Sunbathers Shrunken to Specks in Aerial Photographs

Photographer Gray Malin's "A La Plage, A La Piscine" series shrinks sunbathers down to specks. Shot through open helicopter doors, Malin's aerial photographs manage to capture serene patterns on the otherwise crowded beaches and pool decks of Europe, Australia, South America and the U.S.

While the photographer's artist statement notes the color, light and shape of these "celebrations of summer," one can't help but also notice a pattern of what appears to be luxury and decadence in these photographs. From Las Vegas to Copacabana, the glitz of sunbathing seems to only be magnified when seen from above---which is, of course, ironic considering the scale of the people in these shots is  shrunken down. The series is truly mesmerizing to look at, no matter what ultimately catches your eye.

(Beautiful/Decay, via Lenscratch)

Fashion Photography: Tips from a Fashion Week Pro

photo: Jamie Beck / From Me To You

"When I first started there were 6-7 photogs shooting the shows. Vogue, WWD, NYT, the top publications. Before you had to be with a magazine or newspaper but now it has changed," Condé Nast photographer Robert Mitra tells New York-based photographer Jamie Beck in a great interview on Beck's site, From Me To You, about the realities of working the Fashion Week "pit" for 25 years.

If you follow fashion week photography, you know that saying "it has changed" is an understatement. These days, everyone from solo street style bloggers to online publications big and small are firing off photos of the runways and the beautiful people in the front rows from New York Fashion Week all the way through the final shows in Paris. And of course they're doing so on DSLRs and iPhones alike, with Instagram shots uploaded in real time often serving as the public's first views of the collections.

In the behind the scenes interview, Mitra lists his gear of choice (Canon 1D Mark IV, 70-200mm lens, monopod) in addition to sharing his tips for capturing candid backstage shots of the models and discussing why he shoots JPG rather than RAW. Check out the full interview on From Me To You.

Icelandic Aerial Photographs of Landscapes Look Like Marble Paintings

At first glance, photographer Andre Ermolaev's stunning aerial shots look more like paintings, or maybe even CGI landscapes, than actual photographs of the Icelandic countryside. And yet, photographs they are. My Modern Met quotes Ermolaev as saying that, as a photographer, "What has become a real discovery for me is the bird’s eye view of the rivers flowing along the black volcanic sand. It is an inexpressible combination of colors, lines, and patterns."

Can you believe these are photographs? Also, how badly does this make you want to befriend a helicopter pilot so that you can take your camera up high and discover what unlikely scenes are yet to be captured of your local landscape?

(My Modern Met)

Bacteriography: E. coli Bacterial-Growth Photography

If developing and printing photographs is a foreign process to many shutterbugs of the digital age, then one photographer's "bacteriography" technique will seem downright unimaginable. Like a true Renaissance man, Zachary Copfer---a self-proclaimed microbiologist masquerading as an artist"---has developed a process for printing photographs that blends the fields of art and science in a decidedly da Vinci-esque manner.

Copfer's bacteriography mimics in some ways traditional darkroom photography--- and, as PetaPixel points out, is also similar to the Collodion photographic process of the mid-19th Century---except that, as Copfer puts it, "the enlarger has been replaced by a radiation source and instead of photographic paper this process uses a petri dish coated with a living bacterial emulsion." You know, just makin' photos with bacteria. NBD.

Check out Copfer's bacteriographs over at his website, including the especially impressive series called "My Favorite Scientists." Of course, among those who've inspired him is Leonardo da Vinci himself.

(PetaPixel, via HuffPost Arts)

photo: Leonardo da Vinci Bacteria (Serratia marcescens), Nutrient Agar, Petri Dish by Zachary Copfer

Rineke Dijkstra: Decades of the Dutch Photographer's Striking Portraits

Rineke Dijkstra: Decades of the Dutch Photographer's Striking Portraits by Elizabeth Inglese

This week the Guggenheim Museum unveiled its mid-career retrospective of the work of Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra. Being a longtime fan of Dijkstra's photography, I immediately made my way to the museum to check out the exhibition, which commands four floors and showcases photographs from the past 20 years as well as installations of video work.

Dijkstra’s work is at once arresting and inviting. The large-scale color prints from Beach Portraits, which were photographed over a decade from 1992-2002, feature adolescents positioned squarely in front of the camera on an empty stretch of sand, the horizon line behind them. The soft focus of the scenery trains the viewers’ attention on the details of the subject, young beach-goers in their swimwear. Their vulnerability and bravery as they pose engage the viewer in an intimate relationship.

