Saturday 29 September 2012

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife Photography, Catching The Animals By Surprise

Photography has been around for more than a century and our topics will never cease.  There is portrait, landscape, wedding, and wildlife photography just to name a few.  One of the most rewarding styles of photography centers on wildlife.  It may take you several hours before finding the perfect picture and capturing it, but the reward is more than worth the wait.

Wildlife photography is perhaps the most difficult in the profession.  You have to have the time, inclination, and of course the camera.  Most wildlife shots are captured using a telephoto lens because the animal will not walk near you.  Every once in a while you will be able to capture the fox, elk, bear or other animal as it comes through the woods in your path, however most of the time they are yards away and elusive. 

Wildlife photography doesn’t wait for you to happen a long and snap a photo.  You need to immerse yourself in the site you choose your camera at the ready, and set for the light of the day.  Most automatic cameras work great on the preset for those who are just learning to take wildlife photographs.  Photography has always been about the moment and the best photographers can catch the moment with a speed and agility of the animal they are capturing.



Start with small subjects when you begin your foray into wildlife photography.  Practice on your pet.  Let them roam naturally and see if you can capture the wild and crazy moments on film without the photograph ending up blurry.  All great photographers have studied and practiced.  They also use more than one shot.  Making sure your camera has a quick shutter speed will help you take more than one shot as your move with the animal.  When you have the subject in your site you need to follow it while focusing and then quickly snap as many pictures as you can before they move out of site.  This technique is known as panning.  Rather than the subject coming to you, you follow the subject. 

When you have mastered your pets you can begin to explore the outdoor world of wildlife photography.  Some of your subjects will be standing still and this is another practice technique.  Be aware of the lighting and placement while trying not to disturb the animal.  It is most easy to get a squirrel when they are intent on eating or foraging for food.  If you stay silent and walk carefully you can often get pretty close.

If you are choosing a larger subject such as a deer or bear you will want to stay far enough away to get the shot, and not draw attention to yourself.  Bears are dangerous creatures, but they can be photographed if you use common sense and don’t tread upon their territory.  Wildlife photography and thus the photographers have a code of ethics when attaining the perfect shots.  You will want to follow these ethics for your safety and the animals.
Wildlife photography is a waiting game for the perfect picture to sprint across your viewfinder.  It takes patience and a lot of practice, but the reward of having a family member or friend go, “ where did you get that photograph?  I have got to have one,” will sweeten the deal.

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Hello To Digital

Goodbye to Films, Say Hello to Digital Cameras

With the entry of digital cameras, photography has never been so exciting. Today, there are so many varieties of digital cameras to choose from already. Whether you shop either at the department store or online stores, you will see lots of them. Different digital cameras offer different features and capabilities. This is the reason why choosing one is getting more and more difficult. Once you see what each have to offer, you will obviously have a hard time deciding which one to buy.

One of the usual mistakes that people commit when buying their own digital camera is to be enticed by what the advertising mediums have to say about them. By the time they own that camera, they will realise that they are not as good as they first thought it is. It would then be too late to return it and opt for another kind.

Keep in mind that getting a digital camera should take a lot of consideration. Just like buying a car, you have to consider all aspects since this is one thing that you want to work well and would want to have for a long time. Below are some of the things that will aid you in your decision making process before buying a digital photography camera?




1. The cost.

Ok, so you wanted the latest canon digital camera out in the market. But are you ready to shed the needed amount of money for it? Cost is a big factor when buying a digital camera. It is obvious that the best camera comes with a price. And your budget may not exactly encompass its high cost.

This is not saying that cheap ones are not as good. There are those that you can get for a reasonable price and still works just as well as an expensive one. You need to shop around for the best deal first before you decide on one. Better yet, you can save up on that expensive camera that you wanted all along.

2. The purpose.

Will you be using the camera to shoot your family members? Or are you planning to shoot some good photos worthy of a professional? By knowing what use your digital camera will have, it would be easier to determine the type of digital camera to buy. If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get the capabilities that you need if you plan on taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.

