This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (18-24 Jul ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

This week our photography assignment took us into the heart of the home when we went In the Kitchen. The kitchen is so often the source of fond memories. The baking, the smells, the smiles… all of it reminds us why the kitchen is the heart of the home. Our winner this week was Carina for the shot of the incredibly cozy mugs. There was just something about the strong leading lines, the reflection, and lighting that drew us to the shot. Not to mention those are some cozy looking glasses! Then we had a 3 way tie for the runners up. So, in no particular order (and with a bonus photo), first up we have zetson’s Kitchen with a View. This lovely old looking kitchen really suited the treatment well, and the composition was spot on. And that’s definitely a gorgeous view! Next up we have gunners67’s Washing Dishes in a Flash. We really liked the motion blur in this shot and the details really kept our eyes entranced in the shot. And last, but not least was Lesedi’s Kitchen is the Heart of the Home. The bright colours, the well thought out setup, and the entire concept really just caught our eyes. And those letter magnets definitely bring back memories.

This week we’re continuing the kitchen theme with What’s in Your Refrigerator? Is it leftovers, dessert, perhaps something you forgot about long ago that’s about to grow legs and walk out on it’s own? This week we want you to be creative with what you have and show us what’s in your fridge. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo has to be taken between 14 – 28 July 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: What’s in your refrigerator” and the date that the photo was taken. Third, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s helpful if you can include some of the main details (including camera, lens, ISO, shutter speed, and aperture) in the text of your message. Next week we’re going to start a series of assignments aimed at working on capturing motion blur. So the first of these assignments is Water in Motion. While waterfalls are probably the first thing to come to mind, there are many subjects that can fit this topic, some even in your home. So think about how you would capture water in motion.

Hot Threads

• Third Annual Worldwide Photowalk: Depending on where in the world you are, you may have already been and gone, but this is the third year for the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. If it’s just turning the 24th where you live, why not check and see if there’s on in the area. And if you’ve been and gone, why not come share your favorite photo over in this thread.
• What’s Your Current Level: If you were to think about where in photography you currently rate yourself, what would your current level be? Are you a casual hobbyist? A serious hobbyist? A moonlighter? A full time professional? While these are just a few ways you could rate yourself, why not come and share what level you’re at over in the forums.
• Appearance vs Client Expectations: If you aspire to be a professional photographer or you’re just starting out, you might wonder if the way you look can have an impact on your ability to conduct a photography business. If you’re a professional photographer, come share your experiences with how and if appearance matters in the photography profession.
• Wedding Photography Etiquette… For My Own Wedding: Normally we wonder what we should be doing as photographers, but think about it from the other side. What happens when you’re the bride? How can you make sure that you get the photos that you want in the style you want? And what happens if you want to photoshop the photos in the end? Is that possible? Come offer your advice and suggestions for those on the other side of the lens.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (18-24 Jul ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 June – 14 July)

Weekly Assignment

We finished off our “On the Go” assignment this week. It’s never ending, work on this, update that, meet this person! we’re always “on the go!” SO I thought it might be interesting to see your take on the theme, and as well as that, as Nicole mentioned last week, we have a nifty little G-Tech Mobile drive to give away which made me think of the theme – a great little, portable drive that requires no external power and can be with you when you’re, you guessed it, “on the go!” – Enough of my rambling!! On to the winner!!

(And the runners up) In first place with a “Shrek says he’s late” is notsoslim who now has an extra 500GB of portable storage space from G-Technology! Congrats… (and give that child a hug!) In second place, we have JaiCatalano with (what I’ve called) “New York Minute” a great photo! and our second runner up is Obijuan with “Rolling shave” (Another one I named myself, sorry!)  gutsy effort right there! Congratulations to all of you.

