Black and White Digital and Film Photography Lab + Tips, Learning Resources, and Gallery

Perspective is Essential to Every Photograph

2007-04-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever notice how a subject which appears interesting to you at first is far less interesting once captured with your camera? Often framing is to blame. But if your framing is good, the light is good, and yet the image still feels odd, consider the height from which the image has been captured. It may seem strange at first, but think about it... Not all subjects look their best when they are captured off-eye-level. Animals, especially smaller ones are often much more interesting, when they appear to be at eye-level in your image. Do not be afraid to get lower, or higher, and anywhere in between. Explore all possibilities before taking the shot. Try to get lower for smaller objects. As you shoot straight or up at an object, you increase its dominance in the image, when you shoot down on it, you decrease it. Keep that in mind, and your photographs will have more interest, and will stand out.

Don't Print Daily - Keep your Inkjet from Clogging

2007-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Like most folks who shoot photos and print their own, I do not print all that often. Once a week is very common for me, sometimes less frequently than that. After all, we do not always shoot and print, especially since most of us are part time shooters. To keep your printer from clogging its head, this is even more important with Pigment Inks, since they are thicker than Dyes, turn your printer on a few times a week, let it cycle on, and it will run a very small cleaning which will purge just a little ink from the head. This is not wasteful, but will keep ink from drying inside the head, and causing for a lot of headache.

Specs of Dust on Your Camera's Sensor

2007-04-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you are like me you no doubt shoot with your camera in less-than-ideal environments. While most cameras are fairly well sealed, they still allow for dust to get inside. As the mirror flips up, and the shutter opens, even a fraction of a second is enough to trap specs of dust on the sensor. Now you notice a little spec on every picture you take, and you have to clone it out. You cannot prevent this, but with a good blower you will rid your camera of pesky dust every time. Never try to use any liquid chemicals to clean your sensor. There are expensive tools on the market that will clean your sensor safely, but for far less money, a blower is just as effective, and safe. When cleaning your sensor, flip the camera so that the lens mount is looking towards the ground. This way, once the dust particle has been loosened, gravity will take charge and let it drop away from your sensor. Blow gently into the cavity, and keep the lens mount looking down. This way dust has little chance of settling on the sensor. A few good blows is typically enough. Put the mens back on, and shoot a piece of white paper to check for the dust being gone.

Shoe-mount Bubble Level for your Camera

2007-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you ever struggle with shooting a straight horizon, perhaps your tripod does not have any built-in levels, then this one is for you... Consider acquiring a bubble level which mounts on your camera's hot shoe. Look for a level which give you two mounting options top shoot portrait and landscape, and if you plan to shoot panoramas, look for one with a bubble on top feature which allows you level your tripod base. Remember, if the base is not perfectly level, your pans will not be accurate.

Shooting Panoramas with a Dedicated Bracket

2007-04-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about getting into the business of shooting and stitching panoramas, you need to get yourself a panoramic bracket. I have recently had the pleasure of testing a bracket from a Canadian firm panoramabrackets.com, and was happy I got my hands on it. The product is solidly built, and their 4th generation version is a far improvement from their gen 3 product. This unit is easy to use, it is light, and fairly compact. However, unless you level the tripod base, and have your bracket correctly adjusted to your lens, you will have trouble. I will add a series of tips regarding Pan shooting. Here's a first, get a tripod with a level at its base. When the base is off-level, your ball head, or panhead will follow the curvature and cause your pan to be off center. The longer the pan, the bigger the problem.

Tip of the Day: Vanguard Photography Gear

2007-01-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Vanguard USA brand? Probably not. I have not either, until I started looking to get a new photo backpack, which had to be large enough for all my gear, have space in the top for clothing, water and other stuff, and most of all, be durable, and easy to use. As I began researching I came across a company which supposedly produced different photo storage gear, and became intrigued. The company is Vanguard USA. They are not easy to find, and their site leaves much to be desired. Nonetheless, their gear looked interesting, and the bag which I liked in particular seemed spacious and fairly well built. I ordered this bag from Buy.com, and hoped for the best. I got the bag about a week later, and I am still raving about it. The quality of the product is on par with Tamrac, Lowepro, Kata, and other high end brands. The bag, Kenline 60, is huge, more pockets than you will ever use, and extremely comfortable. I am thoroughly impressed, and wanted to pass this onto others searching for a high quality durable home for all your camera gear. Consider their products. Visit Vanguard USA.

Tip of the Day: Landscapes and the Sky

2007-01-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

One thing that many people have trouble with when planning their photographic adventures is the sky. More often than not, we check the weather reports and the report calls for a beautiful sunny day which is great, but without a cloud in the sky, deep blue is just not very interesting. Next time you are planning your photographic adventures, look for days with partially cloudy conditions. There is nothing better than the sky breaking through the clouds as it brings out the definition, texture and interesting transitions in the otherwise boring sky. To make things even more interesting, look for days with very light wind, which will assist in architecting interesting patterns in the clouds and if you are shooting near bodies of water there will be a presence of motion which will make for more sweeping views.

