PHOTOGRAPHER of the WEEK  #4

S t e v e  M c C u r r y

National Geographic Photographer

Most people probably don’t know his name, but almost everyone has seen his images. Steve McCurry is probably the most famous for his image of Sharbat Gula, the Afghani refugee girl with the striking eyes. It has been said that this image is the most recognizable photograph in the world. That is saying a lot. While Steve McCurry is easily one of the best photographers and image creators in the world, he is not a household name.

http://www.sandrophoto.com/2011/03/01/steve-mccurry-famous-national-geographic-photographer/

The link to his galleries:

http://stevemccurry.com/galleries

There are a lot of photos, and lot of favorites... too many to choose from... but here are a few



September 11, 2001

Light Projects

What caught my attention is the way that the panes of glass were different shades of blue, with the exception of the one lone red pane, and how the patterns of glass created an abstract image of the chair outside.

 My first shot of her was the sun shining through miniblinds and creating streaks of lights, with one beam of light illuminating across her eyes. The sun was a little bright and stark, and really didn't give me the exposure I was hoping for. But the sun went behind some clouds and created a softer effect, which is what I was looking for. I like how the shadows are created on the side of her face and by her cheeks. I also like how you can only see a few curls, and her collar and shoulder seem to fade into the shadow. The chair brings the foreground and backround together, is out of focus, the green tones blend with her dress, but also adds a little bit of contrast with the studs and wood.

  

The pattern on the glass has a raised pattern. So when it was placed in front of light, the raised edges reflect the light in different ways. The way that the light comes though the blue flowers create the shadows.

Although it's a cold winter's day, the sun and tones create warmth. The sun and blinds are reflected off of the clock's face, and the blinds also create shadows in the curtains. I like how the soft off-white curtains are just enough of the photo to create contrast against the dark metal framed clock, yet it is all brought together with the glass of the window and clock's face.

...and just for fun....

my son had fun helping me create some light images

Portrait Photography Tips

First, let me say... this is not the first time I've been searching for a "Photographer of the Week", and found something else interesting to post instead. That may be the reason why I have so many more generic posts than the assigned "Photographer of the Week" posts. With that being said, I happened across this site that has a few interesting links to photography tips. The link is:

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/portrait-photography-tips

Below are 3 of the 22 links

10 More tips for Stunning Photography

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/tips-portrait-photography

Where is your subject looking and why does it matter?

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/where-is-your-subject-looking-and-why-does-it-matter

Environmental Portraits

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/environmental-portraits

Past Light Projects

Even when I only had a point-and-shoot, I always had a sense of curiousity of what the photo might look like if I "just try this..." When we were recently assigned the "light project," a couple past photos came to mind, so thought I would share. Now that I've had a little bit of professional insight, training, and practice, I can see the potential in these photos.



Bouquet  from my brother's Vegas wedding.
2007

I noticed the the reflection of the bouquet on the table in their hotel room. The curtains were already slightly cracked, which created a great exposure, so I set the scene
 

Jellyfish in Gatlinburg, TN Aquarium
2005

The overhead light created the glow in the jellyfish



Reflection of a palm tree in Labadee, Haiti
2010

This shot was literally taken on the run. We were in port on a cruise with my Dad, Brother, & families, and as the 10 of us were were walking back to the ship I noticed this shadow.  When I saw the shadow, I stopped, turned on the camera, took the pic, and ran to catch up with the family. I hate to admit it, but the total time to take this was probably only 5 seconds.

Busch Stadium demolition
2005

Day and night of Carnival Triumph
2011 



The same, but different

The two photos below are similiar: both are taken in the snow and both contain an umbrella. However, one works for me and one doesn't.

At first glance, without comparing the quality, which composition works for you?

    When I first came across the one on the left, the haziness of the trees caught my attention. I liked the serene tranquility of the snow on the ground, and how the haziness gave you the sensation of a quiet, cold winter's day where you could allllmost hear the snow-weighted branches crackling to the ground. But my focus soon went to the umbrella. It seemed so out of place.... and so obviously staged. I'm sure the photographer was looking for the effect that the vivid colors created against the black, white, and grey scene of the snow, but the umbrella ruined the shot for me. I can think of other things that would've left a different impression: snow boots...? a concrete statue?... nothing?

   Now to the photograph on the right... It's not fair to compare the quality with the first photo because this was taken with a cell phone at Mizzou while my son was in motion and carrying a 50 lb. backpack through the snow. However, with that aside, this photo works better for me. I like the single, softer shade of the umbrella. The pinkness blends better with the snow tones.... vs. the starkness of the bright rainbow umbrella on the left. At first I wasn't sure if I liked all of the footsteps; I wondered if the scene would seem "less busy" without so many. But after looking at it, I like how the footsteps are the focus of the photo, with the students and the pink umbrella as the subject. The photo creates curiousity because there are only three students walking, but hundreds of footsteps. How many students must've walked down this sidewalk before the falling snow covered their tracks? Obviously, if the one on the right could've been staged, there would've been things that I would change... like the position of the umbrella?... to use only a single person with the umbrella? ...softer focus? But it still works better for me.

Thinking outside of the box with Forced Perspective Photography

Since I've been taking a lot more photos these last few weeks, I've made myself more aware of the backround and surroundings. These photos make me realize how you can have some creative fun by taking a one-dimensional photo and create a two-dimensional photo by combining the foreground with the backround. Although they're not museum quality, it's fun to experiment with because you never know when you might get the right combination

Photographer  of  the  Week #3

IAN PLANT

http://www.ianplant.com/index.htm

 At first, his photos look like all of the others we've seen before, and although they're hardly anything that keeps you from scanning right past it to the next photo, his work reminds me of  techniques that I use to experiment with when I had a film camera.... but forgot the techniques existed. I'm that person that made my brother get off of a highway exit in the middle of Arizona on the way back from a trip to the Grand Canyon so I could lay my camera on the entrance ramp while I left the shutter open in order to capture the catrillions of stars. But the reason I like his work is because he inspires me to experiment again. 
I love the visual effect in the first photo that the hour long exposure creates. The next two photos are a good use of light;  the way the sunbeams burn through the fog and the pines, and then the way that the sunset illuminates the edges of the cacti in the next photo. The last photo is a lengthened exposure to create motion in the stream, and reminds me of the photo I took of a stream in the Smoky Mountains when I had my Pentax K100 wayyyy back when.

S THE EARTH SPINS ON ITS AXIS, STARS WHEEL AROUND THE SKY LIKE RIPPLES SPREADING FROM A THROWN STONE IN A POND. My campfire, almost a quarter-mile distant, lights the canyon during the one-hour exposure. April 2010, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah.

EAMS OF LIGHT PASS THROUGH A CURTAIN OF GEOTHERMAL FOG AS THE SUN SETS BEHIND FROSTED TREES PERCHED ATOP A HIGH HILL. The steam rising from Canary Spring reacts to the cold air, scattering the colorful lght. December 2007, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

HE SUN DEBUTS TO THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE FROM A GROVE OF CHOLLA CACTI. The response from the brittlebush, however, is somewhat more tepid. March 2009, Arizona.

N EXPLOSION OF COLOR GREETS MY EYES AS I TURN AROUND AND LOOK DEEP INTO THE NARROWS. I have been hiking for hours within this majestic canyon, at times wading through water waist deep, looking for a special convergence of light and form. I decide to look back to see the view from a different angle; as sheer luck would have it, I am just in time to witness the peak of color and light. November 2010, Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah.