Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 @ 02:20 PM
Now that it's starting to warm up, we can look back at some winter shots. These images were taken on a hiking adventure of mine in Southeastern Wisconsin this past winter. I only snapped about 30 photos but these 3 images were definitely worth sharing. 
Feel free to share links or post your wintery images.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Oct 20, 2009 @ 12:11 PM
Pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume parties, haunted
houses – yup, Halloween is pretty neat. Now that Halloween is just around the
corner, Apollo put together some pointers to help you take great Halloween
photos.
Lighting
Halloween can be a difficult holiday to photography because
most of the festivities occur at night, when low-light conditions make it
difficult for your camera to get a sharp shot. The Golden hours are the best
time to take Halloween photos. For those few hours or so, you’ll have enough
light to forget the flash while still capturing the candle glow of carved
pumpkins and the flashy colors of costumes.
When night falls, turn up your ISO setting (400+) and turn
down your shutter speed. To forgo your flash, hold the camera as steady as
possible or have your tripod handy. Remember, the rich, dark colors of
Halloween are essential in setting a spooky mood. Try to eliminate using your
flash as much as possible. Halloween is not a bright holiday so let the dark
and creepy shots work in your favor.
Pumpkins
Pumpkins make for a unique Halloween subject considering
they only grow during the fall. Snapping pictures of them can be tricky because
in order to capture the glow from the candlelight you have to turn off your
cameras flash and have a bright glow.
Since the pumpkin is not going to move,
your best bet to get a very sharp image, is to use a longer shutter speed and
set your camera on a steady surface such as a ledge or step.
Also, if you have
a tripod handy that will be your best option. Don’t be afraid to use multiple
candles or different light sources to achieve the best glow from your pumpkin.
If your shots are only capturing the glow of the pumpkin and
not the outer shape, try creating makeshift lighting. You can do this by using
a flashlight raked against the outer hull of the pumpkin. This can generate
some very eerie lighting.
Composition
If you are photographing children, bend down to the child’s
eye level. Nothing makes a monster more imposing than looking up at the scary
countenance or looking directly into the eyes.
If you are shooting two people in costumes, get them as close together as possible. People tend to drift apart when they are getting
their picture taken. You want the opposite – no space between those monsters.
For more eerie effects try candid shots. The secret however,
is to get close enough to fill the frame of the subject. Another effect to try
is photographing a subject and in post-production tilt the horizon line to add
an eerie feeling.
Creative Ideas
When taking photos of carved pumpkins, try to look for
larger openings that allow as much light out as possible. Bigger openings will
also help if you want to cast shadows on bystanders for dramatic lighting.
Have an elaborate costume? Position your camera on a tripod
and document your transformation through makeup, costume, etc. Try to maintain
the same position in each photo for a fun effect as you flip through photos in
a slideshow.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Oct 13, 2009 @ 09:00 AM
As one of the largest photographic events existing today, The Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an awards program for the still image. The SWPA is a convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas, exhibitions, awards schemes, student programs and an industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle of the week-long event.
The Sony World Photography Awards Gala and central exhibitions that support the awards' nominees and honorees, occurs once a year in the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. The evening welcomes some of the most influential names in the photography industry, from press and media to gallerists, publishers, agents, critics, aficionados and the renowned artists themselves. As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards and, the most coveted prize, L'iris d'Or, given to The Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000.
When submitting your images there are 12 categories in the professional program, spread across 3 main photographic genres. Each photographer may submit up to a total of 10 images into a single professional category. Professionals will be judged on a body of images representing a photographic series or story. Professional photographers may enter bodies of work in more than one category.
The judging process consists of your images going through critical rounds of selections by the official Judging Committee, comprising selected World Photographic Academy members.
A shortlist of 7 photographers in each of the 12 categories will be selected and announced in February 2010. Of the 7 short-listed photographers in each category, three finalists will then be selected and named as either the first, second or third place winners of each category given. The announcement of the 36 total winners will be made in March 2010.
For the final stage of judging, one single photographer will be chosen by the Honorary Judging Committee from the 12 First Place category winners. This photographer will be announced and awarded in Cannes as the recipient of the 2010 L'iris d'or.
All 36 Category finalists, will be showcased as part of the official 2010 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes, published in the winner's book and announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Finalists. These finalists will also be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour, have the opportunity to be represented and promoted by the World Photography Gallery, showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2010 and much more.
The first place winner of each category will be flown out to Cannes, receive 2 nights accommodation in a luxury hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010. The winner will also receive week-long passes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 13th - 18th of April 2010.
For more information on the Sony World Photography Awards please visit http://www.worldphotographyawards.org/
Posted by Cory Grassell on Mon, Sep 21, 2009 @ 08:12 AM
I recently picked up the latest edition of Outside magazine (September 2009), which was an entire publication dedicated to photography. As an avid reader of the magazine, I always seem to get inspired when reading the various articles and viewing the numerous photos from adventurists around the world. Each article makes me feel like I have much living to do, that my life hasn't been filled to its fullest. After all, how can this be possible when outdoor enthusiasts are scaling rock walls, taking on high surfs, or backpacking rugged terrain? I thought I'd share a few of the magazine's suggested locations for the best outdoor-advenuture photo shots, so you can get inspired and possibly book your next getaway:
1. Best Top-of-the-World Shot: Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal - Ideal for capturing the Himalayan peaks and Sherpa smiles.
2. Best Rock-and-Ice Shot: Ouray, Colorado - Great for frozen waterfalls, red noses and dangling climbers.
3. Best Bird Land: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico - Catch sandhill cranes, snow geese, flycatchers and tanagers.
4. Best Whiteout: Antarctica - Your photo list will include icy sunsets, penguin close-up shots and Shackleton's grave.
5. Best Monster Waves: Pillar Point Harbor, California - Get close to the action of epic wipeouts, as surfers take on some of the biggest and best ocean surf.
6. Best Tornado Watch: Great Plains, U.S.A. - Be sure to visit Oklahoma, Kansas (especially Wichita) and Nebraska during late March through early July to become your own storm chaser.
7. Best Bear Market: Yellowstone National Park, Montana/Wyoming/Idaho - Perfect spot for seeing bison, bears and RVs.
8. Best Pony Up: Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland/Virginia - Get your camera ready for wild horses and empty beaches.
9. Best Reef Spot: Great Barrier Reef, Australia - You'll get in front of minke whales, hammerheads and giant cod.
10. Best Ansel Adams' Spots: Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park, Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park and Wonder Lake/Mount McKinley in Denali National Park.
For more tips about action or adventure photography, attend the Outside magazine workshop in Santa Fe and hear photo secrets of world-renowned Paolo Machesi, Jake Chessum an Jeff Lipsky. Visit outsideonline.com/workshops. Or hear about adventure filmmaking with award-winning director Michael Brown of Serac Adventure Films. Visit outsideonline.com/adventurefilmschool to learn how to capture the perfect shot, October 11-17.
