Photography Archives - Page 85 of 115

What’s The Lighthouse for your career?

by Stanley LearyApril 15, 2014September 18, 2022Photography

Fujifilm X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/3.6, 1/300

The two primary purposes of a lighthouse are to serve as a navigational aid and to warn boats of dangerous areas. It is like a traffic sign on the sea.

When you are at sea and trying to find your port, having a lighthouse to help guide you will improve the success of locating your destination.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 3200, ƒ/5.6, 1/8000

What can a photographer use as a lighthouse to help them navigate their career?

First, you must know what you want to do with your photography. Who has the job that you want to do? That is the best question to start with on your journey.

You may be like millions of photographers who want to work for National Geographic Magazine. The good thing about picking somewhere like this is you can meet those photographers. Most of them teach classes and workshops where you can pay to pick their brain.

I know this because I did just that in the 1980s. Then, I studied with Steve McCurry at the Maine Photographic Workshops in Rockport, Maine. Steve looked at everyone’s work in our class and would answer any of our questions during our week with him.

The best part was he told us about his career path. I quickly learned that one couldn’t just duplicate those paths taken by previous photographers. For example, he crossed over illegally into Afghanistan to get the lady’s photo on the cover of National Geographic Magazine. He sent his Kodachrome film to his sister, a school teacher, to send on to the magazine. Before this, he worked at a small newspaper for a few years.

During my time with Steve McCurry and other photographers like Don Rutledge, I soon learned there were things I needed to master to move my career along a path to success.

List of things one must master

Master your Camera
Master digital workflow
Master Visual Composition
Master Lighting
Become an “EXPERT” in your subject
Know your audience
Create “UNIQUE” images

Master your Camera—This takes a while to be indeed able to pick up your camera and make it do what you want it to do for you. Mastering is the same as one who will be able to sit down at a concert piano and play whatever music there is to play. I found with most photographers; this will take around five years.

Master Digital Workflow—This is everything that comes after capturing the image for the client. We often refer to this as post-processing. During post-processing, you understand the color space you are working in and what color space you are delivering your images for usage. Post is where you can take the well-exposed pictures you captured and then maximize the dynamic range for the outlet.

Master Visual Composition—This is where you can capture moments that communicate the mood and message you intended to capture.

Master Lighting—First, you must recognize good light and be able to capture it. Mastering light is where you are putting yourself in the position to capture the best images of a subject. For example, you are planning your shoot to take advantage of the natural daylight that will show off the issue in the best possible way to capture the mood and message you wanted. Second, you know how to use artificial light to enhance the scene to create those moods and messaging the way you intended, not just how it looks.

Become an “EXPERT” on the Subject—This is the most crucial aspect on the list that can help set you apart from any other photographer. I went on to seminary to get an advanced degree in my subject matter to help me separate my knowledge of religion from that of many of my other photographer friends who enjoyed covering religion. In addition, after following and working at Georgia Tech for more than ten years, I knew the campus better than anyone. My experience helped me for covering sports, the classroom, and research.

Know Your Audience—In business, we talk about SUPPLY and DEMAND. While you may have a lot of great images, the thing that will determine you are putting food on the table and a roof over your head is DEMAND. What is your audience interested in about the subject? Just like a good writer knows their audience’s reading level, so their writing for that audience, a photographer must understand enough about the audience to know how to engage them. Going off to war and photographing the grotesque can be a significant mistake. You may need to filter how you cover the battle to prevent your audience from viewing the images.

Create “UNIQUE” images—If the people you are going to approach to buy your work could have shot the same idea, what good are you to them? You need to surprise them in some way with images that they would not have taken themselves. Maybe the only difference is how you light something, and sometimes it may be a pretty elaborate remote camera that lets you get a photo that is impossible without the special gear. Remember to supply images that not everyone could easily do if they were there.

The reality is that it takes quite a bit more than talent alone. Talent is only a tiny part of the equation. Tenacity, the ability to handle severe rejection, perseverance, and a good team get you to the next level.

It would help if you had others look at your work and help give you honest feedback.

When it comes to a successful career, other things for consideration: are your look, attitude, personality, style of photography, fan base, tear sheets, that specific intangible X factor, and most importantly, that undeniable outstanding portfolio.

People say that “practice makes perfect,” but in reality, that statement is incorrect — it should state that “perfect practice makes perfect.” Perfect practice is a form of rehearsal during which you remain cognizant and analyze what you are doing. For instance, are you delving into bad habits?

