How to get your photo Published on print?

Published on October 7, 2009

I’ve been taken photography as a “serious hobby” in the past 4 years, give or take a few months. Within that time, I’ve managed to publish a few images from my underwater adventures in local printed media- specifically geographical and scuba diving magazines. Recently, a picture I took while mountain biking in the Alps in 2007 have reached the cover of a free edition of “Big Bike” Magazine, and has been printed in the thousands.

Bigbike Cover

This proves a point- even if you’re not a commercial or professional photographer, being at the right time and the right place can get your photographs printed and published for the world (or at least a few thousands of people) to see. What then, makes a time and a place right? I’ve given it some thought and here are my tips on how to get your images published and printed:

1. Photograph things you love. My published photographes all came from areas I like, my hobbies. I think that when photographing an object or situation you’re connected to, you will effortleslly bring in good energy to your photography.

2. Photograph a lot. Once you’re out there, taking planned and well staged shots with high quality equipments is great, but don’t forget the occasional snapshot. In the bottom line- more photos mean more options, and with everything digital, any limitation on quantity is only virtual.

3. Share your photos. Whenever I’m on a vacation, if I take pictures of random people or of crouse friends I’m out with, I always try to take the time later to sort and share the images with more people. It’s fun, most people will appreciate and enjoy a good photo of themselves, and in turn will remember you. Just as the case with the image shown above- Joseph Pauly, photographed in this image, sent me an e-mail asking if he can send the image to Big Bike Magazine for print- over two years after it’s been taken. Another way of sharing is online, through popular platforms or more humble ones, such as The Wide Lens.

4. Enter Competitions. Online, local, by theme or reigonal- if you find a competition that looks like fun to enter, do it! You might just win something and get good recognition (and prizes). Competitions can promote your work greatly, as they are often coupled with printed media covering the results.

5. Offer your work. Most of us have a theme we like to photograph, go online and look for organizations, companies or magazined that you think might be interested in your work and send them some samples, they might refuse- but you’ll definetly not get a yes without trying.

If you want to publish your photographs here on The Wide Lens- follow this link.

An Oasis Through the Lens

Published on September 22, 2009

I’m not too sure why, maybe from literature or some old movies- but the classical image of a desert oasis has always been this beautiful pond surrounded by huge palm trees amongst some vast sand dunes. Sounds like a great place for photographs right?

Natural Art

While hiking Ein Ovdat- an actual oasis in the Negev desert, I had the opportunity to photograph one of the rare locations where water meets desert on a regular basis. This oasis though has no palm trees, and no vast sand dunes. The structure of the area is actually a deep and rocky canyon, allowing for some very interesting composition including the rock surface, water, sky and some local flora and fauna.

Ein Ovdat Oasis

This location is actually very accessible and a highly recommended visit if you’re in the area. A short fifteen minute walk from the car park. All the charm of a real desert oasis, this time- without the adventure. Well, unless the car’s air conditioning is out of order…

Dragonfly in the desert

Got good photos of desert and other landscapes? Show us !

Just Walking Along- Quick Snapshot

Published on September 20, 2009

The term “Just walking along” can be an opening for too many scenarios to think about. In Photography, it will probably be associated to a good opportunity.

As I’ve mentioned before, Sometimes a snap shot will do.
There’s something fun about just walking along, seeing something cool, taking a snapshot, and heading off. Especially if later on you’re happy with it.

This lazy specimen of a bulldog was taking his leisure time on a sofa out on the streets of Utrecht, NL.

Bulldog chilling out.

Got a good example of a great snapshot you took? Show us !

Using External Flash- Practice Makes Perfect

Published on September 18, 2009

Last summer (July 2008) I’ve purchased an external flash following an epiphany I’ve had while mountain biking in the French Alps. I wanted to get it anyway, but an epiphany is always a good excuse, right?
Anyway, while being quite happy with those few images I took as first attempts, I knew there was much to improve. A comment was made on that post to support.

Equipped also with a professional grade lens ( The excellent Olympus 12-60SWD ), I’ve taken to the local slopes of Misgav forest, where a downhill competition took place.

DH competitions are fantastic for action photography practice, not only that you know exactly where the riders are coming from and which way they’re headed, there’s also a very useful one minute timing between each competitor leaves the start line. Took me a bit of walking up and down the hill until I found the spot to set everything up.

Downhill mountain biking photography

The scene is composed of a nice curvy part of the trail (turning always adds a nice dimension to the photos), some nice trees, the trail markings and a bit of blue skies. I was photographing straight in front of the competitors as they were taking a slight right turn. The flash was set up to the front and left from the camera’s point of view. The results were great; I got the competitors in a nice pose, with the flash highlighting details in their faces and from the bikes. The new lens contributed to speed and sharpness, and for an extra touch I did a moderate HDR enhancement for the images, to make the forest colors come out alive.

Downhill Mountain biking photography

As said, practice makes perfect (although there’s still a way to go).

Did you get some nice action photos? You can post them on The Wide Lens too!

Shopping Den Haag – a market in photos

Published on May 17, 2009

While waiting for a meeting in the famous governmental district of Den Haag, I was browsing through a local magazine stating that the market in the city is the largest one to be found in Holland. Remembering what a professional photographer once told me “Whenever I get to a new city, the first think I do is grab my camera and go to the local market”, I decided to follow.

Shoes everywhere, Den Haag Market

Arriving to the market was definitely not a disappointment, it has about 500 stands, covering everything from food, home appliances, clothes, shoes, music and more. I started wondering around, waiting for some nice photo opportunities.

Photo opportunities in a market are plentiful, but I did encounter two main challenges. The first was picking human subjects- walking around with an SLR isn’t very low profile, and while some people don’t mind it at all, a lot will prefer to stay out of your frame, and will either politely move away or simply tell you so. One of the solutions was to focus on hands and transactions,  the other was to put people in the background.

Checking the Merchandise An original display- Den Haag Market

Less challenging but just as satisfying, some of the commodities in the market make for excellent photographic subject, and when it comes to fruit and vegetables, they hardly ever protest. Color and textures of different products are easily accessible and supply great compositions to play with.

As for the gear, I was using my solid entry level Olympus e-420 with its 14-45 kit lens. I’d recommend sticking to either your mid range zoom lens or switch to a wider one. If you want to come closer to an object, you can just walk up, and using a tele-lens will limit your wide angle snap shots.

Premium vegetables, premium seats Egg discrimination in the Den Haag market

Markets to give a glimpse into local culture, and if you don’t find cultural enlightenment, you can at least catch a glimpse of the local commodities. I have to say my strongest memories from the Den Haag market were food, and shoes.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Did you find an interesting market and photographed it? Post it on The Wide Lens

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