Focus Stacking

 This week I wanted to write about a photography technique that I recently started playing with that I learned during my recent View Camera Theory class.

Every seen a photo in a magazine ad for a new watch or other small item and wondered “How do they get the entire item in such sharp focus?” They use a technique called Focus Stacking so that every part of that Rolex is in razor sharp focus, from the numbers and hands on the watch to the band attached to it.

Focus Stacking is where you set your camera up on a tripod so you are nice and stable, then you shoot the product or item, changing your focus point but not moving the camera or changing the focal length.

This is 5 captures of the same scene but with different focus points.

 By shooting multiple captures on the product with a different part in focus each time and them combining them in Photoshop, you end up with a finished image that had every part of the watch in sharp focus with high detail.

Once you have captured your images, import them into Lightroom and then go to the Develop module and activate your Len Profile Correction. Once you have that done then select all of the images in the group that you shot and select the Photo menu item, then go down and select “Open as Layers in Photoshop.”

Once they are opened in Photoshop, select all of the Layers at once, then click the Edit Menu and choose Auto-Align Layers. Then when that has completed, click the Edit menu again and choose Auto-Blend Layers. When the process has completed, you will have a single new image where everything is in sharp focus and with high details.

All 5 shots from above combined into this Stacked image

Now all you have to do is save the new image and you are done. Focus Stacking is a lot of fun and can give you fantastic result so grab your trip, cable release and tripod and give Focus Stacking a try!

Comments/Questions

How to Make Your Camera Battery Last Longer

Most cameras these days can take quite a few photos on a single charge, but this week I am going to share some tips for getting more life and more shots out of the camera’s battery.

1.) GPS - This is a unique feature that a lot of new cameras have these days, but unless you need to tag your location during a shoot, keep this item off. In the course of a day, GPS can drain up to 20% on your battery.

2.) WiFi - Again this is another neat feature to have on a newer model camera, but unless you need to actually use it, keep it off. The last thing you need your camera doing during a shoot is constantly hunting for WiFi networks.

 3.) Sleep Mode - This is a nice item that is on most camera’s menus. Setting the sleep mode to the lowest time possible will allow your camera to save battery life in between shots and the camera wakes pretty much instantly when you press a button. Turning your camera on and off all the time doesn’t really extend the battery life any more than Sleep Mode but it takes a bit to boot back up and you could miss a shot.

4.) Review Time - If you are skilled at using your camera, you can set the lowest possible review time. I personally don’t use the Review at all on my cameras, and most Pros don’t either.

5.) Continuous Focus - Don’t use this if you don’t need it. It can make shooting harder if you need to recompose, but if you are shooting objects that are not moving, it just drives the focus motor constantly and drains the battery.

6.) Image Stabilization - This feature is very handy at have in your camera system at times, but if shooting on a tripod, it can actually impose movement where there should be none.

7.) Live View - Live view is one of the biggest battery drains on a camera system. The viewfinder is there for a reason, photographers got by for centuries without Live View.

8.) Silent Mode - If you don’t need it for the shooting you are doing, turn it off. My EOS 6D has two silent shooting modes and I love to use them when photographing wildlife as even the newest cameras have some clacking when taking photos. If I am shooting a car show or portraits, I turn it off to save battery life.

9.) Built-in Flash - I am not even sure why any cameras come with this these days because they are a huge battery hog, their performance is crap, so why bother put them on cameras to begin with?

10.) In Camera Post Processing - Again, not sure why cameras even have this as you can do a way better job with Lightroom or Photoshop.

11.) Focus Beep - It does not consume a huge amount of battery life but adds up over time and the beeps are annoying anyways.

12.) Light Optimizer and Noise Reduction - Again, not sure why either of these are in cameras to begin with and you can do a better job in your post production software.

13.) RAW + JPG - I know some people like having this ability but you are writing double images every time you press the shutter so you know this is sucking up memory.

Once you’ve turned these all off, you should see anywhere from a 20% even upwards of 40% increase in battery life and total shots you can take per charge.

Comments/Questions

Back Button Focus

This week I want to talk about a better way to use your AutoFocus on your camera. By default you already know that pressing your shutter button halfway down is how you get your AF lock. The problem is, if you release your shutter, your camera then needs to reacquire focus when you press the button down again. There is an easier way to get your focus and keep it and that method is called Back Button Focus.

