Make Great Images in Bad Locations

One of the things I frequently recommend to students is don’t let your creativity become stale. What I mean is don’t use lame excuses like “If only I lived near Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, then I could make fantastic images!”

The thing is, if you lived near one of these remarkable places, then all you would do is take the same clichéd images we’ve all seen over and over again. A truly great photograph is taken anywhere that a skilled photographer happens to be.

Don’t be upset when I say you live in a bad location, but I have photographers frequently complain that they have nothing to photograph. It doesn’t matter if you live in Flint, Michigan, smoggy Los Angeles, California or a country town in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania as I did growing up, all making great images requires is opening your eyes. Open eyes even in the crappiest of locations leads to brilliant work and growing your skills as a photographer.

One of the biggest keys to taking great photographs anywhere is look for color in everything. Even a drab location has brilliant colors of some kind, such as neon signs, your camera will highlight these colors in low light, so shoot them at night time. Another interesting place to shoot is a local mall with varied lighting, your camera will accentuate the differences between tungsten, fluorescent sodium and metal halide light, which are invisible to our eyes.

Strawberry I shot Macro at a local Strawberry Farm near my home.

Look for objects out of place such as an old soda can sitting in a gutter along the street that still has brilliant colors. Make photos that highlight whatever it is that catches your eye, an old tire swing still hanging in a tree, a dilapidated barn in an empty field or a rusty old car that sits in the woods. Photography is about being able to “see” it’s not about the camera. The strongest photo is one that expresses itself most clearly, often the strongest photos have the least in them.

So, get in your car, drive around your area and look for things that stand out, look for details. If driving around doesn’t inspire you, go for a hike and take your camera along, there are always great images to be made in nature, especially if you have Macro capabilities.

Night time is another great option, grab your tripod and go make some long exposures, even the most boring street contains great images waiting to be made. Use a short tripod and a wide angle lens for some dramatic angles. Position along the street on a sidewalk and do long exposures of cars driving by, the taillights make for really awesome light effects, almost like the cars are moving at warp speed.

Shooting night time, long exposure along Hwy 78 in GA

Your studio is also a great place to make images and express your creativity. I am building my studio in the second master bedroom of my house this coming week. Many photographers create their own realities in their studio, anything from miniature cities or towns to model railroads and many other ideas can help you make fantastic images and spark your creativity. Great images come from within so get our there and get those creative juices flowing.

Comments/Questions

Macro Photography

Macro Photography is known as extreme close up photography and the object is to get as much of a close up and detail of an object as possible. Ever see a photograph of a grasshopper where you can see the insect’s eyes and all the little hairs on his legs? That is Macro photography and it takes special tools to get those kinds of images.

There are three ways to get Macro photography, a Macro lens, but these can be expensive, such as the EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro USM by Canon for $549 or the even more expensive EF 100mm F/2.8 L IS USM by Canon which runs around $1,000. What do you get for your money? Well the regular Canon 100mm F/2 USM prime lens takes fantastic portraits but you cannot use it for Macro photography as it’s minimum focus distance is 6 feet. The 100mm Macro lenses by Canon, however have a minimum focus distance of 3 inches, quit a difference between the two lens types. The reason the Macro lens can get closer is because of the glass used inside it. The Canon 100mm F/2.8 Macro can do true 1:1 of an object so a bug that is 18mm will take up 18mm of the sensor, where in the Canon 100mm F/2 USM prime lens the ration is 1:7.3 so the bug only takes up a much smaller 2.5 mm on the sensor. I happen to own the Canon EF 50mm F/2.5 Compact Macro lens and mine has a front element that moves as I focus so mine can do 1:4, 1:2, 1:1.4, 1:1.2 and 1:1.

Rose shot on Canon EOS 5D with 100mm F/2 and Extension Tube

Rose shot with Canon EOS 6D with 50mm F/2.5 Compact Macrro

Macro filters are a less expensive option for Macro photography and can achieve the same results, although the quality of the images is subjective. The idea with Macro filters is you buy these for the front of your lens, according to the size of filter the lens takes, i.e. 58mm and then screw them onto your regular lens in hopes of getting some Macro goodness. Macro filters run from around $13-$59 depending on the quality. Some of the issues with Macro filters are soft focus and vignetting.

