Some of History’s Most Exciting Images Transformed Into Living Color

When you think of iconic images in history, the chances are good that you probably think of photos like Joe Rosenthal’s image of American troops raising the flag on Iwo Jima (shown above) or Malcolm Browne’s photo of a monk setting himself on fire in Vietnam or Marilyn Monroe’s famous pose over a subway grate. Learn more about when were cameras invented on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

These images – and many more – captured moments that are emblazoned in our collective memory.

But these images were also originally captured in black and white.

“Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.” Photographed on February 19th, 1945 by Joe Rosenthal, courtesy of Associated Press.

Now, these photos are presented in living color in a new book Retrographic (now available on Amazon) a labor of love by 38-year-old author and journalist Michael D. Carroll of Birmingham, England.

By carefully selecting some of the most striking images ever taken, Carroll’s Retrographic takes you on a visual tour of the past, time capsules collected together for the first time and in living color.

This is the story of how this incredible book came to be.

The Motivation Behind Retrographic

The purpose of the book is to present historical images – and history itself – in a way that’s accessible to the widest possible audience.

Presenting these images in color and in the context of the stories behind the moments captured on camera allows people young and old to experience history like never before. You can also view another post about photo timeline here.

The brainchild of Michael D. Carroll, Retrographic came about as he researched stories from the past. During his research, he happened upon an online community of image colorizers – some amateur and some professional – who brought new life to even the most famous black and white images.

Video by Retrographic/ Carpet Bombing Culture

These colorists show the utmost respect for the original images as well as the photographers who captured them. Additionally, they demonstrate sympathy for the subjects in the images.

Beyond that, these colorizers spent countless hours dedicated to researching the authentic colors that the original photographers would have likely seen when the moment occurred.

In that regard, Retrographic is a team effort to bring history to life in a new and colorful way. That includes not just the words of Carroll but the tireless work of the colorizers – spearheaded by Doug Banks via the Facebook page Colorizing History.

Selecting the Images

Not in our name: the anti-war image is born in the moment this badly burned girl cries out in pain. “Napalm Girl” Phan Thi Kim Phuc. Photographed by Nick Ut outside Trang Bang Village, Vietnam, June 8th, 1972, courtesy of the Associated Press (AP).

Naturally, Carroll and the team of colorizers couldn’t incorporate every image that spoke to them into the book. Otherwise, it would have been an anthology of thousands of images.

Instead, the focus was turned to well-known and iconic images (120 of them in total) that have the power to capture people’s attention and speak directly to them by virtue of what’s already known about the event in the photograph. Also, check when was photography invented.

Over a period of years, Carroll curated a collection of images about important historical themes that still influence us to this day.

That includes images of the First and Second World Wars, women’s rights, the Civil Rights movement, colonialism and indigenous peoples, popular culture, and the rise of fascism and communism, icons of the 1950s and 1960s, and Hollywood, just to name a few.

Photographed by Nick Ut outside Trang Bang Village, Vietnam, June 8th, 1972, courtesy of the Associated Press (AP). Colorized by Matt Loughrey.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of grabbing these photos off the internet.

Instead, Carroll spent about half his time putting the book together over a 12-month period simply getting permission to use the images.

Not wanting to infringe on any copyrights, Carroll and his team had to ensure that all the original images were either in the public domain or used with permission. 

As Carroll notes, “Images like these are important as they make up a huge part of our psychological impression of the past, even if we are not necessarily aware of the exact circumstances under which they were taken.”

Colorizing a Photo Changes Its Dynamic

THE FAB-PAW: Two very different worlds collide – just as they are about to become global mega-stars. “The day Ali met the Beatles” from left to right Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Cassius Clay. Photographed on February 18th, 1964 at Miami Beach, Florida, USA, courtesy of the Associated Press (AP).

Colorizing a photo isn’t just a simple process of painting color onto them in Photoshop or Lightroom.

Instead, image colorizers have a strong connection to the original photo because they spend days on end working on getting every last detail of the image correct for the color version.

It’s a huge investment of time and requires incredible attention to detail. That connection helps colorizers create a bridge to the past with their color versions. After all, our eyes evolved to see color, so adding color to these iconic images helps people better understand what they might have seen themselves had they been there in that moment when the photo was taken. Learn more about evolution of photography on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Photographed on February 18th, 1964 at Miami Beach, Florida, USA, courtesy of the Associated Press (AP). Colorized by Matt Loughrey.

And though some people say that colorizing an iconic photo removes some of its original emotional connection, Carroll has a rebuttal:

“There is a tendency for people of the present to look back at history in black and white, which can be highly aesthetic in that black and white makes the subject look pleasing to many people. However, black and white can make the viewer feel detached from the subject. We hope that adding color breathes life into historical images and reconnects people to those who went before and helps us to understand and empathize with them.”

Colorizing is a Long and Technical Process

Non-violent protest is taken to its most extreme level by this monk who burned himself to death. “Vietnam Monk Protest” Thic Quang Duc. Photographed by Malcolm Browne in Saigon, Vietnam on June 11th, 1963, image courtesy of the Associated Press (AP).

The process of colorizing an image begins with selecting the desired image and then researching what colors would be authentic to an image of that time period.

Adding the colors usually occurs in Photoshop, and is carried out much like a traditional artist might paint on a canvas.

Though it sounds simple enough on the surface, consider this: colorizers must find the correct colors that match the daylight, the season, the location, and the history of the moment as well.

Photographed by Malcolm Browne in Saigon, Vietnam on June 11th, 1963, image courtesy of the Associated Press (AP). Colorized by Matt Loughrey.

Once in Photoshop, colorizers paint colors onto the digital black and white image.

Colors are added on different layers, typically starting with the skin of the subjects, then the foreground, and then working to the background.

The depth of field of the image is a critical consideration in the process, given that colorization can help magnify the composition of the image.

Watergate: The leader of the free world is forced to resign amid the most notorious political controversy in history. “Richard Nixon Farewell.” Photographed by Bob Daugherty outside the White House, Washington, DC, on August 9th, 1974.

In terms of the best images to work with, many colorists like glass plate images from the first part of the 20th Century because of the large size of the glass and the long exposures required to get the shot. That resulted in highly detailed images with excellent depth of field.

Interestingly, image colorists report that skin tones of people in the images they colorize have very little difference regarding the Photoshop color setting.

For example, a man with fair, white skin will have his skin painted using much the same color as a woman with dark, black skin.

The original tone of the black and white images make their skin look different in the subsequent color photo. In that regard, “skin tone” rather than “skin color” is a more accurate description of the different appearance of skin.

Photographed by Bob Daugherty outside the White House, Washington, DC, on August 9th, 1974. Colorized by Matt Loughrey.

When choosing colors for other features, like the eyes, it can be a straightforward or difficult process.

For example, when colorizing the photo of Rasputin, the Mad Monk of the Romanov Tsar’s Court, it’s known that his eyes were blue, so choosing the appropriate color is a no-brainer.

However, there is a need to match the colors in the light that was available in the scene in which the image was taken, so additional time would be needed to ensure they had the correct tone.

A gust of wind allows us to view Hollywood’s most celebrated actress in her most iconic pose. “Marilyn Monroe poses over the updraft of New York subway grating while in character for the filming of “The Seven Year Itch” in Manhattan on September 15, 1954.” Photographed by Matty Zimmerman.

On the other hand, if colorization is being done on an image of a World War II Sherman Tank of the British Eighth Army when it was deployed in North Africa in 1941, researchers would have to consult regimental records to identify the precise colors of the insignia on the tank because each insignia means something different.

Photographed by Matty Zimmerman. Colorized by Matt Loughrey.

Some colorists like Tom Marshall of Photografix take an approach much like a historian, spending most of his time looking into historical documents and interviewing people that were there when the photo was taken.

Other colorists like Matt Loughrey of MyColorfulPast use a digital approach – he created an algorithm which reads the tonality of the colors in the original image and creates a color pallet that can be used as a guide. For example, if his algorithm was used to analyze a black and white photo of a sports car, it could verify which color the car would have originally been.

To say that the process of colorizing an image is an interesting one would be the understatement of the century!

Learning to Colorize Images

By the beginning of the Twentieth Century the crossroads of the world is born. “Number One Times Square under construction 1903.” Photographer unknown.

If seeing these amazing photo transformations and learning about the process of how they were created has whet your appetite for colorizing photos, Carroll has some sage advice.

“My advice would be jump on Facebook and like or follow a few of the excellent groups that are out there.” He continues, “Some of the best talents in this field are members or administrators of these groups and regularly contribute images and share ideas, techniques, inspire, and advise each other in a supportive environment.”

Photographer unknown. Colorized by Patty Allison.

Of course, getting a copy of Retrographic should be high on your list as well.

With a forward by the Royal Photography Society Ambassador Jeff Vickers, MBE, Hons RPS, Fenton Medal, Retrographic is littered with informative gems and a powerful narrative that bounces themes of conflict, exploration, progress, regression, culture, and hope across the age of the image.

In other words, this book is a celebration of humankind’s most impactful medium, photography.

About the Author

Author Michael D. Carroll

Michael D. Carroll is the director of Britain’s most exciting press agency, Media Drum World. From the agency’s newsroom in Birmingham, England, he manages a team of staff journalists specializing in the curation of offbeat digital content, particularly historical photography, for national newspapers and international media outlets. He lives with his wife and two daughters.

You can learn more about Michael and Retrographic by visiting the book’s Facebook page. You can also purchase Retrographic on Amazon.

This post about the topic “Some of History’s Most Exciting Images Transformed Into Living Color” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/8060-some-of-history-s-most-exciting-images-transformed-into-living-color

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The camera timeline-A short history of the tools of our trade

Photography is almost two hundred years old. The history of the camera however, dates back long before the first photographs were ever developed. The evolution of the modern camera began with the camera obsucra principle and continued a long path of change that included landmarks such as the daguerreotype, calotypes, dry plates, film and finally, digital imaging. Here is a quick look at how things evolved before our cameras got so advanced.

The camera obscura

The earliest stages of the development of the camera obscura took place in ancient China and Greece. The camera principle basically consists of a device that uses a pinhole, or a lens to project a scene upside down onto a viewing surface. Before the discovery of the actual photographic process, the only way to record what the camera saw was to manually trace everything. Early cameras where the size of rooms and could fit people inside. In 1685, Johann Zahn envisioned a more portable device for the process; however, it would take another 150 years before it would be applied in real life.

Fixing the images

In 1816, a breakthrough came from the French inventor Niecephore Niepce. He coated a piece of paper with silver chloride which darkened when it was exposed to light. The first permanent photograph was made by Niepce in 1826. He then coated a pewter plate with bitumen and exposed it. Bitumen hardens when struck by light. The photograph survives to this day.

Daguerreotypes

This was the world’s first practical method for photographing. It was invented by Louis Daguerre who partnered up with Niepce. The later unfortunately died before he could see the project completed. The process would probably be considered highly toxic by today’s standards. Daguerre used a copper plate which he coated with silver and made sensitive to light with iodine vapor. The developing was done with mercury vapor and the fixing via sodium chloride, also known as regular salt.

Daguerreotype camera. Photo source: Camerapedia

The dry plate

In 1871, Richard Leach Maddox invented the gelatin dry plate. For the first time, the wet plate would be rivaled in terms of quality and speed of operation. It was also the first time in history that camera sizes were reduced enough to enable hand held use. You can also view post about the history of photography. 

There was also significant progress in the use of shorter exposure times. The innovation that gave birth to these new possibilities was the mechanical shutter. Early models were individual pieces detached from the cameras. The built-in shutter first emerged at the beginning the 20th century.

