Welcome to Episode #556 of The Grid Photography Podcast, your one-stop destination for all things photography! Join your hosts, Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna, as they dive into the fascinating world of Special FX in Toy Photography, and unveil an incredible Kickstarter announcement and demo from PlatyPod! 

The Grid - Special FX in Toy Photography & PlatyPod Kickstarter with Scott Kelby & Guests - Episode 556

The Grid is a live talk-show about photography, Photoshop and other industry-related topics. Each week features a different guest (in-studio or online) and viewers are encouraged to chime in on the Liveblog here on KelbyTV.com or via Twitter by adding #TheGridLive to their tweets.

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In this 600th episode of The Grid, the topic of sky replacement in photography is thoroughly examined by a special guest, photographer Serge Ramelli. The discussion navigates the ethical considerations and technical aspects of manipulating skies in post-production, as well as the evolving expectations of clients towards more dramatic and surreal imagery. Serge shares his personal journey and evolution in photography, from embracing HDR and surreal effects to adopting a more natural approach, and how client demands have sometimes pushed him back to dramatic enhancements. The episode also touches on the tools and techniques for effective sky replacement, including tips from Serge on how to achieve realistic results. 

 

RELATED COURSES

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/scott-kelby-skies-photoshop/

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/rkazemi-focus-focal-length/

 
HIGHLIGHTS
▶  “I like putting on both hats. I sometimes like telling stories, but at the same time, I sometimes like capturing those images, the truth of reality, and then taking them and making something fantastical out of them. I really love both of them.”

▶  “ People are using clouds, they're using 600mm shots, and they're replacing it with 24mm skies, and I can see them immediately because you're like, that's not the right proportions. Most people can't really notice that, but there is something that you do notice; you feel it. And I think there are people that do then feel that something's wrong. So make sure you match.”

 
This Week's Sponsors:
Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H; | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | SlickPic | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me

Are Clients Asking You to Cheat? with Erik Kuna & Serge Ramelli | The Grid Ep 600

This episode of The Grid combines an insightful recap of an eclipse photography adventure with an Open Q&A; session. Hosts Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna field viewer questions about topics including shooting airshows, photographing birds in motion, and pricing your photography. Plus, a tutorial showcasing an under-appreciated Photoshop feature, Lightroom tips, giveaways, and much more!

RELATED COURSES

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/twallace-live-your-dream/

https://members.kelbyone.com/track/photographers-fast-track/

 
HIGHLIGHTS
▶  “ You want to shoot the bird in flight. You can set that so your camera will never let you go below that shutter speed. So everything is sharp, no matter if the clouds come, it gets darker, lighter, goes into a shadow, comes into a highlight. It's going to make all those adjustments. So now, all we have to do is focus on framing and composition. You're not focused on changing exposures; you're not focused on anything else; you're just letting the camera do the work.”

▶  “The market dictates the price of everything. If you price something too high, no one's going to buy your product. If you price it too low, a lot of people may buy it, and then you can raise your price if there's great demand. And you will find that sweet spot at which people will still buy it, and you're still gaining sales.”

 
This Week's Sponsors:
Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H; | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | SlickPic | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me

Open Q&A with Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna | The Grid Ep 599

In this episode of The Grid, Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna dive into the exciting world of solar eclipse photography. They have a discussion on preparing for the upcoming solar eclipse, featuring tips for capturing this rare astronomical event. The conversation also includes details about upcoming photography workshops and the Lightroom conference. Erik provides in-depth advice on using telephoto lenses for eclipse photography, the importance of solar filters, and safety tips for protecting both your eyes and the camera sensor. 

 

RELATED COURSES

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/ekuna-photopills/

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/erik-kuna-astrophotography-for-beginners/

 
HIGHLIGHTS
▶  “ I suggest bracketing because you're taking a shot every so often if you bracket and do not bracket like a one-stop bracket, like two stops, two stops up, two stops down. That way, you won't miss an exposure. Just put it on bracketing.”

▶  “I always tell people to get the biggest monitor you can afford. But you're looking at it, and you're making a judgment on noise based on this big. Yes, you're going to see noise on 100% at an image size. No one's going to see it. That's why I  always tell photographers to stop looking at your image at a size that no one will ever see but you.”

 
This Week's Sponsors:
Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H; | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | SlickPic | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" with Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna | The Grid Ep 598

This week's episode provides professional critiques and actionable tips for elevating photography portfolio websites. Hosts discuss the importance of layout, design, and image selection, focusing on how to showcase top photographic work effectively. The critiques cover various websites, pointing out aspects that work well alongside areas needing improvement, such as simplifying layouts and optimizing for mobile. The video is interactive, featuring live critiques, viewer feedback, and prize offerings, all aimed at helping photographers create compelling and professional online portfolios.

 

RELATED COURSES

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/mkloskowski_smugmug_lr5/

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/skelby-adobe-portfolio/

 

HIGHLIGHTS

▶  “ Make your portfolio site with your best images, and if everybody hits your best images, they're going to immediately think you're an excellent photographer.”

▶  “Big means impact. Why do we always want to make bigger and bigger prints? Because seeing them big is a whole different experience. When you look at that, it just has an impact.”

 
This Week's Sponsors:
Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H; | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | SlickPic | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me

Photography Website Critiques with Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna | The Grid Ep 597

This episode encapsulates a thrilling journey into the photography world, featuring Scott Kelby's vibrant experiences at The Photography Show in Birmingham and rugby experience with Claire Jones. Also, Erik shares a personal travel experience in Italy, focusing on visiting Rome, the Vatican, the Amalfi Coast, Positano, the Path of the Gods hike, Sorrento, Capri, and more. Erik shares his excitement over capturing stunning landscape and architectural shots solely with an iPhone, highlighting the versatility and quality of iPhone photography.

 

RELATED COURSES

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/dblack_olympicsports/

https://members.kelbyone.com/course/scott-kelby-iphone-travel-photography/

 
HIGHLIGHTS
▶  “ If you want to be good at sports photography, you must know the game. You can't track the ball. That's the most important thing. You have to know where the ball is going next.”

▶  “I wish it was 10x, but I'll take the 5x. But once it gets to the 10x, I think the game's over for travel photography. Cause then you will get the promise that we were promised with mirrorless. We were promised it would be lighter. It wasn't. I had this little stick, my Platypod, and a little holder, and I was set. So, I started to see where, okay, we're getting there to produce the results that you needed.”

 
This Week's Sponsors:
Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H; | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | SlickPic | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me

The Grid - Special FX in Toy Photography & PlatyPod Kickstarter with Scott Kelby & Guests - Episode 556

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