Photographing Automobiles

Classic Car Dirt Track
Smiling Packard
Images by Dick Bloom {All rights reserved} copyrighted image

The art of capturing the beauty of a classic car is challenging for the average photographer.

Having a working knowledge of the classic vehicle is a plus when working in this genre of imaging.

A professional automotive photographer is usually working with some difficult restraints. Always be aware of the background for distractions such as wires, poles, and general clutter such as advertising or buildings.

Eliminating any objects that will pull the viewers attention away from the vehicle should be a priority.

Find an appropriate location that will add that certain flare to the car.

For shooting a classic hot rod image, find a retro drive-in with carhops and neon to bring out the 50’s feel.

On the other hand, if you are capturing the essence of an early Packard touring car find a stretch of back road with no macadam or guardrails.

Give the image of the auto a feel of the era from which it came.

Lighting is the next concern for a great automotive image.

You can utilize natural light although sometimes it can be contrasty when shooting shiny or gleaming finishes and chrome highlights.

Capture the personality of the car it could be a beautiful flowing art deco style hood ornament, the fin of a DeSoto or the grill of an Edsel.

The key is to know the vehicle’s intricacies. Maybe taking an image of the logo on a Plymouth Superbird’s wing could tell the story without shooting an image of the entire vehicle.

Do not be afraid to experiment with various shooting angles to get a unique view for the viewer.

Following these guidelines will help you get that automotive money shot.


Happy trails
Till next time
Dick Bloom

Always Look Up

Orionurania



Check out this interactive Constellation site!

Officially 88 constellations exist.

Aries, the first constellation of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, its stars forms both head and horns of Chrysomallus, a mythical golden flying “Ram”.

Greek mythology tells the tale of a flying Ram being sent to save Helle and her twin brother Phrixus from death by their hateful stepmother, only the son was saved, after Chrysomallus delivered Phrixus safely to Kolchis {an ancient city near the Black Sea} the ram told Phrixus to sacrifice him, his will was done, as a farewell gift the “Ram” gave his golden hide.

Upon his demise he went into the sky and placed himself amongst the stars, since his golden hide was gone, the “Ram” is not a bright constellation.

The “Big Dipper” is easily located, the seven stars that form the dipper and handle are part of Ursa Major {Big Bear}. The Big Dipper can be used to find true north using the Pointers, the two stars that form the dipper’s edge point to the North Star{Polaris} in Ursa Minor{Little Bear},the Little Dipper, Polaris is the tip of the Little Dipper.

Remember Polaris’s position and never be lost at night again.

The constellation the “Crow” came to be as the tale goes due to the tardiness of the crow in bringing water to Apollo in a cup, the crow dallied feasting on figs, realizing his lateness he captured a water snake to blame for the lengthy task, upon his return, to punish the crow the angered Apollo not believing the tale thrust the trio into the sky, for eternity the crow was kept from the water cup by the folds of the snake enduring perpetual thirst. Unable to reach the water cup its call would no longer be sweet but forever a raspy caw.

Folks always Remember to Look UP!!

Happy star gazing trails
Til our next meet'n
Dick Bloom

Flower Photo Tips

Image from the Library of Congress


The art of flower photography is a combination of photographic genres, which include landscape, art photography, abstract design imaging, and even a touch of modernistic art.

A famous photographer known for her botanical images is Imogene Cunningham. A good place to gain knowledge about capturing images of flowers would be by viewing Cunningham’s catalog of work. Her images of natural beauty and exotic shapes seem to transform the world into a spirit of fantasy. Cunningham's images change the viewers thoughts of nature!

To capture great botanical images one must have the proper gear. Having a decent film SLR or a DSLR camera, a proper lens such as 100mm f 2.8 with macro capabilities and a good sturdy tripod are the basic tools for great flower images.

Some basic tips for capturing great photos of flowers is to always have the subject well lit, using natural light is a plus but adding a touch of fill flash by bouncing or using a flash diffuser will add pop to the flower image and remove any shadowy distractions.

Always make sure you have a clean background with no diversions.

Another tip is to carry a spray bottle of water in your bag of tricks. A quick spritz can add depth to a mundane flower image by making the bloom appear fresh as the morning dew.

