Photos of the Week for April 2nd, 2020: Here’s an amazing collection of: FOREST’S. Some people have never been to a forest. Some people live in the forest. Some people can’t wait to get to the forest. There is something so captivating about the forest. It can be haunting, it can be Holy. It can be a place of peace. It can be a place where people talk to God. It is a place where we need to sustain our life. It produces all the oxygen in the world, and we can’t take it for granted. Let’s look at some of the most beautiful photos of THE FOREST:
A Pexel photo by Pixabay
A Pexel Photo by Veeterzy
A Pexel Photo by Francesco Ungaro
Photo by Skitterphoto
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Mali Maeder
Photo by Kaboompics.com
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Adnan Uddin
Photo by Anthony
Photo by Snapwire
Photo by Artem Saranin
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Brandon Montrone
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Phillip Ackerman
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Stephan Muller
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Maddie Franz
Photo by Roberto Shumski
Photo by Eberhard Grossgasteiger
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Pixabay
All photos courtesy of Pexel Photos. Photographers mentioned were photographers of Pexel Photos.
Sometimes when we take pictures, we get into the habit to just look through the viewfinder, aim, and push the button, and hope the camera did a good job. That is all good and dandy, unless you want something spectacular. What does a real good photographer think about or do before they push that button? I think they are hoping that every time they push that button, that this one picture is going to be the one that will make them famous, or be one that will be a sellable photo.
“Second Opinion” captured by Bob MacCallum / uncoolbob
So, here is a great article written by a great Photographer: SWEE SHIONG CHONG titled:
10 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER DO BEFORE THEY PRESS THE SHUTTER:
Are you an aspiring pro photographer? Have you ever wondered how to shoot like a pro? Don’t worry; you are in the right place.
Anyone today can qualify as a photographer, provided they have a smartphone or any other device with a good camera. However, it takes more than owning a camera to become a real photographer. There are a lot of factors that come into play for a person to be transformed from a hobbyist photographer to a successful photographer (getting the right equipment, training/education, etc.).
This article will not focus on the practical aspect of becoming a successful photographer. Instead, we will attempt to get into the heads of successful photographers and try to find out how they think.
If you are interested in discovering what goes through the minds of successful photographers before they press the shutter, you are in the right place. Below are ten thought processes that have been proven to be the essence of successful professional photography.
1- HAVE NO FEAR:
This is undoubtedly one of the most common thought processes that goes through the minds of all successful photographers before a professional shoot. Unlike novice photographers, successful professional photographers are fearless when it comes to executing their duties. For instance, instead of worrying about a big job at hand, seasoned photographers get rid of the fear and embrace the opportunity as a chance to showcase their prowess. It is important to note that even the best photographers in the world are afraid of some jobs; however, they have programmed their minds to tone down the fear to levels where it doesn’t interfere with their work.
“Elephant family passing through” captured by Mark Birchall
2- KEEP AN OPEN MIND:
Successful photographers go into photo shoots with an open mind. This is simply because they understand that photography is a very dynamic field that can’t be approached with a closed mind. Successful photographers are open to trying things that are out of the norm. They may follow basic principles of photography during every professional shoot; however, they are willing to go where their subject goes, take random shots, try different settings that were not planned, etc. This open nature is one of the main reasons why they get ahead faster.
“Untitled” captured by Francisco Javier Camacho
3- BE CONFIDENT:
Professional photographers are in a state of extreme confidence before any shoot. They have done many photo shoots over time, gaining invaluable experience. They trust their photography abilities beyond doubt. They know they are good at their trade, so they don’t worry about messing up the shoot. This self belief is what makes them open-minded and fearless before any photo shoot.
4- GET IN A POSITIVE MOOD:
Good photographers become successful because they are able to check their mood. They understand the negative effects of a bad mood during a photo shoot. Mood plays a very important role in photography. For instance, you must smile and talk to the people you are photographing to make them feel relaxed. Even in photo shoots that don’t involve people, a bad mood can ruin everything, because you won’t be at your best, making it difficult to do your best.
