Lorelei Web Design » Digital Photography

Commonly Used Terms in Digital Photography and What Do They Mean?

Lorelei — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 06:43:22 +0000

Digital photography is quickly becoming the preferred way to take pictures. If you are in the market for a new camera, consider the following advantages of digital over traditional film photography. In the long run, digital is less expensive. All photos are recorder are on memory device within the camera and then downloaded straight to your computer. You skip the need to keep buying rolls of film and paying for developing. You can send unlimited copies of the same picture to friends and relatives without spending a penny extra.

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You see your pictures quicker. Most digital cameras allow you to view your photos immediately. There is no waiting and worrying about whether or not that “perfect shot” turned out. You can take a picture of that new baby and immediately download it to your computer to share your good good news with friends and relatives. There’s no need for anxious grandparents to wait days or even weeks for a picture.

Most digital cameras have built in editing features. Cropping and re-centering the picture to make it look its best can be done easily. You no longer have to worry about a stray hand distracting from the main subject of your photo. Sharpening can be done immediately to bring out the details. Within minutes you can have a print-perfect photo.

You avoid the frustration of running out of film and having to find a store that is open in the middle of an important event or on vacation. Depending on the size of your memory card and the setting of file size and quality, which you often control, you can store a couple hundred pictures on one tiny card. That is the equivalent of nine or ten rolls of film.

These are just a few of the advantages of digital photography. It is definitely worth considering as you search for your next new camera.

It helps when learning to use your new digital camera to also know what some of the more common terms mean. Below you will find many of these common terms defined..

Automatic Mode — A setting that sets the focus, exposure and white-balance automatically.

Burst Mode or Continuous Capture Mode — a series of pictures taken one after another at quickly timed intervals with one press of the shutter button.

Compression — The process of compacting digital data, images and text by deleting selected information.

Photo Taken with PowerShot SD980 IS 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

Digital Zoom — Cropping and magnifying the center part of an image.

JPEG — The predominant format used for image compression in digital cameras

Lag Time — The pause between the time the shutter button is pressed and when the camera actually captures the image

LCD — (Liquid-Crystal Display) is a small screen on a digital camera for viewing images.
Lens — A circular and transparent glass or plastic piece that has the function of collecting light and focusing it on the sensor to capture the image.

Megabyte — (MB) Measures 1024 Kilobytes, and refers to the amount of information in a file, or how much information can
be contained on a Memory Card, Hard Drive or Disk.

Pixels — Tiny units of color that make up digital pictures. Pixels also measure digital resolution. One million pixels
adds up to one mega-pixel.

RGB — Refers to Red, Green, Blue colors used on computers to create all other colors.

Resolution — Camera resolution describes the number of pixels used to create the image, which determines the amount of
detail a camera can capture. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can register and the larger the picture can be
printed.

Storage Card — The removable storage device which holds images taken with the camera, comparable to film, but much smaller. Also called a digital camera memory card…

Viewfinder — The optical “window” to look through to compose the scene.

White Balance — White balancing adjusts the camera to compensate for the type of light (daylight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.,) or lighting conditions in the scene so it will look normal to the human eye.

Your Complete Guide to Starting with Underwater Photography

Lorelei — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:01:40 +0000

It gives us an enthralling experience when we travel around the world to see some magnificent tourists attractions. Go and behold these tourist spots are indeed enchanting and before we knew it our camera is rolling already and shots after shots are taken to capture the breathtaking scenery that is unfolding before your very eyes. If you’ve been to the Great Barrier Reef, which is in Australia, and you are on a diving spree, you might ask yourself, how to take pictures of the great panorama of fishes, corals and other sea creatures that comes in different shapes, colors and sizes underneath the azure and crystal water of the reef? Taking pictures can give you a one of a kind experience but there are some ways to do get the job done with zest and gusto.

The first and foremost, is to obtain a waterproofing housing for the camera, that is, the inexpensive small point and shoot camera. Why? Because under water SLR camera maybe more expensive than the camera with housing. Underwater cameras can fetch to around $150 and comes along with it some risks for you to take, hmmm, just like taking the bullets by your teeth. If you don’t want to be a risk taker why not settle for cheaper camera like the reliable Sony Powershot which is equipped with high end point and shoot and an underwater case to shield it.

Photo by by W J (Bill) Harrison

Indeed, this is a very practical yet efficient way whilst you save some of your precious and hard-earned money. Thus the good first step is to buy a camera that you can use housing for it and drop the idea of buying DSLR while you intend to take pictures under the sea, unless you have ample amount of money to shell out for the expensive underwater camera.

Taking pictures underwater may give you some challenges to hurdle and conquer:

First thing is avoid things under the water can pose any harm on you, like avoiding diving into the waters that is infested with sharks or deadly jellyfishes. Problems with lighting or even the lack of it also poses a major problem to you. To take pictures under water you are in dire need of light from the cameras flash or better perhaps from other source, to enable you to shoot for great photos

Whilst shooting near the surface you need to adjust your camera setting to a small ISO speed, as you get deeper at around 30 to 40 feet, keep an eye with the shutter speed. At this depth the bottom light will be low, and if you begin with shutter speeds of 1 / 30, 1 / 15, or lower, the pictures taken are blurred, which can be unfortunate since you can only know the outcome once you already have printed copies of your pictures. For this reason it is wise to purchase a point and shoot underwater camera that is equipped with a low-noise at high ISO, which must be low.

