Author: Ervin V.

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6 tips for creative photo ideas: the extraordinary from the ordinary

6 tips for creative photo ideas: the extraordinary from the ordinary

I really take pleasure in writing about imaginative motivation for new picture ideas. Specifically on the method to learn photography, it is constantly important to me that you don’t have to travel to a unique place to take excellent photos – rather the opposite.

Just walk and find the wonder around you!

Content

– Discover the beauty in everyday life

– Discover the wonder around you

6 tips for more extraordinary in the ordinary

  1. The ordinary everyday life
  2. Observe light and shadow
  3. Take notice of the alignment
  4. Have fun with props
  5. Fascination in the background
  6. Take note of your corners and edges

Discover the beauty in daily life

It’s extremely delightful to take powerful, amazing images of everyday life. What can you do when you live in what you think is a truly dull place and you do not see any beauty in the everyday? The concern is of course not meant extremely seriously. Because it has to do with making something remarkable unusual. Let’s get going and try to find beauty in everyday life.

The reflection on a bonnet provides fantastic themes – and very simple to embed in scene.

Discover the wonder around you

It is a bit difficult not to wait for the big travel photography trip, but to discover the beauty – or at least the aesthetically spectacular fascination – in the everyday. But again and again I show you a lot of ideas that it is now very easy to summon something photogenic out of everything. Would you like some examples?

The view from the window with the focus on the rain-soaked pane.

Practical suggestion: Concern selective understanding

Question your perception and alter your viewpoint every now and then.

We call selective perception the psychological phenomenon that only certain elements of the environment are signed up throughout perception and others tend to be neglected. If you perceive something as allegedly uninteresting or regular, question it and attempt to look at it anew, with different eyes.

6 suggestions for more extraordinary in the ordinary

1. The ordinary everyday life

Take photos of street signs, the supermarket or simply the shopping carts in front of the door. Remember the details and nearness ideas, along with the pointers to clean up your scene:

Common obstacles in our theme search

– If the subject is too little, the viewer of your images may not recognize it as the main topic.

– Are there a lot of (unimportant) things in the picture? Oh dear, then the significance of your picture may be lost.

A completely typical theme can look really remarkable in the right image section!

2. Observe light and shadow

Observe the light and also the shadow cast. How can light and shadow assist your scene? You can find more about photographing shadows here.

Having fun with shadows is a great creative photo idea.

3. Take notice of the positioning

Viewpoint and direction are important for the wow element. As quickly as you photograph a banal pedestrian tunnel in ideal balance, the suction result mesmerizes everybody. Frequently it is only a few steps to the left or right that alter the impact of the picture.

A lot of proportion in the Soviet memorial in Berlin Treptow

4. Have fun with props

I put props in my photo. Are you interested by the texture of the wooden table in the hall? How about the glass on the table including your arm and hand in the picture? Much more alive than without!

Such a basic image idea: the hand brings life to the scene.

5. Fascination in the background

Keep an eye out for amazing patterns and textures. When you have a terrific pattern, your great image is not far away.

The background emphasizes the subject – even if it is small and put on the edge.

6. Take notice of your corners and edges

Keep in mind the pointers about the edges and corners of your photo. Notice what takes place there. Let out whatever that doesn’t belong in there, but likewise generate what makes the structure exciting.

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Fixed focal length vs. Zoom?

Fixed focal length vs. Zoom?

I often get the question what is actually better now, I would like to explain the difference between fixed focal lengths and zoom lenses.

Neither of the two is really better, it depends on what you want to photograph.

Zoom lens

A zoom lens makes life a lot easier for the photographer. We can easily zoom in on objects without moving. Of course, this zoom mechanism needs space. The lenses in the lens have to be able to move and this is usually at the expense of lens performance.

Disadvantages of the zoom lens

Due to the zoom mechanism, the lens is missing in other places. Most zoom lenses are very limited in terms of aperture . That is of course logical. The space that the zoom takes up in the lens is at the expense of the other elements. In the affordable price range, the lenses have a maximum open aperture of 3.5 – 6.3. It all depends on the lens and the zoom level.

Advantage of the zoom lens

Of course, the number one advantage is zooming. You don’t have to change the lens if you want a different focal length . However, this can quickly become a disadvantage. I’ve learned more from prime lenses than I could ever have learned from a zoom lens. You think a lot more about the point of view and the perspective and don’t just zoom in on your subject.