The inspiration for Beach Portraits came during a lengthy rehabilitation Dijkstra underwent following a broken hip. Still wet from the pool in which she exercised, Dijkstra photographed herself and found her exhaustion had enabled her capture a rawness difficult to access.

She sought to recreate this candidness by photographing subjects in states of exertion: bullfighters with blood spattered across their faces and mothers following the birth of their babies. These states, in which the barrier of self-presentation dissolves, allow Dijkstra and the viewer glimpses of authenticity.

Dijkstra’s video installations utilize movement and dialogue to explore her interest in the empathetic relationship between viewer and subject. In one collection, young club-goers dance alone against a white backdrop, their timidity and their confidence both on display. In another, school children discuss their reactions to an abstract Picasso, revealing much of their own preoccupations and concerns.

While physically and emotionally exposed, Dijkstra’s subjects confront their viewers with directness. Their frankness invites us to gaze upon them, but in their bare humanity we see reflections of ourselves.

Rineke Dijkstra: A Retropective is on display at the Guggenheim Museum until October 8, 2012.

Finally: Attributed Sharing from Flickr to Pinterest

Flickr has just announced a new feature that will hopefully ensure that from now on Flickr photographers receive proper credit in the wild west of photo sharing that is Pinterest. Pinners will now find a "Share this via Pinterest" button on all public and safe Flickr photos, which will in turn pin the shot to the site with proper, uneditable attribution attached.

Here's a snapshot of the good news from Flickr:

"We made sure that every image shared from Flickr will be clearly attributed with the name of the photographer, the title, as well as a link to the photo page. Because the attribution cannot be edited, photographers can rest assured that pins and repins of their images will be credited and linked back as well, ensuring people can leave comments, fave the photo, or contact you directly on Flickr.

And to top it all off, if someone has embedded your Flickr photo on their website or blog and it is pinned from there, the photo will automagically be attributed on Pinterest and linked back to the Flickr photo page. Pinterest also went back and added the proper attribution to all photos that have been pinned from Flickr so far. With this new feature, having your photos on Flickr gives you much more certainty that you will be attributed when your photos are being shared on Pinterest."

Also, of course, Flickr photographers have the option to disable sharing. Check out the full announcement on the Flickr blog for the whole deal.

(Flickr)

Digital Reluctance: Can You Acknowledge Kodak's Failure to Adapt While Still Harboring Your Own Digital Reluctance?

End of the Roll by Creativity103 - Flickr Creative Commons

The NPR/Public Radio International program "To the Point" today invited photographer Eamonn McCabe on air to reflect on the news that Kodak just filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. I listened to the segment in my car, on the way back to the office from lunch, and as I did so I was struck by the irony that by the end of the show McCabe---who is the former Picture Editor at the Guardian newspaper and an award-winning photographer himself---ended up holding fast and proud to the idea that digital photography is inferior to film photography and that it is a dubious format both in process and after an image is captured. This, in the wake of the news that the company that once dominated the world of photography---Kodak---was brought to its knees after its own reluctance to embrace digital technology.

At the top of the segment, McCabe says that he is "just staggered that [Kodak] just couldn't see this digital revolution coming and couldn't invest in it," and that "to be so arrogant and conservative not to change, I just find staggering." Later on in the conversation, when host Warren Olney urges McCabe to discuss the "quality of the product" in terms of digital versus film, McCabe talks enthusiastically about his Kodachrome days and admits his concern that nobody knows how long digital output will last. "We assume it's going to last forever," he says, "but does anyone know?" These days, McCabe is a half film, half digital photographer, though he says, "The trouble with digital is that it's very hard to fall in love with a digital camera."

Here's where things take a turn: "I have a theory," McCabe says, "Everybody's taking loads of pictures now on their iPhone...and their digital cameras, but who's looking at the stuff that's taken?...You're taking these pictures, and you might show them to somebody in a bar or somebody at work, but you don't ever print it." He calls this "the great mistake of digital."

He goes on to wax nostalgic about the family photo albums of his childhood---which is all fine and good---but he seems erroneously out of touch with the ways in which photography is viewed these days. It's as if he hasn't considered the fact that digital images are seen by millions of eyes every day around the world via the largest family photo album imaginable: the Internet. With these comments, McCabe seems to believe that all digital images taken by the average person are forgotten the moment after the scene is captured and then quickly relegated to the deep dark confines of a hard drive. Has this man never heard of Flickr, for instance? Nevermind Instagram or Facebook---which now has an image collection ten thousand times larger than the Library of Congress.

