Composition | Keith's Photography Stuff

Going from idea to print – how’s it done

Whilst there are lots of articles about the technical side of photography on the web, there are far fewer about -why- you might choose to take a particular shot, and why you might choose to make a print from one picture, as opposed to an other shot at the same location, maybe only seconds from [...]

Older photographers – let them use DSLRs

Viewfinders for the older photographer…

Still useful – the Canon Angle Finder ‘C’ – what I used before ‘Liveview’ and still keep in my bag.

One of those minor irritations of getting older is a decreasing ability to focus close.

I’ve alway been a little long sighted, and whilst I’ve had glasses since [...]

Producing better photographs

Producing better photos and prints without spending much money

This week has been a busy one, with all the work on fixing this site, and fitting in several architectural photo shoots.

What’s been really helpful though, are two talks I’ve given to photographers groups in Nottingham and Coventry. I do a few of these presentations [...]

Re-using the zone system?

Does the Zone System still have a place in digital black and white?

If you’ve explored much black and white film photography, you’ll have come across references to the ‘Zone System’, a technique for optimising film exposure and development. It’s commonly associated with Ansel Adams and has been refined and developed over the last 70 [...]

Photographing tiny stuff

Creating a sense of scale for photographing small objects

Very small, but how small

I’m often asked to provide commercial macrophotography services for capturing images of quite small items, and whilst the images may convey all the detail required, they may not give an idea of size to the casual viewer.

Look at these [...]

Industrial photography in a foundry

Casting the steel A few notes about a photograph produced for an industrial client.

This is as close as it’s safe to get.

The molten steel could fracture the mould. Unlikely, but this is not a place for the close up wide angle lens ;-)

Pouring molten steel into a mould at a steelworks

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3 (9) quick tips for improving your black and white photography

3 lots of 3 things to think about

The final result? – a print

I was recently asked for some quick tips to take better digital B&W photos…

3 general tips

Think of shadows as ‘real objects’ and part of your composition. Take more photos – explore how colours and textures can be recast [...]

Hyperfocal – why I don’t bother ;-)

Has the use of hyperfocal distances for camera focusing been oversold? Are there simpler and easier ways to get the results you want? A new article discusses some of Keith Cooper’s thoughts and techniques [...]

Photographic composition – vertical lines

In the first of what I hope will be of a collection of short articles, I’ve decided to look at a particular aspect of photographic composition in detail, with some example photos.

First up are vertical lines – an important part of my architectural and interior photography.

Article Link: Vertical lines and movement in photographic [...]