This week, our assignment is “In The Kitchen“ I don’t know about you guys, but I sure spend a lot of time photographing my kitchen or me in my kitchen etc, so I had a few images to choose from! Is there something unique about your kitchen? Think outside the box, take a photo that you don’t think anyone else will take – just make sure it’s taken between July 7 – July 21. As always, a quick reminder of the rules since you have to follow them if you want to be in to win the drive. First, your photo must have been taken between July 7 – July 21 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: in The Kitchen” and the date that the photo was taken in order to show it is eligible for the contest. Finally, it’s helpful if you can include some of the main points such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens, camera, etc. Remember, only 1 entry per person. Next week’s assignment will be “What’s in your refrigerator?” Leftovers, dessert, or perhaps a forgotten science experiment?

Hot Threads

• The Interactive Exposure Triangle This is exactly what it says on the tin, an interactive exposure triangle – you adjust the iso, aperture and shutter speed and watch what happens to the exposure! a great post by sk66
• Image Storage : What happens after RAW? Space, as Star Trek would have us believe can really feel like the final frontier sometimes! With huge file size and so many images, we’re bound to run out sometime! So what should you do if you shoot RAW? Develop the image and then bin the RAW file? Archive the RAW file? How? TO what format?
• Do Something Meaningful : Volunteering & Photography You’re a photographer (pro or not) and you want to make a difference somehow, you want to put a smile on someone’s face with your craft, but how can you do that? Join in the discussion!

Big Thanks to G-Technology for letting us give away one of their awesome little drives – there will also be a mini review coming of the same drive very soon!

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 June – 14 July)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (4-10 Jul ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

We finished off our Eighties assignment this week. Most of us remember them. Some of us may have blocked them out and others may not have been born. But there sure are a lot of iconic images that represent the eighties. Our winner this week was duna’s Rubik’s Cube. Although these are making a huge comeback lately (along with a lot of other eighties items), they were definitely popular in the eighties. This one won hands down. The entire image was really well thought out and executed. The colorful lighting, the skewed camera angle, the staging, right down to the square crop. We all just loved this shot. Our first runner up was neurotek’s Red Record. In the eighties, DJs started to gain almost rock start status. This shot is of a quintessential DJ turntable that neurotek used to practice while DJing throughout the eighties and nineties. This shot had great colour and your eye is just drawn to the bright red. And last, but not least was phillj’s VCR disaster. Oh, the days of VCRs… this kind of thing doesn’t really happen with DVD’s. Sure, they can get scratched, but you never get that mess of tape! This shot conveyed a great expression and certainly reminded us why the DVD revolution was so welcome! Well done everyone!

This week, our assignment is On The Go, and as we also mentioned last week, we’ve got a great little give away to the winner of this week’s assignment! The winner will grab themselves a great little external drive from G-Technology! ….but, to win that, you have to submit your best “On The Go” photo… We’re always on the go, doing something, going here going there! Hurrying businesswoman, Late for work commuter, rushing postman… we’re all “on the go”. As always, a quick reminder of the rules since you have to follow them if you want to be in to win the drive. First, your photo must have been taken between 30 June – 14 July 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: On The Go” and the date that the photo was taken in order to show it is eligible for the contest. Finally, it’s helpful if you can include some of the main points such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens, camera, etc. Remember, only 1 entry per person. Next week’s assignment will be In the Kitchen. You can get very creative in kitchens, so make sure you show off that creativity.

Hot Threads

• Post your BEST fireworks shot from 2010: In the US, the 4th of July is filed with fireworks. So that means a lot of you have probably taken that opportunity to capture these fireworks in your photos. Over in the Share Your Shots forum we want you to share your best fireworks shots from 2010. Who knows, you may inspire someone to try in 2011.
• Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed: Exposure Triangle Simplified: Are you confused by the exposure triangle? Are you still not quite sure how everything works together? If you’re struggling to get those settings under control you might be interested in this thread over in the forums which gives you a very hands on way to learn about aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
• Photography on a Budget: Is it Even Possible?: You may have found that the photography hobby can really eat into your wallet. But does that mean that you can’t enjoy it without a lot of money? What happens when your desire for new gear runs into the limits of your wallet? How do you cope? What ways do you find to keep photography interesting while still working with what you have or at the very least, not breaking the bank?
• Share Your Top 3 Monochrome Shots: It can be hard to see in black and white when the world around us is in colour. One forum member is trying to make a conscious decision to take more black and white photos. And to do this, she’d like you to share your best black and white shots for inspiration. So pop on over to the forums and share your best black and white shots.
• ioSAFE Split Winners Poll: Vote before 6pm GMT, 11 July: We recently ran a contest over in the forums where the prize was an ioSAFE drive. Well, the votes resulted in a tie. So we’re having a tie breaker. Head over to the forums and vote for your fav to help us pick a winner.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (4-10 Jul ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (27 June – 3 Jul ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

