Light Cooler

Street Photography Do's and Don'ts

2012-02-10T14:10:00.002Z

Street photography is a very particular style of photography. You have to be at ease among strangers, and think (and act) fast. You will experience some uncomfortable moments from time to time, as some people don't appreciate being photographed and may react. But the results can be great. In this video Kai gives some practical advice on what to do (and not do).

Thiago Semedo Photoshoot

2012-02-10T08:31:00.003Z

Another of my recent shoots was with Thiago Semedo from Blu Models. We explored an old part of Lisbon with many graffiti walls, and also did some studio work. I will be working with other models from this agency, so keep your eyes open :)
- More pictures
- Project on Behance

Stuff People Say to Photographers

2012-02-09T13:59:00.001Z

And here's the other side of the coin: Stuff people say to photographers. I've heard a couple of these. How about you?

Sh*t Photographers Say

2012-02-09T10:18:00.003Z

This is a very funny (and true) video about common things photographers say. If you are a photographer, you'll recognize many of these. If you're not, some of this may sound foreign to you but whenever you are near a photographer, you'll think 'there he goes again'. Have fun.

Rabari - Encounters with the Nomadic Tribe review

2012-02-08T12:43:00.002Z

I just finished Reading “Rabari - Encounters with the Nomadic Tribe”, the latest book by documentary photographer Mitchell Kanashkevic.

This is the result of a big trip he took to get to know and photograph this tribe. He shares his experience in detail, in a way that is most useful for anyone interested in photography.

Mitchell selected 10 images and deconstructs them for us in 10 chapters. For each, he presents the following topics:
- Background
- Objectives
- Light
- Moment and Pose
- Composition
- Biggest Challenge
- How I managed it
- Quick tips
- The “what” and the “why” of post processing.

With this structure, we get a detailed glance of all his process, from inspiration to post processing.

What is also interesting are the practical tips given to anyone planning to go on a similar trip (abroad or home).

I couldn’t recommend this book higher. I’ve learned a lot about how to approach an image (starting in your head), how to keep trying and not give up after a couple of shots, how to best interact with the locals, and how to get the best results using Lightroom and Photoshop.

Get “Rabari - Encounters with the Nomadic Tribe”

Pedro Rei Photoshoot

2012-02-08T09:01:00.004Z

This is one of my latest photographic projects: A shoot with my friend and fashion blogger, Pedro Rei. We decided to go to the appropriately named Praia do Rei (King's beach) and make some pictures (check them out here, along with some pictures from previous sessions). The sun was a bit too strong since it was a clear day, so I did the best I could. If I had had some help I would have brought along a reflector, and used it as a diffuser between Pedro and the sun. All in all I was happy with the results. Pedro also loves photography and is willing to experiment. We shall work together again soon, and you shall hear about it.

Subscribe to the Blog

2012-02-06T12:25:00.002Z

Hello all,

I've just added a new functionality on the blog (on the left side bar). You can now subscribe and get an email with the latest posts on Light Cooler. You don't need to check the blog to see if there are updates. You just get an email whenever something new is posted. Hope you like it!
Untill soon,
Pedro

Diogo Miguel Photoshoot

2012-02-06T09:49:00.003Z

My good friend Diogo and I sometimes get together do make some pictures. This time we found a construction site, with all kinds of machinery, so we made the best use of it as we could. The results are on my Facebook page. Let me know what you think.

Cíntia Pino Photoshoot

2012-02-02T14:45:00.003Z

This is a photo shoot I did with the lovely model Cíntia Pino. More pics on my website. This was another chance to practice studio work, lighting, and more of a fashion approach, which I enjoy very much. Comments appreciated.

Gisela João Photo Shoot

2012-01-31T14:14:00.002Z

As part of the professional photography course I'm taking, I got to shoot an upcoming fado singer. Her name is Gisela João. She is very talented, and was nice enough to pose for us. Here is one of the pictures I took of her (links to other photos). Let me know what you think.

