The experts at MindStudio have put together a some tips together. Each section has a task to go with it too and some examples of our work. We hope you find it useful!
Techniques
They say never work with children or animals, but we thought we'd give working with animlas a try. We spent some time finding an animal supplier who we felt had the best interests of the animal at heart. This meant that we could get solid advice on looking after the animals we wanted to photograph. Once we'd find a good supplier we decided we'd start small with a Chilean Rose spider. It's about the size of an adult hand and is mildly venomous.
Firstly we did some research on what images already exist. We found that there were some excellent macro shots but most were pretty descriptive and not much creativety. So we came up with a couple of concepts to try.
Whenever you approach a new subject it's essential to do some research. How can you make your images unique? If you look and see what other people have done it may inspire you to do something different.
So we built a set from oyster shells and some plastic tiles and went to work. Have a look around and see if you can find something interesting to use as a background. This can make all the difference to the final piece. It can be anything you have lying around, as always experiment.
So now you've got your images it's time to open up your post production software and see what your imagination can do.
Here's the final images.
ISO is the scale used to measure the light sensitivity of your camera, and it can be tricky to get it right.
The scale usually starts at 100 (some cameras start at 50) and can go to 3200 and beyond. At 100 your camera is ultra clear and but is the least light sensitive. This means ISO 100 is perfect for a bright day and is produces crisp pictures.
Once lack of light becomes an issue it's time to turn up the ISO to compensate. So an overcast day may need ISO 200 and indoors you'll most likely need ISO 400.
The higher the ISO the more 'noisy' the images become. Noisy images are pictures where you can see abnormal coloured pixels in the final image, they make the image look grainy, you can see lots of examples when you use a camera in low light and don't use the flash. As always, experiment! This can sometimes work in your favour to create a different style and atmosphere.
Mastering shutter speed can have a dramatic effect on your images. Whether you're using a compact or an SLR you can capture things that the human eye cannot, changing the speed of the shutter can have a major impact! Simply put, the longer you have the shutter open the more light comes into the camera, meaning that objects in motion will blur.
The opposite is also true. If the shutter speed is quick then less light comes in and the subject frozen in time.
Faster shutter speeds mean that under almost any circumstance you can hold the camera and get rid of camera shake. So it's great for reportage and everyday shooting, but fast shutter speeds are pretty useful at gigs, parties and portraits too. When you go slow you'll need a tripod but the results can be amazing. Think how flowing water or traffic at night will appear in the final image.
For those of you new to SLR's put your camera on Tv setting, for compact users try the 'running person' and 'no flash' settings and compare the results. Shutter speeds will vary but many are in the range of 1/4000th to (sometimes) 30 seconds. Deciding on what is most appropriate for the situation is key.
We're using music photography to illustrate this week’s technique.
It's hard for a musician to perform without passion so it's our job as photographers to capture that moment in time. So how do we do it? Well the first thing is to turn your flash off! It's really distracting at gigs for the musician. Besides in many venues flash photography isn't allowed, so you can't use it anyway! What's more musicians are often lit by dramatic light which changes by the second, so before you start snapping, study the lights; what colours there are, where are they aiming and what effects are happening.
Often it’s the lead singer who is the best lit, and they should be your first photo opportunity, while it is the drummer who’s usually the most difficult capture. Try to shoot each member of the band though, it’s often their dynamism and interaction on stage that provides the most compelling of images. Different bands, performers and orchestras all offer different photo opportunities, so use your instinct and take some ear plugs!
How do you deal with the crowd? Get in there, sharpen your elbows and push to the front, don't be scared to look for different angles. If you need to get down on one knee amongst all the beer, then do it. Sometimes you'll need to speak to the venue, but always make yourself known to the band. Whatever camera you use try and make yourself as stable as possible, try to lean you or your camera against a bar, railings or whatever else you can find. Experiment! Slow shutter speeds and action can often create interesting effects.
Everyone says that photography is a competitive business and they're right, but this doesn't mean that you can't be successful in this tough business.
You've got to build a strong, diverse set of skills and make plenty of sacrifices too. You've got to master the new technical, creative, IT, business and personal skills that are essential. A simple trick is to say "I am a photographer" not "I want to be a photographer", when you are getting started it will give you the strength and self belief that you can make it. It is also important to be persistent and tenacious; there are so many people trying to break into this industry and if you give up after each rejection or "dud" lead then you really have no chance. You will need to quickly develop a thick skin and learn not to take anything personally. You may put a lot of time and energy into making an opportunity happen or following up a lead only for it to come to nothing. Take stock of why this happened then quickly move on, it will pay off eventually. Sometimes it can seem like a constant uphill struggle but the feeling you get when you do get that break makes it all worthwhile.
