It's 2012, and what has been in my photography journey

Image via Wikipedia03-Jan-2012

For so long a time that I haven't posted, here's a quick update, as much as I can remember:

Dec-2012, I attended a basic photography workshop, provided for free by NTUC, which I am a member of, and as it turned out, it isn't so basic after all. And many of the attendants aren't starters as well. Just to see what is offered, and to see what can be offered afterwards.

Of course, there are those participants who really are beginners, and since the topic, the discussions, as far as I can tell, is somewhere between beginner-intermediate to intermediate-advance, many are lost!

But it still is a good offering, and while it was drizzling when the class ended, which signalled the start of hands-on, snapping pictures here and there and applying what has been taught, we waited a while, some of us, not all, and the rest, well, they just went on their way, perhaps to practice on their own.

One of the not-so-beginner attendees has been doing photography for the last 8 years or so, and he was showing his 'works', using his iPhone, which are all stored online through Flickr. That got me into creating my own profile in Flickr, which I have known for some time already, but never bothered to see what's in there... but now I do.

You see, as much as I can tell, I like doing nature photography, so I should be getting a macro lens. I like leaves and flowers, and I am getting better learning to use the tripod for a clear and sharp photographs of small objects, using my 55-200mm lens zoomed out all the way, so they appear bigger and closer to the naked eye, especially when viewed on the computer.

Then, I did the photoshoot of our department's Christmas party 2 weeks after the photography workshop, and I can tell that I have to improve on my skills for snapping moving objects, moving people, candid shots, 'live' pictures.

And I go about asking people on how they take this kind of photograph, what setting, etc., and not just reading books. I now freely take my camera out, and snap pictures here and there, and I don't limit myself to using the dSLR anymore, but I snap pictures using my handphone as well. There's a wealth of resources out in the open for photographers to utilize nowadays, not just the 'official' camera units we call dSLRs, be they entry-level, mid-level or pro-level. But there's always the good and bad to it.

Anyway, what got me even more snapping pictures is when the second batch of photos i uploaded to Flickr got the attention of one professional photographer. Sure, it's not actually a price-winning photograph, but it one that is candid, and one that tells me there's the right frame at the right time, at the right setting, and it doesn't have to be a professional or seasoned photographer, just a willing individual who takes the camera out and snaps pictures - and not stopping afterwards to rest on his 'laurels' - but continues on - to his journey in photography.

Till then!

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What has been in my photography journey

Image via WikipediaAlmost a year past, and I ask myself, where am I now in my photography journey?

I've read a ton of books. After finishing about 5, I find that most of the books are discussing simply the same idea 99%. The 1% difference is the individuality of the authors - and this is but the cream of the written word. And for most authors, they are sharing their skills and experience in the hope that you can also become like one of them. Of course I mean to say that you become like one of them in their level of photography. For some other authors, they just go through the yaadah-yaadah part of their photographs, their techniques, etc., etc., but none of their skills that can be acquired by the reader - in time. And photography being such an individualistic art, or should I say, a very subjective display of talent, I would tend to question those who would not want to share their talent to others - for they can never be copied or replaced - they are their own photographer, and you are your own. for even though the techniques are the same, it is your individuality and uniqueness that shows in your photographs. That is all the essence then, and is now, and will be.

I've not been into a park or mountain or cliff, or any grand photograph site for that matter. However, I have not limited my photography to the use of my DSLR. I also use my cell phone whenever opportunity is presented. Like the recent haze here in Singapore, where the sun was in orange. What can I say, as advocated by more than 1 author, a photographer has to come out of being a simple phot-taker, snapping the ordinary, photographing the obvious. To set your own mark, you would have to have an eye on the extra-ordinary, or the un-obvious, or the unfamiliar view. And this is done whether or not you are caryying your camera with you.

Keeping my photos, though they are nice or not. One book suggests immeidately deleting your bad photos. The reason presented is to be able to save some space in your SD card or harddisk. Secondly is to not "confuse" your good photos with the bad photos. Thirdly is that when you "showcase" your photos, the list is already edited and the bad ones removed. For some time I followed this advise. Then I thought to myself, why should I? You see, I am one who would like to 'keep' my 'unfortunate' snaps - of course, as a leaning tool. Seeing the shoots that didn't make the mark helps me to focus on my learning - not repeating the same mistake the next time I push the button. Of course, this doesn't happen overnight, but what better way for you to find out how far you've been progressing if you don't have a 'show of it'?

I have subscribed to a digest or a forum. Basically, I signed up to Digital Photography School by Darren Rowse, and I like being in the list. Quite a lot to be learned from fellow photographers, to mention the least. there there are tips and tricks from experienced, or should I say, professional, photographers? Get in the list yourself.

