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Creative Photography Techniques

Why Learning How to Use a Camera is a lot Like Learning How to Play an Instrument

July 13, 2021 by Mary Buck

I teach people the fundamentals of photography so they can use their cameras to tell stories, create art or

do whatever they want with their camera. Some of my students want to take better pictures of their kids or improve their travel photography. It really doesn’t matter what the purpose is

One thing remains true…Practice makes perfect

With a musical instrument, one creates music, and with a camera, one creates art.

I have been teaching photography since 2011 and I have come to the following conclusions:

  • The more one practices, the better one will learn how to use their camera.
  • Practicing photography creates muscle memory. If one does not practice, the muscles will have difficulty remembering, and one will not progress.
  • Brain and hand coordination increase with practice as ones’ fingers intuitively turn a knob or push a button to make creative controls on the camera.
  • Learning the apertures, shutter speeds, and ISO (exposure triangle) is as powerful in learning the craft of photography as learning the musical scale is to music.
  • Learning photography takes time and determination, just like learning how to play an instrument.
  • Lastly, photographers and musicians are artists and use the power of their art to express themselves.

How long does it take to learn photography?

There is no set time and each person learns differently. In my six-week private lessons, I assign homework so the student can better absorb the material from the previous lesson. It could take longer if the student has never been exposed to the basic fundamental building blocks of photography. I tell my students to expect six months to a year, to learn the basics of photography.

What is more important? A good eye or technical ability?

Learning photography is a mix of the right brain and left brain. I prefer to teach the technical stuff first, so the student can grasp that information before they dive into the story-telling aspect of photography. Once the technical information is processed, it becomes second nature. I believe learning the fundamentals of photography first is crucial before focusing on art, composition, and story-telling.

How does one get started with photography?

I would start by learning some of the basics of photography. The internet is free, and there are tons of YouTube videos. I would recommend finding a specific video for a camera and then renting a camera first before investing. The best way to learn photography is through practice, perseverance, and motivation.

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Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques, Learn DSLR Photography

The Importance of Symmetry

October 26, 2020 by Mary Buck

Symmetry, balance, and equilibrium are all things we humans generally strive for and appreciate in many different areas of life. Achieving symmetry in photography is no different, photographs with balance are visually appealing and striking because of their symmetry. In this article, I’ll outline the ways and benefits of incorporating symmetry and balance in your photos.


We tend to think of photographs as objective items that record a snapshot of reality and as a result, assign them more truth than perhaps they deserve as even the very composition of a photograph can influence our feelings toward it. This is hugely important when considering how to frame a shot for instance a symmetrical image is appealing whereas a photograph with imbalance can cause unease in certain cases. It’s more normal for symmetrical photos to be appealing and this is what we’ll be looking at in the following points. 

1 – Precision

For symmetry to be achieved correctly it does need to be accurate and precise. It’s unavoidably in symmetry’s nature that the resulting shots need to be exact for the effect to work and it’s very easy for us to perceive just the slightest misalignment so in order to avoid this, prepare the shot meticulously. Ensure the position of your camera is in the right spot to achieve harmony in the frame. Thankfully a lot of tinkering can be done in post-production these days but careful setup beforehand reduces the time spent on editing.

Photo by Longreach

Highlighting balance in architecture or man-made structures is a great place to find and emphasize the symmetry that already exists. The above image shows this perfectly as the lines made by the bridge intersect the frame with mathematical precision. This photo is a great example of both vertical and horizontal symmetry. It works on both axes thanks to the water which reflects the bridge beautifully. This also separates the two shades of light, right and left which adds a pleasing contrast to the overall image.  

2 – Pattern

Creating symmetry in photography is basically like creating a pattern in many ways; patterns repeat themselves over and over thereby creating symmetry along the way. When framing your shot, think about the possible patterns that you’re making and if they create harmony. Finding patterns in nature is another aspect to consider in achieving symmetry; objects such as snowflakes reveal perfect symmetry when viewed through a microscope. Each flake is a unique symmetrical pattern that is pleasing to see no doubt but patterns can appear in many more areas of nature. 

Plants are great examples of patterns in nature and we can see their symmetry very clearly in many structures. Certain flowers such as the one below exhibit repeating petal patterns and so create amazing symmetry throughout. The photographer has highlighted the flower by centering it perfectly in the middle of the frame. 

