 Sandy's Tips
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 General
Photography:
Photography is a a visual history of a society its people,
events and ways of life. Taking the image is always of primary
importance but the quality of the image allows the viewer a
better understanding of the subject. Taking good pictures enhances the memories and
highlights those events we cherish. Being a good photographer
involves a reliable camera, an understanding of its controls, a
keen "artistic eye" and a timing of being in the right place at
the right time. |
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Record Keeping:
Keep a record of your picture taking. When you have
finished, develop you pictures and compare them with your notes. Keep a
mental note of the pictures and the settings so that you will not repeat
your mistakes. The best thing about digital cameras is that you can see
your images instantly and delete the disappointing pictures. |
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Camera Storage:
During the summer months never leave your camera
or film in the car. The infrared will ruin your film and the heat in buildup
can damage your camera. Rule of thumb if it can melt a candy bar it will
hurt your film! During the winter try to keep your camera with you to avoid
extreme cold. Buy a gadget bag to protect your camera from heat, cold,
jarring and moisture. |
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Lens Cover:
Buy a lens cover and a UV protector. Have
it on your lens. It is far cheaper to replace them than a new lens. |
| Camera Label:
A good idea would be for you to put your name
and address on your camera and your camera bag. If you happen to leave
it somewhere you might just find a good Samaritan that just might return
it to you. |
| Background: Check the background before you start shooting.
Check the entire view finder from one end to the other. Often there are
distracting people, cars, trees and buildings etc, that will make your
picture less than appealing. Wait till the distraction has moved or move
your subject to a better location. You will find that your picture will
have a professional look. |
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Battery:
Check your camera's batteries often especially
if you are taking pictures with a digital camera. Digital camera's are
power hogs and need to be checked after you shoot 200+ pictures. 35 mm
cameras need to be checked at least once a year. I recommend Christmas
since that is when most pictures are shot! |
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Strap:
Use the strap supplied by the manufacturer or buy
one that is strong and comfortable. Without a strap you could easily
drop the camera and the cost of replacement or repair could be
substantial. |
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General Photography Tips |
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General Photo Tips |
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General photography tips - fotix.net |
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HP Digital Photography Center |
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Photography Tips by Steve |
 Baby
Picture:
Some of the most remarkable pictures ever
shot are those of babies. Their natural features and spontaneity makes them
natural subjects. Emotions are shown freely and openly.
They can be restless and
uncontrollable but with skill, patience and understanding
you can create pictures that will bring smiles to
the family and friends. You may have to wait till after their nap, meal or
burp but a great picture is always possible. Shoot freely over the years, for a baby grows rapidly and the moments
can be lost forever! It is impossible to reshot once they are grown. Click here
to order an album. |
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The Eyes: Center your lens on the baby's eyes.
This is the seat of all expression. |
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Help:
Get someone whom the baby trusts to get
them to smile or coo. Those are priceless pictures. |
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Set-Up:
Don't try to prop a very young
baby up on pillows or other objects. You will find the baby looks very
un-natural. |
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Communication:
Try to get the baby to relax by using a
soft voice and a gentle touch. Yelling and using a firm hand will only
cause them to cry and mess up your picture. |
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Background:
Putting the baby on a textured cloth will
emphasize the smoothness of a their skin. |
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Flash:
Don't shoot with a direct flash into the
baby's eyes. You will only startle them and could hurt their eyes.
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How To Take Better Baby Photos - Baby Photography |
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Baby photography tips - Digital Photography Tutorial |
 Child's
Picture:
Children grow fast and
move through
many stages of
growth. An album filled with pages of their pictures can become your most
treasured possession. You can look back at these pictures with cherished
memories. If the pictures are shot correctly and with flare they will bring to
life your child's growth and development in ways you have yet to imagine. Click
here to order an album. |
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The Eyes: Center your
lens on the child's eyes. This is the seat of all expression. |
| Shooting: Try
shooting at the same level as the child. You might have to
crouch or lay on the ground for a natural look. |
| Timeliness:
Take pictures often. Children are less
self-conscious if they are use to having their pictures taken.