Going Pro Kit - 50% off today only

2011-12-22T11:33:00.002Z

Just a quick reminder that the photography Going Pro Kit is available today at an astounding 50% off! If you are at all interested interested in the ins and outs of going pro with your photography, don't miss this chance.

- My review
- More detail on the Kit

Book: On Being a Photographer

2011-12-16T14:44:00.004Z

I am currently reading: "On Being a Photographer", by David Hurn and Bill Jay.
This book takes the form of a conversation between two photographers with decades of experience between them. They provide invaluable advice for everyone who calls himself a photographer.

Topics include:
- Selecting a Subject
- Shooting the Single Picture
- Creating Contacts (more of an analogic approach, but there are digital tools too)
- The Picture Essay
- The Future of Photography
- Some Photographic Myths

Although the book isn't brand new, the advice is timeless. I haven't finished it yet, but can assure you this is a top book for anyone taking this Art seriously. Add it to your (virtual or physical) bookshelf.

Google Doodle on Daguerre

2011-11-18T14:56:00.003Z

Today marks the 224th birthday of Louis Daguerre (1787 – 1851), french artist and physicist, considered to be the inventor of the first form of photography, known as the daguerreotype.
Other inventors claimed to have achieved similar results at the time, but Daguerre was the one acknowledged by the French Government and, so, became known as the inventor of photography.

- Wikipedia
- Pictures

Arts Books read in October

2011-11-16T11:19:00.003Z

Yet another post on books I've read. I promisse I'll try to have different types of posts soon, as time allows it. I've read three books on Photography, and one on Creativity. I learned from all of them.

- Zen and the Art of Portrait Photography, by James DiGiorgio
This is a great book, not technical at all (that will be his next book). It talks about creativity, finding your vision, and shares many experiences from the author’s career.

- Chasing the Light, by Ibarionex Perello
Beginners level book, on how to see and work with light in photography. Many great pictures are analyzed.

- The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp
This is a wonderful book by renowned American choreographer Twyla Tharp. She defends that creativity takes great work, and that there is a method to it. Great tips and experiences shared.

- The Fashion Photography Course, by Eliot Siegel
If you are at all interested in fashion photography, read this book. It covers all the basics, as well as more advanced topics. From getting started to going pro, all steps are covered.

3 More Books on Photography

2011-10-18T14:40:00.004+01:00

I'm reading more and more about photography, creativity, and the arts in general.

In September I read three more books directly related to photography, that I find worth mentioning to you. I think you can learn from each. If you get them and read them, please let me know what you thought. Here they are.

- Image Makers, Image Takers, by Anne-Celine Jaeger
This great book collects a series of interviews with several personalities in the world of photography. The first part of the book is dedicated to many contemporary photographers, who share their career, vision, and methods. The second part of the book interviews professionals in other related activities, like editors, retouchers, and publishers. I learned immensely.

- Making Light by Piet Van den Eynde
This ebook delivers an introduction to off-camera flash. The basics are covered, as well as nine practical case studies where the use of flash is illustrated.

- The Inspired Eye III Notes on Creativity for Photographers, Vol.III, by David duChemin
Prolific writer David duChemin delivers yet another inspiring ebook. All about finding your vision and connecting with your creativity to produce better images. It is a short (and cheep - 5$) book that will make you think more carefully about your art.

Craft and Vision: Great ebooks at $5

2011-09-14T14:43:00.004+01:00

What if you could get great ebooks on photography for merely $5 each? Craft And Vision is the place to go.
Great photographers share their knowledge in small to medium sized books, from many different areas of the trade.
I've got three so far: "Ten" (basic tips), "Your Creative Mix" (unleash your creativity), and "Making Light" (off-camera flash).

I am sure I'm getting even more books. They're filed with great information and an, face it, unbeatable price.

