The Center for Creative Photography is in the prestigious University of Arizona Libraries in the United States of America. Although some art historians would argue that a museum devoted to creative photography should really be in Europe, where photography originated, the University of Arizona beat them to it. However, the Center for Creative Photography is devoted to works of twentieth century North American photographers. So, that should keep the Europeans happy.

Where Exactly Is It?

Although listed as being at the University of Arizona Libraries, the Center for Creative Photography is not exactly open to the public like other art libraries. There isn’t any money or manpower to keep a proper museum up and running in a way that the images inside deserve. But to lock the photographs inside of a bank vault away from those who love photography would be cruel. So, the Center for Creative Photography came up with a compromise.

You have to make an appointment in order to see the collection. If you are alone or in a group, you definitely need to make an appointment and expect to be chaperoned throughout. You will be escorted to see some of the 80,000 pieces of artwork and can make requests to focus on particular North American photographers such as Ansel Adams, Josef Breitenbach, Aaron Siskind, William Mortensen, Frederick Sommer and W. Eugene Smith.

For Researchers

If you are a researcher, then you need to make special plans with the Center of Creative Photography in order to be able to access its vast archives instead of just looking at the more famous photography images that most casual visitors want to see. You also can have access to the written works from and about the photographers as well as negatives. You still need to make an appointment. Please don’t just show up unannounced. They hate that.

The Center for Creative Photography is open weekdays from 10am to 4pm. It is not open on weekends ever. If you go to the Center for Creative Photography’s website, you can view a comprehensive index of all of the materials in their incredibly vast archives. Depending on what your research subject is, you might be eligible to apply for a research grant, funded by Polaroid. Again, you need to see the website for details.

The Center for Creative Photography is the largest collection of its kind in the world and they keep as close an eye on it as possible, because they know their duty for posterity.

What are the factors that influence the outcome of a portrait and distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary? Don’t get me wrong, there absolutely nothing wrong with the classic and conventional portraits that follow the rules. There are amazing portraits, though, that just stand out above the rest. Sometimes, the most stunning portraits are the ones that don’t conform to the traditional rules. With a few clever portrait photography tips, you can create photographs that rival those by the most talented artistic photographers.

The direction of your subject’s gaze can have dramatic effects on the portrait. Having your subject focus on something outside the view of the camera can create a very candid and intriguing photograph. You can create a story within the image by focusing your subject’s attention on something within the frame, such as another person or an object. Candid shots look natural and can often be more flattering. Instead of having the subject pose, shoot them reacting normally to situations. Candid shots especially work well when photographing children. Black and white portrait photography is another method that adds elegance and drama to photographs while at the same time concealing minor imperfections like blemishes and skin discoloration.

Portrait Photography Tips to Conceal Subjects Imperfections

There are several tricks you can use to help correct issues with the subjects of your portraits. If the subject has a round or fat face, try posing them three-fourths to the camera, using short lighting, and slightly raising the camera angle. Pose models with thin faces facing the camera. If your subject has deep lines or wrinkles, try using softer, frontal lighting. Sometimes scars and blemishes can be concealed by repositioning the subject to shadow the problem areas. When blinking is a problem, try to time your shots to right after the subject blinks. You can compensate for deep set eyes by directing light into the eyes. A bigger nose can be obscured by posing nose straight into lens or raising the chin, whereas a small nose should be positioned at an angle to the camera. Multiple chins can be concealed by having the subject lean their head toward the camera and stretching their neck.

There are several portrait photography tips to stop the glare of eye glasses. You can shoot the photographs with empty frames, removing the glass element all together, position the glasses away from the light, or bounce the lights off of the ceiling instead of shining directly on the subject. When your subject has different sized eyes, you can either create an evening effect by having them turn the largest eye away or shadow the smaller eye while the larger one is turned closer to the camera. By using a higher camera angle or a three-fourths pose, you can diminish the appearance of a subject’s square jaw. These are only a few tips for portrait photography. There are countless other methods that are effective in both adding drama to your images and hiding imperfections. Have fun with your camera, experiment and perhaps you can come up with some portrait photography tips of your own.

On fashion magazines, fashion websites, clothing catalogs, and more, many of the photos you see are known as fashion stock photography. Fashion stock photography can consist of photographs of models as well as clothing, jewelry, and other accessories. Browsing the internet you can find many websites dedicated to fashion stock photography and eventually find a photo that meets your needs. Here is a background on fashion stock photography and how you can ease your search for that perfect photo.

The Basics of Fashion Stock Photography

Make sure to learn the rules and regulations for each photo you are interested in. Rules will vary from photo to photo and from company to company. When you buy a stock photograph, traditionally you are charged for one-time, non-exclusive rights. If you are going to use the image in a famous publication or advertisement for a big company, buying the rights of the image will cost you more. That also holds true if you are going to print the same photo numerous times for a publication such as a catalog. Depending on the supplier, you can lower the price if you are going to print a high quantity. If you are using the photo for a local or low-circulation publication, the price will be relatively lower.

Figure Out What You Need Before Searching

There are an overwhelming number of photos on fashion stock photography sites and resolutions of the photos will vary. Prior to your search, make sure you know what image size you need for your publication. Decide on the kind of tone you are looking for in your photo whether it be black and white, colorful, or glamorous.

If you need to keep up with the latest trends, sign up with a fashion stock photography company so you can receive updates when the newest photos come in. There are plenty of people waiting to snatch up the latest and greatest photos so be ready.

Connect with Photographers

A way to find the best photos in fashion stock photography is to look for sites that connect you directly to the original photographer’s website. Some photographers will be willing to license their photos directly to you. You may even find photos taken by students or recent graduates of fashion photography schools. You will find that it is possible to find quality photographs taken by photographers of all different experience levels.

Fashion stock photography has come a long way since its first days. With the advent of the internet, it is easy to search for photos but it can also be overwhelming. The key is to know what you are looking for and make sure you are informed about how to purchase the rights of each particular photo you are interested in. With some searching, you are sure to find the perfect fashion photograph for your catalog or publication.