Weekly Idea, Thought, Trick or Knowledge

[jdesigns]

I thought I might try my hand at posting a thought, idea, tip, trick, or new found knowledge once a day.

Each day I have tried to learn something new about photography. Sure, some of you aren't as passionate about photography as I am, and that it fine! (I've got a business to run ya know!)

I will do my best to post at least once a day, but do understand that I too get very busy, especially after a shoot, and I might not get a chance to post something each and everyday.

Some of these will be common knowledge if you have been around the block more than once, others you may not have even guessed existed. I hope to share just a bit of my knowledge and passion with you, and help you get the most out of your time behind the camera!


#1:

Do you love that warm light of early morning or late evening, but do most of your shooting during the mid-day? Try setting your White Balance to Shade or Cloudy. This compensates for the excessive blue light found in mid-day. (Note this only works for Digital cameras, as traditional film camera's do not have a white balance feature.)

As a side note, those still shooting film and desire to create this same warmth, try a 81A or 81B warming filter. These are also helpful to "punch" up fall colors!


Enjoy!

[yellowherbie]

Oh, shoot Justin..

I just point and click....

As a side note, those still shooting film and desire to create this same warmth, try a 81A or 81B warming filter. These are also helpful to "punch" up fall colors!

What the heck is that all about?? LOL!

Your great at what you do, I dont have a eye like you...

[PhoenixRising]

I love this thread. It's great. Super. Keen.

Bring more on.

[jdesigns]

#2:

When shooting a vertical subject, turn the camera vertically. Subjects like tall buildings, people, light posts, etc....


When shooting a horizontal subject, shoot horizontally. Subjects like vast landscapes, sunsets over the water.

The benefit of shooting like this is that there is less "dead" space surrounding the subject. When I say "dead" I am talking about things or area's that surround the subject that has absolutely nothing to do with the subject.

Keep in mind however that these are not hard, fast rules. Both of these can and sometimes SHOULD be broken!



Until tomorrow!

[jdesigns]

OK, I got too busy the past few days.

#3

Get closer! You don't have to have the whole body of someone to know who they are! Step closer or zoom in! Same goes with just about any subject.

[jdesigns]

#4


Instead of Shooting towards a sunset or sunrise, turn around and face the other direction and shoot the colors off the buildings, landscape or people! This is wonderfully warm light.

[jdesigns]

#5

When shooting a landscape, cityscape, or other worldly objects, find something in the foreground. This gives a sense of depth, resulting in a more 3D looking photo.

[jdesigns]

#6

Try getting a different perspective on your subject. Instead of standing and shooting at eye level, lay down on your stomach, or climb a tree, or other elevated spot. Don't lock yourself into only one point of view!

[jdesigns]

I am going to be pretty busy the next couple of days as I have a couple of photoshoots to do, so I thought I might add a few to this thread.


#7

If your camera allows filters, grab a polarizing filter and check it out!

The Polarizer comes in two varieties: Linear and Circular.

If you are still using a manual focus camera, go ahead and get a Linear Polarizer.

If you are using a autofocus camera, you HAVE to get a circular polarizer! This is because the autofocus system relies on lines to focus. If you are using a Linear Polarizer, the camera will not be able to focus on anything because it will be trying to focus on the lines in the polarizer. So use a Circular Polarizer!

The benifit of using a Polarizer is that when pointed away from the sun, the skies become more blue. It also makes refections on non-metallic objects disappear! Take a look through a Polarizer and rotate the front element and watch the reflections on a window disappear! The Polarizer also helps increase color saturation, and acts as a neutral density filter to decrease overall luminance of a scene.

[PhoenixRising]

Thanks, man! I love these tips.

[deeceedub]

Yes, this is a great thread. Thanks !!!

[jdesigns]

Sorry, I really thought I could do this everyday, but alas, I have just been too busy.


#8

If your lens has a lens hood, USE IT! This increases contrast considerably! Try this: If you wear sunglasses without a hat, try shading your eyes with the glasses on, see how much more contrast you get? Same principal using a lens hood!

[jdesigns]

#9


If you think you have shot everything in your town, go take a look at the postcards for your area. It can be inspiring to see a landmark or building from a different perspective that you hadn't seen before. If you are in a big city, there will almost always be something you havne't seen.


(Did you know that Fremont, Washington has a 16-ft. tall bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin, hero of the workers, Communism, and the former Soviet Union? Neither did I until I saw a postcard of it!)

[jdesigns]

I guess I am failing at the daily and even weekly thing. Sorry! Just busy!



#10

When photographing a landmark, such as the Eiffel Tower or Seattle's Space Needle, shoot from a unusual angle or perspective. Don't just snap a pic and walk away....take time to study the landmark and try to show it in a different way that you have seen before.

[jdesigns]

#11

This applies mostly to those of us shooting with a SLR type of camera with wide angle lenses.

Are you tired of your lens hood casting a horrible shadow on your image when using your built in pop-up flash? Turn the camera upside down and shoot! The shadow will be cast upwards.

[jdesigns]

#12

Don't be afraid to experiment! (More than a few of my best and favorite shots have come from my experiments!)

Point the camera up or down....Set it on the ground and see what happens.....shoot without looking at the display or through the viewfinder....get really close (This works best if you have a good idea how close your camera will focus!)....and on and on......