Wednesday 29 June 2011

The quality of light - tips for good Photography

Photographers are readers of light. We are either continuously looking to see where the light is coming from, how strong it is and what qualities it possesses. Most of the time this is done almost intuitively, but being more professional means getting a real control of how to use the direction, strength and 'temperature' of the light.

Perhaps many readers will not have thought about light having a temperature, but those who have thought about the quality of light will already appreciate that daylight has a different quality to light bulbs whether neon, halogen or good old filament! The technically minded have come to call this light temperature, and most cameras automatically adjust to the quality, just as our eyes do.

A good example of colour temperature is what many photographers call the 'golden hour'. That hour just before sunset when sunlight takes on a warm almost golden quality. The picture looking up Princes Street in Edinburgh towards Carlton Hill past the Scott Memorial, shows the golden light of late evening and how it warms the tones of the stone buildings in the distance.


This picture of the Old Dee Bridge in Chester tries to capture that diffuse quality of light after a snow shower and when the sun is obscured by the cloud. Beautiful turquoises in the sky too.


Artificial sodium street lighting, as in the picture of Northgate Street in Chester, also has its own strongly yellow and orange quality picked up well in the wet cobbles. Flares from the lights also add dramatic effect.


You generally cannot control the light, but understanding it will allow you to use it and improve the quality of your images. Flash and studio photography is a different matter, more in another post.

Thursday 16 June 2011

What to look for in a professional photographer - tips for good Photography

Sometimes events come along which you want to record photographically and for one reason or another you want to ensure that images are captured to the very highest quality. Having a family member or friend photographing your wedding, christening or other very special event puts a lot of pressure on them. I know this because the first wedding I photographed, over twenty years ago, was my brother's. Back in those days it was all done on 35mm film and there was no way of knowing if you had got the exposure and focus right until the negatives came back - did I feel the pressure! Not only that, but guess who is missing from all his brother's wedding photographs, including the family group?


I often photograph weddings and alongside me will be standing some very talented amateurs who take a good photo and then get on with enjoying the wedding as guests. The pressure is on me to deliver the goods for the album or disc, a pressure I actually quite enjoy.


So, what should you look for when getting a professional for your wedding, christening or other big occasion?
  • A photographic style you like is obviously important, and in viewing examples of a photographer's work you should choose one with technical ability and an artistic flair you like.
  • Equally important is that the photographer has the people skills that mean you and everybody else will be able to relax and enjoy having their photo taken. This is vitally important if you want fresh and emotion filled pictures. The sure way to know you have the right person for your special occasion is to meet them and if they listen to what you want and try to meet your needs rather than tell you about how good their photos are, then they are more likely to be the photographer for you. Ask yourself the question, especially if it is your wedding: 'Will I be able to get on with this person all day long, and how will my family and friends react to this person trying to organize them?'

The best photographs, possibly intimate images, that show how people were feeling and thinking are only achieved when they and the photographer have a strong sense of trust. I have been fortunate to get to know  many of my clients well, and for me this has been a very rewarding part of my life as a professional photographer.

Saturday 11 June 2011

What is the most important thing in your life? - tips for good Photography

What is the most important thing in your life?

Today our eldest son turns 18 years of age. Where did the time go? Think I will put together a special album of his life - from the picture of his first moment of life through to the pictures I take today, if he lets me!

I had the pleasure of photographing a young family in my studio recently at the beginning of this journey with their first child. I hope they treasure these pictures as much as I have of our children growing.

Remember to carry your camera at all special family occasions, they are reminders of how we felt and thought at the time.