love and care,’ he said.
‘Because it’s not running scared from us… It’s coming up to us, wanting to cuddle. I’ve got photos of it pressing its head against mine. It was licking my hand.
‘Money comes and goes… that kind of moment is just priceless for me. ‘
Diego: The American Kestrel who thinks he’s human
The American kestrel known as Diego arrived at Sweetbriar through a former intern.
The intern had gone on to become a veterinarian who wound up providing his services at the United States-Mexico border. That’s how he came to meet Diego, when, in 2021, a smuggler was caught trying to cross into the U.S. with the falcon in the front seat of his car.
‘They had taken him out of the wild and kept him as a pet,’ Janine explained.
‘And that is illegal, for a bunch of reasons.’
By the time the veterinarian transferred Diego to Sweetbriar, he was imprinted on people, ‘which means he thinks he’s a person,’ Janine said. Other than that, there’s ‘nothing wrong with him.’
‘Since he thinks he’s human, he thinks we want to eat his food everyday… When we feed him, he goes to steal the food from you, and he’s like, “Get away from me, this is mine.” It’s interesting,’ she explained.
Shayan further spoke about his broader approach to DailyMail.com: ‘I want humans to look at these faces, the same way you would look at a Time magazine cover….
‘It’s how we make sense of the world, right? When we can recognize something. I want you to recognize an element of your humanity within that other animal.’
Stitch: The red-tailed hawk who lost an eye and a wing in a tragic truck accident
One early fall morning in 2013, Stitch was hunting for food when a tractor trailer ploughed into her on the highway.
The truck kept driving, but someone who’d seen the collision took Stitch and her wing, which had detached from her body, in a jacket and delivered her to Sweetbriar.
At first, Janine thought it was hopeless. ‘I thought she would have to be put down,’ she said. Likewise, the vet at first suggested euthanasia.
But, Janine correctly reasoned, given Stitch’s youth, she’d be able to learn to live without part of her wing, and just the one eye. ‘It’s like us living without a leg – the younger you are, the more able-bodied you become,’ she explained.
‘She has quite a charming personality for a bird of prey,’ Janine added.
Shayan said of photographing visibly impaired creatures: ‘You have the heartbreaking moment of knowing what kind of trauma this creature went through.
‘But, while you have to understand that to respect the history of the individual, you also have to stop and see that this individual is thriving, given whatever situation they’re in now.’
Click here to donate to Sweetbriar Nature Center. For information on booking a slot during one of Shayan’s upcoming pet-portrait sessions, contact him here.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been quietly transforming photography, altering how we shoot and edit images. While more attention-grabbing technologies like Adobe’s Generative Fill feature in Photoshop have caught the eye, AI’s subtler integrations in the photography field are playing a significant role. Here are five ways AI is invisibly enhancing your photography … Read more
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been quietly transforming photography, altering how we shoot and edit images. While more attention-grabbing technologies like Adobe’s Generative Fill feature in Photoshop have caught the eye, AI’s subtler integrations in the photography field are playing a significant role. Here are five ways AI is invisibly enhancing your photography experience.
Modern mirrorless cameras utilize machine learning algorithms to improve autofocus capabilities. While traditional autofocus systems rely on contrast detection and perspective analysis, a parallel process fueled by machine learning models is now at play. This AI-driven processor interprets the scene in real time, identifying subjects such as faces, objects, animals, and more. Cameras equipped with face and eye detection can lock focus on recognized subjects, providing improved precision and ease of use.
Smartphone cameras produce surprisingly high-quality images despite their small sensors and lenses. This is made possible by dedicated image processors enhanced with machine learning. Before the shutter button is even tapped, the camera system evaluates the scene and makes decisions based on detected elements, such as portraits or landscapes. After capturing multiple images with varying exposures and ISO settings, the processor blends them together, making adjustments based on scene recognition. The result is photos that rival those from larger-sensor cameras, achieved through the seamless integration of AI-driven image processing.
