Camera Lounge

An interesting article over at Lightstalking suggests some excellent ways to improve your photography, without spending any money on new kit. As somebody who has a never ending list of kit I would like to buy, I thought it was worth a read!

• Utilize the rule of thirds – This is a good one. Really focus on your composition to get a more powerful image.
• Fill the frame – Be brave and really make the subject stand out with no dead space around it.
• Bokeh – Create interesting backgrounds by using a wide open aperture and throwing the background out of focus.
• Use the flash when the sun is out – I am not a big flash fan, but the example used in the article does get me thinking I should utilise that more!
• Light trails – great fun to shoot

I would also add the following:

• Restrict yourself to one lens for a while – something like a 50mm prime would be perfect for this. It will really get you thinking about your composition and you will be zooming with your feet!
• Set yourself a weekly theme, or better still, join in some challenge/theme communities such as PhotoFriday, or vfxy
• Go out on photoshoots with your photography buddies – a bit of company can be inspiring

What else would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

There is a useful article over at Digital Photography School with tips on how to take better pictures with your camera phone. This is something I myself have dabbled in and I often snap away with my mobile phone when I don’t have my clunky SLR to hand

Top Tips

• Make sure your subject is well lit
• Get close
• Keep it steady
• Edit images later
• Don’t throw away mistakes
• Avoid using the zoom
• Experiment with white balance
• Take loads of shots and experiment
• Follow rules of composition, and then break them!
• Keep your lens clean
• Observe camera phone etiquette
• Rename your images
• Use the highest reslolution on your camera

Although I agree with the point about editing the images later, personally I have had some good success using the black and white setting on my K750i. Ultimatley, it is all about experimentation and although it can be a bit hit and miss at times, it’s all good fun!

VisitDigital Photography School for more information.

I found this cool DIY project via Lifehacker

For less than $10 you can build a mini studio for macro photography! You just need a cardboard box and some tissue paper, and two sheets of poster board – black and white.

I’ll be giving it a go for some product type shots this weekend I think!

High Dynamic Range or HDR for short, is a technique that allows you to overlay two images to gain the maximum dynamic range in the image. You must have two or more registered images (i.e., shot using a tripod to ensure no movement of the subject), that have been taken at different F stops. By combining the images using the HDR technique you achieve an image that has the range of shadows and highlights from both the registered shots.

Not sure if that makes ANY SENSE what so ever!!! For a far better explanation, click here for a Wikipedia definition

There are a number of Software products on the market to help you create HDR images, and Adobe CS2 has this feature built in. If you have Adobe CS2, here is a great tutorial on HDR. Although it does look a bit wordy to begin with, the tutorial is excellent.

Good luck with your HDR images! I’m off to try this myself too!