January Photo Challenge

January 1: #SubjectMatter

As mentioned yesterday, we are going to start a photo exercise today. You can choose to go along with it and take your own photos, or you can choose to just follow what I am doing. Today's focus? ‪#‎subjectmatter‬
As it's January, we want to choose something relative to the month. With‪#‎newbeginnings‬ underway, let's choose to photograph the sunlight through leaves. Begin ‪#‎brainstorming‬ where you would like to take your photo, what time of the day, etc. This is the ‪#‎preparationstage‬, use it wisely.

January 2: #Inspiration

Every photographer who wants to better themselves looks to the ‪#‎masters‬ for #inspiration to help improve their ‪#‎photos‬.

Today we are going to look at Ikk Dolidze's photograph: 
https://www.facebook.com/ikkdolidze/photos/pb.158898187500177.-2207520000.1451763549./974604882596166/?type=3&theater

​Like his page to see more of his impeccable images. This is one way to think of ‪#‎lightthroughleaves‬, an ‪#‎outsidethebox‬ take on a typical photograph. Take this photo, learn from it, be ‪#‎inspired‬, and look up other images for more ‪#‎ideas‬.

January 3: #KnowYourNikon

No matter what you're thinking of doing with this month's exercise, a ‪#‎closeup‬ or a more ‪#‎distant‬ take on things, you're going to have to know how to change your ‪#‎focaldistance‬ on your camera. Look at the ‪#‎lens‬ of your camera for a little dial that spins with numbers on it. These numbers represent the ‪#‎distance‬ between your lens and the object you want in ‪#‎focus‬. There will be most likely an A/M switch on your lens. Switch it to "M" for ‪#‎manual‬, which will give you ‪#‎fullcontrol‬. 

If you're shooting a ‪#‎compactcamera‬, this setting may be in your‪#‎manualsettings‬ on your ‪#‎mainmenu‬.
If you're using a mobile device such as a ‪#‎phone‬, a majority of devices will have you tap on the screen where you want the focus to fall.
​
Keep ‪#‎brainstorming‬ and ‪#‎playing‬ with your camera!

January 4: #KnowYourLens

January 5: #FocalFocus

If you're using a ‪#‎compactcamera‬ or ‪#‎mobiledevice‬ you're going to want to play with how you bring items into focus to ensure that your ‪#‎JanuaryPhoto‬ is going to turn out the way you want it to.

​All you ‪#‎SLR‬ followers, listen up. Research different ‪#‎cameralens‬ to figure out which one you're going to want to use. A ‪#‎standardlens‬ is going to be the best bet for ‪#‎beginners‬. Want something more challenging? Move on to a ‪#‎macrolens‬ for a major ‪#‎closeup‬, or perhaps a ‪#‎telescopiclens‬ for distant capture. You could even try a ‪#‎wideangle‬, which puts a ‪#‎uniqueperspective‬on images. ‪#‎Brainstorm‬, ‪#‎research‬, and go out and ‪#‎practice‬!

We touched on this a little but when we were discussing ‪#‎KnowYourNikon‬. The ‪#‎focus‬ of a ‪#‎photo‬ can change the meaning of your image drastically, also known as the ‪#‎subject‬. Practice taking photos of the same object changing your ‪#‎focalpoint‬ and you will see how that changes the ‪#‎feel‬ of your photograph.

January 6: #Framed

January 7: #ColorChanges

Thus far we have been ‪#‎focusing‬ (see what I did there?) on aspects that control what is IN your image. Today, we are going to discuss how you control what is OUT of your image. The ‪#‎frame‬ (or edges) of your photograph/image is a really important ‪#‎quality‬ to consider. Consider how you want your leaf/leaves included in the photo. Do you want them‪#‎branchingout‬ of the frame so the eye gets pulled around the image? Do you want the leaf smack dead in the middle of your photo so that is the‪#‎solefocus‬ of your image? If that is your intention, make sure there are no‪#‎distracting‬ pieces surrounding the leaf to draw the eye away from it. ‪#‎Brainstorm‬, ‪#‎practice‬ different ways of framing an image, and see how it changes the message of your photo.

