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Architectural Photography: 7 Brilliant Images

Jan 092013

Architecture can be traced back to 10000 BC and the Neolithic Period. It has not been nearly so long that photographers have captured the wonders of architecture in their camera lenses.

Visionary photographer Frederick Evans is largely credited with influencing future architectural photography. His famous photograph The Sea of Steps utilized perspective and a strong sense of place.

Modern photographers have continued to push the envelope when it comes to architectural photography. Capturing the nuance of color in architecture, shape, pattern, and contrast has enhanced the art form and provided inspiration to the art community. Today, we look at 7 brilliant examples of architectural photography and credit the talented photographers who captured these images. All of these images are royalty-free, and would make fantastic wall art or graphic design elements.

A Wall of Colors – photographed by Shi Yali

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the world’s most famous bridges. Captured in monochrome to enhance its lines. By Ron Sumners.

Shape and Leading Lines are at work in this photograph of Ceramic Tiles architecture. Photo by Shi Yali.

A wild combination of light painting and architectural photography. This brilliant image of a parking garage at night utilizes time lapse and perfect exposure. Photo by Katrina Brown

The proverbial “Light at the End of the Tunnel” has a subtle twist in this image, which utilizes a slight camera tilt to add drama to the leading lines. Silhouettes of a man and boy lend additional interest. By Shi Yali.

A good choice for architectural photography is an edifice with character. This old church standing in isolation is enhanced by the clear path leading toward it, and the sense of nothingness surrounding. By Laurin Rinder.

The combination of an eerie blue lighting and the presence of the moon emphasize the architectural details of this old castle. Photography by Clivia.

When capturing architecture in your photography, consider shapes and leading lines and how they lead the viewer’s eyes into the picture. Sometimes a slight tilt to the camera can emphasize the strength of patterns. Utilize side lighting, which best captures contrast, when emphasizing the strength and details of the architecture.

For a much larger selection of images, we invite you to browse our architectural photography category at Warmpicture.

Evolution of a Stock Photographer

Photography, Stock Photography No Responses »

Sep 052012

Warmpicture photographer Steve Cukrov is a successful stock photographer whose career spans 3 decades. Today Steve outlines his evolution as a stock photographer, from learning what to shoot, to developing his skills in Photoshop.

“You say you want an evolution….”

I started this stock photography journey long before digital (1980’s). It never really took off for me. I couldn’t crack the big houses and between the two small regional agencies I was with, they only ever managed to sell one image. This one, a favorite on mine, was taken while helping to photo ID Gray Whales for a research project in Baja California.

Sunset, Laguna Guerrero Negro, Baja Sur (scan of a 35mm Kodachrome 64 transparency)

All of my beginning submissions to MS agencies in late 2005 were scans of trannies from those early days. Armed with only a Microtek Flatbed Scanner I began scanning my 35mm, 2 ¼ and 4×5 images. Much to my surprise many were accepted at the top sites and began selling right away.

This is how one of those first really questionable scans has evolved and continues to be a best seller. Scanned from a 4×5 Kodak Ektachrome transparency. Notice the lovely greenish cast.

Without any PhotoShop skills to speak of, not a clue about keywording, and no digital camera, I set out on this endeavor with optimism and a steep learning curve.

A few months later, as I began to figure out Photoshop and calibrated my monitor, I deleted that image and uploaded this new cleaned-up version.

Sales began to take off.

The next incarnation came with the advent and over use of the PS plug-in called ‘Flood’. This version did OK but version #2 remained the bigger seller.

The most notable change in sales came when I had a good hard look at the keywords I had chosen for the image after I saw it in use for an article on ‘Molecular Gastronomy’. That article provided me with some additional suggestions. But an even bigger boost in sales came when I made two additional changes.

The next version took even more PhotoShop Skills than I possessed a few years earlier.

It seems rather simple now, but at the time I had not done anything like this. Taking that original scan I kept the basic composition but took out the blue bottles top that was lying next to it. I then copied the top of the orange bottle and placed it on top of the blue bottle. I then created the reflection by duplicating the layer, flipping it and lowering the opacity.

This final version, as-well-as Versions #2 & #3, are all still online but this last version, online for the shortest amount of time, outsells all of them combined.

