Archive for the ‘photography skills’ Category

What kind of lights would work for photography in my home?

author Posted by: admin on date Dec 13th, 2009 | filed Filed under: photography skills

I don’t have alot of money, so the expensive lights specifically for photography are not in the budget. I want to take professional-looking photos of my daugther at home, but need some kind of cheap lighting that would work. Any suggestions?

Flood lights are very inexpensive but create a lot of heat and your subject may feel uncomfortable with the intense light.

My recommendation is that you use a mono-light setup with soft-box and a reflector to bonce the light into your subject. A mono-light will also have a modeling light to assist you in perfecting the light on your subject.I would also recommend using a slave to light up your backdrop or as a separator light.

Daylight balanced (blue) photoflood bulbs (either 250 or 500 W) in shoplight reflectors you can buy at any hardware store.

Caution! They get hot!

Second caution: The output is far less than an electronic flash, so be prepared to shoot at higher ISOs, with slower shutter speeds and larger apertures to get suitable results.

A basic three light kit should cost you less than $50.

Real photoflood bulbs (color balanced) are only available from real camera supply places.

Source(s):

I’ve been doing this stuff for about 40 years.

Baby portraits for my cute baby girl

author Posted by: admin on date Dec 7th, 2009 | filed Filed under: photography skills

I know i probably shouldn’t say this but my baby is absolutely the cutest baby that has ever  appear but she i also the most naughtiest model that i can ever wish for. But i would absolutely want to catch some of her baby portraits for her to see when she grow older. But as a beginner photography, trying to take a good picture of her flaying her arms widly provide some unique challenges.

She tend to sleep, eat and cry a lot enerally has no interest in posing for the camera. So i have to pull up some tricks in order to snap some good baby portraits.

What i found is that i should always first change her diapers and feed her until she is contented. Then i would play with her to get her into a cheerful mood before snapping off a couple of good baby portraits. What i did is to focus on the head shots using natural light from a bedroom window to add mood to the picture as its the expressions that i wanted to capture. i also learn to take pictures quickly as she get bored and change position frequently.

Be sure to keep plenty of toys in the area that you are taking the pictures to amuse them.

Free photography tutorials

author Posted by: admin on date Jun 25th, 2009 | filed Filed under: photography skills

Here are some places to look for free photography tutorials.

Enjoy

http://photo.net/

http://onlinedigitalphotographycourses.blogspot.com/

http://www.grygarness.com/index2.html

http://www.adorama.com/

Tips on photography lighting

author Posted by: admin on date Apr 10th, 2009 | filed Filed under: photography skills

Natural light is the best type of photography lighting.  The light from the sun or the moon can illuminate the object of the photograph in such a way as to make them appear smoother and softer.  Direct sunlight is some of the brightest photography lighting available and creates perfect shadows for the backgrounds of the photographs.  Natural light is also used as photography lighting indoors, by taking the photographs near windows and other brightly lit areas.

There are many other types of photography lighting that can be used by someone that is interested in taking excellent photographs.  Many photographers choose to use directional lighting, which can be placed anywhere around the subject to illuminate them in a specific way by using artificial lights such as flashes or tungsten halogen lamps.  Using a combination of lights to create shadows or focus on a particular area of the image, the person can obtain creative images by changing the direction of the photography lighting.

Most photographers learn the techniques of photography lighting by trial and error.  Different combinations result in different types of illumination and shadows, so it is important for the photographer to find a lighting technique that they like.  This method is the least expensive way of learning photography lighting.  Some cameras have different lighting functions that can be used for different situations so that the photographer does not have to worry about setting the lighting each time.  This helps create the perfect lighting for different photographs without using additional flashes or lighting equipment.

The direction that the photography lighting is facing is just as important and should be modified to place the subject in the best light possible.  When taking portrait photographs, lighting should be at the back of the subject to soften the facial features and hide any minor imperfections in the skin.  Portraits are also often taken with soft light. Bouncing whatever light you use off a backdrop or ceiling will soften it before the light reaches your subject. Do experiment with both types of lighting.

For landscape photography, the easiest light to use is natural light but direct light into the camera can create a washed out or over exposed photograph. Deep shadows can create a sense of danger in cliffs and rocky areas. A chasm filled with the black of shadow produces an image of danger and mystery. Even a portrait can be done with harsh light. By controlling the amount of light that is allowed to illuminate the photograph, the photographer can make sure that the subject is portrayed in the best light possible creating an image that will capture attention and praise from those who view it.

Beginning photography tips

author Posted by: admin on date Sep 1st, 2008 | filed Filed under: beginner, photography skills

What are some beginning photography tips that would quickly improve your photography skills?
The first beginning photography tips and is to ensure that you have the correct composition you can use the rule of third. How it works is that it separates the scene in the viewfinder into 9 equal 3×3 parts and where the lines cross is where the objects should lie.
The second beginning photography tips is to remember that taking a picture is also story telling. Take a picture that has a theme in it. For instance if you are taking picture of a sunset to illustrate the romatic setting, you should attempt to catch the spirit of it.
A third beginning photography tips is of course to look at the lighting effect. Ensure that there is light evening spread on the object and use flash whenever necessary. Even for day shots, especially if the lights are overhead, you should use the flash to lighten the darker spots.
Fourth beginning photography tips is to ensure learn your basics again. Learn how to hold your camera steady and avoid camera shake. With your right hand, you should hold the camera in a way that allows you to press down on the button and not shake the camera and at the same time support the weight of the camera with the left hand.
Hope these beginning photography tips would prove useful to you that you can take better pictures in no time from getting your first camera.