We've talked a lot of about aspects that affect your ‪#‎photographs‬, mostly small details that non-photographers don't think about. Today, we are going to discuss an obvious one, ‪#‎color‬. Take your practice images, if you've been following along, or take any old image you have and edit it so you have 3 different options: #color, ‪#‎blackandwhite‬, and ‪#‎sepia‬. Notice the different ‪#‎feel‬ of each image. Play with the ‪#‎contrast‬ and the ‪#‎saturation‬and notice how those make a difference. ‪#‎Play‬, ‪#‎practice‬, ‪#‎repeat‬.

January 8: #LightItUp

We've talked about your ‪#‎camera‬. We've talked about ‪#‎photocharacteristics‬. Now, what about ‪#‎shootsettings‬? One of the things photographers are always in control of (or at least, pretend they are by using it to their advantage) is the ‪#‎light‬. How do you plan on having enough light to ‪#‎produce‬ the photo you want to ‪#‎publish‬? Do you have ‪#‎studio‬lighting? Are you using ‪#‎sunlight‬? A makeshift light, such as a lamp? Figure out your ‪#‎source‬ of light, then play with your light settings on your camera to come up with the best combo to make the ‪#‎perfectphoto‬.

January 9: #FeelTheNoise

January 10: #Perspective

In film, it is affectionately called ‪#‎grain‬. In digital, it is shunned away using the term ‪#‎noise‬. Ever see a ‪#‎photograph‬ with the little dots of texture, especially in the darker areas of the image? That is what we are referring to. You can ‪#‎control‬ this noise/grain by adjusting your ISO settings on your camera. It is more than likely that your phone/mobile device does not have a setting to adjust your ISO, but if you are shooting in manual on a compact/SLR camera, then you are definitely in the game. ‪#‎Play‬ with your ISO, and don't just look at the image on your little screen on the camera. Load it up onto your computer, because sometimes you can't see these small details on a small screen. Noise can work for an image, or it can ruin it, so be careful with what you decide!

My favorite line that my boss says is, "The only error in ‪#‎communication‬ is believing that it happened." I canNOT tell you how much this is true, especially for ‪#‎arts‬ such as ‪#‎photography‬. You want to make sure your image is communicating everything you want it to. Look at your practice images with a ‪#‎nakedeye‬ and determine if you were a stranger, would you get everything from your images that you want people to get? What do you need to change for this to happen? ‪#‎Finetune‬ your eye, ‪#‎practice‬ some more, after all, you never know when you're practice shot will become THE shot.

January 11: #SnapShot

Alright folks. Go out and take those beautiful final photos if you haven't gotten your shot yet. Remember, you can always choose the right one from a bigger selection. Can't pick the perfect image if it isn't one of your options ;)

January 12: #FilterThrough

Go through each of your photos in Preview (if you're on a Mac, just go to the folder, click on the file and press the space bar and then down arrow from there).

Pick your top ‪#‎favorites‬ for one subject like this; don't pick more than 5.

​For a more gallery look with a professional feel, I recommend using‪#‎AdobeBridge‬.

January 13: #EditingPrograms

My method: Start in ‪#‎AdobeLightroom‬ and end in ‪#‎AdobePhotoshop‬. In #AdobeLightroom, import your photo, and then go to the develop stage. I play with "Lightroom Color Presets", then adjust as I see fit. Play with every setting you don't know until you perfect your image, this way you can learn what each setting does. You'll then export the image, and you can select the option for it to open in PhotoShop. I then go into Raw Filter where you have more control over your options.

January 14: #EditingReview

Make sure, after every time you edit an image, to compare it with the ‪#‎original‬. Sometimes it's hard to be able to tell, in the moment, how much editing you're really doing, and how far you have strayed from the original image. ‪#‎Compare‬, ‪#‎reedit‬, ‪#‎undo‬ some editing... do whatever it is you have to do to make sure your image is not only comparable to the original, but improved.