Shooting the image at the right period of a flowers life cycle can also be used to add interest to the shot, a flower that is not completely opened can hint at innocence in the world.

A flower with some petals that are not perfect can also add reality to the feeling of a flower image.

Always try to fill the frame with the complete blossom image or with a large field of flowers with one flower in the forefront to add depth to the image.

Shoot at different angles and from all sides of the flower to achieve great botanical images.


Journey Forward into the world of Nature and shoot mother earth's bounty!


Good Shooting friends!

Happy photo trails
Till next time

Dick Bloom

World of Photography Education

Angle Action by Dick Bloom {all rights reserved} copyrighted image

The world of photography is an education onto itself because the best way to learn about the essence of capturing a great image is to view all the photographers that have come before.

It is essential to have great photography books of the contemporary photographer’s works as a reference.

To be able to view black and white images from photographers such as Ansel Adams and study his wondrous skill with the play of light and shadow in the wild and in his portraits of famous individuals.

Adams and Fred Archer came up with the Zone System to enable photographers to learn about the interaction of the photographer’s visualization of a scene and the final result of the shot.

The system is one of the major teaching tools used for aspiring photographers.

Learning photography technique is only one small part of the process; another major part is to understand the technical issues of a camera such as aperture and depth of field.

Aperture can be understood by viewing a detached lens from a camera, so it is useful to use a 35 SLR or DSLR so the aperture or opening can be viewed with the naked eye.

Depth of field is the portion of the image that is the sharpest.

These items can be easily taught with a basic tool, the simple pinhole camera made from an old oatmeal box.

This unique homemade camera is derived from the earliest use of light to make an image, it was known as the Camera Obscura, and was used by Leonardo DaVinci as a drawing tool.

Many books and instructions are available to inform would be photographers how to build a pinhole camera.

Lots of Luck in your pursuit of the Photography World!

Till next time.

Happy Photography trails

Dick Bloom

MUD Yumm

Few Federals drank their coffee with milk; it was not part of the ration and cost too much to buy from the sutler. Coffee with sugar was usually the order of the day when it came to sucking down a cup of camp coffee.

When the troops received sugar rations most soldiers mixed with their coffee at the time of issue. This ensured a somewhat sweet cup of coffee each time it was made.

With rarely, any shortage of coffee beans, many regiments were issued out of the ordinary rifles, one per 100-man company, with a coffee grinder built into the stock.

The standard recipe for brewing the best coffee was slow roasted over a low fire, "until of a chestnut brown color and not burnt, as is so commonly done."

It was to be boiled briskly for two minutes, then take from the fire at once, a little cold water thrown in, then the boiler's contents poured through a piece of flannel after it had settled for five minutes."

Sounds like Starbucks RIGHT!

Press Correspondents and the American Civil War

Antietam Dead from the LOC archives



Don’t think that the current nightly news has just become a slanted situation where it is liberal, conservative, or some other situation!

The {War Correspondent} as a profession came into its own during the American Civil War as various media publication most were local based of course.

Yes they were very partisan at the time and it wasn’t just Reb and Yank based some Northern newspapers held high the issues that were dear to the Southern cause!

Reporting was very slanted to match up to the editorial viewpoint much like the world sees in FOXNEWS, MSNBC, etc.

Some folks accept as true that the slanted reporting could have helped to force the necessary wedge between the factions that led to secession.

Actually starting the American Civil War and just like the current situation with input from WikiLeaks revealing details of planned or past operations that could put troops in harms way.

Many field correspondents would add puffery to the commanding Generals circumstances and his exploits to have him viewed favorably by the country.

By doing these favors, commanding Generals would aid the field correspondents with support in the field.

While the Army was not required to provide food, access to the mail and the telegraph these favorable, reports helped to grease the wheels of journalism.

The media also delivered consecutive reports on various battles and the war in general sometimes the reports were as mentioned before sometimes puffed up and sometimes they were actual reports which exposed blunders and ineptitude.

The newspapers of the time served as Reb and Yank cheerleaders, no matter how buoyant or unpromising the day’s input.

Many of the generals on both sides of the conflict wanted nothing to do with the reporters!

Grant, said, in essence, "You are professionals. Do your job, I'll do mine.”