Photo by jayhem

If you encounter some problems with the color, blurriness or mist in your photos. No problem, since there is the Adobe Photoshop that permits you to make some corrections to the flaws in your taken photos right away to make them look really good. This is a great method as it is, but nothing beats the photos that is not unedited, you can do this by simply taking the best pictures to the best of your abilities at all times which is far more rewarding.

The Full Guide on Capturing Lightning on Camera

Lorelei — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:50:56 +0000

Lightning is scary and yet a gorgeous part of the natural beauty. We find watching lightening mesmerizing and we have all enjoyed photos of lightning, so many bolts captured with just one photo sometimes does not seem possible. But as you read on you will see that it is possible. Not only is it possible, it is also possible for you to do with a little practice and patience.

Catching lightning in a photo is difficult due to its unpredictability and trying to capture the split second on film. What we can do is let the lightning do the work for us. We do not need to catch every bolt of lightning, and using the proper techniques we will capture something beautifully unique. It just takes some practice and technical know how to get the results that you are looking for while taking lightning photographs.

By using a film at slow speed, or an ISO for digital cameras, long exposure time, and small aperture we can capture the lightning by using it as a source of light. You can set the exposure from many seconds to as little as 1 second; it all depends on the lightning and whether we are working in the dark or in the daylight. The lighting conditions are still diminished during a storm in the daylight hours by at least 7 stops and sometimes more than sunny conditions.

The best thing is to have our spot all picked out before the storm happens. It can be any type of subject matter we desire… A good idea is to choose a spot before a storm so you already have plans on where to go and get set up. Finding the right spot to shoot is just as important as the subject you choose to shoot. Shooting lightning gives you a variety of choices and it is fun to try to shoot different subjects during a storm.

If you are setting up your camera outdoors it is best to use your tripod with something extra to help hold it in place in the instance there is high winds that we can’t control. You will want a cover for your camera that is also waterproof to protect it from the elements. You should employ the use of an air bulb release for the camera because there is no metal in the tubing; this will protect you in case of a lightning strike to the camera, you must always think of your own safety when setting up for this type of photo. Set your camera at f/16 and the (B) setting for the shutter. Set your lens to infinity or a focal point off in the distance. Now that the camera is set up you should take cover in a place where you plan on tripping the shutter to shoot your photos.

Camera: Sony DSLR-A200 Exposure: 10 sec (10) Aperture: f/4 Focal Length: 20 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV. Photo by stevoarnold, Flickr

If you do not choose to set up outside you can use the assistance of a window-pod and attach it to your car window or even take the pictures from an indoor location. If you choose to take a picture from indoors, you will want to make sure all of your interior lights are off. If your taking the photo from inside your car, be sure to keep the windows up so the camera is protected at all times from the elements.

Taking the photo is merely keeping the shutter open long enough to catch a few bolts of lightning. To manage this the right way, we should be taking several shots because we can’t measure the exposure caused by lightning. This will easily take a full roll of film, but if you are in luck and have a digital camera you are ahead of the game. You will find that you have many great pictures and some awesome effects from the lightning. We can not finish a section about filming lightning without mentioning that it is very dangerous. There are thousands of volts in a single bolt that would make our electric companies green with envy. Even those that are electrocuted as a form of punishment do not receive the same voltage as 1 bolt of lightning.

You should always protect yourself when out in a storm and you should seek the shelter of a building or inside your vehicle. The task is to be sure you are grounded and not touching the ground yourself. The lightning is attracted to tall objects and it is not always safe to stand under a tree. You may want to take a great picture, but safety comes first.

A precursor to the eminent strike of lightning is if you suddenly feel the hair on your neck stand up on ends. Get away from that area immediately if you begin to feel this and you are outdoors. Always wear protective clothes like rubber boots, coat and hat, it is not a guarantee to your safety but it does help. Always stay away from tall objects outdoors as they are a conduit to the electrical charge and you can be zapped just for being near the object, not to forget, you do not need a tree falling on top of you!

Selecting a camera – with lightning photography it is recommended you use a digital camera to cut the cost of film, but any camera that has a bulb will do fine. The digital camera will save you money in the long run because you can expect to have many photos on a roll that you will see are not useable.
Selecting the Lens - Usually the wide angle lens is a better choice when catching lightning. You can get much more sky into the photo and that offers a better chance of catching lightning. The lens choice depends on what you’re shooting so be prepared.
Tripod - You should get a tripod that can stand up to the weather conditions. It is a good investment if you plan on doing this type of photography. It does not have to be the most expensive on the market, just a good tripod that can stand up to the conditions is enough.
Noise reduction - If you are the owner of a Canon EOS 400D or the EOS 30D you should keep the noise reduction turned off. If you leave it on and you increased the exposure time, you will have to wait longer to take the next picture and that could mean a loss of great photo ops.
Settings of ISO – You should set to the lowest speed. This will give you a clear picture and you are using the tripod anyhow.
Timer and Mirror Lockup - You should enable the timer on your camera if you’re using the cable release. If you want to minimize movement you should enable your mirror lockup.
RAW - Use this setting because the editing is much easier so you can develop your photo with different balances of white. Capturing the different balances of white can really change the look of your photos.
Aperture - You should keep the aperture value between f/5.6 and f/8 this will allow you to capture more than one bolt at a time due to the longer exposure time of your camera. An aperture that is faster than f/5.6 may be over done and an aperture of f/11 or smaller might not get you the result you’re looking for.
Exposure - If shooting during the daylight hours let the cameras inner light meter fix the right exposure, if at night use the tips to find the right exposure.

