This document provides tips for taking photos around the home. It begins by discussing outdoor subjects like the exterior of the home, yard, trees, wildlife, plants and gardens. Indoor subjects discussed include pets, decor, lighting effects, still lifes, and candid shots of people. Throughout are examples of photos the author has taken to illustrate different techniques. The document emphasizes finding unique perspectives and angles, playing with lighting, and getting creative with compositions to make indoor photography more interesting.
A highly visual presentation of competitive photography principles, with many examples - covering composition, backgrounds, photos of flowers and of landscapes, etc. with many prize winning photo examples. Liberal use of humor.
This is a thorough covering of flower photography, with an emphasis on composition and aesthetics. Many examples show what to do and what not to do. There is a lot of visual humor used, to make the presentation entertaining as well as informative.
Schmidt's three lens corrector for a spherical mirrorDave Shafer
Schmidt's aspheric plate in a Schmidt telescope design can be replaced by a group of three spherical lenses, as Schmidt himself showed, but he died before he could publish anything on this. Here I show many alternate versions to Schmidt's design.
The director outlines their vision for a commercial promoting Scott's Flower Magic fertilizer. They propose telling the story through a series of vignettes showing ordinary people exhibiting over-the-top pride in their stunning gardens, made possible by using the product. Key elements include filming the scenes in exotic locations using slow motion and dramatic lighting to heighten the comedy. Reaction shots from neighbors and passersby would further illustrate the ridiculous level of pride on display.
A humorous guide to better photographyCHJ-Adult-Ed
This document provides 7 tips for taking better photographs from an unusual and humorous perspective. The tips are: 1) Use unusual perspectives to make photos more interesting. 2) Use people in photos to draw the viewer in. 3) Include diagonal lines in compositions. 4) Simplify backgrounds and focus on a single subject. 5) Look for opportunities to humanize subjects or add a human element. 6) Try to tell a mini story or imply something with photos. 7) Experiment with low light, unusual weather, and water reflections. The document emphasizes finding humor and surprise in unexpected subjects and perspectives.
Content Writer Portfolio created by Lon BrittonLGRTBRIT
This document provides tips for improving photographs by incorporating certain visual elements. It discusses 9 key elements - framing, reflections, leading lines, pattern, shadow, S-curves, backlighting, silhouettes, and mood. For each element, it provides examples of how to use that element and sample photographs demonstrating its effective use. The overall message is that incorporating these elements can dramatically improve photos by making them more interesting and appealing to viewers.
Content Writer Portfolio created by Lon BrittonLGRTBRIT
This document provides guidance for seniors considering moving into a retirement home. It discusses the key factors to consider, including assessing individual needs, the different types of retirement facilities (independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes), and activities of daily living that are used to determine the level of care needed. The article aims to help seniors make informed decisions about senior living options and preparations for relocating from their current residence.”
A highly visual presentation of competitive photography principles, with many examples - covering composition, backgrounds, photos of flowers and of landscapes, etc. with many prize winning photo examples. Liberal use of humor.
This is a thorough covering of flower photography, with an emphasis on composition and aesthetics. Many examples show what to do and what not to do. There is a lot of visual humor used, to make the presentation entertaining as well as informative.
Schmidt's three lens corrector for a spherical mirrorDave Shafer
Schmidt's aspheric plate in a Schmidt telescope design can be replaced by a group of three spherical lenses, as Schmidt himself showed, but he died before he could publish anything on this. Here I show many alternate versions to Schmidt's design.
The director outlines their vision for a commercial promoting Scott's Flower Magic fertilizer. They propose telling the story through a series of vignettes showing ordinary people exhibiting over-the-top pride in their stunning gardens, made possible by using the product. Key elements include filming the scenes in exotic locations using slow motion and dramatic lighting to heighten the comedy. Reaction shots from neighbors and passersby would further illustrate the ridiculous level of pride on display.
A humorous guide to better photographyCHJ-Adult-Ed
This document provides 7 tips for taking better photographs from an unusual and humorous perspective. The tips are: 1) Use unusual perspectives to make photos more interesting. 2) Use people in photos to draw the viewer in. 3) Include diagonal lines in compositions. 4) Simplify backgrounds and focus on a single subject. 5) Look for opportunities to humanize subjects or add a human element. 6) Try to tell a mini story or imply something with photos. 7) Experiment with low light, unusual weather, and water reflections. The document emphasizes finding humor and surprise in unexpected subjects and perspectives.
Content Writer Portfolio created by Lon BrittonLGRTBRIT
This document provides tips for improving photographs by incorporating certain visual elements. It discusses 9 key elements - framing, reflections, leading lines, pattern, shadow, S-curves, backlighting, silhouettes, and mood. For each element, it provides examples of how to use that element and sample photographs demonstrating its effective use. The overall message is that incorporating these elements can dramatically improve photos by making them more interesting and appealing to viewers.
Content Writer Portfolio created by Lon BrittonLGRTBRIT
This document provides guidance for seniors considering moving into a retirement home. It discusses the key factors to consider, including assessing individual needs, the different types of retirement facilities (independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes), and activities of daily living that are used to determine the level of care needed. The article aims to help seniors make informed decisions about senior living options and preparations for relocating from their current residence.”
This document provides tips for portrait photography focusing on lighting, composition, and camera settings. The key points are:
1) Natural lighting is best and an expensive camera is not necessary for great shots. Understanding light and positioning subjects towards the light source is important.
2) Composition techniques like rule of thirds and leading lines can make photos more interesting. Avoid centering subjects and be aware of backgrounds.
3) Both indoor and outdoor lighting can produce good portraits if subjects are near windows or in open shade. Backlighting and overcast days are also options.
Choosing the Correct Fence for Your Fairy GardenLaurenkyes1
It is easy to overlook the importance of structure or framework in your fairy garden when there are so many fun garden accessories and miniature plants that you can add to the design.
The document provides tips for zoo photography. It recommends bringing zoom and prime lenses, as well as backup batteries and memory cards. The photographer prefers a 300mm zoom and 50mm prime lens for animal portraits. Good lighting is important, so photographers should position themselves to avoid shadows. They should also watch for eye contact from animals and be ready to take quick shots. Patience is needed to wait for animals to display interesting behaviors.
The document discusses macro photography techniques. It provides tips for macro photographers, including choosing the best lens, using extension tubes or diopters to focus closer, controlling depth of field with apertures, blending flash with ambient light, using a third hand for positioning subjects, fine-tuning compositions, considering the point of focus, checking the LCD panel, taking advantage of raindrops, and creating a macro collage and exhibition.
Environmental portrait article from Amateur PhotographerSteve Morgan
Asked by Amateur Photographer to write and illustrate an article on producing top quality location portraits describing the skills and equipment preferred when shooting environmental portariture.
This document contains a student's portfolio and notes on macro photography. It includes the student's thoughts on various portrait, landscape, and macro photos they have taken. It also summarizes techniques for macro photography shared by photographer Heather Angel, such as using different lenses, extension tubes, and flash. The student outlines plans for an exhibition titled "Spectrum of Small Life" showcasing their macro photos and discusses the equipment needed for macro photography, including a camera, tripod, SD card, and macro lens.
The document discusses potential hazards and risks that could occur during a planned outdoor photo shoot for a fashion magazine. It identifies risks such as poor weather, tripping over objects indoors, plants that could scratch or sting outdoors. The response outlines steps to minimize risks such as ensuring appropriate clothing is worn, clearing hazards from the indoor shooting area, and selecting a safe outdoor location. Permission needs to be obtained if shooting on private property, and backup plans are in place if models cannot attend.
The document discusses potential narrative and performance locations for shooting a music video. For narrative shots of a "lonely girl" against a wall, an alleyway location is proposed. A rooftop is suggested for performance shots, taking inspiration from other music videos. Concerns about lighting and handling cars are mentioned. Indoor locations like a bedroom are also proposed to allow for lighting control and set design. Inspirations from other genres of music videos are discussed.
Bids by pros is sharing tip on how to take a better photosBids By Pros
The document provides tips for taking better photos. It suggests cleaning the camera lens, getting down to the level of the subject to capture details, using a plain background to emphasize the subject, placing the subject off-center to tell a story and engage the surroundings, getting close to the subject to show details, being quick to capture moments, adjusting for lighting and weather conditions, and being bold and creative with photos. The overall message is that great photos don't need to be complex - even simple flower shots can be perfect if taken with these tips in mind.
The document discusses various photography composition techniques including:
1) The rule of thirds, which involves placing the main subject off-center, was used in several photos to maximize the space showing other elements and make the subject seem like it was popping into the frame.
2) Layering elements in photos so that the subject is within the middle layers and not the foremost or background layers.
3) Using reflections to give a sense of distorted reality by reflecting elements through another surface like a Christmas ornament or car mirror.
4) Positioning the camera above or below subjects to emphasize layers through perspective like shooting down on murals from below.
The document provides tips for taking great portraits. It recommends photographing subjects in familiar, natural settings to make them comfortable. Late afternoon is best for warm, textured lighting while morning light also works well. Overcast days provide even lighting. Experiment with angles other than straight-on and get close to fill seventy-five percent of the frame with the subject. Conversation before shooting can elicit more genuine expressions.
Here is an evaluation of my research methods:
Product Research:
Strengths - Allowed me to analyze existing products and identify common features, aspects to include, and what works well. Gave me ideas.
Weaknesses - Limited to only what already exists, didn't get direct feedback from audience.
Questionnaires:
Strengths - Reached a large audience of 20 people. Gathered quantitative data on demographics and preferences.
Weaknesses - Short answers didn't provide depth of feedback. Distribution method not specified.
Interviews:
Strengths - Provided qualitative feedback and insight into individual perspectives. Could ask follow up questions.
Weaknesses - Small sample size of only 2 people.
