Monday
Jul262010
Gulf Shores At Midnight
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 10:59AM 
This shot was taken around midnight in Gulf Shores, AL one week before the oil reached this very beach.
Entries in atlanta photographer (4)
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 10:59AM Saturday
May152010
Photography 101: The Subject
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 11:37PM What makes a good photograph?
This, of course, is a very subjective question but I wanted to try to answer it in the most basic, simple way possible. If we were to deconstruct a good photograph to its most basic element, what would it be?
The Subject.
Sounds too obvious, right? But think about it. When you have your camera out and taking pictures, think about your subject. When you look at your photos, is the subject obvious? Is it clear to anyone who looks at your photo, what the subject is?
Keep the following questions in mind: How is attention focused on the subject in the photo? How is your eye drawn to the subject? Is it the focus, the depth of field, or how it's composed?
You should try to simplify your photos as much as you can. Try to take out the distractions; keep your backgrounds subdued. I know you’ve heard this one: KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid. Don’t overly complicate your photos.
Remember, it's not about what camera you have. These are principles that you need to know, no matter if you're taking a photo with your cellphone or a Canon 5D Mark II. To quote one of my favorite photographers, David DuChemin, "Gear is good, vision is better."
tagged atlanta photographer, basics, bremen, ga, photo 101, photography, subject, tips, west georgia in Photography 101
atlanta photographer, basics, bremen, ga, photo 101, photography, subject, tips, west georgia in Photography 101 Wednesday
Jan062010
What Not To Wear
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 6:00PM Clothing Tips For Portraits
Keep it simple.
Dark or black clothing is slimming. Avoid crazy patterns or bright colors. You don't want the clothing to draw attention to itself. Portraits are about you. Its the face, the body language, and the expression that is important.
Be comfortable.
Choose clothing that's comfortable and that you like. Clothing can make you confident as well. All this will show up in the picture, so choose comfort.
Short sleeves & shorts.
Avoid shorts especially. Long sleeves are the superior choice, even with casual portraits. Too much exposed skin can be distracting, especially when the skin tones vary too much. Remember, this is a general rule and doesn't necessarily apply to all situations. Women can get a pass on this much more than men.
Classic & timeless.
Remember, these pictures are going to be around forever. Try to stay away from trendy clothing that will be out of style next year.
Sunday
Jan032010
Project 365
Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 5:12PM On January 1, I started a 365 project. Its a photo project in which you take a photo everyday. Its a personal project but sometimes the paying gigs will spill over and make it into the project. I'll be posting the photos over at http://www.jonphillips.net/category/project-365/. Please check it out. I'll post updates here about the project but not everyday. So far, there's not going to be a particular theme to the photos. More than likely, many of the photos will be self portraits simply because I'm not going to be able to find a different subject to photograph everyday. Sometimes it will be still-life, such as Day 1 was. I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of my kids, as well.
Its an exercise in creativity, lighting, composition, technique, and trying not to repeat myself too much. Part of the challenge is simply keeping to it day in and day out. It will get old. I may miss a day here and there. But the goal is simply to finish. And I would hope that I'll grow as a photographer in the process.