My week in photos, Dec. 13-20

One of the kids made a Christmas tree out of an ice cream cone, icing and candy at church. Not sure why we kept the thing in the fridge for a week!


This shot is of an anti-bullying program at a school. The game of tug-of-war capped a two-day workshop.


My wife ran over something with her car that ended up denting the front left rim. Spare me!


A good bottle of root beer cures most ills.


J and Z swing in the back yard. We did this again today, but it was so warm they were wearing shorts.


Batman enjoys a muffin.

"Me love Christmas cookies!"

My week in photos, Dec. 6-10

Mavs Man and other representatives from the Dallas Mavericks visited an elementary school.


A preview concert for middle school students on a holiday concert.


An SMU basketball clinic for coaches of middle school teams. Love her expression!


A high school musical adapted loosely from "The Wizard of Oz." The wicked witch is recast as Lady GaGa.

My youngest son turned 4 on Saturday. He has some of the best expressions!

My Week In Photos, Nov. 29-Dec. 3

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd signs autographs at a middle school in Dallas.

I visited some restrooms to show how badly some need to be repaired.

Progress is being made on several new schools.

As part of a freelance assignment to cover a city's holiday event, there was a snow hill (this is at least the third year) for Texas-style sledding.

***

I realized that this photography blog has been too light on photos lately. Well, too light on new posts, too! So in an effort to spice things up a little, get the creative juices flowing and show more of my work, I will attempt to round up a few samples from each week. I'll post them here, with a few words to describe each one. Enjoy!

10 Ways to Spot an Amateur Photographer Posing as a Professional

With the holidays on the horizon, many families might be looking to hire a professional photographer to capture images of them for a greeting card, or to use as gifts. That's an excellent idea! But beware of hiring just anyone. If you're going to spend the money, make sure you are most likely to walk away a satisfied customer.

1. They don't charge sales tax. Texas State Law requires any business that produces a physical product – photography included, even if fees are charged only for services, collect local sales tax. It's free and easy to register online on the State Comptroller's Web site.

2. That physical product comes in the form of a CD with all the images on it. Those images are usually unedited, and may include all the images taken during a session. Even the most seasoned pro takes some photographs that just don't work, and those should never see the light of day – much less be burned to a disc and handed to a client. Moreover, images on CD is a lazy way to deliver them and lacks a crucial component of the service industry – providing customer service. Much better is the ability to buy prints, special products or even framed art that needs nothing more than a hammer, nail and location to hang it. In the case of greeting cards, a well-connected pro will offer card-printing services as well (with included envelopes!).

3. They use the selective color method A LOT. There are a few times having a predominantly black-and-white photo feature a splash of color is neat. However, 99 percent of the time the effect takes the focus off the main subject of the image. That defeats the purpose of taking the photo in the first place. Just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

4. Their portfolio includes at least one person posing on railroad tracks. With a few exceptions involving static train displays, railroad tracks are off limits, and most certainly are private property. Venturing onto active tracks is not only dangerous, but against the law. Plus, such shots border on cliche. If you must (and I have), find an unused portion that is little-used and permitted for such use, or seek permission from the owner of the tracks.

5. They advertise on Craigslist. While there are legitimate professional photographers who do this, most don't. Experienced portrait artists often avoid being lumped in with the "others." If you are shopping based on price, avoid Craigslist altogether and go for a high-volume studio. Your images will look just like everybody else's, but at least you will get them.

6. Their prices are extremely low compared to the standard market fee for similar services. This is often because they haven't figured out what it costs them to sell photos, and so they won't be in business for long. They also figure undercutting the other photographers out there will bring them lots of business. It might, but burnout is a good possibility. Certainly, the quality and reliability of their work comes into serious question. You get what you pay for, sometimes you don't get what you pay for in those situations. Many professionals always work with a contract that spells out costs and services provided, even among friends.

7. Their photos are too dark, too bright, fuzzy or have people and important objects chopped out of the frame. Sadly, many consumers can't tell the difference between excellent, decent, OK and horrible photos. That's usually because photographs, even bad ones, have an emotional pull when people or pets we love are featured. But if you're going to pay for photography, judge a photographer's portfolio objectively. Are the photos pleasing? Not just cute … are they technically stellar or any better than you can take yourself? If the answer is no, don't hire that person! An even worse indictment is a portfolio full of boring shots.