The button in this shot circled in white is the one I like to use for BBF on my EOS 6D

Back Button Focus is when you program your camera in the menu to use a button on the back of the body to achieve focus instead of the shutter button. The advantage of this is you don’t lose your previous focus lock when you release the shutter button and then have to reacquire it again to take your next shot. Canon was the first camera builder to add BBF to their bodies back in 1989 and every camera has had it since that time.

To set up BBF on your Canon camera, go into the menu and look for “Metering Start/Meter+AF Start, which I know sounds confusing but that is the option you want. Most photographers that use BBF like myself will us the AF Lock button on the back of the camera. I switched to BBF about a year ago and I personally would not go back to using the shutter button and most pros will tell you the same.

On a Nikon it’s a bit more straight forward in the menu but varies from model to model, but you want to use the AE-L, AF-L button on the back for your BBF, yeah that button that you never use. Now that you know how to set up and use Back Button Focus, give it a try I think once you get used to it you will like it better than using the shutter button.


Comments/Questions

Simplicity

A lot of photographers suffer from equipment paralysis. By that I mean they buy too much gear, especially too many lenses and drag too much gear with them out in the field, then they spend all their time thinking about their gear, their settings, etc and none of their time concentrating on their images. What happens then? They end up with crappy photos over and over again, and then keep buying more gear thinking more gear will make they images better.

Next time you go out to shoot, try taking only 1 or at most 2 lenses with you. This should be all you need and you will spend more time concentrating on your images and less time thinking about your gear and your settings.

I challenge myself and the members of my camera club all the time to go out on our monthly shoots and only take one lens to do all their shooting. Move closer or further away as the case may be to get the shot and the framing you need to make that awesome image.

The weekend I went to Ian Henderson's Antique Mall, I shot with nothing but my Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM

There is an old analogy I learned when I was a kid called K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid). A lot of professional photographers have learned to keep their gear streamlined and that is how they become so successful. I remember reading on SLRLounge I believe it was about a year ago about one of the most successful wedding photographers in NYC. He shoots ALL of his weddings with a pair of Canon 1Dx bodies and never uses more than a EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM and an EF 135mm F/2 L USM portrait lens and this pro makes 6 to 7 figures a year shooting weddings!

When asked during the interview why he used such a small amount a gear he said, “To be honest in most cases a photographer seldom needs more than a good 70-200mm F/2.8. It’s the number one lens sold for a reason. I also use the 135mm F/2 L USM because it creates amazing portraits with fantastic bokeh, which is something the majority of brides want in their wedding photos.”

Thinking and a simplified approach to gear is why real pros can shoot with anything, even and iPhone and take amazing photos.

Comments/Questions

Post Your Work

 This past weekend I had the opportunity to watch an amazing documentary called Finding Vivian Maiers. This is a fantastic story that I personally think every photographer should watch, I don’t want to give too much away other than to say she was a woman who worked as a nanny and did photography as a hobby. She never showed her work to anyone, which is sad as she turned out to be an incredibly talented artist.

The reason I am bringing this up is not only because it is an awesome story but to also encourage all photographers to always post their work. I understand that not every photograph is perfect, and I encourage you to be your own critic first but when you do have your best images ready, you need to share them with the public. Post your work on your own site if you have one, join some of the good photography groups on Facebook, join sites like 500px.com or even the newer www.dashburst.com, which has just recently started as a new photography and creative artist site.

Blue Moon from July 31, 2015

You want to not only display your work but also be willing to take constructive criticism about your work. By that, I mean people who are willing to give you honest, accurate critics on how to improve your technique when it comes to your art, not some of the nasty people who just poopoo everything that is not their own. Another reason why I recommend 500px.com is you can actually sell your images on this site and retain 75% of the profits, which is nice and they have a very large list of legitimate, paying clients that will buy your work for various projects they have.

I also recommending putting your best work out there on Twitter, Instagram, with proper hashtags to get more exposure and it doesn’t hurt to have a Flickr account as well. I know it sounds like a lot to keep track of, but luckily, most of these sites will allow you to cross-post on the others. If you are not already familiar with Instagram, with their app on your phone or tablet, you can post an image with Instagram and then also share it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Foursquare.

