PhotoBlog

I'm a barbie girl, in the barbie world ...

2012-02-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a barbie girl, in the barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation

Come on Barbie, let's go party!

Oh, I'm having so much fun! Well Barbie, we're just getting started. Oh, I love you Ken!

My four and a half month old granddaughter caught by her Mom on her iPhone, with a little help from a doll with long blond hair balanced on her head, see small image.

What a photo and baby Maya playing the part perfectly... Couldn't resist the connection with that well known song.

Keep your digital camera or smart phone handy, you never know when an inspiration may arise just like this and if your baby is all smiles and in a good mood and you have a clever trick up your sleeve go for it ... Add a caption and you have a winning combination!

Go try it out now, if you first don't succeed try, try again.

HOUSTON ... I'm ready for LIFT OFF ... Where's my HELMET !

2012-01-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

Houston ... I'm ready for Lift Off ... Where's my helmet!

"This is ground control to Major Tom" ...

OK, enough of the comedy... but this is the first thing I thought when I saw this photo of my four month old granddaughter Maya.

Now I'm not going to Heep praises on the photo quality, except to say a cut baby is a cute baby especially if it happens to be yours or a granddaughter of yours.

The Image totally ignores the 'ruel of thirds', choice of camera lens and any attempted sign of composition.

But I love it, pity my daughter insists on using just her iPhone for her photography. But as I've said before, if it grabs a moment and records it and in some way it insures you always have an image recording device in you hand.

Having said that, my daughter is really quite a good photographer and quickly sees a compelling image and shoots it. When were together she uses my DSLR camera and there is a 100% improvement in image quality as well.

Did you shoot a compelling image to day?

SISTERS ... Can't You Feel the Love ...

2012-01-28T06:02:00.000-08:00

SISTERS ... Can't you feel the love.

Moms and Dads are in a unique position to grab the most incredible pictures of their kids with today's technology.

Any camera or imaging device like a smart phone can grab that moment.

This is exactly what their Mom did with her iPhone when this opportunity presented itself.

Personally I would have liked to seen it shot on a Digital SLR camera, but as I'm not a young Dad with babies and as I'm not there when these moments happen this at least captures one of the greatest images I've seen of two of my granddaughters ...

There are two things that come to mind when using your camera, one is to capture a 'Moment' in life that may never be repeated, the above image is a good example of that, or to carefully capture a portrait or an event.

By the latter, I mean to carefully setting up you photo, whether it's out with the kids, inside shooting a portrait at home or the commercial Professional photographer on an assignment ... and lets not forget the Pro and non-pro photographer alike shooting landscape or nature images, some of which can often take you breath away with their beauty.

How do you use your camera, do you give it enough thought ... for example, composing you picture by the 'rule-of-thirds', the correct choice of lenses, etc. There is much to learn and the end results can mean the difference of just a photo or creating an Image that grabs the viewers attention and makes them stop and look!

Next time you're out with your camera, stop for a moment and think!

Lady Noyah has been out and about again with Mom, Dad and baby sister Maya.

2012-01-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Now, that young lady Noyah has been out and about again with Mom, Dad and baby sister Maya.

This time she was visiting Disneyland and stopped off for a 'cup of tea' with Mom, a rather large cup at that!

Dad snapped the photo on his iPhone and composed the picture nicely, keeping the subjects on the left, within the first one third of the photo.

Well done Danny, your using the rule of thirds as a composition guide, another great photographer in the making!

If your always composing your picture in this way weather it's shooting the kids in Disneyland or shooting a landscape picture your already half way to becoming an established photographer, well almost ... You might want to move up from an iPhone to at least an entry level DSLR camera, of course ...

Photographer and PhotoShop Magic

2011-12-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

When you photograph a Hanukkah Menorah, what better way to finish the image than in Photoshop, shot on the last day of Hanukkah, 2011

Noyah goes to Hollywood with Mickey Mouse ...

2011-12-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

Noyah goes to Hollywood with Mickey Mouse ...

Now here's a well traveled young lady, who's living it up right now in Los Vegas with her Mom, Dad and baby sister Maya.

But she does like to travel a lot and you will often find her at some of the best places in town like shopping in Rodeo Drive, visiting the 'Walk of Fame' Hollywood Boulevard and more.

Here she is, and quite at home with her best friend Mickey Mouse for all to see, stopping for a moment to be next to Mickey's star on the 'Walk of Fame'!

