Exposure

Exposure is one of the most important factors in taking a photo. If your exposure is wrong then you will have a very tough time getting satisfying results.

Exposure is essentially the light that is allowed onto the sensors. When film was the main medium of capturing photos, exposure was the light that was allowed to reach the film. Many of you may remember having to put the film in the camera under a blanket or in a darker place in order to not expose the first few pieces of the film.

Exposure with digital SLRs and regular digital cameras can be controlled in many different ways. When shooting on my own I tend to control exposure first by shutter speed.  By allowing the shutter to remain open longer there is more time for light to expose what you are capturing. And on the same token, by speeding up the shutter speed you are limiting the light that hits the sensors. It just depends on whether you have too much light or not enough. Note: I change the shutter speed to help with exposure when I am in fully manual mode.

Another way to change the exposure of a picture is to alter the ISO. By increasing the ISO you will increase the sensitivity of the sensor. Yet you are also risking a decrease in quality of your shots. The only times I have increased my ISO has been at indoor events where I am not too concerned about top quality work and I am just trying to capture some snap shots. It is good though to be prepared that your photos will not be as good as they could.

The most simple way to change exposure on the digital SLRs is to use the exposure compensation setting. For my Canon Rebel I am not able to use this setting in Manual mode. But in Aperture priority or Shutter priority modes I am able to change the exposure compensation. There is a scale on the camera's LCD screen that shows where the exposure compensation is set. If I feel the pictures are too dark I am able to highlight the exposure compensation and turn a dial to make set it the way I would like. For a photo that is too dark I can dial the exposure compensation up to +1 or +2, etc. this then will expose the shot one step more than it was shot at. Many times when I have not set the exposure compensation the camera will have a blinking bar at where it recommends one to set it.

Below is a picture that I had to work with the exposure on. Initially upon taking the photo I did not have my camera set the right way to expose the shot the way I would have liked. Therefore I had to go to all of the pains of working with photoshop to try and get the exposure fixed. The short of the story is... it's better to take the photo with the right settings for exposure than it is to try and fix it later.

Exposure is one of the assets of being a good photographer. Many photographers sacrifice the quality of their photos in order to make them properly exposed. Yet there are many different ways to change the exposure of a shot without mutilating the quality of it.

Kodak's tips for photographing people

Today I researched many photographers that claimed to be engagement and wedding photographers. It turns out that the people that have their photos in some of the first links in the google line up did not impress me all that much. Many of them had photos that didn't focus on the subjects and others had various distracting elements in the frame. Others had the entire scene in focus when really the background would have been much better off if it were blurred. I am not meaning to say all of my photos are great I was just saying none of the photos really stood out to me.

I then found this article put out by Kodak on how to take good pictures of people. There were some good tips that many of the photographers I had been looking at weren't using. Such as, "fill the frame of the camera with your subject" or "take your subject to places where they feel comfortable".

My favorite tip of the entire list was, "don't forget to set your camera on self timer and get into the shot as well". I laughed because I then obviously was sent on a thought process of me taking pictures for a couples engagement. And if they didn't know me that well it would be slightly awkward to run and jump in their photos with them. Though it might actually bring about some good humor for the shots to come. :)

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=93&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=47932

Trail Running Shoot

   Here are the shots that I took of trail running. Unfortunately I was unable to get good light this weekend during the time that I wasn't sick or busy. Therefore I took some night shots. I would not recommend the night shots if you actually want crisp pictures of your subject. Though I think there are some cool effects to be had when you do choose to shoot at night. I liked the deep colors that were

in some of the shots. And I do like the slight motion blur. Had I had better strobes I think the outcome would have been more pleasing, yet you have to do what you can with the equipment you have.

I also liked the effect of turning it black and white and showing the differences.