My point is, you will never know how good your work is or get discovered as an artist unless you actually share it with the world! Now get out there and make some great images!

Comments/Questions

DIY Creative Tips & Tricks to Try!

There are a multitude of tips and tricks out there for photographers that it seems like we never come across anything new - until now!  Below is a list of eight totally weird but totally cool tid-bits of knowledge to add to your growing inventory of photographic wisdom!  Some you may be familiar with, but I guarantee there is something new here to consider one day!



1.  Don't have a tripod?  Use a lamp!  

Yes, that's right, a lamp has about the same thread size as the filter thread used on tripods.  If you're in a bind or feeling innovative try this out!


2. A PEZ dispenser will fit on a hotshoe mount.

Yep, you read that correctly!  Next time you anticipate photographing a young child and need something to help them focus their eyes on your camera, try mounting a cool PEZ dispenser on your camera to capture their attention!

The base of the dispenser is just a tiny bit wider than the mount so you will have to trim a little off using a knife to get it to fit, but I am sure this cheap trick will pay off!

3.  Turn day to night!

Shooting in daylight but not getting enough diversity?  Try this trick:

Turn your flash power up really high--even to the maximum.  This will definitely make the subject extremely over-exposed but if you adjust your camera settings to expose for the subject it will make the background look extremely dark because you're not exposing for the ambient light and the flash isn't hitting it.  This will make it look like it’s night time even if it’s the middle of the day.  Try it!

4.  Macro photography without a macro lens.


Take it off, turn it around and shoot!  It is recommended that you use a tripod when shooting this way, maybe this would be a good opportunity to try out that lamp!

"There are four things you need to know about using this trick: (1) Your camera won’t take a picture with the lens off unless you’re in manual mode.  (2) The best focal length seems to be around 50mm, so either a 50mm prime or an 18-55mm kit lens would be perfect! (3) Obviously, you lose autofocus since your lens isn’t attached to the camera.  Focus is achieved by simply moving closer to or further away from the subject, and (4) The camera can’t open up the aperture, so you’ll do it with your hand.  On the back of the lens (the side you mount on the camera), move the little plastic slider piece that controls the aperture.  If you look in the lens while doing it, you’ll see the hole open up." (Harmer)

5.  Delete tourists without all the editing.

Got an awesome shot but people keep getting in the way?

Step 1: Set your camera on a tripod, or lamp.

Step 2: Take a picture about every 10 seconds until you have about 15 shots, depending on how fast and how many people are walking around.

Step 3: Open all of the images in Photoshop using File > Scripts > Statistics.   Choose “median” and select the files you took.  (The “statistics” script is only available in Photoshop Extended or in the Creative Cloud version of Photoshop, however, you can get a somewhat similar effect in recent versions of Photoshop Elements by going to Enhance > Photomerge > Scene Cleaner.)

Step 4: Boom!  Photoshop finds what is different in the photos and simply removes it!  Since the people moved around, it fills the area where someone was standing with part of another photo where no one was there and now you have a clean scene as if you were the only one there!


 6.  Shaped bokeh.

Have you ever seen bokeh with lights in the shape of hearts, trees, or other shapes?  Here is a trick to get the shaped effect without buying an expensive shape kit!  All you have to do is cut out a piece of black paper the size of your lens glass.  Then use a sharp knife or razor blade to cut a shape on in the middle of the paper.  The shape should be slightly bigger than a nickel.  You will only see this effect if you are shooting with a large aperture like 1.4 or so; if you’re shooting at f/5.6 on a kit lens you probably won’t see the effect at all.

I have actually tried this myself and was unable to get a completely satisfying result.  I definitely got it to work--I tried hearts and stars--but I had a really tough time trying to get rid of the vignette.  I was using a full frame camera so maybe if you try this using a crop sensor I would really like to hear about your results!

7.  Circular reflector as a backdrop.

Sometimes when you're on location you might get a shot that would look really good against a white background.  This is where your reflector will come in handy!

"The trick for making this technique work is to use positive exposure compensation.  The camera will try and dim down the white background to a dull gray because it thinks the white is overexposed. About 1 stop of exposure compensation will make the reflector background look bright white." (Harmer)


8.  Insulation reflector board.

Some of my favorite pieces of equipment have cost me less than $1, this is practically no different.