The point of this story is that this photo of Noyah, my two year old granddaughter and shot by her Mom, was composed using the 'rule of thirds'.

Notice how the subject is placed on the first vertical one third line on the left and the first horizontal one third line from the top and how Mickey's star cuts through the bottom third of the image. As I have said in this blog several times before this is the' holey grail' of composition, used by artist and photographers alike in creating a pleasing composition which draws your eye into the picture.

1. You're in RODEO DRIVE baby...

2011-12-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

This is NOT how to shoot a picture...

It's just a tourist snapshot without the slightest bit of composition about it!

However if you were on a moving bus could you have done much better.

The thing here is that your not in a position to stop and compose anything like a picture really well and the whole point of taking this photo is that you're in Rodeo Drive baby...

But lets stop and think for a minute, if the point of the photo is that you were in that famous place, why not swing the camera a little more to the left and include more of Rodeo Drive and the shops as well? Better said late than never.

My daughter and her mom were on the tour in Hollywood and she just had to grab the shot and for that, all is forgiven...

On the plus side, the image was shot on a digital point-and-shoot HD camera and will produce nice high res' definition blow ups. (contact me if interested).

In the post below I have included a cropped image version, trying desperately to conform to the 'rule of thirds' and almost making it...

Question; have you been shopping in Rodeo Drive lately?

2. You're in RODEO DRIVE baby... (cropped image)

2011-12-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

Sometimes your iPhone will say it all...

2011-11-27T16:46:00.000-08:00

I always talk about being an artist when you take your photo but sometimes your iPhone will say it all...

Did my daughter stop to think about the rule-of-thirds, etc, when she went to grab this shot of my two year old granddaughter Noyah, in this case thank god she didn't... when she saw this image happening she just picked up her iPhone and took the picture, sent it to me and made my day.

I always think the great thing about learning the rules of turning a photo into a picture is to know when to break them and just grab that moment with whatever you have to record it with.

I remember way back when Press Photographers, as they were called in those days, worked with 5"x4"inch MPP Press cameras and the black and white negative was a glass plate held in light tight dark slide which you slid into the back of the camera and together with a large flash gun which took screw in flash bulbs. This is how they use to do it.

This meant that for every shot, the photographer had to reload another new dark slide in the back of the camera and remove the used flash bulb and screw in a new one as required.

Therefor out of the images taken there was invariably a 70% waste, but ironically to day there is probably a 70% success rate of getting a good image using a simple digital auto-focus camera or iPhone, not to mention that afterwards you can use software on your PC such as Adobe PhotoShop to help correct any problems.

Rule of Thirds, Composition and Converging Lines

2011-11-24T14:37:00.000-08:00

Rule of Thirds, Composition and Converging Lines, all make for a great image. Add the conversation between the couple and you have the making of a picture story.

The couple are placed on the first vertical line to the left and the first horizontal line from the base of the image. The combination of the interaction of the girl and boy, together with the rock formation make a great composition and draws your eye to the picture as though you were looking at a painting. The sky was just an added bonus to complete the deal.

I said in an earlier post that composition and the rule of thirds was the 'holey grail' of creating a painting and is used by artist and photographers alike, if you keep this in mind your well on the way to making your photo into a masterpiece, or at least an image that grabs the viewer's attention and makes them look again.

Facts about this picture: The Image has not been cropped and was composed totally in camera.
The models were not posed, but caught just at the right moment by the photographer. Only two frames were shot and this was the first frame.

Always have your camera up to your eye composing the picture and when you see that all of the elements come together shoot away... The Photographer saw the rock formation and was at a low viewpoint to frame the picture and when the couple sat on the rocks he just waited for the right moment.

Don't worry if the right moment doesn't occur each time, but if you are forever practising framing a picture by bringing the camera up to the eye from time to time and carefully studying the combined elements, you'll hit it sooner or later and a valuable lesson would have been learnt.

Believe me this is all much simpler than you think and after a while it will become second nature to do this.

Canon Digital SLR camera in program mode, 100ASA, 250/sec at f11

Clever Clogs, Camera Blogs...

2011-11-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

Most Clever Clogs, Camera Blogs, will tell you how to set Aperture priority mode for the best (DOF) depth of field, or Shutter priority mode, ISO settings and a whole lot more technical jargon... Next will come the Histogram, exposure compensation... etc.