Though these aren't my greatest photos I did enjoy taking them. It reminded me of when I was in cross country and always wanted to have a race at night where the entire path was lit with black lights and glow sticks. It could still happen :)

Vibrant Smile SCAM

I have a product review for the day. The company Vibrant Smile that is ever so ready to give you a free trial period is a scam. I feel quite deceived. I was given 14 days in my terms of agreement to cancel my membership yet they changed that and said it was only five. Then they proceeded to charge me $126 for a year membership, though I did not agree to that price. In my membership agreement it said I would only be charged $114 if I did not cancel. Yet because they did not allow me to cancel they took it as their right to charge me the $126.

Needless to say I will be charged regardless, but I can do everything in my power to warn everyone else of their shenanigans. Vibrant Smile is a company of poor character and deception. It makes me sad that companies can only stay afloat if they scam people. What ever happened to the customer always being right? Or how about the rights of a customer and not trying to deceive them?

I take this as a lesson learned in the life of Maggie. The company claimed that I am of the 1% of their customers that are dissatisfied. Though after looking at reviews I'm pretty sure I am of the 99% of dissatisfied customers. I would not and will never recommend this product to anyone but a garbage can. I will voice my opinion against this company as long as I have a voice. I do not support people that are scamming their customers. I especially wish I did not support this company by their deception but that's just the way it turned out.

A word of advice, though you think you read the fine print it doesn't mean they aren't going to change it in seconds upon you signing up. Be very wary of any company that says they're giving you a deal.

Setting Goals for Photography

This week I found an excellent article about setting goals for photography. It discussed how many of us go out and take pictures of the same old thing and get really good at it. Yet for us after we have done that for a while it starts getting kind of routine and we lose the passion and drive that we had before. We may still do just as many excursions but they just don't have the same satisfaction as they used to. This article was interesting because it says to go out and take pictures of the exact opposite things that you would normally photograph. Get out there and take more pictures period! There are three bazillion things to take pictures of and many of them only occur once so just do it. Even if it's on a camera that you don't think will do it justice. You still got the shot.

I found it even more interesting because people keep asking me what I like to photograph and capture. I don't have an answer for them. I thought at first this was a bad thing, yet I realize that it's not. I don't have to know what I want to photograph. I can photograph everything! There isn't anyone coming up to me and saying that I have to choose one thing, I can just do it for the love of taking photos of things that move me. Therefore, I have made a goal for my photography! My goal is to learn how to capture it all and to use different cameras. Yes I may tend to lean one way or another but my goal is to keep my range open. I enjoy taking pictures because they say a thousand words, and it's much easier to take a picture than to write out a thousand words and never really capture it.

In addition the article reminded me of the book that we read for Creativity called The Artist's Way. It was a great book to inspire and re-ignite the fire of creativity.

http://www.silberstudios.tv/blog/2009/12/20/why-set-your-photography-goals-or-are-you-waiting-for-them-to-knock-on-your-door-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SilberStudios+%28Silber+Studios%29

My Formulated Model and Property Release drafts

Model Release From for Maggie Weber Photography

I,__________________,  hereby grant full permission and rights to the photos 

taken of me by Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, legal representatives

and assigns, those for whom Maggie Weber Photography is acting, 

and those acting with her authority and permission: 

I. The unrestricted right to use, re-use, market, publish, print,

or edit in any way. I understand that photos used may be placed

with text, other components and illustrations. I permit photos to 

be marketed, edited, and/or distorted in any way 

Maggie Weber Photography consents.

II. I hereby abdicate my rights to approve any and every edited photo or 

illustrations that may be marketed or distributed. I approve the use 

of fictitious names used in conjunction with photos of me.

III. I relinquish my rights to Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, 

legal representatives and assigns, those for whom Maggie Weber Photography 

is acting and those acting with her authority, to the photos from this time 

forth; through any and every law and legislation change that may compromise 

this contract.

IV. I avouch that I am of legal age (18 years or older) to sign this document, 

I am using my legal given name and am not acting under false pretenses. 

