April 30, 2012 by David Lye
Pictures are the way we have captured moments of our lives for posterity for hundreds of years. Usually, when we think of photography, we think of a snap of a single second (give or take, depending on the exposure of the film), just a flash of memory for safekeeping. Long exposure photography offers something unique and beautiful that traps a series of moments, a longer stretch of time than simply an individual one. Technically, long exposure photos are created when the image sensor of the camera is exposed for more time through increased shutter speed. This kind of photography was designed for taking pictures after at night, when less light is available to expose the film. With the increased light of long exposure photography, light is given to the lens for a longer period of time, making photos taken in dim light or darkness easier to see. Beyond its general… | Read the full article
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April 25, 2012 by David Lye
Kirlian photography refers to the method of acquiring images without using conventional imaging film or a camera. During the late 1700s, Georg Lichtenberg experimented with the technique, as did Nicolas Tesla in the early 1900s. However, the unique process of obtaining images was named for Russian electrician and amateur inventor Semyon Kirlian because of the extent of his research. In 1939, Kirlian accidentally produced an image of an object on a photographic plate after exposing the plate to electrical current. The image on the glass appeared similar to a glowing halo. The inventor and his wife assumed they were capturing the life forces contained within the object. His experiments included photographing a leaf at various intervals from freshly picked to wilted. As the leaf dried out, the image also diminished, which led Kirlian to the conclusion of an aura. During the 1970s, parapsychologists performed tests using Kirlian photography and expressed… | Read the full article
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April 19, 2012 by David Lye
Over the past 40 years, infrared photography has evolved from a fledgling pursuit to the new choice for progressive photographers. If you are skilled at it, you will find many opportunities to use this medium to either expand your artistic skills or to improve your income as a professional photographer. When you use infrared photography, you will be creating images by using the infrared light striking your subject, and since this light is invisible to the naked eye, your image will literally show you things in a new light. How to Get Started Although the use of digital technology makes it possible to do infrared photography, you should not assume that it is easy to do at least when you first start. For one thing, you will need to use special equipment like the Hoya R72 digicam for infrared photography. However, if you do not want to learn about the… | Read the full article
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April 14, 2012 by David Lye
The first recorded history of using light, darkness, and a pinhole to project images comes from the 1400s when artists learned they could sketch an image more precisely by inserting a lens into a small hole. Called ‘camera obscura,’ this process produced a sharp image onto a flat surface that could be traced when producing art. This discovery began the process of experimentation with capturing images by employing chemicals and light. In 1837, Louis Daguerre invented the Daguerreotype, a copper plate coated with silver iodide and infused with mercury during the development process. He encountered problems making the images permanent because of chemical degradation, leading to further experimentation to perfect the art of photography. By 1851, a French sculptor discovered glass plates coated with chemicals reduced the cost and permitted multiple reproductions of a single image. Photography studios began springing up throughout Europe where families could sit for a portrait… | Read the full article
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April 9, 2012 by David Lye
Brilliantly coloured photographs often leave viewers feeling like the scene appears too good to be true. More often than not (especially in this age of digital photography), these photos actually are ‘too good.’ In other words, digital images are often altered in order to draw out the most dramatic elements (colour, lighting, shadows, etc.), and the most common way of editing photographs in this manner falls under the category of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photo editing. HDR techniques have been in existence prior to the boom of the digital photography industry, but the almost overwhelming use of this technique really bloomed once easy editing software became more accessible to the general public. HDR photography, if used properly, can help artists create fairly accurate representations of scenes that cameras’ light sensors are typically unable to fully capture. For example, often certain areas of a photograph are either too light or too… | Read the full article
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April 4, 2012 by David Lye
Whoever said Australia is only known for their cinematography was wrong. Here, a list of some of the best Australian photographers, old and new. Enjoy! 1. Ken Duncan – if you aren’t familiar with the name, you’ve probably already seen this photographer’s work, at least that is if you’ve seen the Mel Gibson movie “Passion of the Christ”, in which Duncan produced all of the still scenes. Aside from this Hollywood hit, this Australian photographer is best known for his awe-inspiring panoramic shots. Browse through his gallery of unique landscape photographs at http://www.kenduncan.com/index.php/gallery. 2. Max Dupain – the late Australian photographer Max Dupain revolutionised black and white photography from the 1930s to the 1980s. Dupain loved his native country of Australia, and devoted his life’s work to capturing its beauty, from its beaches to its cityscapes. Collectors love his iconic work because of the magnificent tones he uses, in addition… | Read the full article
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