Lincoln frequently welcomed them to the White House. He even used them for his confidants in giving him more current and accurate information than the input delivered by courier from his field commanders.

Jefferson Davis never held a press conference EVER!

Photography Fame

A Storm Rages by Dick Bloom {All rights reserved} copyrighted image

A photographer is someone who is energized by the world that exists all around them, no matter where that may be.

Many contemporary photographers that have gained notoriety have done so by their inimitable visions they have viewed through their respective camera lenses.

For example, Ansel Adams, the man that is known for his stunning images of landscapes of national parks in America especially Yosemite, and the Sierra Nevadas such as his 1944 Yosemite image “Autumn Tree Against Cathedral Rocks” or his 1948 “Moon and Mountain McKinley.” Adams is also noted for his famous “zone system” of imaging.

Famous photgrapher Ernst Haas once said that photography was a bridge between art and science, this thought could be seen in his images such as his 1950 image called “Sea Gun” or his new 1952 New York City, “Oil Spill.”

Being able to see beyond the ordinary to capture distinctive images is what drives great photographers create their art.

Famous women photographers of whom many folks have not had the pleasure of their one of a kind art such as Dorothea Lange’s 1942 image “This is America: Keep it Free” or her famous 1936 image “Migrant Mother.”

Lange became famous for her compassionate images of the dust bowl era, which truly spoke of those hard times in America!

Another woman photographer whose drive and extraordinary visions propelled her to greatness was Life Magazine photographer Margaret-Bourke-White who was noted as being the first woman war correspondent; she was present in 1945 at the Buchenwald Nazi concentration to photograph the horrors of the war when the camp was liberated.

These individuals are but a few of the truly visionary photographers that have captured the world in images for folks everywhere to observe and remember those poignant photographic messages.

Olympic National Park, Washington

Please click the title for a slide show of the park


Olympic National Park is essentially three parks in one: A coast with enormous boulders or "sea stacks" just off the water's edge, a rainforest as green and lush as any you'd hope to find, and rugged, glacier-capped mountains in the heart of the park. Scattered among the remaining acreage are lakes, streams, and flower-laden meadows. Visitors can drive around the outer edge of the Olympic Peninsula, but 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness. That means no cars can cross through it—even bicycles are prohibited in most of the park. The sheer size of this protected space, coupled with dramatic changes in elevation and precipitation, create diverse habitats for a variety of plants and animals—and a few species, such as the Olympic marmot, can only be found within the park.



If you enjoy winter sports, Olympic offers snowshoeing and skiing, including snowshoe rentals and ranger-led tours, at Hurricane Ridge, just south of Port Angeles and accessible by car Fridays through Sundays during the winter. The colder months are also an excellent time to visit the temperate rainforests on the west side of the park, which turn a lush green as the snow melts.

View the slideshow http://www.npca.org/explore_the_parks/safari/olympic-national-park/

Photographing the Soul

Abe Lincoln {Jim Getty} by Dick Bloom {All rights reserved copyrighted image}

This image was shot during the dedication of the Gettysburg Train Station where President Lincoln arrived on the trip to speak at the dedication of the National Cemetery!

Portraiture photography is a very unique and specialized genre of photography.

It comprises not only the elements and technical knowledge of taking a great image but also that of design and staging of the subject being shot.

The subject of a formal portrait can be of varied items; people, house pets, racehorses, prize bulls or just about anything important in an individual’s existence.

The key to award winning and sought after portraiture captures not only the figure in its glory but the soul of the subject.

When having your formal portrait shot consider the story you want to express.

Are you a racecar driver? Then at the track with your vehicle would be a great backdrop.

If you are Judge then in your chambers formally dressed with your law library as a backdrop.

They are the props of your life and should reflect the inner self to the viewers of that portrait.

Many famous portrait photographers make a very good living capturing rock stars, celebrities, well-known icons of business, and sports maven’s souls.

Annie Leibovitz the chief photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine shot her portraiture work for the covers of the popular rock magazine.

Her first subject for the magazine was John Lennon. Other icons of the world from Bill Clinton to Suri Cruise have also graced her lens.

World famous portrait photographer Man Ray had the nabobs of the world such as Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Aldous Huxley all seek him out to do his magical style of portraiture of their souls.


