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Please share your website address. What would you like to change about it?

Steve Brazel's Website: Stunning Image Flow, Time for Pruning

What's my website and what would I change? Well, the website is Steve brazel.com. It's my first and last name. It's like the country Brazil, but two L's. And the truth is, I put a lot of time into the flow of the images that are in this Gallery. So that I'm going from similar subject to similar subject or colors flowing from one to the other. As I transition from one subject, like a singer to a guitarist and, you know, at times making sure that I go from a smoke shot to a smoke shot or a singer in your face. Ace to another one similar or here. We go again with smoke shot to smoke shot. The one complaint I would have about this Gallery is I probably have too many images and so I could prune some of it out. I have four other galleries. I'm going to start with that one. At the end recent, I'm not going to show it, it's simply redundant. I don't update it enough. That is something that I definitely could use updating. This sports gallery, could probably be removed as I don't do a lot of fight Sports anymore. It's just not indicative of what. I'm Actually doing for work nowadays. So this Gallery could probably be completely removed. Also under my portfolio galleries, I have people. This one is shots that are, you know, people that don't necessarily fit in a specific genre meet and greets, portraits audience, members comedians, things of that nature. Do I need it? Probably not. But I kind of like having it because I didn't like those in other Galleries and last but not least, I do have a personal Personal Gallery. Some people do like to see what some of your personal work is. So I put some of that in there as well but the bottom line is, it Steve brazel.com like the country Brazil? Thanks for the question.

Steve brazel.com is my website, which has a Gallery that could use some pruning and updating. Some Galleries like Sports and People could be completely removed, while the Personal Gallery could stay as people like to see what some of your personal work is.

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My website address is Stevebrazel.com, spelled like the country Brazil but with two L's. I've put a lot of effort into organizing the flow of images in the gallery. I try to transition smoothly between similar subjects or colors, creating a cohesive visual experience. However, one thing I would change is that I may have too many images in the gallery. I could prune it down to make it more focused.

I also have four other galleries on my website. The End Recent gallery is redundant and needs updating. The sports gallery no longer represents the work I currently do, so it could be removed. The People gallery features shots of individuals that don't fit into a specific genre, such as meet and greets, portraits, and audience members. While it may not be necessary, I like having it as a separate category. Lastly, I have a personal gallery where I showcase some of my personal work, as some people enjoy seeing that side of my photography.

In summary, my website address is Stevebrazel.com, and if I were to make changes, I would consider pruning the gallery and updating certain sections to better reflect my current work.

How do you recommend going about finding a photography mentor?

Building a Photography Mentor Community: Key to Success!

The question is, how do you recommend going about finding a photography Mentor in this one is super important to me because whatever level you're at in your photography Journey, there somebody that's been there before you. So even if you're a high-end photographer you may end up in a situation where you have not encountered those those needs or questions before and there's somebody that can answer those for you or help guide you through that. So having a mentor can be super, super important, and the simple answer is Is community and relationships, right? You've got to build a community for yourself, and you've got to build relationships that matter to you. Now, for me, it was always social media. I look at Twitter as the ability for me to send text messages to somebody, whose phone number I would never have. And that's how I used to ask questions and because of that people like Rick Sam and I would ask questions of and he was at my local photography group, one time, doing a presentation, and I went up in today, I asked you questions on Twitter and since that time years and years ago, Rick and I have become friends. And in many ways he's been a mentor to me along with a number of other people. He's on this platform by the way. So what Rick? Welcome to To the platform. But I would say getting involved in some photo Community, whether it be online, whether it be through Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram, or something else, really, really helps. And then there are those those physical communities that you can get involved in. For example, if you go to shows like WPI and wander the explo Expo floor, or you go to classes and you start talking to somebody and strike up a relationship that way or a Photoshop world, or Or Imaging USA or something like that, local photo groups, La Orange County. San Diego. They all have their own local photographs, they do local image competitions, getting involved in. Those can teach you a lot. You listen to what the judges say. And you build relationships with the other people that are in that competition, then you can also move up a course to state or national like PPA or something like that. So it really comes down to build your own personal community and relationships. That you can then rely on. Thanks for the question.

Finding a photography mentor can be an essential part of improving your craft and finding success. The best way to go about it is to build a community, get involved in social media, attend shows and classes, join local photography groups, and participate in competitions. By doing this, you can make connections and build relationships that can help guide you along your journey.

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Finding a photography mentor is crucial at any stage of your photography journey. The key is to build a community and establish meaningful relationships. Social media platforms like Twitter can be a great way to connect with experienced photographers and ask questions. Building relationships through online photography communities on platforms like Facebook or Instagram can also be beneficial.

