Category Archives: Photo Tips

Pinhole Projector for Eclipse Viewing and Photography

Posted on by August 21, 2017

Find a large box. Size is only important to give room for a pinhole that’s not obstructed by your head or your camera. Cut a small hole near the center of the short side.  Set your camera lens face down near the edge and draw an outline around your lens. Cut out that hole. You’ll use that for your lens or your eye. Pop a little pinhole in the center of a small piece of aluminum foil. Use a pin to make that hole. The cleaner and rounder the hole is- the sharper your viewing will be. Don’t dig around … Continue reading →

Tips for Eclipse Photography

Posted on by August 21, 2017

Now that we’re upon the #GreatAmericanEclipse, and especially that we’re now SOLD OUT OF SOLAR FILTERS!!! Its time for a nice technical post about eclipse photography. First, all the safety stuff!!! Only use approved solar viewing filters to look at the sun!!! Keep your camera lens capped except when actually shooting!!! I don’t want to see anyone come in with holes burned in their shutters – so don’t use Mirror Lockup!!! If you’re doing Live View from your camera’s rear screen remember that the sun is blasting onto the sensor!!! I’ll say it again- Keep your camera lens capped except when … Continue reading →

4 Tips to Great Travel Photos

Posted on by August 5, 2017

When it comes to travel photography its not about the camera you have.  Think about it, photographers like Ansel Adams & Yousuf Karsh could create better images with a pinhole camera than most of today’s photographers can with the most sophisticated computerized cameras made.  Photography is not even about the beautiful images we create. For most of us it is about telling stories and preserving family memories. Having the latest and greatest equipment is awesome if you can afford it; however, it is not necessary for taking great photos of your family. So, what is necessary? Being prepared and understanding … Continue reading →

Color Theory 101 – Basics to Understanding White Balance

Posted on by July 5, 2017

What is White Balance? White Balance is the single most important setting to master on a digital camera. The color temperature you select that tells a computer/camera what values equal white. Why white?  That is simple.  Do you remember CRT (Cathrode Ray Tube) televisions/monitors? Remember being told not to touch the screen because it would blow up the TV? This was because the TV’s had the 3 tubes, one Red, another Blue and the last Green, that fired electrons that created a static electricity field around the set/monitor while delivering a picture to the screen.  Red, Green and Blue are … Continue reading →

Composition Theory – What is Dynamic Symmetry?

Posted on by June 5, 2017

Photography is its most basic element stems from Algebra, Chemistry and Optical Physics.  With digital photography we have kind of replaced Chemistry with Computer Science. Let’s face it, most of us are not fans of mathematics; and, many are shocked to learn how large a role math plays in photography.  Algebraic elements are at the core root to photography. Reverting to film base we know that there are two types of film that exist – negative and positive.   The same applies to photographic paper.  As a result, we print negatives using negative paper (two negatives equal a positive). Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to … Continue reading →

Tips on using Flash in your Photography

Posted on by February 5, 2017

Shooting with a flash indoors can be a somewhat frustrating task, even for some professionals.  Although shooting inside can appear challenging at first, it’s far easier than, trying to create images on a summer day with a harsh high noon sun in the sky.  If you can remember these tips you will be able to create great images inside every time. #1 – GET AWAY FROM USING YOUR POP-UP FLASH If you own a DSLR you never want to use the on camera flash/strobe.  Why?  Because using a pop-up flash will generally hurt your image instead of enhancing it.  The … Continue reading →

Time to Clean & Check your DSLR Camera’s Sensor & Lenses

Posted on by January 3, 2017

If you’re using an DSLR camera, you’ll eventually require a “Clean & Check” to remove dust spots you encounter due to a dirty camera sensor.  When it occurs it is the result of sensor dust and you’ll need to know how to clean the sensor, and how to minimize the risk of this happening again. What does Sensor Dust look like? A dirty camera sensor is most apparent in smooth, light regions, such as bright skies: Visually check your sensor by taking a photo that includes the sky, Example A, or if in a studio a white or a white/off-white wall. Then import … Continue reading →

Imaging Sensors: Full Frame vs APS-C (Crop Frame)

Posted on by August 1, 2016

Steven Sasson was the pioneer and driving force in the development of both the digital camera and the DSLR.   He invented the first digital camera while working for Eastman Kodak in 1975. Seen below is Sasson’s first generation digital camera, as you can see,  it was quite large and weighed approximately 8 pounds. Not exactly as portable as today’s digital point and shoots or DSLRs. In 1989 along with Robert Hill, Sasson created the Kodak ECAM D5000. It was the first version of the modern day DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. The digital imaging (capture) sensor Sasson developed replaced film which ultimately changed … Continue reading →

Bokeh: Understanding Lenses – Part 3

Posted on by July 5, 2016

The first two installments of this three part series discuss types of lenses; explain focal length, background perspective, depth of field, and how to purposely throw your background out of focus. If you follow conversations on online photo boards you have probably heard threads discussing bokeh. But what is Bokeh and how can you create it? First of all, Bokeh is a Japanese term. It is used to describe the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image. All lenses are capable of creating bokeh of some sort. Furthermore, the best examples are created using prime lenses with larger apertures, like f/1.4 … Continue reading →

Depth of Field: Understanding Lenses – Part 2

Posted on by July 5, 2016

Part 1 of this series explains how the focal length of lenses control depth of field and background perspective.How does this apply to the photographs you want to create?  Once you master controlling your depth of field you will be able to control what is in focus; you can purposely throw your background out of focus so only your subject(s) are in focus or you can choose to have your background in focus to include it in your portrait to compliment your subject(s).   A portrait, by definition, is a portrayal; to depict, written or visually an image or group of images … Continue reading →