Smile

Learn to shoot the soul in the eyes!
Dick Bloom

Happy portrait trails

Dick Bloom

Photographing Objects

With lots of folks working from home doing artwork, selling items online and marketing their own products creating images is a skill folks will need to perfect.

The camera is all-important as is the lens being used. A low-end digital SLR camera would work fine for object photography.

It should offer manual white balance feature, and interchangeable lenses and a hot shoe for flash work.

For this work, a good lens would be a 35 to 70 mm f 2.8 unit this will enable you to get good wide-angle shots and zoom into highlight certain areas of an object.

A shoe style flash unit that has a movable head for bouncing flash will make lighting your objects easier.

A tripod is a must for the most professional looking object images.

Lighting is the biggest issue you will encounter doing this type of photography work.

If possible, shoot using natural light if not build or purchase a light box to shoot in.

The white balance will be different for every object, just experiment till you understand the process.

Always bracket your images, shoot an image at the light meter recommendation then one stop before and one stop after this should assure great object images.

Backgrounds should have no distracting clutter. If you are shooting objects that have glass over them make sure you are not getting glass glare if need be remove the glass to shoot.

This should not be a problem if you are not using flash. Foamcore board either white or black works well for a shooting background.

With practice, your object images will project a professional appearance to your viewers.


Good Luck in your shooting ventures!

Happy photo trails

Dick Bloom

How to Get Better Vacation Photos

Getting those images that will make your family and friends feel as if they were actually there on vacation with you is not as hard as many folks think.

First, remember to tell the story of your journey give the jaunt a beginning, middle, and an end.

Make sure you have your gear in tiptop shape, have plenty of backups including an extra camera, media cards, or film, plenty of batteries for the camera and the flash.

Before you head out get images of the family getting ready for vacation, packing, loading the car, the six trips back for the forgotten items or any other out of the ordinary or funny occurrences as your starting the journey.

Get close-ups of those faces with cherry soda smiles at the rest stop, shoot the mundane.

Get an image of that weird vehicle passing you on the dirt road to nowhere.

When you finally arrive at the destination, get a group shot, an image of the digs where you are hanging your hats for a while.

The vacation spot is the highlight so shoot, shoot, shoot those native scenes even if it’s at Uncle Barneys Barbecue, show them the ribs baby.

Images are always better when you take the time to shoot what most folks don’t take the time to see.

Get off the beaten path shoot the sights away from the ordinary flow of folks.

Take lots of candid close up images of the family.

View postcards then find a different perspective or angle to shoot the ordinary postcard sites they show.

Shoot the tourists doing what you’re doing, being tourists.

Shoot the departure from paradise and the arrival at home base.

Tell the whole story and everything about it for the photo memories of a lifetime.

"To see the world is to judge the judges."



Happy Vacation Trails
Dick Bloom

Get Framed

Choosing the proper frame for your artwork can be a chore because there are many aspects to take into consideration. The size of the artwork will help to determine some of the parameters of choosing the best frame for display enhancement.

For example if the artwork is 8”x10” you could frame the image simply by choosing a frame in which the image would fit. To enhance the image, a frame several inches larger such as a 10”x12” would allow the use of a mat giving the overall presentation a larger more appealing format.

Selecting the style of frame involves several aspects such as the location where the artwork will hang as well as the size of the work.

There are numerous types of frames including wooden frames of various widths and depths of molding, metal frames, acrylic frames, and cloth or canvas covered wood units.

Quality is another consideration in selection buying an inexpensive frame may not be the cheapest method overall.

A frame is the artworks security system the better the quality the more protection provided for that one of a kind piece of art.

Artwork should always be matted using archival grade matboard, which is acid free to protect the artwork from deterioration.

The glass for used for framing is also important if you are framing photography or works of art on paper you should use a UV blocking glass to keep the sun or artificial light from fading the artwork.

Framing oil paintings and various other media on canvas is usually not covered with glass because the covering detracts from the media’s presentation.

Good Luck with your artwork!

Happy trails
Dick Bloom

Photography Crossroads

Setting out on the pathway to becoming a professional photographer offers numerous directions at the crossroads.

Much like the story of the bluesman who sold his soul to play the blues, so goes professional photography.