The more intentional you are in acquiring the skills necessary to capture the subject you are becoming an expert in will help set you up to have a lifelong career as a professional photographer possibly. Of course, it would help if you committed to pouring your life into this career.

16 Travel Mistakes Made By Photographers

by Stanley LearyApril 8, 2014September 18, 2022Photography

Don’t make these common mistakes when traveling for vacation this year. They are in no particular order, but here to ensure you are ready for travel abroad.

1. Forget you need a Passport—When traveling abroad, you need a current and up-to-date passport. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to get a passport by standard processing, and you need to allow the six weeks, so you have plenty of time.

2. Travel without a Visa—According to the “Henley Visa Restrictions Index 2013,” holders of a United States passport can visit 172 countries and territories visa-free or with a visa on arrival, and the United States is currently ranked 2nd (tied with Germany, Denmark, and Luxembourg) in terms of travel freedom. However, there are 196 countries, so you need to check to see if you need a visa to travel.

3. Forget an AC Plug converter—There are many variations of plug and socket types around the world. If you fail to plan, you might have difficulty charging your devices. Check the voltage requirements for the desired country and bring a power converter, if necessary.

4. No Phone Plan—Your phone may work fine overseas, but you will be surprised at your bill when you get back. Check with your provider to get the best rate for phone and data while traveling abroad. Type frequently used the telephone, emergency contact, hotel, and transportation numbers on the phone and saved them in the phone’s address book. Make sure to enter the telephone numbers using the international dialing format. For example, when calling the US, use the prefix “+011” followed by the area code and telephone number because calls made abroad will initiate from the local phone carrier.

5. Delay buying airfare and other transportation—I often see this as a mistake by many travelers. Waiting is apparent at car rental counters. You can save by preplanning, booking, and sometimes paying for the rental car early. Let go of brand names when looking. For example, Sixt’s, a German rental, was renting a Mercedes C-class for $38.81 a day in late May at Sixt’s Orlando airport. Compare this to Hertz, for the exact dates were $50.57 daily for a Kia Rio or similar economy car. Often you can find deals way out on international travel. You can also set up alerts on some travel websites to tell when prices drop. Register those places you want to go far in advance and then get an email alert when a special comes along.

6. No Travel Insurance—You need to consider medical, Emergency Evacuation, Travel [flights, hotels, etc.], and baggage. If you get seriously hurt and need to evacuate due to a fall, car wreck, and so on, this could cost $25,000 or more. Check with your health insurance also about travel out of the country. One of my friends was in a hurricane in southern Mexico, and they feared not making it out.

7. Failure to do research on your destination—I see so often that the consequences can be all over the map from the lack of planning. If you are going to Hungary, for example, you will be arrested if you take photos of anyone in public without first getting their permission. This law just went into effect. Knowing this upfront may make you decide to travel to another location.

8. Failure to plan for the weather—While I had packed a coat when I went to Kona, Hawaii, I left it in my main hotel room in Kona when I drove around the Island to Volcano National Park. As a result, I had to go and buy some long sleeve shirts to wear in the cold, wet rain. Finding a coat in Hawaii isn’t easy on Sundays when all the shops are closed.

9. Inadequate clothing—When traveling, you don’t always have the luxury of time to wash clothes. You can also find yourself in torrential rain and soaked. Getting those items dry before your next day of travel can be a problem. I highly recommend clothing made of wicking, which will pull moisture away from the skin, keeping you more relaxed, but also some synthetic wicking clothing dries very fast. In addition, I recommend layering clothing when traveling. Two thin layers can be warmer yet lighter than one thick layer because the air trapped between layers serves as thermal insulation.

10. Poor footwear—I am surprised at how many times I see people in flip-flops in places where hiking gear is necessary. Looking fashionable is not as important as feeling comfortable when you are on your feet all day for many days on vacation. I recommend Clark’s Wave Walker Shoes. They make a variety of styles for men and women.

Photography Mistakes

11. Under shoot—I hear way too many people thinking that they took a lot of photos when they just took a picture of each place they saw. You spent all this money to get somewhere; there is no additional expense with digital to make a few thousand photos versus a couple hundred—except maybe a $30 to $50 memory card. Your trip may cost you more than a few thousand dollars, and when you return, your photos are the only thing you have to remember about the journey into your retirement. Most people will experience a memory that diminishes as we get older—so take pictures to help preserve those memories.