The middle of the day is usually considered one of the worst times of the day to try to take pictures because of the light. Which is why this week’s challenge was to take some Mid-Day Portraits. Let me say, seeing some of the entries in this assignment, the people who say you shouldn’t take portraits in the middle of the day must have never seen photos like these because of they had… well… who wouldn’t want to take photos in the middle of the day! Our winner this week was sunwrites‘ Elderly Woman Outside a Temple. This was actually the first shot submitted in this week’s assignment and we were just absolutely blown away. The textures on her face accentuated wonderfully by the light. The details are rich, and the expression tells such a story. One of our judges said this was an image that stuck in her mind throughout the assignment. This one simply must be viewed larger (click on the photo to do so). Our first runner up was redwasabe’s Folk Singer. The rich colours, the way the sun was falling on the subject, and that fantastic smile, well, you can’t help but smile yourself when looking at it. It’s a wonderful portrait. And last, but not least was Caroline’s High Key image of her daughter. It’s a bright, sunny image that just works wonderfully with the light. It creates a wonderful, fun portrait that suits a child so well. Well done everyone!

This week, step back in time because our assignment is The Eighties. You’re welcome to interpret this assignment how you will, think big hair, glam, bad lighting and terrible makeup if you’re looking for a place to get started. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 23 June – 8 July 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: The Eighties” and the date that the photo was taken to show that it’s a valid entry for the contest. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main information such as camera, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc. Our next assignment will be On the Go. This assignment is a special assignment because our winner will receive a G-Technology G-DRIVE mini, which is a 500GB portable hard drive. There will be some extra information about the assignment available when it’s posted next week, so keep an eye on the Assignments Forum for all the details.

Hot Threads

• Have You Ever Wanted to Quit?: Sometimes you just want to throw down your camera in frustration. Maybe it’s because you had a bad shoot, maybe it’s because your gear isn’t giving you the amazing pictures you think it should be. But whatever the case, sometimes it makes you frustrated and the only thing you can think of is giving up. If you’ve ever been there, why not come share your experience and how you got past it over in the forums. Maybe you’ll inspire someone else to keep going.
• Would You Keep a Lens You Almost Never Use?: And if you haven’t given up, you’ll probably find that as your photography hobby continues you’ll start to have a growing lens collection. So, what happens when you wind up with a lens that you don’t use very often? Do you keep it? Do you sell it? How do you decide? Come share your thoughts over in the forum and help out a forum member who’s trying to make that very decision.
• What’s the Point of a 10-24mm Wide Lens?: You may also find as you continue in your hobby that your lenses will become more specialized. But if you’re just starting out, you may wonder what particular lenses are good for. This question showed up in the forum recently about ultrawide lenses. What do you use them for? Come share your uses over in the forum and share your own creative uses.
• Best Camera Under $250?: Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on a camera. Thankfully, there are a number of good quality cameras that are not only affordable, but also take good pictures. Come share your suggestions of good cameras that are under $250.
• What Would You Do: If you’ve got some spare time over this Independence Day weekend, you might want to try your hand at our post-processing challenge, What Would You Do. This challenge gives you a chance to edit another forum member’s photos and teach everyone else a little bit about your post-processing process. Check out the thread for all the details.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (27 June – 3 Jul ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (20-26 June ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