Another revitalization came when I found it in use for an Aroma Therapy site. Again I updated the keywords and sales have been even stronger.

The evolution of this image chronicles my own evolution from a film photographer to a digital artist. With a few tweaks and some revisions to keywords, I have managed to keep this image fresh and a consistent best seller.

6 Tips for Taking Great Baby Photos

Photography No Responses »

Aug 282012

Whether it’s for Facebook or the family album, everyone loves to capture and share photos of their babies. Some folk pay out to have their babies snapped by professionals in a studio, but with a little effort, a half decent camera – and nowadays most mobile phones have one built in – and the right conditions, almost anyone is capable of taking perfectly good baby photographs.

Here are six tips that will help you get those brilliant baby shots that will have your offspring squirming with embarrassment when you show them to their prospective partners later on in life.

1. Get the light right

Taking flash photography of your baby is a sure way to get them bawling (or wake them up if, by some miracle, they’re asleep. You’ll get far better results by making the most of natural daylight. Avoid direct sunlight unless you want photos of your baby squinting, and position your baby in light that is entering through a window. This will minimise the possibility of ‘red-eye’ and also give your baby a soft, natural appearance in photos.

2. Choose the optimum moment

Babies rarely tend to smile without some kind of external motivation, but choosing a time at which your baby is likely to be contented i.e. post-feed, post-snooze and post-nappy change gives you the best chance of them looking happy in photos – or at least not bawling their eyes out. Holding a favourite cuddly toy or something else that makes them smile out of the range of the camera gives your baby something to focus on and might even prompt that precious grin.

3. Photograph them against a blank background

Naturally you want your baby to be the star of the show and the focus of your pictures, so spread a plain blanket or rug on a well-lit patch of floor to provide a neutral background. If your baby if fair-haired (or doesn’t yet have hair!) a darker background will provide the best results.

4. Get up close and personal..

… but not close enough to upset your baby. Firstly, crouch or kneel so that you’re at their eye-level, then get as close as you can before finally zooming in with your camera to frame the shot.

5. Snap, snap and snap again

Once your baby is content, settled and conducive to taking decent photos, snap as many consecutive photos of them as quickly as you can. Stopping to check each photo before taking the next may result in you missing that unexpected smile or other priceless facial expression. Photography sessions with babies are inevitably short, so it’s an idea to cram in as many photographs as you can at a time; you can weed out the unwanted pictures later.

6. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your baby shots

If you’ve got the opportunity to experiment why not try taking photos of your baby from a variety of different angles? How about extreme close-ups of tiny hands, fingers, or toes? Black and white pictures can be just as impressive as colour shots. You can also see how different light conditions such as early morning or sunset, or the use of different backgrounds add different dimensions and moods to your baby photos.

This article was written by Baby Nest. Baby Shop London – Baby Nest is a well known baby retailer in the wider London area.

The Perils of Uncle Joe and his DSLR

Photography 1 Response »

Aug 222012

Now I’m a pretty patient kind of person, as is my wife Brenda- you have to be as professional wedding photographers. But sometimes the ‘army’ of amateur photographers that ‘rock up’ at weddings can be downright rude and obstructive.

On a number of occasions now we have had to contend with guests ‘muscling’ us out of the way to get their shots- and often whilst we are setting up official portraits and group shots!

Of course it’s only fair to point out the majority of guests are respectful and well mannered when it comes to getting shots; as with many things in life it’s the minority that give the majority a bad name.

The problem is that the overzealous minority often get in the way of pro photographers to such an extent that key shots are often jeopardized. What I find absolutely baffling is that are so often keen to ride on the back of the professionals by taking their own ‘versions’ of group shots and set up portraits.

Do they honestly think that they are going to improve upon what the professional can achieve in these situations? I think not. More to the point, what value will these photographs have for the bride and groom?

Before I vent too much spleen and potentially burst a blood vessel, I feel it worth offering some advice to couples that they should consider passing on to their guests- Let’s call it “Matt’s guide to wedding guest photography”:

Add a quick note to your invitations, stating that you would like to encourage guests to bring their cameras, but ask them kindly not to get in the way of the official photographers, especially during portraits and group shots.

Ask guests to try to capture ‘candid’ moments during the day. There are times when photographers will be busy setting up shots or taking a well-deserved break. These are the perfect times to capture natural interactions between guests.

