Photography Assistant - Free Webinar!

Photoshelter is offering a free webinar on How to Make it as a Photography Assistant on Thursday at 4 EDT.  I don't see it advertised on their website so subscribe to Photoshelter's emails if you're interested and hope for an invite. Or click here

If you can't make the webinar, Photoshelter also offers a free guide, The Photo Assistant's Handbook, that you might find helpful.


And since I'm on the subject:
The 40 Items Every Photography Assistant Needs Now. at Photoshelter
Tricks of the Trade: Photo Assistant by Brian Dwyer at MAC-On-Campus
Why being a Photographer's Assistant is a bad career choice by Dan Heller
Learn By Being A Photography Assistant by Luting Ji at DreamRow
Want To Be a Photographer's Assistant? Here's How to Get Started by at Shutterbug
12 Golden Rules for Being a Photograher's Assistant by Simon Bray at phototuts+

Project 52, Week 35, Colors

This week let's pick a color, any color, then go out and shoot as many photographs as we can that feature that color, always remembering the compositional elements that we've practiced so far.   Unlike the first week of Color month where we created composition around the color, this week concentrate on incorporating the color into the composition.

Things to consider:

• The photograph can be based on one color palette.
• Or the color can be one element in the scene - the focal point or perhaps a contrasting color that draws the viewer's eye to the focal point.
• Use color to create leading lines or frames.
• Try not to concentrate on one subject matter. Expand your horizons - shoot nature, landscapes, fashion, cars, food, pets, events, architecture, etc, etc.
• Summer's almost over - get out there and go camera crazy!

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. The Second Element - Color at Addicted to Life
2. Using Color to Create Strong Photo Compositions by Ron Bigelow at PictureCorrect
3. Color in Composition by Kat Landreth at Pare and Focus; short illustrated article
4. AdoramaTV Behind the Scenes: More on color temperature: Adorama Photography TV by Mark Wallace; 4 minute video on using color gel filters
5. A Detailed Guide to Photographing Fall Foliage by Christopher O'Donnell at The PhotoArgus; illustrated article

For Inspiration:

1. Simply Beautiful Photographs: Palette at National Geographic, short articles about the featured color photos
2. Colorful Beauty in Nature: Butterflies at COLOURlovers; A Collection of 18 Beautiful Butterflies & Their Color Palettes
3. Colorful Examples of Ordinary Photography with Vibrant Composition at Lava360; just photos
4. Spectacular Colors of Nature by Alice on My Modern Met; just photos
5. 60 Breathtaking Fall Images for Your Inspiration by Bill Jones at PhotoArgus

Project 52, Week 34, Complementary Colors

If you study color theory you will learn about primary and secondary colors and all the colors in between.  You will learn that complementary colors are colors that are opposites on the color wheel.  If you want to know more about that, study color theory.



But for this week's challenge, let's just go with "complementary colors are color combinations that look good together."  Complementary color themes are visually appealing.  For us, this week they create a harmonious and pleasing effect or they contrast in such a way as to enhance each other and make our photos "pop".

Things to consider:

• Appropriate color combinations are in the eye of the beholder.  For example, some people think purple and green clash.  I think they can be striking.
• Color combinations found in nature are often complementary.  For example, dandelions and spring-green grass.

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. Complementary Colors: Harmony on the Color Wheel by Jim Zuckerman at Shutterbug; colorfully illustrated article
2. Complementary and Harmonious Colors by Andrea Ghilardelli on PictureCorrect; short article with a couple of photos
3. Complementary Colors at Ron Day Photography; very short illustrated article
4. The 3 Tricks of Complementary Colors You Can Learn from Van Gogh at Will Kemp Art School; article illustrated with striking paintings
5. Color Selection in Photography by Liz Masoner at about.com; very short article

Project 52, Week 33, Monochrome (One Dominant Color) or Black/White

This week's project is about creating a photograph that is predominately one color or experiment with black and white photos.  This sounds easy, but I have a feeling it won't be. 