Tip of the Day: Maintaining your Camera's Battery

2007-01-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Of all your photographic gear, batteries receive least amount of consideration and care. While batteries seem like a trivial item, they are absolutely paramount to your photo shoots. Don not forget, no power, no photos. Most modern cameras, primarily digitals, are equipped with rechargeable Lithium-Ion(Lion) batteries. Most of these batteries perform very well over their lifetime, however there are things you can do to make them last longer, and work better. Though cleaning your battery is not something you may have considered, clean contacts mean good connection with the camera, and less errors. Clean contacts on your battery with a soft cloth, and use some alcohol if necessary. Drain your battery fully before recharging every month or so, and it will last much longer. Do not recharge the battery more than needed, or keep it in a charger for trickle charging, this will diminish performance.

Tip of the Day: Wide-Angle Cokin Holder

2007-01-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Cokin Filter system is really an excellent tool, and has the potential of offering significant savings since one filter matches several lenses. However, there are some disadvantages to using this system. For example, when using a wide-angle lens, the corners of your image will vignette at the widest end, up to approximately 30mm in 35mm Format. If you shoot digital, the same applies, only because of the APS sized sensors the issue occurs with wider lenses. Nonetheless, this is a rather annoying issue. So, if you feel the same way about it, consider switching your Cokin holder to a Wide-Angle Holder, which you could get for about 10 bucks. It allows for only one filter at a time, but hey, better than nothing, right?

Tip of the Day: Early Morning Photography

2006-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Every day Earth rotates around the Sun, and presents us with shooting opportunities that are unique to that day. However, one thing that is always true is that morning sun is typically much softer warmer, and offers excellent shooting opportunities. There are some things to keep in mind though to get the most out of your early morning photography. Always use a lens hood in the morning; flare, and low angle light will no doubt ruin some of your shots if you do not. Do not shoot into the sun. Look for shadows. Early sun offers low angle light and long deep shadows. Take advantage of them. Use a polarizer. Try to keep the sun at a 90 deg. angle to your lens to maximize the effect of the polarizer. Look for reflections. Low angle light likes to bounce off reflective surfaces and offer beautiful shimmering artifacts.

Tip of the Day: Cold Weather Photography

2006-12-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

It is winter time now, and in many areas of the country a great time to go out and shoot. There are of course things to keep in mind to make our outings more productive. Batteries, especially rechargeable batteries, drain very quickly in the cold. Always carry more spares than you think you will need, because if you do not, you will surely need them. Always, be sure you are completely safe, and layer your clothing. People who do not plan ahead often return early and disappointed. Check all your gear before you go out, and attach things like hoods ahead of time. Doing all this with cold hands is less than pleasant.

Tip of the Day: Universal Lens Hoods

2006-12-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you still wonder why you even have a lens hood, you are likely not getting as much out of your lens as you expect. The hood is a wonderful accessory. It keeps stray light away from the lens, which reduces reflections, loss of focus, washed out photographs, etc. If you do use a lens hood, but hate having one for each lens, consider getting screw-in adjustable rubber hoods. They thread into the front of the lens, and because they are rubber, they can roll in and out to accommodate anywhere from a wide angle to a telephoto lens. The prices are typically low, around 15 dollars. This is definitely a worthy investment.

Tip of the Day: Maximizing Sharpness in Photographs

2006-12-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

We all strive for tack-sharp photographs, unfortunately more often than not our images are not as sharp as we had hoped. There are few basic improvements which we all can make to our workflow to improve sharpness in our photographs. First, if you are not already using a tripod, you should start. Hand-held photographs, even when shot at a very small fraction of a second (fast shutter speed) will exhibit some softness, which will be greatly exaggerated when shooting with a telephoto lens. The longer the lens, the more problematic camera shake will be. If tripod is not an option, shoot with a shutter speed greater than 1 / lens' focal length (i.e. for a 50mm lens DO NOT use shutter speed slower than 1/50 sec). Avoid shooting in the wind, whether with tripod or without. When long exposures are a must, stabilize your tripod, use a remote release, do not touch the camera, and make sure there is no zoom creep, if a telephoto zoom is used.

Tip of the Day: Purchasing a DSLR Camera Body, or a Camera Kit?

2006-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

We are right smack in the middle of holiday season, and if you have been thinking about getting a new Digital SLR, whether to replace your digital point-and-shoot, or a film camera now is a perfect time to make that purchase. Retailers are eager to make sales, especially now, during the holiday season. Manufacturers are also on board, and several released new models and packages including a camera and a lens or two. Naturally, you are wondering if you should get the kit, or just the body. I tell people that if they are just getting their first Digital SLR, or switching from film, they should get a kit, because the kit lenses are typically quite good, and you will get a very good deal altogether. Plus, there are many rebates available on camera kits. Manufacturers are eager to get you onto their system, and they offer good starter lenses to get you to become their permanent customer.

