Photography Tips: Yesterday I attended the Samsung TheNextBigThing event at Samsung Galaxy Studio Soho NYC Pop up shop. It was a great event we were able to check out the new products that Samsung has available this holiday season. Check out the video at the end of my post for Samsung PopUp Shop experience. During the event we got to listen to National Geographic Photographer Ira Block. Ira has been using and taking some amazing photography with the Samsung S4 Zoom, which he used during his presentation. He was also gracious enough to share his tips for getting those amazing pictures. Ira said it is all about the “moments” you capture that make the shot beautiful. I really want to focus on this more in my own photography so I am taking many of his tips to heart.

Ira Block’s Photography Tips for getting that Great Photography:

General Photo Tips :

Have a camera.. a Phone /Camera like the S4 is a great option
Don’t look at pictures while taking photos .. just shoot.. if you look you might miss the moment missing moments.
Many angles
Don’t point and shoot .. think about the shot and decide where to shoot
Choosing Moment capture
Composition
Really Interesting light
Take Many photos do not look while you are shooting.. dont be afraid to take 20-30 shots (my tip if camera is set up correctly.. make sure exposure is not messed up prior to shooting )

Travel Photography Tips:

Fore ground to give dimension.. so remember to focus on one point.. if you have no fore ground the picture will no have the details you want.
Put people in your architecture shots, it add an interest and a moment in time reference.
Do buy a flexible small tripod that you can throw in a bag to stead a shot when needed

Portraits Photography Tips:

Don’t take a direct sun
Do backlight- turn on a light behind the subject
Look at background.. make sure it does not distract from photo
Think background first and then the person
Shadows are good they make people look 3 dimensional and less flat, so avoid direct light shots and take from angles
Consider an Portable LED Light.. to add extra light to a portrait. Get one that is in the $100 range
Props are great for kids because it keeps them focused .. not every shot requires direct eye contact.
When taking large groups.. take many shots.. hen you can choose the best

Holiday Light Photography:

Turn on the lights do not take pictures in complete darkness

Get the kids involved in Photography:

Give ten kids a project.. like go take pictures of mailboxes.. for fall leaves
Do give your old kids a camera and start to teach them about composition and what make a good picture.

Thanks to Ira for teaching us his basics. Check Out Ira Block’s instagram account and Ira Block’s website.

While at the Pop Shop we also heard Chef Justin Warner, that is he and I below. You might recognize him from The Next Food Networks Star.. he won his season and he has great hair. Justin talked about the Galaxy Note and how it makes life easier as a chef. I loved learning about the new products at Samsung. They seem like a great option for a photo and camera combo. I was able to take a few moments to experience the Samsung S4 Zoom . I cant speak to a full review on the quality but I found it easy to find the functions and it has some cool features. Like a voice activated picture function.

S4zoom Features

16 megapixel
Real 10x zoom
Manual mode
Creative smart modes like: kid mode

Galaxy note

13 pixel
touch focus

The Samsung Galaxy Studio is really fun place to visit and experience the Samsung Galaxy Products. When you enter, the shop pick up a card from the Conceriage desk. Then have it scanned at each station for points .. then when you leave redeem the points for a gift from Samsung. Stations Include:

Coffee and Sprinkles cupcake station you order on tablets and they make it for you.
Cafe : They also have different custom food experiences every day. Justin Warner was Making Gourmet French fries the day I visited, yummy truffle fries.
Design Station: Also you can create in the Design Studio area.. I made an ornament, but I could have made a tee shirt.
Entertainment Area.. was a chill out lounge, where visitors learned about controlling your TV from a Samsung Phone, which I thought was cool because my daughter always looses the remote.
Accessory station/lounge where they would show you how to style jewelry and accessory so they look great with the Samsung – Galaxy Gear Smart Watch for Galaxy Note . The accessory were from Piperlime.com

Watch my video for a view on inside the Samsung Galaxy Studio.

The Shop is only open til Dec 31, 2013 and is located on 130 Prince Street Soho NYC

Disclosure: I received a very nice lunch during the event and I made an ornament. The opinions in this post are my own.

