Digital Cameras

Lighting Secrets

2007-12-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Almost as important as composition is the use of light. Here are some secrets for using light.

The best outdoors light to be found is at dawn and dusk. Here the light is not as bright as midday, and the sun produces some wonderful reds. Both these help to make a normally ordinary shot look magic by creating a warm glow.

When you are shooting outdoors, the best way to shoot is away from the sun. Don’t have the sun in your photographs because it will overpower the colors and ensure the side of your subject facing the camera is in shadow. Ensure the sun is behind your back.

Another thing to watch out for is that your subject doesn’t squint. We all love to see bright wide eyes, so ensure the sun isn’t too bright. This is another reason to shoot at dawn or dusk - you can have the subject facing the sun but not squinting… and you get much better colors in your image at the same time!

If shooting in sunlight, watch for shadows. Look at the shadow cast by your subject and ensure it doesn’t block anything, or look unsightly. Additionally, ensure your own shadow doesn’t fall into the picture!

The best night shots are taken just after sunset. This is where scenes are lit up as if it were night, but there is still a tiny bit of sunlight around to help light the scene and bring out the detail.

When indoors, try moving your lighting sources around. Lights at lower angles are usually more dramatic than plain overhead lighting.

Remember the secret about using your flash during the day? It’s also possible on most digital cameras to take night shots without a flash. Try setting your ISO speed to 800 or above to ensure the camera is sensitive to very low light.

Need to use the flash, but it’s a bit harsh? Try taping some wax paper over the flash to diffuse the light.

Want to light a very small object? If you’re using your macro setting to take a shot, cut up a plastic milk container and place it around the object. It will diffuse the surrounding light.

Tips for Taking Sports Images

2007-12-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

Most of us have seen sports photos that capture the essence of the action - mostly in the sports sections of the newspapers. It’s normally pretty hard to create quality sporting photos because most of the time (for large events) you can’t get close enough to the action to capture the event properly. Would you like to be able to take those same quality images of your kid’s sports events? Read on.

Location

You need to get as close to what you are shooting as you can. Most press photographers are given specific places they can shoot from - and they pay for that privilege. I’m betting you don’t have a press pass and so will need to shoot from the stands. Get as close to the action as possible.
It also helps to know the sport you are photographing. Get into the correct location to enable you to “capture the moment”. Near the goal posts is usually a good spot for Football or Soccer.

Capture The Moment

Sports photography is mostly about timing. Be ready at the right place and be ready to shoot at the right time. Most sports have predictable moments - scoring a goal, getting a home run, shooting a basket. Be ready for when these moments happen.

Remember the following - “If you see the action, you missed it.” This basically means you need to anticipate the action. Don’t wait for the batter to hit the ball before pressing the shutter. If you do, the image will likely to be taken once the ball has been hit and has left the frame. Anticipate by holding the shutter release down half way (so the camera can focus and set the exposure level). Just before the ball is hit, press the shutter all the way down. Through experience, you will learn how much time beforehand you need to press the shutter.
Be aware that sports also have unpredictable moments, so keep a keen eye out for these and have your camera ready.

Sports Equipment

Having the correct gear is essential to great sports photography. Because most of the time you will be standing a long way from the action, you will almost certainly need a telephoto lens to enable you to zoom in. Because most good telephoto lenses are large and bulky, you should also think about a monopod (a tripod with only one leg). An optional piece of equipment is a flash with a high output but be aware that a lot of sports events do not allow flashes. Talk to an event official first to get the okay.

Focus

An out of focus shot is pretty useless. You should aim for every photo to be crisp and clear. Auto focus cameras do a very good job of this, and they usually focus pretty quickly. Many times, however, manual focus will work much better because the camera’s auto focus can take a long time to complete.

There are two ways you can focus your camera - Zone Focus and Follow Focus. Follow Focus is where you keep your camera on the subject, changing the focus as needed to ensure the subject stays in focus as they are moving around the court (or ground). This works well when most of your subjects are moving from side to side in your image - car racing, football and soccer are three examples.