3. The durability.

Since a digital camera is more expensive than the conventional film cameras, you definitely would want something that will stay durable for a long time. You want something that will last even through rough handling and seasons. If you happen to purchase a typical digital camera you may want to buy some accessories to protect it from scratches and damage. It is best however to get one that is known to have a good quality and durability.

Get the best value out of the money that you will pay for a digital photography camera. Think hard about these important factors first so you will get it right the first time.

4. The lens.

Remember, when buying a digital camera, the most important part is the lens. A good quality lens is essential for taking crystal clear photographs. If you already own a digital camera and are considering upgrading to a different model, consider buying better quality lenses for your existing camera instead.

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Macro Photography

Macro Digital Photography: Some Concerns

We have always found that looking at objects from another perspective is fascinating. This is because of the fact that we often discover new things just by looking at a familiar object from a different angle or focus. This might be the reason for people's fascination with digital macro photography.

Digital macro photography is an art. There's no question about that. It takes the genius of an artist to take something so ordinary and something so dismissible and turn it into something that just captures an aspect of life. For that is what art is. No art ever claimed to contain all the truths of life. Art is a reflection of the world through the eyes of the artist. By looking at a piece of art such as digital macro photography, we get to share the perspective of other people and that can be a very powerful connection.

Another thing about digital macro photography you should know is that it is not easy. You need to consider a lot of factors in order to produce great photographs. What are these factors?



1) Skills.

Do you actually have the skills necessary for digital macro photography? Do you have the eye for beauty that would be appreciated by people who view your photographs? That's not all you need. You also need to have a steady hand. While taking digital macro photographs,
even barely noticeable movements of the hand can ruin your picture.


You need to have the skills to use a camera properly. You need to be able to adjust the camera in order to take the picture that you truly want to appear. Sure, you can actually edit a digital macro photograph using the computer, but why should you give yourself more work than necessary?

Remember that digital macro photography is all about showing things in different ways. Because of this, you need to accept the fact that other people may see your work differently from the way you see it. A fresh eye never hurts.

2) Equipment.

You also need the proper tools in order to express your talent. The proper tools can help you a lot if you want to achieve the effect that you want. Remember that although there are tools today that claim to be usable for any type of photography, you should try to find
equipment that's specially made for digital macro photography. This is because such equipment can definitely bring out the best in your skills.


The right equipment is essential because digital macro photography needs a lot of work in order to be perfect. If you have the right tools fordigital macro photography, you will be able to achieve your goals and show your pictures the way that you want them to be seen.

3) Subject .

Everything is interesting when viewed in different ways. However, some subjects are more interesting than others. Some objects, when you choose them as subjects of digital macro photography, manage to amaze you with the amount of things you do not know about them.
Great subjects of digital macro photography reveal worlds beyond what you can see with the naked eye. So choose your subjects wisely.

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Lighting

Digital Photography Lighting for Picture-Perfect Photos

Digital photography can be maximized to its full potential once you have the perfect camera, the proper color and the perfect lighting. Even if you have with you the latest model of digital camera, your photos will not turn out great if you are not making use of the right strategies in getting them right.

Experts in digital photography have come to realise that the digital camera is only one of the things you need to have great pictures. There are also other factors to consider so that you will not be disappointed by the result. One of them is the digital photography lighting.

Have you ever seen digital photos that seem to blur and be indistinguishable? There are a lot of cases like this. Even if you try and edit them using Photoshop or any other software, you cannot seem to get the desired lighting you want. This is because you have not considered having the proper lighting when the photo was taken. You were thinking that the camera and its features will be able to do that for you. Yes it can. But they may not reach your expectations.

The secret to getting that perfect picture is to do it right the first time. By doing it right, it simply means that you need to think about how well or bad the lighting is in the process of taking the photo. Below are some of the natural sources of digital photography lighting that will make your photos look terrific.



1. After sunrise and before sunset.

It is during these times that photography is at its peak. Meaning, photos turn out great when they are shoot after sunrise and before sunset. Why is this so?
This is because the orange color that appears in the sky during these times adds to the colors that your digital camera is capable of. Most of the time, some photos appear dull and unrealistic when they are printed because of the representation of the colors when it is printed.

