The Light Side of Photography

One of the challenge for a beginner photographer is to understand the use of lightning. The easiest thing to do is to always leave the flash on the camera before taking every picture. However, the results will not always be the best.

Flash is a useful feature, but with improper use, it will make the human skin look too pale, and it can cause unwanted shadows in night photography. If you must use it, make sure you are as close as you can to the subject instead of staying back and zooming in.

But, if you want to get better, you need to start turning off the flash and learn to use the available light. One rule to follow is that if there is enough light to read a book, then, use the available light without any flash.

Also, taking picture without a flash will force you to adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings. At first, this will be a challenge. And you might overexpose or underexpose your pictures. But, with a little practice, it will get easier. The rewards is that you will learn how to use all your settings and take even better pictures.

Now, try this for today, take some pictures using the available light and no flash. And see what happens - you will learn a lot just doing this.

David

The Low and High of Contrast

Contrast is heard a lot of times in black and white photography. It is used in many ways. It could be good or could be bad. It all depends what you are trying to accomplish.

When you increase the range of tones and details, this is referred to increase of contrast. It is like having black and white together. The sharper the point where black and white meets, the higher the contrast. You can tell what is black and what is white.

Decreasing the contrast is when there is more haze and there are more soft ranges of tones in the picture. The difference between black and white is less noticeable.

Now, neither low nor high contrast is better than the other one. Again, it all depends what you are trying to accomplish. High contrast will give some sharpness and details will pop out. Low contrast will look softer and gentler.

The main point is to bring out the details that you want people to see.

Ok, go take some pictures and play around and try to take some high and low contrast pictures.

David

What Is The ISO Setting Used For?

In the digital photography age, ISO measures the light sensitivity in the image sensor of your digital camera.

Its settings are normally 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 etc. The higher the ISO setting in your digital camera, the more sensitive the image sensor will be to the light - but the noisier (grainier) the image will be.

Here is one way to better understand how ISO works.

When you are asleep in a dark room and someone wakes you up and turns on the light, what happens to your eyes? At this point, they are very sensitive to the light. It's like you are blinded by a little amount of light. Your eyes are extremely sensitive to the light at this point. And you don't need much light to see well. Well, that's equivalent to a high ISO setting - where you don't need much light to expose the picture correctly.

It is also the same when you are outside in a bright sunny day and go inside a house with poor lightning. Your eyes won't be sensitive to the light. You need more light to see well. This is equivalent to the low ISO setting - where it will need lots of light to expose the picture correctly.

What does this means for you?

Well, if you are in a low light situation, then you might want to use a higher ISO. For example, if you want to take pictures of the city at night (flash will be worthless since it's only effective to about 12-15 feet).

The reverse is true, if you are in a bright and sunny day, you want to use a low ISO setting. The pictures will be less noisier (less grainier - which means sharper too) with low ISO settings.

Remember, when you set the ISO in your camera, you’ll impact the aperture and shutter speed to take a well exposed shot. For example - if you increased your ISO setting from 100 to 400, you can shoot at faster shutter speeds or smaller apertures. For this condition, the trade off is that your picture will be noisier.

Another thing to be aware about setting ISO is to know what you are going to do with the picture. If you are using it for e-mails or small prints, then high ISO settings won't have much impact. But, if you want to blow up the picture to a 8X10 inch or a poster size, then you should try to keep it to the lowest ISO possible - you will be able to see the grain in the large image if you take it in a high ISO.

A simple way to see the difference, it's to take your camera and take the a picture with the highest and lowest ISO setting on the same subject. Use your digital zoom in your camera or in your computer and look at particular spot. You will see that the highest ISO setting have more noise than the lowest ISO setting.

Ok, now go take some pictures and keep practicing.

David

The Magical Tricks of Taking Explosive Firework Pictures

Back on 2004, someone asked me how to set his camera to take pictures of fireworks. It was 2 days from July 4th. I was in a hurry and could not give him a tutorial.

But, I wrote him back with a quick and simple step-by-step instructions. It turn out to be so helpful that I want it to share this with you too. Here it is:

Fireworks are a little trickier because of the situation and timing.

* First arrive early to find the best spot. Again, walk around to
find the best angle and location to shoot what you want. If it's windy, you want the wind blowing from your back towards the firework - that way the smoke won't be in front of your pictures.

* Bring a tripod and extra memory cards and plenty of batteries.

* Set your image to the highest resolution - this is to get the best picture and you can always tone it down with your computer.

* Now, start to take pictures with shutter of 1/125 to freeze the motion or 1/30 to blur the fireworks.

* Your aperture should be set as high as possible - start with f8.

* Set ISO at 100.

