Marissa Elman | Fashion & Photography

Marissa Elman is a lifelong lover of fashion and photography.

Introduction to Contrast in Photography

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The use of contrast in photography is one of the most critical aspects of art. Knowing how to manipulate contrast will help improve your technique and photography overall. 

Contrast, simply put, means different. In photography, some of the most usual differences are changed by actually altering the changes in color or tone in the composition. Lowering or heightening the contrast in the photo can significantly alter the story your picture is telling. 

Creating an exciting color scheme involves some knowledge of color. You don’t need to have the eye for the color of Vincent Van Gogh; knowledge of or an on hand color wheel will suffice. A color wheel is a tool involved in a vast medium of art. It merely consists of the relationship between different colors. Using color schemes, you can play around with what colors provide. It’s easy to find complementary colors because they are located on the opposite side of the wheel.

An easy example is the juxtaposition of the colors green and red. They both compliment each other and cause their counterpart to pop or “stick out.” You can also classify colors into two categories, warm or cold. Combining a cold color with a warm color will provide contrast in your photo. 

The most popular form of contrast is called tonal contrast. Tonal contrast refers to the balance of brightness in different elements of an image. Those contrasting hues are very noticeable in black and white imagery. If the photo is both very dark and contains very bright tones, it has a high tonal contrast. If the image has a far range of tones from pure white to pure black, it is classified as a medium tonal interest. 

As you work on your photography and image editing sills, pay attention to your usage of contrast in both pre and post. Variation can change your story as much the actual image does. Play around with colors, tone, and brightness and, most importantly, have fun!

Introduction to White Balance

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Many photographers will start shooting in automatic mode, but once you start shooting in manual mode, you will gain so much more creative control over your images. The first three settings you should know about are the exposures settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These settings are only the beginning, and your camera settings go beyond those three. Today’s blog focuses on white balance, which allows you to get the right color temperature in your photos. 

 

Color temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin, and all sources of light have a color temperature whether you’re using natural light, fluorescents, professional speedlights, or LED panels. Color temperature works inversely to what we associate with temperature because “warm” colors fall at the lower end of the spectrum while “cool” colors are on the higher end. The lower the number, the warmer the color, and likewise, the cooler the color, the higher its color temperature. 

 

Colors that are warmer tend to read orange and fall around 2000K, and cooler colors, like that of moonlight are at the other end around 8000K-10,000K. Even the same light source can have variations of color temperature. Take the sun for example. Sunlight may look neutral at noon (within the ballpark of approximately 6000K) but can appear warm at sunrise or sunset. 

 

Our brains are remarkable and recognize colors even in different color temperatures. We understand that an apple is red whether we’re looking at it in warm light or cool light. A digital camera can approximate the color temperature of an object but doesn’t always compensate correctly. If you want to record accurate colors, you may be required to adjust your white balance settings. 

 

Your DSLR will often have white balance presets like Tungsten, Fluorescent, Daylight, Shade, and more that will help compensate for your lighting conditions. Sometimes, your camera may have even more refined controls and may let you adjust the values in Kelvins. Think of color temperature and white balance as opposites: warmer light falls lower on the Kelvin scale, so setting a lower number on your camera will cool down the image instead of warming it up. 

 

White balance is a powerful tool for accurate color correction, but it can also be used artistically. Knowing how to set your white balance settings can make a photo look natural, but they can also be used to do the opposite and make them look otherworldly.  

Buying a 35MM Camera

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The 35MM camera is the definition of vintage and class. When you think of a classic late 20th-century camera, the odds are it is the classic 35MM. 

 

If you’re looking for an affordable camera, check out secondhand sites like eBay or Craigslist for your camera needs. Some of the top brands are Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, or Pentax. They are all basic, top quality, and hardworking. Websites like Amazon have 35 mm film cases that can be bought affordably. Try to also look for a camera without the program mode in the hardware. The program mode can often make things too complicated for a beginner.

 

If you would like to get your hands on the camera before buying it, check out vintage stores. Many vintage stores have a 35MM camera in either working order, or simply for decoration and artistry. If you end up liking the camera, you can either buy it at the store or order the same make, model, and brand online or at another store. If you plan to buy the camera at a vintage store, make sure you run through all the shutter settings to make sure they aren’t sticking or damaged. 

 

It is also worth researching if replacement batteries are still available for the model you buy. Some batteries that are made with mercury are discontinued, or too expensive to buy. It doesn’t hurt to buy a camera from a store with a return policy or a warranty, just in case a cheaper 35mm comes with any challenges or damage. If you have money to spare, we recommend the Leica M series.