“Smiling Photographer” captured by Sea Turtle
5- HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE:
Successful photographers understand that attitude plays a crucial role in overall success. It’s one thing to have a bad mood and another completely different thing to have a bad attitude. In fact, a bad attitude is worse than a bad mood, since it’s more difficult to change a person’s attitude toward something. Successful photographers have conditioned themselves to stay away from negative thoughts about tasks at hand however difficult or challenging they may seem.
6-BE ORIGINAL:
Successful photographers go into all photo shoots with originality in mind. The mind of a pro photographer is focused on capturing the most unique aspects of the subject. This is precisely why the best photographers let their subjects relax and be themselves. They also avoid copying the styles of other photographers, focusing instead on what they are comfortable with and what makes them unique. They understand their uniqueness and don’t compromise it for anything.
7- PREPARE:
Being open-minded shouldn’t be mistaken for meaning being unprepared. Successful photographers have photo shoots carefully planned step by step. They know the type of cameras, lenses, and lights to use and the best subject angles to capture. They understand the importance of going into anything when you are 100 percent prepared, which is why they are successful. Their mind is ready for all aspects and steps of the photo shoot even before it starts.
Shooting for “Dolli Paris” by Fabio Nascimento
8- FOCUS ON PERFECTION:
Successful photographers aim to get it right regardless of factors such as time, cost, and effort. They go into photo shoots having prepared their minds for the fact that they won’t stop until they get everything right. A perfectionist mindset is a very powerful mindset even outside photography, since it gets rid of mental barriers that get in the way of success.
9- SET GOALS:
Successful photographers usually have goals in mind before they start shooting. For instance, they have a set target of the number of photos they want to take and the time they want to spend in a photo shoot. They may also have angle and lighting goals, among others, to increase their chances of success.
10-UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT:
Before pressing their shutters, successful photographers make sure they have a thorough understanding of their subjects and their surroundings. They don’t rush to capture meaningless photos. Instead, they take time and understand everything first.
“Baiduizi Photo Shoot” captured by Jens Schott Knudsen
This list summarizes some of the most important aspects of the psychology of a successful photographer before they press their shutter. After going through the above information, you shouldn’t have a problem knowing how to shoot like a pro. It is, however, important to note that there is more to professional photography success than what is discussed above. Use this article as a basis for further research on how to shoot like a pro.
About the Author: Swee Shiong Chong writes for SG East Photo, a photography blog on techniques and equipment that is used in creating all types of photography from around the world.
And thanks to PictureCorrect for the use of this article.
Macro photography is all about exploring the wonders of the world around you from a very close distance. Macro lenses let you see the tiniest parts of the world in extreme detail, often exposing an array of colors and patterns hidden right before our eyes. Macro lenses are also expensive! However, if you find yourself stuck at home for a while, you can start exploring your home with close-up filters instead. They’re a cheap alternative to macro lenses and can transform the mundane into the magnificent!
These are basically just magnifying glasses that you screw on to the end of your camera lens. They’re absurdly cheap, ranging in price from $10 to $30 for a set of four. Just make sure you buy a set that fits your lens! The front of your lens will have a thread size listed in millimeters; for most kit lenses it’s usually 52mm or 58mm.
Close-up filters are not a substitute for a true macro lens. But they do let you get up close and personal with everyday subjects in a way that will blow your mind. It’s amazing how simple everyday objects, even just normal items in your house, take on a whole new appearance when viewed at extremely close distances.
A normal puzzle piece looks like a work of art when shot with a close-up filter. Every detail, from the texture on the flat surface to subtle scratches in the table, becomes clear and crisp.
Nothing to see here. Just an unfinished puzzle…until you see it through a close-up filter.
What makes this sort of photography any different than just putting your camera close to your subjects? All lenses have a minimum focusing distance, which is based on how the glass elements inside the lens bend and shape incoming light. Most camera lenses are physically incapable of shooting objects closer than about 250mm. You simply can’t get very close to objects and still maintain focus
All you do is screw one of them on to the front of your lens and everything gets magnified right before your very eyes. Exploring your home with close-up filters is a great way to see everyday objects in a whole new light. Suddenly you can take pictures like you never imagined, or thought you couldn’t get without spending hundreds of dollars on a macro lens.