8. Photography, like many other things (think "golf") and "fishing", depends on having equipment to do the job. The photographer (or golfer/fisherman) has the most control of whether his or her work is done well. A photographer cannot be judged on equipment alone – certainly anyone can buy the best and pretend. But serious photographers, ones who have done their homework and built up experience, will – when profits allow – invest in themselves and their business with better equipment. Philosophical discussions aside, the camera DOES matter, if only in showing commitment. Quality lenses make more of a difference in the final product than the camera. Quality equipment overall allows a skilled photographer to get consistent results during every shoot, no matter the situation. Also, a professional photographer should always have at least two cameras, two lenses and backup lighting if it is being used.

9. Lack of confidence. If anyone shows a lack of confidence in his or her abilities, they should practice and become adept before hanging out a shingle. Do or do not, there is no try! It is unfair for paying clients to fund the learning process. Sure, there are challenges … a professional will be confident in meeting them. There are talented beginners out there, but when spending your money, trust someone with solid and varied experience.

10. You can't always tell. It's not about memberships to national photography associations, and it's not about having the biggest camera (see No. 8). Work speaks for itself. Sadly, there are photographers who have been caught using others' work on their Web sites. Demeanor should tell a lot, but there are actors out there who will put on a happy front just to get your money. Buyer beware, and take a hard look into a photographer's abilities before forking over your hard-earned cash.

There's more ways to spot someone not ready to produce good work but quite ready to take your money. More important, however, are the ways to spot a professional. Most are willing to give you references, show you work and talk openly about their philosophies and experience.

Downtown Dallas in the Clouds

Took this photo rather blindly while driving to work this morning (I was focused primarily on the road).

NASCAR Cup Race @ Texas Motor Speedway

Todd's Top Ten Photo Tips

Implement any one of Todd's Top Ten Photo Tips and with practice you're photos can't help but get better. See below for a description of the image above.*

1. Get closer to your subject.

Why: Most point-and-shoot cameras and lenses geared toward beginners are wide (they include a lot of the scene in your images), so that your main subjects will often get lost in the background unless you get closer. Many small cameras also have automatic flash that will hit your subjects directly; for it to work you can't be across the room. And for getting closer, don't just zoom in with the lens: use your feet!

2. Don't get too close to your subject.

Why: The same wide-angle lens will distort objects and faces, making them look unnatural and unflattering. Any flash you use will also blow out (make too bright) objects too close to you.

3. Pay attention to the background.

Why: If you are photographing a person, for example, you don't want tree branches, light poles or other objects appear to sprout from their heads. Unless this adds to the story, avoid people or random cars in the background. Watch what a horizon line does to a person's head, or what vertical lines do. Elements that tell a story or give a sense of place are great, but make sure they relate well to your subject for a pleasing image.

4. Pay attention to the composition.

Why: Many amateurs will put their main subjects directly in the center of the frame. Sometimes, by sheer luck, that composition works. Most of the time, though, it is boring. Add a little interest by having some room to either side. There is a guideline called "The Rule of Thirds" where if you divide a photo into thirds horizontally and vertically, your subject's placement on one of the intersections more often than not can produce a pleasing composition.

5. Pay attention to the light.

Why: There must be enough light, good light and coming from a pleasing direction. Light is the most important element often beyond our control as photographers. Putting subjects facing direct sunlight makes them squint. If the sun is overhead, their eye sockets will be in shadow and it won't flatter them. If the sun is behind them, this can kiss them from behind but could render their faces extremely underexposed (in complete shadow) or silhouette. Flash, if you know how to use it, can remedy a backlit subject, but sometimes the bright sun will fool your camera. Often the most flattering portraits come from strong sidelight, which can create pleasing shadows and dimension to a face (or a nonhuman subject). Indoor lighting is rarely enough for small cameras, so go outside in daylight when photos are purposeful. Find even shade – not dappled with bright and dark areas – and start there.

6. Pay attention to poses.

Why: If you are photographing a large group, try to have them sit or stand about the same distance from the camera. If you don't, particularly with a wide-angle lens, the people in front will look much larger than the people behind them. For poses, there are a slew of rules out there that can't be given due time in a bulleted list. Basically, in a pinch eliminate any poses people put themselves into that don't look natural or don't fit into the rest of the group. Pro tip: showing the back of a woman's hand directly toward the camera is a sure way to give her "man hands." They should be positioned so a thin side is most visible.

