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A graveyard with a misplaced Parking Space sign. A piglet making massage toanother one. A funny roadside attraction showing an epitaph, Here lies the lasttrespasser. A little girl picking her little brother’s nose. An Asian woman inbathing suit holding a huge umbrella while taking a splash on the beach. A manrunning naked in the middle of a tennis match.

Is something comical going on? Go grab your camera and photograph it.

Humor has always been the favorite of many photographers, be it humorouspeople or animals, situations, signs, or juxtapositions. However, capturinghumor in photography is not an easy task. It is a difficult subject and manyphotographers have failed, like some stand-up comedians who desperately forcetheir acts.

When capturing humorous photos, what you have to do is to observe the worldand see what others don’t see. This is one of the rules of thumb in photographythat many fail to follow. Look at your subject, try to understand what it is,and then begin looking at what else the subject is. In other words, look, see,and see beyond the subject. This is one of the skills that sets apart ahumorist and good photographer from others.

Finding humor can be matter of luck. Sometimes, humorous situations arisewhen you least expect them. For example, a child making funny faces, anelephant suddenly appearing in the middle of a busy street, or a sign saying,Illegally parked cars will be towed, crushed, and melted. So have your cameraready at all times. Look for visual non-sequitors, contrasts, or moments thatmake you go, huh?

If you decide to stage a humorous scenario, the first thing you should do isto look for a subject that can tickle the fancy of those who are going to seethe photos. Setting up your own hilarious situation can give you a lot oflaughs while doing it, or even more laughter later when everyone gets to lookat the photos. Just enjoy and do not force yourself to come up with a funnyscenario.

You may have achieved an excellent humorous photo if it seems an ordinaryjoke at first, but the effect to the viewer remains for a long time.

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Plants provide food, oxygen, and shelter. But they also give us magic, avisual poetry, and a sense of wonder. It is this beauty many photographers tryto convey within their photos. Sometimes the beauty is subtle. Sometimes it isbrazen. The beauty is always there, but it takes time to discover it. Here aresome garden photography tips that can help you capture the beauty ofgardens.

Don’t shoot at noon

Do not shoot when the sun is high. This is one of the rules of thumb ingarden photography. Shooting at noon when the sun is shining fiercely canbleach out your photos, making them too contrasty, with very little visibledetail.

So when is the best time to shoot? You can shoot early in the morning orlate in the afternoon. You can also shoot when the sun’s rays are slanted andmore inviting or on overcast days. Taking photos of your garden around thistime will yield a photo that shows rich color and detail. In case you want tocapture that bright blue sky as background, you should capture your subjectwith your back to the sun. This is unless you want to achieve a backliteffect.

Use weather elements

You can create dramatic effects in your garden photos by using the elementsof the weather. A misty early morning will leave droplets of water on flowerpetals, leaves, and cobwebs. You can also use garden objects like statues,posts, and fountains to create striking silhouette images at sundown.

The subject matter in garden photography is demanding since plants andflowers have ephemeral beauty, and thus you should capture them at the perfecttime and in best weather and light.

Capture other creatures/things

Gardens are not just about flowers, leaves, roots, and twigs. They are alsoabout insects, small birds, and other types of wildlife that wander into thegarden. These creatures make a beautiful image. Also consider shooting thingslike benches, sprinklers, statues, fountains, or gardening tools. They addcharacter to your garden.

Compose your shot carefully

Good composition is key in garden photography. Compose the shot carefully,especially in close-ups. Make sure that there are no off-putting objects (suchas debris, discolored leaves, sticks and stakes, etc.) in your shot. But youcan always use these distracting objects as your subjects, if you want. Youmust also avoid patches of plain dirt.

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Capturing the nude body in photography is capturing what is beautiful andwhat is sensual. However, since beauty is sometimes elusive and can only beseen by trained eyes, it can be very difficult to take a stunning photo of anude body. It requires patience and skills.

Like da Vinci in drawing the Vitruvian Man, the photographer must befamiliar with proportions. Like Michaelangelo in sculpting David, thephotographer must know the subject very well. And like Picasso in painting LesDemoiselles d’Avignon, the photographer must see the sublime.

