If you ever had an art history, drawing, graphic design or photography class, then you’ve probably learned about the “rule” of thirds as a composition technique to use in creating more interesting photos. Or, as I prefer to call it, the “suggestion” of thirds. More about that later.
The goal of most photography compositions is to create an image with a clear and distinct subject that creates interest for the viewer. There are many ways to create interest in a photo, but one of my favorites, and one of the easiest to accomplish, is to get closer to the subject and fill most or all of the frame.
What do you think are the two least used, and probably most important, pieces of your photography gear? I’ll give you a hint: you can’t buy them at a camera store.
Are you wanting to get out and create photos, but don’t know where to start? Let me help with that. I'll give you an assignment that will help you by providing a framework and a structure for getting your camera off the shelf.
One of the great things about our jobs as photographers is that we get asked to do so many diverse things. To me, new and different assignments keep me fresh. Sometimes we get asked to do things that push our limits or are even beyond the bounds of anything we have done before. This is the story about how I approached a recent project that pushed me to the limit, and how I was able to tackle it and win.
What is it like to shoot a travel assignment for a major publication? What’s the process from start to finish? Every publication is a little different but I’ll speak from my experience shooting dozens of assignments for The New York Times travel section throughout Southeast Asia for over a decade.
A little while back, I was working for a small local newspaper outside of Houston, Texas. I was working on a series about adrenaline junkies around the area. One article I really wanted to write was about skydiving at Spaceland Houston.
Here's a typical quick interior photography assignment for a Swiss brand called VIU Eyewear. They contacted me to create three images for their website/social networks. The only rule was to stay in the same style than their other images on their "Stores" page (something simple, white, and luminous with an emphasis on interior design). Here's how I shot it and edited it.
ESPN W recently hired editorial and commercial photographer Gina LeVay (@ginalevay) to capture environmental portraits of first-time Olympians. The assignment took Levay to six countries around the world over a two month period, and resulted in a stunning set of images.
I have found it difficult to specialize in one genre of photography as a full-time photographer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg is considered the smallest big city in Canada, and I find myself doing a whole lot of everything, including but not limited to: portraits, food, architecture, events, and a lot of other random gigs.
Back in 2010, San Francisco-based photographer Christopher Michel received a once-in-a-lifetime photo assignment …
Here's a glimpse into a day in the life of a New York Times staff photographer. The behind-the-scenes video above follows 64-year-old photographer Ozier Muhammad as he covers the People's Climate March in New York City last month for the Times with a Canon DSLR and a pair of Leica M rangefinders.
Photographer Joel Krahn has spent the last two years of his life putting his time and talents towards helping non-profits. And after two years of doing this work in his hometown of Vancouver, he was given the opportunity to take his endeavors overseas and shoot with On-Field Media, a media division of Nairobi-based organization Africa Inland Mission.
Over the course of the three months he was there, Krahn captured a gorgeous collection of aerial landscapes of the African environment -- from the Nile River weaving its way through South Sudan to rural villages in Kenya.
Let’s start with a little quiz. What one thing makes a pro camera a pro camera? Build quality? Weather sealing? Fast autofocus? Fast motor drive? Dual SD card slots?
Don’t think too long over the answer because it’s none of the above. A pro camera is a camera that a pro uses. Period.
One question -- or should we say debate -- that often arises among photographers is whether or not you should take a lower-paying job if it means getting an assignment from a reputable publication or brand. The hope, of course, is that the impressive photo credits will entice other clients to hire you for a fair rate, making up for the initially low pay.
While there is no “right” answer to this question, the team over at PhotoShelter asked John Harrington, author of a number of top-selling photography books, to weigh in on the debate over Skype.
After watching the movie "The Last Samurai" at a theater back home in Southern California (where I'm originally from), my curiosity for Japan inspired me to go and discover what it's like. I took a couple of vacation trips out there and met a lot of good people before I found a job that sponsored my working visa to officially let me move out to Japan in 2005.
I often ask myself, “When and how it is it that I decided to become a commercial photographer?” The answer to this question is usually a long drawn out tale that goes back to when I was a junior in high school back in Miami. I’ll save you the long story and only share the story of my favorite photography class and assignment and why it was so great.
Got an assignment? Hire an AP photographer! The AP announced a new program allowing outside sources to hire some of …