Don't get me wrong these things you need to learn off by heart and apply them to your photography, BUT, unless you learn the ART of photography your pictures wont amount to much.

A photograph has to be like a painting, it has to consist of elements that hold the viewers eye and draw them into the scene and/or shock you into looking at the subject in a creative way.

Now this does require a hands on experiance, well away from all those clever clogs camera blogs that just seem to know it all so seriously and drag you down with technical info that just ruins your day.

Take your camera and think like an artist, carefully paint the scene in front of you, in landscapes add forground interest, shoot from low level and stop down to a small aperture for maximum depth of field. You may have to use a tripod to avoid camera shake so it will be the sharpest picture you can produce.

With people, your there to grab the 'MOMENT' and all you have just learnt from those clever clogs camera blogs, can almost be forgotten, your there to freeze that moment forever in whatever way you can. If its children moving fast, set your camera to sports mode, if it's general in good lighting conditions set to program mode, if you want the background to be way out of focus set the camera to aperture priority and select a wide aperture and the background will be lost. If it's landscape maximum depth of field is required using the wide angel end of your zoom lens and stop down, (smallest aperture), as far as you can.

Now compose your picture, forget the word 'Photo', remember your training yourself to be an artist and seeing the image before you shoot is something you will learn after much practical experiance.

The rule of thirds, OK sorry I'm sounding all technical again, but remember were talking about YOU becoming an artist, not a photographer like the millions of others... be individual and produce masterpieces.

Let's talk briefly about the rule of thirds, imagine your camera screen has a grid in the viewfinder and its split with three vertical lines at one third intervals and the same horizontally. Place your subject or point of interest on any of these three lines either vertically or horizontally to start to create a picture. This is the beginning and the 'holey grail' of composition as an artist and if you forever keep this in you mind, your well on the way to becoming a creative 'art' photographer.

A simple example, Always place you subject, off center on the first of the vertical lines and hay presto everyone is looking at you picture, try to include the same for the forground and background on the vertical or horizontal lines as well.

Sometimes with human subjects, (I use the word 'human' loosely here), you will get very little time to catch them in the right place, that is the one third position, but if you are always looking through you cameras viewfinder and composing you picture, sometimes all you need is the subjects to walk/run into shot to get that perfect picture.

Take the above example, we were walking through the grounds of Kenwood House, one of the stately homes in Hampstead, London, when I saw the picture happening... the camera strap was around my neck. I grabbed the camera switched it on, pointed it to compose the picture and the above image was the only frame shot. The subject was moving, I was moving and at the same time trying to get the elements right... oh and I was also trying to get a Sharpe image as well. It's almost spot on.

Can you imagine if I stopped to think about aperture or shutter priority, depth of field (DOF), ISO setting, etc, etc... the picture would have been lost 5 minutes ago!

I always leave my camera in Program mode, unless I see that I need to leave it in some other setting and also in continuous shooting mode in case the subject is moving a lot.

The point I'm making in the above comments is that the picture was first seen in my eye and although the camera wasn't yet in my hands, I could see all the elements that I have been talking about, I lifted the camera up to my eye and grabbed the shot.

Karting is what the kids love to day

2011-11-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Last minute hassle to get ready for the off. Karting is what the kids love to day and here you see great enthusiasm for the sport.

Reaching speeds up to 70 mph. it can at times be a dangerous and at the same time exciting sport for the young contestants to be competing in.

Learning the skills to gain the lead on the track is must, usually with the skills of an expert coach to show the way.

Nerves of steel are required by the karter and a keen determination to compete against others to gain a tactical advantage on the track.

There's never a dull moment as thrills and spills are all part of the day as you support you favorite competitor.

This is a great camera opportunity for all to grab a piece of the action, with much of the drama happening as the karters get ready for the race.

Better to use a digital SLR type camera as your eye can follow the action, if the daylight is good you can shoot off track in Program mode if your in close use the camera flash to fill in shadows. If you need to freeze the action Sports mode would be better. However if your panning your camera as the kart speeds round the track it might be better to go for a slower shutter speed such at 60 or 100/sec and if you get the panning right the kart and driver will appear sharp while the background will appear blurred and give the feeling of how fast these karters really do go.