Image editing software has been utilizing machine learning-based people recognition for some time. Applications like Google Photos, Lightroom, and Apple Photos can easily identify specific individuals in photos, enabling users to locate images containing certain people quickly. This technology extends beyond photography to video editing, where programs like DaVinci Resolve can also recognize people in video footage. Additionally, facial feature recognition allows for more accurate selections and targeted adjustments in editing processes.
Auto-editing controls in photo software have evolved with the help of machine-learning models. For example, in Lightroom, clicking the Auto button in the Edit or Basic panels triggers Adobe Sensei’s cloud-based processing technology. The AI analyzes similar images in its database and applies relevant edit settings to improve the image. Other applications, such as Pixelmator Pro and Luminar Neo, offer similar AI-driven automatic editing features, giving users a starting point that can be further customized.
Machine learning technologies also assist photographers in quickly finding images without the need for extensive keywording. Many photo apps now employ object and scene recognition to scan images in the background or in the cloud. This allows users to perform searches based on recognized elements, such as landscapes, buildings, or animals. While not as precise as manually applied keywords, this AI-powered search feature saves time and streamlines the image retrieval process.
As AI-driven features become more integrated into photography tools, photographers are benefiting from improved precision, automatic adjustments, and simplified image searches. From camera autofocus to smartphone image processing, machine learning plays a crucial role in enhancing the visual experience for both professional and amateur photographers. Embracing these AI-powered capabilities allows photographers to focus on their craft, knowing that the technology is working seamlessly to enhance their creative vision.
HICKORY — This summer the North Carolina Museum of Art partnered with The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory Boys and Girls Club through the Artist Innovation Mentorship outreach program (NCMA AIM) by offering photography classes.
The classes were presented with photographer Jane St. Clair, assisted by artist Melissa Crosson, who is the coordinator/liaison for the NCMA AIM program in the western part of the state.
The community is invited to attend a photography exhibition featuring the Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp participants. The exhibit will feature two or three photographs from each participant and will be open to the public on Thursday, Aug. 10, from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in the fellowship hall of The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory Administrative Building, located at 750 Third Avenue Place. SE, Hickory. Come out to celebrate these students and the art of photography.
The Salvation Army is a global nonprofit organization founded in 1865 by Catherine and William Booth. Every day The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory and High Country strives to meet human needs throughout Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties.
To support your local Salvation Army, send contributions to P.O. Box 1167, Hickory, NC 28603, Attention: Andrea Beatty; call 828-322-8061; or donate securely online on The Salvation Army of Hickory website, salvationarmy.org/hickory.
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Landscape photography is a pursuit that requires patience, dedication, and a persistent mindset. From waiting for the right conditions to refining compositions during challenging moments, as landscape photographers, we face a range of experiences that test our resolve. This article delves into the significance of persistence in landscape photography, exploring how embracing unfavorable conditions can benefit our skills, how enjoying the rewards of successful shots can continue to benefit us long after the shoot, the importance of how considered post-processing and printing of our banger combine and contribute to help us become a successful landscape photographer.
One of the essential skills in landscape photography is the ability to wait for the perfect conditions to capture breathtaking shots. These conditions may include the golden hour, favorable weather, or the alignment of natural elements that create an awesome composition. Experienced landscape photographers understand that patience is key, as waiting for the opportune moment can result in awe-inspiring and ethereal images. Remember, it is better to capture a single remarkable photograph in ideal conditions than to rush through and produce mediocre shots. While many of the amazing shots we all see from other photographers look like they just rocked up and took the shot, the truth is that there have been many failed shoots beforehand, many mediocre images, and, most of all, many opportunities for each photographer to either give up or learn from each experience .
Despite meticulous planning, us landscape photographers may encounter situations where the conditions are not ideal. Whether it’s unexpected rain, overcast skies, or harsh lighting, these moments should not be seen as setbacks. Instead, consider them as opportunities to refine your compositional skills and experiment with new techniques. Every challenging condition presents a chance to develop adaptability and creative thinking, which are invaluable assets for any photographer. A strong image consists of many elements and if we use the opportunity of “bad conditions” to fine-tune and lock in that banger composition, then we have removed one of the element challenges, all that’s left now is to wait or try again when the conditions are exactly as we wanted.
