Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you may find lacking in normal daytime photography. Amazing night pictures certainly can attract attention. As the sun goes down, however, it becomes harder to capture images without the proper equipment and techniques. Thus, as was mentioned in Part I of this series, taking incredible nighttime photographs requires a lot of planning.
When your digital camera receives less light, it cannot absorb the surroundings as well in the resulting photographs. Some pictures may turn out too dark. Others can be too blurry. Your camera requires more time to absorb enough light to create an effective picture, so any shaking of the device will result in photographs lacking sharpness.
To compensate for the lack of lighting, here are several things you can do with most middle and high-end digital cameras to get the results you need. Part III of this series will continue with even more expert ideas.
* You may think that professional photographers take a large amount of time to set up a shot, perform complex calculations, talk about all sorts of topics such as f-stops, shoot one photograph that accurately represents their interpretation of a particular scene, and then leave.
While most of this may be true, the last part - only taking one photo - is far from it. Many, if not most, professional photographers commonly take a multitude of shots for every subject! Traditional photographers can go through rolls and rolls of film on a single shoot, and digital photographers may use gigabytes of memory.
Professionals know that no matter how well everything has been factored in when setting up a shot, 'stuff happens'. It is better to take time shooting a particular subject ten times and get one outstanding photograph than to take one or two photos that turn out blurry or dull.
Most photographers perform a trick called bracketing, where they intentionally adjust their camera settings in small increments in case their calculations were not precisely correct.
Heed this advice when taking photographs at night. If you have a particular subject you want to reproduce in digital form, don't rely on taking 'the one perfect shot', but take several photographs in case problems occur with the lighting, or lack thereof.
Remember, you're shooting digitally, which means you can later throw out all the bad photos in your camera's virtual 'trash can', and no one ever needs to know! I can't tell you how many times I've done this, especially when taking late-night shots of the Chicago cityscape in places I couldn't bring a tripod. I may shoot hundreds of shots and only keep a few dozen.
* If your digital camera has a special nighttime mode, study your manual and learn how to enable this feature. Perhaps your camera has a button or dial next to a graphic of a half-moon to signify this setting. This works well for some late-night situations.
* Forget about using the flash unless you purchase a high-quality accessory flash unit. Flash shoots a burst of light out of your camera and works most effectively when your subject is within a few feet. If your subject is a long way away, your small flash unit will never reach it effectively.
Nighttime photography requires a little extra work out of you and your digital camera. To prevent against mistakes and increase the chance of a spectacular shot, it may be necessary to take the same picture multiple times, adjusting your camera settings slightly to help ensure at least one picture will come out well. The digital camera manual must be studied, as many high-end cameras contain automatic features to help take better photos. And, a natural tendency most people have to use flash must be avoided. By heeding this advice, you can learn to take spectacular nighttime photos.
---------------
- Take Spectacular Nighttime Photos with your Digital Camera - Part I
- Sharing Your Photos with Friends and Family
---------------
Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek.
Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com . Visit his digital camera page at http://malektips.com/camera/ for hundreds of more digital photography tips.
Thursday
Take Spectacular Nighttime Photos with your Digital Camera - Part I
Night photographs express a special something that cannot be seen in normal daytime photography. Whether it is a photograph of a moon and starlit sky over a windy deserted beach, the excitement of a downtown cityscape when the lights go on, or just a picture of you and some friends in front of a favorite hangout, nighttime photos, when done right, are sure to attract attention.
However, even for experienced photographers, nighttime photography can be a tricky situation. Photos often look unfocused, blurry, or lacking crucial details, and many may not come out at all. There are some tricks, though, to taking spectacular nighttime photos with your digital camera, tricks that can be explained yet only completely learned through practice.
This first part of a three-part series on nighttime photography will cover tricks not necessarily related to digital camera settings, but tricks nonetheless that can result in better photographs or a more pleasing photo-taking experience.
* Although more expensive digital cameras do not necessarily result in better photos, realize that the cheapest cameras may not be capable of taking great photographs at night. It requires more work, both on your's and the camera's part, to take spectacular shots in very low-light situations. Though you don't have to spend over a thousand dollars for night photography, don't expect too much out of a sub-two hundred-dollar camera, either.
* Especially if you are not completely familiar with your camera's settings to enhance nighttime photography, consider first taking some photographs around dusk, when the sun has not yet completely left the sky. Dusk photos can sometimes be even more dramatic than those taken in the pitch-black sky, as the added light helps illuminate details easily missed in a completely dark environment Check your local newspaper where you are shooting photographs or a website such as http://www.weather.com for sunrise/sunset times, and be ready to shoot around a 20-30 minute window for best results.
* Plan your photos before you shoot! While it is always a good idea to study an area first, this is crucial if you are planning on snapping photographs around dusk! You will not have much time to plan, and if you spend five or ten minutes just getting a perfect angle or framing the perfect shot, the overall lighting will change as the sun slowly sets. And of course, remember when composing your photos that the sun sets in the west.
* Be prepared for the environment. If you're heading out by yourself, especially in a semi-deserted wilderness area, always carry a map so you remember how to get to your home, camp, or hotel. Check the weather before you go and wear a poncho or coat if necessary. Carry a flashlight, or, in the most extreme environments, a flare, to help others find you if you become lost. Also, bring along a WELL-CHARGED cell phone in case of emergency! You're taking photos at night to have fun and create spectacular results. Be prepared for unexpected situations so they don't ruin your experience.
While the results can be outstanding, night photography presents its own unique benefits and hazards. Not just any digital camera will do; lower-end models may not have the capability of taking spectacular shots. Timing is crucial, especially when taking pictures in the brief time between dusk and total darkness. And, the environment and weather can play havoc with your plans. By purchasing the correct equipment, studying the subject area before nighttime falls, and dealing with unexpected situations with the correct nighttime gear, you can be better prepared to take amazing nighttime photos.
