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What Works in Black & White

What Works in Black & White

Photography: How to Take Sharper Pictures Welcome If I had a nickel for every time someone with a new camera blamed the camera itself as the reason why their pictures aren’t coming out as crisp as those seen in photo books, magazines, or even this website, I’d be able to pay someone to write this guide for me. Unfortunately, I don’t. So here I am. Here are some easy, but essential tips on achieving the best (and by best, I mean the sharpest) results from your digital camera. Is it the Camera or the Photographer? If you are new to photography I would suspect your technique first. If you did your research and paid good money for your camera (and lenses) and still aren’t getting good results, you have to wonder, is it really your camera? There could be several reasons why a camera may not be shooting sharp. Do you know all the features and buttons your camera has? Know your camera Before you set off to photograph anything, you should get to know your camera. Set the picture quality and compression Memory cards are cheap. Focusing

The Top 100 Photography Blogs Learning the art of photography is exciting, especially because so many resources are available to beginner photographers online and off. Some of the best of these resources are blogs, and they highlight gear, techniques, inspiration, and more that can help you learn to be a better photographer. Read on to discover 100 of the best photography blogs out there. General For general interest photography, be sure to check out these blogs. Resources Get the help you need through these blogs that highlight useful resources for photographers. News Stay up to date on the latest in photography with the help of these blogs. Photoblogs If you’re in search of pure eye candy, these blogs will get you your fix. Photo Genres These blogs cater to a specific genre of photography. Tips & Learning Improve your photography with the tips and learning resources found on these blogs. Photographer Profiles Get a look into the lives and work of active photographers through these blogs. Gear Business Photoshop

Your Camera Doesn't Matter Home Donate New Search Gallery Reviews How-To Books Links Workshops About Contact Your Camera Doesn't Matter © 2013 Ken Rockwell Also in Spanish, Ukrainian, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Dutch, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Russian, Portuguese and Hungarian. Mono Lake, Saturday, 25 July 1993, snapped with a broken camera. bigger. tech details. Mono Lake, 11 August 2001, snapped with a floppy-disc camera. Dawn, Mono Lake, 12 August 2001, snapped with a floppy-disc camera. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live.It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Better Pictures: The Secret Composition Simplicity FART Shadows Lighting Adjustments It's Not Your Camera Exposure WB Don't Worry: Shoot NEW, 09 September 2013: Canon 5D Mk III/24-70 II vs. The shots at the top were shot 12 or 20 years ago. 1.)

How to Take Macro Pictures -- National Geographic Get Wallpaper Photograph by John Kimbler, My Shot With its emphasis on detail, pattern, and texture, macro photography can yield rewarding and unique results. In this gallery, learn what makes a great macro shot and get tips on how to turn your extreme close-ups into compelling photographs. Here, a macro lens and diffused macro twin flash capture the intricate detail on a bee and flower. (This photo was submitted to My Shot.) Photo Tip: Macro photography is photography magnified. Get more photo tips » Food Photography Techniques and Tips Today food photographer Jonathan Pollack shares some wonderful food photography tips (and some positively mouth watering photos. Also check out our previous Food Photography Tips.. The food photography techniques in this post are ones that I use in photos I take for both a local food magazine and my wife’s cupcake blog. Styling Your Food for Photography I’ve never had the luxury of working with a food stylist; if you aren’t well-known, you will most likely take on this role yourself. Place solid or simple patterned papers (available at a scrapbooking store) as a background. Food Photography Composition My natural inclination when I started photographing food was to anchor myself somewhere, pick one zoom length for the entire shoot, center the food in the frame, and look down on it at a 45-degree angle – after all, this is how food appeared when I sat down to eat dinner. Zoom – with both your lens and your feet – to put the food in its place. Remember Established Photography Techniques

9 creative photo ideas to try in December | Digital Camera World - page 3 03 Shoot a studio portrait To light this striking portrait shot, photographer Dave Kai-Piper used only a Nikon SB900 Speedlight flashgun modified with an Orbis Ringflash adapter. The ringflash was attached onto the flash to help produce an even, soft light and pick up detail. “Randomly, this image was taken in a kitchen in Munich,” Dave reveals. “The shoot came about during a discussion about how simply you can take a fashion portrait.” Dave tethered his camera so that the images appeared instantly in Photoshop Lightroom on his computer. “However, I also decided to further enhance the gentle vignette in Photoshop in order to improve the overall effect.” Get started today… * Pose your model at a profile angle and light the face using natural or flash light. * Shoot in Manual mode and set the shutter speed to 1/200 sec. PAGE 1: Shoot a bokeh effectPAGE 2: Shoot the city drenched in rainPAGE 3: Shoot a studio portraitPAGE 4: Shoot an abstract image – then rotate it!