It's crucial to have the right mental attitude. You have got to be so determined to make it that you must immerse yourself in your craft. So it's down to you to build up your knowledge. There's plenty of information out there that will help. Magazines will build up your technical skills and give you a wider understanding of the most up to date techniques and equipment. Galleries are essential, whatever the medium you can get ideas on composition, framing, subject form and so on. Many galleries these days are free so there's no excuse. Trade associations can also be a valuable resource and can put you in touch with other photographers to share experiences be generally geeky (and that's a good thing). Get involved with photography whenever you can, you just never know who you might meet along the way.
But the most important thing is to go out there and take photos. I hear all the time "I don't know what to take pictures of". Everything around your home is a potential subject and everything outside is too! If you follow the weekly topics on Picture This you'll have plenty of ideas. But don't use old images, always create new ones. And if you like a particular topic, run with it. Build up a series of images that explore the theme. Over the coming weeks, days and months you'll be steadily building up your portfolio. Create images around subjects that you have never explored before, push yourself and go beyond your comfort zone. If you are mainly a portrait photographer then get out there and shoot landscapes. Really challenge yourself, try different things and be prepared for things to not always work. Its an old adage but learning from your mistakes really is the best way to progress.
Macro photography is all about photographing small things and seeing the detail right up close. It opens up a colourful and detailed world for the photographer. We've used decay as the content here but macro techniques can be used across a broad range of subjects.
So let's get down to business, the first thing is to get your camera steady so if you have a tripod then use it, if you don't a bean bag or anything to stop movement will work. If you keep your camera steady you're more likely to get the crisp images which is that we're after. Camera shake can ruin a good macro shot so you may want to consider putting the camera onto timer mode to reduce this.
Choose a narrow depth of field, the widest apperture possible will give you loads of detail but over a very short depth (the lower the f stop number the wider the aperture). So if you're working on a SLR and the light isn't good you'll need to make the shutter speed quite slow or bump up the ISO (so the camera has more light sensitivity). If you do have an SLR check out 'Mirror Lock Up' in your instruction manual to reduce shake even further. Those of you with a compact can simply switch you camera to Macro mode (usually a picture of a flower). You have less control but it gets great results.
Flowers and household stuff make great subjects and with the advent of cheap photo canvas printing you can put beautiful works of art on you walls. And you can say "I did that!"
The first example shows how quickly the image goes out of focus. So make sure you choose exactly where you will be focussing. But above all experiement.
Tasks
Do your pictures shout or whisper?
Do you have something to say or are your images a mouthpiece for others?
In this week’s task we want you to look at photography as a nonverbal means of communication. Pictures are not just a means of documenting the world around us, they are a means of delivering a message. From journalistic reportage to high concept art, photography can change how we view and appreciate society and its perceived values.
It’s no easy task to really get across your meaning, but we want you to submit images that stand on the proverbial soapbox say something to the viewer. These images can be visceral, subtle, they can look at your world or they can express the opinions of others. What we are looking for is the significance that you can put into your work, speaking volumes through a single photograph.
Try to look at the world around you from the tiny to the massive, then see how decay affects everything around us. Is decay a natual, inevitable process or a powerful metaphor for a particular concept? Let your images explore descriptive and narrative ideas. You can be really creative with this project.
Some ideas.
Urban decay, perishables such as food, neglect of places such as a graveyard, cars. Can you capture life breaking through the decay, this could be a new plant shoot in an old building or a fly feeding off a mouldy fruit? How about finding areas of decay in unexpected places?
Macro photography particularly lends itself to this project, to find out more about macro photography visit the techniques section.
Liquids are, of course, everywhere: flowing, ebbing, glittering, elemental. It holds endless possibilities for the photographer, weather you enjoy portraits,landscapes, food or reportage there's plenty of scope for creativity with such an universal subject.
Liquids are unpredictable so what can you capture that no-one else has?
Water's a good starting point, but as always explore the subject, alcohol, milk, water, gravy, all have different properties. The trick is to play around with how a camera captures liquid in motion. The shutter speed section in techniques may give you some ideas.
Liquids also have social and cultural meaning. Can you show this in your picture? Perhaps people enjoying water activities or maybe the impact of drinking on a family. Perhaps we'll even get a images celebrating the institution of a nice cup of tea.
From the bath to the ocean Happy Shooting!
What's the soundtrack to your life?
What brings on those forgotten memories, and gets you onto the dancefloor?
This week we want you to communicate your love of music through your pictures.
Through the rise and rise and rock n’ roll from it’s roots in the blues of the American Deep South to slick airbrushed packaged pop, photographers have been there to document not only the artists but the cultural milieu that surrounds them.
Music evokes a passion from it’s devotees, not matter what genre, and this is what we want to see in your pictures. You can be descriptive, document your favourite band, but we're looking for something else that really shows the depth of human emotion that music provokes.
How will you communicate your love of music?
Perhaps the music you love has an accompanying lifestyle, a rich history, a social undercurrent. How can you express that in your photo? Instead of sifting through past images go out and get involved; see a local band, go to a festival, watch the crowd, the musicians, absorb the atmosphere and find your shot.
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