But you do not have to be a genius to take a great nude photo. Here are somesimple tips that may help you deal with the challenges of nude photography:

Use digital camera

In order to save time, use a digital camera so that a picture can be takenagain if you do not achieve the effects you are after (for example, thelighting is bad). This allows you to shoot hundreds of shots in a singlesession without having to change the film.

Make the model comfortable

The key to achieving a good shot largely depends on the model. This personshould be proud of her body regardless of its size. He or she should be someonewho sees nudity as a form of empowerment. A model who is anxious to show his orher nude body but is willing to pose must be made comfortable. Assure him orher that nudity is all about celebrating one’s body and that you are shootingfor art’s sake. You can take photos of the model with clothes on first beforeyou photograph him or her naked.

Aim for simple poses

Make the poses simple. Do not force the model to pose in such a way that heor she is uncomfortable. An overdone pose may not give you the best results. Aneffortless pose will look natural on the photo. In photography, the best andmost dramatic shots are very simple shots.

Less is more

Less skin is more. This is one of the basic principles of nude photography.Try a few shots where your subject covers himself or herself up in differentways. For example, have his of her hands cover his or her torso or privateparts. The subject can also make a pose in a way that some parts of his or herbody covers the other parts. This works out the imagination of those who willview the photos.

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There is something magical about the dark of the night – the mysteriouslights from office windows floating in the middle of the night, the flickeringneon lights, the sleepy lamp post on a deserted and dark street. Nightphotography is an exciting but demanding endeavor. The challenge of capturingscintillating images depends on whether your camera is designed for nightphotography and on some simple techniques.

Is your camera night photography capable?

Your life will depend on your camera if you want to venture in nightphotography. For great night photos, you need a digital camera that enables youto keep the shutter open for a longer time. Anywhere between 3 and 30 secondswill do. When buying a digital camera, check the shutter speed.

If you want to get serious with night photography, buy a camera with thelongest shutter speed possible. But before you rush to the nearest store forthat camera, you need to check more features: shooting modes, self timer andremote controller.

A and P shooting modes

The image sensor of your digital camera must be exposed to light to capturean image. There is a big problem: we do not have enough light at night. Toooften, if you select an Auto (A) or Program Auto (P) shooting mode, nightphotos always come out very dark (underexposed). But why does that happen – ifyou have shutter speed ranges of, for example, 10 sec. to 1/2,000 sec.?

Check your digital camera’s User’s Manual and see if all the shutter speedsare available in Auto or P mode. The whole shutter speed range is not availablein both modes in many digital cameras. Perhaps the slowest shutter speedavailable is 1/3 sec, not long enough for night photography. In order to accesslonger shutter speeds, select another shooting mode (for example,Shutter-Priority). You may even switch to full Manual mode.

Self-timer and remote controller

A self-timer or a remote controller is an essential feature that yourdigital camera must have. With these features, you can depress the shutterrelease button minus the camera shake. However, not all cameras come with aremote controller or even have it available optionally. The good news is thatmost cameras have a self-timer, which often counts down from 10 sec.

Buy a tripod

You may want to buy a sturdy tripod if you still do not have this cameraaccessory. You will need it as the digital camera must be kept rock steady whenthe shutter stays open for a long time. Otherwise, the camera will shake andyou end up with blurry images.

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Surfing, rafting, wakeboarding, and the likes are some of the mostexhilarating, adrenaline-pumping sports. The splash and the rush of the watermake water sports a good subject of photography. But shooting water sports canbe a challenge. Here are some tips that might help you when shooting watersports:

Planning is key

What separates a great photo from a mediocre snapshot is the carefulplanning that goes into taking photos. Before shooting, professionalphotographers always make some plans, including creating a mental image of thephotos they want to take.

When taking photos of extreme water sports, you will encounter manysituations that will need careful planning for the strategy for shooting andthe equipment you carry. For many of these photo pursuits, you must determineenvironmental hazards to yourself, the subjects, as well as your equipment.Safety must be your highest priority.

Protect your camera

Protecting your camera is critical when shooting water sports. Salt water,and even fresh water, is very corrosive. Thus you need a waterproof case or bagwhen shooting rafting, surfing, and other paddle sports. You also have to cleanand dry your camera carefully every day.

