Beyond Megapixels » Inspiration Board Tuesday

Inspiration Board Tuesday is back!

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:00:37 +0000

I was just going through the previous posts that Cass had made on BMP, and I came across her Inspiration Board posts. I actually have something similar.. Earlier, I used to cut out pictures from newspapers and magazines that I really liked for some reason (without thinking much what that reason was) and as I learnt more, I realised what it was about those pictures that made them so visually gripping. And in time, I was able to take some pictures which were as good as many of the ones in my Inspiration Folder. And I know I was able to reach that mark because of the inspiration that I got looking at those pictures.. So from this week onwards, we revive the inspiration board.. but with a difference..

All our readers are invited to send in pictures that inspire them along with a short write up regarding the same. You can also write about a photographer, or in fact anything else that inspires you to make that extra effort, to go that extra mile to get the picture that you want. We would really appreciate your input. After all, without our readers, we don’t exist

Here’s an image that I find very inspiring, and it is complemented very aptly by words from Jonathan Livingston Seagull:

Image Copyright – ~faiz

“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed.
And that isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”

Please mail me your write ups with pictures at prajneet[dot]singh[at]gmail[dot]com. We shall look forward to your response.

Inspiration Board Tuesday: Snow

Tiffany Joyce — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:07:43 +0000

I had grand expectations for spring. I had expected it to start in March. That was Sunday. Instead we got a lot of snow. Massive piles of the white fluffy. So disappointing and yet so pretty. Today I share with you this photo from our Beyond Megapixels photo pool from Terry at HolgaVision. Terry is in Alabama.

I have to thank you Terry because you inspired me to stop groaning about the snow and start to see the beauty in it.

Inspiration Board Tuesday: #3 the Signs of Spring

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:52:08 +0000

This weeks photo challenge is #3 on my massively long list of photo challenges. Shooting the Signs of Spring. Am I living in a dream world where Spring happens in NY at the end of February? Yes. I am. Happily, thank you very much. But spring is happening some places in the US right now. Glorious, beautiful, fresh green grass, buds on trees, green specs poking through fresh dark earth, SPRING.

This weeks inspiration started here at Superhero Journal this shot by Andrea is just great. The depth of field, the focus on the blossom, it’s a great shot.

So head on over to our Flickr Group and share your Signs of Spring – I challenge you to not only look through your shots from previous springs but to go shoot something today that shows that eventually spring will come…even if it’s another month away on your calendar.

Inspiration Board Tuesday – The Look of Love

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:46:50 +0000

It was Valentines Day last week and I’ve been seeing all kinds of pictures that have me thinking about “the look of love”. Capturing Love is number #32 on my list. Here are some shots that capture that look of love to me. And at the end I have a little assignment.

I think I love this shot by Ray (aka DownTown Pictures) because you can tell there is a lot of love shared between photographer and the subject. That and the bokeh – I love a good bokeh shot. It just has a look of love to me.

And this shot by Nikita says love to me too – I think about people that have sat there, did they have love, were they in love, were they holding hands? Empty benches are spaces for love to me. Great shot Nikita.

And this is my personal contribution to the look of love. This was one of the first shots that I took of Lexi and my husband Ross. I looked at it for this post and I couldn’t bear the pull on my heart. That’s what a look of love will do to you.

Assignment – Capture love in a photograph today and post it to our Flickr Group, or find Love in a photograph you’ve already taken it or give me your best tip for capturing the look of love in your photography.

Inspiration Board Tuesday: Food as Art

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:49:35 +0000

I love the inspiration that I find in Foodie Magazines and Blogs – the lighting, the presentation, the food it really gets me hungry. Food photography is very difficult for many reasons the main one being you have to cook food that looks good. It doesn’t stop me from trying though and this week I’m going to share with you a few places that I find great food photography online and challenge you to #8 on my very long list which is – You are What you Eat photography.

Check out the amazing food photographed on these blogs:

Bakerella – I can gain weight just checking out the photos of her cakes. Like these cakes make me say OMG.
Smitten Kitchen – I imagine that her kitchen has the most amazing light.
Pioneer Woman – I love that Ree openly talks about her trials with photographing food and she’s given serious tips about using the tripod and a plastic bag covered shutter button as to not gunk up her camera. Awesome tip.
Chocolate & Zucchini – I really like the variety of different shot types you’ll find on this site. Some macro work, natural lighting and set lighting.
Noble Pig – The presentation, perspective and composition of her shots takes me to her kitchen.

Now head on over to our Flickr Group to post your best attempt at Food Photography or better yet take this challenge for the week and photograph what’s on your plate.

Inspiration Tuesday: Her Space My Space His Space

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:14:55 +0000

A few months ago I ran across this blog and the photography always inspires me it’s called Her Space My Space His Space:

Here’s the premise of their blog:

Anyone can play along with HSMSHS. Simply check the word of the day, make a photo to match the word and post a link to your pic in the comments. You can check the links from others for more inspiration or simply visit other people’s links to find out what photos everyone else have made. Please be polite and leave a word of encouragement on any blogs you visit. Play when you have time & when you feel like it… and when you’re busy don’t! We’ll still be here when you have a little more time on your hands again! Feel free to copy our blinkie into your blog or signature lines.

This photo from their Show Off Sunday post is incredible. I love the perspective of looking up at the trees and I really love the challenge that this site presents. For me it does three things – it makes me look at shots differently and it helps me compose the shot to generate a feeling and an essence, it takes me back into my photo archives to see if I’ve taken a shot with that word in mind and lastly it exposes me to other photographers. It’s one to add to your reader.

Does everyone out there use a feedreader? Would you like a video tutorial of how to set one up? Let me know in the comments. What’s inspiring YOU this week?

Inspiration Board Tuesday: Michael Warf

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:59:53 +0000

Michael (of Michael Warf Photography) left me a comment a few weeks ago and like all of the comments we get here I try to reply personally and I check out the site they provided and when I clicked through to Michael’s site I was inspired. Pure. Simple. Inspired.

I highly recommend adding his blog to your reader as he takes on some really interesting and specialized photo tips and tricks with video tutorials. I really loved the depth of field and the moments that he captured in the wedding portfolio on his site.

In a recent post he talked about the rise of amateur photographers and it got me thinking about our readers here. Where do you fall on the scale of photographer? Amateur? Professional? Novice? Master Craftsman? Artist?

Inspiration Board Tuesday: K.C. Bailey

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:53:47 +0000

Trish over at The Fur Girls tipped me off to K.C. Bailey and her work with animals. INCREDIBLE. I owe Trish a huge Thank You because not only is this photographer amazing but her presentation of her work is inspiring and her motivation is just good for the soul.

She features a few of her projects on her website and they are incredibly cool. Her rescue dog project was so sweet in the way she photographed each of the dogs and then made a diorama reflecting their personality. What a thoughtful idea not just for a pet lover but for any photo. I went on a trip to NYC with a good friend of mine in college, this is when I just dreamed of living there – I have a great photo of us and then all of this stuff (nuts for nuts bags, metro north ticket, Aida Playbill) I’m going to be making a diorama because all of those memories are currently residing in a plastic tote bin in my basement.

K.C. has another project called SCREAM and she captured her subjects mid-scream and then pre or post scream. LOVE it. What a fantastic way to get a genuine moment out of someone. Great inspiration.

Care to share some inspiration with me?

Inspiration Board Tuesday: marta.com

Tiffany Joyce — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:22:20 +0000

Above my desk you will find my Inspiration Board – as I see photos in magazines that inspire me I rip them out and post them on the board. I spend a few relaxing minutes a day really looking at the photos that instantly grab me to figure out just what it is about the photo that speaks to me. Is it the composition, is it the subject, is it the lighting, the special effect, the warm sunny beach? Living in NY has me dreaming of warm sunny beaches frequently.

I was recently introduced to an online Inspiration Board tool in the form of vi.sualize. I’ve really enjoyed this site and how I can tag the photos that inspire me – as you’re developing an eye for great photographs I highly recommend starting an Inspiration Board.

I’d really love to invest time on Tuesday’s to find some good inspiration. Each week I’ll be featuring a photo, site or photogrpaher that’s on my Inspiration Board. If you’d like to be considered for inspiration leave a comment, if you’d like to share what’s inspiring you I’d love to see that too and if you find this photo inspiring I’d love to hear why it’s appealing to you.

So today I recommend you go and check out the photos at marta.com and THIS photo in particular – it’s just got this something magical about it.