December 2013 archive

One Year of Blogging!

2013 Self Portrait - ©TimeLine Media

It has been a year since I recommitted myself to blogging every day in 2013. What an experience it has been for me! There are many photographers in the blogosphere that inspired me to do this. I first saw a lot of people with “Photo 365” blogs where they would post a photo each day. Overall, that did not seem to reach the goals that I was looking to accomplish. I wanted to get more traffic to my website, and more exposure to potential clients and subjects.

Daily Posting

2013 Self Portrait - ©TimeLine Media
2013 Self Portrait – ©TimeLine Media

One benefit from blogging every day is that it documents what is going on throughout the year more in depth than a daily journal could. The topics from the blog came from what was on top of mind at the time – upcoming events to cover, new techniques I was learning, as well as looking back to recent shoots and whether or not they were successful. I did not think that blogging would help my photography, but it definitely has! I now have a regular outlet to post and share my images where I can explain what was going on, what I was thinking – much more than I can on Facebook or other social networks.

2013 Self Portrait - ©TimeLine Media
2013 Self Portrait – ©TimeLine Media

Will I continue to blog in 2014? I think it is safe to say yes! I have really enjoyed getting to learn how to complete awriting assignment every day. The challenge to come up with topics and write more than 2 sentences is helpful in the sound-bite / 140-characted limited world. It has helped me to remember settings, and approaches better, and has helped me to setup for new shoots. If I take off a day or two, please do not be too harsh, but I still have a string of topics I would like to write about. With new subjects and events lining up for 2014 already and some changes that I have been planning starting to come online, I am sure I will have more to add to the list in no time.

2013 Self Portrait - ©TimeLine Media
2013 Self Portrait – ©TimeLine Media

Happy New Year!

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703-864-8208

Silver Spring Professional Show

Arthur Murray Silver Spring, MD - ©TimeLine Media

It has been a while since I posted some ballroom dance photos! There are a few of the professional shows from the 2013 Arthur Murray Fall Showcase that I have not yet featured on the blog. Today, I will post photos from the Swing show by the Silver Spring, MD studio.

Arthur Murray Professional Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Professional Show – ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Professional Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Professional Show – ©TimeLine Media

This show had a lot of fun personality! There was a great playful character to the dancing that had a lightness and quick action that was fun to watch. This was a great display of Swing technique by these two that really made for some great photos.

Arthur Murray Swing Professional Show - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Swing Professional Show – ©TimeLine Media

The Swing is a dance that brings lots of people into the studio. It can be done to a lot of modern and classic rock music, so it has a familiar feel to all levels of dancers. These two put on a nice display to inspire students to continue learning new figures.

Arthur Murray Silver Spring, MD - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Silver Spring, MD – ©TimeLine Media

The speed of the action of this dance had great movement in her dress. It was hard to catch in the camera they were so quick! The Silver Spring crowd should be proud of another great showing by their staff.

Arthur Murray Silver Spring, MD - ©TimeLine Media
Arthur Murray Silver Spring, MD – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Rule of Thirds – Part 2

A cappella singer performing - ©TimeLine Media

We just watched the new motion picture, “American Hustle” which was a movie heavily focused on character development, and character interaction. In movies, the examples of the rule of thirds is used during scenes of dialog, and other half or close up shots of the actor’s faces. When there is only one face on the screen at a time, the extra space that the other third of the frame gives the audience a space to place themselves, or to place the other character that is not on screen.

Having this space really places you in the scene making the viewer more engaged in the film. If this space was not there, it will be jarring to viewers, and will create a tension – like something is not right. This can be used as a compositional element too whether in still or motion pictures. In these photos, the subject is placed on a third, looking through the long side of the frame.

Event Photography

A cappella singer performing - ©TimeLine Media
A cappella singer performing – ©TimeLine Media
Salsa Bachata Throwdown - ©TimeLine Media
Salsa Bachata Throwdown – ©TimeLine Media

This composition will also work for landscape or still life photos. Placing objects along the grids or having objects “face” the open part of the frame creates a better composition. It works for many situations. Additionally, it can make a great starting point. When presented by a tricky scene try this to make your photos better with your new camera.

Frames Divided into Thirds

Still Life Rule of Thirds example - ©TimeLine Media
Still Life Rule of Thirds example – ©TimeLine Media
Still Life Rule of Thirds example - ©TimeLine Media
Still Life Rule of Thirds example – ©TimeLine Media

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703-864-8208

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