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New Home, Same Great Content

2013-06-03T14:00:27Z

Over here at the New York Institute of Photography, we're proud to bring you high-quality photography content that supports the top-notch photo education we provide to students all over the world. And we wanted to let you know that we're still committed to producing great content, just not here. For the last 2.5 years, we've filled this blog with tips and tricks, polls and success stories, news and trends, and lots and lots of photos. But this will be this blog's final post.

Last week, we excitedly launched our new school website over at www.nyip.edu! With that comes a brand new photo articles section that you can check out here.

The new website gives us a chance to highlight more student work, showcase more of what we have to offer, and give students the chance to interact with one another in our (soon to launch) student forum. And the new articles section comes complete with several new writers, hundreds of amazing articles, and two easy ways to stay up to date with all your NYIP content needs. You can subscribe to our free monthly newsletter, or you can subscribe to our RSS feed. Either way, you'll never miss an article!

This blog will stay put, and everything here will live on. But this will be the final post.

We hope that you continue to follow NYIP, and read everything we put out on www.nyip.edu. Thanks to all of our readers for your support!

-NYIP Team

Our Best "May Day" Photos

2013-05-29T14:55:12Z

Where has the month of May gone? In our ninth Top 10 Photos post, we did a Web image search on "May Day" to help kick off this beautiful spring month. We chose 10 of our favorite images for our blog followers and fellow photography enthusiasts to cast their votes for. And you have spoken - we're excited to announce that hundreds of you voted in our Top 10 survey. Many thanks for taking the time to register your vote with us - and congratulations to all of our Top 10 photographers. Click here to view the original Top 10 Photos in our "new" competition. Another Top 10 Photos vote will be coming your way soon ....

Photograph #1: Mike Haywood Goes for the Line in May Day Rugby Match by Getty Images

Photograph #2: Eldery Woman Waves at May Day Occupy Wall Street March by Emmanuel Dunand / AFP - Getty Images

Photograph #3 (tie): Maypole Outside Clarendon Building, Oxford by Richard (etnobofin on Flickr)

Photograph #3 (tie): Tom Fisher as Sam Docker in BBC One drama Mayday by BBC

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

Equipment: An Essential Digital Tool or Totally Unnecessary?

2013-05-27T13:01:03Z

If you're not shooting in black and white right now, we encourage you to try your hand at it. But many photographers prefer to shoot in color, and then use their image-editing software, the digital lightroom, to change an image to black and white and enhance the tonal values. But for about a year now we've had the Leica M Monochrom, designed to "create authentic monochrome photography in digital form," billed as the first digital 35 mm camera developed for the sole purpose of shooting in black and white. Its features include

Full-format sensor
No color filters
Truer black-and-white images
Strong sharpness and dynamic range

Is this the perfect tool for the art and everyday photographer? Is this something you would want to add to your photographer's bag, or would you prefer to use Photoshop or a similar lightroom tool to start with RAW color and work from there? Are you a current user and, if so, what has your experience been with the camera? (Click here to read one photographer's personal review.)

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

Pioneering Photographer Wayne F. Miller dies at 94

2013-05-24T13:00:56Z

Famed American photographer and photojournalist Wayne F. Miller (left), who captured a series of portraits titled The Way of Life of the Northern Negro documenting the lives of African Americans belonging to an elite WWII Naval Unit in 1940s Chicago, died on May 22nd in Orinda, California at the age of 94. Miller's accolades include being author of the book The World is Young, curator of an international photojournalism exhibition called “The Family of Man,” cotract photographer for Life, president of Magnum Photos, and for providing the photos for Dr. Benjamin Spock’s book “A Baby’s First Year.” He was also awarded two consecutive Guggenheim fellowships in 1946-1948 and was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

Fantastic Photo of the Day

2013-05-22T13:00:40Z

I recently read over the wonderful photo article compiled by The Atlantic's Alan Taylor in which he shares a number of the early entries from National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest and arranges them according to preference. While I found each consecutive image breahtaking in its own right, none was more arresting and powerful than the portrait of a Sadu pilgrim from Varanasi, India taken by Craig Stevenson (shown below). It is one of the most engaging phtos I have ever seen and I believe any photographer would be proud to have captured it. Enjoy.

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

Zero Gravity Photography

2013-05-20T10:01:05Z

In this terrific video you'll see Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield shoot amazing photos of Earth from the International Space Station using a Nikon DSLR and a 400mm lens. The photos are unreal, but what's even more interesting is the technical instruction he offers on how he gets the best results. Also, it's surreal to see him drop the camera, and watch as it just floats there unharmed. No tripod needed!

NYIP Student Profile: Paul Kline

2013-05-17T13:00:10Z

Check out Sarah's write-up on NYIP alum Paul Kline from our Student Center:

Some new photographers thrive on the unpredictable nature of the event photographers; they love nothing more than entering a wedding hall or convention center and having to keep up with all the changing faces, shooting as they go, grabbing the shots where they can.

Not so for Paul Kline. Even though he was interested in photography and suspected that he might want to pursue it, when he went to his first job‚ a friend of a friend's 50th birthday party‚ he learned that working as an events photograher would not be for him.

"It was a good experience for many reasons, but I knew after that job that event photography was not for me," he said. "Even though I like working with people, there are too many elements that I can't control."

Today, he does mostly with advertising and commercial work, and occasionally does headshots and his own personal work for fun. And his focus on doing what he loves is obviously paying, as one of his photographs was chosen for the cover of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) year end 2005 Bulletin Magazine. This elegant lotus blossom print is one his top sellers, captured digitally. You can see more of Paul's photographs on his website, www.paulkline.com.