While McCabe is certainly entitled to his opinion that film cameras are preferable to digital (because right now that's not even the issue), what ultimately struck me as ironic after listening to his remarks was how he ended his talk by decrying digital photography in a strikingly similar manner to that same "arrogant and conservative" reluctance to change that he first labeled as Kodak's big failure. This made me wonder: can you really acknowledge and learn from Kodak's mistakes while you still harbor your own digital reluctance?

Food Photography: Advice & Inspiration from a Food-Shooting Pro

all images © Nicole Franzen

Thanks to photo apps like Instagram, and to our current culture of capture-and-overshare enthusiasm, I can no longer sit down to a meal without snapping a photo of the food. If you take a look at the various tags on Instagram related to the things that people consume throughout the day (#food #eats #noms) you'll see that I am not alone in the habitual photographing of my meals.

But outside of the realm of iPhonography, there is also a thriving professional food photography world. Yes, this is an actual job that many fortunate (and talented!) folks have managed to carve out for themselves. While some great cooking glossies have gone by the wayside (RIP Gourmet), there is no shortage of outlets for professional photographers to showcase (and cash in on) their work online and in print.

Culinary Composition

Professional food photographers may make their deliciously-staged shots look simple, but the craft of capturing food is no easy feat. Even someone well versed in the other genres of photography will have to relearn the rules when shooting subjects as fickle as couscous or cheeseburgers. And reflective subjects like glasses full of bubbly can offer significant challenges in improper lighting.

So with those sorts of challenges in mind, I've asked Brooklyn-based food photographer, Nicole Franzen, to share her tips for shooting food, including advice on equipment, lighting, styling and composition. Nicole runs the gorgeous food and lifestyle blog, La Buena Vida, and her photo clients include Bon Appétit, Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn Magazines, and Gramercy Tavern, among many others.

Below are Nicole's tips on the craft of photographing food. Grab a fork and dig in!

click thumbnails to enlarge

Equipment: "You can create a great at-home studio with a low budget by using materials like foam core poster board, which comes with a reversible black/white side. This versatility is great for creating shadows or for bouncing light. Also, I use clamps from a hardware store for everything, including holding up poster boards or hanging fabrics . A tripod is an important piece of equipment. While I love free shooting, a tripod is essential for low-light conditions."

Lighting: "I prefer to use all natural light. So for this, shooting near a window is the way to go. It's fun to play with light: draw your curtains, bounce light from above or the side, and move around. Think about how you want the food to look. Is the scene dark and moody? Bright and warm? Depending on the season, the light will change; go with it and embrace it. In winter months I shoot darker and in summer the scenes are more colorful. As a rule of thumb, it's best to shoot in the morning and late afternoon, when the light is softer. Don't be fooled into thinking that when it's sunny outside it's the best time to shoot. Cloudy days often end up creating the best lighting conditions---a natural diffuser for the sun, which creates a beautiful soft light. Shooting outside is fantastic also. Sunny days make for harsh contrast, so use a diffuser when needed."

Styling: "I like to keep styling pretty simple. I think the food should be the star. I regularly frequent flea markets, second hand stores and markets, and I am always on the look out for new surfaces on which to shoot because they set the tone of the photo. I use everything from old fruit crates, which can easily be disguised as a table top, to old baking sheets, galvanized metals, distressed cutting boards and wood, and an assortment of fabrics. I use simple fabrics, linen being my favorite. You can pop into your local fabric store and pick up things like muslin, cheesecloth, burlap and other natural fibers. Even dying them yourself saves money and allows you to create they exact feel you're going for. I also recommend collecting an assortment of plates and vintage flatware to style shoots. Keep it simple overall---less is more."

Composition: "The composition element of a photograph is really important, and I believe it's one of those things you learn from doing. For food, I often like to shoot from above. But even though this is my go-to, I still like to move around and try different angles for capturing the scene. You might try some up close, some further away. Always ask where the image is going. If it's going to be a small image for a website, try and get the food up close. If they are going to be larger images you can shoot the food from further away. In the end, all I can say is try to make it feel real, not forced."