Frustration can be a natural response when confronted with uncooperative weather or persistent challenges. However, it’s essential to maintain a positive mindset and remember that every landscape photographer faces hurdles. By reframing setbacks as learning experiences, frustration can be transformed into motivation. Keep in mind that even the most renowned landscape photographers encountered many failures before achieving greatness. These failures could have been in the same location or in a totally different location, nonetheless by embracing the challenge and opportunity each presented, it helped to drive them on to succeed even more. For those of use that have chased a moon shot, for example, we know that it can only really happen once a month and more often than not clouds can spoil the party and the unobstructed view of the moon shitting on top of our subject. In times like this it is key to not give up, you will have another chance in approx 28 days, so just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and wait until the moment presents itself again.
During adverse weather or lighting conditions, resist the temptation to give up and pack your gear. Instead, use these moments to focus on composition. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing techniques. Pay attention to foreground and background elements that can enhance the overall impact of the photograph. The more you practice fine-tuning compositions during challenging conditions, the more proficient you’ll become in capturing captivating shots under any circumstance. Then, of course, when the best light or conditions do come, you are ready and armed with the knowledge that you have done your homework, and now, all that’s left to do is catch that banger shot.
When the right conditions finally align, relish the moment. Take a deep breath and absorb the beauty of the landscape before you. Allow yourself to immerse in the surroundings, creating a stronger connection between you and the scene. Being present in the moment enhances your ability to capture the essence and emotion of the landscape, resulting in more profound and impactful images. After all, most of us landscape photographers love being out in nature, so it’s important that we relish that moment and don’t just view it from the back of the camera or in the viewfinder, but instead see it for what it is, an amazing spectacle and a moment that we have waited and exercised patience possibly many times to experience. It is ok to let out a scream of joy at this moment, but, of course, not before you catch that elusive shot first.
Post-processing is an essential aspect of landscape photography. While it can be tempting to immediately share your images, dedicating time to process them thoughtfully will significantly improve the final results. Picture the scene, you finally got that shot, you rush back to your computer, load up the raw file into your processing software, dial in your settings and boom, you finally have it. The key, however, is to let it cook for a while, let your eyes adjust, and enjoy the image for yourself for a while before sharing it online. Once it is online, your edit is dialed in, and there is nothing worse than having that defining shot posted online only to discover a rouge dust spot or worse still, your colors were off, highlights blown, or dark shadows full of noise. During post-processing, you have the opportunity to fine-tune colors, contrast, and other elements to bring out the true essence of the landscape. Use this time to enhance the mood and atmosphere of your photographs, creating visual narratives that resonate with viewers and also yourself for years to come.
In the age of social media, there is a tendency to share photographs immediately after capturing them. However, it’s crucial to resist this urge and take some time before sharing your work. Allow yourself a cooling-off period, during which you distance yourself from the emotional connection to the photograph. Revisiting the image later with a fresh perspective will enable you to make more objective judgments and potentially identify areas for further improvements.
After dedicating time, effort, and patience to capture the perfect shot, the sense of accomplishment can be incredibly rewarding. Embrace the joy of a successful shoot and celebrate your achievements. Sharing your work with fellow photographers and appreciative audiences can strengthen your passion and drive for landscape photography. The endorphin release that we all feel when receiving any accolades is mostly short-lived. In the modern age, an image passes by the viewer’s eyes quite fast, and unless someone sees it there and then, it may not register. A good practice it to share this image more than once, as you will have new followers who join your network after you have shared it at that time, and you will want them to also see this shot(s). A good idea is also to re-share this shot when another shot reminds you of it, or even once a year at the time of year you finally managed to capture it, then the reward systems can start all over again.