10 Must-Know Golden Rules of Macro Photography

Kathleen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:50:13 +0000

One of the simplest and more satisfying types of photography is of course, macro photography. Macro photography is defined as the close up focus of a subject with the use of a strong lens. You need a lens that can focus at a 1:1 ratio. An example is the use of the 35mm camera. You focus on an object that will fit into the screen as 24x36mm because this is the area size in the film. The Subject will be the exact same size as the image on the film, negative or slide. The joy of macro photography is that you are able to notice all of the great detail in a subject that you may have never noticed before, that makes the subject even more intriguing.

You can use macro photography on many subjects such as minerals, flowers, snowflakes, butterflies, plants and so on. You can use your yard, the forest and the beach; these places can supply you with hours and hours of enjoyment for macro photography. There is no reason to subject yourself only to nature with macro photography either, you can use it for your collections of stamps, coins, or anything that you feel will be appealing to the eye. Even the advanced photographer can find something new and exciting about macro photography. Some people have used it for documentation of valuables for insurance and so on. There is no limit to the enjoyment you can derive from macro photography, you may have 1 single subject that can give you hours of possibilities.

Exposure: 8 sec (8) Aperture: f/13 Focal Length: 100 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

SLR digital cameras are a great choice if you would like to try your hand at macro photography. You can get the type of camera with interchangeable lenses and the investment will be well worth your purchase price. If you’re planning on doing a lot of work out of doors then it is recommended that you go with the 200mm or 180mm macro lens. You can also use the close up diopter lenses, reversing rings, or extension tubes.

The extension tube goes between the lens and the camera body. It does not contain any glass, and the reason for its use is to offer more space between the digital sensor and the film to allow magnification. A reversing ring is used just as it sounds, you can attach the lens in reverse. The close-up diopter goes in front of the camera lens. It can give closer focus ability at a good price, but the quality is sometimes not the best.

Complete Beginners Guide to Sunrise and Sunset Photography

Kathleen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:18:59 +0000

6 Photoshop Actions

To photograph the sunrise is a great challenge. Every photographer has wanted to capture the beauty of a sunrise. There are many tips such as the camera lens, position; angle and lighting that you will need to keep in mind to produce a great picture. Every camera is unique, and each has its own set of requirements to perform while taking a sunrise photograph.

Cochrane Hill Sunset by D'Arcy Norman

You can capture a sunrise with any type of camera but an LCD camera is the preferred choice. A photographer is able to hold the camera closer which helps to reduce shaking while taking the shot. If the photographer is concerned about shake, he can always use a tripod to eliminate the problem. You will want to take sunrise photos that will highlight the natural colors of the morning sky to give your photos a graceful feeling. While taking a sunrise photo, a photographer needs to keep in mind the position of the horizon in the photograph.

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If a photographer is using an optical lens digital camera he has to insure he is not putting his lens directly in the sunlight, this can cause permanent damage to the lens. If the photographer is out on a hot day he should always keep the lens cap on when out in the sun and turn the camera off when it is not being used. When the photographer uses the camera, he can snap his shots and then turn off the camera again to protect it. But most of the information here is common sense, just don’t leave your camera out in the sun unprotected such as on a picnic table in the middle of the hot summer.

A sunset view in HDR from BayShore Village Taken with Canon 1D Mark III w/24-105mm f/4L supported on a Gitzo GT5531S carbon fiber tripod and RRS BH-55 ballhead. Photo by kevincole

The color of the sky at sunrise is beautiful. If you add a subject such as a silhouette or tree, you can add great perspective to the photo. If the photographer enjoys his sleep in the morning, he is sure to miss out on some spectacular shots of a sunrise so it is important to plan your days so you can get out and capture the beauty that is a sunrise. A photographer should always insure balance between exposure and color when shooting the sunrise, and he should always use the proper equipment such as filters.

You should never place the horizon in the center of the photo. If the sunrise in the center of the photo there is no draw to the eye so it is best to place it lower in the photograph to draw the eye of the viewer in. Adding fog or a rainbow adds depth and more color to your photo. A photographer is an artist and should always be coming up with new ideas; this is how you become better at your craft and taking sunrise pictures. If a photographer doesn’t like the look of a certain shot, he can always take more photos until it matches the picture that he has in his mind.

Morro Strand State Beach on the Central California Coast 16 Nov. 2008. Michael "Mike" L. Baird, Canon 1D Mark III EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM handheld.

The funny thing is that the best sunrise/sunset photos always seem to be in the places that are so inconvenient for the photographer. These are places like marshland, desert, and hilltops and so on, but this should not deter your efforts because the outcome can be spectacular. The key to a good sunset photo is light distribution and horizon, also catching the different colors of the sunset is difficult too. The color schemes are red, blue, green and all of the colors in between but here are a few tips that you may find helpful.

A good first attempt should happen in winter. The reason for this is because in the winter the sun is setting earlier and you don’t have to wait till all hours of the night to capture your photo. Sunset can begin as early as 3:30-7:00pm depending upon your geographic location.

Choose your shot carefully and add only the subjects you want in the photo. Sometimes there may be obstacles but a good photographer can work with them right in his photos, silhouettes, if done properly can add to the beauty of the sunset and add great perspective to your photos. Of course it would look better without electric lines running through the center of the photograph so the site should be chosen wisely and you are sure to come up with some beautiful photos.