The document provides details on planned photos for a photography project, including close-ups of a flower, an insect, a spider, a spider egg sack, the center of a flower, and hidden berries. The photographer intends to experiment with blurring, layering, zooming in, and capturing small subjects like insects and spiders before they move.
The document outlines the planning for a photo shoot to advertise a product, including choosing Rosie Akroyd as the model, taking pictures with natural lighting at different angles and locations, having the model wear elegant clothing and hold props, and contingencies if the model is absent or weather is poor. Test pictures will be evaluated and basic Photoshop editing like lightening and cropping will be applied to the chosen shots.
The document outlines the planning for a photo shoot to create advertisements, including choosing a model, deciding on camera angles and lighting, having the model wear different outfits and poses, and contingencies if the planned shoot cannot be done as intended. Test images will be edited in Photoshop and focus groups will help decide which images best convey the desired message and sell products to the target audience of teenage girls.
How can you ensure your nursery is perfect? The special report, “45 Baby Nursery Decorating Tips” will help! This report is chuck full of tips, tricks and safety notes '
It also includes: Themes to use for the boy, girl, or gender-neutral rooms
What safety precautions to follow
What furniture is necessary for a nursery
No matter if this is the first, second, or third pregnancy in your family, it is a hectic time. There is so much to accomplish before the baby comes. You rush about trying to get it all done between doctor appointments and inevitably forget something. Prevent yourself from overlooking something vital to the baby’s room. Order your special report titled “45 Baby Nursery Decorating Tips” and have peace of mind. At least until the baby arrives.
If you have a gardener on your gift list, take a look at some products that have been tested and received the seal of approval by a long time gardener.
Aberration theory - A spectrum of design techniques for the perplexed - 1986.pdfDave Shafer
This document summarizes the design process for a Double-Gauss lens using aberration theory. It begins with the historical basis of two Gauss doublets back-to-back, then walks through building up a design from first principles using aberration theory. Key steps include: 1) Adding concentric surfaces to cancel astigmatism; 2) Adding an aplanatic/aplanatic shell to introduce Petzval curvature; 3) Adding a concentric/concentric shell to push the system to a telecentric exit pupil. This allows removing the final lens element far from the image. The result is a corrected Double-Gauss design arrived at through theoretical understanding rather than trial-and-error optimization.
This document provides tips for portrait photography focusing on lighting, composition, and camera settings. The key points are:
1) Natural lighting is best and an expensive camera is not necessary for great shots. Understanding light and positioning subjects towards the light source is important.
2) Composition techniques like rule of thirds and leading lines can make photos more interesting. Avoid centering subjects and be aware of backgrounds.
3) Both indoor and outdoor lighting can produce good portraits if subjects are near windows or in open shade. Backlighting and overcast days are also options.
Choosing the Correct Fence for Your Fairy GardenLaurenkyes1
It is easy to overlook the importance of structure or framework in your fairy garden when there are so many fun garden accessories and miniature plants that you can add to the design.
The document provides tips for zoo photography. It recommends bringing zoom and prime lenses, as well as backup batteries and memory cards. The photographer prefers a 300mm zoom and 50mm prime lens for animal portraits. Good lighting is important, so photographers should position themselves to avoid shadows. They should also watch for eye contact from animals and be ready to take quick shots. Patience is needed to wait for animals to display interesting behaviors.
The document discusses macro photography techniques. It provides tips for macro photographers, including choosing the best lens, using extension tubes or diopters to focus closer, controlling depth of field with apertures, blending flash with ambient light, using a third hand for positioning subjects, fine-tuning compositions, considering the point of focus, checking the LCD panel, taking advantage of raindrops, and creating a macro collage and exhibition.
Environmental portrait article from Amateur PhotographerSteve Morgan
Asked by Amateur Photographer to write and illustrate an article on producing top quality location portraits describing the skills and equipment preferred when shooting environmental portariture.
This document contains a student's portfolio and notes on macro photography. It includes the student's thoughts on various portrait, landscape, and macro photos they have taken. It also summarizes techniques for macro photography shared by photographer Heather Angel, such as using different lenses, extension tubes, and flash. The student outlines plans for an exhibition titled "Spectrum of Small Life" showcasing their macro photos and discusses the equipment needed for macro photography, including a camera, tripod, SD card, and macro lens.
The document discusses potential hazards and risks that could occur during a planned outdoor photo shoot for a fashion magazine. It identifies risks such as poor weather, tripping over objects indoors, plants that could scratch or sting outdoors. The response outlines steps to minimize risks such as ensuring appropriate clothing is worn, clearing hazards from the indoor shooting area, and selecting a safe outdoor location. Permission needs to be obtained if shooting on private property, and backup plans are in place if models cannot attend.
The document discusses potential narrative and performance locations for shooting a music video. For narrative shots of a "lonely girl" against a wall, an alleyway location is proposed. A rooftop is suggested for performance shots, taking inspiration from other music videos. Concerns about lighting and handling cars are mentioned. Indoor locations like a bedroom are also proposed to allow for lighting control and set design. Inspirations from other genres of music videos are discussed.