You may also want to point out when the coverage for the pro photographers runs out, and then encourage guests to take plenty of shots after this time. This can really add to the coverage they will receive.

If you have a guest that’s really, really keen to get involved with the photography then suggest that they run their own DIY ‘photo booth’. Get them some props and costume items and a white wall at the venue and ‘voila’ you have yourself a cool little photo booth, and save yourself a lot of money in the process.

I appreciate that I may be a little controversial here, but frankly I don’t care- our job as photographers is to get the very best shots possible for our clients. Of course we do this in a courteous way and we genuinely go out of our way to be kind and respectful of guests. All that we ask is that guests reciprocate by respecting our position as the official photographers. We aren’t saying that guests shouldn’t bring their DSLR’s to weddings, in fact the additional photographs captured can really add to the coverage. We’re just politely asking them to not get in our way at key moments. And then everyone will be happy, won’t they?

About the Author

Matt and his wife Brenda, are Surrey Wedding Photographers, based in Croydon. Their style combines elements of fine art portraiture and documentary style work.

How to Become a Freelance Photographer

Photography No Responses »

Aug 212012

How to become a freelance photographer

Imagine having a job that allows you to wear your slippers at your desk. Where you’re not answerable to a boss and you don’t have to make small talk with annoying colleagues. Where you set your own workload and your work time. This is the Freelancing Dream and for many professional photographers, it’s a reality. However, like most dreams, becoming a successful freelance photographer doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes lots of hard work and determination because it’s not an easy path. Here’s how you can get that foot in the door and make that ‘free agent’ dream come true.

Create a website

Ideally, your clients should come looking for you, and not the other way round. The only way for that to happen is if they can find you. A big priority for any freelance start-up is to get your name out there, and the easiest way to do that is via the web. According to Photographers.co.uk, your website should essentially be an online portfolio. However, you need to keep in mind that you’re only as good as your worst photo. So be careful when selecting images to display. Ten top-notch photos will leave a much better impression than 100 mediocre ones.

Photographers.co.uk recommends that you invest a decent amount of time (and possibly money) into your website, as the more professional it looks, the better. For example, rather pay extra to have a domain name, than use a generic ‘build-you-own’ site. If you’re starting out, it can be difficult to get a killer portfolio together, but if you don’t have the content simply create it. You could set up shoots with willing friends, or track down upcoming models who will work in exchange for photos (which will boost their portfolios, too!).

Research

According to New Jersey-based freelance photographer Scott Wyden, to get ahead you need to choose a niche. It doesn’t matter what it is: weddings, children, animals, landscapes, or sports. Decide what you’re passionate about and work from there. It’s also wise to have a look at the competition to get a good idea about what you’re up against. Have a look online and find out what their rates are and who uses them. Also, for inspiration, you should contact successful, well-respected freelance photographers in your niche. Ask them questions and study them. Find out how they got to where they are.

Keep learning

An important lesson in freelancing is: never become stagnant. You need to keep up-to-date with the latest photography trends and techniques. There are a variety of courses online, from brushing up on your Photoshop skills to mastering digital photography. Some courses are even specifically designed with freelancers in mind; not only can they teach you about lighting and shutter speed, but they can also introduce you to the art of copywriting, marketing yourself and business skills. A few online courses offer Media Syndication Passes, too, which are invaluable for someone starting out.

Many people are becoming tired of the 9-5 grind, and creatives are no exception. It’s tough breaking into freelancing, but with a little persistence, it can pay off. It’s helpful to find a niche and follow those who have been successful. It’s all about knowing how to market your talent and your business.

About the Author

This guest post was written on behalf of Now Learning by Ang Lloyd. Among other things, Ang writes about the popular higher education courses from Now Learning.

5 Steps to Building a Social Media Presence

Blogging, Design, Photography No Responses »

Jun 242012

Whether you are a graphic designer, blogger, photographer, or any business entity, you need social media to get your name out there and create the proper image. But social media can be mystifying for people who are more comfortable in traditional activities related to their business. Where should you focus your efforts? Should you Tweet or Pin? And what the heck should you say in the first place?

In this article we will lay out our five favorite steps to building a social media presence. We will help you choose where to engage your customers, how to build your audience, and what methods you should definitely avoid.