I have fully read and understood all that is within this contract. I understand

and agree that this contract is binding for both me, my heirs, legal 

representatives and assigns. I acknowledge and agree that I have no further

consideration or accounting, and I will make no further claim for any reason

to Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, legal representatives and assigns,

or those for whom Maggie Weber Photography is acting and those acting

with her authority.  

Model Information
Name (print) _____________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State/Province _____________
Country _____________________________ Zip/Postal Code _____________
Phone _______________________ Email _____________________________
Date of Birth _____________________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________________
Date ___________________________________________________________

Maggie Weber Photography Property Release Form

Property Address______________________________________________________

As owner or controller of this property I hereby permit, Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, legal representatives and assigns, or those for whom Maggie Weber Photography is acting and those acting with her authority to use the images depicting said property in any media,

for any purpose, which includes but is not limited to, advertising, promotion, marketing and packaging for any product, service, or business.

I. I agree to and relinquish all legal ties to the approval and executing of editing, illustrations,

distortions, any and all other alterations that may be done to images.

II. I relinquish my rights to Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, 

legal representatives and assigns, those for whom Maggie Weber Photography 

is acting and those acting with her authority, to the photos from this time 

forth; through any and every law and legislation change, worldwide, that may compromise 

                                                                this contract.

IV. I avouch that I am of legal age (18 years or older) to sign this document, 

I am using my legal given name and am not acting under false pretenses. 

I have fully read and understood all that is within this contract. I understand

and agree that this contract is binding for both me, my heirs, legal 

representatives, assigns and any other person claiming an interest

in the Property. I acknowledge and agree that I have no further

consideration or accounting, and I will make no further claim for any reason

to Maggie Weber Photography, her heirs, legal representatives and assigns,

or those for whom Maggie Weber Photography is acting and those acting

with her authority. I have the full legal capacity and right to 

execute this release and grant the
rights herein granted with respect to the Property, and to bind all 

persons claiming an interest in the Property.

Property Owner Information
Name (print) _____________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State/Province _____________
Country _____________________________ Zip/Postal Code _____________
Phone _______________________ Email _____________________________
Date of Birth _____________________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________________
Date ___________________________________________________________

Indiana Photos

Here are a few pictures from my break. It was great to get out and take pictures of the dogs while they were doing their thing. I also really enjoy taking pictures of the lake shore especially when it is frozen and there aren't any beach goers hiding the beauty of it all. I found it spectacular that all of the sand was covered in ice not to mention more than 50 out into the lake was all ice!!!

The Sony Bloggie

For my research post of the week I have chosen the Sony Bloggie. It is a new phone that has camera, mp4 video capabilities as well as internet access. It is very interesting what our cell phones can do these days. I remember when the camera phone was the newest component and it was unbelievable. At present the phones are turning into better quality cameras and camcorders. The Bloggie was created to allow people to capture the random moments, when you need a camera and all you have is your phone, in relatively high quality.

As new devices and new cameras come about it makes you think about how it is going to be surviving in the world of photography. Everyone is a photographer now days. And soon our cell phones will be able to capture images that even our smaller digital cameras can't capture.

http://www.dcviews.com/press/sony-bloggie.htm

Model Release Forms

I found a great site that had both Adult, Minor, and Property release forms. It was interesting because they were very thorough with what they added to their release form. What I found most interesting was the fact that the model release form stated that the model would allow both the photographer, his/her heirs, and anyone else that the photographs are left to permission to duplicate and spread the photos.

http://www.dpcorner.com/all_about/releases.shtml

I also found another website that was explaining when you need model releases. I did not know that you didn't need releases when it was for informational or educational uses. Yet if it is for capital gain, or for use in brochures and things that will be distributed you must have a release.

It made me think about the Mona Lisa. Did she sign a model release form? Because technically anyone who is an heir to her could probably bring about a law suit to all of the people that use that painting on posters and brochures and commercial things. Her heirs could get big bucks from something like that.

Anyway, it is clear that model release forms need to be very inclusive and thorough to avoid not being able to use photos whenever you would like.