Most circular reflectors only work for a headshots of one person.  You can purchase a large, full-body reflector but they can often cost around $70.  Simply purchase insulation board for $5 and then cover the back and edges with white duct tape.  You can find insulation board with reflective silver backing at any home improvement store and now you will have a large, lightweight multipurpose reflector!





Do you have a cool trick or tip to add to the list?  Let me know in the comments below!  If you get a chance to try one of these out I would love to hear about your experience too!

Thanks for reading today!

Works Cited

Harmer, Jim. "9 Weird Photography Tricks That Actually Work!" improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "bokeh trick." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "candy dispenser camera trick." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "crowd before-after." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "day-night flash." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "JIM4025-300x198." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "lamp camera trick." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "lens backwards." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Harmer, Jim. "reflector board." Photograph. improvephotography. Improve Photography LLC, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.  <http://improvephotography.com/8806/photography-tricks/ >

Photographer's Best Friend: tips for successful dog photography

Way back in my introductory post, I mentioned one of my favorite subjects: dogs. Animals in general offer images of playfulness, gentleness, and unguarded enthusiasm that is hard to find in humans! For me, shooting dogs (with a camera!) is a way to give back by helping showcase adoptable dogs for a local rescue. It is also a blast to incorporate animal companions in family images. There are a few things to keep in mind that make a huge difference in capturing successful images of dogs in any situation.

1. Make ridiculous sounds. If you want to get that cock-eyed, inquisitive head tilt with eyes looking at the lens, you're probably going to have to make a fool of yourself. The sounds I make vary from a high-pitched trilling to a rather spot-on duck quack, if I do say so myself. Whistling, smooching, and yelping have all come in handy.

Patrick's portrait for Peace for Pits, Inc. dog rescue.

2. Bribe, bribe, bribe. Few things get a dog's attention like a tasty treat or squeaky toy. Bring a few along or have the handler do so and hold them behind your head to get a great portrait.

3. Shoot in shutter priority. While manual mode is my go-to in most situations, a fast-moving dog in mixed lighting calls for continuous focus and shutter priority to keep those eyes in sharp focus! Just be sure to recalibrate your settings when going from dark to light or vice versa.

4. Get low. Once you've got that perfect portrait, get down at the dog's level, or even lower, for a more playful perspective.

Patrick, taken while flat on the grass!

Have any tips for mastering a dog (or other furry friend) session? Leave a comment or head over to the Google+ community page to share!

-Friday Ambassador

Successful Shooting - Family Photography

A while back I wrote about the challenges of photographing children. While some of my favorite images are of big-eyed, smiling babies, it is definitely not easy to get the perfect shot. Something babies and young kids have that adults and teenagers often don’t, though, is a carefree attitude in front of the camera. As we age, many of us (myself included) learn to be camera shy and self-conscious, making it tougher for a photographer to bring out real emotion in family photographs. I have a few tips to share about what works for me during a family shoot, and would love to hear your advice as well! If you notice any great tips missing from the following, leave a comment so we can all learn from one another.

Make Everyone Comfortable

By the time a family gets to your studio or chosen location, they may have been stressed about their appearance or the fact that they have to spend an hour or two taking photographs in the first place. Being personable and assessing the moods of the various family members will help you determine if cracking a joke, asking questions about school, or chatting about current events will best break the ice and get everyone to relax. 

Start Formal
If you're shooting outside, starting with the formal photographs will ensure the parents that the outfits they picked out so carefully will stay nice and clean for the traditional images. By the end of the session, they won't mind if everyone gets a little messy with more fun compositions, because the shots they think are most important have already been taken care of. It's likely, though, that their favorite images will be those messy ones in the end!

Embrace Imperfection

Kids may cry, teenagers may be sassy, and siblings may fight. Sometimes the moments that are more raw and real make for the best, unexpectedly honest images. Those fighting siblings? Get them to act out their frustrations for the camera and they'll end up laughing together instead of coming to blows.

Pose Naturally

Allowing your clients to fall into a pose that feels natural will make for a better-looking image. If they look a bit stiff, ask them to bend their limbs slightly to add more shape to the composition. Get them to laugh, smile at each other, and forget about the camera when possible.

