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Belhaven Bay Dunbar
Belhaven Bay in HDR by professional fine art, corporate and landscape photographer Colin Wright
Preparing for the Unexpected for Professional Photographers in Scotland
Hi All
Today I am going to briefly talk about the need for all professional photographers to act on impulse and break the rules sometimes. As a professional corporate and event photographer working in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland, I am constantly looking for better ways to photograph my subjects and often these new ways can not be found through boooks or training, you have have to act on impulse and try new things. I started taking photos from ground level when I first supplied urban photography images for my design agency clients in Edinburgh. Thety had a specific remit which I supplied but I added on my own slant to the commissioned photos and guess what, they loved it. Last weekend I went a walk with my family to Traprain Law in East Lothian and wondered whether to take my infrared camera, it was dull and misty, with no real sunlight, not ideal conditions for infrared photographers. However, I thought why not, I have never photographed mist in infrared. So I gave it a try and although I would have preferred some sunlight, the results gave me some fairly mystical erie effects in infrared, that I would not have obtained using a conventional landscape photography camera. There would have been some infrared light creeping through the mist and although I struggled for light, tha camera coped well and I was happy with the results. So the moral of the story is, try new things, break the rule of two thirds, photograph event commissions in infrared, try black and white when colour is the norm, do some HDR etc. I am not saying dont do as the client has asked, just the opposite, supply them with what they want and also more, bringing your own personal bespoke style to the forefront.
Hope this helps.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Infrared Photography Traprain Law East Lothian
Infrared photography ScotlandInfrared photography East Lothian, Scotland by professional fine art and corporate and event photographer Colin Wright, Edinburgh, Scotland
Infrared photography East Lothian, Scotland bFine art infrared photography by infrared, corporate and event photographer Colin Wright, Edinburgh, Scotland
Landscape photography and the importance of exploring your local area
H i Everyone
With the pandemic still upon us and lots of mini lockdowns around preventing professional photographers from obtaining commissions, I think this would be a good time to look at the importance of exploring your local area and making the best of the surroundings outside your own doorstep. As a professional corporate and event photographer living in East Lothian, who normally photographs conferences and events in Edinburgh or throughout Scotland, the importance of keeping busy can never be underestimated. Whilst we are all human and there are times when this Covid situation will get us down, you can help stay sane by taking photographs and concentrating on other projects, of course that is easier when you live in a place like Dunbar, with a wonderful coastline. However, the need to keep going is still there. I have been concentrating on a number of individual infrared photography projects, including the following: Harbours, Seabirds and Seascapes, in addition to utilising the autumn leaves from an infrared perspective. Not to forget landscape photography of my local area at Belhaven Bay and some portraits of my family, when the kids let me that is. It is also a good time to plan out what approach you want to take once this is all over. Or find alternative markets, I have certainly done more PR photography work recently, to replace the conference photography void. I have also applied for a digital development grant to update my IT equipment and also for an additional lens. This has also been a time to learn software skills and get to know my equipment in general and possibly upping the game with regard to social media posts.
So dust yourself up and get going. You will benefit from this course of action after all this is over.
Until next time.
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Different Styles of Infrared Photography
Hi Everyone
As you all know I am a specialist infrared photographer, often found out and about East Lothian and throughout Scotland, what I wanted to talk about today was the various uses for infrared converted cameras. Whilst I like to photograph black and white infrared with sparkling white trees and extreme contrasty photographs with vibrant colours like the next guy, I also like to use the camera in a conventional way. Although we require bright sun for most infrared photos, you can still use them on an overcast weather day, especially if the sun is peeking through, the main thing is to have some kind of contrast in the sky. As infrared cameras have extensive dynamic range, they can be used to portray fine art black and white images, depicting strong detail and contrast after editing. I have sold a number of landscape photos to clients who were unaware that they are infrared, they just liked the dramatic nature of the photograph. Long exposure on an infrared camera also results in more drama and detail in the sky or water, if this is part of the scene. When it comes to colour, infrared converted cameras can enable you to switch colours and tone in a more natural way to conventional editing. You can also bring out the blue sky and easily decrease or increase saturation according to the colour effect you are going for. I would say that in about 50% of the photos I post on social media, the viewer is unaware they are infrared. I can like everyone else, revert to taking a dramatic black and white infrared shot or even a colour image with red trees for instance, when it is obvious that the photo is infrared. however as a professional corporate and event photographer working in Scotland, often I want to inject some realism into my photography for my clients.
Hope this helps.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin Wright
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com