You can take a picture of a wall if you must, but try to compose a photo with different tones of the same color.  Some examples: a bowl of fruit or vegetables - the same kind of fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, potatoes, etc) are the same color, but of varying hues. A beach (not the water part - just the beach, a desert, a lawn.  A white dog on a white couch.  A pile of stones.  A tree trunk.

Things to consider:

• Remember the other composition guidelines.
• Composition of a monochromatic photograph is about tones and shadows, and textures which create shadows and tones.
• We see in color and not all subjects make good black and white photographs.
• Shoot in color, then convert to black and white in post-editing.  Unless you're using black and white film or you have a camera that you can set to black and white.
• Check out the links below for inspiration.

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

Monochrome

1. Monochromatic Color at Basic Camera Photography; 5 good tips
2. 32 Beautiful Examples of One Color Dominate Photography by Bill Jones at the Photo Argus
3. 45 Examples of Monochromatic Color Dominance in Photography at Tripwire Magazine
4. 5 Ways To Use Color in Your Photography by Mike Small at Shutter Mike Photography; Section 1 is about Monochromatic photography but it's only 1 paragraph so you may want to read the rest of it.
5. Monochromatic Color by Amber Smith at TrekEarth; 70 monochromatic photos from around the world
6. Life in Different Colors at Creative Overflow; just photos

Black and White

1. 5 Black and White Photography Tips by Darren Rouse at Digital Photography School; short illustrated article
2. Mastering the Art of Black and White Photography/ by Andrew Gibson at photo tuts+; longish article with many photos and links to black and white photographers
3. The Ansel Adams Gallery - Ansel Adams' photography
4. Monochrome Photography by Peter Hogan; black and white photos
5. Black and White Photography by Alister Bern at NatureScapes.com; a rather comprehensive well illustrated article
6. How Color Influences Black & White Photography by Mark Wallace at Adorama TV; 22 minute YouTube video

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Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation

CreativeLIVE will be presenting the official training for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep on Monday, August 6th, 2012.  The live training is free, but the taped training can be purchased on or before August 6th for $39.  (After that they will be $49.)  Net proceeds from sale of the videos will be donated to NILMDTS.

From the NILMDTS website: "NILMDTS trains, educates, and mobilizes professional quality photographers to provide beautiful heirloom portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant. We believe these images serve as an important step in the family’s healing process by honoring the child’s legacy."

Project 52, Week 32, Color is the story

The project this week is to compose pictures around color.  It can be one color or multiple colors, but the idea is to choose a main subject which will be the focal point because of the color or colors.  The story behind the photograph revolves around the colorful subject. 

Things to consider:

• Colors can evoke a mood or emotion which helps tell the story behind your photo.  Red and orange excite, blue and green are more calming and comforting, and yellow is warm.
• Use the rules of composition.
• Watch the balance.  Dark colors "weigh" more than light colors.  Bright colors weigh more than pastels.

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. Composing with Color by Alain Birot at Natures Photographers; the first 2 paragraphs and examples and the last section with one examples
2. Color in Composition by Kat Landreth at Pare and Focus; short article
3. Use Color to Compose Your Photograph by Doug Salin at Dummies.com; a short article with 1 example
4. Photographic Composition Guide for Beginners Carolyn Lim.org; 31 page pdf student booklet; see Section 3, Color, page 27
5. How to Start Seeing - Tip 2 - Color at ZibTips; short article
6. 30 Colorful Examples of Ordinary Photography with Vibrant Composition by Ahsan Saeed at Lava 360
7. 50 Examples to Show the Power of Red Color Photography at Stylish Web Designer, just photos
8. Composing with Color Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 by Alain Briot at Luminous Landscapes, a rather long, sometimes technical article with lots of information and illustrations
9. Jim Zuckerman - examples of colorful photographs
10. Eva Polak - examples of using color to create impressionist photography art
11. Art Wolfe - examples of colorful photographs
12. The Work - examples of colorful photographs from Peter Lik

The cover of Michael Freeman's The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos illustrates composition with multi-colored subjects.  When I look at this picture, I focus on the bright colors more than on the people.