Take a Break

Smiles can feel stiff and forced after a while. I encourage portrait clients to bring a change of clothes, because putting on a new outfit and having a few minutes to refresh physically will also help them refresh mentally.  

Have FUN!
When you enjoy yourself, your clients will enjoy themselves too. Smile, laugh, and be enthusiastic about the images and the experience.

Nerves and Nuptials: Making Couples Comfortable with your Camera

Working with human subjects can be intimidating, especially once you begin taking professional, paying jobs.  It is incredibly important to get the hang of it while you are still a student.  One subject is hard enough, but trying to capture a couple's intimacy is extra tricky.  When I took my first engagement job, it was for two friends who knew my experience level and were just happy to get photographs for free.  We spent three hours walking around the city where they met, finding backdrops that meant something to the two of them and making time for several outfit changes.  They were comfortable with me and in front of the camera, which is not usually the case!  The majority of wedding and portrait clients are pretty camera-shy.  Knowing how to work with nervous clients has been one of my biggest assets since I began taking on paid jobs.  

Meeting with clients ahead of the shoot is ideal, but not always possible.  Imagine you get to an engagement shoot on a day that is nearly freezing.  There is no time to chat and get comfortable with one another, so you have to find another way to make the couple feel at ease in front of your camera.  What do you do?  One option that has worked for me is just to step back a bit and let them interact, allowing them to get the feel for being the center of attention without having the added pressure of a camera three feet from their faces.  One reason engagement shoots are so valuable if you choose to shoot weddings is that getting your couples used to you and your camera will make the wedding photos easier and more natural.

Having an engaged couple hug or kiss while you're farther away is less awkward than being a few feet from their faces:

Soon enough, your clients will relax with you a bit closer.  While it may feel weird to ask them to move a certain way or put their hands somewhere specific, I've found that the more nervous they are, the more they want your help!  Make suggestions like "if you move your hands just a little lower you'll look more natural and relaxed" so they understand why they are making those small adjustments.  

Encouragement goes a long way - make sure you let your clients know that they are looking great and be enthusiastic about your compositions!  Showing them one or two images along the way will invest them more in the session and get them excited about what you are creating together.

Once they loosen up, you'll be able to get in close without making them uncomfortable. 

Do you have questions or concerns about working with models and clients?  Have you found successful techniques for photographing couples?  Leave a comment and let us know!

-Friday Ambassador

Making the Most of Holiday Visits

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Now that the holiday season is upon us, it seems like the perfect time to talk about shooting what has become one of my favorite subjects: kids!  While child photography was not that appealing to me when I started pursuing my degree, I happened to use some toddlers as subjects in classes early on in the program.  It was more fun than I expected, and now child and family photography has become a regular part of my life.  With nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and friends’ children around for holiday get-togethers, it is a great time to take advantage of having little ones in front of your camera to find out if you enjoy it as well.  That said, there are some important things to remember when shooting a child session.  I hope this list of “do” and “don’t” tips encourages you to make the most of holiday visits, taking the opportunity to learn and expand your portfolio while also enjoying time with family and friends.  

1. DO start your session where the child feels comfortable.  This image was shot in the family’s home in a room with a solid wall color and comfortable blanket on which the baby was able to play:

2. DON’T be afraid to head outside.  Starting in a child’s home allows the child to become comfortable with you and your camera, but outdoor images bring variety in backdrops and encourage the child to explore new surroundings.  You'll be amazed at the sweet expressions a child makes when she touches soft grass (little Addison, right, couldn't get enough!).

3. DO ensure the temperature is warm.  Babies get cold quickly!

4. DON'T flash light in a baby's eyes.  If you have to use a flash, bounce it away from the baby to brighten the room.  It is best to avoid flashes altogether, opting for an LED panel or continuous lights to supplement the ambient light if needed.

5. DO allow time for plenty of breaks.  Babies and young children have short attention spans and will likely need a snack break before they get frustrated.

6. DON’T put down your camera.  Breaks from posing may make for great opportunities for lifestyle images!   

7. DO ask for a parent or family member to help you get the child’s attention.  Interesting sounds and facial expressions are key to getting a great expression, and that can be hard to pull off with a camera in front of your eye.  Having a helper right behind you is a necessity.

