Category: Photography

  • One of Many by Wesley Verhoeve

    One of Many by Wesley Verhoeve

    Created by Wesley Verhoeve, One of Many is a monthly series of photo essays about twelve cities across the US and their creative communities. Wesley immerses himself in each local creative community and profiles some of the most interesting creatives of the area: artists, makers, chefs, writers, brewers, entrepreneurs and others.

    People around the globe choose to work for themselves, to freelance or work for small companies. This project captures this creative movement that is currently reshaping the global economy and culture, inspiring and encouraging others to make the leap and pursue their desired craft.

    Wesley, who is co-founder of handmade men’s accessories and home goods company GNTLMN and art curator at WeTransfer says: “Being a small business owner or a creative independent is exhilarating, but it can also be quite lonely and stressful. One of Many is a reminder that we are not alone. We are part of a growing movement. We are one of many.”

    www.oneofmany.co

    FP-Ruthie-for-web FP-Michael-Moran-for-web FP-Martha-Lou-for-web FP-Josh-Ulmer-for-web FP-Allison-Merrick-for-web
    All photos by Wesley Verhoeve

  • Why You Should Take Up Film Photography

    Can you believe that even five or six years ago, digital cameras were all the rage? Now we simply have our smartphones which do all the work for us – no need for anything else. Unless you are a professional photographer who needs hyper-focus lenses for work, in which case you may still have a digital SLR which you use often, the chances are you take most of your photographs on your phone. Companies like Samsung and Apple have gone to great lengths to make their smartphone cameras second to none, ensuring that the only camera you will need when you’re out and about is already in your pocket. 

    So what’s the deal with analog photography? You might remember, if you are old enough, that all cameras used to operate using film. Each film canister had a limited number of shots you could take, and after that would have to be dropped off at a developer to be exposed in the correct conditions. Then the photos would be returned to you in physical form. No? Nobody remembers this? It wasn’t that long ago, people! Anyway… Believe it or not, analog photography is still alive and well, despite the existence of much more efficient cameras nowadays. So why is film photography still so popular, despite its inefficiencies? In this blog, you’ll learn about why analog photography remains sacred, and why you should take it up as your next hobby.

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    Understanding Film Photography

    If you love taking photographs, you will love the beauty and elegance of film photography. This medium involves being mindful about the shots you take, because of course, each shot uses up film – even if you mess it up! This means paying more attention to the lighting, composition and colours in the picture, which will create beautiful shots you can treasure forever. 

    British film photographer George Muncey said in an interview, ‘I also am just a strong believer that photography exists best in print, whether it’s in a book or on a wall.’ This sums up the beauty of film photography in its greatest forms. Photographs used to solely exist in print; now they almost entirely exist digitally. Modern analog photography is bridging this gap, creating meaningful moments and experiences for photographers, while preserving the craft of film photography in the modern day. 

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    Why Try Film Photography?

    You might be thinking, ‘This sounds nice, but so what? I just take photographs to make memories.’ For most people this is true. Yet film photography in the modern day supports this – you don’t have to lug around huge, ancient cameras in order to have fun with film photography. Here’s a breakdown of why film photography is an awesome medium which can boost your creativity, even if you aren’t yet passionate about photography. 

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    • Experimenting With Light

     

    One thing that film photography heavily relies on is light. If there is too much light travelling through the lens when the photo is taken, the film will be over-exposed, meaning that the photo can appear bleached and without detail. If there is too little light, the photo will not be clear either. So when you get into the nitty gritty of film photography, you can experiment with the functions of the camera which help let in the right amount of light. Some film photography fanatics purposefully over or under-expose their photos to create cool effects, kind of like a natural Instagram filter!

     

    • Waiting For Results

     

    In the contemporary technological world, we seem to have lost the art of waiting to see how things turn out. With film photography, this discipline is returned. Instead of taking a photograph and immediately checking how we look in it, you are forced to wait until the whole roll of film is finished and developed to see the results. This brings the joy back into taking pictures of loved ones and landscapes – and even ourselves – because we aren’t just focused on seeing ourselves in the photo, but in the moment itself. 

     

    • Digital Availability

     

    Film photography in the 2010s has developed a long way since before the internet existed. Now, most reputable film developers will offer a scanning service, meaning you can access your film photographs digitally as well as physically. This means that you can still post your photographs to Instagram and send them to friends and family, even if they were taken on an analog device.

    This also means you can share your photos in all the innovative, fun ways you can share photos in the modern day. You can send your analog photographs to Pixa Prints and have them made into a fun mouse mat or phone case; or you can still post them to your grandmother in a sweet envelope. Whatever your style, you can do it with film photography. 