Zone Focus is where you expect the action to take place at a specific position - eg a the basket ball ring or the jump point for a high jumper. Focus on the area you want to be sharp and wait for your athlete to move into the zone.

Composition

Faces. The face is the primary source of emotion, and because emotion is what makes a shot it’s vitally important to include faces in your digital images. It can be difficult to capture faces in some sports (fencing for example involves face cages, baseball caps create shadows on the players faces). Use a flash to fill in the shadows in these instances but remember the flash has a very limited range.

Use Vertical. Because the human form is taller than it is wide, it lends itself to a vertical composition. Rotate your camera 90 degrees so the height of your image is also larger than the width.

Rule Of Thirds. The Rule Of Thirds is also useful here. Divide the frame into thirds vertically and horizontally and place the subject where the lines intersect. Watch for where the player is moving too - if they are moving to the right, place them on the left third line and vice versa.
Take Individual Shots. Most professional photographs are of individuals so try to shoot one person at a time. Exceptions to this are when there is conflict - two players fighting for a ball.

Know Your Sport

Each sport has a different technique for getting the best images and it helps to know the key elements of your sport. Know the basic fundamentals of the game and be prepared for what may happen next. With 15 seconds to go with a basketball team two points down, they may try to shoot a basket from the opposite end of the court. Anticipating this will help immensely with your photographs.

It also helps to know the players. If a particular player does a victory dance after each touchdown, be ready for it when it happens.

Freezing Action Shots

Most of the time you want to freeze the action. People want to see people suspended in mid air, or in mid shot. To freeze the action you need a fast shutter speed. The faster the shutter speed, the better the freeze but the more light you need. Most of the time this won’t be a problem as a lot of sports are held outdoors. Set your camera to the fastest shutter speed possible.

The Illusion of Movement

It isn’t always the best thing to freeze-frame the action. Blurry images imply movement which helps in some sports. You don’t want a race car to appear to be standing still but having the car crisp while the background is blurry will help show that the car is moving fast.
Slow your shutter speed down and follow the subject (panning) with your camera. Try to keep your subject in the same position in the frame. This will blur the background and keep your subject sharply focused.

Emotion

Hands down Emotion is what makes fantastic photos. If there is no emotion, there is no desire to view a photo. Fortunately, sports participants who are exerting themselves exhibit emotion. The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat are both fantastic emotions to capture. But don.t forget the other chances for emotion to show: A high jumper preparing for the highest jump of his career; a cricketer batsman positioning a hit ball between two fielders; Even a junior hockey player getting the hair out of her eyes.

Oh, and crowd reactions also make fantastic shots. Don’t forget to turn your camera around every now and again and look at the crowd.

Take Safe Images

Although you want to try to take memorable shots at key points in the action, sometimes you just miss them. To ensure you have a record of the day, take a number of “safe” images that will show what happened, but may not have the emotion of that specific action shot. Take images of the players doing “what they do” in the sport. Eg a tennis player serving.

Take lots of images

Not every image you take will be a perfect shot capturing the action and emotion. Prepare for this and take as many shots as you can while at the event. It’s not unusual for professional photographers to take 100 shots during a match and only use two or three. Don’t just take any old shots though. Try to plan each one to capture a story or an emotion.
Taking memorable sports images can take time and effort, but with patience and a little knowledge, you too can produce sports magazine quality images.

Lighting Secrets

2007-11-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

A lot of the secrets focussed on the composition of your image -where your subject was placed, and what was around it.

Almost as important as composition is the use of light.Here are some secrets for using light:

Lighting Secrets

Almost as important as composition is the use of light. Here are some secrets for using light.

*The best outdoors light to be found is at dawn and dusk. Here the light is not as bright as midday, and the sun produces some wonderful reds. Both these help to make a normally ordinary shot look magic by creating a warm glow.

