For now the channel will begin with Photoshop tutorials. In the future the channel will also look to provide useful tips in the field.
Find the channel here
I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for your social event. Photos are always a great way of making memories last a lifetime.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. I have photographed many social events such as weddings, communions, conformation, birthday party's, graduations and more.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be with you.
- Whether you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post-processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ballpark would be as follows:
- I hour = €100
- 2 hours = €150
- 3 hours = €200
- 4 hours = €300
- Post-processing of photos: €50-€100
- Travel Expenses: Simply petrol costs. €15 or less for locations in Cork
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 085-7590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
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I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for your desired photo. Headshots are always a great way of improving a C.V or improving your own personal brand.
Portrait Album: https://www.flashfocus.org/p998078415
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. With that has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be with you.
- Whether you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post-processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ballpark would be as follows:
- I hour = €80
- 2 hours = €120
- 3 hours = €150
- Post-processing of photos: €50-€100
- Travel Expenses: Simply petrol costs. €15 or less for locations in Cork
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 085-7590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
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Wedding Photographer in Cork, Ireland
Dear soon to be married couple
I would like to congratulate you both on your wonderful news. I am very happy for you both and your families. I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for this special day.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. That has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Previous Events Photographed
- Kevin and Sonia Wedding: https://www.flashfocus.org/p83905159
- Stephanie and William Wedding: https://www.flashfocus.org/p559369946
- Sonia and Keven Engagement: https://www.flashfocus.org/p572535124
- Portrait Photography: https://www.flashfocus.org/p998078415
- Live Music: https://www.flashfocus.org/p299111655
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be at the event.
- Whether you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post-processing of photos
- The size of the event in terms of people
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
- Get all of your photos put into a video format. A sample video, I put together of the city on Hannover, Germany. A city in which I lived for 11 months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJv61S6x7nE&lc=z23cwrhicmiasty1facdp432jbtnu53xtge0w0ihodpw03c010
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ballpark would be as follows:
- 3 hours at the event = €300
- Whole Day at the event: €500. Price comes down to €4000 for the second day.
- Post-processing of photos: €50 per day taking photographs (depending on a number of photos desired for you to have.)
- Travel Expenses: Simply petrol costs. €15 or less for weddings in Cork
- Video Format: €50
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 085-7590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
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Brandenburg Gate Berlin. Photo
As I write this blog post, it is two months to the day since I returned to Ireland from my year in Germany. With that in mind, I decided to put a list together of what emotions, feelings, and realizations have hit me over that time. I wanted to write this piece about two weeks before starting University again, but at the time I found my mind was still abroad and it was too early to write such a blog post in a manner that would reflect reality.
1) Your Body and Mind Will Feel Out Of Sink
When leaving your newly adopted home, you say many goodbyes followed by many hellos. You pack your things up and then unpack again while dealing with annoying and over-crowded airports in between. All of these actions would suggest that you are home for good, but it simply takes your brain time to fully understand that you’re not going back. Even if it is just that one percent of you that is not willing to accept the fact yet.
2) Your Heart Won't Break But It Will Be Divided
Before moving to Germany, I had never lived out of Cork. I was very used to the fact that 90% of the people I hold close to me lived within 30 minutes of me. So even moving abroad and suddenly having more relationships in a different place to where you are at the moment is a dramatic change of events. If you do live in a foreign country, it is likely you will find others in the same position as you. Because of this when you and all your new friends go home, you will suddenly have connections in many cities and countries. While this does take some getting used to, it is wonderfully exciting.
Olympic Stadium Berlin. Photo
3) You Will Be a Bit Bored Hearing Only One Language
When abroad, one of the first challenges you will likely have to face is a new language or at least an additional dialect. At times this can be very frustrating. I remember one evening in particular after a Spanish exam. It finished at 8 pm and I had been in classes since 9 am. Naturally, I was very tired and realistically just wanted to go home to bed. But on the journey, I was joined by four German classmates, and obviously, we were speaking German. Speaking to four native speakers at once and feeling like you are contributing to a conversation to a high standard can be difficult in your best moments. I remember just standing there thinking “please don’t ask me anything, I’m too tired to understand a word you're saying right now” Despite such moments I enjoyed speaking and hearing German and even languages I did not understand at all. You do miss that when you come home.