Another group that I signed up to is Digital SLR Guide Newsletter by Chris Roberts. It isn't quite verbose compared to Digital Photography School, but there's a grain of wisdom that can be gleaned from it just the same.

And finally, whatever level of photography you are in, there is always the chance to be yourself in your photographs - something that shouldn't be daunted by the other photographs that you see. keep on snapping and learning, and learning and snapping. Your time will come. And your photos will be on the great wall for others to admire.

Now isn't that something to make you keep on with your photography journey?

 

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Book review: The Digital SLR Expert Portraits

Image via Wikipedia

If there is one book on photography that deals mainly on one topic, and focus solely on one area, this is that book.

The Digital SLR Expert Portraits
essential advice from top pros

Not authored by just one, but five, professional portrait photographers. And if that isn't saying anything yet, wait till you begin flipping the pages, and learning of their styles, hints and techniques.

Will it be possible that you become like them, and shot your portrait photos the way they do?

Yes and no. yes, in that they offer their advice (it's what the book says, advise from top pros), and that is one of the priceless gems in this book. No, in that you should be you, and you should have your own style and techniques.

Here's one from page 76, which is about low-key photos:

---

"
Some people feel they can't shoot low-key images because they can't black out their room enough, but this is a fallacy. You can have all the light on in the room but compared to the flash going off they will be like a glow-worm, contributing nothing to the exposure at all. Press the shutter button and a bright room will be dark and black.
"

---

I do agree with that. I've seen another book, the review of which I didn't include in this site, which says that put up the flash power, and everything else goes darker. Of course, post-editing can help a lot afterward.

Low-key photo in a bright room? They have done it, I have done it myself, and so can you!

Having said much, know this: the camera is but a tool. If a tool is defined as 'an extension of the hands' which basically means some help or assistance, it should be noted that the tool will be used in ways and means that is mostly dependent on the user.

Thus, given the same camera unit and the same subject to shoot, 10 photographers will compose frames and shoot pictures differently, coming up with 10 different renditions of the one and the same subject.

Photography is but one of the very subjective hobby, and the photographer always applies his own artistic principles and discretion when clicking the button.

Finally, do take note that this book only mentions 1 camera brand: Canon.

If you are using the same brand, then this book is mainly for you. But if not, this book is still for you.

What's your say?

 

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3 DSLR Accessories - the basics!

One guy said that there are 3 lenses that you need: standard, telephoto, and a macro. I do agree about the first two, but for the third, there are many who disagreed, including me. I may go for a longer telephoto lens if I can. There are quite a number of problems attributed to a macro lens, so while it may be able to come close and give you a 1:1 rendition of your subject, you must be very good in using it to make it really a worthwhile piece of glass in your camera lens kit.


There is one article that I got from eZine, and it is quite an informative one, but it is not on the glasses that you should have. It is the accessories that you should have. Read on...

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3 Digital Camera Accessories Every Photographer Needs

There is a misnomer that digital photography is its own form of photography, quite untrue. The digital part of photography is just the method of recording so what applies to photography applies to digital as well. So let's take a look at the three accessories I think that every photographer needs.

These aren't listed in any particular order and I don't think in any order of importance either although if you were to push me for an answer I would place a tripod as my number one accessory. It will also depend on what type of photography you are pursuing as to which one will be number one to you. They are, however, accessories that I would list as essential to a photographer's gear bag.

1. A tripod

If you don't already have a tripod then get yourself one. Buy the most expensive one you can afford. A good solid tripod is essential to the kit of a photographer. There are many occasions when light conditions aren't good and the extra stability helps you create crisp, sharp images. Just a little camera shake will cause blurring to some degree in the final photo. A tripod is especially useful when shooting close-ups of flowers and small creatures and helps you to have complete control of your images.

2. Remote shutter release

This is coupled with the tripod and is essential when avoiding camera shake. Even when your camera is mounted on the tripod, the simplest action like pushing the shutter button can still cause camera shake and prevent you from taking the sharpest images. It works very simply either connected by a cable to the camera or using an infrared connection to activate the shutter.

3. A good circular polarising filter

A polarising filter cuts down glare and reflections off shiny surfaces. Those of you who have ever owned or used a pair of polaroid sunglasses will know the effect that it has on shiny and reflective surfaces. This includes foliage as well. When using polaroid sunglasses while looking at water you are able to see below the surface if the water is clear. The sky becomes bluer and the green vegetation greener. If you are landscape photographer you will really benefit from a polariser. I consider this essential. One tip though is that you should always use one that has the equivalent or higher quality of your lens. There is no point in putting bad glass in front of good glass.

