Sunday, 1159pm Will Come Quickly...POST!

Conglomerate Post

10 rules to a good photograph:

1. Keep in constant motion. Variety in the frame is crucial to a good series.

2. Pay attention to the technical nuances of your camera. It's the details that make a picture.

3. Keep the ISO as low as possible, but don't compromise the integrity of the shot. Don't sacrifice depth of field for a lower quality image.

4. Shoot with a large aperture .

5. Don't be afraid to put yourself in front of the lens.

6. Forcing a concept or an image is a quick route to disaster.

7. Observe the little things around you. Take in everything.

8. Hop the fence, physically and metaphorically. Slip through that "no entry" door. Explore.

9. Take as many shots as possible. More is better than less.

10. Have Fun. If you feel like you have to drag yourself to take pictures, maybe you shouldn't be in this gig.

A photo I've been afraid to take...Hmm. I am actually afraid of interacting with models. I don't know how to direct them to achieve my aim. I am afraid of the concept. I feel like I don't really come up with an idea going into a situation with my camera in hand. I just bring my camera and hit the shutter. Perhaps I should try and photograph a narrative. Being the one in charge is not my strong suit. That can change, though.

My featured artist is J Alex Goss. Goss is a photographer based in New York City. I'm not sure what it is that draws me to his photographs. They strike me as snapshots of someone's life who is perpetually in motion. There is a sense of movement/action to his photos. The more I look at them the more they appear to me to be all related in some sort of photo diary. They are incredibly crisp in quality, something I have always wanted to improve upon in my photos.

10 Rules, Afraid, and Photographer

10 Rules

1. Don't be afraid to look stupid, or ask for a strangers help.

2. Going in with a concept is cool, but always leave room for the unexpected.

3. Never stand in one place the whole time, even if your in a tiny space get as many perspectives as possible.

4. Be prepared- have a charged camera and enough card space

5. Always check the weather when shooting outside, and always have an umbrella just in case.

6. Keep the ISO as low as you can.

7. If you can't find a model don't be afraid to use yourself.

8. Don't force a concept if there isn't one.

9. Look up from the lens now and then and fully see what you have to work with around you.

10. Always experiment, even if you think it won't look good it could spark a good idea.

I don't have a specific photo I'm afraid to take, but I don't like taking photos in really special moments. Especially if I'm involved I don't want to look away from something or disconnect myself to get my camera and set up everything. Even though some moments I wish were captured so I could keep them forever, sometimes experiencing it and having the memory is better than a photo. I'm afraid if I take a picture I could miss seeing something that could inspire me later.

Steve Gong

He is a multimedia journalist and portrait photographer based in New York, London, and Beijing. I love the geometry in this photo and everything else about it. This is probably something that happens more often then people get to see it. This photo is one that really just inspires me to be better and know that moments like this are all around us, we just have to find them.

Ten Rules and hesitations.

10 rules for producing a good photo:

1. Lightroom & Bridge are the gods of editing and viewing photography.
2. If possible, take more than one shot of the same thing. It's the worst when a shot looks in focus on your camera's lcd, but in reality is noticeably off.
3. Horizon lines should never be dividing your photo in half.
4. Kids move fast, ALWAYS be prepared and ready when they are your subject.
5. Shooting outdoors on a clear day an hour or so before sunset will give you gorgeous light every time. Plan shoot times accordingly.
6. Be friendly with people, especially when you're shooting. You never know what opportunities can arise from it, or knowledge you can gain.
7. Go on an adventure. Take the long way home. Explore a place you've never been.
8. Take your time.
9. Carry a camera with you everywhere possible. 9/10 times that shot you missed won't be there when you come back.
10. Don't force it.

To put it bluntly, I'm scared to take pictures of strangers, especially children. Even when it happens it's hard to do because you really only have two ways to go about it. You can ask if it's okay, or just do it anyway. The latter is your best bet to keep your subject as natural, and close to the state you found them in, but you also run the risk of seeming like the world's biggest creep if you get caught. This can be worth it though, because most people change their behavior when they are aware that a camera is recording them. This is why I favor kids. They don't seem to be as self-conscious and will behave however they see fit. One girl in particular stuck out to me recently. I see her every once in a while on my walks to class and when I do she's sitting on her porch steps picking aimlessly at some rocks watching other kids play at the park across the street. I tried to wave and be friendly once, but she just stared back blankly and continued whatever she was doing. Her resemblance to my best friend as a child is uncanny, and I want to take her picture, but I'm afraid to try because I feel like it's crossing some sort of unspoken social boundary, like I would need her parent's permission even if she is on public property. I want to do it, but I'm not sure how to approach it.