January 15: #Lightroom1

January 16: #PhotoShop1

It can take a long time to edit your photos to ‪#‎perfection‬, so take the time today to go through your photos in light room and make sure they are superb!

Try doing creative things with your photographs for a surreal feel. Paint in ‪#‎color‬. Use a melting effect. Play with the ‪#‎artfilters‬. There's a lot you can do, you don't want to limit yourself.

January 17: #StillEditing

January 18: #SecondOpinion

I know, we're moving slow this first month. You may be ahead me. You may be struggling to keep up. If you're moving with me, I'd like you to take the time today and look at your images that you have edited. Are there any distracting factors? Look carefully, sometimes when it's your own photo, it's hard to notice. You can use crop or the cloning tool in ‪#‎photoshop‬ to get rid of such distractions.

It's hard to not get attached to your work. I'm always asking my family for their second opinions on my photographs, to make sure I didn't miss something, or go too far with the editing. A second pair of eyes can be really handy. Don't miss an opportunity to get help from another person smile emoticon

January 19: #WalkAway

January 20: #SecondGlance

Don't look at your photos today. I'm serious. You need a break from looking at your own images. It's healthy to get a "fresh look" after walking away from it for a bit.

Hopefully yesterday you walked away from your photos. I can't tell you how many times I have come back to images I didn't look at for a whole day and went "Holy moly, what did I do". Fix any editing errors you may have. ALWAYS save your images as a photoshop file AND as a jpeg/png. If you have to, start over. It's all a learning process.

January 21: #Realism

January 22 & 23: #WriteThisDown

Something I always consider is if I want my photo to be realistic, or surreal. So far, I have always chosen realistic because I want the photo to speak for itself. However, I believe photo illustrations can be powerful. Tap into your creative mind and look at your photo. Do you want to make in an illustration or keep it a photograph?

If you find an effect you really like, write down what you did to get that effect. It is more than likely that you will use it later. Play with other effects, write them down if you like them, even if they don't work for that image in particular. You never know when you're going to use those effects in the future.

January 24: #MonotoneTrials

Sometimes making your photo ‪#‎blackandwhite‬ or ‪#‎sepia‬ can make the meaning of your photo change to match the story you are trying to achieve. I greatly enjoy the timelessness of black and white photos and like to try every photo in black and white to see how it effects the meaning.

January 25: #SaturatedTrials

Something fun to try sometimes is to over-saturate your image. Sometimes (most of the time) it ends up not looking fantastic, but in some cases, it makes the photo.

January 26: #DetailTrials

Would your photo look better with more of an ambience? Or super clear, over-the-top details? Play with your clarity. You can even select certain parts of your image to make more blurry or more clear, doesn't have to be the whole thing.

January 27: #DoYouTilt

Open your image in ‪#‎AdobePhotoShop‬. Make your rulers visible. Click on a ruler and drag the blue line to an edge in your photograph, such as the side of a building, or side of a tree trunk. Does it line up? If it doesn't, play with rotating or distorting your image so that it does line up and is a straight image. You may find that it enhances your image, or that it takes away.

January 28: #ReviewOfWork

How are you feeling about your image? Are you proud of it? Do you want to share it with others? If you're answers are "Good. Yes. Yes." Perfect! If not, fix it!

January 29 & 30 : #PublishingOptions

#DifferentPrints

I always save my photos as the ‪#‎PhotoShop‬ file, a ‪#‎jpeg‬, and a ‪#‎png‬. Why? PhotoShop for if I want to go back and make changes. Jpeg because it's the most accepted file type for images when it comes to sharing it on websites or between different computers. Png because that doesn't lose the original resolution of the photo.

A lot of images are save digitally now, but if you were to print your images, you have options. Matte print (no gloss). Gloss print. Metallic print. Wood print. Metal print. Cloth print. Point is, if you intend to print your image, how it is printed has a major effect on its presentation, so choose wisely.

January 31: #Share