Monday 28 September 2020

Learn how to photograph fireworks

How to Photograph Fireworks



Taking photographs of fireworks can be really easy, just follow the below steps and have fun taking photographs.


1)      Wear something warm

2)      Get the best spot – always worth asking the organisers where the firework display will be and inform them that you are taking some photographs of fireworks. Generally most organisers are very helpful!!

3)      Use a tripod, as the shutter speed is going to be very slow, tripod will avoid any camera shake.

4)      Focal Length – when photographing fireworks it’s difficult to see what will be in the frame (camera’s view finder) always shoot on wide angle. By zooming into the fireworks, some of the display will be lost, but do try zooming in as you will be surprised what you have captured.

5)      Do not use flash – switch off the flash as this will not capture the firework display.

6)      Camera Settings DSLR:

 I photographed my firework display on fully manual mode with camera on the tripod and these were my camera settings: Aperture f16 (to get maximum depth of field), Shutter speed 30 Sec, ISO set at 200. Use these settings as a guide and change them accordingly to your final result.

If unsure with the Manual Mode on your cameras, use ‘Aperture Mode’ (A) set the aperture at f11 of f16, the camera will set the shutter speed accordingly.

You can also use the ‘Shutter Mode’ (TV or S) set the shutter speed at 20 seconds. Use this as a guide, you may need more or less time – check your result.

7)      Camera Settings Compact Cameras:

Most compact cameras nowadays have preset ‘Firework’ mode, set the camera on this mode and the camera will set everything accordingly.

Have fun taking photographs of fireworks!!







Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
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Monday 17 August 2020

Photo Essay on Vaisakhi

 

This article is a Photo Essay on the Sikh festival, Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi is a harvest festival in Punjab and it marks the start of the Sikh New Year. It usually falls on the 13th or the 14th of April each year, and is celebrated all over the world by Sikhs with grand processions, food, lots of colour etc. 

History of Vaisakhi

In 1699, in India, was the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith, hence making it an even more important festival to celebrate the birth of Khalsa; the name given to a Sikh when you have been baptised. 

Our 10th Guru chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa. The history says that at the festival in 1699, he came out of a tent carrying a sword. He said that any Sikh prepared to give his life for his faith should come into the tent. From the crowd five men stood up and went forward into the tent. The Guru came out of the tent, with blood on his sword, seeing this caused worry and panic amongst the crowds. 

Moments later, the Guru walks out of the tent with the five men, unharmed and wearing blue turbans, all five dressed the same way. They became known as Panj Pyare or the 'Beloved Five', they were to be the first members of the Khalsa to be baptised by the Guru who sprinkled them with Amrit (holy water). This ritual of the holy water and prayers became the basis of the Sikh baptism ceremony.

How Vaisakhi is celebrated all over the world?

Sikhs on Vaisakhi visit their local Gurdwaras, a place of worship in Sikhism. The Gurdwara is decorated especially for the occasion; people of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to enter. The traditional colours of Vaisakhi are yellow, blue and orange, they represent the "spirit of rebirth and sacrifice of the Panj Pyare". The colours are also a symbol of "joy and celebration", that is why the Gurdwaras are decorated with these colours and the colours are also worn by those attending the festival. 

Inside the Gurdwara under a decorated shrine, the Holy book is placed and treated with utmost respect as Sikhs believe that it is our Living God and we bow down to the Holy Scriptures. By bowing down to the Holy Book, we accept all the teachings and words written by our Gurus. Every Gurdwara has a copy of the Holy Book, the original hand-written Holy Book is in the Golden Temple, Amritsar, India.

On the outside of every Gurdwara there is triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a tassel at its end called the Nishan Sahib, hoisted on a tall flagpole. The word, Nishan means symbol. The flagpole is also covered with fabric, and on the top of the flagpole, a two-edged dagger (Khanda - Sikh symbol) is placed.

During Vaisakhi, a procession called Nagar Kirtan is led by the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved ones), followed by the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Book).  The procession is then followed by the Sikh priests singing hymns and the public walk behind the procession.

The procession usually starts around 10am from the Gurdwara, it makes its way around the town and will return back to the Gurudwara for around 1pm. On arrival of the procession, everyone prays before the 5 Beloved Ones lead the way back into the Gurdwara. One of the Sikh's will carry the Holy Book on his head following the 5 Beloved Ones into the Gurdwara.

Below are the photographs that I took in 2018 on Vaisakhi at the Guru Nanak Darbar, Gravesend, Kent. The series of photographs show the interior of the Gurdwara, decorations and the procession returning back.