Treat Social Media is Like a Party

The Hucksters

The path to success in building a social media presence is lined with land mines, misinformation, and grey hat techniques. With the importance of social media to virtually every business, comes the cottage industry of hucksters who promise instant success in social media if you give them your money.

You will do best to steer clear of these land mines. There are no overnight short cuts to building an engaged audience. If it sounds too good to be true, you can bet that it is.

Step 1. Focus Your Efforts

Being successful in social media does not mean being everywhere in social media. Whether you are on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc matters only to the extent that you are building a following.

“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” – Russian Proverb

In fact, trying to be on too many social media platforms will most likely spread your efforts too thin and lead to disappointing results. Choose two or three social media platforms at most, and do your very best with them.

Which ones should you choose? Most people start with the two most important players – Facebook and Twitter. But if you are building a following faster with Google Plus or LinkedIn, maybe that is where you should focus your efforts. Choose your social media platforms by who your target audience is, and where you have the most success connecting with them.

Step 2. Personalize Who You Are

Take the time to personalize your social media presence. On Twitter, this means having a custom Twitter background which tells a little story about you, and gives important information that won’t fit in your profile. On Facebook, it means having a good timeline image and a splash page for new visitors.

Taking the time to customize your social media home pages will greatly enhance the experience for your user base, while allowing you to convey important information about you and your business. Use this real estate to promote special offers, new blog articles, or anything which you think your audience would love to see.

Step 3. Think Quality of Connections, not Quantity

If someone is offering you 5000 Twitter followers if you give them $5, run in the opposite direction. It doesn’t work. Sure you will probably get 5000 new Twitter followers, but expect a lot of fake or automated accounts. At the very least, don’t expect customer engagement. These people are following you because they were paid to do so, not because they are interested in your business.

Engagement is key. All of the major social media sites, as well as search engines such as Google, use your engagement statistics to determine “how important you are.” If you have 30 people actively engaged and 300 followers, you will be viewed as someone with a modest following, but off to a promising start. However if you have 30 people actively engaged and 10,000 followers, you will be viewed as someone who can’t possibly be important because so few people care about your posts.

Focus on quality, not quantity. The ratio of people sharing your content and responding to your posts, compared to your total connections, should be high. Low ratios suggest that you are offering poor content quality, or worse yet, that you bought your followers rather than earned them. This will be frowned upon, and you will be sent to the bottom of people’s news feeds if you make it there at all.

Step 4. Be Consistently Engaging

Now that you have your social media presence established, you need to be consistently engaging. Treat social media similar to how you would act at a party. You wouldn’t walk into a party and start handing out business cards, would you?

Think in terms of entertaining people and solving problems. If your target audience are bloggers, can you help them generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block? Targeting graphic designers? How about a great Photoshop trick, or a tip on which stock photo agency is having a big sale? Can you help photographers take better pictures?

Determine what expertise you have, and how it can help your target audience. Mix in a little humor now and then, or an interesting link you found. And be patient. It takes a while for people to share your content and spread it around to their own connections. But once it starts to spread, you will grow your connections and eventually your business. Give it time.

Step 5. Connect With Important People

While there are no true short cuts to social media success, connecting with important people in your social space can speed the process.

This step is tricky to do correctly, and you will strike out a lot more times than you will hit a home run. Basically you want to do some legwork and identify the movers and shakers in your social media space. These are the people that your target audience look up to, and whose opinions they value. They typically have huge followings, and most of the time they follow only a select number of people.

Watch them. When they post a query that you have expertise in, jump right in and help them as best as you can. Most of the time this won’t end up helping you gain connections. But every once in a while, you will hit the jackpot. If the person finds your tip very helpful and thanks you for it, you can bet that a lot his or her followers will click on your profile to see who this new expert is. Many of them will connect with you, and your targeted audience will take a big leap in numbers.

Conclusion

Follow these steps and you will be way ahead of most businesses’ social media efforts. Just remember that growing your presence takes time and patience. Don’t expect overnight success. Work on it daily, and the results will come.

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1. Get the light right

2. Choose the optimum moment

3. Photograph them against a blank background

4. Get up close and personal..

5. Snap, snap and snap again

6. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your baby shots

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