Recently in Self-help Category
Writers aren't the only the only creatives who, from time to time, find their inventive fluids becoming highly viscous. On those occasions, some lensslingers may compound their predicament by seeking a dramatic escape from it. Instead of looking for the "big shot," Derek Doeffinger recommends taking a closer look at the mundane.
Doeffinger wrote today's installment of the ongoing "100 in 100" series at Adorama. In it, he offers these encouraging words to clicksters looking for a creative jolt, "[T]he only real way to expand your photography and creativity is to actually force yourself to take pictures of new things...."
"There's a good chance the results will be lousy, especially at first," he scribbles. "But consider it a form of cross training that will eventually pay off with greater photo strength and flexibility."
Nikon has launched today a new online series of "Look Good in Pictures" videos hosted by Carson Kressley whose TV credits include How to Look Good Naked and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. According to Nikon, Kressley will be giving viewers tips and advice on how to look better in pictures and improve their overall self-image. The series will cover everything from online dating profile pictures, baby photos, weddings and travel photography.
"Nikon’s 'Look Good in Pictures' is the first program of its kind to help people look better in their photos and be more comfortable in front of the camera," Nikon Senior Communications Manager Lisa Baxt observed in a statement. "Nikon’s simple and easy-to-use cameras have helped those behind the lens take exceptional photos with the touch of a button. With this new program, we’re hoping to help those in front of the camera look good and feel great too.”
Two segments in the series were posted by Nikon today-"Online Dating and Webshots" and "Relax and Be Yourself!"
In "Dating," Kressley gives online dater Dara some advice on "letting the real you shine" when she's being photographed. That's quite a burden to bear in a two minute, 50 second video so don't be surprised if you aren't any closer to capturing your inner self in pixels at the end of the video than you were at the beginning of it. Neverthless, it does include some worthwhile tips for occasional photographers shooting headshots for friends.
In "Relax," Kressley "hits the streets around Central Park and shows you how to go from a dull day of photo taking to an adventure." What in fact he does is have a fabulous time taking pictures of himself and a carriage horse outside the park . While Kressley is, as always, entertaining, the tutorial content is thinner than a silicon wafer.
Although the first two episodes of "Look Good" were uneven, they were engaging and, like popcorn, they may lack nutritional value, but you still can't wait for the next handful.
I don't know how "secret" are the five tips for better digital photos that Kim Komando wrote about in her column today, but it's always interesting to me to see what others find important when clicking an image. Komando, who hosts a weekly tech-oriented radio call-in show carried by 450 radio stations and writes a nationally syndicated weekly newspaper column on things digital, yellow-lined these morsels of wisdom for budding shutterbugs.
- Step back for portratis--jamming a camera too close to a subject's face can turn a marvelous mien into a mug.
- Frame your shots--pay attention to compositon.
- Get action shots--which is advice easier said that done.
- Avoid using built-in flashes indoors. That may sound counter-intuitive, but the Kimster has a point. Many built-in flashes raise havoc with the colors in a photo.
- Play with shutter speeds and apertures to create photographic effects like showing motion through purposeful blurring.
By popular demand, the folks that brought you 100 photographic tips in 100 days last year are doing it again this year. Yes, Adorama, which is to photographers what Campmor is to campers, is planning a reprise of the series with all new tips starting next Monday. Next week's lineup includes these offerings.
