What’s In My Camera Bag? | Annie Manning, Paint the Moon Photography and Photoshop Actions
Posted on February 2, 2012
One of the questions I am asked most frequently is what camera and lenses I use. So let me start by saying I really love my Nikon camera and lenses. They are amazing tools that help me make the images I see in my head a reality. But I’d like to state for the record what you already know. The camera, lenses and gear are not what make a great image – the person using it does. There are so many things that you need to pair with that great gear to realize a fabulous photograph … knowing how to compose your image and create unique art, how to capture true emotions, how to achieve proper exposure, how to nail your focus, how to process your images well, etc., etc. I do believe, however, that having the right tools to do your job as a photographer will definitely improve your final results and in some instances give you more creative freedom to get the shots you are dreaming of. I think there is a balance between “the camera doesn’t matter at all – an artist can create beauty from absolutely any gear” and “you must have the latest and greatest expensive gear to take good photographs.”
Writing this post has made me realize I have *way* too many lenses and need to sell some of them, especially since I only actually pull out about four or five of them on a regular basis (I left the most unused lenses out of the photos). Focusing on creating your art, educating yourself and growing in your photography and processing will always be the truest road to creating better photographs. It’s not the camera that makes the photo, it’s the photographer. Now, with all that said … let me introduce you to my large family of tools that do such a splendid job in helping me create my images. ;)
Note: this is part one and just about what I personally use. Part two will have recommendations for those on a tight budget and for those shooting with Canon gear. I tend to ramble and include a lot (too much?) information, so I didn’t want this post to be overwhelming. For those wanting to see what I use in the studio when I am forced to take my shooting indoors in the middle of our Oregon winters, see my Studio Spotlight.
Click name to jump to more information, example images and details on each item.
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The camera bodies
The miscellany gadgets and helpers:
Photovision Digital Target (For Checking Exposure)
A handful of 32GB Sandisk CF Cards
Function and Fashion
Belle in Turquoise, Lola in Red, and Stella in Gray
See the “Thank You” Giveaway for a Chance to Win Your Own!
First, let me say that every photographer loves different lenses for different reasons. While some lenses may be suited better for some situations, it highly depends on your individual needs and style … there is rarely one “right” lens for any given need. I am a prime lens girl all the way (this is a fixed focal length lens). They are incredibly sharp lenses and we know they are faster which allows for a few things including better shooting in low light situations. They also allow me to shoot wide open at an aperture of around f1.4 when possible, which has has become a signature part of my style.
For the very reason some prefer zooms is another reason I love primes … you need to use your “feet” to zoom. For me this means I have to constantly be moving around and finding new perspectives and ways of “seeing.” I think sometimes you can get a bit “lazy” creatively with a zoom lens, or at least that is what my experience was personally. Of course others may have a totally different experience with zooms, love them for their versatility, etc. It’s a highly personal choice (and many use both zooms and primes). Remember that it very much depends on the actual lenses you are comparing … you can’t very well say that Nikon’s lowest end prime lens is going to be comparable to it’s top of the line pro zoom lens. You’ll see I only have one zoom lens in my stash, the 24-70mm 2.8, which is a super sharp and lovely lens but it’s only still in there because I’ve been too busy to get around to selling it. I used it briefly for studio only work while I was shooting with a cropped frame body. I shot with a Nikon D300 before upgrading to the full frame Nikon D700 (which is my backup camera now) – it was a lovely camera and much of my work on Flickr was taken with the D300.
Keep in mind while looking over the lenses I use, love and recommend that I shoot with a full frame camera. If you’re using a cropped sensor your experience and lens needs will differ greatly because of the crop factor. Some of this will be covered in part two of this feature.
Another question I hear a lot is what do I actually carry with me in my bag. I admit, it’s a lot (but only roughly half of what’s shown in the main photo – the other half is inside the cabinet you see my baby peeking out of). I happen to think that putting one or two more lenses in the bag isn’t going to make any discernible difference in weight or difficulty carrying the bag around (or in some cases, having my assistant – aka, my husband – carry it for me). And because I’m awful at narrowing things down I tend to carry all my favorites with me all the time. I don’t necessarily use all of the lenses I bring, and if I’m not working and at a client’s session then sometimes I haul the bag around and never even take the camera out – but at least I know I have it just in case. I tend to always have my D3s with the 85mm 1.4G on it, the 35mm 1.4G, the 135mm 2.0, the 16mm fisheye and sometimes the tilt-shift (unless I know there is no chance of taking a more “artful” photo, then I leave it behind because it’s too spendy and heavy to tote around for the heck of it). And note that I really USE my gear … I take excellent care of everything, but it’s definitely not coddled or ever left behind for fear of damaging it. This Nikon gear takes a beating and does it beautifully – it’s built to handle much rougher assignments than chasing around little ones and families.
I recently upgraded from the D700 to the D3s and just adore it. I’m finding the high ISO performance is much improved (ahhhh-mazing low light capabilities with minimal noise), and my general experience has been more accurate metering and smoother color and tonal gradations. The low light handling with so little noise is really important to me because I never shoot with a flash and love natural light … however, I live in Oregon and it’s dark, rainy and gray here 6-months of the year. Being able to crank up my ISO without worrying about noise is wonderful. The video function on the D3s is lacking for those wanting serious video, but is fun for taking quickie videos of the kids or for a “just for fun” video for clients. It also has the benefits of a much longer battery life (I rarely even think about the battery even though I always carry a charged back up with me as well as one sitting on the charger in the studio) and two storage card slots. And, finally, even though I’m not a sports photographer in any sense of the word, I love the faster continuous shooting when working with speedy little ones. Being able to shoot 9fps versus 5fps can mean the difference between getting the perfect shot and getting one with eyes closed or a finger up the nose.
