| April 18, 2012 Hello!
This month, we have some light reading for you — a collection of photography quotes from some of the great photographers of our time. You can also find an article comparing RAW vs JPEG, discover a cool new virtual lighting studio tool, see fruits and vegetables in a new way, and more. Read on! What’s New this Month at Ultimate Photo Tips
Photography Quotes
I am an avid “quote collector.” I’ve been collecting inspirational quotes for years, and storing them away in a file to reference when I need a boost. Given my passion for photography, I decided to start collecting quotes about photography too. Please enjoy this collection of photography quotes from the greats, including Ansel Adams, Henri-Cartier-Bresson, Margaret Bourke-White, Minor White and more. Some are inspiring, some are insightful, and some are just fun! “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
— Elliott Erwitt READ MORE:
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/photography-quotes.html Your ThoughtsIn last month’s poll, I asked the DSLR users whether you use Live View. The largest percentage of you (41%) said no, you rarely or never use live view. An almost equal number, (38%), however, said that you use it sometimes. I fit into this category. I use live view to get accurate focusing on my macro shots, and to focus at night. A handful of you (10%) use live view often or always. A couple didn’t have live view, or know what it is (time to read the article on Ultimate Photo Tips about live view!).
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/digital-photo-tips.html This month, I’ve been spending a lot of time preparing new material for an eBook, and an upcoming talk that I’m giving on creativity in photography. I know some people are very much in touch with their creativity, while others really don’t feel like they are creative at all. I’m curious to know how you feel. Are you creative? Cast your vote in this month’s poll, and let me know! The poll is in the right-hand nav bar of the website:
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/ Photo Challenges The topic for March’s challenge was “Shadows.” The results include some terrific and creative images! Once again, the winning image proves that you don’t need expensive gear to take great photos; it was taken on an iPhone! Take a peek at Bruce Kennedy’s “iPhone Mania” here:
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/photo-challenges-winner.html
The topic for April’s challenge is the “Vanishing Point.” A vanishing point is simply a point in your image where parallel lines appear to converge, like a road leading off to the horizon. We haven’t had too many entries yet! Let’s see what you can find. Enter your photo here:
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/photo-challenges-apr-2012.html Creativity ExerciseFruits and Vegetables They’re not just good for your diet! They can be good for your photography, too. Photographing fruits or vegetables is a really great exercise. It forces you to look at something you see every day, but from a new point of view. Instead of a food source, it’s now a photographic subject. Instead of thinking about how it tastes, or how good it is for you, you must now think of it from an aesthetic point of view. Can you make it look beautiful? Can you bring out its character? Can you make it look like something else? 
Think about the great patterns, colors, lines and shapes you can find in fruits and vegetables: the rings of a slice of red onion, half a dragon fruit, a pepper that looks like a face; the possibilities are endless. 
This exercise also gets you to work in a controlled environment where you can take your time to create your composition, choose your depth of field, and perfect your lighting. Fruits and vegetables also have a lot of patience, and never complain! Why don’t you give it a try? I’d love to see your results! Please feel free to share them on our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/UltimatePhotoTips
Tip of the Month: Something Every Photographer Needs to KnowRaw vs JPEG Should you be shooting in Raw or JPEG? Understand the ins and outs of each file format to help you decide. What is raw? What is JPEG? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
“…When comparing RAW vs JPEG, I like to think of raw image data like unbaked cookie dough. It has all the ingredients mixed in, but it can still be shaped in any way, and then baked…”
https://ultimate-photo-tips.com/RAW-vs-JPEG.html Cool Link of the MonthVirtual Lighting Studio This is a really terrific tool! It lets you play with a virtual set of studio lights right on your computer, to see their impact on a virtual model. You can plan your lighting set-up before you even hit the real studio. You have control over the number, position, power and color (gels) of the lights. You can save up to eight different lighting configurations. Very cool. Very useful.
http://www.zvork.fr/vls/
Happy shooting from Ultimate Photo Tips! | 