AR-Graphics

Where is that picture??? One of the most useful pieces of advice that I think can be given to someone starting out in digital photography is, "figure out how you are going to organise your picture files". I well remember sitting waiting whilst a "professional" photographer tried to find a particular picture to show me. After several minutes it became embarrassingly obvious he didn't have a clue where it was on his computer! The ease and lack of cost with which digital images can be taken means collections of pictures can grow at a very fast rate. What starts out as an easy exercise finding a picture amongst a selection of several hundred, starts to become harder when it grows to several thousand, and a major task when it becomes tens of thousands! That is unless some form of system is employed. It is therefore a good idea to spend some time early on figuring out how you are going to best store your pictures. It's a case of a little extra t...

Are you shooting yourself in the foot? I have, in the past, been asked what the most important thing is for a photographer. Whilst it no doubt depends on the type of photography you undertake, for me, dealing primarily with people, I'd have to say that reputation is probably close to, if not, top of my list. A good reputation can be built upon many pillars such as honesty, reliability, discretion, high standards, moral and ethical stances, etc. All of this can help install trust and respect amongst clients and those you work with. Conversely it can also be used to send a message to those that wish to take advantage. It all seems very common sense, however I regularly see examples where people just don't seem to care about how they are perceived!   First Impressions Count. It's an oft quoted saying that is backed up by lots of scientific research. More often than not, in today's world, a first impression has moved from being a physical meeting, to a virtual ...

  Your three legged friend   There comes a time when a photographer comes to realise that holding the camera by hand is often just not going to cut it! It's then that the search for a tripod starts. Over the years I have accrued several tripods. The one I use most often is probably over 20 years old and has definitely seen better days. It's currently patched up with jubilee clips and cable ties and should really be replaced. However it's as sturdy as it ever was and operates perfectly well. Choosing a tripod generally comes down to 3 things.   Weight, Stability Budget. It's often a case of pick any 2! In that, if you want something lightweight and stable, it's going to cost. Or cheap and lightweight, it's possibly not going to be so stable etc. The type of photography you are interested in will affect the specifications your going to be interested in. A landscape photographer who is hiking to locations, is going to be looking for som...