PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES BEAUTY ABROAD.

Byline: - Jason Kandel

Harvey Branman took up his serious hobby of photography in the late 1970s after winning first prize in color at the Malibu Art Festival. His photos were from a drive he took up to Oregon coast.

One of his favorites was a one of a piece of gray driftwood contrasted with colorful nasturtiums, little flowers with brilliant colors. Since then he has photographed pyramids in Egypt, ancient ruins in Turkey, and the Old City in Jerusalem.

On page 10, check out Branman's colorful photographs from his trip to Thailand, a trip he took to as part of a certification process to become a travel agent.

Today, Branman, who spent 30 years in the meat industry, owns his own studio, Photography as an Art, in Burbank. The Chicago native moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to pursue a psychology degree but dropped out of graduate school at Cal State, Northridge. He worked in the meat and produce industry to put food on the table and a roof over his head.

From his portrait studio, he takes pictures of celebrities and local residents and does weddings and other events. But when he can, he travels and takes photos.

He believes anyone can learn how to shoot excellent photographs. All you have to do is know how to use your camera properly.

He also recommends you use manual cameras rather than automatic. He advises that when you find something interesting to shoot try shooting it from five different angles and using different lenses. Force yourself to see the scene differently by changing where you're standing. He also uses the rule of thirds -- in which you take your focal point out of the center of the picture. It makes it more interesting to look at. Also, fill the frame when photographing people. And use fill flash to even out shadows on faces. Use backlight when it's sunny out and the light is behind the person.