Online Photography Courses

By Christopher William Martin

The Rule of Thirds

Have you ever heard of the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a way of looking at a photo. If any of you have any experience in Art you may be familiar with something similar. Imagine that from top to bottom and left to right of your view finder or display there is three equal lines horizontally and three equal lines vertically splitting your view into sectors like a map or a simple jigsaw puzzle. Some modern digital cameras may have a function build to view this but it is best to get to grips with it and not relying on the camera to do it for you. The purpose of this rule is to help you stop and think more about what you are going to take, as well as helping with composing the result you want.

Points of Focus

Think about in which section you want your main point of focus to be. Generally pick out a point where a horizontal and vertical line would intersect these are strong places for your eyes to catch, since our eyes do not stay focused in the centre of where we look they dart around and these points are good for catching attention because of this. Work from your chosen point positioning the camera and objects within each section. Try to fit something new in each section of the photo this doesn’t have to be a full object could be a tiny change of colour.

Stop!

That’s right stop! Once you are confident that you have the photo that you want stop, Take a moment to look over what is in your photo before you take it. Go through each section and make sure there is nothing to spoil the setting you have created. If you are taking a landscape photo double check for bits of litter or small spoilers and half cut objects, if these are unwanted. If you are taking a portrait photo then double check for no flying bits of hair or unwanted body crops.

Taking the photo

Now that you are definitely ready to take the photo you want take more than 1 shot without changing the position. Take more than one? Yes take more than one of the same subject, in the same position but a little differently. take a few shots with different camera settings. Some darker and some lighter than the original photo this gives you a wide selection to pick from later if your not pleased with the lighting of the first. In a future article I will talk about different techniques and software to improve creativity by using more then 1 photo with different light exposures so it will be useful to start getting into the habit of doing so.

Are you serious?!

Yes I am serious now that you have learnt a little about the Rule of Thirds I want you to start breaking this rule ignore the lines, pretend they do not exist. As photographers we should not be condemned to follow rules. Think of it more as a guide line than a rule it is useful for thinking about a photo and composing but never be stuck inside those lines feel free to use your imagination.

And Remember “You don’t take a photo, You make a photo!”

Ask Yourself – Are You a Stand Up Clicker?

If you are the kind of person who stands up straight with their cameras out at arms length looking at an LCD screen clicking away photos of everything you see, ask yourself, are you serious about developing your skills as a photographer? If you are serious about wanting to develop your skills and passion for photography you need to get out of this habit right away. Understand that developing yourself as a photographer takes work and a lot of self learning. Keeping your camera at the average eye level of a human brings nothing new to your perception. Try to take different shots of the same subjects but from different areas and compare the out come. Get used to the idea of being down on a knee or lying on the ground or even just getting up a bit higher over a subject rather then straight on you’ll be amazed how the world changes perspective at a slight repositioning, think about the term “one has to suffer for their art”. Just remember to try different things in photography and have fun, try abnormal positions like take a photo up the end of a building looking at the sky rather than straight into the front of it. Stand on a chair over a portrait subject or lie down beside them, don’t make your model do all the work show you are willing to work with them. If you have to get real muddy and wet to get that great photo you want do it! You will feel much better about yourself and your photography knowing how much effort you put into to taking something special. Almost always your photos will reflect how much hard you have put into them.

Remember, Remember

Remember nobody can tell you what is the right and wrong way to do in photography as everybody percepts the world in a different manner. you wont go to jail for holding your camera diagonally or in any other position, other photographers and friends may critic and dislike what you take but in the end photography is about what you are proud of not anyone else so don’t let others discourage you, unless of course you are being paid to take a photo a certain way for someone. Photography is a infinite learning experience even those with years behind them and a masters degree learn new things about photography as time goes by so don’t be discouraged if you keep finding out new things. Read all that you can and all that you want about photography tips and techniques are good to use and learn but try to develop your own style of taking photos.

Opportunity, Opportunity, Opportunity

Start to think like an opportunist, try to see objects and places of interest as subjects of learning. Everything you see before you is a photographic learning experience that “boring looking chair” or that “old wooden door” all have something to learn from taking photos of these and other objects or scenes you find useless or not of interest bring more knowledge of how shadows will fall or how certain shapes will come out in your photos. Don’t think of photos as just “something nice to look at” we all have those terribly bad photos but you learn from these, In fact, try going out your way to take bad photos just for the learning experience and to get then out your way of creative flow, It is better to take a bad photo than not one at all, what do you have to learn then?