I really love the D700 … I have nothing but fabulous things to say about this camera body. It also has the benefit of being much less expensive than the D3s (and lighter, however, I always used the battery grip with mine so the size difference was minimal when I upgraded). A fabulous camera for portrait photography and handles high ISO and low light situations beautifully.
The 85mm 1.4G is my favorite lens – I never go anywhere without this one. Absolutely dreamy bokeh that looks like smooth velvet with your subject popping off the background … images can look almost three dimensional when you’re nailing your focus at a wide aperture (and I almost always shoot in the f1.4 to f2 range unless shooting more than one subject). It’s also a fabulous focal length for flattering portraits, fantastic in low light and very sharp.
Following are a few examples using my Nikon 85mm 1.4G. The first was shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/2000 second (it was pretty bright out and right before the sun was slipping away so my shutter speed was very high). Look at that yummy bokeh (and the cute baby is pretty yummy too)! Processed with Wonderland and Picture Perfect.
Nikon 85mm 1.4G - again at f1.4 with ISO 1000 and 1/125 sec (the sun had just slipped below the horizon so I had the ISO cranked up a little). Processed with Wonderland.
Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/200 second.
Some detail shots turning one … Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 250, f1.4, 1/160 second.
Another example of the pretty bokeh from the 85mm – f1.4, ISO 200, 1/250 second.
Shot at sunset with the 85mm at f1.4, ISO 200, 1/500 second.
This lens is a go to lens for times when I need a good “walking around” lens and need to either be in close range of my subjects (babies or little ones that speed away from me too quickly) or need something that will capture full body shots easily and take in the surrounding environment as well. It’s a wider angle lens, and therefore has a bit of distortion that can be noted especially when taking photos at close range. This bit of distortion with children’s photos can be cute and add a bit of whimsy to the photo, but point a 35mm up close to an adult and you’ll end up with a not so flattering portrait that widens and distorts the face. I use this one a lot for group shots or for those images where you want the entire scene and story captured along with your subject. It’s fabulous in low light conditions, produces pretty bokeh and is super sharp, is my main lens for shooting sun flare shots and is light weight. It produces beautiful images and is a good “essential” lens to own.
Below are a few images shot with the Nikon 35mm 1.4G.
This is one of my favorites of my girls … shot just as the sun was going down and you can see how beautifully the 35mm did with the sun flare. Nikon 35mm 1.4G – taken at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/1000 sec. Processed with Fresh Wonderland 2.
Nikon 35mm 1.4G. Shot at ISO 1000, f1.8, 1/160 second. Processed with Wonderland.
This was definitely one of those times where my need to be up close to my subject was apparent. Yes, I’m bonkers to bring my big camera up there on a crazy fast, spinning ride … but it was so worth it to catch her expression on her very first big girl ride! Note that the lighting was horrendous (either pitch dark or neon green and orange flashing lights as we spun around). Nikon 35mm 1.4G – shot at ISO 2500, f1.4, 1/160 second.
Nikon 35mm 1.4G – shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/640 second.
I adore this lens. I would say it might be my favorite lens, but all things considered (like the fact that many times with babies and young children I don’t have the ability to get enough distance from my subjects) it has to remain a tie between the 135mm 2.0 and the 85mm 1.4G. It’s one of Nikon’s pro limited-production lenses, and therefore sometimes hard to find in stock (and there has been rumors of it being discontinued). It’s the sharpest lens I own and the bokeh is out of this world. An AMAZING portrait lens. It also has a specialized feature called Defocus Control. It’s been designed (and this feature is patented) for exceptional bokeh (for those who are new bokeh is the appearance of the out-of-focus areas) and helps give your bokeh an extra creaminess and smooth feel. Even without the DC feature this would definitely be my favorite lens if it weren’t for the fact that I find it a little too long for my shooting style sometimes. I like to get up close and personal with my subjects, whether it’s with my kids or my clients, so the 85mm 1.4G allows me to do this better. Otherwise, this one would be at the top of my lens loves list.
Below are a few shots taken with the Nikon 135mm 2.0.
Nikon 135mm 2.0 – shot at ISO 200, f2.0, 1/400 second.
Nikon 135mm 2.0 – taken at ISO 320, f2.0, 1/500 second.
The close up of my daughter here with the 135mm 2.0 was taken at ISO 250, f2.0, 1/200 second.
Tilt-Shift lenses are frequently used for architectural photography to control perspective, however, they have recently become very popular among portrait photographers for achieving beautiful selective focus by using the tilt feature. It’s a very distinct look and one that I personally adore. I believe it’s best used sparingly and with intention. I can tilt the plane of focus to create just a sliver of the frame as my focus point with a very unique bokeh in the out of focus areas. They are manual focus lenses and also take some time getting used to, but are really worth the extra special touch they can add to a photo.
Below are a few examples of the 45mm Tilt-Shift lens. The left photo’s settings were ISO 400, f2.8, 1/160 second. The sun was going down (evidenced by Mr. Moon already peeking out to say hello), so it was rather dark out. On the image on the right the settings were ISO 640, f/4.0 and 1/250 second.
