In this video, Kai uses the Nikon D700 and 50 mm lens although he prefers his Leica M, presumably for it’s stealthiness and superior image quality when used in such situations. He prefers the 50mm lens because it allows you to get up close and personal with your subjects. Anything larger and the image begins to feel disconnected. Kai brings up many good points as he wanders through a bustling Chinese marketplace. Here are some key points he mentions:

Do’s:

• Dress for the occasion. The key is to blend in with everyone else as to go unnoticed. If you’re shooting in a farmers market, don’t go dressed in a suit and tie.
• Carry minimal equipment. Choose a camera and lens and leave it at that. Leave the camera bags, backpacks, and vests at home. Remember, you’re trying NOT to look like a photographer!
• Turn off your flash and set your camera settings accordingly before you go out. Nothing draws attention to a photographer more than a bright flash.
• Use aperture priority mode and center focus. It’s better to get the shot than miss out on it because you were fumbling with the settings.
• Be patient! Look for settings that are busy and naturally interesting. Wait for the right shot. You don’t want to miss on out the real action because you were wasting time photographing a mediocre one.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use a camera that makes loud beeps or sounds that cannot be turned off. You are trying to avoid drawing attention to your photography.
• Don’t look like a photographer. Ideally, you will appear to be just another pedestrian taking an occasional snapshot.
• Don’t follow people around or act like a creep. Even if you are especially sneaky, no one likes to be followed. If you get caught stalking someone you could get into trouble.
• Don’t rush at people and shove your camera in their face. Not only will you offend some people, but your photographs will lack that candid look. In some instances, it’s okay for your subject to acknowledge that you are photographing them. However, this doesn’t mean to go at them paparazzi style.

Street photographer on location

Many of these pointers will seem like common sense to most of us and for the most part, they are. Of course, these are just the basics of street photography. In addition to knowing how to act and what equipment to bring along, a street photographer must also have an eye that can quickly recognize when and what to take a photograph of. In some cases, you almost have to predict what is going to happen next. The key to taking great street photographs is to be quick and noninvasive. Discretion and the ability to shoot from the hip is what sets outstanding street photographers apart from the rest.

In order to be a great street photographer, it helps to be proficient in all things black and white. For further improvement we recommend this training collection on black and white photography.

Go to full article: How to Be a Street Photographer

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

MELVILLE, N.Y. (Feb 6, 2012) – Today, imaging leader Nikon Inc. announced the highly anticipated D800 HD-SLR, engineered to provide extreme resolution, astounding image quality and valuable video features optimized for professional still and multimedia photographers and videographers. A camera with an unmatched balance of accuracy, functionality and image quality, the Nikon D800 realizes innovations such as a high resolution 36.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor, a 91,000-pixel RGB Matrix Metering System, Advanced Scene Recognition System and many other intuitive features designed to create the preeminent device for the most demanding photo and video applications. Can be found here for pre-order at Amazon

Whether shooting high fashion, weddings or multimedia content, Nikon’s highest resolution sensor to date, a groundbreaking new 36.3-megapixel (7360 x 4912 resolution) FX-format CMOS sensor, affords flexibility and astonishing image quality to satisfy a myriad of client requests. The Nikon D800 incorporates the latest 91,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering III and the Advanced Scene Recognition System, coupled with an improved 51-point AF system for images with amazing sharpness, color and clarity. With its compact, lightweight D-SLR form factor and extensive video feature set, the D800 allows photographers to transition to multimedia to create an immersive story. Professional videographers will appreciate practical features that go beyond NIKKOR lens compatibility and Full HD 1080p video, such as full manual control, uncompressed HDMI output, and incredible low-light video capability. With this innovative combination of features, the D800 celebrates resourcefulness and a dedication to the flawless execution of an epic creative vision. All of this is driven by Nikon’s latest EXPEED 3™ image processing engine, providing the necessary processing power to fuel amazing images with faithful color, a wide dynamic range and extreme resolution.

“Whatever the project, visionaries need a tool that is going to help them stay on-time and on-task. The Nikon D800 re-imagines what is possible from this level of D-SLR, to address the needs of an emerging and ever changing market; this is the camera that is going to bridge the gap for the most demanding imaging professionals, and provide never before seen levels of SLR image and video quality,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “The D800 is the right tool for today’s creative image makers, affording photographers, filmmakers and videographers a versatile option for capturing the ultimate in still image quality or full HD content, with maximum control.”

