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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Guest Photographers

Digital Cameras – Tips About Going Digital

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So you have decided you will go digital and now it is time to make a choice from the wide variety of digital cameras available.

But to avoid being a camera salesman’s dream customer and make sure you get the best deal and the right camera, there are a few things you should know before you head out to begin shopping.

Making a few decisions before you shop can make the whole experience of buying a digital camera far more successful for you. Here are a few tips that will help.


Article: Camera – Tips About Going Digital
by Guest Photographer: Elisabeth Haywarden

After seeing all the hype about digital cameras on television and watching all your friends endlessly taking hundreds of shots of their children in just moments, you’ve decided to go digital. If you’ve begun looking around the web or in nearby stores, you’ve surely realized that there is no end to the variety of digital cameras.

How do you know that the sales clerk isn’t trying selling you the highest priced camera in the building? How do you know if you’re really getting great quality at a fabulous price?

Before you begin shopping, determine your needs. Are you planning to use your camera to start taking photography classes, so you want a camera that will last and grow with you? Are you looking for a camera with a lot of capabilities for vacations and your child’s big events that will be easy to carry? Are you looking for something small and easy to carry for nights out with your friends?

For each of these situations, you would want to choose a different camera. You can spend your money wisely if you get a camera that has only what you will really need thats practical for you to use.

You’ve probably heard hundreds of different terms dealing with digital cameras; here are some of the most important.

First, there is the famous megapixel, which describes the resolution, or the capability to produce larger, higher-quality prints. The higher the megapixel, the better the resolution.

If youre only interested in printing 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 pictures, a 2-megapixel camera will be fine for you; however, if youre planning to print larger 8 x 10 prints, you will need at least a 3-megapixel camera.

Another important aspect of your new digital camera will be its battery life. Digital cameras use batteries up quickly, and you will want to be certain your camera lasts through important events.

Buying a camera in which batteries will last for between 200 and 400 pictures is highly recommended by most experts. Although this may seem like a lot of pictures, one of the greatest qualities of a digital camera are its ability to capture many moments quickly and easily.

Other important capabilities that you should consider when purchasing your new camera are its zoom potential and storage capacity.

The zoom is especially important when you’re at major events, such as a basketball game or your child’s play. You want to get the closest, clearest pictures possible. Optical zoom produces clearer pictures, on average, than digital zoom.

As with battery life, the storage capacity of your camera can greatly affect the number of pictures you are able to take at a time. The recommended storage capacity for the average digital camera owner is between 32MB and 128MB.

Now that you have some ideas about what to look for in a digital camera, head out to the store or the Internet to find the perfect camera for you and your family. Many websites will actually allow you to compare different cameras and their features.

By doing a bit of Internet research, you may be able to cut down some of your time in the store by having an idea of what you’re looking for. This capability to get a general idea of the quality and price you are looking for will save you time and money.

Elisabeth Haywarden’s articles on topics related to cameras and photography are published at For Camera, and FYN Photography.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com  

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Guest Photographers

Flash Photography – How to Avoid 5 Common Problems

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Published by: PhotographyKnowHow

Publisher’s comments: Flash photography is great for getting good exposures in low light. Unfortunately, it can also create some problems that won’t be seen until the photo is taken. There is nothing so disappointing as capturing that perfect moment only to find that the flash on your camera ruined the shot. Might be a reflection, a strange glare, red eye or weird shadow. And because the light is not seen until the brief moment of the actual shot, you won’t notice these things until it is too late.

5 of these common problems and how to avoid them are listed in this article and will help you avoid those disappointing flash photos.


Flash Photography – How to Avoid 5 Common Problems

Whether the flash on your camera is built-in or a separate unit, you use it to provide enough light on your subject to take a good photograph. When just starting out taking pictures with your camera, you will most likely encounter at least one of these problems when using your flash. This article provides you with at least one solution to each of these common problems.

1. Flash Glare behind subject: this is usually the result of taking a photo of your subject with a reflective surface, such as a mirror, window or polished surface, behind the subject. If it is not possible to move your subject, take the photo at an angle to the reflective surface so that the light from the flash does not reflect directly back at the camera.

2. Subject too far away: you must know the range of your flash to know just how far the light will effectively reach. On average, the maximum distance is about 15 feet. If your subject is any further away the photo will be dark. Also note that there is a minimum distance as well, usually about 2 feet. This explains why the photo you took at the concert had the head of the person in front of you over-exposed and the stage in relative darkness.

3. Red-eye: the light from the flash reflects off the retina in the eyes of your subject causing them to appear red in the photo. Many cameras have a red-eye reduction feature that fires the flash once to make the pupils of the eyes close more and then fires again when the photo is taken a second later. If you do not have this feature or dont wish to use it, simply have your subject look slightly away from the camera.

4. Glare on Glasses: if your subject wears glasses and prefers to leavethem on, you can effectively eliminate the glare by having them tilt their glasses down slightly.

5. Shadows: if your subject is standing close to a wall, the flash may cause a dark shadow to appear as a halo around your subject. If possible, have your subject move away from the wall. If this is not possible and you can adjust the angle of the flash, bounce the flash off a reflective surface – a light colored wall or ceiling will do. The light from the flash is more diffuse and will reduce or eliminate the dark halo.

For more useful tips and information on photography, visit the photography tips website.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com  

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Guest Photographers

Black and White Portrait Photography: Made Easy

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There is something very special about a black and white portrait. In this age of digital cameras we can easily overlook other means of creating fine photos.

Yes, you can create B&W images with a digital camera, but many photographers still enjoy using their film cameras also.

This article will give you some great pointers on shooting portraits with black and white film…


Article: Black and White Portrait Photography: Made Easy
by Guest Photographer: Roger Lewis

When I started out as a young photographer back in the sixty’s, just about all images in advertising were shot in Black and White and we use to work mostly with large view cameras sizes 5×4 inch, half plate, whole plate and 10×8 inch, using B/W sheet film made by Kodak and Ilford.

We also use to shoot with Medium Format cameras such as the “Hassleblad” SLR. and the “Rolleiflex” TLR, format size 6×6 cm. using Black and White film stock Ilford HP3 and HP4, also Kodak Tri X, 120 size roll film.

There were no Point and Shoot Digital Cameras or Compact cameras and color negative film was so expensive to buy and even more expensive to process and print, most times it just wasn’t used and the quality was poor.

Side Note: Just about all weddings back then, were shot in Black and White and with Medium Format cameras and haven’t you noticed to day just how exceptional it is to see a creative Wedding Photographer adding a few images in Black and White to his wedding shoot. In my opinion all weddings are made for Black and White photography, after all the Bride is in white and the Groom is in a dark suite.

How then did we shoot color images in the studio for advertising and fashion. We used exclusively Kodak Ektachrome sheet film. Around this time Kodak introduced Kodak Ektachrome to 120 size roll film and of course good old Kodachrome slide film had been around a while. The problem with making a print from a Kodachrome slide was it was very expensive and the quality left much to be desired. Meanwhile Kodak Ektachrome Sheet Film, was the only quality colour film available at the time and still is one of the best quality colour transparency films around to day.

So whats so special in shooting in Black and White, simply put, It’s just so refreshing to see an image that is not in bright and sometimes unnatural colors and the beauty of the image is in the tonal range from whites to blacks, which evokes a mood which is hard to capture when you look at bright colors.

For example if you shoot a Portrait Head Shot with a white or plain background, carefully lighting the subject, you are really only going to see a creation of an image whare the character or beauty of that person shows without confusing it with color.

So lets examine ways to shoot Black and White Portraits, Fashion or figure shots.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1. Film Camera. 35mm. SLR or Medium Format size 6x6cm.

2. Black and White film. Kodak T.Max 100 ASA. or Ilford HP4.

3. Soft-Box or Umbrella attachment for a Studio Flash.

4. Reflectors.

5. Tripod.

6. Model.

WHAT TO DO:

You have two choices for shooting you Model in Black and White, we will keep the details short as there will be other resources you can follow up with at the bottom of this page.

a) Studio: Setting up and working in your home studio, (or hired studio).

b)! Outdoors: Working outdoors on

a fine warm day.

STUDIO: Set up your flash with a soft-box or umbrella attachment, positioned to the side of your camera, approximately at a 45 degree angle to the subject.

Always work with a tripod, this is how the Pros do it and they know a thing or two!

Set up a large reflector the other side of the camera and fix a second light facing into the reflector as a bounce light to fill-in the shadow side of the model. I would be wise to have an additional small reflector below the models head to reflect light up under the models chin.

You may also require additional lights to light up the background and a clip light to clip the models hair.

Check your exposures by using a stand-in model. After some experimentation find the right balance and correct exposures my making these tests a day or two before you plan the actual shoot, so eliminating mistakes on the big day.

OUTDOORS: Now this is a whole lot simpler and just about anybody can produce great shots without the necessity of expensive studio flash equipment.

You will however, need a fine warm day and you will be working outside in the SHADOW of the building.

Seat your Model facing whare the majority of whare the light is coming from, making sure that the sun is not falling on the model.

Place a white card, size 1 meter by 70 cm. available at you local art store, behind the models head as a white background.

Then place two other white cards, one each side of the model, reflecting light back into the subjects face.

It’s also a good idea to have your model seated in front of a table on which you have also placed a white card. This lights up any shadows under the models chin.

The camera must be set on a tripod so you can then carefully control your image. Remember you are creating a beautiful picture, not taking snaps of your kids, be professional and you images will look professional also.

You can improvise setting up your background, I usually use the garden broom and rake… But do make sure that you support the reflectors and background with a strong tape in case of a sudden gust of wind.

Now you have just set up your DAYLIGHT STUDIO…

Find a good quality B/W Lab, yes they still exist, and it’s worth paying extra for this kind of work. Avoid taking you processing to the High St, 1 hour photo lab.

The results will astound you and y! ou will surely impress you model too.

With some persistence and experimentation, y ou

will prefect your own technique with the shots and soon start producing masterpieces.

By the way, the usual attention to the Models hair and make-up is also needed, keeping in mind that you don’t have to over do the make up for B/W photography.

While shooting your model with your Daylight Studio set-up, you can create some great images for your portfolio in the same way the great photographers of the past use to and in the way that all photography started out… Black and White…


To learn more about Studio Portrait Head Shots go here:Pro Portrait Head Shots

To learn more about Daylight Black and White Studio go here:Daylight Studio

Roger started his career in the early sixties at the tender age of 15 as an apprentice in a large London Ad/Fashion Studio. A few years late he became one of London’s youngest most successful Ad/Fashion photographers.

In the seventies he became freelance and took most of his clients with him. He retired recently but still carries out selective assignments. He also runs several websites, one of them is: Pro SECRETS of Money Making PHOTOGRAPHY

Roger also teaches and helps photographers and beginners with advice from his vast experiences in Ad/Fashion photography.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com  

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Guest Photographers

7 Tips for Shooting Great Digital Photos

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Shooting great photos happens by improving the photographer, not having a better camera. These tips are aimed at helping you see and take better photos.

Article : 7 Tips for Shooting Great Digital Photos
by Guest Photographer: Gary Hendricks

Do you have trouble shooting good digital photos? Perhaps you’ve been taking digital photos for some time, but never really got the beautiful shots you wanted. Maybe you somehow messed up the photos you took of important events, like your daughter’s birthday or your trip to Paris.

How do you begin to take good photos? Well, the first thing to remember is this: It’s the photographer that takes great photos, not the camera. Think about that for a minute. It’s true isn’t it?

I’ve seen some people take great photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera, while some take lousy shots with the most expensive SLR.

Fret not! Read these tips on shooting digital photos and apply them the next time you have a chance. Before long, you’ll be shooting photos like a pro!

1. Know Your Camera
Does this sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out there, come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with the device. You briefly flick through the hundred page camera manual and then never look at it again. Not a good idea! If you buy a digital camera, you owe it to yourself to understand its ins and outs. Learn how to control exposure, how to use different camera modes and how to use the flash. The knowledge you gain about the camera will be invaluable when you’re out in the field taking those special photos.

2. Learn to Control the Flash
One of the most important things you need to know about digital photography is to control the flash. Personally, I hate to rely on the automatic flash that comes with the digital camera. Depending on the situation, you need to switch off or switch on the flash.

For example, when taking outdoor photos, it is sometimes good to turn on the flash to illuminate the subject, especially if he or she is in the shade. On the other hand, you can also choose to turn off the flash when taking indoor shots. Sometimes, using the flash indoors will result in unnatural skin color and harsh glare in your photos.

3. Play with the Macro Mode
Almost all digital camera these days have a macro mode. This setting is ideal for taking close up shots of objects like flowers or insects. On my Canon PowerShot S500, it’s represented by a flower symbol. What you do is to pick a subject, turn on macro mode, then get as close to it as your camera will allow. Make sure you allow the camera to focus properly before depressing the shutter button fully.

4. Hold the Camera Level
A basic rule of photography is to hold the camera level. Since most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can use it to properly frame your shots. Next time you’re taking a shot, try to look for the horizontal lines and use them as guides. A good example is to make use of the horizon when you’re taking a photo of a sunset.

5. Use The Tripod
I recommend this tip to all budding photographers – camera tripods are an essential tool in your photography arsenal. When will you need a tripod? Well, it’s useful if you’re taking shots under low-light conditions or trying to capture fast moving objects. I like to use a tripod when taking night shots city streets, for example. Always try to look for a tripod that’s convenient to carry around. For personal use, you don’t need a huge one – just a simple compact one that’s easy to pack.

6. Play with the ISO Setting
I find the ISO setting in digital cameras very useful. The ISO setting of a essentially camera controls it’s sensitivity to light. If you’re taking a photo of a still object, like a flower, then always use a low ISO setting. It allows for a longer shutter speed and produces a cleaner image. If you’re shooting a moving object, like a baby playing with a toy, then a higher ISO setting of say 400 would be better. Do take note, however, that a higher ISO setting gives a faster shutter speed and requires less light. This will produce noiser photos.

7. Have Enough Memory Capacity
Just like you must have enough rolls of film when using traditional cameras, make sure you always have enough memory capacity in your digital camera. It’s terrible to be on a holiday taking great photos and suddenly realizing you’ve no memory space left. Here are some general guidelines for digital camera storage.

2 megapixel cameras – get at least a 64MB card
3 megapixel camera – get at least a 128MB card
4 megapixel camera – get at least a 256MB card
5 megapixel camera and above – get at least a 512MB or 1GB card

Conclusion
Whew. A pretty long article. I hope I’ve managed to give you some good tips on shooting great digital photos. Always remember what I said – while the latest and greatest digital cameras have amazing features, you still need a skilled photographer to take nice pictures. Apply the above tips to your everyday shooting and learn to be a better photographer.


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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Guest Photographers

Articles by Guest Photographers

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Photography is a popular hobby enjoyed by millions of photo enthusiasts around the world. Amateurs and professionals alike love to share their photos with others as well as pass along their knowledge of photography.

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