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Monday, August 15, 2011

A Twitter Giveaway- 50 Paged PDF on the Basics of Photography

Follow for 51-Page PDF on the Basics of Photography
Step 1: Follow @chaseguttman
Step 2: Retweet this message once
Step 3: Check your twitter direct messages for your download link.



The instructions above outline the three simple steps to getting the download link to our newest exclusive content on Twitter. All you have to do is follow us on Twitter, retweet this message once and you will receive a private direct message with a link to where you can download our 51-paged PDF. You need to both follow us and retweet the message or you will not be able to access the PDF. This is for a limited time only. Also be sure to watch our Twitter, as we will be offering more exclusive content soon.

The document goes through the main elements of photography and outlines basic concepts that beginner photographers need to know. This is all packaged together with helpful tips and illustrative examples.  


Note: Direct message delivery time will vary depending on congestion. Additionally, because of Twitter's technical limits we can only Direct Message (DM) the link to 250 people per day. If you've gone through the steps mentioned above and still haven't yet received your link, please be patient.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

My Trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua





I love Central America- its fascinating indigenous cultures, stunningly colorful markets, and vast array of wildlife have  always been deeply appealing to me as a photographer.  But on my last trip I realized how rich the region can also be in experiences.





I just returned from Costa Rica for Tauck Bridges- teaching photography workshops to families. The tour was absolutely amazing - for both photography and adventure. From zip lining over perfectly visible volcanoes to tubing in white-water (you can see recordings of both of these experiences in the video below) to experiencing the local culture, the trip had something for everyone  We surveyed the country from a multitude of angles and had both once-in-a-lifetime experiences and terrific photographic opportunities.  At the end of the week-long tour, I created the video below featuring my photography. 






After our week in Costa Rica, we headed north to Nicaragua where the luxurious jungle resort Jicaro lodge was our home for a few nights. We explored the untouched Lake Nicaragua-- kayaking to natural hot springs, touring colorful Granada, and photographing  the Masaya volcano at night where the combination of volcanic steam and rain created a surreal white-out. The exotic local markets were photographic nirvana. 





To see more images from the trip check out the album on Facebook- http://on.fb.me/n4tho3 


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Father's Day Photographs

Fathers have always served important roles in their children’s lives.  Dad’s are a source of wisdom, knowledge, and above all- inspiration. My father is the one who introduced me to photography at a young age. He never pushed me into it, but I had fallen in love with the art by watching him and through years of evaluating and viewing almost every image that went across my dad’s lightroom (and I don’t mean the computer program).  He has continually supported me and brought me to where I am today. Below is a Father’s Day celebration of sorts featuring Peter Guttman and Chase Guttman’s images of places around the world… but it’s really a tribute to all fathers and the guidance they've given to their children.


United States- 


Peter Guttman- Durango, Colorado, USA

Chase Guttman- Durango, Colorado, USA

Peter Guttman- Paria, Arizona, USA

Chase Guttman- Rockland, Maine, USA

Peter Guttman- Holbrook, Arizona, USA

Chase Guttman- Oneonta Gorge, Oregon, USA

Peter Guttman- Manhattan, New York, USA

Chase Guttman- Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Peter Guttman- Stark, New Hampshire, USA

Chase Guttman- Grand Teton, Wyoming, USA



Morocco-



Peter Guttman- Marrakesh, Morocco

Chase Guttman- Marrakesh, Morocco

Peter Guttman- Merzouga, Morocco
Chase Guttman- Merzouga, Morocco

Peter Guttman- Marrakesh, Morocco

Chase Guttman- Fez, Morocco

Peter Guttman- Fez, Morocco

Chase Guttman- Fez, Morocco



Guatemala-


Peter Guttman- Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Chase Guttman- Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Peter Guttman- Solala, Guatemala

Chase Guttman- Solala, Guatemala

Peter Guttman- Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Chase Guttman- Panajachel, Guatemala



Norway-



Peter Guttman- The Lofoten Islands, Norway


Chase Guttman- The Lofoten Islands



Chase Guttman- Trondheim, Norway

Peter Guttman- Olden, Norway

Chase Guttman- The Lofoten Islands, Norway

Peter Guttman- Rodoy, Norway

Chase Guttman- Svolvaer, Norway



The two-time recipient of the Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalist of the Year, Peter Guttman is a photographer, writer, author, television personality, and lecturer who has traveled on assignment to all seven continents and to more than 200 countries. He is the creator of a number one bestselling iPad/iPhone application called Beautiful Planet and a highly acclaimed series of hardcover books for Fodors Travel Publications about magical experiences and lodgings around the world.  His photography and writing have been published in books, magazines, and newspapers, and have appeared in every major travel periodical.  He taught a popular travel photography class at the International Center of Photography, is a national spokesperson for Kodak, and was honored with a solo retrospective show of his work at Sotheby's and the United Nations.  Guttman’s distinguished accomplishments have been profiled in The New York Times, on National Public Radio, A & E and the Today Show.


Happy Father's Day!


Saturday, June 11, 2011

Photography Composition

As artists, our ultimate goal is to tell an engaging visual story through photography. The ability to accomplish this goal is dependent on the way we orchestrate our canvases. This is what composition is all about: it’s the process of visually organizing essential elements of an image through the deliberate framing of your camera. Composition anchors the human eye and enables photographers to direct the eyeballs of their viewers. In other words, the way our visual artistry is anesthetically received is dependant on how a scene is organized, framed and composed. This is why composition is a crucial ingredient to creating captivating photographs. 