Shot with Canon EOS 5D with 100mm F/2 with 1x Macro Filter

Shot with Canon EOS 6D with 50mm F/2.5 Compact Macro

The third option is extension tubes and these are also subjective as far as how well they work. Extension tubes of in varying degrees of quality and expense, depending on whether you want them to allow you to use auto focus or not. The idea with extension tubes is you place these on the camera body first and then add your regular lens to the extension tubes and the tubes move your lens away from the sensor and allow you to get Macro goodness.

Macro photography can open up new worlds of photography for you and let you really show your creative side. What option is best? Well, in my humble opinion, it’s always best to go with a lens that is made for the job, but if that is not in your budget, then give one of the less expensive options a try. Now get out there and make some great images.

Comments/Questions

It's Not ONLY About the Camera

One of the things that I hear people talk about all the time is the only way to take great photos is to use an expensive camera. Although having a good camera can help with taking good photos, it’s not the only piece that makes for a great image, as a matter of fact, it’s not even the most important part.

“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.” – Ansel Adams. This quote is more true than most people realize, the key to making great images is not the camera, it’s the person operating the camera. In this tech intensive world too many times people put the emphasis on the technology and not the person working with it.

You the artist are the most important part of making any great image and the sooner you figure that out, the better off you’ll be. The human eye can see things that the camera cannot and the human imagination can visualize the scene a certain way. What we do with the camera is try to translate what we see and feel into a timeless moment that others can share when they view the finished product.

                                              iPhone 5S shot using 645Pro MKII app

I do have a small arsenal of cameras that I use, anything from a GoPro Hero3+, to my Sony NEX6, to my iPhone 6 Plus, to the Canon 50D, 1D Mark II and my 5D Full frame. All of these are just tools, these are my paint brushes if you will, but they cannot make a great image on their own. I am the one that sees the scene, the image in my mind and what the final product will look like, the cameras can do none of this.

One of the things that Damon Sauer and Ted Fisher talked about this past week on the Photo Live: Get Technical was proper exposure, making sure you have the right pieces of the ‘Holy Trinity’ in photography. The shutter speed, aperture and ISO are how we make the exposure the way it is supposed to be to make the statement we want.

                                      Bumble bee on a flower, shot using NEX6 w EF-S 60mm

As I shared during this Live event, the one thing I do all the time is shoot 2 1/3 ticks below my camera meters ‘perfect’ exposure point. I do this because when I do my post production, I want to manipulate the Highlights and Shadows to bring out more details in my finished image. But again, this is a PERSONAL preference and not something the camera can do on it’s own. My cameras are tool, they do not have a mind of their own, they don’t have an imagination and they cannot visualize the finished product, only I can do that.

In this week’s article I shared two images that I shot earlier this year. The first one I took with my iPhone 5S after a co-worker told me that you cannot take a great photo with a smartphone. The second is one I took of a bumble bee on a flower bush in front of my home. I shot that one with a mis-matched set up. I used my Sony NEX6 with my Canon EF-S 60mm F/2.8 Macro lens. Both of these images help to prove my point, it’s more about you than the camera.

Comments/Questions

It's In Their Nature

Greetings fellow shooters! Tuesday Ambassador Stanley here introducing you to a different Tuesday. I apologize for my absence last week, so to make up for it I have acquired some captures of my favorite subjects. In other words, I had some personal time to build more on my collections outside of school. However, that does not meant I am free and clear from my personal issues that bar me the time to just focus on everything. Quite frankly, I am not sure how long I can keep up with posting every single week, so please bear with me as I am going through some troubling times.

The photos below are of subjects I love to shoot, if you were not aware of it before. Now I wish I knew what these wild flowers and the leaf is named, as well as the moth. Yes, the moth is to scale. I am sure some of you have seen them in this size or larger. Now these images of a Starling, or two, is about one of three who constantly land on this power line singing and chirping in my neighbor’s backyard. I occasionally like to chirp some of their songs back to them if I can, so I can tell which one of them they are. As for this chicken, I think he wanted to be a bird for a minute. Enjoy!

 And always, thanks for reading.

- Tues. Amb. Stanley

Wide-Angle Wednesday: Shooting Macro

Welcome to the middle of the week!

