Barcelona Photoblog: photography
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

July 30, 2023

The Essential Guide to Taking Travel Photos in Barcelona

Harbor couples at Moll de la Fusta, Barcelona, Spain - street photo by Carlos Lorenzo

Barcelona is one of the most photogenic cities in Europe with staggering Gothic architecture, vibrant street life, brightly-colored markets, and alluring Mediterranean light. Taking unique travel photos in Barcelona with preparation and photographic knowledge can elevate your images to the next level. Given the abundance of scenic spots in the city, capturing incredible photos may seem effortless. However, it took me years to train my eye and gain expertise that can help save you time and energy in your photography journey.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover insider tips from pro photographers to help elevate your skills for taking travel photos in Barcelona.

Planning Your Barcelona Photo Shoot Locations

The key to a successful Barcelona photo trip starts with planning where and when to shoot:

1. Look Up Photogenic Landmarks

Research Barcelona’s main architectural and landmark photography spots like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter. Studying images of these locations will spark ideas and reveal the best angles.

2. Dig Into Neighborhood Gems

Look beyond the main tourist sites to Barcelona's unique neighborhoods. Areas like Gràcia, Born and Poblenou have small curated plazas, street art and shops that tell the local story.

3. Study Lighting Conditions

Consider the changing daylight and colors in Barcelona across seasons and times of day. Early morning and late afternoon often have the most dramatic light.

4. Account for Weather and Events

Plan for how weather and events may alter your locations. A rainy day in Park Güell will have a very different vibe from a sunny one. Festivals like La Mercè also offer unique photo ops.

5. Mix Famous Sites with Local Life

Blend major landmarks with local culture by exploring offbeat areas like the Raval neighborhood. This allows capturing a true Barcelona experience.

By scouting locations thoughtfully, you’ll discover amazing photography spots away from the crowds.

Packing the Essential Photography Gear

Carrying lightweight photography gear while traveling is key:

1. DSLR or Mirrorless Camera

A DSLR or mirrorless camera allows full creative control and interchangeable lenses for quality images. Consider weather sealing if shooting outdoors extensively.

2. Wide Angle and Zoom Lenses

Pack a wide angle like 18-35mm to capture expansive city scenes along with a 70-200mm zoom to isolate architectural details.

3. Tripod or Monopod

A tripod or monopod keeps cameras steady, especially for low light shots. Look for a lightweight, collapsible option.

4. Remote Shutter Release

To avoid blurry shots, a remote shutter release allows triggering the camera without touching it. Essential for long exposures.

5. Spare Batteries and Storage Cards

Carry extra charged batteries and high capacity memory cards to shoot all day without worrying about missing a shot.

The right minimalist kit tailored to your style will let you travel light while having full shooting flexibility.

Tips for Photographing Top Barcelona Landmarks

Barcelona’s iconic landmarks from La Sagrada Familia to Casa Milà demand unique photographic approaches to capture their grandeur:

1. Shoot La Sagrada Familia Exteriors at Golden Hour

The dizzying exterior of the UNESCO-listed basilica comes alive during the warm light at sunrise or sunset. Capture its texture from multiple angles.

2. Compose Wide Shots of Park Güell

Use a wide lens to emphasize the sprawling scale of Park Güell’s architecture along with the city views beyond. Position yourself on higher ground like the viaduct.

3. Photograph Casa Milà’s Organic Shapes

Highlights of the Gaudí masterpiece include the rippling stone facade and mushroom-esque chimneys. Move around for abstract geometric compositions.

4. Seek Reflections Along Montjuïc Magic Fountain

The Magic Fountain's water acrobatics provide fantastic reflections with Barcelona as a backdrop. Use slow shutter speeds to capture motion.

Each iconic site has sweet spots for composition and lighting. Visualize your desired photos before visiting to maximize your time there.

Getting Creative With Barcelona Architecture and Street Photography

Beyond the main sights, Barcelona’s streets are filled with captivating photographic possibilities:

1. Photograph La Rambla Eclectic Street Life

Capture a mix of street performers, flower stalls and architectural details along the storied La Rambla promenade. Convey both bustle and beauty.

2. Compose Surreal Architecture in Park Güell

The curving architecture along with colorful mosaics make for striking photos. Convert to black and white or boost color saturation to add an otherworldly effect.

3. Capture Quirky Barcelona Street Art

Barcelona’s street art scene provides endless opportunities for eye-catching photographs. Capture wall murals in full along with details.

4. Frame Intriguing Street Photography Moments

Keep your eyes open for candid moments like an abuelita hanging laundry or children playing soccer. Capture authentic local life.

