Advancing Your Photography - Marc Silber PDF

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This e-book will teach you about photography....

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ADVANCINGYOURPHOTOGRAPHY AHANDBOOKFORCREATINGPHOTOSYOU’LLLOVE        

MARCSILBER

 Copyright©2017MarcSilber  PublishedbyMangoPublishingGroup,adivisionofMangoMediaInc.  Design&Layout:ElinaDiaz  Mangoisanactivesupporterofauthors’rightstofreespeechandartisticexpressionintheirbooks.The purposeofcopyrightistoencourageauthorstoproduceexceptionalworksthatenrichourcultureand ouropensociety.  Uploadingordistributingphotos,scansoranycontentfromthisbookwithoutpriorpermissionistheftof theauthor’sintellectualproperty.Pleasehonortheauthor’sworkasyouwouldyourown.Thankyouin advanceforrespectingourauthor’srights.  Forpermissionrequests,pleasecontactthepublisherat: MangoPublishingGroup 2850DouglasRoad,3rdFloor CoralGables,FL33134USA [email protected]  Forspecialorders,quantitysales,courseadoptionsandcorporatesales,pleaseemailthepublisherat [email protected].Fortradeandwholesalesales,pleasecontactIngramPublisherServicesat [email protected]or+1.800.509.4887. AdvancingYourPhotography:AHandbookforCreatingPhotosYou’llLove LibraryofCongressCataloging Names:Silber,Marc Title:AdvancingYourPhotography/byMarcSilber LibraryofCongressControlNumber:201790216 ISBN9781633535695(paperback),ISBN9781633535701(eBook) BISACcategorycode:PHO024000PHOTOGRAPHY/Techniques/Digital  PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

ThisbookisdedicatedtomyverytalentedwifeJanice,forhercontinuoussupportandencouragementon ourcreativejourney.

 “Marc’snewbookisanall-in-one,easilyaccessiblehandbookdrawnfromhishugelibraryofinterviews withtopphotographers—andpackedwithinformationthatcanbeputintoactionimmediately.Thisbook willshowyouhowtheprosdoit.Studythisandtakeyourbestshot.”  -ChaseJarvis,award-winningphotographerandfounder&CEOofCreativeLive  “I’vecometoread,reviewandoccasionallyeditseveralbooksonphotography.Thus,Ifeelparticularly proudandhonoredtopresentMarcSilber’suniquehandbook.It’sthefirstofitskindthatwillgrantyou thatlittleextrathatwillmakeyouabetterphotographer,byintroducingyoutotheessentialand paramountcreativecycleofphotography.Renownedinterviewer,MarcSilber’semphaticflowofhis narrativewillundoubtedlyattractanyreader,andfeedhismojo.”  -JeromeMilac,photographer&author  “AdvancingYourPhotographyisaworkofart,aboutart!Silberdeliversclear,concisecontent,forall levelsofskill,andaccentuatesthedetailsthatmattermosttogettingtheresultyoudesire.Asanamateur myself,IfeltmoreprofessionallysuitedtocaptureameaningfulphotographbyapplyingwhatIlearned.”  -DavidLeeJensen,#1bestsellingauthorofTheNakedInterview  “MarcSilberhasgreatinsightintothephotographiccommunity.Asanexceptionalphotographerwithan easyinterviewapproach,hisvideoscapturetheessenceofthephotographer.”  -LarryAbitbol,CEOBayPhotoLabs  “I’vebeeninvolvedpersonallyinsomeofMarc’sworkandhopetocontinuesupportinghimandhisvision inthefuture.PersonallyasabloggerandsocialphotographerI’mexcitedaboutMarc’snewbookandam lookingforwardtohelpingtopromoteitacrossmyownsphereofinfluenceontheWeb.”  -ThomasHawk,photographerandblogger  “Thisbookwaseasytoreadandunderstand.Everythingwaslaidoutintheperfectorderforabeginner likeme,andbythetimeIwasdoneIreallyfeltthatIcouldtakeamazingphotos,andwasinspiredtodo so.Itisalsoavisuallybeautifulbook,whichincreasedthequalityofthewholeexperience.”  -CatherineWeaver,authorandeducator  “WhenIfirstwentonaphotowalkwithMarcSilber,professionalphotographer,Icouldseehehada knackofexplaininghowtogetbetterphotographs.Informationaboutphotographyismuchneeded; Marc’sabilitytogetprofessionalphotographersandhistoricalfigurestoexplainhowtogetbetter photographyisquiteimpressive.”  -RobertScoble,technicalevangelistandauthor  “MarcSilber’sPhotographyinterviewsaredialoguesthatopenmindsofcreativephotographersand illuminate,onlyasphotographycan,theinnovativemethodsandinspiredinsightsofphotographicartists andhowtheythinkandwork.ToseeyetanotherSanFranciscoArtInstitutealumnusflourishinthewinds ofcompetitionisatestamenttothelegacyoftheinstitution.”  —JackFulton,photographyprofessoremeritus,SanFranciscoArtInstitute

