When we take photos, we usually focus our attention on the subject and make sure it stands out in the shot. In our efforts to do so, we might place less importance to the empty areas in the frame. Negative space, or the areas not being occupied by the subject and other objects, can actually be successfully used to strengthen the visual effect of an image. Here are the various ways in which negative space can spice up your shot:

1. Provides balance – no matter what kind of shot you take, whether it is a wide-angle photo of a vast landscape or a macro shot of a tiny bug, you can use negative space to give balance to the composition. Positive space, that which the subject occupies in shape and form, might appear overwhelming if there is no empty space included in the image frame. The viewer would not know where to look and rest his eyes. You can make use of the Rule of Thirds by placing the subject on one-third of the frame and leaving empty space for the other two-thirds.

Photo by Kharied

2. Accentuates the subject – if a subject is surrounded by empty space, the viewer has hardly anywhere else to look but at the point of interest. The viewer can fully appreciate the subject without any distractions such as a cluttered background. With the proper use of negative space, the subject is isolated and placed in intense focus. Even the simplest and most ordinary objects can be fascinating when composed in this manner.

Photo by Lightstaff

3. Helps create atmosphere– negative spaces can effectively add to the mood of the image and can also evoke emotions. For instance, an image that shows a large portion of empty sky can exude tranquility. Even a simple black empty space can add a dramatic effect to the subject.

Photo by DARRIN J. OAKLEY

4. Allows the image to ‘breathe’ – when composing the subject in the shot, add negative space to give the subject room to be properly appreciated.  The subject will not seem cramped or crowded and the use of empty space will make it more visually appealing.

Photo by Caro Spark

5. Creates interesting shapes and patterns – objects in the photo create shapes and forms, but negative space can also create shapes that can be as attractive as the main point of focus. One of the most popular images that depict negative space shows two black silhouetted profiles facing each other. The white negative space created between these faces may appear to be shaped as a candlestick. The human brain always tries to create patterns in what the eyes see, and negative spaces in a photo can be used deliberately to show various shapes that add visual effect. Photos taken in the minimalist style utilize negative space to the extreme, and this is can create striking shots that appear almost abstract.

Photo by Lightstaff

Whenever you compose a shot, be constantly aware of negative space and not just the subject. Experiment with subject placement and notice how the empty areas in the frame can highlight the subject while creating an atmosphere that draws in the eyes of the viewer. Negative space is a powerful tool in composition which can transform an ordinary snapshot into a captivating and eye-catching image.

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Corporate or executive portraits are becoming more and more important in a world where communication plays a big role in the success and wealth of a company. Creating a visual identity for a company by photographing the people who work in it, will give it the human dimension which can help in getting new clients.  Corporate photos can range from classic and environmental portraits to be used in a company’s website, to the creation of photo stories and more fun shots for a company’s publications and for many other purposes.  Corporate photography doesn’t come without challenges. In order to succeed in this area of photography you need to know exactly what you are doing and you have to be prepared to work in any kind of condition. There is usually only a small amount of experimentation allowed, as you need to give your clients exactly what they need.


Photo by Emsvangoth

Preparation

Most of the time, you will be required to take the photos in a short time. So, you have to be well prepared. You will be dealing with people for whom being photographed is the least of their concern and who would rather be concentrating on their jobs. So you should assess the situation you will be shooting in very well, in order to get descent results while keeping your clients happy. Before the shoot, scout the location you will be using and examine the available light, the space and what kind of shots can be created in it. This will help you determine which gear to bring and where to set your shoot exactly. After, scouting the location, the second part of the preparation stage is talking to your client. It might be the person you are going to photograph or it can be someone else like an assistant. In your meeting with your client, determine exactly what’s needed of you and direct the subject on how to prepare himself or herself for the shoot (clothes, hair, make-up, etc.). If you are both prepared, then the actual picture taking stage shouldn’t be a problem.