Dani

"Dani," whose last name I could not find/figure out, is a professional model/photographer/artist from Sweden. She does mostly portraits, whether or not they are classified as so: of people, of cats, of other animals...
Her work has a sort of faint sfumato thing going on, all of them with cool, muted tones, even the ones with reds in them appear calm and collective. The portraits are really odd, appearing to have a creepy or somber air about them, especially the backlit ones. Her portraits in black and white have similar feelings, but in more extreme ways: the sort-of-creepy ones are creepier, the not-as-creepy ones are calmer.
Her photographs of other miscellaneous items also appear to have cool tones and muted colors; they are also beautiful, but seem sort of common, I suppose.

Artist, 10 rules, Photo

My artist of the week is Jim Scherer, a food photographer. His subject matter isn't of particular interest to me (other than how delicious the food looks!) but I am very impressed by his mastery of understanding light. The intriguing atmosphere that he captures is all in debt to the way he stages the food at the proper time of day to capture the perfect light. Scherer also uses color very well to create an appealing composition. You can tell that his photographs are very calculated and aware.

http://scherer-food-photography.com/

My ten rules to a good photograph:
1) Shoot at about .5-1 stop under what the camera's meter says is correct
2) The subject should (almost) never be in the center of the image, it should interact with the rest of the information in the frame
3) Don't be distracted by bright colors alone, the image will end up empty
4) Railroads, lane dividing lines in the middle of the road, or any kind of parallel lines that disappear into the distance should not be the subject of the image
5) Try and capture a connection or interaction between two or more things/people
6) Posed photos should be taken in a studio setting
7) Never use the camera's flash
8) Don't get too shutter happy
9) Try to be invisible as a photographer
10) Remember to look around with your eyes, not just through the lens

The photograph that I've been scared to take is one of great grief or despair. I have not yet had the courage to shoot a photograph of people crying or in pain. I feel rude and insensitive to the emotional situation. However these are the photographs that people remember, because they strike your emotions as a viewer.

Photo I'm afraid to take. artist. 10 rules

http://fotorobert.republika.pl/krajobrazy1.html

Robert Urbanksi is a Polish photographer who tends to capture typography. Although he does so well—visually pleasing—I find that style boring. I really appreciate the landscape photos he does. I personally, don’t like to take pictures of landscapes. For some reason I find too many other things more interesting, like close ups of objects and portraits. He captures landscapes beautifully which is something I’m not very good at. The exposure is perfect and the framing is interesting. Each photo makes me want to keep staring at it which is something I admire and hope to achieve in my work.

The photo I’m afraid to take.

I’m afraid to take a photo of landscapes with a film camera in black and white. First of all, like I mentioned earlier, I don’t really enjoy photographing landscapes. However, I find them appealing when other people capture them, and I’d like to try. I tend to find the appeal in the color of landscapes, not necessarily the shapes and shadows. I’d like to use a film camera to capture light well enough to make the picture stand out as color does.

My 10 rules:

1. Subject: there needs to be an interesting subject present in the photograph. I don’t like taking pictures of nothing.

2. The photo should contain a person more often than not. At least that’s how I roll.

3. Lighting: a perfect photo needs dramatic lighting.

4. Aperture: the aperture needs to be perfect. I don’t like having to edit the lighting of a photo. It should be perfect from the start

5. No flash: Flash is almost tacky. It reminds me of snapshots that people that don’t know what they’re doing take.

6. Shutter Speed: should be slowish. I feel like it captures more for some reason

7. Steady Hand: the photo needs to be clear. I hate blurry pictures.

8. Framing: I think following the rule of thirds is an excellent guide. It really helps making the photo more interesting.

