Slinky 01

Since it is still January and winter in the northern part of the world I came up with another indoor exercise. I borrowed my son’s slinky and used all kinds of light sources and reflectors to photograph it. This is a very creative exercise and you can create great images with this one object.

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In this image I used regular window light and a gold reflector to create the “early morning sun” reflection.

As always, enjoy this exercise and be creative!

Shallow Depth of Field 02

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I used a 50mm prime lens at f1.8 to create this image. I wanted the fence to be in focus and the trees out of focus as much as possible.

This is a prime example that you can take great images with relatively inexpensive lenses. The Canon 50mm f1.8 lens used to cost only around $50.00 a few years ago. Now you can be lucky if you get it for about $100.00. This lens is very sharp and you can create great images with it. The great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson used a 50mm lens in almost all of his photographs!

Enjoy and happy photographing!

Shallow Depth of Field

In August of 2010 we exercised “Depth of Field” for a week creating images with a 3D feeling. This week I like to create images with a very shallow depth of field. This will create a blurred background and a very sharp subject.

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In this example below I was using a 85mm  portrait lens at f2.8. I could have photographed this cat at f2.0 which would have resulted in an even more blurred background and even shallower depth of field or I could have used f4.0 which would have given me more depth of field. I suggest you try several f stops and then decide which one pleases your eye the most.

As always, enjoy your photography!

PS: This young cat is ready for adoption. If you know a good home, please email me frgolz@yahoo.com

Bathroom 05

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The blue and red color contrast on a basically white background make this image. Each side fights for attention and therefor this image has two focal points. One of the key insights in composition techniques is: One focal point means “Dominance”, two focal points “Tension!”

Have a great week-end with you camera! 

Bathroom 04

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I turned my attention to the shower know and photographed it a few times. I looked at the images and did not like them. Then I used my spay bottle and sprayed water on it to make it look like right after someone took a shower and vola, I got the image I was looking for. Creating great images means: To prepare the subject, choose the proper background, know your camera to expose according to your vision and post process to refine the image!

Enjoy and happy image making!

Bathroom 03

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This is the toilet brush container and brush. This image could be easily seen as a cup, lid and straw. This makes it interesting to me. This images is also a so called high key picture, meaning that this image consists of more than 95% of white or near white colors. 

Enjoy and happy photographing!