Visual Creativity

Creative Photo Composition: Close-Ups and Autofocus

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:27:00 +0000

Hi All, Focusing and depth of field are always issue with close-up and macro photography. In his BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photo blog, Rob Sheppard tackles the subject. Check it out:

Creative Composition: Close-ups and Autofocus

Have fun shooting - and focusing!

Thanks,
Kerry

Creative Camera Technique: Zoom-Blur

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:54:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

An easy way to create an artistic look with your photography, says Deborah Sandidge, is to use in-camera effects such as zooming the lens during exposure.

Check out Deb's latest blog post over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights:

Creative Photo Technique: Zoom During Exposure

Thanks,
Kerry

Creative Photo Composition: Patience Can Be a Virtue

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:59:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, When you get the chance, check out my new blog over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights:

Creative Photo Composition: Patience Is a Virtue

The blog discusses one of the many compositional concepts - in this case, working the scene - that Jim Miotke and I cover in our new book: The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography

Thanks,
Kerry

A Strong Case for Using a Tripod

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:57:00 +0000

Hi All,

I use a tripod for just about every stationary scene, in order to keep the camera steady for a sharp shot and also to fine-tune my compositions.

Over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights, pro shooter Lynne Eodice offers a great rundown of why a tripod should be an important accessory for serious photographers. Read it here:

A Strong Case for Using a Tripod

Thanks,
Kerry

Photographing at Twilight: Why and How

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:40:00 +0000

Hi All,

I consider twilight as the best time of day for photographing the great outdoors. The light and colors can be just amazing, and when there's a waterscape involved, the reflections will be bright and bold.

Over at the BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photography blog, Deborah Sandidge shares her thoughts, techniques and an awesome picture:

Photographing at Twilight: Why and How

Thanks,
Kerry

How to Get Better Family Holiday Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:32:00 +0000

The holiday season is a great time for photography. And over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights, Peter Burian has shared many terrific tips and techniques for capturing great holiday pictures of your family. Here's a direct link to the blog:

How to Get Better Family Holiday Photos

Merry Christmas!
Kerry

Try Wide-Angle for Creative Photo Compositions

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:39:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,
While I occasionally use a wide-angle focal length for capturing an expanse of landscape, I most often use it to take advantage of the wide-angle's great front-to-back depth. The result can be a unique perspective in which the foreground subject appears exaggerated in relation to the background.

Check out my new photo blog over at Team BetterPhoto:

Wide-Angle Lens for Creative Compositions

Thanks,
Kerry

P.S. This, by the way, is one of the subjects covered in my new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography

White Balance: Keeping Things Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:52:00 +0000

Hi everyone,
White Balance is a confusing topic for many digital photographers. But it doesn't have to be! And I don't mean setting the WB on automatic and forgeting about it. That's because auto WB isn't always reliable.

Check out my photo blog over at Team BetterPhoto:

White Balance: How to Keep It Simple!

Have fun with your photography!

Kerry

New Book on Creative Digital Photography!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,
Finally, the Amazon.com page has switched from "pre-order" to "in stock"! That refers to my new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography. This new book focuses on composition, design, light, and color.

Among the topics that The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography covers:

Getting started (creative visualization), lens perspective (wide vs. telephoto), depth and balance, photographing motion (from freezing action to in-camera painterly effects), point of view, natural light and exploring the times of day, the elements of design, composition (following and breaking the rules, plus advanced concepts), personal projects, etc.

Need more? Check out these excerpts from the book...

How to Photograph Great Silhouettes

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Creating mood and drama by photographing a silhouette isn't as challenging as you might think, says BetterPhoto instructor Deborah Sandidge. "Two elements are needed - great light and a great subject."

Check out this new blog over at BetterphotoJim: How to Photograph Great Silhouettes

Thanks,
Kerry

Take a Look at My New Book on Creative Digital Photography!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:47:00 +0000

Check out this post by the publisher of The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography (co-authored by Jim Miotke):

Excerpts from Creative Digital Photography

This book is geared to beginners through serious hobbyists, and focuses on composition, design, light, and color.

The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography covers such topics as getting started (creative visualization), point of view, lens perspective (wide vs. telephoto), natural light and exploring the times of day, the elements of design, composition (following and breaking the rules, plus advanced concepts), depth and balance, photographing motion (from freezing action to in-camera painterly effects), personal projects, etc.

Publication date is Oct. 18, 2011. It's available at Amazon.com, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Indiebound, etc.

Creative Photography: Capturing Texture

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Hi All, Texture is one of the elements of design covered in my new book on creative digital photography (co-authored with Jim Miotke). And over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights, photographer Lynne Eodice has come up with her own excellent take on the subject. "By making a strong statement about texture," says Lynne, "you can add a tactile dimension to your photos.

Check out her photography blog:

Creative Photography: Capturing Texture

Thanks,
Kerry

Creative Digital Photography: Steady as It Goes

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:48:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Here's a quick tip is from my upcoming new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography:

More and more DSLR lenses have image stabilization - a great help when shooting action and candids in low light. But, whenever possible for stationary subjects, shoot with a tripod, since it is still frequently the sturdiest alternative. It also has the added ability to help you critically compose your photos.