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Simply speaking, exposure is the amount of light reaching the sensor or film. It is generally controlled by the aperture size and shutter speed. The quantity of light necessary for a “proper” exposure depends on the sensitivity, measured in ISO ratings.

Latest cameras generally have advanced built-in meters often linked with the camera’s computer, which can analyze multiple readings in various areas of the frame to calculate exposure. These meters are very accurate and will produce a good exposure in most situations. Digital cameras have the added advantage of allowing you to preview the captured photo and its histogram to validate the exposure and make adjustments while still in the field.

Before delving into modern tools, it is worth observing the various types of meters available, as well as exposure methods developed before they became part and parcel of the camera.

Metering is the measurement of light in order to determine the correct exposure. We already mentioned the camera’s internal meter, which is also known as a through-the-lens meter, or TTL. These meters have the advantage of seeing the exact scene the camera will capture and the quantity of light coming through the lens. This allows them to account for any light missing due to filters, extension, or other factors. TTL meters are a specialized type of reflected light meter, meaning they measure the amount of light reflected at them from the scene. This method of metering is generally accurate, though it may be fooled by an object’s color. For example, a brightly colored object may lead the meter to think there is more light reflected than is actually needed to properly expose the scene, resulting in under-exposure.

Light meters come in hand-held varieties as well. Some of these are also reflected light meters (particularly, spot meters, which measure the light reflected off a very small area, usually about one degree), while others are ambient light meters, which can be placed at the scene or in areas that receive similar light to it and measure the quantity of ambient light falling on them. These meters will not be fooled by subject color and can also be used to accurately measure exposure for artificial lighting such as flash units or studio lights, though they are not as easy to use in the field and are more popular in studios.

Despite some manufacturers’ campaigns to promote hand-held meters for use in digital photo, there really is very little value they can add for landscape picture masters who rely on available light and can review an exposure on the camera’s screen and correct on the spot as needed. An interesting tidbit is that hand-held meters are usually very well calibrated to produce accurate results at a given ISO setting. Sadly, this does not work in their favor for digital photography because the declared ISO ratings on most digital cameras can be off by a substantial amount (e.g., a setting of ISO 100 may in reality be closer to ISO 80 or ISO 120).

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By Patricia Faulhaber-Digital Photography Success Review

Missing a pictureis like missing a moment in time. To ensure the best digital photo, have the camera ready on standard settings at all times.

Digital cameras can really perform photographic magic. Digital photographers can really enjoy some of the freedoms that digital provides and spend more time thinking about and framing the shot.

While many digital cameras are point-and-shoot involving little technical tweaking, knowing more about the technical side will better ensure that the perfect shot is taken every time. Most of the settings below are found on DSLR cameras – a few do apply to point-and-shoot.

Digital Camera Settings

Regardless of the type of photography practiced, be it landscape, portrait or pet, there are some photo opportunities that require fast response time. To ensure that the camera is ready for the surprise opportunities, find a set of settings for your camera to call the standards. Leave the camera set in the standards during the down times. When the settings are changed for special circumstances, always immediately return the camera to the standard settings.

Determine the standards the first day the camera is used – write them down – carry them in the camera bag –reset the camera if needed to the standards before putting the camera back in the bag.

A good example is to leave the camera set at single-shot autofocus at all times. When needed change to manual focus – take the picture or pictures – immediately put back on the autofocus.

Other standards might include presetting:

* Aperture
* Density
* White balance
* Red eye reduction
* Auto flash
* Exposure

Digital Photos – Ready, Aim, Shoot

There are so many advantages to keeping the camera in ready, aim and shoot mode. First, as a beginner gets more comfortable with the digital camera, the technical aspects of photography will emerge and will eventually become second nature. Until that happens and possibly way beyond, taking away the worry of figuring out which autofocus to have on or which aperture setting is the best, will reduce the anxiety and increase the pleasure of the hobby.

With the feature-packed photo correcting software available today, many first time digital camera users just take the picture regardless of the settings. It is still better to get the best photo possible using the camera than it is to correct that shot later with software.