The Nikon D800: FX-format CMOS Sensor with 36.3 Effective Megapixels

Extreme Image Quality

The new Nikon developed 36.3-megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor realizes Nikon’s highest resolution yet, and is ideal for demanding applications such as weddings, studio portraiture and landscape, where there is no compromise to exceptional high fidelity and dynamic range. Nikon’s first priority is amazing image quality above all else, and resolution of this magnitude affords photographers the ability to portray even the smallest details, such as a strand of hair, with stunning sharpness or crop liberally with confidence. Photographers also shoot with the assurance of NIKKOR lens compatibility, because only a manufacturer with decades of optical excellence can provide the glass to resolve this kind of extreme resolution.

For shooting with minimal noise in a variety of lighting conditions, the D800 features a wide native ISO range of 100-6400, expandable to 50 (Lo-1)-25,600 (Hi-2). Nikon engineers have created innovative ways to manipulate light transmission to the sensor’s photodiodes, giving users the ability to shoot with confidence in challenging lighting conditions. Internal sensor design, an enhanced optical low pass filter (OLPF) and 14 bit A/D conversion with a high signal to noise ratio all contribute to a sensor capable of excellent low light ability despite the extreme resolution. Every aspect of this new FX-format sensor is engineered to deliver amazing low noise images through the ISO range and help create astounding tonal gradation and true colors, whether shooting JPEG or RAW. Images are further routed through a 16-bit image processing pipeline, for maximum performance. To further enhance versatility, users are also able to shoot in additional modes and aspect ratios such as 5:4 to easily frame for printed portraits or a 1.2X crop for a slight telephoto edge. For even more versatility, photographers can also take advantage of Nikon DX-format lenses for more lens options and enhanced focal range (1.5X), while still retaining sharpness and details at a high 15.4-megapixel (4800×3200) resolution.

Contributing to the camera’s rapid performance and amazing image quality is Nikon’s new EXPEED 3 image processing engine that helps professionals create images and HD video with amazing resolution, color and dynamic range. From image processing to transfer, the new engine is capable of processing massive amounts of data, exacting optimal color, rich tonality and minimized noise throughout the frame. Despite the immense data, the new EXPEED 3 also contributes to energy efficiency, affording the ability to shoot longer.

Nikon D800 Top and Side View

The D800 also features the Advanced Scene Recognition System with the 91,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix Meter III to provide unrivaled metering in even the most challenging of lighting conditions. At the system’s core is a newly designed RGB sensor that meticulously analyzes each scene, recognizes factors such as color and brightness with unprecedented precision and then compares all the data using Nikon’s exclusive 30,000 image database. Additionally, this new sensor now has the ability to detect human faces with startling accuracy, even when shooting through the optical viewfinder. This unique feature is coupled with detailed scene analysis for more accurate autofocus (AF), Auto exposure (AE), i-TTL flash control and even enhanced subject tracking. The Color Matrix Meter also emphasizes priority on exposure of the detected faces, allowing for correct exposure even when the subject is backlit. Even in the most difficult exposures the D800 excels, such as maintaining brightness on a bride’s face while retaining the dynamic range to accentuate the intricate details of a wedding dress beside a black tuxedo.

Advanced new automatic systems make it even easier to capture amazing images. The camera features a new enhanced auto white balance system that more accurately recognizes both natural and artificial light sources, and also gives the user the option to retain the warmth of ambient lighting. Users can expand dynamic range with in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture, and enjoy the benefits of Nikon’s Active D-lighting for balanced exposure. Another new feature is direct access to Nikon’s Picture Control presets via a dedicated button on the back of the body to tweak photo and video parameters on the fly, such as sharpness, hue and saturation.

True Cinematic Experience

The Nikon D800 has a compact and lightweight form factor that’s preferable for a production environment, yet is packed with practical and functional features. The D800 is ideal whether the user is a filmmaker on location or in the studio or a documentarian in the field who requires portability and the NIKKOR lens versatility and depth of field that only a HD-SLR can offer. Filmmakers have the choice of various resolutions and frame rates, including Full HD 1080 at 30/24p and HD 720 at 60/30p. By utilizing the B-Frame data compression method, users can record H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format video with unmatched integrity for up to 29:59 minutes per clip (normal quality). This format produces higher quality video data without increasing file size for a more efficient workflow. The optimized CMOS sensor reads image data at astoundingly fast rates, which results in less instances of rolling shutter distortion. The sensor also enables incredible low-light video capability with minimal noise, letting filmmakers capture footage where previously impossible or expensive and complex lighting would otherwise be necessary. Users are also able to have full manual control of exposure, and can also adjust the camera’s power aperture setting in live view for an accurate representation of the depth of field in a scene. Whether shooting for depth of field in FX-format mode, or looking for the extra 1.5X telephoto benefits of DX mode, the high resolution sensor of the D800 allows videographers to retain full 1080p HD resolution no matter which mode they choose to best suit the scene. Users are also able to easily compose and check critical HD focus through the 921,000-dot, 3.2-inch LCD monitor with reinforced glass, automatic monitor brightness control, and wide viewing angle.