Bids by pros is sharing tip on how to take a better photosBids By Pros
The document provides tips for taking better photos. It suggests cleaning the camera lens, getting down to the level of the subject to capture details, using a plain background to emphasize the subject, placing the subject off-center to tell a story and engage the surroundings, getting close to the subject to show details, being quick to capture moments, adjusting for lighting and weather conditions, and being bold and creative with photos. The overall message is that great photos don't need to be complex - even simple flower shots can be perfect if taken with these tips in mind.
The document discusses various photography composition techniques including:
1) The rule of thirds, which involves placing the main subject off-center, was used in several photos to maximize the space showing other elements and make the subject seem like it was popping into the frame.
2) Layering elements in photos so that the subject is within the middle layers and not the foremost or background layers.
3) Using reflections to give a sense of distorted reality by reflecting elements through another surface like a Christmas ornament or car mirror.
4) Positioning the camera above or below subjects to emphasize layers through perspective like shooting down on murals from below.
The document provides tips for taking great portraits. It recommends photographing subjects in familiar, natural settings to make them comfortable. Late afternoon is best for warm, textured lighting while morning light also works well. Overcast days provide even lighting. Experiment with angles other than straight-on and get close to fill seventy-five percent of the frame with the subject. Conversation before shooting can elicit more genuine expressions.
Here is an evaluation of my research methods:
Product Research:
Strengths - Allowed me to analyze existing products and identify common features, aspects to include, and what works well. Gave me ideas.
Weaknesses - Limited to only what already exists, didn't get direct feedback from audience.
Questionnaires:
Strengths - Reached a large audience of 20 people. Gathered quantitative data on demographics and preferences.
Weaknesses - Short answers didn't provide depth of feedback. Distribution method not specified.
Interviews:
Strengths - Provided qualitative feedback and insight into individual perspectives. Could ask follow up questions.
Weaknesses - Small sample size of only 2 people.
The document provides details on planned photos for a photography project, including close-ups of a flower, an insect, a spider, a spider egg sack, the center of a flower, and hidden berries. The photographer intends to experiment with blurring, layering, zooming in, and capturing small subjects like insects and spiders before they move.
The document outlines the planning for a photo shoot to advertise a product, including choosing Rosie Akroyd as the model, taking pictures with natural lighting at different angles and locations, having the model wear elegant clothing and hold props, and contingencies if the model is absent or weather is poor. Test pictures will be evaluated and basic Photoshop editing like lightening and cropping will be applied to the chosen shots.
The document outlines the planning for a photo shoot to create advertisements, including choosing a model, deciding on camera angles and lighting, having the model wear different outfits and poses, and contingencies if the planned shoot cannot be done as intended. Test images will be edited in Photoshop and focus groups will help decide which images best convey the desired message and sell products to the target audience of teenage girls.
How can you ensure your nursery is perfect? The special report, “45 Baby Nursery Decorating Tips” will help! This report is chuck full of tips, tricks and safety notes '
It also includes: Themes to use for the boy, girl, or gender-neutral rooms
What safety precautions to follow
What furniture is necessary for a nursery
No matter if this is the first, second, or third pregnancy in your family, it is a hectic time. There is so much to accomplish before the baby comes. You rush about trying to get it all done between doctor appointments and inevitably forget something. Prevent yourself from overlooking something vital to the baby’s room. Order your special report titled “45 Baby Nursery Decorating Tips” and have peace of mind. At least until the baby arrives.
If you have a gardener on your gift list, take a look at some products that have been tested and received the seal of approval by a long time gardener.
Aberration theory - A spectrum of design techniques for the perplexed - 1986.pdfDave Shafer
This document summarizes the design process for a Double-Gauss lens using aberration theory. It begins with the historical basis of two Gauss doublets back-to-back, then walks through building up a design from first principles using aberration theory. Key steps include: 1) Adding concentric surfaces to cancel astigmatism; 2) Adding an aplanatic/aplanatic shell to introduce Petzval curvature; 3) Adding a concentric/concentric shell to push the system to a telecentric exit pupil. This allows removing the final lens element far from the image. The result is a corrected Double-Gauss design arrived at through theoretical understanding rather than trial-and-error optimization.
The document discusses how early lens design progress was hindered by slow hand calculations and lack of modern materials. It provides examples of simple lens designs that were possible even pre-computer but had limited applications without modern technologies. The document emphasizes that while computers have advanced design capabilities, fundamental design ideas and theories are more important. It provides several examples of innovative lens designs the author developed through conceptual thinking alone. The document cautions against overuse of new technologies like freeform surfaces and metasurfaces without consideration of conventional design alternatives.
1) Snakes played an important religious role in ancient Egypt and were depicted widely in art and iconography. When Moses was in Egypt, snake imagery would have been everywhere.
2) Some scholars propose that the Levite tribe, including Moses and Aaron, may have originated as Egyptian priests who followed Moses out of Egypt and had connections to snake handling and worship. References to snakes in the Bible may relate to this.
