Thursday 9 January 2014

Quick Macro Photography Tricks

Quick Macro Photography Tricks

Link to PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Quick Macro Photography Tricks

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:53 PM PST

If you delve into the incredible world of macro photography, with the aid of a few digital photography tricks, you can take photographs of insects that will blow your mind.

macro insect photography

“Summer Mantis” captured by Gary Vernon (Click image to see more from Vernon.)

A normal housefly may seem just annoying, but up close and personal, you can capture a macro image that reveals every single hair on its body and the millions of tiny dots that make up its eyes. You see an array of magnificent colors that you do not perceive with the naked eye. Once you have truly experienced macro photography, you will never see tiny creatures in quite the same way again.

macro photography

“Macro Fruit Fly” captured by Anthony Zeder (Click image to see more from Zeder.)

Macro photography works on ratios from 1:1 (where the image is true to size) up to ten times enlargement (10:1). In most cases, the larger the ratio, the more fascinating the final image. To successfully capture macro images requires investment in appropriate equipment–a decent camera and a specialized macro lens. I normally use a Canon EOS 50D camera and a Sigma 50mm f/2.8 macro lens. A vast range of lenses regularly come to market, so it is always a good idea to research the latest options before buying.

macro caterpillar

“Ooo lalala” captured by Saritha Saritha (Click image to see more from Saritha.)

Once you have spotted a bug you wish to capture, here are a few digital photography tricks to consider to ensure you don’t scare it off before you have had the opportunity to grab your winning shot:

  • Get up early. Bugs are still cold then and don’t tend to fly off so regularly.
  • Don’t block out the sunlight on the insects.
  • Keep low–as low or even lower than your subject–if at all possible.
  • Locate yourself near a popular plant or flower. Bugs may see you as part of the scenery if you are already there.
  • Look for smaller bugs. Smaller bugs tend to take less notice of you than larger ones.
  • Be patient. If a bug flies off, don’t panic. Give it a little while, and more often than not it will be back.
outdoor macro photography

“Damselfly” captured by Jack Houston (Click image to see more from Houston.)

A flashgun can also be an essential piece of kit, particularly if you are shooting in near-dark forests. This location opens up access to a wide range of interesting insects. You can use the flash in its normal position on top of the camera, but another idea is to use a flash extension cord. In this case, take a friend with you who can hold the flash to the side or to provide imaginative backlighting. You will find that a flash will also help to enhance the sharpness of your shots.

macro spider web

“Orange Spider” captured by Cathy Brown (Click image to see more from Brown.)

These are just a few digital photography tricks that will benefit your macro photography. It can be a challenging area, and trial and error is expected. Initially you may find yourself disappointed with results, but once you get the hang of it, you will be glad you persevered. It’s always a good idea to get some feedback, and a decent online photography course will give you guidance, as well as expert opinion on your work.

This articles was written by Paul Summers.


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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

The Art of Timelapse Photography (Video)

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 03:33 PM PST

Timelapse photographer Michael Shainblum has really taken the art to the next level. His videos, which contrast the fast pace of city life and the slow calm of nature, are beautiful depictions of life in general.

For his next release, “Into The Atmosphere,” Shainblum showcases the natural beauty of California, but from locations that not too many people have ever been before. He lets us behind the curtain and shows us just how he gets the perfect, never before seen shots:

Shainblum talks about discovering a love for photography as a child, specifically experimenting with stop motion. He recalls the innocence of a child walking around taking photos of everything, holding the shutter button down to create movement in stills. As Shainblum says, you don’t need a fancy video camera, you can take your images and essentially turn them into a video.

That concept really struck me; all a video is is a bunch of pictures.

michael shainblum photography

With a drive to explore and see things that are less seen, Shainblum has truly perfected the art of timelapse photography.

He offers a few tips when it comes to photographing the stars. As he says, it doesn’t require a lot of fancy gear, like some people think. You don’t need a telescope or an insanely fancy camera.

What you do need:

  • A prosumer grade DSLR camera
  • A pretty vast wide lens
  • A plan – prepare for the shot
  • To get away from light pollution – in other words, get out of the city
  • Inspiration to go out and explore

photographing stars movement

Besides his camera and wide angle lens, Shainblum uses a mechanical controlled dolly system, his own personal robot basically, to move through the surroundings and capture different angles, views. With a remote, he can control the interval between shots, how many shots it takes and how long it takes.

Once he has his raw images, he uses Adobe Lightroom to enhance them, before bringing them into After Effects as a sequence and create the timelapse effect. He then uses Adobe Premier to do the final cut.

For Further Training on Timelapse Photography:

There is a complete guide (146 pages) to shooting, processing and rendering time-lapses using a dslr camera. It can be found here: The Timelapse Photography Guide


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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Some of the Funniest Animal Photobombs Ever

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST

Photobombing. Whether on purpose or accidental, a friend’s or a stranger’s unexpected appearance in a picture is sure to get some laughs. But there’s something about animals doing the photobombing that makes the prank even more hilarious. Take a look at some of these sneaky animal interjectors:

top animal photobombs

Animal Photobombs

Has a jokester pet or wild critter stolen the show in any of your photos?


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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

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