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Share: If you are shooting with a digital camera
show the pictures to the child. They will become excited and will want
you to take additional pictures. Some will even make some very interesting
suggestions. |
| Activity: Trying shooting when the child is doing
one of their favorite games or activity. You will find the picture more
natural. Patience: Shooting children can be frustrating, be
patient and use humor. |
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Digital Portrait Photography Help and Tips |
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Tips for Photographing Children | vancouver fashion and
portrait ... |
 Fourth
of
July
We all love to see
and hear the fireworks that light up the skies of America. You
can save some of these memories by using a, camera, tripod and
the proper settings. Fireworks offer a unique opportunity for
you to capture the excitement of a night. The many colors and
glows are always different and always exciting. Enjoy the show
with a record its memories
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Tripod:
The light is very limited and a tripod will reduce the
effects of shaking and low light exposure. I would not recommend taking it hand
held. |
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Focus:
Set focus to infinity (except with longer telephoto
lenses, which should be refocused on an earlier burst) |
| Composition: Aim your lens
and adjust the composition at the display. Make sure no one or anything is in
your way |
| Shutter
Settings: Set the shutter on "B" |
| Flash:
Disable or remove the flash |
| Exposure
Setting: Set exposure at either f8 at ISO 100, f11
at ISO 200, f16 for ISO 400 and f22 for ISO 800.* |
Timing:
Make a time exposure for a few seconds while capturing
several bursts (works best with a remote shutter release).
*Increasing exposure your lines
will be thicker while decreasing the exposure will the lines thinner.
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| Additional Tips
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I recommend a wide angle to capture a wide
spectrum of fireworks however any good lens will suffice. |
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Children with sparklers set your exposure settings:1/15
sec. at f4 with ISO 100 film, 1/30 f4 with ISO 200, 1/60 f4 with ISO 400
and 1/60 f5.6 with ISO 800. |
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Set your camera at a right angle to the wind to
avoid the effects of smoke. |
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Long exposures can be ruined by street lights
and car lights so avoid them. |
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Remove any darkening filter. |
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Avoid noise, set your digital camera at ISO 100. |
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Avoid poor picture quality by setting your digital
camera using TIFF, JPEG or RAW. |
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Use the fireworks mode if you have it on your
digital camera. |
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Patriotic foreground or a body of water give a
dramatic effect. |
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Bring a small flashlight to help you set your
camera. |
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Digital Fireworks Photography Help and Tips |
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Photographing Fireworks |
 Spring
Flowers:
Of all of natures wonders flowers are perhaps
the most delicate and colorful. A good camera can capture its
beauty if you take the time to learn the tricks of photography.
You can take a picture of a particularly beautiful flower bring
it into your home and view it forever! It will not wilt, dry up
or die. Don't be afraid to
experiment and try new ways of taking pictures. Some of the best work
comes from photographers who venture into new ways of shooting. |
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Tripod: Make sure you get a sturdy
tripod that will not be effected by a sudden breeze or wind. |
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Time-Release: Use a time release or
off-camera release mechanism to avoid the affects of the pressing of the shutter
release on your camera. |
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Composition: Decide what you want
in your picture. Do you want people, insects, greenery, background or just
the flower. Try different components until you get a picture that thrills the
artist in you. Remember to adjust your settings to get what you want in focus
and what you want blurred for effect. |
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Lighting and Timing:
Shoot before 10am and after 4pm for best lighting effects.
