Event photography

Event photography, another genre of photography capturing events such as weddings, birthday parties, casual parties, conferences and other mega events. As we know photography of any genre requires quality of light, similarly event photography also falls in the same category. The core of those particular photographs are the colors. Different varieties of bright colors makes the image more attractive and pleasing.

In event photography, the angle at which the image is captured greatly effects the image overall. Though it is not easy to move the camera in any direction or angle you want especially when capturing an opening ceremony or even birthday parties. You have to deal with your equipment and your angle because the same action would not be repeated by the subjects again and again. Event photography mostly contain images such as side pose, front pose, group photo, etc. You cannot bring abstraction in your photography and make it look like a distorted image. The image must be balanced, well composed and bringing out the expressions of your subject in that image makes it worth it. Backside poses are often captured during event photography.

Colors bring life in your photography. Similarly as I said before, capturing Expressions of the subjects completes the image. All the laughs, cheering, smiles, happiness, etc. becomes a memory saved inside that rectangular sheet and watching these images brings out all the memories that took place long time ago. Event photography do not need the posing and pausing. It only requires a good occasion and the spark that hides inside you and shines when you photograph. 

From pretender to contender

Dating back in 1980’s, owning a camera was a big deal. Photography was not very common and no digital media was available, just a single reel inside the rectangular box to capture the moment.  But now, the advancement in technology has made life easier. Number of gadgets which includes a camera in it are being introduced by various companies and most of the people carry the same gadgets. Now a days, people who own a DSLR call themselves photographers though they are not. Photography does not mean holding an expensive camera and pretending to be a photographer, it is how to frame your image and choosing the best one you have captured so far.

To differentiate yourself from a pretender, here are some clues that makes you different from these people.

·         The camera is handed over to you by your friends at parties to take photographs.

·         You never run out of batteries.

·         You highly focus on light rather than what the subject is wearing.

·         You notice people who have a DSLR and focus on what camera and lens he or she have.

·         People ask for your opinion before buying a camera.

·         You prefer to take pictures in manual mode rather than auto.

·         You take dozens of pictures every day. (Not selfies but people around you and the surroundings).

·          You understand the difference between bouquet and a flower arrangement.

·         You now know about your camera’s ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

·         You travel in search of a right moment to capture.

Abstract Photography

The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness.”                                                                                                          ―Yann Arthus Bertrand 

In photography, an important thing is that you have to have something to say about the world. Subject matter alone is not enough therefore you have to look at the world in an abstract way. Abstract photography emphasis on the abstract elements of forms. The photograph must contain a kind of unity in it. Abstraction can be created using shadows.

Abstract photography is a demanding art in which photographers not just take a picture, they produce it. It is the depictions of inanimate subject matter. It is not just a photograph, but a small scenery shown with abstraction. All you need is to find the right place and time for the best light exposure, with maximum shadows around to create abstraction. You also need to keep your creative eyes open all the time to see where the art is hiding so that you can capture it with ease. It can be anywhere, anything or anyone. It requires concentration, and proper timings to look for propping and surfaces. You have to find order in the chaos, find out what it is you have to see and make it work in a rectangular space. Finding and cropping the image within the rectangular space is necessary and creating abstraction in that image. Abstract photography give the photographer more leeway in the arrangement of design elements within a composition. Abstract images can be just about anything that doesn't move.

Street Photography

“Seeing is not enough; you have to feel what you photograph”
                                                                                                               – Andre Kertesz

Capturing people and the scenery with proper composition, photographing people without being noticed by the subject and bringing the feeling and emotions in that one click is a part of street photography. It features subjects in a situation within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls etc. The primary subject is people, at rest or in motion, alone or with others, going about the everyday activities of life. The techniques used are the same as that of straight photography as it is to show a pure vision of a situation. More than anything, Street Photography is an attitude and an openness to being amazed by what comes in your way. A beginning to recognize that extraordinary, beautiful and subtle stories that occurs every day in your life in front of you. Street photography is an art that features the human condition within public places and does not necessitate the presence of a street or the urban environment. While photographing, observing the surroundings and feeling the elements that makes up the life of that particular place, especially light, is important for street photography.

