Tuesday 20 August 2013

Valuable Tips for Autumn Photography

Valuable Tips for Autumn Photography

Link to PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Valuable Tips for Autumn Photography

Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:42 PM PDT

Autumn is a season that provides a golden opportunity to take beautiful shots in varied colors (related eBook released this week: Art of Color Processing). And what else could be the perfect subjects for your photos? The autumn leaves, trees, and amazing landscapes. You don’t necessarily need to have a DSLR camera, because even with a slim pocket camera to carry everywhere you can get great results with all the colors happening in nature this time of year.

colorful autumn leaves

“Autumn Leaves” captured by Kerry Gauthier (Click image to see more from Gauthier)

Time of Day

If you want drama in your photos, the best times of day to shoot are during sunrise and sunset. It is during these times that the light has a golden color cast on your subjects.

Subjects

For your autumn photography, the best subjects to take are those that have attractive light. Your subject can be the trees, the leaves that have fallen on the ground, a bird, or a flower.

autumn leaves and boats

“Autumn” captured by Grace O’Callaghan (Click image to see more from O’Callaghan)

If you’re shooting landscapes, experts recommend composing your images so that they have a great impact on your viewers. If you can, include a foreground, middle ground, and background.

tree with fall colors against cloudy sky

“Passage of Time – Autumn” captured by Simon Cartwright (Click image to see more from Cartwright)

For those who fancy taking close-up shots or macro images, look for subjects that have varied colors and have unique textures.

Fruits, flowers, trees bearing fruits, and plants are great subjects.

Play with Colors

If you’re fond of experimenting with colors, you can use contrasting hues in your images.

For example, you can take shots of trees with their colorful yellow-orange leaves against a blue sky or a close-up shot of a purple flower against a grassy background.

Go Low

Most people are used to taking pictures while standing. How about if you go down low and take your images from the ground? This is known as the worm’s eye view.

You will be surprised to see the unique impact your images have.

autumn leaf on ground

“I Feel Like an Ant” captured by Rob Castro (Click image to see more from Castro)

Go Macro

Macro refers to taking shots of your subjects at a closer range. In photography terms, it is filling the frame with smaller subjects. But no matter how small they may be, they become alive and larger than life when you print out the photos, allowing you to see all the intricate details. When you take macro photos, make sure you set your compact digital camera to the right setting. It is usually indicated by a flower icon, on point and shoot cameras anyway. You might also need a tripod to keep your camera steady while you’re shooting. Don’t be afraid to get very low to the ground. This will allow you to take photos from different angles.

autumn flower macro photography

“Untitled” captured by Megan Marcinkus (Click image to see more from Marcinkus)

Speed

Be wary of your shutter speed. To prevent blurry images, you will have to set your shutter at a fast speed, particularly when you’re shooting during windy weather. Taking photos of nature in autumn can be a fun experience, especially if you’re just starting out with your photography hobby. There are so many subjects to consider, but make sure to use your creativity when shooting. A steady hand, a good subject and a little imagination can go a long way in capturing lovely photos to be proud of.

About the Author:
For information about digital cameras, a resource is 42photo.com, New York's legendary camera store in business for over 40 years.

New, Learn How to Optimize Color in Post-Processing:

In a new training guide, professional coastal landscape photographer Christopher O'Donnell explains his color processing workflow in a step-by-step fashion, guiding you through each stage from start to finish.

It can be found here: The Art of Color Processing


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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Probably the Best Sports Photo of 2013, Photographer Calls it ‘Pure Luck’

Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:43 PM PDT

When AFP photographer Oliver Morin set out to photograph the 100m final in Moscow—and, most notably, the legendary Usain Bolt, a 26-year old powerhouse sprinter who holds world records in both the 100m and 200m—he wasn't trying to capture a 'career-defining' shot or the 'best sports photo of the year,' but with strategic positioning and a little help from Mother Nature, he did:

Olivier Morin Usain Bolt lightning

Lightning strikes as Usain Bolt wins the 100m World Championships by Olivier Morin (Via Imgur)

Morin attributes the shot to a little bit of careful planning and a lot of luck.