7. Check your equipment beforehand.

Why: Nothing ruins a planned photoshoot or trip to take pics more quickly than not having a camera that works. Test it beforehand, take spare batteries and memory cards, too.

8. Shoot a lot of photos in the beginning.

Why: Hands-on experience is a great way to learn, but to learn you need to begin understanding what works. As you improve, take fewer photos. Why? Editing photos will become a chore, and storing/printing/using them will become something you just don't do anymore. Once you've gained confidence, create meaningful images.

9. Focus.

Why: Focus not only what you are doing, but improve your camera-focusing technique. Digital editing can (somewhat) rescue under- or overexposed images, and cropping can fix some compositional woe. Objects can even be added or removed to improve a photo. But if it is out of focus, an image is basically worthless. That is, unless the subject matter is so rare or special, that focus does not matter. Or the unfocused image is some kind of artistic experiment.

10. Have fun.

Why: That can be the most important thing about image-making. Lately, having fun has been such an important goal to me that I leave my camera at home. Most people, I think, find taking photos to be great fun – even when those photos are not technically good (in any way, shape or form). This is a good thing. I hope that means people value photography, although the jury is still out on whether the general public can tell the difference between stellar photos and barely good ones. Making that distinction is a challenge for the professional photographer today!

*The above image was an impromptu shot of a dancer before her group performed at a school event. I was talking to a colleague and just happened to see her leaning against the pole. I attempted to use light, composition, focus and color to create a pleasing image.

Has it really been that long?

I've become one of those people who are just too busy to spend a lot of time updating various online facades! The insanity! Is it because blogging, for me at least, seems so 2003? It's all about Facebook now (and my mom still has more friends than I do).

Since April, I've been working a great, new full-time gig that involves creative energies including taking lots of photos. If it's been a busy week – and it usually has – that means my creative juices aren't bursting to escape as much as they used to. Even more, family activities take away any free time I have to spend on pursuing more photo business. The end result? I haven't pursued much of it.

However, I relish the opportunities that come my way. Now that money is no longer the priority, I can pick and choose what I want to do photographically. I can pursue quality projects rather than a specific number of jobs. What does that mean for you? A more customized experience, images that you can't get anywhere else and a higher level of customer service. I know in the past I have not always fulfilled my professional obligations as well as I wanted to. The images may have been terrific, but something fell short in the delivery. That won't happen again.

With my renewed energy and focus – still primarily on family portraiture – I also want to share a few tips to make your own photography better. It's those moments where it's just you and the ones you love that can produce the most genuine images. My tips won't focus on buying the latest and greatest gear; that alone won't make you a good photographer. More important is knowing how to read light, compose your subjects in relation to their environment and focus, focus, focus. I hope you will benefit and share your own photographic experiences along the way.

And if you're looking for a professional photographer, I'm your guy!

Focusing on families

My new focus is on family portraits, although I'll still take on the occasional wedding or other freelance assignment. To refresh my portfolio, I'm offering a promotional price to at least five families.

When I say "family," I am referring to any individual or group of people (but not too many at one time) who feel like and call themselves a family. And those families must also be:

• Fun
• Willing to be photographed
• Able to follow easy directions
• Flexible
• Smell good*

*Just kidding, although that would be nice

Besides offering traditionally posed and composed images, I am looking for families who are willing to try something new. What that is will depend on you to a degree!

Here's what a family portrait session includes:

• A limited-time, killer promotional fee
• Over-the-phone or e-mail consultation before a session
• Up to two hours of photography time during session
• Traditional photos of you and your family in ugly sweaters**
• Action-packed, fun-filled images of you and your family
• Individual photos of each family member
• One complimentary group print up to 16x20
• Ability to order additional images and gift products via an online gallery of processed images
• Stunning images that will capture the essence of your family at this particular moment in time
• A signed contract that explains your rights and mine (such as using your likeness in my marketing efforts)
• Photos to brag about and show all your friends and other family members

** Or the attire of your choice; we can talk about clothing beforehand.

Contact me today if you are interested, those five slots will go fast: todd@toddovermanphoto.com. We're finally getting cooler weather, which makes for better on-location experiences!