We wanted you to look at things a little differently, and to do that, our assignment was on Low Angles. Getting down close to the ground can give a different perspective to your photo. It might make the subject look more powerful or even more whimsical. Overall, changing your perspective from the usual 5-6 foot vantage point can really help add interest to a photo’s composition. Our winner this week was phillj’s motorcycle rider. This is one of those shots that helps add a feeling of power to a shot. Getting low on this photo not only showed that photographing motorbikes from a low angle works great, but also that it can really add a different mood to a shot. Our first runner up was tzk333’s cityscape. This shot was nice and crisp, and combined with the cool colours and good composition it was definitely a winner. This goes to show that getting down and adding to the foreground in a cityscape can really help to capture the feeling of the city. Not necessarily because it shows the height of the building, but also because it can help show its character at a more personal level. In this case, you get to see a more human based side with the people coming down the walkway. And last, but not least was skoggiel’s cat. We all know that cats have a superiority complex, and the low angle really helps emphasise that. This shot has some really nice warm colours, and the depth of field concentrates on the lower features of the face. Although the general rule is that you want to focus on the eyes, with the lower perspective this sort of focus works perfectly. Well done everyone!

We also started a new assignment this week, and we’re focusing on Mid-Day Portraits. We’d all love to shoot during those golden hours during the day, but sometimes it isn’t feasible. So this week, show a portrait using one or more of the 3 techniques mentioned in Darren’s blog post. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 16-30 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Mid-Day Portrait” and the date that the photo was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s helpful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc. Next week’s assignment will be The Eighties. This idea comes from that “lover of eighties music”, Sime. What did you look like? What did photos look like? What did cameras look like? Take us back to those glorious days of parachute pants and shoulder pads, big hair and Cabbage Patch kids , Back to the Future and E.T., Madonna and MC Hammer, early Nintendo and huge mobile phones, etc. Have fun with this one!

Hot Threads

• Doing Black & White Right: 3 Methods: While there are probably dozens of different ways to convert colour photos to black and white, OsmosisStudios has shared a great tutorial with 3 of the most common ways to convert to B&W. If you’ve ever wondered how to get better black and white photos, this thread will be a wealth of information for you.
• How to Photograph a Jump: We’ve all seen the photos of people jumping. In fact, just a few months ago, we had a jump assignment over on the forums. But how do you do a good job of capturing those jumps? Come share your tips for photos of jumping over in the forums.
• What 2 Places in the World Would You Want to Take a Self Portrait In?: It’s a pretty straight forward question. But say you could go anywhere. Absolutely anywhere. And once there, you can take a self portrait. Where would you go? Would it be to the top of Mount Everest? The bottom of the ocean? Some tiny little village at the end of the world or a suite at the top of a luxury hotel in a major city? Come share your 2 locations and tell us why over in the forums.
• Fast Lenses?: If you have an SLR of some sort, you may have come across the term fast lenses. Fast lenses refer to lenses with a wide maximum aperture. But what is the benefit of having these kind of lenses? Obviously if there were no constraints on price or manufacturing we’d all have them. But why is the shallower depth of field seen as a good thing? If you’ve ever wondered or you’d like to offer your opinion on the subject, pop on over to the forums and share your thoughts.
• What Would You Do: We’re back with another week of WWYD, our post-processing challenge where you get the chance to edit another member’s photo and show them how to do something they may not have expected with it. Whether you’re new to post-processing or could photoshop in a new hat, you’re welcome to participate in these threads. And if you’re in the mood for another challenge or game, pop over to the Games & Challenges area of the forum and see what catches your eye.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (20-26 June ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (13-19 Jun ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

This week was we finished up the first of a series of more composition-based assignments with our Dutch Angle Assignment. Dutch angles, also called “Batman Angles” by some, are where the horizon is set at an angle, usually to create a sense of tension or dizziness. Our winner this week really captured that feeling effectively. ktsdz’s shot of the gymnast on the balance beam was crisp, clear, and really fit the assignment because of the tension that it created. Our first runner up was BusinessDog, whose comic book take on things was really interesting with Rorschach from Watchmen. It really looked like it could be right out of the pages of a comic. And last, but not least was something almost the total opposite of our first two winners, hawthorne17’s little girls. This shot is an example of how a dutch angle can be used to create a feeling of whimsy and fantasy rather than seriousness and tension. Great colours and a fun composition really made this one stand out to us. Well done everyone!