When many people think of composition, the first thing that pops into their head is “rules”:  The rule of thirds, the rule of balance, etc. But in reality, there are no hard and fast ways of getting your images “right.” Instead, the knowledge of certain techniques and the use of personal discretion is really the rule at play here.  Rather than a strategy set in stone, think of composition as a set of guidelines and suggestions.
Framing- Framing has to do with the way you contain all the elements you wish to capture within your canvas. Essentially, good framing includes just the key elements of your image while omitting objects that detract from the larger picture. Keeping your horizons perfectly straight is a fundamental framing strategy that most should observe. Another important part of framing is finding the best location. This can mean getting closer to your subject, finding a unique perspective or zeroing in on a specific component of your shot (through lens selection). Additionally, experiment with the idea of frames within a frame.
Chase Guttman

 
Victor Jorgensen
Alfred Eisentaedt
   Perspective- The angle at which you portray a scene can dramatically impact its effectiveness. There is no better demonstration of the importance of perspective than the story of Victor Jorgensen. Victor’s name is relatively unknown, yet he snapped the shutter at the same time, and only a few feet from Alfred Eisenstaedt, the man accredited for the iconic V-J day image. Alfred’s image became well known and was widely published, while Victor’s photograph did not. The main reason was because Victor photographed the kissing couple from the side, capturing an unrecognizable backdrop. Eisentaedt on the other hand, caught the essence of the location, by shooting straight at the couple and allowing for a view down the avenue to Times Square. 

Peter Guttman



“Rule” of Thirds- The rule of thirds is based on the idea of a photo being divided into three imaginary horizontal and vertical sectors. By placing a subject along the lines of these sectors, you create more alluring imagery because it creates visual intrigue, as the eye naturally is drawn to one of the sections. You can read more about it here.
Peter Guttman




Filling the Frame- When shooting portraits, filling the frame can be a great tool for better compositions. This is because it allows your viewer to develop a more intimate connection with your subject. For ideal composition, negative space (which is an empty visual region) should be used artistically. However, when negative space becomes superfluous you begin wasting valuable image "real estate."
Chase Guttman


Balance- To create a balance photograph, your image should have strong points of interest, or focal points (this could be attractive color, pleasing lighting, an interesting subject, etc.), on both sides. Experiment with the interplay of light and color to help ensure balance on both sides of the frame. The end result is a equally pleasing photograph on both sides of the frame.
Chase Guttman


Spacing- On the contrary to the idea of filling the frame, spacing can be effective too. It can help you highlight the elements crucial to your story and create a type of separation between your subject and your viewer.
Peter Guttman


Repetition- You can use patterns in two unique ways: either keeping a pattern consistent or undermining a pattern by putting something out of place. The ultimate goal with patterns is to trick the eye into seeing more than what is really present inducing an imaginative feel (for this, using a telephoto lens can be helpful). In some cases, patterns can serve as a visual line from the foreground to the background, exciting the eye to inspect every inch of the composition. On the other hand, having an out of place item in the middle of an otherwise consistent pattern adds contrast and interest to your image.
Chase Guttman


Symmetry- Symmetry is often an effective method of composing your image because it awes the eye (by making the eye wander all across an image, which is pleasing to the mind of your viewer). Symmetry also can echo your scene, giving emphasis to the story you're trying to tell.
Peter Guttman


Leading Lines- Using naturally occurring converging, diagonal, horizontal, and vertical lines in your photographs makes for an interesting composition. Lines direct (or lead) traffic for your viewers' eye. This helps your viewer focus on the key points of the image and can also add an amusing component to your shot.
Chase Guttman


 Simplicity- Simplistic framing can often times be the most artistic way to shoot, because when concentrating on basic elements your story can be told successfully without any other distractions. To best accomplish this you must have plainly colored backdrops (generally, black is the best), and subjects that strongly contrast with the clean background. Depth of field can also come into play here.
Peter Guttman
 


Texture- Texture is the incorporation of a unique surface to an image. Texture helps your images come alive, causing a two-dimensional photograph to have a three-dimensional look by adding a sense of depth- a dimension that is otherwise not seen in photography. Texture makes your viewer feel like they are there, which promotes sensory exploration.
Peter Guttman


What Are The Main Things That Should Affect My Composition?

-Color- Rich and vibrant colors have the power to fortifying the impact of your image and grab your viewer emotionally. This relates to composition because the positioning of color deeply influences the appeal of your focal point(s).

-Lighting- Lighting can help highlight important components of your image and make your story more visually engaging. Essentially, lighting should direct where you position yourself and the frame (because optimal lighting can add a great appeal to your imagery).

-Backgrounds- Backgrounds should influence the way in which you frame your photographs or utilize depth of field. Backdrops can accomplish one of two main things: they can either perpetuate the importance of your subject or add a sense of place to your story.


In conclusion, composition is one of the most essential, but multi-faceted parts of photography. By understanding what effects composition (color, lighting, backgrounds, etc.) and the various techniques involved in it, you can be on your way to better photography. But remember, while these ideas can be quite helpful, sticking to your gut is usually the best way to go.

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Biography and Contact Information

Chase Guttman is a talented and passionate, award-winning photographer having shot everything from landscapes to wildlife to portraits and events all around the world. Chase Guttman is also an affordable NYC assignment photographer, ready to fulfill your photographic wishes with his distinct style and attention to detail. He also runs this popular photography tips and guide blog, with weekly insights into photography that helps everyone from amateurs to pros better their photographic skill. Visit us at our website: http://chaseguttman.com

For all questions, comments, suggestions or concerns of both technical and artistical nature, please feel free to e-mail us at: chaseguttmanphotography@gmail.com