Enter the photographic film

In 1885, pioneer George Eastman began making paper film and he did so until 1889 when progress taught him celluloid was better. The world’s first Kodak camera started selling in 1888. It was a rudimentary box with a fixed focal lens and a single shutter speed, but it had a good price tag and thus became attractive for ordinary users. The film was preloaded into the camera and enabled no less than 100 exposures. Of course, after you exposed the film you had to return it to the factory for developing. The famous Brownie model came out in 1900. It was the camera that gave the concept of snapshot. In fact, it became so popular that it was available for buying until sometime in the early 60s. You can also view photo timeline here.

Kodak Brownie

Although George Eastman was making history with his portable and affordable cameras, the choice of professionals was still the plate cameras, largely due to superior image quality. Film cameras offered the advantage of multiple exposures and to compete with that, plate camera manufacturers started supplying magazines that would hold several.

The 35 mm film, otherwise known as the Leica format

Oskar Barnack, the man responsible for development at the Leitz Company, wanted to know how useful 35 mm cine film would be for still photography. He also wanted to build a compact camera capable of offering high quality prints. He built this camera, called prototype Ur- Leica, in 1913. Further development was stalled however by the outbreak of WWI. Testing resumed after the war and between 1923-1924, enough positive feedback was received that the company decided to mass produce the Leica I ( for Leitz camera). Because it became an immensely popular camera, competition started to emerge from the likes of Contax and other German manufacturers. The immediate result was an increase in quality of the cameras and the consolidation of the format.

Kodak entered the 35 mm game in 1934, with the introduction of the Retina I. It was the camera that introduced the 135 cartridge used in all modern film cameras. The Retina was inexpensive, but it took a while before the choice of the people would change from roll film to 35 mm. All that would change in 1939 when the Argus C3 hit the market.

Argus C3. Photo: camera-wiki

It was still not the cheapest camera one could buy, but it put the 35 mm format in top position. The C3 had a long, thriving career until it was finally discontinued in 1966.

The SLR

The first single lens reflex camera that was actually practical was the Ihagee Exacta, which was introduced in 1933 and used 127 roll film

The transition to the 35mm format happened six years later when the Kine Exakta came out. The design of these cameras quickly became popular because they were compact and relatively easy to use. After the Second World War, camera manufacturers massively focused their production on 35 mm SLRs. The first Japanese model was the Asahi (later changed to Pentax) Asahiflex. The rest soon followed and the world massively started enjoying quality cameras from Nikon, Canon and Yashica.

Autofocus and auto-exposure

In 1960, the German Mec 16SB became the first camera to use a light meter for accurate measuring. The more advanced, through the lens system ( TTL) was first used on a SLR by the Japanese company Topcon in 1962, on their model RE Super.

The word’s first mass produced camera to use autofocus was the simple, compact Konica C35AF introduced in 1977. The Polaroid SX-70 OneStep was the first SLR to incorporate autofocus.

The digital revolution

The idea of digital photography goes back to the late 60s. However, the first recorded attempt to build a digital camera was in 1975 and belonged to Kodak engineer Steven Sasson. The camera he designed had a CCD sensor, weighed 8 pounds, and recorded 0,01 megapixel images on compact cassette tapes. This was the first sign that film would eventually be replaced, but of course at that time everybody ignored it, especially since this was only an experiment that wasn’t designed for mass production. You can also check post about when were photos invented.

Fast forward to 1988, when Fuji produced the first, true, digital camera, the DS-1P which recorded on an internal 16MB memory card. It was never sold in the US and there is also insufficient proof that it was available in Japan. The first commercially available camera came out two years later and was called the Logitech Fotoman. It had a CCD sensor, digital storage and could connect directly to a computer.

The development of the JPG format helped the transition from traditional, physical photography to digital capture and storage.

In the professional market, Kodak broke the ice with the DCS-100. It was a gigantic storage unit that had a 1, 3 megapixel sensor and at that time was priced at $13,000.

The first, real, fully developed by one company DSLR in the world was the Nikon D1, introduced in 1999.

It has the standard F-mount, a 2,7mpx sensor and it changed the world of professional photography forever. Of course, now you get 4 times that resolution with your smartphone.

This article about “The camera timeline-A short history of the tools of our trade” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/3079-the-camera-timeline-a-short-history-of-the-tools-of-our-trade

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7 Simple Photography Hacks You Try At Home

It’s no secret to anyone that photography is an expensive activity. The basic cost of a camera and a lens will set you back a few hundred dollars if you’re a beginner , but if you’re a little more serious you could put some pretty big holes in your budget.

Any you will soon find that the party really starts after you buy a camera. There’s tons of useful stuff out there, but it all costs money. So what about DIY stuff? Well, the unfortunate truth is that not all of us are good at it. Quite frankly, I suck at putting things together with my own hands. But I found this cool video from photographer Leo Rosas and the folks at COOPHthat was very helpful and I believe it will be for other photographers too. You can also check another post about photography at home on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

I often struggle with the inability to carry a tripod with me all the time, so when I found out I can solve that problem with a simple string, I had to see for myself. I put it to the test and the truth is you do need to use the string a few times to get used to it, but after some practice it works almost as good as an actual aluminum tripod.

You also probably never thought about shaping the bokeh of your lens. Well, it’s a whole lot easier than you think. And so is crafting your own flash diffuser, but don’t let me spoil the surprise. Enjoy the video and start crafting!

Check out more cool hacks from these books:
The Wild Side of Photography: Unconventional and Creative Techniques for the Courageous Photographer
Digital Photography Hacks: 100 Industrial Strength Tips & Tools

Image Credit: Photographs by Leo Rosas and provided by COOPH and used with permission.

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3 Posing Tips to Immediately Improve Your Portrait Photography

Not satisfied with the quality of your portraits?

