Photography Gift Guide

Christmas is upon us but there is still time. Do you have a photographer on your list? Ever wanted to know what to get them? Here is a quick list of cool photography related items you can pick up for your favorite photographer. The very first item on the list is the most inexpensive. It is an e-book that I wrote detailing the basics of photography. Even if you are an old salt at this the book can help reinforce the foundations of photography.

Learning Photography

Understanding the Basics of Exposure by Jason Eldridge (that’s me!) e-book only $2.99

http://www.eldridgestudios.blogspot.com/2012/10/exciting-news.html

Exposed Workshop by Gavin Seim
http://exposedworkshop.com/

Post Processing
Lightroom 4
http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-65164937-Photoshop-Lightroom-4/dp/B007BG9VLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355078363&sr=8-1&keywords=lightroom+4


Nik Software
http://www.niksoftware.com/store/usa/entry.php?view=singlepurchase/usa_CC_ps_aa-family.shtml

Clothing

T-Shirts
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/16881588/oh-crop-dark_tshirt
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/59423833/camera-dialwhite2_tshirt

Accessories

Strap

http://www.blackrapid.com/products

Rogue Flash Bender

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/707213-REG/ExpoImaging_ROGUERELG_Rogue_FlashBender_Large_Positionable.html

Umbrella (Zumbrella)
http://store.ziser.com/zumbrella.aspx

Attachable Lens Cloth

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/507196-REG/Pearstone_LENLP1.html

Think Tank Retrospective 20(Bag)
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/search.aspx?find=Retrospective%c2%ae+20+(Pinestone)

Camera Cleaning
http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=9&=SID#MOREINFO

Revisiting Past Images

Many of you know that the software we use to process our images gets updated every couple of years. Not to mention new software seems to come out all the time. Not only does the software change but your vision as an artists changes with time as well. Have you considered going back to photographs you have taken in the past and “re-editing” them based on software and/or vision changes?

Recently I took another look of a Great Smoky Mountain shoot I did from 2010. There were as many as 6 images that previously had not seen the light of day. It isn’t that they were bad but rather I had not realized the potential of the images. Since 2010 I have gotten the Nik Software Suite which gives some tremendous options. Silver efex Pro II for example allows you to easily and effectively convert images to black and white. Not to mention the Lightroom update with Lightroom 4. The highlights slider alone in that update makes taking a look at past images a must. Don’t forget about the Photoshop update to CS6 either. All of these are tools that can help you realize the potential of past images. 

 

Your ability to see the images differenly can change as well.  For me I know that I view tonality and image contrast much different than I did even last year.  The changing of software, hardware, and artistic vision make it worth the time to revisit your past archives.

Warning: While you might want to spend some time looking at your past images do not dwell there. The only way to truly improve is to get out and shoot.

Take the Camera with You!

I often have to remind myself to take the camera with me...  After all, it is really hard to take photos without a camera.  Today I was headed out the door to visit a local airport for recurrent training and I decided to through my camera in the truck.  While leaving the airfield I noticed the thunderclouds in the background and this beautiful yellow tree in the foreground.  It was the stark contrast that caught my attention.  I hopped out of the truck and took a few frames.

Here is what I got.  Notice how the tree is positioned.  I am using the rule of thirds by placing the branches in the upper left third of the image.  This works because the tree itself is extending out to the right and causes the eye to move.

For post processing I used a little bit of Nik Software (pro contrast, tonal contrast) and Lightroom 4 to really bring out the dark clouds and I put a slight vignette to draw the eyes even more to the tree.

In the end...  I am GLAD I took my camera!!!!

Punishing Pixels!!

Often times we photographers get set in our ways and we feel that the way we do things is the only way.  I get that way myself at times.  I was out today just walking around a field and I came across this old wagon.  I think old wagons are like railroad tracks...  If you have a camera and you come across them you just have to shoot.  Why?  I have no idea!...  Anyway, the one at the top is where I finished up on my initial post processing.  Since pixels are both free and made to be punished I chose to go all out!!!  I even used a texture I picked up off the top of the wagon to overlay.  I don't normally do things like this but I find it fun and interesting to go out on a limb once in a while.  I do like both images and each does have it's own feel.

Photographers should not be locked into one way of doing things.  Great painters didn't become great by simply doing what all the other painters were doing.  They had to find their own voice and expressions.

Don't be afraid to use Photoshop or plugins...  After all, the only real criticism you will get will be from other photographers.  The general public loves this kind of stuff (sort of like HDR).  Besides, in the end if you hate what you did you can simply hit the delete key and never see it again.


Disclaimer:  These images were copied from the originals before being processed...  No pixels were harmed in the making of this blog!

Getting that Grunge Look Video Tutorial

This tutorial covers the basics of getting the dirty grunge look on your photographs.  This image was taken while I was at the Imaging USA expo in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago.  I hope you enjoy it and if you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me or call.

Side Note:  This individual was a very interesting character and we hung out talking to him for a good bit of time.  If you take the time to get to know your subjects the images come naturally.