In the spirit of the 4th of July, here are some tips to help you get some great fireworks photos.

1. Think SLOW. Slow the shutter speed to get the trail effect of the fireworks
2. Use a Tri-Pod or anything to stabilize your camera. This is probably the most important tip.
3. Anticipate the apex of the explosion.
4. Use the lowest ISO setting possible
5. Use the Live View feature of your camera if you have one
6. Enjoy, Have Fun and be Patient. (More often than not great photography are an exercise in patience.)

Have a happy and safe 4th of July. Here’s a link to another article How To Get Fireworks Photos from Digital Photography School. ~ Enjoy

The biggest photo fail of the year. Yeah that’s a bold statement but I’m running with it. My Photo365 Project has ceased. (Click here for a link to previous photo 365 video post.)

I have a million reasons why. Well, maybe not a million but there are some reasons why it happened. The main reason – I lost interest. You know I’m a fan of transparency, so there you have it. I lost interest in the project and I’m disappointed.

I noticed interest started to wane when I stopped editing the photos in Aperture. After that I start I stopped importing the shots from my camera. Now we are at this point where I have missed several days in a row and I don’t seeing it starting up again. (Plus, self portraits everyday is harder than it sounds.)

It’s been said that true success can’t be measured until after you experience failure. I look forward to being on the other side of that coin soon.

Have you ever experienced an artistic or photography failure? Please share it and get it off your chest.

I don’t care who you are, at times everyone gets a creative block. Musicians don’t want to play, writers can’t write, painters won’t paint – so why would photographers be any different?

It’s not my place to say why it happens, so let’s focus on what can be done to break through creative block. (This may also be interpreted as what I do to combat creative block.)

(in no particular order:)

1. Exercise – the body fuels the mind
2. Get some fresh air, go for a hike, do something outdoors – anything that allows your mind to wander
3. Have a couple of drinks (*not too many and only if you are of age)
4. Read – Non photography subject matter is usually best for me
5. Watch movies – I find documentaries helps me to fight the block
6. Just walk away from your frustration – Deal with it tomorrow
7. Blog – write an article about something you’re passionate about
8. Paint, Draw, Play Music – participate in another artistic discipline
9. Admire someone else’s work – studying others is a great way to spark ideas
10. COLLABORATE – invite someone else into your artistic world and work on a project with them

I’ve used all of these methods at one time or another and they work!

How do you fight creative block? When you realize you haven’t taken a photograph in days, weeks or months what do you do?

I’m often asked – How many photos of a concert is appropriate to post? Great question. My 100% honest answer is – I don’t know. I don’t know what is right for you but I’ll share what I do.

I have three channels to “push out” my photographs. When I say “push out” I am referring to a post on a general forum whether it be Facebook, Twitter or Flickr. Someplace where I am inviting the general public and fans of the bands to go and view my work.

Almost all of the photos I “push out” are hosted on Flickr. From a storage and accessibility standpoint I really put Flickr to work for me. (It almost always hosts all the images I use in my articles also.) My rule of thumb for Flickr is no more than five (5) photos per concert. (I broke this rule with my RCPM New Year’s Eve photos I posted ten – but that was an extra special concert.)

I think five is a good number. It’s not too many, it’s not too few. You can display shots with different lighting, different movement and use different composition plus highlight different band members. I don’t think you run a high risk of losing viewers by displaying five photographs.

Here’s an analogy: Have you ever been bored to death watching someone else’s vacation slideshow? It’s the same principle.

When it comes to Facebook I post only one or two photos. (If multiple bands are playing then it’s two or three of each band.) The last thing you want to do is inundate your friend’s Facebook stream with your photos and your banter. The same holds true with Twitter. I’ll tweet with links to of my best photos and let people find the other photographs. In some instances, if your photos are really good – other people will be happy to post them for you.

When it comes to my professional portfolio (www.grtaylor2photo.com) I only post the very best shot (singular, meaning one) from the event to my concert photography gallery. That’s it. Nothing less than perfect.

My portfolio is a means for me to secure photo jobs. This is not a place for my friends can see what they missed the night before.

Again, like everything else these are the general guidelines that I use. I use them because it works for me. How do you handle posting your photographs? Do you post them all or just a set number? Leave a comment – let’s talk about it.

I think photographers are gear heads by nature. What’s the newest most tech piece of photo equipment I can get my hands on that will make me better a better photographer? What can I purchase to make that great photograph? How can I get an edge?

