Photo Tip: Top Tips For Outstanding Pet Photography

Lisa Solonynko, Photo Tips 1 Response »
Mar 082011


Sony SLT-A77 Advert

Pet Photography Lisa Solonynko

Many photographers have a difficult time with pet photography. At first blush, it can be quite frustrating. With the right technique however, pet photography can be extremely rewarding.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Pet photography is no different than people portraits. When shooting portraiture, certain rules usually apply:

  • Don’t crop through joints
  • Keep eyes sharp
  • Get in close
  • Include negative space
  • Use the rule of thirds

These basic rules can easily apply to pet photography as well. The only difference is that animals can’t be told where to stand. A pet photographer needs to reposition themselves to get the shot.

Using the same composition rules for pets as for people will always create more compelling images.

Continue reading »


Posted by lisasolonynko at 9:00 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: How to Buy a Camera Bag

Photo Tips No Responses »
Mar 012011


I thought it was time to share some of my ideas on how to buy a camera bag since I have almost as many camera bags as my wife has shoes and I am certain (thought I should not admit to this) almost more excited by new innovative camera bags than I am about new cameras. The fact is that today photographers are really spoiled  for choice in the camera bag  department and even the biggest stores only stock a fraction of what is on offer. So how do you decide which is the bag for you?

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 10:00 am Tagged with:

Photo Tip: How to Win a Photo Competition

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Feb 222011


flagstorefrontfb2

(Winning image in our first Photo Friday competition)

So, you’ve spotted this great photographic competition with an amazing prize and all you can dream about is winning it but the question you keep asking yourself is how? Well, I hope to share some ideas with you which can only serve to help you in your quest.

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 12:00 pm Tagged with:

Photo Tip: Remember to Capture Memories

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Feb 152011


Photography is fantastic and for many – particularly people like me who cannot draw or paint – its a great form of artistic expression. There are moments where we sometimes need to remember though, that photography is an important medium to document memories or short moments that are never to be repeated again. In such moments is it wrong to simply snap a photo?

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 12:00 pm Tagged with:

Photo Tip: Compacts Can

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Feb 082011


image

Apologies for the late Photo Tip this Tuesday. Just a simple one today. After having spent a few weeks testing a compact camera I have come to realize that compact cameras are still capable tools.

Sure they have limits on things like depth of field control but even the entry units today offer exposure compensation, scene selection and good macro. The image above was taken with a Nikon Coolpix S5100 which is small enough to be always in a pocket. I pulled the image into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for processing and bam, this image is one of my most favourite pics which I have taken in some time.

I will share some more tips in the future but for now, don’t write compacts off, they are still very capable cameras.

Posted from WordPress for Android using Samsung Galaxy Tab


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 8:10 pm Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: Infrared Photography

Photo Tips No Responses »
Feb 012011


lighthouse I became interested in infrared during my explorations into black and white and as part of fine art. I am still one of “those” that like the smell of chemicals and spend hours in a darkroom. I still develop my own black and white film and print my own prints. Through the years I became interested in alternative processing techniques such as cyanotype, van dyke brown, salt printing, gum bichromate, palladium platinum and also infrared.

Photoshop is a wonderful tool for digital photographers and I when I first saw a hand printed infrared print I became hooked.  The visible spectrum for the eye is between 380 – 730 nanometers (wavelengths) see fig a.  The photographic spectrum includes ultraviolet, the visible spectrum and then near infrared. The visible spectrum includes colours such as violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

Continue reading »


Posted by mckenzie at 9:00 am

Photo Tip: Don’t Rush to Buy More Gear

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall 5 Responses »
Jan 252011


Having done my time in photographic retail I often find that this time of year has people rushing out to buy a new lens, flash etc for the camera that they got as a gift at Christmas. Before you do anything further STOP! and read on.

It can be very exciting to have a new camera and trust me I know how anxious you are to start shooting wildlife images for National Geographic or fashion for ELLE but before you go splashing cash or crashing credit cards ask yourself if you have really hit the limits of what you already have?

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 8:00 am Tagged with:

Photo Tip: Using a Cellphone for Street Photography

Photo Tips No Responses »
Jan 182011


I spotted this video on a blog recently and after watching it, wondered why I had never thought of doing this before. The challenge with Street Photography is not sticking out from the crowd with a large camera that screams, I want to shoot you when you least expect it.

While this video (created by Haje Jan Kamps at pixiq) is part of the Nokia N8 Camera School, the tips would apply to many of the top smartphones today. Enjoy


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 10:01 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: Shut Up & Shoot Series by Frederick Van

Photo Tips No Responses »
Jan 112011


This week my photography tip is to visit the website of Frederick Van (host of the This Week In Photo podcast) who has recently launched a new podcast series entitled Shut Up & Shoot.

The series is already in Lesson 4 and are short simple tips of a few minutes, covering topics like Learning Your Camera and Making Great Pictures for you Blog. Short, sweet and too the point, these podcasts are a great way to way to pick up ideas, be inspired or get to grips with photography as a new found hobby.


