In the last week I have spent a lot of my time browsing photo blogs and photo-based websites. Upon my browsing I stumbled upon JPG Magazine. The magazine is almost entirely based on it’s online community. Users create a profile and then from there they can upload stories and photographs with the goal of being published in the JPG Magazine. The magazine, which is released 6 times a year, can be found at Barnes and Noble or in your very own mailbox (by subscribing).
How It All Works:
Getting published in the magazine takes six steps. Not all submissions are published, but it’s better to submit your work with the hope of getting published than no hope at all.
Step One: Take great pictures and upload them to your computer. The pictures must be at least 2200 pixels tall or wide and completely original.
Step Two: After your pictures have been uploaded to your account you can submit them to a theme. The website breaks down it’s picture categories into themes so that every picture has a home. Each picture can only go into one theme so choose wisely!
Step Three: Before production can be started on a new issue the themes have to be released. Once a theme is chosen for the magazine all the pictures in that theme get put up for votes.
Step Four: Now that the pictures can be voted on, voting starts. Your friends and other JPG users can vote on the pictures they think qualify to be in the magazine.
Step Five: Once the voting ends the editors of the magazine make the final selection of photos.
Step Six: Your picture lands itself in the JPG Magazine for thousands of eyes to gaze at.
Challenge of the Week: Make an account for JPG here. Submit some photos and link me to your account to I can become your contact.
Happy Photographing!
Cate
The concept of a pinhole camera has been alive since around 500 B.C. Greek philosophers like Aristotle wrote about the naturally occurring patterns created by the very first pinhole cameras. At that point in time many scientists believed that vision was possible because rays of light were admitted by the eyes there for allowing them to see the objects around them. It wasn’t until 10th-century Muslim mathematician, astronomer, and physicist Ibn al-Haytham discovered that vision was made possible by eyes allowing rays in, and not projecting rays out, that the idea of a pinhole camera really made any sense. From there Ibn al-Haytham went on to create the first camera obscura (light tight box). Later scientists such as Gemma Frisius and Giambattista della Porta would write about why pinhole images are upside down and further develop the pinhole’s features.
Pinhole cameras were never widely used, but for a long time they were the only thing that people had. The name pinhole comes from the camera not having a lens. The camera consists of a “pinhole” that allows a tiny amount of light to pass through onto the film and produce an image. The smaller the hole the clearer the image, and the smaller the hole the longer the shutter has to be kept open to allow light in. Exposures can last anywhere from 3 seconds to 30 minutes. Although now there are some digital pinhole cameras most are film cameras. Pinhole cameras definitely takes some skill to use because they are completely manual, but with some practice anyone can use one.
While researching pinhole cameras I came across a website that had free printable pinhole cameras. I figured I would give one a try, so here are some pictures from my endeavor.
The finished product looks fine, but there’s something wrong with how the film turns so it’s going to be hard to takes pictures. Hopefully I’ll be able to at least use one roll.
Challenge of the Week: Go here if you want to make your own pinhole camera. My only suggestion is printing out everything and reading through the directions first because there are some things you need that you may not have lying around the house. Also on the sheet are some tips to shooting and getting the film developed. Good luck!
Happy Photographing!
Cate
Keep a Summer journal! Whether you like to cook, photograph, paint, write, sing, build, etc. keep a journal of it all Summer. This Summer I plan on keeping a dream journal and an art journal. Hopefully making myself write down everything I’ve had brewing the whole school year will motivate me to actually do some projects. Once everything is out you’ll be able to go back to school with a nice empty brain that can be filled with mindless doodles while not paying attention in class. To help get your Summer journal underway I’ve thought up some tips to make it less painful and more productive.
Tip One: Size Matters
When picking a journal make sure it’s something you wont mind carrying around. If it’s something huge you’ll be more likely to leave it at home instead of throwing it into your backpack. Also with a smaller journal comes smaller pages. It’s often intimidating to look at a huge page, with all it’s blank-ness, and wonder how to fill it.
Tip Two: Pick a Topic
Give your journal a purpose. Don’t just go into it as a Summer journal, because you’ll find there being too much going on in your head. I’m not saying you can’t deviate from the journal’s topic once in a while, I’m just saying it might be easier to stick to a general topic. What also helps with keeping a journal uniform is that if you’re really passionate about the topic it’ll be a good thing to look through when you’re feeling uncreative.
Tip Three: Bring it Everywhere
Whether you’re sleeping at a friends, going to the beach, or spending the Summer at a camp bring your journal with you. Even if you only jot down a few words or doodles, hopefully at least once you’ll have an earth-shaking idea while you’re away from home. Luckily your journal will be waiting for you to place it within its pages and preserve it for as long as the journal lives.
Hopefully everyone will at least give this a try. It’s the first year I’m doing this too so I’ll try and keep everyone posted as to how I’m doing. Feel free to share some ideas or entries in the comment section. Have a great Summer!
Challenge of the Week: Pick out your journal and decorate it!
I already have!
Happy Photographing!
Cate
Once you get labeled as a “photography” what comes next is usually the bombardent of relatives and friends asking you to take pictures at different events. Whether it be a wedding or a local show, you will be expected to capture every moment. So up to this point you’re probably thinking “Alright, well I was going to take pictures anyway,” but then comes the “well I want all the pictures, and prints, and a DVD set to music” from your friends and family. After seeing the pictures friends and family may even be a little upset that you missed some shots, which is where I come in. I’ve put together some tips to help making photographing all kinds of events a breeze.
First things first, no matter what the occasion may be sit down with the person/people who have asked you to take pictures. Have them compile a list of shots that they really want, and also what they would like as far as copies of the pictures go. If they are expecting prints made of all the pictures then it would be best to check out prices on printing and charge them for the prints they are getting. If you are on the same page as the people who are asking for the photos then they are less likely to be dissapointed.
Another universal tip is to scope out the location of the event. If you’re shooting a show ask people what the venue looks like, and ask them the rules for the place. Some concert venues don’t allow cameras unless you have a press pass. In which case call the venue and ask the people in charge how to get a press pass or how to be allowed to bring a camera. Never go to a place and expect to take amazing pictures if you don’t know what you’re getting into.
Weddings
Weddings are all about the bride and groom. Make sure you know exactly what they want, and if there are any details that they would like to have pictures of. Another huge thing are the combinations for family pictures. When taking these pictures make sure you’re assertive. If you feel over whelmed at any point don’t let it show because your mood sets the mood for the people around you. Another thing that helps at a wedding is bringing a partner. Even if he or she doesn’t know a think about photography he or she can help you set up groups and make sure there is some organization within the mass chaos of the family and wedding party.
Concerts
Concerts are a whole lot of fun to photograph. Make sure you have a fast lens, or if not a really bright flash. Lighting is always hard at concerts because there isn’t very much of it. Each venue is different so be prepared for the worst lighting situations. Bring tripods or find a wall to lean up against to keep your camera steady. I also suggest getting there as early as you can if you don’t have special access to the stage because jockying for a spot with a camera and tripod is NOT very fun.
Graduation
Hope and pray that the graduation is outside. It’s so hard to get good lighting inside in an auditorium. Get there early, and try to get an aisle seat or be willing to walk around to take the best pictures you can. A zoom lens can also come in handy.
Hopefully this will help you the next time you’re asked to photograph a sepcial occasion. If you have any other questions I would be more than happy to answer them for you.
Challenge of the Week: Think of your worst photographing story and post it as a comment.
Happy Photographing!
Cate
