Shallow Depth Of Field—Photography’s Most Powerful Technique
It has always seemed ironic to me that, as a professional photographer, the technique I use most often is something I can not see with my own eyes. Shallow depth of field is a product of camera optics and I can only “see” it as I previsualize an image and on the back of my camera, of course, after I shoot.
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Camera Sensor Size And Effective Lens Focal Lengths
Recently I gave one of my photography classes a lecture on lens focal lengths—their strengths, weaknesses and their creative potential. Because I listed the focal length of the lens used to create each image on a full chip camera body in our presentation, I reminded everyone that the effective focal length of a lens can change with the size of the sensor in their camera, as we had discussed in our first class a couple weeks before.
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When You Want It All–3 Steps To Maximize Depth Of Field
Back in the day when my students actually shot on location together, pre-virus, discussions on depth of field were a continual topic. This was partly because some my students had just moved away from full camera automation, the dreaded “P” setting for Program, and had tasked themselves with taking control of their camera. Using the class recommended “Av” or “A” setting, Aperture Priority, photographers have to manually set the aperture, or f-stop, and the camera picks the shutter speed for the exposure. The “A” setting not only controls exposure but also depth of field and that is where the confusion often erupted.
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RAW Files vs JPEG–Photography’s Format Battle
RAW file versus JPEG? Which is the best image format? Well, I have found that it really depends on a number of variables. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at both.
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Stunning Architecture Photography In Black And White
Architecture is one of those photographic subjects that cries out to be captured in black and white.
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Black & White Photography–The Journey Continues
I am continuing my quest to learn black and white photography through the process of converting a number of my color images to black and white.
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A Color Photographer’s Conversion To B&W
Text & Photography by Chuck Place© I have been a photographer for over 40 years and recently have developed a real interest in black & white photography. Like all photography, it’s a journey…
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The Creative Image–Cell Phone Photographs and Cyanotype Prints
Join Joyce Wilson’s Photo Workshop and explore the creative side of iphoneography and cyanotype printing.
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Travel Photography with Chuck Place
Travel Photography is much more than shooting snapshots of your vacation. Images created during your travels should transport you back to the magic you felt as sunset light washes over an ancient Mayan pyramid or recall the drama of colorful powwow dancers as a late afternoon storm builds behind them in the distant mountains of New Mexico.
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3 Photographic Techniques For Creating Beautiful Direct Sunlight Portraits
With just 3 techniques, you can create beautiful, striking portraits out in direct sunlight. Modifying harsh sunlight and positioning your model properly can lead to startling results.
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Fill The Frame For Greater Visual Impact
The first step in creating any image is knowing what you want to say about a subject or location. Be clear in your own mind what is important and what is secondary. Then make it clear to your viewer by cropping out most of the secondary material.
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Mastering Lens Flare For Beautiful Images With Impact
Camera lens flair can be a creative tool adding another level of drama and emotion to your photographs.
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Aperture Priority–The Auto Exposure For Photographers
There is an auto-exposure setting on most cameras that allows a photographer to set the proper depth of field while the camera picks the appropriate shutter speed for a correct exposure—“A” or “Aperture Priority”.
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Photo Capture–Only Half The Battle
Text and Photography by Chuck Place Today’s photography software is amazing, especially post-production software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Capturing an image is now only the first step in producing a finished…
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Get Creative With Alternative Photographic Processes
Modern photography blended with the techniques passed down through centuries gives us a powerful tool for experimentation and creating art, and one such tool is encaustic wax.
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Directing Your Models–A Photographer’s Guide
Learn to pose and direct subjects for natural environmental portraits.
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Photographing The Beautiful Flower Show On Figueroa Mountain
Using a camera to capture both the grandeur of these massive blooms and the intimate delicacy of each flower is a challenge, but it can be done using a simple tool—backlighting.
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Drone Photography–It’s All About Altitude
Often I am asked if composing a photograph with a drone is the same as creating an image at ground level. It is similar, of course, but being able to make large adjustments to the altitude of a camera adds a whole new dimension to the process.
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The 4 Piece Photo Challenge
It’s raining outside, you can’t go out and play and you’re developing cabin fever. What to do? Assign yourself the 4 Piece Photo Challenge! Sounds silly, I admit, but it’s a great tool for building up your photographic creativity.
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Give Yourself A Photo Assignment II
I have too many interests! Photography is my passion, but I also love cooking, hiking, kayaking, fishing, gardening—the list goes on. Orchids have always fascinated the gardener in me and at one point, I decided to give myself an assignment photographing orchids and local orchid collectors.
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Join A Location Photography Workshop In Spring 2019
Join professional magazine photographer Chuck Place for 5 fun location photo shoots on consecutive Saturday mornings starting March 23 in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country and Santa Barbara area. With input from Chuck, fine tune your photographic skills and develop a personal style while exploring towns, locations and events like Los Olivos, Solvang, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Figueroa Mountain and the Summer Solstice Parade or the Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival.