One other aspect of the ready, aim shoot mode is to make sure the camera has a fully charged battery in it at all times. It is a good idea to buy an extra battery for the camera. When a photo session is over, put the used battery on a charger and put the backup fully charged battery in the camera for the next time.

Get the Best Digital Photo

Many beginners – and quite a few of the seasoned – digital photographers will share tales of having the best picture present itself and when they went to use the camera, the settings were way off and all they got was darkness of an out of focus subject.

Keep the satisfaction levels and the confidence of getting that best shot by keeping the camera ready at all times.

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With digital cameras, anybody can bring clean, sharp images. Here are five key points to pay awareness to if you would like your photographs to stand out from the crowd.

Though digital cameras have produced photography more accessible to persons, they have also reduced the gap between critical photographers and casual clickers. To develop images that rise above the sameness and grab attention, keep in mind these five suggestions at all times.

Digital Photography Tip One: Watch the Illumination

Photography is all about painting with lighting. Yes, the camera will bring pics even within the glare of the midday sun, compensate with automated features like white balance, and produce a flat, washed out picture. Stay away from shooting in such conditions. Wait for the sun to go behind a cloud. Or wait till the sun sinks lower, casting that much more appealing golden glow as the shadows lengthen.

Understand to look for subtle shifts in light, and study the effects on objects around. Your pictures will enhance vastly with awareness to and being familiar with of light.

Digital Photography Tip Two: Realize Aperture and Level of Discipline

Next to light, probably the most critical aspect of a photo is the subject. To develop a dramatic focal point, skilled photographers use aperture and depth of field to manipulate light, and regulate which part of the picture will be in sharp emphasis, and which is going to be blurred.

The aperture setting controls how much lighting is going to be let in, and this in turns controls depth of field. A smaller aperture quantity translates into much more brightness plus a shallower depth of field, in order that only the topic is in sharp focus and nearly everything in front of and behind that plane are going to be blurred ( for example, in case you use an aperture of 5.6). A larger aperture amount translates into much less brightness and greater depth of field, which indicates additional on the area is in focus ( in the event you use an aperture of say, 22).

Digital Photography Hint Three: Comprehend Shutter Speed and Freezing of Motion

Shutter speed controls the length of time that the shutter will probably be open, and consequently also controls the quantity of light allow in. Shutter speed is defined in fractions of the second. The larger the denominator, the more quickly the shutter speed, and lower the level of light that is allowed in. Swifter shutter speeds also serve to freeze moving subjects, and are typically utilized for this purpose.

Shutter speed works in combination with aperture to command the total number of light let in. Thus, there’s an inverse relationship involving the two. In bright brightness circumstances, in the event you need to have to use a large aperture and shallow depth of field to blur all however the focal topic, then shutter speed will must swifter, to minimize the total volume of brightness.

Digital Photography Idea Four: Realizing and Employing ISO to Benefits

ISO (or ASA) traditionally defines the pace of movie. The cheaper the number, the slower the film, and slow movie needed far more lighting to shoot acceptable pics. The increased ISO numbers, like 400 and above, were utilized rarely, for reduced illumination circumstances.

The distinctive benefit of digital photography could be the auto ISO setting. Even though earlier film photographers employed the trick of manipulating film speeds by a couple of stops in processing, the auto setting in digital cameras makes it really versatile in minimal brightness circumstances. Automatic ISO settings go to as much as 1600, resulting in pictures in situations where film cameras would have been put away mainly because the brightness was as well lower to take photos with no making use of a flash.

Digital Photography Tip Five: Being familiar with Composition

The distinction concerning two images of the same subject matter could be the eye from the individual who shoots the photograph. Applying all in the ideas mentioned above; aperture to control depth of field, shutter speed to freeze or allow motion, ISO to utilize very low lighting to dramatic advantages, an excellent photographer will compose a picture in this kind of a way that it showcases his or her exclusive view point of the image. You will discover several rules to composition like the rule of thirds, however the most crucial will be the special eye that you simply, as an artist, see the image with.

Practice keeping in thoughts these five tips, and your enhanced being familiar with on the science of images will strengthen your art, whether your interest is in people, studio or travel photography.

