Chris Marquardt

Chris joins us today to review our current assignment ... X (cross).

Review photos

https://flic.kr/p/2kKAo7k

https://flic.kr/p/2kGsDdD

https://flic.kr/p/2kPcPem

All photos

Today's photo segment is all about shooting images with reflections. Chris is always looking for reflections when he shoots. Just about anything can make a reflection if the light is right. Reflections can add a sense of symmetry to a shot or add layers to an image to make it more interesting. But reflections can also bounce light to make your shot worse. Like on water. So use a polarizer to cut the reflection out. To add a reflection, get lower and closer.  If you don't want to appear in a reflection while you're shooting, try wearing black.

Today's photo topic is shooting pictures from Dawn to Dusk. Chris says that Sunset and Sunrise are known as the Golden Hours because of the marvelous light that can make your images look incredible. The colors in the sky are so different in the morning versus in the twilight evening. But no less remarkable. But in the morning, you'll enjoy a more crisp reflection in a lake because there is less wind. Things are quieter. Depending on where you are, though, the sun will rise or set more quickly. 

Today's photo topic is taking pictures of your Pet! Here are the visuals: 

https://tfttf.com/pets

As this month's assignment was WIERD, it's clear that we're nearing the end of the alphabet! Here are shots Chris found most interesting.

All photos

https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=362537%40N20&sort=date-posted-desc&view_all=1&tags=TGweird

Review photos

Chris joins Leo to talk about using a long exposure to make an image look more ethereal.  Water surfaces are a perfect example as they get evened out and reflective with a long exposure. Waterfalls turn into a nonstop fall over the edge that's soft and pillowy. 

Sparks is another one, where a long exposure can capture the path a spark takes as it flies away. 

Chris joins Leo to talk about another factor in photography: placement. Similar to composition, the question is always "where do I place the subject in the photo?" This determines what the photo is about and is always related to something else. This could be something in or outside the frame. The background is always in relation to the subject in the foreground, no matter what the photographer is focused on. 

Here are images to illustrate: https://tfttf.com/placement

Chris Marquardt joins Leo to talk about Macro Photography. Macro is essentially taking an image extremely close up, where the small image is essentially full size in the frame. Macro usually is accompanied by a very shallow depth of field.  Do you need a special lens for close up photography? Well, not really. You can take it with your smartphone. But there are some issues. The first is light. You have to get so close that you become your own shadow source. Many close up photographers get a dedicated ring light to illuminate the subject.

Chris joins Leo to talk about volumetric light. Light can have a shape and you have to be at the right place at the right time to capture it. So it helps to always have a camera with you. It also takes down contrast, making blacks less black. A point light source and some fog or mist contribute to it. It's also known as "God rays." It's why concerts tend to use fog machines to create volumetric light on stage. Dust is another contributor to volumetric light. It can be seen in caves and canyons when light emanates from a hole.

Today, Chris joins Leo to talk about using layers in photography. Layers make depth. So if you consider foreground, middle, and background as layers, you can create depth in your photo composition, making your photographs more interesting. Lenses can also make a difference. Layers in telephoto will look differently than layers with a wide-angle. Wider apertures flatten out the layers, while smaller apertures can create bokeh (out of focus background): depth of field. The photographer can also lead the eye with focus to be sharper and in focus, while the background and foreground are not.