This is only going to be a short post ! So a quick read 😉
We have a new YouTube channel that we are starting to help photographers. Be that phonetographers 😉 or DSLR /mirrorless photographers.
It’s just starting out and only the introduction video and a few editing videos up and shared so far as been testing out how it works ! New to posting video content. But would really appreciate if anyone who reads this new post could take a second to go take a look and if it’s something you want to follow please do would love to have you along for the journey !
The first real video should be going live this week! And will be about angles .. with a few shorts about simple things like iso aperture and shutter speed being posted just to show case what the basic function is those will come out over the next month.
So if you have a moment please hit the link below (picture) to head over to my new channel .. share the love and hopefully we can catch up and get creative together !
The photography community got hit pretty hard when the uk was his with the coronavirus.
When people couldn’t come together, it made being a photographer pretty void. We couldn’t do wedding, birthday parties, family or single person portraits and couldn’t keep doing our main income of corporate headshots.
So a number of amazing photographers had to diversify into other forms of photography. To keep their business afloat.
Me being one!
It’s not a hard transition if I’m completely honest! As long as you know your gear and understand the basics of composition then a lot of it falls into place pretty fast.
I think I was very lucky to have a good array of different lenses, That would suit both portrait and landscape photography. As I own zoom and prime lenses with every focal length from 10mm to 900mm so i feel I was in a good place to take the plunge with landscape photography.
So I headed out on what was to be a fun journey of landscape exploration and documentation.
Along the way it’s taken some side steps not only have I found amazing places to photograph but also beautiful seascapes, shipwrecks even cityscapes.
Karma shipwreck Local ChurchesThe City of London
Autumn vista Delph Ditch Maldon
In the last two years I’ve seen and captured some amazing images. From sunsets to blue moons, old barges and rundown buildings that are part of our history but will never be re built. But tell stories of years gone by.
I’ve seen my images in local news papers, in magazines, printed on show stands at photography shows for companies like fujifilm. Even been part of a gallery exhibition.
All these things I couldn’t have dreamt of being a part of without becoming a landscape photographer.
Over the next few months I will adding new images and sharing more of what I’m doing on here so I hope to get your support and feedback
So Two years on and I now have a passion for landscape and where it can take me. And now I’m branching out. So that many more people can be part of my journey. I’m opening a small online store so that people can purchase my images as digital downloads and also printed photography products. At a low price.
And at the same time support me on my journey if you wish to know more /make a purchase click the button below it will take you there
Buy with confidence securely 24/7
What you can expect to find over the coming weeks
High resolution image downloads
Calendars (current year 2024)
Christmas cards
Birthday cards
Wall art
Keyrings
All this & More will be added over coming weeks.
You can also support us by donation on the same app. This is done with either purchasing a product and adding more to the price or simply using the donation button and donating what you can afford.
Please if you have gotten this far please click follow to see updates as we will be posting new product listings as we add them to our shop. And also you can see some of our new amazing images first.
Low light photography can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It requires a combination of technical knowledge and creative thinking to capture beautiful and unique images in dimly lit environments. In this essay, we will explore some tips and techniques for getting the best results from your camera in low light situations, and how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to blurry
images.
The first step in low light photography is to understand the limitations of your camera. Most cameras perform best in bright light, and as the light level decreases, the camera’s ability to capture sharp and detailed images also decreases. This is because the camera’s sensor needs a certain amount of light to function properly, and in low light situations, the sensor may not be able to gather enough light to produce a clear image.
To compensate for this, you will need to use a longer shutter speed, which allows more light to reach the sensor. However, using a longer shutter speed also increases the risk of camera shake, which can result in blurry images. To avoid this, you will need to use a tripod or some other form of support to keep your camera steady. Additionally, you can use the self-timer function on your camera to avoid camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button.
Another way to increase the amount of light reaching the sensor is to use a wider aperture. Aperture is the opening in the lens that controls how much light reaches the sensor. By using a wider aperture, more light can enter the camera and reach the sensor. However, this also affects the depth of field, which is the area of the image that is in focus. A wider aperture will result in a shallower depth of field, which can be useful for creating a sense of depth and separation in your images.