Tip of the Day: Personalized Holiday Greeting Cards

2006-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

We are of course nearing Christmas, and other religious holidays. If you are still thinking about what special thing to give people in your family, consider Personalized Greeting Cards. Kodakgallery.com is offering a large selection of styles to choose from, as well as layouts. Personalized cards are great for those who create scrapbooks, and of course anyone else in the family. They will no doubt leave a lasting impression, and will make a great gift for those with a tight budget.

Tip of the Day: Shallow Depth-of-Field in Photography

2006-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you shoot portraits with a fast lens, such as a 50mm f1.4 or f1.8, you may often run into a situation where part of the face feels soft, while another part of the face is in sharp focus. This is due to a very narrow depth of field which occurs when your lens is set to a very wide aperture. To resolve this issue, either stay back from your subject, or stop down the lens. If you need more blur in your backgrounds, try to separate your subject from the background, and it will be thrown out of focus.

Tip of the Day: Increasing Sharpness in Portraits

2006-11-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, this tip may not make sense right away, but I promise this technique works. When the background in a photograph is distracting, a portrait will not look right. The more out of focus the background is, the better. This is because our brain will not pay as much attention to elements that are not in focus, and will naturally cause the eyes to seek out elements in focus. To increase the sharpness of the portrait, consider blurring out the surrounding area. Applying additional blur around the face will not make it sharper per se, but will cause an increase in perceived sharpness, because the rest of the photograph will be much blurrier. The easiest way to do this with Photoshop is with a layer mask. Create a copy of the background layer, and apply a blur filter to it. Once you got the blur the way you want it, create a layer mask, and use a soft brush to cover the area of the image which should remain sharp.

Black and White Photography Conversion Service

2006-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Folks, I am happy to announce that we are finally offering a long time coming All-Digital Black and White Conversion Service. We have been working on Building this service for quite some time, and it is finally Live. Please, check it out. The service is ideal for Wedding Photography, Formal Photography, Portraiture, etc. We have perfected a Custom Process, which was based in many ways on Ansel Adams' famous Zone System. Check Out this new Black and White Conversion Service.

Tip of the Day: Cleaning Film Before Scanning

2006-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been disappointed with the quality of a film scan, because of small dust particles looking like dirty snow flakes on your screen? If so, you are not the only one. This happens to all of us. Rexton Anti-Static Film Cleaner is an ideal product. It , as the name implies creates an anti-static layer, which helps the film to stay clean. It is just an excellent product, and will keep your film dust-free, for scanning.

Tip of the Day: Using After-Market Inks

2006-11-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you are an advanced amateur, and are looking to switch to after-market inks, you have to take a few things into consideration first. Do not just go for the cheapest stuff out there, as you know, you get what you pay for. Name brand inks such as Media Street, and Lyson are of excellent quality, and meet, if not exceed manufacturer specifications. Keep in mind, you will need to refill cartridges, or use a bulk feed system. If you have never refilled a cartridge before, you may want to avoid the process, and get a bulk-feed system. Also, you will need to get your inks color-profiled, since they are not the same as the OEM. Creating a profile is not easy, and will likely require you to either pay a service to do it for you, or you will need to acquire a special color reader and profiling software. If you are comfortable with this, you are good to go.

Tip of the Day: Keeping your Gear Ready

2006-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

There is nothing worse than having to arrive at your shooting destination with little time before the actual shoot, and find that your lens or lenses are dirty and need to be cleaned. Surprisingly, this happens to many people, and causes them to loose great shooting ops. Clean your lenses ahead of time, and be sure they are ready to go.

Tip of the Day: A perfect Sunset

2006-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sunsets are a subject we all love to photograph. They are tricky, yet rewarding. They are short, and we often miss them, before we got that great photograph. Next time you plan to shoot a sunset, arrive early, at least 30 minutes before. To find out when the sun will be setting, check weather.com, and look up the Zip code of your shooting location. Determine which lens you will be using, and if you are planning to use more than one, make sure it is ready. If filters are to be used, attach them ahead of time. The setting sun is best about 20 minutes to until about 5 minutes before the sunset.

Tip of the Day: Using Cokin Filters for Landscape Photography

2006-11-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

Here's an easy tip. Instead of using round screw-in type filters, try a Cokin system for you landscape photography. The Cokin system is essentially an attaching filter holder, into which you can drop a huge variety of filters. Essential filters, such as split Neutral-Density, and other graduated filters become adjustable, and much more versatile. Plus, one filter will work on different sized lenses, with a lens adapter ring.

Tip of the Day: Zoom Lock

2006-11-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to purchase a long telephoto Zoom lens, consider getting one with a Zoom Lock feature. Due to the heft of some long zoom lenses, the barrel sometimes shifts, when the camera, with the lens attached is tilted. Many modern lenses come with a Zoom Lock, which will prevent this unwated creep.

Tip of the Day: Capturing Patterns in Your Photography

2006-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

By nature our minds and our eyes are drawn to patterns. When we try hard, we can find patterns in almost everything. A simple example is a picket fence, or a textured pattern on textiles. Interesting patterns also create interesting photographs. Look for old architectural elements such as doors with repeating patterns, windows, even shingled walls. Try a different angle, and you will find interesting images where you never thought to look before.