Prime lenses

A fixed focal length is a lens without a zoom function. I cannot change the focal length of the lens and have to walk to get closer to my subject.

Advantages of the prime lens

Of course, the lack of a zoom saves space. This space can be used for a large aperture or to make a lens smaller and more manageable. Fixed focal lengths already offer open apertures of 1.8 in a lower price segment.

Disadvantages of the prime lens

The photographer has to think & move. He has no possibility to zoom but can only change the image section by moving (sneaker zoom).

I don’t really see that as a disadvantage myself. It has boosted my creativity enormously and fundamentally changed my thinking in photography.

Conclusion

My recommendation: Get a fixed focal length and only force yourself to take pictures with this for a certain time. It will give you a whole new view of things. You will know when you need a prime lens and when you don’t. You will think differently and adjust your point of view and perspective on the prime lens. You learn to take photos in a completely different way and don’t just zoom in on the subject lazily.

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Normal lens advice

In photography and cinematography, a normal lens is a lens that reproduces a field of view that appears “natural” to a human observer.

The normal lens is a lens with a normal angle of view. This is approximately in the range of 40 to 50 ° or 40 – 60mm. But what is a normal angle of view? Think about how you perceive the world. Now try to transfer it to the camera. You don’t see the world very far, but you don’t see the world very narrowly either. You perceive your world as “normal”. This is exactly what a normal lens should be, but let me go into a little more detail here.

Normal lens vs. human eye

Theoretically, a normal person perceives approx. 180 ° diagonally. That’s an incredible amount. There are also lenses that can depict this, but this causes extreme distortion (fisheye). So we do not perceive the world with our full 180 ° field of view, but always concentrate on one area. You are probably reading this text on a monitor and concentrating on it. What happens in the corner of your eye is blurred.

So it is difficult to get two movable eyes into the field of view of a photo, but it works best with an angle of view between 40 & 50 °. The image doesn’t look too wide (wide-angle lens ), but also not too narrow (telephoto lens)

In all of the sample images in this post, it looks like the person is standing in front of you. That is exactly the effect of a normal lens. Everything looks normal 😉

Use of normal lenses

Normal lenses are most commonly used in portrait photography. Of course you can also photograph other subjects with the focal length range, but they are best suited for portraits due to their natural effect.

Fixed focal length for beginners

I recommend a prime lens for beginners in this area. It gives a better feeling for perception and you neither get too much nor too little on the picture. It is best to use a 50mm lens here. Thanks to their almost symmetrical construction, these lenses are inexpensive, light and powerful, and perfect for beginners in photography.

With this lens you are forced to concentrate on your subject and the composition of your picture and you cannot “zoom in” on the world.

Buy recommendation 50mm fixed focal length

Canon: EF 50mm F / 1.8 STM *
Nikon: NIKKOR 50mm 1: 1.8G
Sony: SEL-50F18F 50mm F / 1.8 *

Photo with the 50mm 1.8 from Canon

Special feature of CROP sensors

There is a special feature with CROP sensors (APS-C or Micro 4/3). These sensors are significantly smaller than full format. Full frame sensors are used as an output for calculating the focal length . The actual focal length does not change with an image sensor, but the effect of the image and the relation between camera, subject and background do.

That’s why I recommend a wider focal length when using an APS-C camera. Almost all entry-level cameras have an APS-C sensor

That’s why I used a 35mm on an APS-C camera very quickly in my early days.

Of course, I also have a few recommendations for your APS-C camera.

Canon * – Nikon * – Sony *

PS Even with full format, 35mm sometimes work much better than 50mm, even if it is actually too angular to pass as a normal lens. Just give it a try 😉

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Photo tips for successful macro photography

Photo tips for successful macro photography

Beetles and crawlers, flowers and leaves, everywhere and in every season: the world of small things fascinates with its incredible wealth of colors and shapes. The fascination of macro photography is due, among other things, to the fact that we cannot perceive the tiny natural wonders with the naked eye, or only to a very limited extent. Fortunately, photography offers a variety of optical options. We have some tips for special macro photos.

1. Calm background, brilliant foreground

The more reduced and plain the background, the clearer the main motif appears.

Background plays an important role in macro photography. Small, colorful, sharply depicted objects such as insects and butterflies are particularly effective in front of a uniformly colored, blurred surface. The photographic “laws of nature” help: A long or large focal length and an open aperture ensure perfect blurring in the background. Speaking of lenses: The best close-up images are created with a special macro lens, for example with a 100 millimeter focal length.