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Great Photography Tool For Leveling Your Camera
I love my cameras! There, I’ve said it. Neither my Canon 5D MkII or MkIII has ever quit on me. They give me consistent, predictable results. The quality is great and if an image does not resonate well, I know it is not the camera’s fault. And once in a while, I discover a function hidden away in the black hole of the Canon “Menus” that I actually need, like a built-in level. Who knew?
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Photographing The Shape Of Motion With Shutter Drag
Most of the time we love fast shutter speeds. They “freeze” the moment. But on the other hand, fast shutter speeds also hide the beauty and grace of movement. The swirl of a dancer, the sensuous shape of a breaking wave—these are all hidden by a fast shutter speed. Shutter drag, or lengthening your exposure, reveals a whole new world of fluid color and unexpected shapes.
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The Ten Commandments Of Great Photographs
I was recently invited to be the juror for the annual Captured Photographic Exhibition at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club Second Friday Art Exhibition. During the years I have judged for professional photographic organizations and taught at Brooks Institute, I used a guideline in my head to quickly evaluate images.
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Photographing Native American Powwows: Planning, Etiquette and Tips
I could feel the drum beat in my bones, almost like a heart beat. Native American dancers seemed to float just above the dance floor, red rock canyon walls towering over the dance arena. I was photographing the annual Gallup Inter Tribal Indian Ceremonial and the spectacle of so many dancers gathered together was quite amazing.
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Magic Hour Photography: Get Creative And Capture The Drama
Few photographers can resist shooting a beautiful sunset. Clouds build up, color starts to develop, you have a perfect ocean or lake surface for great reflections or you found some fascinating trees or buildings to silhouette against the colorful sky. It’s impossible to resist, isn’t it?
More often than not, however, at this time of day, I find myself turning my back on the sun as it goes down and watching for what it lights up.
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Halloween Photo Shoots: A Return To Childhood Fun
I’m a big fan of Halloween and I love photography. That’s the beauty of October. I get to combine two of my great passions.
As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, harvest season in my area kicks in. Grapes are harvested in the vineyards, the leaves on the vines begin to change color and pumpkin patches pop up here and there—
Aerial Drone Photography: Capturing The View From Above
All the world seems to have gone drone crazy, and for a very good reason. The camera viewpoint is totally unique and gives you access to locations you can’t reach by foot. They can fly lower than a helicopter, are not as disruptive and they cost little to shoot. Is photography with a drone the same as shooting with a DSLR? Well, yes and no.
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Delicious Food Photography: The Basics Of Cooking Up Mouth Watering Images
I was shooting an article on Monterey, California, known for Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and great seafood. Dungeness crab is at the top of the areas epicurean list and I had already photographed a display of crabs on ice out on the pier. Although the shot was interesting, there was nothing appetizing about it. I was going to have to bite the bullet and go into a restaurant and photograph a crab dish properly.
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Gold Leafing: A Beautiful Alternative Photographic Print Process
I’ve been fascinated since childhood with gold and silver things. I cherish a tiny gold engraved vase that belonged to my grandmother, and a silver art deco jewelry box … a gift from my father to my mother during their courtship. And so about 10 years ago, I became obsessed with the idea of incorporating gold leaf into my photographic printing process
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Forced Perspective: Add Drama And Depth To Your Photographs
Standing in the middle of Taos Pueblo, I was trying to decide how I would photograph the impressive five-story North Building. I knew I would use a technique called Forced Perspective to emphasize the scale of the building and create an exaggerated feeling of depth in the image.
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Channel City Camera Club: Supporting A Passion For Photography
At the end of one of my Santa Barbara City College photography classes, students often ask how to continue their photo education. I discuss the excellent photography program at SBCC, but at some point I begin to realize this is more of a commitment in time and money than the student is willing to make. When that happens, I bring up a great alternative available here in Santa Barbara—the Channel City Camera Club.
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Wildlife Photo Safari Adventure On The Beautiful California Coast
. I was standing on an elevated boardwalk above the San Simeon Elephant Seal Rookery where mothers and pups were calling to each other and huge bull elephant seals were boldly challenging each other.
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The Art of Subtraction in Contemporary Architecture Photography
When it comes to visiting, exploring and photographing contemporary architecture, there are two places in Los Angeles that I find myself going back again and again; the Walt Disney Concert Hall (by Frank Gehry) and the Getty Museum (by Richard Meier). These two locations manage to capture my undivided attention for hours. Over the years I have created hundreds of photographs at each location and I still discover new photographs every time I go.
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An Exciting Photo Shoot At The Lively Farmers Market
Shooting strong images at a busy farmers market is a test of concentration. A photographer is forced to create order out of chaos, still lifes out of produce and portraits of people who are too busy for a portrait shoot. It’s a tough environment!
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Experience The Subtle Art Of Photographic Collage
This month we are going to cover another alternative processes that anyone with an inkjet printer can master—photographic collage.
