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Photography
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Blogs
Website Comparison
The first website I visited was that of nature photographer Patrick Zephyr. His website seems to have a global navigational style with the top of the website having the sections/headings. It also has the headings available on each page or section so you could go back and forth easily. The website is very intuitive and easy to maneuver through making it enjoyable for the user.
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The second website I went to belonged to Alan Ainsworth. He is street photographer who specializes in urban and architectural photography which is a subject of interest to me as well as nature photography. His website too was intuitive and easy to get around. The headlines weren't confusing or misleading. I overall really enjoyed both websites.
Search Engine Optimization
I think learning about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) will help me create a better website to optimize the popularity of my photography website. For instance I can use better meta tags, descriptions and key words in order for me people to come across my website and to get more views. In terms of having "Site Stickiness" I believe using some sort of research technique for engaging whatever online audience I have to see what they like and don't like about my website in order to improve it. For instance I could incorporate a poll asking which picture was their favorite and try to incorporate more pictures like that.
How Weather Can Affect Photography
Shooting outside can be difficult and depending on the weather you can have very different photographs. I'll be discussing how weather can affect your photographs over the next four blog posts. We all know smoke or fog can contribute to nice conditions during a sunrise or sunset, but it can also help out during daylight hours. If there is smoke or fog on a sunny day, filtered light can create some interesting effects like light beams or streaming light. If you have trees around in a forested area, this can make for a beautiful and dramatic image! Foggy conditions at a beach or within a forested area can also contribute to some nice, moody images.
Internet Privacy
After listening to Dr. Gates talking about internet privacy it seemed one thing is clear, there really is no such thing as internet privacy. It seems there's always a company learning what you search and using that information to target ads at you. No matter how safe you think you are there is more than likely someone or something monitoring your activity to learn all they can about you. But privacy can also deal with things such as copyright infringement. If you publish your photography online like myself then you should definitely copyright all of your work to help ensure it cannot be used without your permission and if it is then you have the right to sue and/or get compensation for it.
Social Media as a Profession
I attended a Social Media Presentation at Appalachian State's Spring Forward Seminar that dealt with what a job in social media entails. Obviously social media is a huge part of our everyday lives and jobs in that field are new and becoming more frequent and useful. The main goal of social media jobs is to attract customers to the company you're representing through social media. That is why I believe Instagram is very important for people in the photography business as it is a why for a massive quantity of people to see their work without having to go to their specific website.
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How Sunlight Affects Photography
The sun provides pure and poignant lighting that enhances the sharpness of your photos and allows for a variance of exposure. However, it also casts extreme shadows, which makes your photos look unevenly lit. Midday sun casts the harshest shadows on your subjects, as it shines directly overhead. Subjects look best when they are lit from the sides, so arrange your shooting times as close to sunrise and sunset as possible. Diffusers are frequently used in sunny weather to soften the light. You can either purchase diffusers at photography retailers or make them yourself.
How Rain Affects Photography
Rainy conditions pose a threat to the safety and preservation of your camera equipment. However, rainy weather also comes with beautifully muted overcast light and the opportunity for out-of-the-ordinary photos. Make sure you’re prepared for the wet weather with rain-resistant equipment. Multiple umbrellas should be included in your rainy weather kit; clear, uncolored umbrellas are the best because opaque umbrellas are more likely to tint the color of your photograph or cause a noticeable shadow. Plastic bags and towels prevent any rain from coming into contact with your camera or other valuable photography equipment.
How Wind Affects Photography
Wind poses the risk of blurry photos. However, it also provides photographers with the proper conditions for long-exposure motion studies. Windy weather brings magic into a photo’s story, whether you’re shooting tall grasses that bend and flow like waves or a countryside cabin’s outdoor clothesline adorned with billowy garments. Use a neutral density filter to slow your shutter speed and a steady tripod to adequately capture the breezy motion.