Short Movie Filmed on the D800:

For professional and broadcast applications that call for outboard digital recorders or external monitors, users can stream an uncompressed full HD signal directly out of the camera via the HDMI port (8 bit, 4:2:2). This output signal can be ported into a display or digital recording device or routed through a monitor and then to the recording device, eliminating the need for multiple connections. This image can also be simultaneously viewed on both the camera’s LCD and an external monitor, while eliminating on-screen camera status data for streaming purposes. The D800 also includes features concentrated on audio quality, such as a dedicated headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording. Audio output levels can be adjusted with 30 steps for precise audio adjustment and monitoring. The D800 offers high-fidelity audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. A microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction. What’s more, recording can be set to be activated through the shutter button, opening a world of remote applications through the 10-pin accessory terminal.

Wield Speed and Performance with Astonishing Accuracy

Whether shooting the runway or fast moving wildlife, the enhanced 51-point AF system of the D800 delivers blazing fast AF with tack-sharp results. Nikon has enhanced the Multi-Cam 3500-FX AF sensor module and algorithms to significantly improve low light acquisition, for precise focus to an impressive -2 exposure value (EV). The focus system utilizes 15 cross-type AF sensors for enhanced accuracy, and the system also places an emphasis on the human face, working in conjunction with the Advanced Scene Recognition System to provide accurate face detection even through the optical viewfinder. The camera also utilizes nine cross-type sensors that are fully functional when using compatible NIKKOR lenses and teleconverters with an aperture value up to f/8, which is a great advantage to those who need extreme telephoto focal lengths (single cross type sensor active with TC20E III). For maximum versatility in all shooting situations, whether photographing portraits or static subjects, users are also able to select multiple AF modes, including normal, wide area, face tracking and subject tracking to best suit the scene.

The D800 delivers upon a professional’s need for maximum speed when it counts. The camera is ready to shoot in 0.12 seconds, and is ready to capture with super-fast AF and response speed. To photograph action in a burst, the camera shoots up to 4 frames per second (fps) in FX mode at full resolution, or up to a speedy 6 fps in DX mode using the optional MB-D12 Battery Pack and compatible battery. Further enhancing the speed of the camera and overall workflow, the D800 utilizes the new USB 3.0 standard for ultra fast transfer speeds.

Construction and Operability

The body of the D800 is designed to offer a compact form factor and a lightweight body for the utmost versatility. The chassis is constructed of magnesium alloy for maximum durability, and is sealed and gasketed for resistance to dirt and moisture.

Nikon D800 Chassis

Users are able to easily compose through the bright optical viewfinder, which offers 100% frame coverage. For storage, the D800 has dual card slots for CF and SD cards, and offers users the ability to record backup, overflow, RAW/JPEG separation, and the additional option of shooting stills to one and video to the other. For high speed recording and transfer, data can be recorded to recent UDMA-7 and SDXC / UHS-1 cards. The shutter has been tested to withstand approximately 200,000 cycles, and the camera also employs sensor cleaning. The D800 also features a built-in flash and is compatible with Nikon’s acclaimed Creative Lighting System, including a built-in Commander mode for controlling wireless Speedlights.

D800E – Maximum Resolution Unleashed

In addition to the D800, Nikon will also be releasing a supplementary model for those professionals who demand even higher resolution and D-SLR versatility; the D800E. This model treads in medium format territory for studio work or landscape photography when there is no exception to only the highest fidelity and sharpness. This unique alternative model will effectively enhance the resolution characteristics of the 36.3-megapixel CMOS sensor by cancelling the anti-aliasing properties of the OLPF inside the camera. By doing this, light is delivered directly to the photodiodes, yielding an image resulting from the raw light gathering properties of the camera. A color moiré correction tool will also be available within Capture NX2 to enhance the D800E photographer’s workflow.

Pricing Information

The Nikon D800 will be available in late March for the suggested retail price of $2999.95.* The D800E version will be available in mid April 2012 for a suggested retail price of $3,299.95.

