Primoliphoto and Crea8fotos

Creativity and Photography

2010-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Keeping our creativity alive and motivated is the most exciting challenge for an artist. There are days that everything just flows in the most wonderful way and there are days that ... well... nothing seems to move. That goes for everything in our lives.
When I feel that the energy around me isn't moving I take a camera, any camera (phone, plastic, DSLR) and I go for a walk. I photograph every 5 minutes. I move around in a small circle and photograph what is close to me from all angles. After a few hours I have an amazing collection of thoughts and pieces of information. I put all images up on my site and look at them. I move them around and create another thought by changing their order.
All this helps me see and think in a different way. I don't go out worried about what to photograph nor how to use the best technique. I go out thinking about something and then my mind wonders as I'm looking for the objects or pieces of information in my circle of 2 feet every 5 minuts. It's fantastic to see how many pieces of visual things we can turn into images. It's meditative and it takes me to another realm.
Crea8fotos is doing a workshop tomorrow. It will be about creativity and all and any cameras are welcome.
Mariana Ferrari, expert in Innovation will be coming to speak about creativity. I can hardly wait to see what ideas she will have for all of us. She has an amazing outlook on life and will be sharing some thoughts with us that will surely take our creativity to another level.
Go to Crea8fotos for more information.

Valentina's First Year!

2010-09-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Valentina's portraits by Marguerite.
Video by Marguerite.

Valentina had her first birthday one week after the photo session. It was also the first time she got in the water. We had a lovely sunset on Miami Beach.

Susan G Komen at the Fountainebleau Marguerite

2010-09-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Photography and video by Marguerite

The Pink Fire Trucks at Fountainebleau for the event Bleau goes Pink.
Benefit against breast cancer held on September 22, 2010.
DJ K-Razor.
Fantastic food from the Fountainebleau restaurants.
Amazing people.

using small strobes and where to get some help

2010-08-14T15:32:00.001-07:00

I have been looking at a site that has wonderful information about working with small strobes.
The Strobist is one that EVERYONE knows, and an incredible site!
They have a group on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist

Recently I was on a photo shoot and found out that I did not have enough lights. I used the small hand held strobes to light up the small dark corners and used the larger light for bigger spaces. The two lights complemented each other and the shoot was a success.

I also use the smaller strobes for outdoor portraits. They are perfect because you can take 3 or 4 and not be overwhelmed with heavy cases..... yes, there is still the issue of caring the stands. I figure that I can put 2 flashes on one regular stand. The other flashes go on small light weight stands.

So, this got a bit technical. I have learned so much from the http://strobist.blogspot.com

What I really liked about this blog is that they talk about different equipment and so it is possible to find out how to do all this on a budget. Great for the times!

I'm looking for a site that is similar and has information on videography. If anyone knows of any please send me a note!

http://www.primoliphoto.com

Photoshop classes and Photography classes

2010-06-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

We will be teaching Photoshop classes and Photography classes in July. Visit our website for more information and join us!
www.primoliphoto.com

Photoshop is an exciting software that allows you to do infinite possibilities to your images.

Imagine being able to create anything you want!

New Competition coming up!

2010-02-04T04:44:00.001-08:00

Photographers:The Environmental Photographer of the Year photographic competitions go to http://www.ciwem.org/arts/photographer

Sunrise in Portland Oregon

2009-12-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

I just came back from my Thanksgiving dinner...... well week. Portland Or has the most beautiful views by the river and the morning has the greatest light.
The blue really makes it look so much colder than it was and gives the river a mysterious look. As time went by the light changed and details and forms began to appear. It also got a lot warmer. I have been living in Miami for a long time and therefore am much more sensitive to the changes in the temperature. But, back to photography.... The more you wait the more things will change in front of you and every shot will have a very different mood!

Digital Camera Tips: Shooting Macro Pictures

2009-11-18T10:28:00.000-08:00

I always hear people saying how they only get their camera out when something special is going on like relatives coming over, Christmas, birthdays or traveling somewhere. When I ask them why they don’t get the camera out more often, they usually say there is nothing to take pictures of. Most of us hardly notice the little things right in from of us, but there is another world that can be captured with macro photography.

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Macro Photography Tips for Point and Shoot Digital Camera's

2009-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

Much has been written on the topic of Macro photography for those photographers fortunate enough to own a DSLR with macro lenses – but what about if you own a compact point and shoot camera? Can you get great macro shots too?

While the results achievable with a point and shoot camera in macro mode probably won’t compare with a DSLR with a purpose built macro lens I’ve still seen some remarkably good shots with compact cameras (all three shots in this post were taken with compact cameras). Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of yours:

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I'd RATHER GO PHOTOGRAPHING:

2009-11-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

PrimoliPHoto is organizing a workshop to photograph flowers, botanicals and views. We are going to meet at the Fairchild Gardens on December 13th. Contact us for reservations and for more information.

Send me email.