4) Everything At Home Changes Yet At The Same Time Nothing Changes
When you return home for the first time after an extended period, it does feel like the home you knew is gone. Maybe a few friends have moved elsewhere, a few others are now in relationships, or perhaps you have a new neighbour. At first, there is a little sense of panic, which you have missed out on so much and a feeling that you will never catch with everything. But after a couple of weeks without realizing it, you will have seen many of your friends at home and have gotten used to being at home again. All the panic for nothing.
5) You Start To Wonder If The Whole Year Was Just a Part Of Your Imagination
Facebook is a massive factor in this. With facebook memories popping up on our screens now, its hard not to get a little nostalgic at times. Only yesterday I was reminded of the fact, that, time last year I was having the time of my life in Copenhagen. While this year, just like two years ago and so on, I was at home studying. Or in Cork at the very least. The point is a year abroad pushes you out of your routine that you build at home around your friends and family. I already find myself asking myself, “did I really see all those places?” It’s very surreal.
6) Coming Home Will Feel Like a Step Backwards
Admittedly, this is something I had not thought of myself until another friend who went away for the year said it was what she was feeling. In most parts of many peoples lives, and especially when you are younger, you’re always moving onto something new and grander. For example, you leave school to go to university. You stop using the bus to get a car. Your relationships get more grown up and so one. Most of the time if you look at where you were a year ago and where you are now, we all grow up little by little.
So moving back to Ireland, back to the same university, only speaking one language, and maybe most decisively moving back home all felt like I was going backwards in life. Sometimes as people we can stagnate or move forward at a snail's pace which can be frustrating. But having so much evidence pointing towards the fact you have gone backwards is doubly disappointing. With a year abroad you grow a lot and at least for myself the person I was in Germany and the one I am in Ireland are different. As I write this I am making a conscious effort to be the more friendly and fun person I was in Germany and not the stress ball that left Ireland in September 2016.
TV Tower Berlin. Photo
7) You Quickly Realize Who Will Stay In Touch And Who Won’t
In a previous post, I wrote about “convenience friends” and how we are all littered with them in our lives. A convenience friend is somebody who is only our “friend” because we see them every day. One of the greatest and liberating things about living away from home for a year was finding who cared that I was gone. That time destroyed a lot of the grey and made it obvious who was there for and who wasn't. I have fewer friends in Ireland now but I know I can rely on all of them and that is a fantastic feeling. I understand people are busy, but when somebody texts to see how are getting on now and then, message you on your birthday or make the time to skype you, it makes such a difference. It’s the little things that matter the most. So right now I’m experiencing that same thing with Erasmus/exchange people, and it’s fantastic. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to keep in touch with everybody, but as they say, actions speak louder than words and the process of keeping in touch with who really matters to you gets simpler with time.
8) The Travel Bug is Here to Stay
Once I got home from Germany I was happy to be home. For the first few weeks or maybe only days the idea of going on a big adventure again was not in any way appealing. But over the last two months that feeling has evaporated. The travel bug has bitten again and I am more than ready for my next adventure and to start exploring an increasingly small world yet again.
9) Social Media Is so much more interesting Than Before
After doing an exchange year, as already mentioned everybody you tend to meet goes back to their home countries. This fact makes your social media feed so much enjoyable. One moment you are watching independence rallies in Barcelona, a second later a stunning landscape in France and a minute after that a stunning cityscape of Chicago. Having so many people you know personally on your Facebook feed living all the world works as a free guide to the world. If you were not addicted to Facebook before, you probably are now.
