February 2013
2 posts
9 tags
November 2012
2 posts
10 tags
July 2012
2 posts
13 tags
Shoot to.... Unflatter?
The internet is angry again, this time over Team USA Olympic athlete photos shot by Joe Klamar.
The set of photos showing some of the United States finest athletes showcases dubious lighting, odd posing and a complete lack of attention to detail. The question is why?
The photographer, Klamar is no amateur. A google search of his name seems to show that portraits may not be what he normally...
June 2012
1 post
14 tags
May 2012
5 posts
17 tags
Back up and be Secure
If only we had a super hero like Buzz Lightyear to take care of all our worries.
When you decide to become a photographer there is a lot more to think of then just which camera to buy and how the heck do I make Photoshop work. There’s insurance, contracts, model releases, advertising, profitability and amongst more an often over-looked one, computer security.
My boyfriend works as a...
14 tags
So easy to steal but so hard to live down
Stealing photos is nothing new in the online era but it doesn’t make creators of art any less angry.
Lately the internet has exploded with the story of a photographer taken down through social media after claiming someone’s photographs as their own. See this here.
Well a new case came across my facebook this morning, even more shocking because of the fact that they appear to be a...
12 tags
Keeping it Real
Good colour, exposure and a realistic print is important.
Photojournalists know this, they know that a photo moves into the future and becomes a piece of history. A photo is what we use to look back on our and others past.
Now, that is not to say that Photoshop and artistic edits don’t have their place, because they do. In fact I love to play with new techniques and to edit in more...
Summer's here!
Summer’s here and it’s time to get out and shoot in that beautiful weather.
Don’t forget to pack your reflector as that sun can be harsh on those beautiful days!
I also wanted to let you guys know I have started another blog and youtube channel just concentrating on photoshop. They won’t all be about photography as photoshop is a beast of a program with tonnes of...
April 2012
1 post
9 tags
Strike a pose
Most people hate having their picture taken, and the biggest reason for that is they hate the way they look in pictures.
All day we walk around and don’t give a second thought to how we look. Our minds happily control all of our expressions, no one notices when we make make unflattering faces or body positions because usually it’s only there for a few seconds. A photograph changes...
March 2012
1 post
Flickr finds
I have been slacking on the blog writing so I figured I would get back into the swing by posting some links to some great photographers on flickr. Check out their photo streams for some inspiration.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highwaytan/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/psoiree/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photorama_it/
Also here is a shot I did this week of notable Canadian Roy Bonisteel. He...
January 2012
4 posts
Back to it
Christmas break is over and it’s back to school.
This semester we do a class called staff class. The point of staff class is to basically mimic what it is like to work as staff on a deadline. We are given an assignment at the start of class then have until 12:50pm to have the work back edited and printed.
It’s a little hectic finding someone and getting it all done under a timeline...
December 2011
5 posts
Why bad light can be good for you
I am a huge fan of the website strobox.
I use the site for inspiration and to study how others use light. Since I can’t be behind the camera all the time it is a great playground for the mind.
The general quality of the work on Strobox is great. Occasionally, not so great work slips into the gallery and recently I heard a few people complaining about this. I am not one of those people.
I...
Merry Christmas
It’s Christmas eve everyone and hopefully some of you will be unwrapping new lenses and new toys this time tomorrow. Even if you don’t, enjoy the time you have with your loved ones and grab some shots of the fun.
As an update to my last post, TJ LeBlanc was asked to take down the display. Hopefully she can find a new venue in the future as the project really deserves to be seen. I...
Baggage
One of the big things we talk about at school is our own baggage. Not the camera bags and laptops and things that drag us down but our experiences that lessen what we can do.
One photographer Tj LeBlanc has turned this idea of baggage into a very cool project. Basically she has people strip down to their bare selves, no clothes, no make-up and no shame. She than has people write down what makes...
Smoking
Just wrapping up a project on smokers. The point of the project was to show the people that are affected by tobacco legislation. Ontario pushes more and more for a smoke free province, which leaves many smokers wondering what to do. Many do not want to give up the habit and even those who do have a hard time doing so.