----
- Sharing Your Photos with Friends and Family
- Black and White Photography - Still most creative form of photography
----
Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com. Visit his digital camera page at http://malektips.com/digital_cameras_help_and_tips.html for more digital photography advice.
However, even for experienced photographers, nighttime photography can be a tricky situation. Photos often look unfocused, blurry, or lacking crucial details, and many may not come out at all. There are some tricks, though, to taking spectacular nighttime photos with your digital camera, tricks that can be explained yet only completely learned through practice.
This first part of a three-part series on nighttime photography will cover tricks not necessarily related to digital camera settings, but tricks nonetheless that can result in better photographs or a more pleasing photo-taking experience.
* Although more expensive digital cameras do not necessarily result in better photos, realize that the cheapest cameras may not be capable of taking great photographs at night. It requires more work, both on your's and the camera's part, to take spectacular shots in very low-light situations. Though you don't have to spend over a thousand dollars for night photography, don't expect too much out of a sub-two hundred-dollar camera, either.
* Especially if you are not completely familiar with your camera's settings to enhance nighttime photography, consider first taking some photographs around dusk, when the sun has not yet completely left the sky. Dusk photos can sometimes be even more dramatic than those taken in the pitch-black sky, as the added light helps illuminate details easily missed in a completely dark environment Check your local newspaper where you are shooting photographs or a website such as http://www.weather.com for sunrise/sunset times, and be ready to shoot around a 20-30 minute window for best results.
* Plan your photos before you shoot! While it is always a good idea to study an area first, this is crucial if you are planning on snapping photographs around dusk! You will not have much time to plan, and if you spend five or ten minutes just getting a perfect angle or framing the perfect shot, the overall lighting will change as the sun slowly sets. And of course, remember when composing your photos that the sun sets in the west.
* Be prepared for the environment. If you're heading out by yourself, especially in a semi-deserted wilderness area, always carry a map so you remember how to get to your home, camp, or hotel. Check the weather before you go and wear a poncho or coat if necessary. Carry a flashlight, or, in the most extreme environments, a flare, to help others find you if you become lost. Also, bring along a WELL-CHARGED cell phone in case of emergency! You're taking photos at night to have fun and create spectacular results. Be prepared for unexpected situations so they don't ruin your experience.
While the results can be outstanding, night photography presents its own unique benefits and hazards. Not just any digital camera will do; lower-end models may not have the capability of taking spectacular shots. Timing is crucial, especially when taking pictures in the brief time between dusk and total darkness. And, the environment and weather can play havoc with your plans. By purchasing the correct equipment, studying the subject area before nighttime falls, and dealing with unexpected situations with the correct nighttime gear, you can be better prepared to take amazing nighttime photos.
----
- Sharing Your Photos with Friends and Family
- Black and White Photography - Still most creative form of photography
----
Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com. Visit his digital camera page at http://malektips.com/digital_cameras_help_and_tips.html for more digital photography advice.
Wednesday
Sharing Your Photos with Friends and Family
Let's say you've taken a bunch of beautiful digital photos and you want to share them with friends and family. What's the best way to do this? There are many options, from printing and burning onto CDs or DVDs, to emailing and uploading the photos.
I want to walk you through some of the best options for sharing your cherished digital photo collection. Once you understand the options, sharing your photos will become a breeze. basically, there are four main ways to share digital photos:
Just like film-based photography, you can share your pictures by having a hardcopy printout. All you need to do is get a good photo printer and some quality printing paper, then print away! I usually print my photos from an inkjet printer (the Canon Pixma iP4000) using glossy photo paper. The prints I get are very high quality - you can't discern them from those you print at photo kiosks.
Of course, if you don't have a printer, you can still approach a photo kiosk to do the job, or even submit your images to an online photo print website. These websites usually print your pictures and are able to deliver them to your doorstep. Make sure you do some shopping around first - digital photo printing services don't come cheap.
Storing your photos on CD and DVD is a very good option for sharing photos, particularly if you have a immensely huge photo collection. The downside, of course, is that your family and friends need to have a CD player or DVD player to view the content.
These days, CD burners and DVD burners are very affordable. A single CD-R stores 650MB and a DVD stores 4GB. That is an amazing amount of storage space for your photo collection.
Another option is to email your photos to your friends and family members. I do warn you to be careful though. Please make sure your recipient wants to receive the photos first. Showering him or her with a 10MB email containing photo attachments is not a very nice thing to do - it's best if you obtained permission to do so first.
A better option is to upload your photos to a website, then email the website link to your friends or family. This avoids the problem of huge email attachments.
One of the best ways to share digital photos is to upload them to a website. There are many online photo storage sites available. SmugMug is one of my favorite photo sharing sites. It allows you to upload photo albums and determine who can view those albums.
You should know that there are limitations to using photo sharing websites. Some of them charge a fee for their services, while others require you to order prints to keep your account active. You also may not be able to customize the presentation of the website easily.
You can also set up your own web site and host your own picture gallery. If you're looking for a reliable, and free, web hosting company, I'd suggest you try Yahoo! web hosting. I've used them for years without any problems and their customer support is first-rate.
There are a huge variety of ways to distribute your digital photos with friends and family. I personally like to burn my images to CD or DVD and pass them around. I also enjoy uploading my images to SmugMug for all to see. I recommend you pick your favorite option the next time you want to share photos!
-------
Did you like this article? Curious about Dominating Digital Photography? Well now you can by Discovering this free Blog...what are you waiting for?