Paul has embraced cutting edge digital photography both in his commercial and personal work. "I am a complete convert from film to digital based photography. The speed, quality and flexibility that digital photography offers is unrivaled by film‚ although I still shoot a roll of film from time to time for nostalgia."

Of course, having your photo on the ASMP cover doesn't happen without a lot of other work going into the business. Paul has his own studio in Maryland, which offers a diverse range of services including world-class photography for advertising, magazines and corporations.

Since that first job which showed Paul what direction he didn't want to go in, he has developed two interests which he now concentrates on. One of his favorite subjects is something that doesn't threaten to throw any surprise moves during the shoot: glassware. "I love the optical properties of glass and have a lot of fun shooting glass products."

But his other favorite subject is, perhaps surprisingly given his response to shooting his first event, people‚ just not in a crowd.

"I love the dynamic nature of working with people," he said. "They always are able to surprise me, and I really try to connect with my subject.

It was Paul's delight in the visual world around him that first ignited his interest in photography.

"I am a very visual person. My father was a photographer and taught me many things about photography, he really instilled the love of photography in me."

Paul's father gave him a good understanding about photography, but once he realized he wanted to pursue the business seriously, Paul looked into taking a course.

Girl power with She Bop A Lula exhibition

2013-05-15T13:00:05Z

Shared via photographymonthly.com
Florence Welch by Wendy Redfern

Sisters are doing it for themselves with a new exhibition featuring photographs of famous women taken by female photographers.

She Bop A Lula is an exhibition featuring 70 images of successful female singers, taken by female photographers, covering the last six decades. From Lady Gaga to Shirley Bassey, many of the photographs are intimate backstage moments of the singers and a collection have never been seen before. It supports the curator Dede Millar’s idea that women often seemed to have been sidelined in popular music over the course of history and the exhibition gives both female artists of song and camera a spotlight.

The exhibition will launch with on 7 June and will run until 15 September at Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Isle of Wight. For more information please see the press release below.

Christina Aguilera by Amelia Troubridge

Press release:

She Bop A Lula will feature 70 fabulous pictures celebrating some of the most successful and creative female singers over the last six decades, from Lady Day to Lady Gaga. The photographs, some never seen before, will be a mix of candid and intimate backstage scenes, sensitive and stylised portraits, through to the excitement and raw power of live performance.

Singers featured include: Dusty Springfield, Janis Joplin, Madonna, Suzi Quatro, Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Jessie J, Kylie Minogue, Grace Jones, Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox, Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, Shirley Bassey, Adele and many more!

Curator of the exhibition, Dede Millar, comments that the idea behind the exhibition is that in the history of popular music women are often sidelined: “She Bop A Lula will highlight the talent of women performers, as well as being a showcase for women photographers. All the exhibits have been captured by talented and award-winning female photographers who bring a different perspective to music photography than their male colleagues, they capture the vulnerability and elegance of their subjects.”

Billie Holiday by Beryl Bryden

Apart from the visual appeal of She Bop A Lula, it opens up lively debate and comment:

*Who are the Top Twenty female singers?
*Why have men been more successful than women in the music business?
*The stories and experiences of women photographers in the male dominated music industry
*What would be the ideal CD compilation of women singers?

Exhibition launch event
7 June 2013, from 7pm

There will be an exhibition launch party at Dimbola on Friday the 7 June from 7pm. This will be a fantastic evening with a DJ providing a soundtrack of great songs from the many talented musicians whose portraits will be on display. From Dusty Springfield, Janis Joplin, Nina Simone and Patti Smith to Amy Winehouse, Debbie Harry, Adele and many more!

Entry to the exhibition launch is free and open to all and there will be a licensed cash bar. Please RSVP to rachel.flynn@dimbola.co.uk by Thursday 6 (numbers are limited).

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.

On Shelves Now: Branding for Bloggers!

2013-05-13T13:00:43Z

Check out this new release from our sister school, The New York Institute of Career Development:

It's arrived! The NYICD Branding for Bloggers book has hit the shelves, and we are giving away three signed copies! Post a little something about the book on Twitter or FB and include a link back to this post. Then leave a comment below letting us know that you've completed the task. We'll draw three winners next week!

In the meantime, have a "Look Inside" on Amazon!

Want to start a blog and learn how you can turn an online hobby into a money-making career? Explore The Complete Course in Professional Blogging from NYICD.

Old Dog, New Tricks: Waiting for my GoPro HERO3

2013-05-10T13:00:17Z

I can't wait. I'm like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus to put my presents under the tree. Ever since Steven Evans blogged about the new GoPro HERO3 in February, I knew that this was the camera I've been looking for. Being the director of education at the New York Institute of Photography, I've always felt guilty that I never came from the ranks of photographers. I've always been a professional blogger and leaned more towards videography. I have an older prosumer Panasonic videocam, and it served me well for years. But its built-in mic was problematic, the camera body was bulky, it wasn't HD, and on and on. Time for an upgrade.

I just pulled the trigger and purchased the HERO3 Black Edition with a headstrap mounting attachment and extra backup battery (always a necessity). The plan is for me to let you know my progress and to share a few videos with you. Hopefully we'll be making some videos that have to do with general photography, but they just might be fun videos I'm making with my new toy strapped to my head! (Or maybe I'll become good enough to put together something like today's Video Pick, below.) I'll keep you posted, particularly as I check out the battery life, which I've been reading a lot of complaints about online (the reason why I purchased a spare battery).

WHO ARE WE?

We're the New York Institute of Photography, a distance education school teaching photography since 1910 - over 100 years of knowledge and experience.

Click here to watch the New York Institute of Photography video.