Today I would like to share a theme I have been working on for my current course in Digital Image Management PH124. In week one of the course, students were asked to select four themes. The themes once approved by the instructor would be our primary focus in shooting next to learning how to organize and manage images in Lightroom.

The four themes I’m working on are Nature, Historical, Reflections, and Macro. The first two themes are in my comfort zone to shoot, but the last two themes was a challenge I purposely imposed on myself. I had never shot macro, and reflections have never been my strong point when shooting nature.

I decided to treat myself with a new lens, specifically the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. Knowing that I really have no idea to what I’m jumping into in regards to macro photography, I started to watch video tutorials. Of course when the lens arrived the best way to learn anything is to get out and shoot!

Corina Scoggins Week 1 Macro "Holly Berries" Feb 2014

In the first week, I tried to handhold the camera a lot. Guess what in macro photography any camera shake in magnified. Lesson number one, use a tripod or try to stabilize your self by leaning against a solid object as much as possible. Lesson two for myself was not to have high hopes in achieving the finest of details the first week in using this lens. Just like anything we shoot, practices makes perfect. I tried a few moving subjects, and realized I needed to jump back and focus on subjects who were stationary to better myself using the lens.

Corina Scoggins Week 2 Macro "Algae Bubbles" Feb 2014

In week two, I focused on understanding the working focal length of the lens. Basically how close can I get to the subject and maintain a good amount of focus. I have realized now that when using a macro lens, the full frame will never be in complete focus. A light bulb went off in my head, to research why? We have all seen the macro images of insects and flowers in which everything is in pristine focus. Once again the video tutorials lead me to understand that macro images could be many frames stacked in post editing to achieve the clear full frame focus we have come to see. Of course this is a very small explanation in achieving full frame focus, as I have come to learn macro photography is beyond just clicking the shutter button. There is a lot of science involved first in understanding the subject, lighting, depth of field, and angle. 

Corina Scoggins Week 3 Macro "Vivid Carpet Fibers" March 2014

 Now I’m in week three of the course. We had an ice/snow storm blow through Sunday night, that I thought I could try to capture some snowflake and ice images. A couple images come back with detail, but of course I wasn’t satisfied with the images. I had mentioned in an assignment essay that I was disappointed in the images and truly felt that the images could never be seen as “macro”.  I was asked to further explain why, and it’s because I keep fighting the fact that the images are not in focus.

Corina Scoggins Week 3 Macro "Snowflakes on Blackboard" March 2014

The blog today won’t solve the issues, but it’s an example that we as photographers are always learning. I like to think I opened up a can of worms when I selected to shoot macro? I knew Macro was a challenge. Something I haven’t mentioned was lighting, because I haven’t used anything additional. Another aspect I need to read into as I’m learning that external lighting is very much used even in full natural daylight.

Sometimes I need that reminder that I’m truly a student, and far from being a photographer shooting for National Geographic. Critiques can be misleading, if the viewer is not honest. Of course honesty starts with one self, and honestly this is a work in progress. After all it takes a lot to write about issues and post it to a blog for all of the Photography Student Professional Network to read.

 

Corina Scoggins Week 3 Macro "Blue Sleet" March 2014

Today I ask the viewer to share your comments, stories, and suggestions. This response does not have to be related to the subject of macro photography.

Before I forget, tomorrow is Photo Live: Get Connected! Every Thursday Faculty host a live webinar for students to attend free of charge. Check out the event’s page on PSPN for upcoming Photo Live and Artist Talk events. Depending on the current course you are in, attendance in the event’s can earn you extra credit. More importantly you can connect with Faculty and fellow students, ask questions and learn something new.

PSPN Webinar Events

*Note: In order to attend the webinars, software will need to be downloaded and installed onto your computer in addition to registering for the event. Once again this software is at no charge and it’s a very simple install.

Corina Scoggins Week 3 Macro "Chert Rock of RBX" March 2014

From my camera to yours,

Wednesday Student Ambassador Corina

A video I really liked this week in regards to Macro Photography

Youtube Channel: Mike Howard

#86 - Don Komarechka - Macro Photography - jpeg2RAW Photo Podcast

Wide-Angle Wednesday: Is that spot on the lens or sensor?

Corina Scoggins "Good Morning Saturday" 22 Feb 2014

Good Morning Fellow Photography Classmates and Faculty!

