DEFOCUSED PHOTOGRAPHS

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.

Rarely is it acceptable to take photos out of focus, however there are times when such a practice can yield strange and wonderful results. Fine Art photography often utilizes certain elements of defocus, and sometimes stock photography. Much to my surprise, I have had many stock photo sales from my intentionally out of focus photographs.

Not every subject will work out of focus however. The technique seems to require a scene that emotes a feeling of loss, confusion, distress, or loneliness. I took the above photo in the Toronto airport, of a captain reading the flight info screens. I immediately grabbed my camera, set my focus to manual, and captured an image that speaks of confusion . . . in my mind an airplane captain should not need to find out where his plane is located.

Give this technique a try, and don't forget to keep the photos a cool tone instead of a warm tone. A bluish cast aids in the sense of isolation, whereas a warm toned photograph tends to be inviting and embracing.

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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

NIGHT PORTRAITS

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Even though this image is exposed normally, there is something about the quality of the light that tells you it was a night shot. If you are living in a city with traditional or old architecture, try doing portraits using the artificial ambient light that comes from streetlights and other sources. I have found that slight camera shake or lens blur adds a Romantic quality to the image that seems to be absent when the shot is in perfect register.

This photograph was taken in Hungary, which is blessed with Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Secessionist architectural styles. However you don’t have to travel to Europe for this type of image. Doors in old buildings seem to work well, as a door is an iconic image that is rich in metaphor, and is understood worldwide in poetic and philosophical terms. Try a few shots without a tripod and slight defocus. If the results are un-usably shaky, try a monopod or a tripod with a loose ballhead. Sepia toned B&W film seems to work well with these images, or if you are a digital shooter Photoshop has a sepia tone Action that you can play around with.

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FINE ART PORTRAITS

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.


A very easy and effective way to create more mystery in your portraits is to photograph your models utilizing window light shining through curtains. The light should be in the evening when the sun is low and warm, and you, the photographer, should be inside the house, somewhere between the window and the model. The position of the model in relation to the window with curtains will determine how much curtain fabric detail shows up on his or her face. Experiment with different locations for the model, but realize that the sun sets quickly! In order to get rid of distracting backgrounds, place a black sheet or bristol board behind the model. For faces, try to use a zoom lens in the 100mm range, which is usually the most flattering lens focal length.

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

WALL ART Part 1

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.

With the steady rise of Modernism's popularity in the home, design has been receiving almost as much attention as traditional artwork when it comes to wall hangings. While many would not classify two dimensional design as art, record sales at art auction houses say otherwise. To create your own piece of Modern design for your walls, simply find a colorful linear or circular pattern and take a picture of it out of focus. You will need to have your lens aperture set to its lowest f-stop number. The photo above was originally a colorful bedsheet, focused manually.

One day I was preparing my camera for a photo shoot, and I took a test shot of a venetian blind. My photo was out of focus, so I checked my camera and saw that my lens was on manual focus instead of auto. I was just about to delete the test shot, when I realized that the image had a nice abstract appearance to it. During the next few weeks I photographed many things out of focus, and eventually had enough dynamic images to create a series. It was a good example of serendipitous creativity!

The next lesson is also on artwork for your walls, and will mention printing options.

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

WALL ART Part 2

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.

A friend of mine showed me a collection of beautiful 200 year old South Korean manuscripts. They were made with an old leathery paper and still intact, which gave me the idea that they would make unusual and dynamic artwork to hang in my home. Because the books were only 10 inches high, I decided to photograph them, blow them up for printing, and then get them framed.

Depending on your choice of interior decor, texture photos like this can make for interesting wall hangings. Some good ideas for finding texture are old worn-out leather, old printed fabrics, wall paper from a different era, and designs within nature.

Some tips for photographing these textures and printing them out for display:
1. Make sure that the light is evenly illuminating the texture. Overcast days may be best for this.
2. Use a tripod, and if you need maximum sharpness (not always necessary for artwork), set your lens aperture to f8.
3. Take a few different exposures of the same photo, so you are guaranteed at least one with the optimal light level.
4. Get the image printed at a professional lab that has access to fine art archival printing paper. These papers are usually thick, and can be watercolor style, canvass texture, Japanese Washi paper and so on. Ask your printer how many years the paper is rated for. The good papers and special ink jet printers (by Epson, HP, Canon etc.) can offer up to 100 years of color fidelity.
5. When the print is done, it is better to get the print framed by a professional. It will cost more than buying stock frames, but you will be guaranteed acid free matting which will extend the print life.
6. Enjoy your new artwork!

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

COMPOSE TO ANNOY

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 have come from a photography school, or have been part of a photography organization that judges your photos, you may have lingering phobias of improperly composing your photographs (due to the heavy hand that is about to "correct" you!). When it comes to fine art photography, there is no need to follow the rules set out by those above you . . . and often it is in breaking these established rules that the most dynamic and thought provoking works arise.

I took this photo for the purpose of hanging on my own wall. I liked the wallpaper design, from the Arts and Crafts movement, I believe. As I didn't want to have the full painting on my own wall, I decided to throw it off-center in a jarring manner, to grab the attention of the viewer. The wallpaper design and placement of the historic painting takes the image from documentary to abstract, and provides for an interesting work to hang on a wall.

