Interesting photography subjects during this pandemic

This pandemic has shown us a different side of people, cities, and society in general. As we all gather ourselves in search of the new normal, photographer Vijaya Prakash Boggala believes that photography can give us a clear picture of our current situation and possibly what comes next. If you want to flex your photography skills today, here are some interesting subjects you can take on during this pandemic, provided you follow all necessary safety protocols such as wearing a face mask and follow social distancing rules.

Image source: weforum.org

Image source: theatlantic.com

Cityscapes
Streets are empty, there are hardly people around, and it looks like the setting of an eerie movie. Photographers can highlight the beauty of empty spaces, cityscapes that are devoid of humans as subjects. It’s also an opportunity to take photos of nearby sights that are often filled with people before the pandemic hit.

The new normal
Through photographs, we can define what the new normal is; people walking a safe distance from one another, people working from home, designated standing spots in supermarkets. Your photos can show how society is adjusting to the impact of COVID-19.

Food photography
A lot of people have taken to the kitchen to learn how to cook or bake. You can do the same and learn how to plate well as well as photograph your works. This small challenge can really help you improve your lighting skills, as well as photo editing skills if you like manipulating your shots in a computer.

Nature photography
Given that people have been avoiding nature-rich locations like national parks, Vijaya Prakash Boggala believes that nature photography would reflect something new. Here, we can see nature reclaim, heal, or even revert back to its original form.

Vijaya Prakash Boggala writes medical abstracts and has contributed to the 2011 article “A mortal case of moonshine.” In his spare time, he watch live sports and works on painting, photography, and DIY projects. Visit this website for more reads on Vijaya’s interests.

Five photography projects to take on during quarantine

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the world to slow down, there’s really nothing left for one to do but to stay home to prevent the virus from spreading. Businesses came to a halt, and events, regardless of the number of attendees, were postponed or canceled, giving photographers free time to improve on their skills and reinvent themselves.

Image source: iphonephotographyschool.com/

For some people, self-isolation is reintroducing them to their love for music, film, literature, and other art forms. The same should go for photographers. Days spent on quarantine don’t have to be boring. It’s the perfect time to brush up on food photography skills. Grab the simplest ingredients in the cupboard and practice composition and lighting, says DIY and photography enthusiast Vijaya Prakash Boggala.

Take on the A-Z photography challenge. Shoot a subject that corresponds to every letter of the English alphabet. The most challenging subjects will be the ones that start with letters X and Z. During quarantine, dedicate a day to learn to shoot oil and water. A photographer can focus on learning macro photography skills with this project. To play around with lighting, shoot by candlelight. Remember to include the candle in the frame to let the viewers understand the composition, says Vijaya Prakash Boggala.

Image source: boredpanda.com

Paint with light. Since this is a long exposure shoot, don’t forget to use a tripod for the whole duration. Draw around the subject, and create string lights as background. Staying at home for an extended period should fuel one’s creativity, not block it.

Vijaya Prakash Boggala writes medical abstracts and has contributed to the 2011 article “A mortal case of moonshine.” He is currently developing his skills in photography. For more updates, follow this Twitter page.

Unexpected duo: Sports and photography

Sports and photography have a lot in common. For one, both require a person to participate in the activity, and second, there is mostly chasing involved: As an athlete chases a ball, a photographer tries to catch up with the action. A common type of thrill glues these two worlds and strengthened by the art it produces.

Image source: shootworkshops.com.au

Aside from the action, photographers do their best to capture emotions on court, on the field, or in the water. Many award-winning photos highlight the victory or loss of athletes. For Vijaya Prakash Boggala, a sports fan and a photographer, sports photography immerses one in the world of action, adrenaline, and emotion. With trained eyes and sharp gut feeling, sports photographers can capture important moments perfectly.

Image source: sikids.com

In many instances, sports photographers help build an athlete’s legacy. By freezing frame at the right moment, an athlete’s passion, grit, and victory are captured and immortalized. A photographer is like an athlete in many ways. They train for years to achieve success in their field. They put in the hard work on and off the court, and they invest in professional equipment, according to Vijaya Prakash Boggala.

While sports photography usually captures the action on the court, one must not forget that the best moments immortalized are those that highlight sportsmanship. Legendary sporting events achieved their status due to photographers’ great eye in capturing solemn minutes among players.
Vijaya Prakash Boggala loves to watch live sports and work on painting, photography, and DIY projects. For similar reads, head over to this blog.

