iDrawWithLight Photography Blog

World AIDS day.

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:27:00 +0000

Today, for those who may still be unaware, is World AIDS Day.

Having been reminded of the small print at the top left of the "1st December" segment of my diary, I immediately thought of this picture:

Appropriate, is it not? This image was taken last year on the motorway (highway to those out of the UK). It was along with multiple other slow shutter speed shots but of all, only this came out with particular significance - the AIDS awareness symbol.

Click on the image to view larger version or to view more "streaky lights" night shots.

Sigma SD1 46 Megapixels...but NO Video.

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:17:00 +0000

Some days ago, SIGMA announced their latest exploit, and as impressive and amazing as it was, it was almost equally as disappointing. Well, this may be a harsh and biased take on the matter but here are some facts:

"...46-megapixel Foveon sensor that uses 3 stacked sensors of 15.3 megapixels each to capture red, green, and blue light. The resulting images are 15.3 megapixels in size with color resolution that’s superior to traditional sensors.

The camera also has a rugged magnesium alloy build, a 3-inch LCD screen, 11 autofocus points, 98 percent and viewfinder coverage. It’ll arrive in February next year at a price that has yet to be announced. If you’re looking for a rugged DSLR and don’t care about things like Live View or video recording, then you might want to add the SD1 to your list..." (Source: PetaPixel.)

The question to ask is WHY these DSLR and photography gear giants and experts would make such a faux-pas? Actually, could this have simply been a deliberate omission? For some, it is a no-brainer and it perfectly makes sense. For one, as popular is it is amongst DSLR manufacturers today, Video is just video, and seeing that it is and has been out there for a while amongst competitors, perhaps SIGMA figured "why bother competing in such a saturated market?".

Another reason may be that SIGMA are targeting a more precise market in the Photography sector, one which they will immediately have an upper hand in.

Though, on the technical side of things, in regards to the Foveon sensor, real-time colour space conversion from Foveon to RGB is not realistic (at least not yet). Here's why; it requires immense CPU power and memory and the Foveon colour space is highly non-linear. Therefore, this "mistake" or "faux pas" was indeed utterly deliberate and even better, fully calculated.

Price:

Will it be cheap? We do not anticipate so. Its specs are simply not to be expected among the consumer-DSLR market.

Will it be popular? Who knows. One thing is for sure however, it is very unlikely that non-photography enthusiasts be exposed to this beast of a machine. Simply because the high street shops are flooded with the likes of Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, Panasonic Lumix etc.

We look forward to have a hands-on experience with the SIGMA DS1.

Snap It! Screen Capture tool for bloggers.

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:03:00 +0000

Having recently been introduced to Digeus' "Snap It" screen capture tool, I've found it to be a very useful tool. It is ideal for photographers blogging or posting tips about editing, photoshop captures, for marketers or basically any type of blogger. It is also useful for personal use such as emailing.

Now you may already be familiar with some form of screen capture tool, or even some keyboard shortcuts, but you will find that some of these may be "handy" to you simply because they are the only ones you have used.
Perhaps you get the screen capture you want with these other tools but it takes too long.
Or perhaps it is quick enough but you have no control of which area of the screen you capture and end up wasting time cropping unwanted parts or borders (as in the picture below with a red border of the selection)

Snap It is a very convenient tool for bloggers. When you write posts on your blog and you need to capture and crop images from different sources - this tool is for you.

Snap It Features:
- It supports hotkeys, auto-saving, clipboard
- Automatically copies screenshots to the clipboard
- Tracks capture history and auto-saves captured images
- Saves files in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF formats
- Auto-names captured images

For those using windows' "Snipping Tool", you will find Snap It 3.7 to be perfect for you, saving you time and effort. It may not be as elaborate and as complete as Adobe Captivate is, but it certainly makes blogging and such tasks less complex.

Discover Snap It and Download Here

Photo-Blogger: Should all Photographers blog?

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:41:00 +0000

Are you a photographer? And do you blog?
Here we will discuss why it may be in your interest as a photographer to regularly blog your work or something about what you do. But should ALL photographers blog?

Networking.
As most of you know, especially if you ARE reading this post, the internet is today's knowledge bank, and the majority of us when seeking any sort of resources simply type it into our search engines. In addition to that, we now spend a lot more time on the internet than we did years ago due to the social elements and networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, BeBo and Myspace (to name a few).

So, how does this benefit you as a photographer? Your work can now attract a huge number of people to your work with minimal effort and in very little time. How is this useful to you? Simple, this can help generate more work for you, it can attract feedback from fellow photographers and even requests for advice from others.

But why a blog?
Now, how about having a blog, your own domain (or address) where you regularly do this sharing and of course link it back to your social networking profiles. This adds to your web-presence and as a professional, amateur, beginner, educator or simply a fanatic, this is worth your consideration.