12. Don’t bring extra batteries or memory cards—You planned for years, and then you are where you dreamed of being, and your camera is dead because your battery died. Also, you will use your camera more than usual when you travel. So while you have never experienced your camera dying on you, it can and will die on a vacation of a lifetime. Also, buy a few extra memory cards. Rather than bringing a computer, it is much easier to carry a few memory cards rather than getting a laptop.

13. Carry too much or too little gear—I have done both in my travels. Gear problem is where your lack of research on your destination will impact your shooting. A great example is thinking you need to go and buy an 800mm ƒ/5.6 lens for your African Animal Safari trip. Once you get there, the tour guides take you out on open vehicles where for the most part, you are so close you could use your 50mm lens to get the shot. You can also go on a bird-watching tour, and your iPhone will not let you see the photo clearly and close enough in a tree. What about flash, or will you go somewhere where flash isn’t allowed? You may need a camera with a high ISO to get those photos.

14. Too big of the camera—Even if you are a teenager carrying your gear all day for a week or more, sightseeing can injure your back. Be sure that the equipment you bring will be something you don’t mind carrying around with you all the time.

15. Not ready for special situations—If you go to Charleston, SC, and get up early to cover The Citadel Summerall Guards performing on a Saturday morning in the late spring or early fall, you will be dealing with condensation on your lens. I carry a Fog Eliminator cloth for my camera lenses. Leaving a hotel or car with air conditioning and stepping out in Charleston’s high humidity will take 10 to 15 minutes for your camera to stop fogging up. Maybe you are going to a rainforest for a few days. Moisture can destroy your electronics. Make plans to keep your gear dry.

16. Cultural and location mistakes—Too many people do not take the time to read about where they are going. They may find that in their research, they want to be sure to go to a specific location and find out how to avoid security issues. Too many people have stolen things because they are identifiable as tourists and become a target. Those who do their research will be better prepared to avoid these mistakes. Also, even simple things like hand gestures in one culture can mean something different in another, so you must do your best to prepare.

It isn’t accessible to over-prepare, but it is straightforward to under-prepare for your travel. Is it going somewhere soon for a vacation? I hope this inspires you to take the necessary steps to make your trip a lifetime trip.

Dissecting a photograph

by Stanley LearyApril 7, 2014September 18, 2022Photography

Photo #1

I wanted to walk you through a few photos and let you see what I think makes the images work.

In photo #1, I think a few things help make this photo work. Here is a quick bullet list of things that I think help make this work.

Rule-of-thirds—The man gesturing is on the right top thirds
Good use of Light—The light is coming onto their faces and brightest where the two men are in the photo
Gesture—The man’s gesture helps you know he is talking to the man next to him. Also, the little girl’s finger under her nose shows possible sniffles. The little girl’s eyes also redirect you back to the man gesturing
Shallow Depth-of-field [DOF]—The photo drops off in sharpness as you go back into the picture. Shallow Depth-of-field helps keep your attention towards the front of the man

I like this image of the ladies talking. Who can’t resist good “Window Light?” The rule-of-thirds is also working here. Shallow DOF keeps your attention on the lady listening. Catchlights in the eyes give life to her expressions. The hands communicate tension. I feel like she is dealing with some stress due to the position of her hands. With her head leaning on the wall, I also feel like she is relaxed and comfortable with this other lady. The other lady is slightly taller, and her body position and the lady listening to her communicate some authority.

Street photography is a lot of grab shots. Here the wall is helping communicate the neighborhood where this young boy lives. You can tell that education is essential due to the signage. The little boy is relaxed in his body posture.

The photographer has a lot of space behind the boy and very little in front. The area helps create the tension that the future isn’t as hopeful. The boy’s expression questions and wonders who this photographer is, thus communicating a little pressure on the audience. The color palette is simple, yet the colors convey the Caribbean.

Photo #4 is of NBC news reporter Robert Hager covering a tornado disaster. Here the DOF is increased to be sure the viewer looks toward the debris in the background. Hagar is waiting to go on air and talk about the situation.

Here is where the elements of the videographer and his gear helps tell the story and, in essence, help to frame Robert Hager and the destruction.

In this photo #5, the subject is dead center, please pardon how this sounds, but this is why I put the issue in the center. The dead center usually is what you want to avoid, but it helps create even more tension here. The edges of the photo are trying to contain everyone in the picture. The lack of color around the image and then with the American flag center helps to make it pop and draw the audience’s attention.