*When you are shooting outdoors, the best way to shoot is away from the sun. Don’t have the sun in your photographs because it will overpower the colors and ensure the side of your subject facing the camera is in shadow. Ensure the sun is behind your back.

*Another thing to watch out for is that your subject doesn’t squint. We all love to see bright wide eyes, so ensure the sun isn’t too bright. This is another reason to shoot at dawn or dusk - you can have the subject facing the sun but not squinting… and you get much better colors in your image at the same time!

*If shooting in sunlight, watch for shadows. Look at the shadow cast by your subject and ensure it doesn’t block anything, or look unsightly. Additionally, ensure your own shadow doesn’t fall into the picture!

*The best night shots are taken just after sunset. This is where scenes are lit up as if it were night, but there is still a tiny bit of sunlight around to help light the scene and bring out the detail.

*When indoors, try moving your lighting sources around. Lights at lower angles are usually more dramatic than plain overhead lighting.

*Remember the secret about using your flash during the day? It’s also possible on most digital cameras to take night shots without a flash. Try setting your ISO speed to 800 or above to ensure the camera is sensitive to very low light.

*Need to use the flash, but it’s a bit harsh? Try taping some wax paper over the flash to diffuse the light.

*Want to light a very small object? If you’re using your macro setting to take a shot, cut up a plastic milk container and place it around the object. It will diffuse the surrounding light.

Canon's Best Point and Shoot Camera

2007-11-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

8.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
4x Optical Image Stabilized zoom for steady, long zoom shooting
High-resolution 2.5-inch PureColor LCD with scratch-resistant, anti-reflection coating
Sensitivity range to ISO 1600 for sharper photos in low light
Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading

Clean your Camera

2007-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

It's very important to keep your camera clean, Reader.Dirty cameras and lenses can result in blurry and dustyimages. And can ruin potentially great images.Keep your camera clean by following these simple tips:

If your images always turn out all blurry, it may mean your lens needs a clean. Most high end cameras come with threads to which you can attach a SkyLight (or UV) filter. This helps to protect the lens from not only dirt, but scratches. Cheaper cameras don't have threads so remember to cover the lens when not in use and try not to touch it.

Don't clean the lens too often - depending on how often you use your camera, every few weeks or few months is fine. To clean your lens, pick up a lens cleaning kit from your local photo store. Use the lens brush and air blower to remove any loose clinging particles. Place a drop of lens cleaning fluid onto some lens tissue (or a cloth) and wipe the lens clean with a circular motion. Use the blower to dry the lens, or let it dry naturally. Don't use any abrasive solution (such as soap) or wipe too hard on the lens as you can wipe away the special coatings.

Watch out you don't create a 'worn spot' by cleaning your lens the same way each time. Alternate the circular motion with up and down or sideways movements sometimes.

Ensure you protect the other parts of your camera as well. Particularly the Memory Card slot and Battery contacts. If you find they have any corrosion, you can remove it easily with a pencil eraser. Make sure you remove the excess eraser that can get left in the compartment with an air blower. Never ever insert anything into the memory card slot that isn't meant to be there, as you could break the small pins. To keep clean, it's best to leave a memory card in the slot, or at least keep the cover closed.

Shooting Vacations

2007-11-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

I love vacations! It's a great time to get out with the familyand either relax and enjoy some down time, or go sight seeingand discover new places.Almost everyone takes a camera on vacation, but not manyknow some great tricks for taking sensational vacation shots.

Here are some tips for helping with your vacation shots

Take plenty of memory!

Make sure you have extra memory cards, have another storage facility like a Laptop or media storage unit.

Get close

Don't stand too far from your subject - instead get nice and close so you can see their face. Either a three-quarter shot, or profile generally works well.