As your out and traveling during the day it is never a bad idea to take a few notes on potential spots that would be good to capture your photos, describe the area to yourself for recollection later. Do not let the weather hinder your plans because adding cloudscapes in your photography can create interesting elements, they can change the colors and patterns of light and add great effects to the photos. The weather should not be a factor in your photos unless of course there is no sunrise/sunset at all due to the conditions. You can learn to make the best photo with some imagination and you should never let the opportunity pass you by.

There is another issue when it comes to photographing the sunrise/sunset and that is they only last a few brief minutes so your shots need to be aligned to the best of your ability quickly to capture your best shots. Planning is the key and if you have time to do so, you can plan out your shots a day ahead of time so that you are prepared, set up your equipment and take notes as to how you want to be positioned in the morning or evening. Allow set up time when you go out to start taking your pictures. The use of a tripod is not a bad idea in this case also.

Becoming the master of your skills

Everyone loves the look of the sunrise or sunset and many photographers want to capture the moment, it is one of the most common subjects for photographers. This is why you need to practice and become even better at your craft because the competition can be brutal.

The first thing to do is to come up with a plan. Just going out and taking a random aim and fire shot is not going to be the right choice. Your goal is to create a beautiful photo, not just a picture. Be creative and add things to the foreground, middle ground and even background, this can add depth to your photos. Plan and picture the photo in your mind, come up with the feeling you want to express to the viewer, you are not a kid anymore and creating a good photo takes a little more time than just pointing at something and snapping the shot.

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600) Aperture: f/10 Focal Length: 100 mm ISO Speed: 400. by ronnie44052

Researching photographs of other sunrises and sunsets on the internet is a good idea to get tips hints and lighting ideas from those that have gone before you, you can see how someone captures the light, colors and so on and it gives you a goal or something to aim for in your photography. You have to learn to see things with the viewer of the camera to come up with those great shots. You need to let your imagination take over and forget about the filters that we tend to use in our own mind. You have to be the camera and the eye of the camera, so don’t be shy put on your creativity cap and give it a whirl.

Changing your lenses, shutter speeds and aperture values all create different looks to your photographs so it’s a good idea to practice and try different things. Look around for different elements to add to your shots and have fun. Practice here is the key to creating great sunrise/sunset shots. If you don’t like one element you can move on to another and another until you find just what it is you are looking for.

If you’re using a DSLR camera you can set it to the auto bracketing mode. You should shoot in RAW because this is ideal for post processing. You can read about “RAW for Beginners” in my previous article.

To shoot two people in the sunset you should set the ISO to 300+ and the aperture level at F/5-F/8 while shooting in the manual mode. If your shooting format is JPG, set your white balance to the cloudy position, use the camera in manual focus. If the need be, you can lie down to avoid any obstacles that may get in the way while taking your sunrise/sunset photo.

You can always return to a site if you are not happy with the outcome of previous photos, you can take them over and over again until you come up with the photograph that you had pictured in your mind. It all takes time and practice but as the old adage goes, practice makes perfect!

Following are 5 tips to sunrise/sunset photo taking

Learn how to predict a great sunset. You need to always have your camera ready and you need to be in position before the moment comes. The moment of the sunset lasts only a few short minutes, so you should be prepared. Scout out your locations and know where you are going to set up for taking your pictures. This will take away from a lot of wasted time in the future if you plan it out a little in advance.
Be patient to capture color. There is always a short few minutes after the sun looks like it has set that there is a burst of brilliant color. Be patient so you can catch these brilliant colors of sunset. You do not have to rush through all of your shots sometimes taking a few extra minutes can make all the difference in the world in your photography.

Find a foreground subject. This could be important. Everyone has shared the same boring pictures of “just” a sunrise or “just” a sunset, and I have seen many of my friends show me the same pictures over and over. Why not add something interesting in the foreground? Why not add a great silhouette to your picture, it does not have to be a large object in the photo and you can create a silhouette that will capture the eye of the viewer and draw them into the beautiful colors of your sunrise or sunset.
Get all the color you can into your photo. The rule of thirds can be discarded here as we are talking about sunrise and sunset and let me explain why; the rule of thirds simply means you should place the horizon of your picture either at the top third of the page or the bottom third. If you do this in a sunrise/sunset picture you will be looking at a large part of your photo being dark. If you want to capture the true beauty of the colorful sunrise or sunset then you need to ignore this rule for once to get the most out of the vibrant colors that are offered at this special time of day.
If you are near a water source use it creatively to reflect the beauty of the colors in your photograph. Many people try to avoid adding the element of water but it can create a wonderful work of art when added to your photography. The water can reflect and echo all of the wonderful colors and create a whole new dimension in your photograph.

There are the tips for you on sunrise/sunset photography. Here the concentration was on being creative not so much the technical part of the photo taking. Your ability to read nature and catching the right moment is much more important than the technical part of the photography in this situation. A great sunrise or sunset photo is just on the horizon for you as a photographer, so go and have fun practicing and enjoying nature, let it inspire and move you to create beautiful works of art in your photography.

The Full Guide to Professional Landscape Photography

Kathleen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:18:36 +0000

Dramatic Effect with False HDR - Photoshop Action

There are several types of photographers and there are many that have come to be specialist at a certain type of photography such as landscape photography. There is just something that touches the viewer when they see a photograph of a field of flowers or a churning sea. It can bring back memories or lead them off into their own fantasy world and it’s all done with a simple photograph.