Well, fortunately for us, there are plenty of simple, yet effective portrait photography tips that can help you elevate the portraits you take.

In the video above, Jessica Whitaker outlines some of her favorite posing tips for portrait photography.

Often, the way that the model is posed can make or break the shot, so learning a few techniques for posing will do your photos good!

Have a look at the video and see how Jessica implements each tip. For a discussion of each, check the article below. Learn more about poses for boys photoshoot on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Editor’s Note: The example images in this article feature portrait photography accessories from Sew Trendy. Take your photos to the next level by outfitting your models with gorgeous accessories.

Posing Tip #1: Bring the Hands Up

Neidy Parra Photography

As soon as you get someone in front of a camera, a couple of things happen.

First, they usually try to force a smile that looks completely unnatural.

Second, they often struggle to figure out what to do with their hands.

The hand issue is significant because awkward hands can easily ruin a photo.

To get around this, have the model bring their hands upward, as shown in the image above.

Neidy Parra Photography

Doing so gives them something to do with their hands (i.e., gently touch their hair, chin, etc.) and also helps distract the model’s attention, resulting in more natural facial expressions as well.

Something as simple as raising the hands upward solves both problems!

As Jessica notes in the video, though, be sure the model isn’t mashing their hands against their head. Instead, direct them to be very gentle and just barely touch their hair, face, and so forth. You can also view another post about poses for men’s photography here.

Posing Tip #2: Incorporate a Lean

Lori Dorman & Co Photography

Continuing with the theme of making models look more natural, when you pose them for a portrait, give them something to lean on.

Whether it’s a wall, a post, or even another person, giving the model the option to relax and shift their weight to something or someone else will result in a portrait that looks and feels much more laid-back.

In the example above, the chair gives the model the support she needs to release the tension in her shoulders, back, and other muscles. The result is a beautiful, sultry photo! The model’s gorgeous gown sure helps in that department, too.

Katie de la Ross

In this shot, having the model lay down on a bed not only puts her in a relaxed position, but also allowed the photographer to take images from different angles and perspectives.

Because of that, we get a much more unique take on how to take portraits, with an upside-down view of the model.

You can have a perfect exposure, excellent composition, and so forth, but if the model looks tense, it’ll ruin the image. Finding ways to help the model relax will help you avoid that situation.

Editor’s Tip: Make extra income by joining our #1 affiliate program.

Posing Tip #3: Alter the Height of the Shoulders

Coco Inspirations Photography

Another way that you can create more natural-looking portraits is to help the model pose by altering the height of their shoulders.

If the model’s shoulders are both on the same plane and angle, it can cause the portrait to look a little too posed and stuffy. You can also check another post how to pose for pictures male.

But as you can see above, dipping one shoulder makes for a more dynamic look (and a more natural look, at that).

Alianay Ibarra Photography

Notice, though, that in both of these example images that the model isn’t dramatically dipping one shoulder.

Instead, a difference of an inch or two in the height of the shoulders (and an off-the-shoulder gown) gets you the natural-looking effect you want.

Sometimes, doing simple, easy things is the best way to get the most pleasing results!

About Sew Trendy

This is a company that photographers absolutely need to be in touch with. Their gowns, crowns, and other high-quality accessories are just what you need for maternity photos, photos of newborns, and mommy and me sessions. These accessories not only make your clients look and feel great, but they also add a depth of detail and interest to your photos that elevate the images to an entirely other level. What started out with just a few people manufacturing these eye-catching items is a growing business that provides accessories to photographers worldwide. Help your clients look and feel their best by partnering with Sew Trendy Accessories. 

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Lighting Options for Your Home Video Studio

Your home video studio can be as sophisticated as you want it to be without costing a fortune or heating up your place with lighting gear for video that uses incandescent or quartz bulbs. Our lighting options for video are numerous.  

There are several types of home video studio lighting available for us to choose from, with LED lighting gear for video being at the top of my list. Learn more about home photography on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Why LED? Several reasons, power efficiency, much cooler operating temperature, and good control over brightness levels and color temperature. The cool operating temps and the precise control of power and color make LEDs great choices as home video studio lighting.

Ikan Professional Video Production Equipment & Accessories

Photo by Kyle Loftus from Pexels

In order to find the proper equipment for specific A/V and videography needs, I’ve found specialty retailers often have a wider variety of better equipment than you see in general electronics stores.  

Ikan Pro Video has the big things like lighting, filters, gimbals, and camera supports, plus those hard-to-find accessories that make video production workflow easier like cords, adapters, brackets, and other things. You can also check photography project ideas.

Here are three things I found on Ikan that could work for your own home video studio.

Lyra Half x 1 Bi-Color Studio & Field Light

One of the soft panel lights from Ikan, the Lyra Half x 1 Bi-Color Studio & Field Light provides a soft wrap of light with adjustable brightness level and color adjustment available from 3200K to 5600K. 

The light beam is a wide 110-degree angle that can be the main light, a solo light, or part of a light bank for large video studios. LED bulbs are consistent in the color setting regardless of the bright level setting and are also very cool in operation which helps in home studio applications.

One of the features of this light is that it can be controlled via DMX. DMX is digital control of effects and lighting that can be accessed from a centralized control and can even be pre-programmed which is a great option for smaller one or two-man operations.  

DMX is one of the better features of lighting gear for video in small studios. Controlling or pre-programming your light or light bank frees you up for other things like sophisticated camera operations that can add interest to your home studio video productions.

Helia 150 Watt 4-Inch Fresnel Bi-Color LED Studio Light

A fresnel light that is equally at home in a small studio or as part of a large production, the Helia 150 Watt 4-Inch Fresnel Bi-Color LED Studio Light is lightweight, very  bright, and can be focused from a 70-degree angle to a tight 20-degree beam.