Click here to visit Craft And Vision

Photographers I admire: Mary Ellen Mark

2011-09-09T11:33:00.003+01:00

Mary Ellen Mark (born March 20, 1940) is an American photographer known for her photojournalism, portraiture, and advertising photography.

She has had 16 collections of her work published and has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide.

She has received numerous accolades, including three Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards and three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
(From Wikipedia)

Education in Photography

2011-08-31T11:38:00.005+01:00

A while ago, I decided to invest in my education as a photographer. Many well known professionals state that you can't train to be an artist: either you have it or you don't. I only agree in part. I think having a solid grasp of the technical aspects of any art will help you create better art. Even if it means going against all you learned. But you'll know what you're doing.

I've enrolled in a one-year Photography course. Starting in October, I'll have classes three times a week, and many projects to do in my own free time. This will be a challenge, and a great opportunity to learn more. I will be sharing my experiences here on LightCooler.

I've also started buying and reading books on photography. This way, I hope to expose myself to different ways of thinking and photographing. I've shared some of the books in previous posts, and will continue to do so.

So, if you're curious about what is to come, keep checking out this blog. I will be around :-)

Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light

2011-08-13T16:14:00.002+01:00

Richard Avedon was (is) one of America's top photographers of all time. I recently came across this documentary about his life and work. It's filled with funny and inspiring stories of his career. Someone who's work I really admire and respect. Here's the first of nine videos available on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it.

3 Books on Photography

2011-08-05T15:32:00.003+01:00

Continuing my education, I've recently read three books on photography (I am reading more, but will let you know soon). All three are very different... From one, I didn't learn much, from another I was inspired, and from the other I took some useful tips. Here's a description:

- Focus On Photographing People, by Haje Jan Kamps
I’m very into photographing people. So I got this book during my holidays down south. Read it in a day. It teaches you the different aspects of portrait photography in a clear tone. I personally didn’t learn that much, but if you’re getting started in photography, this is a useful read.

- Annie Leibovitz at Work, by Annie Leibovitz
This is a wonderful book, written by one of today’s most famous photographers. She shares many stories and lessons from her now long career, all accompanied by her great pictures. I also got to know other photographers, whose work she refers to in the text.

- Your Creative Mix, by Corwin Hiebert
On this ebook, the author tries to get our creative juices flowing. He tells of of traps to avoid, shares some collaborations tips, and talks to some artists who share their experiences. This book is aimed at photographers, but can be read by anyone in a creative profession.

Flash Photography and Photoshop training

2011-07-08T16:44:00.002+01:00

I just finished a couple of online video courses, taught by professional photographer Phil Steele. Both were great. I learned loads and am looking forward to put them to good use this weekend.

I will be posting a more in-depth review of these, but if you take my word for it, you can get them right away in the links below. I assure you it is worth it (and not expensive at all)

- Photoshop Basics for Photographers

- How to Shoot Headshots and Portraits on a Budget with Small Flashes

Going Pro – How to Make Money Through your Photography - Review

2011-07-04T10:46:00.002+01:00

As I learn more about photography, I am more and more interested on how you can make money (and even a living) out of it. I love the sheer pleasure of photographing but, if at some point I can make some money, all the better. This book points you to the different approaches you can take on going pro, and shares countless tips on how best to achieve this.

Going Pro – How to Make Money Through your Photography, is a book by Kelly Kingman, who has vast experience in this area.

Besides the 91 page ebook, the kit also includes

2 hours of Audio downloads of interviews with pro photography experts Susannah Conway, Charles Borst, Suzanne Sease, and Christina Villaflors.

Getting Published in Photography Magazines, a 28-page practical primer on getting your photos published, by DPS pro Mitchell Kanashkevich

I read it in no time, and will sure be applying some of the knowledge I got from this great kit.

Get Going Pro – How to Make Money Through your Photography.

