My First Book: Photo Nuts and Bolts!
- At January 25, 2010
- By Neil Creek
- In For Sale
6
Published last week, via the Digital Photography School, my first ebook, “Photo Nuts and Bolts: Know Your Camera and Take Better Photos” is now available to buy for $19.97USD!
The book is all about the camera and how it works. All the important essentials behind how your photograph is taken are explained, as well as how knowing how it all works can improve your photos.
Read More»Free Wallpaper and Backgrounds Site Launches!
- At February 27, 2009
- By Neil Creek
- In community
- 1
Brighten your desktop, Twitter background or any other online presence with beautiful photography like this:
Today I am launching a new section of my site, featuring free examples of the best of my photography for your personal use. These photos can be used as desktop wallpapers, Twitter or myspace backgrounds, or any other online use you can think of, as long as it is allowed by this creative commons license:
The images are all available in full HD resolution: 1920×1080 pixels. You must keep the image intact, with my logo and link, and don’t make any money from the image, but beyond that, you can use them how you like. All images will also be available for purchase as a fine art photo print, for you to hang on your wall.
From launch there are eight of my best photos, depicting scenes of natural beauty and interesting textures. Each week a new image will be added to the site, and I will let you know with a post to the blog.
Naturally, the purpose of the site is to promote my work and myself as a photographer, so please tell your friends about it, and spread the word! If you like the image you are using, the best way to thank me is to tell others about it. I’ve even included a handy “Tell Twitter” link on each image page.
If you’d like to be kept up to date whenever a new image is posted, then please subscribe to my blog at the top right of this page. You’ll be able to enjoy a new beautiful background image each week!
If you’re on Twitter, you can follow my updates here.
Weekly Flickr group highlights – Week 2
- At July 02, 2008
- By Neil Creek
- In community
- 3
Growth Continues
The enthusiastic begining of last week conrinued barely abated this week, with the member numbers passing 100, and the photos in the pool more than double that. The group discussions were a little more subdued, but it’s early days, and we haven’t reached “critical mass” for an active discussion yet. I WOULD like to see someone other than myself start a thread though ;P Here are the numbers:
- Group Members: 101 (29 new)
- Photos: 261 (136 new)
- Discussion topics: 15 (6 new)
Neil’s Favourite Photos
Pick of the week:
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The rest of the best:
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View these photos as a slideshow.
Interesting Discussion
Connect with me on Twitter!- I publicise my Twitter feed and ask group members to share theirs as well. Lots of cool people to connect with here.
- How do you like people to comment on your photos?
- Following the reaction to my post 10 things I hate about Flick (and its users) this thread talks about how you like people to comment on your photos. This is research for an upcoming DPS post on the subject.
- Melbourne, Australia group members, report in!
- If any of you live in the “world’s most livable city”, make sure you visit this thread so we can organise a photo meet!
Visit the discussions to read more.
Meet a Member
Ernest Gaudreau
San Francisco, CA, USA
Flickr: Prince Bart
What got you into photography?
I’m 64 and been into photography, on and off, since I was 13. I’ve been into the whole routine from developing B&W to color transparencies. This is my first venture into digial photography.
What do you think are you photographic strengths and weaknesses?
I know the rules and techniques. Putting them into practice is another matter. I don’t have enough patience. I shoot and move on. Seldom take the time to look, but I’m getting better. Ironically, I love to teach and am good explaining things to younger people.
What is your favourite piece of photographic equipment and why?
My new Canon Rebel XSi/450D. I love it and if it were legal, I’d marry it. I’m wheelchair bound and I find tripods and such cumbersome. Just my basic camera, an EF-S 55-250mm IS Zoom, and my 430EX Flash unit. I get in my chair and I’m off for the day almost everyday.
What is your favourite photographic subject and why?
I’ll take pictures of anything as you can see from my photos on Flickr. Flowers, however, seem to be my forte. Not that I chose it, it sort of chose me. It just seems to be my best subject, and you have to admit, there is nothing more colorful than a beautiful flower.
Tell us a story about a memorable photographic experience you’ve had.
There is an orchid vendor at the Farmers’ Market, Ferry Building, in San Francisco. When I first started taking pictures of his orchids he was upset, because I never bought one. When he finally realized that I had a black thumb and kill cactus, he was OK with my just taking pictures. Now whenever I go there he points out the new orchid species (and he has the most beautiful I’ve seen), and even goes out of his way to arrange them for me to insure I get the best angle.
What is the most valuable photographic advice you can give?
I’m terrible at it, but someone once said when you get somewhere, stop, and look. Then look again and look again. You would be surprised at what you see if you take the time to really look. As I’ve said before I have terrible patience. Hey, at 64 if I slow down too much to look, I may never get started again! But, I’m getting better at it.
Comment Day
The whole point of starting the group is to learn with and teach each other. All of us have things we can improve, and most of us have things to teach that others would find useful. Apart from participating in the discussion, which I strenuously encourage you to do, is to comment on others’ photos. Every week, on the day that I post the flickr group update, is Comment Day.
I ask that everyone who reads this blog to please visit the group’s photo pool and leave a worthwhile comment on at least five photos that you find there.
By “worthwhile” I mean something that clearly expresses why you like or dislike a photo, and if possible, what you can suggest that might make it better. Constructive comments are essential, and carefully thought comments are far better than off-the-cuff ones. Absolutely no “Awesome!” or “I like this photo” comments please. I want you to actually say something. :)
Weekly Challenge
Finally, each week I challenge group members to take photos to a particular theme or topic. Not every photo added to the pool must be to the theme, and you don’t have to participate, but it is encouraged. Try to be creative and imaginative with the theme, and use it as a chance to show off your skills.
Last week’s challenge was silhouettes. Here are some of my favourites from the photos submitted:
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The rest of the best:
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This week’s challenge is: Parallel Lines.
Please tag your challenge photos with the following tags:
- lpncchallenges
- lpncchallenge2
- parallel
You can see the photos submitted to the challenge so far here.
You can join in the discussion of the weekly challenge here.
Weekly Flickr group highlights – Week 1
- At June 20, 2008
- By Neil Creek
- In community
- 5
A Very Successful Start!
A little while back, I posted a poll asking people if they would like to participate in a Flickr group, based on this blog, to build a photo sharing and learning community. I was thrilled with the response, so a week ago, I started the group, and make a post here to promote it.
I have been stunned and thrilled at the response. At the time of writing the new group Learning Photography with Neil Creek, has 72 members, 125 items in the photo pool, and 54 posts in 9 threads the discussion. After only one week! How cool is that?
This post is the first in what will be a weekly post with highlights from the group. I’ll be sharing with you my favourite photos from the pool each week (I’m very picky, so there should be some good stuff here!), highlighting some interesting discussion, introducing you to one of the members of the group, and presenting you with a weekly challenge.
Finally, and importantly, each week when I post about the group, will be “Comment Day”! I want all of you to visit the group photo pool, and comment on at least five of your favourite photos.
Read on for details.
Neil’s Favourite Photos
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View these photos as a slideshow.
Interesting Discussion
- Some ideas for the group – add yours!
- What would make Learning Photography with Neil Creek useful to you? Read what others have suggested, and offer some suggestions yourself. Help to make this group the most useful resource it can be.
- Why not geotag your photos?
- Not just a cool novelty, geotagging can be very useful. But it IS very cool. See where the group memebers are located around the world!
- Group member survey
- Want to tell us a little bit about yourself? Fill in the member survey, and you might have your answers and a link to your Flickr gallery posted to this blog.
Visit the discussions to read more.
Meet a Member
Chrissy Pesch
Melbourne, Australia
Flickr: Chrissy Downunder
What got you into photography?
