Posts Tagged ‘digital photography tips’
© Tim Pannell Photography
I’ve been looking around at some of the “photo blogs” that are out on the internet lately and there is one thing that has really surprised me. Why do so many of the blogs use the exact same template with almost identical images to other “photo blogs?” Heck…..even some of the verbage is word for word the same as other blogs. The images almost always look like they were shot by the same person as well.
I’m disappointed that so many just go out and copy the work of someone that is basically already copying the work of Anne Geddes. Not only is that plagiarism, but it is as far as one can get from true creativity.
© Tim Pannell Photography
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting inspiration from someone’s work or vision and using that as a starting point or jumping off point…….but to do the same shot and then call it your own…..that’s not what photography should be about.
My advice……try harder. If you want to recreate someone else’s work as an assignment to learn a technique…..that’s great…..just don’t promote it as your own work. Any self respecting professional photographer knows there are laws in place to protect against that and would never do this.
There is a big difference between owning a professional digital camera and being a professional photographer. I’m a little taken aback by all of the misrepresentation going on of late. My niece is getting married in August and gave me a list of several “wedding” photographers’ websites to look at.
To my surprise….they were all just bloggers. All of them did something else for a living and did photography because it was their “passion.” Each of these blogs featured ” fully retouched or “edited” images” awash in posteriziation, clipped highlights and clipped shadows. Many of the images were very beautiful. Interesting crops, interesting use of available light (only available light) very limited scenarios because of their inability to do anything other than just point their camera and shoot.
This is a recipe for a wedding disaster. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer….don’t hire a blogger……get a professional that knows what they’re doing….it’s worth the extra money.
They initially wanted me to shoot their wedding, but I declined because even though I’m a professional in the biz for over 25 years….I don’t shoot weddings. It’s not what I’m good at and it wouldn’t be fair to them to misrepresent myself.
If you’re learning photography……admit it. If you’re still struggling with Photoshop……admit it. Don’t promote yourself as a professional baby, teenager, wedding photographer when you are consistently posterizing every one of your images that happens to have red in it. It’s not honest.
That being said……we all start somewhere….just be yourself…..not Anne Geddes, not your next door neighbor, not me.
© Tim Pannell Photography
Learn your craft so that you can try new things and experiment. It’s when you experiment that you come up with images that can look unique. Unique is a lofty goal to aim at since seemingly almost anything worth doing has already been done, but I think you get the point.
I spent a couple of days last week shooting with an art director friend of mine from New York. It was a blast to be working together again. It’s kind of like this intricately intertwined photography dance we have going. She knows me well and I know her well and consequently its a joy to shoot together….she brings out my best.
We spent several hours on a neighbors porch. She had so many wonderful knick knacks all over the place that made for wonderful props for my kids and families to use.
It felt a lot like play time for me as well as the models. We wanted the images to have kind of dreamy whimsical quality to them. We chose specific colors in the wardrobe and props to achieve that.
My personal opinion is…..it worked.
In any case…..don’t copy other people’s work or websites or text……it’s not ethical.
Sorry I got off on a rant there…..ooops…..I’ve just plagiarized Dennis Miller……ahhhh crap!
Just go out and play, have fun……..try something new and different………and most importantly…….be yourself!
Family picnic © Tim Pannell Photography
I’ve been a commercial photographer for over 24 years now, so It seems a little weird for me to be saying that I’m discovering the joys of photography all over again.
Over the course of my career I’ve worked with Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Phil Mickelson and shot all over Europe, Africa, South America, Greece, Canada and most of the states in the U.S.
I’ve worked on countless campaigns and with countless ad agencies and art directors. I have to say that I always have a ball when I’m working.
But, out of everything I’ve shot, the one subject that is my hands down favorite, is kids. They’re a blast! I love their energy, I love the challenge of keeping them interested. I love trying to understand what makes them tick.
I only started this blog a few weeks ago in the interest of sharing some of the things I’ve learned over the years with others. I didn’t realize how much I’d benefit from it.
So, while I’m trying to come up with ideas for the blog, I’m remembering how I used to feel all those years ago when I was just starting out in photography.
I used to pour through magazines and books, searching for great images and I would always look in awe when I stumbled onto an amazing photograph.
I ate, drank and slept photography. Writing this blog has reawakened those feelings inside me and it’s been a lot of fun reconnecting with that.
I have so many friends that are extremely interested in photography. Several of them are into scenics and nature shots, but the vast majority are mostly interested in shooting better photographs of their children.
© Tim Pannell Photography
The “Photo Mommies” blog focuses exclusively on taking better photos of your kids. It’s been fun sharing some portrait lighting ideas and photography tips, but I would like to get more in depth than I can in a “blog” format.
Since I want to share more and do more, I’ve decided to offer an online photography workshop to a select number of students.
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
The class will run 8 weeks. The first class will start in October
There will be a limited number of students allowed in each class so that I have enough time for each person on an individual basis. I will give everyone personalized feedback on their assignment images.
I’m having a website designed so there will be a forum specifically for these workshops. I will be able to post daily lessons, images, videos, and screen captures.
At the end of each week, there will be an assignment that covers the daily lessons studied during that week.
Students will be able to post questions and upload some of their photos for critiques and feedback. I haven’t settled on a fee just yet, but perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 – $400.
I do have a lot of questions at this time. I know what I would like to learn in a photography class, but I don’t know what any of you might prefer or enjoy.
What would you be looking for in an online photography class? What topics would interest you the most? What would your expectations be for an 8 week class?
If any of you have already taken an online photography course, what did you like about it, what didn’t you like about the workshop? What areas of child photography do you struggle with the most?
I’m open to any suggestions, no matter how big……or small they may be.
camping © Tim Pannell Photography
I’m really excited about teaching these workshops and I am looking forward to getting to know a lot of you better. By the end of the class, I’m sure I’ll have a pretty good feel for who your kids are as well.
There’s nothing as cool as getting a great, timeless shot of one of your kids that will last forever. Nothing is better at transporting us through time to a cherished moment or memory than a photograph.
Let me give you the photographic tools you need to capture the images of your kids that you already carry around in your heart.
