Assignment for February.
Shoot something Red. Real simple ? No....Not quite. Try different angles of what ever you find red- It could be red roses from the perspective of the vase, how about a heart box filled with candy from an unusual perspective ? How about what valentines mean to kids....red candy hearts all piled up and shot up close in macro ?....You figure it out and send them into me....If i get enough, we can vote and maybe you will win something spectacular !
Friendly, usefull and easy to understand tips and tricks for the beginner photographer.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
How to HDR-
To create an HDR photo- You must bracket shots with minimum or zero movement between them. This means using a tripod and either a IR or cable release.
1.Set your ISO to the lowest possible (if you take my workshop you know that)
2.Set for a series of shots, three or more per second
3.Turn on Image stabilization
4.Set your camera to bracket exposures by 1 stop
5.With the camera stable and ZERO movement, take anywhere between 3 to 7 shots
6.Open the images in what ever software you use, PS, GIMP (File>automate>Merge to HDR) and blend the images
For superior results, shoot at lower sensitivities, shoot in raw, make 7 or more bracketing exposures.
Above all use a tripod, use either cable release or IR release.
1.Set your ISO to the lowest possible (if you take my workshop you know that)
2.Set for a series of shots, three or more per second
3.Turn on Image stabilization
4.Set your camera to bracket exposures by 1 stop
5.With the camera stable and ZERO movement, take anywhere between 3 to 7 shots
6.Open the images in what ever software you use, PS, GIMP (File>automate>Merge to HDR) and blend the images
For superior results, shoot at lower sensitivities, shoot in raw, make 7 or more bracketing exposures.
Above all use a tripod, use either cable release or IR release.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Light
Being Selective - What makes a great photograph is not a great subject, its great lighting. No matter how interesting or spectacular the subject might be, you wont get a good picture with out decent lighting.
Light is the biggest difference between a typical tourist picture and a photo that make you say WOW ! The tourist usually shoots the scene in whatever light is available at the time. Where a Pro has the patience and perseverance to wait for the light to be right, sometimes returning to the location repeatedly in search of the best light -
Light is the biggest difference between a typical tourist picture and a photo that make you say WOW ! The tourist usually shoots the scene in whatever light is available at the time. Where a Pro has the patience and perseverance to wait for the light to be right, sometimes returning to the location repeatedly in search of the best light -
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Diopter ? What ? Huh ? --
This question came up in a recent class. Most people never realized this was a setting they could change. Some just assumed to set it at zero. Some said they always wondered, but were afraid to ask. Some thought that it was too obvious to ask.
The diopter control helps you focus on the viewfinder in the camera. If you wear eyeglasses you are probably familiar with the term diopter.
So...,what is it and how do you adjust it correctly ?
When asked the first thought is to look through the viewfinder and try to adjust it so that the image in the finder looks its best. You would be wrong if that's what you tried.
Remember, what you are want to do is adjust the dial so that the items in the viewfinder (the lines or squares) look clearest. Do NOT focus on the image you are pointing the camera at. Put the lens in manual focus mode, (you all should know how to do that, if you have taken my Basic Class) then point the camera at a plain white wall, turn the focus ring and make the image completely out of focus. Now you can concentrate on the view finder and the small lines. Look closely, does it have a circle on it? Or small boxes to show the autofocus points?
Rotate or slide your diopter control all the way at one end of its range. Look at those etchings on the screen and slowly move the dial until the screen is sharply focused. There might be one or two settings that look good. It's kinda like going to the eye doctors where the doctor asks #1 or #2... #2 or #3...? Which looks better? There might be a big difference. There might be very little difference. Pick the one that looks the best.
Setting the diopter will not affect autofocus. But it will affect manual focusing. If set wrong, an in focus image will look out of focus in the viewfinder.
I hope this helps you "see" what your shooting -
The diopter control helps you focus on the viewfinder in the camera. If you wear eyeglasses you are probably familiar with the term diopter.
So...,what is it and how do you adjust it correctly ?
When asked the first thought is to look through the viewfinder and try to adjust it so that the image in the finder looks its best. You would be wrong if that's what you tried.
Remember, what you are want to do is adjust the dial so that the items in the viewfinder (the lines or squares) look clearest. Do NOT focus on the image you are pointing the camera at. Put the lens in manual focus mode, (you all should know how to do that, if you have taken my Basic Class) then point the camera at a plain white wall, turn the focus ring and make the image completely out of focus. Now you can concentrate on the view finder and the small lines. Look closely, does it have a circle on it? Or small boxes to show the autofocus points?