Different Types of Landscape Shots

There are generally two types of landscapes that come into mind and they are urban and natural landscapes. The two types are uniquely different and both appeal to a different audience and sometimes they appeal to the same audience. The ability of the photographer to capture a feeling or an emotion is what makes them unique.

Needless to say you do not need to travel to far off lands to create a landscape photograph. You have the ability to create a great photo without even leaving the comfort of your home. It is simple to begin with simple shots of your backyard or surroundings and practice capturing a moment that will be viewed as extraordinary.

Although traveling is exciting and there are great panoramic areas to create a simple shot, you can do it at home but it just takes practice finding that one great thing about your yard and capturing it in a unique one of a kind moment with a photograph.

Landscape photography takes some work, there is no simple way for you to just run out and take a unique picture, you want to take in the landscape and offer your imagination the ability to think outside the box. You do not want to have the same photo as all of the other photographers have taken before you; you want to play with angles, zooms and color to make your photo become a photo that is totally unique to an area that may be well traveled. You want your photo to stand out to people so they say “Wow I never noticed that before.” When you can accomplish this, you are certainly on your way to becoming a landscape photographer.

Natural landscape photos are seen quite frequently, you know you have seen all of the great shots like a still photo of sky to ground lightening that create a wonder feeling in a black sky. Even the pictures of natural waterfalls or turbulent seas have gotten more than one viewer to stand back and hold their breath. Although we have seen many photos of natural landscapes, there are still photos that take our breath away with every capture of the moment that keep us coming back for more. We have all tried to capture a moment like this and that is because it creates a feeling in us that we want to experience over and over again.

The urban landscape is much different, the stark lines and hard objects are something that most of us take advantage of and never pay attention to and there are so many possibilities with urban landscape photography that the possibilities have become endless. There are only certain people that are usually attracted to this type of landscape photo but it does not mean that you loose the attraction from those that enjoy the natural landscapes. There is so much to offer in an urban setting that the ability to make a picture unique is only limited by the imagination of the photographer and the ability to take in the emotions of the subject. The trick is in finding the shot, the one thing to focus on and take a picture of. If you have a keen eye then urban landscape can hold many possibilities and make your pictures be able to speak volumes as they stand alone.

While you’re thinking of landscape photography, just think of the possibilities you have to touch someone in a way they have never dreamed of. You can choose the softness of nature and its beauty or the harsh surroundings of a big city and still give a sense of any feeling you wish to portray with just a simple change in the angle of your camera.

Capturing Images With Character

Landscape photography can be challenging but it also has its rewards. You may think that visiting a popular vacation site and snapping a bunch of photos will have you dealing with a unique piece of art but that is not the case. Many people feel that just because they are taking pictures in a beautiful area they are creating works of art but it’s just not true. They are only one person of many that have stood in the same spot taking the exact same photos at the exact same angles.

Landscape photography is more challenging than just simple picture taking. Everyone has the ability to see what a good subject is, but creating a unique work of art from it is another story, especially if it is a well traveled location. When you’re taking photos of a subject that has been viewed thousands of times you need to take extra effort to assure a unique shot and not take the shot from the same locations and same angles as the other photographers that have gone before you. You have to find the ability to change that location into a work of art that has never been seen before.

Here are just a few tips for capturing the character of a landscape.

First of all you do not need to fit everything all in one shot. There are some landscapes that would require the use of a panoramic picture or wide-angled lens. This is great but if your focus is on a subject in the center of that photo, the dimensions become very small and you may not capture the feeling you were going after. Focusing on that one subject in the photo can bring more life to it and thus getting across the feeling to the viewer you were hoping for.

Second, if you want to take a unique shot, do not go to the same places that everyone goes to take your picture. This means, when your at a lookout, you are surrounded by many people that are capturing their photos at the same exact angle, you may need to search around, but looking for a place to shoot the photo from could mean all the difference between a photo that comes a dime a dozen and a photo that will stand out as wonderfully unique and keep the viewers coming back for more. This does not mean go out and break all laws to take a picture; it just simply means to look for an area that is not as highly populated to get the shot you have been looking for.

The next tip is to find a way to use the foreground to your advantage. Anyone can take a picture of a field of flowers, but what if you took that same picture while standing on the opposite side of a stream, or using a big boulder as a foreground to take that picture. The best thing to do is to keep in mind that you are not the first person to take this picture but just one of many. This will allow you to take up a more creative thinking pattern when scouting your shot.

Finally take all of the weather conditions into consideration. The balance of light on a subject is important and all of the great photographers know that. What is it that can make your photo stand out? You can look at weather, clouds, rainbows or anything that will make your picture unique. Being landscape photographer means thinking in a more creative style to capture the images that will last in the memories of your viewers.

Taking the time to look for that one great shot are what will make you stand out from the others and having someone look at your picture and comparing their photo to it is fun and exciting, they will all be talking about how your picture became so much more than just a mere photo. Taking time is not a waste because it will allow you to capture a unique moment and the time spent will be well worth it.

Making the Most of the Night or Daylight Sky

Your photography skills are not the only thing that makes a good landscaping photo. You will also need a bit of help from nature. You may have the skills to take the perfect shot but if the conditions are wrong you may still end up with a boring photo.

Any photographer dealing with landscaping has to work with the weather. Some images will require some cooperation from the weather especially if you are just passing through as a tourist and do not have time to hang around and wait out the conditions. Even the most skilled in the profession have to deal with Mother Nature.