9. Shallow Depth of Field: I find close ups to be more interesting than being able to see everything in the shot.

10. The photo lastly should be balanced. Everything in the frame should be acknowledged when shooting.

Ten Rules to Photography or: The Photograph I'm Scared to Take

Ten Rules of Photography

1. Tell some kind of story.
2. Show something most people would not see.
3. Make the composition as much about the negative space as it is the positive.
4. Take more than one photo of your subject; it is likely that you won't use the first one, even if you think it's perfect when you take it.
5. Take the photo you see in your mind at first, and then shoot the same thing in a different way.
6. Do not be afraid of people looking at you.
7. Shoot more photos than you need or want.
8. Do not follow the "basic rules" of composition blindly; put your subject right in the center, cut part of it off, do whatever you need to do to show what you want to show.
9. The final product of the editing of a photograph should look better than what your grandma can do with Instagram.
10. Thou shalt not complain about what model camera you're using. A good photographer can capture a good image with a cell phone camera (although that's not recommended for practical reasons).
11. There are no rules!!!!! Have fun!!!!!!!!! Give 110%!!!! There's no I in team!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Photograph I'm Scared to Take

A portrait of a single mother struggling to make ends meet, sitting quite defeatedly at a kitchen table strewn with bills and post-dinner plates, under an exposed lightbulb, with the feeling of trying to hold on to a last morsel of hope. It's an illustration of the working class in modern America, which I think has elements that have yet to be fully explored that differ from our traditional, mid-twentieth century conception of the "American Dream". It's a stark update to social realism, showing a family swept up in today's changing society, just trying to have a solid place to stand.

Rylan Perry

My photographer this week actually incorporates my “fear” in photography. He is more of a portrait photographer than anything but it is obvious that is not all he is capable of. He does a lot of nude photography that is graphic but it is tastefully done. I see his subjects nudity last when looking at his work. His photographs are well exposed and he seems to challenge the rules of photography. His subjects’ all seem to have a serenity and mystery within their expression or pose. He plays with light and his work over all has this hazy, late late afternoon feel about them. His photos have an almost vintage feel to them. He seems to take a lot of his photographs at dusk while the sun is descending. He definitely inspires me to conquer my own apprehension in nude photography.

10 Rules to a good photograph

1. I think a good photograph comes from the environment and the state of the photographer. The photographer should minimize all distractions. If a photographer puts all of his/her attention into individual photographs it will be a successful experience.

2. Going into a photographing, I think that you should have a concept for the shoot. My most successful photographs have come out of a conceptual shoots rather than wandering around looking for a photo.

3. I think a good photograph is of something that no one really thinks about in a location. Find emotion in each location you shoot. Emotions are not just happy and sad but also think of words like uneasy or awkward . Be purposeful.

4. Expose your photos correctly. I do not mind a darker photo because it can convey more detail but an overblown photograph has no detail to it, can look like a snapshot and even when edited you can only get limited detail. Try your hardest to get it done in camera.

5. Beware of the snapshot. I think it is good to continuously shoot but don’t remember to have be conceptual. It is better to choose from a group of well-exposed and detailed photos rather than choose from the photos that you “got lucky” with.

6. ISO is SO important. If you can, shoot below 800 to get a good quality shot. Adjust shutter speed and aperture to help with lighting.

7. Clichés are boring, overdone and uninspiring. For example, Tree photography; if you are going to take a photo of a tree examine it from all angles.

8. Don’t be afraid to look stupid, you won’t regret it if you get a good photograph. Crouch low, bring a ladder, and get on your back. Experiment.

9. To be honest the rules of photography are just guidelines, I think breaking those rules is what photography is all about.

10. Never copy an artist but use other artist, photographers, and people as inspiration. Keep up on your peers and other photographers. You will explore so many other types of angles, exposures and ideas. Learning about new artists never hurt.

Photograph I have always wanted to take but was too afraid to take

I don’t think I am necessarily afraid to take any photographs. I think that something that could be intimidating and a new experience for me would be nude photography. I am not necessarily scared to shoot it but it would be a more intimate type of photography, which would put me in a different comfort zone. I have not had the opportunity to shoot nude models because frankly I have never asked anyone to pose for me. I think that the nudity in photography can be too cliché and used as shock value. I think that it is a intimidating subject matter because I don’t want to just photograph a naked person. If I were to photograph someone nude I would want it to be original and my own.

Peter Carsten- a extreme photographer, who goes beyond limits; he puts himself in life and death situations in nature to achieve a never seen before angle of these type of environments. He has taken many photos that demand a very skilled and intelligent person who knows how to handle and survive these moments. He recently won a World Press Award for his tornadoes in the American West, and has covered many other types of situations that involve nature at its most deadliest. He is a technical climber, paraglider, caver, diver, and canyoneer. And he films; he's not only a photographer but an explorer, an adventurer!

10 rules:

1. Enjoy the moment/capture moments

2. Take as many photographs as possible

3. Play around with different settings/exposure

4. Take abstract angles

5. Be curious and feel your surroundings/feel the environment

6. Don't be afraid to use my camera in intense/awkward/any situation

7. Be dedicated and passionate to using your camera all the time.

8. Explore all of your deepest thoughts and feelings/ figure out what your photos are trying to say/ let you photographs "speak"

9. Always push your limits. learn and grow with it.

10. Love what your doing with all positivity/ have fun!

The one photo I have always wanted to take:

I have always wanted to go into a church or deep spiritual place and capture someone connecting to their God. i.e. praying/meditating.

The Most Obnoxiously Long Blog Post Ever Written

My photographer of the week is Martin Stavars, a photographer from Poland who travels around the world. His work mostly consists of landscapes, both urban and natural. Almost all of his photographs are black and white. He believes that the most important aspect of a photograph or in taking a photograph, is the lighting. He sees photographs as an interpretation of light. Much patience is needed for his work, he says, because he spends a lot of time waiting around in large cities for a time when either none or not many people are around. I think the reason why I have always been drawn to his images, is because of the amazing contrast that they possess. Nearly every photograph of his has a very wide range of tones, from the lightest white to the darkest black. His photography gives me a sense of serenity, no matter how chaotic or busy the location is. It has always been fascinating to me how he can take the busiest places, and make them seem so peaceful.

My Ten Rules When Taking Photos:

1. Don't over think the composition.
2. No random trees/branches invading important negative space.
3. Depth of field- think about what kind you want.
4. Camera shake is unacceptable.
5. Take multiple versions of every photo.
6. Observe everything in the frame, and make sure it all works.
7. Don't over-use macro. Sometimes it is successful, sometimes it is cheesy.
8. Always try to use 200 ISO or smaller, when possible. (Too much of a perfectionist for noise)
9. Have I seen this photo before? If so, forget it.
10. Notice and pay close attention to the little things.

The Photo(s) That I Desire, but Fear.
I feel like mine is a bit cliche, but oh well, I'm just trying to be honest. I have always wanted to find a homeless colony and take photos of it. My best friend's fencing club (Richmond Fencing Club) has an area in the woods behind it where tons of homeless people live, and I've always wanted to take photos. I am terrified, however, of agitating the people who live there or feeling too awkward to actually take the photos. Generally, I'm still pretty afraid to take photos of strangers, and the fact that I would be singled out in a homeless colony just exaggerates that fear. I've always had these ideas of photos of the homeless, in their own environment (how ironic is that?), but I have always been too scared to actually do it.

Rules and Fears

My 10 Rules for Photography:

1. If you think you like a shot, take it 10 more times in 10 different ways.
2. Don't use an aperture smaller than f 8.
3. If you don't look or at least feel a little stupid doing it, you're probably doing it wrong.
4. If you're going to use a tripod, use it all day; otherwise, it's not worth it.
5. Carry at least 2 memory cards everywhere.
6. Zoom in close; small things are important.
7. Never be afraid to change all the settings; you'll probably find a better shot.
8. Start with the Rule of Thirds, but don't be afraid to centre your subject.
9. If there's an interesting person, take their photo. And run.
10. Play "Photokidsforthewin" [or alternative photography playlist] playlist until you're done.

The Photo I'm Afraid To Take:

I was almost more intimidated to say that I'm afraid to take this photo because I think it sounds a little stupid; I've always wanted to do photo studies of women. Something of an homage to the landscape of the female form. Considering that my ultimate hope [for now, anyways] is to go into fashion and commercial photography, I've always thought long and hard on the body and how it functions as an aesthetic piece versus an associated being. However, I haven't ever had the gumption to ask girls to model for me because, in all honestly, I'm really terrible at talking to people [especially girls]. Hence, the reason [I think] I so desperately love taking portraits.