This third example of the 45mm Tilt-Shift lens was set at ISO 800, f2.8, and 1/250 second.
Fisheye lenses are definitely a lot of fun, but a novelty lens for most cases (not that a novelty lens can’t be an integral part of a photographer’s style puzzle). A fisheye will take an ultra wide angle (most of the time 180 degree) with a very distorted, hemispherical result. I think they can really be fun for kid’s portraits because they match the carefree, silly nature of childhood and add to the personality of those shots. You really have to have a “vision” of how your shot will be and how the fisheye distortion will come into play and enhance your shot. Taking your standard portrait with a fisheye won’t generally give you pleasing results. It can produce some really artistic styles, but give a thought to *all* your surroundings because it captures every little detail. I also like mine for family snapshots when I want to take in *everything* and also stay right in the action.
And another example of a silly snapshot taken with my 16mm fisheye lens. I like how it captures every “real life” detail with the surroundings of your subject and the “lollipop head” distortion just adds to the emotion the viewer feels at seeing her happy laugh.
Not just a fabulous macro lens, but the 105mm is a great portrait lens as well. I don’t do a lot of true macro photography (such as water droplets or teeny tiny spider eyes), but I love getting up close and personal with small details. It’s a great lens for baby bits … the little eyelashes and chubby toes. It’s also fun for floral and nature photography.
Below are a few examples using the 105mm 2.8 macro lens.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro at ISO 250, f3.2, 1/160 second.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro – taken at ISO 320, f3.2, 1/160 second.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro – taken at ISO 200, f3.2, 1/250 second.
And in this close up shot you can see the 105mm does amazing portraits.
The Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 is a really great lens if you are a lover of zooms. It’s nice and sharp, but I just prefer prime lenses and, therefore, never use it and haven’t picked it up in several years.. (Note to self: list unneeded lenses for sale!) I used it primarily for studio shots when I shot with a cropped sensor camera because it gave me the extra room I needed in my tiny studio.
This example uses the Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 at ISO 200, f5.6, 24mm and 1/250 second.
The 50mm 1.4 is a fabulous little prime lens and affordable too. I tend to never use it simply because I love my 85mm and 135mm more and if I need to have more room than the 85mm gives me then I love the 35mm focal length. The 50mm is a great starter lens for those moving into the world of prime lenses and is one of the first I recommend to those who are beginning their lens collection (and I think it’s just a must have for most photographers to have in their bag – it’s a staple lens). It creates beautiful bokeh, is fast and very sharp.
Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens – taken at ISO 200, f4.5, 1/250 second.
This entire session was shot with my D700 and 50mm 1.4G lens.
Another (in studio) shot with the 50mm 1.4G.
And a final with the 50mm 1.4G … settings were ISO 200, f5.0, 1/250 second. Processed with Texture Collection Two and and Picture Perfect Photoshop Actions.
A great macro and portrait lens, but something I only used with my cropped sensor body (which was the D300). Creates very pretty portraits as well as detail and macro shots. It’s a wonderful starter macro lens. For a full frame camera or very minute details I would recommend the 105mm over the 60mm.
Lensbaby Composer + Sweet 35 Optics
Very fun little lens to play with, however, I haven’t put it on my camera since getting the tilt-shift lens last year. It’s manual focus and also takes some time playing around with finding the “sweet spot” but can be a nice novelty lens to own if you want to get artistic.
I rarely use the light meter. I first bought it to use in the studio when I was forced inside under my soft boxes and Alien Bees. If I think I’m getting an inaccurate meter reading in natural light, I’ll bring it out very rarely (I use spot metering, so I’m usually pretty right on with exposure using the in camera meter).
3 Epiphanie Bags: Belle, Lola and Stella
I don’t carry or really care for purses … I carry pretty camera bags packed with all my gear, my iPhone, iPad and small wallet (my one girly allowance is lip gloss … which my six year old uses more than I do). I love my Epiphanie bags. I have tried almost all the major brands out there. The ones I’ve purchased (and ended up either re-selling or returning) are mostly the “pretty” camera bags, but I started out with a very functional and very ugly, black Lowepro sling backpack. On family outings and sessions my husband will end up carrying my beautiful camera bag – thankfully he’s man enough to feel secure even while toting a bright turquoise “purse” with flower hair clips pinned to the side. He still begs me to please go back to the ugly, black backpack. ;)
So, I was saying how I’ve tried all the bags out there over the years and I keep going back to Epiphanie. As I stated above, I like to carry the whole shebang around with me in my bag and also need to have my lens attached to my camera body so I can grab it at a moment’s notice. The Epiphanie bags give me everything I need … lots of room, plenty of customizable compartments for whatever my needs are, easy access to my camera so I can sneak it out in seconds for unexpected moments that beg to be captured and they are gorgeous. I’ve never talked with the company personally and don’t really do “sponsor” type partnerships because I don’t want my customers and fans to ever feel like I’ve “sold out” or am just trying to plug products to them, so I am sharing all this information out of a pure love for their product. I love you all so much and want to thank you for your support so I’m actually giving away one of these beauties with a few other goodies … just to say thank you.
I use the Expodisc to set my custom white balance every time I shoot. It’s super duper easy and takes seconds. I have the 77mm size disc and am lazy so I usually just hold it up to my lens (owning the largest size allows me to use it with all my lenses) and take my shot. If there is a lighting change or change in color temperature – for instance, moving from sun to open shade – I’ll take a new shot and set it again.