Grab your cameras the Philadelphia Flower Show is coming March 4-11th! Philadelphia is host to the largest international Flower Show, this years Theme is “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha”. This year is not to disappoint with a whole new layout making it easier to experience the Hawaii. Here are some photo tips to enjoy and take home the show.

Photo tips for the Flower show:

Bring your camera and avoid using your flash, flash wash out the colors and tend to be harsh. If they come out dark try a different setting, play (take extra pictures) for a minute or 2 when you arrive.
Balance you elbow on your knee so you stay still and get the shot, if you need to use a long exposure it helps to steady the shot.
Always step in towards subject or the presentation, avoid taking pictures from 2 far away, they never come out the way you want, smaller compact cameras have a hard time with large spaces so take one far away then take 10 steps closer and get the feeling of the space a more intimate shot.
Shooting people avoid the full body shot, people tend to not like full length pictures and if taken to far away it just makes things worse.. step closer to your subject, head shots are great, and let the color of the flowers blur out the background.
Be sure to get the kids smelling and experience the flowers they don’t have to be posed shots just moments of this once in lifetime experience.

Here is what you have to look forward to at the Philadelphia Flower Show, because there is much to photograph, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has so much beauty in store for us this year.

Flowers meet Tech.:

Wave entrance (new this year) is interactive with video stream ocean, all around you. It is a completely new design mimic the waves, landscape of Hawaii
Largest water fall (new this year) to date 25 feet surrounded by the tropics of flowers.
Wedding pavilion is also Hawaii themed, they are bringing in a tons and tons of sand. Wednesday night March 7th will be a special time for brides and her parties to get a look and meet with some of the top floral wedding experts get ideas and learning for that special day.
Designer Showcase NEW where top floral designer complete to show who is the best (think project run way for flowers) and it goes on all day for the entire week.
Floral and Gardening Demonstrations: if you want your flowers to look top notch the learning at the Philadelphia Flower Show demonstrations is a great way to start
Flower show app new! allowing you to check in at various exhibits along the way, leaving notes for friends, maps of the show room floor, trivia and more.
Man Cave (New this yea) there will be a area design for men and all things manly: including tiger woods golf game, casino tables, sports.
Girls night out event: Thurs March 8th Presented By Philadelphia style Magazine and the flower show. With wine tasting, prizes, beauty and more.
Veggies Go Vertical display– where you can see tomatoes over head and 40ft wall of lettuce. Plus through out the entire show there is lectures and demos on how to grow your own edible garden.
Special Guest Bethany Frankel

Family Lounge with crafts, children’s activities and introducing the Lorax movie- also on final Sunday March 11 they will be having a garden demo so the family can get the gardening bud.

Special events for kids :

Sunday, March 4
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Kelly and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)
2 pm: A reading of “The Lorax” by Lisa Nutter, wife of Mayor Michael Nutter
2 pm – 5 pm: Meet characters from Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax”

Saturday, March 10
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Liz and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)

Sunday, March 11
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Sean and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)
11 am: Girl Scouts presentation at The Gardener’s Studio
12 noon: Beekeeping demo led by Jim Bobb at The Gardener’s Studio
1 pm: Interactive lawn games demo at The Gardener’s Studio, led by Paul Tukey & Victoria Rowell
2 pm: A reading of “The Lorax” by Kathy O’Connell of WXPN’s Kids’ Corner
3:45 – 5:15 pm: Sprout Snack! Join Sprout’s Kelly from The Sunny Side Up Show, The Pajanimals, and the Berenstain Bears for an interactive afternoon snack. Characters will join you at your table for one-on-one time, photos, and autographs. Please note: The Sprout Snack requires a special ticket; click here to order.

No special tickets required for family events (except for Sprout Snack), but take advantage of the special Family Fun Pak!

Tickets can be purchased prior on line or the day of the show

Adults are $27

Students are $20

Kids are $15

The Philadelphia Flower Show does offer a family pack too for $70 (2 kids and 2 adults)

If you have not been to the Philadelphia Flower Show Before this is the year to go. Also I can recommend staying overnight in Philadelphia because there is so much to do. Visit Philly.com has so much to offer in deals and packages so be sure to check it out and stay overnight!

Superexhausted

Tag Archives: photography tips

Photography Tips and Samsung Galaxy Studio #TheNextBigThing