Daily Photo Tips Archive
Page 93
These photography tips are a record of new entries to the Daily Photo Tips RSS feed since November 2007. There are currently 1567 tips in the database! Contact Me to comment or add tips.
Daily Photo Tip
Try creating silhouettes by setting an object against a much brighter background. Expose as if you were photographing the background alone - this will render your subject completely black. (First published Apr 5, 2009)
24.May.08'L-plates' are available for many camera mounts, allowing you to mount the camera vertically without turning your tripod head. L plates can be handy if your camera is quite heavy, to avoid off-balancing your tripod.
23.May.08Third party lenses are available for most popular camera types. Third party lenses, like brand-name lenses, can be of highly variable quality – research before you buy.
22.May.08To stabilize your tripod for critical photos with long lenses, drape your camera bag around your tripod. This will help absorb any vibrations during the exposure.
21.May.08Deep black objects will retain their shape in your photographs, but pure white objects often won't. Pure white objects are very bright, and will tend to flare and 'blow out' at the edges.
20.May.08The orientation of lines in your photographs will change its mood. Diagonal or vertical lines add energy to a composition, while horizontal lines create a calmer feel.
19.May.08When photographing a highly reflective object, be careful not to include your own image in the photo. This is especially tricky when your reflection appears distorted or very small.
18.May.08When you're using a tripod in the wind, shield your camera and tripod as much as you can. Even small vibrations will show up in the photo, especially when you're using long lenses.
17.May.08Instead of a viewfinder, some larger format cameras use a 'focusing screen', a piece of mat glass that the image is projected onto. Though they can be seen from a distance, they are usually dimmer than a viewfinder.
16.May.08Don't push the shutter button with the very tip of your finger. Instead, use the pad, lying your finger horizontally across the button. This will give you more control over the timing of your exposures.
15.May.08'Reciprocity failure' is a term unique to film photography, and refers to an exposure so long (usually more than 15 seconds, depending on the film) that the relationship between shutter speed and aperture is no longer fixed.
14.May.08If your photo has a difficult structure or no structure at all, the viewer will tend to 'read' it as they would a book – moving from the top left corner to the bottom right.
13.May.08'Bayonet' filters are available for some models of camera, particularly older models. These filters mount onto the lens with a simple quarter-turn, making them faster to use than regular screw-mount filters.
12.May.08In addition to being heavier and larger, zoom lenses are typically slower than their fixed focal length cousins. This means that prime lenses will usually offer more flexibility in low light.
11.May.08Try using a quick release tripod head. A quick release head makes photography faster and easier, and will make it more likely that you will use your tripod.
10.May.08Using an old neck-strap, camera bag, and other small accessories can make your camera look a lot older without doing any damage. This can make you less of a target for theft.