Black and white photography in 5 easy steps

It is known from the past that black and white photography is not so easy to take, to look good, but when you do, it looks so classy, clean and nice. When taking black and white pictures you have to consider shades and lights, because in the end only the shade and light game will make the picture beautiful, attractive, and somehow interesting.

Taking black and white pictures can be done with most usual cameras, but you can always return to the beginning of photography and we shall not forget the film photo-camera which, if you ask me is the best device to take such pictures.

An interesting experience about this film camera was when at the photography course, that I was following, we had a, let’s say homework, on which we should take pictures with a film camera. It was very hard in the beginning to start and think how to take a manual picture, thing that my brain was not doing automatically (at that time I wasn’t used to set my camera manually). But after figuring out how it worked I tooked some great pictures.

There are some rules you have to consider before taking black and white pictures if you want your photos to look real nice.

First rule is that first of all, you need to consider the light around you, the light around the object that you want to shoot, the shade produced by the object. Open your eyes, and just as you do when you take color photography, just like that, in case of taking black and white photography, you should view, study and think before you shoot.

Second rule sais that the best moment for black and white photography is when low light moments appear. Like a rainy day, or an overcast period. Try and shoot some pictures then and see how you do. I prefer taking black and white in hight contrast as well, but those pictures are not so well-defined, shaped and clear as a low contrast one.

Third rule sais to shoot in RAW, and that is because in a RAW picture you have all the information you could possibly use from that frame, at home when processing, and deciding to correct some mistakes, like exposure, back-light, fill-light, etc

Forth rule talks about shooting color, because after all with every camera you see color on the viewfinder (except the cameras with LCD viewfinder). So try and shoot color, and then decide which pictures fit the best to a black and white conversion. This is a technique I use very often.

Fifth rule is an imperative rule, which states that you should be very careful with the ISO when shooting in Black and White, because using a high ISO will make noise present and visible, and even more visible, on black and white pictures, because of the contrast. So be careful with that, more careful than you are with usual color photography.

If you want good photos you should respect these five rules above and even make your own rules, that work best for you, and for the way you shoot, the time you shoot, etc.

Last but not least don’t forget about composition. And because there are cameras that don’t have features to view black and white as you shoot, take care about the light and shade, darkest and lightest part of the object. Try to see and realize the importance of shades in a black and white photography. As I said in the beginning, analyze, open your eyes, think before you shoot, and after doing all this you have the best chance to take some great black and white pictures.

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Try an comment about the rules above, about other techniques that you know, and you want to share with us.

Good luck with your Black and White photo shooting - relaxation session !

Written by: Alexandru Hategan

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Photography relaxation. Is it possible ?

It is commonly known that focusing your mental view on an object, picture, or on a beautiful thing that you like, or liked in the past, can make you relax, or at least it helps you relax along with other methods of relaxation.

As I said pictures can and will relax, if you use them the right way. Try and imagine for a second a sunny day on a tropical island with lots of palm trees, sand and the ocean surrounding it. Or for example try to focus on a beautiful sunset, or sunrise. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to mentally view a picture of a landscape scene that you liked (visualize a winter landscape, since we are still in the winter, perhaps some snowed fir wood, with the sun shining above).

As I experienced, black and white pictures also helps, because the colors are missing, and I can focus better on what happens in the picture instead of the chromatic view of it. A black and white picture is more balanced than a color picture, and it inspires calm and relaxation state.

Taking pictures is also a relaxing thing to do. Whenever I feel angry or stressed, I grab my camera, go out, and picture things that I like. Taking pictures is a very strong method to reduce the stress, and to relax, because whenever I press the shutter button, my mind also takes a mental picture. And then I can view it over and over again, anytime I feel I need to relax, or to lose the stress.

Try and take pictures also in black and white, it helps you to relax, and makes you calm down. Or if it is not possible or you to take pictures in black and white, take color pictures, and then convert them in black and white at home. You could also print them and put them in your office, or at home, in the zones where you feel stressed. And whenever you feel the stress coming in, look at the pictures, or mentally view a picture that you like, as I said in the beginning, and with time you will get used to relax just by thinking of a picture, or of a sunset.

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How well did you managed to relax with photography ? Did you succeed relaxing with photos ? Tell us your story, or what you accomplished.

Written by: Alexandru Hategan

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How to relax when your boss is stressing you in 5 easy steps

Going through a stressful period made me realize that one of the most important stress-factors in my life was my boss. As a student I am stressed because I have exams in this period, and also have to go to work, but it seems that this stressful period never ends, and it even gets worse when the boss asks me to do things faster, better, finish tasks sooner, etc.

My days at work seem endless when my boss is stressing me. Working under pressure feels awful, but when my boss is also stressing me, it seems that the work I have to do, doubles.

I think that I am not the only person in this situation, and because I think that there are many in similar situations, with bosses that stresses them, I decided to write this little guide to help you all pass those hard periods at work, at school, at college.

1) STOP. Evaluate the situation. First of all, when your boss asks you to do something fast, to finish a task sooner or other stressful requests, first of all STOP ! Ok, now evaluate the situation, and try to find the best possible way to do that without freaking out, try to keep your calm, get a breath of fresh air, drink a glass of cold water (water is your best friend when you are stressed, Do we use water and it’s benefits the proper way ? ).

