Archive for category Photography
Photo of the Day Failure?
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on June 4, 2010
Did you know was a Project 365 dropout?
It’s true. I started my first daily photo project mid-August 2009 and by October I found myself struggling to keep up. After 60 some odd days, I was done posting daily, and by day 76 I realized that catching up on 20 missed days was just not going to happen.
I was kind of on a “time to change my life” kick, and was looking for self improvement projects. I had already begun working out and losing weight, and I decided I would pick up photography full time and futher develop my skills. Inspired by a couple of photography tweets that had this crazy hashtag #project365, I knew I had to check it out. By the end of the week I had combed through hundreds of people’s projects, thousands of photos, from iphone pictures to amatuers to professional photographers. I was hooked, in, ready to go, excited… worried about the committment, but pumped.
So what happened? I’d like to think it was a combination of things: Not anticipating time commitments, travel interference, trouble keeping track of days because I started mid-month, not having a systematic way of storing and sharing my photos, not having a group of peers to encourage and support me, and many others. It was a daunting list and in the end I had to give it up… for THAT attempt.
You may be wondering why I’m sharing this with you now? The truth is, I gave up on my project 365 last year, but in no way did I fail. Finished or not, I accomplished more than just starting a photography project – I reignited a passion in life that I had neglected. Not only that, but I now have 76 gorgeous photos for my portfolio that I would never have had, had I not tried at all. I also ended up learning from my previous attempt, and am now on day 155 of THIS year’s project (and going full steam ahead with no plans on stopping).
My challenge to you? Challenge yourself. You don’t have to take up a photo a day, or even a week. Just get out there and make pictures, write stories, draw, create! Failure only comes when you do not try.
Below I’ve picked out my top 10 favorite photos from last year’s “failed project365″. As you can see, it was anything but!
[If you'd like to see all my daily photo pictures, you can check them out on my Project365 Flickr set.]
1. A quick cigarette fix waiting for the band to take stage:
2. Downtown Orlando skyline in black and white:
3. Miami Vice in Orlando:
4. Rescue me:
5. Like a rock:
6. Liquor City in all it’s glory:
7. A girl and her camera:
8. Tampa theater, revamped but still old school:
9. A shot in the dark, downtown Tampa Bay:
10. My new pet, Spike:
Photo of the Day Challenge #1
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on April 19, 2010
See now folks, this is why I love Project 365, or photo of the day (potd), or Flickr 365, or iphoneography, or whatever you want to call it. It is about community, inspiration, and pushing yourself to continue to get better or enhance your artwork and skills.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been inspired by viewing people’s photo projects. I gain ideas, or build off of concepts and really push the limits of my work, and I hope my pictures help to insight creativity in other’s projects. So when a chain of inspired photos occurred through my fave’s project’s, I thought how cool would it be to challenge everyone else to show me how they would envision the shot…
It all started with @paulgiunta’s Day 102 photo of his gear:
I (@christawatson) felt inspired by this and wondered what it would look like if there was something behind the wide open glass:
My nifty fifty wide open
Paul Giunta's Day 102 | Wide Open
Then my always favorite, cool and quirky @joeyjoeyjoey decided to step it up with his interpretation:
AND THEN, had another one of Joey’s friend/fan @j00zt1n posted THIS photo:
So the Challenge? How would you do this shot differently? I’d love to see everyone’s take on this…
UPDATE! We’ve come full circle as Paul added his 2nd interpretation to the mix:
Tips for Children Photography
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on January 26, 2010
Taking pictures of children can be a lot of fun, and there’s never a dull moment, but it can also be very challenging and at times frustrating getting that special shot. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way to help me keep the sanity and have a great shoot.
Know their nap time:
This is my new motto, and it even applies to the older kids. From newborns to teenagers, everyone has certain times of day when they are happy, awake, cranky, or tired. This should be considered first when scheduling the appointment. Ask the parents when nap time is, or what time of the day their child is most agreeable. Trust me, parents will know! For example, if you are photographing a toddler, make sure you allow for plenty of time before and after nap and snack times. When scheduling a Senior photo shoot, you may want to schedule for later in the afternoon so you’re not interrupting that much needed beauty rest.
Nap time!
Keep it age appropriate:
This includes everything from suggested wardrobe to location and tone of the shoot. Make sure that you pick locations that suit the age range. Newborns to older babies are usually more comfortable in their own home close to creature comforts. Toddlers to grade school ages need a location where they can run around and exert all that happy energy. I like to choose a park like or playground setting so that they find the session fun and not just something they have to do. (I’m a sucker for those big smiles) Really tailor the teen shoot to a location that fits their personality. This way they will feel like you really took their style into consideration and they will want to actively participate.
