The Atlas Gallery is nestled on the corner of Chiltern and Dorset street next to a delicious looking Nordic baker and opposite one of the oldest pubs in Marylebone, The Barrow Mow. On a summer’s day, a crowd will gather to enjoy a mid day pint in the sun and as a visitor it is certainly a delightful setting to be in. Atlas is a private gallery and from March 27th to May 9th 2015 it is showcasing signed, black and white photographs by the renowned French photographer Marc Riboud. 

Aaron, Sarah, Nathaniel, Lily and little Caleb met with our photographer Hermione McCosh this March for a fun family portrait session around Big Ben in London. The resulting photos turned out to be as colourful and joyful as this lovely family of five even in spite of the traditional London fog at this time of year. Good mood and smiles are the key to great memories!

Thom and Sue met with our photographer Catherine O'Hara earlier this month for a fun and romantic stroll around Paris. That quiet morning, Paris with its little cafés and promenades along the Seine river, belonged only to the two of them. Memories to last a life time!

For our friendly critique #4 we decided to go for the portrait of an elephant about to enjoy its bath in Miami Zoo, by Nancy Bettencourt. This is a tightly-cropped portrait, where one can see only half of the elephant's head, and a spray of water, motion blurred from a slower shutter speed, against a dark background. The close up portrait allows the viewer to explore the elephant's skin texture with all its dots and wrinkles, as well as anticipate the coming refreshing shower.

Have you ever wondered why some of your images are not as sharp as they should be? Or have you noticed that the more you zoom in with that nice new lens of yours, the trickier it is to get sharp images? If the answer is yes, then you definitely need to master shutter speed vs. focal length rule for those razor sharp photos and no more camera shake! It may sound more complicated than it really is, so let's see how that rule of thumb works...

In previous posts, we discussed various composition rules and ideas that can be used as a good starting point for an aspiring photographer. Once you master these rules and your eye is set to easily recognize various composition ideas through the camera lens, you may also realize that these "rules" are only guidelines and can also be broken. This is where the fun begins! Let's have a look at some examples of how to break the rules and unleash your creativity!

In the previous article we discussed various composition rules and ideas to help you gain more confidence in photography. Knowing how to use the many technical features of a camera is one thing, developing your photographer's eye to actually recognize a good composition is another, and dare I say, is more important. Since there are more ways of composing a stronger image than fits in one article, here are some more ideas for a good starting point in your photographic explorations.

One of the first things a photographer learns is how to create sharp images. In fact, the vast majority of photographs that are exhibited for public view are sharp and in focus. Tripods, fast lenses, Vibration Reduction and Image Stabilisation technologies - all is meant to get maximum sharpness, and for a good reason. Does that mean, however, that if an image is not razor sharp, it is meant to be deleted? In other words, can a photograph with soft focus or some blur be interesting and worth keeping? The answer is yes! Let's have a closer look at some examples...

Paris is widely known as a multicultural city. Traditions and celebrations of various ethnic communities that have long become a part of Parisian life make locals and visitors feel like they are traveling without even leaving the city. Of course, such festivals and celebrations are a great way to practice street and travel photography, and capture some vibrant images! One of the most popular annual events is Chinese New Year, celebrated in February, and this year I decided to experience it through my camera lens. Dragons, Chinese Lanterns, dancing lions, firecrackers, illuminated lanterns... let the celebrations begin!

Even the end of November in Paris sees bright and sunny days! It was a perfect match for a joyful family of five who asked us for a portrait session around the Eiffel tower and along the river Seine. Suzanne and Andy, together with their three children Tim, Ali, and Emily, met our photographer Elena on a Saturday morning and had some fun posing for the camera. But mostly they just forgot about it and enjoyed themselves!

While the Seine river separates the left bank from the right bank of Paris, multiple bridges link the two parts of the city and provide a great subject for photographic exploration. There are 37 bridges within the city of Paris, 4 of which are pedestrian, and some others are rail bridges. Remember that often the best spot to capture a beautiful bridge is from a bridge next to it, so get your maps ready!

Situated in the very heart of the city of Paris (3rd and 4th arrondissements), nowadays Le Marais is one of the most vibrant and attractive areas to explore through your camera lens. One of the few districts that were left untouched by renovation of the city by Baron Haussmann, Le Marais is still full of historic buildings dating back to the 17th century. The maze of narrow streets, hidden gardens and courtyards give the district a unique atmosphere. Also known as home to the largest Jewish community in Paris, a center of LGBT culture and a hub for fashionable boutiques and concept stores, Le Marais provides endless opportunities for street photography against an aristocratic historical background.