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 8:00 am Tagged with: , , ,

Photo Tip: Sunglasses Filter

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Jan 042011


A few weeks ago I went on a walk and tried to shoot the sky with our little Sony Cyber-shot HX5. The image was bland and I didn’t bring a graduated filter with me. In a moment of insanity I decided to try taking the picture through my Sunglasses. Here is the before and after. Just a quick tip when you really just need to add something to the image.


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 10:38 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: How to be Wedding Guest & Photographer

Photo Tips No Responses »
Dec 212010


Many of us photographers get roped into shooting our friends weddings. Although this can be a great honour, it is important to balance being the photographer, as well as being a guest at the wedding. “How on earth do you do that?!”, I hear you asking…

Continue reading »


Posted by Rikki Hibbert at 9:00 am Tagged with:

Photo Tip: Budget Macro Photography

Photo Tips No Responses »
Dec 142010


This weeks photography tip is inspired by Make Magazine. Macro on a Budget. Below is the video on how its done… I’ve always known the principle of moving the lens forward to be simple, I just never thought it could be this easy to do. If you like DIY then this is just for you.


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:00 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: The Art of Wildlife Photography

Photo Tips 1 Response »
Dec 072010


This weeks Photo Tips comes from Dan Elkabir of LighScapes who has a passion for wildlife photography. Hope you enjoy.

The Art of Wildlife Photography

Dawn has just broken. You can begin to make out the details of the acacia studded landscape. Your hot breath condenses to steam as it touches the fresh country air.  It may be cold outside, but not even that will stop you from having your car window wide open. It may be early but your senses are wide-awake, consuming the sight sound, and smell of the bush. You have not felt this relaxed in a long time, but still there is an air of tension. The tension of the hunt; your arms stay clutching your weapon, poised at even the slightest hint of action to take aim and fire. But you are neither after hides nor horns. You are hunting for memories, that split second of beauty where Mother Nature herself seems to conspire to present you with the “perfect” picture.

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:03 pm Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: Attend a PhotoWalk

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Nov 302010


This weeks photo tip could be viewed as a little self indulgent though it is better than the one I was persuaded not to post. What was it you ask? Go out and grab the first issue of PhotoComment magazine in print. Alas, I have been told not to use that as the photo tip so this weeks tip is to attend Photo Walks.

What Are Photo Walks?

Wikipedia defines it as: “the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things that the photographer may find interesting.”

Personally I like social Photo Walks where people get together and in a good group of people, the creative energy is passed around, increasing as it makes its way through each member of the walk.

Due to this enthusiasm, PhotoComment will be holding its first open PhotoWalk this Saturday 4 December 2010. Meeting place is Arts on Main in Johannesburg CBD. Details can be found on our Facebook Event page.

What ever you do, dont end the year without grabbing some friends by the arms and going out to photo walk. Get inspired. Travel light by limiting gear to a lens or two max. Limit the gear and increase the creativity. Above all, have fun and learn from each other.


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:00 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: Use a Tripod

Photo Tips No Responses »
Nov 232010


This weeks Photo Tip is the piece of advice few photographers want to hear, use a tripod. I am amazed at how often beginners to photography will spend a fortune on a camera and lens and then pull their nose up at a tripod or go for the cheapest they can find.

I will openly admit to not enjoying the carrying of a tripod, but there are benefits to making the sacrifice and carrying this unloved, three legged, potential friend.

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:00 am

Photo Tip: Shoot Wide, Shoot Low

Photo Tips, Tristan Hall No Responses »
Nov 092010


mushroom-shot-with-sony-zei Todays shooting tip comes from a personal experience while out walking in our new neighbourhood and shooting with Sony’s new Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm f/2 and the trusty Alpha A850. We are fortunate to have a lot of Jacaranda trees in the area and combined with the recent rain the pavement was covered in the purple flowers and mushrooms.

I admit, I seldom shoot with wide angle lenses so this presented me with an opportunity to try something new… but what?

I switched over to manual focus, stopped down to f/8-11 and (due to the lack of Live View – come on Sony, Nikon, Canon, some of the pro bodies deserve this with a rotating LCD) held the camera to the ground and guessed what I was getting through the viewfinder (I was not keen to lie on any of the bees hovering over the ground).

There is a whole new perspective on the world when you shoot wide and get down low, try it some time, even if you don’t have a really wide angle lens, then hire it and explore a whole new world from down low.


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:00 am Tagged with: ,

Photo Tip: Prepare Gear the Night Before

Photo Tips, Rikki Hibbert 1 Response »
Nov 022010


While I may be writing this weeks Photo Tip, the idea comes from Rikki who regularly contributes here on PhotoComment. Rikki’s tip “Always prep your camera gear the night before a shoot, so there is time to charge your batteries, check your memory cards, pack your props, and make sure you have everything you need.”

We asked Rikki why this would be her photo tip. Here is her story.

Continue reading »


Posted by Tristan - Founder at 9:00 am Tagged with:
Older Entries Newer Entries
Afrigator