Pre-order Availability

• The D800 can be found here
• The D800E can be found here

Go to full article: Nikon D800: Announced Today with a Staggering 36.3 Megapixels

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Photo captured by Alan Langley

You may reluctantly have to take that flash out of your bag and actually use it. Think of it not as a bright light source to be used in the event of a lighting emergency but as a creative lighting tool that can be used to supplement the light in most situations. On or off camera you have at your mercy fantastic device that is just waiting to help you. The only problem is you are going to need to learn how to use it.

Simply connecting it to the hot shoe and relying on it’s auto capabilities is really not going to cut it. Now you have decided to use it the options are limitless and that little flash opens up a whole new world. Even with it on the camera, possibly the most uncreative place for it you will be amazed at what it can do once you consider it to be your friend. Even when using your trendy f1.2 wide open, a little pop of carefully directed flash can transform your image even if it is used just to provide a little catchlight.

The next stage is to take the flash off camera and use some kind of remote triggering to fire it. There are many choices ranging in price but whatever you select the trick is understanding the limitations of your equipment. There are simple wireless triggers which liberally just fire the flash or some of the higher end flashes have remote triggering built in.

Photo captured by Alan Langley

My standard wedding light rig is my camera equipped with an on camera flash but in addition I have a wireless trigger and two remote flashes set up on stands. I then always have plenty of options, I can shoot natural light, I can use TTL or I can mix it all up. The key advantage is the amount of control I have, not just in lighting a dark room but in complimenting existing lighting. I try and use my lights when doing the formals – even if it is a nice day that little bit of extra fill can give the pictures another dimension. There are occasions of course when I avoid flash and one of these is during the wedding ceremony itself. In this situation the pop of a flash can seriously detract from the moment.

Of course using flash brings it’s own problems. All of this extra equipment can detract from your creativity, it is something else to worry about and something else to go wrong. Another issue is light balance – the colour of your flash is unlikely to match any existing light so be careful. You obviously can use gels to balance the colours but in a fast moving wedding situation this is not always possible.

Photo captured by Alan Langley

Once you are comfortable with the mechanics and basic principles then there is nothing to stop you experimenting with light modifiers. Umbrellas, reflectors and snoots all enable you to to direct the light and further unleash your creativity.

About the Author:
Alan Langley is a professional wedding photographer at Kent Wedding Photographers http://doverdesign.co.uk.

Go to full article: Low Light Wedding Photography Tips

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Bjorn emphasizes the importance of not moving the camera during photo-shoots of such large scale. This is done, Bjorn says, by finding the perfect angle. “That is the key element, no motion at the camera.” This way, the editing features can easily be done on the computer.

To make sure each element of the truck was lit perfectly, each segment of the truck was lit individually. The contrast is controlled by moving the lights closer or further away from the truck as needed. Bjorn combined 27 frames, each with different lighting positions, to produce the finished product.

Final product after the photos were combined

The editing software promoted and used in this video is Capture One which is made by Phase One.

Go to full article: Blending Photos Together for Perfect Lighting in Commercial Photography

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Fairs are a great place to take “Character shots” with all of the different costumes and characters found there, such as this Renaissance Fair maiden.

It has been “many” years since I used to shoot portrait portfolios for Hollywood hopefuls, but many of the tricks I learned back then I have used ever since when shooting every thing from people to bugs. Even if you never do a model shoot, all of the tips in this list will help you in just about any situation you come across. In fact, using them on your friends first will give you great practice if you ever do shoot any models, and your friends will be even more impressed with the images you do of them.

#1 Probably one of the best types of portraits are the ones that deal with the subjects’ own personal interests, such as hobbies. These can be done at their home if you know the person, or if you should both have the same interests they can use the items you work with at your home. Any subject of interest can be used even if you just make one up. All that is needed is that the model looks like they are engaged in doing something of interest. Even a person sitting in a state of meditation can make a great image in the right environment.

#2 The second most important thing to consider after #1 is the background that you take the shot in front of. There is no end to what you can use here, and a lot of the times all you really need to do is look at what is around you. Try to find a background color that does not match the persons cloths or they will be lost in it. Don’t use something that has a strong contrast to their cloths unless that is the effect you are after. Soft colors that compliment the person and their cloths will work best. You can even make your own background with a dyed bed sheet, or just find a nicely painted wall to shoot in front of.

#3 When it comes to portraits there are really just two types; candid and posed. I like the candid best, as those have more of a personal feeling to them. They are also 10-times easier than having to deal with what all it takes to set up a posed shot. For this work I like to use a medium telephoto lens, (105mm) so that I can give plenty of breathing room between the subject and myself. That also gives you more room to crop with, more depth of field control, and if you use a flash, it will be easier to balance the light.

