Happy Hallowe'en!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Copyright FYI
It seems like a large slice of people either don't know about copyright in terms of photography, or they simply just don't care. Perhaps in some cases it's a bit of both.
But in case you fall into the category of "don't know", here are a few things you need to know:
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But in case you fall into the category of "don't know", here are a few things you need to know:
- Copyright is the exclusive right given to a photographer for an original piece of work.
- When a photographer takes a photo, copyright is automatic. Photographers don't have to register for copyright but it does help when trying to prove the images are indeed theirs.
- The photographer has the legal right to decided how their images are distributed, reproduced and copied.
- In the UK, photographs are protected abroad by the fact that the UK are a member of several international conventions.
- If you use a photographer's work without their permission first, they could seek legal advice. Criminal charges won't be brought against you as copyright infringement is not a criminal offence but is a civil offence.
- It seems odd, but even storing photographs on your computer amounts to copyright infringement. Even if you're just going to use it as your wallpaper on the desktop, it is still infringing copyright.
- Copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the photographer.
- Only the photographer, or those who own the copyright to the image or images, can edit or manipulate them.
- If you edit or manipulate a photograph and say it is your work, you've still infringed copyright law.
- You must get permission from the legal copyright owner of the photograph before making any changes to it.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Food Glorious Food
There are only two things in this world that I'm half decent at: Photography and cooking.
While every week I have a camera in my hand for hours on end, I don't very often have a whisk or other such cooking implement in my hand. Cooking, or baking, is something that only happens every now and then.
This week after a conversation about food, I ended up making two different types of cookies that actually turned out to be more cake like biscuits. They were cranberry and white chocolate and apple and oatmeal. They seemed to go down very well at the rink on Sunday when I took them in, so the fact that they went a bit wrong doesn't really matter. I went out with nearly 30 and back with just 3.
I do like a bit of cooking. I enjoy making things that are not of this country. So when I do cook, I make things like Moroccan fish and chips, Swedish potato gratin, Aardsppeltaart (Belgian potato tart) or Italian pea and herb risotto. I once made Oravska pochutka, which is a Slovakian style sausage and potato casserole which mainly seemed to be made up of sauerkraut.
Obviously, I like making sweet things too. Cheesecake is what I really to make, not the type that you leave to set in the fridge, but the baked kind. The last one I made was New York style, I'm not sure what made it American. Another American dessert I've made in the past has been Grasshopper Pie, called so because of the green food colour added to it.
I've made various other things too like Boterkoek (Dutch butter cake), Appelkoek (Dutch apple cake) and Koggetjes (Amsterdam caramel cookies).
I tend not to make cakes, not even for birthdays. Instead I make other sweet treats. This year I made a Scandinavian tea ring for my mum, and a Tarte aux pommes a la Normande (Normandy apple tart) for my dad.
What I really love to make is bread. I could make a new loaf of bread every week! So far I've made:
No doubt when I make any more sweet things or breads I'll break my camera out and have another go at food photography.
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While every week I have a camera in my hand for hours on end, I don't very often have a whisk or other such cooking implement in my hand. Cooking, or baking, is something that only happens every now and then.
This week after a conversation about food, I ended up making two different types of cookies that actually turned out to be more cake like biscuits. They were cranberry and white chocolate and apple and oatmeal. They seemed to go down very well at the rink on Sunday when I took them in, so the fact that they went a bit wrong doesn't really matter. I went out with nearly 30 and back with just 3.
I do like a bit of cooking. I enjoy making things that are not of this country. So when I do cook, I make things like Moroccan fish and chips, Swedish potato gratin, Aardsppeltaart (Belgian potato tart) or Italian pea and herb risotto. I once made Oravska pochutka, which is a Slovakian style sausage and potato casserole which mainly seemed to be made up of sauerkraut.
Obviously, I like making sweet things too. Cheesecake is what I really to make, not the type that you leave to set in the fridge, but the baked kind. The last one I made was New York style, I'm not sure what made it American. Another American dessert I've made in the past has been Grasshopper Pie, called so because of the green food colour added to it.
I've made various other things too like Boterkoek (Dutch butter cake), Appelkoek (Dutch apple cake) and Koggetjes (Amsterdam caramel cookies).
I tend not to make cakes, not even for birthdays. Instead I make other sweet treats. This year I made a Scandinavian tea ring for my mum, and a Tarte aux pommes a la Normande (Normandy apple tart) for my dad.
What I really love to make is bread. I could make a new loaf of bread every week! So far I've made:
- Rugbrød, Scandinavian rye bread
- Jarlsberg vri brød, Jarlsberg twist bread. Jarlsberg is a Norwegian cheese.
- Pan rustico, rustic Spanish bread. When making this you have to leave the yeast to ferment for 24 hours.
- Kartoffelbrot, German potato bread
No doubt when I make any more sweet things or breads I'll break my camera out and have another go at food photography.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Photo Fright
Before I do a photo shoot of any kind, especially an important one, I get "photo fright". I guess you could call it the photography equivalent of stage fright. Today was no exception to this.
I was photographing something rather important and that lots of people will see. I started to get nervous and worked up over it last night. I didn't have the back up of one of the other photographers. It would be just me. On my own. Photographing something important. Oh dear.
I started to feel all nervous and a bit sick. I fear that something will go wrong and I won't be able to rectify it there and then, and quickly, or I'll take the photo and it'll be awful! It'll be out of focus and soft, or just wrong. Basically, I'll be made out to be a bit of a fraud!
Today while I was waiting for the boys to get ready, I sat and worked out my settings. I sat with the lens open so that the 'live' image was on my LCD screen. I took a few test shots. They weren't of anything in particular, just whatever my camera was in front of. I knew that the settings would differ a little out on the ice, but if I could get it there or thereabouts then I'd be good to go.