Candid counts

Images with people are usually more interesting when the subject is caught in a candid moment. When setting up for a posed shot, try to include something interesting to liven up the shot.
Make your trip a story. Create a visual diary by photographing landmarks along your journey such as signposts and street scenes. You can also capture the mood of the day - If you feel bright and happy, shoot some scenes which will capture that feeling. If you're moved by what you see, ensure your shots convey that feeling.

Take shots at meals

This is the time when family is gathered around. Take advantage of it by taking an image or two of your relatives around the dinner table. Ensure you use a the red eye reduction mode of your flash and activate the self timer if you also wish to be in the shot.

Include the mundane

Most vacation photographers just photograph landmarks and scenery. Make your vacation shots more interesting by including the mundane - washing the dishes, taking off in the car, setting up camp, waiting for an aeroplane etc.

Next Time : In our final secret, we'll explain secrets to avoiding blurry images.

Look for Reflections

2007-11-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

Water is one of the building blocks of life. But it's oftenunder-used in photography.

I don't know why! There's just so many great effects you cancreate with water.

Reader, learn about taking water shots here:

Water is a fantastic element to include in your photos, as the reflections it generates can make your image stand out.

Keep a look out for water around your environment when you shoot. Reflections from lights, or splashes of color can really help with the ambience of an image.

Rainy days are particularly good as puddles abound!

Extra Secret: Photographing just the reflection and leaving the subject out is a great way to produce abstract images.

Next time : Tricks and secrets for photographing on vacation.

Use the LCD Monitor to preview images

2007-11-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

Digital cameras are fantastic! They come with this niftyLCD screen that shows you the image that was taken

Use it!

Why? Learn why here:

The LCD monitor will show you what your final image will look like. It won't be as large in size as your final image, but you will get enough of a feel for the image to know how your shot will turn out.

If your camera can show you a half second freeze of your shot just after you have taken it, turn this feature on. The half second will give you enough time to see if the image was well framed, and have the correct exposure or if you need to take another one.

However the LCD uses a lot of battery. Find out how to increase battery time with a secret only discussed in my "Digital Photo Secrets" book. Click on the link to learn more.

Next time : Revealed - the object that's everywhere that can help take stunning shots.

Don't add frills

2007-11-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Cameras nowdays some out with lots of extra gadgets. Themost common one is to add a time/date onto your photo.

Now while they help to sell more cameras, actually usingthese extra 'features' can adversely affect your photos.

Find out why here:

Some manufactures give you a feature that can imprint the current date and time onto your image. Or they offer to imprint other stats like the current exposure settings, or shot number.

Turn these off!

You don't want anything to distract you or your viewer from the subject of your photo.

Modern digital cameras record the time and date the shot was taken anyway in a separate part of the image file anyway, and most digital printing places will stamp the back of the image with the time and date the shot was taken so you can always see it.

Next time : Know if you've got the right shot instantly with this secret.

Use Predefined Modes

2007-11-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Predefined Modes are the scene modes in your camera. Andthey really help because they give your camera hints asto the type of photo you want to take.

So your camera doesn't need to do as much guesswork.

Find all about predefined modes here:

Many people don't know that most cameras now come with selected modes for taking shots. Eg Landscape, Cloudy Day, Full Sun, Indoors, Night.

Changing the mode of your camera to match your situation can result in better shots, as the camera has a better chance of selecting the shutter speed, flash and other exposure choices for a perfect picture.

Camera makers put a lot of thought into the settings for each of the different modes and tailor the settings to what will work well with their camera. So don't be afraid to use the predefined

scene modes of your camera.

Next time : The features of your camera you should never use!

Use Different Lenses and Filters

2007-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you see a shot in a magazine and you wonder'how did they take that'?

The answer is usually by using different lenses and filters.

They increase the range of options you have for yourphotographs, and allow you to take shots that you would nototherwise be able to get.

There are a wide variety of lenses and filters available to increase the range of options you have for shooting a photograph.

Note that not all digital cameras come with the ability to attach different lenses and filters.

Check the manual for your camera.