#4 Keep your subject busy while you are composing and shooting, by giving them something to do like using props, which can include another person, such as a child, or you could have them work on a hobby project, such as their garden. These types of props can also offer other things you will need to make a good shot, like a good background, and plenty of room to work in. You can even shoot the person as they try something new for the first time. These types of shots though, usually require a faster shutter speed to keep things sharp.

#5 Character shots are one of my favorites, and I think the one type of portrait with the most feeling to them. “Characters” come in all forms, real or made-up. Maybe you are going to shoot an actor friend, so get them to put on one of their stage costumes, or if you have a girlfriend who sews, just have them model their own designs. You both win in that case.

#6 At times you may have a chance to shoot at places other than your normal ones, and at work or play makes two great alternatives. Work place portraits are usually called environmental portraits because they are taken in the environment the person works in. Many of these can make super images when done in dramatic locations. People at play can be just as good, and when done right can end up looking like pro sports shots.

#7 Most of the time we only think of portraits as being of the face, but other parts of the body, especially the hands, can tell just as much of a story, if not more, than a face can. Especially hands at work or play. For young hands use some toys as props, and for old weathered hands, use tools or some other object that also looks weathered, like an antique object. Don’t just think hands though, because even bare callused feet that look like they have never worn a shoe can work.

You may have noticed that many of these items can come together in the same settings, and all you need to do is recognize them so that you can then use them to make better portraits.

#8 When on a trip, taking portraits of people in their native dress could be some of the best images you bring back. There can be two ways of doing this. First you can ask the person permission to take their picture, and then use a medium length lens so that you do not crowd them any. Or if you cannot ask for permission, use a long lens to shoot them from a distance where they may not see you doing it, and maybe get some better candid shots that way. Always look for people in their native dress though, or else they may just end up looking like another tourist. – Always ask permission whenever possible though.

#9 Kids are always a great portrait subject no matter if they are the center of interest, or not. Kids at play are always a winning image, and two playing together is even better. Just about any toy will work as long as it is one they like to play with. Don’t miss out on good images of them when they are asleep, because kids are the only people that look good even when asleep. If you won’t wake them up, this is also another good time to add a stuffed animal prop. We all see pictures of kids in the tub, but most of the time we do not think of taking our own pictures of them there.

#10 No matter what you shoot, or where you shoot it, you will most often need to think about adding some light to the subject in one way or the other. The easiest way to do that if you are outdoors, is to just use some white item, such as a paper plate, as a reflector, and paper plates can just be thrown away when you are done with them. The shinier the surface, the more light that it will put on the subject. You can find pro type reflectors in most photo stores, but get one that folds into a smaller size for carrying and storage. They also come in shades like silver, and a gold one will warm up your images at the same time.

#11 One great portrait effect can be had just by remembering that you don’t need to see a face to know who the person is, as when they are in silhouette. These do take some extra thought in creating, as you need to really get the lighting “right-on” but if all else fails just go outside at sunset and place the person in front of it. Just expose for the sky area a bit away from the sun and the person will then automatically come out as a silhouette. These kinds of shots also make for great romantic images such as a couple at a beach at sunset.

#12 Special effects are a nice touch to add to a portrait to make them stand out even more, and they do not have to be elaborate ones either. A simple soft focus filter on the lens is a nice start, or if you have Photoshop, there are tons of filter effects to use from simple to high-tech. You can also use a special film, like infrared, for another effect, but that one takes a lot of extra work, and you can get about the same look with a program like Photoshop.

#13 When you get tired of shooting all of your friends, you could think about looking for local models who are pursuing a modeling career. This can easily be done just by placing an ad in a community paper and offer free prints for the models time. Local collages are another great place to find willing models. Most of them are also willing to “trade” for services. You could even possibly work something out for their signed release of their images.

Again, many of these tricks for better portraits will work together, and as you use one of them, you will think of others. Just practice how to use them together. These are not the only tricks to making good/great portraits, just the ones to get you started. As you learn more about photography in general you will see how other tricks, used with other subjects, can also be used for portraits, and vise versa.

One last thing to remember when shooting strangers is that you must get a release from them if you ever want to use those images in any commercial manor, commercial meaning, making any kind of a profit from them.

About the Author:
Paul W. Faust is a self-taught Photographer, Writer, Digital Imaging, Photo Restoration, and Photo Stock Service professional. You can see more of his work at: www.Impressions-of-Light.com and www.redbubble.com/people/pwfiol/portfolio and www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/paul-w-faust.

