What Makes You Better Than The Rest

    

      So now you're a photographer, you have the camera, lenses, filters, packs, sacks, containers, programs, a fancy computer, and even a top of the line "professional" printer. ALL your friends say what great work you do, now what? What's your goal? whats your niche? What makes you better than the millions of average-joes with pockets deep enough to afford professional equipment that makes your gear look like cheap plastic toys?

ASSETS
This might sound common knowledge but the first thing you should do is identify your assets. What are you good at. What are you not good at. Choose a subject to practice with, are you a people person? Maybe shooting models or portraits is your talent. Have a love for animals? Cant stay away from the zoo? Perhaps wildlife photography is your gift. Sports, product photography, newspaper event photography. Explore. Learn. Educate. Find what fits you and your lifestyle best and stick with it. You cant do it all, so give one your all.   

WORK WHEN ITS NOT WORK
To stay above the rest work to your best. Always have your camera, always be looking for that "one" shot. “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take.”  - Wayne Gretzky. Always be "working" and hunting for anything that will let you shine past the rest of the crowd. Birthdays, Family reunions, no matter what you should at be least known as "that photography guy with the camera".

ALWAYS RELY ON YOUR BASICS
One great picture is better than one hundred okay pictures. Go for quality not quantity. Apply what you have learned and the rest is easy. "Click"

STATE OF MIND
You are the best no matter what; be an arrogant gentleman or misses. Don't be rude, vulgar, or inappropriate. Be confidant. Over believe in yourself. People can see how you really feel about you and your work. Help convince them that your pictures are the best and that you can easily capture more moments in life. Be a compelling and desirable photographer.

RELAX
Don't stress. Your best work will come when you least expect it. The last photo of a long day, or an accidental shutter release. Even just goofing around and having fun can yield the best work of your career. Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress. HAVE FUN.

Adobe Lightroom 4

 

     Adobe released Lightroom 4 this year and as I scoured the Internet to find the best image editing software to accompany my new DSLR this program kept popping up. Granted, LR4 doesn't compare to the capabilities of Photoshop, which I was considering as well, but for my experience level and my cost limitations $700 for Photoshop was out of my price range. The price of $150 for Lightroom and the great reviews was the determining factor in my purchase.

Being that I have NEVER used a dedicated program for editing my photos I was amazed with what I could accomplish with this program. Underexposed images could be recovered, colors manipulated, sharpness, clarity, luminosity, effects....the list is endless.

Main tabs in LR4:

Library: After importing and custom renaming your photos you have the ability to scroll/tab through your images and mark them with identifying colors, flags, and compare two images next to each other, there are also two side modules that allow you to "Quick Develop" and add "Keywords" to your images, and view and edit your "MetaData".

Develop: This tab is where 99% of image editing will take place. The adjustment modules found on the right side of the screen and each have their own setting adjusters.

• Basic: Temp., Tint, Tone, Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Blacks, Whites, Presence, Clarity, Vibrance, Saturation
• Tone Curve: Highlights, Lights, Darks, Shadows, Point Curve
• HSL/Color/B&W: Hue, Saturation, Luminance, Color and B&W adjustment
• Split Toning: Highlights, Shadows
• Detail: Sharpening controls, Noise Reduction Controls
• Lens Correction: Used to reduce or remove known defects with lenses (Vignetting...)
• Effects: Choose a preset effect and adjust it
• Camera Calibration: Calibrate color details for your specific camera

 

Map: The Map tab allows you to use Geo tagging to tag where your pictures were taken from anywhere in the world.

Book: One great aspect of LR4 is the ability to make custom books using your pictures. Do everything in Lightroom and just click and send it to be printed and shipped to you.

Slideshow: Tired of using "Powerpoint"? Now Just use LR4 and everything is in one spot. All your pictures, adjustments and controls are in the same window to control your custom slideshow.

Web: Publish your images to a variety of online hosts and websites. All of which is customizable.

amazon.com

National Get Outdoors Day-Everglades

In honor of National Get Outdoors Day it was only fitting to head-out into the everglades(which I happen to live right next to) and do some wildlife watching. My pictures came out quite well and It was the first time I have had the D7000 in that environment.

Other than being EXTREMELY HOT the day went well. The picture of the alligator sitting out was the only issue I had. He was blocking the walkway and I was forced to walk ten feet in front of him to get past. He was very intimidating I wasn't sure if he was going to attack or behave.  

National Religious Freedom Rally

Finally posted my first video today on YouTube. There was a rally today about Religious Freedom at U.S. 41 and Pine Ridge Road today. While there I decided to try out my D7000's video capabilities:

Now don't be too harsh. I didn't plan on capturing video or even making a video; pictures didn't seem to capture the environment as well as they should have (I still need my 14-24mm Lens). I also don't have a decent video editing software. The above video was made with Windows Live Movie Maker.

See More Info About the Rally HERE at Naples Daily News.

If anyone knows a high quality editing program PLEASE comment and leave information or ideas.

Enjoy! 

Ave Maria University

Flickr

Ave Maria is a Catholic community located far out from Naples, Fl on your way to Miami, Fl. I have always heard how beautiful and amazing it is, so why not find out for myself? Forty five minutes later I arrive and the rumors where right. The small "town" is built and setup beautifully. The town is built around the main church as its center point (which is HUGE-hundreds of feet tall!!). On the downside the weather has still been overcast and all of the sky in my pictures is pure grey. I plan on coming back to Ave Maria to get great color shots.

Want to find out more about Ave Maria? Click on the links below:

Ave Maria Living

Ave Maria University  

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Naples Pier

I finally forced myself off the couch and went to take some pictures. Near sunset and with no other alternative I headed towards the Naples Pier. I had been dreading the upcoming moment for what seemed a lifetime. Personally, the pier is a tourist attraction. The unspoken rule is: If you come to Naples you have to visit the pier. The heart and soul of the city seems to live at the end of the wood planked walkway leading into the ocean. Leaving my feelings for the pier at home I arrived...in the overcast dismall rain. O what great pictures! I shot a few good pictures. The black and White was needed as there was no color in the sky (thanks rain). I do plan on returning to the pier and hopefully catching a great sunset!

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Naples Botanical Garden_120528_076

Naples Botanical Garden_120528_076, a photo by David Hughes Photo on Flickr.

This Photo is from the Naples Botanical Gardens, Memorial Day. It was the first time I had been there and I enjoyed myself. If you go, be sure to go in the morning as the heat kicks-in fast and early and there is not much shade. Unless you REALLY enjoy plants or photography there isnt much to see...except plants.

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I was able to get this shot at a car dealership of all places. It was called "HugeFest 2012" sponsored by a car dealership in Cape Coral, Florida. STYX was the main band and I was able to get this shot with my Nikon 80-200mm lens from amongst the 20,000+ people that attended. That is ALOT of people; but its understandable when cars and $300,000 are being given away for free. This was the most challenging shot I have taken yet. The Styx guitarist shown is Tommy Shaw.

All new photos updated and "Internet Safe" on FLICKR. Thanks to Lightroom 4 I was able to put my watermark across each picture and resisze them. I no longer have to worry about my pictures being stolen!