Photographer ≠ a single profession

When I was at high school, I was hopeless at Physics. Nothing could make me understand the equations or memorize the formulas.

Later on, when I took up photography, I found out that contrary to all logic (and most of my preferences) it is all Physics. Light angles, reflections, lenses, mirrors. What was not logic, was technical staff (I was never a tech-bimbo but I've never been a sys-admin either). So, willy-nilly, I learned about Physics and camera parts, how they work together and so on.

Later still, I discovered that being a photographer mean much more than randomly snapping at things around you.

So, I decided to compile a list of all the things a photographer has to do (that photographer is me, by the way) for all those who think taking a picture is a piece of cake and that sums up being a photographer.

You need to know:

• some information about the thing: ideally the historical, cultural and anthropological background of the place - that includes having MORE THAN BASIC idea of archeology, architecture, warfare, social and cultural history, ethnic groups and the list goes on and on and on.
• some social skills - to talk to people and make them pose for you or even to get some information from them.
• camera equipment handling - this means knowing your gear inside out and being able to work with it with your eyes closed. Plus, you are expected to work and 'be fluent' in more than one brand and its specifics - I've had to use five different brands. You need to know about lenses, tripods, filters and so on and so forth.
• posing 
• event shooting and how to behave at that time
• lighting (studio lighting, I mean)
• your rights and the laws about copyright, private property and photography of the respective country - so that you don't get into trouble.
• some social networking skills (Facebook and Instagram at least) and SEO (search engine optimization) in order to promote your work.
• sales and marketing skills to get yourself some clients.
• html codes - because at some point you'll need a website
• blogging to tell your story to the world.
• graphic design - because of the two above and the demands of your clients
• post-processing (on more than one type software)
• videography and video retouching
• sound editing (because you never know)
• licensing and copyright - so that you know which kind of license you lent whom, why and for how long. I mention it again, but it differs in different countries
• printing, color spaces and different materials - this is separate because it is a whole domain in post-production
• networking - you never know who will be useful for what
• presentation skills - for obvious reasons such as portfolio display
• first aid and basic survival skills - everything can happen on location and you need to keep yourself and the people around you safe
• writing - you'll need to write at least the titles of your images and that is not always easy
• basic self-defense - which includes a lot of common sense and self preservation instinct
• basic meteorology - to know which weather causes what and how to handle that.

This list can go for a long time and I intend to update it. Point is, that unlike most people who get a single profession, specialize for it at university for some time and then go on working in that field without having to learn new things which have nothing to do with their domain, photographers have to do that all the time.

Photography means much more than just clicking a shutter.

Lesson 2 - Shooting on a budget

If you love photography but you cannot afford to buy all the gear,  here is something that might help. I've tried most of the things so I will try to show in practice how some of the things work.

Image taken from http://addicted2success.com/success-advice/9-ways-you-can-make-money-online-with-photography/

I know you've been waiting for quite a while to get this but it's been a busy time. So I hope you like this one. 

Before we start - a disclaimer. 

If you are not prepared to invest in photography,  better find another hobby that speaks to you. It's not only money we're talking about - it's time, passion,  creativity. You can come up with amazing images using any gear,  it just takes some tweaking and more time to get the good results.

1. Keep your compact camera - cost 0€/£/$

What many people do after they buy their first DSLR is sell away the good old compact camera they have used before. My advice is - keep it!  Not only because it has served you well and doesn't deserve to be thrown away. You know how it functions and you know how to use it.

I will really try not to compare a compact camera and a DSLR but I can't help listing a few things. If you want to read the whole comparison - click here.

Even though the quality of compact camera shots cannot match the editing capacity of the ones produced by a DSLR, if you know what you're doing,  few would be able to tell the difference.  

Besides,  compact cameras (especially if they are equipped with good optical zoom) can be a good replacement for almost any lens you lack.  

One of my best images from Pisa - shot with a compact camera I still keep in my bag

A compact can give you the necessary zoom if you don't have a telephoto lens or it can give you the closeup you need to get that bee in shot without a macro lens. 

