Anton/Bauer introduces the latest in power solutions for cinematographers and filmmakers. The new 26V Gold Mount Plus “sharkfin” hotswap bracket enables you to run power-hungry cameras continuously on set. And with their VCLX Caddy, you can now attach VCLX batteries to light stands for a safer working environment. Gold Mount+ Hotswap bracket enables the user … Continued
Topaz Labs released Photo AI version 1.2 with new and refined upscale models with finer and more natural results, improved cropping, more accurate subject detection, and continued performance and stability improvements (see the full list of improvements here). Topaz Photo AI is currently on sale until February 17 ($40 off). The Topaz Image Quality Bundle is also on sale ($60 off).
Topaz Labs released Photo AI version 1.2 with new and refined upscale models with finer and more natural results, improved cropping, more accurate subject detection, and continued performance and stability improvements (see the full list of improvements here). Topaz Photo AI is currently on sale until February 17 ($40 off). The Topaz Image Quality Bundle is also on sale ($60 off).
Wide-angle lenses typically aren’t the first that comes to mind for shooting portraits. But those of us who are yet to try it are missing out on some interesting results. At least, that’s what I thought when I saw a recent portrait shoot challenge done by Manny Ortiz and Pierre Lambert. Insane is how they […]
As a portrait photographer, you probably know how difficult it is sometimes when you try to improve your pictures with the right pose. Portrait photography can be quite challenging sometimes, especially when your mind goes blank and your creative ideas run amok.
In contrast, action photos are much simpler to take. The mood of the subject is naturally expressed, captured forever, the background tells the viewer where the picture was taken and the whole photograph is as natural as it gets. It tells the whole story without speaking a word.
Photo by Steven Pisano; ISO 1000, f/3.5, 1/800-second exposure.
Attempting to capture natural expressions and moods while posing your subject can prove to be an insurmountable task, especially for the beginner. Perhaps you can avoid the frustration by using posing cards, however, you may be limited to the quantity of the cards you have for your requirements.
It would take a much longer article than this to tell you everything about how to pose your subject, because one of the hardest pictures to take is one where you have to pose the human body. You want the portrait to be as captivating and natural as possible. Please consider the following points that will help to lift your portraiture to a higher standard.
The best portraits are the ones that not only capture the physical likeness of a person, but his or her character, as well. At least one element revealing the personality of the subject, or maybe his or her attitude, mannerisms, or other features will make a super portrait, as it will tell us something about them.
It is the portrait photographer who has never met the subject before that is presented with the biggest challenge. He or she must work on the proficiency of studying people, their mannerisms, expressions, reactions, body language, and anything else that can be presented in front of the camera.
If you can develop a skill in understanding human nature, it would be a great asset to your photographic profession. Developing this skill mandates getting quickly involved in conversation with the subject, questioning their interests, perhaps evoking reactions or excitement, and really bringing out his or her natural personality.
This process results in a more relaxed presence in front of the camera for the subject, with a more at-ease and natural attitude. At this point, it is important to remember not to rush through the portrait session. Do your work, avoiding idle conversation that would take up your time and his or hers. Always boost confidence by telling the person that the session is going well.
Be confident in yourself and portray your confidence at all times during the session. Be relaxed but ready to photograph when the subject is ready. Remember that you are the person in control, and the subject needs to see you that way.
About the Author: Tom Watson is the owner of indigitalphotography, a website with tips, digital cameras, and resources.
Technology in photography has come a long way. The developments have allowed photographers to capture images that were once nearly impossible to take. Whether it be the focusing system, the speed, or even sensitivity, cameras have matured very well. It’s now up to photographers to decide how to use such capable systems to capture their visions. Photographer Matt MacPherson captured the following image of Palouse Falls lit only by the moon:
“Palouse Falls by Moonlight” by Matt MacPherson (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)
MacPherson shot this incredible image with his Nikon D810 and 16mm lens. The center of attraction definitely has to be the silky smooth water of the falls. The low light conditions allowed him to take the image using a long exposure. To capture the shape of the water body, and the surrounding landscape, he took the photograph from a higher vantage point. Doing so also allowed him to get the moon in the shot, which is the only source lighting the scene.
Amateurs and pros alike face the fact that slower shutter speeds and camera shake lead to blurred images. This tutorial by David Bergman demonstrates some of the main reasons for camera shake and how to overcome them:
Camera Shake Rule of Thumb
The old school rule of thumb about camera shake is that as long as the denominator of the shutter speed is bigger than the focal length, you can avoid image blur. That means that if you’re shooting at 50mm, you should select at least a shutter speed of 1/50 of a second or faster to get a blur-free image. In the real world, the wider the focal length, the less the camera shake.
Modern lenses come with built-in image stabilization and selectable ISO. These are great in terms of speeding up the shutter speed and getting blur-free images.
Body Positions to Prevent Camera Shake
There are a host of techniques that you can adapt in order to minimize camera shake.
First, keep one hand underneath the lens barrel (as demonstrated below) in order to stabilize it.
Keep one hand under the lens.
Tuck your elbows in to your body to reduce movement.
Spread your feet slightly so you’re properly balanced.
If possible, lean against a wall or a tree for additional support.
Take slow, deep breaths and press the shutter release at the end of your exhale.
Look through the viewfinder instead of at the LCD screen to compose shots. Holding your camera up against your faces gives you an extra bit of support.
If you have to use the back LCD screen, use the camera neck strap and hold it as far and as hard as you can. It should give you some leverage to get sharp clean video footage.
Make use of your neck strap.
Finally, if you’re still plagued by the problem of camera shake, set your camera to burst mode and fire away as many shots as you can. Chances are you will get at least a few frames that are perfectly sharp.
Topaz released the new Photo Ai 2.1 version ($40 off now). Here are all improvements: The “Standard” upscaling model The Standard model excels at generating very natural textures and fine detail, in contrast to more “blocky” results from older methods. Use this model for small images, tight crops, compressed/noisy inputs, or other situations where you’d…
Award season is here! That means it is time to celebrate some of the best short films of the year.
We love short films here at No Film School. Whether they are made by established professionals in the industry or young filmmakers who only have one project under their belt, we enjoy celebrating short film filmmakers.
At the 2023 Academy Awards, 15 short films will be competing in three award categories: animated, live-action, and documentary. There is a wide range of short films that have been nominated, and there is a lot we can learn from each project.
While ShortsTV will be playing the Oscar-nominated short films in theaters starting on February 17, 2023, many of the projects are available to stream online. Streamers like Netflix and Apple TV+ and media outlets like The New Yorker are getting ready to purchase these shorts right before award season.
Before that happens, here are a few ways you can watch the short films nominated at the 95th Academy Awards:
I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn to make compelling, informed arguments when analyzing film and TV.
We’ve all gotten into a debate about a movie with our friends. One says it sucks, another says it’s great, and they go back and forth. If your friends are anything like mine, it probably gets personal after that.
But that’s not the way it should go.
If you want to work in Hollywood, be a critic, or make films or TV shows, you should know how to speak about them in an educated way.
Late last year, I went on a rant about how important media literacy was to your film and TV career, and I’m back to tell you about this incredible course I watched FOR FREE on YouTube. It helped me in my ongoing journey to understand how to write and talk about filmmaking.
It’s from video essayist Patrick (H) Willems, and it’s spectacular. Over about 90 minutes, he takes you through the ins and outs of the process, theories, and coherent ways to make an argument.
Check out this amazing video from Willems, and let’s talk after.