Photo by Kristi Decourcy

Patterns can also be found in many man-made objects, especially within contemporary architecture which in many cases mimics the patterns found in nature! So there’s also potential for experimenting and discovery when it comes to photographing symmetry.

3 – Reflection

Achieving horizontal symmetry is also possible when using reflections and in particular, off of water surfaces. This method of photography can recreate balance and harmony in a creative and often stunning way. Of course, social media sites are inundated with rain puddle reflections of cities and similar scenes which is certainly pleasant for a time but by now is quite overdone. Below I’ve selected a fantastic example of why symmetry in reflection is so appealing. This image offers a lovely reflection of the bird flying low over the water, giving us a great example of horizontal symmetry. Again the framing is so important to get the bird exactly in the middle of the horizontal axis to give such a pleasing example of symmetry. 

Of course, just by looking at the photo, it’s clear that it’s not such precise symmetry as the first two examples I gave which were more ‘pure’ symmetry along all axes as well as their creation of patterns. However, the below image is a great image that highlights were ‘soft’ symmetry can be used to emphasize and highlight the subject of the shot, in this case, a low-flying bird contrasted wonderfully against its background. 

Photo by Stanley Zimny

4 – Repetition

Much like creating patterns and reflections, constructing repetition in the image is another means of symmetry. As we’ve seen with all of the above examples, symmetry features repetition heavily and by incorporating it in creative ways, we can achieve visually harmonious photography. The image below is a great example of this.

Photo by Doug Racine

The photographer has caught a serendipitous moment of two birds in sync with one another. This creates the illusion of the bird being repeated, perhaps artificially, in post-production whereas actually it’s just a carefully composed and timed snapshot of two separate birds. This also draws a direct comparison with the bird and its reflection in the water; two great examples of symmetry being achieved in different ways. 

Capturing symmetry by repetition is quite tricky and at times down to pure good luck but, as evinced, can create wonderfully pleasing images. It’s good practice to try and train your photographer’s eye to notice patterns and repetition in order to create symmetry and balance. 

As always, practice makes perfect so if you’ve learned anything from these tips, try and incorporate them into your next shoot! Good luck and have fun.

Author Bio: Rob Holder is the Director of Fable Studios, a video production agency in Bristol, UK

Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques, Landscape Photography, Photography Tips

A Creative Guide for Photographers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

April 1, 2020 by Mary Buck

Private_photography_lessons

Are you a photographer stuck at home?

Most cities now have a “shelter in place” mandate to stop the spread of the awful Coronavirus. The safest thing to do is stay at home, but how can you keep your creative juices flowing? Our new normal (at least for the next 30-60 days) can be a great time to learn new skills in Photoshop, Lightroom, photography and video. I have found many ways to continue being productive and help pass the time while having fun. I would like to share a creative guide for photographers with you.

Below is my shortlist of ways you can be creative.

  • Linkedinlearning.com
  • CreativeLive
  • Harold Davis books and videos
  • Spring flower photography
  • Macro photography
  • Start a photo journal

Let’s start with Linkedinlearning.com

Formerly lynda. com., LinkedIn offers a plethora of online learning including everything you have ever wanted to know about Photoshop, Lightroom and ACR. If you are new to Photoshop, I would start with the Essentials Training Basics and Essential Training Photography. I took both courses and then I jumped on to Photoshop 2020 One-on-One Fundamentals. I have been a Photoshop user for almost twenty years, but I still learned so much about the software and how I can improve and enhance my photography. Best of all, the subscription is only $30 per month and you can cancel it anytime you want.

Here are some of the best tips I learned so far:

  • Use the content-aware tool to extend a background when cropping.
  • Add your copyright to an image that will be posted online.
  • Use scrubby sliders to increase or decrease a setting (now I am getting really excited)
  • Converting to a smart object for a non-destructive edit.
  • Lots and lots of keyboard shortcuts.
Here is just one of the Photoshop tips I learned.
The image above was converted to a smart object and next an oil paint filter was applied. Copyright information was embedded using the file info command.

Creative Live rocks!