As part of a home video studio lighting setup, this light can be operated on its own or as part of a DMX controlled system. The LED bulbs are switchable from 3200K to 5600K so you can balance them with other lights in your studio. You can also view another post about creative photography ideas at home.

A fresnel lens on studio lights adds so much versatility to your home video studio lighting gear that you will wonder how you managed without one. A light like this can be used as an individual light source for spotlighting portions of the scene or to add light intensity to other video lighting configurations.

The secret to how a fresnel adds that light quality is the lens focuses the light emitted, just like a photographic lens focuses light coming in. The focused light from a fresnel has little loss on the edges of the beam, it’s a pretty hard edge, so you can plan certain effects around that light quality, too.

Fresnel lensed lights using bulbs other than LEDs produce so much heat that they are virtually unusable in small studio applications. The cooler running LED bulb lights make this a non-issue, so you can comfortably use this light in a spare room of your home or office that you set up as a home video studio.

Onyx 30W Bi-Color 2-Point LED Light Kit 

For anyone considering setting up a home video studio and wondering what types of home video studio lighting gear to obtain, consider a kit like the Onyx 30W Bi-Color 2-Point LED Light Kit with 2 lights, stands, and a nice carrying case.

One of the fantastic features of this complete light kit is that the lights can be battery-powered, which opens up on-location video productions with excellent light quality. 

First and foremost, these are good lights. The light quality is beautiful, with just the right mix of hard with soft. So you can easily modify them either way with simple accessories such as diffusers or barn doors, depending on which way you want to go. 

As beginner lighting gear for video, this is an excellent kit. It also works as part of a larger home video studio lighting configuration. The one feature I wish it had was DMX control capability, but with the simple to operate buttons and the clearly read digital rear display that isn’t a deal-breaker because these LED lights are very high quality.

Having the option of mounting one directly to the camera and not being tied down by power cords adds to the versatility of the kit as part of a larger system. So if you start out with a fine kit like this one you can incorporate them into any other lighting gear for video that you may end  up with.

As a beginner home video studio lighting kit, as an on-location light kit, or as part of a larger set up, this is a good choice.

How Full Featured Do You Want Your Studio To Be?

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

The lighting options for video are truly outstanding with the availability of DMX control, cool LED bulbs, battery power, fresnel lens focusing, and extremely high quality. Your home video studio will certainly not be lacking the ability to light scenes creatively.

This post about “Lighting Options for Your Home Video Studio” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/lighting-options-for-your-home-video-studio

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/lighting-options-for-your-home-video.html

The “decisive moment” is history

The term was introduced by one of greatest masters of 20th century photography ( big round of applause) , the distinguished Henri Cartier Bresson. In his own words, “ the decisive moment is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second ,of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression.” This quote is more than fifty years old. Photography has come a long way since. The principles are the same and great images will always have the attribute of timelessness, but things have changed. Learn more about photography history on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

I stumbled upon an interview with photographer and director Vincent Laforet. He’s the kind of guy Canon call to shoot a promo video with their latest camera. He also has, I believe, a great insight on what the future will bring for this industry. According to him , it’s some sort of a convergence between photography and video. It didn’t make much sense when I first came across the idea, but after some time of linking thoughts, all that might not seem so science-fiction.

Back to the decisive moment, Laforet says “the one thing that’s going to make me miss or succeed as a photographer is capturing “the” moment, because that involves anticipation and predicting the future”. Fifty years ago , being a good photographer meant that you had to be a master of exposure, manual focus and a pretty decent chemist. But none of that would have done any good if you didn’t have the ability to click the shutter at exactly the perfect moment. Meanwhile, autofocus and auto-exposure were born, film died and pixels prevailed. And now, for the first time, there is actual talk about the possibility of extinction of classic, click the shutter to take the picture, photography. As Laforet himself points out, nowadays he can pick any 14 mpx still frame from a movie shot with his 5k, 96fps Red Epic camera. I thought to my self wow! It seems like only yesterday my 6mpx Nikon D50 was badass.

Shooting everything in video and picking the right frame would absolutely kill the need for anticipation, waiting and having the impulse to click the shutter at exactly the right time. That would be a disaster I thought. Everyone is going to be empowered to capture incredible moments and none of us will ever be special again. Then I had a gruesome revelation : the decisive moment has been dead for many years now. Precisely since the creation of the motorized film advance for analog SLRs. Up until that time, if you were, let’s say a sports photographer, you probably would have enjoyed loads of respect from the rest of the shooters in other branches. That would have been mainly because you had to be an artist at know exactly when the pass would be made or when the ball would enter the hoop. Then came along 2,3,5 frames/second. Aaaand, it was gone.I’m not saying it’s easy to be a sports photographer today. It still takes a great deal of effort and skill and I have loads of respect for all those guys However, it’a lot easier to get the shot with a 12fps machine gun like the D4. With all this in mind, I really don’t think there’s a great difference between Laforet’s Red and my friend’s D4. If want you to capture happens in 1/60th of a second, you will definitely get it.

I’m not sure about the prospect of this convergence Laforet speaks of. What I do know is, the required skill set in this industry is constantly evolving. With technical aspects no longer being an issue for anyone, evolution will naturally take place other areas. If you had to be a good chemist back then, you have to be good in front of a computer today. If your ability to capture the right moment is no longer making you stand out from the crowd, maybe you should shift your talent to editing skills. Time will tell.

There is one thing that I don’t believe will ever change. That is the human ability to capture or tell a good story and create something that will cause a spark in anyone watching, no matter if it’s a still frame or a video.

This article about the topic “The “decisive moment” is history” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/3038-the-decisive-moment-is-history

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-decisive-moment-is-history.html

Beginner Photography Tip: 4 Easy Ideas for Posing Couples

I don’t know about you, but one of the things that I struggled with most when I was just starting out as a photographer was posing people for portraits.

In fact, it confused me so much that I often didn’t even bother giving the subjects much direction.