Here photo #6 uses color to help create interest and set the mood. Again, the light is off to the side and lets the viewer see the design of the lamp post.

Using Rule-of-Thirds helped with the composition in photo #7. Also, using a shallow DOF, the eye goes to the sharpest part of the photo, which is the guy’s face. Here the expression of the man and the man he is looking at keeps you going back to the apparent friendship between the two guys.

The light on the video camera in photo #8 helps start the eye looking and follow the morning to the subject. Also, all the cameras on the left are enabling to direct the eye to the right and the guys holding the trophy. Here the photographer has moved as close as possible and trying to contain everything in the frame.

Can you break down each of your photos? Today, study your pictures and those that catch your attention. Then, break them down so you can later use some of those techniques in your photos.

Off-Camera Flash Solution for the Fuji X-E2

by Stanley LearyApril 6, 2014September 19, 2022Photography

I prefer the off-camera flash any day to the pop-up flash on any camera. I have written many articles on it here on the blog. Just put the phrase “off-camera” in the search field I have on the blog, and you will see many posts talking about doing this with my Nikon system.

Now I have a Fuji X-E2 and wanted an off-camera flash solution. I stumbled on the Neewer TT850 flash [$104.95]. This flash is a manual flash. Using 2,000 mAh Eneloop batteries in an SB900 will give you a maximum of 200 cycles. The TT850 blows its competitors out of the water. Who needs one, even without a way to plug in an external pack? Just carry an extra battery or two. But who shoots more than 650 full-power strobe shots at a shoot? You can shoot up to 1300 full power shots with just one extra battery.

The flash has a guide number of 100.

You could trigger it in a few ways.

On the camera, hot shoe.
S1 – Mode [Normal Slave]
S2 – Mode [2nd Flash Slave]
Wireless Trigger

The flash works with the Neewer 433MHz Wireless 16 Channel Flash Remote Trigger [$27].

Set power ratios of up to 16 groups of remote flashes
Switch the on or off of the modeling light or AF-assist beam & buzzer
Manual triggering of flashes
Two modes of power ratio display
Quite a convenience to mount onto your camera’s hot shoe

Nikon has three groupings of A, B, or C. Neewer has 16 different groups. That is a lot of flashes you could control all from the camera.

Here you can see I can control the power easily from the remote. The controller is great for shooting on the go. Unfortunately, you cannot change the zoom from the remote.

Here you can see the setup. Fuji X-E2 with the 55-200mm lens. The Neewer TT850 is on a light stand off at 45º. The Neewer 433MHz Wireless 16 Channel Flash Remote Trigger fires the off-camera flash and controls the power from the camera. Also, on the flash, I added the MagMod flash modifier system.

MagMod is a magical flash modifier system that frees your Speedlite flashes from velcro, straps, and adhesives by ingeniously incorporating the invisible powers of magnetism.

The design of each modifier is a single molded piece of high-quality silicone rubber that is sleek, compact, easy to use, and dead simple.

I used the gel holder with a 1/4 CTO and two of the grids stacked. I was keeping the light mainly on the statue of the soldier.

Now I just took some photos. I used a tripod, which let me drag the shutter for some long exposures. This way, I could shoot at a low ISO and keep the background from going too dark.

Fuji X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 1000, ƒ/7.1, 1/8, flash set at 1/128 power.

Fuji X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 1000, ƒ/7.1, 1/30, flash set at 1/64 power.

The great thing is I am changing the power of the camera.

I recommend getting a second battery for the flash. All three were only $171.35 on Amazon. We have Amazon Prime, which gives us free shipping.

You could get four flashes using the FourSquare system by LightWare. For under $500, you could have four flashes and one remote. For around $530, you could have four flashes and four remotes.

The FourSquare is a great option for any camera system, especially for the money.

Visual Storytelling involves being prepared

by Stanley LearyApril 2, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

Be Prepared: The Motto of the Boy Scouts of America

“Be prepared for what?” you might ask. For everything is the response, scout leaders will tell those who ask.

Be prepared to live happily and without regret, knowing that you have done your best.

I started scouting and then joined the Civil Air Patrol. Civil Air Patrol has continued to save lives and alleviate human suffering through various emergency services and operational missions. Best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

CAP spends a lot of time in training and education around aerospace. I remember going on camping adventures where we would practice search and rescue. We learned how to read maps and use our compasses to navigate rugged terrain.

