Camera Awesome is Awesome

I'm in Seattle for my Canon Explorer of Light presentation tomorrow for Glazers Camera.

I'm also doing a photo walk later today with my several local photographers and my friends from Galzers Camera. On the walk, I will be using my favorite lens: Canon 24-105mm IS lens. My camera: new Canon 5D Mark III.

Tune in Monday for 5 days of 5D Mark III shots.

I took this shot this morning during my personal photo walk. I awesomized it using SmugMug's cool app, Camera Awesome. Then I used Shadows/Highlights in Photoshop CS6 to fine-tune the image.

You still have a few days to enter the Camera Awesome contest. Click here for info.

When I shoot, I look for creative composition. As Edward Weston said: Composition is the strongest way of seeing.

Quick composition tips:
- Name of the game, fill the frame.
- Try to create a balance in your photograph.
- Compose with depth-of-field in mind.
- Envision the end result.
- Always look up, down and back.

Click here to learn more about creative composition.

Explore the light,
Rick

Starting Monday: 5 Days of Canon EOS 5D Mark III Photographs and Tips

Starting Monday here on my blog,  I'll be sharing my favorite Canon 5D Mark III photographs - along with tips - from my recent workshop for Light with Hal "Bull" Schmitt. I'd start sharing now, but I just got off the boat, the Northern Song. Then it's off to Seattle for photo walk and seminar for Canon and Glazers.

For now: the auto focus system on the 5D Mark III is simply amazing.

Stay tuned.

Click here to see my Alsaka gear list.

Click here to get on my workshop list.

See you here on my blog Monday.

Both of these photos illustrate good composition. Top: Separation between subjects. Bottom: Name of the game is to fill the frame. To learn more about composition, check out my class on Kelby Training: Composition, the strongest way of seeing.

Explore the light,
Rick

Orb or Softbox? That is a question for speedlite shooters

Soft boxes offer directional light. © Rick Sammon

I'm taking the weekend off from posting. Just finished five days of Alaska photos.


This was my most popular posts, so I'm re-posting it for those speedlite shooters who might have missed it.

On my Master Your Flash Workshops, I illustrate - among several other lighting techniques - the difference between portraits taken with softboxes and orbs. We place a speedlite in each flash accessories and get to work – and start to have fun.

Catherine Hall. © Rick Sammon

Basically, softboxes with recessed diffusion panels offer more directional light than orbs. The two illustrations above illustrate directional light from a softbox.

© Jason Ludwig

Above is a picture of me (taken in Dave Cross' studio) using a 28-inch Westcott Apollo softbox to light the subject from above, which was the same technique I used when I photographed Catherine Hall at the Google studio. Speaking of me: You can hire me as a voice activated light stand :-)

Artist Eddi Flemming. © Rick Sammon

Orbs with recessed diffusion panels produce a wider and softer beam of light than softboxes. They are nice to use when you want to light a wider area with softer shadows. I used my Westcott Orb for the photograph above. Orbs also wrap the light around a subject for softer light.

Umbrellas? I don't use them too often, but they are nice for large groups.

For more lighting tips, see my apps.

Explore the light,
Rick

Silver Efex Pro = Less Reality, More Creativity

When we remove the true color from a scene, we remove some of the reality.

When we remove some of the reality, our pictures can look more artistic and creative.

On my recent Fossil Rim Wildlife Center workshop, I used Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro to remove some of the reality from a few of my pictures. (Shoot me an email if you'd like to join my next Fossil Rim workshop.)

Above: Yellow 2 effect. Below: Neutral effect.

© Rick Sammon

I also use Nik Software's Color Efex Pro to remove some of the reality from an image. Below: Duplex Filter effect.

As John Lennon said: Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.

You can get a discount on all Nik Software plug-ins, and all the plug-ins I use on my Creative Plug-Ins page.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. If you enjoy photographing wildlife, my apps offer tons of tips.

A Terrific Deal On Topaz

© Rick Sammon

Check this out: From Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22, you can save 35% on all Topaz plug-ins - including the Bundle - which usually sells for $299.00 but with this offer is $194.99.

To save, use my Sammon Savings code: sammontwp. This code only works for for this weekend.

Click here for all Topaz plug-ins.

Click here for the Bundle.

Have fun playing with plug-ins this weekend.

Explore the light,
Rick