Judy Holmes - That Picture Stinks!: An In-Your-Face, No-Nonsense Guide to End Lousy Picture Taking Forever!

An in-your-face, no-nonsense guide to end lousy picture taking forever!

By Judy Holmes & Greg Baer

PO Box 85

Jackson, NH 03846

www.snowygnomepublishing.com

That Picture Stinks! Copyright 2011 by Judy Holmes and Greg Baer. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For ordering information, please visit the website, www.thatpicturestinks.com. For bulk orders please contact Snowy Gnome Publishing.

Printed in the USA to keep Americans working.

ISBN 0-9846537-0-8

Library of Congress Control Number 2011914438

Two pictures we wanted to use, which werent quite stinky enough:

Book and cover design by Rebecca Hope Woods, also author of several snarky comments within.

This is Judy Holmess fourth photography book, the first for everyone who owns a device that takes pictures. After reviewing thousands of snapshots for well-meaning friends, relatives and countless workshop participants, she decided to write the book to end common mistakes forever. She thanks all of you for doing the research for her. She also has plenty of stinky pix of her own to contribute. Special thanks to Mike Kirk and the other reviewers. And thank you, Greg, for partnering on this project. You made this a lot more fun and a better product.

That Picture Stinks! is the culmination of a lifetime in photography. For the last twenty years, Judy taught worldwide for Hasselblad cameras, wrote books and magazine articles, and is represented by Alaska Stock Images worldwide. Her passion is bringing people who enjoy taking pictures up to speed so that every image they create is closer to being a keeper. She believes the less she writes, the more youll read.

Judy is now sick and tired of the gentle, encouraging approachits time to get in your face and demand you work on the basics. Her website is www.judyholmes.com and she welcomes your responses to this book, ideas for another book, and requests for speaking engagements.

Greg Baer has been a professional photographer for more than fifteen years. His work has been published in magazines, calendars and cards. For the last ten years, he has been running Corporate Cards, using his photography to provide a novel way for businesses to communicate. During this time, he worked with many large and small companies including AG Edwards, Factiva and Dow Jones. Greg has traveled the world in search of new images. Lately, he has been spending a lot of time in Colorado.

I would like to thank those of you who spent time reviewing this book: Roy, Fred, Tom and Debbie. I would like to thank Judy for including me in this project. Its been a lot of fun. I would also like to thank my parents, my sister, and my brother and his wife for their support throughout my career.

I would like to thank Jonette, Dale, Grayson, and Mackenzie for showing me some of the most beautiful country on earth. Thank you, Robert for making me a better photographer. You push yourself and you push the rest of us to be the best we can be. Most of all, I would like to thank my wife, Clare. I would not be able to do any of this without her love and supportin every way.

There are only three things we dont like about your pictures: the composition is terrible; theyre too light or dark; they are out of focus or blurry. Result: lousy at worst, boring at best. We know you can do bettermuch better. We dont care whether youre using a phone, film or digital camera.

This book shows you how to fix all three issues, fast. Think of the billions of pixels no longer groaning at the strain of being made and kept in a huge crummy file no one wants to see. Were not saying we can turn you into Ansel Adams in 96 pages, but wait til you see how much improvement you can make

You had no idea you were this bad so suck it up, flip the page and get better NOW!

Judys play-by-play commentary is in green ; Gregs colorful commentary is in blue .

This is point and shoot at its worst! Tylers head is in the corner, Abbys back is to the camera and Ryan is in jeopardy of a neck injury. The real issue: dont look down on kids.

Ill call my chiropractor and schedule an appointment. Actually, I feel like the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk.

This is a cute shot. Were on the same level as the kids and they fill the frame, showing us their ladybugs. It took all of five seconds and a little thought. Easy.

I like that Ryan still shows energy. Theres a playfulness to this shot that was clearly absent in the original.

The fig leaf. One of the more popular poses from the late 1800s. They look like cardboard cutouts. The problem? They are a fun, affectionate couple and none of that shows.

Ah, yes, the old fig leaf position. Very flattering! Photographers who allow their victims, I mean subjects, to be photographed in this position should be hit over the head or told to buy this book!

I find this much more pleasing. It shows warmth, personality and fun.

Muriel and Dave are playful, so make sure it shows! Encouraging people to be themselves can really pay off.

Kacys thrilled with her hot dog, isnt she? No eye contact, no energy, nothing.

It either took so long for the photographer to take this shot that Kacy fell asleepor even she knows how boring this picture will be.