Another important aspect of low light photography is ISO. ISO is a measure of the camera’s sensitivity to light. The lower the ISO, the less sensitive the camera is to light and the less noise in the image. However, in low light situations, you may need to use a higher ISO to get a well-exposed image. But, as you increase the ISO, you will also increase the amount of noise in the image, which can be unsightly. So, it’s a balance between having a well-exposed image and having noise in the image.
In addition to adjusting these technical settings, you can also use creative techniques to enhance your low light images. For example, you can use a flashlight or other light source to illuminate specific areas of the image. You can also use long exposures to capture the movement of light in the scene. This can create interesting and dynamic images that are not possible in bright light.
In conclusion, low light photography can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It requires a combination of technical knowledge and creative thinking to capture beautiful and unique images in dimly lit environments. By understanding the limitations of your camera, using a tripod or other form of support, adjusting the aperture, ISO and shutter speed, and using creative techniques, you can get the best results from your camera in low light situations and avoid the common pitfalls that lead to blurry images.
This is My Ten simple tips to create beautiful lighting that flatters for professional photos or perfect selfies
1: Use natural light whenever possible. Natural light is often the most flattering and easiest to work with. Putting your subject in the right place at the right time of day with natural light can be the softest lighting to work with, and most effective.
All natural overcast day light
2: Experiment with different times of day. The quality of light can change significantly depending on the time of day, so try shooting at different times to see what works best for you or your subject.
3: Use reflectors or a white card to bounce light back onto the subject. This can help fill in shadows and add dimension to the subject. Bring out a glow to the eyes and under the chin to make an image more appealing to the eye.
4: Experiment with different light sources. In addition to natural light, you can also use artificial light sources such as studio strobes or continuous lights. Even a simple ring light can be a creative tool or a small video light will add a pop to your pictures.
5: Pay attention to the direction of the light. Light that is coming from the side or from behind the subject can create a more dramatic effect, sometimes a bright light from behind will result in a more silhouetted looking image.
Natural light with a reflector to reduce shadows and add a catch light to the eyes
6: Use diffusers to soften the light. This can help reduce harsh shadows and make the light more flattering to the subject. A simple white sheet over a window will give a soft touch to any image.
7: Avoid shooting directly into the sun. This can create harsh shadows and cause lens flare and in turn make the images soft with less contrast. Though this rule isn’t always bad. It can also be creative if used in the correct environment .
Bright side light from back lighting in mid day sun
8: Use negative fill to create shadows. By placing a dark object near the subject, you can create shadows and add depth to the image. If you have a very light room from natural light through a window or a white bedroom this idea will be great, even a dark sheet/ blind or black card will reduce some light giving more depth to a subject.
9: Experiment with different apertures. Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera, as well as the depth of field. This can be found on all manual settings in camera or on smartphones. This is perfect to add a little creative look when using a low F number ..
10: Keep an eye on the colour temperature of the light. Different light sources can cast different color temperatures, which can affect the overall mood of the image. Use a colour checker or white balance tools to help ensure accurate colour. For instance house lighting and sunlight can produce a warm tone to an image.. where a window lit by indirect light or even a snow scene will have a cooler more white look..
Please remember that these are my personal tips, we all have our own ideas. There’s nothing wrong with using a bunch of the above methods and then in your preferred editing software creating something much more refined or dramatic.
Let me know what you try and how it works out for you.
This is my Five reasons I love my 85mm lensit’s one of my bread and butter lenses.
1: It’s great for Portrait photography:
The 85mm focal length is ideal for portrait photography because it allows you to capture flattering, up-close shots of your subject without distorting their features. This is especially useful for capturing headshots and full-body portraits.
Portrait with the 85mm Sony lens
2: Bokeh:
The 85mm lens is known for its ability to produce beautiful, creamy bokeh in the background of your photos. This is especially useful for isolating your subject and drawing attention to them.
Bokeh balls
3: Low light performance:
Many 85mm lenses have a wide maximum aperture, which allows them to perform well in low light situations. This makes them a great choice for indoor photography or for shooting at dusk or dawn.
Wide open aperture and small fits in your hand form factor.
4: Compact size:
85mm lenses are generally smaller and more lightweight than other lenses, making them a convenient choice for photographers on the go.
5: Versatility:
While the 85mm lens is often used for portraits, it can also be used for a variety of other subjects, including landscape, street, and event photography. It’s a versatile lens that can be used in many different situations. The 85mm is always with me!