10) You See everything In a Different Way
I’ve written a lot in the text about change. You do change a lot, and because of that even the people and places that are most familiar to you can feel different. On top of this, you feel different about yourself. Over the time what is important to you will change, your ambitions will change, and how you act will change. Every thought is different. It is often said, that travel is the best teacher because you don’t learn about the world you experience it. Each experience in life shapes us differently, but with travel, those changes are quicker. As cheesy as it sounds you come to a citizen of the world and not just your home country. You won’t entirely fit in at home anymore. In fact, you won’t entirely fit in anywhere. And guess what, that’s okay.
Thanks so much for reading.
While you're here check out some other things I do.
Check out my photography at Facebook on Instagram and on Youtube
My Snapchat is diarmuidii and you can find me also on Twitter
This post can originally be found here
Olympic Stadium Berlin Interior
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Dear Event Organiser
I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for your desired photo. Headshots are always a great way of improving a C.V or improving your own personal brand.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. With that has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be with you.
- Wheather you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ball park would be as follows:
- 2 hours = €30
- 3 hours = €50
- Post processing of photos: Free
- Travel Expenses: Simply the petrol costs. €15 or less for weddings in Cork
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 0857590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp or Viber: +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for your social event. Photos are always a great way of making memories last a lifetime. As a promoter or music group, professionally taken photos are a great way of getting your name and out there for future events.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. With that has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be at the event.
- Wheather you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
- Get all of your photos put into a video format. A sample video, I put together of the city on Hannover, Germany. A city in which I lived for 11 months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJv61S6x7nE&lc=z23cwrhicmiasty1facdp432jbtnu53xtge0w0ihodpw03c010c
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ball park would be as follows:
- 3 hours at the event = €60
- Whole Day at the event: €120. Price comes down to €100 for the second day.
- Post processing of photos: €20
- Travel Expenses: Simply the petrol costs. €15 or less for events in Cork
- Video Format: €30
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 0857590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp or Viber: +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
Dear Event Organiser
I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for your social event. Photos are always a great way of making memories last a lifetime.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. With that has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be at the event.
- Wheather you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
- Get all of your photos put into a video format. A sample video, I put together of the city on Hannover, Germany. A city in which I lived for 11 months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJv61S6x7nE&lc=z23cwrhicmiasty1facdp432jbtnu53xtge0w0ihodpw03c010c
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ball park would be as follows:
- 3 hours at the event = €100
- Whole Day at the event: €200. Price comes down to €120 for the second day.
- Post processing of photos: Free
- Travel Expenses: Simply the petrol costs. €15 or less for weddings in Cork
- Video Format: €30
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 0857590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp or Viber: +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
Dear soon to be married couple
I would like to congratulate you both on your wonderful news. I am very happy for you both, and your families. I am delighted, you are interested in acquiring the services of a photographer for this special day.
Quick Introduction
My name is Diarmuid Gillingham. I am a photographer based in Cork Ireland. My journey as a photographer started back in 2012. With that has brought many opportunities to photograph many social and music events. Many of the photos from these events can be found on this very website under the tab "Portfolio" as well as social media sites such as Facebook.
Prices Breakdown
Prices are very negotiable depending on your needs for your wedding. These include:
- The amount of time, as the photographer I would be at the event.
- Wheather you would like digital or printed copies of the photos.
- Post processing of photos
- Travel expenses (From Ballincollig, Cork) if any.
- Get all of your photos put into a video format. A sample video, I put together of the city on Hannover, Germany. A city in which I lived for 11 months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJv61S6x7nE&lc=z23cwrhicmiasty1facdp432jbtnu53xtge0w0ihodpw03c010c
As mention already prices are negotiable but a rough ball park would be as follows:
- 3 hours at the event = €100
- Whole Day at the event: €250. Price comes down to €150 for the second day.
- Post processing of photos: €30-€50 (depending on a number of photos desired for you to have.)
- Travel Expenses: Simply the petrol costs. €15 or less for weddings in Cork
- Video Format: €50
Contact Details
If you would be interested in booking my services or have any further questions there are a number of ways you can get in contact.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Number: 0857590516
You can also contact me via WhatsApp or Viber: +353857590516
Speak Soon,
Diarmuid Gillingham
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First of all, straight off the bat, I recommended that all photographers shoot in raw rather than jpeg. This is usually changed easily on DLSR cameras. Yes, it is true raw files take up more place on your memory card restricting how many photos you can take. Despite this raw files are more flexible as they have more quality, (number of pixels) meaning it is far easier to edit mistakes and to change the feel of an image. Many of these ideas are useful for landscapes also.