My 10 rules to photography

In no particular order

1. Composition: Making sure everything is in the frame is focused

2 . Lighting: Lighting can balance whatever your photographing

3. Subject: Whatever is in your lens needs to be the main focus

4. Lenses: Can help with whatever your trying to capture

5. Idea: Helps to create a series of images and not just one shot

6 . Adjust proper white balance: Helps to set tone and color

7. Steady hand: A shaky image is an un-focused one

8. Tripod for long exposure: Shooting in a high shutter speeds you need something to keep the camera steady

9. Adjust ISO: Low is the best quality depend on your environment and helps with lighting

10. Adjust aperture: Allowing for more or less light and helps with depth of field

Sammy Babloji is a native of Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His province serves as the backdrop for his collection titled “Mémoire”. He creates large photomontages using color picture that he’s taken of abandoned copper mines that once made the Congo the worlds second largest producers of copper as the back drop, with the black and white archive images of mine laborers, and colonial administrators as the foreground image.

I like his work because it depicts images that can relate to anywhere in the world that mirrors the past and the present. His work reminds me of Romare Barden who used a colleague technique like Babloji to depict African Americans and society check out Prevalence of Ritual: Mysteries, 1964.

Sammy Babloji is one of several African artists being shown at the Anderson Gallery if you get the time go support fellow artist.

Photographer, 10 Rules, and Photo I'm Scared to Take

Keith Ladzinski is a pretty sweet photographer. He's really into Rock Climbing so a lot of his photographs are of famous climbers. Normally I'm not really into this kind of photographs but the way he does it is really diffrent. The example I picked captures how he photographs. He always has a really diffrent approach to an image, whether he's looking for strange angles, lights, or new ways to experiment. I love this photograph because it's somthing I've never seen before. He had the idea to attach lights to the climbers shoes and then use a long exposure to capture the way the climbers feet moved.

10 Rules I Photograph By

1. Have a subject that can draw some kind of emotion

2. Composition- avoid placing subject in the middle unless it's a straight on portrait.

3. Try to use only natural light

4. Lots of depth of field

5. Compose everything in the frame how I want it, then be sure to try opposite angles

6. Try and limit the amout of "fixing" I'd have to do in Photoshop

7. Include intresting colors

8.There dosen't alwasy need to be a concept

9. Avoid "snap shots"

10. Always look around for other things to photograph

The Photo I've Been Afraid to Take

The photo I've been afraid to take I can't really take anymore. My boyfriend and I have been togeather for 3 years and a year and a half ago his mom was diognosed with breast cancer. At the time my aunt was going through the same thing but her chemo was wokring a lot better. I was glad my aunt was fighting it so well but I was also really angry that Connie (my boyfriends mom) was doing so bad. My first instinct was to photograph their experiences, especially Connie's, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was even invited to her chemo appointments to take pictures but I still couldnt do it. In May Connie was sent home and put on hospis. Every time I visited her she looked worse than she did the day before. I wish I had been there with my camera. For me photography is a way of making sense of things. I can create a physical representation of what I'm feeling and then go back and figure things out later. I still can't figure out why I was afraid to take those photographs and when she died May 27 I was so mad at myself for not taking the chance when I had it. That's the only time I've ever hesitated when it comes to taking a picture and there's not doubt I hesitated because I was afraid, I just can't figure out why. My aunt is in remession now and I'm still welcome to come to her check-ups but the erge to go for some reason is not as strong as it was.

Photographer of the Week, Ten Rules and The Photo I'm Afraid to take

Photographer of the Week: Matthew Tammaro

Matthew Tamarro has a really interesting and distinct way of photographing people. He has this really interesting lighting in all of his photos, yet no matter the intensity of the lighting it doesn’t take away from the subject, which helps makes his photos balanced in way. His photos are on the darker side as well, which gives the person in the portrait more mystery to them.

10 Rules When Shooting:

1.Don’t have any expectations on what you’re going to shoot. You can have an idea on an image and a particular place you want to photograph, but always have an open mind to what you could potentially shoot.

2. As well as having an open mind, have a clear memory card.

3.While shooting inside remember to change your ISO to a higher number and while shooting outside put your ISO lower.

4.Lighting- What appeals to me when looking for a composition is lighting and contrast. Usually lighting is the first thing that I look for while shooting. If there is interesting lighting, I look for a composition within the lighting.

5.Color plays a big part in photography. Even if it is black and white film photography, variation of color is HUGE. Try to find colors within a composition that make your subject pop, or complement your subject.

6. When looking for or setting up a composition pay attention to everything in the viewfinder. Everything that is in your viewfinder should have a reason for being there.