"Let's be honest," Morin wrote in a blog post on AFP's website. "The only things I was able to control were the framing of the shot and when to hit the remote-controlled trigger. The flash of lighting – well, of course that can't be planned… So, I only really give myself credit for one percent of this picture!"

Still, Morin set himself up for success by avoiding the 'herd' mentality common among sports photographers. Look at them, scrambling over each other along the inside of the track to take stereotypical shots—of runners straining towards the finish line against the blurred background of thousands of screaming fans, and of Usain Bolt striking his trademark pose after winning the race.

No one thought to shoot from the other side, including the banner lettering at the top of the stadium and the skyline to better capture the downpour—no one except Morin.

"The idea was to make a photo of the winner with his arms raised and with the stadium in the background, as well as capturing a little bit of the sky," explained Morin. "I was thinking more along the lines of an enduring feature photograph, rather than your typical news shot."

In addition to his hand-held camera, Morin set up five remote-controlled cameras for varying perspectives of the winner, choosing to focus on Bolt's lane because "it seemed like a fair bet." The camera that captured this shot was actually his fifth, set about 30 meters back from the finish line to give a wider view of the stadium.”Without the flash in the sky, it wouldn’t really be anything that special, ” Morin explained modestly, in response to his massive popularity since taking the photo.

(for those of you reading this by email, the race video can be seen here) Indeed, the lightning does add extra ‘zap’ to the shot. Perhaps that violet flash was a salute from Mother Nature—a respectful nod to celebrate mankind’s own lightning Bolt—or perhaps it was a power trip, reminding us that, while Bolt may be the fastest man in the world, Mother Nature can still beat him to the finish line every time.

While we can never know one way or the other, what is clear is that Morin's careful planning, born from experience and individualism, put him in the right place at the right time.

"This was, I think, a once-in-a-lifetime moment," said Morin. "In my 25 years as a photographer I've never had an uncontrollable external element make a photo like this, and I imagine if I tried again for a similar result for the next 50 years, it wouldn't happen again."


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Photography Prank Involving a Teleported Subject

Posted: 19 Aug 2013 05:03 PM PDT

Another clever photo prank has appeared, this time with twins. This prank is a little more intricate than some as it takes three people to pull it off. The results, however, are hilarious. Check out how these twins, and their secret partner, manage to befuddle passing tourists (for those of you reading this by email, the video can be seen here):

This prank may be simple, but it’s effective. All you really need is a good locations, two people who look alike, a camera, and a third person as a distraction. Just remember the one rule when pulling a prank: film it! In eight days this short but clever little video has managed to attract almost 2 million viewers. So next time you and your friends think of a funny public prank, make sure to set up a camera.

Oh, and don’t forget the second rule. Make sure it’s legal.

twins prank photo camera trick

The twins almost get caught by their last victim

Whether you tell your victims they’ve been pranked is up to you. Sometimes the reactions from these people are funnier than the prank itself.


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5 Reasons Why Zoom Lenses Are Better Than Prime Lenses

Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:55 PM PDT

It’s on ongoing debate between photographers: Are zoom lenses or prime lenses better? Undoubtedly both have their pros and cons, but in the following short video, Kai from DigitalRev TV weighs in with some reasons why zoom might win the day over fixed focal length lenses (for those of you reading this by email, the video can be seen here):

1) Convenience

Zooms are the “Swiss army knife” of lenses — your all-in-one, go-to tool suitable for a wide variety of tasks.

zoom lenses vs. prime lenses

“You don’t have to faff about thinking what focal length to pick; just look through the viewfinder and fiddle with that zoom ring.”

2) Good for sensitive people

Zoom lenses allow you to give a little space to camera-shy people. This is especially useful for street photography and discreetly capturing candid moments.

using a zoom lens for street photography

3) Less prone to getting dust in your camera

With a zoom lens, you don’t have to change lenses to get the right focal length, as you do with primes. Not constantly switching lenses protects the inner workings of your lens from exposure to dust.

4) Quick to get shot under pressure

For situations where you only have one chance to get your shot, using a zoom lenses gives you the flexibility to quickly adapt your focus to changing conditions.

5) Video

Zoom lenses are great for shooting DSLR video.

For the sake of a balanced conversation, Kai has also considered the opposite perspective, see the other side of the argument here: five reasons why prime lenses are better than zoom lenses.


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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

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