 “BEGINATTHEBEGINNING,ANDGOONTILLYOU COMETOTHEEND:THENSTOP.” —LEWISCARROLL,ALICEINWONDERLAND

TABLEOFCONTENTS FOREWORD PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER1 THECYCLEOFPHOTOGRAPHYANDITSPARTS CHAPTER2 VISUALIZATION CHAPTER3 GETTOKNOWYOURCAMERAASACLOSEFRIEND! CHAPTER4 CAPTURE:BLENDINGVISUALIZATIONWITHKNOWINGYOURCAMERA CHAPTER5 PROCESSINGYOURIMAGES CHAPTER6 SHARINGYOURWORK CHAPTER7 TIPSFORMASTERINGTHEGENRESOFPHOTOGRAPHY CHAPTER8 MASTERINGTHEWHOLECYCLEOFPHOTOGRAPHY:WHERETOGOFROM HERE GLOSSARY

FOREWORD Photographyismylife.IthappenstobehowImakemyliving,butbeforeIeverbecameaprofessional,I knewthiswaswhatIwantedtodo.IcollectedbooksbyphotographersIadmiredandsubscribedtoevery photomagazineavailable;Iwasafanatic.However,Inevertookaclass.Ilearnedbygoingout,taking photographs,andmakingmistakes.Istartedinthedaysoffilm,withtheexpenseofhavingtopayforall thosemistakeswithfilmandprocessingandwithoutanyinstantfeedback.Intoday’sdigitalworld,those barriershavegone.Thisisbothahelpandahindrance.Nooneexpectstopickupamusicalinstrument andimmediatelymakebeautifulmusic.Ittakesyearsofpractice,butmoderncamerasaresotechnically foolproofit’stemptingtothinkthatyoucanpickupacameraandmakegreatphotographsfromthegetgo.Itcanhappenbychance,buttomakeconsistentlygoodphotographs,youmustpractice,practice, practice.  Istillbelievetheonlywaytolearnandimproveistogetoutthereandshoot,butnowyouhavearesource thatgivesadvicefromdecadesofexperiencefromsomeoftheworld’sbestphotographers.  MarcSilberhasdistilledtheessentialnuggetsofinformationsharedbythesephotographersinhisvery successfulvideoseries,AdvancingYourPhotography.I’vehadthepleasureofknowingMarcforseveral yearsandcanattesttohisdedicationtohelpingphotographersofalllevelsfindtheirvision.  Hisbackgroundasaseasonedworkingphotographergiveshimthenecessaryperspectivetoensureyou onlygetinformationthatworks.Itwouldbedifficulttobetterhisadvice.  Usethisinformationandapplyitwhenyouareoutthereshooting.Themoreyoushoot,thebetteryouwill knowyourcameraandthelessyouwillbeconcernedwithequipment,sothatyoucanconcentrateonthe image.Sogetout,shootalot,makemistakesandlearnfromthem.Andremember,photographyisfun!  BobHolmes MarinCounty