Failing eyesight and my garden. When my partner Peter and I moved into our house 3 years ago it came complete with one of the most amazing and breathtaking gardens we had ever seen. The previous owners ran a nursery from here for many years and everywhere you go on the property one is surrounded by beautiful flowers, lush ferns, tall trees, climbing vines, brilliant bushes, flowering shrubs and native birdlife. Not long after moving in we bought our first point and shoot digital camera, mainly for business purposes. I started wandering around the garden taking photos of everything particularly the flowers that bloom all year round here. The rest is history. I’m still clicking away and trying my hand at a wide variety of subjects these days.
What do you think are you photographic strengths and weaknesses?
I feel I have a good eye for composition but lack in the lighting department big time .. I tend to struggle with that aspect sometimes. .. Oh and of course I really need learn more and get my head around all that technical stuff too.
What is your favourite piece of photographic equipment and why?
I don’t have many accessories yet, I’m still getting it all together, but one thing I do have and is invaluable to me is a small 16cm tripod with bendable legs. I call it my ‘Gumby’ It is small enough to fit in my pocket, goes everywhere with me, wraps around things nicely and is great for those difficult little angles when needing support and a still hand.
What is your favourite photographic subject and why?
Nature and definitely flowers ! Why? .. Probably because I want to capture the incredible beauty of them all before they disappear due to the effects of the worlds predicted climate changes to come. I feel that our flora and fauna will be one of the first wonders of this world that will be threatened with extinction. I’m taking lots of photos of as many different species and varieties of blooms that I can for future generations to see.
Tell us a story about a memorable photographic experience you’ve had.
Last year while visiting my father in Tasmania for a few days, Peter and I decided to spend our last afternoon there checking out the Narawntapu National Park. We had only been there for around half an hour when I noticed a cute and very persistent forester kangaroo following us around, I got as close to him as I could to get a good clear shot, squatted down, focused and then to our amazement he just stood up nice and tall, looked right into my lens and posed for me just like an old pro. It was almost as if he was asking to be photographed. Standing very still for me for a few minutes and when I had finished clicking he happily hopped away to into the bush :) The photos turned out beautifully too.
What is the most valuable photographic advice you can give?
The best time to take photos of flowers is on an overcast day, misty morning or when the sun starts to go down. Always have a camera with you wherever you go … be ready to capture a moment in time because you just never know what’s around the next corner.
Comment Day
The whole point of starting the group is to learn with and teach each other. All of us have things we can improve, and most of us have things to teach that others would find useful. Apart from participating in the discussion, which I strenuously encourage you to do, is to comment on others’ photos. Every week, on the day that I post the flickr group update, is Comment Day.
I ask that everyone who reads this blog to please visit the group’s photo pool and leave a worthwhile comment on at least five photos that you find there.
By “worthwhile” I mean something that clearly expresses why you like or dislike a photo, and if possible, what you can suggest that might make it better. Constructive comments are essential, and carefully thought comments are far better than off-the-cuff ones. Absolutely no “Awesome!” or “I like this photo” comments please. I want you to actually say something. :)
Weekly Challenge
Finally, each week I’ll be challenging group members to take photos to a particular theme or topic. Not every photo added to the pool must be to the theme, and you don’t have to participate, but it is encouraged. Try to be creative and imaginative with the theme, and use it as a chance to show off your skills.
Please tag your challenge photos with the following tags:
- lpncchallenges
- lpncchallenge1
- silhouette
You can see the photos submitted to the challenge so far here.
You can join in the discussion of the weekly challenge here.
Connect with me online
Weekly Flickr group highlights – Week 3
Growth Continues
Amazingly, the group continues to grow, and at an even faster rate! This could be due to the success of my recent DPS post, and the link to the group I posted in the comments. :) Whatever the case, LPNC continues to grow, and as we welcome new members, we get to enjoy their work and their opinions. Here are the numbers:
Neil’s Favourite Photos
Pick of the week:
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The rest of the best:
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View these photos as a slideshow.