Compacts have one big advantage to DSLRs - well,  maybe except mirrorless cameras but judging by the amount of money they cost - no thanks - the size.  A compact is ideal if you need a video and don't have a tripod or if you need that amazing moment captured without drawing too much attention.

This wonderful view of some greenhouses was shot from a moving car - the compact enabled me to shoot handheld without needing that much firm and steady ground (because as you know roads are not always totally smooth) 

I managed to snap this street artist only because I used a compact and he didn't notice me.

Another shot from the compact - then toned on the computer

The best thing is that you don't need to pay a single coin for it - you already have it at your fingertips.  The only problem is that you'll need some time and patience to get the great results that would have taken you a few seconds with a dedicated lens.

2. Extenders and filters - cost around 200 €/£/$

You will need to pay a bit here - not much though. Extenders are those lovely things that make your kit lens a macro or (frankly I don't know what else but I'm sure that there are other options). 

As for filters - the biggest advantage is that they protect the lens from dust,  dirt,  water and - if you pay a bit more for a good quality one - from hits and falls.

One of my favourite images and actually a bestseller is shot with macro filters 

I almost always use this image as an illustration but it's just so good for this that I can't resist this time. Here the point is that it was really light around the waterfall - the ND 8 filter enabled me to use slow shutter speed - around 1/20 or less (can't remember right now) and so I achieved the blurry flowing water. Unfortunately, I didn't have a tripod so that's as slow as I could go.

A filter can transform the image and it's lightweight and cheap. You can,  of course add it in post-production but it's better to have it.

3. Colored and white paper ( and some colored clothing) - the ideal background for objects and food - cost around 50 €/£/$ (with some clothes included)

That one is shot on a blouse - I've never worn it, by the way, but it turned out to be perfect for object photography

Women are quite rich in clothes they have bought and never worn or worn only once and you can find white paper for printers in almost any house.  It may sound odd but these are perfect if you want to imitate a studio setting and you don't have the money to hire one or buy the expensive professional backgrounds.  

This one is taken on a wooden board 

Looks really nice, doesn't it - well, originally it is pijamas

Of course,  you'll need to tweak a corner or two on the computer but it would be worth it.  

Truth be told,  some of my best pictures are created with clothes for backdrop.

4. Use your house - cost 0€/£/$ 

You don't need a fancy studio to get amazing shots. Yes, you do some space but you already HAVE space - your home. No matter how big or small it is, you have a clean wall (or a big wardrobe), a window and a table. If you want to learn the basics of studio photography, that's all you need. After all, the hardest light to master is the sun. 

This one is made on a chair in the kitchen - all props coming directly from the kitchen - and using the only light available - the sun from the window

5. Ask friends for help - cost 0-10€/£/$ 

There's no need to do everything yourself. Tell others about your passion and they'll be more than willing to help. Props, space, advice about the best places to visit, even models - everyone can help with something. Most of them will do it even if you don't ask for help straight away. So don't be shy - it will be worth it. Besides, once you tell more people, you'll get more exposure. 

The girls on both images are colleagues of mine from the university - I asked them to make a photo shoot in the park and they were more than happy to come along. The umbrella belongs to one of them, by the way. So the only thing you need to do afterwards is to give the people some of the images - so that they help you out next time.

6. Borrow things - cost depends on how good a friend is the person and how you treat the thing. 

You want to try out that lens or you just need that reflector but you don't have them around? No problem if you know the right people - if you get into some Facebook groups you might find some people that are ahead of you and that are willing to help. You just have to ask - even if they turn you down, you would have tried.

If they give you the object, though, you'll have to treat it well and return it in the condition you got it.

These are not the only ways to improve your work without spending a lot of money. You know - when there's a passion, there's a way! 

What drives a photographer mad?

I have no idea what you think but for me there are several things that really piss me off.

Image taken from http://terrywhite.com/how-i-broke-my-d700-by-tethering/

1. The megapixel question.

Number one in my list. I really can't grasp why people somehow conceptualize the megapixels to be equal to good quality photographs. It's the sensor that creates the good quality in a photo and, above all - the person behind the lens. Asking any photographer the megapixel question makes any photographer think that: 

a. You don't know a thing about photography.

b. You don't appreciate their work.

