Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

annabel williams

Annabel Williams hits the road

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If you’re thinking of investing a little bit of time and some money in you and your photography this year – after all, you are the most important factor when it comes to taking photos, not your lenses or your camera – and in particular if you want to concentrate on portraits, you might be interested in the series of seminars and workshops that portrait photographer-extraordinaire Annabel Williams will be running this summer.

An evening seminar and a two-day workshop will each hit London, Birmingham, and Leeds in May, June, and July this year. Annabel, whose photography has won enough awards to sink a battleship, will be leading the evening seminars. She’ll concentrate on what it takes to become a successful photographer right now: how you work and what clients expect. The idea is to give you the confidence to make photography work for you.

Charlie, by Annabel Williams

The workshops are more practical. (Well, they are workshops.) One day you’ll get to work with Annabel, looking at how to design a shoot, how to cope with the weather and get the best out of the lighting, how to handle your models, and how to develop your own style. The other day you’ll be working with Marko Nurminem, who’s something of a digital imaging guru. Need some Photoshop and Lightroom guidance? He’ll help. How about advice on managing your workflow? Yep, he’s got that, too.

Really importantly, though, these courses have been designed no matter your level of experience. Whatever you do – or don’t know – it’s about getting the most out of you and your photos.

Jared, by Annabel Williams

Evening seminars cost £95+ VAT and have a maximum capacity of 100 attendees; the two-day workshops are £495+ VAT and are limited to 28 participants. You’ll get plenty of attention, then!

Interested?

  • Tuesday 31 May, 18:00 to 21:00 – London evening seminar at Westbourne Studios, Notting Hill
  • Wednesday 1 to Thursday 2 June, 09:00 to 17:00 – London two-day workshop at Westbourne Studios, Notting Hill
  • Monday 20 June, 18:00 to 21:00 – Birmingham evening seminar at IET Birmingham, Austin Court
  • Tuesday 21 to Wednesday 22 June, 09:00 to 17:00 – Birmingham two-day workshop at IET Birmingham, Austin Court
  • Monday 11 July, 18:00 to 21:00 – Leeds evening seminar at The Round Foundry Media Centre
  • Tuesday 12 to Wednesday 13 July, 09:00 to 17:00 – Leeds two-day workshop, The Round Foundry Media Centre.

Want even more details? Head to the roadshow’s website.

Around the world in 80 days

photo-competition-winners

If you’re in or near London over the weekend, you must pop down to the Old Truman Brewery, just off of Brick Lane, to see Bookzilla: the largest photobook in the world. This thing is monstrous and marvellous: it measures 20 feet by almost 14 feet, which puts it at about the same size as a double decker bus, and it features the most glorious, radiant selection of photos from all over the world.

Earlier this summer Photobox launched a competition to go around the world in 80 days using pictures. Over 30,000 entries were received, and every single country was represented in an image. These 30,000 photos were narrowed down to 300, which are those that appear in Bookzilla. Of those 300, six over all winners, one image from each continent (but not Antarctica), were selected.

North America winner: A Piece of Land to Call Home, by Bob Brewer

Apart from getting to look at gorgeous pictures, I don’t envy the judging panel one bit. The photos featured portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and architecture and as Annabel Williams, one of the judging panel said, the standard was extremely high. The winners get to go on the holiday of a lifetime as their reward. Not bad at all!

Pop down and be amazed. Bookzilla’s almost three times taller than me and filled with captivating pictures. If you can’t make it, though, you can see the 300 shortlisted pictures here.

Around the World in 80 Days runs from Friday 15 to Monday 18 October 2010 at the Old Truman Brewery, Hanbury Street, London.