Filter the Contrast.

In my last post I mentioned color filters, I then realized to myself I didn't really give a use/explanation.
So here it is!

Color filters are usually Red, Yellow, Blue Orange and Green but you can also get Sepia, Purple and various other colors. (they end to be more expensive than the regular colors).

Red
In color photography red filters can be used to make a sunset or a sky dramatic.
In Black & White photography a red filter is used to bring out contrast, it brings out reds and oranges and darkens blues greens. It is mainly used for landscapes.

Yellow
Yellow only makes small subtle changes in B/W photography, it lightens yellows, reds and oranges.

Green
Green is fantastic to use in color in woodland photography. It adds to the natural feel of a woody photo, it darkens oranges and reds in B/W photography and enhances dramatic sunsets

Blue
Great for snowy pics in RGB mode, enhances rainy day skylines and it basically has the same effects as the green filter when used in B/W photography.

Orange
This is a warm color also enhances dramatic sky lines and sunny days in color photography, it can be used in B/W photography to remove freckles and spots (like an easy photoshop!)

all photos came from HERE
There you have it, just a quick post today to tell you all about my favorite types of filters!

Love is Black & White (Monochrome)

For the first time yesterday I started playing with the monochrome settings on my camera (photoshop greyscale wasn't cutting it for me anymore) the results were better than I had ever expected.
Photography is not about having the best camera and the most expensive equipment, it is about imagination and knowing how to use lighting to you advantage (that being natural or "studio")
So here are a few of my favorite pics from yesterday.

 Plain black background, ISO 3200. Lighting Cloudy.

 Again Plain Black background, ISO 400, lighting cloudy.

 ISO 2500

 ISO 3200

 ISO 1000, I shot this one again on a plain black background but I held a torch behind the stem of the flower, it shows off the real beauty of the inside, almost angelic

ISO 320 again plain black background and a torch for lighting.

I used a blue filter on the monochrome setting, you can get colored filters really cheap and usually in sets from most places (including eBay) they really add drama to your b/w photos, each different color adds a different effect, they are mainly used in monochrome photos but you can get some pretty cool shots if you use them in RGB photo's too.
The best thing about monochrome photography is that you don't even need an amazing subject, the simplest things look beautiful.
When photo's are taken in color your eyes are distracted by all the different shades, in b/w photography your eyes are focused on the subject, meaning that every little detail becomes clear and you see things you wouldn't usually see.
My best friend at the moment is my colored and macro filters, they give you an insight into a new world your camera doesn't show you with a standard lens, i haven't got expensive filters, in fact I got them from eBay for a ridiculously low price.
Here is who I bought them off.
Remember when buying filters to get the right size for your lens, the size of your lens is indicated by a circle with a line through it followed by a number in mm

Here's mine and as you can see it's a 58mm lens meaning I need 58mm filters.
If you buy loads of filters and then buy a new camera with a different fitting, there is no need to buy new filters, there is a thing called step up and step down rings which enable you to use your old filters (they only cost about £2 and they are a life saver!)
That's it for today, Happy shooting guys!

Not quite the perfect picture?

Your excited you've been out for hours with your camera and you believe you have the most amazing photo you have ever taken, you get home, insert SD card and in actual fact that photo is a little bland!
Spice it up and add a few filters, there you go, the brilliant vintage style is always a good shot.
Here's how:
This is the photo i'm using, taken by myself a few years ago. (as you can see it's nothing spectacular)

The main aim of this photo was to make out she was an 80's superstar if you like.
We need to bring up the colors!
First thing about photoshop is always use layers!
Each time you add something to a photo put it on a new layer, that way if you make a mistake you can always delete it.
First thing I am going to do is go to Image>Adjustments> levels
this will show up a histogram.

if you drag the black arrow it will increase the darkness of the photo and if you drag the white arrow it will increase the brightness.
I want this more vivid so I am going to drag the white arrow to around 200.

the photo is now brighter!
however it still doesn't look right.
So I am going to go back to Image>Adjustments>Hue & Saturation

I have dragged the hue to -22 to give it more color and definitely more appeal.
(you can adjust the saturation is you want a little less color)
Almost there!
The key to mos vintage style photographs is filters!
add a new layer (that's the icon next to the little bin on the  bottom of the layers box)
double click this layer and rename it filter (this will help you to remember what you put in here)
Find a texture that you like (google images has a lot) and just copy that into your photo!
This is the texture I used:

You can download this texture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/borealnz/3495540187/
paste the texture onto your new layer and stretch it out so it covers your photo completely

now that doesn't look right, so where it says "normal" under the layers header change the format to "overlay" and then bring the opacity down to around 55%
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!
A beautiful modern yet so vintage looking photo!

