We have had another terrific week in the wide world of photography with many artists and writers creating great content that is shared online. This weeks list comes to you hand-selected by Toad Hollow Photography and features links to tutorials special features and great photography. We really hope you enjoy checking out these links and photographs as much as the Toad did himself in bringing this list to you.
TUTORIALS
4 Things You Already Own That Will Help You Take Striking Portraits – published right here on Light Stalking, this article covers a few things that many of us have in our homes and studios today that can act as terrific portrait modifiers to help you create unique and stunning portraits. As always, we find fabulous sample shots included in this piece to show us the results we can expect when applying these items and techniques to our photography.
Neil WilliamsonApple's iPhone Photography Tips for Shooting in Portrait Mode – we’ve been using our cell phone lately a lot more in our work, especially on projects that are photojournalistic-centric, mostly due to the small form factor and the fact that it doesn’t draw a lot of attention. This list of tips and tricks is shared here and outlines some great insights into how to get the very best out of the new iPhone dual-camera mode.
How to Create a Fish Eye Effect in Adobe Photoshop – adding a fish-eye effect can be a fun and interesting effect for certain images, creating something that is very unique and pulls the viewer in. This quick tutorial takes you through a few ways of doing this in Photoshop, showing you screenshots along the way of the results so you can pick the best method for your work.
How To Take Advantage of Windy Weather To Create Beautiful Portraits – working outdoors in the raw elements can sometimes work for us, but sometimes it can create challenges too. This terrific article talks about how to turn a windy day to your advantage when shooting portraits, and also includes some stunning shots to show you how.
Joe McNally Breaksdown Environmental Portraiture With Flash – one of the masters working in the field today, Joe McNally, takes us through a behind-the-scenes look in this brief 8+ minute video presentation of a shoot on set. Seeing someone of this calibre working allows us to learn, and in doing so broadens our horizons as we take lessons and apply them to our own work.
How to set up your drone's exposure to get great cinematic footage – getting proper exposure and reducing reflections is just as important in video and drone based photography as it is in still photography. This short video tutorials covers the applications of ND and Polarizing filters for aerial photography platforms, showing you how to get cinematic looking video out of this exciting new technology.
Quick Photo Tip: Using the Least Likely Lens – Joe Baraban shares some brief insight into lens selection when it comes to getting a great shot, showing us all how selecting a lens you may not usually use in a situation can produce incredible imagery. Joe’s shot was captured using a 100mm macro lens, and the results created really do look like a highly stylized shot with a lot of post-production, and when you realize the picture is exactly as it came out of camera you will be utterly amazed.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest attracts out-of-this-world images – the heavens remain an alluring photography subject for enthusiasts from all walks of life, and here we find an annual contest that is drawing submissions from some of the best photographers working in the field today. Check out this short-list sample of some of the highlights from submitted artists, each image well worthy of an award.
This Photographer Plays With Stark Contrast As She Travels All Over The World – I love deep contrasts in photography as it often draws the eye in, and in some cases leaves areas of the image as a mystery shrouded in shadow, and in other cases it adds depth and texture. Check out the work of Karen Ng who uses a lot of monochromatic aspects in her personal work, as she creates unique and engaging shots that take advantage of deep contrast.
Would you Die For a Photo – Erie War Photos from War Zones – while often very difficult to look at directly, war photography is an extremely important element in the modern world where heavy munitions and death play with each other in the theatre of war, most often with profound outcomes. Many war photographers feel their work is of extreme importance, creating a visual voice in chaos that shows those who have never seen anything like this directly the raw, unvarnished truth in the hope that is facilitates change, and perhaps even one day the end of war itself.
This Photographer Shot Portraits from Inside a Pitch Black Camera Box – check out this mind-blowing special feature that includes a 6 minute video presentation of a really interesting photography project involving a large darkroom that serves as a “camera obscura”. The portraits produced are amazing, with depth and character, and watching how the project came together and was executed is something that many will find utterly amazing.
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY
surrounded by ocean – Frank King takes us airborne for this incredible photograph, featuring a classic lighthouse standing on the shores of the ocean on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The blue ocean surrounds the setting, adding a great colored canvas and highlighting the pure romance of the structure and surrounding buildings that are all capped with vibrant red roofs.
L’Hemisfèric – Herbert A. Franke finds the abstract in incredible architecture in this epic photograph of the cultural building, planetarium and cinema in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. Wonderful light dances across the sky, adding a splash of soft color and interest to this shot, sure to enthrall everyone who takes the time to see it.
