MIRRORS AND DEPTH

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

If you are doing an interior photo shoot, and the locations have mirrors, why not use them to your advantage? Mirrors have a way of creating depth to an interior image, because they give the illusion that there are more rooms beyond the walls. If you have models in the shot, position them so that they are viewed multiple times in the same image.

I took this photo of a changing room in an oil refinery. While there were only two models present, I was able to get five people in the shot (reflection in the left mirror, two reflections in the right mirror, two actual models). It may take a bit of planning as to where you need the models to stand, but it will be worth it!

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

BLUE COLOR CAST

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

Each year I take people to Nagano, Japan, to photograph the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys. I took this photo last week, and was struck by the emotive quality of the image. This blog entry will be old news to many of my readers, but it is worth repeating. When you have a subject that is melancholic in nature, it is usually best to use a blue filter, or a color balance that produces a cool, blue-ish hue. This color tone will accentuate the moodiness of the image.

The day was overcast, and relatively neutral in color. By placing my digital camera on "tungsten" setting (light bulb icon), the image tone is changed from neutral to blue. If you are adept with using the Kelvin scale in your digital cameras, try a very low number, such as 3500 K.

I have never used the comments option on Blogger, but it is now open, and I will try to answer any questions or comments that are posted. Thanks!

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

JAPANESE ART AESTHETICS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

I am teaching photography in Japan right now, and I took this image yesterday in Tokyo. I am reminded of the classic Japanese paintings that have a far greater percentage of empty space than subject matter. If you ever give yourself photo assignments, try this one out: find scenes that allow for 5%-10% subject matter, the rest of the scene being empty.



This type of imagery is powerful, as all of the viewer's efforts at comprehending the image are compressed downward to the small (but potent) subject matter. Give it a try!


Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

HARSH SUN, DEEP SHADOWS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

Have you ever seen the cover photo for the Buena Vista Social Club? The scene is a Cuban street, with a man walking on one side, and an old classic American car on the other. The photo is not very good technically, but it is incredible aesthetically. The shadows are unacceptably deep, the photo is out of focus, and the man's face is hard to see. However it is one of my favorite images due to it's "soul" factor.



















If you are in mid-day sun, and you feel uninspired due to the harsh lighting, why not use the weather to your advantage? Create a low-fi image by increasing your camera's contrast, underexposing, boosting saturation, and finally, taking the picture slightly out of focus.
















My sample image is quite deficient compared to the Buena Vista image, but it gives you an idea of what is possible when you purposefully take technically poor pictures! Sometimes you will get gems that turn out to be quite profitable.


Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com