When it comes to having passion for your profession, it’s hard to imagine any photographer with more of it than Vietnam’s Nguyen Vu Phuoc. With over a quarter century of experience in multiple genres – travel, fine art, drone, documentary, photojournalism, and advertising – he is widely regarded as one of Vietnam’s finest all around photographers.
I recently added an Olympus TG-5 to my photography kit to address some niche requirements that I had for a small, tough, weatherproof camera. One of the capabilities that intrigued me was the TG-5’s microscopic setting. This article shares some images and discusses exploring spiders with a tiny sensor.
As you scroll through your Instagram feed, it can be overwhelming seeing all of the talent and beauty that photographers capture. How in the world to make your own photographs stand out in that big sea of imagery?
I am here to tell you that you can! And you don’t have to break the bank to do it! All you need is your camera, a willing subject (your kids are a great option), a little imagination, and a few simple props.
These five props are items that can be found in every home, backyard, or big box store. With just a little preparation, you will be creating styled portraits that shine!
A literal blank canvas, paper can be used in countless ways. Inexpensive and extraordinarily accessible, this prop is one that I find myself using all the time in multiple applications.
Use paper for interesting backdrops. Paper can be used for creating clean backgrounds in any location. You can use wallpaper, gift wrap, or any large roll that will cover the area you need. Simply place your subject in front of it and marvel at the studio you have created right where you are.
In the photo above, I crumpled simple craft paper and created a beautifully textured background that adds visual interest to the portrait. Play with patterns and textures and see what results you can come up with!
Create three dimensional props with paper. Origami is fun, relaxing, and the results can be incredibly beautiful. Even better, simple origami takes only 3-5 min to fold and the paper is readily available and inexpensive. YouTube has countless videos where you can learn to fold flowers, birds, and just about anything else you can imagine from those little squares of paper.
Create interesting frames. You can create interesting framing elements in your photographs with simple cuts in paper. They add layers and geometry can act as playful props for your subject to interact with.
Plastic film has long been a favorite tool of photographers for the artistic touch it can add to photographs. Stretched over a lens or added to a light to diffuse it and/or add color, film is a versatile tool for special effects.
My personal favorite way to use film is to capture it in motion. When dancing, running, or spinning, the film flows in the air and catches reflections. Lighter than most fabrics, film will stay in the air longer allowing you to make numerous interesting shots in one movement.
Fabric can add texture, color, and movement to any photograph. Whether you hang it for a background, wrap it around your subject for clothing, or let it blow in the breeze, this is another versatile prop that has major visual impact.
In my experience, I have found that the more fabric the better. You don’t want any bare spots in the background or on your subject! Whether you go to the fabric store or use sheets or curtains, get more than you think you will need.
Tulle is a favorite among photographers for how easily it moves and how versatile it can be. However, other materials can be used with equally beautiful results.
You can find one of my very favorite props right outside your own front door! Lightweight, colorful, and dainty, versatile feathers, leaves, and flowers are as perfect for fluttering through the air as they are adding texture to flat lays.
I like creating photos with atmosphere. So, I often use the “levitating objects” effect. This kind of photo magic immediately stops people in their tracks!
To achieve this effect, it is helpful to have a tripod, remote/timer, and an assistant while you shoot. And you will need some patience as it always takes a few tries to get it right. Take several shots every time you toss your petals, feathers, or leaves into the air to capture them as they drift down.
I love flat lays with feathers, leaves, and flowers. To add a special twist, I love to paint my leaves, flowers, and feathers a color that wouldn’t occur in nature. Just spray or brush a color onto your leaves, feathers, and flowers that works for your set-up and you have a unique prop that is customized for your flat lay.
This is the fluffy material used for making pillows and stuffed toys. You can easily find it in most craft and sewing shops.
It’s the best material for making artificial clouds. It’s so fluffy and light that it looks like it can float right through the frame! Its shape is easy to change and mold into whatever forms you want for your scene. And a bonus tip: you can get a colored hairspray to add color to your clouds or dye your holofiber with fabric dye for a deeper color effect.
Props can reinvigorate your photography but they don’t need to be terribly fancy or expensive. These five simple items can keep your creativity filled to the brim for ages! And the best part? your kids will LOVE taking pictures with these fanciful props. So get ready to have fun and create the photos of your dreams!
The post 5 simple props to make your photos stand out in the crowd appeared first on Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time.
Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time
Recently, I started to wonder just how much heavier lenses have gotten on today’s market – both DSLR and mirrorless. The question started when Nikon and Canon’s mirrorless launches each included lenses that dwarfed the camera bodies, and it grew stronger when Sigma announced a 1.3 kilogram 40mm f/1.4 lens (significantly heavier than the Zeiss Otus). Eventually, I decided to map out the weights of all 733 lenses released in the 21st century to see how things have changed.