Image taken from http://randolphimages.com/the-megapixel-mania/

2. The gear question

You know,  there is always someone who wants to know 'Is this a professional camera?' as if the can only be photographed by professional gear. God forbid anyone else approach them with something substandard!  An advice - professional is the thing behind the camera - I will keep repeating that. So, don't ask about the gear - if the photographer wants (and believe me,  they LOVE talking about gear)  you'll get the information sooner or later. Asking straight away may insult the person,  as if you are doubting their abilities.

3. 'Is there any Photoshop in that?'

Now this is a painful one. There is no middle ground when it comes to post production. You either use it or you despise it. Problem is that 90% of the photographers use it,  at least 50% overdo it half of the time and there are some 10% -  the vegans of the photographic world - who can ramble for ages about that. I have an opinion but I will share it with you in a different post. Anyway,  unless you want a very long lecture or a scandal - don't ask this question.

Here is an example of what Photoshop can do - and that is a really basic editing you see there

4. 'Is this picture yours?'

As strange as it may sound but you can hear that as well. Let's make it straight - ask that question and the photographer has one more enemy on their kill list. Trust me,  if the picture is not taken by them,  they will tell you immediately. If they don't, the picture is theirs.

5.Copyright

If copyright pops up in the conversation,  just let the photographer talk. If you think that there is nothing wrong in getting a picture from Google images and then reusing it for any purpose,  better keep it to yourself. There is no photographer who thinks that copyright is useless. Believe me,  they have invested quite a lot in every shot they take. So shut up when copyright crops up or you may end up on the photographer's kill list. (again!)

Image taken from http://prophon.org/display.php?bg/новини/121

6. Titles

The title of a shot is another tricky point. If you want to know what the author wanted to say,  ask a literary critic.  What the author wanted,  they showed it on the pic. Nothing more,  nothing less. The title is often chosen to provoke but don't expect profound analysis from the author. They just FELT the title,  they can't put it in words.

7. Giving advice all the time

Ok, no-one says that you should keep silent but if you order the photographer around all the time,  better shut up.  You may have hired them for the job but it is THEM doing it. If you know so much - better do it yourself.

Image taken from http://nickgrantham.com/the-whole-world-is-a-critic/

8. Quoting what another colleague said or did

We,  photographers, are quite egotistical and self-centered creatures. We may admire what someone else did and how they did it but that's just within the guild. Outside it we want to be considered individuals,  unique artists (fill in the list with whatever you want in that line of thinking). Showing what someone does in our face (I talk about we because it's a common opinion) leads us think why didn't you hire them in the first place.

9. 'I can do it better!'

Every once in a while,  there is someone who claims that he can go and do my job better than me. More often than not,  that is a person who has no idea what photography is about and is generally a hater. Problem is that it really gets on my nerves - if you can do it better,  show it, damn it!  A picture is worth a thousand words,  after all. So if you can't prove you're better,  don't try to criticize. You have a 99% chance of getting devastated by the arguments. After all,  they have done that longer than you.

Image taken from https://ethicsalarms.com/2013/07/

10. Bargains

Here we come to the client - customer side of things. I am not saying that you should not bargain but all things should be kept at some reasonable level. I mean,  if you want the person to do a job at a 10th of the regular price,  there is something wrong. Photographers are keen on shooting no matter what. They will just go and photograph the event for free - especially if you know each other in person - you just have to ask. 99% will say YES. But offering a humiliating price (remember - less than one 10th of the regular price) will lead to end of your friendship or any other relationship you had.

Image taken from https://www.tellwut.com/surveys/lifestyle/living/835-price-haggling-bargaining-do-you-negotiate-for-the-best-price-.html

This is not an exhaustive list - I guess I can come up with a ton of other things to say but right now I can think of only those.If you have any other things that drive you mad when you take the camera - share them in a comment below or write to me to add them to a follow-up post.

