chrisford

Chris Ford is a house husband and freelance writer, covering photography, music and entertainment. He is also a student of journalism at Florida A&M University. He also produces a podcast and writes comedy. You can follow him on Twitter @TopherMFord

DIY 101: How to Get Started with Product Photography

By Chris Ford
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My role as a stay-at-home parent, along with my work as a blogger, means I’m stuck in the house more often than not. I love what I do, both as a writer and parent, but I do find myself lacking for photographic subjects. Everyone in my home, including the cats and dogs, seems to be camera shy. So I began to look for other photographic opportunities around the house.

Then I began to think. I like writing. I like taking photos. And I definitely like making extra money. I’ve been meaning to clean out some of the clutter in my office and around the house, and I figure I could sell a lot of the stuff that’s still good but is just collecting dust here in the house.

… Continue reading DIY 101: How to Get Started with Product Photography

Getting Organized: My Experience Using Google+ Photos

By Chris Ford
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Some time ago, I wrote a post covering different options for organizing and storing your photos. I did this as a first step toward getting my own photographic catalog in order. I decided to pull the trigger, so to speak, and give it a go.

I decided to start out with Google+ Photo. I’m already pretty invested in the Google ecosystem, so it seemed like a natural place to start. Google has a good track record for making clean, easy-to-use, and let us not forget free, services.

… Continue reading Getting Organized: My Experience Using Google+ Photos

4 Photography “Tricks” That Should Be Quietly Retired

By Chris Ford
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If you’ve ever felt the temptation to “improve” some of your photos with some special tricks, then you’re not alone. Many people with a passing interest in photography employ all manner of “extras” to give their photo some added visual interest.

Most of these tricks, however, are ham-fisted affectations that can not only ruin your photos, but mark you as an amateur who’s not to be taken seriously, neither as an artist or a professional.

… Continue reading 4 Photography “Tricks” That Should Be Quietly Retired

The Sun Is Your Friend: Tips for Summer Photography

By Chris Ford
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Summer is just around the corner, folks. As the sun decides to become a more active member of our daily lives, we — especially those of us with nice cameras and itchy shutter-release fingers — feel an increasing compulsion to awaken from our lazy autumn habits and venture outside.

Photo by Jandro Martinez

And if you’re going to be outside, you might as well take a camera and document what you see. Being outside in well-lit environments offers near-limitless potential for memorable photographic opportunities.

… Continue reading The Sun Is Your Friend: Tips for Summer Photography

Exploring Abstract Photography: History, Philosophy, Inspiration

By Chris Ford
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How do you as an artist express an emotion, an idea or a concept without referring back to something already loaded with meaning?

Photo by S.Q.U.A.R.I.F.I.E.D

How can you explore new visual territory hidden within old subjects you know well? Or what can you do to find some new inspiration and break out of your photographic rut?

… Continue reading Exploring Abstract Photography: History, Philosophy, Inspiration

How to See the World as a Photographer

By Chris Ford
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How often have you seen something, a group of people having fun, a sunset or some other picturesque scenario, and snapped a photo of it, only to end up disappointed in your end result? This can be discouraging, especially if you’ve been shooting all day and expect to find a bevy of great images.

Photo by Mario Calvo

The problem is that your eyes and your camera don’t see things the same way.

… Continue reading How to See the World as a Photographer

Photo History Club: 7 Famous Photographers You Should Know

By Chris Ford
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I’ve said here before that exploring photographic history is a great way to kick-start your creative engine. It’s often said that there’s nothing new under the sun, but for every photographic approach and philosophy you can find, someone somewhere did it first. Studying what’s come before you can often reveal something new ahead of you.

So with that sentiment in mind, I decided to take a look at a handful of some of the most important photographers who’ve come along during photography’s still relatively short history.

… Continue reading Photo History Club: 7 Famous Photographers You Should Know

Exploring Minimalist Photography: History, Philosophy, Inspiration

By Chris Ford
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Minimalism as an artistic philosophy is difficult to precisely define. There are certain elements that are largely agreed upon, the foremost being that minimalism is all about simplicity.

Different photographers may have varying definitions of simple. If you were to give 10 photographers the same subject and ask them to shoot it within their own idea if minimalism, you’d likely get 10 completely different photos back.

… Continue reading Exploring Minimalist Photography: History, Philosophy, Inspiration

Street Photography: Easy To Learn, Impossible To Master

By Chris Ford
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Of all the different fields of photography, street photography might be the most difficult. However, it’s also an area that many aspiring photographers jump into first. Street photography almost seems like the reason photography was created for in the first place.

Unlike taking photos in a studio, shooting landscapes or working with models, street photography entails a bit of chaos.

… Continue reading Street Photography: Easy To Learn, Impossible To Master

Where Did I Put That? Tips for Organizing Your Photos

By Chris Ford
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In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit something. My photos are unorganized. By that, I mean terribly unorganized. Over the years, I’ve taken thousands and thousands of photos, all the while dumping them in folders automatically created and named by my computer’s default importing program.

As such, I’d be hard-pressed to quickly find photos from a specific shoot or with a specific subject. This, my friends, is not good.

… Continue reading Where Did I Put That? Tips for Organizing Your Photos

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