3) In the Bible, Moses was instructed by God to make a copper snake idol to cure snakebites, contradicting idol worship bans. This later developed into a snake cult in Jerusalem until being destroyed centuries later. Ancient Near Eastern snake cults and worship were common.
1) Optical design techniques include investigating multiple versions of simple designs to find the best one, as different versions can have tradeoffs in higher-order aberrations.
2) Stop shift theory is a useful technique for creating new designs by finding aperture stop positions that correct specific aberrations, such as lateral color, even if the final stop position is constrained.
3) Combining simple optical systems with useful properties, such as common axial color cancellation, is a way to develop new complex corrected designs like the CMO (catadioptric, mirror, objective) type.
Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist known for her paintings of flowers, landscapes, and cityscapes. She pioneered abstract painting in the early 20th century, creating non-representational works using only shapes, colors, and forms as early as 1915. Her early abstract paintings were prominently displayed by her husband Arthur Stieglitz at his 291 gallery, exposing the American public to this new style of art. O'Keeffe was influenced by Arthur Wesley Dow's principles of composition and abstraction, and she credited Arthur Dove as having the most significant impact on her development as a young artist moving her style towards abstraction.
Frederic Mistral wrote a long love poem called "Mireille" about his native region of Provence, describing its traditions, culture, and dialects. Charles Gounod later adapted this poem into his 1864 opera of the same name. While Gounod's opera "Faust" has been performed thousands of times, his "Mireille" set in Provence is now rarely performed. The opera showcases aspects of Provençal culture described in Mistral's poem, such as the folk dance called the Farandole, and beliefs in witches and sylphs.
Cooke triplet lens with freeform surfacesDave Shafer
The document discusses optimizing a Cooke Triplet lens design for a strip field using freeform surfaces. It finds that with 10th order conventional aspherics on all surfaces, the design can be diffraction-limited over a 20 degree field at f/2.5. Replacing the aspherics with 10th order freeform surfaces and optimizing for a 20x1.5 degree strip field improves performance tenfold to a wavefront of 0.0040 waves rms. Narrowing the strip field to 20x0.5 degrees further improves performance to 0.0025 waves rms, showing the benefits of freeform surfaces for strip field designs.
Modified freeform offner, august 11, 2021Dave Shafer
An Offner 1.0X relay system can be given a greatly increased field size with good aberration correction by adding to the design two 45 degree flat fold mirrors that are given some freeform aspheric deformation.
A freeform aspheric version of the classic Dyson design gives much improved aberration correction and makes for designs that are fast speed and have a large field size, especially large rectangular strip fields
A wide angle fast speed unobscured freeform aspheric mirror design for the IR is shown to be enormous in size compared to an all refractive 3 element lens of germanium with conventional aspherics and better performance.
Schiefspiegler telescope with corrector lensesDave Shafer
This document contains contact information for David Shafer of David Shafer Optical Design and describes an unobscured 6 inch aperture f/10 telescope design from 1990. The design uses BK7 lenses and spherical mirrors to produce a diffraction limited image over a 1 degree flat field with no tilt at f/10 and has a length approximately equal to the focal length. It also references a simplified version of the design from a slideshare presentation that has a shorter length of half the focal length using tilted lenses and spherical mirrors with an optional fold flat.
A survey of some interesting Gregorian telescope designs includes some with all spherical surfaces as well as some with a 20 meter spherical f/1.0 primary mirror and sub-aperture corrector mirrors.
Fashionista Chic Couture Maze & Coloring Adventures is a coloring and activity book filled with many maze games and coloring activities designed to delight and engage young fashion enthusiasts. Each page offers a unique blend of fashion-themed mazes and stylish illustrations to color, inspiring creativity and problem-solving skills in children.
This document announces the winners of the 2024 Youth Poster Contest organized by MATFORCE. It lists the grand prize and age category winners for grades K-6, 7-12, and individual age groups from 5 years old to 18 years old.
This tutorial offers a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use Pinterest. It covers the basics such as account creation and navigation, as well as advanced techniques including creating eye-catching pins and optimizing your profile. The tutorial also explores collaboration and networking on the platform. With visual illustrations and clear instructions, this tutorial will equip you with the skills to navigate Pinterest confidently and achieve your goals.
Boudoir photography, a genre that captures intimate and sensual images of individuals, has experienced significant transformation over the years, particularly in New York City (NYC). Known for its diversity and vibrant arts scene, NYC has been a hub for the evolution of various art forms, including boudoir photography. This article delves into the historical background, cultural significance, technological advancements, and the contemporary landscape of boudoir photography in NYC.
Heart Touching Romantic Love Shayari In English with ImagesShort Good Quotes
Explore our beautiful collection of Romantic Love Shayari in English to express your love. These heartfelt shayaris are perfect for sharing with your loved one. Get the best words to show your love and care.