Once the firework starts, take a shot with the initial settings. View it in your screen. If it's overexposed, increase your shutter speed or narrow your aperture openning. If it's underexposed, decrease your shutter speed or open up your aperture. Increase or decrease the shutter or the aperture one at a time...not both.

If you are a beginner, I would recommend to start with shutter priority setting. Set the shutter your want and let the camera set the aperture to compensate. Make sure you see what aperture the camera choses before taking the picture. Take the picture and preview. If it looks good, then it was a good setting. If you want to go a step further, put it to manual setting and set the same shutter speed and aperture you had. Then increase and decrease the shutter or aperture settings.

Start simple with one or two settings. Take pictures and preview. Change one setting, take another picture and preview. You will see the difference everytime. Write down or remember what your settings are and look over what you did...this is one of the best way to learn!

I want to add a little more to it.

* Another thing to remember, it's to keep the camera very steady when taking the picture. Use the 2 seconds self-timer to take the picture if you can't keep the camera steady - the only bad thing is that you will need to have good anticipation and timing if you use the self-timer.

* Also, don't autofocus. The autofocus might not focus what you want and everything could be blurry. Manual focus first and leave it at that setting.

* Turn the flash off - there will be plenty of lights from the fireworks.

* Try to use the highest aperture setting as possible for sharper images.

* This is the hardest one... make sure your spot is not too close. You will have a harder time capturing everything into the picture's frame. I would stay a little far away so I can fit the whole explosion of the firework in the picture.

* Go in with a goal... what do you want to accomplish? Do you want freeze motion or blurred motion in your pictures? Do you want to include the crowd too or just the firework or do you want to catch some buildings that are near by? Try to envision what your pictures will look like to get an idea of what you want first. It doesn't have to be concrete, but it will help.

Don't be scare to take a lot of pictures. It's ok to take many pictures. You can discard the bad ones later on.

Have fun and take explosive pictures.

David

Digital Camera Training: The Trick To Distort The Size Of Your Photographs

Digital Camera Training: The Trick To Distort The Size Of Your Photographs

The Trick To Distort The Size Of Your Photographs

One of the nice trick in photography is that you can change the size of near and far objects. You can make far object look closer to your subject in your picture. Or you can increase the distance between the subject and the background.

The trick is with the lens. There is no special skills.

If you want the background closer to the subject, zoom to a high setting - usually around 80mm or higher. Step a little back as you zoom your lens so the subject will appear bigger in your viewfinder. I would normally step back enough so the subject would fit well into the picture frame. Once you take the picture, you will see that the background is closer to the subject... sometimes, just behind it.

Now, if you want the background farther away from the subject, use the wide angle. Set your wide angle to the lowest number as possible - usually 28mm or 35mm - and get step closer to the subject... close enough so the subject fits well into the picture frame. You will notice that the backgound extends farther away from the subject.

Play with these settings. You can create dramatic and artistic effects by distorting the proportion.

And remember, practice and practice. It can only make you a better photographer.

David

How to Take Interesting Photography With Two Settings

The first goal of many beginner photographers is to take clear and sharp pictures. But, once you achieve this goal, you will most likely move into something more creative and different.

Imagine for a minute. If you were taking portrait pictures of your family, your photo album would be full of the same pictures but in different scenes. You will have a picture of uncle Joe in his birthday for this year, uncle Joe's birthday picture from last year, uncle Joe in aunt Jane's birthday, and so on.

I have to say that for your family, this is usually great. It's always nice to see how changes happens every year and how different each event is. But, if you wanted to show it to some friends, it will just look very repetitious to them.

Now, I went over aperture and shutter speed already. You know by now that both controls the amount of lights into the camera. The shutter speed can be changed to blur or freeze actions and movements. And, aperture, can increase or decrease the depth of field.

One thing you should understand that shutter speed and aperture works in tangent. As you increase the shutter speed one setting, you will need to open up your aperture one setting to maintain the same amount of light exposure to your picture. That is, if you take a picture at f/16 aperture using 1/125 shutter speed, you can take the same picture at f/11 using 1/250.

Combining the two controls in different settings can produce very interesting and diffferent pictures with the same digital camera.

Remember, if you want to blur some actions... then, decrease your shutter speed and narrow down your aperture to compensate the amount of light. On the other hand, if you want to freeze the same actions, you will increase your shutter speed and open up your aperture.

If you are also looking at the foreground or background, you can increase or decrease the depth of field. At the same time you can blur or freeze the action to create some visual effects.

Try testing this in a park with birds. Take pictures with the same subject and background and use different shutter speed settings while compensating the aperture settings in your camera. Look at the results. Then, use the same scenario. This time use your aperture settings to increase and decrease the depth of field while compensating the shutter speed settings in your camera.

You will see that you only need to do very little to achieve extraordinary effects by playing around with these two controls. Many savvy photographers have achieved different special effects in their photographs using these two controls. You can do the same.

