My vacation photo of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia
Imagine this scenario:
Your friend has just come back from an eco-vacation in the Antarctic. She’s invited you and several friends over one night to look at her photos. When you arrive you get a glass of red wine and find yourself a comfy spot on the couch. She’s borrowed the data projector from work and has it pointed at the coffee-with-cream coloured wall. The lights dim. The show begins.
At first the icebergs were spectacular. You noticed a few exposure problems, but it is rather hard to shoot snow, or was it the paint on the wall? You let it pass. Then came the birds. Thousands of birds in one photo. Many, many photos of thousands of birds. You get it. There were birds and lots of bird poop too. Next up penguins. Of course this is the real reason you came to see the slide show on Antarctica, you wanted to see up close photos of penguins in their natural habitat. How cool is that!
Three hours later you are still watching penguin photos on the wall that isn’t even white. Your mind starts to wander again. People are yawning and have lost their zest for penguins. Is there any wine left? You don’t want to get up, as you’ll lose your spot on the couch. How come they didn’t get a proper screen?
If this is you, go immediately to my How to Critique presentation. If this is a friend or family member, you may have to be more diplomatic, so send them this post using someone else’s email address.
Seriously though, to save yourself from a yawning or fidgety audience, follow these steps for culling your collection before inviting guests over to see your vacation photos.
- Limit your slide show or presentation to about 100 of your best photos that summarize the story of your trip. Definitely don’t go over 200! Better to leave them wanting more than to put people to sleep.
- Choose photos that have strong composition.
- Pick photos that have interesting lighting, and that were shot at different times of the day and in different weather.
- Eliminate any photos that are out of focus.
- Don’t choose any photos with poor exposure.
- Get rid of any photos with strange-looking colour casts, unless you did that on purpose.
- Tell a story with your photos, the story of your trip, or maybe one part of your trip.
- Vary the shots in your show by mixing landscapes and urban scenes with detail shots of each as well.
- People shots are good too, especially locals as it gives a sense of your experience there, and shows more emotion than just landscapes and cityscapes. There weren’t too many locals in Antarctica though!
- Include people who your audience knows, but don’t show too many shots of people who no one knows (except for locals), even if they are your new best friends that you met on the tour.
- Avoid using too many “Mary in front of this monument” photos. A few are okay as they give a sense of scale. Take the monument by itself too.
- Of course you have those ubiquitous sunset shots. Put your best one at the end of your presentation.
- Copy your final selections into a folder and organize your show using your favourite presentation software. I’m a fan of Apple’s Keynote.
- Go easy on the transitions. Better to use a simple wipe from left to right, or a 1 second dissolve, than try to wow everyone with the software features. Slow dissolves make people impatient and too many different transitions interrupt the flow.
- Time your show so that it takes no more than an hour. I mean it!
- Four seconds is long enough for each slide, unless it requires a really long explanation or there is more than one photo on the page.
- If you are adding music, make sure the music fits with the photos and the audience.
- If your music is too slow, people will nod off, too raucous and they’ll get irritated.
- Make your show more interesting by using some local folk or traditional music by artists in the region you visited.
- Lastly, project your images on a clean white wall, or better yet, rent a screen or use a large screen TV, which is fine for smaller groups. After all that work, you want your photos to look their best!
Wow. This started off as a short list, but the more I worked on it the longer it got. A lot of these tips can be used for editing your everyday family photos too. If you have other suggestions, please post them in the comments.
Categories: Photography · for students
Tagged: critique, editing, presentation, slide show, vacation photos
Unbounded
I teach photography from a technical perspective as I believe that once you understand the technical side of any art or craft, your creativity can emerge unbounded. That goes for many things like knitting to cooking to photography.
I also view photography from that same perspective. If a photo is technically off I tend to dismiss it. It’s just the way I’m wired. Plus I see hundreds of photos every day so I’m really saturated with imagery.