Problem with that last suggestion is that spectators are kept well back from the track in which case you will need a longer telephoto lens to get your subject to fill the frame. Either way at an event like this you are bound to get some great shots. By the way, I always keep my camera set to continuous shooting so I dont miss any of the action.

In an English Country Garden

2011-11-11T15:08:00.000-08:00

In an English Country Garden, with a little help from PhotoShop.

Now lets face it, was there ever a day without PS and whare would we be today.

On a quiet day I might hit it three times, catch me on a busy one!

I remember way back when you could get filters that would give you the same effect in camera as this, oops I think I have one, not a word about my age pleaseeeee...

And if you happen to be in an English Country Garden you best have a pretty girl with you like my daughter Karen above, who stays Forever Young!

Thing about those filters from yesteryear is that you would take them with your camera and spend all day looking for a picture to hang in front of. Now the great advantage of everything being digital is that you can be out and about shooting whatever takes you fancy and you can go for digital manipulation when you get back.

Arrr, I remember the days etc... when cameras were cameras etc ... end of story.

It's amazing what ten minutes in PhotoShop can do

2011-11-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

It's amazing what ten minutes in PhotoShop can do!

This image, although spot on regarding compisition, was suffering 'lack luster' and needed some radical treatment.

The original background was made up of uneven grass slopes and was rather boring to look at, now you have an image if blown up would look good hanging on the living room wall.

In fact the whole thing could have been painted by an artist and might well have been just a few years ago, but now with powerful software like PhotoShop, you can control the look of your digital painting as you see fit.

A few things to remember; every time you pick up your camera, always try to compose your photo and you are already half way to being an artist for example, by using the rule of thirds and keeping the composition simple, not all images will lend themselves to this kind of digital manipulation, don't overdo the effects.

I said to son-in-law Kev, keep us off center in the camera...

2011-11-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

I said to son-in-law Kev, keep us off center in the camera and to the side of the photo.

He got it right first time, exploiting the 'rule of thirds'... another great photographer in the making!

This is yours truly and daughter Dawn, at Braunston, England... we were just sitting there waiting for the English sun.

Always try to place your subjects off center in the picture and include some interest in the background or just keep it plain and simple, avoiding lamp posts or other objects behind their heads, again this image is spot on, well done mate.

Camera in program mode.

The Good Old British Summer...

2011-11-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Good Old British Summer... This is England, August 2011, the coldest on record ... Switching the heating on in the home was a must to survive and the electric blanket was a god-send!

We even tried going to the beach and I swear it would have been warmer in the winter...

Can you imagine on the beach in the Summer in jeans, sweater, coat and woolly hat... talk about drafty, its a good job I'm not Scottish and wearing a kilt, ouch!

There were unconfirmed rumors that even the Eskimo tourists were getting out as fast as they could, they just couldn't wait to be back home in their igloos...

If your ever on vercation in England

2011-11-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

If you're ever on vacation in England, one of the most BEAUTIFUL places to visit is Banbury Cross in the Town of Banbury, made famous by the well known nursery rime.

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a Fine Lady upon a White Horse...

England is a delightful country to visit with many places of interest and countryside that that will take your breath away.

However, don't expect Mediterranean Sunshine as you might be a little disappointed, but as a tourist you are in for a treat as you seek out the many traditions and history of towns and villages.

My advice is to hire a car and be prepared to stay in the many different small hotels and guest houses you will find along the way.

A must is a visit to the Tourist Bord of your proposed towns and villages you would want to visit and of course you will receive much help with places of interest to see, accommodation and suggested routs to so you can take in several beauty spots and popular places to visit.

Towns like Banbury are not overcrowded with tourist, but if you choose to visit for example Stratford Upon Avon, Shakespears birth place you can expect large crowds of tourist, maybe more expensive accommodation and parking problems as well. But don't let that deter you as it's a delightful place to include on your tour, as is many other spots on the map as well.

The great thing about the UK is you can travel further afield to places in more remote areas like the highlands of Scotland, or travel down to Devon and Cornwall ... the lists goes on!

Tip; Take your camera with you and be prepared for those photo moments that just seem to happen, like the photo above of two local Banbury residents showing an overseas visitor and me around.

This Image contains elements and shapes that are pleasing to the eye.

2011-11-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

This Image contains elements and shapes that are pleasing to the eye.

See how the path leads your eye to the tower and the shape of the slopes plus the people, all makes for an interesting composition.