PREFACE “PHOTOGRAPHYISALOVE AFFAIRWITHLIFE.” —BURKUZZLE,DOCUMENTARYPHOTOGRAPHER  MyintentionwithAdvancingYourPhotography(AYP)istoprovideyouwithasingletextthatwilltakeyou thoughtheentireprocessofbecominganaccomplishedphotographer.Iwilldothisbyteachingand involvingyouinthestagesofthecycleofphotographysoyoucanclimb,stepbystep,astairwaythat continuallyspiralsup,followingitsmajorstages.  Asitisahandbook,itisasizethatyoucantakewithyouinyourcamerabagandrefertooften.Inthat wayitwillbeyourguideandcoachandtherewhenyouneedus.  Ihavehadthewonderfullyenlighteningexperienceofinterviewingscoresofphotographersoverthelast eightyears,andIwillpassalongtoyousomeofthegemsthattheygavemethroughoutthebook.Since theseinterviewscoveredmanygenresofphotography,you’llgettipsintheareasyoumostlikelywantto knowabout.  Myinspirationforwritingthisbookwasthemanyconversationsintheseinterviews;Idiscoveredthat therewasnodefinitiveresourcebookthatphotographerswhowantedtoadvancetheirskillscouldgoto forhelpthatwassimpleandeasytouse.  Asphotographyisconstantlyevolving,Iwillteachyouthebasicsthatarenotlikelytobeconstantly shifting.  Thereisplentyofdataavailableaboutthenewesttechnology;Iwanttofocusonteachingthe fundamentalsthatwillcarryyouforwardinalifetimeofpursuingtheartandcraftsmanshipof photography.Imaybeleavingmyselfopentocriticismforleavingoutwhatsomeperceivetobekey details,butIchosethispathsoIcanprovideyouwithahandbookyoucanuse,notanencyclopediaof photography.  Whatyouwillgainasthereaderisaneasytofollowguidetohelpyoucreatephotographsthatyoulove. Afterall,attheendoftheday,whenyou’reabletoaccomplishthat,thenotherswillnodoubtfallinlove withthemtoo! 

Howtoreadthisbook 

“TELLMEANDIFORGET.TEACHMEANDIREMEMBER. INVOLVEMEANDILEARN.” —BENJAMINFRANKLIN 

BesuretocheckinonourresourcepageatAYPClub.com. Thisiswhereyou’llfindlinkstomyrecommendations,videosthataccompanythebook,andotherhelpful information. 

AYPwillopenitsdoorstoyouandyou’llreceiveitsfullbenefitbyfollowingseveralpointsthatIwantto stress: 1.Knowthewords!Justlikemymomrepeatedlytoldme,alwayslookupanywordyoudon’tunderstand assoonasyouencounterit;nevertrytogopastone,oryou’llendupconfused.Usetheglossaryinthe back,orlookinasimplephotographydictionary(gotoAYPClub.comforrecommendations.)  2.Youcanalsogoogle“define_____”–butwatchout,someofthesestartsimplebutsoongetmore complex.Sograbwhatyouneedtounderstandthewordanddon’tdiveinthedeepend.  3.“InvolvemeandIlearn.”TheotherpointIcannotstressenoughistohaveyourcameraorequipment orthesoftwarebeingdiscussedsittingrightthereinfrontofyou.Touchitandmoveortouchwhatever I’mtalkingaboutasthoughI’mtherewithyoushowingyouthesepoints,involvingyouthenandthere.So ifI’mtalkingaboutyourlens,lookatit,noticewhatI’msaying,andtouchthepartsmentioned,etc.  4.Thenextstepofourhands-onapproachistodothepracticalexercisesthatIgiveyou.Don’tsailpast these–you’vegottoputwhatyouandIhavegoneoverintouseNOW!

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  5.Ilovenotebooks(theyhavelongbeenastapleforartists)andIrecommendthatyougetaplainblack andwhite“compositionbook”andwrite“AYP”onthecover.Asphotographyisavisualsubjectithelpsto useyournotebookfor“visualthinking”tosketchorwritedownyourdiscoveries,keywordsyouwantto remember,diagramsanddrawingsofhowsomethingworks,andflashesofinspiration!Youcanalsouseit asawaytologyouradvancingskillsasaphotographer,likeadiary. 

Leaveroominyourcup Ihavetoldthisstoryatthestartofmyworkshops:

Nan-in,aJapanesemaster,receivedauniversityprofessorwhocametoinquireabouthisteachings.  Nan-inservedtea.Hepouredhisvisitor’scupfull,andthenkeptonpouring.  Theprofessorwatchedtheoverflowuntilhenolongercouldrestrainhimself.“Itisoverfull.Nomore willgoin!”  “Likethiscup,”Nan-insaid,“youarefullofyourownopinionsandspeculations.HowcanIteachyou unlessyoufirstemptyyourcup?”  Nomatterhowmuchyouhavestudiedoryourlevelofskill,besuretoleaveroominyourcuptolearn!  Therearetwowaystostudythisbook:  1.Startatthebeginningandgothroughitsequentiallychapterbychapter,learningasabove.I recommendthistoyou,evenifyouthinkyou’vealreadystudiedsomeofthedata.Iguaranteeyou’ll learnsomethingnewifyouleaveroominyourcup! 2.Orlet’ssayyou’reonatripandwanttodiveinto“travelphotography”or“wildlifephotography”and getsometipstouserightaway.Byallmeansdoso,butIstillrecommendthatyougothroughchapters 1,2and3firsttohaveyourbasicsandyourcameradowncold.