Same goes with writing. My writing isn’t perfect, and I may not always put commas in the right spots, or have perfect tenses, but I am a stickler for a few things:
There and their.
It’s and its.
We’re, were, and where.
The misuse of these words bugs me a lot!
Some things just jump out at me when they are wrong. I have no problem with slangy, highly stylized writing, in fact I really think it brings out people’s personalities and voice. However, I can’t stand it if people don’t even use a spell checker! Okay, back to the topic at hand.
But what if you are new to photography or another highly technical endeavor?
Where do you start? All those menus on your sDLR camera . . . How do you get the guts to show anyone your photos, let alone me, your teacher? How about that class critique at the end of the course? I know that my students are usually petrified by this public process, yet the most common question I get asked, is “Can you tell me what you think of my photos?“
A good place to start is by learning basic composition.
As Edward Weston said, “Good composition is the strongest way of seeing.” And here’s the kicker, it doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have or what settings you use to be able to produce good composition. Once you are relieved of that pressure you can start to work on your technical skills, and that’s where I come in. I have simple ways to teach complicated concepts to a diverse range of people with varying skill sets. At least that what’s my students and workshop clients tell me.
So start today by checking out my presentation on basic composition. Then, put your camera in “Program mode” and let your creative energy start to flow unbounded.
Categories: Photography · Teaching · for students
Tagged: composition, critique, grammar, technology
This boy can't talk but he has a BIG voice!
The past few days I’ve worked like a madwoman to catch up on my coursework. Not the course I’m teaching, but the course I’m taking. As I have mentioned in other parts of this site, I’m building an Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) to teach photography (shameless plug). Anyhow, part of that work is researching other people’s sites and checking out their ILEs.
One thing I have noticed is that I’m hugely attracted to online businesses that have a relaxed, funky, modern, open and honest presentation and writing style.
More and more highly successful people are using their own quirky personality to sell themselves and their services. It’s so refreshing from the usual average typical safe protective voice that my corporate photography clients use. (Sorry guys! We expect you to be that way though.) Coming from a never-let-them-see-you-sweat background it has taken me a while to trust my inner voice and to share all for the public to see. I’m open like that when I teach, so why not be more like that on the Internet? When I teach at SAIT, my students don’t really have a choice on their instructors. But when they ask what other courses I teach, it says they want to learn from me because they connect with my personality and my deep passion about what I teach. By the way, I also go to great efforts to make my classes fun and interesting.
Learning from the example of others has given me great insight and inspiration into becoming who I am online. (I don’t want to be like them, but I love that they can be themselves.) It will also attract my ideal students into my photography courses and give me more opportunity for customized training. There are tons of people teaching photography online and in schools.
What separates me from other photography schools will have to be something really incredible to get their attention, and that my friends is ME!
I know what you’re thinking, “How self-centered is that?” Okay, I’m not naïve. I know that I’ll also need stellar content and a great site design to keep you coming back. My point here though, is to be yourself! That way there is no split personality thing going on. People either dig you or they don’t, and if they don’t maybe you shouldn’t be working with them in the first place. Stretch that a bit further to: People will either dig your photography or they won’t. Don’t sweat it if people don’t. As my mom always says, “Do what you love and the money will come.” (Okay, but why does it have to take so long, mom?)
Have a really you day!
p.s. Here is a list of some of the people I really like. A couple of them are even a bit weird.
Naomi – IttyBiz
Chris – The Art of Non-Comformity
Pace & Kyeli – Freak Revolutionists
Pamela – Big Brand System
There are many, many more people who inspire me, but these particular ones are under my lens this week.
Categories: Web · for educators · for students
Tagged: blogs, style, voice, web sites
Since it is a slow time of year for many people, it makes good sense to get organized, clean up your office, file important papers away, and back up your computer files so that you start off the new year fresh! I recommend backing up your files on a regular weekly basis, but like a weight-loss program, we start off with the best intentions, and somehow our enthusiasm fades. Like anything that is good for us, we often don’t follow best practices.