The same goes for clothing. Wardrobe can make or break some shots, but if the child is uncomfortable, it will show in the picture. For newborns, stick to the basics: onsies, blankets or birthday suits. With toddlers, make it a game. Tell their parents to pick out some of their favorite (I prefer colorful) outfits and then let the child choose which one they wear. This way you are involving them in the session and letting them know that they are in charge… because let’s face it, they really are 
Don’t force it:
If the model is not cooperating, put the camera down and step back for a little while. For most children, this photo shoot was not by choice and therefore makes it a chore for them. Your job is to make it fun and to involve them in the process. Before picking up the camera and pointing it at them, greet them and start involving yourself in what they are doing. Join in on their playtime or whatever activity they seem to be interested in. Once they get going, pick up the camera and use it to interact with them. Don’t just take pictures, document the fun they are having. You may have a plan for the shot you want to capture, but the truth is, the kids end up dictating the end results.
Having fun at play
Know when to quit:
I hate to say it like that, but truth is there are times when a session is just not going to happen. I’ve had days where I forced myself to take an appointment long just to make sure I got a good shot… and I ended up with nothing. Sometimes it’s better to accept the fate of the day and just reschedule for a time when the subject is more cooperating. It may seem like you lose time and effort, but the results and customer satisfaction should always win out in the end.
Of course, these are only just a few observations I have made throughout my time shooting portraits. You have to remember that every person you shoot is different along with the results. Best advice is to be prepared ahead of time and enjoy the moments when the planets align and the day goes perfectly to plan. GOOD LUCK!
MOO Business Cards, I’m so EXCITED!
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on January 9, 2010
So I’m just going to put this out there, I LOVE MOO! Moo.com does NOT pay me, and I only get perks from their awesome e-moosletter like everyone else, but I absolutely LOVE them! I ordered my first set of business cards from them when they were in the UK, and I adored them! They allow you to print up to 50 different photos on the front of the cards and then add your info on the back. You also don’t have to upload separate photos if you already have them uploaded to your flickr account.
My first Moo cards were fantastic! They were high quality stock and felt so shiny and smooth to the touch. I always get compliments and have people ask me where I got them done. I mean I pay a little more per card, but if you really think about it, it’s worth the few cents extra because:
- I rarely give out hundreds of biz cards
- People love picking which photo card they get
- People actually keep them around (they treat them like photographs)
- It’s a great conversation starter
This time around I got the mini cards in 2 different types; One for photography and the other for fun:
The serious "work" card front
The "fun" card front
The back of each
So the reason I’m swooning over these new Moo cards, aside from how awesome they are? I had a little issue with printing time versus when I needed them… After a quick note to the service team, a very friendly service rep named David managed to not only help me out, but also managed to finagle some extra shipping upgrades to help the cards get to me on time. This is the second time I’ve had outstanding customer service and I’m excited to work with them in the future. Thank you Moo.com!
A Different Kind of Lesson Learned
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on December 29, 2009
I recently joined a few fellow photographers in a volunteer project call Help Portrait earlier this month. I am hoping to follow up on that experience in the near future, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about a different kind of experience, or almost lesson, I learned volunteering that day, regarding…
Shop Talk.
We all do it, almost just rolls off the tongue… talking tog slang that is. And I’m sure the more you are into photography, the easier it is for you to “talk the talk” and even becomes a habit. I even do it naturally in my ‘day’ job (us internet marketers love our acronyms.) You see it a lot in the industry mainly because, well, let’s face it, pho-to-gra-phy is a pretty darn long word. I mean we’re talking 4 syllables or more just for one word!
I’m sure some of you have even heard people with conversations like “while shooting, the photog went down a few stops to really pop the bokeh.” (Ok that might be a little over done, but believe me, I’ve heard worse! ) Heck, I’m even guilty of doing it a lot. I think it’s because I surround myself with such a great group of photographers that understand this industry speak. I really had’t encountered any problems with it until…
That Saturday Morning.
What I didn’t realize was speaking in this comfy and familiar language is hard to shake when around the non-photo community. Surrounded by a group of my peers, we quickly set up our equipment at the local Women’s and Children’s Shelter, excited to help out on the big day. We finally had the first set of ladies ready with hair and makeup when I was to direct them to their photographer for the day.
I quickly introduced myself and shook hands, eager to meet everyone, asking them if they were ready for their picture to be taken. I walked them to the set and asked Mike, their photographer that morning, if he was ready “to shoot them”. Mike smiled and nodded at me, but I could tell I struck a nerve with our model to be.