I love my little wristlets from My Funky Camera. I find a neck strap gets in my way and were uncomfortable for me to wear. These are an extra security measure without having a noose around my neck. She also has lovely neck straps. Even my little girl has one for her camera – and pink and sparkly is right up my alley.
Photovision Digital Target (For Checking Exposure)
I’ll sometimes use this target to check exposure … simply taking a photo of the target (subject holds the target up where they will be standing) and checking my histogram for exposure.
A handful of 32GB Sandisk CF Cards
I don’t really have a strong preference for one brand of card over the other. I do carry a handful around with me in varying sizes, my two main cards I usually keep in the camera are 32GB sizes.
A circular polarizer filter will absorb light, helping to deepen colors and take glare off water and reflective surfaces. It’s used a lot in landscape photography. I like to use it on very bright days (I usually only shoot during the golden hour, but sometimes it can still be very bright) in order to be able to continue to shoot with a wide aperture and to help keep more detail and color in my skies.
The Color Checker Passport is something I recently purchased and haven’t been able to really sit down and explore/experiment too much with it yet. It helps you create a custom camera profile for using with RAW images. I don’t use it for white balance, just the RAW camera profiles. The jury is still out on whether this was a good purchase or not … it wasn’t inexpensive so I’m hoping to see some improvements in my image color when importing my RAW files.
Miscellany Stuff – candy, wild hair tamers, pony clips, the fun sign, lamp and cabinet. ;)
You also notice I have a bit of candy (for bribes) and a few hair clips on my bag strap (I have to have my hair back and completely out of the way while shooting lest a stray hair get blown in front of the lens and ruin a shot). Other miscellaneous items include pony clips (big clamps) for everything from holding up props or backdrops (like quilts on outdoor shoots, etc.), microfiber cleaning cloths and a lens pen, some spare cash, business cards, and my usual iPhone, iPad, etc. I do have a separate bag of “emergency supplies” in my car for location shoots (which is pretty much 99% of them) which includes baby wipes, bubbles, cute toys like wooden trucks and vintage teddies, a bunch of hats and other accessories, emergency snacks for cranky and tired kiddos (I swear I never break into the Z Bars for kids, cough, cough), a reflector I never use, a few vintage cameras (adorable in tiny hands and it keeps them in one spot for a few minutes while they explore it – then even cuter when they start playing photographer with you), hair brush and hair clips, and other little bits for touch ups and those frequent mishaps kids playing will have (I even have a couple changes of clothes for the ones that explore the pond a little too closely).
For those asking … the yellow sign in the top photo with all my gear is a hand painted wooden sign you can find here. The lamp is from Pottery Barn Teen (yes, I’m just a 14 year old girl at heart). The rustic cabinet is made from old reclaimed barn wood and I found it on Haute Look.
Now that you know what’s in my bag, I want to give you a chance to win one of my favorite bags (as well as a few other goodies).
The good news is this giveaway is about as simple and hassle free as they get. There aren’t 20 other vendor pages to like and no requirements to spam all your friends (although any time you share my content and links out of a genuine love of Paint the Moon and the goodies and content I provide it is always very much appreciated). All I ask is that you place your entry here on Facebook in the giveaway tab (NOT a comment on the wall … needs to be through the giveaway tab linked). You have until February 14th to enter. This giveaway is 100% sponsored by Paint the Moon, and is simply my little way of saying thank you for all your support.
PLEASE do NOT comment on Facebook about the giveaway – entries are only counted via the link below. :) Thank you!!
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Paint the Moon Photography and not to Facebook.
The lucky winner will receive…
A New Stella Epiphanie Bag in Gray
A Vintage Style Cast Iron Business Card Holder
{Not Shown} A New Copy of the Book Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography
An Adorable Little Felt Vintage Camera Pouch
(Vintage camera on the left is not included – sorry … I just thought it looked too cute with all the pretty goodies)
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52 Week Photo Project: Week Four Wrap Up – Let’s Do 52 Challenge With Paint the Moon { Photoshop Actions }
Posted on January 28, 2012
Another fabulous week of Let’s Do 52 is being wrapped up today. You all really stretched your imaginations and took your images to the next level with this last week’s challenge of “Unexpected Perspective.” I saw some fabulous takes on the theme and some very original thinking! Bravo! And as a girl who loves glitter and sparkle, I enjoyed perusing the images for the theme of “Sparkle” as well.
My “Unexpected Perspective” project image for the week … focuses on the details and uses a little different perspective as well. If you know me at all as a photographer, you’ll know that I love taking detail shots. I also adore those smiley (and not so smiley) traditional portraits just as much, but sometimes focusing on the details can really help fill a story out, and can help trigger precious memories in years to come.
My baby is at an age where every little thing in the world is fascinating to her … from a bird flying by to a shadow dancing on the wall. Her chubby little finger is constantly leading the way as she points out all the world’s amazing treasures to me and I just had to get a shot focusing on that precious little pointing finger. The second shot simply focuses on her soft head of fluffy hair that I love to bury my face in and breath in that sweet baby smell. Both of these things might be overlooked in the standard portrait showing off her beautiful face … but with these detail shots I’m able to really remember the little things and how special they are to me right here and now.