In today’s world of digital photography having an eye for the image is more important than ever before. A pro digital camera is helpful to the aspiring photographer due to the fact that you gain instant images. No more heading back to the darkroom or to a film processor to see if you really got the money shot.

The gear shows you if you got the shot. In the days of film, either black and white or color producing an image of superior quality was neither quick nor easy.

The darkroom work was what separated a pro photographer from an amateur. Most professional photographers start out as an amateur with used professional gear or low-end gear.

They start by having a love affair with light and how it interacts with everything it touches.

They spend their Friday nights shooting high school sports or working free at a local newspaper just to get published.

This work will be an evaluation to see if you want to pursue this career path.

Professional photography is a misnomer because unlike many professionals no degree is required usually no license is needed.

Some ways to gain the technical skills of photography are to attend a four-year school and obtain a degree.

Another is to become an intern with a professional.

Learn the ropes and strike out on your own.

Alternatively, you can be self-taught and self-starting and go from there, in essence selling your soul to get the money shot.

Good Shooting Folks

Happy trails

Dick Bloom

The Lost Balloon

The balloon is FREE!

Blue Smile

Blue Smile by Dick Bloom

This image is my meager attempt at the abstract world of imaging! I have also posted an earlier image "Modern Religion." The method to my madness is to shoot a mundane image and allow my creative juices to flow into the image via Adobe and various filters. I hope you all enjoy my artwork and input into the photography world!!

Til' next time Happy Trails Folks
Dick Bloom

The News in Photos

Photojournalism is a niche in photography like no other genre of the craft.

Many times a photojournalist has to put their lives in perilous predicaments to get that front-page feature image.

When folks view an image on the front page of a newspaper, it should be able to relate the basis for the storyline in the article. A photojournalist will be in the line of fire when they are expected to capture thrilling, action packed, and insightful images to set the senses of the viewer on fire.

The history of the photojournalistic image dates to the Crimean War {1853/1856} and to the first photojournalist Carl Szathmari.

European Royals viewed his war images in their homes, only a few of them have survived.

Photojournalists such as Alexander Gardner, Matthew Brady, and other photographers captured images of battles during the American Civil War.

Photojournalistic ethics must enter the discussion at this point. Alexander Gardner had no ethics when it came to sensationalizing an image. He moved a soldier’s body while shooting images at the aftermath of the famous Battle of Gettysburg to appear as though the dead soldier was a sniper at Devil’s Den. It took 98 years for his unethical behavior to come to the light of day.

In the niche of photojournalism an image must be above all reproach or the credibility of the story is lost. A photojournalistic image has to be timely, objective, and show a storyline that relates to the event.

Henri Cartier-Bresson, the grandfather of photojournalism along with his contemporaries founded Magnum Photos.

Cartier-Bresson stated, "Magnum is a community of thought, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on in the world, a respect for what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually."

"I fear three newspapers more than a hundred thousand bayonets!"

Napoleon

Photography Schools

Modern Religion by Dick Bloom

Deciding which institution to attend to learn the skills needed to be a photographer is a chore.

The advent of digital photography has created an entire culture of Art Institutes.

Teaching digital camera techniques and digital darkroom software classes does not require the expense of operating a huge conventional darkroom.

They can teach photography online. Teach the classes, give the assignments, students shoot the assignments and upload the assignments for critiques.

Hence, less expensive class prices makes photography education more available to the masses.

How do you choose a school that fits your requirements?

You must first have an idea of what you want to do as a photographer. The profession is very broad. It includes; Art, fashion, commercial, professional portraiture, photojournalism or an array of other genres of the career.

Maybe you just want to learn more about your own camera and computer software to further your skills in photography. Many time you can find a local professional shooter that would be willing to work with you in your pursuit of the photography world!

There are many accredited online classes such as Academy of Art in San Francisco. The school was founded in 1929 and offers accredited degrees from Associate Degrees to Master of Arts degrees all online.

American Intercontinental University Online offers online degrees in Photography ranging from Associates Degrees, Bachelors, and Masters degrees in an accelerated format.

The New York University - School of Continuing and Professional Studies boasts the best online high tech classroom.

These are just a few of the top photography schools offering online education.

You may want look into two and four year schools that offer online classes for their students.