Skill 1 – Getting The Most Out Of Your Sky
There is nothing more frustrating when it comes to cityscape photography than trying to get detail in the sky on an overcast and cloudy day, while at the same time avoiding darkening the rest of the image too much. Overcast days can often leave photographers with completely white and overexposed skies. So, the first step is to, look after your sky and worry about the rest of the image after.
So here are a before and after photo of the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Here it is in photoshop raw.
Moving the highlights and whites down will bring out much of the detail and potentially some colour as well in the sky. But this will darken your entire image a lot. This is why it is sensible to create another layer to up the brightness and exposure. But this time just on the buildings below.
The HRL greyscale is also another useful tool as it allows you to only edit certain colours. During the day you might push the blue sliders to the right while at sunrise/sunset you may move the red and oranges.
Finally, you may use the dehaze option. This will bring out some blues in even the most overexposed skies. But be cautious with this one as you can potentially do more bad than good by making the image look completely unrealistic and pushing the pixels too far. Something Photoshop will point out by the blue appearing on the buildings in the image below.
Skill 2 – Using The HDR Option
HDR better known as “High Dynamic Range”. The HDR setting in photoshop which can also be found on some cell phones is best used in situations of high contrasts. For example, on a sunny day. A building may be covered by a very dark shadow while the sky may be very bright as it is a very bright day. Sometimes no matter what you do you will end up with an overexposed image or an image filled with flat shadows. HDR helps brings out all the colours in a scene when there is a great variety of dark and bright colours and contrasts. It is often used to create dynamic landscape shots.
One way I love using the HDR setting is on brightly lit buildings at night. The HDR setting can often bring out details and the sky that would be impossible to see otherwise. Take this example of the Nord/LB in Hanover, Germany.
Original Post Processed Photo
HDR Verion Of The Previous Image
Skill 3 – Adjustment Layer
While this can be done in the normal photoshop. The extra flexible given to you by camera raw are worth using. Used by clicking on the fifth icon to the right on the top of the option/menu bar. Adjustment layers are often used to bring out more detail in a sky. When I do this I often up to the contrast on a photo. As a result of this, the darks in the image often the buildings themselves become darker to the point where they can be difficult to recognize. Adjustment layers allow photographers to edit certain parts of an image while leaving the remaining untouched. A very useful indeed.
As can be seen from the sliders on the right certain parts of an image can be processed in a wide range of ways. In this situation, I decided the tree on the right-hand side of the image was too dark. With your icon, you draw over what part of the image you want to change. In the case of upping the exposure, it is wise to turn up the exposure to 4.0 the maximum number in order to make it easy to see what you are editing. Then when you happy with your suggestion, slide the slider back to a level you’re happy with.
As a self-proclaimed multipotentialite rather than a specialist. Like so many others I appreciate an area that provides a wide range of photographic opportunities. So here is a local’s guide to my home city, Cork which is located in the southern area of Ireland. Here is what you should photograph on your next visit.
The English Market
The world famous English Market is located in the heart of the city. The market is home to a wide range of culinary opportunities of meats, cheeses and much more. The located enjoyed by many including the Queen Of England who visited in 2011 is a great spot for all street photographers. Especially on Saturdays, the market is buzzing with many people purchasing goods and services. This leads to a wonderful variety of emotions and people.
Approx time needed 1.5 – 2 hours. A bonus stop about a 20 – 25-minute walk from the market is Shandon Tower. A great spot to photograph the city from an aerial standpoint.
Aurial Shot of Cork City taken from Shandon Tower.
