Instructor's Tip: Earth, Water and Sky

Photo by Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

EARTH, WATER AND SKY
As a former teacher, I stressed to my students to always make connections. Whether I was teaching math, writing, or science, I wanted my students to be able to take their thinking to higher levels by making connections either between subject areas or within given concepts. As I practice what I preach, I try to do this with my photography. For instance, I apply the same principles of lighting that I use when I photograph a person to when I take a shot of an animal in the wild. Is the face turned the right way? Is the angle of the light flattering? If I were to challenge you to make a list of commonalities between earth, water and sky, what would you come up with? PAUSE TO THINK...... How many of you came up with color? impact? nature? drama? combining all 3? There are no right or wrong answers. The idea is to get you to think photographically to create the best possible image.


EARTH: The earth has a myriad of colors. From the fall foliage of autumn to the deep greens of the rain forest, every color in the universe can be found. Learning how colors play off each other is important in order to create striking images.


WATER: If you reduce water to its basics, it’s colorless. The reason we see color in water is dependent upon what’s reflected upon it, what’s underneath it, and what’s in it. When photographing water, a strategically chosen shutter speed is important to its overall look. Fast shutter speeds stop the movement while slow ones emphasize it.
SKY: Sky and dramatic color are a marriage made, forgive the pun, in heaven. When the sky goes electric, it often becomes the focal point of the image. A clear horizon with clouds above it create great opportunities for color. But the sky can also be dramatic when there’s an impending or clearing storm. This is true especially when the sky in front of the sun opens up spotlighting the landscape.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

This Weekend: Editing photos from Patience and Jack's Wedding

This weekend I will editing all the fantastic images I and my three assistants took during Patience and Jack's wedding earlier this month. Susan Baggett, Heather M. Smith-Matthews and Jamie Cotten and I took more than 3,800 photos! I've definitely got my work cut out for me, but it will be a fun process because I can already tell just by looking at the RAW images that they are amazing! Time to get to work.

Here are some bridal portraits I took of Patience, the lovely bride.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Here is my favorite "What the Duck" comic from this week. Rock on Aaron! "What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. I just love how Aaron's wry sense of humor reflects the current state of the photography industry. But what really freaks me out sometimes when I read his strip is how much they reflect whatever situation I'm currently experiencing too...whether it's working with clients or desperately trying to stay on top of technology like Facebook or Twitter or a host of other things that all add up to being a professional photographer.

The genius of his strip is the way viewers can interact with Aaron and his comic character. Folks are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, and post photos of their own plushy and stuffed W.T. Duck working or hanging out.

From My Portfolio: Jessaca's Bridal Portraits

Over the weekend I and three other photographers shot Jessaca's bridal portrait session in my home studio. I've been editing her images this week. I found this photo so striking that I just had to post it.

I think her gorgeous eyes are really what make this image. The catch lights from my Alien Bee strobe inside a soft box and a Westcott Spiderlite TD5 lighting make her eyes pop. The expression on her face is filled with natural wonder because I took this shot while Jessaca was watching the two other photographers set up for their next photo. She was entranced by their work, and consequently was unaware I was taking this shot at the same time. Once she realized I was shooting, her expression got stiffer, more self-conscious and those shots didn't work. But this original one does. I often like to sneak in these kinds of shots while other photographers are holding a subject's attention. I think it offers a different perspective in the overall album a client might purchase from a shoot.

Here is a different take on a traditional wedding ring shot:

VOTE NOW: Vote for my client's family portrait and win a chance for a free photo session!

My first family portrait contest entry has been accepted into the 2010 Sandy Puc International Charity Model Search for North America's Cutest Family!

Here's the link to my client's entry. Click on the TOUR CITY Link and scroll down to Denver!

The Ryan's portrait taken on New Year's Day is now available for voting. Each vote costs just $1, and the photo with the most votes from 52 Sandy Puc 2010 Family Tour cities will qualify for being judged in the final round where the grand prize is a new car for North America's Cutest Family and a new Canon 5D Mark II for me! Plus, each vote benefits the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, a network of volunteer photographers who shoot newborns and infants who have passed away, leaving a tangent reminder in the form of a free photo to mourning families.

