Photography Tips

In photography, vision is more important than gear (cameras equipment). Vision determines whether a work looks outstanding or not. Photography vision means a “personal viewpoint” of the photographer itself that can not be seen by other photographers. For example, in a photo hunting event that followed by some photographers, a lot of photos looks similar to each other. But sometimes there is a participant who make some photos that completely different from the others. Apparently, that photographer have a different vision with others, and able to express his vision in a good photograph.

Actually, vision is to see what is not seen by other people. If you see a landscape photo or a place you’ve visited and it has a very different impression to what you see with your own eyes, it means you’re looking at the vision of the photographer, not photo documentation of that place. Thus, vision training is very important especially for landscape and travel photography since anyone can go there and take a picture freely.

Vision is born from inside, influenced by the historical background of ourselves and what we love. In other words, Vision is a reflection of ourselves. We can not get the vision of someone else. Thus, actually vision can not be derived directly just like a science.

Back to the photo hunting event: Why there are some photographers that produce very different photos than the others? Or in other words, why everyone does not have the same viewpoint? The reason is the vision itself. Vision herding everyone view and focus on different things. Some photographers at one location may be interested in “Grand Vista” or whole/panoramic scenery. But the other photographers might be interested to shoot the detail of trees, fruit or insects, and some other photographers may be more attracted to the human interest such as farmers or ranchers who are working.

By focus on an idea, concept or subject, then the chance to make a good photo will be higher, due to the concentration and mental energy focus into the concept. But everything is need patience and perseverance. Search within yourself what is the draws on that objects or locations. What is perceived and how is the photo/editing technique that can communicate that feeling.

Vision is the view that we see in our mind’s eye. To be able to realize our vision, we need an imagination and creativity. Selection of the right tools and some editing process are also needed to realize a good photo work. Without technical ability, vision will not be realized perfectly. Vision is also strongly associated with the style of photography (personal style). If we consistently develop our vision, the personal style will be created and people will more easily recognize our work.

Just like a life, vision and style will also change as time goes on. Maybe once we like a photo with high color saturation, but after a few years maybe black and white. Maybe now we prefer to use large aperture lens and make blurred background (bokeh). But in the future may be we love sharp detail from the background until the foreground. Everything gonna be changed, our photo quality will also changed to be better and better.

Well, How to train your Vision?
– Master the basic techniques of photography and make a commitment to learn continuously and follow the evolving imaging technologies.
– Focus to see and pay attention to one or few preferred subjects, don’t push photographing variety of subjects of photos at once.
– Select the right equipment (cameras, lenses, accessories) according to your budget, it will save the time and optimizing your photo quality.
– Training and continuous practice will produce good work, it’s not just talent and luck. The most important practice is not only photographing activities, but how do we see the subject.
– Learning by seeing, take a look at the pictures of other photographers and other visual arts such as painting, movies, and so on.
– Create a personal photography project, for example, a collection of old trees photos, vehicles, portrait, culture etc.

As a professional or enthusiasts of photography, we certainly often shooting for an event. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party, company gala dinner, or maybe documenting a “contract signing” in a company. Well, one element that should not be forgotten when photographing an event is the ‘details’.

‘Details’ means a technique of taking photo by close up to be able to describe one of the important parts of an event. So, which parts should be taken in ‘Details’? Just one key, you have to know what the event is. That’s it!

Each event should have some symbols in the form of objects or special ceremonial as a hallmark of the event. For example:

Wedding:special objects such as rings (all tribes and religions must be wear it) and also the main blessing ceremony whether it’s a blessing in church, mosque or other place of worship in accordance with the religious affiliation of the bride and groom.
Birthday:the cupcakes, tarts, as well as the goody bag.
Seminar:Notebook/ballpoint which usually identifies the event venue.
Gala Dinner:Invitation card which are usually tailored to the theme and accompanied by a special symbol.

These items must always be exist when we photographing such events. Well, how important is it in a series of documentation photos? Yes, that’s really important in order to produce ‘telling story’ pictures and have a strong background story when compiled/assembled into a photo album.

Here are the benefits of element ‘Details’ in a photo documentation.

As a form of affirmation and depth of story
When we are looking at a wedding album we would see pictures which are based on processions in 1 page. For example when exchanging the ring, then 1 page in the album will include a procession of mounting rings. That page may be showing photos which taken in medium close-up or the face of bride and groom as a whole.


As a symbol of the event
As a photographer of an event, of course we have to well understand about that event. For example, the element of ‘Details’ in this photo is the ‘Lembu’ (statue of a cow) as the symbol of a ‘Ngaben’ ceremony in Bali.



As the venue identity
The element of ‘Details’ in this photo shown the identity of venue where the event was held. In this case is a seminar/meeting hold in Mamaison hotel.



