This portrait was taken just after getting off the train at a busy station. It took about one minute to take a few photos and then we were on our way. You dont have to do a huge production to get good photos, they occur in the mind, and using your creativity you can take great photos anywhere. It’s not the camera, it’s not the location, it’s not the light – it’s your mind that makes a good photo.
This video offers excellent advice for brides who want to look their best in the photos.
Photoshop is innocent. In this example that’s been posted all over the net, its not a question of Photoshop, its two entirely different lighting setups. The final shot has a contrasty light setup, the “un-photoshopped” image was probably taken with the studio’s normal lightbulbs turned on during a break. We all look different under different lights, such as midday sun and sunset. The arrangement of lights can soften skin, change contrast, or even skin tone. Photoshop has nothing to do with the difference between these two images, its all in the lighting. Sure Photoshop has been used, but just to hide a few blemishes, like on her knee, and probably on her facial skin.
Timing is the critical element in photographing people. Without a finely tuned sense of timing you will miss the fleeting moments that define the soul. Practice timing.
Its not the camera that takes the photo. It’s the mind. This mind-shot was implemented using an iPad.
If I was using an SLR would the image be ‘better’? Maybe a tool with more functions would give the user more choices, but for a user who’s mind is trained to ‘see’, camera doesn’t matter.
Here’s a youtube vid where I talk about it some more:
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