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Get rid of distractions . . .

We should always try our best to get the shot right in the camera. Sometimes however, when we look at them on our larger screen, there are some distractions that take the eye away from the main subject of the photo. Take a look at the two images. Most of the corrections were made in Lightroom 5 but I did have to go into Photoshop for a final clean-up.

When the sky is not interesting. . .

There are times when you’re out shooting and the sky is overcast or just not interesting at all. If you can’t totally eliminate the sky from the frame, try keeping it to a minimum.  It might just save the shot.

When we see an interesting subject, most of us stop and shoot at eye level. We usually shoot down on a flower and up at a building. By changing our “point of view”, we can make some beautiful, interesting photos.

Don’t be afraid to work the scene. The best shot may be only a few feet, a few inches or a different camera angle away. 

What's new in Lightroom 5?

I think every serious photographer should use Adobe Lightroom. It’s a wonderful way to organize and process your photos.

There are several really cool features in the new release of Lightroom 5. The Library Module stayed the same but the Develop Module has new features that make processing even faster and easier.

Here are a few of my favorites: 

Advanced Healing Brush: Adobe has upgrade the healing brush from just being able to remove dust spots with a round brush to being able to remove areas of irregular shapes. It works pretty well for a lot of things. I still have to go into PS for really close work, but it’s a great improvement over the previous versions.

Upright: If you shoot buildings, you’ll love this feature. It straightens tilted images with a single click. The new tool analyzes images and detects skewed horizontal and vertical lines, even straightening shots where the horizon is hidden. It works great with just one click.

Radial Gradient: Adobe finally realized that photographers like to make photos with the main subject off-center. The Radial Gradient tool lets you create off-center vignette effects, or multiple vignettes within a single image. It’s a bit strange to use at first, but you get used to it. The concept is good but I’ll bet they change it in the next release.

Smart Previews: I haven’t used this one yet but it could come in handy. If you store all your photos on an external drive, during Import Lightroom can generate smaller stand-in files of your full-size images. Without the external drive attached, you can make any adjustments to these files and the changes will automatically sync when the drive is attached.

There are some other changes to the Book and Slideshow Module, but I haven’t gotten there yet.

Give Adobe Lightroom a try if you don’t use it already.

Shoot in RAW

If you're shooting with your camera set to JPEG, it's time to give RAW a chance.  

There are 2 big advantages to shooting in RAW:

First, it provides the highest quality image. That's because the camera does not compress the file.

Second, the image is just as it was captured by the camera sensor, a digital negative so to speak.

A JPEG image is processed inside the camera, using a computer program to determine what you see, rather than you deciding what you would like to see. It also deletes a lot of information that may be useful to you later if you post-process. 

If you shoot RAW, you should know that when you look at the display on your camera you are seeing a JPEG image that has been processed inside the camera. When you download the image into your computer, it will look a bit flat and dull. You will have to do some post-processing to make it look the way you want it to look.

That's the disadvantage but the advantage is that you'll have lots of information to work with. Give it a try.

A few days before the riots in Turkey. . .

TURKEY: Only two weeks ago, Alan photographed a colorful, happy night scene on Istanbul’s famous pedestrian avenue, İstiklal Cadessi. The avenue, which runs from the medieval Genoese neighborhood around Galata Tower and leads to Taksim Square, was the site of violent clashes this weekend between protesters and police, the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years. Reports say that “windows had been smashed, scaffolding torn down, and the old stone walls of the grand buildings had been plastered with spray-painted graffiti – anti-government slogans, mostly.” 

A street photography tip. . .

It's this simple. When you find a background you like, wait for someone to enter the frame to create an interesting image.

A great tip for Adobe Lightroom 4 Users. . .

Adobe Lightroom 4 has introduced a really easy way to find the White Point and the Black Point of your image by just moving a few sliders.
To find the White Point, go to the Basic Panel in the Develop Module and move down to the Whites slider. Now hold down the Option Key on a Mac or the Alt Key on a PC and click the center triangle. Your screen will turn either all black or black with white areas. These white areas indicate that there is no information (blown out).  Move the triangle on the slider to the left or to the right. We are looking for the first white pixel on an otherwise black screen. If there are still too many white pixels after the slider is moved all the way to the left, move up to the Highlights slider and repeat the same steps.

Repeat the same steps with the Blacks slider. In this case the screen will turn either all white or white with black areas. Move the slider back and forth until you get meaningful blacks. This one is a little more to your own taste. I like really dark shadows in my images, no detail, but that's me. You may want detail in all your shadows. Adjust the slider to taste.
Give it a try.

Our Princeton University Composition-On-Location workshop made for a great Sunday morning!

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and we had a great time discovering and capturing images on campus. Shooting with other people gives every photographer the opportunity to learn so much more. Thanks to all of you! Princeton Digital Photo Workshop has lots of terrific classes and photo walks coming up this spring. Watch your email for upcoming events!

My #1 Secret for making a great HDR image:

OK, so this may sound pretty simple, but it's true, Take a good, interesting picture. If you take a good, interesting picture you're well on your way to making a great HDR image. It takes work but as Joe McNally says, " If you want to take more interesting pictures, put yourself in front of more interesting things". It really works.

Frank gives a really good shooting tip:

This past Sunday, Frank Veronsky gave an outstanding workshop  "The Basics of Lighting People/with model" at his studio in Belle Mead.(see the post below)
I've attached a short video of Frank explaining a very important point when shooting people.  I know you'll find it helpful. It's a bit blurry at full screen. Sorry about that.

Share your photos with your subject. . .

Today's tip is simple but important.  When you're taking pictures of well, anyone, it helps to show them the back of your camera from time to time. They'll appreciate being part of the process and you'll get better images in the end.

This is my friend Andrew Wilkinson shooting a model at Frank Veronsky's "The Basics Of Lighting People / with Model" class this past Sunday. Frank is doing a series of classes with the Princeton Digital Photo Workshop. You can find all the information at www.princetondigitalphotoworkshop.com.

Fear is our biggest obstacle

Another question to ask yourself. "What's worse. Asking if it's OK to take his picture or going home without it?"  Fear works both ways.  Don't let it stop you from making that click.

Andrew Wilkinson joins pdpw as an instructor

We are very please so announce that Andrew will be joining our growing list of instructors. We will be posting his list of classes and workshops in the near future.

You can read all about him at http://www.princetondigitalphotoworkshop.com/instructors/.  You may have to scroll down a bit.

Today's photo tip, "When you think you're close, get closer. . ."

Use your legs and move in.  As Rick Sammon always says, " The name of the game is to fill the frame".

Good advice.

My #1 tip when you do a Photowalk with an instructor

Here it is, Stay as close to the instructor as you can. You'll learn a lot more. Sounds simple but it works. I have guided photowalks where some of the students go off on their own and I can't find them.  Wrong. I want to see your images and have you ask questions. We all have more fun and you will come away with more information.

New gear is good, but education may serve you better

I have found that spending more time and a bit more money learning how to use your camera, increase your processing and post-processing skills will serve you better than getting a bunch of new gear.
Give that a little thought.

The first step in learning to make a better photo. . .

Ask yourself, "what do I like to shoot?". It it Street Photography, Portraits, Landscapes etc. When you have an answer, go to 500px http://500px.com and search out what other photographers are shooting. It's a great way to get inspired and learn.