Even in the best weather conditions, you may have to rely on your imagination to take a good photo, the bright sunny sky although beautiful can often hinder the beauty of a photo by drowning out the natural colors. You may have to think creatively and use the foreground to make your photo pop and draw attention of the viewer.

On the other hand a cloudy day could become your greatest asset. The formations of the clouds are never the same and you can create a great shot of the area many times and have each photo look as a unique work of art.

When you find that your day has become clouded, here are a few suggestions to make your photo stand out.

Using your polarizer as a pair of sunglasses can greatly change any photo; you can turn a normal cloudy day into a work of art. You will want to take care when using your polarizer and play with the different effects, this way you will be sure to find the affect your looking for.
Change the horizons. Every photographer knows the rule of thirds but you can create a unique picture by just changing the horizon. You can dwarf the landscape and create a focal point in the clouds. The choice is up to you but you can create a different feel with just a simple change in the position of the horizon.
Use the clouds to create a feeling. Each cloud is unique and you can use them to create a feel and offer a visual flow in your photograph. You can use this example by have a tree in the foreground. The tree is your subject and all of the clouds tend to draw your eye and lead it to the right. While the clouds lead the eye to the right, it is a good idea to put your subject on the right side of the photo thus creating a composition that took no hard work on your behalf.
Have patience. As a landscape photographer the main thing to remember is it takes patience. You will have to take the time to wait for the exact moment that will make your picture perfect. Mother Nature moves at her own speed and you will have to learn to live within this range. You may find that you are waiting out hard black clouds, or waiting for the chance to capture the perfect rainbow, in any profession there are certain things that you will have to deal with and being a landscape photographer means you will have to learn patience when dealing with Mother Nature.
Choose the right light. The best lighting conditions are usually late afternoon or early morning. This lighting condition creates the best use of light and color. The sky also starts to change in color and can give a great effect to your photos. Ask any professional photographer that takes landscape photos and the answer will always be the same. The use of the mid day sun has the tendency to drown out the natural color of your subject and can create a feeling that you were not going for. The later afternoon can offer natural soft changes that are warm and inviting and create more moods in your photos.

So as you can see that a professional looking landscape photograph can be reached and you will soon see the compliments are starting to reach your ears. You can give each person the feeling of something great when you have the right angles, lighting and most of all the patience. You know that it will take some dedication on your end but becoming a great landscape photographer will be your bonus.

The techniques used in outdoor photography are much different than that of indoor photography and the lighting sources for good results are different too. Once you have grown past the hobby photographer stage you will know how to use all of your equipment in a professional manner. Once you know how to use the equipment you will see that taking great landscape photos is no longer a mystery and you will be able to deliver great pictures that offer a wonderful variety of emotions to your viewers.

You can easily learn to offer a great message through all of your photos that will give the viewer an emotional connection to your work. You can also easily change the mood of a picture by the right angles and the use of light. You will se that creating a mood of fantasy, dream, or even shock can be created with the simple use of light. The use of shadow can also create a different mood for each picture.

If using only black and white film you need to know that composition is an important part of this type of photography and becoming a master of shades and tones is important. It is very demanding on a photographer but the results can be quite amazing. Just know that the subject will need to stand out and the shadowing is how you can accomplish greatness.

Trying your luck at black and white photography can be very rewarding and playing with the shadows and angles is the key to creating the look you are going for and the mood you want the viewer to feel. This is a difficult task because the use of black and white can take away emotion that you can only get with the colored pictures. Natural elements blended with the man made forms of buildings or bridges can create a wonderful contrast and create character in your photographs. Showing the sharp angle of the man-made subjects alongside those of the soft features of nature’s beauty can create a work of art that will keep the viewers enthralled.

Using different angles can help a photographer capture effects that will easily create a certain emotion they want from the viewers and candid shots are much more easily captured on color film. Many photographers have chosen to use digital cameras when tying to capture some events because the use of the LCD viewer screen allows them to evaluate the quality of the photo before deciding whether or not they want to take it to print. The use of the digital camera has become more and more popular due to the fact that you can take hundreds of photos that will add no extra cost to the photographer, they can easily be deleted and retaken and the photographer has the ability to change angles, lighting and anything else without the added cost.

So now that we have covered just what it takes to take the great shots, you as an armature photographer need to put in some work. You will need to learn the basic operations of all of your equipment so that you know how to use it properly. Learn about angles and how to change the mood of your picture with each angle. Try to study your focus points and learn how pictures change with the time of day and your lighting. Don’t forget to scout out the best locations and vantage points so you can breathe a little life into your photos.

Get Inspired First

Before jumping out, have a look at some truly inspiring landscape photos, perhaps they will help you to open your horizons to more ideas. Here are a few truly stunning shots that will make you want to grab your camera and go out on a shooting session!

Finally – Get the PRO Look Easily

It takes years of experience, dozens of camera settings and virtually millions of shots until you manage to reach the stage where you will be bragging with the results, so until then, try make photos of interesting landscapes and object, and simply process them with one of the Professional Photoshop Actions..

The Full Guide on How to Take Better Portrait Photos

Sinyu — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:18:42 +0000

A great portrait has the tendency to captivate and amaze the viewer. Photos, especially portraits, project emotions and the art to taking a quality portrait photo is not easily mastered. The following guide will allow you the ability to take quality portraits without the need of being a professional and you will be able to do it without spending a lot of time.

What’s a portrait?

A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer.

Source Wikipedia.org

Step 1: The Shooting Session

For a good quality portrait follow these steps:

A. Choose the appropriate backdrop:

In a portrait you want all attention pointing to the face of the subject. Choosing the proper backdrop can allow the focus to be set on the face. Avoid objects in the background or a busy background, choosing a background is an important step.

B. Don’t allow the background to stand out:

Going with a neutral color is the right choice and blurring it slightly will allow the subject to stand out even further. This is done by using a shallow depth to take the photo. You can do this by shooting the subject up close with a wider aperture setting on your camera or by the use of a zoom lens. If you do not know how to do this, it can be done later using you favorite photo editing software.

C. Keep the focus on the subjects eyes:

Keep the eyes at the center of the portrait and decide what type of mood you want the viewer to feel, you can use a semi profiled picture or a straight on pose, that is up to you and the mood you want your viewer to feel, the simple addition of a smirk or grin can accomplish this very well. The subject’s features if changed in the slightest can allow you to capture any given effect that you as the photographer wish to capture. For example, you can turn a woman into a monster, by touching nothing but the eyes!

D. Keep the lighting natural:

You will want to do this if at all possible to keep the skins natural warmth and color. A good way to shoot a portrait would be to do it outdoors with the sun at the subject profile. Too much sun in the background of the photo will result in shading and distortion of the features as well as the colors of the face. If you are shooting your photo indoors, be sure to use an indirect form of lighting this will brighten the room without the effects of flushing the face of its natural colors. This can be done by placing lighting around the subject without actually aiming directly on the subject because the result can be the same as an over lit outdoor photo, creating a flushed out look in the subject and losing the vibrancy of natural colors.

E. Practice makes perfect:

This is done by simply taking several photos, in the digital camera age there is no added cost to take extra photos, this way you can choose the photo that has come out best for you. This is no time to be shy, the professionals do it and you can too just simply pose your subject in different poses, with different lighting and practice with all of your colors. Experiment with lighting, background colors that are darker or lighter and depth and keep on shooting. Shooting too many photos is better than not having enough when you’re trying to find the one you like most, it is easier to find the perfect picture among 500 than it is to find in 5.

Step 2: Portrait exposure Values

Exposure is defined as how much light actually gets to the cameras sensor. The exposure Value, otherwise known as EV is representative of the camera settings, this goes along with the shutter speed. The meaning of the number will be explained along with exposure compensation.

Two factors in Exposure:

How much light is getting to the camera sensor and the length of time the sensor is exposed. The length of time it is exposed depends on the shutter speed; the determination of how much light gets through depends on the aperture value. The EV represents how much light can reach the sensor, or in a sense how exposed it allows the sensor to be. The EV is dependent of how well the scene is lit. An example of this is the shutter speed and the aperture value allows the same amount of exposure in the dark or in the sunlight.

example of full artificial lighting

Each EV number is representative of aperture and shutter settings that ultimately have the same amount of exposure. Even though the EV number is the same for all aperture value combination and the shutter speed, the result of each photo can be different.

All You Need to Know About Shutter Speed Priority for DSLR Cameras

Kathleen — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:18:42 +0000

If you want to be a professional photographer you must know how to use the settings that are on your camera and how to use them. As you learn more about photography you will learn that setting you camera at f/4 aperture priority and a shutter speed of 1/250 sec. will give you the same amount of exposure as an f/2.8 with 1/500 shutter speed and the f/4 setting with 1/125 sec.

As you become more adapt at photography you will learn more about shutter speeds you need. The shutter speed is important because it is what decides how you capture each second of a photo. The light that comes into the camera works along with the shutter speed and this is why you will realize that aperture is involved when you determine the speed you want when capturing a photo. You can capture every second of motion without missing a thing. If you want to capture the winning moment of a football game, you can off course the aperture and set shutter speed to catch every moment of the play.

6 Photoshop Actions including Cinema Effect, Burn Effect, Cold Effect, Special Effect, Black & White (3 different variations), Gloom Effect (2 different variations)

It is better to know this before you try to become serious with photography and your camera. You will want to learn the shutter speed, aperture values and settings of your camera. Practice makes perfect and asking other skilled photographers does not hurt, they have the know how to give you great ideas so you can start right away.

Exposure: 30, Aperture: f/22.0, Focal Length: 20 mm, ISO Speed: 1000. Photo by Vikram Vetrivel

Photographers have been using the same settings as your DSLR camera for many years; the difference is if you know how to properly use them to change your photos. If you’re used to using the old aim and shoot cameras of the past and you are new to the DSLR camera, don’t just use the automatic features. The only way to learn and grow in your photography is to use the manual settings and learn how they can improve your photos.

The shutter setting is one of the settings on your new camera. You can have fun playing with the settings and see how they change your photos. You can easily capture movement by using a slow shutter speed and to add effect to your photo.

You can adjust just the shutter speed or both the aperture and shutter speed on your camera but remember to balance the exposure so change the aperture and shutter speed in a corresponding manner. If you are using a slow shutter speed it is always best to use a tripod.

Here are a few ideas to capture motion effects; if you slow the shutter speed you will find exciting and fun results while capturing the motion of your subject.

You should learn all about shutter speeds because this controls the speed that the light is exposed to the digital sensor. The shutter speed is something you should become familiar with if you want to take better photographs.

For you to get a better understanding, the shutter speed controls the exposure of light. Just imagine it as a door that is opening and closing; it is either fast or slow. This is what determines how much might is exposed to the sensor. The shutter speed can give you a darker or a lighter picture; it can also determine the clarity of the subject’s movement. A fast shutter speed can give the effect of an object being suspended in air. A shutter speed of about 1/2000 will accomplish this.

