Moses Photography Tips

Why I Love Being Behind a Camera

Everywhere I go, I hear grumbles and sighs from my friends. This is because I document our lives almost every time we are all spending time together. It’s humorous to think about how they’re not used to it by now, seeing as though I’ve stayed close to some of them for going on a decade. A few of them say that I’m not “living in the moment” because I’m taking photos and recording videos everywhere we go. Although I can certainly understand why they feel that way, I feel like documenting what goes on in our lives is my calling.

Sure I could resist the urge to pull out my phone when we do something exciting, or if someone says something funny and “live in the moment” as they say…But if I do, who will remember this moment ten or twenty years from now? When the moment fades and we forget, who will remind us of all of the fun times we had together?

This is why I take pictures and record videos. Being behind the camera gives me some purpose.

Living in the moment isn’t necessarily about putting away your phone, it’s about being present and enjoying the time that you have surrounded by the people you love.

Who knows, maybe one day when I’m super old, rolling around in a wheelchair, I’ll have a bonfire and burn—or delete in my iCloud—all of the memories I’ve ever had. But where’s the fun in doing that when those who come after me may want to see the crazy times I’ve had as a teen and young adult?

And hey, if I need to give any more of an excuse, careers in being a camera operator and editor is projected to grow 13 percent in the next seven years. I need some experience for that 😉

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Photography

Looking back on the experiences I’ve had with photography is something I could think about forever. From running around Statesboro’s local Walmart, taking pictures of my friends at 1am, to capturing a still image of the setting-sun’s rays from the depths of the clouds, there is absolutely no end to what you can do with photography.

Here are some things I wish I had thought about before getting behind the camera.

Don’t let your ego get the best of you

Let’s just be real here, photography is an expensive hobby. From camera bodies and bags, to lenses and their filters, there’s a lot of different components that go into buying a camera, and some of them have bigger price tags than others. When I first started thinking about taking up photography, I always thought that I deserved the best and newest cameras. But honestly, I had to start somewhere, and buying a used camera was the best option for me at the time.

Instead of groaning about my circumstances and wishing that I had a better camera, I should’ve taken my head out of my butt and appreciated the time I had with my old camera. The controls on a DSLR only become more numerous and advanced as you move up models, so make sure you’re used to the older ones before making your way up the ladder.

Learning takes time

Once upon a time, I used to think photography was very cut and dry. I naïvely thought that all I had to do was buy a camera body and memory card, and everything else would come with it. I didn’t know that cameras should have lens filters, LCD protectors, extra batteries, and cleansers/blowers—especially if I were to ever think about reselling my camera one day.

I thought that I could choose the location that my so called “third-eye” sought out and just start snapping breath-taking pictures naturally. But things never turned out that easy for me. Your photography journey begins when you start messing around with your camera’s manual controls. Sure, your pictures may turn out unfocused or largely contrasted, but you never know how much you’ll grow until you start there.

Be Yourself

Your photographic style, including your niche (Portrait, nature, weddings, aerial, etc.) may not be as blinding as staring at sun, but it’s something that will come to you eventually, and it took a while for me to understand that. I got so caught up in trying to capture and edit pictures exactly like everyone I was inspired by that I ignored to stay true to myself. This way of thinking led me into confusion and it was hard to get out of my own head sometimes. But once I stopped thinking about other people and started paying attention to the things that I liked to see in my own pictures, then I could finally see my true style start to emerge.

Walmart’s Cheaper Alternatives to Expensive Studio Equipment

Statesboro is the best little town I know of. Maybe that’s just me being a little biased, but this college town brings a ton of fresh personality to the map. But because of how small Statesboro is, there aren’t too many places you can shop for a wide variety of supplies. With the K-Mart recently closed down, all that remains is a Big Lots, Hobby Lobby and a Walmart Supercenter.

Inspired by those who have a passion for DIY and arts and crafts, here are some alternative items you can find at a Walmart nearest you that can be used to replace expensive photography studio equipment.

Cellophane

Whether it’s cellophane wrap or bags, these items can be used to replace pricier color gels for your lighting fixtures. Much like color gels, cellophane can add color and mood to your photoshoots, and they are wonderful items to practice with and transition to genuine color gels with. They are available in all different colors, and can be bought in-store and are available in all forms on Walmart’s website.

Balloons

Image result for diy balloon light — Photo Courtesy of Ivo Guimaraes

Balloons are an affordable alternative option to creating a lightbox effect for your portrait photos, by transforming small light beams into bigger and softer light sources. When you inflate the balloon, stretch the bottom of it over a flashlight or other lighting source, and it will create soft shadows on your portrait model’s face. Balloons are available at all Walmart Supercenters.

Umbrellas

Photo Courtesy of Jesus Albeniz Photography

Who would’ve thought that umbrellas could be used for more than just keeping us safe from the rain? For this project, you can use an umbrella as the perfect base for a softbox. Step-by-step instructions on how to construct this project are easy to follow and you’ll be producing professional-level pictures in no time! Umbrellas are available in all sizes on Walmart’s website.