Joe McNally @Google

2011-05-31T17:04:00.003+01:00

Internationally famous photographer Joe McNally visited Google a couple of year ago. He shares his, so far, 30 years of photography, telling many fascinating stories and giving some useful tips. The video is over an hour long, but really worth it.
Here's what he had to say:

The Art of Self-Portraiture - Review

2011-05-19T10:24:00.004+01:00

Digital Photography School has just released their latest book. It’s called “The Art of Self-Portraiture”, and was written by photographer Anna Gay. I’ll start by telling you that there’s a 25% discount for the first two weeks (this one and next). Normally $19.99, but the launch price is $14.99.

This book is all about self- portraiture. This may seem a little intimidating, if you’re more used to photographing other people and places. I know it is for me. I usually turn the camera elsewhere. But that’s one of the main reasons why I found this book so helpful. It gave me the motivation I needed to start experimenting being a subject in my own work.

There are over 50 pages of useful tips, going from the tools you should use, to composition theory, as well as a couple of important chapters on focus and post-processing.

Anna and DPS have accomplished yet another great book, written in an easy language, with humor, that will be useful to beginner, as well as intermediate level photographers.

This is a book I highly recommend, it’s a fast read, and you can start putting the tips into practice immediately. I know I will.

Get The Art of Self-Portraiture

Estoril Open 2011

2011-05-17T10:22:00.002+01:00

Estoril Open is the top tennis tournament in Portugal. I had the chance to be there again this year, among great friends. This time I had my DSLR with me. So I joined two passions in one event: Tennis and Photography. Being sports photography I had to work with high shutter speeds (around 1/1000 sec) so I could freeze the action. For the late afternoon matches, I had to up the ISO a bit to capture enough light. I used mostly a 70-200 f4 lens with image stabilizer. For some matches when I wasn't allowed to use it, I resorted to my 17-85 lens f4-5.6. Yes, if you can, go for the 70-200. You can reach more into the action, while getting some very interesting depth of field.

You can check out the galleries on facebook:
- Gallery 1
- Gallery 2

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me, and I'll try to help.

Lowkey Photography: A tutorial

2011-04-13T12:21:00.002+01:00

Lowkey photography is an interesting technique that can give you very nice results. The main point is to get the background completely black, while illuminating your subject with a flash. Rick Nunn has put together a very useful tutorial to tell us all about this technique. Be sure to read the full post, as well as watch the video he made. Let me know if you try this, as I will.

How I Shoot: Lowkey Portrait from Rick Nunn on Vimeo.

Photo Nuts and Shots - Review

2011-04-08T11:24:00.004+01:00

Photo Nuts and Shots - Tools and Techniques for Creative Photography is the 2nd ebook in the Photo Nuts series by Digital Photography School.

It is written by Neil Creek, who also wrote the first book of the series, Photo Nuts & Bolts. While the first book was about understanding cameras, the second book, Photo Nuts & Shots focuses upon tools and techniques to take photography to the next level.

If you know your way around you camera, this book is what you need to take your photography to the next level.

The book includes tips on how to:
- harness light to convey emotion

- know the rules of composition ... and when to break them

- take the sharpest possible photo every time

- adapt the camera's exposure to produce the shot you want

- master the concepts of shot perception, planning, and execution -- in any setting

- tap into your unique creativity to take evocative photographs that reach out to viewers

- be the best photographer you can be.

I read this book (e)cover to cover, learned a lot, and can't wait to put it to practice in the next few days. It is a safe bet, and for a great price. Another great hit from DPS.

Get it now, you won't regret it.

Video: Night Photography Tips

2011-04-05T17:07:00.002+01:00

Night photography presents very specific challenges, due to the obvious low light. The two main things we have to worry about is letting the most light in, and stabilizing the camera. Take a look at the video below for some practical tips.

Video: Grey background lighting tips and tricks

2011-03-23T14:41:00.004Z

The most usual choices for background in a studio portrait are black or white.
In this video tutorial photographer Gavin Hoey shows us how we can use a grey background and easily turn it into white, black, or any color we choose.