8. DON’T allow more than one person to help you get the child’s attention, though.  Having too many people making crazy sounds and jumping around behind you is confusing to the child, not to mention distracting to you as photographer!  If you find ten people making monkey noises behind you (this happened to me), pause and politely single out one person to take on the role of "attention getter."  It's best, of course, to do this at the start of the session.

9. DO remember to capture the details.  Parents want to remember all the traits that make their child unique, and will appreciate that you see beauty in the small things.

10. DO have fun!  If you enjoy the session, so will the child. 

Do you have any other suggestions for a successful child or baby session?  Leave a comment with tips that have helped you!

-Friday Ambassador

Recent Class Assignment and a Road Trip

Good Morning Everyone and Happy Sunday! Today I am just going to talk about a recent project and school assignment that I had due. On Thursday of this past week I had the pleasure of going on a road trip. I had a class assignment due on Saturday so I chose to go to a different location other than what I normally use. The road trip took me to Baltimore MD and Washington D.C. I had always heard about this great place to shoot called the Graffiti Warehouse located in Baltimore, so that was the first place we headed. I also like to photograph National and Historical Site so for that I headed to Washington D.C.

The assignment for school we had to take portraits using only available light, no strobes or flash. This is something that I do all the time so I wasn't to worried, I used the Graffiti Warehouse for this they had a few rooms with huge windows that gave some amazing light. Below are some of the photos taken yesterday.

 Photos By Wayne Salat

 Photos By Wayne Salat

 Photos By Wayne Salat

Photos By Wayne Salat

For the other personal project, as I had mentioned, I went to Washington D.C. I have never photographed at night so this proved to be a challenge. Photographing some of the monuments during the day also proved to be a challenge as the light was quite strong.  Getting my settings right and putting the knowledge that I had to the test, produced some nice photos. Below are some photos of the U.S Capital Building taken at 10 PM and the others were taken during the day when sun was brightest.

  Photos By Wayne Salat

  Photos By Wayne Salat

  Photos By Wayne Salat

 Photos By Wayne Salat

Enjoy Your Sunday and Photograph Something Everyday!

Sunday Ambassador~ Wayne

Stop taking pictures of your kids...seriously

OK, don't actually stop taking pictures of your kids, they're only young once, just stop using them as models for class.  Get out of your comfort zone!  I know it sounds terrifying, right?  It is.  I'm not even going to try to convince you that it isn't.  I mean that's why it's called the comfort zone... because that is where we feel most comfortable.  It's different for each of us.  I prefer to shoot portraits, lit with strobes either in studio or on location.  Natural light?  Forget it.  Out of my comfort zone.  Still life...out of my comfort zone.  See the pattern?  We all do it to some degree and we need to stop if we are going to grow as photographers.

When I first started classes I had no idea what I wanted to shoot when I grow up.  And there are days where I still don't know for sure what I want to shoot.  I have, however, been exposed to so many things that I never considered 3 years ago.  One of my first classes was "Drawing - ART 1010" or something like that.  I hated it.  With a passion, I mean seriously, I use a camera for a reason.  But now, 3 years later I understand that it wasn't about becoming the next DaVinci, it was about learning something new.  In the case of that class, it was light and shadow and as a side benefit, now that I use a Wacom Intuos Tablet when editing, some of those drawing techniques really come in handy now.  The point is, I was forced out of my comfort zone and I am a better student and photographer because of it.

I have been in classes with plenty of other people that pitch a fit in the classroom... "well, I'm a nature photographer so I don't do well with people" and "I'm a natural light photographer so I don't really need to learn how to use these lights" and so on.  Guess what, those people did not do very well in those classes or assignments and it showed in their final projects.  The people that were not afraid to go out and learn something new, even do something that made them uncomfortable, without making excuses really did the best in my opinion.

Speaking of going out of comfort zones, when I took Time Based Media, I was not looking forward to it. Not one bit.  Create a 90 second video?  Storyboard it?  Work with audio?  You gotta be kidding me?  I tried my best to go into it with an open mind and I was very pleased with the results.  And it opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities for me.  (And yes that means I have a short film brewing in the back of my brain somewhere).

Bottom line, be open minded and get out of your comfort zone!



Athlete Profile: Eric Dasher from Mike Krogemann on Vimeo.