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Foto Fundamentals Photography Tuition

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Foto Fundamentals Photography Tuition

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21/11/2023

You know what makes this Lamborghini Miura stand out from the background so much - well, apart from it being a bright green Lamborghini Miura photographed against a dirty grey concrete wall?
A couple of other things also help. One is its curvaceous form as compared to said wall. The other is those terra cotta/orange ridge tiles and the odd brick peeking through. They are virtually on the opposite side of the colour wheel from the Lamborghini's green, helping both to pop out of the picture.
Or actually, maybe; yeah, it's because it's a bright green Lamborghini Miura photographed against a dirty grey concrete wall.
Forget I said anything.

19/09/2023

If Adobe Photoshop is so good, how come it can't come up with a healing brush that gets tea stains of your monitor? It would speed up post processing sooooo much.

11/09/2023

Could it be said that photographs – or pictures in general – have a rhythm? I reckon so. Have a look at this grassland/wetland image and see if you can ‘hum’ it. (Just go with me okay!) The clouds might be a long sustained note, the tops of the grass a percussive repeating pattern, and those white…er…wispy things another sound. If you don’t ‘see’ it as sound, maybe you can just feel it – getting more of a gut sensation with regard to flow, repetition and echoe in patterns and motifs. Think what effect it has on your compositions as a whole…

If you need to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

04/09/2023

Adding mysteriosity… It’s an old trick, but still sometimes worth a shot (yes, pun intended); photographing someone behind or against the shadows cast by Venetian blinds. The veil drawn by the slats lends your subject an enigmatic air, while the black and white treatment emphasises the repeating pattern. Try to get the eyes – or at least one of ’em in a highlighted area. I’m still amazed he sat still for long enough – though there was a bit of a fight.
If you need to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

28/08/2023

Backlight and Sunstars help to define the outline of the subjects of this summer evening shot (while the shadows help frame it). And the sunstars add a little drama to what is a pretty quiet scene. To make the most of those light rays, simply experiment 'moving' the sun further into the branches of the trees to exaggerate/minimise the light beams. (A small aperture, f11-f16, will also help.) Take a few shots - you might not be able to see the results properly until you get the pics up in Lightroom/Capture One/etc.

If you need to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

06/03/2023

Cutting through the noise
This was taken in Manhattan some 13 years ago (really, that long?) when high ISOs weren’t what they are today. And, to be honest, I’m not sure the focus is spot on…and there might be camera motion blur…Well you try photographing with a hot dog in one hand. (Not sure I’m selling myself as a tutor here.)
Anyway – ANYWAY – it still kind of works. We see through all that to the story – we get the picture. Don’t underestimate that.

27/02/2023

Through Yonder Window
Window light is a great source of light. Even on an overcast day, it provides an even, defused spread of light that illuminates your subject (usually) at a kind of 45 degree angle. It has a nice falloff to it and allows an element of defining shadow. It also gives your subject something to do – look out and admire the garden/spy on the neighbours or whatever. They are less likely to strike a contrived or self-conscious pose. Even so, our subject managed to look a bit cross about something…but then if you’ve read about the Groke in Moomin stories, you won’t be too surprised.

If you want to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

21/02/2023

Playing with reflections in relation to architecture can be a lot of fun. The superimpositions they offer allow us to juxtapose different styles and light. Here, the warm tones of Sheffield’s neo-classical Central Library in the sun (designed by our own city architect, W. G. Davies in 1934), contrast nicely with the steel and glass of the Winter Gardens (Pringle, Richard and Sharratt, 2001).
Also, looking back over my photographs of the city, it surprises me just how much has gone and been replaced. Cities are never as permanent as they seem – so get out and snap yours now.

If you want to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

20/02/2023

Go Wide
If you think of wide angle lenses as a way of cramming everything in – side to side – you’re probably looking at (or through) them wrong. You're likely to be disappointed with your results. Think of them as a way to bring your subject front and centre, up close and personal, while creating a more dramatic perspective and momentum; foreground to background. Look at the way the sky rushes over the yacht or the mast bursts from the picture.
They can be a good choice for environmental portraits, allowing you to see what’s going on in your subject’s world. What’s an environmental portrait? It’s when you leave a load of messy crap in your picture that no studio photographer would dream of permitting.

If you want to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

13/02/2023

Take a Breath.
Sometimes, how we feel when we’re taking a photograph can be as important as the image itself. Staring down the lens, framing the subject, concentrating, it can all help clear our head of worries, or quell the general crosstalk of internal chatter. Even more so if the subject itself is calm and uncomplicated. It can be especially useful if we are feeling depressed, distracted, or we are simply trying to do too much in our heads.
Photography brings us very much into the moment and cuts out all the crap. It’s very grounding.

10/02/2023

Backward glance. We like faces. Had we seen only the men’s back as they hike up Ben Nevis, this picture would have been decidedly ‘meh’. But as one of the team glances back to check on the rest of the party, we get some insight into their mood and general demeanour. Suddenly we are far more interested, there is a connection, empathy.
Also, their position in the composition – in an area of sharper focus and brighter colours – gives them purpose and momentum in the picture, as the party (from HMS Defender on the Three Peaks Challenge) strides off into the distance – the top right hand corner.

If you need to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

HMS Defender Community HMS Defender

08/02/2023

Do you edit your photos or upload them to wherever just as they come out of the camera? Some people treat the straight-out-of-camera jpgs (or even raw files) as if they were handed down from The Almighty. Nearly all files will benefit from a little tweaking, even if it’s just adjusting the highlights and shadows. You don’t have to go full-on Photoshop. Why not just download a free image editor and start off by using the auto-edit button? See how this changes the parameters. Push the sliders around yourself – save the versions you like, bin the ones you don’t. Live a little!

If you need to brush up on some of the skills outlined in this post, why not come on a FotoFundamentals course, or book a Zoom 1-to-1?

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