In addition to online communities, consider getting involved in physical photography communities. Attend photography shows, expos, or classes where you can interact with fellow photographers and potentially find mentors. Local photography groups and competitions are also valuable resources. Participating in image competitions allows you to learn from judges' feedback and build relationships with other photographers.

Ultimately, it's about creating your own personal community and nurturing relationships that you can rely on for guidance and mentorship. By actively engaging with the photography community, both online and offline, you increase your chances of finding a mentor who can support you on your photography journey.

What qualities do professionally taken photographs have that their amateur counterparts lack?

Key Qualities: Pros Master Light, Pose, Composition, Gear

What a great question, what? Qualities do professionally taken photographs have that their amateur counterparts lack and the first thing I would say is an understanding of the medium and what it can do, a professional photographer by studying their craft tends to understand what tools are available to them Beyond. Just the camera, they understand the light plays a role, the pose plays a role, the depth plays a role, the subject matter placement plays a role. So for example, a professional would know how to Pose, somebody, if it's a person that's in the subject of the shot post, somebody that makes them look the most flattering. A landscape photographer would understand how to use that light. For example, to draw the human eye, where they want it, how to control that light and compose the scene in the strongest way. Keep in mind, the rules of composition are not really rules, people say they're guidelines, but they've existed for centuries. The old painters used compositional techniques to strengthen Their image to guide the human eye. They understand what a rule of thirds is or when a golden ratio is or they understand that if you play somebody in a landscape image, at the far edge of the image looking out of it, with space, behind them, that creates more tension than if you place them at one side with a lot of space in front of them in the image, a lot of empty space there. So a professional photographer tends to understand how to use the light. The pose, the compositional techniques and the gear. To get the best image and best story that they can amateurs. You can still take an iPhone out to a landscape and given the right day, with the right clouds, the right Sky, the right seen in the right lighting, you can get an amazing photo, right? It doesn't mean an amateur can't take of an impactful, great photo, but Pros tend to use all the tools available to them. Even those that aren't in their hands.

Professionally taken photographs have a greater understanding of the medium and its tools, such as light, composition and pose, which allows them to create more impactful and meaningful images. They also use gear and techniques to get the best possible image.

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Professionally taken photographs possess certain qualities that their amateur counterparts often lack. One key distinction is the professional's understanding of the medium and its capabilities. Through dedicated study and practice, professional photographers grasp the various tools beyond just the camera itself. They comprehend the significance of lighting, posing, depth, and subject placement.

For instance, a professional portrait photographer knows how to pose their subjects in the most flattering way. A landscape photographer understands how to utilize light to guide the viewer's attention and compose the scene effectively. While the rules of composition are not strict guidelines, professionals draw from centuries of artistic techniques to strengthen their images and direct the viewer's gaze. They are familiar with concepts like the rule of thirds or the golden ratio. They recognize how the placement of a subject within a landscape can create tension or evoke a particular mood.

Moreover, professionals have a comprehensive understanding of their gear and how to utilize it to capture the best possible image and tell a compelling story. While amateurs can still capture impactful and excellent photos with devices like an iPhone, professionals make use of all available tools, even those that may not be physically in their hands.

In summary, professionally taken photographs exhibit qualities that stem from the photographer's knowledge of the medium, their ability to manipulate light, pose subjects effectively, employ compositional techniques, and utilize their gear to its fullest potential.

What are 3 goals you would recommend to a newer photographer in the next year and why?

Master Your Gear, Push Boundaries, Tell Stories: 3 Goals for New Photographers

What are three goals you would recommend to a newer photographer in the next year. And why number one, learn your gear? Get to the point where you can operate your gear without thought that will make it. So that you are able to react to situations quicker, you'll be able to know, I want to adjust to stop. That's three clicks, assuming that you're set up for a third of a stop in your camera settings. The second thing would be go out and try and push your gear to the extreme literally try shooting it is SOS you think you would never shoot at try shooting at a slower or a faster shutter speed, push it to the extreme to find out exactly what the limits of your gear are, that will affect how you shoot in a number of different ways. And last but not least and I think probably my favorite one is ask yourself questions about your photos when you're done shooting when you're in post-production. When you have finished processing a photo, ask yourself what story am I trying to tell somebody? If somebody who wasn't with me in this scene, Saw my photo. What are they going to see not knowing everything. I know about the scene, ask yourself questions about the photos. Where does the I first go for a first-time viewer of this photo? A my directing the light. The way that I need a, my directing the viewers eye, the way that I need. Is it balanced? Does the shot have impact? I think those three things will improve your Photography in the next year.