Creating a Platform

Making beautiful photos is not all that it takes to become a working shutterbug, however. As I've shared before on DP, I'm inspired by stories like this one about London (and now New York)-based photographer, Brian Ferry, who as a result of demonstrating a clear talent for capturing dining experiences on his photo blog, The Blue Hour, was hired by Starbucks to shoot a big campaign for the brand. Similarly, Nicole Franzen created a platform for herself to show off her food photography and styling chops through La Buena Vida, and has in turn gone on to shoot foodie editorials for major publications and capture close-ups for highly respected restaurants. These two photographers have different aesthetic approaches but the one thing that unites them is that their images show a strong point of view. Nicole was, again, kind enough to share her somewhat unconventional journey to professional status and give advice on starting the journey of becoming a food photographer. Check out more of her tips below.

click thumbnails to enlarge

Training: "I will start by saying that I had no proper training in the photography world. I am a full-fledged hands-on learner. Whenever I would try to read books about technique, the information would rarely stick. I had to learn through doing. It took years of practice and an undying love for taking photographs. It took always pushing forward and challenging myself. I feel that, as with most arts, it comes from a deep source within. Learning the technical side of things just helps you get that feeling out. Everyday I spend a large amount of time looking at things that inspire me. Whether it be another photographer's work, a stylist I envy, or mother nature. My main source of inspiration comes from nature itself. It has given us all of these beautiful things for free: texture, light, mood. It's important to take the time to appreciate that. Some of my favorite subjects to shoot are farmer's markets and rural farms. I love the organic feel of these settings and I try to represent that in my photos. For me, it's all about getting to the root of food and all the amazing people involved."

Promotion: "The journey has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. It's not easy becoming a full time photographer, but after lots of hard work it has started to pay off. I've always had a camera in my hand and have always loved to take walks. Many of us photographers are familiar these walks and treasure them deeply. It's our time. After working my way through every genre of photography, it finally made sense that food was my true niche. I had been obsessed with food and cooking since a very young age, and so it only was a matter of time before I combined the two. The last two years I have spent all of my time devoted to learning about photographing food. I started a blog, which was my initial way of introducing my work to the world. I started by photographing my own meals. It then continued to grow and grow. I've met almost every client I have through the internet and referrals. Get to know everyone in the industry and build relationships. Be persistent and consistent. Social media has helped us photographers a lot---embrace that. You will be surprised when the emails start to come in."

Business: "Running a small photography business has its challenges. I am constantly learning as I go. I've become a jack of all trades---not only are you doing the photography, you are doing book keeping, invoicing, and all the other details that are involved in running a small business. I make mistakes, and then I learn from them. Every day I feel blessed that I am able to do what I love. I was never destined for a desk job. The best thing about photography is that it's always changing: new clients, new experiences and new shoots. My only words of advice are follow your heart, keep on working hard and always challenge yourself to get better."

Tools: Nicole primarily shoots with a Canon 5D Mark II and edits in both Aperture and Photoshop.

Visit nicolefranzen.com to view more inspiring images. Thank you, Nicole!

Hey Hot Shot International Photo Competition

Apologies for the last minute notice here, shutterbugs, but you still have five days to enter the Hey Hot Shot International Photo Competition, hosted by Jen Bekman (of Jen Bekman Gallery and 20x200.com). As an emerging photographer, winning this photo competition would be akin to a small child smashing open a loaded piñata. Check it out:

One winning photographer, the Ultra, will win the Grand Prize:

+ A $10,000 honorarium + A solo exhibition in NYC's Jen Bekman Gallery + Two years of gallery representation by Jen Bekman Gallery

All Hot Shots will be awarded with:

+ A $500 honorarium + Participation in the Hey, Hot Shot! group show in NYC's Jen Bekman Gallery (January 2012) + Consideration for the Grand Prize

The opportunity for exposure doesn't end there. All entrants are reviewed for even more opportunities, including:

+ Participation in 20x200 + Daily Contender posts, which are shared with our broad photography community via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr

Since its inception in 2005, Hey, Hot Shot! has provided one hundred and forty photographers from all over the world with unrivaled exposure, support and recognition. Hey, Hot Shot! provides an ongoing platform and unparalleled opportunities for photographers at all stages of their career.

Visit heyhotshot.com for all contest rules and to enter!

LA Times Asks, "Where's today's Dorothea Lange?"

