Photographer Coach

Spring and summer are the high season for weddings, and if you’re like most people, you’ll be invited to one. God forbid you’re asked to take the wedding photos, as this tends to produce high anxiety in most people–leave that to the pros. However, you might want to just take some snapshots of your own! The bride and groom will enjoy seeing informal snapshots of the day. In fact, they often place disposable cameras at each table at the reception to encourage people to do this! Read the rest

Ed Snyder’s All-Holga Exhibition of Beach Imagery – High Point Café, Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia (602 W. Carpenter Lane, 215-849-5153). Runs June 15 to August 15, 2008.

Artist Reception Sunday, July 20, 2008 (4:30 – 6 pm).

What’s a Holga? Basically a plastic toy camera that uses 120 format film. Read the rest

Unless you’re one of the unfortunates who summer where they winter, you’ll go on vacation this year. Simply EVERYONE takes vacation pictures to remember the good times. What kind of camera should you take and how do you ensure getting great shots?

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Nothing provides new photographic opportunities better than a change of scenery. If you can’t afford a trip abroad, then a change of season will do. Springtime in the Northeastern United States is a good example. With azaleas, dogwoods, and cherry blossoms in bloom, the world just looks like a better place! And why not capture it in photographs? Read the rest

What IS this creature? And why would someone hold it? Regardless, it makes a fine photo, don’t you think? One of the most common things to do with a camera is photograph your pet. And if you don’t have one, shoot someone else’s pet. Pet photography is easy on one hand, yet difficult on the other. Read more to see why. Read the rest

Review: Panasonic DMC-FZ30K / FZ30S

8 MP SLR-like Fixed-lens Digital Camera

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So you’re looking for a camera more sophisticated than a pocket-sized point-and-shoot, but don’t want to deal with the big bucks and big size of an SLR? This camera may be for you. The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 falls into the category of mid-sized, fixed-lens digital cameras—a bit more camera than a pocket point-and-shoot, yet smaller than an SLR. Price-wise, the FZ30 falls between the two: around $500 for the FZ30S (silver body) and $900 for the FZ30K (black body).
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This is one of my favorite photographs, a study of a statue of Eros and Psyche (Eros is kind of like a grown-up Cupid). Since I’m posting this around Valentine’s Day, I thought it an appropriate image for discussing statuary photography. The statue is a copy of the famous Antonio Canova sculpture, one of which resides at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The one I photographed was atop a tomb at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood California. If you like angels, a good place to shoot them is in a cemetery (pun intended).
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Nikon D70S
6.1MP Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera
Buy From Amazon.com

One of the first entry-level digital SLRs available, the D70 was Nikon’s answer to Canon’s Digital Rebel (EOS 300D), the first under-$1000 consumer-grade SLR on the market. The D70 is currently a discontinued model, but the upgraded version, the D70S is still available. The D70 seies body is based on Nikon’s early professional grade DSLRs, all of which have bodies much larger than most other brand DSLRs on the market. So if you want a no-frills, high quality DSLR (and you have big hands), the D70S may be for you!

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Ed Snyder is having a show of his photography at St. Asaph Gallery, Feb. 17 – Mar. 16 2008.

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, Feb. 15, from 6 - 8 pm.

Twenty images spanning his 10-year study of cemetery statuary will be on display. The exhibit merges art and photography with society’s desire to come to terms with death and dying. The reception is free; there will be wine and snacks to lighten things up a bit.

St. Asaph church, attached to the gallery, is sort of a miniature gothic cathedral, complete with gargoyles and Tiffany stained glass windows! It’s located one block off City Avenue, near Belmont Ave. Please see the St. Asaph website for directions.

Thanks and hope to see you there!
Ed

What the heck is this a photo of? Some sort of Photoshop digital montage? Actually, no, it’s a straight image I shot out my car window one morning last week! Ever consider keeping your camera at the ready on the front seat of your car? Read on to learn more about drive-by shooting!

What are the compositional elements of this photograph?

I made this image out the side window of my car while waiting for a light to change. The horizontal legs are part of a stationary statue, and these occupy the upper third of the frame. This helps us meet our compositional goal of the “Rule of Thirds.” The ladder truck and pedestrians helped balance the composition by placing themselves in the lower two-thirds of the frame! I happen to like the way the more distant pedestrian is slightly blurred—this gives a bit of depth to the image. Was there luck involved here? Of course. But you have to be well-practiced in the art of drive-by photography in order to take advantage of such situations. Read the rest