Meteora - where Man meets God

Meteora... Does the name ring a bell??? For most people it doesn't but this jewel of Greece has to get known to more people and in this travelogue I'm gonna tell you about it. 

It's Easter time so it's only natural that I will be talking about a Holy place - a few are as spectacular as Meteora! 

The story starts the previous day - as usual - when we arrived at Kalabaka...  
OK, you have no idea where that is...

Where is Meteora?

Meteora is situated in central Greece - in Thessaly, if that rings a bell. The nearest big town is Trikala and the nearest small town is Kalabaka (transliterated as KalaMbaka in Greek roadsigns but you read only the B sound because the orthographic combination of the MP letters is read as B in Greek). Anyway, Meteora is in the middle of the continental part of the country, near one of the highest mountain ranges - Pindus Mountains. 

Here is where Meteora is on the map.
Image taken from http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.com/destinations_greece_meteora_kalambaka.htm

How to get there?

There are - as always - two ways. Both, however, involve having a car. There are great motorways up till Trikala and then there is a good first-class road that leads to Kalabaka. Meteora is roughly 350 km away. If you come from some other country - like Bulgaria - it is less (because it is closer to the border.) In any case, you'll need a car to go round the place. Once you get there, there are some hiking tours and loads of things to do but still - if you ask me - don't underestimate the car. 

The road to Kalabaka - notice the lights - they go on for kilometers

What is Meteora?

In Greek, Μετέωρα means "middle of the sky", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above". The Greeks gave that name to the place because of its unique look. The name stands for a unique rock formation in the plain of Thessaly. The sandstone pillars, as they are called, show that at some point of its geological history, that part of Greece was below sea level. 

Some of the stone pillars

The same idea, "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above", goes for the complex of monasteries build on top of some of the pillars. They look like birds nests from below and really, you start wondering how did they make them in the first place. 



The answer is - with baskets and a lot of ropes. Everything that is up the stone pillars now was brought up in a basket - brick by brick, stone by stone. 

The ropes that lead up to Agios Nikolaos monastery - now used to hoard in supplies

The place looks surreal and no wonder that it was a favorite place of hermit monks as early as the 9th century AD. They lived in caves inside the pillars and the predecessors of the monasteries were built in the 12th century. The biggest monastery of the complex, The Great Meteoron, was founded in the 14th century. At that time, the Ottoman Turks invaded the area so the rock pillars proved to be the ideal hiding place for the hermit monks. They built more than 20 monasteries up the pillars but only 6 remain today. 

The monasteries

The six monasteries of Meteora are spectacular to see but you cannot visit them all in one day. The reason? They are not open all at once. Meteora has a website where you can check what's the current situation but here it is once more (if you are lazy enough not to click on the link above)
THIS IS THE SUMMER TIMETABLE (April 1st to October 31st) (there is a winter one as well, so check out the webiste)

St. Stephen's Nunnery

Visiting Hours: 9:00 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 17:30.
The monastery stays closed on Mondays.

Great Meteoron Monastery

Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:00.
The monastery stays closed on Tuesdays.

Roussanou Monastery

Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:45.
The monastery stays closed on Wednesdays.

Holy Trinity Monastery

Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:00.
The monastery stays closed on Thursdays.

Varlaam Monastery

Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 16:00.
The monastery stays closed on Fridays.

St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery

Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 15:30.
The monastery stays closed on Fridays.

From the list above - you have 2 monasteries closed on Friday and one each other day of the work week. If you go on Saturday and Sunday - you will see the monasteries open but you will not be the only visitor. Meteora is very popular in Greece (and virtually unknown outside it) so expect a lot of tourists. Moreover, Meteora is part of UNESCO World Heritage list so there are even more tourists.
Hint: they usually visit places at noon, so they are relatively easy to avoid.  

Agios Nikolaos church from the outside - while you are forbidden to take pictures inside the church, you can do so outside

What I highly recommend is getting a place to sleep in Kastraki (the nearest village to the monasteries) or Kalabaka (the bigger town) and then spend two days there and see all monasteries. Thus, if the weather is bad you have one more day to sort things out. 