Please support my entry by VOTING NOW! Each vote you make will put your name in the running for a free 1 hour photo session with my studio. At the end of the contest in April, I will draw one lucky winner.

For example:
If you donate 5 votes (or $5) to the contest, I will put your name in a hat 5 times, increasing the chance that your name will be drawn for the free one hour photo session. Email me ASAP as soon as you post your vote so I confirm the votes on the website and put a number of votes by your name!

Good luck to you, The Ryans and my photo studio!

Get the Job Done: Jessaca and Nathan's Wedding

Photo by Sean Donnelly

Sometimes persistence pays off. In the case of Jessaca and Nathan's Christmas Wedding in December, that perseverance made the ultimate difference in the coverage of one of the most memorable days in their lives.

If you remember, the officiant of Jessaca and Nathan's wedding originally refused to allow I and second shooting Sean Donnelly to shoot the service because it was considered a sacred ceremony. But I just couldn't get over the fact that this couple had hired me to shoot their wedding, but that I WOULDN'T actually be able to shoot the event. It bugged me so much that I tracked the officiant down just minutes before the ceremony and asked him again to tell me again if we would be violating church policy to shoot the ceremony. He said that flash would be disruptive during the ceremony and he didn't believe our equipment would be able to capture anything inside the dark church. When I told him we did have the equipment capable of shooting the wedding without flash and that we could shoot it from the balcony without disrupting the service, he said "go ahead, but the photos aren't going to be any good."

I'm glad he was able to look past his doubts to give us a chance to shoot the ceremony. It was the best gift I could ever have given Jessaca who had no idea that Sean and I were clandestinely photographing the wedding from balcony! I got some great story telling shots with my 24-70 while Sean snared some great detailed shots with his telephoto.



photo by Sean Donnelly

photo by Sean Donnelly

photo by Sean Donnelly

photo by Sean Donnelly

Fans and followers get a special gallery sneak peak. Check out Jessaca and Nathan's wedding using this link, password Zion. Just a few minutes ago, I edited the last image from Jessaca and Nathan's Christmas Wedding. Out of more than nearly 2000 images shot, 355 were edited and will be placed in her album.

Here are several of my favorites. If you like what you see and think my style meshes with how you envision your wedding day, book it with me today. I promise I will go above and beyond you, too!









photo by Sean Donnelly

photo by Sean Donnelly

I will post up more favorites from the reception later this week! Enjoy

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Here is my favorite "What the Duck" comic from this week. Rock on Aaron! "What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. I just love how Aaron's wry sense of humor reflects the current state of the photography industry. But what really freaks me out sometimes when I read his strip is how much they reflect whatever situation I'm currently experiencing too...whether it's working with clients or desperately trying to stay on top of technology like Facebook or Twitter or a host of other things that all add up to being a professional photographer.

The genius of his strip is the way viewers can interact with Aaron and his comic character. Folks are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, and post photos of their own plushy and stuffed W.T. Duck working or hanging out.

Get Out There: Your Sports Photos Wanted for a Digital Photo AcademyWebinar!

Need some national exposure of your work? Sumbit your SPORTS and FAST ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY for consideration and inclusion in a Digital Photography Academy Webinar.

Please submit your images by Feb. 10 for the webinar scheduled to run on Feb. 16.
Participants must sign up for the DPA E-Newsletter to submit an entry for inclusion in the DPA, LiHD Webinar, Online Photo Webinar Series. Go to www.digitalphotoacademy.com to begin receiving the newsletter. Also, please include a phone and e-mail address in case DPA needs to contact you about your entry.

My readers will recognize DPA as the program that introduced me to one of my favorite photography instructors, Russ Burden. I have taken several DPA classes taught by Burden and his free "Instructor's Tip" appears here on my blog every Monday to get our photographic weeks off to a good start. Now's your chance to show what you've learned from Burden's instruction and have your photos get some worldwide exposure!

