7 Creative Ideas to Spice Up Your Photography

Lightstalking is a great site for general tutorials, tips and inspiration. If you are new to photography or even with years of experience there will be things to find that are interesting.

This article  is by Jason D. Little . Jason Little is a photographer (shooting macros, portraits, candids, and the occasional landscape), part time writer, and full time lover of music. You can see Jason’s photography on his photography blog or on Flickr.

Human beings are creatures of habit; we seek out patterns, we search for comfort and contentment, we settle into routines. These aren’t necessarily bad features of our existence, but if your attention span is at all as truncated as mine can be then it’s likely that you find yourself actively looking for — and often enjoying — anything that’s a departure from the norm. 

It’s part of the burden of creativity, I suppose. Sometimes you just can’t bear to keep doing the same old thing. So you go in search of something new. 

So whether you’re driven to the brink of insanity by boredom with your own photography, or you’ve been looking to add a new element to your style, or you just want to have some fun with your photos, I’m confident that at least one of the following suggestions will cure whatever ails you.

How to Start Exploring Infrared Photography

Infrared photography is sort of like discovering a new world, or a different version of the world we’re so accustomed to seeing. The human eye can’t see the infrared (IR) range of the spectrum, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there.

summertime blues by mugley, on Flickr

Read more about Infra Red and the other suggestions to get you going here

Click Here: 7 Creative Ideas to Spice Up Your Photography

What Every Photographer Ought to Know About Successful Event Photography

Written by Jason Little is a photographer (shooting macros, portraits, candids, and the occasional landscape), part time writer, and full time lover of music. You can see Jason’s photography on his photography blog or on Flickr. Find him on Lightstalking

A lot of my professional photography could be thought of as event photography and although I do believe the subject is wider than the advice here these 6 points all fit into my thoughts, read and learn

I know that many people, upon hearing the term “event photography,” immediately begin to think of fancy gatherings like award shows, corporate fundraisers, weddings, proms, any manner of so-called black tie affair. But in reality — as far as a photographer should be concerned, at least — as long as you have a gathering of people doing something, loosely speaking, you may very well have an event on your hands. 

It could be an elementary school fundraiser, a community bake sale, a family reunion, a photography meet-up. It doesn’t matter how the people are dressed or whether there are any celebrities in attendance; introducing your camera to a crowd of people represents an ocean of interesting possibilities and observations, in terms of both human behavior and photography.

Regardless of whether you’re shooting in a very formal atmosphere like a wedding, or a more laid back, casual setting like a birthday party, there are a few universally applicable tips for successfully photographing any event.

©Keith Barnes – Photographers Workshop

Click Here: What Every Photographer Ought to Know About Successful Event Photography 

5 DIY Photography Projects to Save You Money

Jason Little  writes for Lightstalking, he is a photographer (shooting macros, portraits, candids, and the occasional landscape), part time writer, and full time lover of music. You can see Jason’s photography on his photography blog

Professionals and hobbyists alike realize that photography equipment is expensive. The high costs of gear and accessories is a fact of life for pros and enthusiasts but, for most everyone else, these costs can be downright prohibitive. 

Price, however, shouldn’t hamper your creativity. In fact, a little creative thinking and some tinkering will make it possible for you to have all sorts of useful photography accessories, from tripods to lighting setups to macro lenses — all without the exorbitant price tags. 

Interested in saving some precious coin? Read on to learn how.

 

My DIY Ring Flash by trazomfreak, on Flickr

Click Here: 5 DIY Photography Projects to Save You Money

Advice for the Aspiring Street Photographer

Street photography. Is it as simple as going out into the streets and taking photos? In the narrowest of views, yes. But street photography is regarded by many as an art form; it is the goal of the street photographer to capture humanity at its rawest, most candid moments, unencumbered by the apparent luxuries of a formal studio session; no flash, no diffusers, no tethered shooting. In light of this more nuanced definition of what street photography is, we can now give a more distinct answer to the question of street photography’s perceived “simplicity.”

What makes street photography difficult for some is the boldness required to pull out a camera, approach a total stranger, and essentially enter their space, even if for a brief moment, as they go about routine activities that normally do not take place in front of a lens. It can be intimidating and challenging, but I would venture to say that anyone who has achieved some measure of success at street photography has found it immensely rewarding. And as a visual medium, street photography can be profoundly inspirational. So if you’re considering hitting the streets, here are a few basic DOs and DON’Ts to help get you started.

writes Jason Little  a photographer (shooting macros, portraits, candids, and the occasional landscape), part time writer, and full time lover of music. You can see Jason’s photography on his photography blog

Read all the advice here

©Gary Winogrand

Click Here: Some Dos and Don’ts for the Aspiring Street Photographer 

Easy Ways to Spice Up Your Self-Portraits So They Stand Out

I’m not sure self portraits are ever easy but there are some good tips here and if you feel like doing more than a “selfie” this would be a good place to start looking. The article by Jason Little is a photographer (shooting macros, portraits, candids, and the occasional landscape), part time writer, and full time lover of music. You can see Jason’s photography on his photography blog or on Flickr. is on Lightstalking

Most people, especially when starting out in photography, find self-portraits to be a nerve-wracking venture; and some, to be sure, never really get over the disquieting dread that accompanies having to get in front of the camera when they’re so accustomed to being behind it.

It’s normal, I guess. We could probably engage in a lengthy and ultimately convoluted discussion about self-esteem, body image, and a whole host of other psychological implications related to why some people don’t like looking at themselves, but that’s not going to fix anyone is it? I doubt it. There are plenty of websites you could visit to try and work all that stuff out, but before you go, allow me to run a few ideas by you; ideas that might ease you into making self-portraits or, if you are already making them, some ideas on how to improve them. You never know, it could be the creative spark you need to help you overcome your fear of self-inflicted photographs.….MORE

 

Telepathy by Daniela Vladimirova, on Flickr