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Listed below are the links to the photographer’s original images posted on Flickr. Click the corresponding numbered link below (in no particular order – note that this is not a contest or “best of”). The theme for week one photos was either Unexpected Perspective or Sparkle.
1. Christine Dibble Photography
2. Andrea Janes
3. Claire
4. Ella Rose Images
5. Annie Morris
6. Wade Langley
7. Heather
8. Make Your Mark Photography
9. Stars Above Photography
Back in November I had a little wake up call … and I’m sad to say it actually took me three different “wake up calls” over the past several years before I finally started doing something about it last fall. Forgive me for a bit of a personal share here (and feel free to skip over it), but I really think this week’s theme and the reasons behind it are something everyone can benefit from – from hobbyist photographer to seasoned pro.
While casually browsing our photos – most of which feature my girls or my girls and my husband (and happened to be mostly on hard drives rather than printed) – my six year old sadly asked why mommy wasn’t in any of our photos. On the spot I decided to make a conscious effort from there on out to really be a part of our treasured memories documented by photos by joining my family on the other side of the lens. You can read all about my reasons why in this mushy blog post from last year on my personal blog if you are interested. If, like me, you are also guilty of being the ghost in your own family photos I encourage you to take a look (warning that it is my personal blog – so don’t click if you are a “business only” type).
After suffering the sudden loss of my baby brother in a car accident several years ago, I received a unique perspective to really understand first hand how precious photos can be to our loved ones (and how heartbreaking it can be to find out too late that your photos are lacking). But even after going through this tragic loss and learning the hard way how important family photos are I still wasn’t diligent about actually getting in the photos myself. And then a few years ago I experienced a loss of a different kind when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. All of a sudden my future with my baby girl was uncertain and at best I’d never be able to return to the very active, playful mommy she had always known. As I came to terms with this, I again dug out all my photos and was panicked and heartbroken to find that although I had accumulated thousands of images of my little girl, there were only a handful of photos with me in them next to her or her daddy.
Being a part of our family’s photos is so very important. Don’t get stuck thinking everything has to be “perfect” for you to jump in there. One of my favorite, most memory evoking photos from 2011 was taken with the little camera on my MacBook. Years from now your children or your family and friends won’t give a hoot if your hair was messy, you weren’t quite in shape just yet or the exposure was off. When they see the whole gang, including you, in the photo all they’ll feel is love and a remembrance of the special moments you shared. As professionals we capture beautiful memories for clients regularly … don’t our own families deserve the same?
The themes/ideas are below for the fifth week of 2012. This one is both challenging (in multiple ways) and close to my heart. And if, even after all my mushy rambling, you are still feeling like hiding behind the lens then there is always the alternate theme.
If you need a refresher on the guidelines and details …
please see the original post for the 2012 Let’s Do 52. A couple points to note …
• I am so enjoying all the photos being shared on the Paint the Moon Facebook page and invite anyone involved with the group to come share too!
• Be sure to keep checking in on the Paint the Moon blog and Facebook page for articles, inspiration and the weekly themes! This next couple weeks keep your eye out for the much anticipated article on finding fabulous light and getting eyes to pop with crisp catchlights, the What’s In My Bag feature, brand new video tutorials and our Let’s Do 52 first month’s free album template page!
• For those who want to show off your commitment to the Let’s Do 52 group (or who have been chosen as a Pick of the Week and want to grab the special button), please see the button page for easy code to copy and past on your blog or site.
And now the kid’s special group …(see the original post details here). Please note that this is not a contest or a “best of” … the picks of the week are simply a very select few images that have caught her eye. The themes this last week were Transportation and Silver. Some of these young artists even did the editing work themselves with Paint the Moon actions. Here is my daughter Adeline’s image for the week, completely photographed and edited by her.
By Adeline, age six, for the Kid’s Click Too theme “Transportation.” She used aperture priority mode, picked her own focus point and selected her Paint the Moon actions by herself. Absolutely no help from mommy on this one, as I am stuck down in bed with an awful flu. I trusted her with my camera and off she went. Includes her baby sister doing a little transporting herself. ;)
The picks of the week are never in any particular order … so please know that just because these are showcased doesn’t mean all the others weren’t just as fabulous. It’s not a “best of” contest, or a contest of any kind – just a special treat to showcase random photos that caught our eye each week. You guys all rock!! We have many more weeks for your images to be a pick of the week here too!
1. Damian Dones, age 13
2. Tyler, age 9
3. Kinsley, age 9
4. Panga D, age 10
And for the kid’s … your new themes for week five:
Important Let’s Do 52 Links:
Original Let’s Do 52 Flickr Group
Original Let’s Do 52 Details (again, for us old folks)
Paint the Moon Facebook Page – Come Share, Be Inspired, Ask Questions
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Flickr Group
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Original Blog Post
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52 Week Photo Project: Week Three Wrap Up – Let’s Do 52 Challenge With Paint the Moon { Photoshop Actions }
Posted on January 23, 2012
Welcome to the week three wrap up of the Paint the Moon “Let’s Do 52″ Photo project. While I was excited to see all the submissions this week, I have to admit I was especially delighted seeing what everyone came up with for the “White/Negative Space” theme. If you had a chance to see the blog post on white/negative space I posted earlier in the week, you would know I am a huge fan of using white space in my own images and love seeing other photographer’s take on it. Looking over the submission for the week, I have to admit, I was totally blown away at what you were able to come up with. While I am always amazed at the talent amongst the group and captivated by the beautiful images, by far this last week’s posts were the best week ever – looking over the gallery thumbnails as a whole you could just see the fabulous use of composition and negative space at a glance. Everyone totally out did themselves. I’m hopeful that you found the blog post and the theme to be as enjoyable as I did and that you’ll continue to use the principle of white/negative space in your images. :)
In addition to the white/negative photos, there were a ton of fabulous images submitted for the “Everyday Tools” theme. I was hoping this would give me a inside look at objects that you either use, or affect you on a daily basis, and you didn’t disappoint. I’ll have to admit, between the two themes this was a very difficult week to select the Picks of the Week. However, I finally narrowed it down so below are the Picks of the Week for week three as well as this coming week’s theme!