For a description of the atmosphere
Sometimes an object can represent the atmosphere of an event. This photo shows cheerful atmosphere in a birthday party. Colorful Cup cakes reinforce that atmosphere.

Well, just by entering a few elements of ‘Details’ in our event photography, inadvertently we’ve made ​​a series of photos which can telling the story of that event. As the photographer, we are not only required to be able to photograph all the things from the beginning to the end. But like a director, we have to make ‘telling story’ photos just like a movie. In which part should be inserted an affirmation and a different image variations.

A good event photography is not only a photo that good in technically. But a photograph that be able to speak emotionally with varying image semiotics.

A common question that often asked to me “how do a photograph can be said good” Or “how to make a good photograph?”

Photography is essentially a form of media to communicate and express a thing. Photography is just like writing. We choose the words then arrange them to be a sentence. In photography, we use visual elements (line, shape, pattern, color, light, etc.) and then arrange them with a composition (one-third rule, line, perspective, focus, frame, etc.).

Good article has a series of sentences that are not long-winded, but clear and understandable for readers. Good article has an interesting idea and meaning, neat organization of grammar so easy to read and understand.

This is also applied in the world of photography, subject and idea should be clear without any disturbing element. Good photography has a good organizational composition of visual elements.

The main point, a good photo is a picture that’s in accordance with our respective intentions. For example, if we want to create a mysterious and austere atmosphere, the photo with dark shades are more suitable than bright shades. If you want your photo can make a change, for example, we want people to care about the environment, then the photo should be able to motivate people to go green and so on.

Basicaly, there are a few things we need to consider to get a good photo.
1 Is your photo has an idea/story/meaning?
2 Is the dark light/exposure in accordance?
2 Has a good composition
3 Has a good lighting
4 Has a good timing.

Well, a good photo is subjective because each photographer has a different intentions, as well as connoisseurs of photo/audience. A good photo for some people is not necessarily appeal to the other people. So, don’t worry too much and keep practicing.

To make a beautiful photo, sometimes we don’t need too sophisticated tools. But most people assumed, expensive and sophisticated lens and camera is absolutely necessary to produce a beautiful photograph. Well, yes… but sometimes not!

Actually, the most important things to produce amazing photos are skill and creativity. The fact is, there is no relationship between creativity and the use of expensive equipment. Most of photographers (especially amateur) are being creative precisely because of the limitations of equipment. For example, by creating “home made” lighting accessories.

The more experienced and more successful, the less tools used and usually more specific. For example, Henri Cartier Bresson, one of the fathers of photojournalism is often only use a film camera and 50mm lens. Alex Majoli, Magnum photography member, said in an interview: “You do not always need a camera with lots of features. In the end you do not need them (all kinds of features on the camera) to make good photographs”. While the more naive the photographer, the more plenty and luxurious the tools to carry and use. The more tools we have often encumber us on the trip and make us dizzy in determining the equipment used.

Even worse, expensive cameras and lenses can bring an illusion that we are a good and high value photographer. So that lot of photographers can buy expensive equipment and luxurious studio, but the picture quality is mediocre, and their service is not in high demand, inversely proportional to what has been invested. Fancy equipment often does not help and can hinder the progress. The more luxurious, the more and more longer we hung to them psychologically. And when our photo is not good enough, we will buy a new tool that is more expensive and hopefully these tools can help. Photographers do need a suitable tools, but most of us do not need fancy tools. The ability to know what we need and what we want (desire) will distinguish between a successful photographer or not.

My suggestion before replacing lens, camera, flash or other equipment, ask ourselves whether we have used the existing tools optimally or not. If the answer is not yet, I think we can still learn and practice using our existing tools optimally before looking for more expensive equipment. Otherwise you have a lot of money to buy the expensive camera or lenses, then it’s okay. 😀

Many beginners often asked me, how to create a blur background for portrait photo (bokeh)? Actually it’s quiet easy. Actualy, you need a DSLR camera, because it has a large sensor and you can change the lens as needed. However, you also can try using a compact camera, although the results are less than the maximum. Anyway, a beginner who read this article must already have a DSLR right? Then let’s try some simple steps below:

Step One: Set your lens zoom to its maximum point
For example, if you have 18-55mm lens, then set the zoom to 55mm. If you have a telephoto zoom lens like the 55-250mm, it will be better. Use this lens and zoom it 85mm to 135mm. This focal range is ideal for portrait photo.

Step Two: Place your model as far as possible from the background.
The farther the distance between background and model, the more bokeh you got.

Step Three: Set the lens aperture as large as possible
The larger aperture, the more blurry the background. If you have a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, then set your aperture to f/5.6 (the maximum aperture at 55mm for 18-55mm lens is f/5.6). If you are not satisfied with the results of the 18-55mm, I recommend some prime lens such as 50mm f/1.8 or 85mm f/1.8. These lenses are the bokeh monster with a very large constant aperture, f/1.8.