When the Button You Didn’t Know Existed Changes Everything
Thomas returned for his second photography lesson, this time bringing his friend Cindy for her very first session. Cindy mentioned early on that she had owned her Sony camera for several years, but never quite liked how one part of the lens operated. I asked to see her camera as I knew the exact button to switch to address the issue! She did not even know that button existed. I was glad to be able to instantly solve the issue that had been frustrating her for years. Those are the kinds of small but powerful adjustments that can completely change someone’s relationship with their camera.
Even though this was Thomas’s second time hearing my 5-step process for shooting in manual mode, the review helped reinforce what he learned during our first one-on-one session. We wrapped up with hands-on shooting practice in the studio. I guided them through applying the 5-step process step by step, then changed the scenario and asked them to create a well-exposed, sharp image completely on their own. Watching that moment when everything clicks is always the best part.
Read MoreJoin local professional photographer Jason Collin at the Pacific Grove Art Center for a fun, hands-on photography class designed for beginners. Jason has taught hundreds of people to confidently shoot in manual mode using his original 5-step process developed while living and making photos on the streets of Tokyo, Japan.
***DSLR or Mirrorless Camera Required ***
You will learn:
Jason’s 5-step process for shooting in manual mode
How to get well exposed, sharp photos in any light
Simple composition techniques for instantly better photos
Read MoreShooting low and on The Road is one of my favorite shots
The low angle on The Road shot is one my favorite types of photo to make. This one was made on a winding desert road south of Santa Rosa. It’s a great driving road for its lack of traffic, scenery, and numerous bends and curves. As light was starting to fade, I pulled over and got the camera out to compose this shot using the double yellow lines as a composition technique called leading lines. You can use anything to make leading lines, which catch the viewer’s eye and lead them to look into the full frame of the photo. The next time you are out with your camera, look for something you can use as leading lines in your shot.
Read MoreUsing shallow depth of field and setting your focus point
Since I started Jason Collin Photography back in 2009, I have taught hundreds of people of all levels 1-on-1 photography lessons. In the course of that teaching I repeated some favorite photography advice. Here is one of them:
“Show me something I cannot see by just standing there.”
Another one is:
“A photographer can make something out of nothing.”
In the example photos in this blog post I had my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens on my Sony a7 III full frame mirrorless camera. This lens is my favorite lens for making something out of nothing because the large f/1.4 aperture means I can easily create very shallow DoF (depth of field). Making a photo with a very shallow DoF is one of the easiest ways to make something out of nothing.
Read MoreGet cooler images with long exposures
Cool things can happen when you leave the shutter of your camera open for more than just a fraction of a second. Look around the photo above where I left the shutter open for 10 seconds. In that time I managed to capture 3 lighting bolts, and the light trails made by the head and taillights of passing cars. Plus, the long exposure created a starburst effect with the street lamps.
Read MoreCamera bag for cycling with the Sony a7R IV
I got a new road bike and discovered there are many unique views in Albuquerque that you can only see from a bike. Wanting to share these views in photos on Jason Collin Photography, I sought out a camera bag to carry just one camera and one lens. Already being a Peak Design customer, I settled on their new bag, the Everyday Sling V2 3L I wanted to be able to carry my Sony a7R IV and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens in the bag, as this is my most versatile lens and camera combo. I contacted Peak Design to ask them if they knew if this combo would fit, they said yes, but it would be tight.
Exactly how tight is it to get a Sony a7R IV with a Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens into the Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L? Check out the video to find out!
Read MoreWhite seamless backgrounds are fun for anyone
A large white seamless background is part of many photo studios, including here at the JCP Home Studio. For a professional photographer, this is a great tool to have. However, I think anyone could benefit from having a large, white seamless paper background in their home! Check out the video tip for why.
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