Click here to jump to the Kid’s Click Too group details and picks.
First, here is my image for the week using the negative space theme. And I will be the first to admit that I ran out of time this week and this is a bit of a mediocre photo taken under pressure … I’m promising myself this coming week to get out and take my project photo earlier in the week and not run outside at the last minute to grab something! The upcoming themes are both something I adore, so I am excited about all the ideas running through my head for the themes. Without further ado, my white space theme image (and if you want to see some images I’m actually much more proud of using white space, check out the afore mentioned post all about white space and composition here):
See the below talented photographer’s original images posted on Flickr by clicking the corresponding numbered link below (in no particular order, and this is not a contest or “best of” … and let me say there were many amazing images, so just because these are showcased doesn’t mean all the others weren’t just as wonderful. We have many more weeks for your images to be a pick of the week here too!). The themes for week one photos was either White/Negative Space or Everyday Tools.
1. Mapleaz (Flickr name)
2. Dana Leigh Photography
3. Malin Wittig
4. Jenni Jones Photography
5. Rebecca Leimbach Photography
6. Wade Langley
7. Kate Parker
8. Ruth
9. choco-foto photography
10. Christina Terrano
For the fourth week of 2012 the themes/ideas are below. Please click here to see the article all about shooting from a different perspective for a little creative boost … and also for what not to do (using my own awful example of a “don’t” photo).
Here is a little example of mine from a couple weeks ago that shows a unique perspective … I laid down on the bed to take this shot, so my camera was level with her feet. This shot actually shows a unique perspective to fit this week’s theme as well as a good use of negative space (last week’s theme) to focus on those cute little toes. :)
If you need a refresher on the guidelines and details, please see the original post for the 2012 Let’s Do 52. A couple points to note …
• I am just loving all the photos being shared on the Paint the Moon Facebook page and invite anyone involved with the group to come share too!
• Be sure to keep checking in on the Paint the Moon blog and Facebook page for articles, inspiration and the weekly themes! This coming week keep your eye out for the much anticipated article on finding fabulous light and getting eyes to pop with crisp catchlights!
• For those who want to show off your commitment to the Let’s Do 52 group (or who have been chosen as a Pick of the Week and want to grab the special button), please see the button page for easy code to copy and past on your blog or site.
Important links:
Original Let’s Do 52 Flickr Group
Original Let’s Do 52 Details (again, for us old folks)
Paint the Moon Facebook Page – Come Share, Be Inspired, Ask Questions
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Flickr Group
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Original Blog Post
And now the kid’s special group (see the original post details here). Adeline, my six year old is the team leader and always selects all the picks for this week herself. Because these kiddos are extremely talented it’s always a tough one to do! Please note that this is not a contest or a “best of” … the picks of the week are simply a very select few images that have caught her eye. The themes this last week were Favorite Hobby and Sweet Treats. Some of these young artists even did the editing work themselves with Paint the Moon actions. Here is Adeline’s images for the week, completely photographed and edited by her.
By Adeline, age six, for the Kid’s Click Too theme “Sweet Treat.” After she told me she wanted “Sweet Treat” for her theme, I asked her if she wanted me to get out some lollipops or candy or the typical things that come to my mind with the term “sweet treat.” She promptly looked down at her baby sister and said, “Nope. Eliza is my sweet treat because she’s so sweet!!” She used aperture priority mode, picked her own focus point and selected her Paint the Moon actions by herself (Beloved from Blessings and Moonbeams from Picture Perfect because she liked the name). She used a new action her mommy is working on to place the pink bar on the left and then had me type out her quote about why she picked little Eliza for her subject.
The picks are in no particular order … and let me say there were TONS of amazing images, so just because these are showcased doesn’t mean all the others weren’t just as wonderful – it’s not a “best of” contest, or contest of any kind – just a special treat to showcase random photos that caught our eye each week. You guys all rock!! We have many more weeks for your images to be a pick of the week here too!
1. Connor, Age 5
2. Brooklyn, Age 12
3. Zoey – Age 3
4. Gabe, Age 4
And for the kid’s … your new themes for week three (for younger ones you may need to explain that transportation means anything you use to get from here to another place … Addie originally said cars and bikes, and after we talked she decided she wanted to make it all types of modes of transportation):
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Tags: Composition, Kid's Click Too, Let's Do 52 Project - Photo a Week, white space
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Using White (Negative) Space in Photography – Give Me Some Space! – Photoshop Actions
Posted on January 17, 2012
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Did you know that what is in your photos is almost as important as what is NOT in your photos? White space (also known as negative or open space) is the space between or surrounding subjects in a composition … the space that does not compete with the subject for your attention. It’s a good thing! :) It’s a vital piece of the puzzle in most types of design, whether it’s graphic design, interior design, landscape design, web design as well as photography. We want to give the eye some place to “rest” and help frame the subject.