Also be sure to read your lens’s instruction sheet. Many lens models require that stabilization be turned off when using a tripod, otherwise possible blurring in the image could occur. When in doubt, turn off the feature.

Thanks,
Kerry

Creative Digital Photography: Textured Glass!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:55:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,
I really like creative photography projects - ones that can be done around the house and on rainy days. Over at the BetterPhotoJim photo blog, Deborah Sandidge shares a great project and a colorful picture:

Creative Digital Photography: Shoot Through Textured Glass!

Have fun checking it out!

Kerry

Creative Digital Photography: Take a New Slant on Things

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Hi All:

Following is a tip from my upcoming new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography.

You’re supposed to keep the camera level at all times, correct? Well, there are exceptions! Used at the right artistic time, a nice tip of the camera can pump up the visual tension by creating great angles and diagonals. Shooting with your camera askew (so as to change naturally appearing vertical or horizontal lines into diagonals) can be done for a variety of small scenes or big views and with just about any lens focal length.

Like other creative techniques, you won’t want to use this method all the time. But when the subject calls for it, angling the camera is one fine artistic weapon.

Thanks,

Kerry

Great Website Sale at BetterPhoto!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:13:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,
Terrific news over at BetterPhoto.com! There's another 2-for-1 website super sale going on this week. Here are the details:

2 years of a Deluxe or Pro BetterPholio website for the price of 1 year; applies to new sites or renewals; and the sale runs through this Friday, August 26th.

Now's the time to get your own photography website. But you have to hurry. Get more details on the websites for photographers...

Candid Street Photography - with a Fisheye Lens!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Experimenting is a great way to boost your photography. That means working with viewpoint, composition, lighting, processing, and technique.

At BetterPhoto's online school of photography, instructor Deborah Sandidge does this as well as anyone! Check out her photo blog over at BetterPhotoJim:

Candid Street Photography - with a Fisheye Lens!

Thanks,
Kerry

Creative Digital Photography: Beware of Stray Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,
Check out this photo composition tip - "Creative Digital Photography: Beware of Stray Colors" - over at the BetterPhotoJim blog:

Creative Digital Photography: Beware of Stray Colors

The tip, by the way, is from my upcoming new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography

Thanks!
Kerry

Best Printers for Black and White Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:32:00 +0000

Hi All,
The question of printers is always a hot topic for photographers. Check out this excellent blog - by top pro and BetterPhoto instructor Peter K. Burian - over at BetterPhotoJim:

Best Printers for Black and White Photos

Thanks,
Kerry

Vacation Photography Tip: First Things First

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Here's a tip is from my upcoming new book (co-authored with Jim Miotke): The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography:

The reason photographers often feel stress on a trip is the self-imposed pressure to capture the definitive images. Celebrated tourist spots, world-class cities, and popular national parks all feature justifiably famous views that have been photographed over and over again. But at the same time,there’s also the desire to come up with innovative photographs. This "shoot the classics vs. strive for originality" disparity is always a challenge.

Our best advice: Attack the top spots as soon as possible. That way, you get them out of your system. After recording these definitive images, you’ll be surprised how that reduces the anxiety, lifts the spirit, and makes you mentally prepared to be imaginative.

Have fun with your weekend and travel photography!

What Is the Best Color Space for DSLR Cameras?

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Here's a popular question for digital SLR photography: "My new DSLR camera can be set either for sRGB or for Adobe RGB color space. Which do you recommend? Is the choice influenced by the editing software used?"

In a new photography blog over at BetterPhotoJim, top pro Peter K. Burian - who regularly reviews and writes about equipment for photo magazines - offers his expertise. Check it out:

What Is the Best Color Space for DSLR Cameras?

Thanks,
Kerry

Black and White for a Timeless Look

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Hi All,

"Black and white photography," says top pro Deborah Sandidge, "allows the viewer to connect with elements of an image without the connotations or the power of color."

In my new photography blog over at Team BetterPhoto, check out Deb's thoughts, insights, and eye-grabbing pictures:

Black and White for a Timeless Look

Thanks,
Kerry

Landscape Photography: Grad Filters Still a Great Option!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Hi all,

Despite the HDR (High Dynamic Range) rage of recent years, it's great to see that some top outdoor photography pros still use graduated neutral-density filters to capture certain landscape scenes. This includes HDR aficionado and BetterPhoto instructor Tony Sweet!

Check out my Team BetterPhoto photography blog in which Tony shares his thoughts and insights:

Landscape Photography: Grad Filters Still a Great Option!

Thanks!

Kerry

Polarizing Filter: Tips for Buying and Using

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:11:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Pro photographer Peter Burian is one of BetterPhoto's top online instructors as well as a reviewer for many photo magazines. Read Peter's terrific new photo blog over at BetterPhoto Instructor Insights:

Polarizing Filter: Tips for Buying and Using

Thanks,
Kerry

How to Get More 'Wow' Impact in Your Photos!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Drager) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Every photographer wants their pictures to generate more "ah-ha's" and fewer "ho-hums." Be sure to check out the new photography blog over at BetterPhotoJim:

How to Get More 'Wow' Impact in Your Photos!

Jim, by the way, is the author of the best-selling BetterPhoto Guide series of books, and is co-author - with me!! - of the upcoming The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography.

Thanks,
Kerry