Look for unique ways to portray familiar Barcelona scenes. Push your creativity by playing with lighting, angles, colors and composition.

Essential Techniques for Better Barcelona Travel Photos

Equipped with versatile photography skills, you can transform Barcelona’s sights into spectacular images:

1. Master Exposure and Focus

Learn exposure triangle fundamentals of aperture, shutter speed and ISO and techniques like bracketing to optimize exposure. Use hyperfocal distance and manual focus for tack sharp architecture shots.

2. Shoot During Golden Hour

The soft, warm light around sunrise and sunset flatters almost any subject. Time your sessions around golden hour for magical photos in Barcelona.

3. Utilize Leading Lines and Symmetry

Incorporate leading lines via roads or railings to draw the eye into images. Seek interesting symmetry among architectural patterns.

4. Learn Post-Processing Essentials

Post-processing allows polished images from improving tone, contrast and sharpness to cropping for better composition. Invest time into honing editing skills.

Elevate your images from tourist snaps to gallery-worthy shots with these essential photography skills.

Finding Inspiring Locations Off the Beaten Path

Venturing beyond Barcelona's core sights reveals underrated neighborhoods with stories to tell:

1. Discover Hidden Plaça del Sol

This overlooked square within Gràcia exudes vintage charm with its central fountain and surrounding cafés. A hidden gem.

2. Marvel at Castellers Human Towers

Castellers practice awe-inspiring human towers on weekends in local plazas. A unique Barcelona tradition.

3. Wander Through Former Factory Poblenou

Once an industrial hub, Poblenou is now filled with street art-adorned abandoned factories mixed among new developments.

4. Find Whimsical Pieces at Gaudi House Museum

Located in Park Güell, this museum provides a peek into the quirky interior designs of the famous architect.

Getting lost in charming local neighborhoods invariably leads to serendipitous photo ops away from main tourist zones.

Time of Day and Seasons for Great Barcelona Photos

Barcelona’s appearance transforms based on time of day and seasonal changes:

1. Capture Cool Tones on an Overcast Winter Day

The soft diffuse light on a cloudy day is perfect for evenly lit architectural shots. Post-process for moody, monochromatic streetscapes.

2. Photograph La Mercè Festival Street Performers

The festive September celebration fills the streets with musicians and creatives. Capture the electric energy.

3. Shoot at Golden Hours in Spring and Fall

The most comfortable seasons in Barcelona also offer ideal golden hour light to photograph plazas and parks.

4. Seek Out Summer Street Life

Locals flock to Barcelona beaches during summer. Photograph the lively scene along the seaside Barceloneta neighborhood.

Embrace Barcelona's unique ambiance during different seasons and times of day. Let the quality of light guide your photography outings.

Composing Better Travel Photos in Barcelona

Applying photographic principles immediately levels up your Barcelona pictures:

1. Frame Your Subject

Use archways, doors or foliage to frame your main subject in a contextual, eye-catching way. The resulting image tells a richer story.

2. Follow the Rule of Thirds

Position key elements near one of the intersection points of the thirds grid rather than center-framing. This creates an engaging, balanced composition.

3. Shoot from Creative Vantage Points

Vary your perspective by shooting from below, above, far away or other unconventional angles. Explore all possibilities.

4. Use Leading Lines to Draw Viewers In

Incorporate diagonal or curved lines via buildings, tracks, fences or stairs to direct the viewer's gaze into the frame.

Applying compositional techniques transforms snapshots into thoughtful, artistic Barcelona images.

Editing for Impactful Barcelona Travel Photos

Post-processing brings out the essence of your Barcelona images through targeted adjustments:

1. Enhance Architecture Details with Radial Filters

Use adjustment gradients to selectively brighten, darken or alter color in key areas like making façade details pop.

2. Boost Vibrancy Without Overdoing It

Lift muted tones, especially in landscaping, using HSL tools. But avoid oversaturated colors that look artificial.

3. Reduce Noise and Sharpen for Print Worthiness

Eliminate noise and grain while sharpening selectively to achieve clean, crisp images worthy of large gallery prints.

4. Crop for Stronger Composition

Trim excess elements via cropping to lead the eye towards key subjects and achieve more cohesive framing.

Elegant editing enhances mood, focus and visual impact. Handle edits with care to maintain authenticity.

Packing Light Photography Gear for Barcelona Travel

For mobility while sightseeing, minimalist photography gear is a must:

1. Mirrorless Camera with Pancake Lens

A compact mirrorless body paired with a tiny pancake prime lens provides powerful quality in a small package.

2. Single Lightweight Zoom Lens

An all-in-one zoom like a 24-70mm allows flexible framing from wide angles to portraits without swapping lenses.