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    What Camera Should I Buy?

    There are two distinct types of 35mm film cameras: SLR and point-and-shoot. 

    1. An SLR is a completely analog camera which does not need batteries to function, although it will need them if you want to use the light meter. SLRs need to be manually focused and adjusted to suit the light conditions. This is a more technically specific camera which might involve more trial-and-error, but the chances are you will take more beautiful and high quality photographs with an SLR!
    2. A point-and-shoot is an updated version of an SLR. Battery powered with a built-in flash, you literally just point it at the object, and click. These are auto-focus, auto-lit and are smaller and more compact too. These are great for simple memory-making, not studied, carefully curated shots. 

    Final Thoughts

    If you want a new hobby that can enhance your passion for taking great pictures while testing your creativity, film photography is for you. Make sure to utilise all the available free resources online, such as YouTube tutorials and reviews, so you can be a self-taught film photographer in no time at all! 

  • Smart Ways to Grow your Customer Base

    To reach a successful business level, you will need to grow and maintain your customer base. In simple terms, more customers mean more sales. The more sales you have, the greater your profits will be. Thus, to grow your brand, you need to grow your customer base. If you are wondering how that is possible, here are some tips.

    Image by Mediamodifier from Pixabay

    Leverage social media so that followers of followers see your brand

    It is simple to get followers of your followers to see your brand. For instance, sharing a video and encouraging your followers to share it will mean that their followers have a chance of seeing it.

    Using corporate video production services to help create your videos on a professional level will ensure that you can build long-term connections with your customers. You can keep them engaged and entertained while unconsciously interacting and helping your brand grow its awareness. When customers watch and engage with your videos, you will have a greater chance of being seen by more customers.

    The more your video content, especially those created by video production company Manchester, is viewed and shared on social media platforms, the more customers will see it as their followers will be able to see what they like and what businesses they are engaging with.

    Get to know what your customers want

    Giving your customers what they want will ensure to attain them and gauge the interest of new customers that want the same thing.

    But, how do you know what customers want?

    The simple answer is to ask. There’s no harm in reaching out to understand their expectations and preferences. When you do, you not only get to know your audience better but also position yourself to meet their needs more effectively. One impactful way to communicate your offerings and values is through visual storytelling, this is where working with a corporate video production agency can make a big difference. By creating engaging, customer-focused content, you can demonstrate your commitment to their needs while building trust and brand loyalty. Offering great service and taking the time to understand your customers pays off in the long run.

    Make the most of your networks

    As a business, it is important to have networks and more importantly, use those networks. It can open so many doors for new opportunities.

    When you network well and become friends with other brands, they might use word of mouth marketing to tell their customers about you. When doing so, your brand’s awareness will increase and you might be able to gain customers from them.

    Likewise, you could use networking events to introduce yourself to your ideal customer. You could set up a business event and invite your target audience. You can get to know them on a personal level, which will attain their interest and likely maintain their loyalty to you.

    Offer great customer service

    Speaking of giving your customer what they want, it is useful to offer great customer service. When you make customers happy and answer their questions in good time, you will be able to maintain their interest.

    Great customer service will be spoken about. If you always reply to your customers or offer incentives when something goes wrong, your customer will likely tell their friends and family, which will help your name be known by more people.

     

  • Bookshelf: Romka Magazine

    Bookshelf: Romka Magazine

    Romka Magazine is a collective photo album in which people from all over the world share the stories behind their favorite photographs. Since its beginnings as an online magazine 4 years ago, Romka has featured over 300 people from 45 countries, presenting stories ranging from little anecdotes to the most intimate memories.

    Joscha Bruckert, the editor of Romka, sent us a copy of the magazine’s latest issue which was released a few months ago. Issue 8 features the work of 40 different photographers along with texts from the artists explaining what’s behind their photographs. Love, family, road trips and friendship are all central themes in the latest issue of this beautiful publication.

    The new issue of Romka will be released in December this year.

    www.romkamagazine.com

  • Taking Great Photos When Visiting New Cities

    If you love traveling and exploring new cities, you will probably also enjoy documenting these trips with photographs. There is so much to document, from the architecture to the shops and parks, that cities can offer you the chance to take a range of amazing photographs. It can sometimes be overwhelming to decide what to focus on with your photography. Whether you want to take cityscape and skyline photographs or spend time focusing more on the details, there will be many opportunities for you to take brilliant pictures.