Our photography site www.iDrawWithLight.com has seen almost 8 times more visitors than it did when all there was was word of mouth and occasional link sharing. Of course the work load increases, but isn't this what you want as a photographer?

Google Gravity: Google Experiment (Fun)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Have you checked it out yet? To experience Google gravity, go onto Google, in the search bar type in the words "Google Gravity" and instead of clicking on "search", click "I'm feeling Lucky" and watch Isaac Newton's epiphany hit your monitor.

You can even search once it's all on the "ground" - awesome stuff.
Web designers, Web builders, Internet wizes, eat your hearts out...unless of course this is child's play to you, in which case, never mind.

It is mentioned on Google that this is a project/experiment, whatever the case, it is a cool trick.

Try it out yourself.

GOOGLE SEARCH

Here is a video to see it at work (for the sceptics).

Calibrate or be doomed! (Photography & Design tip)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:01:00 +0000

Do you do any retouch or photo editing on your computer? Unless you are a strictly film photographer, then most likely your answer is yes! Colour and light are very key in digital photography, more-so, making these two consistent in your work.

If any of your retouching is done on your laptop, you will find that when printing time comes, the colours printed may not be what you saw on your screen. If this is the case, you need to calibrate your monitor or forever be DOOMED! (slight exaggeration on the "doomed bit")

Example. image by systeminsight

Or, do your edited images look different each time you view them on a different screen from yours they look different? It may well be that the other people's monitors are "weird" but initially, what you have to ensure is that your monitor is tuned to providing the colour you need in order for your work to be more consistent both in print and on screen.
Here comes the significance of Calibrating your screen. This is NOT a new trick but it is definitely one not to be ignored, especially if you are starting out. Many new computers and monitors being manufactured at the moment come with a built-in calibrating system where you just have to selected the ideal colour profiles (such as in the new iMacs), while others can be used straight out of the box and still provide very close results.
There are a range of products to deal with this issue and one that I personally recommend (having used it for some time) is the Spyder 3 pro. There are slightly different versions out there, and some more expensive than this one, but regarding results, it works great!
Calibrating your monitor is basically optimising your monitor, such that when dealing with colour and post-production on images, the printed image will look exactly as it does on your screen.

ColorVision S3P100 Spyder3 pro
Spyder 3 Elite

Here is a video from spyder's youtube page showing how effortless this tool is, baring in mind how crucial it is for any and every digital photographer's post production and printing.

Purchase Spyder 3 HERE

14 Must-Know Photography tactics.

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:11:00 +0000

I've been asked a couple of times by either clients, friends are just curious individuals where I learned what I know about photography and taking pictures better than "the average joe" (so to speak). Others ask how they can improve in taking the pictures they take and what the key things to note are.
I've recently come across a blog post that detailed a few of these "tactics", the things that separate the "picture-taker" from the "photographer".

This post will touch base with the 14 must-know tactics for any photographer.
You may also be interested in our post about Common mistakes by beginner photographers before reading on.

Composition: Anyone can point a digital camera at a subject and get a good quality snap shot. The camera will almost insure that the photo will be sharp and exposed correctly. However, the one thing the camera can’t do for you is compose the shot. One of the major differences between average photographers and professionals is that the pros spend a lot of time thinking about composition while amateur’s just point and shoot.

The law of Thirds: If you mentally divide your camera viewfinder into three horizontal and three vertical sections, where the lines intersect are considered ideal focal points. Focal points are what the eyes are naturally drawn to when you look at a photograph. Therefore, any one of these focal points is a good place to position your main subject.

Portraits: When taking portraits the closer you get to the subject the better. You will focus attention to the subject by cutting down on the amount of superfluous background detail.

Landscape: When shooting landscapes you usually want everything in focus all the way to infinity. Therefore, you will want to use as small an f/stop as your camera will allow.

Vary your shooting angle: Instead of always shooting at eye level try shooting overhead, waist-level or ground-level. When photographing small children or animals, get down to their level for best results.

Steady the camera for sharp pictures: The key to getting sharp photos is keeping your camera steady while pressing the shutter button. Digital cameras are so light that special care is required to hold them steady during shooting. Squeeze the button very gently, making sure you don’t jerk the camera as you press the shutter button.

When using an LCD preview, make sure that you hold the camera to your body to prevent movement.
Consider using a tripod especially in low light situations, long zooms or slow shutter speeds. If you don’t have a tripod try leaning against a wall to help steady your shot. Another option is to rest the camera on something solid such as a table.

Framing the shot: The first thing to decide before taking a picture is what’s the main subject. To compose your shot, you either need to move your subject around or get closer yourself. Try to frame it, so that your intended content fills most of the picture area. Don’t forget to use the law of thirds.

Use movement: Sometimes you will want to simulate movement such as a race car going by at a racetrack. Use a fast shutter speed or pan the camera to follow the subject to maintain focus. Done correctly, panning will keep the subject clear, while blurring the background, giving the impression of motion.