Aperture for the Amateur.

For all of you stuck on auto on your cameras.
Here's a little thing to get you by on manual.
Aperture (or f-stop) basically means how much light you let through you camera, usually aperture really goes hand in hand with shutter speed.
Aperture goes from f/64 (a small opening) to f1.4 (a wide opening).
Shutter speed usually goes from 1/8000 (very fast) to 1 sec (usually considered quite slow)

http://www.shortcourses.com/use/using1-9.html

As you can see, a larger f stop will mean more light will enter your photo and a small aperture means less light enters, If you want a long exposure picture (i.e glow stick photos) then it would be best to use a small aperture and a slow shutter speed, the longer you leave your shutter open also depends on how much light you want to enter your photo. 

If you are wondering how you would know what shutter speed and what aperture you are going to need, it's simple, you don't need to know!

If you look through the viewfinder on your camera and half hold down the shutter button a small green metering system will appear. 

This is what you will find on your screen, as long as the square is in the middle of these numbers you will know that you have the right aperture and shutter speed for the photo you want.

Also don't forget if you are using a long exposure to use a tri-pod. You can get them cheap enough (around £10) from eBay or you can get the more expensive sturdy ones for about £20 more (I'd only recommend this is you are going to use it all the time). the last thing you want with a long exposure is camera shake, holding your camera by hand is definitely not the way to go with this your photos will come out blurry and all that hard work you put in setting it up will be wasted.

If you need more information this website got me through college when I had a film SLR

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/aperture.htm

In the mean time, here is a link to  favourite long exposure Photographer Andrew Whyte 

http://www.longexposures.co.uk/

The Reasoning.

Lies and Misconceptions

Wednesday 6th March 2013
Feeling good, heading to The NEC Birmingham for the most anticipated camera event of the year; Focus On Imaging, camera round neck, portfolio in hand, spirits high!
Ready to meet some amazing people to give me a review on my work.
Oh how wrong could I be?
Upon arrival we were attacked by what I like to call the scum of the industry. "Would you like to subscribe to us?" "Our magazines are different" "Only £75 for a 12 month subscription" 
After battling my way through bad sales pitches, I find myself looking into the desperate eyes of a man trying to recruit people to his "award winning academy" (www.PT4U.tv if you're interested.
After showing him my proudest work he told me that it has "no emotion, just what you'd expect from an amateur." Obviously after being hurt by this ridiculous man, I found all the photography books and magazines I could in a desperate attempt to save myself from a life of "bad photos".
Returning home, I jump into my chair and flick through these supposed photography magazines, only to find that actually none were helpful at all!
1: Amateur Photographer 
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/

This is basically for an "amateur photographer" with a few thousand pound spare to spend on expensive studio equipment and luxury holidays.
If you are a beginner then sure go ahead, buy this magazine and waste all your savings on some "colored gels" for your "studio lighting equipment" and for the rest of us, There's photoshop and apps that can make your photo moody.
2: Outdoor Photography http://www.thegmcgroup.com/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=690

Just the magazine for all you frequent flyers out there! 
Or if you need to find out how to take the perfect picture of a lion.

But like me if you are broke and don't even own a passport there's usually a page in there about how to take "the perfect tree photo" If all else fails you could try buy some lottery tickets and scratchcards, then if you win you could take that safari trip to Africa this magazine boasts so much about.

3: Black + White Photography http://www.thegmcgroup.com/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=690
Now you'd think this would be the sort of book you could read and learn how to set you monochrome settings to get that moody snap you've been trying to achieve for months, NOPE.
If you have that 1950's film camera hiding in the back of a cupboard your nan left you in here will. Here is the magazine for you!

Learn how to process your images in a dark room and then paint them by hand! 

On top of that I presume it's main aim is to try and sell you new gear for the computer nerd in you. Which is OBVIOUSLY so essential to you getting to grips with your camera!

it's up to you, maybe your interested in the latest technology and going abroad to take that one special photo, but if your like me and you just want the facts with no fuss then follow this blog and i'll update weekly maybe even daily (if your lucky) with the things I learn from my experiences (out there in the big wide... Highway?)