The times between these two period is too intense. You will get a wormer and
more vivid colors during this period. A good lighting environment is a lightly
overcast day with now intense shadows. |
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Wind:
The wind can be both a positive and negative affect. If you are looking to add
movement to your photo set your camera accordingly and shoot when the flower
sways with the wind. Try it a slow speed and a fast speed and you will see the
dramatic effects. If you want the flower still wait between gusts and shoot
quickly, stake the flower stem down off camera or place some sort of wind
blocker on the side from which the wind is blowing but remember the wind will
effect the background. |
| Flower Maturity:
The level of floral maturity will determine the feel and
impact of your image. Most photographers will shoot at the peak of the flowers
development but some will want to show the age differences. I have made some
photos using the different stages to show a dramatic life of a flower with great
effect. |
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Flower photography tips - how to photograph flowers |
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Macro Flower Photography |
 Snow
Pictures
A winter's snow can be a curse to some people but an
opportunity to a photographer. The
contrast of white and black, the sun glistening through ice and
the many other beauties of winter make for a photographer's
dream. Cold will affect
you,your camera
and your images so wrap yourself and your equipment
up warmly and start shooting in a magical wonderland. |
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Effects:
You
will need to keep yourself and your camera and flash warm. Carry your camera,
when not in use, near your body and take it out only when you plan to take a
picture. Return them place as soon as possible. |
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Batteries:
Keep your extra batteries available and in a warm place. Put the previous
battery near your body and it should recharge. |
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Tripod:
Quickly use a tripod. A tripod can take the cold better than the camera however
it’s lubricants can eventually freeze. A tripod will make your pictures better
because the light at this location is different. |
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Static Electricity:
If you are indoors discharge the static electricity on some
metal object before you touch your camera. Static electricity
can do damage to the computer components in the camera |
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Special Clothing:
Go to a camper or ski shop and get supplementary heating devices. Chemical
packets, battery heated gloves, boots and so forth. Find gloves which have
removable fingertips so you can easily push the control buttons. Put the tips
back quickly to prevent frost bite! |
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Condensation:
To prevent condensation wrap your camera in a plastic bag before you go inside
the warmed structure. The moisture will condense outside of bag and not in the
camera. |
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Equipment Adjustment:
Allow your equipment to adjust before you go into the cold by placing it in the
camera bag near a window sill or an area that is colder than the area inside but
not as cold as the outdoors. |
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Moister Control:
Try to avoid getting your camera wet from either snow or ice. Water can damage
the inside workings of your camera. You might want to use a snorkelers
waterproof devise. It protect your camera from snow and ice. |
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Camera Settings: |
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a.
If your camera has a setting for snow. Put the camera on that
setting before you start the shooting. Some cameras have this setting.
Check your manual or contact the manufacturer.
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b.
If your camera does not have an automatic snow/surf setting you will have to set
your exposure values to overexpose the image slightly. Check you manual on
manual settings. You might try working with the Exposure Compensation controls
on your camera. Check the manual or contact
the manufacturer
on how to set this control.
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Practice:
Practice some shots using your camera before you start shooting the real shots
you want to take. Since it is a digital camera you can see which shots are
working and jot down how you took the picture so you can repeat it’s settings. |
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Winter Photography Tips & Help |
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Winter Photography Tip |
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Tips on shooting snow and ice |
 Summer
Beach
Great pictures can be
shot at or near the beach. Children and adults playing, surfs
pounding the shore, sunrises, sunsets and the many animals that
call the shore their home. |
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Equipment Care:
Take care of your equipment. Salt water and sand can
do great damage to the camera, film or CSMOS. Keep it in a
protective case until you are ready to use. Never go into the
surf with your equipment. |
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Close-up:
Take pictures of sand pebbles, shells,
plants and in some cases animals by using your macro setting,
otherwise you will need to set your f-stop at a narrow range of
less than 2.8 and to use a tripod. Further information
provided at:
Close-up Photography |
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Beach Action
Scenes:
Brings out the best in both adults and kids. Often they will
run, jump and frolic on the surf. Set your camera on Action and
you will be able to catch them in mid stride. Use an f-stop of
over f-1/160. Remember the faster the speed of your camera the
more you will freeze the image. Further information
provided at:
Learn How to Capture Action Shots |
The Horizon:
When
shooting the ocean keep the following in mind:
1. It must be straight otherwise it will look awkward.
2. Putting the horizon in the upper half narrows the
perspective.
3. Putting the horizon in the lower half increases the
perspective.
4. A good tripod can insure a level horizon
Further information at:
Better
Photo Ideas |
Lighting:
Dramatic effects
can be made by using the sun as a backdrop.
1. Shot in the early morning, late afternoon or cloudy days
2. Get a silhouette effect by having the subject block the sun.
3. Don't shot between 11 am and 2 pm unless you want a harsh
light effect.
4. Get rid
of strong shadows by using a flash.
Further information at:
Lighting Tips |
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Ten Beach Photography Tips |
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Taking Photos at the Beach |