Stage Photography Workshop Wrap Up

2011-03-04T16:57:00.003Z

It's been a while since I finished the workshop at Restart, but wanted to let you know it went very well. Rita Carmo is a fantastic photographer, with loads of experience and tips to share.

Live concert photography has very specific characteristics. Namely, high ISO, large apertures, and low shutter speeds. As you can imagine, this can be tricky, and it took me some time to adjust, never having shot in such conditions.

In the end, I ended up having fun, and took some nice pictures, IMHO :)

There's an album on Facebook. Hope the link works:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=360276&id=783603153&l=3629738d54

Stage Photography Workshop

2011-02-04T11:08:00.005Z

Continuing my training, over the next two weekends I'll be taking another photography workshop. This time the focus is on stage photography.

This is a specific type of photography, and I'm expecting to learn the optimal settings for getting good concert pictures (no flash and high ISO, are two that come to mind).

The trainer is the well known Portuguese photographer Rita Carmo, who has shot most Portuguese bands and singers, live and in a studio setting. I'm sure she is someone I can learn a lot from.

Next Tuesday, we'll have the chance to shoot a live concert that is taking place at Restart, and then discuss the results in class.
I'll, of course, let you know how it went.

Annie Leibovitz Documentary

2011-01-28T16:45:00.003Z

Here's a great documentary I found on the life and work of the great photographer Annie Leibovitz. She is well known for her work in magazines such as Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, having shot such different personalities as John Lennon and Barack Obama. I'm a great admirer, and even more after seeing these videos. I hope you take the time to watch it too.

This is the first of six parts. You'll easily find the rest linked on YouTube.

David LaChapelle Short Documentary

2011-01-26T17:22:00.001Z

David LaChapelle is one of my favorite photographers. I'm planning a series of posts on photographers I admire. In the meantime here's a short documentary CBS made on the man and his Art.

A Quote for your Weekend

2010-11-26T12:07:00.003Z

"Contemplation often makes life miserable. We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live"
Nicolas de Chamfort

Stanley Kubrick Photography in Venice

2010-10-18T12:51:00.004+01:00

I spent a few days in Italy last week. One of the highlights of my trip to Venice was the Stanley Kubrick photography exhibition that was on at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti. It includes works by the later acclaimed director as a young man, from the post-war years of 1945 to 1950.

One of the sections of this exhibition is about Nazaré, in Portugal, where he beautifully captured life in the 40's in this village, with its characteristic fishermen and widows.

Digital Photography Flash Tutorial

2010-09-24T10:14:00.002+01:00

Here's a video by Jared Polin, where he explains and gives examples of how you can play with your flash and shutter speed to capture more ambient light, and make your pictures look much better.

(via DPS)

Travel Photography Workshop Part II

2010-09-13T14:47:00.004+01:00

This weekend marked the end of the Travel Photography Workshop I took at IPF. On Saturday, as I wrote before, we hit the field, namely the Feira da Ladra, an ancient street fair in an old Lisbon neighborhood. Our teacher Nuno Lobito directed us on what to do, and we split up for over two hours to do our work. It was great fun hanging around, trying to get as many good shots as I could. One thing I must work on more is approaching people. I found it a bit hard at first, but it ended up working well.
We then came back to the classroom where each of us selected out 10 best pictures, and we viewed them together, with some very useful input from Lobito.

On Sunday, several other aspects were approached, namely:
• Editing tips, using Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Practical travel tips
• Market contacts

We also improvised a little walk outside, so we got a chance to see the master in action. It was most useful to see how to approach people and make the first contact.

Although I had already heard some of the information at a previous workshop, I learned other useful tips and, most of all, had a chance to be on the field with the teacher’s guidance. And that is of great value.

Of course, I’m already planning my next workshop. It may be on Composition, or Photo Editing. More on that in future posts. In the meantime, if you know of great workshops please share them in the comments section.

