Ana Maria is a past student living in Madrid, Spain that has taken all three of my classes with the BPSOP. Hopefully her next class will be at one of my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around our planet.

I have looked at a lot of her images over the course of the three months of online classes, and I’ve seen so much improvement in the way she now sees, her new approach to her passion, and her ability to “make” instead of take photos.

The above photo is an example of the photos that she’s now taking, and it’s a really good shot that not only draws the viewer into the frame, but moves him around as well.

As usual, I show people what the photographer had to say, but in this submission all she said was:

“Hello Joe,

I’d would like to know what you think about this picture”.

Ana Maria

Take a look Ana Maria:

http://www.screencast.com/t/fnNVaEhh42

It’s a strong photo and it’s all about making pictures. Thanks for submitting it.

Here’s the difference in the exposure the camera told you to take, and the exposure I’m suggesting. If you prefer the exposure from the meter in your camera, then you should continue to listen to it. If you prefer my exposure, I suggest you stop listening to the meter in your camera, take matters into your own hands and learn about the light.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my 2016 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. come shoot with me sometime. The end of July marks my twenty-eight year at the Maine Media workshops. It’s a wonderful way to immerse yourself for a week and think about nothing but photography. It’s the same week as the Lobster Festival down the road in Rockland, and offers a completely different set of photo ops than the beautiful Maine coastline, amazing lighthouses, and quaint fishing villages. The full description is at the top of this blog.

I have added a new workshop to my 2016 schedule. On September 21st, ten photographers will get together with me at my evening “meet and greet” to begin a fantastic five-day workshop in New York, New York. Check out my description at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me.

Keep those photos and question coming into: AskJoeB@gmail.com, and I’ll create a video critique for you.

JoeB

Greg, who has taken my online classes with the BPSOP, sent me this new photo to take a look at before starting. When I get a submission to AskJoeB, I like to include what he or she said about the photo, including any questions.

Here’s what Greg had to say:

Hi Joe,

I’m signed up for your August “Stretching Your Mind” class with BPSOP, but saw the Ask Joe post on your blog, so thought I would send an image to you. My question is about focus.

I deliberately focused at the point where the handrails stretch off down the wooden walkway, about 1/3 in on each side. Do you feel that my focus point is appropriate? Where would you have placed it?

By the way, I’ll be going back soon to give some more time to the shapes on the left side framework.

Greg”

Greg,

There’s several things I like about your photo. That said, take a look:

http://www.screencast.com/t/7qlcGfWvZzO

I tell my fellow photographers in both my online class, but my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops as well…give yourself choices. Not only in the exposure, but what you want to be sharp. By only shooting one way you lower the odds in coming home with what I call a ‘keeper’. One that can stand the test of time and not be deleted when you go back later for another look,

 Look at your image now that I’ve taken it down a couple of stops…especially the shadows. If it were me, I would stop taking advice from the meter in your camera. Take matters into your own hand and bracket. Put all the exposures on your screen and compare them. This is  great way to become a well-rounded photography.

Thanks for your submission.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and watch for my 2016 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.

Keep sending in your photos and questions to: AskJoeB@gmail.com, and I’ll create a video critique for you.

JoeB

Gary had sent me an image a while back to comment on. At that time I made a video critique and told him to take more control of the light by blocking out all but a small amount; while putting in detail where it was void on the body of the cat. Then I suggested he apply my thoughts and do a re-shoot…which he did.

Here’s what he had to say in his new submission:

“Hello Joe! You asked me to try and re-shoot my favorite subject this time using your suggestions on how to control the light. I tried to block out any light coming in from the top of the frame down. I tried to use only south facing window light coming in from the left of the frame. I only wanted that light to illuminate Hurley (my kitty). Do you think I was more successful this time in controlling the light? I also tried to place his face more off to the left of the frame instead of dead center. Rechecking the focus I think may have just missed the focus on his eye.”

Gary

Here’s the original post and video: https://joebaraban.com/askjoeb-a-good-use-of-light/

In my online class with the BPSOP, as well as in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around our planet I talk about Form being one of the basic elements of Visual Design. Form refers to the three dimensional qualities of an object; those being height, width, and depth.

Height and width are easy to obtain, even a silhouette has height and width. Depth is another story. The best way to achieve depth when you’re lighting a subject or object is to side light it. In Gary’s new image, this is what he’s done by controlling the amount of light coming in from the window.

Take a look at this new video:

http://www.screencast.com/t/KMfnI763q

Nice job with the light Gary.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and watch for my 2016 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime. My new “springtime” workshop is now posted on my blog. This time it’s in Sicily, so for those that’s always had this wonderful country on your bucket list now would be a good time to see and photograph it.

Keep those photos and questions coming it to: AskJoeB@gmail.com, and I’ll create a video critique for you.

JoeB

I recently had Gary, a follower of my blog, submit a photo for a critique. I always like to copy what each photographer had to say since so many people out there have had a similar experience, or have wondered about a part of photography that involves light. Here’s what Gary had to say:

Hello Joe,

I have read your blog for awhile and have been practicing the technique of using window light to create portraits. I know you say window light, specifically north or south window light, is a great way to light your subjects.