I have been an active member of Creative Live since 2012. Their online workshops are intended for those who have a passion for being creative. You can learn new photography skills such as wildlife photography, or try something new like public speaking. (we can all use that). If you are a parent homeschooling your child, you can probably find some crafty projects to work on with them. Creative Live’s tagline is: Master your craft, your passion, or something new with creative classes taught by the world’s best.

The trick with Creative Live is to find out their schedule for their FREE ON-AIR and LIVE classes. They are usually during the day, and now what else to you have to do? You can also pay a fee to watch an online course at your own freedom. Creative Live offers a Pass for a very affordable monthly or annual fee. To learn more about Creative Live click the link below.

Join in on the this phenomenal, ground-breaking, learning environment and register for a CreativeLive Photography online course, or any course that interests you.

If you haven’t heard of Harold Davis

you are in for a big treat. He is not only one of the best photographers on earth, he is also a poet and wonderful instructor. He has a knack for creating beauty out of simple subjects and is willing he is to share his skill and talent. I would start on his website to learn more about his books, webinars and live workshops.

Harold’s creative vision is unparalleled in the industry. He has been one of my favorite photographers for a long time. I have enjoyed one of his webinars: Painting in Transparency Using a High-Key Layer Stack Webinar with Harold Davis, that I have watched it over and over again. For this process, you will need a lightbox, and there are lots of DIY instructions available online. It will be worth your time to check out Harold Davis.

An example of a high-key layer stack.
(Harold’s are much better)
Here is another example of the high key layer stack method. Apparently I used it for a holiday greeting.

The spring flowers are amazing

depending on where you live. In Georgia, spring has sprung, and the landscape is filled with cherry blossoms, azaleas, tulips, dogwoods, and a very high pollen count. Going outside in nature can be a great way to unstress in today’s uncertain times. Maintaining social distancing is a must.

You can research the botanical gardens where you live to see if they are open. Near where I live, Gibbs Gardens is still open. Although I have been there many times, I find the early spring to be the most beautiful time to witness and photograph nature. Gibbs Gardens is in Ballground, GA, about 50 miles north of Atlanta. If you go, make sure you pay online in advance and go online for their hours.

An image from Gibbs Gardens taken March 22, 2020. A Topaz Impression filter was used to enhance this image.
I tiptoed through the tulips at Gibbs Gardens on March 22 and never saw such a beautiful display of tulips in my life.

Macro Photography is like discovering

a parallel universe that can not typically be seen with the naked eye. I am just beginning my adventures in this genre of photography, so I do not have tons to share except get out there and give it a try.

You will need a macro lens or an extension tube kit. The extension tubes are the cheapest way to go and are a great way to start out in macro photography. I used the tube kit for years but decided to invest in a macro lens this year. I have the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens which is an awesome sharp lens, which I can also use for portraits.

Macro photography is something you can do in your own backyard or at your kitchen table. Crawl around on the ground and look under plants and in the soil and you might be surprised what you can see with a macro lens. For indoor work, I usually buy a bouquet of flowers from Publix and photography them all week long. If you live in an area where spring flowers are in bloom, you will have a special advantage.

This image was taken using extension tubes. The water droplets underneath the brush were barely visible with the naked eye.
This image is a macro of the back of a sunflower. I used my extension tubes for this image focusing on the foreground and letting the background present an ethereal look.
Who doesn’t love a rose? I photographed this rose using my Canon Macro 100mm lens. I used an aperture of f/18 so the layers of petals would not be blurred due to a shallow depth of field.

Lastly, I would encourage you to journal

during these difficult times. You never know, your journal could become a best-seller someday. Since you are a photographer, accompany your text with photographs that tell a story. Your story could be handed down to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren someday.

I hope I have given you enough ideas for a month.

Hopefully, we will not be hunkered down after April. We will all get through this together. Be safe, stay healthy and keep shooting!

Looking forward to the day when we can all bask on the beach together!