Again, practice and practice. You will see how easy it is.

David

Understanding Aperture in a Digital Camera

Basically, the aperture controls the amount of light into the camera. It may be enlarged or contracted.

The size are measured on a scale called "f-stops." A f/2.8 is larger than a f/22 - the smaller the number, the larger the aperture. Most common f-stop settings are: f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16. Also, each f-stop is about half as large as the previous one. In other words, f/2.8 allows about twice as much light as the f/4 settings.

Changing your aperture size will not only control the amount of light going into your camera; it can also change the focus of your foreground and background. This area of focusing is called "depth of field."

Larger apertures give a shallow depth of field. In a shallow depth of field, your subject or part of your subject will be in sharp focus. On the other side, smaller apertures give a larger depth of field. That's when most part, if not all, around the subject will be in sharp focus.

Skillful photographers can manipulate the depth of field to emphasize certain details of the pictures and down play other details. With a large aperture, you can focus your subject and blur the background. With a smaller aperture, you can have both your subject and background show up sharply focused in the picture.

If you play enough with it, you can even keep the subject in sharp focus while blurring the foreground and background of the subject.

Try it and see how that works.

David

The Shutter Speed In Your Camera

If you want to take clear pictures with your digital camera, then, you need to understand the shutter speed setting.

What is it? Well, you can find it in your camera with numbers like 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, etc. They are actually fractions of a second. For example, 60 is 1/60 of a second and 125 is 1/125 of a second.

This means... it is the time set for the light to expose the photograph. So, if you set it for 125, the shutter will open for 1/125 of a second to take the picture.

Shutter speed seems to control the amount of light to expose your photographs... but, it also controls motion of your photographs. Faster settings (above 125) can freeze movements. The slower settings can show some blurs in the subject.

So, what is the best shutter speed setting for your digital camera? Well, there is no standard setting. It depends what picture you want to take. It depends what you want your picture to look like. Do you want to capture someone in the air after a jump? Or do you want to put some blurriness of someone running so it looks like there is some movement effect?

It is not an easy answer. The best way to find out is to test. Try and try several shutter speed settings. See how they come out. This is not a hard setting to master... but it does take some effort to understand and learn.

Just remember... in the slower shutter speed settings (below 60), you might want to consider using a tripod. The shaking of your hands can affect the picture sharpness.

Go ahead... take some pictures of someone running. Take some pictures of moving cars. Take some pictures of a water stream. Use different shutter speeds in your digital camera. In no time, you will see how simple shutter speed can be useful for taking great photographs.

David

Taking Indoor Sports Pictures

I went to an arena football game last weekend. It was my first time ever and was very interesting game. There was excitement. There were great plays and awesome catches. It was overall fun to watch.

The sad part was that I could not bring in my camera to take any pictures. How am I going to remember all that excitement? How about taking a picture of that receiver diving for the ball?

But, imagined if I was allowed to take some pictures. This can happen to you. You could end up taking pictures of a loved one playing a sport inside a stadium. Now, what do you do? How do you prepare for it?

Well... there are certain things you should understand to capture those exciting moments with your digital camera.

The main thing is to find the right spot to take a picture. Look for a spot that are likely to have a lot of action. In basketball, you will be closer to the basket. In diving, you should be near the diving board. The closer to the action, the better your pictures will be.

Once you found a good spot to take your pictures. Mount your digital camera with a tripod or a monopod. You need something that will keep your camera steady while taking pictures.

Now, set up your camera so you can take those great action pictures. First, if you want still action and capture the moment crisp and clear in all your pictures, you should set up your shutter speed high. And since light will be dimmer, you need to open up your aperture setting too. Be aware that when you open up the aperture in your camera, the depth of field will decrease. That means, that the object far away from the subject will not be as sharp in your picture.

If you want a little of zest, decrease your shutter speed of the camera. This will give some blurriness in the subject of your picture. But, with some practice, your pictures will look like in action.

To compensate the dim light, set up your film speed higher. Not too high or your pictures might look kind of granular and won't be as crisp and sharp.

Another important element is how fast the camera can take a picture from the time you press the button. Make sure you time it correctly. If your camera is slow, then find one that is fast. Action pictures have a small window of opportunity. A slow camera can take the picture after the action has passed.

Taking action pictures indoor involves good techniques and preparation. Remember, test a few shots. Find the right settings. And take great pictures.