In today’s digital era, many photographs remain confined to screens and hard drives. Printing your images elevates your work to a new level of appreciation. Seeing your photographs come to life on paper brings a sense of fulfillment and allows you to experience the details and textures that might get lost on a screen. Additionally, displaying your prints allows you to share your vision with others and potentially inspire fellow photographers and art enthusiasts. Doing this at home is a great way to remind you of the feelings, hard work, sounds, the exact time you hit that shutter button. It can also serve as a great motivator for you each time to pass it in your hallway, living room, or wherever you decide to hang it. And finally if you have a visitor to your home/workplace you have a great subject to talk about and relive and share off of the emotions that came with grabbing this shot.
Persistence is the backbone of landscape photography, guiding us photographers through challenging conditions and enriching the rewarding moments. By embracing unfavorable circumstances, fine-tuning compositions, dedicating time to post-processing, and cherishing the journey, us photographers can elevate our craft and create impactful images that stand the test of time. Remember, persistence is not just about the end result; it is about the dedication and love for the art of landscape photography.
Now, I know you have had challenges and rewards like I mentioned above, so share your story in the comments below and let’s chat.
The phrase “shooting a moving target” certainly has more than one connotation, especially coming from an ex-military combat photographer. While I’ll be using examples from my time in the U.S. Air Force, we are specifically talking about photography. I’ll be sharing my top 6 action photography tips for run and gun photographers.
Capturing action, and telling a story of motion with your still photography can be tough. But we’ll break down my top tips, tricks, and formulas so you can capture better action shots. It’s a lot more than cranking your Shutter Speed to 1/4000th of a second and snapping away with a continuous high burst mode. So let’s jump right into this action photography tutorial.
Action photography, sometimes known as an action shot, refers to capturing a photograph of a moving subject in a way that conveys motion to the viewer. The idea of showing a moving subject with still photography may sound quite contradictory. But don’t worry, this article is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques to take your action shots to the next level.
When capturing action shots, anticipating the subject’s movement is key. For example, pre-focusing on where your subject will be instead of where it currently is may make the difference between a sharp or blurry shot. If your subject is moving in a straight line from point A toward point B, you can anticipate that your subject will arrive at point B. Thus by setting your focus at point B, you won’t be chasing your subject, searching for focus (and likely missing the shot) when it arrives.
What is chimping? Chimping is a term used to describe when digital photographers look at the back of their LCD screen after every single shot. It’s a silly term derived from the monkey-like “ooohh” and “aaahh” noises made by photographers admiring their every shot. Another reason is that monkeys also enjoy inspecting everything. Don’t be a chimper!
If you’ve already set the proper exposure, and the lighting conditions haven’t changed, there’s no reason to stop shooting and check your LCD after every shot. You could be missing valuable moments while you’re too busy admiring your photos. There’s plenty of time to view all of your imagery at home at 100% resolution after the photoshoot. That’s not to say never look at your LCD — find a balance, but don’t miss the next shot chimping at the last shot.
I approach all action photography situations the same, whether I’m shooting sports, cars, or a military training exercise. Before starting, we need to know the “rules” of the game. If I’m photographing a basketball game, for example, there are literal rules: two teams of players on the court alternate putting the ball in the net. Our action is confined to the width and length of the court or how high the players can jump.
Military action can be approached in the same manner. We commonly used sports to practice capturing action shots. The fast pacing of sports helps one prepare for the rapid movement of military personnel and equipment. Also similar to sports, I was on a team (unit) with objectives (missions) to complete. Having a relative idea of troop positioning, movements, and tactics are quite similar to sports plays and strategies.
Sure, rules can absolutely be broken. If you’re familiar with Murphy’s Law stating: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” you know things don’t always go according to plan. In sports, a basketball play may leave the court and punch a fan. In the military, equipment may break or an ambush occurs. While these are typically the exception, they may lead to unplanned photographic opportunities.
As I said earlier, there’s a lot more to action photography than cranking your shutter speed to 1/4000th and calling it good. Sometimes a slower shutter speed can be used to emphasize motion in an action shot. Using a technique like panning, when done properly, will freeze your subject and add motion blur to the background. Additionally, you can utilize a flash with rear-curtain sync to add a little more “pop” to the subject of your panning shot.