Myrtivile Beach
The people of Cork are very fortunate to claim beaches such as Kinsale, Garretstown, Myrtivile and so on. Myrtivile is a great spot for sunrises for a number of reasons. The last thing you want when taking a photo of a beach sunrise/sunset is a lot of people getting in your way. This will not be a problem at Myrtivile beach. Only a few swimmers regularly appear in the mornings and this is usually long after the best colours of the sky have passed. The car park is located within 30 seconds of the beach but because of barriers, it is impossible to get a car on the beach. This makes the possibility of cars getting in the way of shots an impossibility. A great quite spot, brilliant for sunrises, yet only a 30-minute drive from the city centre if you avoid the early morning rush hour. Approx time needed 1.5 – 2 hours.
Myrtivile Beach sunrse
Cobh
The small coastal town formally known as Queenstown is located on the south coast of the county. The harbour town is not only beautiful but it also holds a deep and interesting history. Cobh was the final part of Ireland some 2 – 2.5 million Irish people saw before emigrating to the USA between 1848 and 1950 especially. The height of this coming during the now world famous potato famine. The town is also understood to be the final stop of the RMS Titanic before it crashed at sea. Despite the dark history, the town is filled will many colourful houses and other buildings. Saint Colman Cathedral is a photographer’s dream both due to its wonderful design and location. The building itself is blessed with a fantastic detailed outer while it is located at a high point within the town so you don’t usually have to wait too long to get a clear shot of it. An interesting spot all round but prepare yourself to be walking up hills. Approx time needed. 4-5 hours. A further recommendation would be to visit Spike Island and Kinsale both located nearby should you have the time.
Saint Colman's Cathedral Cobh
Nohoval Cove
A small rocky cove off the coast of west Cork near Nohoval. Nohoval Cove is a small inlet surrounded by stunning cliffs and gleaming dark caves. This spot is not the easiest drive as the last few hundred meters of the road are very narrow. While the drive comes with its complications, once you arrive, you will be glad you made the effort. There are two main locations to photograph from. The first of these is to walk near the rocky bay and to photograph from a ground level. But many would tell you the magic begins after you make the small climb up to cliff on your left-hand side (when you are facing the water) and shooting the water and the rugged green landscape from above. While it is lovely during the day and at sunset, sunrise is the best time to visit the quite location as the sun rises above the cliffs and sea below.
Nohoval Cove in the summer
City at Night
As a harbour city, it is expected that Cork will be the home of a river. This river is known as the River Lee. This brings lots of great opportunities for nightscapes photographers and those who love reflections in general, will enjoy greatly. Buildings that reflect along the river include the main bus station along Parnell Place, the City Hall which varies in colour. This includes green, white and orange the colours of the Irish flag. Cork, like the capital Dublin, is the home of many bridges that are colourful at night and lead to some nice nightscape photography.
Should the weather go your way Cork city itself can be photographed intensively in 2-3 days. The same can’t be said for the landscape. With so many splendid beaches, mountains and so on, one could photograph Cork for a lifetime. But here are my suggestions if you are stuck for time. I have tried to pick a wide range of located so there is something for everybody.
Field in which Kilkrea Castle is located.
Honorary mentions to:
Baltimore Beacon
Drombeg Stone Circle
Kilkrea Castle
Fota Wildlife Park
Mizen Head
Kinsale
University College Cork
Gougane Barra
Ballincollig Regional Park
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1. Don’t Rely On Editing And Cropping
While editing software’s like photoshop and websites like Instagram exist and can be very useful, it is important to keep your use of these limited. This is because if you are fixing every mistake and blemish after the photo is taken your photography skills are not improving. Photoshop can only do so much. It is vital to do your best to get your photo correct from the camera itself. First of all, it is less work for you in post production. Secondly, it will force you to look at the different indicators on your camera and you will soon develop a better understanding of lighting, exposure, how to fill the frame and so on. Cropping can also have an extra danger as any crop will reduce the quality of a photo which may cause it to become pixelated and unattractive.