Some lens types include :

Wide Angle
Telephoto
Fish Eye

Using a Wide Angle lens is good for shooting a indoor room, or shooting a mountain vista. A TelePhoto lens can be useful when you need a close up. TelePhoto lenses are bascically a better optical zoom.

Filters include :

Polarizing
Soft Focus
Cooling/Warming
Graduated

A polarizing filter can be the most useful filter to own. A Polarizing filter can deepen the color and contrast in the sky, eliminate glare from water or reflective surfaces, or cut through fog like haze. Soft Focus filters generate more diffused looks for romantic, moody, atmospheric, foggy or glowing effects in your shots.

Cooling filters add more blue to an image giving a psychological effect of calming or serenity in the final image. Warming filters cut out excess blue in an overcast sky to add more reddish tones to the image and make your photos look less harsh.

Finally, graduated lenses help for scenes that have a huge difference in light level - eg late in the day when the sky is still bright, but the foreground is in shadow.

Next time : Never be worried about choosing the right exposure with this secret.

Don't Rely On Flash

2007-11-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Night time parties are a great sources of fun. And becauseof that, it's also a great time to take photos.

But using your camera's flash will ruin any moodlighting in the image and your pictures.
I much prefer to avoid using the camera's flash,

Reader. Here's why:

In previous tips, we've discussed using your flash. There are occasions, however, where using a flash ruins the mood of the event you are photographing.

Why? A flash tends to create harsh subjects and will ruin any natural mood.

So, rather than using the flash whenever your camera tells you to, use available light whenever possible. In a dark situation, it's often better to open the shutter for longer to let in more light, or turn on existing lights to illuminate the room than to use the flash.

In daytime and when your subject is inside and near a window, have them face the light and position the camera between the window and your subject. This will allow the sunlight to light your image fully.

Next time : Getting a better image in difficult shooting situations.

Look For Light

2007-10-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Photography is all about light, Reader. It's theaction of light hitting the image sensor at the back ofthe camera that creates our shots.

So it makes sense to look at the light around you beforeyou compose your image.

Learn more here:

Different lighting can change the mood and feel of a shot, or be the difference between a mediocre and stunning shot.

The light from the setting sun can produce wonderful lighting for a subject, as does sunlight through leaves. Maybe you see a shaft of light between two large objects such as buildings that can be a perfect backdrop for your subject.

Other options for different light sources at night include :

Neon lights make great night time subjects. You can silhouette your subjects in front of them, or use them as a subject themselves.

Use a long exposure on a tripod to capture streaks of car lights on a road or highway, or other moving lights like on a ferry.

Next time : How to avoid red-eye in your photos.

About Vivitar Digital Cameras

2007-10-25T10:10:00.000-07:00

Cornering The Market On Style And Versatility

There are countless brands of digital cameras to choose from so if you are seeking one that is sporty, versatile and easy to use, look no further than the Vivitar brand. There are seventeen current models of Vivitar digital cameras to choose from including three DVR models, which include not only digital camera functions but also an MP3 player and DVR functions.

Vivitar digital cameras have gotten good press through a variety of venues, including introductions to the celebrity mainstream. Entertainers at The Sundance Film Festival and even the MTV Music Awards enjoyed some of Vivitar’s line of cameras, which made for some great PR for the company. The bottom line is that Vivitar digital cameras are popular because they are affordable, easy to use and produce great pictures.

Make A Splash With This Special Vivitar Camera

One of the coolest Vivitar digital cameras of late has been the ViviCam 6200w because of its waterproof capabilities. The body of the camera is armored in rubber and is waterproof up to 30 feet under water, which makes it a great companion for snorkeling, swimming pool and diving fun!

Other great features of the ViviCam 6200w include resolution at a respectable 6.0 mega pixels as well as a two inch color screen on the back of the camera to preview your picture shots. With built-in flash, support for up to 1 GB memory cards and even great imaging software support, this camera has quickly become a favorite for active digital camera enthusiasts.