I have sent you a portrait of my cat because he is a great subject, doesn’t mind being photographed for hours nor having his picture shared online. My first question is about the light in this photo. The light is pouring down on the cat instead of coming across him. I believe window light needs to be coming from a high window coming across the frame in more of a diagonal fashion. As made famous by the painter Johannes Vermeer.

Is this still a good use of light though? My second question is the placement of the cats face and body in the frame. Taking a second look at the photo, I think I should have placed his eyes more towards the top with his left eye in the exact middle line of the frame. Lastly the image was taken on a Mamiya M645, standard 80mm lens on Fuji Across 100.”

Gary

Gary, I too am a great admirer of Vermeer. Since my background is in art rather than photography, I took several classes in Art History and Vermeer is one of the painters we studied for his use of light. It turned out to be serendipitous because my first studio was the first floor in an old house. I also had one of the bedrooms upstairs that happened to face North. At that time, very early in my career (as in the beginning), I couldn’t afford lights so I lit everything including portraits with the light coming into the window. Interestingly enough people really liked the way I was lighting them, not knowing that it was the best possible light I could have used…even if I could have paid for electronic flash.

In my online class with the BPSOP, and in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around our planet, We work and talk a lot about light. It plays a huge part in taking our images what I refer to as “up a level”.

Btw, when I could afford lights, I still preferred (and still do) North light.

Take a look at this video:

http://www.screencast.com/t/XqcMcFEs5g5s

Gary, I hope this helps, and thanks for sharing it.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and be sure to watch for my upcoming workshops in 2016.

Keep sending in your photos and questions to: AskJoeB@gmail.com and I’ll create a video for you.

JoeB

Valeriano recently sent me a photo he had taken of a lifeguard tower in silhouette. Since then he’s submitted another photo of the same towers. As usual I like to print what each photographer had to say because a lot of you out there have been in a similar situation or have had similar questions running through your mind. Here’s what Valeriano had to say:

“Hi Joe,
I’m submitting this photo to have your invaluable critique.
I’d been “working” the subject (the lifeguard tower) a bit that day. Walked around a lot, shot it with different lenses, composed vertically, horizontally, from down below and looking up, etc. Out of all the different compositions I’ve found while doing this exercise, I thought this one framing the subject through the fence was the more pleasing to me. I also decided to shot it with a side-lighting (4-5 on the clock) in order to still retain some details in the fence. I could have also done it by backlighting the scene (positioning myself in a different spot) but because of this amazing late afternoon light and these little white puffy clouds in the sky I preferred this lighting choice. While shooting some photos on this setup, changing filters, exposure, etc. two guys waled through the frame along the shoreline, and I decided to include them in the photo so to also add a bit more of sense of scale.

Thanks for your critique.
Valeriano.”

Valeriano, one of the  lessons I give in my online class with the BPSOP, and I also talk a lot about it in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around our planet, is showing people how to create visual tension. I’m not talking about the kind of tension that comes with mental or emotional strain, I’m talking about visual tension occurring when forces are acting upon one another. You have three of the ways in this photo: Contrast, the use of light, and framing a subject within a frame.

You also have an almost classic Vanishing Point created by the fence line. A great way to move the viewer around the frame.

Take a look at this video:

http://www.screencast.com/t/8CQVhyT8

Except for the problem with the filter, it’s a really good photo with lots of strong light and color combined with visual interest and tension.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my 2016 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime. I still have a couple of spots for my upcoming Maine Media Workshop this coming July 26th. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in your photography without any of your day to day distractions…like a family and work. I always pick this week (after 27 years) because it’s the week of the lobster Festival down the road in Rockland. It offers a completely different set of photo ops than what you would expect to see on the coast of Maine.

For those interested, here’s a link to a couple of posts I did on past workshops in Maine:

https://joebaraban.com/2013-maine-media-workshop/

https://joebaraban.com/workshop-stuff-2014-maine-media-workshop/

Keep sending me your photos and questions to: AskJoeB@gmail.com.

JoeB

I’ve had Valeriano submit a photo for me to talk about. As usual, I like to let my readers see what the people say, because sometimes people have been in similar situations or have had similar questions. Here’s what he had to say:

“Hello Joe,
I’d like your critique on this photo. I think I’ve picked up the wrong subject to be rendered in silhouette. Lacking an interesting shape from any angle I was framing it against the sun setting, I’ve finally come up with this photo. It’s a lifeguard turret, and since it is in very bad conditions (lot of crap and clutter added to its stairs so people won’t climb on it) I opted for a silhouette photo.

Regards,
Valeriano.”

Ok, first of all to those that might not know what is meant by a silhouette, a silhouette is an outline of something or someone against a lighter background. Typically, you want it to be dark to begin with. I love silhouettes, they are the perfect idea to think about before the sun comes up (dawn) and after the sun goes down (dusk).<

In my online class with the BPSOP, one of the lessons in my part II class is on the silhouette. My class spends an entire week shooting them because they provide so much visual interest and tension…One of the ways to create visual tension is the use of light and another is contrast. We also work on them in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops that I conduct around our planet.

Valeriano, take a look at this video: http://www.screencast.com/t/tZgoIrznGv2l

I hope this helps.

Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and be sure to watch for my 2016 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
Keep sending in your photos and questions to: AskJoeB@gmail.com and I’ll create a video for you.

JoeB