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Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques, Photography Tips

Artsy Photography Tip 2

February 8, 2016 by Mary Buck

One of the biggest concerns I see, especially from new photographers is the inability to capture an image that looks just like what you saw.  Using natural light creatively is the way around this. If you shoot in auto mode, the pop-up flash will most likely go off automatically when you are indoors.  The flash can cause an unnatural look especially if it is on the camera and at full power. When you start shooting in aperture or shutter priority or manual mode, the flash does not go off automatically unless you pop it up; these modes found on the mode dial of a DSLR camera, allow the photographer to have control.

natural_light_photo_girl

Photography is all about light and shadows. When a flash goes off in full mode the shadows can be filled in and the subject can look unrealistic. Shooting in natural light involves using a slower shutter speed and will require a tripod. Another option is to use a high ISO and a wide aperture.  A reflector, such as a piece of white foam core, can help to slightly soften shadows so the image is still a good representation of what you see.

The photos of the children were taken with a hand-held Canon 7d using a high ISO and a wide aperture of 2.8.  As you can see, they are very realistic and quite charming of the children.

In landscape photography, especially sunrises and sunsets can appear to look washed out if the correct technique is not applied. Sunrises and sunsets require a slow shutter speed so the sensor can absorb the ambient light. A slow shutter speed will require a tripod or monopod. The photo below was taken on a recent trip to Punta Cana. Because I did not want to pack a tripod I brought a simple, lightweight monopod, that I brought in the water with me to capture the image. The exposure was 1/30 sec. f/5.6 at ISO 400.

DSC00635

 

Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques

Abstract Art

March 9, 2015 by Mary Buck

abstract artI recently did a Google keyword search for the most requested search word for “art”  and “abstract art” came in at a whopping 65,000 searches per month. I began to think I could transform my photos into abstract art.  I experimented with some techniques before I found one that I like.  My first attempt was to move the camera in a circular pattern while taking a photograph at a slow shutter speed (photo on left).  The results were interesting, but nothing that I would hang on my wall. Then I remembered reading an article about using slow shutter speeds to show motion. A slow shutter speed creates a surreal image, one that can not be seen with the eye.  What came to my mind were “leaves blowing in the wind”,  “a Ferris wheel in action at an amusement park” “waves crashing in on a shoreline” or “fish swimming in a pond”.

A few weeks later, I was visiting my son in San Diego and stayed at a hotel that had a Koni Fish Pond with brightly colored fish swimming about.  This was perfect. I set up my tripod and set the shutter speed to 1/20 second. The result was magical!  I love the original (the first one pictured below) but I also like the one I Photoshopped by adjusting the hue slider.

abstract art

abstract art

To create an abstract image, try photographing nature on a windy day. You will need a tripod and a neutral density filter so you can use a slow shutter speed.  Good luck and please comment on this post if you enjoyed it!

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Message in a Petal.

Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques

Bokeh in Photography

February 9, 2015 by Mary Buck

a tiny flower
f/2.8 32mm

In this article, I would like to explain what ‘bokeh’ is in Digital SLR Photography. Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke (ボケ), which means “blur” or “haze”, or boke-aji, the “blur quality.” Bokeh is pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay.

There are five factors that contribute the quality of the bokeh in photography:

1. The focal length of the lens. The longer the focal length, the blurrier the background will be. If you are using an 18 – 270 mm lens, 270 would be the longest focal length.

2. The distance to the subject. Selecting the subject is the first step in the creative process. The image revolves around a subject so take time in making the selection. Make sure your focus points are on the subject so your lens does not focus on the background which would result in a blurry subject.  The closer you are to the subject, the blurrier the background will be.

3. The lens aperture. The wider the aperture, the blurrier the background will be. Some lenses are limited (especially kit lenses). Use the widest aperture that you can at the longest focal length that you can. f/1.4 to f/2.8 rock.

4. The quality of the lens. Some lenses have only 5 or 6 blades on the aperture, and other lenses may have 9 or even 14 blades on the aperture.  In less expensive lenses, it is most common to see 6 blades in an aperture, and in more professional lenses it is more common to see 9 blades. The more blades, the better the bokeh.

5. The distance from the subject to the background. Usually, the further the subject is from the background, the blurrier the background will be.

Take a look at the two photos. The top one used a wide aperture of f/2.8 but the lens focal length was only 32mm. The bottom one was shot at f/6.3 but the focal length was 270 mm. Both photos have very good quality bokeh, so sometimes you do not need all five factors, just a few of them.

Practice creating good quality bokeh in your images using the equipment that you have. Have fun!

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

red roses with blurry background
f/6.3 270 mm

Filed Under: Blog posts, Creative Photography Techniques

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