3. Small Camera Bag or Pouch

Keep just essentials like camera, lens, spare battery and memory card in a compact bag for light trekking.

4. Smartphone Camera with Lens Add-On

Consider using just your phone camera with supplemental lenses like moment lenses for ultra-portability.

5. Monopod Instead of Tripod

A lightweight monopod steadies your camera and packs down small when space is tight.

Pick gear that lets you react quickly to photographic opportunities without weighing you down.

Finding the Essence of Barcelona

Aim to capture photos that reflect the true spirit of Barcelona beyond the landmarks:

1. Convey Local Lifestyle Through Street Life

Photograph everyday neighborhood moments that tell an authentic story like children playing soccer or old men debating.

2. Focus on Interesting Small Details

Zoom in on elements like intricately tiled steps, hanging flower pots or street mosaic tiles that reveal local culture.

3. Highlight Festivity

Capture Barcelona’s vibrant events and festivals like Castellers, La Mercè and the summer solstice Correfoc with motion and energy.

4. Show Barcelona’s Creative Spirit

See Barcelona through an artistic lens via architecture details, quirky sculptures and colorful street art.

Seek out photos that connect you to the city’s culture, people and unique aesthetic.

Choosing Where to Stay for Easy Barcelona Photography

Base yourself centrally in neighborhoods that offer great access to Barcelona's photographic hot spots:

1. Stay in Barri Gòtic to Walk to Top Sights

This central district puts you steps from the cathedral, Picasso museum and atmospheric alleys perfect for photography wanders.

2. Stay in L'Eixample for Modernism Masterpieces

Situated in L'Eixample, you can easily photograph modernism architecture like La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló.

3. Stay in Gràcia for Charming Plazas and Street Art

This microcosm of Barcelona offers photogenic local flavor among vintage squares and captivating street art .

4. Stay Near Barceloneta for Seaside Vibes

Photograph historic seaside relaxation along with colorful beach huts in this old port neighborhood.

Base yourself in neighborhoods with easy walking access to Barcelona's most photogenic spots for memorable images.

Avoiding Cliché Barcelona Travel Photos

Create one-of-a-kind Barcelona images by avoiding overdone compositions:

1. Don’t Shoot La Sagrada Familia Straight On

Instead, get closeups of architectural details or shoot from uncommon angles like from across the road.

2. Avoid Closeups of Park Güell Mosaics

Capture the mosaics in wider environmental shots rather than tight macro shots to add context.

3. Don't Just Shoot Barceloneta Beach Parasols

Expand beyond the row of iconic beach huts to show vibrant beach culture through people, activities and landscapes.

4. Skip Generic City Skyline Shots from High Vantage Points

Photograph Barcelona’s architecture from street level or interior plazas for an immersive perspective.

Getting creative with framing, timing and context ensures your images offer a fresh perspective beyond postcard-style shots.

Safety Tips for Barcelona Photography & Sightseeing

When photographing Barcelona, remain situationally aware as you would in any major city:

1. Keep Valuables out of Sight When Not Shooting

Avoid flaunting expensive photography gear when walking between locations. Only bring out gear when actively shooting.

2. Be Wary of Pickpockets in Tourist Zones

Areas with crowds like La Rambla require extra vigilance. Keep valuables secure and be cautious of diversion tactics.

3. Consider a Crossbody Camera Strap

Crossbody camera straps deter thieves and keep your hands free. Use one when navigating busy tourist spots.

4. Familiarize Yourself with City Safety Tips

Review Barcelona city safety recommendations like standing near others and limiting use of phones.

5. Photograph Responsibly

Don’t trespass or damage property. Be respectful when photographing people, especially children.

Remaining alert allows focusing on great photos without safety concerns.

Mastering the Art of Travel Photography in Barcelona

Barcelona’s striking architecture, captivating culture and idyllic Mediterranean light provide endless inspiration for brilliant travel photographs. By pre-planning locations, packing smart gear, honing techniques and exploring creatively, you’ll return home with stunning images that do justice to this vibrant city.

For more tips on capturing Barcelona's beauty with a travel and street photographer's perspective, do not miss Barcelona Photoblog’s previous work. Our acclaimed photography and blogging experience help visitors craft unforgettable Barcelona images.

Barcelona’s welcoming spirit makes it a delight to photograph. Wandering with open eyes, creative spirit and photographic skills, you’ll uncover amazing image opportunities around every corner. This guide equips you with everything needed to make the most of your Barcelona travels and bring home cherished pictures.

June 22, 2018

How To Use Your Smartphone To Take Great Photos





When you think of professional photography, a smartphone might not be the first piece of equipment that comes to mind, but, with the right knowledge and perhaps some useful apps and equipment, you can take stunning images with a smartphone. Here are some of the ways you can do it.