Gear, light and camera

Let’s face it, although you can take beautiful portraits with a compact camera, corporate and executive photography is more demanding on the gear side. You need to guarantee to your clients that they will get the best quality possible, and for this reason you need at least an SLR camera which will provide you with big and clean files.  Being a natural light shooter, I managed to get great result with an SLR with a 105mm F2.8 lens, a reflector and diffused window light.  But, you might find yourself in conditions where it’s impossible to shoot using natural light, so it’s wise to invest in a starter lighting kit. You can get great results with an off camera flash, a softbox and an SLR equipped with the kit lens. What matters most is light and how to control it. You can also get some backdrops to use when the space you are shooting in is too cluttered.  And don’t forget your tripod, as it’s the only way to prevent camera shake when the light gets a little bit too dim.

Shooting

Talking with the clients thoroughly before the shoot will help you in knowing what kind of shot you need to make and it will save you a lot of time. Depending on your clients’ needs, there are a lot of options when taking corporate portraits. You can take some classic portraits with a plain background and some soft light. You can also make some environmental shots which show the employees of the company doing their jobs. And if time allows it you can take some shots which are a bit funny to loosen up the atmosphere and to help everybody relax. When taking the photos, try to always talk to your subject and try to get them to be more comfortable in front of the lens. If you don’t work on making your subjects feel relaxed, all you will get is  lots of portraits with tense people in them. Don’t hesitate to take as many frames as time and resources allow you. You will have more freedom for selection after finishing.

Some further Tips:

-Be confident.  Showing self confidence and knowing exactly what you are doing will get your subjects to trust you more quickly, which will make your job easier.

-Dress Smart. Your dress code should be adapted to the place you are shooting in. If you are taking portraits of a CEO of a company, you should dress as if you were an employee of the company. In the same logic, if you are shooting in a factory or at construction site, then you should wear something more suited to such environments.

-don’t overdo editing. Corporate portraits are not like fashion, glamour and other types of portraits where you can have more freedom in editing and altering the image. Your corporate photos should be authentic and post processing should be kept to a minimum.  It’s OK to remove a blemish or a pimple, but you shouldn’t exceed that, and make sure to let your client know of any extra editing that you did.

-Don’t get underpaid. Don’t accept to get paid less than the norm because you are just starting out or because you are doing it for fun. Accepting to work for a cheap rate or for free is only unfair to all the other professional photographers who devote their time and energy to this job. So ask other photographers, or do a little internet research to get an idea on how much you should charge for your services.

Following are some examples of corporate photography:

Photo by Guilherme Kardel

Photo by Iamnotthatsmart

Photo by Blacklollypops

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An aurora is a natural phenomenon where the night sky is colored with lights. It is drawn to the magnetic poles of the earth and usually occurs in the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is seen in most parts of Scandinavia. It draws visitors from all over the world, all of whom aspire to photograph this unique display. Here are some technical tips on how to take good photographs of the aurora.

Technical Skills for Aurora Photography:

This phenomenon occurs in the dark and though the light show seems bright, it is not as much in reality. Set the aperture of your camera lens as large as possible, which means a low f-stop number. Set its upper limit to f/2.8; anything lower is better. In this way, the lens will be able to capture the lights from the aurora. A large lens aperture reduces the required exposure time. This is good since shorter exposure will give a more realistic shape of the aurora. However, longer exposure captures colors better, especially those which we cannot see with the naked eye. Foreground details are also better captured with longer exposures, which give a scale reference for the huge aurora and also enhance the photograph’s visual appeal. An ideal exposure time of 40 seconds would strike the right balance.

Martin Zalba

Zoom, Focus and Film Speed Settings for a Digicam:

Use a fairly wide-angle zoom lens, preferably fixed at 28 mm, to capture the large and distant aurora. Lens filters may work in other forms of photography, but since the aurora lights have irregular frequencies, filters will cause strange reflections and will spoil the natural beauty of the shot. If using a digital camera, set it to manual focus mode, the white balance to Auto and the noise reduction setting turned on. Choose a film setting of ISO400 or ISO800; faster settings tend to give grainy photographs but with a slower setting, you may not be able to capture the desired shot of the aurora before the display changes or disappears altogether.

