Modern Photography

Photography started as early as the 4th century B.C., when the very first image was formed on a wall, using a pinhole camera in a dark room. It wasn't until 1820, that modern photography was born. In 1839, the word photography, derived from Greek words 'fos' for 'light' and 'grafo' for 'writing', was finally universalized by John Herschel.

Today we have reached a stage, where modern photography is present everywhere. Life would have been colorless, but for the morning newspaper, colorful and glamorous magazines, the soap operas on television or a late night movie at an auditorium. Viewing 'Still' photographs in a family photo album or watching live images on a video or television is indeed fun. From an old black and white camera, with minimal options for speed and zoom, to a modern auto focus digital or an SLR camera, which has a supreme power to manage every possible option in photography, indeed we have come a long way.

Modern photography is an art, in fact, an expensive art which is probably more than just amateur photography of a family, friends or nature, to more complex portrait, glamour photography or photojournalism by a professional. Whatever may be the level, the results can be passionate. There have been occasions when photographers have won awards and accolades, for their photography, in areas like fashion, nature, war and combat, to name a few from a long list.

The credit for modern photography goes to both, machine and the man behind the machine. The special photographic effects seen in the movies have reached a zenith. The camera tricks and the photography in modern movies can leave you in shock and disbelief. If you plan to pursue photography as a career, then following items are a must for you. A good camera, compact digital or digital SLR (single lens reflex) type, accessories like special UV filters, different zoom lenses for a more professional touch can take you a long way, if you are an enthusiast for still photography; but if you are venturing into the video photography zone, then modern handy cams can be pretty handy.

Selection of a camera and accessories would also depend upon the place of photography you are planning, indoor or outdoors? In both situations, you will need a good camera, but if you love to shoot outdoors, then you cannot do without a handheld or body supported balance system and the tripods to avoid a blurred picture. The camera cranes, dollies and remote heads would further augment your efforts for photography, especially outdoors. Some of the most awesome pictures have been captured outdoors, on land, under the sea and in the sky.

Food Photography

Food photography has a special place in the world of commercial photography because of how unintimidating it can be at first. Snapshots on mom-and-pop dinner menus and amateur food pictures on twitter have made anyone believe that they have the artistic eye for food photography. However, anyone who has studied or attempted professional level photography understands the complexity of making a dish look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

The goal of good food photography is to sell or promote the food. This may seem like an underwhelming prospect, but that mindset betrays ignorance. Food photography is a descendant of still life painting, and opens the subject matter to the full brunt of the photographer's art. In food photography, the commercial photographer is invited to cultivate their technique, especially through the use of lighting, props, and shot selection.

The lighting in photographing food is essentially dictated by the dish being photographed. However, a rule of thumb for most shots is to use as much natural lighting as possible. Flash lighting can be a little too harsh on delicate foods; however, don't certain dishes beg to be lit in more creative ways? Fresh, crisp lighting is standard for a salad or fresh fruit dish, but other foods have different qualities. Wouldn't you want to see the glistened char of a steak or grilled dish shine from a fiery, earthy lighting? Or the clashing saturated colors of the ingredients on a pizza dish? Focus on the qualities of your subject, and emphasize those qualities to form your own lighting style.

Props in food photography are usually secondary, but can tie a shot together if utilized in the correct manner. The best way to use props is to emphasize the meal and make it more appealing. There are many different household substances which can be used as props to doctor up food shots, almost like make-up for a model. A light brushing of vegetable oil can put an appetizing sheen on any surface. Light garnishes like diced nuts, sesame seeds, or parsley can add texture and complexity to a shot, even if they have no place in final dish. Even hairspray can be used to preserve the moisture and hold of cakes and breads over long shoots. Never be afraid of utilizing a new prop or substance for the sake of a better photo.

Finally, shot selection is huge. The eye of the artists is not only concerned with HOW to shoot something, but WHAT to shoot. In some cases, the preparation of a meal could be more aesthetically appealing that the dish itself. Maybe a shot of the chef kneading and preparing the dough will sell a pizza better than an overhead portrait of the finished pie. Or maybe the cut from within a steak will add a color and contrast that will be more appealing that a grilled surface. A good food photographer will be able to find the best way to shoot each dish, as well as the best time of the meal to shoot it.

Sports Photography

If you've ever tried capturing fast moving sports action with your digital camera, you may have ended up frustrated and confused about why the pictures didn't turn out so hot. There are some common mistakes beginner photographers make when shooting sports, and it's not overly easy for many professionals to do either, but don't despair. There are several tips that might help you get better sports action shots in the future.

The first thing you need to realize is: Not all of your pictures will turn out just right. I was recently at my son's high school football game, and took over 400 pictures before the third quarter was finished. Of those 400 though, only about 40 were excellent, and roughly 75-100 were good enough to keep.

