Beyond Phototips

James Burger has shared a video taken in timelapse / stop-motion of a photoshoot that he had, with a certain plasticky friend. Watch it below.

Let me close off this batch of posts about symmetry with a few images that I think are really beautiful. Each of these photographs have at least of the four kinds of symmetry to thank, because that is why they work… Even if the symmetry is not blatantly obvious.

I invite you to take a good look at the photographs featured here and try to pick out which form of symmetry, Reflection Symmetry, Rotational Symmetry, Translational Symmetry or Glide Reflection Symmetry are responsible for making these pictures stick out.

They’re in no particular order, because each one is as visually stunning as the other. Here you go:

Photo by =TrixyPixie

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `gnato

Photo by ~kil1k

Photo by *ambrosia3

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `foureyes

Photo by `zemotion

Photo by `bosniak

Photo by `foureyes

Photo by `gilad

Photo by `gilad

Photo by ~SuzyTheButcher

Photo by `Davenit

Photo by ~Kleemass

Photo by ~julkusiowa

Photo by ~drmarten

Photo by `zemotion

Photo by `TheTragicTruth-Of-Me

Photo by `gilad

I hope you take the time to look at them and really ’see’ that though many of them don’t use symmetry as the primary tool for composition, they do play very integral roles in the photographs.

Take for example, the beautiful photographs by `TheTragicTruth-Of-Me and `zemotion, “Don’t speak” and “Gone.”. There no apparent symmetry, in lines or reflections, but it is the beautiful symmetry of the faces that cause a viewer to stop and look at the photograph. There’s lots more that can be said, but I’d rather leave it to your mind to stop, and pick out the reason for the beauty of these photographs.

I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.

You’ve watched Casino Royale, or Babylon A.D.? Yes? Then you’ve seen traceurs in action.

Photo: amfdesigner

They’re the guys who run around cities, jumping over walls, climbing the outsides of buildings and generally doing ‘impossible’ stuff. Their ’sport’ is called “Le Parkour” or “FreeRunning” and the practitioners are called ‘Traceurs’. Their goal is to get from point A to point B in the most graceful and efficient way physically possible.

Now, where’s the creativity?

Their creativity is in the way that they tackle each obstacle. Each of them may go down the same route, but tackle the same obstacle in different ways. See this video clip to understand just what they do.

What can you learn?

1. Conditioning is King – Traceurs have to be able to deal with real-time changes in their environment. They practice for hours every day in an effort to develop an innate “muscle memory” that will help their bodies understand their commands and adapt their movements instantaneously.It’s the same with photography. If you practice enough, your adjustments will come to you so naturally that you will forget about the technical aspects altogether. Practice makes perfect. It also helps you forget about the camera and think more about the things that are going on around you… essential for a ‘brilliant’ photograph.
2. Understand you environment – As a photographer, you need to understand everything that’s going on around you while taking photographs. This is more important if your environment is one that is constantly changing.
3. Use the environment to your advantage – This is an offshoot of the previous point. Knowing what to expect in a given situation will help you plan out your shots in advance, anticipate what is about to happen and make the most of that situation. A keen eye for detail can help you in this.
4. Keep your mind free – Your mind is at it’s creative best when it’s free of inhibiting thoughts. Lots of practice will help you with this. It takes your conscious thought away from repetitive actions that you’ve practiced a thousand times before, and helps you concentrate on the creative aspects of your photography that confront you.
5. Know the rules and respect them – This may seem odd at first. Do ‘the rules’ mean the rules of photography? Do they mean the law of the land? Do they mean the confines of ‘good conduct’?I believe that this means all of the above mentioned points. Know the rules of aesthetic photography, The law of the land, and the limits to which you can push decency. Stay within those confines, and people will respect you and treat you well.
6. View the world through childrens’ eyes – What could be less confining, more innocent and more questioning than a child’s mind? Try to view the world through a child’s eyes and you’re sure to see something different and new all the time.The traceur is urged to do this because that is what they’re after… a mind and body free of the restrictions imposed on it by ourselves, yet responsible and ready for action.
7. Express yourself – The traceur seeks a world free of inhibitions, and their freedom of movement beyond the “traditional” gives them a form of creative expression that is unique.You have that freedom too… your camera gives you a means of expressing your thoughts that is impossible for some. So, do not restrict yourself.
8. Know who you are, and why you want to do what you do – A traceur’s journey is hard on the body, mind and soul. It is a path that is as difficult as the highest form of martial arts at it’s very zenith. Traceurs who want to attain this peak are advised to ask themselves why they want to achieve that level.Why does this matter? Because, as with anything, if you know your intentions and motivations it will strengthen you and guide your thoughts and actions. If you do not intend to reach the very peak of your skill, you will know that you need not put in your best efforts here… Rather, seek out where your efforts should be directed to achieve your goal.

I’ve recently been enthralled by “Parkour” videos that are freely available on the internet and have been studying their training methods and the reasons why they do what they do… If you get nothing else from this post, I hope you go away with an appreciation of how wonderful the movements of these athletes are, and a yearning to be be able to do something close to it.

This post is part of the Beyond Phototips Birthday series, see the other posts from this series here.

photo credit: Lapsklaus

Every single person can benefit from being more observant. Not just photographers, though photographers have the most to gain from being observant… (this is such a ‘duh’ moment… but humour me and do read on)

This is the second part of a two-post series on why a good photographer is also a good observer. In the first post we discussed some things that you could pay attention to, to help you become more observant. Today we’re looking at some habits that you can develop to help you along.

Becoming more observant is not something that you can do overnight. It takes some care, diligence, and effort to do so. Here are a couple of things that you can try on a daily basis that will possibly help you become more observant. With time, some of them will become habits and will become part of your daily life.

1. Take a painting class. Drawing and painting are very heavily dependant on your powers of observation. This one step could be a double-edged sword as it will also improve your assessment and understanding of light, materials and shadows.
2. Take note of your self. Your handwriting, and other things that come to you subconsciously, like the way you speak, the words and gestures that you use are all part of who you are. If you want to be more observant of others, first be observant of yourself and your habits. Know Thyself.
3. Be a mental list-maker. Make a mental record of things around you see how they’re placed and check to see whether they’re the same when you next see them, soon it will become second nature to you.
4. Pay attention to details. They say “God is in the details.” Paying attention to the little details keeps your mind more alert and always on the watch for interesting bits that you could use later.
5. Listen to what people say. Yes, you do listen to people. But are you ‘really’ listening? All to often, we find ourselves ‘listening’ to somebody while working at the computer or watching something on the television. Make it a point to give your full attention to the person who is talking. If not all the time, at least sometimes. Remember that listening is an art in itself.
6. Spend some time everyday just watching people.You see people all the time. But do you really ‘observe’ them? Their expressions, gestures their attire, the newspaper or magazine that they’re reading, it’s all part of who they are, and offer insights into their personality, background and behaviour. With time and practice, some ‘people-watchers’ can even predict what the person is going to do next.It’s a great way to spend time and is remarkably insightful after some practice. Just make sure people don’t think you’re stalking them, or you could find yourself in the slammer.
7. Remember that you need to observe things. It is rather easy to forget that you’re observing something. Make it your daily mission, and remember your objective.

How will it help you?

1. It will offer you an amazing insight into how people think, react, and behave in general. This could have startling revelations in your work, no matter what you do for a living.
   
2. It will help you understand how a great many pieces of equipment work, because you’ll find yourself observing the buttons and symbols on the equipment and also observing how people make things work, and learning from that observation.
3. It will help you choose the right moment to click as the crowds part, when watching a particular person walk down the street, or the right moment as your child smiles at you so sweetly.
4. It will help you appreciate people around you better and possibly help you know what they are feeling and thinking.

More tips? Share them in the comments.

