Olivia Bell Photography

If you follow my 100 Jump Photographs Project you’ll very likely have seen my new Halloween Jump Edition!

It was such fun to do, carving out those pumpkins and setting it all up, although it was quite a challenge!

But that’s exactly what I love about this project. Challenge after challenge…!

The Halloween Jumps

Pumpkins say Jump - #28 of #100

Spooky - Jump #29 of #100

Behind the Scenes Video – Halloween Jump Edition

We did a fun behind the scenes video too, as we haven’t done for such a long time, I thought this was a great opportunity to do a new one!

The challenge with the filming again was due to such dark light, it is not as smooth as we like it to be – but we had such fun doing this I couldn’t not share it with you all!

I hope you enjoy watching it – make sure you leave a comment, or email me to tell us what you think.

Behind the Scenes with The Bell Sisters – Halloween JUMP Edition from Olivia Bell on Vimeo.

Have a great Halloween!

For a photographer, I think autumn can be the most wonderful season.

It’s warm enough to still go out and not need gloves, but it produces some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The trees change slowly and can be at their best in the 3 months we have of autumn. Whether you photograph them as part of your landscape, close up, or include them in your portraits, they are perfect.

I’ve been waiting…

I’ve been waiting for autumn to arrive, but strangely enough I realised… it’s already here!

The funny thing about autumn is how it sneaks up on you, and before you realise it, you’ve missed the gradual phase.

So I’ve been out with my DSLR searching for the beginning of the change.

My Journey

My Chosen Location

This is the location I picked to stop, get out of my car and see what I could find!

I walked down the right hand side of the verge to see what I could find.

Here is a closer view of the beach tree’s leaves – I photographed it a lot closer, but this is what I saw when I got closer.

Leaves beginning to turn

Here is a closer photograph of the above leaves – if you look closely you can see the bokeh is quite similar.

I tipped my camera slightly upwards, to make sure I captured the leaves, but also the light coming through the top of the trees which created the bokeh!

Getting Closer

Now for the close-up! I tried to capture the edges of the leaves starting to change.

I also wanted to make sure I kept the light coming in from the top.

What always surprises me is when I see the 1st photograph, and see the last photograph – it’s amazing what you can find when you get close to your subject.

Close up of the leaves

Search for Autumn

So although very soon the change in the trees will be more apparent, the subtly of the change is also something worth capturing.

If you haven’t already gone out to try and find the beginning of change, definitely give it a go!

I have a huge series of autumn photographs, if you take a look at my gallery: Autumn 2011 

More Photographs

Here are some more photographs from the same location, just further down the road!

Berries

Multicoloured

From Green to Orange

Autumn Processing

For my Autumn photographs I have been processing in Lightroom 3.

I have been using my Vibrant Colours Lightroom Preset Pack – King Pack. It gives me the most remarkable results and processes each photograph flawlessly.

“Will processing products improve me, as a photographer?”

It’s a good question to ask, but a little more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no”.

In a word, the answer is no. Processing products will not make you a better photographer.

However, if you develop your skill with a camera, processing products will enhance your skill.

I try to think of processing as a separate thing – it’s my photography skills first, and the processing is added on top.

Processing is like the Icing on Your Cake

When you bake something, cake, cupcake etc, it’ll look great, but once you add the finishing touches… the icing, it looks perfect.

For me the processing of a photograph is like adding icing to your cake.

The icing on a cake makes the cake look beautiful – but if my cake is a funny shape and doesn’t look good without the icing, the icing won’t do much good…

Processing is just like this. It isn’t the answer but it is still important for the final results.

How do I improve my photography then?

Photographer

One of the most important things you can do is to practice.

Practice, practice, practice.

But also keep ‘re-assessing’ your photography. Are you seeing improvements over time?

And when you’re practising, try and do it as closely as possible.

So if you have a busy week ahead, try and practice your photography on the weekends – Saturday and Sunday and vice versa.

The more often you practice the more value you give to your photography.

Why 365 Project’s Improve Photographers Quickly

One of the reasons a 365 Project improves photographers skill so quickly is because they are doing something towards their goal every day.

I’m not suggesting you do a 365 project, but if you can, when you practice do a little every day for a few days.

You will quickly notice an improvement.

To help you get started…

Photography Tips by Olivia Bell

So to help you get started improving your photography skills…

If you have not bought Photography Tips eBook, then buy it now.

Don’t let anything hold you back from your goals.

It feels wonderful when you start getting to grips with photography and your camera, so I hope you’ll take on this challenge.

I know how fantastic it feels when you begin to achieve your goals and I hope you will know how it feels very soon…

Until next time… Happy Snapping!

- Olivia Bell