Go to full article: Tips for Capturing Portrait Photography

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

You need the cap to keep the lens protected from scratching and from different kinds of harmful environmental effects. However, the cap can easily get lost when you are using the camera. This can happen easily, especially if you are totally focused on catching the moment for the perfect picture and absorbed in taking pictures for hours.

Lens Cap Keeper

The lens cap keeper allows you to keep the camera and the lens cap together. How does it achieve this? The keeper consists of a disc the back side of which is covered with adhesive. The front side is connected to an elastic loop via a thin elastic strap. You simply attach the adhesive-backed disc to the lens cap while the loop goes over the lens barrel.

That way, when you remove the cap, it will virtually hang under the lens barrel. The string is relatively short so the cap will not interfere with your activity when you are taking pictures. The loop that goes around the barrel will not affect your ability to focus the lens. It will stay at the back side of the barrel right next to the main body of the camera. Once you are done with this task, you can readily put the cap back.

The lens cap keeper can be the most useful camera accessory you have ever got. However, you have to choose the right item in order to get the best results. It is important for the back side of the disc to be covered with powerful adhesive that will not dry out quickly. If you have a heavier lens cap, you may want to try out the product to see whether it will work.

The loop of the lens cap keeper should fit the lens barrel perfectly. It is best to get a product with a smaller elastic loop to ensure that it will not be too loose when going over the barrel. It is essential for the loop to be tight. Otherwise, it may move around the barrel and interfere with picture taking. It may fall off the barrel. In this case, you might lose the cap together with the keeper. Generally, most models have loops designed to fit all standard camera lens barrels. However, you should consider testing the item just to be on the safe side.

About the Author:
If you’d like to learn more visit this page on lens cap keepers. I hope you’ve found this article informative and enjoyable to read. Good luck.

Most Popular Lens Cap Keepers:

• Bower Capkeeper With Elastic
• Zeikos ZE-LCH1 Lens Cap Keeper
• Sima Capkeeper 2

Go to full article: Lens Cap Keeper

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

DSLRs have huge sen­sors (the mech­a­nism that con­verts light to video) and way more, cheaper, high qual­ity lenses (also referred to as “glass”). These fac­tors give DSLR cam­eras very sharp imagery as well as a very shal­low depth of field. Depth of field or DOF, refers to the focus of the image or video. A deep DOF is when the fore­ground and the back­ground of an image are both in focus. You see this com­monly in land­scape shots.

Example Video Filmed Primarily with Canon 5D Mark II’s and Canon Rebel T2i’s:

Shal­low Dof is when one part of the image is in focus while the rest is not. For exam­ple, imag­ine a romance movie. About 3/4 of the way through the film, the man and woman run to one another and kiss in the rain. On a close-up of them kiss­ing, you’d see them in focus, with the back­ground out of focus. You see it all the time in the movies, almost always used dur­ing back and forth dia­logue when 2 actors are talk­ing. This is a very sought after look by video pro­fes­sion­als and before DSLR video was extremely expen­sive to achieve. DSLR cam­eras achieve this look for a fifth of the price.

I started my videog­ra­phy career with a Sony VX-2000. It’s an older lit­tle Sony pro­sumer standard-def cam­corder. After I mas­tered that I was ready to upgrade to a Hi-def cam­era, but I didn’t have much money and good cam­eras are very expen­sive. I saw the qual­ity that DSLRs are capa­ble of and I became very inter­ested. The Canon 60D was in my price range and I bought it. It came with a 18-135mm EF-S lens. It shot 1080i and 720p at 24, 30 and 60fps (frames per sec­ond). It was a good cam­era and I really liked it. How­ever I got the oppor­tu­nity to upgrade to the Mer­cedes Benz of DSLRs…. The Canon 5D Mark II. I also got it with a 24-105mm canon L-series lens. It shoots beau­ti­ful, crys­tal clear, film­like video and I love it. Now here are the pros and cons

What’s great about DSLRs for video, and the rea­son they are so pop­u­lar, is the film­like qual­ity with the shal­low depth of field you can obtain for a much, much lower price. For exam­ple, experts often com­pare the canon 5d mark II to the Red One cam­era, which costs $25k. Now of course the Red One is a nicer cam­era, it shoots at 2k res­o­lu­tion, but it’s $25,000, the canon 5d mark II is $2,500 and the qual­ity is com­pa­ra­ble. For Inter­net and DVD pur­poses, the qual­ity is neg­li­gi­ble. In the­atre it would be obvi­ous, but what your video looks like in movie the­atres is not rel­e­vant to most. Any­way the point is the qual­ity for the price is incredible.