Be Your Own Star With The DVR-530

Among the Vivitar digital cameras are three DVR representations and the DVR-530 just stands out. What is so great about this model is that not only can you record your own movies; you can also play MP3 music files and take some great pictures. With a decent 5.0 mega pixel along with 4x digital zoom and a large 2.5 inch display screen to view your movies and pictures from, you will love this DVR model. Add great software and 1 GB flash card memory along with a few bells and whistles and you have a winning combination for those home movie fans.

Other Vivitar Digital Cameras To Choose

Vivitar has an excellent line of digital cameras from 10.0 mega pixel resolution all the way down to 5.0 mega pixel resolution. Basically, you are only hampered by your budget in terms of which Vivitar digital cameras to choose from. Obviously, the bigger the mega pixels, the more expensive the digital camera will be. However, with Vivitar digital cameras, all of them are reasonably priced and would make excellent additions to any family.

Give Yourself A Theme

2007-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you need to think creatively to find better shots. Set yourself a theme to give your brain a head start.

For example, on a vacation choose a different color every day and ensure all your shots for that day have that color in that image. Or shoot only shots with triangles in them.

Other examples of themes are:

Fences
Bright Colors
Time
Cliche
Unfinished
Repeating Patterns
Desperation
Bliss

Make sure your theme is simple otherwise you'll be more pre-occupied with getting a shot in line with your theme than the image itself.

Another option for a theme when on vacation is to choose a selection of themes that captures the essence of the destination. Every area has themes relating to its landscapes, climate, cities, culture etc. Do some research by looking at local postcards or talking to taxi drivers to get an idea of the good picture taking locations.

Next time : The most important aspect to create mood/feel in your photos

Use Red Eye Reduction Flash

2007-10-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Most newer cameras have two flash modes. Standard and Red Eye Reduction.

The Red Eye Reduction flash causes the camera to flash multiple times before taking the shot to get the subject's eyes used to the bright light.

Use this whenever taking photographs of people looking directly at the camera in low light.

Many people don't realise they needed to use the red-eye flash until after they look at their photos after the event. So remember to use red eye reduction whenever taking photos in the

following situations :

People looking directly at the camera
Low Light
Using your flash.

It is also possible to remove Red Eye with software programs if you don't have this feature on your camera. There are a few free programs available to do this on the Internet. My Image Editing Secrets course shows a video for how to do this on day 3.

Another option is to use Picasa. This is a free image manipulation program from Google that does a great job of removing red eye. To download for free, click on the image at right.

Next time : Ever had photos that don't capture the mood of the event? This secret solves this problem for the most common situation.

Use Continuous Shooting

2007-10-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Most digital cameras have a continuous shooting mode, where shots are taken one after the other in rapid succession.

When taking shots, there is often a short delay between when you press your finger on the button, and when the picture is actually taken. This delay may mean your subject has finished their action (eg blowing out candles on a cake) and you have missed the magic moment.

With Continuous Shooting you can take a sequence of shots and keep just the right one.

Continuous Shooting also increases you chances of capturing a candid moment.
Where else can this be useful? Any shots of children or group shots will benefit from continuous mode.

Next time : This secret will help keep your photographs fresh and interesting to you as well as your audience.

Using Flash During The Day

2007-10-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

Interestingly, one of the best uses of your flash is during bright sunlight! I know it sounds strange but it's true.

A flash helps to eliminate dark shadows (for instance under the eyes and chin of faces). It also helps to emphasize your subject.

When you take pictures of subjects with bright light behind them, for example a portrait that is backlit, or a duck swimming in water reflecting the sun, the camera will be fooled by the bright surroundings so the subject appears dark.

By turning flash on, you will fill in the shadow areas making the picture much more pleasing.
It can also be used to add a sparkle to eyes, and to reduce shadows under the nose and eyes when pictures are taken when the sun is bright and high in the sky (eg at midday).