Getting the exposure right: Digital cameras use a light-sensitive chip rather than film to capture an image. The camera is designed to let light through a hole (aperture) on to the chip for a limited amount of time (exposure). Digital cameras use “auto exposure” to take care of exposing the picture for you. But there are a few things about aperture and exposure that you should be aware of.

Use the appropriate camera setting: Digital cameras allow you to take pictures at different quality setting. The higher the setting the better the photo quality. Higher settings use more memory then lower settings. If you intend to make prints, always use a medium or high setting. The low setting should only be used when all you want to do is view the pictures on your computer or send them by email or over the Internet.

Using white balance: Automatic exposure settings can produce an unnatural reddish glow when shooting indoor pictures. Most digital cameras automatically adjust the “white balance” to compensate for oddly coloured lighting. However, this may not always result in natural looking photos. If your camera allows you to set the “white balance” mode manually give it a try. The result will be a picture with more natural looking colours.

Using zoom: Most digital cameras come with a wide-angle lens as standard. This enables you to get the whole scene into the frame without having to stand too far back. However, it’s not so great if you can’t get close to your subject. That is why it is recommended that you buy a camera that includes a zoom lens.

Focus: Auto-focus is great, but it isn’t perfect. Most digital cameras tend to simply focus on what’s in the center of the picture. If your main subject is not dead centre, point your camera at the subject, half-press the shutter button, re-compose to the desired scene, then finish pressing the shutter button. This will ensure that the main subject is perfectly sharp.

Experiment: People take good pictures not cameras. It’s up to you to compose the shot carefully, making sure that the lighting is correct, etc. Digital cameras are great for this. You can experiment by taking as many test shots as you like using various camera settings, compositions, etc. You get instant feed back by way of the preview screen. If you don’t like the shot, it can be deleted right away. “Practice Makes Near-Perfect.” :-)

SOURCE: http://brajeshwar.com/2008/must-know-photography-tactics/

Too cheap is VERY expensive.

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:52:00 +0000

You've heard the term "too good to be true". Well, in many cases, that statement is 100% correct.

Photography, like many other arts, is one of those things not to compromise quality for anything...ever. There are of course budget items and accessories you can get for your photography which do not harm your craft in anyway like purchasing a White Foam Core to use as a reflector, as opposed to spending £20+ pounds on a fancier (and more portable) reflector.

A few weeks back, we blogged about a very good and cheap lens for photographers to buy (read the article HERE). There are well known companies that specialise in providing low-cost solutions as a substitute to your camera's designated make. For example, you can buy a Sigma or Tamron lens to use on a Nikon, Canon, Sony, whatever. These are usually slightly cheaper than those made by Canon, Sony and Nikon themselves and are also usually of near exact quality as the Sonys, Canons etc.

What you should beware of is a Canon lens that YOU know costs over £400+ going for a shockingly attractive and tempting £150 or less. This can happen particularly when buying online. If the price is TOO good even to your own conscience, chances are, that item is not to be touched.
Buying a fake or extremely poor quality lens can seriously harm your work, your wallet AND your self-esteem.

If you do not intend to shop from your manufacturer's websites, always at least browse them and use them as a reference point as well as comparing prices on google of the item you wish to buy. Also, be very attentive of the specs and descriptions provided. For instance, do not mistake a Nikon EF-S Niccor 24-120mm f/6.4 ED RV for a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM...Mug!

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM...Travel Mug.

Ever wondered how cool it would be to be able to drink from a lens?

Travel Mug 70-200mm

Actual 70-200mm lens

Have you seen this creation by Canon for the die hard Canon fans (and geeks)?
How about the Canon EF 24-105mm one?

In case you are somewhat baffled by all this, you will notice that the above mentioned are two very popular lenses by Canon. Early this year, the first edition of these mugs in the shape and actual size of the lenses were made available on the internet. They are part of what Canon call BDS (Beverage Delivery System).

You can see from the images that with minimal concentration, you can easily grab the wrong lens.
For instance, you wouldn't want to be at your early morning shoot to catch the swans at sunrise by the lake with both your 70-200mms and as you reach for the lens, take off the cap and lift - you burn your laps and kit in tremendous fashion. Just as you would hate to pour hot coffee on your bran new £2000 Canon Lens.

In a less hazardous and more controlled environment these are of course a nice little accessory for the Canon enthusiast. Will Nikon try and match this? We should not be surprised if they do as these travel mugs have been quite the success. The true question anyone should ask should be - How cool would it be if the mugs actually zoomed in and out!??

Here's the 24-105mm version of the travel mugs. Again, it's very close to the real thing and once you purchase them, you MAY want to avoid taking your actual camera gear into the kitchen area.