2. Thin sections, bright images

Light from behind makes thin slices of onions, citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables shine wonderfully.

Fruit, vegetables and Co. can be wonderfully staged as macro motifs. The basic principle is simple: Everything that can be cut very thinly and which then has a certain degree of light permeability is suitable for these recordings. Examples are the onion and especially citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. In addition to a tripod, all you need is a surface that is illuminated from below to place the panes on – for example a glass table. Incidentally, such images are also possible with high-quality smartphones.

3. Optical accents, drop by drop

Drops of water on a colored leaf create an interesting “structure on the structure”.

Drops of water bring life to every macro photo and make the surfaces of leaves and flowers that are already interesting in themselves appear even more interesting. Because the drops act like small magnifying glasses that partially enlarge the leaf structure and thus provide an additional image layer. You can take such macro pictures outdoors as well as easily stage them yourself at home. A lamp and, if necessary, a professional brightener in the form of a photo reflector are usually sufficient for lighting.

4. Action photos with butterfly, bee and Co.

Photographing insects in flight is not easy, but practice makes perfect. Just experimenting is a lot of fun.

A butterfly or a bumblebee on the flower – this classic photo can often be seen. It is more exciting to photograph the small flying objects in action. You definitely need a telephoto lens for this. The autofocus should be set to the so-called tracking mode, in which the focus adjustment constantly readjusts the subject. In addition, set the exposure time to at least 1 / 2000th of a second or less. And now it’s time to go out into the garden, park or forest: there you will find what you need for a great macro action shot – a small, colorful, flying main subject. We wish you every success.

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Find your main subject: 5 secrets of fascinating photos

Find your main subject: 5 secrets of fascinating photos

What is the secret of fascinating photos? Think about it, I am always asked which camera, lens or setting I used to take this or that photo. Seldom does anyone ask: “How did you come up with this motive?” The subject is always important to me – no matter which camera I use to take my picture. Therefore, I would like to familiarize you with the search for the main subject, one of my most important lessons in composition – what you really want to put in scene. Because this way your photos will be even better!

Who is the main actor in your photo?

Shortly after buying my first SLR camera, I bought a cool 10-20 mm wide-angle lens from Sigma. Wow what a dimension. Now I could get the whole world in one photo. But when I look back today, this visual excess has overwhelmed me. What should I focus on? Photos are like a good film: there is a leading actor. The audience will recognize it, and everything in your composition will help to set it perfectly in scene: light, perspective, focus, design elements and, last but not least, the plot.

Make what is unique in your photo and in the situation visible – go very close and throw out everything that is unimportant. Here I only photographed the reflection of the tree.

What do you see that fascinates you as a motive?

Who should be the main protagonist of your photo? I would like to share with you some tips and techniques that will help you sharpen your focus on the main actor. But the first impulse has to come from you. Who or what do you want to show – how and in what way?

Typical challenges in our subject search

  • If the subject is too small, the viewer of your photos may not recognize it as the main subject.
  • Are there too many (unimportant) things in the picture? Oh dear, then the meaning of your photo may be lost.

Do whatever you can to find your subject. Your eyes and your brain don’t make it easy for you. They are the perfect combination for an exciting deception. Because if you see the subject, your head takes over the image processing without being asked. Everything that is not important is cut away. But your camera can’t! Your eyepiece is merciless. It shows everything that you depict in the frame and in the four corners of your photo. Stay tuned and keep practicing the technique!

Here I have 5 tips for you to find your main subject

5 tips to find your main subject

  1. Find what fascinates you

What made you stop before considering taking this picture? That should become your main subject. A great light situation? An exciting face?

  • How can you show the fascination in the picture?

Is the subject clear enough in the picture? Is something disturbing the effect? From now on your mission is: Make the uniqueness of the situation visible!

  • Separate yourself from the unimportant

Before you doubt your technique or your inability, there is usually too much of what you have in the photo. We’re still learning how to clean up your photo. Because less is more and exactly the little and the emptiness emphasizes your main motive.

  • What can you show and what not?

If the subject is personal – the mood of the evening or the pet that means a lot to you – that’s okay. But the connection to you cannot always be shown in the photo. Be critical, think about the effect when a stranger looks at your photos. Good photos work without explanation.

  • Have perseverance

Many of my photos that didn’t turn out so well were just not good because of my impatience. Stay tuned to your idea and your motive. Take one more photo and try a new perspective. Don’t give up so quickly!