Interior of the Gurdwara - Holy Book placed at far end under the Golden Shrine


Blue, yellow, orange colours


Decorated stairs


Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones)


The Holy Book in the back of the Jeep


Mini Golden Temple Shrine where the Holy Book is placed


Priest and people praying as the procession returns back to the Gurdwara


Praying


Close-up of people


Procession reached the Gurdwara


Five orange flags - 5 Beloved ones leading the way


Guru Granth Sahib carried into the Gurdwara


Shrine where the Guru Granth Sahib was placed during the procession


Sikh Symbol - Khanda


Nishan Sahib

Decorations outside the Gurdwara


Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
www.ghatahora.co.uk
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A day around Choa Praya River and the market place, Bangkok

There is often confusion the differences between 'Photo Story and 'Photo Essay'. Both concepts require a series of photographs that have emotions, feelings and tell a story about the chosen subject. Most importantly the photographs should draw the viewer into the content of the  photography. Both Photo Story or Photo Essay can be of a place, person or an event, some text can be added if necessary, however the photograph should tell a story by itself and not the other way around.

A Photo Story can have a series of photographs ranging from a place, person, or an event, each photograph is strong on its own to tell a story about the place, an event or people.

Whereas a photo essay, a series of images depend on each other to emphasis the story, and are usually of the same one chosen subject.

For this article I chose to collate a series of images from my trip to Bangkok. These images were taken to show 'A day around Choa Praya River and the marketplace. 










 


Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
www.ghatahora.co.uk
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Sunday 16 August 2020

How To Take Photos With Mobile Phones

This article shows slides from The Pink Place, Basingstoke, presentation held on 14th August 2020. 

The presentation is on understanding mobile phones modes to take better photographs.


Saturday 1 August 2020

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

Shoes, boots, heels, sandals, who doesn't love them. I am crazy about my footwear, knee high boots, ankle boots, cow girl style boots, winter cosy boots, high heels, stylish summer wear sandals, and I even have a pair of bright yellow wellies.

Therefore, I decided to photograph shoes this week in the most creative surroundings to make the idea in the finished photograph very stylish.

I have taken most of the photographs using my mobile phone and using natural available light as well as the functions on my phone.

The photographs below have also been photographed using natural light on my mobile phone. The heels were placed on a brown backdrop and were photographed at different angles and with some photographs, selective focus was used to enhance the detail.

These are photographs of one of my heels. I chose this particular pair because of the details on the straps. The high heel is covered with tiny coloured roses and gems.

Photo 1 - both heels
Photo 2 - a collage of all photographs taken at different angles, moving closer


Pink heels

Close-ups


The photographs below are of cowgirl style boots, the boots are very simple, yet I felt I could get a few good photographs of the same pair.  These photographs have been taken using my mobile phone on the normal camera setting, with the phone's aperture at f1.8 using natural light.
Photo 1 - taken in the garden
Photo 2 - boots placed on the stair banister
Photo 3 - boot placed on the table top and photographed from the top
Photo 4 - taken in the garden




The photograph below was also taken with my mobile phone, using normal camera setting and available light. The idea behind it was spontaneous; I saw the heels and weighing scale and thought of the shot. I was not sure if the idea was going to work, however it adds a different element to the concept of 'Shoe Photography'.


Silver heels


If you have little shoes, use them, as they can create very dramatic and interesting images.
These tiny baby shoes were photographed indoors using natural light and my mobile phone. I like the idea of the large empty space in front and behind the shoes as it shows the scale of the tiny shoes.


Tiny shoes


Try to create different compositions with little shoes or slippers, sometimes they can add drama to the final image. I created a moment in time with these slippers by placing them on a cushion as my little one used to do when she was 2 years old.
This photograph has also been taken using natural light and the mobile phone.


Precious slippers


The photograph below was taken as part of the 'Street Photography' series. This shoe was photographed in the shop window using my Sony A6000. The idea was to focus on the pink and yellow roses, so I used a shallow depth of field. The saturation of the final image has been increased slightly.
These are my settings:
Aperture - f4
ISO - 320
Shutter - 1/200

Shoe in the window


The photograph below was taken in 2008 of my model on location. I used my Nikon D200 for this image with off camera fill-in flash. I added this photograph in the 'Shoes' theme because it shows shoes in a different, creative manner. I remember that shoes were very 3D with laces on the upper part of his t-shirt.

Shoes on t-shirt


Try taking a photograph with your phone mounted on a selfie stick and capture your own shoes/wellies in action.This photograph was taken while I was out on a walk.

Yellow wellies


The photograph below was taken for the model for her modelling portfolio on the theme 'Punk Rock' in 2010 using my Nikon D200. I sat on the floor as I wanted to emphasise her big boots.