 

The 35MM camera is a beautiful and historical piece to use when taking pictures. Keep an eye out for our following blogs on the history and usage of the 35MM camera.

 

Photographer Spotlight: Ansel Adams

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Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is most known for his scenic photography of the American West. He’s known for using his photographs to promote conservation of the wilderness. He’s an icon in the photography world for his black and white images.

 

Early Life

Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. He broke his nose and was injured in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

 

Adams made a trip in 1916 to Yosemite National Park where his love of photography was born. He began experimenting with darkroom techniques and reading photography magazines. He sold some of these photographs at Best’s Studio in Yosemite Valley.

 

He actually married the daughter of Best’s Studio proprietor, Virginia Best, in 1928. After her father’s death, the couple continued to operate the studio. It is now known as the Ansel Adams Gallery.

 

Career

Adams broke through the world of photography into fame with his publication of his first portfolio, Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras. This included one of his most famous images,“Monolith, the Face of Half Dome.”

 

From here, Adams focuses on detailed close-ups of nature. He photographed everything from farms, mountains, and factories. He studied with artists like Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Strand. He published photography art books about his work.

 

He joined other artists/photographers Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange using his fame to bring social change through art. He worked to protect the wilderness areas like Yosemite National Park. He also photographed life in camps during World War II. One of his most iconic shots was titled, “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico.” This was a shot of a moon rising over a village weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He made over 1,000 prints of this at the time skyrocketing him into fame in the photography and art world.

 

Later Life

The 1960s brought the appreciation of art photography to life. Adams’ images were shown in many galleries and museums throughout the world. Adams printed negatives of his artwork to meet the high demand for his black and white works of art.

 

Adams died on April 22, 1984, of a heart attack, at age 82. Adams is a photography icon whose work lives on in his beautiful nature prints.

Top Photography Programs

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There are many exceptional photography programs to research when applying to a school. To give a potential student a starting point for program consideration, four websites were evaluated for their top picks. The following programs are rated on the consulted sites.

 

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Santa Clarita is a private school. The goal of this program is to produce graduates who become artists working in analog and digital photography or video. Social commentary is supported as is involvement in grassroots organizations. Aside from artists, the career paths of graduates have included documentarians, educators, editorial and commercial photographers, journalists, curators, designers, and photographic entrepreneurs.

 

The University of California in Los Angeles is a program that is geared towards using photography to create art. A student’s ability to discuss the history of photography and its narrative potential is stressed while video and installation art are also explored. UCLA is a public university that was ranked first in this category by U.S. News & World Report in 2018.

 

Rhode Island School of Design is an art and design college located in Providence that has been consistently ranked as one of the top schools for art and design in the world. Its approach is to teach how symbols, metaphors, and cultural cues can be incorporated into image making. Creating photography is combined with learning how to interpret photographic images, thereby treating the venue as a craft and a language.

 

The Art Institute of Chicago‘s photography program teaches students to redefine photographic concepts. Technical and conceptual mastery are considered integral to a student’s ability to discuss their work and the work of other photographers. This independent school is located in downtown Chicago and has been rated as the most influential art school by Columbia University’s National Arts Journalism survey.

 

The University of New Mexico was found on all referenced websites, demonstrating its relevance and prominence. This program seeks to cultivate a student’s intellectual and aesthetic growth through visual literacy. Lens-based techniques are incorporated into a student’s acquired skill set. The school is a public university located in Albuquerque.

 

There are several variables to consider when choosing a photography program. Whether the school is private or public, its geographic location, and what type of career a student wants to pursue post graduation are important factors to evaluate. The programs listed in this article are all held in high regard; finding the right fit for a student’s desired qualities in a school just needs to be determined.

What Is The Best Time of Day to Take Pictures?

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The ideal time to take pictures varies for each individual because aesthetic taste differs from person to person. Apart from artistic taste, it also depends on the photographer’s artistic preference and any significance they wish to convey through lighting effects. While cloudy skies may have a melancholic effect on some, cloudy weather may bring back long cherished jocund childhood memories for others. This subjective view can influence both the photographer’s preference and the viewer’s interpretation.

 

An objective view, however, considers the photogenic significance of a particular hour of the day to determine what could be the best time of the day to take pictures. For instance, some believe that “Golden Hour,” which occurs at sunrise or sunset, is better suited to take pictures while others favor “Blue Hour,” which occurs a little after dawn before the sun is fully visible on the horizon.