A photo like this will happen in a second and as I had already composed the background in the viewfinder, it was a case of waiting for the subjects to walk into shot. A one off frame only.

If you see a great looking background, quickly compose it in camera, if you need to add subject interest then it's just a case of being ready to shoot the picture.

Camera in Program mode. 250/sec at f11

English Civil War, The Battle of Edgehill, 23rd October 1642 ...

2011-11-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

It's difficult to believe that this tranquil English countryside was the scene of a bloody battle between the Royalists led by King Charles 1 and the Parliament's led by the Earl of Essex and was the first major encounter of the English Civil War.

There was approximately 12,000 men per side. In total, 1,500 men may have been killed, with many more wounded on both sides.

Continuing disagreements between King and Parliament had lead to a declaration of war on August 22nd. The Royalist army marched on London, and having outmanoeuvred Essex, the King deployed on the Edgehill ridge on the morning of October 23rd 1642.

While some claimed that Parliament had won a tactical advantage on the field, others suggested that the battle was a strategic Royalist gain; for the next day the Earl of Essex withdrew to Warwick, leaving the Royalists free to march on London.

Photo: Camera in Aperture priority mode to give maximin definition, with a wide angle lens set to f16. at 125/sec.

Smart Phone to the rescue ... When someone you love ...

2011-11-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Smart Phone to the rescue... When someone you love is several thousand miles away an iPhone can lift your heart.

Sent by my daughter and received this morning, apart from the quality of the image, which is made worse by the blogger upload, (sorry to knock blogger), I would be happy to praise them if it was spot on, this is a beautiful way to start the day...

You see, sometimes image quality is secondary for the quick reaction of seeing this and the great joy it brings to those who have just received it.

I would have liked to have it shot on a HD Camcorder and emailed to me, but for the above mentioned reasons this is still a movie clip you can't resist.

Remember to take take your camera with you, but now you can even get a slimline HD still camera with a movie clip mode, giving a quality unheard of a year or two ago. Were talking about the Olympus SZ-20 full HD digital camera, or better still is the JVC Everio HD Memory camcorder GH-HM30.

I have just seen some movie clips from this Camcorder and the quality is breathtaking, and I mean breathtaking HD quality, using Image Stabilizer technology. As my Mother use to say, what will they think of next...

Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross ...

2011-10-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

This statue was funded and erected by the people of Banbury to commemorate the nursery rhyme which has made Banbury famous throughout the English speaking world.

"Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a Fine Lady upon a White Horse,
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes."

The rhyme contains three essential elements: Banbury Cross, the 'Cock Horse' and a Fine Lady upon a White Horse.

One explanation of the 'cock horse' is the children's hobby horse and Banbury holds a Hobby Horse Festival in the first weekend of July each year, with a parade of hobby horse 'beasts' through the town and Hobby Horse Races held in People's Park.

The statue of the Fine Lady upon a White Horse now brings the rhyme to life all the year round.

The Fine Lady is depicted as the 'Queen of the May' and incorporates many symbols of spring.

She wears a crown of thirteen spring flowers, alternating daffodils and wild roses, symbolising the thirteen ancient calendar months. A butterfly has landed among the flowers and a moth has settled on her hood.

The bells on her feet are interpreted as both musical bells and seven bluebells representing the days of the week. She drops petals from her raised left hand to bring prosperity. The rings represent power.

The frog represents metamorphosis, the cycle of nature and community.

The other symbol to look for is the Sun, which has been a symbol of Banbury since the sixteenth century.

In the Middle Ages three crosses stood in different locations around the town. All three, The White Cross in West Bar, The Bread Cross near Butchers Row and High Street and finally The High or Market Cross in Cornhill were all destroyed by puritans at the start of the 1600's. The puritans disliked religious imagery and the superstitions associated with it.

The statue was designed by Artcycle Ltd, and the horse was sculpted by Denise Dutton.

foot note: I was in England, UK last August and visited Banbury Cross. The above details were taken from the plaque erected near the statue. Camera in Program mode with camera flash on to give highlights to the statue.

Please note, when shooting outdoors with your camera in Program mode with camera flash on, make sure the shutter speed is not faster than the camera flash sync' speed. If this is so, switch to shutter priority and set the shutter speed to match the cameras sync' speed.

Back to the hills ...

2011-10-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

Back to the hills and another eye grabbing shot.

And I can assure you this image is also not posed, they are really checking out if they could make it all the way down the hill without tumbling most of the way.