Ontario also has some strange rules when it comes to smoking. Casinos and...
November 2011
4 posts
Portrait of a Firefighter
I got the honour of shooting a Quinte West Firefighter today in full uniform with his axe.
Matt O’Brien has been with the department for over 3 years now. He says this particular axe is his favourite as he has used it the most.
The great thing about this type of work is you get to meet all kinds of people and learn a little about their world. In the case of Matt, I had known him...
Just wanted to give a happy birthday wish to a good assistant and an even better boyfriend.
Here he is posing for me to test a light set up. Why the coat you ask? Well, I was setting up a shoot for two people and wanted to be sure the light would be somewhat even on both. You have to use what’s on hand in a pinch and testing your lights before the subjects get there is very important.
I...
Nine places to learn around the web
Never before has information, both good and bad been so accessible. The internet is jam packed with people and organizations doing nothing but teaching you things. Here is a list of nine places on the internet you can go to learn more about photography.
Strobox - Lighting diagram heaven! Real people share photos and lighting diagrams of everything from people to food. Learn from people’s...
8 tags
The More the Merrier
I got the chance to shoot a lovely couple this weekend, Charlene and Cory.
The great thing about shooting couples is the energy they bring to the shoot. It’s different than shooting other groups, as couples usually like each other and aren’t afraid to get close.
Sure there are more hands to think about, more shadows to contend with and another person to try and make comfortable...
October 2011
7 posts
17 tags
Tips to Keep it Sharp
When I first got into photography I relied a lot on the internet community to teach me things. The web is filled with helpful people who shared their knowledge and in that spirit I would like to contribute back. So here, I will share with you tips to get your photos sharp.
Use a Tripod
Perhaps the easiest way to ensure your photos are tack sharp is to get that camera on a tripod. Better yet a...
Tony Fouhse Speaks at Loyalist College
For it’s Pj students Loyalist College holds a weekly seminar where photographers and photojournalists come to speak to the students about life in a photographer’s world. This week students were shown the work of Ottawa photographer Tony Fouhse.
Tony says he is not a photojournalist, however his work while posed and lit, cuts to the heart of the story in a way most pj’s would...
15 tags
17 tags
Who needs a steady hand?
Shake like an alcoholic after a three day bender?
Sudden chill while taking that important picture?
Adobe announced at Adobe max conference 2011, that it may soon have the answer to keep even your shakiest photos sharp.
The new filter or adjustment looks like it could be the next biggest thing since content aware fill. Which is saying a lot because people are still reeling over that. This one...
16 tags
13 tags
Do you need a hair light?
Sometimes but not always.
I think the biggest thing about photography is that rules are there to be broken…when it adds to the image. First I think you need to figure why you’re breaking a rule and then you can use it to your advantage.
That said, I started playing with some lights the other day and just wanted to share the results. These two photos are straight out of camera and...
September 2011
4 posts
13 tags
11 tags
Nikon hits a new level of DOH!
For the purposes of full disclosure I’m a Canon shooter. Love my Canon, and I do whip out a few Nikon insults when the camera banter is running good. I never really mean them, both Canon and Nikon are good, my preference just runs with the white lens. However Nikon launched a facebook status update today that reached a new level of stupidity.
The update;
A photographer is only as good as...
13 tags
One Light, No Worries
I’ve been working on a project about musicians this week and wanted to share my light set up with everyone.
I decided to do tight head shots on white, quick and dirty. I also needed a set-up that could fit into a limited space. Some of the shots needed to be done on location. The tight space meant lighting could not be elaborate, which was fine with me. The more lights you add the more...
17 tags
It's a photography blog
So I know what your thinking, “oh god, another photography blog!”
That’s fair enough, but I’ll make you a few promises. I promise no pictures of my cat (mainly because I don’t have one,) and no couples stuck in a wedding glass (I’m a photojournalist.) If I break any of these rules feel free to report me to YourNotAphotographer.com
If you haven’t seen that site yet...