Granted, I wasn’t taking portraits professionally or anything, but it still would’ve been nice had I had a few tricks up my sleeve so my subjects actually looked good.

I eventually did the requisite studying and learned a few basic poses mainly standing poses photography. Then I started photographing couples, and I found myself once again totally confused about how to pose them for the shot.

Given my arduous experience, I figured offering a few tips to beginners for posing couples would be in order.

With that in mind, give these ideas a try the next time you have a couple to photograph.

Pose For Who They Are, Not What They “Should” Look Like

This might be the biggest lightbulb moment for me when it comes to posing couples, but it works for individuals too.

I think we can get ourselves stuck in the notion that the people we photograph should look a certain way.

That’s all well and good because it shows that you have a genuine interest in your subjects looking great.

The problem, though, is that getting caught up in what they should look like might detract from who they actually are.

A prime example is this: imagine you’re photographing a fun-loving couple that enjoys adventure.

Well, putting them in a static, formal pose in a photography studio doesn’t exactly reflect that aspect of who they are, does it?

The point is that you need to tailor how you pose your subjects to who they are as individuals, not how they should look according to this photography rule or that photography convention. Learn more about cool poses for guys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Make the pose – whatever it might be – personal to them. Have it reflect their personality. In other words, give them a chance to be who they are, and you’ll end up with a much more genuine and impactful photograph.

It’s also a lot easier to pose a couple when they feel natural and comfortable!

The question is, how do you get your couple to look natural and comfortable?

Get Them Moving

There’s an old-fashioned way of taking a portrait, and that’s to pose the couple, ask them not to move a muscle, and to look at the camera.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with that kind of portrait.

But like I mentioned above, it doesn’t render the most natural-looking poses.

To get your subjects loosened up, get them on the move.

Doing so opens up tons of possibilities for relaxed-looking photos that you don’t really have to work to pose. You can also check another post about photo pose for boys.

You might ask the couple to walk or run away from (or toward) the camera to get some indicated movement in the shot.

Another great idea is to play music and ask them to dance.

Take them to the beach, the lake, or a river for some splashing in the water.

Give them some bubbles, a kite, heck, even a soccer ball to get them moving around.

Not only does this help them get into a more natural state, but it also helps them forget that you’re standing there with a camera trained on them.

In my experience, the less they think about “performing” for the camera, the better off your photos will be.

Get Emotional

If you think about your favorite photo of someone you love, I’m willing to bet that it’s probably an image that displays an emotion.

Love, happiness, joy…these are all emotions that we all like to feel, and they are also emotions that play perfectly into your hand for posing couples.

Eliciting an emotion like love in your subjects is as simple as asking them to hold hands, look into each other’s eyes, or tell one another what they love most about the other person.

On the other hand, you can get your subjects laughing by having them do something off-the-wall like whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ear. If you’re a jokester, you can even crack a few jokes to get big, natural smiles.

The other key here is to keep shooting between takes.

Even if the couple looks natural during the shoot, there’s a good chance that they’ll let down their guard even further in between takes.

Take advantage of those natural moments by putting your camera in continuous shooting mode, worry less about the camera settings you’re using, and concentrate on capturing a few frames when the couple least expects it.

Foster Intimacy

One thing that some couples struggle with in front of a camera is showing intimacy.

That doesn’t mean that couples don’t have the ability to express love or the other emotions as discussed above…

But when it comes to showing physical intimacy, some people hit a roadblock.

By fostering contact between the subjects, you not only make a more intimate portrait, but you also help foster the expression of emotion.

A good way to do this is to suggest that the couple always have one point of contact between them.

The easiest way to do this is to hold hands, but there are other options as well.

Kissing is another prime option, as is hugging.

You can have one partner sit on the other partner’s lap.

Even just sitting close to one another will suffice.

The goal is to have their physical closeness be a representation of their emotional closeness. As long as they are touching in some way, you can usually accomplish that.

More Easy Couples Portrait Ideas

The above list certainly isn’t an end-all, be-all list of couples posing tips, but it will certainly get you started!

For even more excellent couples portrait tips, check out the video below from Mango Street Lab. In it, they discuss each of the tips above and add a few more to the mix for good measure.

Follow their tips, and you’re sure to start creating portraits of couples that are more natural, more intimate, and which display more emotion.

This blog post about “Beginner Photography Tip: 4 Easy Ideas for Posing Couples” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/contest-articles/7454-beginner-photography-tip-4-easy-ideas-for-posing-couples

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/beginner-photography-tip-4-easy-ideas.html

How to Photography: It’s Supposed to Be Fun!

 Maybe, the greatest pitfall for any type of photographer—beginner, hobbyist and professional—is losing the element of fun. It’s easy to become obsessive about capturing the best pictures at a family gathering or advancing your skills and results beyond the novice or spending hours for that perfect professional image that wins awards or new, high-paying clients. Learn more about poses for boys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Photography, like most creative pursuits, becomes much less than what it should be or what you expected when you forget to have fun for any reason. Whenever you suddenly discover that photography is no longer fun then step back and examine your approach and the process according to the following points.

It’s a learning experience.

You’re not born with the abilities to be a photographer; and there are certainly many concepts and techniques to learn that could fill a number of lifetimes. Even the most experienced pros will tell you that often the opportunity to be always learning drives them more than making a buck or receiving an award. Don’t be discouraged if you are having trouble understanding a specific concept or seem unable to make a shooting technique work correctly. Take a deep breath and maybe shelve that concept or technique and move to another one, where you can experience some success. Achieving your photography or any of life’s goals is often the key to having fun. You can also check another post about picture poses for guys here.

 Be wary of the equipment bug.

Like a virus, your enjoyment of photography can be overwhelmed by focusing too much on equipment, especially the items you’d like to buy. Purchasing new equipment is infectious and is often a mistaken substitute for learning how to have fun with the camera you already own. It’s the same for the hobbyist and the pro: the market is full of glittering and often remarkable gear, many of which are meant to compel you to spend money and not necessarily improve your photography or your fun.