Expect the unexpected

On a paddle or rafting trip, you will be on the water four to five hoursdaily. If you are careful and have a waterproof camera case, you can shootwhile sitting on the boat. Ask the raft guide if the approaching rapids aresplashy or if a complete dousing should be expected. Expecting the unexpectedwill help you prepare for the best shots.

Make use of creative tools

Use a wide-angle zoom lens (for example, the 17-35 zoom). Set your camera toslower shutter speeds in order to see what you like the most. Another creativetool that you might want to use is reflection. Observe carefully the waterreflections on water during sunrise and sunset. They become even morepronounced when the water lies between you and the sky’s brightest part.

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Fashion photography is one of better paid genres of photography. Anddefinitely the most glamorous. Most of the time, budding fashion photographersare put down more times than they’re picked up in the fashion industry. Butyou’ll be given a chance if you have a great talent and a unique eye for style.So here are some fashion photography tips that may help beginners outthere:

Be prepared

Don’t start your shoot without having a solid idea of what you want toachieve. Walking on to a set with no clear picture of what you want to happenis a waste of time. And money, too. Costs run at every tick of the clock. Soyou must be very prepared. In fact, it really helps sometimes to overprepare.

Be the captain of the ship

Fashion photography is a team effort. You need to work with models, makeupartists, hair stylists, and set designers. Be open to ideas and suggestions.But take charge. Don’t let anyone take over your vision. It can be a disasterif you do. Photography is telling a story. And like writers, photographers needto execute the story very smoothly for the audience to understand what they’rereally trying to say.

Move and shoot

Experiment from all possible angles when shooting. Shoot and move. Movemore. Shoot and move. You have to find the perfect shot. Don’t wait it to cometo you. You also have to be a director. While some models don’t need muchdirection, don’t lose sight of your direction. Again, create and don’t wait forthe best shot.

Bend the rules

The saying, rules are meant to be broken, holds true in fashion photography.After all, fashion is all about experimenting and making a trend. Experimentwith the elements of photography. It’s okay if the lighting isn’t perfectlyflattering or if the framing doesn’t direct attention to the subject. Just makesure that you’re consistent all throughout.

Be confident

So what if Vogue hires you to take photos of Giselle Bundchen? Believe inyourself and your talent. Don’t be afraid to make some mistakes. Screwing up ispart of fashion photography. But it’s okay. Just learn from your mistakes.

You may not become world famous, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Justbelieve in yourself. Love your work. Be confident. Make realistic goals and dosomething to achieve them.

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Self-portrait photography is tough for many reasons. For one, you cannot seehow you look until you check the shot. Setup can also be very time consumingbecause you have to run back and forth when setting the timers. Focus is alsodifficult because you cannot see where the focus rests. But self-portraitphotography can be very fun. Here are some tried and tested ideas to help youget that perfect self-portrait shot.

What equipment to use

Use a DSLR because it has creative control, superior sensors, and so manyaccessories. Use a tripod. It is important because it gives a sturdy yetflexible mount for your camera. Almost all tripods will do. Pick up a wirelessremote. Some wireless remotes sell for as low as $ 20. They can save time andmake it easier for you to fine tune your self-portrait without looking haggardby photo number 30.

How to come up with ideas

Coming up with brilliant ideas is one of the most difficult parts inself-portrait photography. Even the more experienced photographers strugglehere. So, where should you get your ideas? Well, do not look too far. Thinkabout what you own and how you could use them in a photo. Think aboutinteresting props as well as your prominent features. Are you bald? Do you havea huge mole on your cheek? Do you have an extremely long hair? Work on thesefeatures to your advantage.

Long or wide lens

The subject and the backdrop make a photo. No one is more important than theother; they are similarly important. This is where lens choice comes into thepicture. Use a long lens if you want to send the background out of focus. Use awide lens if you want to keep the background in focus. Use it if you want thebackground to be a major part of your self-portrait photo.