Dorothea Lange, "Human Erosion in California" and "General Strike/Street Meeting, San Francisco" (via J. Paul Getty Museum)

In a Los Angeles Times Op-Ed published this past Sunday, Jaime O'Neill discusses the lack of iconography present to represent the current economic crisis. "The pain and suffering has only been superficially covered by the news media," says O'Neill, "but it has surely not been addressed by our artists." O'Neill reminds us that during the Great Depression, artists from all fields captured the pain and struggle of the nation within their various works: Steinbeck with his words, Guthrie with his tunes, and photographer Dorothea Lange with her series of painfully striking images. Future generations also sought to, as O'Neill says, "vivify" the experiences of Americans in hard times, including Bob Dylan singing "The Times They Are A-Changin' " to Vietnam War protestors. And yet, the writer points out, there have been no bold works along these lines by the artists of our time. Even Dylan, O'Neill points out, now keeps his opinions to himself. And actually, it's been the comedians who have been most outspoken about the issues. At the end of the piece, O'Neill says something that really resonates with me:

"As much as anything, the arts define the times, sketching a portrait of a moment in the life of the nation and the world, marking a period in ways it comes to be viewed by people who live through it and by people who come after. But the tale of our times is mostly being told by our unwillingness to tell it."

What do you guys think about this, particularly as it relates to the photographers of our time? Certainly we are offered powerful glimpses at war and famine abroad by brave photojournalists every day. But what about photos documenting or commenting on the American experience?

Read Jaime O'Neill's full article here.

(via LATimes)

Reflecting on September 11, 2001: A Call for Photographs

"Ground Zero" © Ansalve (flickr creative commons)

This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Though the horrific attacks were carried out in New York City; at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, the event rocked the entire nation as well as the rest of the world. We all remember where we were on that day, and remain in awe of those brave people who so selflessly gave their time---and in many cases, their lives---to save victims at the World Trade Center and elsewhere. The images of grief, struggle and rebuilding are forever locked in our minds.

Over the years since the attacks, photographers around the nation and across the globe have taken up their cameras to capture images that respectfully reflect on that day in September 2001, including scenes of the rebuilding at Ground Zero, photos of memorials for fallen first responders, or hopeful photographs of a community and a world pulling together despite our differences.

On this tenth anniversary, we ask that any photographers who would like to share their photographs that reflect on the 9/11 attacks, and the ways in which they changed our lives and our world, please upload them to the Digital Photographer Flickr Group so that they can be shared with the Digital Photographer community. These photos need not have been taken in New York City, or even on American soil. We will post as many of these images as we can on our website in the Reader Photos section in the coming days and weeks. Please only upload respectful images, and as always with our reader photos, only upload images that were taken by you.

Thank You,

The Digital Photographer Team

Wounded Photojournalist João Silva: "Historian with a Camera"

Photojournalist João Silva, who lost both of his legs to a land mine while on patrol with American soldiers in Afghanistan last October, recently spoke about his injury, the state of photojournalism, and what he considers to be his role as a "historian with a camera." Here is the full transcript of his speech, which is as powerful as it is humbly stated. Silva simply says, "It happened. My time came, I guess," and is already looking toward the future.

Those interested in purchasing one of Silva's powerful prints in order to support him can do so here. According to the site, "Should João not need the funds raised through your generosity, he will donate to causes of his choice."

(via Gizmodo, New York Times, Support João)

Justice: Photographer Recovers $9K Stolen Camera & Equipment Thanks to GadgetTrak

It's every professional photographer's worst nightmare to have his/her camera and gear stolen. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to pro shutterbug John Heller while on assignment for Getty Images at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, when $9,000 worth of gear was stolen from him--- including his Nikon D3 DSLR. After filing a police report and all but resigning himself to the loss, Heller decided a few months ago to do a search for his camera on GadgetTrak’s Camera Serial Search (which is a free service). According to GadgetTrak, "Heller entered the serial number of his stolen camera and found an exact match with several images that were recently posted to Flickr." Through a pretty fascinating series of events thanks to the embedded serial number in the uploaded images, the stolen property was ultimately recovered.

(via GadgetTrak)

Why Photographers Should Have a Strong Online Presence

image via The Blue Hour

If you are looking to make money off your photography, I suggest you read this recent success story, which was written by London-based photographer, Brian Ferry---creator of the gorgeous photo blog, The Blue Hour. After reading, you will be inspired---if you haven't already---to make a focused effort of creating an online brand and identity for yourself as a photographer.

The success starts, of course, with great images. But in order for those images to be noticed, the photographer has to come out from behind the viewfinder and show off a little. The thing about Brian's blog is that it is stacked with great captures but it is also somewhat personal---tracking the photographer's travels and daily life in London. He presents an inviting persona through his photo essays, and clearly Starbucks took notice. Congrats to Brian. Here's hoping the same kind of story is in your own future! If something similar has happened to you, let us know in the comments. We'd love to hear of your successes.