For a newer photographer, three goals to focus on in the next year include learning their gear, pushing the limits of their gear and asking themselves questions about their photos when they are done shooting and post-processing.

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For newer photographers, I would recommend three goals to focus on in the next year. Firstly, learn your gear inside and out. Strive to reach a point where operating your gear becomes second nature. This will allow you to react quickly in different situations and make adjustments effortlessly. Knowing how to adjust settings, such as aperture or shutter speed, without hesitation can greatly enhance your photography.

Secondly, push your gear to its limits. Experiment with shooting at extreme settings that you may not typically consider. Try shooting at slower or faster shutter speeds to discover the capabilities and limitations of your gear. This exploration will expand your understanding of how your gear performs and influence your shooting style in various ways.

Lastly, engage in self-reflection and ask yourself questions about your photos during post-production. Consider the story you are trying to convey to viewers who were not present at the scene. Analyze where the viewer's eye is drawn to in the photo and whether you have effectively directed their attention. Assess the balance, impact, and overall composition of your shots. By critically evaluating your work, you can identify areas for improvement and develop a more intentional and impactful photographic style.

By focusing on these three goals, you can make significant progress in your photography journey over the next year.

What would you tell your 20 yr old self about photography?

Start younger: A photographer's advice to their 20-year-old self

What would I tell my 20 year old self about photography? Well probably just start photography now. I got started in photography, comparatively late in life and had I known that it was kind of up my alley. I'm a geek. I've been an IT person. By trade, all of my life, had I known that it was kind of technical. I would have loved this when I was 20 years old, probably would have gone on tour if I could at that point in time. So really the shortest answer I've probably ever given just start younger.

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If I could go back and advise my 20-year-old self about photography, I would simply say: start photography now. I got into photography relatively late in life, and had I known that it aligned with my technical interests, I would have pursued it earlier. Being a geek and having a background in IT, I would have loved photography at 20 and perhaps even gone on tour if possible. So, in short, the simplest advice I can give is to start younger.

What’s your favourite question you’ve been asked in this app so far?

Analyzing Photographs: Unveiling the Stories Behind the Shots

What's my favorite question that I've been asked so far on this app? This is a great question, Nestor? Because this may be the question actually, because it really got me thinking about the questions. I've chosen to answer and how I've answered them. And for me, it's actually probably the one show, one of my photographs State, the story that it tells, and then explain how the elements in that photo tell that story. Because that's actually one of my favorite things to do on my podcast behind the shot. We break down photographs, we dissect one photo for each show. And one of the things I do is the people watching on video, can see the photograph, the people listening on audio. Can't and so each show, I take that photograph and I dissect it verbally. I described the photo in detail verbally and it's a wonderful exercise to understand. If that photograph, first of all, what story, it's telling and how the individual elements contribute to or create that particular story, and by the way, great exercise to do You on your own photography, right? Take one of your photos as though you've never seen it before in your mind and try to verbally, describe that photo and it's amazing. The compositional elements that you will suddenly find that you didn't know. We're there the lighting elements that maybe work or don't work, good exercise to do. So that's my favorite question so far.

My favorite question so far has been to explain the story told by one of my photographs and how the elements in that photo tell that story. It's a great exercise to understand the composition and lighting in our own photos.

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My favorite question that I've been asked so far on this app is actually the one about sharing my favorite question. It made me reflect on the questions I've chosen to answer and how I've responded to them. But if I had to pick one specific question, it would be the one where I was asked to describe one of my photographs and explain how the elements in the photo contribute to the story it tells. This question resonated with me because it aligns with what I love doing on my podcast, Behind the Shot. On the show, we analyze and break down photographs, discussing the story they convey and how each element within the photo contributes to that narrative. It's a fascinating exercise to verbally describe a photo and understand the compositional and lighting elements that may go unnoticed at first glance. I encourage everyone to try this exercise with their own photography. So, that's my favorite question so far.

Steve Brazill answers your Photography questions. See all the advice Steve Brazill has and get answers to your own Photography questions.

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Steve Brazill is a music photographer based in Southern California. He is also the host of the Behind the Shot Podcast. Music has been a special force in Steve’s life for as long as he can remember. As a radio host, emcee, and voice actor, he’s been around the music and entertainment industry for many years. You can find him on air at KCAL FM where he also handles their concert photography. Steve is one of the photographers at Toyota Arena where his goal is to combine his love of music and photography and tell viewers a story about the show. 