The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE) App

The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE)

Today, not many of us DON’T walk around with a mobile phone that does more than just be a phone. We can read emails, shop online, play games, play music, make videos, and of course take photos or selfies.

This list can go on and on, but finding an App that actually does something for photographers that use an external camera, is something that is getting better.

The Sun and Moon

Here's the thing, you find this great location that over looks a city or landscape that you think would make a great image for a sunrise or sunset, or maybe you would like to capture the full-moon on the horizon. But how do you know what time on a certain day the sun or moon will be there and will it be in the right location?

You could take pot luck and drive back on and evening or get up before dawn to find out, but what then if its all been in vain and you've struck out and it won't happen at that point of reference, your not going to be happy at wasting time and effort.

TPE

This is one of the very best apps you could possibly buy for your phone, the Photographers Ephemeris. You don't even have to go to the location as you can look over the map or do a search on the road or point that your interested in and just drop a pin. Straight away it will show you the sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset. And even have realtime of which direction the sun or moon currently is. It comes with a compass to show your direction in comparison to where the sun or moon will fall at a certain time of day or evening. You can go to a date in the month to see not just what time sunrise or sunset will be but the positioning will reflect the change of date.

You can save locations, so you can go back at a later date or time of year, you can view the area in so many map types as there are many to choose from. Its all there in one app for where ever you are in the world or looking to go to.

Desktop Version

Screenshot of desktop version

This version is just as useful and is free to use as its web based. you get the same info and you can bookmark references from your search.

There are so many times when your photographing a landscape, you think the location might have a great sunset or sunrise. So with the phone app, you have all the info at your finger tips, no more trying to predict where and when.

If there was one thing that I wished it did, would be to sync with my iPad or laptop, maybe this is something for the future releases.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Doing a shoot on a budget

Next weekend I’ve got 6 locations to photograph as part a competition I’m entering and I’ve decided that I want to add more to one of the images and have that dramatic look to it.

Locations

When you know a city so well, its difficult to find a secret spot that maybe know one knows about. I’ve spent over 4 weeks looking at Google satellite maps to find areas and then driving to them to see if they might work out or not. With that said, I think I’ve got it covered.

Adding to the image

The idea of the competition is to photograph the city, and with that thought maybe just photographing the view of a location or some street photography, I want to add a feature to the image that wont take away from the scene but be part of it. So I’ve enlisted the help of a friend who’s going to act as a model for me, this guy has never done anything like this and never really likes having his photo taken, but he seems to trust me for some weird reason, which I’m very thankful.

The Image

With one of the locations, I’ve got this image in my head of the location with this figure standing there and smoke behind them to add effect, but not hide the full scene of the location.

The Options

So I have a few options, hire a smoke machine, buy a can of smoke from Maplin’s or use smoke emitter pellets. The first is not going to happen as it cost to much for what this is, the second really only works in a studio and you need an assistant to help, so that leaves the smoke pellets.

Amazon seems to sell most things and even smoke pellets that are normally used to seek out problems with your chimney and seems like a possible use for this image.

So a small package arrived in the post this week and I have 10 pellets to work with. To see what the smoke was like, I lit one in the garden and for about a minute the garden was full of this white smoke!

The problem is that the smoke comes from one point on the ground and looks more like a rescue flare that’s been lit, I want the smoke to spread and be even in length across the ground.

A bit of DIY

So with some searching on the web and racking my brain, I came up with the idea of some kind of tubing that could have holes for the smoke to break through. The pellets do give off a bit of a smell, which you don’t want to be to close to and sucking in the smoke, and the pellets give off some heat as well, so the tube needs to be heat resistant. After some searching I came up with aluminium semi rigid flexible duct that used in pluming and heating. I went to my local B&Q and found a piece that’s 1.5m long and was damaged at one end, so with a bit of bargaining I got it for £5!

What I’ve done is put in about 15 holes in the tubing so that the smoke can filter through, and at the damaged end I’ve squashed it so the smoke can’t just go out through that end. I did a test this afternoon and found a small tin we have to put the pellet in and makes it easier to light and place in the tube, then blocked off the end with a piece of card with good old gaffer tape.

So guess what, it works a treat! The pellet gives off about 60 seconds of smoke and with it being confined, it comes out of the holes slower and spreads evenly.

Conclusion

Now I don’t know for sure if it will work on the day, but its cost me less than £15 and if it doesn’t work, it wont take anything from the image I will be creating, this would just add to it.

I’m going to have to work with my model and explain how its all going to work and point out that they will have to light the pellet and then run into position and pose, if nothing else it will be fun and a laugh.

