3.
You should shoot on a… Polaroid!
What you see is what you get, instantly! And you’re the kind of photographer who revels in the no second chances, in-the-moment capture that reveals every fault, and beautiful detail, with a slowly appearing image.Ever the staple of a good party, instant cameras like Polaroids and Instamatic will take a brief, one of a kind, never to be duplicated or edited photo and frame it in that classic white border, just waiting to be tacked to a cork board or magnetized to a fridge.The classic camera for nostalgic scenes in movies, you know you’re going to see something memorable when you recognize that thick, stiff yet flexible, white and black backed photograph.You aim the comically clunky camera in the general direction of your subject, pull back on the cheap shutter button, then FLASH, and that sweet, mechanical sound fills the room.Out comes the blank photo, to be wildly shaken and then left to uncover it’s secret. What a rush!But the fun doesn’t stop there!The chemicals contained inside the instant photo can be manipulated while they’re processing. #betchadidntknowthatBy taking a toothpick, or especially fine fingernail, you can trace images, add text, and even create little speech bubbles, but there’s a trick to it.Because you have to tweak while the chemicals are active, you have to remember how your picture was framed and composed, so you can make these clever adjustments without seeing the finished image.Think you’re up to the challenge?“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”— Marc Riboud📷Zoom, Focus, Shoot📷How to capture like a pro!An image is worth a thousand words…...but for every truly extraordinary image out there, more than a thousand practice photos needed to be taken before the skills and mastery were developed enough to make it happen.Here are a few things to remember when you pick up your camera to capture that one breathtaking moment for eternal preservation.1. Shoot everything. Every. Single. Day. – Practice makes Better. So even if you’re just snapping away on your smartphone, don’t let any day be a zero.2. Light It Up – Photography literally means ‘drawing with light,’ so make the most of mother nature’s magic lighting hours when you can, but for everything else, investing in the proper lighting equipment. Check out our online shop for Lighting Kits, from flashes to softboxes and everything in between to deck out your studio.3. Invest in Knowledge – Photography courses, equipment seminars, even spending some time in photography enthusiast chat rooms will bring you the knowledge you need to make the most out of the camera you pick up. Try one of our online workshops, ranging from Mastering the Trinity – Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO to Composition 101 and more!4. Identify your subject and use it to tell a story – Be selective of your subject and think before you shoot. The quicker you can be at assessing light and composition, the better you’ll be able to capture the story as it’s happening.5. Edit. Edit. Edit – Don’t rely completely on photoshop to save a lackluster shot, but don’t dismiss it as the perfect polishing tool that it is. Playing with saturation, value, and tone can take a good image and turn it into a masterpiece.Bonus Tip: Experiment – Constantly stepping out of your comfort zone is the key to creative development. So try a new subject, check out a new venue, play around with angles. But always keep it fresh.📸Capture Those Moments📸Hey there, shutterbug! I’m Alice Adams, (no relation to Ansel) and I’m the owner and curator of Aperture, camera store, photography hub, and education center.At Aperture, we want to create a community for photographers to mingle, learn, and inspire each other as they explore the world through the lenses of their chosen cameras.We offer everything from Guest Star Masterclass Workshops, to in-house Dark Room Studios and supplies, to everything Camera Gear related. We carry the top brands in the latest equipment, and some of the more fun, obscure vintage pieces, too.We’ve been featured in “Zoom&Focus” magazine and many of our alumni have been featured as experts on podcasts such as “ShutterShocked,” and “Capture.”Check out these resources to focus your vision!1. Surrounding yourself with other shutterbugs can teach you more than any book or tutorial can. Follow us on Instagram where we’ll share photo hacks, favorite sessions spots, and what’s new in the Aperture Online Shop.2. Always on the hunt for a great location? Get on our Shoot Schedule and be the first to know about any local scouting events we’ll be coordinating. Never be the last to know, or the one who hears about it the day after it happened! We’re always on the lookout for the next beautiful vista, even if we need to hike to get there.3. Curious about specific cameras or lighting setups? Check out our blog, Zoom&Focus where we share the latest equipment, and our reviews. We even do a side-by-side breakdown of the latest Top Brands.Inspiration StationNow that you've got some insight into what camera is right for you and how to use it to it’s best potential, focus on your inbox for some custom curated camera recommendations based on your quiz results.Over the next week, I’ll be sending you more fantastic photography hacks and camera tips, and maybe even a discount code or two.“Photography is truth.”— Jean-Luc Godard