We also started another composition-based assignment this week. We want you to get down low for our Low Angle Assignment. Getting down low gives you a different perspective on what you usually see… especially if you’re looking at things that are already low to the ground. And that new perspective can offer a very interesting new viewpoint. As always, a quick reminder of the rules before you get started. First, your photo must have been taken between 9-23 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Low Angle” and the date that the photo was taken in order to ensure that it’s eligible for the mini-contest. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points like aperture, ISO, shutter speed, camera, lens, etc. Next week’s assignment will be Mid Day Portraits. Taking good portraits in direct sunlight can be tricky even for experienced photographers, so this should be a good experience. If you’re looking for some hints on how to accomplish this week’s assignment, why not have a look at this blog post.

Hot Threads

• Continuous Shooting or Anticipation?: When you’re taking action shots of people or animals moving, it can be hard to get the right shot, the right focus, and the right timing. So how do you get these things? Do you try to anticipate the action or do you just spray and pray? Come share your tips for getting good action shots and accomplishing the balance between continuous shooting and anticipation.
• 10 Couples Photography Tips: Have you ever been asked to take photos of a couple? What happens if you’re not a portrait photographer? You might say “no” or you might decide to try it anyway. But if you’re looking for some tips, why not start out over in this thread where there are 10 tips for taking photos of couples. Why not add a few more if you have some?
• Underexposed Indicator Blinking in Manual Mode: When you start learning external lighting, there are a lot of new things to learn about. One of those things is figuring out how to meter your shots. You might find that your camera’s meter tells you that your shot is underexposed when in reality, with the lights it’s not. But then how do you compensate for that when your camera’s meter tells you one thing and the shot tells you something else? Come read the advice and add your own over in the forums.
• 5 Steps to Better Composition: One of the main things you want to consider (especially when you’re just starting out) is how to compose your shot. There are a number of different things you can do when you’re composing a shot to get a “pleasing” shot. But don’t forget, just because there are various rules of composition doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations when it’s helpful to break the rules. In order to do this effectively though, you’ll probably want to know what rules you’re breaking since it will make it even easier to learn why and how it works.
• How to Ask Someone to Model for You: If you’re trying to get into portrait photography, one of the difficult parts might be getting people to actually model for you. After all, you don’t want to be creepy, and it can be kind of nerve wracking, so how in the world do you get people to agree to let you photograph them? Come read the hints in this thread and add your own to help people who are struggling to get models.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (13-19 Jun ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (6-12 Jun ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

This week we took the time to photograph the memorials of those that have gone before us in our Cemeteries assignment. Cemeteries can be peaceful, creepy, and even famous. They may be famous for the people buried within them or for things that have taken place there. But the interesting thing is that more often than not, they are a place filled with stories, both those you create for yourself and those created and lived by others. Our winner this week was Evn1ngStar’s “IR Cemetery”. It has an almost surreal look about it because although the stones are the typical look we would expect in a cemetery, the trees and grass are totally different. This is the result of an infrared photograph. Overall, we really liked how surreal it looked, and the stones really stood out against the background in a way that might not have been possible with a colour shot. Our first runner up was Steves Shots’s “Rest in Peace”. The tones, perspective, and lines all lead you to the main subject of the photo, creating an interesting look at the details that all come together to form a good shot. And last, but not least was Penary’s “National Cemetery”. The rows upon rows of military graves along is just heart-tugging for the sheer number of people who have been casualties of war. This shot has great lines, and the fog in the distance along with the colour of the flags really sets it apart. Well done everyone!