Exposure tips for beginner photographers

Image source: newatlas.com

When learning photography, a lot of people seem to have a hard time handling exposure. Exposure can be very tricky to master because it deals with three important camera settings, which are aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Sticking to recommended settings or staying on auto won’t help you improve, according to avid photographer Vijaya Prakash Boggala. To help you tackle exposure, here are some easy to follow beginner photographer tips.

Unfortunately, there’s no other way than to tackle the three elements of exposure head on. So let’s start with Aperture. Aperture is the size of the lens opening used when you are taking a photo. This basically means the bigger your photo, like a landscape picture, the more light you will need.

Settings-wise, F22 is very small while F1.4 is very wide open. This also affects your depth of field.
Next, ISO is your camera sensor’s sensitivity to available light. The brighter the available light, the more you can lower your ISO. However, as available light gets less and less, increasing the ISO allows more light to come in. Do keep in mind that the higher ISO you use, the greater the noise or fuzz there will be in the picture.

Image source: practisingsimplicity.com

Lastly, there’s shutter speed. Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open. The length of time that the shutter is open determines how much motion it can capture. High shutter speeds allow you to capture fast movements while low shutter speeds take in more light, making the photo blurry.

According to Vijaya Prakash Boggala, the best way of thinking about exposure is pretending the camera lens is your eye. Aperture is your eyelids, ISO is how your eyes react to light, and Shutter speed is your focus on an object.

In his spare time, Vijaya Prakash Boggala hones his photography skills by practicing action photography, slow shutter speed photography, and landscape photography. For more reads on photography, visit this page.

Talk Like a True Shutterbug With These Common Photography Terms

Joining a group of photographers can easily make a newbie feel out of place. Aside from getting used to operating the camera, understanding the jargon can be a bit overwhelming. That said, newbies should keep on learning the tricks and the terms related to the art. Here are some common photography terms worth knowing:

Depth of field (DOF)

This refers to the distance in front and behind the subject in focus. On the one hand, when shooting landscapes, a larger DOF can bring the little details of a scenery in perspective. On the other hand, most choose a shallow DOF when it comes to shooting portraits so that the background won’t affect the subject. Setting the aperture is key to getting the right level.

Image source: Widewalls.ch

Exposure

Photographers throw this word around casually, but they could be referring to different things. Basically, exposure pertains to the amount of light involved in processing the image. However, it could also mean aperture, ISO, and even shutter speed—the so-called “exposure triangle.”

Noise

What does it mean when a photo is “noisy”? It means that the picture quality is a bit grainy or with unnecessary contrast. This could also cause little flecks in the image. While this could go unnoticed, photographers will easily spot this. Noise usually happens with images that are taken with high ISO.

Image source: Indosurflife.com

When an unfamiliar term is being thrown around in photography circles, beginners should not hesitate to ask. It’s always good to ask for help and even for a tutorial. Skilled photographers are generous with their techniques, and it would be a privilege to learn from these talented people.

Vijaya Prakash Boggala works as a medical abstractor. He spends his free time expressing himself through art and photography. For more art-related updates, follow this Twitter page.

Capturing The Rising And Setting Sun: A Guide For Photographers

The rising and setting sun always makes for a good image. Witnessing these natural occurrences in person make for a memorable moment. However, translating the wonder onto a photo can be quite challenging. How can photographers effectively capture sunrise and sunsets?

Image source: Dailymail.co.uk

1. Plan.

The best sunrise and sunset photos are planned. When a photographer is ready for the moment, he will have lots of elements to work with such as the landscape and even the weather. When the moment finally comes, a photographer can enjoy the moment and capture the sun in its glorious form.

2. Underexpose.

Photographers must learn to underexpose to bring out the different colors in a sunrise or a sunset. This little step will contribute to a richer, more dramatic effect that will make for a rich image.

3. Incorporate a point of interest.

Silhouettes of other objects such as mountains, trees, and even people can make the image of the sunrise or sunset stand out more. When there’s another point of interest in the photo, the blending colors of the changing sun will be more in focus. Using other objects and their silhouettes will also add more character to the scene.

4. Take photos from different angles and focal points.

A photographer might be looking at one direction when better moments are going on behind them.They should consider their surroundings when capturing sunrise and sunset. There could be other images that will stand out aside from the intended landscape.

Image source: Timeanddate.com

Capturing the sun when it rises and sets is a good exercise in getting creative with photos.The activity yields different results every time and provides new experiences for a photographer.

Vijaya Prakash Boggala is a photography hobbyist who is most interested in landscape and speed photography. He is also passionate about DIY and art projects. Visit this Facebook page for updates.