 

Advocates of Golden Hour consider it best to take pictures in the golden glow of early morning and sunset when the landscapes are suffused with warm radiant colors. Obviously, the radiant sunlight makes it an ideal time to take pictures, but some of its drawbacks make people consider other options. For example, during Golden Hour, light changes swiftly and constantly which often leaves a speculative artistic mind disconcerted. Because of its short duration, the better your time management in Golden Hour, the better the shot.

 

Alternatively, Blue Hour is a favorite with many people when the colors are permeated with extra blue hue. Contrary to the bright colors of the Golden Hour, the light at this hour is relatively softer. As the light from the sun falls indirectly on the subject, this time is best suited to make some natural objects in a landscape striking and others shadowed. If you choose this hour, be assured that this is the best time to capture natural beauty but be warned that its duration is even shorter than the Golden Hour.

 

Shooting pictures during the daytime mostly needs tricky manipulation of daylight and shadows to produce the best photographic effects. Shooting on a cloudy day or in the shadow of a building will let you have even light to capture a perfect shot of your subject’s features. On the contrary, taking pictures in the broad daylight may disappoint you by creating unwanted shadows of prominent features like nose, ears, or even eyes. There are many factors that play into the best time of day for your purposes, so considering all options and making an appropriate choice can help improve your photography!

Photography Editing Tips for the Digital Age

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With smartphones, everyone has a high-quality camera in their pockets these days. Some professional photographers even use cellphones to do their work. However, even with a great camera, not all pictures look great. When it comes to professional photography, the editing process can make a world of difference.

 

Editing Apps

Rather than wait to download photos from your phone, you can edit them on the same device! From the built-in editing app (which has some great capabilities) to the multitude of third-party apps available, photo editing apps can enhance the quality of your pictures. There are limitations to the app programmed on your device, so using multiple apps can benefit you. Whether you want to touch up blemishes, adjust the contrast, or add a filter, apps are a great advanced way to edit your pictures.

 

Layers

Tools like Photoshop and Lightroom are great for editing pictures, but knowing how to use them is part of the challenge. For the best results, it’s important that you recognize the function and benefits of layers. Layers can help you make temporary changes to color, tint, contrast, and more; if you decide you don’t like the effect, it’s easy to simply delete the layer and start over. Using layer masks also enables you to make edits like color swaps to only selected areas of the image. When making multiple small edits and trying new effects, knowing how to use layers can be a lifesaver.

 

Dodge & Burn

When editing your pictures on a device, this is a great technique for adjusting the lighting to your own specifications. Based on darkroom methods, dodging and burning aids in making the subject of your picture stand out. Using this method can help even out skin tones, create a sense of depth, and balance out contrast.

 

Consistency

By using the same program(s) to edit all your pictures, you can create a standard for yourself and your customers. However, if you want to really establish yourself, consistency is key. What this means depends on the photographer. Maybe you want all your images to have a similar palette or the same temperate. It’s also important that you ensure consistency across your subjects. If you are photographing the same individual or setting multiple times, you should strive to edit them in a similar fashion; if the shade of your subject’s skin or the hue of your focal scenery varies too greatly without artistic purpose across pictures, this could reflect poorly on your editing skills.

 

Editing your pictures is much easier with the aid of digital tools, and you should learn how to best utilize them to get the best pictures for your portfolio and clientele.

Improving Your Travel Photography

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One of the best aspects of traveling is the moments you are able to capture through your photos. These memories are ones you can keep with you forever, so it is important that you are aware of the basic skills to ensure that you are getting high qualities photos. So, here are some simple tips that will help you get the most out of your travel photography and capture every single moment as they come.

 

Focus On Faces

This tip might seem a bit obvious, but it is still important to note. Whether you are looking to capture wildlife or people, you want to focus your lens on the face of your most important subject. Most people are naturally drawn to the eyes, so that is probably where you will want to focus.

 

Learn The Lingo

One great tip will be to take some time during your travels to learn some of the basic language skills pertinent to your location. Knowing how to say simple phrases like “hello, excuse me, please, thank you, sorry, yes, and no” will go a long way even in those countries where English is spoken in the tourist areas. This basic knowledge of the language can even make a difference in regards to the access you might receive and the things you can see. Language can open the doors to things that would otherwise be closed to the average tourist.