    Below are some tips that will help you to decide what to take photos of and how to improve the quality of your photographs:

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    Set out early

    If you are in a tourist area, the odds are that it will get very busy quickly. If you want to take pictures without people in the shot, the earlier you can get there, the better. It will ensure that you can get some great photographs before big crowds start to gather. 

    If there are a lot of people around, there are ways that they can be incorporated into your images. If you slow down the shutter speed on your camera, it will make the people passing by into a blur which will make your photos artsier, and ensure that the thing that you want to take a picture of is the main focus. 

    Stay alert

    When you are in a new city, it is likely that you won’t know which areas you should avoid. Even if the area seems nice, it could be a hub of criminal activity. It can be better not to go out on your own, and if you don’t need to bring lots of equipment with you, stick to minimal equipment. Using a smaller camera doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of your photos will be worse, but it makes you less of a target, so you will be safer.

    Experiment

    The great thing about being in a new place is that you don’t know exactly what it has to offer. This means that you can encourage yourself to experiment more with the types of photos that you take. Don’t just stick to what you can find at eye level; look up and down, and try to find interesting architecture or situations that you can take advantage of. You may also experiment with angles and find symmetry and details that others may not notice. You might be able to make something that is seemingly normal, into something much more special.

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    Landmarks

    When you are visiting new cities, you will likely visit landmarks that the city is famous for. These landmarks could include churches, monuments or natural phenomena like Iceland’s Northern Lights. Often to capture the landmark fully, you need to use a wide-angle lens so you can see the whole thing. When you take a picture of a landmark, try to get a good distance between it and you, so that you can take the best image possible, without cutting any of it off, blocking it, or distorting it.

    Look for reflections

    A great way to get a different image or perspective of a city is to look for reflections and photograph them. You might be able to find reflections in windows, water, the bonnet of a car, mirrors, or any other shiny surface. It can give a new look to something that is photographed regularly for a unique perspective.

    Not only is it a unique way to take pictures of famous landmarks, but it is also a great way to take photos of interesting patterns and images, especially if multiple reflective surfaces create a mesmerizing effect. 

    Cityscapes

    A popular image to take when you are visiting a city is a cityscape. This shows the vastness of the city against the skyline to create a breathtaking image. To take a good cityscape image, you need to find a great location such as high up on a viewing platform or at a rooftop bar or restaurant. Places like these will offer you a great view of the city and give you the chance to take some great pictures. 

    Wide-angle shots can look breathtaking, but it is also worth zooming in to get some close-ups of the city. With this method, you will be able to focus on some of the more interesting buildings.

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    Pick something to focus on

    If you are trying to develop your photography skills, it could be a good idea to pick something to focus on shooting during your trip. Having a specific focus can help you to think more outside the box and get creative. You could choose a color to focus on, decide to find interesting patterns, or even try to focus more on night photography. Whatever you choose will help you create a unique perspective with your images while also allowing you to develop your photography skills.

    Silhouettes

    Instead of focusing on the details of a building, you can focus more on its shape. By photographing a building or a landmark against a bright sky, you can focus on the shape of the building itself and create a silhouette. It can make a particularly interesting photo because of the contrast between the dark and the light.

    People

    When photographing, you don’t have to focus entirely on objects and buildings; people are also a great subject. It can feel awkward taking candid photographs of people, but you may be able to capture images that tell a great story. If you feel nervous about photographing people, you could begin with people on public transport or people in more touristy areas. It can help to use a smaller camera because it is more likely to go unnoticed, and you can have a go at shooting from the hip to see what kind of results you get. 

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    Signs and shop windows

    By shooting shop windows and signs, you can get some fascinating images. It can give you a different perspective into the city, and help you focus on details. It is also a great thing to do during both the day and night time because the image they produce can look completely different.

    Backup your photos

    If you are visiting somewhere for a number of days, it can be a good idea to back up your photographs onto your laptop when you get back to where you are staying. If you are transferring photos from a memory card to your computer, it is pretty simple. However, if you are taking pictures on your phone, you might have to look up how to transfer photos from iphone to mac. Not only will it make sure that you don’t lose any photos, but it will also ensure that you don’t run out of memory when you are exploring.

    Editing

    When you are editing your photos, you may be able to experiment and change the feel of the image. You could make the focus of your image stand out more, or make the colors pop a lot more. You could even try different filters such as black and white, which can give your photo more of an impact.

    There is no right or wrong way to photograph. It is all about experimenting, finding your own style, and feeling confident enough to get creative. Just because you are in a new city, doesn’t mean that you have to focus on getting classic shots of landmarks and the surrounding area. Shoot things that you like the look of, and that have made your experience unique to you.