In my "links I like" there is an array of various types of photography education classes! Please check them out, one may be just your cup of tea/coffee or whatever it is you may drink.


Good luck in your pursuit of imaging.

Happy trails
Dick Bloom

Illustrious Sunset and Sunrise Photos

The Hang'n Tree by Dick Bloom

To capture award winning sunset or sunrise images remember these safety tips. First, never peer directly into the sun through the lens of your camera.

Two main reasons for this rule are it can damage your eyes. Secondly, it can damage the delicate light sensitive CCD in your digital camera. If you a using a film camera the same rules apply about peering into the direct sun no sensor to damage just your eye.

A stunning blazing sunset with its vivid colors ranging from deep blues to blazing orange and all of the rainbow mixed in can be a thrilling sight to behold.

To capture the true essences of a sunset or sunrise follow the rule of thirds.

A sunset should be part of the image not the image.

A huge expanse of ocean and sky needs to have an anchor, a foreground of some sort. It could be a tree, a structure, a person, a memorial; the object will add depth to the image.

Clouds add personality to the majestic vision of the mundane daily occurrence of the sun setting in the west or rising in the east.

To technically snap that memorable sunset the gear you need is a tripod, a long fast lens such as an 80mm to 200mm 2.8 unit, and a selection of filters to enhance the colors of the image, and a camera you can set manually.

Automatic meters will underexpose sunsets because it reads that the scene is too bright.

Get your gear set up just before sunset and begin to shoot as the sun has set and continue shooting until darkness takes over the scene.

Bracketing is recommended for the shots to assure getting the proper exposure.

Shoot lots of images and experiment with exposure and you will get an illustrious sunset image most of the time.

Remember that a photograph of a sunset or sunrise can be spectacular for sure but don’t get hung up shooting inanimate objects.

Go for the gusto and capture live bodies and the essence of the soul contained therein!! The eyes are the window to a person’s inner depths, look at the eyes!

Grab that camera and go for it.

Good Shooting!

Happy trails
Dick Bloom
Til' next time

Clean Air in Our National Parks

Did you know that air pollution is on the rise in our national parks? "Air pollution" and "national parks" shouldn't even be in the same sentence. We expect clean air when we visit national parks.

Restoring clean air to national parks is the duty of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)--a duty that has been cast aside for too long. NPCA is sending a delegation of members from across the country to Washington, DC on October 17 to tell EPA and Congress that Americans love their parks and want to see clear views and breathe healthy air now and for generations to come.

Take Action: Send your comments to EPA Administrator Jackson by October 14, adding your voice to our delegation, and urging EPA to enforce the Regional Haze Rule, the Clean Air Act program designed to improve air quality in national parks, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges.

Thank you for speaking up for clean air in our national parks. Future generations will appreciate your action today!

Sincerely,



Stephanie Kodish
Clean Air Counsel
http://www.cleanair.org/

Edward Weston

To view the images of Edward Weston Please visit his input at

http://www.edward-weston.com/edward_weston.htm

The photography career of Edward Weston began when he received a Brownie camera in 1902 as a sixteenth birthday gift. Several of his favorite photo haunts were Chicago parks and his aunt’s farm where he found a wide variety of subjects to shoot. He always searched for images that could satisfy his out of the box style of imaging.

The Chicago Art Institute noticed Weston’s unique style after only one year of his experimentation with photography. At seventeen, he had his first photography show at the prestigious institute.

Photography had hooked the young man. He eventually moved to California to pursue his passion of photographing the natural form.

His study of objects such as plants, vegetables, seashells, landscapes, and the nude form were important works in establishing himself in the world of fine art imaging.

In 1932, he became a co-founder of the Group f64. The group consisted of himself and his contemporaries Imogene Cunningham, Ansel Adams, John Paul Edwards, Sonya Noskowiak, Willard Van Dyke, and Henry Swift.

The Group f64 became famous for the sharp depth of field they obtained by utilizing large format cameras set at f64 enabling them to make tack sharp 8’x10” contact prints.

Despite Weston's fame he survived by marketing his images for $7 to $10 per print; recently a Weston print fetched 1.6 million dollars.

A quote from the man considered the greatest photographer of the 20th Century. "Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it may be."