DIY Photography

How to Start a Photography Blog

While blogging has been around for a very long time, photoblogging is a pretty new concept. Blogging is for those who love to put their stories out on the web in word form while photoblogging is a different entity entirely.

Why Begin Blogging Photography?

Whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur, there are many ways to blog about your photography. While a picture is worth a thousand words, you can also share the stories behind your photographs. It can be as much or as little as you like. Many people begin blogs to show their growth over a specific period of time. You can use it to catalogue your progress from amateur to professional, or you can use it to start your own business. The reasons for blogging are as varied as the people who pick up a camera.

So sit back and grad a coffee, we’ll teach you how to start your photography blog…

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5 Best Sites to Sell Your Photos Online

by LearnMorePhoto Leave a Comment

Online websites can be one of the best ways to sell your photography, whether you’re a professional or just a beginner. Websites are some of the most popular markets for selling photographs because you can connect with buyers all over the world, instead of just locally. You can sell on well-known websites that buyers visit every single day.

You may think selling your photography online means low profits, but most sites let you set your own pricing. If you’re ready to start making sales, then you need to check out these five great sites for selling photos online.
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Where to Find Wide Seamless Canvas and Muslin for DIY Photography Backdrops Online

by Learn More Photo 1 Comment

Finding seamless muslin to use for photography backdrops or to dye for photography backgrounds is a bit tricky depending on your location in the world.Here is my resource collection of online retailers to help you find places anyone can order seamless muslin or canvas at least 10′ wide.

I’ve dyed canvas before and it sure was a learning experience but in the end I ordered canvas backgrounds from B&H Photo Video instead of making any more. Many people are far more creatively inclined or have specific needs – this resource is for you.

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DIY Canvas Photography Backdrop ($20.34)

by Learn More Photo 7 Comments

I read a great blog entry, on the Strobist blog last month about making your own backdrop by dying a canvas drop cloth that you can pick up for under $10 at Home Depot.

Note: Don’t be scared of dying. This was my first time, and it didn’t hurt.
Though next time I will use gloves.

Since I had to grab silver spay paint and painters tape for update some old lamps that have been lying around the house I decided to grab a 6′ x 9′ drop cloth while I was there. I ran to the craft store in the plaza and bought 4 packets of black Rit dye, then it was off to the house to get to dying.

Dying a Canvas Background Steps

Step 1: Gather Supplies

6′ x 9′ Canvas Drop Cloth be aware many drop cloths have large seams that will show after the dying process
4 packets black RIT dye
1 empty cranberry juice container (for dissolving the dye powder)
1 cup of salt

Yea, about the one cup of salt, I’m winging it here…

Step 2: Pre-wash the canvas

This will remove any residue on the cloth and get the cloth wet as is instructed by the Rit directions. I used warm water and detergent.

While the cloth was being pre-washed it was a good time to dissolve the dye and add the salt to the mix. I used an empty cranberry juice bottle – 8 cups of water (two per packet) was a good fit!

Step 3: Dye it up!

After the canvas was done with it’s first wash I set the washer to warm wash/cold rinse and started it up again. I dropped in the dye mix and let ‘er rip. As instructed by the Rit instructions I made sure to reset the agitate cycle before it got to the rinse/spin. After the machine went through it’s rinse cycle I pulled out the canvas and ran a piece of it under the tap in the sink to make sure it was running clear. It wasn’t so I ran it through another cold rinse cycle. After that it was to the dryer.

Step 4: All Done

I pulled out my canvas and it’s more of a warm/cool almost violet hinted gray. Maybe I’ll dye it again to see if I can get a deeper black. For now though this will be a great out-of-focus background to help make my subjects stand out better.

Total Cost: $20.34

Took less than 3 hours from start to finish!

References

Next time…

Yes, I will be using rubber gloves and checking for a seam in the drop cloth more closely.
I’m going to try dying a more earth brown tone as the yellow canvas will probably take that better than the black.

Woot for Plugs 🙂

Lesson as to why you should always give things on the internet a shot and post your results. Strobist Saturday Speed Links 11/17/2007 Cheapo, yes. Spin-offable, definitely!