7.While shooting the awesome thing about having an empty memory card is that you can take lots of variations of a shot. In other words while using digital shoot the same shot a couple of times.

8.When you find a composition that you like, than shoot it from a bunch of different angles, using different white balances, f-stops and etc. Don’t be afraid to play around wit camera settings.

9.That one shot might take a while to get perfect in camera, so have take your time and have lots of patience.

10. 10.Pay attention while shooting and concentrate, all the rules don’t have to be followed or they can be interpreted differently.

The One Photo I’m Afraid to Take:

I’ve been thinking long and hard about this question, I’ve even asked people their opinion on it. And I really can’t think of a straight answer. Yeah, I have photos that I have in mind that I would love to take however I haven’t had the opportunity to. For example I would love to photograph the middle of a hurricane, tornado or even a thunderstorm, but I don’t have the equipment to do so. I also would love to go to West Africa and photograph the West African Rainforest. Deforestation has taken away around 90 percent of the West African Rainforest. And while portions of rainforest are still there I’d love to be able to walk around and photograph them and the animals dwelling inside of them. I’d love to take these photos, but what am I really frightened to take a picture of? Extremely, confused I asked a group of people, what were they scared to photograph. My friend they bought up the point that I’m scared of cats, so I’d be afraid to photograph them. Which I thought was funny, but yeah I guess I wouldn’t want to get all up in a cats face cause they freak me out? Hmm.. I guess if I had the equipment and the opportunity to shoot in a storm, I’d still be afraid to do so. I would have the thought of all my camera equipment (even though it would be the right kind of equipment to shoot in a storm) getting ruined in the storm and wouldn’t be able to shoot successfully. But, than again I feel as if the photos I would get from shooting in the middle of a storm would be so awesome that it would be worth it.

the longest post ever! (get ready)

Starting off with my PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK, I really recommend checking out this website, everyone: photographyserved.com. I have found some excellent photographers, that would otherwise be unknown to me, if it hadn't been my sister who introduced this website to my incredibly eager eyes. A photographer I found for this week is Vladimir Kukorenchuk, a Ukrainian man who captures the essence of eastern Europe vividly. A collection I found of his work (on the website listed above), was centered around "old age" in Ukraine. You see your typical Babushka wearing Bubushka (I know that sounds redundant, but Babushka means both "grandmother" and "scarf" in Russian haha), intertwined with older folk men, and the grisley, cold feel of the lonleyness of old age. It looks like he only works in film, at least for this one series of photographs, but in both black and white and color.


Now, As for my 10 RULES FOR TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH:

1) I always go with rule of thirds, or at least, try to. I like the "classically trained" aspect of it.
2) I tend to shoot a little darker, meaning, I tend to have a smaller aperture or a faster shutter speed. I'm a fan of darker photographs, possibly because they're more mysterious, and more my own.
3)I like subject matter a whole lot. I am not a fan of most abstract photography. If I can shoot a building with a person in front of it, versus a building without a person, I will 99% of the time, go with a subject matter in my image.
4) I will always go for real life people versus posed people.
5) Big fan of wide angle, and capturing the whole landscape.
6) I don't photograph sculptures or art that others have made. I feel like it's almost some sort of plagerism.
7) Street photography and landscape photography > everything else.
8) Never macro. ever. Nobody cares about the detail of a combination lock. Really.
9) I now always change my white balance. ALWAYS. no excuses.
10) I'm patient when it comes to nature photography. I will wait for that fog to come across the meadow. I will wait for that deer to look me straight in lens. I will wait for the sky to change and unfold. I will wait.

Lastly, THE PHOTOGRAPH i AM AFRAID TO TAKE.
It's difficult so take this photograph, on account that I haven't the means to travel, really. I need travel to take a photograph. I get too eager to move on and see more, instead of really focus on one place for a long period of time. However, the photograph that I see myself wanting to take (I guess more in the future, however) more than anything else, has to do with poverty. I have never lived in poverty and of course, hope to never. Both my parents have lived in a poverty-ridden household or country. My mother is from El Salvador, where even still, civil war is not completely over, even though it'd been going on since the late 1970s. She has seen poverty, and the ill, and the dead. She has experienced poverty, when she didn't know when the next meal was coming from, or when an awful earthquake in the early 70s happened to destroy her entire home, leaving her and her family homeless for god knows how long. My father grew up in Rye, New York, which is technically a wealthy little town, 30 minutes above Manhattan. But he grew up poor. He grew up unpriviledged financially, and had to move out of his own house, and was living on his own, by the age of 16, just because his mother could no longer support him and herself. I want to see poverty. I cannot become sympathetic with my parents entirely, when I have not witnessed these things myself. The poverty I have witnessed has been only that of homeless people. But to be engulfed in a country of entire poverty or war-torn destruction is intriguing and heart-wrenching. I need to see these things and process them, so that I may become more hopeful and thankful for myself. I am so incredibly afraid to take a photograph of poverty, because I am afraid that I will shut down and be overly affected by the scenario. But it's something I want to take at the same time. It's difficult to explain. I don't want the aesthetic pleasures; I want the raw and the pure. I want to give a voice to the people who can't seem to get that, for some reason or another.

How to Take a Good Photo Using 10 Rules + That Photo I'm Afraid to Take

10 Rules:

1. Incorporate basic rules/photography tools: rule of thirds, framing, diagonals & lines, etc. - but especially the rule of thirds.
2. a. If shooting with film, remember that colors become greys.
   b. If shooting in digital/color, be aware of lighting and how it makes colors look that way
3. Only change the ISO if absolutely necessary, in most situations; otherwise, 800 & below is ideal.
4. Photograph friends, not necessarily WITH friends, unless those friends are also photographers.
5. Do not always rely on the light meter.
6. Bracket, especially for digital.
7. Have patience. Lots of patience.
8. When shooting landscape/scenery, be especially especially ESPECIALLY aware of what's in your frame.
   
9. Be aware of touchy, possibly dangerous or possibly risky subject matter/shooting locations.
10. Note & experiment with the angles at which you are viewing and COULD view things; move around, crouch, get on your tummy, tower over things, climb...

That Photograph I'm Afraid to Take
The commercial moneymakers, the magazine covers, the makeup ads, the royal gatherings: portraits. I mean, sure, I know the basics, I know there's that weird angle that makes the subject's nose awkwardly huge, there are certain ways to light certain subjects, there are certain lighting situations for certain moods and reasons, reflectors are a necessity, poses are important... Yet I still don't feel quite as confident as I suppose I should (I was even sort of relieved when I turned down the Picture People, who called me back for a job interview). It's the idea of the glamorous Annie Leibovitz portrait, the must-be-perfect wedding portrait that intimidates me. But these reasons are partially why I'm here.

my 10 rules for a good photograph & the one i'm scared to take.

If though these are so-called rules, I still think they can vary or change depending on the type of photgraph I'm trying to get and the concept that is behind.

1) Good composition - All the elements should be considered when taking a photo; harmony is the key.

2) Shallow depth the field - I personally find the shallow aspect to be more aestheticly pleasant, the main subject is immideately seen, although not alway distinguishable, and the background seems to become this some sort of abstract mix of forms and colors.

3) Deep depth the field - I want to use deeper depth the field to include more elements into the photo and give more info to the viewer. Plus, it can captive the eye and make it wander/wonder endlessly through the image.

4) Lighting - I usually prefere darker tones; they tend to give a more mysterious feeling to a photo &force your eyes to seek for what is on the image.

5) Arragment of colors - Colors are part of the composition; they have to echoe/ relate to one another.

6) Subject matter - The subject plays a big role when it comes to creating a series; it has to connect the various pictures together as a whole.

7) Presence of movement - The sense of movement adds more dynamism and give this feeling of motion. It also represents this idea of caught in action moment.

8) Use of blur - The intentional blurry effect can add, again, another type of mystery or give this ghost looking aspect. There's a need for a closer look that emphasize the importance of details.

9) NEVER HESITATE !!

10) Carefully and thoughfully adjust and follow these rules!

I think a photograph that i'm most afraid of taking would be one where i'd get noticed. By noticed, i mean, observed in a creepy sort of way. It makes me unfortable and puts this weight on my shoulders. I guess the opinion / judgment of people, even strangers, bothers me quite a lot. No matter how many times i've been told that they don't really matter. & knowing that they probably don't even care.