Thankfully that is one of the beauties of using digital cameras: You don't have to waste expensive film while you're learning. Instead, when you come across any pictures that didn't turn out well, you can simply delete them to make room for new ones.

With that said, let's get in to some useful tips.

Because sports photography is quite fast paced, you'll need to start with a lot of light. If you're trying to take pictures of an indoor basketball or volleyball game, you may have problems getting good pictures. If you have a very strong flash for your camera, that will help quite a bit. Many point and shoot digital cameras don't have strong enough flash for this, especially when parents tend to try taking the pictures from the stands which are a bit too far away from all the action.

So try getting closer. See if you're able to stand at the edge of the court, or maybe right behind the basket if you're at a basketball game. Then set your camera on sports mode - this will look like a little running man icon on a control dial of your camera - and make sure your flash is turned on. These settings will help your camera give you the best settings it can in your currently lighting conditions, and if all goes well you'll get some great action shots in the end.

If you're taking action shots outside, things are much easier... particularly if there's bright sunlight. The more light you have available when taking your pictures, the better you'll be able to stop the action in your pictures.

Again put your camera into sports mode, and again try to get as close to the action as you can. Position yourself behind the goal posts at a soccer or football game, or close to one of the sides if that's the best you can do. Just pick one spot and wait for the play to come your way. There will be times where all the action is too far away from you, but wait a little while and it usually comes close to every part of the playing field.

Even if you have bright sunlight to shoot in, you can still use your camera's flash too. Keep in mind that it might not be strong enough to reach too far, and if that's the case it won't do you much good. If however, you get to take a picture of a tackle taking place 5 feet in front of you, the flash will usually be able to light the scene at that distance.

If you know how to use your camera in manual or semi-manual mode, you'll want to control the shutter speeds in order to catch the action in sports. A shutter speed of at least 1/500 or higher usually does the trick nicely.

Wedding Beach Photography

Having a wedding at the beach can be an awesome experience. The photography can be stunning. However to come away with memorable beach portraits, a photographer needs to be prepared and do things somewhat differently than what is done in a studio. This article looks at things that a professional photographer can do to capture that perfect moment at the beach.

A photographer needs to be aware of the tides. Legion are the number of photographers who planned the perfect location for the couple's portraits only to find that at the time she got there the location was under water. Visit the wedding location on a different day from when the wedding will be taking place and see what the tides look like at that particular time. It is well worth the effort to prevent a potential disaster.

Be prepared with the necessary equipment. Make sure you have the cover for your lenses. If there is blowing sand it could prevent you from having a clear lens. Also, sand will likely get on the hands and feet of your subjects. It is much easier to get off if you have some talcum powder. Bring some and you will look like the professionals that you really are.

Check the time for the sunset. there is nothing more beautiful than a beach background sunset. However, if the portraits you are planning are after or before sunset you will obviously miss this wonderful opportunity.

Beach Photography

beach photography is about movement. The water is always in motion and if this plays a major part in the composition, you have to be able to balance this movement with the stillness of the rest of the image. The best way to do this is to keep the amount of motion in mind. If there is crashing surf, you will be best served by limiting the amount of surf in your composition or it may overshadow the non moving parts. The less the water movement, the more of it you can include in your compositions.

In beach photography, light is not always your best friend. We are accustomed to seeing bright sunlight in beach photos. But remember that if there is white sand, it can cause a lot of glare and result in stark high contrast photos that do not capture the feel of the beach. As in all landscape photography, the best time to shoot is in the mornings and evening when the light hits the sand obliquely, resulting in less glare and harshness and thus warmer colors.

Don't despair if you are at the beach on a cloudy day. Using the "cloudy" setting on our camera you may be able to capture some great images that show the dramatic contrast between the gray clouds and water. Try taking black and white photos. And if it's not totally overcast, cloud formations against a blue sky with blue water in the foreground can result in dramatic effects.

When photographing objects or people on the beach, remember that you have a long flat unending background. Keep the focus on the subject and allow only as much background as is required for setting the tone or mood of the picture. Trying to do a "half and half" usually results in not doing justice to either the landscape or the subject.

If you are trying to capture just the openness of the beach, use a wide angle lens. The small lens will exaggerate the perspective and result in the background seeming to stretch away into the distance and thereby add a 3 dimensional effect to your photo. If you are shooting up the beach, the wide angle lens will let you keep everything, from the water in front of you to the rocky headland in the distance, in focus. If you want a person or object in the image to add a sense of perspective, remember that the wide angle lens will make the object seem more distant than it really is so compensate for this by moving closer to it.