Author Archive
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May 02, 2010
No CommentsExposure Triangle
There are three main elements to exposure – aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. And, the relationship between these three elements can be thought of in terms of the ‘exposure triangle’. Each corner of the triangle represents one of the three main elements. These three elements are all related and directly affect the exposure. One way...
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Apr 26, 2010
1 CommentPhotography Contests
If you have taken an amazing photograph, consider submitting it to a photo contest! There are hundreds of photo contests out there, from free to paid contests, esteemed to just plain silly, and most offer great prizes. Here are list of a few of some of the best free photo contests: Smithsonian – their 8th annual photo...
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Apr 13, 2010
1 CommentImage Histogram
Have you noticed the graph that pops up when reviewing your photos on your camera and wondered what it is? It is simply a graph that displays the range of tones present in that image. The far left side of the graph represents black and the far right side of the graph represents white, with...
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Mar 25, 2010
1 CommentRule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds has been used for centuries by painters and photographers, and is important to remember when trying to get a well balanced shot. This rule says that an image should be divided into nine equal parts and that important compositional elements should be placed where they intersect. Basically, the subject is placed...
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Mar 04, 2010
No CommentsNew Digital Cameras for 2010
Cameras are getting better and better (and smaller and smaller) and your choices are endless. In fact, according to 1001 Noisy Cameras, there are 50% more digital cameras on the market for 2010 compared to 2009. Here are a couple new cameras that are about to hit the market that have been receiving quite a bit of...
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Feb 22, 2010
No CommentsWhat is an F-Stop?
An f-stop, f/stop or f-number corresponds to the lens’ ability to gather light, and is the numbering system representing the aperture. (Some camera manuals actually refer to the f-stop as “aperture value”). Any lens set at f/8 will admit the same about of lights as any other lens set at f/8. The series is: 1 1.4 ...
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Jan 31, 2010
No CommentsGet Closer!
The famous photojournalist Robert Capa once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” I think this is the key to taking great pictures, and most (even compact) digital cameras have a pretty good zoom, so it makes it easy. And there is always the “zoom with your feet” method! There are...
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Jan 17, 2010
No CommentsAdjusting White Balance
What is White Balance? Understanding white balance can be difficult, because it has to do with the color temperature of different light sources. The amount of light varies whether you are outside in the sun or in the shade, inside with bright overhead lights or by candlelight. Your eyes do a great job adjusting to...
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Jan 01, 2010
No CommentsWhat is ISO and When Should You Adjust It?
What is ISO? This number originated in film photography, where it was used as an indication of how sensitive film was to light. In other words, ISO measures the speed of the film and how much or how little light was needed for proper exposure. On today’s digital cameras, The ISO number indicates how quickly...
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Dec 13, 2009
1 CommentTips on Photographing Christmas Lights
Now is the time of year that people are decorating their homes with Christmas lights, and many of us are visiting light displays and want to take pictures. But getting good shots of lights can be tricky. The lights are sometimes blurry or don’t show up well at all. Here are some tips on getting...