Use The Apps 

There are hundreds of different photography apps available for Apple and Android smartphones that can help you to create the most beautiful images without the need of expensive camera equipment (or in conjunction with the more high-tech equipment). Some of these apps will be free, and others will have a fee attached, so you’ll need to know what you want to spend (if anything) before you start, as this will narrow your search options down.

Some apps will help you take great photos; there are some that will tell you where the sun is going to be, for example, so that you can plan a photo shoot in advance, and some that can turn your phone into a pocket light meter. Others ensure that you have any paperwork you might need to be stored at your fingertips – model release forms can be useful, for example. Still, more will give you the ability to immediately and professionally edit your photographs when you have finished taken them.

Location Scouting

Location scouting is something that all good photographers will do. However, if you are visiting a number of different places, it can be difficult to remember exactly where they all are once you return home to plan your shoot. Using your smartphone will help you. You can snap a quick image of a great location, and the image will be geotagged for you. That way, even if you don’t know exactly where it is because you have gone for a walk and just stumbled across the place, you’ll easily be able to find your way back there thanks to your phone and its useful tagging feature.

It’s A Second Camera 

Most photographers will take two cameras with them whenever they are on a photoshoot. That way, should something go wrong, they have a backup. Alternatively, the second camera can be used to take candid shots or behind the scenes images which are always fun and can really add to the client’s experience of the day. Carrying two large SLR cameras around with you is difficult, though, and using your smartphone as your second camera can make things a lot easier.

A smartphone can also be useful on difficult shoots where the SLR camera is just too big to fit properly, offering you the chance to take pictures you might have missed otherwise. Another benefit of using a smartphone on a location shoot is that they are easier to replace or repair if damaged by water or an accident than a camera would be. There is helpful information online to help prevent data loss due to water damage.

Easily Share Your Photos
 
Smartphones are hugely compatible with social media platforms, and that can be highly beneficial to a photographer looking for new clients. You can instantly upload your images to whichever platform you are using (Instagram and Facebook work particularly well for photographers) and allow people to see your latest work. The more people who see what you are doing, the more likely it is that you will find new clients to work with.

May 28, 2018

Planning Your Wedding in Barcelona? - Find 6 Best Photo Points Here



Photo credit/site Sagrada Familia Cathedral

If you are planning a destination wedding, Barcelona should be near the top of your list. Barcelona is the second largest municipality in Spain. This world-class city by the sea has unique architectural designs that are like no other.


Your wedding photography

Every couple wants photographs of this most sacred event in their lives. You may spend months looking for the perfect wedding gown at sites, you decide on the perfect colors for the bridal party, the perfect flowers to accent the attire. You inspect every detail, from the wedding cake to the invitations, You want your day to be as special as your love.

You can have your wedding photographer and videographer, but do not stop there. You are in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet, and you want extraordinary photographs that draw you into the experiences you enjoyed.

An easy way to create a sufficient fund for Wedding in Barcelona

Since Barcelona is one of the most popular cities in the world, it can bring you a lot of joy and happiness but also it can cause the empty pockets.  Renting the restaurant, music, wedding organization, or everything else needed for the special day, plus organizing the plane trip for your beloved ones can be pretty much expensive. There are though the tools that can help you make it happen and help you have a sufficient budget - the HoneyFund. You can ask your friends and family to contribute to the fund for the wedding and in this way make it much more special for everyone!


 Places in Barcelona That Are Of The Most Beautiful Status

     ● The Magic Fountain



                                                  Photo credit site The Magic Fountain

This beautiful fountain has been in operation since 1929. The music, lighting, and patterns it creates are world-class, drawing people from around the globe. In recent years the lights have been replaced with more energy efficient LED lighting. The fountain is driven by three water-recycling pools. During the show, it pumps more than 2600 liters of water per second.

     ● Casa Batllo

Construction on this masterpiece, created by Gaudi, began in 1877. It is made of stone, metals, woods, and ceramics. It is vibrant with many beautiful colors. It has been refurbished several times over the years. Casa Batlló sits in the center of Barcelona. This is a location you do not want to miss.

     ● Sagrada Familia

See the photograph at the introduction of this article for the beauty of Sagrada Familia. This is an unfinished Roman Catholic church, which had a multitude of world-famous architects working in unison on the project. Construction began in 1882. At its highest point, the cathedral stands 566’ tall.

Stunning Wedding Venues in Barcelona

While you, and your guests will be in awe of the beauty of Barcelona, and the photo opportunities your wedding location will bring; there is the wedding itself to deal with.

Barcelona has any jaw-dropping wedding venues that are available to you. These venues leave nothing to chance. Every detail is addressed, and you can rest easy knowing your wedding plans are being attended to even when you are not physically there.

Here are some choice locations for the unique and beautiful destination wedding of your dreams:

      ● Mas Bonvilar

This stunning facility is the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding. The grounds are manicured. Every detail of the ceremony is taken care of. There are beautiful trees with leaves that hang and blow in the gentle breeze. The area is lit with lovely white, twinkling lights, If you want convenience, the home is only 200 meters away from the beautiful Hilton La Mola.

      ● Gran Hotel Don Jaime

Do you want a personalized wedding like no one has ever had before? This is your venue. The beautiful hotel sits on top of a mountain, complete with the beauty of a tower. You look down over crystal clear waters. The hotel is 100% elegant. From outdoor reception areas, to state of the art indoor wedding ballrooms, your dreams will come true. The most elegant settings are provided.

Hotel rooms have full panoramic views of the sea and top-of-the-line accommodations. Only the best wedding coordinators, chefs, staff, and servers are permitted to work for this hotel.

      ● Castell de Sant Marçal

Have you always dreamed of a fairy tale wedding? Then book your wedding at this beautiful castle. The original furnishings, take you back in time. The view is perfect for a wedding and your guests can spend the night in the castle as well. There is no more unique experience than this.

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event. Make it an event that you and your guests will always cherish. Take advantage of the modern tools of photography and create photographs that will be like nothing you have ever experienced before. Now is the time to book your venues, and Barcelona gives you plenty of choices.

Regarding Wedding Budgets

When it comes to weddings, budgets can help a couple start their new life together on a financially responsible track. It will also help you start that new life without a huge debt!

On average, couples in the US spend almost $26,000 on their weddings, with only half paying less than $15,000. That’s a huge amount for one event, even if you consider everything that goes into a wedding.

The good news: regardless of your income, you can set a budget, stick to it, and still enjoy a beautiful day with your spouse-to-be, friends, and family!

To create your budget you have to consider what’s financially feasible. If you think you’ll only be able to save up $5,000, for example, then set that as your budget and break it down into uses, such as venue, formal wear, flowers, photography, food, etc.

It may also help to identify the things that matter most to you and your fiance. Is throwing a party with great food and drinks the most important? Do you want to focus on having beautiful flowers and photos you’ll cherish for the rest of your life? By knowing what matters most, you can put that first in your budget and divide the rest for the basics.

You can also get a little more frugal with certain aspects of the wedding, such as sending e-invitations instead of paper ones. You’ll save on the cost of material, printing, and postage--money that can be used elsewhere!

January 27, 2018

7 Best Pro Wedding Photographers in Barcelona

Asian bride in wedding photograph in Barcelona


Documenting your wedding, one of the main events in your life, putting it on record be it digitally or on film is something that we don't want to lay in the hands of an improvised amateur that will spoil our memories forever. With this I don't mean that amateurs lack the talent of an artist but maybe they falter in the technicalities or in something as simple as knowing how to solve last minute complications efficiently without ruining the client's ceremony.

Today I want to give you a list of the best pro wedding photographers in Barcelona which I am sure might make you feel happy about the results and rest assure that your money is well invested. Of course this is a personal selection and there are lots of creative and professional photographers out there. If you know other experts drop me a line so I can make an update later.

As you know there are different styles in wedding photography:

Classic or traditional wedding photography:


Remember those tedious weddings where guests are having a great time while the bride and the groom are tortured with a set of precooked classic poses in classic scenarios? Well, you still have a lot of that nowadays although other options are changing the way we approach the nuptial event. Classic style can be very appropriate if mixed with other styles. We are used to being directed by the master of ceremonies that the wedding photographer has always been but that is changing. Thanks God!

Photojournalism:


The attempt to break with stereotypes and the need to be in tune with modern times paves the way to a sort of subjective narration, more like a documentary executed by these professional artists who frame the truth of the scene as it is happening. It is not strange to hear comments like: the photographer was fantastic, we didn't even know she (or he) was there. Inside this style you can talk about documentary wedding photographers or reportage wedding photographers but in the end is all about narrating a story with images, the photographer as a storyteller.

Editorial wedding photography:


Editorial wedding photography is similar to photojournalism in the sense that they both tell a story, but it does not have limitations, as the scene can be staged there no need to always concentrate on capturing the moment.

Fine art wedding photography:


As the name suggests this style is about the artistic side of the image, the lights, the composition and the post processing. No need to get a LaChapelle striking artistic result to be regarded as a fine art wedding photographer but more or less you get the idea.

