We are thrilled to announce the winners of GuruShots‘ “The Art of All Black” photo challenge! The talent and creativity displayed in this competition were truly remarkable, making the selection process both exciting and challenging.
Don’t miss the full slideshow gallery at the end of this article, featuring more exceptional entries. Also, check out GuruShots’ newest app AI Art Master.
Without further ado, here are the winners:
Winning Images
Viktoria Farkas, United States — TOP PHOTOGRAPHER WINNER
Julie Ann Newell, United States — TOP PHOTO WINNER
Street photography is a popular genre that relies upon many of the same techniques that are so familiar for shooting landscapes, cityscapes, environmental portraiture and other outdoor imagery. It’s also an accessible fallback when you can’t travel far from home because most of us have a nearby city or town where numerous photo opportunities abound.
This nine-minute episode from British photographer Roni Sidhu demonstrates five easy techniques for capturing the essence of urban life with dramatic b&w street photos that convey an engaging minimalist look. You’ll discover how simplicity and contrast will transform everyday scenes into powerful visual stories that jump off the screen.
This compelling style celebrates the impact of simplicity and very deliberate composition, and Sidhu explains the technique like this: “To create minimalist photography we want to use just a few elements, uncluttered backgrounds, and negative space to create powerful images” of scenes that are typically crowded with passing cars and bustling pedestrians, bright signs, and other distractions that fill the frame with clutter.
Sidhu’s five tips are designed to help you create order out of chaos, with images that are not only different than most but very difficult to ignore. Along the way you’ll learn the optimum camera settings required, the best gear to use, and framing techniques that diverge from those you employ for other styles of photography. Sidhu’s superb imagery also provides a heavy dose of inspiration.
The overarching concept can be described in three words: less is more, and Sidhu begins by demonstrating how to accomplish this goal by choosing a simple background and then doing this: “Adjust your camera settings and wait for the right thing to happen.” That’s why patience and anticipation are critically important.
Another key consideration involves understanding how highlights and shadows contribute to effective high-contrast images, and Sidhu’s examples include captions with the exposure settings used to make the shots.
Sidhu also explains the value of thoughtful preparation: “Having a rough idea of what you want to capture before it actually happens will ensure you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice to capture a great photo opportunity when it occurs.”
The foregoing is just a small taste of the techniques and tools you’ll learn in this lesson, and we guarantee that your street photography skills will grow by leaps and bounds when you follow Sidhu’s straightforward suggestions. Then head over to his instructional YouTube channel for more great advice.
In recent years, the short-term rental (STR) market has emerged as a lucrative business and investment option, exploding in popularity and transforming the way people travel and stay. With platforms like Airbnb and VRBO leading the charge, property owners and investors have seized the opportunity to generate substantial income by offering unique, comfortable, and often luxurious accommodations. However, as the market becomes increasingly saturated, standing out from the competition is crucial. High-quality, professional photography can make all the difference in attracting potential guests and ensuring your property is booked solid. At Sharp Frame Media, we understand the power of a well-shot image and are here to help you elevate your rental listings. Here’s why investing in professional photography for your short-term rental is essential.
First Impressions Matter
When potential guests browse through countless listings, the first thing they notice is the photos. High-quality images can capture their attention and entice them to click on your listing for more details. Sharp Frame Media’s professional photography showcases your property in the best possible light, highlighting its unique features and creating a welcoming ambiance. Our team uses professional techniques and equipment to ensure your property looks its absolute best.
The Effectiveness of 3D Floor Plans
An innovative and effective way to market your short-term rental is through 3D floor plans. These floor plans provide potential guests with a comprehensive understanding of the property’s layout, allowing them to visualize the space and flow of the property. 3D floor plans can help set your listing apart by providing an interactive and immersive experience that traditional photos alone cannot achieve. At Sharp Frame Media, we offer 3D floor plans as part of our STR package, helping you to provide a detailed and engaging presentation of your property.
Showcasing the Details
Professional photographers have an eye for detail. They know how to capture the nuances that make your property special, whether it’s the cozy reading nook, the luxurious bathroom, or the stunning view from the balcony. By focusing on these details, professional photography can convey the experience your guests can expect, making your listing more appealing. Sharp Frame Media’s experienced photographers understand what potential guests are looking for and ensure every detail is perfectly captured. Plus, ourShort-Term Rental packages include detail shots to highlight the unique features of your property, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.
Boosting Your Online Presence
High-quality photos not only enhance your listing on rental platforms but also boost your online presence. Great images are shareable on social media, making it easier for potential guests to discover your property. Additionally, well-photographed properties are more likely to be featured by rental platforms, increasing your visibility. Professional photos are optimized for both rental platforms and social media, helping you reach a wider audience.
Increasing Booking Rates
Ultimately, high-quality photography leads to higher booking rates. Listings with professional images are more likely to attract clicks, inquiries, and bookings. They give potential guests confidence in the quality of your property, leading to more reservations and higher occupancy rates.Sharp Frame Media‘s expertly crafted photos can significantly impact your booking rates, turning potential guests into confirmed reservations. Last but not least, here’s a bonus tip: Listings that include people in photos tend to perform better. By featuring people in your photos, you can help potential guests imagine themselves enjoying the space.
Investing in professional photography for your Short-Term Rental is a smart decision that can yield significant returns. High-quality images create a strong first impression, highlight your property’s unique features, and ultimately lead to more bookings. AtSharp Frame Media, we specialize in capturing the beauty and charm of short-term rentals, helping you stand out in a crowded market. By including professional photography in your marketing strategy, you’re not just showcasing a property – you’re inviting guests to experience their next memorable stay.
Sharp Frame Media is a 5-star rated real estate media agency servicing Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and surrounding cities in Texas. Founded in 2017 on the values of craftsmanship, service, and partnership. As a veteran-owned company, our mission is driven by our commitment to unmatched service.
Are you having problems getting the tint right between green and magenta, or between yellow and blue tones? Well, join the club. It’s all about achieving proper White Balance during post processing—a popular and transformative topic of concern to amateurs and pros alike.
We’ve discussed the power of Lightroom’s Color Balance tools in the past, but this tutorial from James Feaver is simpler than most, with a quick and very effect three-step process that anyone can master in less than five minutes. Feaver is a freelance landscape pro who posts twice-weekly videos for beginning Adobe users who want to take advantage of his finely honed image-editing skills.
Here’s the problem Feaver intends to solve now: “A lot of photographers struggle with finding the right White Balance, especially when shooting with the Auto setting, because this can be incredibly challenging.” That is, unless you understand the straightforward method he demonstrates below. By modifying your workflow as Feaver recommends, this is one challenge that you can cross off your list.
There’s even a way to make a “preemptive strike” when shooting in the field if you have a “gray card’ in your bag. This simple accessory is almost foolproof for precisely defining White Balance to achieve correctly neutral tones. It’s admittedly another gadget to carry, but Feaver demonstrates how it will also prove valuable when sitting behind the computer and working with Lightroom’s Eyedropper tool.
The Histogram is another versatile Lightroom tool that Feaver says is underutilized for this particular task. That’s because the Histogram doesn’t just show us the exposure, it also illustrates the mixture of red, green, and blue tones within an image. Therefore, “All you to do to get the White Balance right is to match up the red, green, and blue peaks in the graph using the Tint and Temperature sliders.” It can be as simple as that.
The third trick involves the use of Lightroom’s oft-ignored color Picker tool, and Feaver demonstrates how this one factors into the equation. Keep in mind that “perfect” White Balance may not be what you want if unique effects are what you’re trying to achieve. But Feaver’s advice will help you do this too.