Travel Photography: 3 Quick resources

2010-09-09T17:06:00.002+01:00

Since I took my first workshop on the subject, I‘ve grown more and more fascinated with the field of travel photography.
In this quick post I share three quick resources on this topic:

1. The Article: Travel Photography, by Jack Hollingsworth
2. The Book: "Transcending Travel", by Mitchell Kanashkevich
3. The Workshop: Travel Photography Workshop (in Portuguese)

I hope you enjoy them.

Transcending Travel - Review

2010-09-08T12:08:00.007+01:00

DPS is a wonderful resource for digital photography. It has countless articles, tips, and reviews. But it also has great eBooks. I had read their previous two (Photo Nuts and Bolts, and The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography) and liked them a lot. Yesterday I finished reading their latest, “Transcending Travel”, by Mitchell Kanashkevich. Michael is a travel photographer. He shares his knowledge, practical tips, and great photos in an accessible language.

The book is divided into four main sections:
• Preparation: advice on preparing for your trip
• Composition: how to communicate effectively to those who view your images through principles of photographic composition.
• Light: how to use light creatively to tell your stories, communicate your emotion and evoke emotions in others.
• Making Photos: walks readers through numerous aspects involved in the making of a good travel photograph.

The thing I liked most about the book is that it balances technical aspects of photography, with specific travel tips. This makes it a very complete book. I highly recommend it.

Click here to view more details

Travel Photography Workshop Part I

2010-09-07T16:21:00.003+01:00

Last weekend I attended the first part of the Photography Workshop at IPF. This time we are a bigger group than at Restart: 10 of us. We started a bit slow, but gradually picked up pace and Sunday was a fine day. Photographer Nuno Lobito teaches in a most peculiar way. He intersperses his vast technical knowledge with stories of his own life and travels. He shares a lot, something that is not common. I’m doing my best to absorb as much as I can. Some of what I heard was not new, having already taken his initiation workshop, but there is always new stuff to be learned.
Among the topics touched were the following:
• How to pack your photographic equipment
• What to pack in you travel suitcase
• Practical tips on approaching people
• Several technical aspects of photography
• Resources on the web for cheap travel, accommodation, and gear

I am looking forward to next Saturday, when we’ll be having an outing. We will be visiting and photographing a well known and ancient street fair in Lisbon.

I leave you with a video of Nuno Lobito in action in Jordan. I hope to get a glimpse of this soon.

Travel Photography Workshop

2010-09-03T16:43:00.002+01:00

For the next two weekends I’ll be taking a Workshop on Travel Photography. This time at the Portuguese Photography Institute. The teacher is, once again, Nuno Lobito. And who better than him to teach this kind of workshop. He’s 15 countries short of his goal of visiting every country in the World. I’ll keep you posted on how the workshop goes.

I've also started reading the ebook "Transcending Travel", by Mitchell Kanashkevich. I'm loving the tips and experience shared, so far. More once I finish it.

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography - Review

2010-08-31T15:24:00.005+01:00

Today I finished reading another e-book on photography. It is called “The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography”, and is a collection of great articles dealing with the topic of… you guessed it, portrait photography.

Topics include:
• How to bypass portrait mode on your digital camera and get great portraits
• Photographing Children
• Travel Portrait Photography
• Environmental Portraits
• Posing Tips
• What to Wear in Portraits
• Introduction to Portrait Lighting

As an excellent bonus, the book includes six interviews with 6 professional photographers, who share many other tips for us starting out in the digital photography world. In my opinion, the book is well worth a read.

Click here to view more details

One Workshop to rule them All – Part II

2010-08-30T14:58:00.004+01:00

This past weekend marked the second part of the Digital Photography Workshop I took at Restart, with photographer Nuno Lobito.

On Saturday morning, the following topics were discussed:
• What to include in your photography kit
• How to pack your travel suitcase

Saturday afternoon was reserved for viewing and editing each participant’s best project pictures, using Adobe Elements. This is a very practical tool, and takes care of most your basic editing needs, without going into the more complex world of Photoshop.