Tasteful Food Photography Food photography traditionally has been the realm of a handful of weathered professionals well versed in their niche profession, armed with high-end, medium-format cameras and a ton of expensive studio gear, and flanked by a small army of dedicated chefs and food stylists. You can see their work in ads, cook books, and high-end glossy magazines such as Sunset, Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. So for the casual shooter or even the ambitious amateur, getting great food shots can seem like an intimidating and daunting task at best. But it doesn't have to be that way. The digital frontier has changed the way we shoot and the things we can shoot successfully. This article will show you how you can achieve professional results with a minimum of equipment, some budget-conscious props, a little technical know-how, and a big dash of creative fun. What Makes a Great Food Image? I love food. So what does all of this have to do with food photography, you ask? Equipment

100 Helpful Photography Tutorials for Beginners and Professionals Photography as both a profession and a hobby is an incredibly expansive topic that covers a remarkably vast range of subjects from science and art. No matter where you lie on the professional spectrum, there is simply always more to learn. We spent countless hours scouring the web for the best content we could find and share with you, and today we'll help you expand your knowledge with 100 photography related tutorials! "There are many composition guidelines which can be applied in almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene. "Graphic illustrations [and explanations] of the difference between RAW and JPEG (also called JPG). A basic discussion of white balance and how to respond to different lighting situations. "Use a simple device to get perfect color in all of your shots" "What you need to know to get the most from today’s amazing high-ISO settings" "A beginner’s guide to focal lengths and how they affect photographs" "Ever wonder what it is that actually makes a camera work?

10 Ways to Know You Made a Good Picture Copyright Scott Bourne - 2009 All Rights Reserved How Do I Know if I Shot a Good Photograph? My pal Rick Sammon gave his take on this subject a few days ago here at Now it’s my turn. Here are 10 things to look for in a good photograph. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. _______________ This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store Like this: Like Loading... Related 10 Tips for Photographing Wildlife Copyright Scott Bourne 2008 - All Rights Reserved Careful readers of this blog know that I am primarily a wildlife photographer. In "Shooting" Photo Critique Guidelines Photo critiques are a good way of learning more about photography. In "Technique & Tutorials" 25 Photo Composition Tips ADDITIONAL PHOTOS by Nicole Young, Rich Legg & Other iStock Contributors One of the most common problems facing new photographers - and some of us OLD photographers - is finding…

10 Top Photography Composition Rules There are no fixed rules in photography, but there are guidelines which can often help you to enhance the impact of your photos. It may sound clichéd, but the only rule in photography is that there are no rules. However, there are are number of established composition guidelines which can be applied in almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene. These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs, lending them a natural balance, drawing attention to the important parts of the scene, or leading the viewer's eye through the image. Once you are familiar with these composition tips, you'll be surprised at just how universal most of them are. You'll spot them everywhere, and you'll find it easy to see why some photos "work" while others feel like simple snapshots. Rule of Thirds Imagine that your image is divided into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Balancing Elements Leading Lines Viewpoint Depth

Ten Things I’ve Learned About Food Photography Sometimes I look back at my older food posts on The Pioneer Woman Cooks…and cringe. I knew nothing about photography in general…let alone food photography. I want to reshoot all those old recipes. But I know I’ll never have the time. So I just keep those old photos in the archives, referring back to them whenever I need proof that my photography has improved through the years. Today, I feel more confident with my food photography than I probably do with photography outside of my kitchen. I’m no expert—not by a long shot. Disclaimer: Don’t listen to me. 1. Step back a bit, Ree. (Photo taken in February 2007.) 2. This is how I posted my Apricot Bars on my site back in (I think) 2008. This is after applying a curve lighten just now. Lightness. 3. Blech. 4. Artificial lighting environments can be created to try to replicate the look of natural light, but I’ve found it to be very difficult. 5. This is where I shoot most of my final food photos—the shots of the finished dish. 6. Emphasis on not.

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