Day at the Beach

I absolutely LOVE the beach, always have. It's my "go-to" place to relax, reflect, and just enjoy nature. Today, I'm in the mood to go and enjoy the day, so I'm simply posting a few images from a recent trip down to the beach. Happy viewing :)!

3 EASY TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

So I said when I started this blog that I wanted to do a few basic tutorials and give tips for everyone to improve their photography, so that's what I'm doing today! Below are three basic tips to help you improve your photography RIGHT NOW!

• Apply the "Rule of Thirds" For anyone who hasn't heard of this, it basically means that, when looking through the viewfinder, divide your image into three equal sections. This helps you to get away from the trap many amateur photographers fall into, which is cutting your image in half (think top half of image as sky, bottom half as land, etc).
  
• Don't be afraid to take the subject of your photograph out of the center of the image. Once you have the Rule of Thirds down, divide your image into thirds both horizontally and vertically, which will essentially divide your viewing area into nine different sections. Experiment with placing your subject (person, pet, building, etc) somewhere other than center stage. This will often lead to better, more interesting images.
  
• Know that turning an image to black & white in Photoshop doesn't automatically make it art. This is kindof a pet peeve amongst art photographers. When you look at your images, ask yourself what value it will add to change to a B&W image versus leaving it in color. Is it an image that lends itself to an older vintage look like sepia? Is it timeless? This technique is best used to invoke a mood or atmosphere. Don't change an image from color to B&W unless you have a justification for it.

Try employing these techniques in your photography over the next week, and let us know how it goes. Do you feel your photography has improved? Why or why not? Feel free to ask any questions. I try to check for any comments daily. Happy shooting!

Freelance photography & being open to change

Working freelance is a strange creature sometimes, especially in this economy...

It's really made me look at how I work currently, and how I want to change my business going forward. I love the freedom of working freelance, and essentially choosing whether or not I accept an assignment. But there's also the reality that you end up waiting to be paid, sometimes much longer than was agreed upon. And it seems like, in our current economic situation, the latter is happening more and more often. It's during these times that I think it makes you really evaluate where you really want your career to go, and formulate a way to get there.


I'll always enjoy commercial photography assignments; I honestly enjoy the chance to work with products and people I would otherwise probably not get a chance to experience. I especially love working with small businesses; there's so much time and passion put into what they do. With that said, I think the changes in the industry have forced me to see how much I really enjoy doing fine art photography as well. Now I'm not saying that selling art in this economy is easy either, far from it. But I enjoy the creative process & complete freedom in it.

For those of you that are pro photographers or are selling your imagery, what do you think? How do you feel the economy has affected you and your business? What new strategies are you trying to employ in an industry that is, honestly, going to be forever changed?

Pay It Forward with Photography

Happy 4th of July for those of you it the U.S.! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. So this week, I will be showcasing a few images by other photographers as a Pay It Forward gesture. Be thankful for the freedoms we have; many in the world don't....

by Samara Peddle

by Danny Hammontree


Unknown Photographer


by Matt Knoth

by larainy

Unknown Photographer