I also went to the McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey summer camp. We learned to shoot M-16 rifles during that camp. We also took a ride in a C-141. Like all young boys, I wanted to go on a search and rescue mission and be in the woods with an M-16 rifle on maneuvers. I wanted adventure.

Most of us grew up learning a great deal of stuff that prepared us for where we are today. A good amount of what I learned in scouting and Civil Air Patrol are things I hope I never have to use, but I am thankful I now know what to do in an emergency.

Photographers need to be ready.

Like the scout we study, we know what to do in a given situation. But, I had to get to capture these wildlife photos.

Being ready today is often due because I wasn’t always in the past. For example, I now carry a tripod on every photo shoot. I may leave it in the car, but I can quickly get to it.

When I am shooting sports, I have long lenses and a monopod.

I also like to use the ThinkTank belt system that I customize with the gear I need for that event. I do not want to require a flash and not have it.

I even have KWP Knee Pads to help save my knees when shooting from the kneeling position.

Being Prepared can be Depressing.

By my senior year in high school, I finally dropped out of Civil Air Patrol. I was tired of doing practice runs for search and rescue and never getting actually to do a “real” search and rescue.

“Patience, young grasshopper,” Master Po often said to young Cain in the TV series Kung Fu.

Being a thrill seeker can get you into much trouble. A week ago, on my Google alert for my name “Stanley Leary,” an email alert came in for Sean “Stanley Leary,” who died from BASE jumping. Leary’s body, rigged up in his BASE jumping gear, was found 300 feet beneath a high ridge in the park’s West Temple area in Utah’s Zion National Park.

He was a thrill seeker.

I found, as a photojournalist, my heart pumping as I covered disasters. While, on one level, I was sad about the tragedy, I still enjoyed the rush of my blood pumping.

March Madness has some of the best moments in basketball history, and then it has had some moments where everyone wishes there was a mercy rule. Take the 1963 Mideast Regional, 1st Round: Loyola 111, Tennessee Tech 42 game. A 69-point difference in the score of the two teams.

I think there are no great photos when you Google those blowout games. They may even have a headshot of the MVP. The lack of great images is because the game wasn’t that interesting.

This year there have been many games coming down to the last few seconds where the winner won by just one basket. These games were great to watch and photograph.

I have covered many games where the two teams were playing flat. There was not much emotion or effort on the field for me to capture. When I edit, I try to find a photograph that tells the story, which is somewhat interesting for the viewer.

Blowout is a big contrast to those double overtime games I covered during March Madness, where I would have so many moments I had to narrow down my selection.

Being Professional Photographer in Flat Moments

It isn’t easy to photograph these moments where very little is going on. Lack of the obvious However, this is where the great photographers start to stand out truly. They look for exciting things that they now have time to look for as compared to those moments where so much excitement is happening you are just trying to capture what is happening.

The difference can be as simple as having a very introverted subject compared to an extrovert. , So yes, you can take great photos of each, and one is not superior to the other, but one may require you to work harder.

I have gone further downfield and used long lenses like a 600mm ƒ/4 lens to find a different angle.

I have gone to the corner of baseball fields to capture something different.

I shoot with a long lens from the other end of the basketball court to get something different.

I will use off-camera flash to help improve photos to give moments a little more oomph.

While I may not have as many ” keepers ” photographs from flat events, I will always have some that will work for my client. That is what they are paying me to do.

You cannot come back and say there was nothing to photograph. At my first newspaper job, the director of photography told me then to show me there was nothing to snap and don’t come back with anything.

At that newspaper, we sometimes went to places where no one was. So we would take a picture of the empty field and make it look good, showing we were there and nothing was going on.

I get depressed after some events because I don’t have much to show. I sit and think and wonder what I could have done better. I always think of something that I could have done a little better. If, in the end, you can say you know that you have done your best, then you can be comfortable with your work.

Saint Patrick, Spring & Migration

by Stanley LearyMarch 17, 2014September 19, 2022Photography

Fujifilm X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 2500, ƒ/5.6, 1/500 [Eastern Bluebird]

Imagery used as symbolism

In Native American culture, animals have specific meanings. For example, they attribute the bluebird to happiness, joy, and contentment.

Seeing bluebirds is a sign of Spring. This Thursday, March 20th, is the first day of Spring.