I'd RATHER GO PHOTOGRAPHING:

2009-11-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

When photographing botanicals, don't forget about the over all scene.

The sun doesn't always have to be behind the photographer. In this case it bathes the bird and the rock and gives the image a zen moment.

Ok... this is not something you will find in Florida! Really.......

Sometimes you don't need a specific flower... Here it's all about the contrast of color.

Choose backgrounds that will emphasize your subject. Look at what this incredible tree does to the fruit. These photographs were taken in the northwestern part of the US.

When photographing botanicals and landscapes, look for water and check out the reflections. They create wonderful photographs.

11 Landscape Photography Tips

2009-10-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

1. Maximize your Depth of Field
While there may be times that you want to get a little more creative and experiment with narrow depth of fields in your Landscape Photography – the normal approach is to ensure that as much of your scene is in focus as possible. The simplest way to do this is to choose a small Aperture setting (a large number) as the smaller your aperture the greater the depth of field in your shots.
Do keep in mind that smaller apertures mean less light is hitting your image sensor at any point in time so they will mean you need to compensate either by increasing your ISO or lengthening your shutter speed (or both).
PS: of course there are times when you can get some great results with a very shallow DOF in a landscape setting (see the picture of the double yellow line below).

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The Sky and our Landscapes

2009-10-25T07:30:00.001-07:00

We can also wait for the clouds to do their designs in the sky and the same photographs will have a very different view. The bottom photograph was done with a filter that only darkens the top part (clouds) of the image. The photograph in the middle was done with a polarizer filter, notice how everything is toned down and has basically the same tone. The top photograph was taken with no filter! The clouds started to move around and create shapes, colors and cover parts of the building.

Photographing landscapes

2009-10-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

When photographing landscapes it’s a good idea to go to the scene at different times of the day and experiment different lighting. The morning light is very different from the evening light and the stormy day will add a whole different mood. Framing things and editing elements can allow you to photograph the same place many times and make it look like a different place. If the sky is too light or too gray put less sky in your images. If it's cloudy, add contrast by exposing for the sky or you can get a filter that will darken the sky. I haven't used a filter, I control my exposures and frame so that the sky will not take priority unless the clouds look fabulous! These photographs were taken on different days and different times.

Video-Interaction of Shutter Speed and Aperture

2009-10-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

This helpful video gives an explanation of the interaction of shutter speed and aperture.

Slow shutter speed vs fast shutter speed

2009-10-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Many times we think that we should do our landscapes with water by freezing the motion of the water and keeping everything crisp. We can make these images have more texture and more life by changing our shutter speed.
A slow shutter speed will make the movement of water softer and more interesting in landscape photography. By using a slow shutter you can maintain a small aperture so that everything that does not move will be sharp. Take a look at the 2nd image. You can see the turtle on the rock because the water is softer around it. The two elements do not compete with each other. On the sharper image above, the turtle gets lost.
You will need a tripod for slow shutter speed photography!

Sharp Depth of Field

2009-10-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

A Sharp depth of field will give importance to all the elements in the photograph. This photograph was taken with an F-stop of 11. In Buenos Aires.... for a great tango.... The sharpness was essential to show all the texture in the building, floor and the lady's dress.

Botanicals and the aperture

2009-10-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

When you find your beautiful botanical, move around to search for the perfect background, the one that will make your colors and shapes stand out.

These photographs were taken at the Fairchild Gardens in Miami Florida. A wide aperture was used. The wonderful thing about the soft focus is the dream- like quality that the photograph elicits.

Botanicals at the Fairchild Gardens in Miami, Florida

2009-10-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Notice how important the curly needle like part of the plant becomes! It looks like it's going to sew the leaf below it. The soft background keeps our eyes on the plant by helping to frame it. I used a tripod for this photograph. In fact I use a tripod for all botanicals that way I would not be limited by my shutter speeds.

More on the aperture

2009-10-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

When I photograph botanicals I don’t follow a set of rules re the aperture. If I want to emphasize a color I will use a wide aperture (F 1.4 or F2) and focus on the plant that I want to be sharp. The rest will soft.

How to Use Aperture to Control Light in Photography

2009-10-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

This portrait of my client Lisa Jeffery (coach in communication skills) is a good example of how I used the shallow depth of field to give emphasis to Lisa and Valentina. I wanted to show the landscape and it's colors but I didn't want it to compete with lisa.

"Besides changing the shutter speed to manipulate light as it enters the camera, you can adjust the aperture, the opening through which light enters the camera. Like an eye, the aperture expands or contracts according to how much light you want. The aperture is adjusted according to a scale of f-stops. The lower the f-stop, the wider the aperture opening and the more light is allowed in. An f-stop number is universal from one lens to another."