The cherry: beauty, softness, its heart-shaped plastic has inspired artists since Antiquity. Cherries and strawberries were considered the fruits of paradise and thus represented the souls of men.
2. I will try to reach everyone here today, like this
patriarch is trying to do, and not leave anyone out -
by covering lighting, subjects, composition, color,
and photo impact.
3. Although some day I would like to try a
large format camera, what I have right now
is a Pentax K10D SLR. All my close up
photos that you will see were taken with a
100 mm Macro lens from Vivatar. The rest
are with my Pentax 18-250 mm zoom lens.
4. The material I will be covering is not that difficult. It’s not like
shoe inspection at the Shaolin Temple or starting your own country.
5. Some people are quite attached to their
homes and do not venture out much when
taking photos. I have worked at home for the
last 32 years and am quite home-oriented.
6. By “home” photos I mean here your house
and its immediate surroundings—your yard,
driveway, the sidewalk in front, if you have
one, etc.
Of course there will be a range in the size and
style of people’s homes.
7. Some of us have homes that a real estate
agent would describe as having “charm”.
These can make for interesting photos from
the outside.
8. Some of us have homes with great views, and we
can take interesting photos of the outdoors without
even stepping outside.
9. Some homes have really superb views, with
great photo possibilities.
12. You may have a mobile home, in which case your
view out the window could be changing every day, or
you may live in a
jar at the circus. It
is hard to cover all
possible home situ-
ations in this talk,
but we will try.
13. Before we go inside your house or look at
the yard, let us linger for a moment on pho-
tos that might have the house itself as a sub-
ject, or sights you might see right outside.
We should never underestimate the potential
of our immediate surroundings.
14. giraffe
Even an apartment dweller may find an interest-
ing sight just by looking out the window.
If your apartment complex has a pool there could
be an interesting
photo about that.
15. A house under duress, in the winter, or after some
damage, may make for an interesting photo.
16. When you
take a photo
outdoors it is
usually a
good idea to
try to make
the horizon
exactly hori-
zontal.
But not al-
ways.
17. I could not resist including this image
from the internet. Free associating when you
view images is a good way to keep your mind
flexible. Whoever came up with this caption
was really inspired.
18. Here is one of my own photos from a few
years ago, in front of my house. The fence and
its shadows made an interesting pattern on the
snow. I boosted the contrast some and fiddled
with the photo to optimize its appearance.
19. A home can provide
more good sights out-
side than you might
think. You might be
able to catch animals
eating from your trash
cans, or living in a tree
outside.
20. You might see, in your yard, a deer eating a
snowman’s carrot nose, or some other photo-
worthy deer scene.
21. Here is one of my photos, of a cardinal in my back-
yard. The burst of color from the bird makes it stand
out prominently from the bland background. The
busy foreground at least is not immediately behind
the bird, which would be distracting.
22. Here is a closeup, with a telephoto lens, of another
cardinal in my backyard. I always cheat with pho-
tos like this and enhance the bird’s eye to make it
stand out more. It adds a lot of life to the photo.
23. I took this telephoto shot of a tiny chickadee
in my backyard because I liked its assertive
stance—sort of “here I am, world”
24. In any wildlife photo you want the back-
ground to be simple and not distracting.
This may require you to move around some
to get a better taking position. This tele-
photo shot of a hummingbird out of my
back window is simple and colorful.
26. Animal photos can be interesting, like this
unexpected appearance of the Turtle Gods
in one’s driveway.
27. If some unusual wildlife turns up in your
backyard it can make for a good photo.
But for more mundane appearances you
need to have something novel, like a inter-
esting taking angle or a closeup or an im-
plied mini-story in the photo.
28. Here is a telephoto shot I took right outside
my kitchen window. The dynamic pose
gives impact to this photo, as the squirrel
peers right out of the picture frame towards
us. As usual, I enhanced the eye some to
give more of a highlight to the eye pupil.
29. The squirrels in my yard are very good
at getting at the seeds in my bird feeder.
30. You never know what will turn up just by
looking out your window.
32. Looking out your window you might see
an interesting sight, like the arrival in your
neighborhood of termites. A vigilant eye
is always a plus in photography.
33. Unusual pet photos can be interesting, but
it is hard to do much with a typical dog or
cat, since that is such an overworked sub-
ject.
34. Maybe your cat hates music. It’s always better
to show a pet doing something instead of just a
static portrait.
35. Even if it is just a shot of your cat watching
the “Mouseketeers” on TV, that is better than a
simple portrait of the animal. Maybe you have
pet playdates with your friends, for a photo op.
36. Or you could be doing
something with your pet,
like giving it a bath.
37. Or grooming it. I assume you have a sep-
arate toothbrush for yourself.
38. A closeup of
your pet,
with some
cropping,
can make for
an interest-
ing image.
40. With pet photos you want to avoid
distracting backgrounds, like here. It is
also too symmetrical a composition.
41. If you have a home aquarium that can pro-
vide some nice photos, but the lighting is criti-
cal. Your camera must take into account fluo-
rescent lighting, if that is what you are using,
to get the color balance to come out right.
