A Brief History Of Photography

Photography is the favorite hobby of millions of people. There is a certain kind of fulfillment when capturing images that tell a story. It may have something to do with freezing an event in time that somehow becomes a permanent part of history. Speaking of which, not too many people into photography know about their hobby’s origins. Here is a brief history of photography.

Photography has its roots in ancient times when two principles were discovered: the camera obscura, which meant a darkened chamber, and that the visible appearance of some substances can be altered when exposed to light. One of the most mysterious and surprising things about this is that it took centuries before Thomas Wedgwood thought of combining these two principles in 1800. His was the first documented attempt at a capture camera. It failed though.

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Some 20 years after Wedgwood’s attempt, a man by the name of Nicephore Niepce succeeded in capturing the first image, which though very crude, was considered a huge success. It was Niepce’s associate Louis Daguerre who went on to invent the daguerreotype process, which sped up and boosted the quality of image production.

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Over the next century, photography would experience milestone after milestone from William Henry Fox Talbot’s calotype negatives to salt print processes, to the invention of new materials, that all made the whole photography process faster. Before people knew it, the mid-20th century brought forth photographs in natural color and black and white.

Hi! I’m Judd Bergman, a retired photographer and a big New York Yankees fan. Follow this blog for more photography insights.

Creative Therapy: How Photography Can Help People With Mental Health Issues

These days, more people are becoming aware of mental health issues. Instead of keeping their struggles to themselves, people are sharing how they cope. One of these is through photography. To help a person with mental heath issues express his or her feelings, some therapists are suggesting that they start capturing objects and moments on camera. Just like painting and writing, photography helps a person communicate what can’t be expressed verbally.

Image source: Webmd.com

Photography also allows a person to find inspiring and motivating images that will help them go through life. Taking a photo of a stunning sunset or a refreshing green forest can help a person feel calm. For others, taking a good picture makes them feel accomplished and lets them look forward to the next days. Some people also say that photography is a meditative activity. Focusing on the good clears a person’s mind of unnecessary negativity. The activity also fosters mindfulness and keeps a person’s thoughts anchored in the present.

Whatever the reason, photography is an activity that brings out the good in a person and in the world we live in. I’m just glad that my passion is becoming a way for people to get better.

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Judd Bergman’s the name. I’m a full-fledged New York City dweller and dad of three. Now that I have already retired from my job as a travel photographer, I can take my grandkids to see the Yankees play live because I know that the blood of blue and gray runs deep within them, too. This blog has more of my thoughts on baseball and photography.

Taking a Snap Of Big Apple

There’s no doubt that New York City is one postcard- (Instagram for our dear millennials) worthy town. Wherever you look, there’s always something interesting to document in the city -- the celebrated street couture, the legendary food trucks, the twinkling theater marquees, or even just the Humans of New York --- the Big Apple is, indeed, a photographer’s dream.

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And the city’s views and sights don’t discriminate. Regardless if you are snapping away with your iPhone or documenting with your Canon or Nikon, New York always has something majestic to offer. Take it from me. I have been a travel photographer for five decades, and a New Yorker for heavens know how long, but I still get enamored by the city whenever I look through my viewfinder.

So, if you are planning to visit New York soon or would like to get reacquainted once more with The City That Never Sleeps, I suggest you explore my beloved urban jungle through your camera. You can begin with the usual stops: The Top of the Rock for a panoramic view of the city or the Brooklyn Bridge for some awesome night photography session. Of course, don’t skip the Empire State Building, but be ready to line up to get to the top. The wait, however, is worth it, for that incredible perspective of Manhattan.

Image source: WLIW.org

But if you want to photograph the other side of New York, you need to visit the places rarely found on tourist’s must-see list. These include The Bridge at Tudor City, where you can catch the best sunsets you have ever seen, The Tom Fruin Water Tower in Dumbo, Brooklyn, where art comes alive, and the Four Freedoms Park, where minimalism reigns.

I hope that these places will make you realize why people never get tired of photographing this city of mine.

Hello! Judd Bergman here. For more NYC snapshots and stories, follow me on Facebook.

Rekindle Your Love For Photography With These Project Ideas

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I understand that there are times in a photographer’s life when creativity won’t seem to flow. There are days when it seems like we’re too slow to capture a good moment or we just can’t see it. When these things happen, I have learned to not let it get to me. To bring back my fiery passion for photography, I make sure to have a personal project on the side. If you want your own project, here are some ideas: 

A photo a day challenge

 

Nothing gets you out of a rut than knowing that you have to get a photo daily. With this project, the possibilities are endless. There’s no running theme and you’re not really required to come out with a photo worthy of a spread in a magazine. Just take a photo of something that catches your interest to fulfill your challenge for the day. 

Pictures of home project

 

Whether you’re living in a suitcase or have set some well-made roots in a city, taking pictures of what makes your current home interesting will give you lots of material to play with. You could take photos of a part of your house, your neighbors, what happens in the streets, and more. You’ll never run out of interesting details to discover. 

Image source: Dreamstime.com

Interesting strangers project

 

Taking photos of seemingly ordinary people while letting them tell their story is a good challenge. I tried this for a few times and the results came out great. I guess photographers work better when they know the depth of the person or the event they’re documenting. This project just brings out the heart behind the art of photography.

What do you think? If you’re up for the challenge, I guarantee that you’ll be inspired to go on and keep taking good photos. 

Judd Bergman’s the name. I’m a full-fledged New York City dweller and dad of three. Now that I have already retired from my job as a travel photographer, I can take my grandkids to see the Yankees play live because I know that the blood of blue and gray runs deep within them, too. This blog has more of my thoughts on baseball and photography.

Monochrome photographs: Tips for black and white photography

Black and white photographs are known for being ageless. They add decadence and dramatic effect to shooting subjects. Here are some tips to achieve staggering black and white photographs:

Contrast, lines, and shapes: The perfect blend of luminance is one of the keys to a good black and white photo. High-contrast lighting can usually boost the boldness of shapes and overall composition. When choosing a subject, choose something that has simple yet strong lines and shapes. The blend of shadows and light makes the shapes and lines stronger.

Image source: techradar.com

Mood and impact: Choose a subject that will be impactful even without their normal hues. For example, a sunflower field scene usually relies on colors to convey happiness to viewers. Shooting it in a monochromatic mode may cause it to lose its vibrant mood.

Use RAW: Shooting in JPEG format causes image information to be compressed which makes it hard to correct problems in the images after shooting. On the contrary, no information is compressed in shooting with RAW which means the photographer has more control over the image's quality later on.

Image source: photopoly.net

ISO and grain: Shoot at a lower ISO (100 or 200) because some cameras generate aesthetically unappealing noise at high ISOs. The desirable film grain effect can be added later on.

Hello there! I’mJud Bergman, a Big Apple resident, a huge NY Yankees fan, and a proud dad and grandfather. I’m a retired travel photographer but I still adore capturing the beauty that life has to offer. For photography and Yankees-related articles, visit my blog.