Blog
Looking again at Composition
When you are out on location it is very easy to get caught up in the moment of taking photos and you forget to look at your composition and what is happening within the frame.
It is very easy to miss the unwanted items within your image, so you need to check you viewfinder and make sure there is nothing in your frame that will require you to remove it in Photoshop.
Make sure your horizon is straight, as it is very easy to tilt your image is you are not using a tripod, or if you are using a tripod, that it is level. If needed, you can get a bubble level that slips onto your hotshoe to assist you getting a straight horizon.
And lastly, consider your depth of field, and the control you want with you foreground and background. It is much easier to determine this in the field and select the aperture in the field, than it is to blur an image in Photoshop.
So just be aware of what is going in your image before you snap the shutter…..
If you need additional assistance, we offer Basic and Intermediate Camera workshops at the SCV Center for Photography. See our workshop schedules for more information.
It’s not what you have, but how you use it
I hear so many beginning photographers that come through our workshops talk about how you need to spend thousands of dollars in order to take great pictures. But in reality, the equipment is just the vehicle that helps you create the photograph. Yes, certain cameras have different functions, or handle things better or worse, but all of the current DSLR’s give you the basic functions to take that photograph. No question, having a wider range of lenses and accessories helps, but acquire those items over time as you find what interests you and while you are learning and growing as a photographer.
So take your time in buying equipment, so that you only buy an item once. As you grow as a photographer, let your creativity tell you what equipment is necessary in capturing the photographs that move you, thus not purchasing equipment that will just sit in a camera bag.
Black & White Photography Workshop Update
JUST ADDED: Nik Software is providing a 1 FREE copy of their awesome software Silver Efex Pro to be given away during the Black & White workshop.
Digital Silver Imaging is providing an 11×14 Fiber Print of your image to one lucky winner as well. Also, Digital Silver Imaging is providing a 25% discount coupon to all attendees of the Black & White workshop.
So hurry on over to our January 2011 workshop page and sign up today, and just maybe you will go home with an awesome giveaway, not to mention the added knowledge gained from David in our Black & White Photography workshop on January 13, 2011.
HDR Images with HDR Efex Pro from Nik Software
I have been experimenting with Nik Software’s new HDR Efex Pro. I am really liking the results and the ease of use in using this new software. Nik has also incorporated the U-Point technology that is in many of their other programs, so making local adjustments instead of global adjustments is very easy.
If you are interested in purchasing the software, then head over to www.niksoftware .com and during checkout, put in the discount code of SCVPHOTOCENTER and receive a 15% discount on ALL Nik products.
Here are a few examples using the new HDR Efex Pro software:
Show your camera some love
Show your camera some love. Always clean your camera after a shoot. You take it out in to the world and ask it to capture some amazing images for you. It gets exposed to the air and wind and dirt – maybe even some sea mist. Give it some TLC afterwards by using a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the dirt and grime. When necessary, take it in to your local camera shop for a thorough cleaning – including the sensor. You can, of course, clean the sensor yourself, but this can be tricky business and cause major harm to your camera. Unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing, do not attempt this at home! Take it to a professional. When you take care of your camera, it will take care of you! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the SCV Center for Photography.