Whenever the equipment bug bites you, take control of yourself and your wallet and take the time to consider if you actually need it, or simply want the latest whiz-bang item. A good method to refocus your interest is stop being emotional about you want and become objective. Study the equipment’s specifications, compare them to competitive products and ask others what they think or have experienced with that equipment. The PhotographyTalk Forum is the perfect place to do just that. Think also about the additional costs that you may incur if you buy more equipment: a larger camera bag, additional insurance, another item that may need to repaired, etc.

Too serious by half.

No doubt, photography is serious business for the professional, and even the hobbyist who is eager to produce higher quality images. That seriousness must be in balance with a feeling of enjoyment, even if the results are less than satisfactory. Do you find yourself spending your entire vacation with your eyes glued to the LCD screen on the back of your camera? As a professional, do you think you must carry every piece of equipment you own with you on assignment? Once you recognize these signs, you have likely made the photography process a burden and not an opportunity to enjoy the world around you and the people in it.

Photos are for viewing.

King Midas obsessively hoarded his wealth, unwilling to share it or even allow others to know he had it. Photography will be much more fun when you readjust your mindset and consider the photos you shoot as “community property.” Your images belong to the world, not to you. Social media makes it very easy to share your photos with not just your friends, but people living on the other side of the world. More importantly, you can’t be afraid to have your photos critiqued or receive compliments. One of the best learning opportunities for photographers of every skill level and stripe is to ask more experienced photographers to comment on their results. True professionals don’t hoard advice and guidance, either, and are eager to help beginners and hobbyists have fun with their photography, as they learn.

Stick to your guns. 

Nothing will suck the fun from photography more than relinquishing control of your creative freedom to others, or to current fads and trends. Part of being a professional, of course, is giving one’s clients what they want, and expect. The solution for the professional is to shoot both the “requirements” of the client and alternative images based on the pro’s vision. Clients will often find the professional’s approach better than what they are dictating. For non-professionals, it’s important to develop a unique vision that reveals their true level of creativity than simply shooting what appears to be popular. Also check guy poses for pictures.

Unnecessary equipment loyalty. 

Canon and Nikon, specifically, as well as other brands have purposely created separate cultures for themselves, and then convinced photographers through marketing that they must choose one or the other, and remain loyal. Some manufacturers do a better job with one type of camera, lens or other equipment, while others excel at alternatives. The fun comes from knowing how to use and achieve your best results from any camera instead of thinking that the brand of camera is responsible for your creativity.

This article about the topic “How to Photography: It’s Supposed to Be Fun!” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/2776-how-to-photography-its-supposed-to-be-fun

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/how-to-photography-its-supposed-to-be.html

Wedding Photography Posing Guide

Whether you’re a brand new wedding photographer that needs some guidance on wedding poses or you’ve been at it awhile and just need a little inspiration, this wedding photography posing guide is for you!

Given that weddings are such an important subject, you certainly want to go into it as prepared as possible, with plenty of ideas for wedding poses for photography.

In the video above, Jessica Kobeissi gives an overview of some crucial tips and tricks that will result in improved results.

Her tips specifically address natural light wedding photography, though if you use artificial lighting, many of her tips still apply.

Have a look at the video above, and for a refresher of some of her best tips, check out the recap below.

Editor’s Tip: Already have awesome photos? See what they look like as fine art.

Pay Attention to the Details

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

Wedding poses should be all about enhancing the quality of the photos you take.

Not only does that mean putting the couple in the best photo position to highlight their love for one another, but it also means utilizing the lighting that’s available to show off some of the finer details in the image.

That often means putting the sun behind the couple, that way its light can act as a rim light, highlighting the bride’s hair, for example, or catching reflections off of items like decorative hair clips or brooches.

In the screenshot above, notice the warm glow of the light on the bride’s hair and how it illuminates her dress for a little more drama in the shot.

Pose the Couple for Close-Ups

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

When thinking about wedding poses, you need to mix it up a bit and have a variety of images that show different points of view.

That means full-body, half-body, and close-up photos as well.

When getting in close, it’s often a good idea to have the couple get physically closer to one another as well.

In the image above, you can see how the couple has moved from having their cheeks near one another in the previous shot to having their foreheads touching in this shot.

The act of bringing the couple closer together for a close-up shot makes for a much more intimate image, particularly if you have them engage in eye contact.

Find Different Types of Light

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

When working with natural light, it’s important to add variety to your wedding photo poses by shooting in various types of lighting.

In the previous two images, the lighting was very bright and harsh, which created some beautiful overexposed backgrounds that gave the photos a light and airy feel.

In the image above, though, you can see how moving the couple to the shade offers much more even, flat lighting that gives the image a much different mood.

The mood of this shot is also different because of the posing. Notice how this photo is a little more casual, with the bride holding her bouquet loosely at arm’s length.

To give your portfolio of images the most impact, try mixing and matching formal and informal poses like this one.

Wedding Photography Posing Guide: Get the Best Shots by Moving Around

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

One of the challenges of posing couples for wedding photos is that they aren’t exactly dressed to move around a lot.

That means that to get the most variety, you need to be the one that moves around to get pictures from different perspectives.

Once you pose the couple, as was done in the image above, move to the right and left. Kneel down and shoot up towards them. If possible, get a higher vantage point, too.

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

The point is that if you move around, you can get four, five or more different looking photos, all without having to repose the couple.

It’s a time-saving trick that will positively impact the quality and quantity of the photos you take.

Editor’s Tip: How you present the images you take matters just as much as the images themselves. Order gorgeous prints right here.

Show Off Wedding Poses With a Gorgeous Print

I had some friends get married a couple of years ago, and their photographer was extremely talented.