Each webinar is archived on the DPA site for future viewing. Here is an example of a previous webinar so you can see how your photographs will be used to enhance the free lesson hosted by one of the DPA's instructors.



If you would like to submit your photographs please review the submission requirements below. Note that webinars are edited and formatted days in advance, thus please submit your photos in advance of the webinar. Late submissions can not be added. Photographs are chosen, and edited, for their applicability to the webinar theme, artistic and technical merit, and content length.

If your photograph is NOT chosen, it will be archived and may appear in a more appropriate future webinar. Submit your photographs to info@digitalphotoacademy.com.



Please submit your images in the following specs:
Compressed JPEG (Level 4 or 5)
Approx size 1MB per image
200 dpi
10 inch size longest edge

Please include your name and city in the image file name as below:
First_Last_City_01.jpeg

Please also include brief captions including subject, location and any pertinent tech info. If it is not immediately clear from your image, for which webinar you are submitting photos, please indicate this as well.

By submitting your photographs for consideration, you grant and authorize, The Digital Photo Academy,LivinginHD.com and Panasonic, the following: The right to use your photograph(s) in the content and promotion of the webinar series, and for use on each company’s respective website. You further authorize your photograph(s) may be archived online and/or in a database, and allow unrestricted internet availability of the webinar(s) containing your photograph(s). You further authorize the use of your photograph(s) in any future webinars. By voluntarily submitting your photographs for consideration you agree to the aforementioned without any legal claims, or claims for remuneration, whatsoever. You, as the photographer, retain the copyright © of any submitted photograph(s) and proper photo credit and acknowledgement will appear with your photograph whenever possible and practical.

Good luck everyone, and remember to check back and watch the webinar to see if your photo was chosen!

From My Portfolio: Ryan Family Portrait Session

I LOVE this fun shot taken during the Ryan's New Year Family Portrait Session! The expressions on Crystal and Shawn's face as well as the utter joy in Bradley's eyes and smiles as he's hoisted in the air is infectious. I'm going to ask the family if I can enter this photo into the North America's Model Search for America's Cutest Family, a fundraiser to benefit the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation.

Here is the original RAW shot



The edit includes a simple process of masking out the studio background for a high-key white look. Some sharpening, curves and level adjustments round out the image.

Book a family portrait session now for only $50 to have your favorite image entered into the contest. The grand prize is a brand new car for one lucky family and a new Canon KD Mark II for me!

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee includes:
60-minute photo session
one free 8X10 and one image submitted to the national gallery. Once the photo has been uploaded to the gallery, send the url to your friends, family and co-workers and have them vote for the image!

Instructor's Tip: Dusk + Dawn Flash

Photo by Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

DUSK + DAWN FLASH

The word photography comes from the Latin combining photo and graphy. Photo means light and graphy means to write. Hence photography means to write with light. How appropriate it is that in order to make a picture, a photographer needs light with which to etch an image onto a digital sensor. But what do photographers do when the sun level drops and they’re outdoors? For me, it’s flash to the rescue.


There’s a magic quality to the light right before the sun crests the horizon at sunrise and just after it sinks below at sunset. If the subject is front or sidelit by this gorgeous glow of color, detail can be recorded. But if you want to record the subject against this gorgeous backdrop, it falls into silhouette. If you need to reveal detail, it’s necessary to add artificial light. In that flash units of today are so portable and powerful, it’s become the light of choice. To make the image successful, it’s necessary to balance the amount of light emitted from the flash with the amount of ambient light in the sky. In order to do this, the flash has to be able to be dialed up or down from the ambient light meter reading. The amount depends on the effect you desire and the chosen f stop at which the image is made. The smaller the f stop, the more you’ll tax the capability of the flash to be able to emit enough light. On this week's photo, I used flash as a source of fill so detail could be revealed in the foreground dunes and yucca stalk. Come with me on a tour and I'll show you how to improve your images using flash.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Get the Job Done: First wedding of 2010!