Why is that?
Time and procrastination are probably the top answers to this question. We skip our weekly office and computer clean up once, twice, or ten times and the pile builds up turning the usual 2 minute job into a massive project. Then we end up with a mountain of notes, magazines, junk mail, business cards, paper clips, receipts and what-not on our desk, plus our computer to back up, and we avoid it even more. There’s something about a clean desk that is inviting and productive looking. It’s easier to get down to work when our workspace is clear.
You’re probably wondering why I’m on this track. Well, this past week I started reading a book called Getting things done, by David Allen.
I really didn’t think I had the time to read another book, but since it was Christmas break, I took a couple of hours to do it anyway.
Wow, in the first 50 pages I learned several new tactics on how to break the cycle of things and projects sitting there waiting to get done. One of the best things I have put into use already is: Do the simple 2-minute tasks immediately as they come up, things like backing up your files. This advice works in all areas of your work and life. By the way Allen says that life and work are the same thing to him. I must agree. As a self-employed SOHO type the line between work and life is non-existent.
So as you start the new year, clean up your office, back up your computer files and start getting things done!
Happy New Year!
Categories: Books · for educators · for students
Tagged: back-up, procrastination, review
This just in!
I’m teaching PHOT 222 – Photoshop for Photographers again at SAIT starting February 24 to March 31, on Wednesdays from 6-9pm. There are two classes running that night. Make sure you ask to get into my section, that is if you want to. Check out the SAIT Photography Certificate Program web site for more information.
Categories: Photoshop · Teaching · for students
Tagged: Photoshop, SAIT classes
Big box stores aren't always the cheapest
As you scramble through the stores for last minute Christmas shopping, beware of buying your photo equipment at big box stores. I have had a number of students who had problems with photo gear they bought at Future Shop, Costco, Best Buy, London Drugs, WalMart and the like. These aren’t dedicated photo retailers and they sell consumer-grade equipment for the most part. Typically they don’t know much about what they are selling, and they tell you what you want to hear. Some of the problems I have heard about are:
- up-selling people something they didn’t need like extra lenses and cheap UV filters
- selling crappy accessories like no name tripods that don’t fasten the camera properly – lots of complaints on this one
- malfunctioning cameras that no one knows how to deal with when you bring them back
- lousy and rushed service overall
In Calgary the prices at major photo retailers will usually be lower than the box stores without even asking.
A couple of years ago I was in the market for a high-end compact camera to take on vacations. It was advertised in the weekly flyers on sale for $499 to $549. When I got to the photo store I was thinking I’d have a closer look and if it was a lot more than $499, I’d turn around an buy it at the other place. To my delight, I was told the price was $482! Even less than the “on sale” prices I had seen in the flyers that morning. Plus, I got a whole load of extras thrown in for the store’s Christmas promotion. I didn’t even have to ask if they’d match the box store flyer price. The lesson I learned that day was to trust my photo retailer for the small as well as the large purchases.
Incidentally, my favourite photo retailers in Calgary are:
These retailers support the local photographic community by sponsoring student photo exhibits, trade events, and participating in city-wide photography festivals. And, they will give you a student discount if you ask, so don’t forget your ID.
When was the last time Future Shop organized a book signing for an up-and-coming local photographer?
Visit and support these stores often and get to know one or two sales reps a bit. The next time you are in the store they will remember you and you will have a wonderful time spending your money. It’s a lot easier to part with your money if you get a higher perceived value for it and have a learning experience while you’re at it.
So before you go loading up your credit cards at the nearest mall, head out to your local independent photo retailer and discover a whole new community of experts on cameras, lighting, printing and more. And get yourself a good tripod while you’re at it!