Refocusing

My photography skills were honed with the unexpected and varied assignments a newspaper photojournalist typically comes across. From photographing a group of award-winning students to documenting the scenes of just-happened car wrecks, to shooting a high school softball game to looking for a good angle to see flames shooting out of a house … being ready for everything made me think that I wanted to focus my own photography business on everything.

But that’s not the case.

I have been privileged to be part of some incredible weddings, as a primary photographer, second photographer and also an assistant. I’ve met some great couples to photograph engagement sessions, and have captured teens caught between childhood and adulthood for their senior portraits.

Now that I have a full-time job, one during which I have the chance to take a lot of journalistic-style photographs, it’s time to narrow down what I want to do in my own time. What is that? Family portraits! To me, they are an important record of a family captured at a particular moment in time. Anytime a family is together is important, because that time is so fleeting. When I say “family portraits,” this includes individual shots of each member – especially the children. There is no more incredible way to realize the passage of time than comparing a child NOW to what he or she used to look like in a portrait.

Those portraits can be traditionally posed, or can depict a favorite family activity. Biking in the park? Hiking in the woods? Wakeboarding at a nearby lake? Camping? Shopping? Cooking at home? Whatever it is, my more than 10 years of professional experience – being ready for anything – will help me figure out the best way to capture something special.

My style is pretty straightforward. To me, a technically perfect photo of a person is good enough and I don’t need to embellish it with too much computer work.

So for now, I’m not actively pursuing weddings, engagement sessions, senior portraits, maternity/infants or event coverage. It’s all about family, whichever form that family takes.

Let’s work together on an image that your family will treasure for generations! Contact me at todd@toddovermanphoto.com.

White Rock Lake

I'm hoping to get my kayak into White Rock Lake in the near future. It's a paddler's paradise, not only because of its pretty shoreline but also because powerboats are limited to puny motors on the lake. I love powerboats, but around here, many of their operators have no business being on the water. White Rock offers a more serene setting for those of us who like human-powered craft and enjoying nature without the constant drone of marine engines.

Writer's block

I've been a professional writer for most of my post-college career(nearly 16 years now). There have been times I've been stumped or hesitant to begin a writing project. Honestly, though, I've never had writer's block. If a writer's worst enemy is a blank screen or a clean sheet of paper, then overcoming that enemy is as simple as writing something to get the ball rolling. This method has served me well, especially because my entire career has made use of a computer of some kind. More important, the mindset behind that method is that, no matter the project, you've got to get started before you can begin.

Pictured around me is a mix of personal and work-issued laptops and my grandparents' vintage Underwood typewriter. None of the computers are actually on. There's a flash unit on a light stand coming from the left side of the photo, and another sitting on the keyboard of the big laptop at right. Both were triggered from a unit on the camera, which was mounted to a tripod. Self-portraits can be so complicated sometimes!

A little bit of camera magic

The above image (click to enlarge) is a composite of five separate photographs. It was taken at a school board meeting when I was in quite a bind. Even with my widest lens mounted to the camera (17 mm), there was little chance I was going to capture the entire group. I couldn't back up because there were seats directly behind me. I had no options for securing an elevated position (great for group shots) because this was but one of several groups I was charged to photograph.

So what did I do? I asked the group to hold as still as possible, and then took several photos, turning my camera to focus on a particular part of the group. I tried to keep the camera level from shot to shot so that the perspectives would line up. Once back in the office, I chose what I considered the five best images of each section. In Photoshop CS5, I selected File/Automate/Photomerge and selected the five photos. The software did its best to line everything up, and with a few nudges and fixes from me, the end result is pictured here.

Not perfect by any means, but I was pleased that it turned out so well. Some of their expressions are a little off, but that can't be helped in a large group of subjects this age. This technique is fairly easy to manage and would be highly effective for landscapes with a wide field of view. A few helpful tips:

• Switch your camera's settings to manual mode or aperture value. You want the same aperture throughout so that the focus depth won't change.

• Use a tripod. This will help you keep the frames level in relation to each other.

• Overlap your shots a little to aid the software's merging of the images.

• If you adjust each image before the merge, ensure that you are consistent in those adjustments.

