Baby Your A Firework!! 10 Things That Might Help You Photograph Fireworks!!

Firework Photography: B. Farnum Photography Prints For Sale

10 Things I have learned about taking photographs of fireworks:

1.  Tripod- You are going to need a tripod, hand holding is not an option.

2. (B) is for Bulb, I generally click the shutter release when I first hear the firework being shot off. Using the Bulb setting on your camera, you can play around with exposure times. .

3.  DO NOT.. keep your camera in Air Conditioning before taking it outdoors, especially when doing the 4th of July fireworks display..(Yes I did do this the second time I ever photographed fireworks, missed the entire fireworks display)

4. Scout out the location, before you set everything up. 

5. Compose the shot before, generally speaking, because fireworks do have a mind of their own sometimes. But you want to make sure that you can capture them fully and fill the frame the best you can. 

6. Bug Spray- because in Vermont, the mosquitoes are bloodthirsty.

7. Try and stay away from street lights or other forms of light that can through off your exposure. 

8. F-Stop I try to use the largest f-stop I can, I start with f/8 and increase from there, to increase the depth of field of the image. Because sometimes explosions happen in different places, having a larger depth of field helps ensure that more than one firework will be in focus. 

9. Cable release, because touching the shutter release will shake the camera even if it's on a tripod. It's really hard to use the timer on the camera, it can be done but too many variables are working against you to achieve the shots you are looking for. A cable release will prove to be a tool you will use all the time, buy one!

10. ISO- I try to use 100-200 ISO so I don't get fuzziness from the pixels. Because you want the edges the sharp. 

Switchback Ale

Switchback Beer, a photo by Brian Farnum on Flickr.

SwitchBack Ale

Vermont Mircobrew

Photo by: B. Farnum Photography

From Headlines to Timelines

From Headlines to Timelines       

         30 years ago something became news when you woke up in the morning,  grabbed the paper from out front, sipping your coffee to read what happened in the world yesterday.  

   YESTERDAY!!

       Yesterday is no longer relevant in today's digital age. Artists or Photographers who make headlines today, might be lost in the shuffle of what is current or trending. Make it a daily effort to put your work out on a daily basis, you never know who will pick up on it in their Timeline! One post can change your life forever. Be diligent in your digital battle, if know one knows about you. How can they hire you?

Brian Farnum~ Vermont Wedding & Portrait Photographer
B. Farnum Photography

Vermont Brides

Meeting Potential New Business Contacts

   When you are comfortable you are no longer growing, as a person, business or brand. Step out of your comfort bubble for a minute.

   Go to a place that makes you nervous or at least uneasy, strike up a conversation with someone you might be intimidated by initially. This will make it easier when you have to meet a prospective client in the future. 

    Notice what makes you nervous about a certain situation you place yourself in. Establish a goal, and achieve that goal before leaving. 

   Business is all about meeting new people, if you are not able to talk to a stranger about what you do, than how can your business grow. Make it a point to be uncomfortable, success comes from a risk. Not from the level of comfort you feel.

Today's Thoughts on Photography 2/6/13

When I wake up I am always in battle mode it seems to gain new likes, re-tweets, comments and shares. I have been focused on the whole picture and have really have forgot about my own backyard. I should be focusing on growing my local base. Getting caught up in the digital rat race can suck the creativity and drive out of you, when you don't see instant results. Vermont is very supportive of the buy local movement, I need to find a catalyst to engage with my potential customer base through this avenue.


Brian Farnum
B. Farnum Photography 

Vermont Winter Photography

Vermont is a beautiful state all four seasons, if you are looking for a laid back atmosphere to bring your family on a winter get away Vermont is totally the place of easy living. With the vast amount of outdoor activities you will not be asking yourself what should we do, instead you will be asking yourself what do we do next. 

B. Farnum Photography

Alexis: 7 Months

B. Farnum Photography

Salvador Dali- The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg

Going to The Dali museum in St. Petersburg Florida is my absolute favorite place to go while in Florida besides South Beach, Miami. This was the first time that I had visited the museum at its new location. The stairwell inside and the glass triangles that cover most of the side and some of the top was an amazing site to see.

Using bracketed exposures and converting those into HDR (High Dynamic Range) photographs like those you see below. I thought making these photos look surreal was a way to show my love for Salvador Dali's +artwork.