Categories: for students
Tagged: equipment, retailers
Fake Apple Web Site
The Real Apple Store
I have received two emails in the past 24 hours from gmail accounts that have a link to this fake Apple web site advertising prices 80% off OEM. The prices are so incredibly low, it must be a scam. This could also be a phishing site, where scammers can get your credit card info.
How do you spot the fake sites?
To most regular Apple and Adobe customers it is obvious, but not for some people.
- First off, the email address where this was sent from was a gmail account, and it was cc’d to a yahoo account. Trust me, if Apple or Adobe were selling legit copies of their software, the emails would come directly from them, or they would come via an authorized re-seller. This email was quite convincing. It even had Apple’s Infinite Loop mailing address on the bottom of the email.
- If you go to Apple’s own web site, it’s called the Apple Store, not Soft Store.
- The menu bar at the top of the sites are totally different.
- The fonts are slightly different.
Students registered at any accredited educational institution can already get deep discounts on their software from all the major software publishers. Even continuing education students qualify for the discount. There is no need to purchase black market software.
Also, never click on links from an email sent to you from a suspicious email address. It could send you to a scammers web site. It’s always best to type the URL directly into your browser instead. Make sure your email program is set up so that you can see full email addresses of the senders. That makes it easier to spot the spammers and the fakes.
Remember, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Categories: Software · for educators · for students
I teach my students Adobe Camera Raw
I have just completed teaching a Photoshop for Photographers course at SAIT. It was a very short course at 6 weeks in duration. The students ranged from absolute beginners to the well-versed. I had to decide how give my students the best learning experience.
For this course I chose to focus on a Camera Raw work flow rather than on the usual exposure and colour correction methods most people teach. Raw files give the most flexibility, and the user interface of the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) converter is much more intuitive than using Photoshop’s levels and curves. Plus, all the new retouching options right in the ACR converter are easy to master, with the benefit of post processing a finished usable file, ready for print, without having to do more work to it in Photoshop. In my own post processing work flow, this is often the case.
For this class, I also taught non-destructive work flow methods in Photoshop, which meant learning to use adjustment layers and masking right out of the gate. At first this was really hard for the students, but by the end of week 5, they saw the endless possibilities and flexibility this type of work flow provides.
Photoshop can be daunting. It has so many menus, options and tools to learn. In a 6-week course you can’t teach or learn it all, but you have to start somewhere. My goal in this course was to start my students off on the best path by giving them a good foundation in camera raw work flow.
Categories: Photoshop · Software · Teaching
My latest ad in Uppercase Magazine Issue 3, which is due out October 2009
I must apologize for not posting in so long! As a photography instructor, September is my busiest time of the year, and I’m teaching a new course, so the prep is mountainous. Coupled with a surge in client work recently (yay!) and updating my stock library, I’ve fallen behind on my blog postings. Sorry!
I’ve also started a course on developing Interactive Learning Environments, so stay tuned for some new and amazing things over the next several months. I am creating a survey which I will ask you all to complete to help me move in the right direction in that regard. When the survey is ready I will send out an invitation to take it with my next newsletter.
Getting back to the stock library, I’ve just launched a new stock gallery called Vegetable Stock. If you read Uppercase Magazine, and I hope you do because it’s totally awesome, you’ll see my ad in there. The next issue comes out October 1st, and is launching on First Thursdays at Art Central.
So really, this is just a quick note to say hello to you all again, and to let you know that lots of things are happening behind the scenes.
Categories: Teaching · for students
Pioneer Woman has some new Photoshop action sets
One blog I visit a few times a week is Pioneer Woman. Blogger Ree Drummond is a photographer, cook, gardener, and a homeschooling mom. She has been featured by many famous people in the photo industry including Scott Kelby.
One of her recent posts contains some new Photoshop actions she has created for colourizing your photos. I’m not a big action user, but many of you are. They are free to download. Check them out today at: Pioneer Woman
Categories: Photography · Photoshop · for students
Tagged: Actions, Photoshop, Pionner Woman
