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Photography

Photography

Learn and Enjoy

2 Posts tagged with the introduction tag
verethragma
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If you can see it, you can photograph it. As long as there is enough light to illuminate your subject — even if it’s very dim — you’ll be able to get your shot.

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Here is a lovely twilight setting, let's look at ways to capture the best images and take advantage of available light.


Don't necessarily use a flash
An electronic flash provides plenty of light but the result (below) can look unnatural with hard shadows. The evening light is rendered much too dark.

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Increase the light getting into your photo

Compared  to taking photos in a well-lit scene, there are three ways of compensating in low-light situations.  You may need to take your camera out of automatic mode in order to control these settings.  Although each will help you get a great low-light photo, each has other potential effects so it's best to balance their use. 

  • Increase the exposure time/ slow down shutter speed: the longer the shutter is open, the more light can get in. A longer exposure can result in blurry photos, so you may want to use a tripod or support your arms on a table, tree, lamp-post etc. Steady the camera against the object and press the button gently to take the photo. Sometimes it helps to hold your breath until the photo is taken. Sony cameras have a feature called Steady Shot Inside to help keep photos sharp.

  • Use a wider aperture:  If possible, use a wide-angle setting or open the aperture of the lens when taking the photo. Compared  to a telephoto setting, much more light will be able to come through the lens.  This will affect how much of the photo can be in focus.

  • Increase the ISO: Use High Sensitivity mode (on Cyber-Shot cameras) or increase the ISO setting to 400, 800 etc (on manual cameras). This setting controls the amount of light that reaches the sensor of the camera and is recorded in the photo.  On some cameras this can increase the amount of noise--coloured speckles where there shouldn't be any.  Sony cameras have extra sensitive sensors  so you can increase the ISO more than on other cameras without a noticeable effect.

 

Try combining these setting changes and techniques to improve your low-light photography.

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1340 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: exposure, iso, flash, aperture, how_to, photography, introduction, low_light
verethragma
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Composition means arrangement: putting together elements to make a whole. Just as speakers of a language must learn to put words in order to communicate verbally, photographers must learn to arrange the elements of their photos in order to communicate visually.

 

Good composition feels right when you look at the finished photograph. The eye and the mind have a preference for certain arrangements. When this arrangement is present in a photograph, the viewer's eye will stay in the photograph longer.

 

When you're taking a photograph, try not to think about just the objects in the photo. Try to look more 'abstractly' at the scene and recognise shapes, shadows, forms, lines etc.  This is a skill that can be cultivated over time with practice.  Although no one can give you the rule to follow in any given scenario (there are simply too many possible scenes to photograph--that's what makes photography so special!), there are some principles you can start to think about that will improve your composition. Looks out for these visual elements in your photos, and remember to take lots of photos.  When you look back over your photos, compare the compositions and see the effect of each.

 

Converging Lines
Look for converging lines such as roads, railway lines, paving stones, railings and shadows. These lead the eye across the picture and into the distance, making for a more dynamic shot. This technique often works well in a wide-angle photo.

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Rhythmic elements
Try to find repeating or rhythmic elements such as anything in rows – people, trees, cars – or any repetitious arrangement. These patterns are restful to the eye, but the slight variations make the composition lively and interesting. This works well with photos taken in telephoto mode or taken with a long (telephoto) lens that allows a far-away view. 

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Overlapping elements
Overlap elements in the scene to partially hide your subject – creating a sense of mystery. You’ll also notice a greater sense of depth – space receding into the picture. This works well with photos taken in telephoto mode or taken with a long (telephoto) lens that allows a far-away view. 

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Framing
Use frames within the picture: trees, people’s arms, doorways – these are all framing devices which concentrate the viewer’s attention on the point of interest. Sometimes adjusting your position only slightly is all it takes to use one object to frame another.

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1071 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: how_to, photography, composition, repetition, overlap, introduction


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