Photography Tip 5

Being digital means we take more pictures, which isn't all bad, BUT you have to remember to erase the BAD ones. Editing through your images will cut down on the memory card space and hard drive space.  Being able to take more pictures means you have a better chance of capturing better pictures. So getting rid of the bad ones is a good thing.

There are two ways to edit through your pics. One, you can view and erase from your camera either right after you took them or during the time you are taking them. The cons of doing it this way is risking erasing the whole card by accident and  it takes battery power every time you view and erase. The pros  is it frees up memory card space and saves time doing it later.

Two,  (this is the way I do it) everytime I download images I first load them into Memory Manager. Then I go through just the ones that I have just downloaded . My batch is smaller and in MM I don't have a bunch of folders to open and go through I can just see everything that I just imported. Then at that same time I do any editing and then I sort them into my appropriate files. So it does take a bit longer at the time but I don't have to try to figure out which ones needs editing and deleting when I am ready to make my digital pages.

Try both ways and see which works better for you.

 

Happy Shooting

Shannon

All about Images Blog

Dr. Mark Mizen is Creative Memories Director of Technology. He now has his own blog at http://allaboutimages.wordpress.com/ to discuss digital imaging, with an emphasis on image permanence. This Blog is public and open to all. He welcomes your comments and suggestions.

This is a great resource to find out more information about this digital photos, archival products and "all about images."

Please note: All About Images Blog represents his personal views not Creative Memories' views.

Tuesday Tech Tips: Photography 101: Tip 4

Place you subject off-center

Most people place the person or object they are shooting right smack dab in the middle of the frame.

When you place your subject off center this brings into play the "Rule of Thirds"

This is a simple rule, but probably is the most popular rules. Simply, divide the image into thirds both ways. (Some DSLR cameras already have this grid available in the view finder) Then when composing your shot, place important elements either along these lines or where the lines intersect. Here's some samples:

Here is what I'm talking about when I describe dividing the frame.

 

 

On my sample images you can see that the subject is somewhere near the intersecting points. Which makes for a better composition.

Having said all of this, the rule of thirds is also one of those rules that you can break. Sometimes you might find that you prefer the subject in the center. This is just one of those basic rules that helps you to teach yourself to compose and think before you click.

 

Happy Shooting

Shannon

Tuesday Tech Tip: Photography 101: Tip 3

Use Optical Zoom rather than Digital Zoom.

Cameras now usually have Optical and Digital zoom functionality.  Now when we used to shoot film we were using Optical Zoom.

Optical Zoom uses the lens of the camera to bring the subject closer. Digital Zoom uses software to digitally enlarge a portion of the image.

So why is Optical Zoom better?

Well Digital Zoom really isn't zoom at all. It just enlarges the image. You are losing quality because of the enlargement process. So the quality is better when using Optical Zoom.

So how do I know what kind of zoom I am using?

Well your camera will use Optical Zoom first, then Digital zoom. Check you manual for ways that you can have your Digital zoom turned off or how to notify you when you have gone into Digital zoom mode.

You are better off using Optical Zoom and cropping your photo in post processing.

 

Happy Shooting

Shannon

Tuesday Tech Tip

For Todays Tech Tip I think I will give a little photo lesson about details using yesterdays post as an example.

Yesterday I was my daughters first day of school. (second grade) and I wanted to capture the details that would show the excitement building until that day. I took a picture of a clock just minutes before it was time to wake up.

And of the calendar with the date circled.

This is letting me tell the story with pictures. And details show what was happening.

Don't forget to get a few candid's when they don't really know your shooting. I know its hard when these little ones that we take so many pictures of, automatically put on their "smile" face and strike a pose.  But these of Madison in her class room tell more about the story.

Maddie is really hard to get candid's of too. Sometimes the only ones I can get are when she asleep :)

 

 

Happy Shooting

Shannon

Tuesday:Tech Tips Photography Tip 2

Ok so here is your next photography tip:


Move in Closer

Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your photos. Just when you think you have moved closer take one more step closer. But if your digital it doesn't hurt to take a few. Try seeing the difference by taking one farther back and taking more as you move in closer.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical or Digital Zoom of your camera to get a close up shot. Preferably Optical zoom.


When taking shots of family and friends, most people place the subject's full body in the frame, or place head and arms in the shot. Instead, fill the frame with your subject's FACE only - particularly if they are smiling or are in a moment of reflection.


With less clutter in the image, there's less to draw the eye away from the main subject of your photo. Also, human faces (particularly children's faces) are something we all feel pleasure looking at. Think back and remember that when you are looking at a picture we tend to try to see the face. Have you ever had to put the picture right in front of your face to try to see the faces?


If you can't get close enough when you're taking the shot, you can zoom in later using photo editing software - crop out everything except the subject's face and see what a difference it makes. But be careful to not to try to do this often because you lose the quality of the picture, meaning less pixels per inch.



Here are some examples:


In this picture you can't even see his expression. (jack at age 1)

Here his expression is the main subject.

Even though he isn't smiling, the focus goes right to his eyes.

This is one Maddie took of Sam, she is very good with this tip, everything she takes is very, very close. Especially her self-portraits (see below) haha...lol she is quite the photographer!

Tuesday, Tech Tips: Photography 101

So I promise some photography tips for yesterdays post but its coming today, mainly because Maddies been sick and Sam's been recovering so I'm a day behind. It seems like when my kids are sick I lose track of what day is what.



SO....here is photography 101

The First Lesson is getting familar with your camera. Get to know your camera by reading, yes the manual, I know those things are put in the box for a reason. I, like most people *hate* reading manuals. But, to get the most from your camera I would read and play at the same time.

Try to copy whatever is explained in the manual, and then repeat it a few times to get familar with what the setting is, how to set it, and what is it used for. For example, most cameras have different flash settings. When you get to that section of the manual, take test shots in all modes, get familar with what each setting is used for and why you would use it.

Photography manuals can be confusing especially when getting techincal. I have been reading the manual for my flash unit many times and it still doesn't all make sense. We will cover more about photography terminology in later lessons.

For right now the challenge is to just really use, use, use your camera and play, play, play with all the different settings. If you are digital plan on deleting most of these pictures so there is no pressure to get it *right*. Let the artist inside out and just get to know your camera.

Happy Shooting
Shannon