We are in the final week before the eclipse. Many people are finding it impossible to get solar film. In addition, Amazon, most people’s go to source for pre-made filters and glasses, has started to recall many of those that were sold in the last month or two. Here are some solar film alternatives that […]
Educational
Making a DIY Solar Filter
Planning on photographing the eclipse on August 21st? Your camera will need protection before and after totality. You can build a DIY solar filter to hold your solar film. Required DIY Solar Filter Supplies To make your solar filter holder, you’ll need: Solar Film – Available from Thousand Oaks Optics, Baader, and others. Foam Core […]
Using Frequency Separation for Retouching Backgrounds
Frequency separation is a powerful technique. Photographers think of frequency separation as a skin retouching tool, but it is so much more. I often use use frequency separation for retouching backgrounds. Affinity Photo includes frequency separation built right in which is convenient. In this retouching walk through, I show you how to use it to fix […]
An Introverts Guide to Becoming a Portrait Photographer
Without noticing, I’m becoming a portrait photographer. I was watching a live VLOG from Tony and Chelsea Northrup about unconventional portraiture and it got me thinking about my own work and in particular how it has changed over the years. Introversion I’m not a people person. Interactions with strangers and even acquaintances are often awkward […]
Fire the Works – Photographing Fireworks
Blowing things up is as American as Apple Pie. There is nothing us Americans love more than launching some fireworks, or maybe drinking a bear while someone else launches them. Thanks to the fact that they are bright (explosions = bright) photographing fireworks is pretty easy. Just about any camera can do it assuming it […]
Compositing Using Blend Modes in Affinity Photo
Affinity photo blend modes are one of the best shortcuts available when compositing images. If a lighten only or darken only blend mode work for the hard parts of your composite (the edges) then it will greatly simplify compositing. Fixing a “oops” Using Lighten Only Blending The rain “failed” during a recent “soaked” portrait shoot […]
Architectural Photography: 4 Early Masters
After preparation for a recent class at Precision Camera on Architectural Photography, I wanted to share some highlights of four master architectural photographers working in the mid-twentieth century. By studying the work and motivations of these photographers, we can learn what has been successful in the past and give us a foundation for moving our […]
Milky Way Photography with Capture One and Affinity Photo
Capture One and Affinity Photo are powerful milky way photo editing tools. Combining them adds a whole new dimension to milky way photography. Check out this edit walk through of a milky way photo on Padre Island National Seashore. Editing Milky Way Photos with Capture One and Affinity Photo Capture One is my go-to […]