Beau Grealy is an Australian photographer. He primarily shoots portraits and fashion editorials. A lot of his work is quite reminiscent of older fashion photography with the colour quality he uses as well as the clothing. Although his models are posed, they all seem fully occupational within their space, which I really enjoy because so many photographers rely on Photoshop and models that don't fit in their space to stick out, but Grealy just relies on a good shot. Also, I love his light quality and composition, which he effectively pairs with his colouring for more cohesive photos.

My week's photographer

Anne Schwalbe is a German photographer. She mostly takes pictures of any element in nature and landscapes, and uses her subtle soft images to tell a story. There are no defined subjects in her works, there are no clear conclusions. The viewer is guided toward some form of interpretation that, in the end, he's free to make up; free to decide what he has been shown. The unique quietness of Schwalbe's photos is what I enjoy the most, probably because it presents a much better narrative in my head.

David Hamilton

David Hamilton is famous for his photographs of young girls. He did most of his work in London and Paris, and worked for Elle magazine as well as Queen magazine, where he was art director. His photographs have sparked controversy for years over the 'pornography vs art' debate, but no attempts to bring his art down have ever succeeded and his books continue to sell millions. I love his photographs of young girls, nude or not because of the dream like quality that is found in them. The light is usually very soft, as are the girls' expressions. The poses also usually seem very natural and relaxed, and they each seem like something from an epic novel.

Ivor Prickett is a photojournalist. He has most recently been working in Libya doing some incredible 6x6 work that goes beyond the typical war photographs, focusing more on the life that continues on behind battles. However, I think for all of his works, Prickett was able to follow the basic principles of storytelling through a series of subtle and atmospheric images. We get a somewhat clear understand of the people's situation and helplessness that leaves us, as viewers, caring and interested.

(Personal selection of images from 'The Quiet after the Storm: Croatia's displaced Serbs'. Please check more of his work for a better understanding of Ivor Prickett's work!)

I first saw some of his work in ESPN the Magazine and decided to learn more about Christian Weber. This statement drew me into wanting to learn more about the artist and his work, “Christian Weber is a filmmaker and photographer who is consistently recognized for challenging the conventional interpretation of beauty”. I saw this image and several other pictures that revolve around the face of a skeleton and a human face. This image in particular made me feels that it literally spoke to what we deem as beautiful and the saying " Beauty is only skin deep" came to mind. If you get the chance check this out one of his videos.

Alex Webb,

Born 1952, in San Francisco, Alex is a street photographer. He doesn't stage any of his photos and all done with in the moment. Im all about living the moment, i don't like posed images that much, it loses it's realness to the moment. the moment dies a little when a person is in contact with the camera. What makes him so interesting is that his photos looked staged. i mean i can tell they aren't staged, but the composition and the way some of them look, he is a natural. He is a photographer for National Geographic and is one of my favorites. i have really nothing to complain about his photos, all of his work is so creative, the color, composition, lighting, he is aspiring.

cindy sherman

cindy sherman. what a lady. what a disgusting, grotesque, innovative, and narcissistic photographer---and yet, she surely knows how to serve herself and the public. she knows the concept of color and light relation. she knows how to contrast, she knows how to be provocative. she also plays with sets and self-made figures (from what seems to be clay or plastic), which i find very artful.

she's brilliant with lighting. i look for inspiration from her for this upcoming color/light project.

Kari Liimatainen

I began browsing around DeviantArt in search of photographs that don't appear too cliche or too amateur, and ones that aren't for anime cosplay things.
So what I stumbled upon was this - just a "test" by Liimatainen. I don't know any background information on this, any details, or any information about the artist. I saw other tests much like this that were just as splendid in color and composition, but this is my favorite.
In relation to our light & color assignment, this photograph has a nice display of color - in the beautiful mysterious sky/mountain, in the fog or shadow or what ever that is, and even the slight tiny of color in the trees. The angle at which this was shot at is extreme and makes the trees appear to be reaching at the mountain, blending with the color change from the snow to the blue. The silhouettes of the trees against the white parts of the image are a nice contrast, something there to keep the eye company instead of leaving white space - I think the smooth blue at the top of the image makes up for empty space.

William Albert Allard

Allard has been a photographer for national geographic since 1964, and is still producing amazing work today. This image is taken from his book, Vanishing Breed, which is a collection of images and stories from the west that he spent 10 years gathering. What makes his photos so special, to me, is how genuine they are. Even if a subject is aware of the camera, they're indifferent to it and it gives us a true glimpse of life in the vanishing west.