National Wildlife's 41th Annual Photo Contest

Here's a great opportunity for wildlife photographers, from National Wildlife Federation:

"The National Wildlife Federation is now accepting entries to its 41th annual photo contest. Nature is one of the most inspiring of all photography subjects and since it’s always changing, no shot is ever the same. Cash prizes totaling more than $20,000 and other gifts will be awarded to the winners in seven categories in three separate divisions: Professional, Amateur, and Youth.  Winners will be published on the NWF website and a selection will appear in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of National Wildlife magazine."

- More than $20,000 in cash prizes - Two $5,000 grand prizes -  one for pro and one for amateur division - First place winner in each category receives Apple iPad – Second place  Apple iPod - 75 honorable mentions - Submit up to 25 images in 7 categories; backyard habitats, birds, connecting people and nature, landscapes and plant life, mammals, other wildlife, and new this year, animal babies. "The judges are looking for striking images of nature—on land, in the air and beneath the water’s surface—from anywhere in the world. These images may show animal behavior, portraits of wildlife in natural habitat, plant life, natural landscapes, or people interacting with nature."

For complete rules and to enter, visit their contest page.

Canon & Ron Howard Present: Project Imagin8tion Photo Contest

Imagine inspiring acclaimed director Ron Howard with your own photographs. Well, "over the next month, Ron Howard, with the help of Canon and the Project Imagin8ion community will select 8 imaginative photos to set the stage for his next production," according to Canon.

There are two categories to which you can enter---Setting, Time, Character and Mood (entry period ends June 2nd) and Relationship, Goal, Obstacle and The Unknown (entry period June 3 - 14). For full contest rules and to enter, visit the Project Imagin8tion YouTube page.

National Historic Landmarks 2011 Photo Contest

The National Park Service has kicked off its 12th annual National Historic Landmarks Photo Contest—this year named “Imaging Our National Heritage”—which “encourages people to use their cameras to capture the meaning of the National Historic Landmark in a photo.” The contest is open to both US natives and foreign travelers. For more information and to enter the contest, visit the contest’s Flickr page (I imagine it will be updated with 2011 entries soon), or the official NHL contest website. The contest is open through July 31, 2011.

CEA Earth Day Photo & Video Contest

image © FlyingSinger (creative commons)

From Digital Tips:

"The CEA Digital Imaging Division and Tech Enthusiast membership program are excited to bring you the Earth Day photo and video contest. The contest begins April 1, and you have until April 17 to submit your photo or video. We want to see and hear what Earth Day means to you. It can be anything from a snapshot of your favorite park to a short video telling us what you do to make the world a 'greener' place. Get creative!

You may submit up to one photo and one video. Photo submissions should be less than 2MB and sent to photocontest@CE.org. Video entries should be less than 3 minutes and uploaded to YouTube. You need to send a link to your video to photocontest@CE.org. Winners and finalists will be displayed here at DigitalTips.org. Please view the official contest rules before submitting your entry"

Lynne Eodice’s Online Photo Course- February

Lynne Eodice, author of Photos That Inspire Photo Workshop, will be teaching another edition of her online course on photography basics entitled “How to Shoot Inspiring Images.” This four-week course will be available through BetterPhoto.com on February 2, 2011, so reserve your spot now!

Course Description:

This course is designed to teach the beginning photographer about the D-SLR and have fun doing it. We’ll begin by examining lens choices, ISO settings, and what the various camera buttons and dials mean. From there, we’ll move on to f-stops and shutter speeds, and how to utilize them for creative control. You’ll learn how to see the way the camera does, and utilize various rules of composition for best results. Then put it all together by shooting your favorite subjects. There will be tips and techniques throughout this course that will assist those new to D-SLR photography, and will help you create striking images. Click here for more information and to sign up.

Images © Lynne Eodice

Nikon Aspire Sweepstakes

Nikon and National Geographic have announced the Nikon Aspire Sweepstakes, which gives passionate photographers the chance to go on an exclusive photo excursion with one of National Geographic's renowned professional photographers. One lucky photographer will receive a new Nikon D7000 camera, a private tutorial from a Nikon product specialist, and a photography excursion with a National Geographic professional photographer.You can enter once per day until January 26, 2011. 

Visit the official contest page for more information and to enter. Good luck!