Fashion wedding photography:


A style that borrows from the fashion industry, especially the use of off camera lighting, model poses and  daring backgrounds as well as the display of fashion consumer articles.

Studio wedding photography:


As the word says, this is all in-studio, so I imagine is worse than the classic style!


And now, after the long introduction let's go with the...

List of best pro wedding photographers in Barcelona:



Cesc Giralt Wedding photography
By Cesc Giralt











I start with one of my favorites, Cesc Giralt. He does Wedding Photography and Engagement (Pre Wedding) and Honeymoon (Post Wedding) Photo Shoots in Barcelona and Spain.  If I were to get married again which I won't I'd hire his services to remind me of such big incongruity.



Carla Aymat Wedding photography
By Carla Aymat













Carla Aymat is a Fine art wedding photographer with a very close and natural style. A young photographer with a lot of experience. Discreet and nice person according to her clients comments.
 

Martina Zancan Wedding photography
By Martina Zancan











Martina Zancan describes herself as 'a brunch addicted, lifeaholic, Italian fashion photographer living the dream in Barcelona and traveling the world to tell stories. She mainly does wedding reportage.


Raquel Benito Wedding photography
By Raquel Benito












Raquel Benito, captures the details, the essence of the subjects in the photograph in a very natural way. She loves to narrate a story in every image.



Santi Roman Wedding photography
By Santi Roman















Santi Roman, an expert in documentary style photography filled with romance and emotion, Santi Roman is a true craftsman.



Veronica Hansen Wedding photography
By Veronica Hansen









Veronica Hansen studied Photojournalism and History. Making artistic portraits of women was her creative outlet while she traveled the world. A real pro with a good background in photography.



Xavi Guirola Wedding photography
By Xavi Guirola












Xavi Guirola, young millennial photographer and video maker with an obsession for new trends in technology, Japan and Netflix. He is a perfectionist in his field.

December 06, 2017

Fill Your Books For Your Photography Business This Festive Season



(Source)

The festive season is a time where families reconnect, and everyone’s diaries are filled with festive parties, local events, and family meals. A lot of people want to be able to document these special, sentimental events in high quality, so photographers are in high demand. It may be hard to stand out from the competition, especially if you are only just starting out. Here are some services you can market, along with your qualifications and photography style, to ensure your bookings are filled to the brim. 

Festive Photo Booth

For work parties and family get-togethers, where the alcohol intake is high, and everyone lets their hair down a little, a festive photo booth can be a really nice touch. A photo booth with fun, festive themed props and costumes gives a relaxed and unique feel to the obligatory “everyone in” photo and gives something extra on top of the usual photography services. Having the service open throughout the evening means individuals, and couples, can have their own moment in the evening captured intimately, rather than the event photos which could have captured them with their mouth full from the buffet, or in an unpleasant light. This can also help to bring in a little more profit, as you can offer instant prints for individuals to take home on the night at an extra cost.

Follow Around Photography

For events that pull the mass crowds together for Christmas like Winter Wonderlands, Festive Amusement Parks, and Santa's Grottos, it may seem like personal photos are not an option. However, letting a family hire your services as a follow around has a lot of perks for both you and the family. When out with the family, there is always that one person behind the camera who always gets missed out from every photo. The ‘designated photographer.’ This service means natural, un-posed moments - like laughter - can be captured including the whole family. Having a lightweight camera, like this mirrorless camera, that has a built-in image stabilizer, will mean you are still producing top quality images even when in the hustle and bustle of a large, popular attraction. You can also offer services on top - like putting an album together of the pictures taken - to bring in a little extra profit. The exclusivity of this service and extremely high quality means you can charge a premium price. Just be sure to have an open conversation with your client about what may, or may not, be possible with this type of service. You can also take this opportunity to find out more about them and what kind of photos they like seeing themselves in.

Midnight On New Year's Eve

When the year becomes new, and the spectacular fireworks begin - a special moment is always shared between couples and families. Capturing this moment themselves can not only be unsuccessful - blurry and low quality - but also pulls them away from the moment, making it less intimate and memorable. Offering a service that captures this moment will help you stand out from the competition, as few people are prepared to set aside their own New Year’s celebrations in order to work. Being such a prestigious night, this will also classify as a premium price service.

Hopefully, this has given you some ideas how you can help your photography services to stand up against your competitors this season.

September 13, 2013

Top 10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Camera - Searching for our Vintage-to-be



This is a vintage camera I spotted at the Francesc Mares museum. It is easy to grow a passion for vintage cameras when you see one. I have a wonderful Voigtlander for example which I feel proud of and which I own just by chance.