Negative space can give an image a totally different feel from one taken with more of the subject or other elements filling up the frame. Having ample white space has the benefit of adding interest to the photo since it is a way to aid in emphasizing your subject. It can also help tell a story better or evoke stronger emotions depending on how it is used. Before I go on I should probably note that I like the term white or open space better than negative space … because negative sounds, well, negative – LOL! And I’m a happy photographer! :)
Even seasoned pros can be helped by slowing down and trying to think about the areas surrounding your subject in a more thoughtful manner … noticing how open space can anchor your subject, how it can create lines and a more dynamic composition, how it can balance your composition and how it draws the eye right to your subject. It can also be used to create a more playful and fun approach in your composition. I happen to love quirky portraits where the subject is peeking up from one side of the frame and all that wide open space just underline just how important that subject really is … kind of like a big spotlight but in a very subtle way.
Here are a few examples of how I’ve personally used white space in compositions.
For those who have asked, the image above left was taken with a 45mm tilt-shift lens. :)
When thoughtfully composed, white space can play a large part in evoking emotion in the viewer. In this image below the white space is the sky she is looking into and gives the viewer quite a sense of mystery and hopefully evokes some kind of emotion when the viewer sees the sense of awe on her face.
Some points to keep in mind when shooting white space in portraits …
Watch their eyes and the direction of their body.
Always be watching where your subject’s eyes are directed and compose accordingly. You want your subject to be looking into the frame so that they are gazing into the white space your composition has created. It makes a viewer uncomfortable if your subject sight line is falling out of the frame (if they are looking towards the edge of the image instead of into it). When the subject is looking into the white space it lets the viewers eyes roam around the image and gives a sense of comfort, however, if they follow the subject’s eye out to land directly at the edge of the frame it puts one on edge (even though they may not know why).
White space can be many “colors.”
White space can be made up of different elements, just as long as it’s “quiet” and gives the eye a rest. It can be a background with creamy bokeh from shooting with a wide aperture or a background void of much detail or texture (walls, sky, water, etc). Move around and shoot from different perspectives to find the best composition and white space that complements and frames your subject the best.
Follow the rules.
Think of a tic tac toe board and where those lines intersect … the rule of thirds recommend placing your subject at one of those intersections. This creates balance and interest in your composition. If you place your subject at one side or the other (or for vertical images, on the top or lower half) of the frame, the viewer’s eye will be able to travel around the image, following the subject’s line of sight (since you’re composing as discussed in tip one with the subject’s eyes gazing into the frame). See below for a diagram of the Rule of Thirds and the circled areas where you want to have your subject in for this type of composition. For a close up portrait, try to have the eyes in one of those intersections shown. Another fabulous rule to compose an image by (as well as paintings or most other type of art or designs) is by using the Golden Mean (or Golden Section, Golden Spiral, Golden Ratio). I won’t get into to those here as they’re a bit more in depth than the rule of thirds, but it’s a great way to draw the viewers eye into the subject.
For those newer to the Rule of Thirds I’ve created a couple little FREE PNG overlays as shown in my image examples below for you to download (to download just click here and scroll to bottom of page and select Add To Cart for a free “checkout”). You can use them to try and get a better feel for how well your images are following the rule. In CS5 and PSE 10 the crop tool has a built-in Rule of Thirds guide that you could alternately use … hit C on your keyboard, select your image and watch the guide appear … after viewing the guides just hit “esc” to cancel the crop. And those who own the Moxie set have the action The Magic Number which creates your Rule of Thirds guides for you automatically. Also note that I use the word “rule” here simply because that is it’s common name. I happen to believe that while the rule of thirds is almost always a pleasing way to compose your image, it is most definitely not the only way. Which leads me to our next point …
Breaking the rules. Because symmetry is beautiful too.
And then sometimes, if you know why you are doing it and have a purpose or vision in mind when shooting, breaking the rule of thirds can be a very good thing too. I purposely composed this shot with my tiny girl smack dab in the center … usually a no no and a recipe for a drab looking composition for some portraits. All that white space surrounding her makes me almost feel the awe that she must have been feeling in that wide, open and beautiful space. Her centered little body seems to make it feel even more dynamic to me here and a perhaps touch more artful. Of course, that’s totally open to interpretation and others may hate it … but I believe it just fits my own style.
Do try not to get so caught up in the “rules” so that you lose your creative freedom or your compositions become static and repetitive. Here is a helpful post all about shooting from different perspectives to help you start thinking outside the box a little.
For the example below I’m using an image cropped in post processing simply for demonstration’s sake … the original was cropped in camera (meaning I didn’t crop anything off the original while editing). I try to compose all my photos in camera … so, I shoot it the way I want the final composition to end up (with just a bit of “breathing room” around the edges to allow for prints at different aspect ratios). It can be more challenging to see the final composition through your viewfinder versus thinking, I’ll just crop it the way it looks best later. I think in camera cropping is something every photographer should at least practice, if not strive to do most of the time. To be making the choice about what to include and what not to include in your images in order to create the best composition while actually shooting is a wonderful skill to have.