A good location to find textured wallpaper is at an historic settlement, if there is one near where you live. This image was taken at a settlement called King's Landing, in New Brunswick, Canada.

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

FINE ART SELF PORTRAITS

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After my first shot, I felt that one of my photos taken in Quebec City needed an extra element that was not available at the time; a person. As I was alone, I tried a self portrait by placing the camera on a tripod, and setting the 10 second timer. What good is this technique, especially if a face isn't even visible? The value is in the increased marketability of the image with the addition of a person. I am experimenting with this by submitting both images to one of my agents, and seeing which sells more. From past experience, I am quite sure that this photo will outsell the non-peopled image.

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

USING TRICK LENSES

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There are a multitude of trick lenses available that fit modern cameras. Many of these are gimmicky, but given the proper subject matter some interesting results are possible. This shot was taken with a Lensbaby, made by a company in the United States. The cool thing about this lens is that the front lens element is on a flexible bellows, which allows you choice as to where you want the center of sharpness to be. The rest of the image becomes progressively out of focus. They have lenses to fit most film and digital SLR lens mounts, and you can find the company on-line.

What I have found with the above mentioned lens, and with other third-party lenses or attachments, is that they rarely produce dynamic images when shooting normal scenes in broad daylight. If you can, find subject matter with a darker, slightly melancholic feel, and you will find that these lenses can produce some fascinating photographs.

I photographed this man in an old Budapest hotel room, both with a normal lens and a Lensbaby flexible bellows lens. When I compared the two images, the bellows lens image was far more atmospheric and emotive. I believe that effect is a result of the dream-like blurring of the photo's perimeter (reminiscent of historic photographs), and the fact that the lens is not nearly as sharp as my normal Nikon lenses. I have discovered that for fine art photography, tack-sharp lenses can sometimes be detrimental. I will often use old scratched and dirty lenses, which can often be bought very cheaply on eBay or other used equipment venues.

For fine art photography, look for mystery . . . it will add an important dimension to your photographic collection.

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

CREATING SILHOUETTES

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.

This process is very simple and can lead to dramatic results, however it is meant for film based cameras. My suggestion for film is Kodak T-Max P3200, or Fujifilm Neopan 1600. Both black and white films will give a nice high contrast, high grain appearance. A much easier choice is black and white film that can be processed in normal color photo labs, called chromogenic films. These black and white films are inexpensive, and a lot faster to get developed.

Pin up a white bed sheet so that it hangs from the ceiling or doorframe, and have the model on one side with the camera on the other. Use a continuous light source, and place the lights behind the subject. You will find that the level of the model’s sharpness changes depending on how close he or she is to the bed sheet, and how far away the model is from the lights. Luckily, you will be able to see the differences in real-time as you can ask the model to move closer to the sheet or further away. It may be helpful to have an assistant alter the location of the light source while you are behind the camera observing.

The next step is to place a clear plastic shower curtain (or similar material) between the camera and the bedsheet. This will create an out-of-focus, aged look to the image. The distance between the camera lens and the shower curtain can vary . . . it is best to try a few different placements.

Make sure that your camera's aperture (or f-stop) is at the lowest number. The easiest way to do this is via Aperture Priority, where you choose the f-number, and the camera chooses the shutter speed. If none of this makes sense to you, check your owners manual or ask a friend for help.

After the photos are taken, get the film developed (make sure you take many shots, with different exposures and different set-ups). Choose the one that you like the best, then locate the corresponding negative, and throw it on the ground. Drag it around the floor, step on it a few times, and try using steel wool on it as well. You don't want major gashes in the negative, just enough to give the photo an aged look. After your hack job, take the negative back to the photo lab and ask to get just the one photo printed. Warn them ahead of time that the image will be scratched.

It is a long process, but hopefully one that will enrich your fine art photography. With advancements in digital filters for programs like Photoshop, you may be able to replicate this look if you only have access to a digital camera. Good luck and have fun experimenting!

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

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

A very easy way to get a painterly look to your images, and to produce photographs that do not appear to be photographs, is to utilize the setting sun. For this picture, I was asked by a client to create an iconic image of wine, with no other parameters. Since I was free to interpret the assignment in any manner that I chose, I decided to experiment with shadows.

The only requirement for this type of abstract image is a window that receives light from the setting sun. If you house is not oriented as such, try a friends house. The first step is to place your props on a small table or other movable surface. The props should have the setting sunlight shining directly on them. The second step is to place a piece of white bristol board (available at any stationary store) behind the props, thus creating the shadow projected on the blank surface. For this image I just used my living room wall, however the bristol board may be a better option as it is movable.

You will find that you can control the level of sharpness of the shadow. Simply experiment with the distance of the props to the window, and the distance of the props to the background bristol board. When you get the desired effect, you will need to work quickly as the sun sets quite fast. Have your camera on a tripod somewhere between the window and the back surface, and shoot a few different shots with different exposures. Since this is more of an artistic image, there is really no correct exposure; go with the image that feels right.

If you find that the shadow is not as warm as you like, try adding a warming filter available at your camera store. If you are shooting digital, experiment with different white balance settings, most notably the "cloudy day" setting, or the "shade" setting. Finally, when you take the picture you will be photographing at a slight off-center angle, as you can't be in the way of the sunlight hitting the props.

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