Nature photographers even use flash to ensure the nooks and crannies of flower petals are properly lit - to reduce shadows.

Professional photographers use flash much more often than amateurs.

Next time : Ever wanted to know how to get the perfect candle-blowing image? This secret tells you how.

Unusual Angles

2007-10-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Most photos are shot at eye level. I think this is because traditionally, you needed to have the viewfinder up to your eye to ensure you get everyone in the shot.

Because most digital cameras have an inbuilt LCD, you can now take the camera away from your eye and try taking photos from unusual angles.

Try tilting the camera left or right to better position your subject in the frame. Try taking the photo from below, or above your subject. Try getting further away or closer. The main point is to move the camera away from eye level and experiment!

There's always more than one way to photograph a subject. Using different camera angles can make an otherwise boring image really stand out. The more you practice using different angles, the quicker you'll know what works and what doesn't.

Angle Tip : Lie on the ground and point your camera towards the sky for an interesting angle to shoot large monuments with.

Want to know what else helps with finding the unusual angles? Learn all about Composition with my "Digital Photo Secrets" book.

Next time : I almost fell out of my chair when I first discovered this secret for daylight photography!

Use A Tripod

2007-10-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, tripods can be a hassle to carry around with you but they help you take great shots in two ways.

First, the time you take to get out the tripod, set it up and position the camera on it will slow your picture taking down. This means you'll become more aware of other elements like composition of the image, and lighting. The more focussed you are to external conditions, the more likely you will be to take a great shot.

The added advantage is your camera is more steady allowing you to take razor-sharp images - particularly in low light situations.

An alternative to the tripod is a 'mono pod'. These only have one leg and don't have the stability of a tripod, but they have a greater stability than just your hands - particularly if you lean them against something.

If you do a lot of mountain walking, there are also extendable 'walking canes' (like a ski pole) that are great for helping you walk up steep hills. The top unscrews to reveal a tripod mount underneath turning it into a mono pod.

Tripod Tip : If you have a lightweight camera, you might consider purchasing a ultra lightweight tripod. These are small, don't weigh much and easily fit in a backpack or camera bag.

Extra Tip : You don't need to purchase a tripod either! Any horizontal surface around can make a tripod - arms of chairs, railings, rocks, anything! Be very careful not to damage your camera, though as cameras have a tendency to slip and break when perched on chairs, rocks etc.

There are lots of other ways to keep your camera steady without purchasing a tripod. My "267 Simple Tips for Sensational Photos" book discusses additional 5 techniques for taking rock steady images.

Next time : Not happy with the creativity of your shots? This secret can make your otherwise boring images really stand out!

Preset your Exposure and Focus

2007-10-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

When set to auto, some cameras can take a while to adjust for white balance and focus. This is the 2-3 second delay between when you first push the shutter button, and the shot actually being taken.

If this happens with your camera, try presetting these by holding the shutter release half way down to tell the camera to focus before you need to take the shot.

Then, keep your finger held half way down until you get the perfect shot, or use your camera's 'lock exposure' feature to keep the exposure settings locked until you find the right time to shoot.

Presetting your exposure and focus can REALLY help out when taking shots of children. They tend to not sit in one place waiting for you to adjust your camera, so the best shots are taken when you are prepared for a candid moment - eg when the child is engrossed in a task.

Next time : The piece of equipment professionals never leave the house without.

Take More, And Erase Your Shots

2007-10-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

The ability to erase your photos is one of the major advantages of a digital camera. You'd be mad not to use this to the fullest extent!

Take MANY more shots than you think you need, and then erase those that aren't right.
Every half an hour, go back through your most recent photos erase any that don't make the grade, or you have better versions of.

Because you'll be erasing often you can just keep the 'best of the best'. Erasing often also ensures you don't need a large memory card, as it will not be storing your not-so-perfect images.

If you're always pressed for time, you can either invest in a larger memory card, or copy your images to another storage device like a laptop or card storage unit until a later point.

