In a recent posting on the PHOTOFOCUS Blog author Scott Bourne offers seven suggestions for overcoming photographers block. Scott suggests:
- Make a decision – Decide to go out and shoot.
- Change your conversation – Call it a come back
- Schedule time – Mark your calendar, then go out and shoot
- Call a friend – two will be more enjoyable then going alone
- Look at lots of photos – get inspiration from books and magazines
- Attend a workshop – Even a mediocre workshop will inspire
- Be Accountable – tell somebody what you are planning
I like these suggestions. I find I am not always as motivated to take photos as I’d like to be. I have all these ideas for different photos I’d like to make but I never seem to get around to them. Using some of these suggestions Would definitely be a motivator. I particularly like the schedule time, call a friend and be accountable suggestion. I find if I know somebody is going to ask me about the photos I was going to take, I will probably be more apt to actually get out and do it. As for the calling a friend, we have a photography group at our church so there is always somebody available to go shoot photos with.
To see what Scott says visit his blog at: Photofocus
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How many times have I been asked that when taking a picture? My standard answer is; “sure, I only charge $50 a pound. With photoshop I can do anything.”
Recently I came across a blog posting at sublime light That was entitled “9 Ways To Make Your Portrait Subjects Look Thinner”. How many of these have you used or abused in the past?
- Use Short Lighting. I need to work on my short and long lighting techniques. Usually when I am taking a portrait I am so busy trying to get the pose right I forget about all the other stuff.
- Use a High Lighting Ratio. Another one I try to use but I am still not to sure of what I am doing with this one.
- Use the right lens. I have three lens for my camera. I still end up using one the one and I’m not so sure it’s the right one.
- Get up high. The only time I use a ladder or step stool is when I am shooting a large group. And to make matters worse, I tell people to tilt their head down a little if they are wearing glasses to reduce glare. Talk about enhancing their second or third chin.
- Watch the head position. See number 4 above.
- Crop out the bad stuff. Big problem for me Seem I always end up with a tree or post growing out of someones head.
- Twist the body. I’ve read about using the 45° position for the feet but I don’t always remember to do it.
- Slim the hands. I have reference book about photographing body parts. and I still get this one wrong.
- Put your subject in dark clothes. This one I have never tried or been in a position to try but it sure makes sense.
These are some very good suggestions, I just need to stop, take my time and try to remember them when I am in the heat of the session.
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I have just learned that the alto company feels its products have been “degraded” by selling through web sites, retailers and discounter. So, as of today, we are no longer able to sell the altos products. To bad, they were a good seller for us. I hope Altos has better success selling direct, their web site is next to impossible to find.
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