I guess the point is that with a bit of imagination and research, you can come up with the same kind of thing that’s done on large sets, just on a smaller scale.

I’m hooking up with my model tomorrow to take them round to the locations so they can see what will be needed and done for the real thing next week. It will give me the chance to see how they will fit in with the image I have in mind for each of the locations and where best to place them. Its all good having it in your head, but can be different when it comes to the real thing, so this will save some time and maybe give me other ideas for what I want him to do.

Once I’ve posted the images to the competition, I will post copies on Google plus to show how good of bad they image came out, who knows it might be a winner as that’s the reason for entering the competition in the first place.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Portait Images - The Problems One Can Face

Portrait Images…

One of things I’ve found is that unless you’re working with a model that’s trained to be in front of the camera and can take direction in what you the photographer is looking for, you get the frozen and can take time to have the person comfortable in a studio or camera environment.

Being Relaxed

For any client that’s come to you and asked you to do a portrait image of them or of a family member have an idea of an image that represents them best. But putting someone in front of a camera seems to cause that involuntary look of nervous or a blank look. Many times I’ve heard people say they hate having their picture taken, but I think this is due more to the situations they've been in when they've had the image taken and by people that like everyone else has a camera and says ‘smile’ and then they see an image they feel is un flattering, this plants the seed of not wanting to have their photo taken.

There’s a great difference to someone having a camera at an event that wants to take photos, but inclined to take the photo of a funny situation that involves that person, while a photographer goes round and looks for that interesting but relaxed look that puts them in a much better light. If you say to someone to look at the camera or look to the left, they end up with this fixated look and their desperate not to blink which involuntary makes them blink as you press the shutter.

Getting that natural look

With young children and animals it seems to work in the opposite direction where you make a noise or rattle something to gain there attention. What makes this different is their not aware as of yet what a camera is or does. Older children and adults, it’s more about getting their attention away from the camera and lights and to focus on something else.

One way is to communicate, build a conversation that leans them into forgetting why they are there, make light of something that comes up in conversation that makes them give that natural smile or laugh. Take an image of someone and ask them to look direct at the camera and then another using the commutation situation, you’re going to see a big difference in the images that makes one stand out better than the other, and that’s the relaxed look.

Using a wireless trigger

Something that I learnt while doing my self-portrait project is to use my wireless trigger to take the shot for me as I don't have anyone to help me behind the camera. 

Using a wireless trigger in the same way while working with a client, gives you the flexibility and the chance to get images easier. Once you've set the lighting and camera up on the subject, you can then move away from the camera and then have your subject focus on you. For instance you want them to look slightly to the left, you move yourself to that position of the angle you want them to be in. you’re getting them to focus on you and not the camera so if you strike up that conversation and carry it through, you’re always going to have that natural look.

Moving around and communicating brings those images your trying to create without that professional model direction. A wireless trigger is there to control the shutter and doesn't need you to be behind the camera all the time. You know you've got the focal length how you want it, and the lighting, all that’s left to do is watch and click, then you’ve got the shot.

Getting the shot

I’m sure other photographers have their own techniques; this is just one way to consider working on portraits if you’re like me and you’re still learning the skills of taking good portraits. Getting those amazing shots can take time but if you find a way that makes it easier for you and the sitter, then you’re saving time and effort for both of you.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Photography As A Business

My Story…

I’ve always been interested in photography or photographs taken by others, but it wasn't till 2013 that I got my first real camera which was the Sony A65, I did look at Canon and Nikon, but like others I had set myself a budget and the idea of being able to use other manufactured lenses was the appeal for me and I just liked the A65.

Within a few months I had purchase a few lenses and research YouTube for ideas on how to use the camera and take photos. YouTube is an enormous library that can supply awesome words of advice and step by step ways of doing things.

Facebook is a social network I've used for a long time, I have in the past set up pages and groups to do with a target shooting sport I use to do, but now I’m retired. I did try setting up a group for intermediate or people new to photography to share their images and ideas, but it was slow to take off and I don't like the way Facebook messes with the images when you post them.

Then Google was plugging its Google Plus and I found communities and photographers of all stages in their work, in one place and the layout seemed great. 

It’s a bit nervous posting your own images in a world where people are much better than you at taking images and have a good eye for an image. But my experience with the site has been positive as everyone is willing to give you positive feedback on what you’re posting. For me, that what's important so to progress in my work to get better results. Seeing others work, not only makes me envious in some way but gives food for thought on what maybe I can do based on the technique that they've used.