Fun for the whole family
One of the best parts about using close-up filters is exploring your home with your kids. All their toys and games suddenly take on new life when viewed up close. Blocks, crayons, action figures, toy cars, stuffed animals, even their shoes can all make great photography subjects.
This behemoth monster truck scaled a mountain and did it without a scratch! Luckily, I was there to capture the moment of glory with my camera. Or perhaps my oldest son and I were just playing around with some close-up filters.
That’s one of the most enjoyable parts about exploring your home with close-up filters: sharing the experience with kids. They can find fun ways to look at familiar objects and see photographic opportunities where you might have never thought to look.
When my son and I were looking throughout the house with a close-up filter on the camera, it was amazing how even the most mundane objects took on new life. Even simple things like a video game controller took on a new life of color and perspective.
The important thing to remember is that it’s about creativity, not high art. You might not find the next wall hanging for the Smithsonian in your house just by taking pictures with close-up filters. But you will see an amazing world of photography open up before your very eyes that you never knew existed.
Tips and tricks
If you’re going to give this exercise a try, here are a few things to keep in mind for good results.
1. Use a Tripod
While you may take great shots with close-up filters when shooting handheld, a tripod will almost always yield the best results. Even the smallest movements are magnified many times over, so it helps to have your camera as steady as possible. You’re also working with razor-thin depth of field, so unless you’re a neurosurgeon, it’s unlikely you will be able to keep your hands still enough to get the shot you are going for.
This was my setup for shooting the picture at the top of this article. There’s almost no way I could have gotten the shot in focus without a tripod.
2. Focus manually (using live view)
If you have never tried manual focus before, exploring your home with close-up filters might be a good time to give it a try.
Autofocus is very difficult when working with extremely close subjects because depth of field is so incredibly shallow. Manual focus gives you more control over your photos and helps make sure the results are exactly what you want.
Nikon D7100, 50mm, f/5.6, 1/30 second, ISO 1600. Is it a pile of laundry, or is it high art?
Live View is a great option if you are not used to focusing manually. Many cameras, especially mirrorless, have a feature called focus peaking that lets you know exactly what part of your picture is in focus.
DSLRs don’t usually have focus peaking, but you can often use Live View to zoom in on a selected portion of your image. This is great for making sure your close-up photos are tack-sharp right where you want them.
It’s just laundry! But shooting with close-up filters transforms normal objects into works of art.
3. Use smaller apertures
Normally when you want nice-looking, out-of-focus areas on your pictures, you use a wide aperture. The same is true when using close-up filters. But, you’ll quickly find that shooting wide open results in a depth of field that is basically unusable. Stop your lens down to f/5.6 or f/8 to get good results.
In the above image, which is just a normal washroom soap dispenser, the depth of field is so insanely shallow that just the very tip of the pump is in focus. And that’s with using a small aperture of f/5.6! Shooting at f/4, f/2.8, or f/1.8 would be a muddy, blurry mess.
4. Shoot in Manual Mode
Working with close-up filters is a great way to experiment with manual mode on your camera. Not manual focus, but manual exposure control where you set the values for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Each of these parameters has a specific effect on your image, and when shooting close-up, you can easily see the effects that these parameters have. The stakes are low, the creativity is high, and if you’re stuck at home, you probably have some spare time to learn something new.
If you’re not sure where to start, just keep your eye on the light meter. Adjust aperture, shutter, and ISO until the meter shows that your image is properly exposed. Take a shot, and then change the aperture so it’s smaller. You’ll need to compensate by making the shutter speed longer, but that’s okay since you’re using a tripod.
Notice how the depth of field is different on the photo with a smaller aperture.
Keep experimenting with these, and pretty soon you’ll start to develop a good understanding of how to master your camera’s manual mode.
Nikon D7100, 50mm, f/8, 1/15 second, ISO 1600, +10 close-up filter. Why did my son want to take a picture of a piece of cereal? I have no idea. He liked the final image though, and that’s what really matters to me.
Conclusion
Exploring your home with close-up filters is a great way to pass the time. Moreover, it’s also an outstanding opportunity to see the world around you in a whole new way. The possibilities really are endless. If you have ever wanted to try macro-style photography, this is a great way to do it without breaking the bank.