I tried a few different combinations before settling on the ISO, F stop and exposure I thought would be right. Problem was, the shutter was a bit slow, but not to worry, I'd brought and mounted my camera on a tripod and brought along my USB remote. Although the guys would have to stand near stock still when were taking the photos (they did).
Turns out, I'm pretty pleased with the final images I captured. If anything I'm a little proud of myself for taking them. I just hope everyone else likes them too!
I was photographing something rather important and that lots of people will see. I started to get nervous and worked up over it last night. I didn't have the back up of one of the other photographers. It would be just me. On my own. Photographing something important. Oh dear.
I started to feel all nervous and a bit sick. I fear that something will go wrong and I won't be able to rectify it there and then, and quickly, or I'll take the photo and it'll be awful! It'll be out of focus and soft, or just wrong. Basically, I'll be made out to be a bit of a fraud!
Today while I was waiting for the boys to get ready, I sat and worked out my settings. I sat with the lens open so that the 'live' image was on my LCD screen. I took a few test shots. They weren't of anything in particular, just whatever my camera was in front of. I knew that the settings would differ a little out on the ice, but if I could get it there or thereabouts then I'd be good to go.
I tried a few different combinations before settling on the ISO, F stop and exposure I thought would be right. Problem was, the shutter was a bit slow, but not to worry, I'd brought and mounted my camera on a tripod and brought along my USB remote. Although the guys would have to stand near stock still when were taking the photos (they did).
Turns out, I'm pretty pleased with the final images I captured. If anything I'm a little proud of myself for taking them. I just hope everyone else likes them too!
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
How To Photograph A Foreign Player
I've photographed many hockey players in the last four years, and a good slice of them have been foreign. So I've had to come up with ways of getting around the fact that my first language, might be their second or third. There could also be the possibility that they might not speak your language at all, or if they do, they only speak the basics.
The main thing to remember is that they may not be natural linguists, they're not stupid, not by any means. They just don't grasp a language as well as one of their team mates do. It isn't a big deal. It's just a language barrier, that's all, so no shouting at them. It really annoys me when I see or hear people yelling loudly and slowly at players....or foreigners in general. Stop it.
These are the main rules I stick to, and if I'm honest, it's plain common sense:
1) Always have a small sketch or drawing on hand.
This is even helpful with players who speak perfectly fluently. Sometimes I find it hard to articulate what I want, the image I see in my mind, so a sketch get my point across perfectly.
2) If you're doing something a bit repetitive like head shots, showing them the previous image will get across what you want.
3) This is a habit I picked up at the last team I was with. When I was taking photos for the MVP at the end of the game, I found it easier to give the player a thumbs up when I'd finished taking the picture. This didn't just help with the guys who couldn't speak the lingo, but with the guys who could too. It's an easy way of saying "all done, you can go".
4) Don't give them too many instructions or directions. The more directions you give, the more likely they are going to misunderstand what you want them to do. You need to make sure you don't use any jargon or complex words or language either. Above all, the best way to give instructions or directions is to give an example of what you want them to do.
This next one isn't on my list, but if you can, you should try to build a rapport with the players. Sometimes this can be difficult as you may only get to photograph games or official events. But a rapport can sometimes do wonders. Players can be more forthcoming during shoots, suggesting ideas of their own. They might also be more receptive to different photographic ideas too. Most of all, remember their names. It sounds completely obvious but it helps create a good rapport.
All of these rules or guidelines are probably blinding obvious, and are plain common sense. However, when you first start out photographing people one-on-one, even those who's native language is your own, you can find yourself spending ages explaining what you want, and sometimes going over it again and again. By bearing all of this in mind it will give you confidence and your photo shoots are more likely to run smoothly.
On Twitter? Me too: @RaiPekkanen
On Facebook? Me too: facebook.com/raipekkanen
The main thing to remember is that they may not be natural linguists, they're not stupid, not by any means. They just don't grasp a language as well as one of their team mates do. It isn't a big deal. It's just a language barrier, that's all, so no shouting at them. It really annoys me when I see or hear people yelling loudly and slowly at players....or foreigners in general. Stop it.
These are the main rules I stick to, and if I'm honest, it's plain common sense:
1) Always have a small sketch or drawing on hand.
This is even helpful with players who speak perfectly fluently. Sometimes I find it hard to articulate what I want, the image I see in my mind, so a sketch get my point across perfectly.
2) If you're doing something a bit repetitive like head shots, showing them the previous image will get across what you want.
3) This is a habit I picked up at the last team I was with. When I was taking photos for the MVP at the end of the game, I found it easier to give the player a thumbs up when I'd finished taking the picture. This didn't just help with the guys who couldn't speak the lingo, but with the guys who could too. It's an easy way of saying "all done, you can go".
4) Don't give them too many instructions or directions. The more directions you give, the more likely they are going to misunderstand what you want them to do. You need to make sure you don't use any jargon or complex words or language either. Above all, the best way to give instructions or directions is to give an example of what you want them to do.
This next one isn't on my list, but if you can, you should try to build a rapport with the players. Sometimes this can be difficult as you may only get to photograph games or official events. But a rapport can sometimes do wonders. Players can be more forthcoming during shoots, suggesting ideas of their own. They might also be more receptive to different photographic ideas too. Most of all, remember their names. It sounds completely obvious but it helps create a good rapport.
All of these rules or guidelines are probably blinding obvious, and are plain common sense. However, when you first start out photographing people one-on-one, even those who's native language is your own, you can find yourself spending ages explaining what you want, and sometimes going over it again and again. By bearing all of this in mind it will give you confidence and your photo shoots are more likely to run smoothly.
On Twitter? Me too: @RaiPekkanen
On Facebook? Me too: facebook.com/raipekkanen
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