Tag Archives: award-winning photographers

Photography and Fair Use

Last spring, artist Richard Prince used photographer Patrick Cariou’s images in his artwork. To much disbelief, this was not considered infringement. The United States Court of Appeals reasoned that as long as the work was transformed, it did not violate copyright.

“Technological advances, shifting artistic values and dizzying spikes in art prices have turned the world of visual arts into a boxing ring for intellectual-property rights disputes. Photographers, in particular, are complaining not only that their work is being stolen by other artists, but also that their ability to create new work related to their originals is also being compromised,” stated this New York Times article on the subject.


As a photographer, it’s important to understand your rights, as well as what constitutes as fair use. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, section 107 of the copyright law contains a list of different purposes in which the reproduction of a work may be considered fair. Such purposes include criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also notes four factors that a court considers in determining whether or not a work is constituted as fair use. The first factor is the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes. The second factor is the nature of the copyrighted work. The third is the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and the fourth factor is the effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.


Whether you are starting out in the world of photography or a seasoned professional, it’s important to know your rights, and the rights of others. Award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg capture nature’s wonders all over the world. To learn new tricks, check out our workshops here and connect with us on Facebook to see more photographs.


How to Score a Goal in Sports Photography

One of the great cathedrals of football, the Nou Camp, built in 1957, is home to Futbol Club Barcelona. It is also the largest stadium in Europe, attracting sports photography enthusiasts from all over the world. If you’re a sports fan and aspiring to become more accomplished in sports photography, here are some insider tips to take with you into the spring sports season.


Create a Feel

Sporting events are about so much more than just what happens on the pitch. It is everything from the fans singing on the way to the stadium to the lone guard standing sentinel in an empty Camp Nou. Capture the feel for the event, not just what happens between the lines.

Futbol Club Barcelona

Shoot Angles

To create that larger-than-life feel, try capturing the action from a low angle with a long lens that brings the action right into the viewer’s face. This will make any image more exciting and allow the viewer to feel that he or she is a part of the action. If you can’t get that low angle, try and capture moments that are significant to the game such as here where Lionel Messi is going through the goalkeeper for yet another goal. Without the low angle, I chose to give a larger perspective that shows the true one-on-one nature of this match-up.


Get Ready for a Foul

If you’ve seen any comedic film where a foul ball hits an actor in the head, you’ll appreciate this tip. Don’t be caught off-guard and try to capture a play before it’s over. You always have to be ready for the action before it happens. Practicing this can be the difference between photographing high school sports and photographing for Sports Illustrated.


Smell the Sweat

When the situation allows, instead of shooting from the stands, get close to the action! Sports are as much about emotions as they are about skill, so it’s important to capture the emotional reactions of players in your images.  Some of the greatest sports shots ever made relate as much to the reaction of the player(s), coaches, officials or fans. Be aware of everything that is happening around you in order to capture the entire feel of the event.


Study the Play-by-Play

The more you know about a particular sport, athlete and rules, the better your images will be. You will develop an intuition when it comes to anticipating action, capturing emotion and shooting from the best angles. As with all types of photography, think, think, think, and practice, practice, practice.


If you have any stellar sports photos, share them with us on Facebook, where you can also see the latest photographs from award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg. Want to sharpen your skills pre or post trip? Check out our workshops here and practice, practice, practice!

Spend a Year in Colorado

Even though we just embarked on a New Year, Steinberg Photography is looking ahead to 2016. Our yearly calendars encapsulate the unforgettable moments that we feel deserve to be shared. In this image of Whiteley Peak in Grand County, Colorado, we captured a sunrise worthy of a thousand words. The cotton candy hue cast over the mountain made for a blissful morning even a cup of the best locally roasted coffee couldn’t enhance.

 

Whiteley Peak is located in the Gore Range, one of the most rugged mountain ranges in Colorado. From all of Colorado’s spectacular mountains, Whiteley Peak offers a scenic vantage point for Colorado’s glorious landscape. On the lower slopes, there are beautiful and serene lakes and meadows for hikers to explore year-round.

 

Award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg plan adventurous explorations of culture and wildlife to capture stunning photographs that are sure to impress every month of the year. Until the 2016 calendar is ready, you can purchase your 2015 calendar here.

Unparalleled Adventures in Africa

With the spray of mist catching in the warm spring South African air from the waves breaking against the rocks, the Cape of Good Hope is the physical form of serenity. The rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was particularly invigorating that afternoon, and we were lucky enough to catch a couple of indigenous visitors during our shoot.

Having been settled by the Dutch to use as a stopping point for trading ships, the Cape of Good Hope was first sighted by Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488. While sailing the high seas, Dias discovered that India could be reached by sea from Europe. Because this discovery was such good fortune, the UNESCO World Heritage Site received its name. Now a scenic backdrop to the pulsing city of Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope is even more beautiful than the picture.

If you’d like to experience it for yourself, we still have room on our once-in-a-lifetime trip in May. You’ll join award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg on an adventurous exploration of culture, art, dining and wildlife. View South Africa through a lens that even Nikon can’t capture. This trip is designed to liberate your talents, whatever level they may be on, and expose you to a world you never imagined being invited into. To learn more about this wondrous opportunity, contact us today. You’ll be glad you did.