I’m excited to be back in a photography course this term and as expected I have been shooting my little heart out. I recently purchased the Canon 100mm Macro USM lens and I have been trying to achieve the awesome macro shots we have all come to see in macro photography. Below is a mystery rainbow that appeared on my living room ceiling yesterday morning. I'm still wondering what caused the prism to appear, but I used the macro lens to capture the image. It must be noted that my home faces North and South, and the light coming into my home was defused by window blinds. Maybe it was a fore shadow to brighten my day because as you read on, you will see that my day didn't pan out so well.  

Corina Scoggins "Magic House Rainbow" 25 Feb 2014

Yesterday while out shooting for the upcoming assignment I had a moment in which shut down the use of my camera. I had been shooting for three hours when I started to notice spots in the images. I do a lot of outside shooting and from moment to moment I tend to switch out lenses constantly. My biggest worry has always been dust getting on the sensor or on the lens. 

I recently read a thread in a local photography group about this very issue. The recommendation was to change the lens and take a shot. If the spots were gone, then the spots are coming from the previous lens. If the spots were still in the image, then chances are something is on the sensor. Luck was not on my side; the spots continued to appear on the images. This forced me to have to wrap everything up, and head for home.

Corina Scoggins "Hawk at Happy Hollow" 25 Feb 2014

Knowing our little town doesn’t have anyone who specializes in cameras, I knew I would have to solve the issue myself.  With the Internet at my fingertips, I started the search for recommendations. If the Internet wasn’t available, the best recommendation would be to pull out the book, but I simply searched Canon sensor cleaning to find the help page on Canon.com. 

Majority of DSLR cameras have a built in sensor cleaning. I knew my camera had built in sensor cleaning and if I simply would have turned off the camera; the camera would have commenced to clean the sensor. Of course during the moment, my concern was getting home to solve the issue. Little did I know the issue was solved upon turning off the camera. With the looming deadline for the assignment, my mind was not focused. Not having a backup camera, my fear was the assignment would not be complete with the images shot on Sunday and Monday. So I continued to read on to figure out how to fix a problem that had self-fixed.

Corina Scoggins "MP Memorial Grove" 25 Feb 2014

If the initial sensor cleaning had not corrected the issue, Canon recommends two methods. The first recommendation was to use the rubber air blower technique. The second recommendation would be to take the camera to a Canon Service Center. I followed the instructions for the first recommendation and proceeded to use the rubber air blower bulb I had purchased many moons ago and glad I had it available. Other options are talked about on the help page but are NOT recommended by Canon, yet they do write about these options. 

Thankfully the issue was resolved and I will be bearing the frigid temperatures to finish shooting for the assignment due. I’m glad the camera didn’t have to be sent to Canon, but the Girl Scout in me has me thinking if I should purchase a backup camera. Nothing new, something used but most importantly a camera that could be used just in case. Additionally, I really need to better plan for desired shots that will limit the changing out of lenses. Below I have included the links to both the Canon and Nikon self help in regards to sensor cleaning. Hopefully you will never have this issue, but just in case, it’s best to “BE PREPARED”.

Canon Users

Nikon Users

Alright, why didn't I share the images with the spots? I could simply state that I had NO images with spots! Yes it's true, I freaked out about something that didn't exist. Here is the portion of the story in which I left out above. Everything written is exactly what occurred, and the spots I seen had nothing to do with my camera sensor or lens. The spots I was seeing all of a sudden was on the viewfinder! Now I do have to assume that the spots appeared while I had walked away to my vehicle and left the camera on the tripod. I say this because I had not noticed these spots until I walked back to the camera and started to shoot landscape. After everything was said and done, my mood was a little tempered for making such a rookie mistake. Today I can admit that it's a comical moment, and why not share with everyone on PSPN. Punishment for seeing spots and jumping to conclusion...temperatures in the teens. 

Well I hope today's blog will be a guidance in how to deal with spots? Even if spots had appeared in the images, chances are you wouldn't noticed them until you imported the images. If your seeing spots, clean the viewfinder first. Import the images to confirm if the spots are truly an issue on the images. Then proceed with the instructions to fully resolve any issues. 

Question of the Day

Have you ever jumped to conclusions while out on a shoot?

Share your comments, suggestions, and stories below

You're Wacky Wednesday Student Ambassador

Corina