MIND Charity - Fundraising Photoshoots (Update)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:05:00 +0000

This month will see the conclusion of the Promotional photoshoots we were doing to raise money to support the work of MIND Charity. If this is news to you, here's the initial article with more details: http://idrawwithlight.blogspot.com/2010/07/promotion-fund-raising-photo-shoots.html

Today we were shooting in London in the Richmond area and the shoot was successful. It's a shame this event ends so soon as it would have been great to travel to a few more places, share the idea and tell people a bit about the charity too.

Learn more about MIND here

Have you heard of the floods?? (Pakistan 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Only this morning did I read on a friend's Facebook status that it's an outrage that the 10 O'clock news dedicated more time to a fish than they did to a country in crisis. I expect that everyone reading this must have at least heard of this tragedy.

Going through the web, I came across boston.com's "The Big Picture". Boston.com always document the world in all its beauty, and believe it or not, even in a crisis as such the one in Pakistan at the moment.
View the pictures HERE

The images are striking, and some even quite upsetting. Nonetheless, please view these pictures and help in whichever way you can. There are a number of charities involved in supporting those affected in the Pakistan Floods, just type it in google and there'll be a whole bunch.

Canon 7D Updated: - Canon EOS 7DSV

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:47:00 +0000

I was going through a few blogs this afternoon and trying to keep up with the daily developments in the technology and, most particularly, photography world.

News: Canon EOS 7DSV (Studio Version).

I came across some oddly puzzling news from Canon via their press release on the usa.canon.com site. Now for the rest of the world, we may have to wait a little for the east-bound winds to blow this technology this way.

According to the press release, Canon are releasing an "upgrade" for the Canon EOS 7D Studio Version. With all the existing specs of the EOS 7D unchaged, Canon have added several “lock levels", a barcode scanning kit and a WFT-E5A wireless transfer unit. So for about $900 more, you get what appears to be some more mature parental control for your camera, which disables unwanted features and essentially prevents anyone with a different vision from changing the camera settings and disrupting your project and workflow thanks to its password protection.

The new Canon EOS 7D SV has also been equipped with a barcode solution which helps to automate the data management required when shooting as well as when processing and delivering images.

Canon's philosophy with this upgrade is to make the photographer who works in a large scale environment be more efficient, organised and with minimal hassle. Photographers today are continuously looking for ways to speed up and simplify their workflow, and this may be Canon's response to this. As you know, the EOS 7D's slogan is "designed by you, built by canon" as it was designed based on an extensive research project by canon to attend to thousands of photographers' needs. So it is fair to say that Canon have not gone crazy and designed something for the sake of designing something.

But wait! Couldn't Canon have simply opted for a Firmware update? ...even if photographers would have to buy it? Is a whole new camera that necessary? We're sure there's a good reason for it.

Checklist: What you'd hate to forget!

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:51:00 +0000

Are you a photographer?
Do you often or occasionally go on commissioned photography assignments?
Heck, do you sometimes go out to take good pictures for short?

If the answer to any or all of the above is yes, we've got a lot in common. The tips and advice in this post are based on personal experience.

A possible scenario.
If your shoot is in the morning, and you've had a late night or suspect you may be leaving in a rush in the morning, it is natural that you plan to pack your kit before you head for the sack. Of course that sounds like a perfectly reasonable idea BUT, what if you forgot something and in the morning you don't double check because your mind knows you packed everything the night before. Then, you find yourself memorycardless. Bummer!

Remember to charge your camera's battery.

After charging, remember you have to put the battery BACK INTO the camera. Just because you see a camera in your bag, does NOT mean it'll give birth to a battery while you make your way to the shoot. (yes, this too IS from personal experience. Shamefully) Cameras are not quite that advanced yet, so, for now, remember to check the battery is there.

If your flash gun takes AA batteries, always remember them. If they're used, remember to get a new set!

MEMORY-CARD!!! You literally feel your heart sink down into the depths of your intestines when you realise you've got NO memory card. Worst when you realise your back-up memory card is in your laptop's slot...at home.

Assuming there's no way you'll manage to forget your lenses (or at least one lens), other elements you may forget, you can somewhat manage or do without, one way or another. e.g. if you forget your tripod, be still, lower your shutter speed, increase aperture and ISO etc. Forgot your reflector? look for a not-too-shadowy spot, or move around to find the best angles. Or maybe you forgot your business cards. Well, just hope you remember your phone number and web address, otherwise, you're really going to hate having forgotten that small of a thing.
If you're a wedding photographer or wish to be, here's a great guide: The Wedding Photographer's Planner

So, check your kit because you know you've checked it, and not just because you think you haven't checked it yet.

Video Production. Why you may need it!

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:36:00 +0000

If you have visited our photography website http://www.idrawwithlight.com, you would have noticed in the "About" section that we are partners with AffiLuc.com.

