photographer
It's almost a year since the pandemic started and it's starting to look like 2021 will be yet another year without much traveling or events. As an aviation photographer it's quite problematic as we're dependent on airshows to be able to organize big air to air projects. In 2020 I realized I will have to… Continue reading SHOOTING THE GTC FOR MERCEDES-AMG
It's December 2020 and we're in lockdown 2.0. Although it's much more relaxed than the first time, it's still not possible to do basically anything. To top things off our world trip for 2021 is already cancelled. I'm still hoping to be able to do a couple of air to air projects in the summer… Continue reading GOING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES
After months of sitting at home and many cancelled travels I managed to go to Normandy for a couple of days and do a little road trip. The plan was to stay at Rouen and then travel from there to several other cities and locations. We hadn't done much research so I didn't really know… Continue reading ROAD TRIP IN NORMANDY
I've always been an aviation kind of guy. Cars interest me in an aesthetic way, but that's about it. I've done a couple of automotive shoots over the past years and I have really come to enjoy it. So I was happy when I was contacted by Mercedes AMG Belgium if I would be interested… Continue reading SHOOTING FOR MERCEDES AMG
A couple of weeks ago I had an unexpected last minute shoot with a friends Bentley Continental GT3-R. I was very lucky to have a camera with me and a spare battery (Fujifilm batteries do not tend to last very long). GEAR I had the 18-135 and the 35mm with me and ended up using… Continue reading BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT3-R
Compare the two images below and there is no doubt that the second image is better in every way possible. The first one just doesn't have that extra punch that the second one does have. (I do realize I should have worked the shadow behind his head away. I can't stop noticing it.) It happens… Continue reading SHAPING AN IMAGE; SELECTIVE EDITING
Although myself and everyone I know are still healthy, Corona still pretty much fucked up my year. Since all airshows are cancelled so are all the photo flying projects in July. So instead of flying in the UK for two weeks, I'll be sitting at home. And also my trip around the world in July-August… Continue reading RE-EDITING OLD PHOTOS DURING CORONA QUARANTINE
Last blogpost I made was about shooting with a Kodak Disposable camera. That post focussed on what I learned and some of the experiences I had shooting with the camera. This one will focus on editing the scanned film. The editing is done in Lightroom and as you can see in the videos below it… Continue reading HOW I EDIT SCANNED FILM IN LIGHTROOM
A couple of months ago I saw an advertisement for a Kodak Funsaver disposable camera. It was priced at 11 euros and because it seemed cheap I ordered one. Except for Polaroid I never photograph with anything else than digital cameras, so I was excited to see how I would like this. Of course these… Continue reading WHAT I LEARNED SHOOTING A DISPOSABLE CAMERA
2020 has arrived so it's time for a new preset pack with my new and most used Lightroom presets of 2019. This pack includes 10 new presets (8 color, 2 black and white) and is now for sale on my preset webshop: https://creativemarket.com/GielS Below you can see the before and after photos of several of… Continue reading 2020 PRESET PACK
Ever since I got a Polaroid Impulse camera I had the idea to take air to air polaroids. I never got to it because of several reasons. I can't hang out the back of a Skyvan shooting polaroids because theres always a chance that the polaroid goes flying out. It's also not practical to have… Continue reading MAKING AIR TO AIR POLAROIDS
There are only a handful of jet types I still wish to see flying next to me and the Sukhoi 27 has been on that list for a very long time. But last September, as a member of the Aviation Photocrew, I finally got my opportunity to photograph this big jet! Since the opportunity arose during… Continue reading AIR TO AIR SHOOT WITH THE SU-27
This October I had the luck to visit New York for the second time. Visiting New York is always a treat, visiting on Halloween is even cooler. Besides this I was very happy to be able to explore the city again and take the pictures I felt I couldn't take last time I was there.… Continue reading NEW YORK 2015 VS. 2019
There's nothing so exciting in aviation photography as getting close to the planes. And no matter how much fun it is to stand between jets, it is more fun to have one on your wing. I had the luck to do air to air photo shoots for the last 10 years and even though it's… Continue reading STAYING CREATIVE IN AIR TO AIR PHOTOGRAPHY
In this series I'll post videos that show how I edit my photos. In this first short clip I show some very basic editing. Depending on the interest I'll post more of these that show more of the complex edits (selective editing, retouching, etc). First one is from a recent bike shoot. https://youtu.be/Et7yxOCf2sQ Thoughts,… Continue reading HOW I EDIT #1
In short BLACK is an iOS app that lets you put black and white filters over your photos. The filters are based on analog black and white film like apx400 or Ilford HP5. Design BLACK has a super sleek black and white design. The different filters are prominently visible on top of the screen and… Continue reading BLACK APP REVIEW
Index Disclaimer Museums vs. airports vs. airshows It's not about what you know, but who you know Gear Settings What to shoot Lighting Air to air photography Editing Making money Disclaimer Every now and then I get asked on social media about photography and especially my aviation photography. From the gear I use to what… Continue reading A GUIDE TO AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHY
Instagram stories has been around for a few years now and you can't open the app without having new stories to watch. Some people seem to have understood what Instagram stories are all about and made it their own, creating interesting series or using it in an entertaining way. I may not be one of… Continue reading 3 WAYS TO MAKE BETTER INSTAGRAM STORIES
Imagine campervanning through Scotland for two weeks and having to carry a Macbook Pro with you, only to be able to post some Instagram stories. Or imagine not being able to provide a photo to a pilot or display team for their social media because you can only send it after editing on your laptop… Continue reading 2 BEST APPS FOR EDITING ON YOUR PHONE
Giel Sweertvaegher 