I like to consider myself as a travel enthusiast. While I was growing up, my parents took me to all sorts of cool places. When photography came into my life, it was a pretty smooth transition into capturing the sights that I may only see once in my lifetime. So when I first heard about Washington, D.C.’s photo laws, I found myself slightly taken aback.
On any given day, a quick Google search will result in numerous lists and collections of “songs about photography.” I swear, if I see one more list that begins with Nickelback’s “Photograph,” I’m probably going to launch a petition against the Internet. Yes, the entire Internet. For the most part, these lists include any and every mention of words like “camera,” “photograph,” “shutter,” “flash,” or something similar. I took it upon myself to weed through these lists and do my own research on what truly made a song related to photography. Also, I’d like to mention that plenty of great tracks didn’t make it onto the list you’re about to read (notably artists like Ringo Starr and Santana; sorry Lady Gaga), so I’d love for you to leave a comment with some your favorites.
Have you noticed a horrendous lack of photographic pumpkins out there? No, not pumpkin cameras. I mean pumpkins carved by photographers, for photographers. There are a few bobbing around the vast sea of the Internet, but seriously…With the amount of photographers in the world [Completely unfounded "fact": 2 in 1 people are photographers], why are there no carvings of cameras, camera brands, camera phones, or even just something remotely related to photography? That’s where we come in. The diligent staff here at Unique Photo took it upon themselves to change the Internet forever with a brief series of pumpkin carvings that accurately fill that oh-so-empty void. Halloween isn’t just for kids… Photographers are people too, you know! Below are just some of the carvings that our staff creatives have come up with:
I’ll begin this post by apologizing in advance for the perversion of provisions you’re about to witness. Those of you who know me will already understand my affinity toward all-things edible. What can I say? I like to eat! That said, I would consider what photographer Alan Sailer has done to the following food products a travesty at worst. If this is what happens when someone takes a pellet gun, some marbles, and a Nikon D90 to a picnic, consider me uninvited.
As many of you read earlier this week, we’re in the process of installing over one thousand solar panels on the roof of our Fairfield, NJ Superstore. Fellow Unique Photo photographer Nick Andriuolo and I decided to go up there armed with a Nikon D800 and a Canon EOS 5D Mark III to take a look at the progress. See our results:
“Wait, wasn’t that the goal all along? What have you been making us do these past five days? I want my money back!” That’s what I envision you saying when you read today’s challenge. First of all, if you paid anything to participate in this challenge, someone is ripping you off. I certainly couldn’t charge for something like this. Secondly, yes, the purpose of this challenge was to make you experiment with your photography, to practice creativity, and to have a fun (long) weekend project to do. But today’s challenge employs the previous four to a certain extent. Isn’t there one style of photography you’ve been itching to try but never got around to learning the basics of it? Macro, maybe, or camera toss? Today is your day to sit yourself down and learn.
Let me make this very clear: Tone is one of the most important factors of your photos. It could make your wedding photos look beautiful and angelic or dark and ominous. Granted, tone is one more creative outlet that will vary between every single photographer, but that’s the fun part! And therein lies today’s challenge. Now, for the rules:
Let me guess: You’re an established portrait photographer who’s been working with the top celebrities in Hollywood. Or are you the one that’s been all around the world twenty times shooting the most exotic locations virtually unknown to man? Today, neither of those qualifications matter, or in layman’s terms, I don’t care! Today, your challenge is to break free from your norm. Similarly to Day 1, you need to take whatever you’re used to and stomp all over it. So, if you’re that awesome celebrity star-tographer, your assignment is to shoot a beautiful landscape. And you, Mr. and Mrs. Jetsetter, should take on a still life. Maybe ask your pet to pose for you or something.
As a photographer, or any type of artist for that matter, networking is key. Sure, your photos need to be spectacular, but if you don’t know any like-minded people, it’s going to be pretty difficult to focus on your artwork. By surrounding yourself with other photographers, painters, musicians, and creatives in general, your mind is constantly stimulated to create. “Create” is defined as “to evolve from one’s own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention,” and without knowing any imaginative people, your product and your passion will suffer.
Many of us are set in our ways when it comes to photography. If you can name five go-to places you always shoot, then you’re just like me and many people that I know, so today’s challenge is to dig a little deeper. That’s right — You need to get up, find your comfort zone, then jump outside of it. Luckily for you, it doesn’t need to be all that complicated. Here are some suggestions:
