Putting you in the picture

Welcome to my Photography Blog

The aim of this blog is to show fellow photographers how my images are made, how I to stick to the rules-and break them when necessary to get the image I want in the camera. I will be writing about the problems I face when I photograph a scene, a person or perhaps a still life. It will give you the reader an insight to what makes me tick as a photographer. If you can pick up some tips along the way, that will be great. If your photography improves because of these tips and insight that’s even better.

Latest

Opportunity


I have learned many things while trying to become a more accomplished photographer. The rule of thirds and other composition rules. How to hold the camera steady. How to use colour in a shot there are many more examples I could give.

The one thing that I have learned that is more important than anything else is this, Remember to take your camera with you when you leave the house! No matter how good a photographer you are, no matter how well you know the rules of composition it will not do you any good if you don’t have your camera.

The shot included here just happened. I was walking out to the “Langer Ludwig” from the castle courtyard in Darmstadt, Germany when the young lady walked through gate. She was in perfect silhouette along with the castle gate. I lifted the camera to my eye composed the shot and “click” the shot was done. There was no pre planning and only a window of opportunity that lasted maybe 10-15 seconds.

Now it may be possible to recreate this shot but it will never have the same feel as this one because it will not be the same time of day the weather will be different and most certainly the same young lady will not be there so as far as I am concerned this will not happen again. Seeing the opportunity is also a skill in photography. Making the most of the opportunity is perhaps a skill that we will all improve on if we remember to take our cameras when we go out.

If you wish to see more of my photography please click HERE

Posted by  |  April 15, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

The coast


More and more often I find myself at the coast taking photographs. I don’t know what it is, but i like my own time and taking photographs in the city might be nice, with lots to shoot, but I love the peace of the coast. I may have to work harder to get something new something different but is that not what we want, to find something different to photograph or at least photograph the same things but in a new way.

Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

 

Well whatever we do it for I am happy that I get the chance to get out there with my camera every now and again and bring something back that I am happy with. This image is of Kimmerage Bay in Dorset, England. The shot was taken with a Canon D40 and a 60mm macro lens. The idea was to use the lines in the rocks to lead the eye into the shot. It was tinted blue in Lightroom 3 not for any other reason than I like it.

If you wish to see more of my photography please visit my website here

Posted by  |  April 11, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

The Idea


Each of us have the ability to take a good photograph, an image that is well lit, not over or under exposed. It is with good composition, nice subject matter and an IDEA that makes for a great photograph.

We can all go out and buy a camera that makes most of the decisions for us, and find we get a good number of images that we are happy with. It is when we have an IDEA for a photograph, that we can then learn how to get a great image. Why? Because we then need to know how to use that camera to give us the results we want. Think about composition, Aperture-D.O.F (depth of field), shutter speed.

I had the idea for this image some weeks ago when I did the original shot of the daisies in the copper jug. (BELOW) My thought process was what would these flowers look like when dead? What background would I need? Black and white or colour? What aperture? Subject to background distance? So you see it is not just a matter of picking up the camera and taking a shot. If you work at your photography, it will improve. If you plan a shot you will be rewarded for the effort.

I think this was worth the effort, it is close to what I had in mind when I had the IDEA so I’m happy with it.

If you wish to see more of my photography please visit my website.

www.jmcqphotography.com

Posted by  |  April 1, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Leading Lines.


Composition rules in photography are good to know and if you follow them I would say that you will generally produce an aesthetically good photograph. One of these rules is how to use “Leading Lines”

In the image below I have used the water to lead the eye to the rock formation and right round to the Arch.

Leading lines can be any element in a composition which directs the viewers attention to the subject. You can use a pathway or an object to point to the main subject, both would be considered leading lines.

Above I have used the pathway and the lines of the fence posts to lead the eye to the tree in the top corner, just another example of leading lines and how their use can help make an image work.

Look at my website www.jmcqphotography.com to view some more examples.

Posted by  |  March 2, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Using simple rules


The idea behind my post today is to use the two things I discussed in my previous posts. Using the rule of thirds and also very simple lighting.  How simple things being used together can produce what I think is a simple shot that works quite well.

I have used only one light just behind and to the left of the thumb tack, with a white reflector directly opposite. This allowed me to fill in the side of the tack in shadow without eliminating an important element of the image, the shadow of the tack itself.

The tacks placement within the frame also helps the image with the diagonal line of the shadow and the rich red colour does a lot to help the image also. I would be interested on the thoughts of others about this image. It is simple and did not take much to set it up, but as with many things, having the idea is the most important. Seeing the image in your mind and setting out to produce that image is how I enjoy photography.

 

 

 

Posted by  |  February 19, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Lighting setup


While messing around with these flowers I decided to do a very simple lighting set up that might help others starting out with studio flash. Now you don’t need to have big expensive lights to get this effect. It’s one flash set at F8 and a white reflector giving a reading of F4.

Lighting diagram.

 

 

 

So it’s a very simple set up as you can see. Just set the flash to f8 and allow the light to bounce off the white reflector to add some fill light, giving a reading of F4 this is just enough to give some light to the left side of the copper jug holding the flower. If you don’t have a softbox use a white wall or piece of card to bounce the flash off. It will give similar results.

Flowers in window light

 

 

This looks natural and is a good starting point if you are just begining to use off camera flash for this kind of shot.

If I was to give any advice it would be keep it simple, and build from there.

 

Posted by  |  February 17, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Rule of 3rds part 2.


Here is another example of the “Rule of Thirds” being used. You will notice that the building being placed at the intersection of the two lines helps the composition. You will also notice that the fact that the building is lighter than everything else in the image (except the sky) helps draw the eye to the subject, the subject being the building. This is something to keep in mind when you are composing an image. It will help you create a balanced image, an image that is pleasing to the eye.

Posted by  |  February 13, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave A Comment »

Rule of thirds.


One of the main rules in photography is the rule of thirds. The photography rule of thirds tells us to align our subject with one of the points where those lines cross at A, B, C or D. That means our subject is one third of the way “into” the image from either the top or bottom, and from either the left or right.

Odenwald tree

Here we can see it in use. The reason that this works so well is that the human eye is drawn to these points.  If you compose your image in the camera so that your main subject is at any of these points it will have a balanced feel. It will also work if the main focal point is at any of the intersection points in the frame. You can see why it’s called the rule of thirds. Three sections from Left to Right and Three sections from Top to Bottom.  I hope you find this useful.

Posted by  |  February 12, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

My First Post.


If you would like to check out some of my photography, you can do it HERE.

Posted by  |  February 12, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | Leave A Comment »

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