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An Early Start to the Pinhole

A Pinhole camera is any light tight container with an aperture (hole) and a shutter (something to cover the hole.

Interest in perspective and optics during the Renaissance is what led to the first necessary discovery for the pinhole camera: the camera obscura. Leonardo De Vinci described the camera obscura very clearly as early as the 16th century. (Alternative Processes)

A camera obscura is a dark chamber, container or room with a singular entry point of light. Once your eyes have adjusted, the outside will appear on the wall upside down. You can see how this would  be useful for artists to trace and have an accurate perspective.

Create a camera obscura right now out of your own room!

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While staying inspired has been challenging for me recently, I can say that the easiest subject to photograph is my home. The people and things in this space used to receive my neglect instead of attention. However, now with my new minimalism effort taking effect, I have started to notice and engage with the beauty around the place I inhabit.

I have been on a path of both minimalism and mindfulness in every aspect of my life. Setting intentions and turning a reflective eye on myself, my surroundings and those who I feel closest too has also changed the way I look at things. In turn this has changed the subjects in my photographs.

Going out to find the perfect photograph will always be a part of my nature. After all, I loved making my “On the Road” video and plan for many more. But in this post I would like to encourage you to take some more time in examining the space you exist in on a daily basis.

Where Does the Light Come From?

 

Objects that Mean Something…

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On August 21st at approximately 10:19am (in Vancouver WA) there will be a solar eclipse!  To see if the eclipse will be visible in your area click here and enter your city.

Use your phone to photograph the eclipse…. Below is how I plan on capturing the eclipse on my smartphone.

1. Practice First

Start taking some photos of the night sky or moon using the tips below so you feel prepared for shooting in a low light setting.

Ireland at Midnight taken with iPhone 7plus

2. Protect Eyes

Run down to your local store or grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses off Amazon.  I bought one for myself, and one to use over my lens. A solar filter will be helpful for toning down the sun as you photograph and can even allow for that ring of light to appear.

3. Tripod

Use a tripod to stabilize the camera. Since it will be low light, shake and movement will easily cause your photos to be grainy or blurry. I would suggest having a tripod and mounting bracket for your phone to remove this risk and allow for flexibility in shooting, such as a timelapse video or burst.

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Everyone wants to be able to take a stunning portrait of their friend, sister and especially their fur babies. Here are  3 basic considerations for taking a better portrait. You can use all or only a few with your next photo session. Let me know how it works out!

1.  Choose your background 

Selecting a minimal background or one that adds interest is essential for a decent portrait. Things to look for in a background include:

  • Textures – this could be a classic brick wall, a textured wood or industrial metal.
  • Objects to frame the subject- This is called using leading lines (which I will talk about in future posts). You can look for a line of trees, the way the light falls  in order to bring more attention to the subject.
  • Removing distractions- This is probably most essential. Consider the focus of the portrait and remove any “busyness” .

2. Position the Subject

While candid shots can be incredible, and often are my favorite to shoot. If your intention is to take a traditional or focused portrait this means posing the subject. How do you pose? Here is a short list of ideas:

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Grab your phone and start taking better photographs today.

1.  Look for the Light!

Graveyard in Derry, Ireland 2017 iPhone 7 Plus

In photography, light is your medium. If you ever took a film or even digital photography class you know that light is what you are capturing. The same can be said for phones.

I encourage you to ask yourself the following:

  • Where is the light coming from?
  • What type of light is it? (Bright and Direct, Diffused and Soft or blessed Golden Hour light)
  • Where is my subject ?
  • How can I move or adjust to the light in my surroundings?
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