When Malcolm Gladwell wrote his book, Outliers, he had a chapter devoted to the 10,000 hours rule that intimated that it took 10,000 hours of practice to become good at something. I think this single criterion has been mild to totally debunked already, and he has said that most who quote that are doing so [] The post 10,000 hours will not make you a good photographer appeared first on DIY Photography.
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TLR cameras are slightly similar to the more famous SLR or DSLR cameras that have been around for quite a while. These cameras were designed to work with a single, large, non-moving mirror that reflected light straight up after passing through the camera's lens even though these little fellas have not one, but two, lenses attached to them. This peculiarity makes them extremely odd-looking and curious indeed. The twin-lens system has a purpose. The lower lens takes the picture, and the upper lens serves as the viewing lens. The optics are roughly the same in terms of focal length, but only the lower lens has an aperture system inside it. Due to this deployment, the camera allows the photographer to keep watching the scene after pressing the shutter button since the mirror doesn't need to flip up to expose the film to light, similar to how rangefinder cameras allow the photographer to continue watching the scene after pressing the shutter button. For an unknown reason, this way of taking pictures has been critical in street photography, maybe after the famous decisive moment approach from Henri Cartier-Bresson. The previously described arrangement of elements in the camera, and its way of working, invite the photographer to use it at a waist level although this is not the only way to frame an image, as you can see in this image where I am making a shot in a pretty curious way. Last year, I had a chance to actually use a Medium Format camera, thanks to the TLR system. For ages, I have been dreaming of having one of these cameras, so on my birthday in 2016 I decided to give myself a little treat and bought this camera. I've never had one of these precious tools in my hands; therefore, the test run was a pretty curious ride. I watched a lot of videos that explained how to load and unload the film, and also into how to expose a shot, so I felt pretty comfortable with the logic of the camera. One of the most curious things was the archaic way the medium format film was packed. I found it simple and straightforward. Finally the expected day came, and the camera I had seen so much on the internet was finally in my hands. I know there are more legendary medium format TLR cameras (like the famous Rolleiflex) but the Yashica Mat 124G was what opened the door to this completely unknown format for me. Instead of finding it difficult to use, it was a wonderful experience from day one. Below is list a few oddities I found while learning to use a TLR camera. They are not pros or cons, they are mere curiosities I discovered while working in this interesting format. 1:1 Aspect Ratio One of the most curious things about working with a TLR camera was the strange nature of the 1:1 aspect ratio. Composing in this aspect ratio felt strange, but I found a more or less lazy way to overcome this difficulty. I started to understand everything as two rectangles that complemented each other. The real problem appeared to me while walking in the streets, because I had to compose fast, so I began to see a lot of unintended negative space (that was definitely not appealing) in my photographs. Right is Left, and Left is Right All right, I know, this seems like quoting the inebriated words of Captain Jack Sparrow, but really this was the feeling I had when I started composing frames with my camera. It is complicated to follow somebody down the street with a tool that sees everything the opposite way. Sometimes I just aim my camera and wait for the subject to come across my frame; other times I need to follow them with a twisted mindset. Its obvious nature When taking pictures with a TLR camera, the viewfinder chamber has to be fully extended towards the sky. This makes the device absolutely obvious and impossible to hide. To use such an obvious apparatus in crowds can be challenging, but I have found that thanks to being able to shoot pictures without directing your eyes directly at the subjects makes it totally innocuous to the public. I could even say that it has an innocent soul that doesn't threaten people's privacy on the streets. 12 Images My love of photography began in the usual way these days, with digital cameras, and little by little I went into the analog world for various reasons (curiosity, self-challenge, access to formats that are unreachable in digital, etc.). The first time I used a 35mm camera I felt greatly restricted by having to work with just 36 frames. After that odd feeling, I learned to take fewer, but more thoughtful images. Then, with the TLR camera, I discovered that I could limit myself even more to 12 photographs. After I shoot in the 120 film format and then decide to shoot one 35mm roll of film, it feels like an eternity. Completely Silent One of the big surprises I found with the TLR camera system was that despite its large size and its greater weight, the machine was totally silent. A barely perceptible click comes out of that large block of metal and glass, making it a great companion for street photography. One of the best things I've experienced with the TLR camera is its simplicity. The machine is very simple to use, has a fairly simple focus system that is easy to understand, and, in case the light conditions give you some trouble while focusing, the cameras have a small built-in surprise: a small magnifying glass for precise focusing. Besides this simplicity, I have also found that it is a very humble camera; it knows how to get along well with my favorite camera, the Fujifilm X100T. For a walk of several days where I don't want to take any chances, I can put the two cameras in a small bag and go without any problems at all. The post Using A TLR Camera Is Oddly Satisfying appeared first on Light Stalking. I keep hearing the question, can I use plugins with the new Lightroom (aka Lightroom CC). While Lightroom Classic CC (formerly Lightroom CC) fully supports third-party plugins like Perfectly Clear Complete or Macphun Luminar, the new Lightroom CC is a bit different. NOTE: We've got 3 specials for plugins Perfectly Clear. (with Free Upgrade to
Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN (Micro Four Thirds)
If you want the viewer to feel that he or she's part of the action, there's no better way to engage him or her than to photograph from a point-of-view perspective. The viewer gets the feeling that he/she's involved in the composition and becomes one with the subject. In the movie industry, they're referred to as POV shots. Wide- and super-wide-angle lenses are the norm, as are low angles or those shot from unique or out-of-the-box perspectives. Ninety-nine percent of the time you won't use a long lens to get the shot, nor will you be far away from the action. Here are a few quick tips to get you started in the world of POV. Get Down And Wide: Wide- and super-wide-angle lenses are commonly used, as they allow the photographer to get close to the action and provide much depth of field. For POV shots, the closer the camera is placed to the subject, the better. Given the depth a super wide provides, everything from the subject to infinity will be in sharp focus. Since super-wide lenses aren't often used, they impart a unique perspective to the photo. The same holds true in regard to the angle from where the photo is made. Most photos are made from a standing position. When you get down low, it adds a different look. Shoot Up: When you shoot up at your subject, you introduce power and strength. It goes hand in hand with the psychological factor of looking up to someone. If you get low and exaggerate perspective with a wide-angle lens, the subject takes on dominance, authority and fortitude. The subject looms above the photographer and displays magnitude. If you're into underwater photography, place your camera in an underwater housing and photograph some kayaker friends. Hold the lens so half is above the water and half is below so you see both levels. Snap From Above: When you position yourself above the subject, the viewer of the image feels more in power because the viewer rises above what the camera sees. As with the other examples, the photographer needs to be close to the subject to portray the point-of-view look. The closer the photographer gets, the more the viewer feels he or she is part of the action. Attach It Anywhere: Specially designed clamps are made that allow a photographer to attach a camera to just about anything that fits in the expanse of the clamp's jaws. I have a Bogen Super Clamp. I mount a small ballhead onto it that in turn can be mounted to a set of bicycle handlebars, the steering wheel of a car, a ski pole, etc. Use a remote transmitter to fire the camera. By placing the camera close to the action, POV photography can be added to your photographic repertoire in a myriad of ways. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com for information about his nature photography tours and safari to Tanzania. The post POV: Point of View Photography appeared first on Outdoor Photographer. I love portraiture. Taking photos of expressions, movements, and spontaneous reactions fills me with childlike excitement. This was the only genre I focused on when I first discovered photography, but when I began to experiment with other types of techniques, perspectives, and concepts, my artistic self discovered a whole new world. There, I found more opportunities to grow as a photographer and find true fulfilment. Every photography genre has something valuable to tell. There's always something worth learning from other artists. Exposing yourself to a variety of visual thoughts will open your mind and allow more ideas to blend with your work. This doesn't mean you haveto stop what you're doing right now and start taking photos of new subjects. The best place to start is right here. Looking at images made by people from around the world is a way of travelling. If you were to introduce yourself to various cultures within a day, you'd be left with an eye-opening experience. Similarly, photographs open our eyes to the things we have never seen and encourage us to look differently at what we interact with every day. All in all, it's a gratifying experience. To honour the beauty of photographic diversity, here are 10 photography genres which artists find themselves coming back to over and over again. Portraiture
Wildlife
Landscape
Street
Food
Fashion
Aerial
Architectural
Black & White
Underwater
There are many more genres this article didn't feature. Each and every one of them welcomes photographers of all backgrounds and ages. It doesn't matter where you live, who you are, or where you come from there will always be a special place for you in the world of photography. The post Exploring the Beauty of 10 Photography Genres appeared first on Light Stalking. Having the right camera with you on your travels is a vital step in any successful trip. Perhaps you already choose to travel with one or several trusted film cameras, and have reasons of your own for doing so. I wasn't always a film camera traveler, but after years of tentative trials, I've now come around to the analog adventurer side. If you're still mostly a digital photographer on the road, but curious about the other option, stick around. I've now traded my SD cards in for a bag full of film, and I don't plan on going back. |
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January 2019
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