On Sunday morning, we discussed some business aspects of the photography business, namely how to approach potential clients, and how to negotiate. In the afternoon, Nuno gave us three pages filled with market contacts. Something few teachers do, and of great value.

In short, this workshop was worth every cent. Restart has great premises, the teacher was excellent, the content very rich, and the colleagues great. I’d do it again. In fact, I’m doing it again, sort of. Next Saturday I will start a new Workshop on Travel Photography (in Portuguese), once again with globetrotter Nuno Lobito in charge. More about it on posts to come.

Related Post:
One Workshop to rule them All – Part I

Workshop project – Wednesday

2010-08-26T10:46:00.001+01:00

As planned, yesterday I headed down to the Belém area in Lisbon, armed with my camera and the goal to get some more photos to complete the project I was assigned on the great workshop I am taking. I was at the CCB (Belém Cultural Centre), in the gardens nearby, and outside the Vasco da Gama aquarium.
I managed to get all the technical shots I lacked and four more pictures for the theme assigned. So, I am proud to say that I need just one more photo to finish the project. I can’t say that I am fully pleased with every one of the photos, but overall I am happy. I find it very hard to produce 10 good enough photos on a theme in just five late afternoons. But, as they say, where there's a will there's a way :)

PS – The car problem may be more than the radiator. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Workshop project – Tuesday

2010-08-25T12:10:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I decided to complete Monday’s ruined plan and go downtown to take some pictures for the photography workshop project. I spent over an hour walking the streets and getting as many shots as I could (couples, churches, jugglers). Of the dozens of photos I took, I guess three are usable for the project. There are still six to go for the theme given, and three technical shots. The photo I share below was taken yesterday, but is not part of the project. Those I will show after I present them at the workshop. Today I will be out again in a different part of Lisbon.

PS – By the way, the car needs a new radiator.

Workshop project – Sunday and Monday

2010-08-24T15:12:00.004+01:00

As I described in my last post about the photography workshop I’m taking, we were handed a project to do during the week. We were given a number of techniques we are supposed to illustrate in photos, as well as a theme to be shown in further ten photos.

Leaving the workshop on Sunday, I headed to the Lourinhã area, where my family was staying for the weekend, and started work right away. I took my sister and nephew and went to the beach, to a children’s playground, and to a garden. I got about two hours of good light and was able to get some nice enough pics. All will be revealed next week, when the project is done.

Yesterday (Monday) I made the plan of going downtown after work to shoot some more, and maybe get some nice images of people walking up and down the streets. But my car decided to break down on the way there, and I had to recruit a number of people to help me push the car uphill. No fun there, I can tell you. I ended up getting nothing project related. I will make another attempt today.

One Workshop to rule them All – Part I

2010-08-23T15:52:00.005+01:00

As I wrote before, this weekend I started attending a two-weekend workshop on digital photography. Here as my thoughts on this first weekend.

The Teacher
Nuno Lobito is a photographer with 27 years experience in the field. And I mean the field, because he is 15 countries short of his goal of visiting EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY in the world, if you can believe it. 2011 will be the final year of a 20-plus year adventure. After that he already has a few fascinating projects.
Nuno is a great communicator. The way he shares his experiences all over the World makes you want to pack your bags and go! You really feel the passion, and it’s impossible not to feel greatly motivated to at least go out and start taking pictures.

The content
Most of the first day (Saturday) was spent approaching the basic technical aspects of photography. Among the topics were:
• Aperture
• Depth of Field
• Shutter Speed
• ISO
• Use of flash
• Composition

On Sunday we turned to more practical aspects of putting together a photo trip:
• How to prepare
• How to organize your day
• Workflow of working day
• Travel resources on the web
• Gear resources on the web

After that, we were given a project assignment to work on during the week, and present next Saturday. The goal is to produce a number of photos illustrating different aspects of photography (e.g. different apertures, different shutter speeds), and then ten photos on a fixed theme.