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Compare the aperture to your eye. When it gets dark the pupils open up to allow more light in. The lens's aperture does the same.
The F stops on the aperture will give you the measurement of the opening.
F2 is a wide opening.
Have you seen those lovely portraits of people where the background is all soft focus and it seems that the colors are floating around? That is done with a wide aperture. F1 or F1.4 , F2 or F2.8.
So the aperture controls the amount of light that goes through the lens (and reaches your film or your digital media) and it will also control the amount of sharpness your photograph will have.
The amount of sharpness is also called the depth of field.
F2 has a large (wide) opening. It allows a lot of light to enter the lens.
F2 has a shallow depth of field. The only area that will be sharp is the one you focused on - the background will be soft.

By controlling the depth of field you will be able to control the areas in your image that will have more importance or emphasis.

Sports and Dance Classes Prove a Winner for Photographers

2009-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

"School photography is big business. With hundreds of portrait clients crammed into one space, a sales rate of between 70 and 85 percent, and revenues that can reach as high as $1,000 an hour, it’s no wonder that photographers are keen to get their foot in the school door. And it’s no wonder too that the market is generally dominated by large companies who have the capacity to manage a stream of subjects, process the images and make them available to parents. When the organization is this important — more important perhaps than the quality of the photography — schools tend to stick with the firms they know."

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WD My Book Elite Review

2009-10-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Western Digital has unveiled its new My Book Elite desktop external drives. The new My Book Elite drives feature automatic and continuous backup with WD SmartWare software and 256-bit hardware-based encryption."

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A note on drives and backing up work:
Many of us don’t back up our photographs and documents until something drastic has happened. Hurricanes (I live in Florida), floods, theft, and just mistakenly erasing important things while chatting on the phone….we should take up doodling again, it’s so much safer. And...I digressed. It’s important to keep everything you do on an external drive. I keep very little on my desktop. When I’m working on a project I immediately save it to the external drive. Eventually I make copies of work onto DVDs or CDs. Always keep the drive at your office or home. When you take your lap top to a coffee shop or a workshop, save your work onto your computer and then onto the drive when you get to your office.
I have heard so many stories about people not saving wok in separate devices. The most recent story is of a friend who traveled with her drive and the computer and both were stolen. She did not have an extra drive with everything at home.
So back up the back up. Don’t wait for a disaster.
I also use the Lacie drives. They have them in all colors and sizes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Camera Review

2009-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 ($899, with lens) is a compact interchangeable lens camera that uses the Micro Four Thirds standard. When Panasonic introduced their first Micro Four Thirds camera, the DMC-G1, many folks (myself included) were disappointed that it was fairly large, and not the compact model we hoped the MFT format would deliver. Olympus upped the ante with their E-P1, which has a compact, retro-styled body that is a lot closer to what many people expected in the first place. Unfortunately, that camera was plagued by slow autofocus, no built-in flash, and the lack of a viewfinder (with the exception of the one mated to the 17 mm pancake lens)."

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Photoshop CS3: Converting Color photos to Black and White

2009-10-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

"More often than not, instead of shooting a picture using my camera’s black and white (or “grayscale”) setting, I prefer to take color photographs and convert them to black and white. Rather than going to Image/Mode/Grayscale in Photoshop CS3 to turn a color photo into black and white, here is a new technique that I learned from the wisdom of Scott Kelby."

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Freelensing

2009-10-05T12:46:00.001-07:00

"While perusing the Internet for new photography techniques, I came across something referred to as “freelensing”. This technique is achieved by detaching the lens from the camera but holding it in place, then shifting the lens around to focus the shot. Shafts of light are “leaked” into the image, a high degree of bokeh is achieved (since the aperture is effectively at “0″), and one can capture extreme macro shots. This technique also somewhat demonstrates the principles of tilt-shift photography, where the plane of focus and the line of sight are no longer parallel to one another - basically, objects that are at different physical distances from the camera can all be in sharp focus if they lie on a straight line."

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hey

2009-10-01T12:33:00.001-07:00

How to attract people to your social networks

2009-09-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

The importance of a great photograph: We are surrounded by images everywhere and we have become a more visual society. TV, magazines, billboards and the Internet has made us count on images to understand things better.

When you are setting up your Face Book page, your Linked In page, dating profiles and other social networks you need to have a good photograph of you, one that will show your personality and will show what you do. People will remember you if your image is fun and smart.

These are places where you can use your image to send out a message that will emphasize what you write. I have been seeing so many bad and out of focus images of people. I see heads being cut off , glare and horrible backgrounds. What is it with the crooked images that show a messy garage?

I know... you may think that I'm judging people by how they look but I'm not. I'm judging their bad photographs and just as I dress properly for a meeting, I believe that images on the social network pages are bold, fun, good and say something about the person.

My photographs are fun and easy to do. I'm a photographer and so I can use the camera in every shot and I will be sending a message. You don't have to carry a building or a truck but you can use fantastic backgrounds or details of things that will show what you do or what you like. Use architecture, geometrical shapes, bold colors but make sure they don't compete with the image of you.