Podcast
Shutterbug Life community helps enthusiast photographers create great pictures. Using our photography podcast, blog and photo tours, we provide shutterbugs tips and discussions on improving photography.
If there was ever such a thing as a photography impresario, Heather Goss would be it.
She curates images.
She creates photo gallery shows.
She runs an online photography community.
She just celebrated 10 years organizing a citywide photo contest.
She edits a major photography blog.
She organizes monthly photography Meetups.
All this from someone who doesn't even consider herself a photographer. Why?
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Did Santa bring you a new camera body for Christmas? Maybe you want to take advantage of some down time to reacquaint yourself with your existing camera. You’ll want to listen to this episode and take some notes. We are setting up your new camera or resetting your old one.
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I was struggling through Christmas portraits, but I did not have the Christmas spirit. My boys were young then, between 2 to 10 years old. I thought I would have them take Christmas portraits, but just as I was getting started, one of them got a giggle fit. Then just like a virus it spread. Before I knew it, we had spent way too much time shooting, and I had not one good portrait to show for it.
They continued taking turns giggling and being serious until I decided to get over myself and photograph them in all their goofiness.
Maybe your holiday photography challenges are much simpler than mine. Whatever they are, you will want to capture the best of your holiday traditions and decorations. Here are some tips to help you this season.
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What's it like to be on the first and only photography reality show? There are only five people who can answer that question, and today I am talking with one of them.
Roxy Rodgriguez made a splash on Top Photographer with her unique point of view and signature shooting style. In fact, by the end of the show both the host, Nigel Barker, and guest judges were gushing about the "Roxy photo."
If you watched any of the Top Photographer episodes, you might wonder what really went on before the camera started and after it stopped. Roxy gives us a peek into the creation of Top Photographer.
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The world is overflowing with boring pictures, and if you don't want to contribute another one to the pile, ask one more question. So what?
You took another picture. So what? Why should we care? Why should we stop what we are doing to look at it? Is it just another boring collection of pixels?
Today's question is the last one you ask before you release your photo to the wild. Use it to decide if your photo goes or stays. "I created another photo. So what?"
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Top Photographer wrapped up their first season and crowned a winner last week, and it wasn't who I would have expected.
In the final episodes, the photographers got to go anywhere they wanted and shoot anything they wanted. Even better, they got to load up a backpack with their dream Canon gear for the shoot.
With all this freedom and flexibility, what did they choose? Let's review the final episodes and look at nine ways they can improve season 2.
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In episode 3, Top Photographer challenged contestants to create a landscape photograph from the tip top of the Empire State Building. The photographers started at sunrise with this charge - how do you make your photo stand out from the masses -- and each other.
That's a challenge you can probably relate to if you have ever done a photo walk. How do you make your photos stand out from everyone else.
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Dave didn't want to hear what I had to say.
He struck up a conversation at the PhotoPlus Expo that ended with him asking me which camera he should buy.
"How much do you want to spend?" I asked.
"Maybe a few hundred dollars," he responded.
"You need to move a decimal point over. For what you just told me about yourself Dave, you should plan to spend at least $2,000."
His mouth almost hit the floor. That's not what he wanted to hear.
In many instances, I might tell you that you don't need the most expensive camera to create great photos. But not in all instances. There are times when you really should plan to buy the more expensive camera.
Here's why and when.
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In episode 2, Top Photographer challenged contestants to create a fashion photography image. How did they do?
Let's talk about how each photographer interpreted the challenge and what we might learn from this episode.
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Photographers have officially arrived. Photographers join cops, lawyers, and doctors as professions who can see themselves on the big screen. With Top Photographer, we have our own glitzy reality TV show, even if it isn’t technically on TV.
I watched the first episode a few times to dissect it for you. Is it worth your time? And if so, what will you learn?
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