Who and what is AffiLuc? AffiLuc ltd is a film production and management company offering its customers the chance to be seen and heard in the way they've always wanted; "loud and clear".

When asked why they believed Video was good and desirable, AffiLuc LTD had this to say: "Video is the most effective way of communicating your message to your audience. Video engages people more than any other medium and research shows that we are much more likely to remember what we see in a video than from looking at text and pictures."

Now, from a photography stand-point, I would initially agree and disagree. This is because I believe in images being able to stick in a person's mind, should it be well-taken, as images are much easier retained than words etc. Though, when you think about it, you do spend more time watching a video, meaning the time you would spend looking at an image is hence multiplied. This is where I agree.

Here are the facts regarding video:

People prefer to watch video than to read text
A professionally produced video has 10 times more impact than words or pictures
Video enhances the online experience and visitors are likely to stay 70% longer on your site
A video can set off emotional triggers that can positively influence their buying decisions
Over 60% of adult viewers questioned said they preferred watching a professionally produced video

Their results are of very high quality and from what I could gather, when you hire AffiLuc ltd, you are protecting yourself from the disappointment of getting below-par results.

Here is one of my favourite of their realisations. A music video for a Nigerian artist based in the U.K. Jovivaa.

Now is video the replacement for photography or vice-versa? Not really. If this were true, they would not co-exist. A proof of this is the simple fact that DSLRs today are now being built with video capabilities, some equivalent to high-end cinematic capabilities too. One that comes to mind is the Canon 7D.

In short, Video and Photography are very compatible with each other. Actually, the best documented events are those that bear both pictures and video footage.
AffiLuc LTD is swiftly becoming one of the top film production companies in the Midlands and the UK, having covered commercial campaigns and documentaries for various charities and social enterprise projects. Recently we collaborated on TheSpotlightOn project.

Visit AffiLuc LTD for more at http://www.affiluc.com

Flickr? ModelMayhem? Photobucket? Picasa?

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:38:00 +0000

If you are a photographer, be it beginner, amateur or more experience, you would have heard of photo-sharing websites and places that are key to have your portfolio.

As a photographer, the key to getting work or recognition is simple - people have to see your stuff. For this, you don't have to invest millions of pounds (or dollars, or euros...) in a huge billboard in the centre of the busiest town of where you stay to have one of our images viewed. You can simply share them online and have them viewable on the web to any and everyone.

"Oh I know, I need a website or blog." Wrong! As much as these two are great and a good reference point for people to see your stuff, they are not an obligation. Plus, they can cost quite a bit for someone who is not getting much work yet or simply starting out.

Flickr has so far been photographers' favourite photo-sharing website. It bears a worldwide community of photographers and photography enthusiasts, sharing and commenting on each other's images. You can also join groups and hold discussions, share tips, learn a few things and even go on photo-walks with fellow photographers.

Socialtimes.com listed the Top 5 Photo-sharing sites but I'm only going to mention 4 and add a 5th of my own. I recommend at least one to all photographers. For those that already have websites and blogs, it enhances your web presence as well as the quantity of your work available for the public to see so do not overlook these.

No.1 = Flickr. Surprise surprise! Everyone knows Flickr and thus everyone's on it. "Flickr, with 36 million members and a staggering 3.5 billion photos, is an immense social network. It’s full of friendship data. People comment, join groups, declare friends, click on favorite photos, and limit viewing to certain friends and family."Source (http://www.businessweek.com/)

No.2 = Zooomr. Zooomr is sort of like Flickr but it is also great to use on its own. A major plus for this one is that it has no download limit for free users. So, if you thought you needed a blog or site or multiple paid accounts - Zooomr is at your rescue!

No.3 = Picasa Web Albums. I personally don't use this much. Though, if you have a lot of mobile devices, you may find that it's always in the top 5 or 10 of applications related to photography for you to download. Also, if you're a windows and HP user, you'll find that it's somehow already installed on your computer or comes alongside a software update for your HP printer. Does this make it recommendable? Not particularly, but it definitely makes it popular with search engines etc. It's by the almighty Google itself! Picasa is also great as it helps in organising your images into albums and sub folders somewhat smoother than a few other such sites.

No. 4 = Photobucket . Photobucket is cool and not very sophisticated. Personally, I find the layout a little too simple but it's great with google and other internet sources. The limit is generous and you can easily have a photobucket account alongside any other photo-sharing account.

No. 5 = ModelMayhem Now, as much as I know MM is not your typical photo-sharing site, it's a great place to build a profile and upload a brief portfolio. The best thing about it is that it links you to models, makeup artists, stylists and basically people with whom you can do trade or commercial work. You can also view other photographers' portfolios for inspiration. Here's a previous post I wrote about ModelMayhem http://idrawwithlight.blogspot.com/2010/05/model-mayhem.html

IDWL Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:04:00 +0000

Our Amazon shop is now up on this blog.