This shutter speed of 1/2000 is so fast you can not even describe the speed. This means the shutter opens and closes at a rate of 2000^th of a second. This shutter speed is used quite often in sports photography; fast movements are captured ideally when you use a fast shutter speed.

For photos of children it is usually better to use a fast shutter speed because they are always so active. You can never find a greater challenge than trying to capture a moment in the life of a child, you have to be quick to the draw and you really need to keep your eye out for those great shots, you can lose a moment forever if you’re not fast on your feet and quick to the draw.

If you manipulate your shutter speeds you can get a blurred image so using your hand at looking for an artistic touch is a good choice for you in the instance of children. Say for instance you choose a shutter speed of 1/250 or less, you can get a great “smudge effect” that will give your picture a real artistic flair, it will not look like an accidental blur, it will look like an intentional effect and that can change the whole feel of your photo. Adjusting the shutter and toying with the different speeds can help you learn to manipulate the photos and give them a more professional style.

When understanding aperture it is described and the F stop. With a high number, the smaller the opening of the lens, and with the smaller opening, there is less light on the image. A good example of this is trying to catch the color of the sunset at dusk. You can manually set the F stop and change it to an F4 where as the camera may have a default setting of F8, the setting of F8 may leave your photo looking too dark, but when you change the F stop to F4 you allow a little more light in so you capture the lighting as you wanted to. So just remember a small F stop number lets in more light, a small F stop will let in more light.

The best way to learn how to adjust your camera manually is to play with the settings and look at all of the different effects you get. This is a great way to learn about your camera settings and finding the right blend in effects that you’re looking for, don’t be afraid, and it will not break, just play with the controls and see what you can come up with.

What are the different cameras you can choose to have control over the aperture and shutter speed?

The digital SLR’s are the best for controlling the light that gets to the sensor. With the typical aim and shoot cameras it’s harder because you can not manipulate the controls independently. With a pro-summer camera there is a small more amount of control but you can still not adjust the shutter speed independently. Out of the three the preferred choice is the SLR.

If you do have a pro-sumer there is an e/v control or exposure value control this control is actually the combo of the shutter speed and aperture. You can still play around with this and see the different effects you can get in your photos and it is at least one step above the old aim and shoot cameras and there is no reason to dump the camera and move on, this is a good camera for you to use to learn different settings until it is time for the next upgrade. This is why the SLRD is the best choice in a digital camera; you can use the control of the shutter speed independently without worrying about the aperture adjustment.

So to sum it all up, you can take great artistic pictures and get a feel of what works best, this along with the technical knowledge you have of photography you will be ready to go! Try the shutter speeds and then move on to the aperture, when you’re feeling confident, try them both. It is your camera and only you know how good you want to be, so the more practice you get in, the better your photos will look and if your trying to become a better photographer there is no better time than the present.

Slow shutter speeds

The first subject we will discuss is a waterfall. To get the silky feel of the water in a photo, set your shutter speed to a second or a second and a half, each waterfall will talk to you so you should try various speeds to see the different effects you can catch. You can give a misty feel that is soft and dreamy or a harder feel with the same waterfall so don’t be afraid to experiment.
This is what happens when you try to take a photo of them with a very slow shutter while waving your camera. Photo by Aplysia_06
Now we can move on to the photo of traffic at night. With the shutter speed of one, two, ten or even longer speeds you will catch streams of light from the car lights and the more traffic there is you will get some great results, play with the speeds and check out what kind of amazing photos you can catch of the traffic at night. There are so many images that come to mind and we have all seen them in commercials on television, if you were ever wondering how it was done, well the secret is now exposed.
Exposure: 20, Aperture: f/20.0, ISO Speed: 200. Photo by Zach Heller Photography
Lightning is the next subject some people think you need superhuman abilities to take photos of lightning but it is just not true, if you leave the shutter setting at B it will allow you to keep the shutter open for any amount of time you choose. When there is a flash of lightning you take the picture, you can catch the lighting and even several flashes of lightning just by keeping the shutter open for a longer period of time. This is a great way to learn about your shutter speed so the next time there is a lightning storm, don’t hide indoors, run out on the porch and try to capture the moment.
Waves are a great subject to test your shutter speeds on. Sometimes a slow shutter speed of the waves rolling in can give you a great effect and this is a good place to train your eye and play with the speeds. The capture of fast moving waves or the way the waves crash around rocks are a great time to manipulate the shutter speeds. There is a misty and almost magical feeling when you capture the movement of the waves just right and this can not be caught on a fast shutter speed.
Exposure: 1, Aperture: f/36.0, Focal Length: 50 mm, ISO Speed: 100, Photo by by spjwebster
The last subject we will talk about here is people in crowds. This is a terrific place to play with your shutter speeds; many people moving in all different directions can give an awesome effect of motion in your photographs. You can choose all different shutter speeds and check out the different effects you get, the results may actually surprise you and the photo will take on a whole new life with each different shutter speed.

For an awesome picture have a friend stand in a crowded marketplace and set you shutter speed to slow, it will give the effect of him or her being frozen in time, this is an awesome effect. There are so many choices when it comes to taking pictures in crowds so this is another good time to learn about your shutter speeds. There are a few of the subjects you can try as your learning how to adjust your shutter speeds the results are guaranteed to amaze you and you will quickly learn the effects and the settings of your camera, this is the best way to learn because practice makes perfect.