Foam Boards and Aluminum Foil

Foam boards and aluminum foil are effective alternatives to expensive studio reflectors. Much like reflectors used in studios, both sides can be utilized to bounce light when there are no other light sources around, and the flip side can be used to block out the light instead of reflecting it like the reverse side. Foam boards and aluminum foil are available in-store nationwide and online.

What Are You Waiting For?

Just using these tips can transform the quality of your photos, regardless of the camera you use or where you live. Do you have any tips about cool DIY-inspired equipment? If so, comment down below!

5 Free Creative Photo-Editing Apps for Your Mobile Phone

So you’ve decided that you wanted to pursue your interest with a camera. Now it’s time for your next task… Determining whether you plan to go professional, and build up your fleet of expensive cameras or if you want to stick with enthusiast-level equipment and enjoy your time behind the camera.

I know that this decision might be hard for you, so in the meantime, enjoy these free mobile photo-editing apps that will sharpen your editing skills—even while lying in bed or sweating in the hot summer sun.

VSCO
PicsArt Photo Editor + Collage
Enlight Pixaloop – Movie Photos
Facetune 2
Adobe Photoshop Fix

VSCO

VSCO is my go-to photo-editing app. There are endless filters that you can place and manually adjust on your picture. The coolest part about this app is that you’re able to create a saved recipe for all of the future pictures that you choose to edit, which will save countless hours of editing to fit your aesthetically-pleasing Instagram theme.

PicsArt Photo Editor + Collage

PicsArt is the best entryway into learning about some of the features you’ll see on Adobe Photoshop. On this app I learned about the ability to cut, layer and fade different photos on top of each other to create “photoshopped” images. Not only does this app offer various free filters, but you can also add stickers and text. You can share your work with others on the app using hashtags, and maybe seeing others’ shared work will spark more creativity within yourself.

Enlight Pixaloop Editor + Collage

With Pixaloop, I was able to make the clouds move across the sky.

I came across this application when going on a photo-editor download spree, and it turned out to be one of the ones that stayed on my phone after I deleted others. This app enables you to bring a still image to life! After playing around with this app, I discovered that I would love to learn more about the videography side of a camera.

Facetune 2

Facetune 2 is the top pick for most of my friends, and you can see why! This app offers cool features such as teeth whitening and smoothing out skin impurities. You can even make adjustments and apply filters to your selfies before even capturing the image in a little feature called live editing—which this is something that most apps don’t have, and is definitely worth playing around with.

Adobe Photoshop Fix

This app is best for enthusiast and intermediate photographers. Photoshop Fix offers simple, yet effective editing options such as adjusting the exposure and contrast, and controlling the amount of warmth/coolness for your photo. Because this app was created by Adobe, you have the ability to sync the pictures you’re working on to the full version of Photoshop CC on your PC or Mac.

Whatever app you choose, you’ll be sure to discover something new about the way you edit your pictures!

All Photos Courtesy of Janae Moses, unless otherwise noted*

5 Must-See Locations in Statesboro for First-Time Photographers

Living in southeast Georgia is not easy. Swatting away pesky gnats and sweating your energy away in hot-humid temperatures are some of the things that you never get used to. One thing that makes it worthwhile is the natural backdrop that living in the country provides.

Here are 5 charming places in Statesboro to visit if you want to hone your photography skills.

1. Sweetheart Circle

Tucked away in the middle of Georgia Southern’s campus is Sweetheart Circle. This field of greenery is used to host public movie nights for the city, and it is also a popular site to visit for couples, who spend their time having picnics on the field or walking around the circle three times. Future graduates of GSU frequent this venue for their senior pictures, and it is easy to see why! A definite must-see for any small town photographer.

2. Red Brick Alley

Nestled in downtown Statesboro is a stunning alleyway (thankfully not creepy at all) that openly showcases its red brick architecture. The Boro Market Express uses this alley behind its business to grow all of their spices and herbs. This alley is a must-see if you want to have an aesthetically pleasing photoshoot.

3. Downtown Fountain

This infamous fountain is situated down the street from the Statesboro Courthouse, where it divides East Main St. and Savannah Ave. It is one of the most popular backdrops for prom pictures annually, and is worth a visit!

4. Railroad Tracks

This is something that busy cities don’t have, and it is something you can take advantage of in your photographs.

Across the street from the fountain mentioned above is a railroad that stretches across the whole of Statesboro. Along the way, you can be sure to find perfect backdrop for a photoshoot. Its rustic look can add versatility to your photo portfolio. It’s not an abandoned railway though, so make sure to exercise caution when traveling its path for the perfect shot.

5. Sunflower Fields

The sunflower fields located on Cawana Rd are beautiful for the spring and summer seasons. Although these fields are not available year-round, sunflower field backgrounds are a sure way to produce beautiful pictures for any photographer’s portfolio.