Rather than discussing the latest, greatest equipment the market has to offer - I want to take this conversation in another direction. I want to share the equipment that I use and debunk a couple of myths…

Camera Body: Canon 1000D
Primary Lenses: Canon 50mm 1.8 / Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 / Sigma 19-35 4.0 /Quantaray 28-200 5.6 / Quantaray 100-300 5.6
Flash: Canon Speedlite 430 EXII

Video: Flipcam Ultra – HD

Nothing fancy, nothing too expensive – right? Still great photographs…

Myth #1: I need expensive photography equipment to take great photos.
WRONG: Great Photographs are MADE by practice and experience NOT by the gear you own.

Of course there are many advantages of high end equipment. I could compile a long list here and bore everyone to death with it. It’s my belief that the photographer makes the photograph. Hours of practice, research, learning and taking photos is what makes the artist not the hardware. Do you know what kind of paintbrushes Michelangelo used to paint the Sistine Chapel?

Behind the scenes:

Computer: MacBook
Digital Darkroom: Aperture 2 / Photoshop
Website: Powered by PhotoShelter
Blog: WordPress Hosted by Pagely

Social Media:

Twitter
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
YouTube

If you have read this blog before you know I believe in transparency as an artist. I will let you know exactly what I do to capture a particular photograph if asked. I view this equipment list as an extension of that transparency.

Myth #2: Photography is really expensive to start.

WRONG: The principles of photography (lighting and composition) can be learned with just a point and shoot camera. As you enjoy the art and advance you will want to invest in a DSLR Camera. If you do some research and ask questions you’ll be able to control the costs and find something in your budget.

I want people to be better photographers, I want people to push the envelope and make great art – I want to help them in their pursuit. All I ask in return is that you help another photographer out along their journey. Simple.

Question: How are you helping or encouraging other photographers or artists? Think about it and share in a comment.

Skateboarding, Art and Music are so intertwined. These disciplines were the staple of my youth and still the fabric of my life. If you’ve ever picked up a skateboard magazine there’s a good chance you have seen J. Grant Brittain’s work.

Grant’s photography always pushed the envelope. He has a style of capturing the moment but also a unique way of placing you on location. His skateboard photographs are more than skateboard pictures – they’re fine art. To say that I’m a fan of his work is an understatement.

I asked Grant if he could answer a couple of random questions for my Photographer Interview Series and he graciously accepted. This interview was done via email and re-posted without edits. We discuss his infamous Chris Miller polecam photo, digital photography and workflow plus where he finds inspiration.

How did you get the idea to use the polecam at Upland to shoot Chris Miller? (click here to see the photograph)
Miller told me not too long ago he thought of the pole cam idea, I thought
I did. A surf photog had used one in the water, that’s where the idea came from.

Can you describe the equipment set up? A Nikon FM2 with 16mm fisheye on an adjustable tripod head mounted on a monopod and a squeeze bulb shutter release coiling down the pole.

How do you feel about film vs. digital? That old argument is dead, it’s a non-issue in photography circles.

Was the transition to digital difficult? Switching was easy, it’s just another tool in the paint box. Photoshop is the digi darkroom. I love them both, however you can’t do a magazine in 2010 without digital, you’d go out of business both as a magazine and as a photog.

Can you describe your digital workflow? I just put everything in folders. I use Bridge a bit.

If you had to give a beginning photographer one tip to last his whole career - what would that be? Perseverance, just stick with it. If you love it, keep doing it. The money or fame will follow.

What photographers inspire you? The Masters, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Walker Evans, Ralph Gibson, Keith Carter, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, etc. The skatephotogs of the 70s that came before me, Warren Bolster, Glen Friedman, Jim Goodrich, Ted Terrebonne, Craig Stecyk and James Cassimus. I learned by looking at their photos in the mags. I also get inspired by my peers.

What projects are you currently working on? Just doing The Skateboard Mag with (Dave) Swift, Atiba (Jefferson) and the others, we’re working on our 75th issue. I am the Production Manager and Director of Photography and a co-owner, so I have my fingers in everything running a business. Personally, just shooting the skate photos I really want to, mellow shoots, no cops. I’m also working on a portrait project.

I want to thank Grant for taking the time to do this interview. It’s an honor to have someone that I look up to do the first interview for this series.