This afternoon, myself and three other assistant photographers, will be shooting my studio's first wedding of the new decade! After attending last night's dress rehearsal at the Tuscan-inspired Bella Sera Event Center in Brighton, I can't tell you how excited I am to shoot Jack and Patience's wedding in such a fantastic venue.

Sweeping staircases. The glow of multiple lighted Christmas trees. Darkened wood and stained concrete floors. This place is filled so many different backdrops, textures and lighting that it should make for some amazing photos.



If you remember, Patience is the cousin of Harriet, whose wedding I shot last May. Harriet's referral and vote of confidence in my work helped me secure Patience's trust as well as her contract. I felt so much pride and honor to have relatives walk up to me last night and shake my hand and say "you do great work!" It's that kind of confidence that makes me want to do an even greater job. Here is a shot of Harriet below, as well as a shot of Harriet and her new husband Peter above.



One of the most difficult things to consider regarding this wedding is placement of photographers to capture the event from as many angles as possible. One photographer will be placed at the bottom of the two staircases where the wedding party will be walking down and moving in front of the altar. Once the party is in place, these two photographers will be responsible for shooting tight shots of the ring exchange, kiss, family members. etc. One photographer will be placed in an overhead balcony to get scene setting shots and capture the moment of the bride walking down the stairs, hopefully with a wide angle big enough to get her and the audience watching her decent. And another photographer will be on the ground circling the audience and shooting from the rear since the bride and groom will be facing the audience. This is unusual because all the other ceremonies I've covered had the bride and groom's back to the audience.

As a side note, the videographers and I coordinated where everyone will be so that each set of professionals will have the space they need to do their work. I couldn't believe it when the lead videographer told me that she spent her last wedding fighting with a photographer who had no regard for her work, standing completely in front of her camera on numerous occasions to make sure he got his shot. I think that kind of behavior is unnecessary, and that photographer can be sure he won't be getting a referral from the videographer. Photographers have to realize that they aren't the only vendor involved in making this day a success for the bride and groom. It's important to carve out relationships with the caterer, the DJ, the wedding coordinator, the event space managers, the officiant -- anybody who can later vouch for your business and you for theirs. It's about mutual respect.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Here is my favorite "What the Duck" comic from this week. Rock on Aaron! "What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. I just love how Aaron's wry sense of humor reflects the current state of the photography industry. But what really freaks me out sometimes when I read his strip is how much they reflect whatever situation I'm currently experiencing too...whether it's working with clients or desperately trying to stay on top of technology like Facebook or Twitter or a host of other things that all add up to being a professional photographer.

The genius of his strip is the way viewers can interact with Aaron and his comic character. Folks are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, and post photos of their own plushy and stuffed W.T. Duck working or hanging out.

Get Out There: Only one Denver Entry for North America's Cutest Family Photo Competition

Right now, there is only one Denver photo entry in the running for the "North America's Cutest Family" competition benefitting the Now I Lay Be Down to Sleep Foundation. The 2010 Sandy Puc International Charity Model Search is on the look for the nation's best looking family. Only one finalist with the most votes from each of the 52 tour cities will move on to the final round of judging round. The grand prize winner will drive away with a new car!

The Denver finalist should be YOUR FAMILY. But you can't compete if you don't have a photo taken by a participating photographer. You're in luck because PICTURE YOUR WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY is a registered participant in the model search!

Call NOW at 303-548-6112 to book your Model Search Special session and be eligible for the contest.

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee includes:
60-minute photo session
one free 8X10 and one image submitted to the national gallery. Once the photo has been uploaded to the gallery, send the url to your friends, family and co-workers and have them vote for the image!



The image MUST have been taken on or after November 1, 2009 through the end of the submission deadline date of April 5, 2010. So contact me today!

Have your family photo standout by one after a fresh Colorado seasonal snow!

Instructor's Tip: The Shape of Things to Come

Photo by Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

Personal Message from Russ:
I can’t believe another year has passed and it’s time to start a new round of Tips for 2010. I hope you have learned a lot from all the ones you’ve received so far and that they motivate you to get out and take some pics. Please help spread the word about my tours so I’ll be able to continue sending The Tip Of The Week year after year. Referrals are always appreciated. I’ve re-designated 2010 to be The Year of the Photo Tour. I’d love to have you join me so I can share with you first hand all the tips I’ve sent out over the last five years - that’s a lot of tips! Seeing the tips put into effect is a great way to learn more about our wonderful art.