This week we also started a more technical assignment which focuses on the use of the Dutch Angle Shot. A Dutch angle shot is one that utilizes camera tilt in order to portray psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. The horizon is at an angle to the bottom of the frame, and while many shots are static shots utilizing an obscure angle, it can also be used in moving shots by pivoting, panning, or tracking along the established diagonal axis for the shot. You’re not limited in your subject or your choice of colour or post-processing, so make sure to use the technique to the best of your ability. It can be tricky, but if you do it right, you’ll be surprised with how effectively it can convey a mood. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 2 – 16 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Dutch Angle Shot” and the date the photo was taken or it will not be considered in the mini-contest. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, camera, lens, etc. Next week’s assignment will be Low Angle. We want you to get down low, lie down even. Think about how your subject will look if you’re shooting close to the ground, and see if you can come up with an interesting new viewpoint.

Hot Threads

• Need Motivation: If you’re not faced with a deadline to finish post-processing your photos for a client, you might be faced with a problem of trying to motivate yourself to go through all 200 shots you took when you walked through the park, or 400 shots from that great show you went to, or 150 shots from your walk to work. So how do you motivate yourself to do something with those shots so they don’t just sit on your computer. Come share your advice over in the forums.
• Describe Photo Processing to a Client: If you’re running a photography business, you may have a charge as part of your service for processing your photos. But how do you explain what that means if your client asks? Come read how other people have explained it and tell us how you explain it to your clients.
• Client Wants to be Facebook Friend: Say you’re contacted by a potential future client who you’ve never met before, and they want to become your friend on Facebook. How do you handle it? Do you direct them to a fan page? Do you maintain separate profiles for yourself and your business? Do you tell them “no”? What is the best way to handle it while remaining comfortable with the level of sharing you’re doing on Facebook?
• Finding and Using Portrait Locations: Whether you’re taking portraits professionally or you’re just getting started, you’re going to need somewhere to take these photos. But how do you find locations? And how do you use these locations effectively? Come share your thoughts over in the forum.
• What Would You Do: Come join us over in our weekly post-processing challenge where you get the chance to edit another forum member’s photograph. Whether you’re new to post-processing, or you could photoshop in an old hat, you’re welcome in the thread. The goal is to show people a new way to look at their photography while helping both you and the other person to learn.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (6-12 Jun ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 May – 5 Jun ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

We spiced things up around the forums with our latest assignment, Spice. There were many different ways that spices were used and there were a lot of very creative entries. But we managed to have an easy time picking out the winners this week. Our winner was thebubblybeginner’s “Oh la la” or the smoking chili pepper. This shot was very memorable. The curling smoke enhanced the pepper nicely. Although the hotspot on the pepper was a little distracting, overall, it was a very well put together and executed shot that demonstrated a lot of creativity and skill since the pepper and the smoke were not put together in photoshop. Our first runner up was a_brewley’s “999″ or the cinnamon sticks. Although there were many shots of cinnamon sticks, this one stood out. The photo gets in close, and the focus has been carefully controlled along with the composition of the cinnamon within the container. And last, but not least was eos550d.com’s “Spice up your day”. This shot took the idea of the assignment very literally, but it was carried out well. The lines from the blinds really add some extra spice to the lighting as well! Well done everyone!

This week we started our Cemeteries assignment. You may find them peaceful, somber, or creepy, but they’re a place where you can take a photograph that not only can tell a story, but can also capture all kinds of feelings and emotion. Consider whether to take a wide angle landscape, a closeup, or something else. Consider whether to keep it in colour or black and white. Consider what kind of lighting and time of day you want to take the photo. All of these things will help contribute to the mood and the story. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 26 May – 9 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Cemeteries” and the date the photo was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, etc. Next week’s assignment is Dutch Angle Shots. If you’re wondering what that is, you may have come across it during the film noir assignment. A Dutch Angle is “a cinematic tactic often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. A Dutch angle is achieved by tilting the camera off to the side so that the shot is composed with the horizon at an angle to the bottom of the frame” (from wikipedia). This assignment may be tricky since not all subjects lend themselves to this disorienting look and it is often criticized when it’s overdone. The point of the assignment is to understand how different shooting angles can create different moods, so make sure your subject matches the mood of the shot. Good luck!

