A Good Photography Blog-Update 2021
by William Lulow
Note: Here’s an article I published first back in April and then with an update a few months ago. It’s worth republishing here at the beginning of the new year, with some additions, most notably that it is coming from my new location in Livingston, New Jersey. I hope to keep publishing timely and important information on photographs and photographic techniques from my new studio here:
Why do people read blogs? One reason is to find out what’s happening in a particular field or with a certain person of interest. Another is to learn something! Since I am a teacher of photography, I always post articles about techniques, particular solutions to lighting problems or instruction in the basics. There is always something to learn here and it is free! I’m not trying to get you to buy anything. I am trying to educate you to be a better photographer and to let you in on some trade secrets, and to keep you up to date on my own photographic efforts.
In addition, I work hard at my blog. I write it two days-a-week and I strive to keep the information current. When I look at blogs, I’m not interested in what some photographer did in 2005, 2010 or even last year. My information is current and up to date. I do my research on equipment, technical specs as well as tried-and-true methods that will improve your photographic efforts today. You can also tell that not only do I love what I do, but I’ve been doing it for a long time and I have also worked hard at transitioning to digital technology, something we will all have to do sooner or later in our lifetimes. No technology stays the same for very long.
I can’t tell you how many “blogs” I have seen from photographers that are TWO YEARS or more out of date. I have seen posts that go back to 2016. If you are not going to keep your blog up to date, why include it? Other photographers simply use it to post jobs they have shot, some not even recent and more without any explanations of any kind. Those are not real blogs to me. They just take up space on someone’s website. Some photographers like to use their blogs as a kind of “client portal” where they can view their images from past jobs. Those aren’t blogs either. They should have their own separate pages.
So, here are some things you could learn right off the bat:
Lenses: Buy the best lens you can afford. “Kit” lenses are usually not the best, that’s why they’re included in kits. It’s better to buy the camera body and the lens you want separately. Zoom lenses that don’t carry their speed through all f/stops are usually not the best. A “normal” type prime lens that only opens to f/3.5 is usually not the best. You need a “fast” lens for most good applications. That means that it needs to be f/2.8 or better. Stay away from “other” lenses than the kind that is made for your camera. Again, occasionally you’ll get a piece of glass that is truly remarkable, but it is the exception rather than the rule.
Study: Thoroughly read your owner’s manual. Take the time to go over every page. There are often important things that are easily overlooked. Most cameras work the same way but have controls in different places and on different menus. Be sure to do this BEFORE you take a new camera on vacation or use it for an assignment. The last thing you want is to be fumbling around for settings, etc. when you’re doing an important shot.
Cameras: Cameras are a matter of personal preference. These days, the major manufacturers, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica, Hasselblad, etc., all make excellent products. Some are engineered better than others. One may have a particular feature that will sell you on using it. These days, a lot of photographers like the mirrorless versions. A few years ago, I made the switch from Nikon to Canon. All the reviews I read and all the talking I did with other pros led me to the decision. I think that Canon was making superior optics for a number of years after the advent of the digital age. Nikon has certainly caught up by now, but it was during that time that I made the change.
Take the time to go to a reputable camera shop and speak to the sales staff about what they like about each piece of equipment before you buy. They handle cameras all day long. They can pick up little quirks about each one and tell you about them.
If you are interested in making better pictures with your camera, start taking your camera off AUTO and set it to MANUAL. If you’re anything like me or just want to learn more about the process of making images, you want to be in control of all your settings. When your camera is on AUTO, it is doing all your thinking for you and thus not able to give you what you want all the time. AUTO settings are good for making an average image with a good amount of light, but won’t really help you much when the light is less than optimal, when you want to alter the image in the camera or when you are using special lighting conditions. You also have to be aware that your AUTO setting will do what’s necessary to make a good exposure. It doesn’t allow for independent settings. It will use any or ALL of the three components of exposure to ensure that there is enough light to make a picture.
Use one ISO setting (usually 100) and try to get used to seeing light in terms of f/stops. A bright, sunny day is usually f/11 @ 1/125th of a second. A cloudy bright day is probably f/5.6 @ 1/125th of a second. Keep track of what you shoot. Carry a little notebook with you and make some notes. This technique will also help you to train your eye to see photographically. After a while, you will be able to approximate your exposures and not have to rely on a light meter or the one build into your camera. Although I also teach how to use the in-camera meter properly.
Slow down your picture taking! These days, it’s easy to shoot over 1000 images during the course of a 3-day vacation, for instance. So, if you think that shooting that many pictures will yield one that you truly love, you are mistaken! When I used to shoot with a view camera and sheet film, I would sometimes make only four or five exposures of a particular scene. I knew I would get what I wanted because I thought about it more and paid more attention to small details. Then I had a good idea about what I wanted to do in post-production to bring out even more details.
This shot was taken with my old Canon 17-55mm, f/2.8 zoom lens. I also used a gradient filter over the lens to darken the blue sky.
Here is a studio set up for a corporate advertising shot. We use multiple flash units with multiple power packs to get exactly the type and quality of light we need to make portraits or headshots the best they can be.
Below, one of our flash generators with three heads plugged in:
When I talk about a certain technique, I’m not trying to get you to buy an online course. I’m providing you with information you can use right now! You will want to subscribe to this blog again, because the information is useful and free! Use the handy form on the HOME page. I will never bother you with unsolicited materials.
If you are trying to perfect your photographic efforts, why not follow timely and informative articles published by an experienced photographer and photo teacher? I may not be famous, but I’ve been doing photography for years and I have many answers to your questions. I am also a certified teacher who offers one-on-one lessons as well as classes from time to time. So if you are really intent at learning how to get the most from your photo gear, look at the “Workshops” page to learn about my teaching techniques and when workshops are scheduled.