 

Hire A Translator Or Guide

Sometimes, getting access to the everyday lives of people is challenging if you do know any of the locals, especially if it is your first time at that location. So, you might want to consider hiring a guide or a translator who can communicate with the locals on a deeper level that goes beyond knowing basic phrases. This guide can help you make great friends and introduce you to unique people and places where you can catch some of your more memorable moments.

 

Shoot Fast

When taking photos in fascinating cultural settings, you will need a completely different mindset than if you are shooting landscapes. You will want to think less about the image quality and more about capturing the moment. You can be ready by relying on your autofocus and fast shutter speeds which will freeze the action. Handheld devices will be the way to go here because you will not have the time to fiddle around with a tripod.

Common Long Exposure Photography Mistakes To Avoid

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Over the last few years, long exposures have become a popular form of photography, and with the right tools along with a proper understanding of the techniques, you can create incredibly surreal and dreamlike portrait and landscape images. These images take time and preparation to capture, and the last thing you want is for something to go wrong that you could have easily avoided. So, with that said, here are some of the most common long exposure photography mistakes and how you can avoid them.

 

Not Properly Locking Down Tripod Legs

One of the simplest things that often gets overlooked is your tripod or mounting system. When shooting on tripods, typically, we do not think about how stable the legs are or whether we have locked everything tightly down. When it comes to long exposure photography shooting images for several seconds to minutes long, someone simply walking by can be enough to shift the tripod and ruin your image. Make sure you are using a sturdy tripod and ensure that every point of adjustment is locked down as tight as possible to avoid image shake. Some tripods might even come with hooks are a mounting system on their center column which would allow you to attach a sandbag and add some weight and stability to your system.

 

Leaving The Viewfinder Open

When dealing with photographs that take 30+ seconds, your viewfinder can be one of the easiest things to forget. Leaving the viewfinder open can lead to light leaks and often leave strange colored blobs in your shot. Make sure to cover your viewfinder to avoid the light leaking in from there. Some cameras will have a switch built in to close it up, but if not, place some black gaff tape or any other handy materials over the camera back.

 

Not Using Mirror Lock

When you are using a DSLR and looking through a viewfinder, what you are doing is looking into a mirror which is looking into another mirror over your camera’s sensor. So, when you take a picture, the mirror flips up, and shutter activates to take the shot, after which the mirror flips back down. This might not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to shooting long exposures, this can create some shake to the image. So, if you want to avoid this issue, set your camera, assuming it has this feature, to “M-Up” and then get ready for the two-step process for the shot.

Now, once you line up the shot, you can click the shutter release button which will lift the mirror and then you will need to click the button again to activate the shutter to take the shot. Another option is to enable “Live-View” mode if your camera supports it which will shoot your images with the mirror already lifted. For those with a mirrorless camera such as the Sony A7/A9 series of Fuji can ignore this mistake avoidance step.

Things To Consider When Buying A Tripod For Your DSLR Camera

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tripod for DSLR camera - marissa elman

A digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera is a popular tool among modern photographers. DSLR’s can be utilized for either fun or professional photo shoots depending on the advanced capabilities it may have. One of the more popular tools utilized with this camera is a tripod. That is why the following list of things to consider before buying a tripod for your DSLR camera has been created. The considerations are as follows:

 

  • Why Is It Needed?
  • What Price Is Too High?
  • What Is The Most Important Factor?

 

Why Is It Needed?

 

While this may seem obvious, it is worth the time to truly investigate why this tripod is being purchased. If it is just to take a few photos once or twice a year, rental equipment may serve the purpose better. If instead, it is viewed as an investment in a photography career, it can serve dozens of purposes and be a useful tool day in and day out. For example, low light situations are ideal for tripod use and this investment opens up a whole new group of photographic possibilities such as this and many others.

 

What Price Is Too High?

 

For amateur photographers, an average or even lower priced tripod may be more than enough. For professional photographers however, the extra expense may be well worth it. The additional features that are afforded with more expensive tripods will pay for themselves in the long run because of the added capabilities that it provides. Price shopping is essential to making the proper purchase.

 

What Is The Most Important Factor?

 

There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a tripod. Some photographers require the tripod to be lightweight as to easily transport it across rough terrain. This can be highly beneficial to photographers that frequently shoot in nature. If the tripod is too heavy, it may make the trek into the wilderness nearly impossible. Height is also a contributing factor. If the tripod fails to be able to shoot from a range of heights, it may serve less useful than was originally thought.

 

Tripods can be highly beneficial to professional photographers. That is why it is so imperative to consider all of the above questions and so many more before finally deciding to pull the trigger and purchase one.