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Window Light, An Amazingly Elegant Photography Light Source
We all have that lighting system available, of course. I use window lighting for a wide range of photographic subjects, but I have noticed in my classes that many students seem to ignore it. It’s a seemingly easy light source to use, but as in so many things in photography, mastering window light is quite another matter.
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Join The Great Adventure of Alternative Photographic Processes
Are you ready to jump off the cliff and create art with your photographs?
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Great Looking Historic Photographs In 4 Easy Steps
I was able to create a lot of great images, but all that color seemed jarring in that historic setting. I decided to sepia tone all of my photographs.
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Mastering The Rule Of Thirds For Beautiful Compositions
When I first started to get serious about my photography, I would go out for a few days photographing landscapes and come home totally exhausted. Just the mental process of creating a balanced compositions with my 4×5 view camera would wear me out. It was tough!
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Pro Tips For Beautifully Exposed Sunsets
Have you ever been frustrated with a badly underexposed photo of a beautiful sunset sky? Everything had fallen into place. Interesting clouds had built up over your favorite piece of shoreline and with the sun on the horizon, color was developing in the clouds. But no matter how you played with the auto exposure setting on your camera, every shot was underexposed.
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THE BEST OF CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK IN 3 SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPHS
During a recent road trip to Oregon with a good college friend, we decided to stop at Crater Lake National Park on our way back to California. And I’m so glad we did!
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Control A Photograph’s Depth Of Field With Simple Focus Stacking
I used a solution called focus stacking. Making sure that I had frames where the focus on the fisherman’s face was sharp and others where the lobster is sharp, I didn’t change exposure or composition. I merely shifted the focus slightly.
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The Challenge Of Creating Visual Impact In A Photo Essay
A photo essay is essentially a story told with minimal words and, hopefully, lots of photographs.
The trick is creating a diverse range of images that are all necessary to fully explain a subject or location.
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Have Fun Searching For Colorful Photographic Details
For me, these intimate photographic details often say more about the culture of an area than more general shots and they always add a spot of strong color during a drab part of the day.
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How To Prepare For A Photo Trip
Every travel destination has its own charm, landscape, culture and history. In order to capture the essence of a new place you must prepare.
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How To Manipulate Depth Of Field For Spectacular Portraits
Using shallow depth of field for dramatic portraits
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The Joy Of Exploring Small Towns With Your Camera
I love exploring with my camera and small towns are one of my favorite subjects.
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Create Great Depth In Your Photographs Using Perspective
Text & Photos By Chuck Place Perspective is magic! Not as in fairy tale magic, but as in a magician’s magic. It’s an illusion. We take the two-dimensional medium of a photograph and…
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3 Simple Photography Tips To Capture Great Pictures by Andreina Diaz
1.- Fill The Frame – Get Closer I always say if you feel that your pictures aren’t good enough is probably because you aren’t close enough. One way to take stronger photographs is…
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The 2 Big Hurdles To Creating Amazing Backlit Photographs
Backlighting helps control contrast in a scene, creates beautiful rim lighting effects, enhances color of translucent subjects and helps models relax in front of the camera by eliminating the need to squint into the sun.
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The 4 Advantages Of Photographic Backlighting
Control contrast, increase color saturation and create a rim light with photographic backlighting.
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Capture Stunning Aerial Photos Of Your Lunch
Create beautiful high-angle photographs of dishes of food following these easy steps.
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3 Steps To Creating Monumental Architecture Photography
I always try to make these buildings seem monumental in my photographs.
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Give Yourself A Photography Assignment
Early in my career I often found myself wandering around various towns, frustrated, looking for something to photograph. I came to realize that there are always lots of subjects to shoot in any location. All I really needed was a framework, or storyline, about the subject or location. I needed to have something to say before I picked up my camera. I needed an assignment!
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The Shy Photographer’s Guide To Putting Subjects At Ease
After years of photographing people on location for various magazines, I have found there are essentially 5 steps to the process of putting a model at ease in front of a camera.
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Create A Sense Of Depth In Your Photographs Using Leading Lines
One of the age-old dilemmas of photography has always been the desire of photographers to create a three dimensional feel in their images using a two dimensional medium. A number of compositional techniques…
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Just Wait For It: The Rewards Of Photography At Dusk
California’s rainy season is coming up soon. At least we hope it is. During the rains, building exteriors look dull and the sky is either gray or white. I usually head indoors in…
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Photograph Rainbows And Find A Pot Of Gold
I love it when a plan works out. I had been photographing petroglyphs in Saguaro National Park all day and towards evening, rain clouds began to build over the Tucson Mountains. Although hazy…
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The 2 Conditions That Create Beautiful Photographic Reflections
Learn to create dynamic photographic reflections.
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Capture Easy Color For Powerful Photographic Images
I look for color everywhere I travel.
For me, color is an integral part of the travel experience.