Photographs taken are usually unplanned. These photographs mostly involve people in which most of them do not even have a clue that they are being photographed. Street photography go hand in hand, any day, any time, and any second you just need to have a feeling to capture that moment and keep your creative eye open.

Portraits

“A good portrait is incredibly hard to create, there is too much temptation to pander to the individual rather than portray them as they really were”                                                                     -Philippe Halsman

The portrait of a person is one of the most difficult things to capture because in order to do it means you must almost bring the presence of that person being photographed to the people in such a way that by just looking at it, the people can sense the emotions and depth in the photograph. The expressions are captured ethically and there is no doubt of confusion about the subject emotions. Expressions like Happiness, sorrow, worries and even expressionless faces can be easily identified by just giving a quick glimpse to the portraits. The image that is unforgettable is called a portrait.

Portrait photography usually focuses the person's face. Working with camera, you have to see the reality and find order to make that perfect click in a rectangular space but how to find that right order? Here light plays a fundamental role in capturing a portrait. Right amount of light is essential to capture a photograph either it is taken in a room (two important things to light a portrait are window and a reflector) or outside in direct sunlight. Similarly, composition, choice of lens, camera angle, etc are also equally important for portrait photography.

Roaming around streets and capturing portraits of random people who do not have any idea that they are being photographed is a challenging task but at the same time an exceptional thing to perform. In this way the people express themselves how they are feeling from the inside. There are no fake expressions and the reality is clearly seen in the photograph. 

Classic Photography

      You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”                                                    - Ansel Adams

    
    But how can someone make a photograph? What should be included or excluded to make that one perfect click which the viewers would love to see? Photography is not about how the camera views the subject but how you see it. Emotions, sensibility and an eye for the perfect moment are the ingredients of good photography. Classic photography is something which captures rare moments and things that happens at instant. It is the perfect shot with a thought provoking content which pulls the reader or viewer to take a good look on the picture just to figure out what’s really happening. These types of shots are not easy to catch but they can be captured at right time and right place. Most of the photographers work with classic photography due to its uniqueness and perfection. There is no need of electronics, no Photoshop and no photo choosing out of 100 other shots; just one perfect click. All you need is a good camera and the sense of taking the picture which should convey the emotions of the subject to the viewer hence getting the similar feelings. These emotions can be of happy moments, joy, friendship, sorrow, memories and even a dull face which sometimes becomes complicated to understand. The portrait of Mona Lisa (though it is a painting) can be an example of how a classic picture should look like. Her facial expressions are difficult to understand as some people suggest she is smiling, other say she is sad. The portrait only restrict to her expressions (not the background).  Similarly classic photography captures images that restrict only to what the subject is feeling. Classic image provides a strong emotional aspect with just the minimum required context to pull people in who have not been there and brings out the feeling to them. It is the emotion and history behind the image that makes it classic otherwise images of landscapes would have been counted as the best pictures every time.

Light and Shadows

Wherever there is light, one can photograph.”
                      – Alfred Stieglitz

 It is pretty obvious that a person is totally dependent on light when it comes to photography. It is kind of normal thing for a photographer. After all without light, there would be no photography. Light is the only source that can be easily exploited by a photographer with any camera to produce a beautiful picture. With light, a photographer will always find a shadow following close behind; ignoring the fact that light is what makes the photo possible. Exploring the quality and direction of light differentiate between a good and a great photo. When playing with light in day to day images, finding how light interacts with the subject, which quite often means watching for, and incorporating shadows. This is why Professional photographers invest more on lighting equipment than the average person spends on cameras in a lifetime.

In our daily life, we see shadow along with light. Shadow is a part of good photography. Without shadows, photographs will have no meaning. Many say that the shadow is the absence of light. Well that is true, because the object that blocks the light forms a shadow. But in photography, shadow is a black reflection of the subject we are focusing. Light and shadows, when work together, create a beautiful visual. When it comes to elevating everyday subjects into an art form, shadow can be just the visual element to help you do it. Using your subject's shadow, or even a shadow casting from something nearby, you are allowing it to share the stage with the light. Shadows can be mysterious, exaggerated, or quite frank; and using them in the right manner can make some pretty fun and unique images. Light and Shadows, both work together as a team. You cannot have one without the other therefore always keep your eyes open for both in order to produce something extra ordinary.