You can use the tab at the top to be directed to it. Any and everything photography related.

Enjoy.

Photoshop Post-production tips: Clone and Heal instead of Smudge and blur! (Part Two)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:40:00 +0000

In this post, I will just quickly go through the similar technique as the previous post - Healing instead of Cloning
but I will be focusing on how you can treat the skin without having to go through skin-softening treatment etc.
By just healing the blemishes and making the skin look more uniform, you beat the need of making it all smooth/soft and like the person is wearing a heap load of make up.

Before

Here's a picture of a good friend of mine :-D. It's not terribly shot and he actually looks ok. The only decent example I could find that had not been photoshopped yet.

What I'll be doing is getting rid of the few blemishes, the lines/folds in his forehead and the slight creases at the top of his cheeks, near his eyes.

After

Notice the skin looks a lot more uniform, minimal to no blemishes and you have to make sure you make it good, but keep it realistic. So, in light of that, I left the curve around the mouth that enhances the smile.
I used no skin softening plugin, no photoshop "actions" - purely the healing brush.
Here my good friend (pun intended) Matt looks a tad bit younger and wrinkle-free. His tan wasn't extremely affected either.
In a later post, I will mention some tips on editing the skin and keeping the tones natural and vivid.

If you're starting out in portrait photography, this "Healing" technique will save you some time as well as the stress to make things "perfect".

Had I used the blur and smudge technique, it would have worked...in making the poor fellow look like he belongs at Madamme Tussauds. Here's what you can't get away with anymore in the photography and retouching world:

At first glance it's sort of ok. But you then see there's something not quite right about his skin. Then you quickly notice it was edited (and not very well either).

The Verdict:

Smudge and Blur isn't so great at dealing with skin matters in pictures, and it doesn't make the picture look natural either.

Photoshop Post-production tips: Clone and Heal instead of Smudge and blur!

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:27:00 +0000

I have decided to write a quick and hopefully brief post about using the "clone stamp" and the "healing" tools in photoshop.

The reason for this is because I have noticed a great number of photographers apply these techniques poorly (or simply fail to apply them) and this really, as minimal as it may be, affects their final images. The shots look great and you've spent a lot of time in Photoshop making them perfect BUT somehow, there's either too much rough skin or some some mismatch in the tones between the shoulders, arms and armpits. So, you decide to blur those elements. This doesn't work too perfectly.

now you go for the smudge tool because you figure, smooth is better, and if I make it blurry, it will take the attention of the viewers away from it...making it all good. Be as it may, for some it will work, but for the more attentive (especially fellow photographers), it won't look too good. Don't get me wrong, your pictures would still look great. To be honest, I've mostly noticed these on the best of images I've seen lately and that's why I had the chance to inspect the images.

I've been through the blur and smudge phase. It didn't last, believe me. I'm a "clone" and "heal" guy (yes, now you know my gender)

The Clone Stamp tool: On your photoshop pallet on the left of your screen, it looks like a stamp tool basically.
How it works is that it enables you to copy/clone an area of your image and paste it anywhere you wish/need to. It's ideal for situations where there are discreet patterns or just background elements that are not too prominent.

The Healing Tool: Now this on your photoshop pallet looks like a band-aid (plaster). There are two different heal tools – the Healing Brush and the Spot Healing Tool. Both Healing tools are excellent for correcting imperfections in your shots like as troubled skin, sensor dust, creases but which tool should you use to achieve the best effect? (click to enlarge images in this tutorial)
How it works: The Healing Brush lets you correct imperfections in your shot in a similar way to the Clone Stamp Tool. Like the Clone Stamp Tool, you paint with sampled pixels from your image which you can set with the ‘Alt’ button, however, the Healing Brush Tool also does an excellent job of matching together all of the relevant shades and textures to keep your fixes as seamless as possible.

Below are some illustrations of what I'm talking about.

In this photo, the areas of focus are the bits just outside the armpit areas and the right side of the forehead area. It's an amateur paparazzi shot.

1. The original

2. Smudged and Blurred. What to try and avoid. You'll notice as not-too-prominent as it may be, it just looks unnatural and disturbing to the eye. It also looks like you're trying to make the viewer not see what's been blured - like some sort of weird censoring.

3. Healed Version. Here, all that's been done is apply the Healing brush over those areas mentioned as above. You'll notice it looks a lot more natural and less distracting, without making it making the viewer think I don't want them to see that area.

Before and After Healing.

Before

After

It's a very simple technique and in my opinion, it's essential to photographers today.

For a step by step example and sample of a creased photo that was repaired using this technique click HERE
(http://digital-photography-school.com/using-the-healing-tools-in-photoshop-cs3)

Recommended DSLR Cameras to buy below £400

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Are you a photography enthusiast? A photography student perhaps. Maybe, you're interested in the world of photography and you just want to get into it but due to your lack of expertise you wish to buy a good but cheap DSLR.
Whatever the case, here's a list of some good options for you. There are a number of good brands, so don't be sold on the idea that a brand is better than another.