Portray convincing emotion

If you want your self-portrait photos to look lively, then act lively, byall means. If you want to come up with a boring photo, then act bored. The bodygestures and facial expressions you make contribute in setting the tone. Goover the top. There is no room for inhibition here. Go crazy. Show more emotionto increase your chances of getting better photos.

Dress the part

Complete the act by dressing the part. Do not wear plain gown if you arechanneling Queen Elizabeth. If you want to portray a 1930’s gangster, thendress like one.

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Photos are the cheapest keepsakes you can get when you travel, so it’s notsurprising that even travelers who have no formal photography training suddenlybecome photography buffs on the road. Today, digital cameras allow you tocapture hundreds, and even thousands, of photos during your vacation. But howmany of these photos are worth enlarging and hanging on the walls of yourhouse?

You may not win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography, but you can learn tocapture better photos than you currently do. When doing travel photography,there are things that you should look for – interesting things that would makea great photo. Here are some of them:

Capture extraordinary things

Look for something out-of-this-world. For example, capture photos of cowsstrolling the streets of Mumbai. Or a man taking a leak on the wall with NoPissing sign in Bangkok. Or your friends doing the belly dance in Egypt. Aninteresting photo means a good photo.

Find shapes

Cultures use shapes, lines, and curves in architecture very differently.Compare, for example, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and Taj Mahal in India.Look for triangles and angles. They help create a sense of perspective, puttingyour viewers in the photo. Look for curves. They help create a sense ofmovement in your photos.

Seek the light

Lighting makes or breaks any photo. Make your images dramatic with dynamiclighting. Turn off the flash when taking photos inside basilicas andcathedrals. Skylights, rose windows, and stained glass windows give stunningeffect. Using the flash can ruin this beautiful lighting. Seek out the GoldenHour when shooting outside. Photographers refer to this as the first and lasthour of daylight. Under the right conditions, it can lead to a warm and softglow on anything in its path.

Look for contrast

Contrast in photography is an effective way to directing your viewers’attention to the subject of the photo. Position subject elements to createcontrast. It gives added emphasis. Whether in tones, textures, position, or thesubject itself, contrast will keep your images interesting.

Look for textures, colors, and content

Unify all photographic elements to a picture that will visually make sense.For example, capturing a photo of children playing in the street of a ThirdWorld neighborhood amid rusty roofs, power lines, vandalisms, and posters willsay a lot. Capture an image that shows extreme diversity of textures, colors,and content.

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Digital cameras today have become quite capable of gettingbetter quality pictures than before, thanks to new technology developed to makeit all possible. But still, taking great pictures using digital cameras mayalso depend on the one using it. No technology in the world can help people getclearer and better pictures with their digital cameras if they do not exactlyknow how to properly use their equipment. Here are some tips that might helpyou improve your digital camera shots the next time you go out.

Understand the camera’s focus system.

Almost all of today’s compact digital cameras are equipped withbetter focus systems. Features such as auto-focus and face recognition havebecome quite common among newer digital cameras today. That is why it isimportant to know the capabilities of the focusing system of your own digitalcamera in order to get better quality pictures and images.

For example, not a lot of digital camera users know how toproperly use their camera’s focusing system. It may be good for such users toknow that most cameras automatically focuses when the shutter button is pressedhalfway. This will help make the camera better focus in the image beingcaptured rather than skipping this step and clicking on the button for imagecapture. The result would usually be blurry shots.

Make less movements when shooting.

Another way to get better shots with your digital camera is bystaying stable as much as possible when taking shots. Despite having betterimage stabilization features, most cameras may require users to stay still whentaking shots. This feature may only correct small movements but may not be aseffective for large and sudden ones. In order to be even more effective, tryusing a tripod base for your digital camera to make sure that it doesn’t moveat all to get the best possible picture quality.

Consider proper lighting.

Low light can easily affect the quality of your shots and sowill too much back lighting. At such instances digital cameras may not be ableto compensate in such bad lighting conditions. Try to learn when and how to usethe flash in your digital camera. Learn what types of lighting would work wellwith the type of digital camera that you use. The best way to do this is bygetting yourself more familiar with your equipment and through constant trialand error taking more and more shots. Eventually, you will get to know moreabout your digital camera in order for you to use it more effectively in tryingto get better shots in the future.

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