It can be an exercise in creativity to go out and shoot while carefully considering every element in the frame and how they frame your subject … are they helping or hurting the composition’s strength? It’s also a fun exercise to go back through older photos and using the rule of thirds, re-crop just for the sake of seeing how different compositions can give a photo a completely different feel. I hope you found this helpful and I encourage you to go out and shoot with a mindful eye on your white space as well as your composition. Come share your images and thoughts on our Facebook wall and I’d love it if you shared this post if you found it helpful. Have a beautiful and creative day!!
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Tags: composition photography, creativity, negative space photography, Photography Articles, Photoshop Actions for Photographers, rule of thirds photography, white space
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Thank you so much Annie. Please enter me :)
Thank you for sharing!! So informative! Love the peek a boo image. I’ve been wanting the canon 85mm 1.2 very badly. Someday. And, the epiphanie bag is amazing. I love gray! Oh, would so love to have it:) Thanks again for the great giveaway!!
This is awesome Annie! I hope to win, thank you so much- you are such a caring is sharing kinda girl!
Annie – You are so very generous! Thank you for the opportunity & letting us peak into your bag! I would love to win!
Annie – Simply put, you ROCK!!! I am a self taught hobbyist photographer (happily to my surprise now for hire) and have been actively searching out professional advice and recommendations. To my surprise, I’m often met with disregard and many times professional photographers are unwilling to share their knowledge or creative opinions and expertise. It’s always so baffling to me since EVERY artist and professional has a unique style and no two (no matter how hard they might try) are alike. It’s not the tools or equipment you use but the artist behind the camera that actually MAKES the photo. Thanks for being such an inspiring role model to BOTH new and seasoned photographers alike!
Thanks for such a thorough post! Must have taken you forever. :) always great to hear the why’s of someone’s gear, not just the preferences!
Thanks for this information. I looked at the list at the start and my heart sank: I didn’t even know what most of the terms meant, let alone had an opinion about them. But you explained it beautifully! Still don’t have an opinion, but at least I’m a bit more informed. Thanks also for the tip about the camera bags: have pinned it to the board that I’m *hoping* DH will consider come my birthday in September :)
Cheers,
Cate
I have loved reading this blog and you’re images are absolutely stunning. For me it’s great to see other photographer’s perspectives are and see how they view the world. Brilliant.
I would love to win these goodies. I look foward to your next part!
eeek ive just purchased the expodisc thanks to your recommendation :) embarrassingly i never thought about the white balance when shooting and fixed things in post processing so this is going to be an experience when it arrives lol.
To be honest i had never even heard of it untill i read in one of your posts and its been on my wish list since. Ive also just purchased a calibrator so hoping so see some differences in my photographs… thanks for all your info and recommendations annie :)
I cant thank you ENOUGH for doing this!! I’ve recently switched to Nikon and I have been trying to decide which lenses to buy. Its soooo much easier when you get an honest review from a real photographer, and with beautiful photos to boot! AWESOME!! I appreciate all the work you put into helping others. You are a kind, and beautiful person :)
Your site is amazing!! It is the best thing since sliced bread!! LOL!! I am totally addicted to all the actions!! Will definately be purchasing some soon!!! PLease enter me for the giveaway, thanks!!!
What an awesome article. I loved reading up on all your equiptment you are seriously amazing Annie! Would love to be entered in this giveaway.
Great blog!!! Please enter me, thankyou.
thanks so much for doing this give away!!
Annie please include me in your drawing! I hope I am not to late…I would love to win this as I HATE my boring old black back pack! Thank you for all of your hard work you are such an inspiration!
Hi Annie, please enter me. :) I wasn’t able to do it on the Facebook giveaway tab. Thanks for this post!
Annie please enter me in the giveaway. I attempted to enter via the other link but it wouldn’t even let me complete the first step of liking the page. Thanks so much! Hope I did it in the right place this time.
This is so great! Thank you for the sharing and letting us see inside your bag.!!!
I would love to win so I can change my boring black backpack too!
We have similar taste in cameras and lenses but now I need the D3s! And of course, an awesome camera bag! Haha! HEre goes nothing! Thanks for sharing!
Annie, You are so generous ! … I would love to be entered in your giveaway! I wasn’t able to enter on the Facebook giveaway tab ! Hope this counts!
Something I needed to confirm my choices :D I hope to upgrade soon to D700 body with two lenses I see on Your fav list :D Great to know I’m heading in good direction :D
Thank You for this post :D
Annie this post was so amazing and inspiring!! thank you soo much for taking the time to share all of the great information with all of your fans! would love to be a part of your genorus giveaway i currently have a lowerpro black bag now but want to upgrade carring something with more flare!!
Love this giveaway!! please enter me :)
Thanks Annie!! This is the post I’ve been really looking forward to. I’m so glad you could share all this with us. :) You are the best!
I love your blog!!! Thank you-for the giveaway! Good luck to everyone!
Hi Annie!Thank you for all your wonderful tips. I am so inspired. I linked to this post on my site as well. Thanks for sharing!
Please enter me – I couldn’t enter on facebook. Thank you so much.
This is amazing. I use a canon but am drooling over your Nikon!I entered on FB, but am not sure if I did it right. Would you please check and if not enter me? Thank you.
I love reading your texts, it is so easy for me to understand all this new world which is photography and in a language that is not my mother one. Not to forget to say about the inspiration you give to me. All your wonderful photos and actions shows the marvelous person you are.
Annie!!! YoU ThE RoCk StAr of GiVeAwAyS!!!
fingers crossed for this one!!
XoXxo
amy boland