Eitherway,theimportantpointistoreallyuseAYPandcarryitinyourcamerabagorhaveitcloseto handwhenprocessingyourphotographs,etc.Imayevengiveanawardtothemostwellusedcopyofitin thefield!Andshowmewhereandhowyou’reusingitbytagging#AYPClubonInstagram(including pagesofyournotebook).

 SandwichTraining IntheUK,collegecoursesareoftenconductedby“sandwichtraining”(notinhowtomakethem!)Whatit meansisthatstudyperiodsarealternatedwithpracticalexperience.Thisisthebestwaytoapproach yourphotographyeducationsoastomaintainagoodbalance.ThisiswhyIrecommendthatwhenyou’re studyingyourcamera,youshouldhaveitrightinfrontofyou.Alsobreakyourstudytimeupandgoout andshoot.Iwantyoutoconnectwitheverythingyoustudyinthisbook.  Onelastpointbeforewetakeoff:besuretohavefunonyourjourney!Hereareafewtipstohelpyoudo so:  1.Thesignonmydoordoesn’tsay“noshoes–noservice,”but,“Checkselfcriticismatthedoor!”It’s okaytowanttodobetter,andofcoursethat’sthewholepointofAYP,butdon’tbeyourownworst critic.Inotherwords,allowyourselftowin! 2.StudyandusetheAYPregularly.Aswhenyoulearnanynewskill,youcan’tdabbleatitandexpectto getveryfar.Setyourpaceweeklyandsticktoit.Isuggestaminimumofonehour,threetimesa week.Threehoursaweekisn’tabadinvestmenttomakeinbecominganaccomplishedphotographer. 3.Takeatleastonephotographeverysingleday.Ifyoudon’thaveyourtrustedcamera,thenuseyour smartphone.Followmyadviceonpostingtosocialmedia(inChapter5),andalsotagtheonesyouare proudofto#AYPClubonInstagram. 4.Don’ttakeitseriously,buthavefun.Fallintothejoyoflearningtoexpressyourselfbetterandmore effectivelyasaphotographer. 5.Youcanalwaysreachouttomewithyourquestionsorcomments.ReachmeonmyYouTubechannelor onourcontactformonAYPClub.com.UnlessIgetbombarded,Ipromisetoanswereveryquestionyou sendme. 6.Havefunandfallinlovewithphotographymoredeeplyeveryday!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

“ITHINKITISINCOLLABORATIONTHATTHENATURE OFARTISREVEALED.” —STEVELACY,JAZZCOMPOSER  Inwritingthisbook,Ireceivedsomuchhelpandsupportfromsomanypeoplethatitfeltliketheuniverse wastellingmethatmylargenetworkofsupporterswasbehindmethewholeway.Andindeedtheywere.  I’llbeginbythankingChaseJarvis,forinvitingmetohisstudioforoneofourveryfirstvideosandforhis friendshipandcontinuedsupportthroughouttheyears.ThankstoBobHolmesforhisfriendshipandfor hiscontinuedadviceandsupportalongtheway;healsocontributedhistimeandsupportincreatingour videosthataresoloved.Similarly,thankstoHuntingtonWitherillforhisadviceandcontributionsinhis videos.  I’dliketothankallthosewhocontributedtoourmany,manyinterviews,especiallythosewhoseworkyou seehereinAYP:ChrisBurkard,MatthewJordanSmith,CamilleSeaman,JohnTodd,DavidSmith,Lena Hyde,AnnaKuperberg,JoeyL.,HunterFreeman,FlorianSchulzandBambiCantrell.Withoutthem,the bookwouldlackthedimensionthatithas.  I’dliketothankthosewhohelpedmeeditandsmoothoutAYP:JeromeMilacforhisbeliefinand continuedsupportofAYP;CatherineWeaverforherexpertguidanceonediting,PeteHoffmanforhis PhotoshopmasteryandDavidJensenforhisadvice.Tomyfantasticdigitalfilmproducersovertheyears: RockyBarbanica,SamRider,MattCross,andHollieFleckfortheirproductiononourAYPVideos(and thankyou,Hollie,formodeling.)  Iwouldespeciallyliketothankmyfollowerswhohavesupportedmeovertheyears;withoutyou,Iwould havehadnopurposebehindmyproduction,withyou,ithasmeanttheworld.  AndabigthankyoutotheteamatMangoPublishing,especiallyChrisMcKenney,whobelievedinand supportedAYP,andHugoVillabona,whohasbeenmyeditorandguidethroughtheproject,makingthis muchmorefunthanasoloexpeditionandElinaDiazforherbeautifuldesign. 