Now tomorrow I promise not to post another hill shot, although there plenty more with deserved merits.

When you get a camera opportunity like this you just have to keep shooting and there will be some exceptional shots to show the family. Remember to keep on composing you picture in the camera and then shoot the moment as it happens. I like to keep my camera in continuous shooting mode so you don't miss an image.

This doesn't mean you to shoot dozens of photos, but two three frames of a subject that is moving around like kids do, might just do the trick in catching the image you want.

COLORFUL FUN ...

2011-10-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

COLOUR FUN: Can you think of any better way to spent your time than on a slide ...

And if that slide makes such a colourful background, better be ready with your camera.

Such a simple picture to shoot, any camera or smart phone would do the job and your bound to get a great shot within the first 5 or 6 frames you take.

It's the simplest of backgrounds that make a successful photo and if you keep that in mind with every image you capture, you'll want to look at them again and again.

Casual Conversation ...

2011-10-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

Casual Conversation ... I like the simple lines of the background and the fact that the couple don't even see the camera. It makes for a lovely shot.

Totally saved by the simplicity of the backdrop where the shape of the hills lead the eye to the subjects.

Sometimes you have to let your little models do the work for you, then all you have to do is see it, compose it, and shoot it.

Try to always to be composing your picture then wait for the moment to happen. That even applies to a posed shot while carefully selecting the background and the position of you subjects in the frame, sooner or later you'll get a great image and capture one of life's little moments. Canon Digital SLR camera, in program mode.

CANDID CAMERA: Tell a story with your photos.

2011-10-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Candid Camera: Tell a story with your photos. If you have all the posed photos you need think more creatively and make you image Tell the Story...

Overseas visitor and friend at the shopping moll this picture says it all perfectly.

If your wondering how to capture the next photo without the same old boring stuff you see from most camera owners, use this as an example.

How many frames were shot to get the above photo, just one, all the others I had hit the delete button. Why this one, firstly because both heads are looking at the same 'bargain' interest and the close interaction of the couple which makes a nice competition.

So if your wondering how to spice up you photos try a candid camera approach it sometimes says everything about the subject and there no forced smiles to contend with. Camera set in program mode, although if the light is low you may want to shoot in shutter priority and set a higher shutter speed to avoid camera shake.

SPEED ... Go Kart Circuit ...

2011-10-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

SPEED ... Go Kart Circuit, with all the thrills and fun and determination to win a place. Go, Harry, Go ...

You just have to love it to do it .. It's not a sport that every kid likes to do.

A great camera opportunity for everyone, with plenty of thrills and spills and a chance to see if you can keep up with the action.

You could set your camera to Sports Mode to freeze the action, on the other hand to get a result like this, select a slower shutter speed and pan your camera with the subject and you will blur the background, while the kart and driver appears sharp.

OR, you can upload the image to PhotoShop and add Motion Blur to selected areas of the image to create the effect of speed as I did above. The background was already blurred as I had panned the camera with the moving subject but as I was some distance off the full effect was lost, so additional effects were added.

Camera set at 200/sec at f8, panned with subject with added effects in PhotoShop.

Words of encouragement ...

2011-10-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

Last minute words of encouragement from Mum before the off ...

Were at a Kart Circuit, where the tension is mounting as the contestants wait for go.

With speeds reaching as high as 70mph it can at times be a dangerous and a challenging sport for the all the Karters out there.

A great place for photography and your bound to find some great shots as you follow the events of the day, with contestants preparation being the most important thing before the race, giving you ample opportunity for a some inspiring photos. If you have a camera flash and your shooting in close with harsh sunlight, remember to switch the flash on to fill in the shadows. This shot taken on a Canon Digital SLR in program mode, with camera flash on.

Extreme Close Up ...

2011-10-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Extreme Close Up almost always works well and gives image impact to your photos and bound to impress.

Go Karting is all the rage and this young man is no stranger to the sport that many kids love to do.

All the fun of high speed track racing, win or loose and battling it out for a first place.

If you shoot such an event you have to get in there and grab an image or two.

Always try a close up first, you may surprise yourself how it grabs your attention! Shot on a digital SLR camera in programn mode, using the built in camera flash with red eye reduction, togeather with the existing ambient light inside the marquee maintenance shop. Image shot at a Karting Circuit, in the UK.