Now this is classic photog speak for taking photos. We shoot things. I even consider it kind of our hip lingo, BUT I had not accounted for one small detail… We were volunteering at a Women’s Shelter, where we were not allowed to publish any photos or names due to the fact that a lot of them were escaping domestic abuse situations.
Lesson Learned
I felt bad about it when I heard others use those terms throughout the day. I’m not sure they encountered the same reaction I had and most likely did not think twice about using this slang.
I did however meet up with a fellow photog who had been photographing at the main shelter and had been calling everyone ‘subjects’ (a term used in legal proceedings which a lot of the folks at the shelter had been or were currently going through.) He told me he realized that he needed to change his choice of words to ‘clients’ so that everyone would feel more at ease, including himself.
I realized that something so simple could mean so much. Ultimately the lesson I learned is that I need to be receptive to my working environment. I can still talk shop on twitter or forums, but out in the field I need to lose the lingo in order for my customers to feel comfortable in front of the camera and with me.
Fun with Night Photography
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on December 3, 2009
I have a new love in my life and its name…night photography. My affair with the darkness has grown with each project 365 photo. Between work, dinner, exercising, and other social activities, I realized the only free time I had to set up shots was at night. So what else was a girl to do but take to the streets in search of an interesting shot. Here are some tricks I’ve picked up along the way…
Take your Time
Most of the time natural light or studio photos involve live subjects, usually people or animals, that require fast reaction times and constant movement and framing. However, due to the nature of the beast, night shots are usually reserved for stationary objects or scenes. This means you have more time to calculate your setup and settings, as well as time for taking several variations of exposure levels and compositions. What does this mean really? Simply put, you have room for trial and error. Use the time to slow down your shutter or try out new positions and angles. Taking your time is not really an option when you have antsy models waiting on you, so savor the one on one time you get with inanimate objects.
Color the Night
Have you ever noticed how color really pops on a black canvas? Essentially, the dark of night is your black background, and the light source is your paint! Be sure when looking around for a location to take color into consideration. Obvious color points might be something like neon signs, but not so obvious is when light subtly bounces off things like painted walls, trees, people, or even the street. Find the color and you’ll find a great shot!
Shoot Blind
A 30 or even 60 second long exposure will receive way more light information than your plain sight ever will, which is why long exposure photographs are so interesting… they are something we can only imagine and not reproduce with our own eyes. My advice is to find light sources that are very underwhelming to the naked eye, like street lamps in the distance, and leave the shutter wide open (don’t forget to use a cable release or timer so you do not shake the camera). For example, in the picture below, I could only see the dock and a faint light in the distance. With the help of the moon and some neat bridge lights, I was able to pick up reflections in the water and wispy moonlit clouds:
Set the Tone
Night photos are sometimes given the stigma of being dark and mysterious, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Light bursts and colorful neons can set a fun and whimsical tone, whereas time delayed star trails provoke nostalgia and wonder. Don’t let the darkness fool you. YOU have the control on how you would like your photograph to emote to others.
These are just a few tricks that have helped me improve my shots along the way. What are some of your favorite tips for getting that perfect nighttime photo?
What is Project 365?
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on December 2, 2009
If you’ve never encountered a project 365 on Flickr, Twitter, or Facebook, you’re in for a real treat! In the simplest of terms, it is a photographer’s, or aspiring photog’s way of slowly torturing themselves one day at a time by having to take, process and upload a photo every single day of the year for 365 days. There are different reasons as to why someone takes on this project, but a lot of them include, building a portfolio, perfecting photographic skills, and challenging those creative juices. Most people decide to start their projects at the beginning of the year as some delusional New Year’s Resolution and of course it makes it easier to track progression. There are even sites and groups purely dedicated to documenting the hijinks of these crazy time consuming quests. (Check out Flickr’s group Project 365 or ShutterCal to see some).
I began on my journey in a different manner… basically a friend bullied me into it. Although this friend, who will remain nameless, eventually dropped out of this time consuming project, I have managed to continue shooting (even though the posting of them daily is somewhat questionable.)
My current Set:
My 365 Photo Set
Onto the reason why I brought up the project… It’s DECEMBER! Therefore all you ne’er do wells out there have a good month to think about whether you want to jump on this crazy photo-a-day bandwagon! I really hope you give this project the consideration it deserves. Although there are days (many) in which you will be cursing my name for ever mentioning it, the journey is beyond worth it in the people you will meet and the photos you will take!
Don’t forget, if you do decide to start, send me the link and I will be sure to check them out!
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