Raymo-Phot

General Preparation for the Photo-Shoot:

Technical know-how is not sufficient; a good photographer takes care of the practical aspects as well, especially of his surroundings. Select a location for your photography session that is within the auroral belt to increase the likelihood of catching a show. Also, stay far away from cities and airports to avoid their bright lights and polluted air. A tripod with a remote wireless trigger is essential, so that you don’t need to touch the camera and it can remain absolutely steady. Make sure the tripod is firmly set into the ground and get the strap off the camera, so that it stays balanced even in strong winds. Come prepared with supplies. Batteries run out quickly in cold climate, so bring sufficient spares. Since it will be dark, a torch will be handy to check various settings on the camera and to change batteries. Use a stop-watch to time exposures, for precision. The aurora display can take several hours to make an appearance, Wear lots of warm clothing and carry a hot drink. And while you wait, you can experiment with various camera settings. Your patience and preparation will eventually be rewarded.

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Ladybug is a beautiful and recognizable insect because of it’s brilliant black spots and red color. It can be found on green leaves and sometimes on sand. Here are a 24 Vibrant ladybug Pictures for your inspiration. Enjoy!

Beautiful ladybug photos

Going homeby by Birthstone

Ladybugsby by CloudMcSwagger

Zweisamkeitby by Armene

Ladybugsby by Ruleri

Symphony in Red, Gold and Greenby by FlowerFreak

Ladybugs lifeby by Mksven

Walk on the brink by Vvillamon

Coccinellidae II – Mariquita in the beach by Yamiq

Ladybug grazing by Nick Harris1

Dream World by Arief Perdana

ladybugs by Mehmet Karaca

Dedicated by Mindwarp-hs

Ladybug, ladybug by Katie Austin

Happy by Outrageouslyweird-me

Descentby by Ursularodgers

Convergent ladybug by Carla Kishinami

Are ladybugs afraid of heightsby by JamesBlast

Lady talk by Maria Pinto

Detalles by Alejandro Ferrer Ruiz

Ladybug hard times 2by by Ertstaz

Ladybugs trip by Karyaardhi Perdana

El reflejo by Alejandro Ferrer Ruiz

Original forget Me Notsby by Ilyily96

En Hoja by Alejandro Ferrer Ruiz

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Whether you started photography in the age of darkroom chemicals or began to venture in this field in digital photography era, there is nothing more satisfying and pleasing to see your photo on a paper in the shape of a finished print. However in order to achieve this, you need to have the perfect equipment and material that suits your need and in this regard, printers are the integral part of any photography campaign.

Choosing a Photo Printer:

Following lines explain things you should keep in mind while buying a new digital photo printer.

• Printer Type:

In order to get photo realistic prints that can rival any other source of getting them, you can choose from two broader categories of printers that are dye-sublimation and inkjet. The earlier one relies on a heating process that mixes dyes on a specially coated paper to produce a continuous tone print. On the other hand, inkjet printers spray extremely tiny and discrete ink droplets onto a specially coated paper making a multiple passes across the tiny surface and creating a smooth picture to naked eye.

Photo by Danes96

• The Cost:

The cost of the printer is another factor to consider while buying a good photo printer for both professional and amateur photographers. Most of the printers come up with plenty of ink for a given number of photos and it is easy to calculate the cost of the printer that you are going to get according to your specific needs.

• Black and White Photos:

Modern printers are mostly colored and therefore cannot handle black and white very well. Furthermore, it is also sometimes difficult to get a monochrome image due to different tints for different shades of the gray. Therefore, you need to determine whether you want both color and black and white photos or any one of them from your printer.

• The Size of the Printer:

General use printers come in very small to very big sizes that are often too heave to carry. Therefore, if you are a casual photographer, small pocket size printers will do the job for you. On the other hand, if you are a dedicated photographer, you might need big printers where some of them can even print papers as large 13 by 19 inches or even bigger banners such as photo to canvas prints.

• The Speed of the Printer:

Speed perhaps is not very important as far as printers are concerned because only thing that matters is the quality of the picture. In fact, even the slowest printers available will give a fairly tolerable speed even for the large prints. Also keep in mind that given speed is more than actual speed and it also depends on the source you are printing from.

• How Much To Print:

How much do you want to print or “duty cycle” (total number of images per month) of the printer is also important to consider for any printer you are interested in. therefore, if you are a dedicated or semi dedicated photographer, do not buy a printer whose duty cycle has not been given by the manufacturer.