I have always been an introvert. I have never liked to be the center of attention. And for me, my it can be difficult to share my photography. Risk taking does not come naturally to me and opening myself up to critique or even praise is frightening.
Can you relate?
However, early in my photography journey I quickly learn that if I wanted to improve, I would have to overcome my fears. I would have to open up to get the photos I wanted. To receive the valuable feedback I needed, I would have to share my work.
I would have to be brave.
And if you are like me, the goal of improving as a photographer is enough to take that first step outside your comfort zone. Here are some ways that you can continue to overcome your fears and move toward your goals as a photographer.
You know those voices in your head. They are the ones that say, “I’m not good enough. I shouldn’t share this. I look ridiculous. People will judge me. Who cares about my work?”
That’s your brain’s defense mechanism talking. Trust me, it isn’t some sixth sense intuition that is warning you of impending disaster. It’s merely your fear talking to you, making you second guess yourself.
And you are not alone in these fears. Every person experiences self doubt from time to time. Even the most seasoned photographers still get nervous before a session or before submitting their work for judgement.
The good news is that you can turn those voices off! When those voices whisper to you, you ignore them. They aren’t what is going to make you a better photographer.
Is it scary? Heck yes! But if you listen to your fear talk to you, you will stay in the exact same place as you are now. We all have the voices of self doubt. But the photographers who improve and reach their goals are the ones who ignore the fear and push forward.
You become physically stronger by lifting heavier things more often. You become stronger against your creative fears by pushing against them more often.
Turning off that inner voice is very much like physical exercise. Just like exercise, it’s painful when you begin a new routine. You want to give up. But if you keep going, your body adjusts to its new routine and you are able to stretch yourself further than you could in the beginning.
The same is true with brain training. In the beginning, even the smallest tasks may feel like monumental risks. Set small goals for yourself and take it one baby step at a time. Maybe that means posting to Instagram once a week for a couple of months. Or perhaps you can submit a picture share to the Clickin Moms forum once a month.
Eventually, these small risks can allow you to take bigger steps to grow in your photography. You might just find yourself putting together a professional portfolio or submitting to a magazine!
As your brain gets used to this sort of exercise, it gets easier and easier to turn off that fear and take risks. So after you conquer one fear, you can move onto the bigger dreams that you have for yourself.
I know, I know. No one likes to hear “no.” Rejection is tough and especially when it comes to something that is as personal as your art, rejection can be downright terrifying.
In taking risks you will fail. You will get rejected. And yes, it’s incredibly disappointing when that happens. But honestly, the fear of rejection is often much worse than the actual rejection itself.
And know that you are in good company when you face rejection. Every single success story comes with more than a few tales of being told “no.” The people who find the “yeses” are the ones who don’t let the rejections defeat them.
So embrace the rejections as stepping stones to finding the opportunities that are perfect for you. Allow hearing “no” to motivate you to try harder, learn something new, and work for “yes” next time.
Sometimes being an introvert in a field like photography can feel incredibly isolating. You are a one-man show, creating art by yourself, and sometimes other photographers can feel like the enemy. The competition.
But there is so much to be gained by finding your community. There is value in being able to share and talk about your work with other like-minded creatives.
Really, who else will understand you when you lament about the lack of clouds in the sky during sunset? Who else can you ask for advice on whether to convert an image to black and white? And who else will support and encourage you when you start to give in to fear?
Having a sounding board when you have doubts and having a support system when fear creeps on can make all the difference in helping your overcome challenges.
A community should be a group that is not competing against one another. Rather, it should be artists but working together to build each other up. In a craft that is often lonely, community should make us each feel supported and less isolated. A community will make you more brave.
I want you to post to social media. I want you to follow your community and lift other photographers up by commenting on their work. But for goodness’ sake, don’t count your followers or likes or comments. That will lead you down a path of empty comparisons and self doubt.
The point of sharing on social media is to put your work out into the world. It is not to gain validation or praise. Rather, it is to allow your art to be seen. It is a practice that allows you to see that your work deserves to be seen. It is a means to overcome your fears.
I want you to post to social media, and then I want you to ignore it for the rest of the day. Don’t look to see how many likes you’ve gotten. Don’t check to respond to comments throughout the day. Instead, let it sit out in the world before you attend to these things and bask in the pride of having overcome your fears.
As I’ve learned to recognize and conquer my fears in the photography world, this ability has spilled over into other areas of my life too. I find myself taking risks that I never would have before.
And this risk-taking has made my life so much more fun! Whether that’s singing karaoke at the school fundraiser (my 20-year-old self would have totally cringed at being the center of attention like that!) or introducing myself to a group of people when I don’t know anyone in a crowd, I am a much braver person than I was ten years ago.
So look inward and ask yourself if you have been holding back because of fear. If the answer is yes, start to let it go today. Start to open yourself and your art up to the world. Conquer the fears and be the photographer you were meant to be.
The post Overcome your fears to become a better photographer appeared first on Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time.
Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time