Barn – Pullman, Washington – the indelible character of bucolic scenes with a barn standing dominant is something truly unique in our landscapes, as shown here by Len Saltiel who visited the Palouse region of Washington State. Years of use reveal a unique portrait of this incredible structure, set in a perfect setting of rolling fields and green landscapes.
The Grand Mosque – a wonderful sunflare beams off the leading edge of this architectural wonder in a stunning photograph shared here by Dany Eid. The sheer size and elegance of this amazing structure comes to full life in this frame, showcasing the beauty that can be found in man-made creations.
Pedernales Flow – Michael Criswell captures and shares a stunning monochromatic long exposure piece in this photograph, capturing the essence of a waterfall and the fast moving waters juxtaposed against the natural rocks that pepper the scene. The deep contrasts explored in the black-and-white photograph really accents the textures and details of this serene place.
. : Manarola Dreams : . – Martin Pfister’s photograph features a tiny community perched on perilous cliffs overlooking a dynamic ocean below during the blue hour. The wonderful colors of the homes and buildings of the community add the perfect element to this amazing photograph that has a distinctly dreamy feel to it.
Big Fat Donuts – this terrific shot features a trailer turned into a mobile donut factory in an industrial setting in Austin, Texas. Jim Nix processes the shot using cinematic styling, finishing it off perfectly.
Paris – this amazing shot uses a limited and highly cinematic color palette to create the feel it expresses, showing the incredible city of Paris under a brooding sky. Manjik photography captures this amazing shot from an elevated perspective, showing off the incredible scale and depth of this old city, drawing you deeper and deeper into the frame on a personal journey of discovery.
“Tulip Festival” – Rachel Cohen covers our screens in vibrant colors and delicate beauty in this post that features a set of flower themed photographs. Some of the shots are close-ups that express wonderful detail, while others are wider shots that add context to this obviously beautiful place.
Salt Harvesting at Dawn – a beautiful sunrise creates the perfect colored backdrop for the silhouettes of the people harvesting salt as the sun begins to rise on a new day. In the foreground we see a still small body of water that adds a great reflective element to this picture.
dot tube – urbex photography offers visual explorations of texture through decay unlike that of any other genre of photography, as shown here by Urban Vagabond. This shot takes on a highly abstract feel as we enjoy piping and a scene covered in rust that highlights the shapes and geometry of the machines left unused for many years.
Cruise – this great low-perspective shot uses motion blur to create a strong sensation of movement as we follow a skateboarder through the busy streets of a metropolis. Humza Deas captures light trials from the neon signs and the lights of the cars on the street to add dashes of color to this dynamic frame.
2018 Alaska Photo Tours – Ron Niebrugge announces the opening of his 2018 schedule of incredible photo tours by sharing a truly delightful shot of a mother bear and her cubs playing in their natural habitat. This shot is very emotive, sure to bring a smile to the face of everyone who takes the time to check it out.
ray of light – Agnès Perrodon captures the pure essence of magic in a frame with this incredible photograph that is full of mood and mystery. Rays of light stream through a veil of fog in a treed landscape in this shot, capturing the raw beauty of nature and light.
Sydney Reflections – Barbara Youngleson shares a strong abstract image with this shot, using the reflective surface of a building in the burgeoning city as a canvas to paint her scene with. Wonderful rust and golden tones dominate this shot, adding to the overall feel and mood of the image.
Calm Tuscany – Daniel F. shares an incredible landscape shot here, showcasing the majestic beauty of the Tuscany region as a thin layer of fog rolls over the hills of the landscape. A lovely house sits perched atop one of the hills, adding context and artistic tension to this incredible shot.
Deflection in the Old City – Edith Levy takes us into the heart of the old city of Jerusalem in this shot that features a pair of gentlemen walking through the frame for a touch of artistic tension. In the backdrop we see the old buildings and distinctive architecture of this storied old city, adding to the composition perfectly.
Magic island – the raw and rugged beauty of the Oregon coast comes to life in this glorious image from Daniel Kordan. A beautiful sunset lingers in the backdrop as a dramatic rock formation finds the ocean swirling around it with a grove of trees sitting atop its plateau.
Flushing Bay Sunrise – Mark Garbowski shares a strong shot of a sunrise as the first rays of light emerge over the horizon. In the distance we see some of the buildings of the New York City region with a body of water in the foreground that adds muted reflections of color back into the frame.