COMPOSITION spot on ...

2011-10-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

An Image with Composition impact... a great sky shot with added subject interest.

Try covering the bottom of the picture with your hand and you will see it's a beautiful shot of the sky with the clouds proforming as if on command!

An eye grabbing image with simple lines that compels you to look at the open sky and the little models.

Again the compisition is near perfect and a good example of the subject interest being in the right place in your viewfinder before you shoot. If you learn these things you will always be working out this rule before you grab the image, leaving you only to catch the moment as it happens. This was a single frame shot only!

Canon Digital SLR camera in Program mode set on continues shooting. If your subject is fast moving you might be better off trying Sports mode to freeze the action.

CONVERSATION ...

2011-10-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

You have to ask yourself is this a candid or posed shot.

If you were a pro photographer and you had shot this image in response to a brief from your client, I can assure you that you and your client would be very happy with this result.

Sorry to sound as if I'm blowing my own trumpet, or as they say in the States, Tooting my own horn, but I'm more than happy with this interpretation of the Title to the picture, 'Conversation' ... and as for the composition, it's right on the nail.

This was in fact a completely candid shot, not directed in any way and captured the moment perfectly.

So how was it done, firstly two kids that were interacting well with each other, you need an eye to see the moment, and a Digital SLR camera to capture it however many frames were shot, (in this case only two or three).

I will add that that it was a great location, great for photography and for the kids as well. Camera was set to Program mode, 100ASA and the exposure was 250/sec at f11.

Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill ...

2011-10-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

"Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after"

A totally candid shot of two kids in the good old British summer with yours truly trying desperately to keep up with them, with some success it appears!

As soon as I saw the image in the frame, I couldn't help adding the nursery rime caption to it.

As for the composition it's almost spot on, exploiting the rule of thirds. Shot on a Canon Digital SLR in program mode.

Is There Someone You Know Who's Loving You So ...

2011-10-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Taken on my daughters iPhone ... do you really need a camera in the real sense of the word... Well to be honest as a photographer the answer is yes ... this moving shot, especially to me as it's two of my granddaughters, is great at this size but if I had been there for this photo shoot I would have used my Digital SLR camera which would have given me a much higher pixel resolution.

However having said this, it's a beautiful shot of four day old baby Maya and two year old big sister Noyah and has become one of my all time favourite photos.
What do you think?

You have to check this out!

2011-10-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga’s Marilyn Monroe moment | - Yahoo! News http://yhoo.it/qZeCBc

Sitting at the piano in a tan gown, she purred "Happy Birthday" to President Clinton, who is celebrating his 65th, before she belted out "Born This Way." In her tribute to the actress, who sang for President Kennedy, she told the audience, "I am having my first Marilyn moment -- I always wanted to have one. And I was hoping that it didn't involve an accident with some pills and a strand of pearls, so here we are." http://yhoo.it/qZeCBc

WHO NEEDS A CAMERA ANYWAY ...

2011-10-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Back in the sixties, if I happen to mention that I was an advertising fashion photographer, the answer would be, 'COOL' or whatever the equivalent word was at that time!

To day the answer would be, SO AM I ...

I mean, with your iPhone, Blackberry or whatever, Who Needs a Camera Anyway ... even the digital point-and-shoot cameras are loosing ground with sales dropping like a stone and as for a DSLR, that's only for the elite, pro or paparazzi photographer and not on the your list of immediate favourites, well at least the vast majority of you ...

The only thing saving the pocket size camera from extinction is that you can pay extra and have your digital or web cam in HD, which seems the way it's going right now, as I say at a price.

However, dont think the manufacturers of smart phones are about to stand still and over the next year or two your gonna see some advanced features being introduced, that will blow your mind ...

Have you ever stopped to considered how technology has advanced in the last few years, and it was in some early movies, perhaps like James Bond, whare you talked into a communication device, looking a bit like a wrist watch, togeather with a screen. I mention this as I contacted my Daughter in LA via 'skype', at the time she was walking around a department store with her iPhone. As we were talking, she was showing me and asking my advise on her selection of purchases and I was thousands of miles away... Now that is 'COOL' ...

If you aspire to taking photography more seriously and need more online info I suggest you take a look at This Site, packed with pro tips, including shooting Portrait Head Shots, How to shoot Fashion, Shooting a Model, Tabletop Still Life and much more.

John Rogers 2011