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Most people getting married these days are spending a fortune on hiring the expertise of professional photographers to to photograph there big day. Hopefully with the few digital photography tricks below i can help you also to capture great wedding day pictures that will save you money.

More people than ever are using digital cameras to take pictures on there wedding day. There are many reasons for this including the fact that the digital quality is a lot better compared to the traditional camera.
Another reason is that the photographs can be stored and shared in online albums so that your friends and family can access them online. Globally your friends or family around the world that couldn’t make it home for your big day can also share in your special moment.

Below are some digital photography tips to help you get great pictures on your wedding day.

1. Background.

Choosing the correct background can make the picture special. If you are taking the photographs at the wedding then arrive before the guests and take a look around. Check to see if there are any nice flower arrangements or decorations in the church that would make a nice background.
Take a walk in the close area of the church to see if there’s a river or forest that would create a nice background.

When taking the wedding photographs don’t stand in the same location you can move around and still use the same background. It will give the photographs a different angle and perspective. A good photographer can sometimes make the simplest background look great just by changing the angle.

2. Timing

Well I’ll call this point timing but it could also be called luck sometimes. This really is what people call a candid moment, where people are un-aware that you are taking a picture. This catches people acting natural and gives a warm and non staged feeling to the photo.
Sometimes its just nice to have people acting normal and unaware in a wedding photograph album. Whether its chatting, dancing or being caught pulling a funny face, remember that all the pictures don’t have to be the staged kind with people smiling and staging at the camera lens

3. Glass

Always be on the look out for reflections from glass at weddings. We all know about crystal vases for flower displays, large windows in reception halls and wine glasses, which can all make a mess of photographs.On a sunny wedding day always make sure to check for light being reflected from glass especially at the all important toasts.
If you are having problems with light reflection then try changing your angle, either by looking sideways or downwards at the reflecting object.

4. Preparation

Your at a wedding which will be one of the most important days of a couples life. Make sure that you have a spare memory card so you don’t run out of space and spare batteries in case the ones in the camera run out. Even turning up late or at the wrong reception is a no-no.
Always try and think ahead and bring spares for anything that can go wrong especially batteries. Make a list and be prepared. Your reputation as well as the couples big day is on the line.

I hope that these few basic digital photography tips will help you the next time your at a wedding.

If you would like to read some more digital photography tips like the ones mentioned in this article, you can do so here: digital photography tips

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Most people will just walk into an electrical shop and lift a digital camera off the shelf with out looking into the few basic digital photography tricks that can help them get started. Next they will arrive home with there new camera, open the box and starting taking photographs of anything without learning about the camera.If time is taken at the start to learn these digital photography tips then it will pay off for you later.

The most important thing to before you take any pictures at all is to familiarize yourself with the camera by reading the users manual. Most digital cameras have the same workings in theory but the modes and buttons might work differently. Some cameras might have extra settings or gadgets that will be helpful to you.

The next thing that you should do is practice holding the camera for when you start taking photographs. Hold the camera firmly in both hands and make sure that you have no fingers sticking in front of the lens impeding your shot. Get comfortable with handling and firmly holding the camera.

My next recommendation would be to fix the small strap that comes with your camera onto it. Always use this small strap when removing your camera from its case or when taking photos. Always rap the strap around your hand or arm to avoid dropping the camera. How many times have you seen people on holidays or at weddings dropping cameras. Someone just might bump or push into you. A digital camera can be expensive so your just better being safe.

The next point would be to get your camera out and practice using it. Become familiar with the modes and settings of the camera. Set up a flower on a chair and take a few of the same shots of it using the different settings and modes on your camera. Then upload the shots onto your computer and try and match the different settings used with the photos relevant. Some settings will give you more red in your shot which will make the photo seem warmer, another setting might give you more yellow in the picture which will make it appear brighter. Getting to know the varying modes and settings on your camera will help you to know which to use when faced with varying situations ahead.

Practice when used with a certain degree of knowledge will have you taking great pictures and I hope you get some use out of the basic digital photography tips explained above.

If you would like to read more basic digital photography tips that can help get you started then check out: basic digital photography tips

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Here i will layout a few digital photography tips that will help most beginners start off in the world of digital photography. Digital photography itself can be a big step forward from the old style photography which some people would know. Hopefully these few tips will help you be feel at home with your new camera.

