Photography Basics

Understanding Depth of Field

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Depth of Field is probably one of the more challenging areas of photography to understand.

depth of field graphic

In this graphic, the black line at 15′ is critically sharp.
This is where the lens is focused.
The yellow area would appear ‘acceptably sharp’…
The yellow represents the Depth Of Field.

Let’s begin with a workable definition.

Depth of field is that area of an image that is considered acceptably sharp … in other words it appears to be ‘in focus’.

There now, don’t you feel much clearer on this subject? NO! Well, not to worry. It is not as hard to grasp as you might fear.

To understand what the term acceptably sharp really means, it helps to know what actually happens when you focus your lens.

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Guest Photographers

Finding The Best Small Digital Camera

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Written by: Brandon Layne

Digital cameras are getting smaller and smaller every year. People seem to have a fascination for very compact gadgets. Remember how bulky mobile phones used to be? I remember lugging around a bag phone the size of a woman’s purse and much heavier.

Now they have models that are as small as a chap stick.

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Digital Camera Accessories

Digital Camera Storage Media

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Written by: Charlie Vuong

When someone buys a new digital camera for recreational purposes, they rarely look at the type of storage media the camera supports. How important is the storage media, exactly? Well, it’s where your pictures are stored, so it must be pretty important!

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Guest Photographers

Photography School Reviews

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Written by: Andrew Holloway

“Any good photography is a successful synthesis of technique and art.” – Andreas Feininger

This article will attempt to help you come to a clearer understanding of the photography schools and colleges available, what they can offer you in terms of photo and arts education, and guide you towards investigating more about specific schools and where you can find out more information.

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Digital Camera Lessons

Mastering Digital Photography

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Looking for information about digital photography?

Everyday, more and more people purchase a digital camera. You may be one of them and now you’re looking for information to help you get the most out of digital photography.

Like many (including myself) you may also have been skeptical of this new technology. Will it give you the results you enjoyed with film photography?

Once you’ve made the decision to buy a digital camera, you want to make certain that you’ve made a wise choice before you abandon your traditional film camera. By mastering a few simple basics, you’ll quickly see why so many millions of photographers have “gone digital”.

With the popularity of digital photography increasing constantly, camera prices have dropped and the variety of digital camera choices will satisfy almost anyone’s needs and budget.

Even though you can begin getting some excellent results with simple point and shoot ease, you probably would like a few helpful hints that will improve the quality and enjoyment you expect out of your digital equipment.

One major advantage with digital photos is the ability to easily edit them using software, which is often included with the camera. Many computers also have some sort of digital editing software already installed and ready to use, though often what you get is not the full-featured version..

Fortunately, with a little searching you’ll find that great software packages and tutorials are readily available for anyone who wants to edit their pictures for maximum quality. Much of it is easy to use and is easily accessible even for newer users.

If you’re concerned about the price of the software, you’ll be happy to know that a variety of photo editing software programs are available absolutely free of charge. These “freeware” programs can do an admirable job of making necessary basic adjustments to digital snapshots and often contain some advanced features, too.

And for those who don’t mind spending a bit more, software such as Photoshop Elements is priced extremely low and will give you some amazing editing features. You can even download and use it free for 30 days to see if you like it.

Another common concern many face when choosing digital equipment is deciding just what to get. You may wonder how many megapixels you need … or what is the best memory card. What is the price range for a good camera? What about batteries?

Even those who know their 35mm cameras inside and out may find choosing digital equipment frustrating. Fortunately, a little bit of quality information can make the process easier. Whether you are trying to learn more about how to use your new digital camera or you want more information before diving into digital photography, you need a good guide in the field of digital photography.

You can begin in the category Buying a Digital Camera which will provide you with solid basic information about purchasing a camera and what to look for. If you’re looking for extra guidance on more advanced features and ways to really maximize the value of your digital camera you will find helpful information in the Digital Camera Auto Mode and Digital Camera Features.

Digital photography is really quite easy and wonderfully rewarding. With a little practice you can soon be taking pictures like a pro. As with so many other things, knowledge is power. You’ll greatly improve your results and your understanding with some basic digital photography information, hints and tips.

So take your digital camera and just start experimenting. You’ll improve your photography most by taking pictures.

Here’s to better photography…

 Al Hannigan

Al Hannigan

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Digital Photography Basics

Why Go Digital?

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Why would you want to use a digital camera?

Remember those instant Polaroid cameras … they were so great because you could see the pictures minutes after taking them. They were kind of bulky and film wasn’t cheap, but they were still very popular.

Then along came the 35mm cameras. Less bulky,crisp picture quality and those vibrant colors. People soon were switching, especially when 35mm prices became quite affordable. So is it time for another switch?

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Guest Photographers

How to Take Better Night Photos

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Taking photos at night is a challenge, but the results of good night scene photography can be spectacular. Here are some excellent tips on taking better night photos…

Article : How to Take Better Night Photos
by Guest Photographer: Gary Hendricks

Do you like to take photos at night? I know I do. There’s something magical about them – pictures of the moonlight sky and dazzling neon lights convey a special something that daytime photos can’t.

When I started out taking digital photos at night, boy, did I have problems! The issue is that many digital cameras do not perform very well under low-light conditions. To take good night photos, there are some tricks you need to remember – so here are a few of them.

Tip 1: Use Long Exposures

The key to successful night photography lies in a long exposure. We’re talking about exposures measured in seconds. When a long exposure is used, more light is allowed into the camera, allowing the details in your night photo to be captured.

The problem with using long exposures is that you may shake the camera, resulting in poor pictures. The way around this is to use a tripod. I prefer to install a tripod with a shutter-release cable to ensure that I don’t jolt the camera at all.

Tip 2: Take Control Shots

One problem with digital cameras is that there are always some pixels on the image sensor which are bad. When taking day photos, these defects are not discernible. However, they are pretty obvious in night photos. How do we correct these? Here’s a simple way – take a control shot, then use image editing to subtract out those bad pixels.

This is how it works. The next time you’re out to take night photos, go ahead and snap a picture of Scene A, as you normally would. Then, when it’s convenient, take a photo of the exact same Scene A again, but with the lens cap on. Now you will have two images, one night shot and one control shot (with the hot pixels). Load them up in say, Paint Shop Pro. Switch to the control shot and select Edit and Copy from the menu. Next, switch to the night shot and paste the copied image as a new layer. Then, select the new layer and change the Blend Mode to Difference and click OK. You’ll get the correct night shot with the hot spots subtracted out.

Tip 3: Try to Capture Motion

With a long exposure, you have many creative options when it comes to photography. This includes capturing motion. For example, have you ever wondered how those professional photographers shoot pictures of trails of car lights as they zoom down the highway at night? It’s all due to long exposures. Try to keep this in mind the next time you’re taking a night photo – you don’t have to restrict yourself to still images.

Tip 4: Play with the Aperture

In addition to shutter speed (which determines exposure time), you can play around with the aperture size of your digital camera. There are two scenarios here. If you set a long exposure, try to use a small aperture to avoid overexposing any stationary lights. in the picture. On the other hand, if you set a short exposure, try using a larger aperture to avoid any motion in your shot.

Tip 5: How to Use the Flash

As a general rule, I turn the flash off when taking night photos. There are some exceptions though – one specific example I can think of is trying to shoot a subject in the foreground, with motion trails of car lights in the background. In this case, bring along an external flash unit and shine it on your subject manually. Set a long exposure, then have your subject wait until the picture is taken.

Tip 6: When to Take Night Photos

When’s the best time to take night photos? I usually like to take them during dusk when colors and details are easier to capture. I’d recommend that you do some research on the evening before the photo shoot. Decide on the location, then come back the next day to take the photo at dusk.

Conclusion: Hopefully, this article has taught you some tips on taking better night photos. The important concept to remember is that a long exposure is needed for good night photos. This means you need to keep you digital camera really, really still. Once you understand that, the quality of your night photos will definitely improve.


Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography. Visit his website at http://www.basic-digital-photography.com for tips and tricks on buying digital cameras, as well as shooting great photos.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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