The Shape of Things to Come
Shapes are the building blocks of all structures. From repetitive hexagons woven into beehives to the support systems of skyscrapers, they’re found everywhere. Made of lines, patterns and repeated forms, designs of intertwined networks await the discerning photographer to extract and isolate. Lens choice, light, color, contrast and shooting angle all contribute to the success of capturing images with shapes.

Shape plays a dominate role in identifying objects in everyday life. The silhouette of a dormant tree in winter or the outline of an airborne flock of geese at sunset need no explanation as to what they are. Their forms are familiar, yet often deemed mundane. As a photograph, they’re often overlooked. By learning how to integrate shape, form, texture, lines and patterns into an image, a whole new world of photography can unfold.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Breaking News: America's Cutest Family Could Win a Car!

Are your loved one’s North America’s Cutest Family?

PROVE IT!

Picture Your World Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Family, and you’re invited to enter the competition!

Many prizes will be awarded and the Grand Prize winner receives a NEW CAR! Now is definitely the time to update the family photo!

Call NOW at 303-548-6112 to book your Model Search Special session and be eligible for the contest.

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee includes:
60-minute photo session
one free 8X10 and one image submitted to the national gallery



Finalists will be determined by on-line votes. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). Official voting begins 1/4/10 and ends 4/8/10.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of almost 7,000 volunteer photographers in the United States and twenty-five countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby. I have known about this program for quite some time, but I haven't yet found the strength to participate because just thinking about the loss of a newborn child brings tears to my eyes and I doubt that I would be able to photograph those final moments. But helping the organization raise money like this IS something I can do!



But wait! For those who did not qualify – you can still earn rewards! Send this email / postcard to friends and families and tell them you referred them to Picture Your World Photography. If they book and complete their photo session with the studio, you can earn the following print credits for 2010 usage:

2-5 referrals:
Receive two 5x7’s from your most recent session or on a future session 2010 (FREE!)

6-13 referrals:
Receive one 8x10 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

13-20 referrals:
Receive one 11x14 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

21+ referrals:
Receive one 20x30 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

I know one of my client's family have GOT TO BE America’s Cutest Family!

The grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc and international recognition. Call 303-548-6112 now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

Get the Goods: Sandy Puc 2010 Family Tour

In just a few hours I will be attending my first Sandy Puc tour! Photography friends who have attended previous tours left there amazed, inspired and filled with strategies to advance their business. I can't wait to experience it for myself! Here's the run down of what we get for an unbeatable price of $59!


Photo by Sandy Puc

The Passion for Profit, Sandy Puc' Family Tour 2010

UNDERSTAND THE FINER POINTS IN MARKETING TO FAMILIES:
Create family campaigns with a wow factor.
Get families through the door when you most need their business.
Create repeat business.
Work with charities and create fun, profitable, and philanthropic marketing that attract families.

WATCH SAM IN ACTION:
Discover the best way to conduct a family portrait session with diverse ages and personalities.
See the best poses to communicate family bonds.
Understand the psychology behind running a family session.

SEE HOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR FAMILY SESSIONS RUN MORE SMOOTHLY:
Learn Sam's timesaving tips
Get expert advice on tools of the trade.
Conquer obstacles that hinder your success.
Understand efficient studio protocols.
Develop a positive, can-do philosophy.
Create a culture of success in your business.
Be infused with unbridled enthusiasm!

An award winning photographer and proud mother of four, Master Series Portrait Artist Sandy pours her passion into creating beautiful, timeless images. The accolades she has earned in the professional arena are just as important to her as the gratitude expressed by countless clients throughout the years. "I have been given a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to capture the beauty and spirit of the people I photograph. I am so thankful you have trusted me to use my God-given talent to create an heirloom for your family."