Some Photoshop fiddling can also compensate
for lighting particulars. I took this with a mac-
ro lens.
42. If your pets have pets of their own, then that
can make for an unusual photo opportunity.
I don’t have any
pets so I try to find
wildlife right
around my own
yard, like bugs.
43. Extreme closeups of spiders can show some
beautiful colors and patterns. I only use day-
light for all of my photos, so it can be tricky to
get both good exposure and enough depth of
focus. Also the background should not be busy
or distracting.
44. Here the web anchor adds some interest
and makes it look like a circus acrobat is
about to start a high-wire act. I have en-
hanced the colors and contrast here to bring
out detail.
46. Bees in your yard can make an interesting macro lens
shot, and also have the beauty of a flower for the back-
ground. This is actually a bee that I caught, put in my
freezer for about 10 minutes, to slow down its metabo-
lism to a crawl, and then I posed it on the flower. Af-
ter I took a few shots the bee warmed up and flew
away. This trick does not work as well for pets or
people.
47. Here is a photo that I set up with a dead
bee and some toy soldiers, in my backyard.
48. Wildlife photos grab your attention in a way that
shots of plants can never do. For botany photos
you need lots of great beauty or interesting design
elements.
49. A botany type of photo will never have the
impact of more animated life scenes, so we
have to try harder.
50. This mushroom complex has appealing design
elements and a nice combination of color and
shadows. I took this when the sun gave good
shadows, and time of day is always important.
52. Texture can provide interest even if there is
no color or other design elements to liven up
the composition. This old sawn tree stump
has patterns of grain and saw marks that give
it a geometrical kind of detail. I cropped my
photo to give a better composition.
53. If you poke around in your back yard you
might find some interesting odds and ends.
54. You might have some milkweed in your
backyard and that can make for nice autumn
photos. It is tricky to get the right kind of
lighting and background to give all of the fo-
cus on the foreground, as I did here.
55. Milkweed seeds make for very interesting
photos, if you have them in your yard. I took
this at just the right stage of the pod opening.
56. The seeds and their billowy “wings” can be
quite beautiful, as in my macro shot here..
57. This crabapple scene from my front yard
was tricky to set up so that the background
would not be distracting. A macro lens
gave the good depth of field.
58. Water on leaves can make for a nice pic-
ture and you only have to step outside your
house to find it. As usual, lighting and back-
ground control are key for a good photo.
59. At the right time of year frosty leaves in
your yard can provide for a beautiful com-
position. The frost may be from overnight
and quickly vanish once the sun comes up.
63. Of course a flower garden is always a great
source of images, like my photo here.
64. You might have lots of roses, like this
Southport home, and then you can get a nice
composition with a fence and the large diag-
onal of the fence broken up by the narrow
verticals. Outdoor photos like this are quite
dependent on the time of day for the best
lighting.
66. If you’ve had a tree taken down in your yard
it can make for a good photo opportunity.
67. You might live in a Neighborhood
Watch area and then can set up a humor-
ous shot like this one. Eternal vigilance
is the price of liberty and my duck here
is on duty 24/7
68. A holiday scene from your front porch might
make a good
home-based
photo, as well
as one of that
car you’ve been
meaning to
wash.
69. You could take photos of back yard picnics or
other family events.
70. Here is a photo of my triplet grandkids in
their backyard.
71. A foggy view of your backyard can be
transformed into an “art” image by hyping
the very weak colors in the fog over and
over again with your computer until you get
something like this.
74. You may be getting impatient for us to actu-
ally get inside the home, after all this outside
stuff. Fear not, it is coming up next.
75. And now, at last, we are ready to go inside the house and
see what we can find there. Before you make too much
noise you may be able to get some candid shots.
76. This charming painting by Toulouse-Lautrec
would have also made a charming candid
photo.
77. Your house might have more fun features than
most, giving some good candid shots.
78. Candid photos of guests, if you have them,
can be of interest. The best photos may pose
some sort of mystery—like how is he plan-
ning on eating that popcorn while his head
is all covered up?
80. Your cleaning lady with a casual come
hither look, like this Renoir odalisque, gives
character and interest to a candid photo
What you don’t
want is to have
a boring photo.
81. A candid photo of a reaction to a gift can
make for a lot of human interest.
82. Family gatherings may make some good
photo opportunities, especially if people are
doing something interesting.
83. It can be hard to think of good ideas for home
photos when you have other things on your mind.
84. Your bedside reading
might inspire an idea
for a photo. I took
this damsel fly photo
some years ago. It is
a simple image with a
lot of impact.
My 100 mm
macro lens lets
me be pretty far
away from the
bug, so that it
doesn’t get
spooked by the
camera.
92. One source of good ideas for home photos is
to look for a perspective or taking position that
is different from how you normally see things.
93. Another possibility is to look for interest-
ing lighting effects, like these two of mine.