Now here’s the cons. No mat­ter how awe­some the video qual­ity is, it doesn’t change the fact that DSLRs are built for still pho­tog­ra­phy and only recently started offer­ing video. This means that they have crude audio capa­bil­i­ties. No man­ual audio gain con­trols with­out hacks or patches, no xlr (high qual­ity audio input), the built in mic is too low qual­ity to use, also it’s small and with­out a han­dle so it’s dif­fi­cult to oper­ate smoothly and it doesn’t have a con­trolled zoom.

All these cons have workarounds but it’s a more dif­fi­cult process than with a reg­u­lar video cam­era and it costs money. Even with these costly extras DSLR cam­eras are still worth the money but the ease of use and time it takes to bal­ance out the short­com­ings depend entirely on you. You absolutely have to get a sta­bi­liz­ing rig for smooth shoot­ing off the shoul­der, oth­er­wise your footage will be too shaky. These rigs aver­age around $500 with the higher qual­ity ones around $2,000. You can do what some peo­ple do and build your own rig or order the com­po­nents sep­a­rately and assem­ble it your­self. I’m going to do an entire post ded­i­cated to choos­ing or build­ing a rig and once it’s com­plete I’ll insert a link to it here.

Because the DSLR has poor audio capa­bil­i­ties, what most peo­ple do is buy a portable audio recorder to cap­ture audio sep­a­rately from the cam­era. You plug your mic in use that to dig­i­tally record your audio. Thats a great way to get high qual­ity audio, the prob­lem is, since the video and audio are not being recorded by the same device, you’ll need to sync these in post. You can do this man­u­ally using the a clap­per or snap etc. but there is a much sim­pler solu­tion which is a pro­gram called plural eyes. Plural eyes will auto­mat­i­cally sync your video to your audio in your time­line. It does this by lin­ing up the sep­a­rately recorded audio wave­forms to the audio wave­forms recorded by your low qual­ity built in cam­era mic. It’s not always per­fect but if you’re get­ting decent audio from your cam­era then it works quickly and effec­tively. There’s also a sis­ter pro­gram called dual eyes that will auto­mat­i­cally sync all the video files to all the audio files out­side of your edit­ing application.

In con­clu­sion, DSLRs give you excel­lent qual­ity for the price. How­ever, you’ll need to decide for your­self whether or not the short­com­ings of shoot­ing with a pho­tog­ra­phy cam­era are accept­able to you as a video creator.

I hope this article outlining the pros and cons of shooting video with a DSLR has been helpful to you…

About the Author:
For more information regarding videography or editing, please visit The Video Genius. Lowell Brillante, Videographer and Digital Editor based in Charlotte NC.

Go to full article: Video With a DSLR Camera: Pros and Cons

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

Lam used two lenses during production, a 20mm f/1.7 and 14-45mm f/3.5-4.5. He credits the success of his time-lapse to the lightweight camera.

“I don’t think I would have shot as often and gotten as many scenes if I had to carry around a backpack with my DSLR and a big enough tripod to support it,” Lam said. No dolly was used, as pans were created in post. Lam manually triggered the shutter speed at intervals ranging “anywhere between a few seconds to a minute in between shots. This meant I might have captured 3 minutes of time flow and sometimes up to an hour.”

For post production, Lam edited the photographs, added effects, and created the time lapse using Adobe Lightroom, Adobe After Effects and Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Lam took over 25,000 frames on his trek through 17 different countries, 10,000 of those being time lapse footage. Of those 10,000, Lam selected 6237 of them to create this work of art.

Go to full article: Around The World Time-lapse Journey

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

The following morning he attaches himself to the protesters, combining safety in numbers with some unique opportunities to create compelling images of the uprising, often showing the diversity of those protesting. John found himself inspired by the enthusiasm and hospitality of the protestors. He was in Tahir Square when Mubarak addressed the nation and captured the palatable sense of disappointment and anger of the protestors when the president refused to step down. By using a combination of wide shots showing all the protesters and closing in on individuals, John has created a powerful story to compliment the unfolding events.

Despite immense difficulties of photographic and exuberant and joyful crowd John also captured the moment Mubarak finally did resign, the joy in the faces of the Egyptian people has been beautifully recorded.

