For my latest project, “we are the dead“, I decided to build a room in which to shoot my pictures. I had absolutely no idea how to do this, but there were some facts I needed to consider:
Shooting in a small space – a brief tour of my tiny home studio
by 2 CommentsA lot of people seem to think I have this giant space. I do not. I actually never had more space than those 2 converted bedrooms I work in now and not so long ago I rented a small, bedroom-sized commercial space. And even before that, I used to work in my studio between my bed and desk. And going even further back, I had to sit on my bed to even be able to shoot a half body. I started working with clients in the time I had a one-room living studio space. Good times.
How to create a festive wintery portrait in the studio with a little compositing
by Leave a CommentChristmas has gone. We’re almost to the new year. In a few hours, we’ll be there. But it’s never too late for a festive wintery themed photo shoot. Winter’s still going to be here for a while yet. In this video, photographer and educator Gavin Hoey walks us through his process to create this festive fine art composite portrait in the studio.
Photographer creates outstanding Renaissance inspired portraits with his daughter
by 2 CommentsIt’s not unusual for photographers to be inspired by other types of art. Melbourne-based photographer Bill Gekas draws inspiration from the Old Master painters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Vermeer and Velazquez. And while he masterfully recreates the light, atmosphere and tones of the classical paintings, he adds some family fun to it.
The main protagonist of Bill’s portraits is his daughter Athena, who first posed for the photos when she was only three years old. And now, almost seven years later, the project is still going strong and these amazing portraits are popular all over the world. Bill has shared some details about his work with DIYP, along with some of his beautiful photos.
This photographer dangles from a helicopter to take stunning aerial photos
by 9 CommentsMost photographers nowadays capture aerial photos and videos with a drone. But Los Angeles-based photographer Jin-Woo Prensena prefers being up there personally. This daredevil photographer dangles from a helicopter, suspended over 7,500 feet from the ground. No matter how scary it may look, it’s totally worth it, since his photos are spectacular.
7 tips for taking photos in bad weather
by 2 CommentsI more than often hear landscape photographers complaining about “bad” weather and then say it’s chugging down. Honestly, I don’t know what they’re talking about. I thrive in stormy weather. Rain, strong winds, and what can sometimes be a bit of a problem, low hanging clouds – yes it’s next to nearly impossible to keep your camera dry, it’s next to nearly impossible to keep the lens clean and it requires extra energy to keep up the spirit – but “bad” weather is not bad weather, it’s amazing. For two reasons: One, you can photograph during daytime instead of hitting odd hours during sunset or sunrise. Two: And most importantly, it can create some amazing dramatic photos with a lot of atmosphere.
What Exactly is Fine Art Photography?
by 2 CommentsPeople frequently ask me what exactly is fine art photography? Before I answer, I usually take a big breath and brace myself to answer the question in the time it takes to ride a few floors in an elevator as they usually expect a quick answer. And, despite my apprehension to answering their question, I have come to realize that most good answers are the ones that are simple and direct. Hence, I begin by clarifying that fine art photography does indeed have objective criteria despite falling in the subjective and vast realm of art.
This photographer creates surrealistic images without Photoshop manipulation
by 10 CommentsThe battle between those who support photo manipulation and those who don’t is probably never-ending. I believe both are right, and I think photo-manipulation is an art for itself. But Slovak photographer Michal Zahornacky brings these two worlds together in a way. He creates dreamy, surrealistic photos – but free from digital manipulation.
Russian artists combine Slavic tradition and high-fashion to create stunning portraits
by 2 CommentsFolklore and tradition have inspired many photographers. The photos that come out of such inspiration may or may not leave an impression. But a Russian artistic couple Yakovlev and Aleeva have definitely created something wonderful that will leave an impression.
Photograph Sells For $6.5 Million, Sets New World Record; Has Some Asking How Much Are Photos Actually Worth?
by 7 CommentsThere are a lot of brilliant photographers who haven’t been discovered or who otherwise struggle to sell a single image for what usually turns out to be less than a living wage. It isn’t that the photos are not good or usable, the market is just over saturated and it takes more (a lot more) than just taking a good photo to make a living doing it. There’s also the issue of the “weekend warriors” who are willing to drastically undercut the competition hoping they get a little publicity out of it. And that’s not to say they shouldn’t be getting their own, too, or even that their photos are not up to par, because a lot of times they are. It just makes it really discouraging for the folks who are out there trying to make a living at this and do not have a day job to fall back on.
And then a headline like this one appears in the news feed and for a fleeting moment we feel as though there’s hope. Maybe there is a market for fine art photography after all. And not just the average, hope-you-break-even kind of market that we’re accustomed to, but the kind of paradise where buyers are dishing out $6,500,000 for a single photograph. Could it really be true? Does that kind of utopia actually exist? Turns out, if you’re Pete Lik, utopia is reality.[Read More…]
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