The problem wasn’t with the quality of the photos – it was with the quality of the products she provided to them. Learn more about photography poses for boys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

There’s nothing worse than a beautiful wedding portrait that’s ruined by being printed poorly. After all, what’s the point of spending all that time posing the couple and perfecting the image if it’s then presented in a low-quality print?

Instead, make a statement with your work by presenting your clients with a large-format canvas print.

As you can see in the image above, canvas can be a beautiful vessel for showing off the love the couple has for one another (and all the effort you put into highlighting that love!).

Our large canvas print far exceeds our expectations! Spectacular! – Kamal M., Atascadero, CA

Prints from companies like CanvasHQ give you the best results because they’re dedicated to perfecting the image from getting the colors just right to selecting the best finish for the image to constructing a frame that will hold straight and true for generations to come.

On top of that, these guys are committed to getting your prints to you and your clients fast. But don’t think that fast equals poor quality, because that couldn’t be further from the truth.

LOVELY work & incredibly quick. LOVE CanvasHQ! – Meredith I., Westbrook, ME

I have quite a few canvases from CanvasHQ, and I can tell you first-hand that they are the best canvas prints I’ve ever gotten.

If only I’d known about these guys when I got married, I’d have a huge canvas of my wife and I on the mantel!

With a variety of finish options, different frame depths, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, there’s really no better experience in getting fine art prints than CanvasHQ.

So, don’t put in all your time and effort to posing couples for your photos. Instead, save a little time and energy to get them the best quality print possible as well!

This blog post about the topic “Wedding Photography Posing Guide” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/contest-articles/8368-wedding-photography-posing-guide

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/wedding-photography-posing-guide.html

How To Photography: Semi-Professional Photography Opportunities for Stay-at-Home Moms

 Although most married couples work a combination of full-time and part-time jobs, which produce dual incomes, there are still many stay-at-home mothers. Many of them are passionate about digital photography, or are interested in becoming a photographer, and utilizing their skills to earn additional family income. Learn more about photography ideas at home on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Advantage #1: Flexible Schedule

Because Mom has a busy schedule, with many tasks, errands and responsibilities during the day, it’s not easy to find a part-time job with the flexibility she needs. That’s why earning additional income, as a semi-professional photographer, can be an excellent alternative. Some days and times of the day are less hectic: the children are at school, the youngest are taking naps, etc.

During these small windows of time, Mom can continue to educate herself with a perusal of the newest how-to photography articles on PhotographyTalk.com as well as using the Forum to ask questions and view the many how-to videos available there.

Mom can also access the many online courses, workshops and tutorials that The Picture Perfect School of Photography, MyPhotoSchool and LoveThatShot offer, which are all PhotographyTalk vendor partners.

Stay-at-home mothers also have the flexibility to schedule digital photography assignments during specific times of the week, especially when her husband is available to supervise the kids. Because there isn’t the pressure of working a full-time job, Mom can book shoots a couple of late afternoons or evenings a week and Saturday morning.

Advantage #2: Portfolio Subject Matter

Although there is no detailed data about what kind of digital photography assignments stay-at-home moms seek, it appears that most of their work is portraits and weddings. They don’t have to look very far for subject matter to create a good portfolio: They spend plenty of time with their children throughout the day, which also become opportunities to photograph them.

The children of friends and neighbors, who are also stay-at-home moms, are also easily accessible during the same times of the day. A neighborly backyard party is another excellent opportunity to capture casual portraits of children and children with their parents. In addition, any neighborhood is filled with people with a great variety of hobbies, which are often enjoyed during the evening hours or weekends. They are excellent subject matter for lifestyle portraits, which gives a semi-professional portfolio an even better mix of images.

Advantage #3: Network of Contacts

Typically, stay-at-home moms are members of a network of other stay-at-home moms, which provides an immediate and easily accessible market for Mom’s semi-professional photography business. All these families have growing children and virtually all the parents will value and cherish excellent portraits of them. Plus, they are more likely to hire someone they know.

Every stay-at-home mom in the network is also a member of two extended families: hers and her husband’s. Families have weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, etc. All of which is great business for the semi-professional and is easily reached with inexpensive marketing. Often, word-of-mouth advertising does much of the work, actually resulting in no-cost or low-cost marketing: distributing business cards through the stay-at-home mom network, utilizing social media and maintaining a simple portfolio Web site.

The stay-at-home mom working as a semi-professional photographer can also utilize her children to help spread the word about her services. This is not to suggest that children should become “salespeople” actively seeking business from their friends. Instead, the marketing tactic here is subtler. The children can show Mom’s great photos of them on their Facebook pages or other social media; display photos on the inside doors of their school lockers; place a portrait photo on the cover of a notebook; or use one of Mom’s photo as a computer monitor or cell phone background or screen saver. Kids like nothing better than to view and share photos; and when they see Mom’s excellent photos of her children, their friends, they’ll ask their parents to have Mom photograph them too.

Advantage #4: Pricing

The pricing of semi-professional photographers’ work is a tricky and somewhat controversial subject among professional/commercial photographers. Many of the full-timers think that when semi-professionals charge less than the market will bear they are undervaluing portraits, weddings, etc., thus limiting everyone’s revenue.

No doubt this is a reality on occasion and in some geographic markets. The advantage for the stay-at-home mom that is also a semi-professional photographer is that many, if not most, of her clients are a secondary market. They wouldn’t typically seek the services of a full-time professional for any number of reasons: cost, convenience, etc. The semi-professional is able to set pricing according to the market available to her; and she will receive more work from it if her prices are less than the full-time professional.   

Photo by Photography Talk member Laura Miller

This article about “How To Photography: Semi-Professional Photography Opportunities for Stay-at-Home Moms” was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/2536-how-to-photography-semi-professional-photography-opportunities-for-stay-at-home-moms

Source: https://photographytalkcom.blogspot.com/2021/04/how-to-photography-semi-professional.html