Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

couple of days

Mid-week round-up

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I’ve had quite a few little bits and pieces drop into my inbox over the past couple of days, from competitions to community projects. I thought that I’d round-up the best of them so that you can see what you think. Oh, and that reminds me: if there’s something photographic going on near you that you think other people might appreciate – let me know!

An Englishman in New York, at the National Portrait Gallery

There’s quite an ex-pat community in New York, and some of them have quite a big influence on its cultural scene. The photographer Jason Bell has sought out some of these movers-and-shakers, the likes of Thomas P. Campbell (Director of the Met), Zoe Heller (writer), and Simon Noonan (TV pundit), and photographed them. Go take a peek at the NPG until 17 April next year.

From Where I Stand, at the National Portrait Gallery

From Where I Stand is Mary McCartney’s first book of photographs. To celebrate its publication, the National Portrait Gallery has a free exhibition of 15 original prints from her archive on display in its Bookshop Gallery until 13 February next year. Even more, on 7 December McCartney will be there to sign copies of the book and take questions on her work at 15:00.

Images of Thanks, from Adobe

The idea for this community art project from Adobe is to share images that make you smile and bring about a bit of cheer. If you’d like to share something, or take a look at other people’s contributions, then head over to Lightroom’s FaceBook page.

Landscape Photographer of the Year Award

The winners of this competition have just been announced, and if you want to take a look at the photos in real life, and not just through the wonder that is the intergoogles, you can do so at the free exhibition running at the National Theatre, from 22 November 2010 to 16 January 2011.

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Portraiture: Loosen up!

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I’ve spent a lot of time looking at portraits over the last couple of days for various reasons I shan’t get into in details, but there’s one pet peeve I’m afraid I’m going to have to share with you…

Why are people always so damn serious when they are being taken photos of? Does nobody understand the art of portraiture anymore? 

 

back.jpgTo me, a portrait doesn’t have to be a flat-on head-and-shoulders photo. Hell, I’ve seen excellent portraits that don’t even have faces in them. The point I’m trying to make is that there are too many people why are just straight-up trying too hard with their portraiture.

It all depends on what you are trying to do with your photos of course, but are you really the dude who wants to get known for taking plain, boring heads-and-shoulders shots? Granted, I do believe that all good photographers should have a go at classic portraiture, but ultimately, what is portraiture all about?

To me, portraiture is about capturing something that is typical about somebody, in such a way that people who know the subject instantly recognise them, and in a way that people who don’t know them get enough data to make up some sort of opinion about them.

This style of portraiture presupposes that you aren’t taking photos in a lame-ass conveyor-belt-style (yes, Venture, I’m looking at you), but actually have the time to get to know your subjects, and it might just work best with people you know quite well to begin with.

But… Isn’t experimentation and an attempt at capturing the unique what photography is all about? So why aren’t people playing around more?

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If you’ve got some stunning portraits that break the rules – why not post a link in the comments? I’d love to see some photos that defy the monotony, before I go spare and lose all faith in the photographers of the world…

Do you enjoy a smattering of random photography links? Well, squire, I welcome thee to join me on Twitter -

© Kamps Consulting Ltd. This article is licenced for use on Pixiq only. Please do not reproduce wholly or in part without a license. More info.