Big Boots


There are lots of photographic possibilities when you try different angles and techniques. The shot below is a collage of different shoes photographed, showing the details in each one of the shoes.

Details of shoes


Finally, the last image is of Doc Martens boots photographed using light painting techniques. This image was taken using a battery-operated candle on a mobile phone. Please see this link for a detailed 'Light painting with mobile phone'.

Light Painting shoes


This was another interesting project to photograph, I have used styles and techniques like selective focus, light painting techniques, close-up, different angles views, different surroundings. I hope you too will have fun photographing shoes.

Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
www.ghatahora.co.uk
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Friday 17 July 2020

Colour

This week's project is on a Colour', I chose to photograph the colour pink. For this project you can choose any colour to set a theme for this project. Below are a selection of images that I photographed showing different styles in photography. I have varied the style from smoke photograph, panning close-up etc.

This was photographed using the panning techniques.
Fixed subject panning

Photograph of smoke, using pink gel fixed on the flash, set from the left hand side from the camera.
Smoke with pink gels


Close-up of a flower photographed at the local garden centre, using available light
Flower patterns

I chose to add a pink background to photograph the flower bud in the garden.
Pink background

The photograph of Loch Lomond early in the morning showing the colour pink in sky
Dawn - Loch Lomond, Scotland


Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
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Monday 13 July 2020

Tips for better landscape photography

I love landscape photography, especially when it is not sunny and bright outside, I believe weather conditions that we have here give us an endless opportunity to capture the beauty of the countryside/landscapes we have. Here are a few tips to improve your landscape photography.

Tip 1:
Photograph sunsets:
* metre for reflective foreground, such as the water; this will record the sunset and the foreground correctly
* use the ND (Neutral Density) filter

Reflections on the canal

Mountain reflection in the lake - Lake District

Tip 2:
Choose the right time of day:
* understand and see your light
* find a suitable viewpoint
* wait for right lighting conditions, light can make a huge difference in your final shot
* photograph in golden light
* photograph landscapes early morning

Photograph taken in Wales in the evening

Early morning, Loch Lamond, Scotland 

Golden light on bridge - Reading
Tip 3:
Weather conditions:
* capture atmospheric shots - take photographs in bad weather, capture rainy day shots, fog
* capture raindrops on tree branches, spider webs etc
* take a spot reading from a mid-tone from your scene

Early morning mist
Dew drop on the branch

Rain on grass reed

Snowy day, view from start of the Iron Bridge - Telford
 Tip 4:
Photograph seascape in all weather conditions:
* capture sky and reflections
* shoot dark stormy skies to create mood and atmosphere

Sunset behind the mountains

After the sunset over the beach - Lake District

Before the rain - Leicester
Tip 5:
Show scale in your photographs
* include in your photograph a human, tree, house to show scale
* use a long focal lens
* use a tripod for long exposures and in low light conditions

The tall tree - France

Walk in the park - Wakehurst Place

The red taxi - Bangkok 
Tip 6:
Exclude the sky:
* create dramatic, colourful images by excluding the sky
* concentrate on colour
* photograph reflections in the water, be creative
* photograph during the summer's hazy light to add character to your images
* exclude sky on dull days, shoot detail, patterns in the fields

Stormy day - Lands End, Cornwall

Carpet of Tulips - Keukenhof , Amsterdam 

Bubbles - Eden Project, Cornwall
Tip 7:
Photograph winter landscapes
* sun in the winter has a warm hue, giving it the 'golden light', which adds mood to the photograph
* photograph trees covered with snow, frost or rain drops
* shoot looking up at the trees
* shoot in wide angle and zoom in


Snow - Near Bishopswood Golf Course, Baughurst

Tall trees - Pamber Forest

Snow in the trees - Tadley
Tip 8:
Leading lines:
* include paths, lines leading into the image, it creates perspective and adds sense of distance & depth
* use a wide angle lens

Micheldever Woods, Basingstoke
Dinas Head - Cornwall
Tip 9:
Include foreground interest:
* use wide angle lens
* include foreground interest to create a sense of distance
* shoot from low angle to emphasize the sky
* photo white clouds and dramatic stormy clouds

Seaside - Northumberland 


Textures - Northumberland
Tip 10:
Use slow or fast shutter speed:
* capture movement in water or to freeze the waves
* on bright sunny days use filters to have a slow shutter speed
* cloudy/shade is perfect lighting conditions to photograph movement in water


Waves - Cornwall

Bradgate Park - Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire

Bhupinder Ghatahora ABIPP, ARPS, ASWPP
Ghatahora Photography
info@ghatahora.co.uk
www.ghatahora.co.uk
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