Each of the panes of triangular glass offers a different perspective. Taken with Canon 5D

Film vs. Digital Photography

Shot with Ilford XP-2 Film

Will Kodak's demise mean that the Analog world is coming to an end? Film was the way of life for many photographers, and in my opinion can still out preform digital cameras and software.  Analog photography has taught many photographers how to frame a shot before they click the shutter. I always take more time when shooting film. If you don't like a photo on a digital camera, you can view it on the back of the camera via LCD screen if you don't like it simply press delete. Many photographers who have only shoot Digital do not understand what an F/Stop, Shutter Speed and ISO have to do with the exposure of an image. 

Many photos that are taken these days are just merely snapshots in time, only having meaning to the photographer who is snap, snap, snapping.

The expense of shooting film is no longer cost effective way to run your business, with cheaper options like Compact Flash Cards and SD Cards higher profits can be reached by the photographer. You either had to get what you needed to get within 24-36 exposures or load another roll of film. I would than pay for developing and the files to be placed in high resolution on a DVD. The cost of doing 3 rolls of film and putting them on a disk was around $65.00.

The major benefit of being able to reformat, reuse, and re-shoot with a compact flash card is nothing more than amazing.

I still will shoot all of my images that I want in black and white with either Kodak,Fuji, or Ilford films. Many of the local photo developers here in Vermont have stopped processing TRI-X films so I am forced to shoot with C41 films.

I still love the look and feel of black and white films, It's not because of nostalgia. I just believe black and white film always has more definition, contrast and tonal range. But from a business stand point, you cannot beat the price of digital.

My Favorite Films to Shoot:
Ilford XP-2 Super 135-36 B&W (Chromogenic C-41) Print Film (ISO-400)
Kodak 35mm Professional Portra Color Film (ISO 160)
Fujifilm Pro 400H 120 Professional Color Negative (Print) Film (ISO 400)
Ilford HP5 Plus 120 Black & White Print Film (ISO-400)

B. Farnum Photography Portrait & Wedding Photographer

New HDR Photos

Loving HDR EFEX from Nik Software, In my opinion it's so much better than Photomatix Pro. There are many more custom filters, the U Point controls are Awesome. You can control a specific portion of a photo, if it's too dark or needs more contrast there are sliders built into change the levels. You have total control of the look and feel of the images that you can create in HDR EFEX.

Canon Instant Rebates!

I hate having to snail mail a rebate in, or for that matter even going online to fill out the form can be daunting to me some days. I am sure I am not alone, when I say I love instant rebates. They require you to do nothing, except save money instantly. What's not to love about that. I love Canon cameras, lenses and flashes so... here are some instant savings.

Canon Instant Rebates

Winter is Coming... Vermont

If you like a photo, prints are available.
Thank You,
B. Farnum Photography

Best Uses Photography Editing Software

Photographers are busy editing, uploading, downloading, tweeting, and try to keep up with what the current trends in photography. Here is one tip that always makes the subjects skin look flawless.

Portraits/Wedding

If you are looking for a program that is easy to use, has great skin smoothing and blemishing removing tools look no further than Apple Aperture 3 Software . You can make all the adjustments that you need to give your Bride or Groom the look of a Rock Star.

Using Apple Aperture

You Must Have A Really Nice Camera!

So I have heard this statement over and over again this Summer & Fall. WOW! You must have a really nice, expensive, a lot of Megapixels, or a my favorite a great autofocus. What I want to say, and what I say are entirely different. I just nod smile and continue shooting the events as they unfold before me.

I do have a nice camera a Canon 5D (not a II) and a bunch of Canon L-Series lenses which help me work and photograph the way I want to. What the average photo enthusiast or point & shooter doesn't happen to understand is that I don't merely take a "Snap Shot", I am looking to create a certain look and feel to the images I make. I am not simply pressing the shutter in hopes that I might have a good image, I know when I will have a good image.

So the next time you are at a function where there is a professional photographer at a event that you are attending, please just know that they are there to work.  Everyone's view and perspectives are different. But just knowing a photographer or any artist for that matter is working out their creative vision. Their real focus is going to be on how this will look like to them, the client, and the general population.

Remember This:

Before you take a photo, ask yourself is this something I would want to look at, or better yet hang on my wall for others to see.

Keep Living Your Dreams.

Brian Farnum

B. Farnum Photography

Photography Editing we use at B. Farnum Photography

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Software for Mac Apple 
Aperture 3 Software
Nik¤Software Silver Efex Pro 2 Software

Bomoseen Vermont Wedding: Jessica & Adam

Mr. & Mrs 

Details from the reception 

Bride striking a pose

Bride's Bouquet Details

Sunset on Lake Bomoseen with the Newlyweds 

Flower for Groomsmen

Fall Photo Print Sale

Buy Fall/Autumn Prints on Sale!