Fujifilm X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 1250, ƒ/5.6, 1/500 [Red-bellied Woodpecker]

Many woodpeckers are protectors of the trees and refer to people who are protective of nature and their surroundings. It refers to an apparent surge of power and a dynamic outlook toward life. They are also symbolic of prophetic and mystic powers.

Most cultures use those things we see to help communicate truths through stories. However, when those things in nature are not always with us but come just during certain seasons, they help to remind us of values in our culture.

Fujifilm X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 800, ƒ/5.6, 1/500 [Yellow-rumped Warbler]

Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the trinity and helped establish Christianity in Ireland.

When he was about 16, he was captured from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as an ordained bishop, but we know little about the places where he worked. By the seventh century, he was the patron saint of Ireland.

We observe Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the date of his death.

What is powerful to me about his story is that he went back to Ireland after being treated as an enslaved person by them.

Migration

Birds and people migrate in search of work—the adage of the early bird getting the worm is why they look to work.

Nikon D3S, 24-120mm, ISO 4000, ƒ/6.3, 1/1000

This coffee farmer used to migrate to Atlanta from Mexico to find work to support his family. However, he no longer must migrate due to fair trade for his coffee.

Nikon D3S, 24-120mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.3, 1/60

Tommy Bassett heard the story of the migrant coffee farmers from Daniel Cifuentes in 2001, and by 2002 they had formed a cooperative.

Saint Patrick and Tommy Bassett traveled not to find work but to liberate people. Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, and Tommy helped to bring hope to the coffee farmers in Salvador Urbina and El Aguila, located in the Chiapas region of Mexico.

Today JustCoffee.org has changed the lives of more than sixty farmers, their families, and their communities.

Today many of us will Wear Green and avoid the tradition of getting pinched for not wearing it. The symbolism is to draw our attention back to Saint Patrick today. He migrated to Ireland to do God’s work in telling the good news of Jesus Christ.

Fujifilm X-E2, XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/8, 1/35

March is the time of year when our family craves ice cream. So one of the places when I drive by often get me to pull in, is Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.

Power of images

Today I hope every photographer takes a photo that will help remind people of something about the world in which we live that calls people to action. That is the power of the photograph.

The LCD: The Ides of March

by Stanley LearyMarch 15, 2014September 19, 2022Photography

The LCD has become the best friend for way too many photographers. Today we are reminded to be aware of those closest to us. It wasn’t good for Julius Caesar — he got stabbed 23 times by his trusted friends on this day in 44 B.C.

Those who rely solely on the LCD will most likely die a terrible death when they pull these same incredible photos into their computer and enlarge them on their much larger computer screens.

There are a couple of things that the LCD will consistently let you down on, and you need to know what they are, or you will be burned.

Focus can appear sharp on the small LCD on the back of the camera. This is especially true if you never zoom in on the photo to check the image at 100%.

I can tell you from experience that even zooming in on the LCD may not be accurate regarding the final image.

Camera movement may not show up either on this small LCD.

Not seeing details on the camera’s LCD is why they have a computer on location on significant advertising photo shoots. They pull the images up on the larger screens so the creative and art directors can approve the photos.

What are you to do in the field?

Professional photographers have always used some benchmarks to set the camera for camera movement.

First, they consider the focal length lens they are using. Depending on the focal length as w ll, you should consider your shutter speed. For longer focal lengths, you will probably need faster shutter speeds. Without image stabilization, you are best to use a shutter speed denominator larger than the length. So, your ideal rate for a 200mm lens would be 1/250 for a good-quality photograph.

Today many people are shooting with long focal length lenses like 500mm and 800mm due to the popularity of those bridges. Bridge cameras fill the niche between the single-lens reflex cameras (SLRs) and the point-and-shoot camera.

The other thing affecting the focal length is crop factors due to the size of the smaller sensors.

You may need to shoot 1/2000 of a building just because of the focal length.

Nikon D4, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 with 1.4 converter

Second, you need to consider the movement of the subj ct. Athletes in sports are not standing still. My rule is to shoot sports whenever possible at 1/2 00. If you can shoot faster, you will increase the likelihood that the photo is razor sharp.

Do use the histogram on the CD. It will help you. If it doesn’t look sharp on the LCD, it will only look worse when you enlarge the image.

Your LCD can help, but realize that you cannot depend on it to give 100% accuracy. Do zoom in on your images to check for sharpness, but know you may be close, but it could be sharper due to camera movement or focus.