Rotate or slide your diopter control all the way at one end of its range. Look at those etchings on the screen and slowly move the dial until the screen is sharply focused. There might be one or two settings that look good. It's kinda like going to the eye doctors where the doctor asks #1 or #2... #2 or #3...? Which looks better? There might be a big difference. There might be very little difference. Pick the one that looks the best.
Setting the diopter will not affect autofocus. But it will affect manual focusing. If set wrong, an in focus image will look out of focus in the viewfinder.
I hope this helps you "see" what your shooting -
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Winter Shots
Winter is the season when the snow covers the land in a blanket of white, turning ordinary surroundings into something more picturesque. During this time, people whip out their cameras and take a lot of photos. However, it is also a time of cold and sometimes freezing temperature, which adds to the challenge when taking pictures of winter scenes.
Here are some useful tips to remember when shooting winter scenes:
Make exposure adjustments – winter scenes are tricky to shoot because shots can easily be underexposed if the camera settings are not properly adjusted. The camera meter, which computes for the middle gray in the scene to balance exposure, will detect a lot of white areas instead and consider it a “wrong” exposure. It will then compensate by underexposing the shot. You could end up with lots of photos of dull gray winter scenes. To avoid this, you can also manually adjust the exposure settings if your camera has that capability.
Shoot lots of family photos – children have the most fun with snow as the world around them becomes a giant winter playground. Spend some quality time with your family while shooting loads of pictures of everyone having fun. The distant snow-covered trees and bushes can become a fantastic background while your children play in the snow. You can also go closer and capture great portrait shots that show their faces all aglow and grinning with joy.
Stay safe from danger – in your excitement to shoot the pretty and magical winter scenes off the beaten path, you might forget that the area where you are in may not be safe. Snow can hide sharp thorns, gnarled roots, holes, and jagged rocks which you might trip on. It would be best not to walk on unfamiliar ground.
Protect your gear from the cold –condensation can occur with sudden changes in temperature. Avoid moisture from damaging your camera by letting it adjust to the temperature change before using it. Placing it in a camera bag will help insulate it while not in use. If you are hiking to shoot some nature winter scenes, sling your camera strap around your neck and do not carry a lot of equipment. If you trip and fall, not only will you stand the risk of getting injured, but your gear might also be damaged.
Capture the mood – winter scenes often give off a distinct mood or atmosphere, especially when there is the presence of snow and mist. Snow can make the scenery look stark, clean, or bleak while mist exudes mystery, melancholy, or suspense.
Bring spare batteries – batteries drain faster in the cold weather. Be sure to have extra batteries in case the ones you are using drain out while you are in the middle of taking pictures.
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Here are some useful tips to remember when shooting winter scenes:
Make exposure adjustments – winter scenes are tricky to shoot because shots can easily be underexposed if the camera settings are not properly adjusted. The camera meter, which computes for the middle gray in the scene to balance exposure, will detect a lot of white areas instead and consider it a “wrong” exposure. It will then compensate by underexposing the shot. You could end up with lots of photos of dull gray winter scenes. To avoid this, you can also manually adjust the exposure settings if your camera has that capability.
Shoot lots of family photos – children have the most fun with snow as the world around them becomes a giant winter playground. Spend some quality time with your family while shooting loads of pictures of everyone having fun. The distant snow-covered trees and bushes can become a fantastic background while your children play in the snow. You can also go closer and capture great portrait shots that show their faces all aglow and grinning with joy.
Stay safe from danger – in your excitement to shoot the pretty and magical winter scenes off the beaten path, you might forget that the area where you are in may not be safe. Snow can hide sharp thorns, gnarled roots, holes, and jagged rocks which you might trip on. It would be best not to walk on unfamiliar ground.
Protect your gear from the cold –condensation can occur with sudden changes in temperature. Avoid moisture from damaging your camera by letting it adjust to the temperature change before using it. Placing it in a camera bag will help insulate it while not in use. If you are hiking to shoot some nature winter scenes, sling your camera strap around your neck and do not carry a lot of equipment. If you trip and fall, not only will you stand the risk of getting injured, but your gear might also be damaged.
Capture the mood – winter scenes often give off a distinct mood or atmosphere, especially when there is the presence of snow and mist. Snow can make the scenery look stark, clean, or bleak while mist exudes mystery, melancholy, or suspense.
Bring spare batteries – batteries drain faster in the cold weather. Be sure to have extra batteries in case the ones you are using drain out while you are in the middle of taking pictures.
CLICK here to signup for my newsletter with more information:
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