Hot Threads

• Shoes for Photoshoots: What do you wear?: If you’re an event photographer, or you’re aspiring to be one, you might realize that you’re going to wind up spending a lot of time on your feet, so those cute shoes are probably not comfortable enough to wear, and your comfy shoes probably aren’t event appropriate. So what do you do? You find advice from people on a photography forum about shoes that not only look appropriate, but are also comfortable enough to walk around in for hours at a time. Come share your own recommendations over in the forum.
• Photographing People in Public: Reactions?: If you’re photographing people in public (for example, if you’re into street photography) you may experience all kinds of reactions. But what kinds of reactions should you expect? Come read the advice and thoughts from people over in the forum.
• HDR Tutorial: Have you ever wondered how to take and create a HDR photo? You might have read about it online somewhere before, but if you prefer learning by seeing, why not check out this great video tutorial over in the forums.
• What Catches Your Eye in a Logo?: Whether you’re making money off of your photos or simply sharing them online, you might be considering making a logo to place on your photos. But what kind of logo should you create? One that is simple? One that catches your eye? And what about a logo catches your eye? Come join in the discussion over in the forum.
• Long Term Storage Format: One of the things that we have to worry about with digital photography is the potential problems with long term storage. File formats change, programs become obsolete, manufacturers stop supporting particular cameras, and of course, there’s the possibility that the media that you stored your photos on may become obsolete too. So what’s the best way to store your photos to make sure that you can still access them 10, 20, or more years down the road? There may not be one best solution, but there are a lot of possibilities in the discussion over in the forum, so come have a look and add what you can.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 May – 5 Jun ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forum (23-29 May ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

We saw a lot of different Fences in this week’s assignment. Fences can be meant to keep things out or keep things in. And although often we try to avoid focusing on fences in photographs, this week we wanted you to show us how you could use them to create an interesting picture. Our winner this week was Steves Shots‘ Cold Winter Morning. The lines lead your eye right through the frame, and the fog and black and white really give it a mysterious and allots eerie feeling. Our first runner up was slsphotos‘ Fenced In Daughter. She said that when she saw her daughter standing like this, with the writing on her hand, it immediately took her back to that adolescent feeling of being fenced in. And the combination of the physical and metaphorical fences really made it stand out to us. And last, but not least, our final runner up was alsalmi’s Red Fence. In this shot, the bright lights really help make the photo. This, combined with the way the top rail curves and leads you into almost another realm really makes it a winner. Well done everyone!

This week, things are getting a little spicy on the forums with our latest assignment, Spices. Whether you take this word as a noun or in a more descriptive way, it’s up to you. Just remember that if it’s a little too descriptive it might be better suited to the nudes forum. Remember to consider not only your subject, but also the composition and lighting when creating your shot. As usual, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 19 May – 2 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Spices” and the date that the photo was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, like shutter speed, aperture, camera, lens, ISO, etc. Next week’s assignment is Cemeteries. Whether you find them peaceful or creepy, they are usually fascinating for some reason or another. This week we want you to show us your perspective on cemeteries. Try a wide angle or a close up, try it in black and white or colour, take it in the morning or the evening, it’s all up to you. Try to give us a shot that really stands out. And next month, watch out for some more technical assignments.

Hot Threads

• Unique Father’s Day Ideas: Whether or not you’re in one of the countries that celebrates Father’s Day in June, if you’re looking for a unique way to present a special guy with a Father’s Day gift or you’re just looking to add some gifts for guys into your available products, why not stop by this thread and see some of the recommendations that are there, and add your own. After all, it’s not easy to find ways to use photos that aren’t keychains and coffee mugs sometimes!
• How Do You Sign Your Work?: Painters sign their paintings, and some photographer’s sign their photos. But if you’re just getting started you may wonder what to use to sign your photos. Come check out the recommendations in this thread, and if you use something different, why not let us know!
• Does Megapixel Count Really Make a Difference?: Cameras are getting higher and higher megapixel counts, but aside from being able to make larger prints, how much of a difference does the number of megapixels really make? Is it all about the megapixels, or is it more about the composition, lighting, and overall photograph?
• Canon 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8: If you’re starting out with prime lenses, you might wonder which focal length is right for you. This is a discussion that comes up a lot, and it often boils down to personal preference. But if you’ve been struggling to decide between a 50mm lens and an 85mm lens, you might find some useful advice in this thread.
• What Would You Do: One of our popular threads each week on the forum is our What Would You Do threads where you get the chance to edit another forum member’s photo. These threads are a great chance to practice your post-processing skills and also show the person who took the photo a new way to interpret the post-processing. So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, why not stop by the WWYD thread.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forum (23-29 May ‘10)

