Photography Tips Guide

Posts Tagged ‘Digital’

My husband wants to take pictures at our sons’ baseball and soccer games – he wants to be able to point and shoot. We have a My husband wants to take pictures at our sons’ baseball and soccer games – he wants to be able to point and shoot. We have a Canon PowerShot Elph and we can get pretty decent pics but the shutter lag is a pain. And since it’s 4 years old I’m guessing there is some better technology now….What’s a step up for us in the digital world but not into SLRs?

I am looking for the best place to upload my photos and get high quality prints made from them. I have tried a couple of the Kodak places and got not-so-very-good results.
I am looking for good quality in multiple sizes up to 8 X 10. I am shooting with a 10.1 mp DSLR, if that helps!
Any recommendations?

i’m comparing images from my digital vs. photos from my 35mm, and must say that i prefer the 35mm images.
from an artistic point of view and a professional point of view, which provides the best image?
as far as being convenient, digital is a slam dunk. but please consider the actual image quality and not the advantages of digital.
thanks so much!

Nature photography relies on your sensitivity to the natural light above all else. You have surely heard that for good landscape photography, you generally want sunny conditions, early or late in the day when the light is low and soft. However, this does not apply to every situation, and busy lifestyles do not always allow us to choose the conditions in which we take our photos.

Have you ever planned and set aside a day to get out and practice your nature photography, only to wake up to grey, cloudy skies? You are not alone, this happens to us all; professional and beginner alike. And of course when you are traveling, you often only have one chance to take your photos before moving on, so you have to make the best of the situation as you find it.

Photographers, don’t despair. There are many situations that suit cloudy skies just fine; in fact, there are some situations when cloudy skies are the best option for a good nature photo. Here are just a few situations that you could explore when cloudy weather threatens to derail your photography outing.

#1. Rainforest Photography. When the sun shines through the trees in the forest, it creates a patchwork of light and shade that makes correct exposure almost impossible. You simply can’t manage the contrast in these conditions. Cloudy weather is actually the best way to take good rainforest photos. Some would say the cloudier the better, because if your rainforest is high enough to be in the clouds, you can capture some very atmospheric misty effects in the forest.

I live in South East Queensland, so I am close to both the beach and some fabulous rainforest. My rule is: If it’s sunny, go to the beach. If the weather is grey and cloudy, grab your camera and head for the rainforest.

#2. Wildlife Photography (Pets and People Too). Bright sunlight can be a problem when shooting wildlife. In the middle part of the day, the sun can create heavy shadows which make exposure difficult, and rob your photo of essential colour and detail that gives the subject its character. Worst of all, sunlight can create shadows on the face of your subject. As you know, the critical part of any good wildlife photo is the eyes. If the eyes in your photo are lost in shadow, the personal connection with the subject is lost.

Animals do not like looking into the sun any more than you do, so even early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the light is softer, photography can be difficult. More often than not, you will probably find your subject turning away from the light.

If you take your photo on a cloudy day, you can capture your wildlife subject in soft, even light that allows perfect exposure without ugly shadows. There will also be less glare reflecting off shiny surfaces (a snake’s skin, a bird’s feathers etc.) so your picture can actually appear more colourful.

#3. Sunset Photography. Clouds create a much more interesting sunset photo than clear skies. All you need is for the sun to break through the clouds as they cross the horizon. A good nature photographer learns to read the sky and try to predict what is coming. Often on a grey, cloudy day you will notice that the only patch of clear sky is far away near the horizon. If that is the case, you can go looking for a good location and set up for your sunset photo.

With a bit of luck, there will be several breaks in the clouds before the sun goes down. If so, you could be on the spot to photograph spectacular sunbeams, a truly wonderful effect that every nature photography hopes to capture.

Like all things in nature photography, all the planning in the world means nothing without a bit of luck. You may get your photo all set up, only to see the gap in the clouds close and your chance of a good photo disappear. Persistence wins in the end, so keep trying and from time to time you will end up with some breathtaking sunset photos.

I hope these tips encourage you to get out and enjoy your photography, no matter what the weather is like. As your experience grows, you will find it easier to read the light and know what sort of photography suits the conditions. Until then, practice, practice, practice!

Okay, so I just got my money back from a warranty from my old camera, which got messed up while I was on vacation, and I’m looking to buy a new camera. I’m comparing these two and hoping that someone could tell me which would be better for me based on what I’ll use it for. I mostly do nature photography and take pictures of my friends. Here are the two cameras I’m looking at.http://exilim.casio.com/products_exs12.s…
I was thinking of getting another Exilim to replace my older model of Exilim. I like the interface it has as well as the best shot mode and the fact that it’s compact and easy to carry around with me everywhere I go.
This is the other camera I’ve been looking at, which I got to play with at Costco the other day.http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/…
I was impressed by the zoom and the fact that I could take clear pictures of people clear at the other end of the store, as well as the fact that it’s got a wide angle to it. The only con I can think of is that it’s kinda bulky and not as easy to carry around.
Any insight is appreciated, especially if you’re a pro or have used either of these cameras before. I’m leaning toward the Nikon, but haven’t quite finalized by decision yet and want to see what more photographers think.