All monasteries are currently in use so you are NOT entering a museum - keep in mind that photos INSIDE THE CHURCH are STRICTLY FORBIDDEN and you should be dressed properly - some info for the ladies - even if you wear jeans and not shorts, you'll be given a skirt - Greek Orthodox Church rule - if you are a female, you enter church in a skirt. No exceptions (only little girls are allowed to enter in jeans and the rest). 

For more information on how to behave in Orthodox churches and monasteries, see this post:

Rila Monastery - the biggest monastery on the Balkan peninsula part 1 Or - general rules for visiting Eastern Orthodox churches and monasteries

Now that you have been warned, you know what to expect inside. 

My visit to the monasteries

Map of the monasteries - we started from Agios Nikolaos - the closet to Kastraki
Image taken from http://pravoslavieto.com/poklonnichestvo/gr/meteora/index.htm

Meteora had been on the list for quite some time but, since it is relatively close to Bulgaria, I always left it for some later time. When I finally included it in the list, it was a tough call. Last item on the sightseeing list, and even that - we had to cross half of continental Greece (traveling from Delfi) and arrive in Kastraki in the evening. Then, the next morning up till noon was reserved for visiting some of the monasteries and then - off we go to Bulgaria. 

As you can see, visiting all the monasteries, even if we had actually come during the weekend, was out of the question. 

I had been to Meteora when I was 11 and then we visited St. Stephen's Nunnery, Great Meteoron Monastery, and one more which escapes my mind right now. Thus, I think that I can give you some additional info about each of the monasteries: 


St. Stephen's Nunnery

Biggest nunnery at Meteora - the other nunnery, Roussanouq is much smaller. The monastery is close to the Great Meteoron and it is easily accessible by car but when I was 11 they didn't let people go further than the yard. You can visit the church of course, but not much more. I don't remember it having any view - or if it had, we didn't see it. 

Great Meteoron Monastery

Agios Nikolaos, Varlaam and probably the Great Meteoron (it is somewhat behind Varlaam so I'm not sure which one is visible in the picture). All viewed from Rousssanou

The biggest monastery at Meteora and if you ask me, the one touched by commercial industry the most. It has  abig museum of Meteora and its surroundings and overall - since it is really big - you get the impression that you are really visiting a museum and not a real monastery. On the other hand, if it is open for visitors, you should definitely see it since it's the only place where you can see a monastery from the inside - some of the living quarters of the monks and common halls included. Besides, in the museum you'll find out more about the history of the place - which I am too lazy to write in here are well.  All other monasteries in the complex are much smaller and the living quarters are closed to visitors. The view is great - even from the parking lots. Oh, I forgot to mention - all monasteries have parkings around them - not big but enough - the road that goes around the monasteries is neither narrow nor wide so keep traffic in mind when you park (and keep tourist buses in mind!!!) 

Roussanou Monastery

Small nunnery with amazing view to Great Meteoron, St.Stephen's nunnery and Varlaaam. You get up there by stairs (not too many don't worry) and the monastery itself is a small and cozy one. In all monasteries you can buy some souvenirs (usually handmade and sold by the monks and nuns - the older don't speak much English but they will sort you out) but the biggest variety is, as usual, in the Great Meteoron. Roussanou is deffinitely worth the visit and if you visit some of the three above (Great Meteoron, St.Stephen's nunnery and Varlaaam) try to capture Rousssanou from there - it is a spectacular view - a small monastery at the summit of a stone pillar. 

The garden at Roussanou - the monastery can be shot from Varlaam or the Great Meteoron - it is impossible to take a pictutre of it from the road because it's not visible

Varlaam Monastery

Varlaaam as seen from Roussanou

It's in the middle of the rock formations so from it you have view to all other monasteries. It is relatively big and quite visited by tourists - mainly because of the amazing view. Definitely a must-see if it is open! Even if it is not - stop at the parking and take a picture of it - you won't regret it. 