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (16-22 May ‘10)

Weekly Assignment

Things slowed down a little this week with our Still Life Assignment. We wanted you to create a scene and photograph it. The goal was to think of every little detail that you wanted in or out of the shot and focus more on making the shot before taking it. Our winners this week were people who really understood the goal of the assignment and created some wonderful still life shots that would rival those you see in paintings. Our winner this week was one that had a very classic feel to it, Adriana_G’s Pears. The mixture of the cut and uncut fruit along with the slight browning of the cut fruit gives it a really interesting texture, and the grouping of 3 pears is also mimicked by the 3 seeds within the cut fruit. Not to mention the deep rich colours. It all comes together to create a wonderful still life shot. Our first runner up created an image that is almost the total opposite of what you expect in a classic still life, but is a much more modern still life that really stands out. Our first runner up was pascalbovet.com’s Fork ‘n Spoon. It has a very hard, edgy, and high energy look that really just caught our eyes. The way the colours and textures are reflected in the flatware helps take away the idea that it’s flatware at first, and then you can’t help but realize that these are very familiar shapes creating a new, interesting image. And finally, last, but not least was gomommygo’s White on White. This shot is simple and clean, and technically, very well done. Sometimes photographing white objects on a white background is difficult. But this shot goes to show that when it’s done right, it looks great! Well done everyone!

If you’re debating about whether or not to participate in an assignment, you may be thinking you’re on the fence. But Fences are just what we want you to be photographing for this week’s challenge. They may be white picket, they may be imposing metal, but we want you to show us your new take on this common subject and make it stand out. As usual, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 12-26 May 2010. Second, your photo must include the words “Assignment: Fences” and the date that the photo was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. Next week’s assignment will be Spice. Whether you take this word as a noun or in a more descriptive way it’s up to you. But just remember that this is a family friendly forum. And remember, just taking a shot without thought rarely results in an interesting image. Every assignment is about composition and lighting in addition to the subject we’re asking you to photograph. Best of luck!

Hot Threads

• Quick Tips for Macro Photography: Macro photography is easy to get addicted to, but can take a long time to perfect. Come share your hints, tips, and tricks for shooting macro shots over in the tutorial section of the forums.
• Consisten Product Photography: As we learn, one of the difficult things is to get good results constantly. In this thread, a forum member is seeking advice about how to get consistent results on product photography using a set of lights. But help is still needed in getting the shots consistent. Come share your advice on both product photography and lighting over in this thread.
• Entry Fees for Photography Contests: Some contests have them, others are free, but which are better to enter? Do all good contests require an entry fee? Are there good free contests out there that still have good prizes? Is it a scam to charge for photography contests? Join in the discussion over on the forum about your views on contests that charge.
• Why Are My Photos So Soft?: We all dream of getting shots that are sharp in all the right places and the background is just right. But what happens when your shots always seem soft? It may be technique, or it may be that post-processing is required. But fear not, with a little work, your photos can be just as sharp with a combination of good technique and post-processing. Come read some tips in this thread about how to get sharp looking photos.
• What Would You Do: Summer may be on it’s way in the Northern Hemisphere, but down in the Southern Hemisphere, we’re just heading into colder weather. But either way, if you’re choosing to stay indoors this weekend, you might be interested in our weekly post-processing thread where you get the chance to edit another forum member’s photo. See the thread for all the details and information about how you can have your photo put up for editing.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (16-22 May ‘10)