David

Three Things to Consider Before Buying a Digital Camera

Here are 3 quick things you should consider before buying your next digital camera:

1. Size - make sure it's the right size. Don't buy a SLR digital camera because it's the best out there. Sometimes they might not be convenient to carry around. Buy a camera that won't get on the way. Also, don't buy a camera that it's too small. Buy one that you can handle and that you can press the buttons easily.
2. Price - this is probably one of the big factor that everyone thinks through before buying a digital camera. But, do not let that turn you off. Also, don't go rushing and buy the most expensive camera out there. Don't buy the latest model either. Buy what you can use. If you can afford one digital camera and are in a tight budget, buy the one you can afford and will be using for a least 3 years.
3. Features - consider the features you need. Like the optical zoom, the digital zoom, the mega pixels, the flash, view screen size and the auto settings. Also, you should get a camera where you can manual set the aperture and shutter speed. It's probably best to get the one with the most optical zoom available. 3X optical zoom should be enough for most pictures you take. Digital zoom are like a bonus.

It's also okay to get several cameras (if you can afford them). Get a nice higher end camera so you can take really crisp pictures. Use it for special events to take memorable pictures. And get a cheaper and easy to carry digital camera. You can carry this one around with you all the time. You might take this to the beach, to play sports or to take pictures in crowded places like in a restaurant.

I recommend to look at the type of memory cards and batteries the camera uses. I myself like the camera that uses the SD memory cards and normal batteries like AA types.

Memory is very important for picture taking. But, they can be the most expensive item aside from the camera itself. You will spend more money with cameras that limit your choices of memory cards.

Also, it is very important that you can quickly get batteries when you run out and not worry about recharging them. If you don't care what batteries the camera uses, then, make sure to get an extra backup battery. And remember to have them fully charge before using your camera. The good thing about cameras that uses AA batteries is that you can buy rechargable AA batteries. And if you out of charge in the middle of a shoot, it is easy and economical to buy AA batteries.

Good shoot and good pictures. Until next time...

David

Seven Techniques for Better and Exciting Pictures

Just quickly and briefly... here are 7 techniques to improve your pictures. Just remember them the next time you take a picture.

1. Observe carefully the background (and also foreground) through the viewfinder of your camera before taking the picture. Keep your surrounding areas as simple as possible. The subject will stand out better. Busy or clutter background tends to cause a distraction from the subject in the picture.
2. Move closer to the subject. Make sure that the subject is the dominant element in the picture. But don't set your subject straight in the center. It will look static and dull. Keep the subject a little off center.
3. Take the picture with the subject doing something. It is very common to ask the subject to stand or sit before taking a picture. It's like posing for a portrait. Take pictures while your subjects are engaged in a natural activity. If you are in a party... take pictures of people laughing in a conversation, dancing or even eating. Look around. Your pictures will be much precious for years to come.
4. Hold your camera steady. You will have clear pictures the less you shake. Use a tripod if necessary. If you don't have a tripod available, brace the camera with both hands, take a deep breath and softly press the button to take the picture.
5. Watch the light. See what direction it's coming from. Light should be coming from the front of your subject. Make sure there is enough light. Natural soft light (from the morning or late afternoon) gives a warm feeling to the photos.
6. Adjust the camera to the correct settings before taking the picture. Set your shutter, aperture and speed. If you must use auto setting, make sure that you have the correct auto exposure setting.
7. Take a lot of pictures. Get a few extra memory cards for your digital camera... or get a large memory card. You don't ever want to run out of memory. Take as many pictures and in different angle as you can. Have the subject engaged in something as you take pictures.

Follow all these steps, and you will have more exciting pictures. Remember, the more practice you have, the better you will get.

David

The First Basic Thing to Do If You Want To Take Better Pictures

One of the questions that I get from family members and people who are not really good picture takers is what camera did I use to take my photos. I always get the feeling that they think if they get the same camera, they will take better pictures.

Some of the time, this is true.

That's because some of the time, people don't have the right camera when taking pictures. You can't use a "cheapo" disposable camera and expect postcard like pictures for every picture you take.

In other time, they just don't understand how to take pictures. They think that buying the right camera and setting to auto will do the trick. This will work in many cases... but not every single time.

But, if you want to really take stunning pictures consistently... you will need to know your camera.

No matter what camera you have - cheap, 35mm, digital, fancy or professional - you need to know your camera. It doesn't matter what you have. There is a limitations to what your camera can do. But, knowing those limitations, you will have an idea of how your pictures will turn out before you take them.

For example, if your camera doesn't have a flash, your pictures will likely be very dark when you take pictures in the dark. If your camera doesn't have a zoom, you distant subjects will look really tiny when you get your pictures back.

Now, how do you get to know your camera? Well, practice shooting photos with it. Like everything else you learned in your life, practice makes you better at it. Take your camera every where you go. Take pictures of anything. Take the several pictures of the same subjects with different angles and different settings.

Then, study the pictures. See how they turned out. Understand what you did.

I always say that experience can teach you a lot. And learning from mistakes (yours or others) can only make you better.

But, remember, it takes time to master any craft. So, don't get discourage. Just keep at it. I know that I'm still at it, and I'm still learning.

David