Notes and Tips

Here are some photography tips that I have found helpful in making a photograph be something more than just a snapshot.  Photography is the art of making an image using light. This art requires technical skills that let the photographer control that light in a way that creates an image that looks the way the artist wants it to look. Exposure and composition are the primary tools of the photographer and they are managed with a camera and light sensitive materials.

Moving Water Shots Water looks better if it has a motion blur to it. Take a look at these shots.

Here are two photographs of the same subject. The Photo on the left was taken with my digital camera set to produce a slow shutter speed. Careful when you hold your camera to keep it steady. Notice how the water looks better in this shot. If you have a tripod and can move the shutter to as low as 30 this effect will get even better. This one was shot at about 60.   To get the camera to do a long shutter speed you can set the ISO to 100 and that will force the camera to hold the shutter open longer to let in light. If you have a Tv option it will let you change the shutter speed and the camera will auto select the aperture to make it work. Adjust the shutter to as small a number as you can get. Shutter numbers are a fraction so 60 is actually 1/60 and 500 is 1/500. Which is the longest exposure 60 or 500?   You guessed it -- 1/60 or 60.     The photo at the right was taken with the camera in auto or program mode. The camera has no brain and it tries to make an exposure that will capture most subjects but for water that often causes the moving water to have no motion blur to it.   One of the problems of digital photography and the point-n-shoot cameras on the market is they let the photographer work so quickly that they avoid thinking about what the shot will actually look like when it is viewed later. Next time you come to moving water think about a way to get the water to look like it is moving. Use your shutter. Take several pictures or look at the review of the photo to see if it has enough motion. It only takes a second to adjust the camera if you know where the controls are.

Sunset Shots   Summer often brings great sunsets. If you are on the ocean you can get so me beautiful shots. Exposure is critical for a sunset.

Two photographs of the same sunset. Which one captures the colors you want.    The photo on the left was exposed with the camera on auto or program mode. The camera adjusted the exposure for 1/1142 for the shutter and an aperture of f7.5. The camera was aimed just as you see it in the composition. The sun caused the camera light meter to react to the bright light and let in less light and DARKEN the photo. Some people like this shot the best.    The photo on the right had an exposure of 1/720 and aperture of f7.6 with the camera still in auto or program mode. This shot the camera was moved away from the sun and the exposure was LOCKED in by holding the shutter release button down just a little to hold the setting. Most cameras will do this. Once the exposure was set the camera was moved back and the photo composed. This shot let the camera exposure for the sky and ignore the sun. Which shot do you like. When you get a sunset opportunity next time try this out and see which exposure works the best for you.  What else do you need for a good sunset shot? First you need either clouds or particles in the air like dust or smoke or fog or haze to spread the light or make it glow. Second you need to be sure to compose the shot so that the horizon line is about 1/3rd up from the bottom of the page. Do not put it in the exact center.