Do you have any favorite J. Grant Brittain photographs? Leave a comment with any thoughts about this interview or suggestions for interviews in the future…

(*please note all attached images are © J. Grant Brittain)

If you asked me what are the three most important things a beginner photographer should know – I’d say “Know your equipment, know your settings & trust your instincts.”

Sounds simple enough, right? Let’s explore these three photo tips for beginners…

1. Know Your Equipment : When I say know your equipment I don’t necessarily mean spend hours reading the manual that came with your digital camera or with your latest lens. Reading the user manual is always a good start but sometimes I think it leads to more questions than answers. There are a lot of really good camera field guides published for whatever camera you own. (example of after market camera guide) So now that you are familiar with the basic operations of your camera and how it operates – it’s time to go and shoot photos and put your new knowledge into use. Figure out which of your lenses are better for the different photo subjects you are interested in and how they react in the different light situations. You know the stuff that NO book will ever be able to teach you. I am a big believer in going out into the field and learning by doing.

2. Know Your Settings: For every photo situation I embark on I have a mental log (started out on a notepad) of my baseline settings. These are my starting point for ISO, Aperture and Shutter speeds. With that being said they change from time to time depending on lighting conditions and other variables but I always start at my baseline. Experiment with different settings in various conditions, review the image (the most powerful part of digital photography in my opinion), make adjustments and do it all over again. As you become a more seasoned photographer you’ll develop your own preferences for settings and what enables you to make great photographs.

3. Trust Your Instincts: Sounds easy but this is where many beginner photographers stumble. Just because you read something in a field guide or in an article someone like Scott Bourne writes doesn’t mean it’s an absolute. If you develop a strong sense of the first two tips this one will eventually come naturally. If it’s a dark day out and you think ISO 200 will be better than ISO 400 – give it a shot. If you think 1/125 will get you a better photo than 1/60 – do it. Prove or disprove your own theories. There are times when I photograph concerts and I only have a split second to capture an image so I rely solely on my instincts. Trust me, as you develop into a photographer with your own style and sense of surroundings this will fee natural – but in the beginning it will be a struggle. John Coltrane had a saying about music theory that applies well to photography, “Know the theory, know the scales but when it comes time to play – just play!”

This is just the tip of the iceberg and the building blocks to developing into a photographer that makes great photos. If you had to give a beginning photographer a couple of tips what would they be? Post a comment below and share some of your knowledge…

Are you tired of being being disappointed in your photographs?Do you want to take your photography to the next level? One simple way to step your game up is to learn when to use a tripod.

Here are three key reasons in photography that I use my tripod: Image Stabilization, Long Exposure Photography and Creative Photography.

IMAGE STABILIZATION

Although most lenses have a built in image stabilization feature – sometimes it is not enough. When using my telephoto lenses I use my tripod as often as I can. This way I can reduce the shake of the camera caused by the lens being extended at length. A good rule of thumb is anytime your shutter speed is equal to or less than your focal length -get out the tripod. (ex. 300m < 1/300 or 200mm < 1/200.)

LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

When an exposure over 1/15 is used I highly recommend using the tripod. Long Exposures are needed to capture vibrant colors in low light situations. Two perfect examples of this would be sunsets and fireworks. You may be able to get away with shorter exposure times for sunsets but a stop action photograph of fireworks just doesn’t work. By increasing the exposure length the trails and colors of the fireworks are more vivid and dramatic. It is nearly impossible to keep the camera still for the duration needed to utilize long exposures.

CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

In some situations you may want to extend your creativity and blur motion. This can only be done with the use of a tripod. By combining your tripod with the proper settings all static items will remain still in the photograph while objects moving will be blurred. This technique takes time and a lot of trial and error. It took me over two hours to get the above photo. (If you want to experiment with this type of photography I suggest you check the settings of this photo on my flickr page and be prepared to exercise some patience.)

The tripod is also essential if you need to bracket exposures. Bracketing exposures create images that are +1 fstop from the original setting and -1 fstop from the original setting. This technique is helpful to make sure you captured the image perfectly or if you plan on making the set of  photos into a HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.

These are by no means the only reasons to use a tripod. Unless I am photographing concerts I always have my tripod with me – you never know when it’s going to be put to use. (As demonstrated below!) How do you use your tripod? When does it get used the most? Please share your thoughts and experience below.

To view my complete photography portfolio please visit www.grtaylor2photo.com