I want to walk you through some of the best options for sharing your cherished digital photo collection. Once you understand the options, sharing your photos will become a breeze. basically, there are four main ways to share digital photos:
Just like film-based photography, you can share your pictures by having a hardcopy printout. All you need to do is get a good photo printer and some quality printing paper, then print away! I usually print my photos from an inkjet printer (the Canon Pixma iP4000) using glossy photo paper. The prints I get are very high quality - you can't discern them from those you print at photo kiosks.
Of course, if you don't have a printer, you can still approach a photo kiosk to do the job, or even submit your images to an online photo print website. These websites usually print your pictures and are able to deliver them to your doorstep. Make sure you do some shopping around first - digital photo printing services don't come cheap.
Storing your photos on CD and DVD is a very good option for sharing photos, particularly if you have a immensely huge photo collection. The downside, of course, is that your family and friends need to have a CD player or DVD player to view the content.
These days, CD burners and DVD burners are very affordable. A single CD-R stores 650MB and a DVD stores 4GB. That is an amazing amount of storage space for your photo collection.
Another option is to email your photos to your friends and family members. I do warn you to be careful though. Please make sure your recipient wants to receive the photos first. Showering him or her with a 10MB email containing photo attachments is not a very nice thing to do - it's best if you obtained permission to do so first.
A better option is to upload your photos to a website, then email the website link to your friends or family. This avoids the problem of huge email attachments.
One of the best ways to share digital photos is to upload them to a website. There are many online photo storage sites available. SmugMug is one of my favorite photo sharing sites. It allows you to upload photo albums and determine who can view those albums.
You should know that there are limitations to using photo sharing websites. Some of them charge a fee for their services, while others require you to order prints to keep your account active. You also may not be able to customize the presentation of the website easily.
You can also set up your own web site and host your own picture gallery. If you're looking for a reliable, and free, web hosting company, I'd suggest you try Yahoo! web hosting. I've used them for years without any problems and their customer support is first-rate.
There are a huge variety of ways to distribute your digital photos with friends and family. I personally like to burn my images to CD or DVD and pass them around. I also enjoy uploading my images to SmugMug for all to see. I recommend you pick your favorite option the next time you want to share photos!
-------
Did you like this article? Curious about Dominating Digital Photography? Well now you can by Discovering this free Blog...what are you waiting for?
Tuesday
Black and White Photography - Still most creative form of photography
You would rarely find a person who does not like photographs. Photographs of people, nature and wild life attract almost everybody. With the advent of digital cameras it is now easy to catch moments in frames forever.
During the early stages, black and white photography was the only way to capture photographs. Experimentation with color photography started around 1861. Modern color photography evolved gradually.
However, there is no reason to think that color photography has replaced black and white photography completely. Black and white photos are still very much there and there is no clue for them to vanish in near future.
Black and white photographs bear an artistic and creative look that attracts people. Color photographs are often mirror copies of what we see around. However, when it comes to present an idea, a mood or a philosophical thought, photographers prefer going black and white.
Photography – a rewarding hobby
Ask people about their hobbies; many of them would answer that they like photography over anything else. It is an interesting, challenging and rewarding hobby! You would hardly find an individual who would not carry a camera during festivals, family functions, social or corporate events or while traveling.
And the reason is simple. Photographs let you cherish old memories. When you leaf through the pages of family album, you go back to the time when the snaps were taken. Small memories associated with the pictures come in mind. The person must be stone-hearted who does not get emotional to see old family photographs.
black and white photos are the true elements to make one nostalgic. The effect of light and shadow becomes prominent in bicolor photography. A lot of people feel that close-up portraits look great in black and white. Facial expressions are caught perfect in black & white photographs. It is often said that tears are better expressed in black and white!
Black and white travel photography is equally popular among travelers and nature lovers. Wild life photography and travel photography are appreciated and accepted whole wide world. Photojournalists and travel photographers carry their cameras always as the picture perfect moment might appear before them any time.
Animals, flowers, trees, rivers, night sky, nature, heels, people, regional festivals, tribal life and sun rise and sun set are the most common subject of travel photography. Black and white travel photographs and wild life photographs are often placed in auction and sold at high price. Black and white photography is one of the popular forms of art and will continue to be so for years to come.
Author:Craig Peterson
During the early stages, black and white photography was the only way to capture photographs. Experimentation with color photography started around 1861. Modern color photography evolved gradually.
However, there is no reason to think that color photography has replaced black and white photography completely. Black and white photos are still very much there and there is no clue for them to vanish in near future.
Black and white photographs bear an artistic and creative look that attracts people. Color photographs are often mirror copies of what we see around. However, when it comes to present an idea, a mood or a philosophical thought, photographers prefer going black and white.
Photography – a rewarding hobby
Ask people about their hobbies; many of them would answer that they like photography over anything else. It is an interesting, challenging and rewarding hobby! You would hardly find an individual who would not carry a camera during festivals, family functions, social or corporate events or while traveling.
And the reason is simple. Photographs let you cherish old memories. When you leaf through the pages of family album, you go back to the time when the snaps were taken. Small memories associated with the pictures come in mind. The person must be stone-hearted who does not get emotional to see old family photographs.
black and white photos are the true elements to make one nostalgic. The effect of light and shadow becomes prominent in bicolor photography. A lot of people feel that close-up portraits look great in black and white. Facial expressions are caught perfect in black & white photographs. It is often said that tears are better expressed in black and white!
Black and white travel photography is equally popular among travelers and nature lovers. Wild life photography and travel photography are appreciated and accepted whole wide world. Photojournalists and travel photographers carry their cameras always as the picture perfect moment might appear before them any time.
Animals, flowers, trees, rivers, night sky, nature, heels, people, regional festivals, tribal life and sun rise and sun set are the most common subject of travel photography. Black and white travel photographs and wild life photographs are often placed in auction and sold at high price. Black and white photography is one of the popular forms of art and will continue to be so for years to come.
Author:Craig Peterson
7 Tips for Photographing Family and Friends
The very first photos that a person take when getting a camera are likely to be either family or friends. Whether the photos are good or bad, they have a personal meaning that will grow in time. They either make us laugh or cry, due to the fact that they record our lives. The special quality of these photos is that they seem to place us in direct contact with the people we know. Although, friends and family are the easiest, and fascinating of subjects to shoot, they are also among the most difficult to photograph well. The aim of this article is to assist you in taking photos of your family or friends that will have qualities as good photographs, as well as recording your own life and time.
Tip 1:
Shooting people at their best..... Anyone wants to look perfect in a photograph. This doesn't mean the person taking the photo has to flatter people by making them appear more attractive then they really are, But it does mean that you should always, and I do mean always, do your subject justice. To get good pictures of people, it will take some very good forethought. Its very easy to end up with a subject looking stiff or statue like. What people want in a photograph of them is to look normal and alive, while bringing out their individuality. Whether it be a snapshot or a carefully composed portrait, your goal is to capture the essence of the subject's personality as reflected in a given situation. The trick is knowing in advance what you want the photo to portray, and then achieving it in the most simple and direct way.
Tip 2:
Learn to Express Personality...... Each persons face is the guide to personality. Any photographer realizes the advantages of a vivid expression or gesture. Because of this, its often to easy to forget the other elements in a photo that will provide valuable clues to character. Include everything in the final image to help build an impression of the subject, from a persons hairstyle to the way they are sitting or standing, to other objects in the entire setting, just by placing your subject in a sympathetic environment, you can reveal something about their personalities.
You need to decide in advance what aspect of your subjects character you want to show in the photo, being ready until the moment you are waiting for shows itself. I have laid on the floor waiting for what seemed like hours for a child to bite her lip, a habit she has, and give the photo of her, her true personality. People are also more relaxed in their own environment, and taking photos of them with their favorite possessions, will speak volumes of their personalities. Don't make the mistake of cluttering the photo with objects to get the message across, keep it simple. The best portraits are often those in which the photographer has singled out just a few items to tell the story of the subject's lifestyle. Remember to plan in advance what you want the photo to say about your subject.
Tip 3:
Keep the Subject Relaxed...... Even your family or closest friends who are at ease with you on a daily basis, can freeze up suddenly when you point a camera at them. Giving the photograph a very unnatural look of the person you just photographed. No matter whether your a beginner to photography, or a Pro, everyone will have to cope with the camera shyness at one time or another. How you will get the subject relaxed will depend upon the type person you will be dealing with, along with the situation. To a certain extent, you will have to take it on the fly, but there are some advance preparations you can make. Get all the technicalities out of the way well before the portrait session. Decide which exposure, lighting, and camera viewpoint you will want. I always use an assistant ahead of time to stand in and act like the subject for the shoot. Unless your confident of your techniques, you will likely seem nervous, and this will make your subject nervous and uncomfortable. One of the best ways to make people at ease is to divert their attention away from the camera. I personally like to joke around and have a good time with the subject's, putting them at ease and not really thinking about what is happening around them. Kids are the worst about feeling uncomfortable in portraits. That's why many photographers that shoot children have toys and stuffed animals as props, taking the child's mind off of what is about to happen. If your shooting a couple, who have a close relationship, such as a father and son in the photo below, if you wait and take your time, you might find them becoming so absorbed in each other that they forget about you taking their picture.
Such tender moments are more likely to happen if you remain as unobtrusive as possible. A longer focal lens will allow you to distance yourself from your subjects. I like to use a 70-200mm lens so I can zoom in on any aspect of their image that catches my eye. As in the next photo, the mother wanted a photo of her son, who hates having his picture taken. I completely ignored the boy, but kept a watchful eye on him. When I noticed his concentration was on something else, I took this photo of him. It turns out this photo is the one they loved the most.
Tip 4:
Compose the Picture..... In trying to take a photograph that expresses the personality of a friend or the spirit of a family occasion, you should not overlook the composition of the image. The balance of dark and light, the patterns of lines and shapes, and the effect of colors you see in the viewfinder can influence the whole mood and atmosphere. Light tones can suggest and open, lighthearted personality, where darker tones in an image can hint a somber mood.
A single subject can provide the photo a strong center of interest. I can't think of anything that can draw your attention more then a human figure. Having a focal point is always a compositional virtue. And it might be possible to emphasize the subject more by using strong lines leading to your focal point. Also, you can try to use the classic principle of dividing the viewfinder into thirds, and put your feature of your subject, like the eyes on one of these imaginary lines.
The geometry of lines and shapes become more important when you are dealing with more then just one person. Instead of lining everyone up in one line, try to vary the subjects in distance and in height from the camera.
Tip 5:
Fill the Frame..... Filling the frame with just the head and shoulder, or even just the face, is a bold step to take. This style of effect is to concentrate all the viewers attention on your subjects expression or features. But do remember, if this is not just right, there is no other point of interest to fall back on. Along with the risk, there are great rewards. Meaning that a close viewpoint implies a more then casual bond between the photographer and subject. A tight cropped format is ideal for intimate photos of those close to you. And by removing all extra details from the image, the impact of the facial expression is greatly increased.
If you use a normal lens on your camera, or your camera does not have a zoom feature, you might have to move very close to your subject to fill the frame with head shots. To the subject, this can be very intimidating, and can cause undesirable distortions to appear. Example would be the nose would look to big for the face, while the ears look very small. A telephoto lens of 135mm would be a better choice, allowing you to shoot at a greater distance from the subject. Or another option is that you could just crop the image, but remember you will loose some quality of the photo. Remember to shoot with small aperture to keep as much of the subjects face in focus as possible. At close distances, depth of field becomes very shallow, and accurate focusing is essential, or the find detail such as hair, can become blurred. Focusing on the eyes helps to avoid this, if you keep the eyes tack sharp, less sharp facial features elsewhere in the picture will be acceptable.
Don't forget that lighting is important also. A tack sharp photo of a subjects face invites detailed scrutiny, so that even small lines can seem obtrusive. For this reason, soft diffused light such as light from a window or light reflected from white paper will have a more flattering effect. A trick taught to me years ago was to use soft focus filters when shooting women. I had 2 filters I broke the glass out of, and inserted black pantyhose in between them and use them as my soft focus filter. The 2 photos below were shot using exact same strobe light settings and camera settings. The first is without filter, and second is with filter.
Tip 6:
The Right Lens..... Capturing a telling expression or pose is the key to many successful photographs of people. But the choice of lens will be an important part in determining the composition and impact of the photo. A normal lens (50mm-55mm) is excellent for full body portraits. These lenses will show people in a natural scale with one another, and with the surroundings. You can expand your creative range when photographing people by trying lenses with longer focal lengths.
A telephoto lens has two qualities that make it also useful. First, its magnifying effect allows you to distance yourself from your subject, while still getting that close head and shoulder shot your after. Second, the telephoto has a shallow depth of field which is a big asset in portraiture, when often you want to blur the confusing background so as to provide a plain frame for the main subject. I would say the 2 best lenses in this area would be the 80mm and 135mm. They're light weight and easy to carry all day compared to the super telephoto lenses.
If your shooting a very large group, then I would opt for the wide angle lenses. With the wide angle lens, you can fit everyone into the frame without going so far back in distance that the faces and expressions become lost in the photo. Sometimes, the tendency of the wide angle lens to distort at close range can be used creatively.
Tip 7:
A persons eyes are their most recognizable features. They have a magnetism that both compels our attention and draws us into the depths of the personality behind the face. As a result, nothing has more influence than the eyes on the particular mood and meaning of a portrait.
A good portrait by no means depends on a level, eyeball to eyeball, confrontation with the camera. A photo of someone looking away from the lens may succeed because the element of awareness seems missing. This effect will give an idea of being lost in thoughts. The photo of the little boy above is a good example of this. On the other hand, a pose looking toward the camera with the head turned slightly away can strike an effective balance between formal and informal portrait, as in the photo below.
There are two fundamental reasons why you should watch the eyes closely when you take a picture of someone. First, they move more rapidly then any other part of the face. Second, if the eyes are in sharp focus, so will the rest of the face. The eyes in a photo, have a tendency to draw you into the photo.
I hope that you have found these simple tips helpful. I am sure that if you concentrate on these, your photography will see improvement..
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Author: Danny Boxberger
Tip 1:
Shooting people at their best..... Anyone wants to look perfect in a photograph. This doesn't mean the person taking the photo has to flatter people by making them appear more attractive then they really are, But it does mean that you should always, and I do mean always, do your subject justice. To get good pictures of people, it will take some very good forethought. Its very easy to end up with a subject looking stiff or statue like. What people want in a photograph of them is to look normal and alive, while bringing out their individuality. Whether it be a snapshot or a carefully composed portrait, your goal is to capture the essence of the subject's personality as reflected in a given situation. The trick is knowing in advance what you want the photo to portray, and then achieving it in the most simple and direct way.
Tip 2:
Learn to Express Personality...... Each persons face is the guide to personality. Any photographer realizes the advantages of a vivid expression or gesture. Because of this, its often to easy to forget the other elements in a photo that will provide valuable clues to character. Include everything in the final image to help build an impression of the subject, from a persons hairstyle to the way they are sitting or standing, to other objects in the entire setting, just by placing your subject in a sympathetic environment, you can reveal something about their personalities.
You need to decide in advance what aspect of your subjects character you want to show in the photo, being ready until the moment you are waiting for shows itself. I have laid on the floor waiting for what seemed like hours for a child to bite her lip, a habit she has, and give the photo of her, her true personality. People are also more relaxed in their own environment, and taking photos of them with their favorite possessions, will speak volumes of their personalities. Don't make the mistake of cluttering the photo with objects to get the message across, keep it simple. The best portraits are often those in which the photographer has singled out just a few items to tell the story of the subject's lifestyle. Remember to plan in advance what you want the photo to say about your subject.
Tip 3:
Keep the Subject Relaxed...... Even your family or closest friends who are at ease with you on a daily basis, can freeze up suddenly when you point a camera at them. Giving the photograph a very unnatural look of the person you just photographed. No matter whether your a beginner to photography, or a Pro, everyone will have to cope with the camera shyness at one time or another. How you will get the subject relaxed will depend upon the type person you will be dealing with, along with the situation. To a certain extent, you will have to take it on the fly, but there are some advance preparations you can make. Get all the technicalities out of the way well before the portrait session. Decide which exposure, lighting, and camera viewpoint you will want. I always use an assistant ahead of time to stand in and act like the subject for the shoot. Unless your confident of your techniques, you will likely seem nervous, and this will make your subject nervous and uncomfortable. One of the best ways to make people at ease is to divert their attention away from the camera. I personally like to joke around and have a good time with the subject's, putting them at ease and not really thinking about what is happening around them. Kids are the worst about feeling uncomfortable in portraits. That's why many photographers that shoot children have toys and stuffed animals as props, taking the child's mind off of what is about to happen. If your shooting a couple, who have a close relationship, such as a father and son in the photo below, if you wait and take your time, you might find them becoming so absorbed in each other that they forget about you taking their picture.
Such tender moments are more likely to happen if you remain as unobtrusive as possible. A longer focal lens will allow you to distance yourself from your subjects. I like to use a 70-200mm lens so I can zoom in on any aspect of their image that catches my eye. As in the next photo, the mother wanted a photo of her son, who hates having his picture taken. I completely ignored the boy, but kept a watchful eye on him. When I noticed his concentration was on something else, I took this photo of him. It turns out this photo is the one they loved the most. Tip 4:
Compose the Picture..... In trying to take a photograph that expresses the personality of a friend or the spirit of a family occasion, you should not overlook the composition of the image. The balance of dark and light, the patterns of lines and shapes, and the effect of colors you see in the viewfinder can influence the whole mood and atmosphere. Light tones can suggest and open, lighthearted personality, where darker tones in an image can hint a somber mood.
A single subject can provide the photo a strong center of interest. I can't think of anything that can draw your attention more then a human figure. Having a focal point is always a compositional virtue. And it might be possible to emphasize the subject more by using strong lines leading to your focal point. Also, you can try to use the classic principle of dividing the viewfinder into thirds, and put your feature of your subject, like the eyes on one of these imaginary lines.
The geometry of lines and shapes become more important when you are dealing with more then just one person. Instead of lining everyone up in one line, try to vary the subjects in distance and in height from the camera.
Tip 5:
Fill the Frame..... Filling the frame with just the head and shoulder, or even just the face, is a bold step to take. This style of effect is to concentrate all the viewers attention on your subjects expression or features. But do remember, if this is not just right, there is no other point of interest to fall back on. Along with the risk, there are great rewards. Meaning that a close viewpoint implies a more then casual bond between the photographer and subject. A tight cropped format is ideal for intimate photos of those close to you. And by removing all extra details from the image, the impact of the facial expression is greatly increased.
If you use a normal lens on your camera, or your camera does not have a zoom feature, you might have to move very close to your subject to fill the frame with head shots. To the subject, this can be very intimidating, and can cause undesirable distortions to appear. Example would be the nose would look to big for the face, while the ears look very small. A telephoto lens of 135mm would be a better choice, allowing you to shoot at a greater distance from the subject. Or another option is that you could just crop the image, but remember you will loose some quality of the photo. Remember to shoot with small aperture to keep as much of the subjects face in focus as possible. At close distances, depth of field becomes very shallow, and accurate focusing is essential, or the find detail such as hair, can become blurred. Focusing on the eyes helps to avoid this, if you keep the eyes tack sharp, less sharp facial features elsewhere in the picture will be acceptable.
Don't forget that lighting is important also. A tack sharp photo of a subjects face invites detailed scrutiny, so that even small lines can seem obtrusive. For this reason, soft diffused light such as light from a window or light reflected from white paper will have a more flattering effect. A trick taught to me years ago was to use soft focus filters when shooting women. I had 2 filters I broke the glass out of, and inserted black pantyhose in between them and use them as my soft focus filter. The 2 photos below were shot using exact same strobe light settings and camera settings. The first is without filter, and second is with filter.
Tip 6:
The Right Lens..... Capturing a telling expression or pose is the key to many successful photographs of people. But the choice of lens will be an important part in determining the composition and impact of the photo. A normal lens (50mm-55mm) is excellent for full body portraits. These lenses will show people in a natural scale with one another, and with the surroundings. You can expand your creative range when photographing people by trying lenses with longer focal lengths.
A telephoto lens has two qualities that make it also useful. First, its magnifying effect allows you to distance yourself from your subject, while still getting that close head and shoulder shot your after. Second, the telephoto has a shallow depth of field which is a big asset in portraiture, when often you want to blur the confusing background so as to provide a plain frame for the main subject. I would say the 2 best lenses in this area would be the 80mm and 135mm. They're light weight and easy to carry all day compared to the super telephoto lenses.
If your shooting a very large group, then I would opt for the wide angle lenses. With the wide angle lens, you can fit everyone into the frame without going so far back in distance that the faces and expressions become lost in the photo. Sometimes, the tendency of the wide angle lens to distort at close range can be used creatively.
Tip 7:
A persons eyes are their most recognizable features. They have a magnetism that both compels our attention and draws us into the depths of the personality behind the face. As a result, nothing has more influence than the eyes on the particular mood and meaning of a portrait.
A good portrait by no means depends on a level, eyeball to eyeball, confrontation with the camera. A photo of someone looking away from the lens may succeed because the element of awareness seems missing. This effect will give an idea of being lost in thoughts. The photo of the little boy above is a good example of this. On the other hand, a pose looking toward the camera with the head turned slightly away can strike an effective balance between formal and informal portrait, as in the photo below.
There are two fundamental reasons why you should watch the eyes closely when you take a picture of someone. First, they move more rapidly then any other part of the face. Second, if the eyes are in sharp focus, so will the rest of the face. The eyes in a photo, have a tendency to draw you into the photo.
I hope that you have found these simple tips helpful. I am sure that if you concentrate on these, your photography will see improvement..
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Author: Danny Boxberger
Taking Better Photos Part II
In Part II of Taking Better Photos, we are going to try to get a bit more in-depth, with taking better photos. The light measurement systems built into cameras, are to help you avoid mistakes. They allow you to take pictures in wide ranges of light conditions, and produce accurate exposure. Huge differences are found in the operation of cameras with TTL (through-the-lens) metering, mainly between the automatic and manual cameras. With most SLR cameras, you usually have at least two options of automatic exposure, a priority system, and the ability of setting the exposure manually.
With the fully automatic metering, the camera will calculate the exposure, and automatically sets the aperture and shutter speeds. The operation of these cameras is quite simple. The downfall, you have no control of subject movement with shutter speed. A good example would be capturing the artistic "angel-hairs" of a waterfall compared to just a snapshot of the same waterfall.
Fully automatic cameras, are more suited to snapshots than to creative picture taking.
The systems using priority metering are much more flexible. You have the choice of setting shutter speed or aperture, and then the cameras system will set the other control for the correct exposure. This will give you the creative control, yet frees you from making the final exposure setting so you can concentrate on the subject your shooting. Also, if the light changes at the last second, the metering system will make the final adjustment for the shot.
Using Aperture Priority, in which you are in control of setting the f-stop, lets you have control over the depth-of-field. This is very useful when shooting landscapes, close-ups, and other shots requiring great depth-of-field. Here, you may also want to stop down, to control the background for the blur effect if shooting portraits.
This shot was taken mid day in the shade with f-stop of 2.8 for background blur. If shooting landscapes you would want to use a f-16 setting or higher as seen in this photo.
Using Shutter priority will give you more control of movement. Setting your shutter speed at a higher setting will give you the stop action shots your looking for. Also remember this, when using an IS lens (Image Stabilizer), this lens will NOT stop action in shots, its designed to remove camera shake only. When using faster shutter speeds you can expect shots like this one.
If its complete control you want, then going into manual mode is where to shoot. In manual mode, you control everything, and if wanted you can even over-ride the meter. This great flexibility and personal control can be useful for unusual lighting situations, and when you are wanting a particular effect on the outcome of your photo. You can really extend your photography range when shooting in manual.
The next question would be when to trust your meter, and when to over-ride it. Exposure always involves a creative decision and the meter's reading should be seen as a good starting point. If your shooting a subject with the sun to its back, the decision will be either to follow the meter, creating a reading for a bright background, making your subject underexposed, and your subject appears as a silhouette. If your wanting detail in your subject, then thats when you would over-ride the meters reading and adjust for detail in your subject. To achieve this, a good rule to follow is to move closer to your subject, and set the exposure for an important element such as a face (making sure the face fills the frame), then move back to your original position, and take the shot without changing exposure readings.
Once the fundamentals of setting exposure are understood, you can then forget about the old rule with always shooting with the sun behind you. Always remember to avoid strong light flaring directly into the lens, you can vary the camera's viewpoint in relation to the light, and achieve remarkable changes in appearance and mood of the photos you take. the main idea to remember is to try not only the direction of light, but also the quality of light, best suited for the subject.
Once you have learned to master the practical control of your camera, you can then concentrate on the creative techniques that lead to strong and interesting photos. You might also consider exploring the effects you can get just by something as simple as changing lenses, or my favorite, using filters to control color and reflections. Adding to your equipment can improve your results dramatically. A telephoto lens that lets you fill the frame with a single face will really add impact to a portrait. My favorite lens for portraiture is my telephoto lens. The photo below was shot for a Motorcycle Magazine submisson, the guidelines for the magazine was that they required shots taken with telephoto lens to soften background, and lens should be kept level with carburetor on motor.
But sophisticated equipment is not enough. Learning how to exploit viewpoint, framing and timing, how to deal with your backgrounds, and to emphasize colors and shapes are keys in successful picture-taking. Most of all, a photographer has to learn to select. A close-up of a flower can say more than a whole field of flowers. The first principle of creative photography is "Less is More".
Author: Danny Boxberger
Taking Better Photos
The Best Photographs are simple. They convey the message of the photographer directly and vividly, whether its the joy of a new born, or the soothing landscape of a fields color in a setting sun. This same simplicity often applies to how they were taken. The modern technology in cameras have reduced the technical problems, allowing the photographer to take more time composing, and using their eye and imagination to create the perfect image.
A Good photograph comes from developing an eye for a photo. Not all the accessories in the world will help a photographer with this. The key is to train yourself, that making what you see, to work as a great photo. The secret of this, is training the eye to see imagines that will give a pleasing thought, when taken out of a complex and confusing world. Experienced photographers learn to identify their images by spending most of their time looking thru a viewfinder of the cameras. Anyone can learn to see this way, by concentrating on what they see in the frame and how the shapes and colors they see work together. Applying this method will help your photographs immensely.
The first step in all photography is choosing a subject. This may seem obvious, but any one situation usually offers many choices. Most all photographers will choose a subject that will make a very strong point. The camera, unlike the eye, cannot point out what is interesting in the subject and ignoring the rest. Everything in the viewfinder tends to have equal prominence unless the photographer organizes the scene and selects the image to bring out a particular part or the important aspect of it.
Many first time users, set out taking pictures thinking everything will fall into place. More times then not, the camera is aimed at the subject with it directly in the center, as if aiming at the center of the target. This will record the subject, but is unlikely to produce an appealing image. You should allow yourself time to think about what you see in the viewfinder. Look for the things that will distract from what you want, and how you could change your viewpoint to achieve a better photo. A few simple ideas can help point the way. Try to place the main subject just alittle off center, to create a more balanced and visually satisfying effect for the photo. This will help teach you the visual awareness of a photograph.
Any photographer, will eventually develop their style of taking photos that are personal and distinctive. A very few, are blessed enough to have such and individual way of seeing, that it surfaces the very first time they picked up a camera. For the rest of us normal people, it comes as we gradually begin to master the techniques of photography. I think that trying different styles is important because you are more likely to discover the style that suits you best. You can shoot many different styles from landscapes to abstracts, and it doesn’t mean you have to stick with a certain favorite subject to develop your style. I find I shoot everything that catches my eye, no matter what type of photography it is. In the winter time when studio time is slow, I am shooting birds, while in spring and fall I tend to do more floral and landscapes.
There are 2 different areas of skill in photography. One, you need to develop the skill to see creatively, seeing the interesting and appealing aspects of the world around you. The second, you need the skill to translate your ideas into pictures. The camera (your tool) will become the servant of your creative impulse, if you learn how to use it correctly. That’s another subject in itself. Learn your camera, so that using all its functions become second nature to you. Consider the camera you use with the types of photos you intend shoot. You will have to work within the limitations of your equipment. Photography is most enjoyable when your equipment extends slightly beyond your current needs. And as your skill level grows, you will appreciate the more versatility your equipment will provide.
With today’s technology, cameras make it simple. With auto focus, and auto shutter speeds, the camera controls everything. They even make exposure control simple. Their automatic systems of measuring and regulating light entering the camera do most of the work for you. But, sorry to say, sometimes it does not get it quite right. No amount of computerized circuitry will produce just the picture you want in every situation. In the final analysis, you must yourself decide how you would like the picture to look and, if necessary, overrule the automatic system. Some cameras don’t offer this, so if you want more control over the pictures your shooting, you might want to step up to a system that will offer manual controls. A good metering system on a camera, aims to provide an exposure that is technically correct. It offers a compromise between the amount of light needed for a dark and light areas of the scene you shooting. Most of the time, the result will look good. Although sometimes a certain part of the scene is more important to you than the rest. The camera can’t see this, and in calculating the average exposure it may over or under expose the main subject of your shot. This is where you need to learn exposure and light to be able to compensate for the cameras light readings, and adjust accordingly.
If you continue to practice taking the pictures you want, thinking before shooting, and learning to understand your camera and light, you will see your pictures improve each and every time you go out shooting. All it takes is time, and a little understanding of your equipment.
A Good photograph comes from developing an eye for a photo. Not all the accessories in the world will help a photographer with this. The key is to train yourself, that making what you see, to work as a great photo. The secret of this, is training the eye to see imagines that will give a pleasing thought, when taken out of a complex and confusing world. Experienced photographers learn to identify their images by spending most of their time looking thru a viewfinder of the cameras. Anyone can learn to see this way, by concentrating on what they see in the frame and how the shapes and colors they see work together. Applying this method will help your photographs immensely.
The first step in all photography is choosing a subject. This may seem obvious, but any one situation usually offers many choices. Most all photographers will choose a subject that will make a very strong point. The camera, unlike the eye, cannot point out what is interesting in the subject and ignoring the rest. Everything in the viewfinder tends to have equal prominence unless the photographer organizes the scene and selects the image to bring out a particular part or the important aspect of it.
Many first time users, set out taking pictures thinking everything will fall into place. More times then not, the camera is aimed at the subject with it directly in the center, as if aiming at the center of the target. This will record the subject, but is unlikely to produce an appealing image. You should allow yourself time to think about what you see in the viewfinder. Look for the things that will distract from what you want, and how you could change your viewpoint to achieve a better photo. A few simple ideas can help point the way. Try to place the main subject just alittle off center, to create a more balanced and visually satisfying effect for the photo. This will help teach you the visual awareness of a photograph.
Any photographer, will eventually develop their style of taking photos that are personal and distinctive. A very few, are blessed enough to have such and individual way of seeing, that it surfaces the very first time they picked up a camera. For the rest of us normal people, it comes as we gradually begin to master the techniques of photography. I think that trying different styles is important because you are more likely to discover the style that suits you best. You can shoot many different styles from landscapes to abstracts, and it doesn’t mean you have to stick with a certain favorite subject to develop your style. I find I shoot everything that catches my eye, no matter what type of photography it is. In the winter time when studio time is slow, I am shooting birds, while in spring and fall I tend to do more floral and landscapes.
There are 2 different areas of skill in photography. One, you need to develop the skill to see creatively, seeing the interesting and appealing aspects of the world around you. The second, you need the skill to translate your ideas into pictures. The camera (your tool) will become the servant of your creative impulse, if you learn how to use it correctly. That’s another subject in itself. Learn your camera, so that using all its functions become second nature to you. Consider the camera you use with the types of photos you intend shoot. You will have to work within the limitations of your equipment. Photography is most enjoyable when your equipment extends slightly beyond your current needs. And as your skill level grows, you will appreciate the more versatility your equipment will provide.
With today’s technology, cameras make it simple. With auto focus, and auto shutter speeds, the camera controls everything. They even make exposure control simple. Their automatic systems of measuring and regulating light entering the camera do most of the work for you. But, sorry to say, sometimes it does not get it quite right. No amount of computerized circuitry will produce just the picture you want in every situation. In the final analysis, you must yourself decide how you would like the picture to look and, if necessary, overrule the automatic system. Some cameras don’t offer this, so if you want more control over the pictures your shooting, you might want to step up to a system that will offer manual controls. A good metering system on a camera, aims to provide an exposure that is technically correct. It offers a compromise between the amount of light needed for a dark and light areas of the scene you shooting. Most of the time, the result will look good. Although sometimes a certain part of the scene is more important to you than the rest. The camera can’t see this, and in calculating the average exposure it may over or under expose the main subject of your shot. This is where you need to learn exposure and light to be able to compensate for the cameras light readings, and adjust accordingly.
If you continue to practice taking the pictures you want, thinking before shooting, and learning to understand your camera and light, you will see your pictures improve each and every time you go out shooting. All it takes is time, and a little understanding of your equipment.
Author: Danny Boxberger
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