Next to each is a link to view the full review of the cameras as well as where to buy them.

1. Sony Alpha A230 -10MP with 18-55mm Lens - Available at £227 HERE
Review: http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2009/09/17/Sony-Alpha-A230/p1

2. Canon 1000D - 10MP with 18-55mm Lens - Retails at approx. £360 Available at £343.70 HERE
Review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/

3. Nikon D3000 - 10MP with 18-55mm VR Lens - Available at £334.50 HERE
Review: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073004d3000handson.asp

4. Olympus E-450 - 10MP with 14-42mm Lens - Available at £329 HERE
Review: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09033101olympuse450.asp

Nikon Coolpix S3000

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:28:00 +0000

Some Intro:

In july, I came across someone at my local photography printing lab. This man was after a camera and he spotted me with a case full of lenses and a DSLR kit etc. He figured I may know a thing or two about cameras. Anyway, he was on a budget and wanted a point and shoot camera, small enough to fit in the pockets of his jeans and powerful enough to take high quality pictures.
Needless to say, this is a lot to ask all at once. I thought so anyway.
As a DSLR guy for over 2 years now, I'm not in sync with the developments being made in the point-and-shoot camera world. The gentleman pointed out he had seen the Nikon S3000 and that he had actually come to the shop to test it out.
That's when I asked myself wh and how exactly he needed my help but there.

The Review (in a nutshell):
At under £100, the Coolpix S3000 is aimed at the mass market and those on a budget. It offers really easy to use features such as automatic scene detection, face detection, a surprising "blink" detection and other anti-shake features. It's a 12.0 Megapixels compact camera featuring a 4X zoom lens with 27mm wide-angle coverage (35mm format equivalent), High ISO (up to 3200) capability at any image size up to its maximum of 4000 x 3000 pixels, 640 x 480 movies with sound at 30fps, and a 2.7-inch LCD screen.

Also packed in this small Nikon is a wide angle 4x optical zoom lens with a useful zoom range equivalent to 27-108mm. This is a great range, enabling you to shoot individuals and groups of people stood next to each other without having to ask them to take multiple step backwards. (this may be dangerous especially if you're taking balcony pictures)

The Nikon Coolpix S3000 has four different anti-shake measures: electronic VR, high ISO settings, motion detection and Best Shot Selector function.

Its detection features come in very handy. As expected as they may be of cameras nowadays, they should not pass unappreciated. Notably is the "blink detection" which is useful whilst taking snapshots of more than one person. Unless you manage to get them to synchronise your subjects' blinking with each other, you'll find this feature saves you from taking those shots that would have been so much better if they didn't blink.

The image quality is top notch (for the price that is). The misconception of a lot of people is that any amount of money they pay should provide magazine quality looking pictures. If you set your expectations low, you'll be reasonably satisfied with the S3000's middling image quality. It's superior to some other "cheaper" cameras out at the moment. The outdoor photo quality is one to be content with. It is "OK" You get some ghost-effect when you zoom however and there is some depth in the photos. The colours are accurate and the focus easily locks onto something, even if it is some random detail neither in the foreground nor the background of the photo.

It has a superb 2.7inch LCD screen at the back and this is probably one of the greatest selling points of this little camera. It's slick but it is not a finger-print magnet like most other cameras. The controls at the back could be a little simpler and more organised, which is a problem for those who wish to control the settings manually as they seem a little hidden, sort of like Nikon want you to stick to the automatic shooting modes.
The camera measures 94 x 56 x 19 mm (3.7 x 2.2 x 0.7 in) and weighs approx. 0.26 pounds and it's great for a guy's pocket or a lady's purse.

The Verdict:
For under £100 Nikon have made a slimline compact camera that is more than capable of producing great quality images. The 4x zoom and easy to use features are perfect for those looking for a simple, easy to use compact camera.

Overall I feel the camera represents good value for money, producing images that will please all but the most discerning photographers.

I may not have helped this person I met much as he seemed to have his mind well made up but I got the chance to be introduced and try out this slim and slick Coolpix S3000 moments later...and blog about it :-D

Sigma 70-300mm lens: Best low cost telephoto lens

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:28:00 +0000

For those of you more familiar with lens makes, SIGMA make lower cost equivalent lenses to those manufactured by Canon and Nikon (and some others).
I own one of these lenses and I recommend it to all photographers at any level who are after a telephoto zoom lens at a low price. (Obviously if you're a professional photographer, you ought to be looking at other lenses as you have no reason to be "on a budget" ) Don't be swayed, just because it's cheap does NOT in any way mean it is low quality.

Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Zoom Lens is Capable of macro photography. It has a 1:2 maximum close-up magnification at the 300 mm focal_length and it is an ideal lens for sports photography, nature photography, portraitures and other types of photography.

The lens has a switch to change to/from macro photography at focal lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a maximum close-up magnification from 1:2.9 to 1:2.

An SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass in lens optics group provides excellent correction of chromatic aberration. The multi-layer lens coating and special lens design reduces flare and ghost effect (the cloudy look you sometimes get around the edges of a shot). I can personally say the Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Lens offers high optical performance throughout the entire zoom range. Like most lenses, you will get the most out of it if you use your DSLR in "Manual" mode, as you have control of shutter speeds, aperture, iso, exposure bias etc.
At £150 (sometimes less) this lens is great on a cropped DSLR body as well as a Full Frame body!

For some, the zoom motor may be a little too noisy and undesirable especially if you're trying to shoot in a quiet or discreet situation. Another minor issue may be that the zoom ring is a bit stiff. Personally, that goes down to preference, as it does not affect the performance of the lens in any way.

Below's a shot I took at full zoom of a fountain. Click on it to view it larger.

70-300mm. F16 .1/200. iso 400

Purchase the Nikon-fit Sigma 70-300mm HERE £139
Purchase the Canon-fit Sigma 70-300mm HERE £126

70 Gigapixel photo (World's largest photo...so far)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:10:00 +0000

Okay, so the title is pretty obvious. If you haven't heard or read yet, the new world record holder for the world's largest photograph, came in at 70 Gigapixels! In case you're trying to work how much bigger that is to whatever teeny-weeny megapixels your camera currently has, it is MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger. A mega pixel is 1 million pixels. A Gigapixel is 1 billion pixels. I'm not a calculus wiz, nor am I super duper at solving mathematical sums but, folks, it doesn't get any more obvious than that really.

In fact, Petapixel said that if that picture were to be printed, it would be as large as "2 apartment blocks wide and 10 stories high". Someone say massive?

The details and sharpness of this image is very impressive. More-so, the extent to which you can zoom still maintaining high resolution is actually mind-blowing!!
You can view this monster here and read about it too --- http://70gigapixel.cloudapp.net/

Check it out!

Promotion + Fund-raising photo-shoots (only £50)

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:17:00 +0000

For the next couple of weeks IDWL is offering discounted photoshoot sessions in Birmingham for just £50 for individuals and couples. These usually start at £80-£150.

**The promotion extends to groups and other packages so don't be shy to enquire. Promotion ends on AUGUST 26th. The last bookings will be taken by August 15th so be sure to book in order not to miss out on your chance.

We'll also be working to raise funds for MIND Charity, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. As in February when proceedings from every photo-session went towards the Haiti Earthquake appeal, this time along as donating, we will also be welcoming any other voluntary sponsorship/donation. We will have forms for that so if you wish to learn more, email us info@idrawwithlight.com.

"Why a charity?" Why not!?! We live in a world where we are all responsible for others, whether directly or indirectly. Hence, if a means can be found to offer help, seize the chance. Not only are we offering cheaper rates and an opportunity for more people to learn about the work of MIND, the seriousness of mental health problems and a chance to help the community at large.
"With one in four people likely to experience a mental health problem every year it is critical that we raise awareness and promote good mental health for the benefit of all members of society." (source: http://www.mind.org.uk/about)

Admin

Blame it on the World Cup!

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:54:00 +0000

I don't know about anyone else, but this world cup (despite its disappointingly boring start) is taking up a lot of my attention and time. Oh and this is Emmanuel writing this by the way, for those wondering.

Anyway, where was I. Ah yes, my excuse for the lack of personal blogging. Do not be lured into thinking I have not been up to much, because I have. Other than watching the football (soccer for those of you further west).

As some may know, other than photography I also do quite a bit of freelance design work. Of late, the most I've been doing are things like flyers, logos and websites etc etc.

Actually, talking of flyers and the world cup, for all those of you (us) in Birmingham UK next month, come along to the World Cup After-party at Jewellery Quarter's own "Fusion Bar". Details below. Just a lil bit of promo.

What's been going on in IDWL's world

noreply@blogger.com (Emmanuel The Tog!) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:30:00 +0000

As unequivocal as it has been, I've been quiet for some time.

A lot has happened, I promise, and there is so much to detail. In this post however, I intend to point out the highlights of the past weeks.

SFB (Student Fashion Blog) - I continue my work with SFB, online magazine specializing in student fashion. Here are links to the most recent shoots with features from Bob Carpenter Shirts, J!NX, Nickelson and Blue Inc

Also, as mentioned in previous pos. Emmanuel (myself in this instance) works with a Social Enterprise project called TheSpotlightOn. iDrawWithLight hosted photography at the event and the images are viewable on the facebook page below (click the image).

Enjoy!