This is part of the Beyond Phototips Birthday Special Series. Go here to see all the posts so far.

Photography is as much the art of observing and appreciating things as it is the art of capturing them on film. No matter which branch of photography you prefer, you will find that the best photographs are a result of a photographer seeing things that most people miss out on.

Observation defined

The action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.

Much of the time that a Wildlife or Landscape Photographer spends is in observation. It is also spent in the study of Nature and in learning what to expect of a given situation (this counts towards experience).

Being a good observer is not something that comes naturally to all people, but it is possible to build it in to your daily life. In this post, I’ll be offering you a couple of tips on what to look out for on a regular basis if you want to improve your powers of observation. Try looking out for these things consciously and you’ll find yourself becoming more aware of a number of new things.

The next post in this two part series will help you make ‘observation’ a habit that is integrated into your daily life.

Observe what?

1. Observe the Nature of Light

   Photography involves light; however is not everyday that we stop to observe light. In fact, to a non-photographer, it may sound downright strange, but remember that light is the photographer’s medium of expression, it is his clay, his canvas; and knowing how light works, observing what it does with various materials, and knowing how to make best use of it is invaluable if you want to make light work to it’s greatest potential.

2. Observe People

   Ok, so you’re not a people photographer. This does not mean that you don’t have to deal with them. Observing people is a mind-opening activity for the insight it delivers to us, about how people behave, how they react to a given situation. To a keen observer & experienced interpreter of these actions, it could reveal truly unexpected details about the person being observed.

3. Observe Reflections and Shadows

   You may have thought that the first point covers reflections and shadows too. In part, it does. However, I want you to make note of the fact that reflections and shadows are products of a surface’s properties. Its only after light has struck a surface that it creates either of the two.
   Reflections help the observer understand the nature of the material, while shadows define its density and opacity. Light, striking objects at different angles create reflections, revealing textures to different extents. Both reflections and shadows also create intriguing shapes and patterns, and can at times either make or break a photograph. Remember to pay attention to them.

4. Observe all the elements in your camera viewfinder

   This is usually a tough one for most people, but I believe that if you’re doing a good job of the previous few points, then keeping track of everything that’s going on in your viewfinder as well as watching your peripheral vision should not be too difficult. Why? Because the edge of your viewfinder is very much a part of your photograph’s composition. Choosing how elements are placed in relation to these edges is important for a good composition.

5. Observe daily life

   Your own life as well as that of others. It is an endless source of inspiration for photographs, art and for life itself.

6. Observe other photographers

   For the things that catch their eye, for their interpretation of common things… for inspiration.

Hopefully these points will get you started off on a more ‘aware’ lifestyle.

If you’ve got any tips of your own, do feel free to add them in the comments.

This is part of the Beyond Phototips Birthday Special Series. Go here to see all the posts so far.

Kung Fu is the martial art weapon of the masses. It’s inception took ‘force’ out of the exclusive domain of the rulers, and empowered the common man.

Photo: TCM HitchHiker

Similarly, with amateurs putting their work alongside professional photographers on websites like Flickr, the line between master and student is starting to get blurred. How can you make the most of this situation?

Here are a few tips from some Kung Fu masters (in the movies)

1 ) Practice now for the future:
Kung Fu movies show the hero practising intensely before a showdown with an arch nemesis (think Jackie Chan, um, rather, the old-Jackie Chan).

Keeping in good practice ensures that you’re ready to pick up your camera and be ready to capture that brilliant photograph without worrying too much about the technical aspects.

By working out your mistakes before you actually get hired, or before you face that incredibly beautiful scenery, you also ensure that you present a much more professional front while working with a client some time in the future. Remember, “Wax on, Wax off” (oh sorry, that’s Karate)

2 ) Learn the way and then find your own way:
As with any subject, photography is based on some infallible truths. This is the substance that should make up your theory. Then, you take theory and turn it inside out, searching for different ways in which to make that theory work for you. If you practice enough, keep your mind free, and snatch at wisps of imagination, you could end up turning that theory into a very exciting practice.