»FiveStagesofphotography:Visualizationisatthecenterasitisinvolvedwitheachoftheotherstages. Eachstageisinteractive(witharrowsgoingbothways)sincebyimprovingone,youimprovetherest. Forexample:byimprovingyourskillsinProcessingthiswillimproveyourabilitytoCaptureandvice versa.Thesameistrueforeachstageofphotography.

CHAPTER1 THECYCLEOF PHOTOGRAPHYAND ITSPARTS 

 “PHOTOGRAPHYISAWAYOFFEELING,OFTOUCHING, OFLOVING.WHATYOUHAVECAUGHTONFILMIS CAPTUREDFOREVER…”  –AARONSISKIND,PHOTOGRAPHER  Thereisanaturalcycletophotography,asthereistoallpartsoflife.Forexample,ifyouwanttolearnto cookacertaindish,youfollowanaturalcycleoffirstgettinganideaofhowyouwantyourdishtoturn out,consultingtherecipe,andgettingoutyourkitchenequipment–pans,cheesegrater,etc.(learning howtouseeachifneeded),thencookingthedish,whichhopefullycomesouthowyouvisualizedit,then youshareitwithothers!  I’llbecoveringeachofthesepartsindetailtohelpyoubreakdownthewholesubjectintoitscomponents tounderstandthemeasily.  Now,beforeIdiveintothese,Iwantyoutopromisemeyouwon’tstoptakingphotographsuntilyoulearn alltheseparts.  AsImentionedintheintroduction,Iwantyoutotakeatleastonephotographeverysingleday,nomatter whatcamerayouuseorhowyoudoit.ThepointofAYPistoadvanceyourphotography,andthatisdone bylearningandphotographingcontinuously,okay?  Let’sbeginwiththeword“photography”andseehoweachpartofitscyclefitsintothisdefinitionfrom theOxfordAmericanDictionary:“theartorpracticeoftakingandprocessingphotographs.”Itcomes fromtwoGreekwords:“phos,”meaning“light,”plus“graphein,”“towrite.”Putthemtogetherandyou havetheartofwritingwithlight!Justaswewritewithwordstotellstoriesthatcommunicateideas, feelings,andemotions,withphotographyyouuselighttoconveythosesameideasandfeelings,but dependingonyourskill,perhapsevenmoredeeply.Rememberthisderivationasyougothrougheach stageofthecycleofphotography:Stepbystep,you’reimprovingyourabilitytowritewithlightandthus tellstorieswithyourimages.  Now,wheredoesthecycleofphotographystart?Itturnsoutitdoesn’tstartwiththecamera,itstarts withyou! 

»Visualizehowyouintendtocreateyourphotograph 

“LOOKANDTHINKBEFOREOPENINGTHESHUTTER.THEHEARTANDMINDARE THETRUELENSOFTHECAMERA.”  —YOUSUFKARSH,PHOTOGRAPHER  Thatleadsustothefirstandmostimportantpartofthephotographycycle:it’swhatwecall visualization,ortheprocessofformingamentalimageofwhatyouaregoingtophotographandhow youintendittolookasanendresultofallthestagesofphotography,that’swhyitisinthecenterofthe

cycle.Afterall,toevenpickupacamera,youhadtofirsthavesomeideaofwhatyouwantedtocapture, nomatterhowbrieforvague.Iwillteachyouhowtodevelopyourpowerfulsenseofvisualization,which initselfwillmakeyouabetterphotographeralmostinstantly!  Abigpartofvisualizationislookingatothers’work,bothphotographyandotherartforms.Yougetideas fromothersabouthowtheywereabletotellthestorywiththeircameraorpaintbrush.Butit’snotgood enoughtolookataphotographandsay,“Ilikethis,Idon’tlikethat.”Thatwon’tletyouintotheinner workingsofthatimage.Godeeper:ifyoulikeit,lookattheimag...