Hopefully, you are now aware of the LCD being potential “The Ides of March” for the photographer.

Found my solution to sync Macbook Pro, iPad, and Android phones on Maverick OS

by Stanley LearyMarch 10, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

I need all of these to sync in addition to another backup Macbook Pro [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 2000, ƒ/4, 1/500]

Having my email, contacts, and calendar on my Macbook Pro, iPad, and Android phone was at one time working, then Apple introduced Mavericks OS.

I learned from one of my clients that Microsoft Exchange works great doing this. I had an account with the client, and everything synced great, no matter which device I was on.

When Apple stopped supporting syncing of their calendar and Contacts with Outlook 2011 with their Mavericks OS, I had to find something.

The solution was simple, find an exchange hosting solution. Since I was already using Godaddy, I checked out their Office 365.

Watch the video here, and you will get a basic idea of what it does for you.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvK76H9olXM]

One more thing I am now doing that I could not do before using my backup Macbook Pro running Outlook. Now I can use my backup Macbook Pro without fear of screwing up my email, contacts, or calendar.

Since I already had an account with Godaddy, the additional cost was only $3.99 a month. So I went ahead and paid for two years for $95.

I use Outlook as my assistant. It keeps me organized.

Photographers: Daylight Savings Time—More Than Clocks

by Stanley LearyMarch 10, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

Menu for resetting the Fujifilm X-E2

Saturday’s Headline—Daylight Saving Time: Set Your Clocks Ahead Tonight

Did you get all your clocks set forward? I know it usually takes a couple of weeks to remember all the watches around me.

One that many photographers forget is the ones on their cameras. So be sure you take the time today to adjust your camera’s clock.

My Nikon D4 lets you even set the Time Zone you are in. Using the Time Zone is excellent when traveling; you need to show the time zone you are shooting in.

Many people use this time each fall and spring to remind them to do more than change their clocks. Therefore, I recommend everyone add to the list of things to do around clock changes each spring and fall.

Every so often, here is something for photographers to check on, not something you must do all the time.

Firmware Updates
1. For your camera
2. For your lenses
3. For your flashes
Software updates

Here are two links to check if you have a Nikon or Fujifilm camera.

The reason you want to get everything updated is to get the best performance out of your gear.

Fuji X-E2 with the XF 55-200mm is a great combination for shooting speakers

by Stanley LearyMarch 5, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.5, 1/90 photo by Greg Schneider

I spent much time talking to students and pros this past weekend. So many were asking for my advice on their career path. I ended up asking them many questions and hopefully helped some get better traction for their journey.

Fuji X-E2 55-200mm @ 200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/20

Here is Larry McCormick, a photojournalist for The Tennessean who was one of the speakers at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference. He inspired us to love every assignment and treat every one of our subjects with honor, dignity, and respect.

Fuji X-E2 55-200mm @ 200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/10

James Gregg, Staff Photographer, San Diego Union-Tribune, was another speaker who walked us through many of his assignments. He is working predominately as a multimedia producer these days.

Fuji X-E2 55-200mm @ 200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/30

Greg Thompson, Sr Director, Corporate Communications, Chick-fil-A, challenged us to be more client and audience-focused. The story is not yours, it is the subjects, and you share it with an audience.

Fuji X-E2 55-200mm @ 200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/40

Ron Londen, Chief Creative Strategist, Journey Group, opened up the weekend by telling stories. First, he started with stories where he made mistakes. Then, he challenged us to connect with people and tell stories.

Fuji X-E2 55-200mm @ 60mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/20

All weekend I shot with the new Fuji X-E2, and when the speakers were on, I mainly shot with the XF 55-200mm lens. I think it is incredibly sharp, and the image stabilization is the best I have ever used. Look at those shutter speeds shooting from the back of the room. Shooting zoomed to 200mm is the same as shooting with my Nikon full-frame camera with 300mm. These are all handheld and sharp.

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 400, ƒ/2.8, 1/125

We did have some good Chick-fil-A sandwiches at the meeting, and the Cow visited. Most everyone was getting their photo made with the Cow.

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 2000, ƒ/2.8, 1/500

I was capturing fun moments with everyone enjoying themselves.