His work completed in Egypt, John flies out to Bahrain where a fledgling uprising has started. Although allowed into the country, his photographic equipment is confiscated by customs, perhaps fearing the potentially damaging images appearing in the worlds press. Undaunted he takes a taxi to the city center and buys a basic DSLR kit with lens and hits the streets to capture the ensuing violence. His shots are a prime example of how a good photographer can capture great images on any equipment, as well as a demonstration of his commitment to the job.

War and Documentary Photography by John Moore

Bahrain proved to be a more challenging and violent uprising than Egypt with the use of tear gas and live rounds featuring daily. From the film he appears to avoid showing the shock and horror images that we have become used to, and although he captures the violence, he also focuses on the human aspect of the unfolding story, the grief and despair or protestors and relatives.

His next assignment was in his own words one of the toughest he has ever encountered, the Libyan conflict. Joining other journalists in Benghazi John embeds himself with the rebels, journeying in convoy daily up to the front line. Being a much more arms based conflict with two heavily armed opponents, he has concentrated on capturing powerful images of a high intensity military conflict, combining the composition of a photographer’s eye with the intensity of war. As the rebel forces were pushed back they became worried that foreign journalists were giving away the rebels positions and became hostile towards them. John took this as a cue to leave, exiting from the eastern city of Benghazi. He took with him a compelling record of the three of the bloodiest uprisings in the Arab Spring, incredible images of a historic moment in the Middle East.

Go to full article: War Photography Insights from the Field

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

#1 – Icy Streams: A quietly running stream won’t make “tenacious grace” but after it thinly freezes over, it may sculpt the underside of the ice with the gently running water and any air bubbles that get trapped there. The resulting patterns can be very photogenic.

"Ice Flow" captured by Daniel P. Woods (Click Image to See More From Daniel P. Woods)

#2 – Freezing Rain: A special instance of ice is freezing rain. Look for interesting things – grasses, leaves, branches and twigs, etc encased in it. Exposure can be tricky with the reflected light, so bracket your exposures!

#3 – Icicles: Spikes of ice formed when ice or snow is melted by sunlight or some other heat source, and the resulting melted water runs or drips into an area where the temperature is below the freezing point, causing the water to refreeze. Over time continued water runoff/dripping causes the icicle to grow. Icicles can be found under roof edges of buildings and on branches and twigs, etc. Whether solitary or in groups, they can be very photogenic when back or side lit or hanging against a dark background.

#4 – Snowflakes: You take these pictures outside by catching the flakes on a towel, then transferring the flakes with a short plastic stick to a microscope slide, then placing the slide on a somewhat larger piece of glass which is suspended about 6″ above a sheet of colored poster board, then shoot straight down with a macro-focusing lens. For more sophisticated tools and techniques, just do an online search using “snowflake photos.”

"Catching a Snowflake" captured by Deb Buchanan (Click Image to See More From Deb Buchanan)

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips:

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren’t satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It’ll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip #1 – Icy Streams: Locate a quietly running stream in freezing weather and it will probably form smooth ice on top. The underside of the ice will be etched by the running water and any air bubbles in it, creating lines and patterns. Shoot straight down on it for an overall sharp picture.

Photography Tip #2 – Freezing Rain: When a heavy freezing rain falls, the problem becomes one of too many interesting things to shoot! Take your time and look around to find something really outstanding, more or less by itself, with a dark or strongly colored background and shoot it.

Photography Tip #3 – Icicles: In freezing weather check out the eaves troughs around rooftops of houses and heated garages, looking for icicles. Try, if possible, to find them around eye level or slightly lower so you can keep the entire icicle(s) sharp top to bottom when you take your pictures.

"Icicles" captured by Nathaniel (Click Image to See More From Nathaniel)

Photography Tip #4 – Snowflakes: Set up your snowflake “studio” and proceed to get a couple of flakes together on your microscope slide. Place the slide above a piece of medium-dark blue poster board, and then shoot straight down on the flakes.

In the final article of this set we’ll consider photography tips for overcoming the photo doldrums with two more of water’s cold season photo op’s: snow scenes and snow storms.

About the Author:
John Maxymuik authored this article which is 1 of a set of 6 on “Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums” providing tips to break the grip of the photo doldrums using the “ideal photo subject”. To see examples of photography that made use of the “ideal photo subject” go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net.

For further training on capturing water motion and macro shots, PictureCorrect suggests this best-selling educational eBook: Trick Photography and Special Effects

Go to full article: Photography Tips for Icy Streams, Rain, Icicles and Snowflakes

Join the discussion of this article on facebook: PictureCorrect on Facebook

Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips