Digital Photography

Understanding the relationship between aperture and shutter speed will help you take full advantage of your DSLR allowing you to have more fun capturing photos. The aperture is the size of the whole in the diaphragm of the lens. It is possible to view this device when you look right square into the lens of the camera. The aperture diameter (size of the whole) is denoted by a sequence of f/numbers. Also on the DSLR’s digital screen will display the aperture size as well. The smaller the f/number, the larger the aperture (whole) and consequently the larger the f/number the smaller the aperture. Every time you widen up one step (f/5.6 to f/2.8), you allow in twice the amount of light. Reduce one step and you let in half the amount of light. For illustrations of the actual aperture in the lens and its relationship to the f/stop numbers, go to my site, the link is at the bottom.

O.K. so we know that aperture is the size of the opening in the lens that light enters, but how to apply it to capturing images? Photography is all about getting the correct quantity of light for a given picture. At f/22 which is a very small aperture, less light will be able to hit the image sensor compared to a picture taken at f/1.4 which is a very big opening. Keep in mind though that this is assuming the shutter is open for the same amount of time. But you can get the identical exposure at f/22 as you can get at f/1.4 by simply lowering the shutter speed which will cause the shutter to be open for more time allowing more light in. Aperture and shutter speed settings combined will allow a desired quantity of light to be exposed to the image sensor. Different combinations of f/stops and shutter speeds can achieve identical results in exposure. For example, f/8 at a shutter speed of 1/30 which will open the shutter for 1/30th of a second will result in the same exposure as f/16 (smaller hole) at a shutter speed of 1/8 (open longer that 1/30). This is known as equivalent exposure.

Knowing that you can get the same exposure values using different combinations of f/stop and shutter speeds is one thing. Knowing when to use them is something else. Just because you will be able to get the same exposure does not mean that your image results will be the same. This is where the "art" of photography comes in. Do you want a sharp image or some blur? Do you want everything possible in focus or just the subject? Once you decide the answers to these questions you can choose your settings for aperture and shutter speed.

… Aperture and Shutter Speed

After years of experience, wedding photographers learn to handle many different situations that come up. There are some issues, though, that are completely out of the hands of the photographer.

Bridezilla
It’s an unfortunate reality that some brides choose to have a bad attitude all day. They kill the joy of the wedding for themselves as well as everyone else attending. A wedding photographer cannot cure the condition of "bridezilla". A psychotherapist may be a better choice for curing this ailment.

The Weather
As great of a skill as it would be, nobody can change the weather. A good photographer can work around the weather, but warding off rain is not a reasonable expectation from a bride.

Grumpy Relatives
If grandpa has a bad attitude, don’t expect some your wedding day to be magic enough to transform him into all smiles. After a photographer has made reasonable effort to turn a frown into a smile for pictures, there comes a point where frowns have to stay as they are.

… 8 Problems a Wedding Photographer Can’t Fix

Many people love taking pictures and sometimes they are able to get a moving object to stay still on a photograph, but it is not always easy. Some have a natural talent for the amazing while others just like to take a picture of a moment in time for reference. Many admire the amazing eye those in the photography business have. They are able to see a glimpse of beauty in all objects that they are trying to capture on a two dimensional portrait. Many people love taking pictures and sometimes they are able to get a moving object to stay still on a photograph, but it is not always easy. Some have a natural talent for the amazing while others just like to take a picture of a moment in time for reference. It takes a lot of practice and sometimes film in order to get the desired picture from your in motion or motionless object.

While there are many reasons to take a photograph, some use their photographs in order to get portraits from photo for those who request them. At times it is very difficult for a person to sit enough for the artist to create custom portraits of them. Not all portraits are easy to create due to the subject. So when artists are asked to create dog portraits or other animal portraits the artist might want to request a photo of the subject. With some artist, you will find that they can take that photo and be creative with it. This will prevent having to keep the subject still long enough to create the drawing or trying to wait until your pet pose the way you want them to. There are many people who adore their pets and want to have something to display showing everyone how much they love their pets. So people will request their pets portraits to be created. Having portraits pets done for a person might make some people talk, but it do not matter to the owner. Their pet is sometimes as important as the other people that are in their household.

… Family Portraits – Hold a Place in Time

Taking pictures is by far the best way to keep a senior trip alive in your hearts for years to come. Documenting the amazing food, awe-inspiring landmarks and friendly faces can be one of the best parts of coming home.

Everyone loves to share their experiences during vacation, so sharing pictures has always been popular. Sharing pictures online is a new phenomenon, one that many seniors might be hesitant to try, but is actually simple to do!

The first piece of camera travel advice is to take pictures with a digital camera. This allows easy transfer of the pictures from your camera to the computer. Having your pictures on the computer will allow for easy organization and editing. Yes, YOU can edit your own pictures! Trust us when we say it’s not as hard as you think!

The next piece of travel advice is to use free stuff as much as possible! This continues when you get home and are trying to organize and edit your pictures. There are free online sites that can help organize your pictures. Some examples are

* Picasa.com
* Citrify.com
* FotoFlexer.com

… Senior Travel Advice – How to Edit Your Photos Online

The new canon PowerShot "S" Series is really a collection of compact digital dslrs. Canon S90 stands out as the recent release in this special series and replaces the popular S80. This efficient digital camera is definitely slim and light in styling. Therefore, it can travel together with you just where you decide to go.

Canon S90 has new and more efficient features that differentiate it from other little electronic cameras. Here are some of the best attributes that make this such an fantastic electronic digital camera:

10MP sensing unit that’s combined together with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor.

The S90’s brand new 10MP sensor is almost twice the proportions of others, creating a bigger area to catch light with a higher amount of sensitivity. The increased ISO speed gets to a maximum setting of ISO 3.200. You’ll get a noticeable reduction in both blurring and digital camera shakes that will give your photos extra sharpness and high quality.

The new Canon S90 includes a low light feature that permits you to take pictures in wide different conditions. The electronic camera quickly sets the ISO speed from ISO 320 to ISO 12,800 based on the background lighting, movements and camera shake.

… New Canon S90 With Spectacular Functions

Every day, thousands of people use the internet to search for photo on canvas prints. They type words that describe what they are looking for into search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing as well as many others. There are many different reasons that people search for canvas prints but most of these reasons can be split into one of two groups; People looking to transfer family portraits or pictures onto canvas or people seeking a photo on canvas to be given as a unique gift. Whatever the motive for the search, many are looking for the exact same thing. They simply want a great looking, high quality canvas print which will last and won’t cost the earth.

One will encounter, of course, both positive and negative experiences when buying photo on canvas prints. Mainly because, as with many other products sold today, the market place is being inundated by cheap suppliers selling poor quality products.

The easiest way to refrain from having a negative experience is to equip yourself with a little knowledge first. The most important thing to remember is that not all canvas prints are identical. The finish of the print will vary significantly from company to company and with the present economic climate, an increasing amount of low cost, sub-standard print sellers are emerging, so beware! This is making it increasingly more challenging for casual photographers (and even skilled photographers like myself) to know who to trust when wanting to buy a photo on canvas print.

So how do you find out whether or not the company you choose will do a good job? From my experience, following the below tips should help you find a reliable vendor who will provide you with a wonderful looking print that will last for years.

… Photo on Canvas Prints – A Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing a Quality Print

Like anything new, it can be a challenge learning to use a digital camera. There is no longer the focus and press the button like with a film camera. You have to learn to focus the images on the camera’s display screen, take the picture and then save it to your memory card for downloading to your computer. All of that sounds easy, and for most people it is easy, but if you begin with a more sophisticated digital camera, it may take longer to learn. It is much better to start with something not quite as complex and upgrade from there.

The first method you want to utilize to learn how to use a digital camera is to read the instruction manual for your camera. You will find not only all of the camera’s functions but also how to use each one and where pertinent buttons are. Instead of trying to find things blindly reading the manual will give you a clear picture where to find everything you need and how to use each of the features. Having a clear idea of what you are doing before you begin will help you learn your camera quickly and without as much frustration as you would encounter if you tried to figure out everything about the camera on your own.

Once you have read your instruction manual you will have a good understanding of the features on the camera, how to use them and where to find everything you want to practice. Before you begin taking any pictures that might be important to you, practice taking plenty of pictures with your digital camera. By practicing before you are ready to take pictures at an important event, you will have assurance you will know how to use the camera when you really need it. One of the nice things about a digital camera is if your pictures do not come out right you can delete them and start again.

… Learn to Use a Digital Camera the Easy Way

Have you ever looked out of the window of an airplane? Now you would wonder why I am asking this strange question. Have you looked out of an airplane window and remarked about the beauty. Have you ever wanted to capture those moments? Well now you can capture those memories. Here are a few tips for taking digital photography form the airplane.

A common mistake that people make when taking shots from the camera is to put the lens of the camera right against the window pane of the airplane. We normally do this hoping that it will cut down on the reflections. People also do this to take a steady shot. Now, resting your camera on the window pane might help you to decrease the reflection but it will never help in taking a steady shot. If you rest the camera on window pane the camera will shake a lot more owing to the vibrations of the airplane.

If you are using a DSLR with fitted lens what you can do is that attach the lens hood to the lens. This way you will get closer to the window without really touching it. This is the best strategy to take a beautiful picture. Now, use your free hand to cup the lens, this way you will be able to protect it from the reflections. Now the best way to take an aerial shot is to shoot from an open window from a proper altitude. But since most of us cannot do it, the next best option is to shoot from the window of an airplane.

… 5 Tips For Taking Digital Photography From the Airplane

How do you rate 70-200mm Canon Lenses? Is there one most unbelievable lens in this category?

This question is the topic of many a debate. Photo enthusiasts have been discussing this question for years, probably since right after the second 70-200mm lens was produced.

Before we get into the meat of the discourse, let’s clear up one vital issue. A 70-200mm lens is a essential part of each and every serious photographer’s photo bag. After buying your digital SLR camera and a general walk around lens, this should be the very next lens you get. It covers some valuable real estate with regard to focal range.

It can be used for a wide range of photography types, from close-up to street photography to nature photography, and even portraits. The lens is a real multi-tasker.

In fact, since many photographers prefer to use the 100mm focal length for their portrait work, this is the favored lens of many professionals for that task.

So, is there one that really is the best?

Still, before getting to that, critics agree on two benefits that apply to all the lenses mentioned here. The first benefit is superior image quality – they are all virtually the same on that point. And the second is the HSM (hypersonic motor) feature that provides really fast focus speeds.

… 70-200mm Canon Lens – Which One is Best?

The Afghan girl featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985 captured the attention of a generation. Her eyes in that portrait told a haunting story that photographer Steve McCurry admits was never actually premeditated. "I didn’t think the photograph of the girl would be different from anything else I shot that day," he says in a follow up National Geographic article, a Life Revealed.

It is something about the strikingness of the eyes and the emotion of the subject that can really make a portrait stand out. Like McCurry, some of your portrait photography success will be attributed to luck, but you can also take on board these tips to capture poignant portraits:

Plan – for a portrait shoot, scour your surroundings and plan your shot before you set up your subject. Look for a plain background to shoot against for close-up head shots. Meanwhile, a simple setting with some interesting lines will be good for full length poses but be sure that the surroundings don’t detract from your subject matter.

… Your Portraits Should Tell a Story – How to Take Great Portrait Shots