Conclusion:

Latest technology has become essential part for whole world. However, you need to be extra careful while buying a photo printer to obtain the maximum value for the fortune you spend. You need to keep in the mind the above mentioned points while going to purchase a good quality printer.

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Industrial photography can be challenging as it usually involves taking shots of large objects that are difficult to frame. These photographs are generally of products, equipment, machinery, workers, and company officials. These may not be very eye catching by themselves so the photographer will also need to make the photographs enticing. They have to be interesting and attractive so that they capture the attention of the viewers. Here are a few tips and tricks that help the industrial photographer take great shots.

1. Exposure technique: You will need to have a thorough understanding of exposure and how to manipulate it to achieve the best results. You should be able to accurately measure the brightness of light, and exploit the availability of light normally associated with industrial areas. This is important, as you will encounter ambient light which will most times produce a contrast variation which exceeds that of your digital image sensor or film.

2. Visit the area before the actual shoot: Get familiar with the object and its surrounding by visiting and asking the manager to give you access to area. Ask that the machinery be cleaned so that there are no oil and/or grease marks. If it is needed, also request that the necessary paint jobs or any other adjustments be made before the date of the shoot.

It is important that you do some preshoots using digital photography to do your preview. Doing a preview of the area will help you to identify the scope of preparation the object and/or area will need. Reshoots for industrial scenes are expensive and disruptive to the production process so you will want to get it right the first time. If people will be included in the shot make your request for them to be in the overall and safety gears. If there are no overalls (if managers will be in the shot) then ask that they wear a suit and hard hat.

Photo by lxrichbirdsf

3. Equipment: A tripod is a must for such shoots. If there is no tripod then ensure that you place the camera on a surface where it will not shift and there will be no camera shakes. This is important as many machines feature very straight lines that even a slightly tilted camera can distort so that they look strange.

4. Taking the shot: You can record an artistic blur by using slow shutter speed and capture movement. If there are shadow areas on or around the image, you can use reflectors to achieve the desired result. The tripod is absolutely essential to keep the camera steady.

5. Lighting and contrast: Industrial areas usually have a number of light sources which can make the shoot difficult. The focus of the shoot will be large machines which are made out of steel and will reflect light. Using artificial lights will be a huge challenge. Taking the shots on an overcast day will help to reduce the amount of reflection you will have to deal with. Cooler tones works best in this type of environment.

If you are required to take exterior pictures of the building you can take advantage of the lighting that is provided on the industrial plant. The greater advantage may be taking the shot at dusk. Using high contrast mode for industrial pictures will often produce better results. Set your camera to the correct mode before taking the shots. If there is a lot of steel use apertures of f8 or f11 for your shots as this tends to look better on steel.

Similar to other areas of photography, industrial photography is challenging, but definitely not impossible for you to conquer. Using the right techniques makes anything achievable.

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In the world of digital photography much is discussed about image capturing and photo editing and little about image printing. Photographers often spend hours perfecting a shot to be let down by poor printing results. In this guide we aim to explain digital photographic paper used in Inkjet printers. If you are looking to get your work printed, here are our top tips to help point you in the right direction.

Choose an Inkjet Printer – Currently the technology that Inkjet printers use far exceeds the capabilities of laser printers. To achieve accuracy and true colour tones, Inkjet uses micro jet to spread fluid Ink of dye or pigment base on the paper, hence Ink-Jet. Laser on the other hand uses powder base substance that is solidified on the paper by means of a hot fusion process. It results in limited DPI of 720 (Dots per inch) compared to 1440 and higher DPI that Inkjet printers can easily print at.

Printer Paper Isn’t Photographic Paper – True digital photographic paper differs from normal printer paper in that it contains suitable chemical coating to accommodate ink. It also contains better archival potential and in some cases it is instant drying allowing you to hold the print as soon as it comes out of the printer. Normal printer paper on the other hand isn’t designed to accommodate saturated ink. When printing an image on normal copier paper results are poor and the print has a very short lifespan. Due to the lack of archival properties, the image will fade or yellow.