2) Ignore the "you have to finish this till X time" - don't get your mind trapped, thinking that you have to finish that, because that will get you stressed, and will make things even worse. Think of the task that you have to finish, find the best way to do it, break it into smaller doable parts, then start finishing those smaller tasks, and you will see the "puzzle" assembling faster than you could imagine. (this is a trick, that if you trap and block your mind on the time factor, your mind will freeze instantly and you will run out of ideas, and lose your originality, etc, so instead of gaining time, you will lose precious time, and never get that task done in time).

3) Have self confidence ! Instead of thinking that your boss is stupid, that you should quit your job, or that nothing goes well, try thinking that you are just the best person for that job, because compared to others you know how to manage stress (yes you do !), and you know how to solve all the problems, even under stress. Don't even think that you will not finish the task, or that you can't do it, because your mind works on the principle - "Your wish is my command" - which means that if you think negatively about yourself, that thing has 99% chance of happening right away.

4) Think positive. Never give up. Trust yourself and every time you will get more confidence when you'll see that you can do things that you didn't think you could do. Positive thinking is a great process that helps you fight the stress. (more on this topic here - Think positive, act positive!)

"Positive thinking can be a way to overpass all your obstacles and fulfill your hopes and dreams. It is a way of living, an attitude that can accomplish the best results.By thinking positive you can draw upon you happiness, successes, an excellent health and you can obtain whatever you are willing to."

5) Relax ! The most important thing on the list. Never freak out, never get nervous, trust yourself ! Now close your eyes, and repeat these words in your mind: "I am calm, and relaxed, and I know the answer to all my problems. I know how to solve them, and as soon as I will open my eyes I will feel more relaxed, and I will start working better and with higher efficiency. (more here - Relax, take it easy! )

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Did this helped you ? Tell us how !
Have better suggestions of things to do when your boss is stressing you ?
Do you think that following these 5 easy steps can improve your day at work when you are getting stressed ?

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How to work in stress, and under pressure

First of all what you need to do is to deal with stress. Try to identify the thing that is stressing you – the stress factor. Then try to be aware of that factor and try to concentrate at it. After you are aware of the stress factor try to encourage yourself that you will finish your work, that you have to finish your work, and nothing bad will happen because you are on schedule.

Stress is a great factor and it will stop you from achieving your goal. If you have something to do, and you get stressed, your brain will stop being inventive, and you will work very hard, and you won’t be productive. Don’t lose your inspiration by working in stress.

I also recommend that you don’t work under pressure of not finishing your work, because that will automatically make the stress enter the scene. If you feel stressed, and under pressure of not finishing your work, try one of the seven following methods:


1. Get up and walk to the bathroom, wash your face with cold water, and repeat this in your mind: „I can do it, I will finish the work on time, nothing will stop me from doing my work, and I am not stressed anymore". Remember that fresh water actives blood flow, and so your face muscles will feel less tensioned, and you will feel less stressed and a little relaxed, just by washing your face.

2. Open your window so that you can have a good fresh breath of air, so that your brain get’s some oxygen. Of course that you will not open your window for some fresh air, if your office is in the center of the city, where the air pollution is very high.

3. Have a chewing-gum! It might sound silly, but trust me it does magic against the stress, and it helps you work under pressure without actually feeling the pressure around you.

4. Try not to eat food when you are stressed, at work. Because eating while under stress, will make your stomach hurt a lot, and that might hold you from giving the best for your project.

5. This is an exception from the above advice. Try to eat a fruit, like an apple, or other fruit with C vitamin. The vitamins contained in fruits are great for your organism, and help you pass a stressful moment, or even the entire day.

6. Try do close your eyes and count to ten. This will make your brain disconnect for a moment, and force it to relax, so that it can work better after this short break.

7. Don’t drink too much coffee at work. Too much coffee will make your muscles tremor, and your stomach shrink, it will make fatigue gone, but it will make stress to come.

Though I said that there are seven methods, I will give you the 8th method as a bonus:

8. Think positive, relax and focus on little stages of your project, so that your brain will focus only on small parts, and it will work more effective.

Have you ever worked under pressure, or being stressed by your schedule, or by your boss ? Tell us your story, and we'll discuss it together.

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• How to work and live a healthy life


• 5 Ways to stay focused

Written by: Alexandru Hategan

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Be your own boss !

Have you ever been in a situation where you could not find a way out, and you did not know how to deal with the problems and with the tasks you have ?

Here’s my method of dealing with problems that seem to have no answer:

Sometimes is good to analyze the situation you’re in, and try to find a way out by listening to yourself and being confident in your way of dealing with the situation.
After you analyzed the situation, the best thing to do is to mark a point where you need to get. For instance if you have a project you need to finish, first split it into smaller parts, then mark a point where you want to get, like at the middle of the project.

Then try to focus at that point and how to get there. Try and focus all your energy both physically and mentally so you can get to that point.

I have to do many projects for my law school in this period, and so I try to teach you all my methods of dealing with mountains of paper, and with tones of documents I have to read and review, and then make a project regarding different law subjects.

I manage to finish my projects because I try to stay focused all the time, spare my energy and try not get tired mentally by thinking all the time at the pile of paper that I have to deal with.

Every time you get bored of what you need to do, try to encourage yourself, and try to enter a state of mind where you convince yourself that you are on the right track, and that you will finish very soon.

If your mind is not focused on what you have to do it will be very hard to work, and to finish your work on time, it is very hard to work unfocused. If you got into a state of focus, try not to lose that state, and try to maintain that state of mind, and then work as hard as you can.What I meant with being your own boss is to take care of yourself while working, but also act bossy just like your boos would. Try to be productive, and to encourage yourself to do that.

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Written by: Alexandru Hategan

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