In closing:
So, in all honesty this lens is one lens I would recommend any photographer purchasing.
These days the 85mm 1.8 isn’t that expensive and if you’re a multi shooting photographer who likes shooting landscapes events or models, this lens would pay for its self ! Low cost, high quality prime lens that will get plenty of use!
To finish … if you’re a photographer or someone just starting out. And own an 85mm lens let me know in the comments if you agree that it’s worthwhile buying one..
I did this as a personal project video ! And a very stupidly a last minute thing ! By last minute I mean I walked up to the gates at 7:28 and the fireworks started at 7:30.
Only to find out that there was no ticket left and I couldn’t enter the actual event I would need to find a vantage point in some way ! In just 2 minutes!!
So I made a dash for it .. to the only point I could think this may even be possible.
I dodged down a dark alley and into the sea wall. To be greeted by many onlookers who had the same issue and thought as me to get to the only vantage point and we was all greeted by a metal fence.. not the best. but time to make the best I can with the situation .. I pulled out the gimbal and set up just time to press the record button and test and it was counting down five three two bang !!! Video started and held high to get over the people !
Not the best place that’s for sure but I managed to capture what I could see ! Lucky fireworks go high! So over head wasn’t an issue!
There is one thing I will take from this for next year! Forward planning .. head to the event two hours before. Set up video ! And get the best camera angle before everyone gets there!
I know this video is raw run and gun style but I still captured the 20 minute full fire work show and it was a pretty good show ! Better than other years and I will say it was louder than other years too!
So here you go check out the video below if you like it or just want to support my video please share like subscribe I really need your help to get this video seen and heard 🙂
If you’re an Adobe Lightroom user these Single click editing presets will be the perfect starting point for any photographer..
The are just three of the up and coming Adobe Lightroom presets that I’m working on at the moment.
Please if you like these leave me a message and hit follow so that you’re first to see these go live !also please let me know what you think of them be great to hear 🙂
Now you all know I’m first and foremost a photographer .. a portrait and boudoir photographer predominately.. but over the last year I’ve been taking time out to gain skills in landscape and nature photography..
Also having won a number of competition with my landscape work I feel I’m doing pretty well! Like having my work shown at the fujifilm print life stand at the Birmingham photography show.
Fujifilm print life stand !
Now I know I’ve been doing short posts and running this is because I’ve been doing so many things I’ve not had time to do deep messages and long posts!
Well I’ve just started to add to that! Even more!
With a new section to my website and my Adrian Day YouTube channel this is going to be where I post tips, tricks and reviews of photography products and ideas to help all you guys and girls become better photographers and to enjoy the craft and the creative side of the industry.
But before I start posting videos and blog posts about this I would love to hear from others as to what you would like to see! .. I know what I look for but that’s me ! I don’t just want to post what I want to know .. I want to post at the needs of others !
See this could be anything for creative tips like using a prism or coloured lighting. Or it could be what I suggest to be the best lens for portraits or landscapes
It could be that you want to know about editing and how I edit my images using Adobe Lightroom or photoshop.. and what you want to learn specifically like colour toning or black and white conversion
Maybe you only have your phone to take pictures and that’s a perfectly great option as they say “the best camera is the one you have with you!” and want to know the best apps I use to edit the questions are endless!
But please feel free to comment below with your questions and I will write them all down and create future posts to answer your questions !
Also coming soon to help users of lightroom I’m going to start putting together downloadable products Things like brushes for photoshop and presets and Lut’s for both Lightroom and photoshop
These will be priced at silly prices ! So anyone can obtain them on the smallest of budgets to help them grow and learn faster! I currently have over 50 presets from colour to black and white! Ready to go! Just sorting out the website over the next few weeks to make them downloadable for you all!
There is so much more to come ! So if you have read this far please hit the follow button so that you can be notified when I post.. and as I say please leave a comment below if you find this page helpful and have a question you want answering!
Once again thank you everyone for your support and sticking with me over covid months ! It’s much appreciated!
BTW WHEN LEAVING A COMMENT .. YOU DONT NEED TO ADD EMAIL ADDRESS OR OTHER DETAILS BUT PLEASE LEAVE A NAME SO I CAN RELATE THE POST BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.. .. BUT PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BE GREAT TO CONNECT TO YOU ALL!
Adrian Day Photography 