Over the first part of 2013, I got more into what I was doing and getting better at the understanding of images and the post editing side of things. I had used up my budget and wanted to progress further, but to do that I needed to get a better understanding of photography, so I embarked on signing up for a 3 year degree in professional photography that is part of a Plymouth University degree, but done at City of Bristol College.

Right now I've done my first year and soon to start my second year, I’ve invested in a new camera body which is the Sony A99 so all my lenses would work with it, bought gear to make a small studio at home and built a website so to promote myself and to show my work in galleries that I've set up. Now I feel ready to start doing paid work, but where does one start?

Photography Business…

So I’ve done the friends and family bit and promoted on social networks and even entered competitions, but what more can be done to get one’s self out there?

I’ve decided that I won’t stick to one area of photography like Weddings and made the point in my site and in advertising that I'm freelance. Being freelance gives me a wider audience to approach, it also allows me to decide what’s possible or not in my ability physically to do jobs that come my way.

Photography is no different from other businesses in that you have others offering the same service, I don't believe in looking to lower pricing to tender for jobs out of being desperate, your work and social skills should talk volumes for them to pay the going rate and get what they pay for and leave being not just happy but to express to others how good you are as a photographer to put your name forward.

Working for yourself isn't easy and it takes drive and looking all the time at what’s around you that might bring you work, networking with social media is good but needs to be fresh and updated, just like your website and the images you’ve put there to be viewed and to tell others that there is new items to view.

I’m just starting out and would be grateful for ideas on what can be done or improved to bring clients to see me as a potential photographer they might use. There are many on Google Plus that are Professional Photographers that have been in the business for a while, your thoughts would be so welcomed to this blog feature, even though I know it’s a big ask to make a comment and share your experiences with me and those that are reading this. 

Maybe there are pitfalls to take into account when setting yourself up that you know of or affected you when you started out, anything that you can comment on would be welcomed.

If you are just starting out like me, then maybe you have views on what works and doesn’t and happy to share in this blog.

We all have a love for photography and some decide to do it as a business while others do it as a hobby and maybe feel taking it to that level as a business is too much to take on or even see it as binge a risky thing to do, maybe you can explain why feel that way.

Thanks to everyone that's taken the time to read this and to say thank you in advance if you do decide to comment.

AndyD

24 Hours in Bristol 2014 Competition

This is a competition that’s open to everyone, it does cost to enter and you can pay for extra images to be included and you get allocated a time slot that one of the images must be taken in.

Last year was the first time the competition was run and photographers had from midnight on the Saturday till midnight on the Sunday, I got the slot from midnight till 1 am! The weather was terrible with it being cold and raining added to the torment.

Like most I decided to photograph in the city centre and around the docks, a lot of photographers did same thing, and one of the finalist actually took a photo from the opposite side of the docks from me.

Hundreds of photographers took part in the event and were from all over the country and from Europe as well, it was a great event and I knew that if it was to happen again that I would take part.

There are lots of photographic competitions to part in, and in my view it worth having a go to gain experience and having the chance to have your work in a gallery for all to see.

This year the event is being run from the midday on the Saturday till midday on Sunday, I think this is a better way to do it and makes life slightly easier for all. We didn't have much of ID to say we were doing the event but this year supplied with proper ID's so that if anyone gets stopped by the police in the early hours of the morning, they will know what their up to as the council and police are made aware of the event and the Bristol Lord Mayor, is very much behind the event.

I'm not sure if this kind of competition is run in others cites in the UK or abroad, but it’s a great thing to get involved in and helps to promote your city. Over a thousand images were taken last year and I'm sure that a lot more will be taken this year.

For me, I want to have images that cover the morning, afternoon, evening and night. So over the last couple of weeks I've been looking and Google maps and travelling around all over the place to try and find something new and part of Bristol. I guess I'm lucky as I live in Bristol and have the time to look, while others maybe are just coming along for the weekend will find it slightly difficult to maybe get outside of the city centre and know where to go.

Last year images where landscape and street photography images, but I'm looking to try and find something different or to maybe photograph something in a slightly different way that’s more creative. 

One tool that I've found fantastic to use for knowing where the sun is going to set or rise is called TPE - The Photographers Ephemeris App, there’s also an Android version as well as a desktop version. Where ever you are in the world, you can drop a pin on the map and it will show you where the sun will rise of set as well as when there's a full moon. You can even go to a date in the calendar and see what time and where the event will happen. The app cost about £4.00 but worth the money as you can work out before you turn up at a location where sun will be at that exact time of day, its brilliant.

There's still time to register for the event and to find out more you can visit their website which is http://www.24hoursinbristol.co.uk.

Thanks for reading, AndyD