INNOCENCE LOVED

THE EASIEST OF THE TARGET OF THE CAMERA ARE THE INNOCENT CHILDREN...they are around u, in home, on streets....and i feel, it is one of the most pleasurable moment for the photographer to click them.......few days back i was passing thru a village, where i wanted to capture a small girl of 9 yrs.....but on looking at the camera, she ran away....the girl from poor farmers' family....then my wife offered some money....she was clever enough...said she ''give me the money, but do not take photo....she came 3-4 times near the car for money, but as i raised the camera, she ran away....however, i managed to get one shot, but since the camera was on average metering, the image underexposed, being backlighted....

2.Anyhow, i enjoyed shooting these three children on the stage in a programme...they are more curious...though they know that they are being photographed....but their emotions are wonderful...they represent flowers here and as i raised the camera, they expressed themselves, which amused the audience. I got my shot...thank u little ones...long live ur innocence.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

This great moment was held on 15.1.2010. the time was 1.30 pm when it was at its maximum at my place...otherwise there were lucky persons where it was full and made a magnificent ring.

2. Photographers like me have their bindings having maximum focal length of 300mm....we try with this range...In the beginning the exposure seemed difficult....however when i saw the camera button, the setting was on Av and the sun was being overexposed....Immediately, i shifted to manual and turned the shutter speed at 1/3200 and aperture at f16 with the viewing filter over the lens, which made the image slightly soft. However, my first setting went right I shot 5-6 pictures and this is the enlarged version on photoshop.....Which we used to do with Enlarger on B&W FILM AND PAPER TAKING IT HIGHER for image magnification, some 30 yrs back.
NOW THE THINGS OR WORKING OR GADGETS HAVE SQUIZEED and minimum of effort is put to get the grand image.

3. However not all the digital cameras are providing multi-exposure facility, except in nikon D80, Canon i do not know....With milti-exposure facility we can make many images or sequence on one frame....this facility was there on many film cameras....or we cud make stable the frame by pushing up the sprocket button below at base plate....I feel, this will come slowly in many more cameras....it is very much relevant for creative photographers.

SEPARATING SUBJECT FROM BACKGROUND

THERE are times when the subject faces the sun from its back....the term can be called as backlighting effect, against lighting or contre-jour effect...The effect is again used as rim lighting, making a halo on the borders of the subject's body.

2. In broad sense, this can be used to define your main subject, making it stand out against, particularly, dark background....this subtle rim lighting simply defines the shape of the subject, a stronger effect can help u create a beautiful halo around it, as stated above...This adds a magical touch and can make an otherwise normal subject look extraordinary.

3. Here the monkey is well defined with the subtle backlighting effect and has its independent identity, separated from the background.

SHOOTING IN BLACK & WHITE

THE FIRST TONE, THE MAN LEARNT AFTER DISCOVERY OF PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS WAS THE MONOTONE IMAGE....The development brought us to digital stage and still it is the favourite medium of thousands of photo enthusiasts....colour cud not beat monochrome.

2. no doubt, colour presents the true representation of the atmosphere on the earth...but to talk from an artist's point of view, many of them still do not like the full presentation of the colours and turn to monochrome for solace....Monochrome images are more evocative becoz they rely on differences in tonal values, irrespective of colour. You need to visualise the tonal differences in the frame while composing ur picture because when colout contrast fades away, subject that usually stand out clearly from one another, begins to merge...Learning how to visualise tonal values in a scene...Balancing them in the essence of making great monochromatic image which consists of white, black and the grey as can be seen in the above picture of Taj Mahal---representative of all three tonal ranges..........gshroti@gmail.com

STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A PUNCH--2

6. TRY TO KEEP MOVING THE LIGHT SOURCE UNTIL U GET THE MOST ATTRACTIVE EFFECT.

7. Top lighting is a very good way to start, since this resembles the natural light best.

8. The light from the source can be softened either by the use of translucent material or a tracing paper if needed...

9. Add a second or third source only if u have clearly realised the need for it.....

10. The same method can be applied using reflectors... Use it only if u need it and watch the reflections are playing on the subject.....Use them when u need light in darker areas or to separate the tones.

11. The most important is the arrangement of the subject...GEOMETRICAL patterns such as form, lines, rows and gentle curves in the subject appeal to the eye.......therefore, if u have not started still life photography, start now with the points noted above keeping in mind.

STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A PUNCH

1. THIS subject has a people with particular bent of mind....The best choice for them is to photograph inside a home, or in their studio.....no disturbance--but full concentration.

2. Simplicity is always the best. IN THE BEGINNING, ONE SHD START WITH A SIMPLE SUBJECT.....The most important is the background and that shd be plain.

3. The set shd be rigid such that it cannot be modified or reconstructed as the shooting progresses.....BESIDES a range of options shd be explored to determine the best angle....besides instead of a table, one can choose to place the subject on the ground for a better viewpoint.

4. Do not be too experimental at the beginning...Start with one kind of light until u are more confident --either a tungsten or a fluroscent shd do the job........


5. Begin at eye level, but do not ignore other view points, which could be directly above or below...........to continue.............gshroti@gmail.com
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PHOTOGRAPH....INFANTS/CHILDREN--THE EASY & DIFFICULT SUBJECT

I have encountered many studios and the pro not taking assignment to photograph infants or a child...

I also faught with an incident when the boy being forcibly photographed by the parents...they wanted to send his photographs to relations outside...The boy kept weeping and the mother was furious....i tried to console her, she replied that he does like this and i cannot get him photographs....and lo....the child came down from the small chair and bleeding from nose....I was worried about the mother's disgustment....At last they had to depart for another time.

In another the 3 yr old boy will throw aways all toys, chairs and jump with laughter...he was another kind...the mother and father were happy (see contrast from above), consoling the photographer.....''wait sir, he will be right in moments'' and after half an hour's torture to the photographer, the coupled left with no good photograph to be hanged on the wall.

Another saying goes ''one way to get in to the hearts of every mother is to take lovely photographs of her children.''.....and in this tough competition with camera's in every hand, u have to come out successful with a dozen excellent photographs.....THERE is no doubt that a children's photographer in many was has to be a psychologist.