Photo by Mustafa Khayat

Photographic Paper Base – Budget options often use normal paper as the base on which the Inkjet receiving layer is applied on. A second option and one that is often used by professionals is the PE coated paper which stands for polyethylene coated paper.  This paper is a combination of normal paper pressed between two layers of polyethylene on both sides with an Inkjet receiving layer applied on the printed side (single or duo sided paper). The polyethylene layer acts as a barrier to protect the paper ensuring it does not absorb humidity. Photographic papers further differ from one another depending on the chemical coating applied.

Budget vs. Premium Chemical Coating – Most manufacturers produce a line of budget quality and a line of premium quality. The difference lies in the type of receiving layer that is used. The budget lines use cast coated chemical which is cheaper to produce but has two significant side effects. For one, the paper will always turn out with a glossy finish and secondly, the paper has poor instant dry quality so you will need to handle it with care until it dries.  Premium lines use pore base chemical which holds the ink within microscopic pores on the paper. This technology known as micro or nano pore produces more durable results with betters archival properties and better colour definition.

Don’t Limit Your Options – Printer manufacturers do not produce paper consumables. It is the job of external companies who produce copy and photo paper on their behalf. By owning a certain brand of printer, you are not limited to its own range of paper consumables as many 3^rd party vendors produce paper with universal compatibility that will suit your brand of printer as well as others.  Brands such as INNOVA, Hahnemuhle, ILFORD and others offer high quality professional photo paper which will work with your printer. When looking for a suitable paper, do not limit your options to your printer brand’s own paper range alone, but instead do entertain other suppliers.

Photographic Paper Size – Photo paper are available in a vast range of sizes. Choosing the correct size is essential in lowering your printing costs and achieving your end goal. Photo album sizes traditionally come in 6×4” and 7×5” size, while wall and desk mount sizes come in A5 and A4 sizes (twice an A5 size). Calendar and larger prints are printed on A3 (twice an A4 size) and A3+ size paper which require a special A3 printer. Mistakes happen when photographers purchase a size too big thereby cropping the image which results in waste or buying a paper which their printer cannot handle such as in the case of A3 paper.

Photographic Paper Finish – The finish layer will give the print its desired look. It is measured on a scale of glossiness from the highest glossy finish to the completely glossy lacking matt finish. In the middle you will come across satin, pearl and luster which offer a compromise between the two. In some cases the finish can be altered after the print by using an Inkjet fixative spray in another finish. Fixative spray is designed to offer additional protection to prints from water and UV lights. In the process they can alter the finish if you opt for a different finish to the paper’s original finish.

When sourcing photographic paper to print your work, use the above tips to avoid disappointment.

Leave us a comment below if you have any questions.

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Since the first photograph was taken in 1826, photography has captured the interest of millions of people and inspired many more to pick up a camera and capture their experiences.

With the advancement of technology, having a camera or access to one on a cellular phone, has become common and just about anyone with a Facebook or Instagram account has become a ‘photographer’.

Photography however is a specialized field and training – sometimes lasting up to three years – is necessary to make it in the photography industry.

The market is overflowing with photographers and, because of this fact, many photographers have started to specialize in different fields of photography.

Photographers can be found anywhere, but the really good ones that can make a career out of it, is a dime a dozen. Photography as a career has gained popularity and, with the advancement of technology in the field, photography has become a specialized and precise form of art.

As a career, photography is broad and there are a quite few options in which photographers can specialize. Listed below are a couple of popular choices within the field.

Wedding and Lifestyle Photography

photo by Extra Medium

Also known as Event Photography, these types of photographers will specialize in the type of photography that capture moments like weddings and birthday parties. These photographers will also have a host of editing skills and a great eye for detail.

Photojournalist

Photo by Zoriah

These types of photographers are usually involved in news publications such as newspapers and magazines. Photojournalism has seen much advancement and, during turbulent times, War Photography has been one of the most effective ways to ‘show’ readers rather than telling them.

Photojournalists have a special talent for telling stories with images. They have the ability to sum up an entire news event in only one or two images, or do a photo story with a number of images.

This type of photography has given rise to many specializations within the photojournalism field, including things such as sport photography, travel photography and even food and feature photography.

Commercial Photography

Photo by Anderson Photography

This type of photography will be your ‘advertisement’ type photography. This can include anything from models wearing a specific brand to taking photographs of products. Some commercial photography projects can even call for the expertise of food photographers. Images of this nature will be used in advertisements and product catalogues for example.

Wildlife Photography

Photo by Justin Beckley Photography

Wildlife photography is one of the most specialized fields within photography and it takes a great amount of talent and patience. The really great Wildlife Photographers will end up at publications such as National Geographic.

Scientific Photography

This type of photography is highly specialized and it is closely tied to the scientific and medical research fields. This will entail a photographer having to take photographs of medical data and scientific procedures using equipment such as telescopes etc.

Scientific Photography calls not only for a trained photographer, but for a photographer with and understanding of medical and scientific data.

Forensic Photography

This type of photography will call for a person with a great eye for detail. Your job will be to take photographs of a crime scene, effectively recording every aspect, piece of evidence and angle of a crime scene.

These types of photographers can be employed by government departments or private agencies.

Freelancing

Photo by Open Threads

All photographers, including wildlife photographers and Photojournalists, can have a freelance career. Freelance photography is also a great option when it comes to Event Photography and Commercial Photography.

The list of careers within photography is long and detailed and, before choosing photography as a career path, proper research and an understanding of what interests you specifically, is necessary.

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Conceptual photography is described as a genre where the photographer attempts to capture an idea or concept in a photo. You have a message or story you are trying to convey through an image and, more often than not, this takes preparation for the shot to be a success. It challenges your creativity and imagination, highlighting artistic expression rather than simply technical expertise.

Conceptual photography presents a message

Many photos present the subject in a straightforward manner, what you see is what you get. Although these may be perfectly lighted and composed, there is nothing more to them apart from being a pretty photograph. Conceptual photos, on the other hand, usually present a strong message that is hard to ignore. Sometimes the message isn’t simple and clear, which entices you to look deeper at the nuances of the shot. It could be open to various types of interpretations.

Photo by Seyed Mostafa Zamani

Conceptual shots usually trigger an emotional response

One of the objectives of conceptual photography is to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. This can be done through many ways. For example, you can present “ordinary” objects in a different light. With the use of interesting composition, these can suddenly take on a deeper meaning.

Photo by Felipe Gabaldon

Lighting, mood, and colors can also greatly impact the viewer to connect with the shot. Bright and colorful scenes can make one feel completely different compared to when looking at dark and muted tones. Each element in a conceptual photograph, from the focal point to the negative space to even the image orientation, is carefully planned to elicit a reaction.

Photo by IPOX Studios

Where concept photography can be seen

Conceptual photos can be used in commercial photography for advertising and marketing. Many print ads make use of clever conceptual photos to get their message across and entice the audience to buy their product or use their service. Conceptual photos can also be found in fine art galleries where they are hung on walls to be admired by artists and analyzed by critics.

They can also be creations of photo hobbyists who want to flex their imagination or break some photographic rules to express their desires, fears, and uncontainable joy. Many of these may not have perfect lighting or sharpness, but will usually be filled with raw visual appeal. They are fascinating precisely because of their “imperfections”.

Photo by Srta. Gómez

Conceptual photo tips:

Now that the digital age brought about affordable and convenient digital cameras that show instant results, more and more people are using photography as a vehicle for artistic expression. If you are planning to try conceptual photography, here are some tips to get you started:

• Know your camera and the compositional elements before you break them. Understand the concept and uses of the Rule of Thirds, converging lines, patterns, lighting techniques, exposure settings, etc. These are your tools to create a good photo, and whether you use them or not will greatly affect the outcome of your shot.

Photo by Thesolarium

• Don’t let your camera stop you from creating conceptual photos. It doesn’t matter much whether you have a cheap point and shoot or a high-end DSLR, you can still take fantastic conceptual shots with it. For example, even a 2mp iPhone camera, such as the one used for this image below, is sufficient as long as you work with its limitations and advantages.

Photo by Kristine Hojilla

• Be creative in getting your message across in your shot. Brainstorm by jotting down possible compositions and do not be your own worst critic by killing baby ideas before they have a chance to grow.
• Always keep your audience in mind. Ask yourself who you are sending this visual message to and how you would want them to react. Is it for children or adults? Is the message clear in your photo? Questions like this can help guide you in improving your conceptual photograph.

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