I can tell you, it won’t be easy to produce 10 good enough photos in 5 days, but I’m giving it my best shot. How about you? Do you have any good stories about workshops you have done? Share them in the comments section below.

Related Post:
One Workshop to rule them All – Part II

Photo Nuts and Bolts - Rreview

2010-08-20T10:32:00.005+01:00

I have read many articles online about photography. But I had never actually bought an eBook on the subject until this week. The book is called Photo Nuts and Bolts: Know your Camera and Take Better Photos, launched some time go by Digital Photography School.

I finished reading it a couple of days ago. The book focuses on the camera, and how it works. It goes a bit into optics and photographic theory, and the way to understand and handle light, the basis for all photography.

It is divided into ten short chapters (3 to 4 pages each), as follows:
1. Light and the Pinhole Camera
2. Lenses and Focus
3. Lenses, Light and Magnification
4 . Exposure and Stops
5 . Aperture
6 . Shutter
7 . ISO
8 . The Light Meter
9 . White Balance
10. Metering Modes and Exposure Compensation

In my opinion, this book gives you the basic theoretical foundation so you can understand what goes on behind the scenes, and start taking better photos. Future books will go into further detail into other more practical aspects of photography.

World Photography Day

2010-08-19T15:41:00.002+01:00

Today, 19th August is World Photography Day. Celebrate!

DPS Article: 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits

2010-08-18T10:47:00.002+01:00

Digital Photography School is a site that's been around for a few years, but that I only recently discovered. I'm sure going to talk more about it in coming posts, being such a great site, with so many resources and useful tips.

Today I would like to point you to an article by Darren Rowse (creator of this project) on 10 ways to take better portraits. These are:
1. Alter Your Perspective
2. Play with Eye Contact
3. Break the Rules of Composition
4. Experiment with Lighting
5. Move Your Subject Out of their Comfort Zone
6. Shoot Candidly
7. Introduce a Prop
8. Focus Upon One Body Part – Get Close Up
9. Obscure Part of your Subject
10. Take a Series of Shots

Here's the full article.

There's also a part two of this article, with 10 further tips on portrait photography.

Some of the tips I knew, some I didn't and will be using in the future. Take your time browsing this site, and enjoy the great resources.

Saturday in Cascais

2010-08-17T10:39:00.004+01:00

I spent most of last Saturday in the beautiful Cascais, near Lisbon. I was in, among other places, Casa da Guia, Casa das Histórias (the Paula Rego Museum), and Parque Marechal Carmona. I took the chance to photograph the scenery and my two year old nephew, who is proving to be a great model :) Here are some of the pics I took, linking to a bigger version on Olhares.

My First Photography Training

2010-08-16T11:39:00.004+01:00

Over the next two weekends, I will be attending a "Digital Photography Workshop" (page in Portuguese). This is the first training I'll be having on photography, and I'm really looking forward to it.
The workshop is taking place at Restart, a training facility in Lisbon, and the teacher is Portuguese photographer Nuno Lobito.
I'll try to post my notes about the training, day by day.

If you know of any good Photography Workshops, please let me know in the comment section. Thanks!

Beginnings

2010-08-13T18:10:00.005+01:00

Hello all!

My name is Pedro Mendes, and I've started yet another blog. This one aims to share my old (in theory) but new (in practice) passion for photography. A couple of months ago I bought my first DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera. Before that, I had been using a regular point and shoot camera, and felt it was time to take the next step. I have been slowly learning my way around it, and have taken a few pictures with it. This blog will share my experiences with photography, as well as techniques, resources and tips I use and find useful. Please bear in mind that I am just getting started, so any comments will be greatly appreciated.

If you want to take a look at my early experiences, please head to my page on the Portuguese site Olhares.

That's it for now. Feel free to come visit the blog, and share your comments!