This post is the last in a three-part series dedicated to teaching sports photography at all levels of competency. In part one I covered the basics for photographers who are just getting started. Part two was geared towards intermediate amateurs who have mastered the basics and want to gain additional competency to bring their images to the next level. This part is for advanced amateurs looking to enhance their existing skills and create professional-looking images.
It was the last Saturday of May and it was already time to go. After spending more than a week in the Fiordland National Park, walking around this New Zealand’s jewel, and a few days in Invercargill waiting for the weather forecast to get better, it was now or never. The forecast predicted a splendid weather until the following Monday, perfect to finish the 3 days of trekking on the Rakiura Track, one of the 9 Great Walks of New Zealand.
In the past, hardware calibration feature was limited to premium wide-gamut models from companies like NEC or Eizo. Those models offer wide gamut, great uniformity and advanced calibration features…but at a fairly high price. Affordable wide gamut solutions with hardware calibration started in 2013 with Dell and after that other companies like LG, BenQ and Samsung begun to offer “similar” products with more or less success. It is important to point out that LG and Samsung wide gamut models cannot be properly calibrated internally with the i1Display Pro colorimeter using their software and the same applies to some BenQ models like SW2700PT and its Palette Master Elements software. The main issue with those models is that they bundle an outdated X-Rite SDK (Software Development Kit) in their software without GB-LED support, which is the current main* (see the footnote at the end of the article below) LED wide gamut backlight technology. Hence, their software won’t get accurate readings, which in turn leads to inaccurate calibration. The BenQ PG2401PT and its Palette Master software, on the other hand, come with proper GB-LED support.
I am the first to admit that I am naturally a “no” mom and I try so hard not to be.
It’s a daily struggle of mine.
I admire all of you “yes” moms so much. However, there is one season of the year that I become a “yes” mom and I completely give credit to my yearly 100 Days of Summer photography project.
I don’t know if it has to do with the fact that the summer gets me so excited with its leisurely days or if it’s because I am also about to lose my mind trying to keep 4 little boys entertained. Either way, I need material for a daily photo AND I want my kids to have a memorable summer.
The first thing I try to do is get the kids involved and suggest a summer bucket list. This isn’t anything crazy, but we all brainstorm and think of things we want to make sure we check off our list over the course of the next few months. These may include things such as: going to the pool, spending time at Papa & Gigi’s house, going to a museum, finding the best splash pad in the area, getting ice cream, etc.
See? Nothing crazy, but those simple everyday moments are my favorite. Isn’t that why so many of us picked up a camera in the first place?
I typically let the kids come up with most of the ideas, however, I try to throw in a few ideas that I know will be photo worthy (although I feel everything is worth documenting). I feel so much nostalgia during the summer and I want my kids to have those same feelings and memories.
Generally, we wake up and eat a lazy breakfast and decide what to do for the day. If one kiddo decides that we should check out one of the local lake beaches… YES! I don’t even bat an eye. Even when I’m exhausted, I pack up our things and grab my camera and hit the road.
Grabbing my camera doesn’t even feel like a chore and you know what else? My kids hardly even notice it on my “yes” days. They are so busy enjoying their summer fun that they don’t mind when I start snapping away. (Don’t worry – I don’t spend all my time behind the camera. I do jump in on the fun, too, because although capturing these memories is important, I also want them to remember me as a fun and engaging mom, not one that has her eye glued to the camera all day.)
Some days we don’t leave the house and that’s okay! My older two like to spend time playing video games (as do most kids, right?) and I’m totally okay with them decompressing and I document that, too. If it’s a lazy day at home I might just take my 3 year old twins out in the backyard and turn on the water hose. They can spend hours playing with that! (If you follow me on Instagram then I’m sure you’ve noticed we actually do this a LOT, but water droplets and sun are always a win in my photographery mind.)
To my fellow mamas, if you haven’t already, start a daily summer project – it’s not too late!
Be a YES mom! Grab that camera and document your days: the mundane moments, the family trips and everything in between. And to you mamas that are already doing a daily project, great job!!
Keep that momentum going and try the bucket list. I promise, you won’t even have to dig for inspiration for that daily photo. Most importantly, you will be giving your kids memories that last a lifetime.
The post How my 100 Days of Summer project makes me a more fun mom appeared first on Clickin Moms.
I have recently been invited to visit and experience Israel by a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization called “Vibe Israel“, which gathered four influential photographers from all over the world to come together to a week-long event, during which we were given a tour of the country and what it has to offer. I have been wanting to visit Israel for many years now, so when folks from Vibe Israel contacted me and explained what the organization and the tour were all about, I told them that I would love to be a part of it. I knew that it was going to be an amazing experience being in the company of three other talented photographers, taking pictures of some of the most ancient and historic places in the world. Having previously been to the region (I have previously visited the neighboring Jordan several times in the past few years, check out my article on photographing Jordan), I was aware of what to expect, but I also understood that there was much new to see. And I knew for sure that a week in Israel would not be enough, especially considering how packed the tour schedule was going to be. Therefore, I decided to stay for an extra week by myself in Israel and experience it firsthand – something I really enjoy doing when traveling overseas. In this article, I would like to give you a tour of what I have experienced in Israel through pictures and hopefully inspire you to visit this beautiful country and the region.