Firstly starting off always read your users manual, this sounds stupid but its surprising to know that most people will throw there’s out and never read it.
The users manual will tell you all you need to know about the camera itself and the functions and different settings available on the camera.
Most importantly it will tell you how long to charge your camera battery for at the beginning before you used the camera at all. If you don’t charge the camera battery for the full period on the first charge you might not get the the proper life time from the battery when in use.
Another note i would like to add on the battery issue is never leave your camera lying for long periods with the battery still in it. If its not in use for long periods then remove the battery. Don’t take the risk of damage.

My second tip would be to check around your local area or town to see if there is a local camera club. Check with your local college to see if they have a camera club, if they run photography courses then they should have one . It will defiantly help to be able to ask people questions one to one and get peoples answers and opinions. Sometimes they will have talks or competitions which will give you new ideas and you will learn to use your camera in different ways.
Learning the basics of camera use is very important because a digital camera can be expensive depending on the camera specification. There’s not point paying big money for a high specification camera when you don’t know what most of the camera settings are for.

When you have read the users manual and properly charged and installed the battery, your ready to start taking photographs. Most new digital photographers at this stage will just grab the camera and start snapping away. Remember its the same as all photography you must hold your camera steady and push the shoot button gently.
Sometimes digital cameras can be small and feel very light when your handling them, but you must still hold them steady when taking photographs. Its a pain when you find that one off picture scene and you see after its taking that you shook the camera. This will not be as important with buildings or landscape photographs as you can re take them over a few times and just delete the ones you don’t want.

I hope these few basic digital photography tips will help when starting out, and hopefully you will have no problem taking great photographs.

If you would like to read some more digital photography tips and tricks like ones mentioned in this article, you can do so here: digital photography tricks

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If you love night time photography, then the 1Ds iii is for you. The Canon 1Ds iii is nothing short of a rockstar whilst the sunlight goes down as well as the lights (or lack thereof) transport on the night.

Canon has a history of making cameras that operate well under low light and the 1Ds iii is no exemption. With it’s high ISO capabilities at 3200, you will be amazed at this bad boy of low light giving you images with real colors as well as virtually no noise.

Along with the use of a first-class strong in addition to sturdy tripod (the body weighs 42.5 oz), the 1Ds iii will make you fall in love yet again with night time photography. Use your customized settings as well as set up your gear over city lights, over a bridge on a full moon, or out in the starry desert, what the 1Ds iii will produce for you will want to make you a night owl and shoot all night long.

Speaking of low light as well as the its better performance in such situations, the 1Ds iii is also the ideal DSLR for night time sporting events. Canon’s Mark series DSLRs are the top choice of most sport’s photographers around the globe, whether it be Cricket in India, the Super Bowl in America, or European futbol, the 1Ds Mark series dominated the field.

So you don’t have court side seating at the next Laker/Celtic show? That doesn’t mean you can not use this remarkable piece of equipment at your kids AYSO match or Little League game. Never again, miss a shot of your child tearing down the field since your point in addition to shoot can’t focus in or appropriately zoom. Armed with a zoom lens, your 1Ds iii will amaze you in its lightning quick focusing and burst shutter speeds. Taking pictures up to 5 frames per second (fps) with up to 45 jpeg shots, you can rest confident that you without a doubt captured your first born sinking a 3 pointer, tackling the quarterback, or juking the goalie to score the game winner. The 1Ds will do that for you. And more.

Is your child’s Little League game at night? No setback, when stated before, the 1Ds iii is beyond well suited for night time sports.
Though comparing Major League lighting conditions to those of a Little League game in Small Town USA is not exactly nearly the same, the 1Ds iii will surprise you in its capability. Unlike all the parents stretching out their arms with less than able point and shoots trying to capture their young one in a sporting moment, you will be outputting images with bold colors as well as rich detail, while the rest retreat home with fuzzy and noisy shots that will go immediately to the recycling bin.

Night time photography has most always been around, the launch of digital cameras saw a drastic need in improvement in this field while images shot after dusk or low light were horribly noisy as well as fuzzy. it should come to no surprise that Canon frog leaped the opposition in improving low light technology in their cameras, particularly in their DSLRs as well as the 1Ds iii is the king
For more information about the Canon 1Ds Mark III please visit us at www.1dsiii.com

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