2. Look At Other People’s Work/ Join The Local Camera Club
While often photography can be enjoyed best, alone, you can’t do everything on your own. Whether, you are looking for new ideas or hoping to learn something new, the work of others can inspire you and push you to push your limits. For example, create a new Instagram account and simply follow photographers that post work better than your own. You will first of all quickly see what works and what doesn’t work. Next, the photos will inspire you to go out and take more and more photos. Secondly, join the photography club in your local city or school. There is bound to be plenty of people you can learn from and even if you feel you are one of the stronger members of the group, giving other people advice will make you think about your own work and help you understand what you shoot the way you do.
3. Think About Photos Even When You Don’t Have Your Camera
It is not always possible to have your camera with you. Saying this you can always look around you and imagine that you do. If you get a free moment, take in your surroundings and ask yourself what would you be doing if you had your camera right now? Where would you stand? Would you use a filter? How would you go about filling the frame and so on. In many ways, you are capturing what could be rather than what it is right now. Exciting right?
4. Choose Different Themes
A great weakness in many photographers, from Snapchat users to professionals is that they become a master of one type of photography but very weak everywhere else. Variety is the spice of life and photography. It is important not to get stuck into one set of thinking. Photography is an art form and therefore all about creativity. If you become too narrow-minded you will either get left behind with the times or your work will eventually become stale to your audience. So every week or month give yourself a different challenge. This week try the colour "red". Next week try the theme of "infrastructure" You get the idea. In a nutshell, simply mix it up.
5. Shoot at Golden Hour
First of all, what is the golden (magic) hour? Simply put the golden hour is the 30-45 minute period before sunrise and after sunset. During this time, the colours in the sky tend to be redder and softer. This is important because it gives your photos a natural reddish effect that is not possible at many other points of the day. Secondly using this time you as the photographer have a lot more flexibility.
Is it a perfectly fair assumption to assume only landscape photographers need to worry about the sun but this is simply not the case. For example, if you want to capture a small object, you may place it next to the window. During the golden hour, natural light is far more likely to be passing through your window leading to most more interesting effects and an easier job getting enough light into your photo.
6. Limit yourself on Purpose
It is unbelievable how often you see somebody who has an iPhone 6 take a better photo of the same scene than somebody with a DLSR camera. No, we are not saying an iPhone is better than your Canon 60D or Nikon 3300. All we are saying is that better equipment does not automatically equal better photos. Sometimes it can do the opposite. Like editing software, a better camera can be a “get out of jail” card so to speak. People are confident that the camera will do all the work, they become lazy when taking photos. So, one way to improve is not to get the credit card out too fast.
You will learn more from having less because you will learn to get the most out of what you have. A better camera will not give you a better composition unless you stand in the right place. A higher quality of camera will not automatically make everything sharp or keep everything straight. Like we said when it came to editing. Get your photo right from the start. This is a lot easier to do if you understand the equipment you already have.
]]>I, Diarmuid Gillingham the proud owner of this website and the brand Diarmuidgraphy would like you to welcome you. This website was a long time in the making. I have long had a Facebook page and more recently Twitter and Instagram accounts to present my work over the last few years. The desire to make this a part of my working life and one day the main focus was the main driving force behind creating this website. I believe a professional looking website is the best way to present my work. Through many hours of self-learning and practising with others, my photography is at a professional level. So a professional website to go along with my work is essential.
As I take more and more photos over the coming months and years I hope to improve my portfolio even further and with that provide a better product and more options for you the viewer of this website and reader of this blog post. Many of my social media accounts for example, Facebook and Instagram can be found by clicking on the "contact" tab above. While I will continue to post on these as normal, a lot more of my work will be available for viewing and purchasing here. Social media is a place where if you post too often, it is easy to make people feel like you are pushing your work on them a little too much.
For example, if on a particular day, I may take 5 photos that I feel will interest people. I will, for example, post two of them on social media but all five will be available here for both purchasing and viewing. This is done to avoid overwhelming you the viewer with too much content on social media, but also giving you as the viewer a reason to come back here to the website.
While uploading new photos and constantly improving my photography will be the main focus of this website, I hope to use this blog as a way of giving tips and ideas that I pick up myself along the way. There may also be a few stories along the way too.
Thank you for reading, I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind Regards,
Diarmuid Gillingham
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