Who doesn't remember that old camera we regarded as a weird obsolete dust-covered contrivance our parents had from grandpa or grandma? Well, this is exactly my case. And musing on this matter, I wonder what may become of modern cameras when time passes by, will my Nikon D7000 be an object of cult in say, fifty years?

The digital cameras world has evolved so fast and access to decent cameras to shoot with has grown so much that it is difficult to predict what is to turn into a vintage article or at least a retro one up to the point it makes you feel proud of it and urges you to preserving it instead of letting it die. Of course, I reckon that things that are rather unique now, will be more appreciated in the future. Maybe a strange model of Holga, although made in plastic could be more sought for than the standard DSLR. There's a certain factor of uncertainty as to what is going to be cherished by next-generation collectors or fans. And all this leads me to conclude that it is that uniqueness, that weirdness, that peculiarity in certain items which gives them the category of vintage and not everything will prevail.

 Of course when you buy yourself a camera you do not foresee what value this is going to have later on and in fact I wouldn't recommend buying exclusiveness for two reasons, one, it is going to be more expensive and two, not even a medium can tell now whether you are going to be the happy owner of a collector's piece or not. So you'd better go for the gear that suits you according to your pocket and your goals as a photographer. Maybe you just want to take pictures of your kids and your smartphone does what you want pretty well or maybe you take it more seriously and prefer better images. If you are at that step, perhaps you wonder what to buy and you do not know what things you should take into account first.


These are the Top 10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Camera in my opinion although there are more of course:


- Which use am I going to make of the camera? What kind of photographs do I want?


This point might seem too obvious and simple but affects whatever tip you may need or follow afterwards. Perhaps you have enough with not so high quality pictures taken with a point and shoot digicam in which the camera controls you and not the other way, perhaps weight and ease of use suit you better. Maybe you want to go deeper in the learning curve and want to try a DSLR and tame your camera and your photographs, first in an amateur way and why not, in a professional way. Nobody wants to run with a bag full of heavy gear just to take casual images. Well, there are some exceptions. But you get it, I want this camera to take a decent picture and that's all or I want this to make me an artist and win the next World Press Photo Contest or somewhere in between, which I think is better. At which point are you in the range?

 - How much is it going to be? Can I afford it?


You have to adapt your expectations to your budget. With the same amount of money you can buy a point and shoot and a lot of extras or just a DSLR body. It all depends on your needs. There are people that prefer a simple underwater camera for the holidays and others that cannot live without their full frame DSLR. Once you know your limit, the limit in your pocket, then you should know that the photography market is full of offers and opportunities that not necessarily are found in that well known megastore. I would recommend starting with a good DSLR, body only and then buying lens and stuff later on. 

- How many megapixels?


 There is this general myth that the more megapixels the better quality you get in your pictures. Wrong! Pixels are just the dots in your image and having them more concentrated so to say, only matters if you enlarge for printing purposes. Of course pixels count for quality but I'd say that with 6 megapixels you have more than enough in the case of normal prints. That's the amount I had in my good old Nikon D70s. Now with 16 I am no longer interested in winning the megapixel battle with fellow photographers. It's pretty silly but there's this childish impulse to brag about megapixels.

- Read reviews!


It is of extreme importance that you visit sites where you get reviews about cameras, especially those where the author compares brands and models. I will suggest a couple of sites for you: Digital Photography Review or my favorite, www.kenrockwell.com

 - Go for the light!


 Photography is made with light so it makes sense that you think of it when buying a camera. You have to ask you yourself, how am I going to get more light to have better pictures? Of course you don't stop to ask the question but searching for the light is at the bottom of everything. Nikon D70s starts with an ISO of 200 and D7000 starts with 100. There is a debate about the difference between both. I don't think we can appreciate the difference in noise between the two (ISO is the level of sensitivity of the camera to available light), so the lower parameters are not that significant, but then after 400 or in other words with higher sensitivity you not only gain more light but also more noise, or more grain in your picture. Nowadays there are cameras that eliminate a lot of noise for you at incredibly high ISO, for example Canon EOS 1DX reaches 51.200 ISO and there's low noise up to 2786 ISO which is great. As you see is not the upper limit that really counts but the limit up to which you are in a relative low noise situation and then there is software of course to get rid of some more noise. But it is not only the ISO limit you should look. There is also aperture and shutter speed to take into account. The larger aperture you have the more light you get. Remember that larger in fact means lower numbers in your F scale. Obviously, a prime lens like Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lets in much more light than Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 kit lens in D70s. A wide range of shutter speed settings is recommended too to have more control of the exposure. Shutter speed is exposure time, it is how long the camera's shutter is open to the light that reaches the sensor. Shutter speed, aperture (f-number), and luminance together determine the amount of light that reaches the sensor (the exposure) and this is something somehow more restricted in point-and-shoots. 