• Try a lot of different things and see what you like best.

• Not just for wide horizontal shots, capture a tall building or other vertical object in the same way (helpful if your tripod can mount your camera sideways for vertical captures).

Meet Ol' Red

I was coming back from an errand the other day and noticed an old red bike at a garage sale on our street. I'd been toying with the idea of getting a more comfortable, purposefully slow bike to just cruise around on. A bike that didn't beg for cushiony shorts, special shoes or gloved hands. The kind of ride that, if I were a coffee drinker, I'd pedal on up to a table on the sidewalk at my favorite neighborhood cafe and sip a mochalattecino while reading the lastest hipster news from a mag that you're not cool enough to know about.

Never fancy, the bike appeared to have suffered mostly from neglect and the overuse of WD-40. There was a bit of rust and grease, some dents and a few blemishes on the paint. I made an offer, and wah-lah ... Ol' Red is mine. Or ours. My better half has already decided she enjoys riding it, too.

After a good scrubbing with car soap and a soppy SOS pad, a chain degreasing and relube with actual bicycle-chain lube, she was lookin' good. I did a quick wax to bring out the shine and help prevent a few of the paint dings from turning into rust. Unbelievably, the bike looks close to new. The sellers called it "an antique," but my guess is it's no more than 25 years old. I might see if the serial number and Google can shed light on that, but it's not important.

The ride is smooth, the steel frame demands taking your time, the white-wall balloon tires absorb the bumps. The fenders collect pebbles and puddles instead of flinging them at the rider. The upright riding position is at the same time more upright and relaxed. The saddle is a bit wide for me (I'm used to a more narrow, firmer perch), but it's OK for now. Would love to find a vintage chrome headlight and taillight to complete the retro-looking aesthetic. Maybe a few other fun touches (a cool sticker to disguise Red's Huffy lineage, chrome rack, etc.). This past weekend we already got our money's worth out of the bike, so spending a little more won't hurt too badly.

The moral to the story? Don't let a little rust or dust deter you from a good time. A bonus: this heavy beast is gonna help whip us into better shape!

Up, up and away!

I covered an event this morning on the 42nd floor of the CityPlace Tower in Dallas. These were shot through a window, showing most of the Dallas skyline and 75 (Central Expressway) when it's not chock full of traffic. The elevator moved so quickly, and the height was so significant, that my ears popped on the way up and down. Crazy!

Supersize Mini-Me

Thinking inside the box!

A day @ play

We didn't do anything fancy yesterday, just had a fun day around the house. Hard not to enjoy warmer weather, even if it means my allergies were acting up.






Max loves to catch and chase his favorite ball, even if it means he eats a little of the nature that ends up on it. Yuck!


My youngest pushing the oldest? Something doesn't look right here!

Reflections

These self-portrait shots are not quite what I was going for, but at least shows part of the progression between concept and execution. The reflective marble is sitting on my desk, and the camera is on my right on a tripod. There is a flash on the camera pointed up to bounce light off the ceiling, and another flash unit triggered off-camera to add a highlight on the marble. A macro lens is zoomed in to the little object, showing my distorted reflection. Or at least it will when I refine my technique!

Digital cameras make it easier than ever to snap photos of yourself. Rembrandt was a rare bird among painters because of his regular dedication to painting self-portraits ... imagine how much longer he spent on his own images vs. how fast we can use a cell phone to snap and post our likenesses online. Besides Rembrandt's artistry, a major difference is that only time will tell if the 1's and 0's of our digital existence will endure as long as the master artist's own self-portraits.

I'm pretty sure this mess I just posted won't be hanging in a museum at any point in time!

Little signs of Spring

I stopped by the Grapevine Botanic Gardens last week to take a few quick snaps of Spring. It's a nice respite from traffic nearby, along Ball Street not far from the city's historic downtown. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. The coming season promises a good blooming time, but there is already some color to see.

Apparently, although signs are still posted, there is no longer a professional photography fee. That means clients who are seeking a park-like experience (the gardens) and a classic downtown/urban/train depot feel (downtown) can now be conveniently photographed in Grapevine without costs above my fee. The area offers fantastic variety in a setting that is easier to navigate than, say, downtown Fort Worth or Dallas. Let's do it: todd@toddovermanphoto.com.