The 365 Project: Week 37

The marquee from the old Michigan Theater in downtown Escanaba where I live

For this week on Picaboo, the theme and challenge was street photography.  The above photos made it into the best of the week blog post as well!

Mural on the side of the Stone Deli in downtown Escanaba, MI

Metal step from a slide in the park

The traditional urban style street photograph is black and white for that extra sense of drama.  Not that there's anything wrong with color but urban photography just plain old looks better in black and white unless color is needed to tell a story or is an integral part of your photo, such as a mural.

In Mackinac Island, cars are prohibited so there's lots of horses!

A violinist that was playing outside the Art Institute when we went to Chicago

There are a handful of tips for street photography.  One is to be a little sneaky.  If people are going to be in your image, you want candid photos.  You don't want to look like a stalker either so be respectful as well.  Although in most places it is legal to photograph people in public, it may be best to ask permission, especially if children will be in your shot.  If someone notices you've taken a photo of them and they ask you to delete it, do it regardless of how great it may be.  A few tricks to taking candid photos without being noticed is to act like you're interested in something near the people you want to photograph, or pretend you're checking settings, etc.

Sign from the historic House of Ludington in Escanaba

Rusty old street sign near the park in Escanaba

Make it interesting.  Step it up a notch and use leading lines, creative angles and use your rule of thirds.  Watch your backdrop too, it shouldn't take away from your subject.  One of my favorite things for street photography is to be a tourist in your own town, even if you're in a tiny town like me.  Really look at all the great architecture on old historical buildings, statues in the city park, cars, people on the sidewalk, murals, people feeding birds, and so on!  You might be surprised what you find when you really look for it!

The 365 Project: Week 31 and 32

Rainbow Cove at the Pictured Rocks Natl Lakeshore in Munising, Mi

This week was all about taking photos of landscapes.  The photo above was featured in Picaboo's blog with the best of the week! I admit, some of these photos weren't actually taken this week, but they lend great examples of the theme along with the ones I did take this week!

Red rock outcrop in Marquette, MI

Slag beach at the mining ghost town in Fayette, MI

It should seem easy enough, but taking a quick shot of some pretty scenery doesn't always lead to a pretty photo.  You'll want to keep an eye on a few key items to get a great shot.  Watch your horizon; nothing ruins a great photo like a slanted horizon.  This can be fixed in post-processing depending on your software but it's so much easier to get it right the first time.  Turn on your camera display's grid lines (usually an option in the menu) to help you line up your shot.  Consult your manual if you don't know how.

Limestone cliff and old pilings at Fayette, MI

A hike in the woods, Hunter Point Park in Copper Harbor, MI

Pick a focal point.  Look for something interesting to focus your camera on.  Use leading lines, a tree, rock outcrop or other interesting feature to draw your viewer's attention and make them feel like they are there with you.  Try capturing a sense of movement if you can: waves on the beach, wind in the trees etc.  You can also create an interesting focal point by using creative angles.  Take a photo looking straight up a cliff face, from a high vantage point, or from the side.  Be creative!

Golden light at sunset on top of Brockway Mtn in Copper Harbor, MI

Trail to the beach in Escanaba, MI

This isn't listed in the Picaboo tutorial but keep in mind your time of day.  Early morning and evening give softer lighting and create a more "dreamy" look.  Bright, direct sunlight gives crisp angles and dramatic shadowing.  The best midday lighting is on a partly cloudy day, when the clouds act as a natural light diffuser.

Drop of dew on water lettuce

For week 32, Picaboo had a tutorial on resizing your photos to look better on Facebook and also had a challenge of showing size in your photos.  My photo above was featured in Picaboo's Blog featuring the best of the week!

We went to Mackinac Island and I loved taking photos of all the horses!

An exotic Red Postman butterfly at Mackinac Island's Butterfly House.

I don't really have a tutorial to go over with you since resizing your photos specifically for Facebook has nothing to do with photography in my opinion.  As for showing size, you really can interpret that however you wish and I know not all my photos this week show it. My favorite way is through macro photography.  I love making tiny details larger than life (such as the tiny drop of dew). If your camera has a macro setting, it will be a flower icon on a button.  If you have a dSLR, you need a macro lens depending on how close you want to get.

Busy bee on a purple cone flower

I needed a lot of patience and good timing for this flitting dragonfly!

You can also show size using dramatic perspective.  Make a tree or other tall object look gigantic by taking a photo close to the trunk and look up or there's your classic "look I'm holding up a mountain" pose that you see in family vacation photos.  Have fun with it!

Another busy bee this time on my sedum flowers

I have no idea what this flower is but it's gorgeous!