-Be sure you can reuse old parts


Many camera systems offer the possibility of reusing old parts even from film cameras but some of them get discontinued depending on the brand. Nikon and Canon are for me the most complete in this respect.

- Image stabilization (IS)


There are three types of image stabilization, optical, digital and a mixture of both. It would be a good idea to check that your camera has a good optical image stabilization system which consists of moving the parts of the camera to compensate for camera shake. Digital stabilization is only about software and has to do with increasing ISO sensitivity in your camera to allow for more shutter speed and thus less blur in the image. 

- Zoom


Digital zooms modify images by software in the camera so this will never be as good as zooming in or out with the actual lens and its optical mechanism. 

- Usability


 If you want to have a good camera you need to make sure it comes with all the useful controls you may get for a reasonable price in a way that it makes you save time, it does what you want it to do, it gives you high quality pictures (as long as you know how to use it properly and you have the artist in you too) and it does not stand in your way making the act of photography something uncomfortable for you. Menus should be helpful and not confusing, LCDs should be big and well illuminated, the body should be made of good materials and have a good ergonomic grip. 

-Opportunities


Last but no less, find offers, bargain, negotiate and get your stuff for a reasonable price. Don't go crazy about buying that latest model in the official store when you can get it on ebay or similar. Sometimes simply the fact that you shop online helps squeezing a few bucks from the original price. 

I hope you find the tips helpful. Ten tips aren't enough though. If only they could brighten your ideas a little bit then the post was worth writing. 

In the line of recent posts I would like to suggest a website to find coupons to save up money in your purchase: Flipart coupon codes
category: cameras

November 26, 2012

Portraits and Children's Spontaneous Poses

Chinese girl in wooden playground framework
Chinese girl in Playground

Sometimes a nice spontaneous pose really makes the difference.

This beautiful girl, the daughter of the Chinese family running the bar at the corner, was not looking at my camera as I caught this with a telephoto. I should have come closer with shorter lens but that day I was taking pictures of a show at the local square and I needed more powerful lens. I thought the wooden framework of the slide was great to isolate her while she was in the middle of such fantastic and improvised performance. The light and kids in the background did the rest.

Sometimes kids are sort of funny actors rehearsing for the stark reality that lies ahead in the path of life.

November 29, 2010

Are Photography Composition Rules That Strict?

Tourists looking for directions, Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona [enlarge]

Composition in photography is not as strict as you think. The so called rule of thirds, the golden section rule, the diagonal rule and others can really make your pictures draw the viewer's attention and gain in quality but, and there is always a 'but', sometimes you can break composition at will simply because the nature of random subjects getting into your viewfinder are really distracting. Who says I was applying any rule here?. In other images, isolated subjects help conveying your idea better as in this one: Tourists looking for directions

February 05, 2010

The Photographer

The Photographer [enlarge]

Why freezing a fragment of reality when we can live that same reality right now? Why do we collect memories if the past is no more? It was not always so. First we painted a hunting scene on the walls of the cave to evoke our deeds and then it all began. We are extremely fond of memories. We perfected the tools till we imprinted reality on a piece of paper not without effort at first and then we made it universal. Now everybody can be the painter of the tribe. Popularity makes it harder to be original though. Reality is just reality and chances are too many people shoot from the same angle and focus on the same subject. But luckily we are more than button pushers. We carry that magic stuff called soul. We like to find beauty around us, create and obtain self satisfaction with the result, just like the first day in that cave. And just as tools didn't create men but certainly helped them grow the same happens with cameras. With the right gear you can express yourself better but always remember that ancient caveman, the photographer in you.

November 23, 2008

Waiting

Girl waiting

A girl waiting at Maremagnum shopping center in Barcelona. I just liked the expression on her face.

October 07, 2008

The Digital Era And The Evolution of Tourists

Tourists in Barri Gotic, Barcelona [enlarge]

The digital era has arrived in photography too, and some species like these hunters have evolved into more complex organisms or individuals. Hunting mechanisms have been perfected so shooting is no longer associated with reloading. This photographer is proudly carrying his Sony dslr camera looking for fresh preys to take home as trophies. The woman follows absently, almost frightened by the unknown perils behind every corner of Barri Gotic. Now seriously, I took this picture last month in the Gothic quarter and this kind couple happened to be admiring the streets of Barcelona. They looked passionate and interested in what they were coming across, like children with a new toy, so from here I wish to thank them for their visit. I hope they had a nice stay in the city.

Suggested link: 30 Beautiful Photoshop Illustration Tutorials via Six Revisions.

Do you want to be amazed today, check Dave Hill Photography

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