Interesting Discussion
Visit the discussions to read more.
Meet a Member
Dawn M. Armfield
Flagstaff, Arizona (soon – Roseville, Minnesota), USA
Flickr: girl-inchoate
What got you into photography?
My dad used to do a lot of photography and had great equipment. He would give me his Instamatic (because I couldn’t hurt it). I put the camera down for a few years, then came back to it, buying my own Pentax K1000 (plus great lenses). Then I put it down again. When I came back to it, digital cameras were just coming in. I jumped on board and haven’t looked back.
What do you think are you photographic strengths and weaknesses?
I’m not a street photographer. I have trouble taking good photographs of people I don’t know. In addition, I don’t know the technical aspects of cameras very well. However, I’m good at seeing composition and understanding lighting. It seems to come naturally to me and I view the world as if through a lens, every turn a new photograph.
What is your favourite piece of photographic equipment and why?
It has to be my D200. It is a wonderful tool that enables me to do more, stretch it further, and understand the technical aspects of photography better.
What is your favourite photographic subject and why?
Arizona. It’s an amazingly beautiful state that holds deep, wide canyons, tall mountains, and beautiful vistas. It is truly a magical place.
Tell us a story about a memorable photographic experience you’ve had.
My niece and I were at the Grand Canyon (for about the 50th time), and were on the rim photographing into the camera. It was a little pull-off, without much traffic. As we moved around, a man started playing his bagpipe. The music echoed into the Canyon, rippling back at us. It was incredibly moving. The clouds parted, the sun came out, and I got the photograph “Splendor” out of it.
What is the most valuable photographic advice you can give?
Get down in the dirt. Try different views of a subject. Not everything needs to be centered, sharp, or well-lit. Some things are often better seen through blades of grass, blurred slightly, or darkened. Don’t be afraid to use post-processing. It is your friend.
Comment Day
The whole point of starting the group is to learn with and teach each other. All of us have things we can improve, and most of us have things to teach that others would find useful. Apart from participating in the discussion, which I strenuously encourage you to do, is to comment on others’ photos. Every week, on the day that I post the flickr group update, is Comment Day.
I ask that everyone who reads this blog to please visit the group’s photo pool and leave a worthwhile comment on at least five photos that you find there.
By “worthwhile” I mean something that clearly expresses why you like or dislike a photo, and if possible, what you can suggest that might make it better. Constructive comments are essential, and carefully thought comments are far better than off-the-cuff ones. Absolutely no “Awesome!” or “I like this photo” comments please. I want you to actually say something. :)
Weekly Challenge
Each week I challenge group members to take photos to a particular theme or topic. Not every photo added to the pool must be to the theme, and you don’t have to participate, but it is encouraged. Try to be creative and imaginative with the theme, and use it as a chance to show off your skills.
Last week’s challenge was parallel lines. Here are some of my favourites from the photos submitted:
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The rest of the best:
Flickr Tag Error: Call to display tag query 'lpncchellengew3,randomtag1234' failed.
This week’s challenge is: Self Portraits.
Please tag your challenge photos with the following tags:
You can see the photos submitted to the challenge so far here.
You can join in the discussion of the weekly challenge here.
Photo Critiques
I’m going to run an experiment and try doing some weekly critiques of some photos submitted to the group pool. You can read more about the idea in the group discussion, but essentially, members will tag their photos, and I’ll choose about five to give a deep and honest critique of the photos, which I will post to the blog, along with the photos. If you choose to participate in this, be prepared for me to rip your work to shreds! Just kidding ;) But I plan to be brutally honest, so make sure you’re okay with that.
You can only offer one photo for critique per week, and I’ll only be choosing about five. If you’d like to offer your photo for critique, add it to the LPNC group pool, and tag it: lpnccritiquew4
Lets see how this experiment goes!