94. I took this photo because I liked the way that
the straight edges of the blinds became wavy
curves when their shadows and bands of light
fell onto the semi-transparent curtains. This
shot only lasted like this for a short time and
changed quickly as the sun moved in the sky.
95. I took this photo because of the simple shapes
and shadows and single color—my favorite, blue.
96. You can experiment with lighting to create a
mood, like my cozy bedroom photo.
97. Light itself can be your subject, like these
burner flames on my stove in a dark room.
98. You can try to be creative and make clever ar-
rangements of common items, like your daily dose
of your various pills. (these are not mine)
100. Sex always has impact so you can look for a
sexy arrangement of some objects, like fruit, or
find something like my sexy tomato here -
where I found a taking position and cropping to
emphasize the voluptuous curves and sexy
creases of this baby. It is almost an indecent
photo!
101. Fruit can make for interesting compositions,
Which orientation looks most phallic?
102. Of course if you have a nude painting in your home
that is sexier still, but you can still get some sexy images
from vegetables like my curvaceous tomato.
103. You can play with fruit and vegetables,
like this saxophone I made from a pineapple,
squash, pineapple slices, and tomatoes.
Then I added in the notes at the top with my
computer.
104. The internet has some interesting images
of fooling around with food.
105. You don’t have to get fancy—a simple
still life can make a good photo if the com-
position is pleasing and there are colors and
textures to give it interest. The apples here
are on a piece of black felt.
106. Squash come in an amazing variety of
shapes and colors. They can be shot sin-
gly, as I did with like this one or in inter-
esting groups.
107. Sometimes just part of a fruit or vegetable
makes for the best photo, like the way I
cropped my picture of this squash.
108. You can pair a still life with a painting,
as I did with these onions and a Renoir
print of onions.
109. Extreme closeups of food, with a macro-
lens, can give photos that you are not used
to seeing. I took this one of a cut tangerine
and really like all the detail and 3D depth
that you see here. The fruit was on a piece
of black felt.
110. You can play
with your food
and that might
lead to some
creative photos.
111. Humor and food can make a nice pair but it
takes a lot of creativity to pull off something
good.
113. A keen eye can spot “faces” in flowers or
even whole people, like my “Dancing Orchid
Ladies” here. They are quite tiny— less
than 1/2 inch—and you have to look closely
to notice something like this.
114. In addition to seeing imagined life where
there is none, you can set up situations where
you yourself create a suggestive scene—like
my “The Gossips” photo here. I carefully ar-
ranged the cactus flowers and camera angle so
that it looks like the two stamens are talking.
116. I prefer extreme closeups of flowers, like
this center of an African Violet blossom.
It looks like a Georgia O’Keefe painting.
117. You may have an indoor fern. Always
keep an eye out for interesting geometrical
patterns, as I did here. Usually this will re-
quire cropping out much of the plant and
just featuring the best part.
118. A black background, like dark felt, provides
a lot of impact to a flower photo. Lighting
is still important. I took this photo with nat-
ural sunlight, falling on the flowers.
119. The artists among us can try getting creative
with some drawing, for a funny home photo.
120. My wife is an avid knitter. I took a photo
of some of her yarn and knitting needles,
then flipped one quadrant of the photo over
a few times (with the computer) to make
this symmetrical mirror-image arrangement.
121. Of course Photoshop can do wonders for your
photos, but you want to start out, at least, with
a good eye in order to get the best results. No
computer program can match a good eye for
producing great photos.
122. We all know how the human eye works. Paying
close attention to your surroundings, while looking
for good home photos, means reducing the amount
of time that the little man here leaves his post to
go to the refrigerator or the bathroom.
123. We just have 2 eyes so we need to use
them carefully when looking around for good
photo opportunities. Woody Allen once
wrote about a mythical beast with 40,000
eyes—20,000 for distance and 20,000 for
reading.
124. You may find yourself of empty of new ideas,
like this “Innovation” barge here, but often just
walking around in your home or yard with a
keen eye can prompt some new photo possibili-
ties. Look for geometric patterns, unusual tak-
ing positions, novel color combinations, etc.
125. You would be surprised how many good photo
opportunities there are right around the home.
127. Right outside your front window you
might see cars having sex—a great photo
op. They usually only do this at night,
so this is a rare picture.
128. You could try to capture something in
motion. A fast shutter speed and flash
may still require many tries before you
are happy with the results.
129. It took me over 200 shots to get this precise moment.
Quite a challenge!
130. This photo catches water drops from my kitchen
sink spray, with a vase in the background.
131. You might want to try a photo in your home
that involves water in some way.
132. Or maybe you have water on your property
and want to use that for some shots.
133. Here is an exercise to try. Take some
home photos that involve one or more of
these themes.
Water or liquid in some form
Captured motion
Unusual perspective or taking position
Unusual lighting effects
Geometrical patterns
Still-life of flowers, fruit, or vegetables
Views from the home
Yard scenes
Portraits or candid shots
134. For the next
meeting take 6
photos around
the home or
your yard and
send them to
Bill Balch.