The color of the environment can add a sort of brightness to your photos. In addition, it will make it easy for you to edit them on your computer once you feel that you want to put in some combination in the natural setting of the picture.

2. Sunlight.

Sunlight is one form of lighting that is very effective once you know how to modify your shots. Keep in mind that you are not capable of altering the brightness of the sun or the shadows that it can create on your photos. It is up for you to choose the best position wherein you can make the most of the light that is emitted by the sun. Work them to your advantage.

Try on different angles and see if they look perfect once frozen.
You can also make the most of the drop shadows that is created by the sunlight. Just make sure that they will not blur your photo. For minor adjustments, you can just edit the photos straight from your computer.
Shooting digital photos is not only about having the most advanced digital camera. It is also about looking for strategies and techniques that will benefit your shots. Try to shoot your photos with the perfect lighting and you will see that you do not need to edit or add some
more colors in them.


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Digital Photography


Mastering Digital SLR Cameras is Mastering Photography Itself

There are a lot of amateur as well as professional camera users who are shifting to digital models for much ease, convenience, and efficiency when taking initial pictures, taking more pictures after deleting some, and finally sharing photos to friends or storing them into the computer’s memory.

Camera users are normally classified as hobbyists, novice, and professionals. To whichever category you belong, it is suggested that you ponder and accommodate the following basic information about digital cameras:



1.) Categories of a camera.

Cameras can be grouped into:
a. ultra compact – no flash mode
b. prosumer or compact – for hobbyists
c. digital SLR cameras – have lenses, tripod, and external flashes; for professionals

If you want to master the art of photography, it is suggested that you master using the third category.
 Models that fall under this category are priced for their resolution, among other things.


2.) Mega pixels.

Mega pixels can be classified into:
a. 3 mega pixels – for basic snapshots
b. between 3 and 5 mega pixels – images have good print quality
c. between 5 and 7 mega pixels – images can be easily manipulated; larger print sizes can be made.


3.) Zoom
A camera’s zoom is normally categorized into two:
a. optical zoom factor – what is distant appears closer by magnifying the light entering through the main lens
b. digital zoom factor – magnifies the resulting image

Quality photographs depend mostly on the optical zoom factor.

4.) Storage media.

These are the some common storage formats:
a. Compact Flash (for compact and DSLRs)
b. Sony Memory Stick (compatible with other Sony appliances)
c. Smart Media

Storage sizes normally range from 64 K, which can store 3 dozen mega pixel images; 1G can store about 500 images with the same mega pixels.

5.) Carrying case

You should keep the camera and its accessories in place. Always know what equipment you have and where it is stored in your bag for quick and easy use.

6.) Tripod.

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment to have when taking shots to ensure that no blurring occurs in your pictures.

7.) Lenses and Filters.

There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.
Lenses can be categorized as follows:

a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers.

b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries.

c. telephoto lens – allows you to take photos of objects that are some distance away. They are good for wildlife photography because if you try to get a shot of an animal at a short distance you are likely to frighten it away and lose the shot.
  Filters, on the other hand are used to:

a. soften the effect of the image.

b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods.

c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic.

d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.
  Here are some basic strategies on how to capture an image:

1. Holding the camera.
You should hold the camera steadily and keep your spare fingers from interfering with the lens. This skill usually takes a few practices. As stated above, a tripod will enable you to completely steady the camera.

2.) Focusing.

To keep the camera from shuddering, it is better to half-press the camera until you are able to lock your view on the focus before completely pressing the button of the shutter.
You may also use a tripod for better focusing.

3.) Previewing.

Take and retake pictures if necessary after previewing them in your LCD screen.

4.) Archiving.

Keep an album of your best photographs so that you can refer to them as you keep on working your way to being great photographers. Once you have mastered using your simple compact and especially digitals SLR cameras, you can surely capture photos using other
cameras with great ease and perfection. That is a guarantee!


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