This may sound like common sense, but then again common sense isn’t always so common. This concept can be as simple as having enough fully-charged batteries or formatted memory cards at the ready, the moment you need them. You’d be surprised how many photographers show up to an all-day event with one battery or one memory card…
This also means being able to take a photo from the right location at a moment’s notice. If you’re too busy changing lenses, buying a hotdog, or chugging a beer, you might miss out on some action shots. Heck, you may even be on the wrong side of the field during the tie-breaking point, if you’re not in position and ready to shoot.
This could potentially be a life-saving tip for photographers. It’s easy to get tunnel vision through that 70-200mm lens when there’s something awesome to be captured in front of you. Being situationally aware means knowing what is happening around you at all times. Is there heavy equipment moving in the area? Is your camera bag in a safe spot, where it won’t get snatched? If you step back, will you get sucked into a running turbine engine?
When I was photographing military action, it was critical to know what was happening in my surroundings, since my imagery, and at times my life, depended on it. I’ve watched as another photographer was nearly crushed by a taxiing B-52H Stratofortress bomber because he was so focused on a shot of an aircraft at the other end of the runway.
I like to break action photography down into two approaches or theories: shoot and move or compose and wait. There are Pros and Cons to both, but all of the 6 tips I shared earlier can be applied to these theories. There is no right or wrong way to capture action shots, so take all of this information and apply it to your own shooting style as you see fit. Let’s start with the idea of Shoot & Move.
This is run-and-gun photography in its most literal form. With this capture style, we are physically following our subject, hoping for a serendipitous clash of light, composition, and moment. The pro of this shooting style is you may capture an amazing moment while chasing the action. After all, you are in the action and giving a POV (point of view) perspective, which can be powerful.
The biggest con is also that you are in the action. In addition to being possibly dangerous, you may find little time to stop and compose your shots, leaving you with a lot of blurry frames.
It sounds simple; find great light, compose your shot, and then wait. When your subject enters the frame you’ll capture a well-composed photograph of the decisive moment with great light. Sounds like the easiest way to go about capturing action shots, right? The obvious pros are that you have precise control over your lighting, focus, and composition.
However, what if your subject never makes it into your frame? All of that preparation was for nothing. Additionally, you may miss out on other great shots because time was spent sitting… and waiting.
About the Author: JT Armstrong is an award-winning military photographer and is currently the video director for the U.S. Space Force. He runs the Youtube channel RunNGun Photo that focuses on sharing photography tips, tricks, and hacks. This article was also published here.
Nowadays, your website is one of the most important parts of your photo business, and as such, it is well worth putting a lot of time and effort into making yours as good as possible. If you would like to make sure yours is as good as possible, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer discussing a common mistake creatives make with their websites and how to ensure yours rises above the rest.
Coming to you from Katelyn James, this excellent video tutorial discusses the importance of careful curation of the portfolio you present on your website. This is a very common mistake that even experienced photographers make (and I have certainly been guilty of it). The important thing to remember is that when people view a portfolio, it takes several good photos to make a solid impression and make the client feel comfortable contacting the photographer, but all it takes is one mediocre photo to give them doubt and cause them to move on. It is easy for us to become emotionally connected to images for a variety of reasons or want to show off photos that took a lot of work to create, but it is important to remember that those things don’t matter to potential clients. Be ruthless in your curation and remember that quality is always better than quantity. Check out the video above for the full rundown from James.
AI has caused a ton of excitement and controversy in the last year, and the photo industry has not been immune to it. This has led to many creatives wondering how the role of the professional photographer will evolve under the shadow of AI. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this interesting video essay discusses the future of professional photography with the evolution of AI. I think Choucino makes some interesting points regarding other groundbreaking technologies, such as the Brownie camera and the shift from film to digital. All of these were seen as death knells for the industry by many, but, as we know, photography continued to grow and thrive. Now, that is not to say that these did not have an impact, and surely, they even put some professionals out of business. However, the photography industry is not unique in that sense, and the onus is on professionals to read the industry and adapt as needed. While not to diminish the impact AI will have on the industry, there will always be the need for photographers in many capacities. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