5x7 starting at *$7.00
8x10 starting at *$8.00

*Prices do not include shipping

Photography Prints by B. Farnum Photography
Vermont

Cable Release For iPhone

iPhone Photography

You can know use your headset, that comes with your iPhone as a shutter release cable. Simply plug the headset into the headphone jack and use the (+) Volume Up button to take your photo. This will help prevent camera shake that is most always a problem when hand holding your iPhone, because you will be able to lean the camera against something.

Need a Tripod for Your Iphone?
XShot iPhone 4 Case With Detachable Tripod Adapter
Joby Gorillamobile For iPhone 4

Another cool aspect is that you no longer have to touch the screen to take a photo, but you can use the (+) Volume Up button on your actual iPhone to take your photos. You can also add a grid to help you compose your photos, all you rule of thirds peeps will be super excited for this addition.

Google Plus a Photographers Wonderland

Ever take a photo, then wonder what other people will say about the photograph? Want a place to learn about new gear, the latest editing software or a hot new plug-in? Google Plus has created a photographers wonderland. You can post a photo, within seconds or sometimes minutes will start getting feedback from your peers. Constructive criticism most of the time, but all valuable insights into what others might be thinking about an image you created.

Many times other photographers will +1 the image or even share the image.By sharing the image it will go in front of many more sets of eyes, everyone that's in their circles. But the greatest thing about when someone shares your post! You can see the comments that are being added to the original post. Something that Facebook does not do or doesn't want to do.

From a marketing standpoint this is flipping amazing, you can show off your work to that many more sets of eyes. This will help your work be seen around the world, it might not bring extra business your way initially but you never know who can potentially see your images. Director of photography for a magazine, a curator for a museum, or a buyer for an ad agency.

Website:
B. Farnum Photography

Circle Me: Photographers
Google+

Bring Guns to a Knife Fight..

Today's photography market seems to be evolving on a daily basis with new inventions such as the new camera from Lytro (light field camera) is going to change the way a photographer sees a composition. You can frame the shot, then refocus anywhere within the frame.

Photographers remember to evolve, or you will be left in the past... KodaChrome, Polaroids.. When gear becoming cheaper..newer technology drives down the prices of the older models. Cameras that used to cost 10,000+ dollars, you can know capture the same quality with a camera that costs a fraction of that price.

Notice I said Quality, because you can have the best equipment and still not be able to capture a good image. The camera doesn't make photographer, the photographer is the eye in the vision he wishes to create. What's your vision, wanting you to express.

Something to think about:

Price Comparison $2,300 (Canon) to $41,995 (Hasselblad)
21 MP vs. 60 MP
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only)
Hasselblad H4D-60 Digital SLR Camera

Do 39 more MegaPixels make that much difference? Well I would save the $39,695 and spend it on marketing. If no one knows about you or your business how many people are going to buy your photographs or book you? Food for thought photogs.

B. Farnum Photography

A Recession Is Not An Excuse To Be Lazy

I keep hearing on the news that we are in a recession or the next recession will be far worse than one we are currently in. You can make your photography business recession proof, don't just sit on the couch with the mindset that everyone is experiencing a down turn in their business. Get off your ass, and start something. Nothing is going to happen if all you do is watch re-runs.

Instead take a pro-active approach to start craving out your place in photographic market. When many of your fellow photographers are feeling the same pain that you are. What you have to do is increase your hustle. Start making sure you are consistently posting on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Linkedin, Flickr and Tumblr to make sure that your name is fresh in the minds of all the potential clients out there.

You really need to increase you hustle on your social media streams, be active in the community where you work and play. Instead of thinking and sitting, take action. I have been increasing my business when everyone is complaining about not having enough clients, how things are only going up in price.

These are the FREE powerhouses that you can harness to increase the number of people who see your name on a daily basis. You might not be able to compete with a higher end photographer in your area dollar for dollar when it comes to revenue. But you do have time, the ability to type and a hunger that many photographers have lost.

I use Facebook because I have to reach a number of my Senior Portrait clients, they are a captive audience. They love to comment, like and share content that I post on my wall. It's easy to start gaining the "likes" needed to really start drawing in clients.

Another way to use Facebook is to go after newlyweds and their friends. Brides are a marketers dream, you become friends with the Bride and her Bridemaids this will insure that you will get referrals. Make sure to tag them in some of the photos that you post from their wedding.

You need quality of quantity ALWAYS, when you are trying to sell someone a look or feel.
When posting an image, remember this: "Well this make the person post a comment, like it, or share it with others." If the answer is no, then move to another image that will capture the attention of the audience that you are going after.

Hope this helps.

B. Farnum Photography
Brian Farnum
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