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/2.8, 1/500

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/3.2, 1/480

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/210

Fuji X-E2 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/170

Storytellers: Who’s Your Audience—NO REALLY!!!

by Stanley LearyMarch 3, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

James Gregg, Staff Photographer, San Diego Union-Tribune [Fuji X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/10]

All photos from the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference

At every conference I attend today, I am passionate about “Storytelling” and “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless.”

I don’t think this is all that new, but what is new is the focus on moving from bullet lists on a PowerPoint presentation to telling a story instead.

We have always done this, but now we are more aware of the power of an authentic story.

However, with all this emphasis, I am still not feeling the stories that people are sharing. The reason I am not feeling it all that well is pretty simple. The storyteller forgot all about me.

I can tell they got lost in the story and the subject and forgot all about the audience.

I am sure there are many ways to connect with the audience, but let me talk about one that I believe is the most powerful way to connect your audience and subject in a truly engaging way.

Andrew Silk, lecturer at California Baptist University [Fuji X-E2, XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/3.2, 1/200]

Authenticity

Preaching to me turns me off, primarily lecturing about what I need to do.

Here are what I think are three elements you need in storytelling to engage an audience.

Tension—You need to have the audience asking the question about the outcome of the subject. The narrative of your story must incite the audience to want an answer. Many a screenwriter talks when an account is not moving you along that you need a “dead cat.” You are missing the tension, and then there is no need for the audience to need to read the story.

Unpredictable—I think of Disney’s latest movie, Frozen, and how the ending has a twist so different than all the other princess movies I have seen. This twist has people talking and loving this movie. As a visual storyteller, I sometimes use visuals to help create the unpredictable. The unpredictability should be full of suggestion, foreshadowing, and recall. Not gimmicky shots and tricks; instead, One should design the video to tell a story in a not predictably sequential way.

Personality—The salesperson sells himself before they can sell the product. The narrative must have a warm and inviting style, not boring and dull.

Mike Martin, pastor [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 2800, ƒ/10, 1/2000]

The last one on personality is often where the subject reveals their flaws. The best stories are where the main issue is flawed and not a perfect Barbie Doll or Ken Doll.

Too many people will go to a church revival, and the testimony of someone who had a terrible life moves them. They were on drugs, beaten, or even raped, and the power of their story about how awful their life was.

I often hear people say I wish I had a story like that. They even may jokingly say they wish they had a drug addiction. But, they feel like they don’t have an account because they don’t have a “dead cat” in their story.

I know of people who are the most attractive people you could imagine that appeared to have it all who attempted suicide. The key is not that they tried or thought of suicide, but the power of the story comes in the authenticity of why they thought their life was not worth living.

Giraffes at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center [Fuji X-E2, XF 55-200mm, ISO 200, ƒ/4.5, 1/200]

You see, they compared themselves to their siblings or someone else who had what they thought was a successful life. They maybe had older siblings that were star athletes or straight “A” students. In their eyes, they are a failure.

The key to this person telling their story is not in how bad they thought they had it; the power tells the story of how they are a broken vessel.

I think great leaders are the ones who do share a little of their humanity and do not try to appear that they have it all together.

Every person feels adequate. They all feel they are not as good as those around them at some level—even those who are the most successful in life struggle sometime during their day as missing the mark. Learn to connect to the audience on how this story you want to tell is similar to their account.

When we tap into the audience and where they are in life, we will have a better time engaging them in the story. Nonprofits can tell their story as long as they connect to the subject’s struggles and how the audience can make a difference. But to do this, they must establish how and why the subject cannot do it alone.

They must show how the audience can make a difference and connect the emotional part of the story to the message.

[Fuji X-E2, XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/7.1, 1/25]

Knowing more about the audience before you work on the story can help you find those emotional connections between the two. Appealing to an entrepreneur to help support microloans or even macro loans to help another entrepreneur achieve their dream changes the world. But, first, they must establish why they cannot get a traditional loan.

If your organization is struggling, I would guess that one of the primary reasons is they forgot about their audience.

Fuji X-E2 shots at the Southwestern Photojournalism Seminar

by Stanley LearyFebruary 28, 2014September 20, 2022Photography

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm ISO 200, ƒ/5.6, 1/1300

These are all JPEGs right out of the camera from my time here in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference.

Tonight was the start of the student workshop.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm ISO 6400, ƒ/5.6, 1/85

These are some photos of my friends trying out the Fuji X-E2. My friends Bob Carey and Ron Londen both had the X-E2 and had just bought the new X-T1 camera. Unfortunately, I have only been able to play with their cameras.