This is also a huge tip when photographing groups. With such a large number of people, there always seems to be someone blinking, or looking the other way. Having a large number of shots means you can pick the best of them to keep.

Next time : Sick of the wait between when you press the shutter and when the shot is taken? This secret will eliminate this!

Photographing Children

2007-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Children make a wonderful subject. Here are some tips for ensuring photos of children are even more memorable.

Meet them eye-to-eyeBring yourself down to the child.s level . even if you need to crouch down. This will give your shots a 'kids eye view' and won't distort their image (as taking the shot from above does).

Capture natural expressionsWhile posed shots are great, often better results can be gained by capturing an image when their thoughts are preoccupied with something else . eg while at play. You.ll capture their faces enjoying the moment rather than thinking about the camera.

Familiarity ensures successChildren who have grown up having their photo taken will be a lot less likely to freeze or show off in front of a camera. Start early and make photo taking a part of every day out.

Children grow up quicklyRecord their growth from toddler to child to young adult by taking a family photo every year around the same time . either the first day of school, or during spring events.

Next Time : A technique for ensuring that with every group of photos you take, you'll always have a couple of great ones.

Place your subject off-center

2007-10-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

Rather than placing your main subject in the middle of the screen, place it to one side and ensure something interesting is in the background that fills the remainder of the image.

This can be especially effective if the background has the same theme. For example, if photographing a child opening a Christmas present, frame them to one side and have the
Christmas Tree with unopened presents filling the rest of the image.

There are a few guidelines that can help you place your subject in the frame.

The Rule of Thirds

One of the most popular rules in photography is the "Rule of Thirds". It is a simple rule that can add dynamism to your photos. Simply, divide the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. When composing your shot, place important elements either along these lines, or where the lines intersect - NOT at the centre of the frame.

For example, place a subject's eyes where the top line is, or place your subject on the place in the image where two of these lines intersect.

It's a very simple rule to follow and will result in a nicely balanced, easy on the eye picture. It also helps get rid of the 'tiny subject and large amount of space' tendency because you need to position items relative to the edges of the frame.

Having said this, the Rule of Thirds is also one of the rules you'll want to break often! This is fine - the Rule of Thirds is more of a guideline and sometimes you will find a better image when you break the rule.

Next time : Some tricks to get winning shots involving one of the most troublesome subjects - children!

Use Optical rather than Digital Zoom

2007-10-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Cameras are marketed with both an Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom capability.

If you've used a film camera, you'll be used to optical zoom. Optical zoom uses the lens of the camera (the optics) to bring the subject closer. Digital zoom uses clever software to digitally enlarge a portion of the image - thus simulating optical zoom.

So, which is better? Definitely Optical zoom. Here's why.

Digital zoom is not really 'zoom' in the strictest definition of the term. Digital zoom just enlarges the image. Eg it takes a portion of the image and enlarges it back to full size. You lose quality because of the enlargement process so photos that have been taken with digital zoom won't look as good as those without.

You can perform the same result using image editing software on your computer. In fact, it can be better to crop and enlarge using your image software in your computer as you can decide exactly what part of the image to enlarge, and how much to enlarge by.

So when taking shots, use optical zoom only. If you need to zoom in further, use your editing software to select the best part of the image to keep. Ensure your camera warns you when it's switching to digital zoom from optical zoom, or use your settings to disable digital zoom entirely.

Why is clarity important? The more clarity you have in your image, the larger the printed size can be without the image appearing fuzzy, or blocky. If you want to keep clarity in your images, use the optical zoom whenever possible, and avoid the digital zoom.

How do you use Optical Zoom? When you zoom in using your camera, it will use Optical zoom first and then use Digital zoom. You can usually set your camera to notify you when it starts to use the Digital zoom, or tell it to not use digital zoom at all. Consult your manual for details.

Next time : A little known secret, used all the time by professionals, that result in a pleasing, nicely balanced photo.