Varlaaam from the road - couldn't stop there so I had to shoot while the car was moving

St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery

Agios Nikolaos from the road - and if you take a closer look - through the car window

The smallest of all monasteries. If you ask me, this one is the most authentic one. By far, it is on the lowest stone pillar and the view towards Kalabaka and Kastraki is great. Agios Nikolaos is the closest to Kastraki. It has a small parking and usually big tourist groups bypass it. It is really small (I mean REALLY) and you can get up there by climbing quite a lot of stairs but the climb is worth it. Agios Nikolaos is the only monastery where you can still see the old basket-and-rope structures that were used to build Meteora and to bring up supplies. 

Well, it's a bit modernized, bu still. You can get the overall impression, especially if you imagine that happening with one of the higher pillars. 

Holy Trinity Monastery

Haven't been there yet, can't tell much about it.  I think it is a nunnery but I'm not sure...

No matter which monastery you visit, take a time and buy a candle - thus you respect the place and use the time to say a prayer or two - no need to be a devout Christian to do so - just wish for good health and happiness, that's enough. 

Advice - choose a place with a view - Meteora is amazing at sunset and at night! Kalabaka or better still - Kastraki, are the wisest choices, if you ask me.

After saying all that, here is a bit of advice:

Clothing

• In that part of Greece, it is generally hot in the summer. That goes only for the day, at night it can be rather chilly so - bring a jacket (you'll thank me later). Meteora is quite rainy and misty in spring and autumn so keep that in mind. Jeans and a T-shirt would do. Remember what I said here about how to dress in Orthodox churches and monasteries. I know I'm getting kind of boring with that but if you visit such a place, you should show some respect. 

Some of the stairs towards Agios Nikolaos

• Bring comfortable shoes (I mean really COMFORTABLE) - sneakers would do.

• It is quite windy up on the pillars so if you bring a hat - hold on to it.

Camera gear, settings and other tips

There is no way of going to Meteora and returning without nice pictures. The place is just so amazing that you will capture at least a few things that are stunning. Here are a few things to keep in mind. 

View from Agios Nikolaos - used the wide angle lens for that

Gear to take

There would be climbing so don't take all your lenses with you. 
You'll need:

• a wide angle (10-18mm or less)
• a general non-telephoto (17/18-55mm will do, if you have something better - bring it on)
• a tripod!!! (priceless for shooting sunset and night pics)

Meteora at night - exposure -  around 5 minutes. That's why you need a tripod! 

• something to clean up your gear - you have no idea how messy it gets when wind starts blowing
• a lot of memory cards - especially if you shoot in RAW format
• remote trigger - for the night and sunset shots (if you have a compact camera, you'll only need a portable tripod and will have to use the )
• anything else would help but it is not mandatory

Camera settings

To get amazing pictures you'll need a closed big f/ number (around and above f/8 - I recommend f/16)

Keep shutter speed at at least 1/200 sec. - that way camera shake will not be a problem.

Keep an eye on the light and avoid shooting when the sun shines in your lens - unless you have a DSLR and shoot in RAW format you won't be able to see much in them.
Keep ISO as low as possible (you'll thank me later about that). 

Light

Meteora is amazing to shoot at the Golden Hour ( around 10 am and around 4 or 5 pm in summer). Morning is good but only for some locations, same goes for evening.  Keep in mind that there will be areas that are bright in the sunlight and others that will be in the shadow - that goes especially for the summits of the stone pillars. The only way to get them well-lit is to visit Meteora when it rains or it is about to rain. 

Meteora in the mprning as seen from Kastraki - as you can see - the light comes from behind the pillars

Traveling info

Meteora is in Central Greece so people there are different from what you will encounter in Peloponnese or Crete. The traditional hospitality is still there but people tend to be less 'open' and more like the people in Bulgaria (which means - frowning and not exactly hospitable). This is a personal opinion - which may be due to the fact that I visited the place in a cold and rainy evening in September. Still, the food is great (as anywhere in Greece) - try the local wine and the meat - you'll see few types of fish here but the rest is delicious. 

Bring in a torch - streets of Kastraki do have some lamps but they are not enough - it all depends on where you'e staying. Bring in an umbrella as well - you never know when it's going to rain there. 

Having said all that, I wish you a wonderful Easter and can't wait so see your pictures from Meteora!