3 ) Observe, Listen, Duplicate:
As with any learning, a teacher can only tell you so much. After that, it is your turn. Observe what others are doing, listen to those who are teaching you, and try to replicate what the masters have done. Once you do that, you’ll be able to create your own images with more flexibility and skill.

4 ) Be flexible:
A perfect split will keep you in good stead if you were in Kung Fu land. With photography, knowing how to use light, and suit it to the mood that you’re trying to create can do the same. Be flexible with the kind of lighting that you create, and learn how to change it quickly to suit your needs. Master Strobist is a good teacher for those who want to use off-camera flash.

5 ) Improvise:
Sometimes, you’ll find that you’ve got the wrong tool for the job, or that you don’t have your tools at all. It’s like facing the dragon master with a toothpick in your hands. Make the best of it. Put up a good fight and alter your technique to suit your tools. You may have to do a fashion shoot with just a simple digital camera, but if you use the right technique, you may just impress the editor.

6 ) Sharpen your senses:
Stay aware of everything that’s happening around you. Your eyes, ears and sense of balance and stability will keep you alive and well if you take photographs in the field. In your area of art, the eyes are more important than anything else. Keep them open and alert. Your balance will be tested again, and again. Practice walking on narrow short walls if you need to. The balancing beam is a good alternative. If you live in China, try the great wall.

7 ) Improve your reflexes:
The time difference between recognising an attack and blocking it, or recognising a weakness and taking advantage of it is very similar to the time that you have when taking a photograph. Sometimes the difference between an Un-believable photograph and a mediocre one is just a split second’s difference. Stay alert and react quickly, on instinct.

8 ) Stay fit, eat light, and eat right:
Kung Fu is an art that takes a lot out of you, physically and mentally. Photography does that too. It will eat up your time, your energy, and your mind. Stay fit, and you’ll be able to do it better.

9 ) Take every opportunity that presents itself:
The Dragon master has summoned you, and asked you to fight him with a toothpick and a nail. You’ve been waiting for this opportunity from the beginning of your Kung Fu life. When he asks you to fight, you fight. Don’t worry about the tools. Make the most of what you have.

Seize the day when an opportunity comes knocking. After all, they do come but once.

10 ) Learn new styles and techniques:
The way of the Intercepting fist, The way of the snapping branch, Drunken Monkey Kung Fu,  using Hyperfocal distance, or motion blur in your photographs; they’re just another way of using the underlying basics to present something that is wildly different from what is expected. Learn how to make use of them to make your photographs look different, and to give them impact. Eventually you’ll develop your own signature style.

Photo: Herbs1

11 ) Learn how to work with different equipment:
The Staff, The Fist, Range-finders, filters and Medium Format cameras. They all have their places in your journey of discovery and you will eventually find reasons and occasions in which to use each piece of equipment. They will become and important part of your repertoire and each will help you perform a different task with greater ease and finesse.

12 ) Take the leap – its not like you’re jumping off a 5-storey building:
When presented with a challenge, remember to pull out all the stops to get the photograph as you visualised it. Make sure that you use all your accumulated knowledge and experience to deliver your best effort. You need to have paid attention to the other steps in this article before you get to this stage.

You may not be jumping off a 5-storey building, but it’s all the same… When presented with a problem that could either deliver you into new territory, away from the following hordes, you want to put every bit of your photography to work for you. Remember, the only luck you get is that which you create for yourself.

13 ) I know Kung Fu:
So, you’ve learnt Kung Fu. You’re the one… Now, the only one who can challenge you in your art form is yourself. What do you do now? Lay back and die? Go on a 500-year long meditation? Not likely for a Kung Fu master.

Challenge yourself! Compete with other masters, take your Kung Fu Photography to new heights, and teach yourself how to fly!

So, as one tale ends, another begins. Tell us your story…

This is part of the Beyond Phototips Birthday Special Series. Go here to see all the posts so far.