inspiration
What to Stick on Your Wall?
Following on from one of Stu’s old posts, I recently decided to get a bunch of prints and canvases made to stick on our walls (now that we’re in the throes of redecoration!)
What's on Your Walls?
Seeing your own work writ large on the wall really is so much more satisfying than seeing it on a computer screen, and I would advise anyone to try it.
But a very talented photographer, who goes by the name of Ryan Hyde, raised an interesting point over on my Flickr stream. Apparently he was told by his art teacher that “to surround yourself with your own photography motivates you to only be as good as you have been”, and it’s actually better to surround yourself “with work that is greater than, or at least different from, yours” to generate new inspiration. › Continue reading
Another Five Tips to Add Interest to Your Portraits!
Five more liberating techniques from the people who brought you Five Quick Tips to Add Interest to Your Portraits, and the acclaimed follow-up Five More Tips to Add Interest to Your Portraits… This time we’re looking at mixing things up a bit. Ways to break from the norm in order to blow off the cobwebs and reconnect with your mojo… All of these are tried and tested by me, after my mojo recently went walkabout and I had to track it down. (I found it in a pub drinking a pint of Mild and eating peanuts…).
1) Focus Schmocus!
Try rebelling against that photographic instinct to ensure that focus is precise and perfect. Instead try setting your camera (or lens) to Manual Focus, open up the aperture and take a purposely out of focus photo! The results can be surprisingly good (especially with some back-lighting…)
Photo: P.Broome; Camera: 400D; f/5.0, 1/200sec, ISO100
Anthony Kurtz: The World Of Tomorrow
Sorry I haven’t had much time to come up with anything to post today. I did spend some time surfing the net earlier for some inspiration but rather than find anything to write about I did find a photographer who’s work I really quite liked. I hadn’t heard of him before him before (not unusual – I live in a bubble) and thought I’d share it with you peeps in the absence of anything else to write about. Check him out and his work at his site (anthonykurtz.com) and let us know what you think.
Father and Son Escape by Anthony Kurtz
Anthony Kurtz seeks to challenge complacent acceptance of the present with his futuristic vision of a post-apocalyptic world. Illuminating the relationship between the current climate of mass-consumerism and a worst-case scenario of the results of our excess, 2012 (a year which also heralds the widely anticipated end of the Mayan calendar) is a prophecy we still have a chance to avoid.
Anthony is personally fascinated by the contrast between blight and renewal, decay and regeneration. He finds beauty embedded within the textures and grit of the urban landscape. Abandoned lots and deserted buildings proliferate his world, punctuated by the steady gaze of voiceless protesters and dramatic expanses of stormy skies.
A Scrap Book of Inspiration
A quick tip today, which isn’t so much a tip as a suggestion. When I’m low on ideas for portraits or self-portraits, or just seeking creative succour, I have a few special places to which I can turn. Obviously there are films, photo books, flickr and life in general, but I also have my special scrap book of inspiration.
When I’ve finished with a magazine or a Sunday supplement, before I chuck them in the recycling bin, I go through them and cut out any photos that I find striking or inspiring and paste them into my scrap book. They could be advertisements, editorials, promo shots – anything really! Perfect for flicking through when the ideas just aren’t flowing. It gives me everything from ideas for poses and lighting, to backdrops, colours and props.
Why not start one yourself this weekend? 
5 MORE Tips To Add Interest To Your Portraits
I thought today I’d finish off the portrait tips I posted at the beginning of the week. Once again I’m not going into much detail, the purpose of this post is just to give a taster of different techniques and to get your own creative juices pumping. This is all about giving a twist or a bit of spice to your portraits.
6. Camera Position
Experiment with your camera at different heights in relation to your subject(s) to get a different point of view. Shooting from a low or high perspective is also a great way to adding leading lines into a shot.
threehundredandthirtythree by Simon Pollock (gtvone)
7. Eyes
A good pair of eyes can make a portrait, they can convey so much and hide so little. Play with eye contact between lens and subject but also try portraits where your subjects attention is elsewhere maybe looking away from camera.
Girl and Dolly by Louise Turner (Susan & her 5d)
5 Quick Tips To Add Interest To Your Portraits
Today I thought I’d pen out some quick tips which may give you some ideas to add variety into your portraits. Traditional portraits have their place but sometimes something a bit more creative or with a twist can have much more impact. Some of the examples I’ve used are self-portraits but the idea could equally apply to shooting other people. I’ve not really gone into much detail, I’m hoping that this post serves as more a spark of inspiration more than an in-depth guide.
1. Selective Framing and Cropping
Experiment with framing the shot so only part of your subject is revealed. This adds a bit of mystery and intrigue. You could also maybe stray from faces altogether and take pictures of just someone’s hands of feet.
day:2 by bigcrustyape (Nathan Pask)
Eric O’Connell: Photographer
Eric O'Connell
Eric O’Connell is a celebrated American photographer from New Mexico, now working out of New York. His photographs – whether they be personal or for corporate clients – are striking, inspirational and full of life. He is also one of the principle reasons I became so fascinated with photography. I first came across his work several years ago, before I had even had the urge to pick up a camera for any reason other than to take snapshots. But the seed that was planted by that first exposure continues to grow, and I now can’t imagine my life without photography playing a central role in it.
Not only is he a wonderful photographer, he’s also one of the nicest guys you could possibly hope to meet. Eric was kind enough to take some time out to answer a few questions for us here at photographywired. › Continue reading
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