The city of Monterey was founded 1770, when Gaspar de Portolá and Junípero Serra established the Presidio of Monterey. It’s situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County. The city occupies a land area of 8.466 sq miles and has a population of 29,116. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the area several times. Once with my wife and a few times with a bunch of photo writers, on one where I made the featured image.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
Vladimir Horowitz, arguably one of the greatest piano virtuosos who ever lived, practiced every day. Which brings us to the answer to the classic question: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The answer: “Practice, practice, practice.”
From time to time I’ve been asked to judge photo contests and for the time being I’ve decided to stop judging both real-time and on-line competitions. Instead, I’m focusing my efforts on providing one-on-one mentoring sessions for photographers to help them address specific questions or problems—creative and technical—they may have about their work. Click CONTACT and let me know if you’re interested,
How I made this shot: I photographed this scene in Monterey California using a Canon EOS 50D with a mystery lens. (I have no EXIF data.) I think the lack of data indicates that the lens might have been the manual focus MC Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Fish Eye. On the other hand, the indicated exposure was 1/250 sec at f/8 and ISO 100.
I’d like to pass along a few tips
These tips not only apply to photo contests but could help your travel as well as day-to-day photography:
- A popular misconception is that a photograph has to be technically flawless. A picture doesn’t have to be perfect but should be technically competent. A perfect but boring photograph won’t win you any awards either.
- Impact separates winners from also-rans. There will be lots of entries in any contest—or life for that matter— and some of them are going to be very good but you only have one chance to make a good impression to get the judges to want to take a second look.
- Don’t be a fair weather photographer. Sometimes the best photographs are made under less than ideal conditions.
- Make the image bold. Use strong composition with simple lines or use a formal, symmetrical organization to create a Zen-like quiet mode.
- Photograph subjects you’re passionate about, not ones you think your friends, Instagram followers or contest judges will like.
- Avoid eye-level camera placement. Climb a ladder or climb a hill to produce a dramatic camera angle. Lie on your stomach, use wide-angle lenses and shoot up against the sky to simplify the background.
- Cameras are horizontal objects but your photographs don’t have to be. Remember, it’s not just portraits that look better as vertical shots. Try both camera positions and see what looks best—to you.
- Get close to your subject. Use a macro lens, close-up filters or bellows to show a simple everyday object in a way that hasn’t been depicted before or at least not lately. Good exposure helps too.
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Along with photographer Barry Staver, Joe is co-author of Better Available Light Digital Photography with new, used and Kindle copies are available from Amazon.