Remember that these are my three top choices of accessories in no particular order. You need to choose which ones will serve your particular needs the best. I use all three equally but maybe if my photography changed slightly I would add another one or two to my list. Happy shooting!

Do you want to learn more about photography in a digital world? I've just completed a brand new e-course delivered by e-mail. Download it here for free by clicking here:  http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/ To learn how you can take your photography from ordinary to outstanding click here - http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/21steps.htm

Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography.

Article Directory: EzineArticles
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I have the 1st and 2nd, but not the 3rd; I'm currently on the lookout for it. Any idea? That would be great!

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4 Photography Books

I  borrowed some books on photography from the library, and actually, there were 16 books that I borrowed. I finished some, and due to time constraint, the rest I cannot read. Then the due date came…

I have to return the books, and for me to be able to borrow them again, I am listing them here, my reference.

1. Advanced Studio Lighting Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers – by Norman Phillips
2. The Best of Photographic Lighting; Techniques and Images for Digital Photographers – by Bill Hurter
3. The Art of Garden Photography – by Ian Adams
4. An Illustrated A to Z of Digital Photography – by Nigel Atherton & Steve Crabb

Actually, I saw the name ‘Adams’, and I was thinking, could this person be related to Ansel Adams? (What do you know?)

So there is my list of 4 books that I’m returning today. I will get them back again in a couple of days.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to read them from cover to cover to gain more knowledge on DSLR photography.

Till then…

 

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You basically need only 2 lenses - for a start

Image via Wikipedia

I got a tip from a subscription mail on digital photography, which says that you need 3 lenses, basically. But I think I will disagree.

I am a beginner in photography, but my exposure to photography dates back to my father, which dates back to his father, my grandfather. To what extent were they in photography? My grandfather has his own darkroom.

Does that say anything that matters to this discussion? But on my own, I am a beginner in DSLR photography. You may want to read on my history in photography.

I say that you only need two lenses: standard (18-70mm) + telephoto, and that would usually be a medium telephoto lens (up to 200mm).

However, as much as I wanted to defend my stand, I would just give some guide on what these lenses are. Get this one thing straight. photography, especially the emerging practice in DSLR photography, has no hard and fast rule. Everything depended on the photographer's understanding and skill, and his 'taste' or 'discretion'.

What is common or invariable, are those hardwares, those camera units, lenses and additional gadgets. It becomes like software programming then, where the same software is used, but a different approach is applied from programmer to programmer.

So with all those person-dependent differences, allow me to present to you an Ezine article original, telling all about the different lenses.

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A Guide to Types of Camera Lenses

Different types of camera lenses are suited for different activities. Do you need a telephoto lens to capture photos
from a long distance? How about a macro lens for close-up photography? Familiarize yourself with popular camera lenses so you can determine which are best for your photography applications.

Wide-angle

Wide-angle camera lenses are ideal for shooting interiors, landscapes and large gatherings. The important thing to look at when shopping for wide-angle camera lenses is the uniform quality of the shot. If you're looking at a wide-angle lens with a crystal-clear center and blurring around the edges, keep on looking. You may also encounter Spherical Aberration, or wide-angle distortion of your images. If you can't afford a quality wide-angle lens that avoids these effects, hold off making a purchase and save your money until you're able to get the quality lens you need.

Telephoto

Telephoto camera lenses may be the most difficult type of camera lens to purchase. Telephoto lenses are typically the most expensive, as the quality of the glass makes a big difference in long-range applications. Typical uses for telephoto lenses include sporting events, landscape features and animals in nature. The longer the telephoto lens, the larger the aperture should be, so look for proportional length and aperture width when shopping for telephoto camera lenses. Because longer telephoto lenses require more glass, lengthier lenses are significantly more expensive than shorter lenses.

Zoom

Unlike a fixed-focal-length lens, a zoom lens gives you the option of shooting subjects both near and far. Zoom camera lenses suffer a slight loss in quality over fixed-length lenses but make up for the difference in quality by their usefulness in different applications. If you're trying to quickly shoot subjects at different ranges, such as a moving object, you may not have time to change fixed-length lenses as the subject comes closer to you or moves away. Zoom lenses give you the ability to keep a moving subject in frame and are good choices if you need a versatile lens for a moving subjects or a variety of applications.

Standard

While standard camera lenses may seem to be unnecessary in light of specific lenses for different applications, in reality, the opposite is true. Standard lenses require you to think more about the shot you're planning and move to get a good angle and distance, but they take quality pictures and the process involved helps you learn to compose better shots. An advanced photographer can use a good standard lens for a variety of applications, where a novice photographer may feel the need for specialized lenses for each application.

Macro

A macro camera lens is designed for extremely close-up photography at short range. Macro lenses aren't good at capturing close-up shots from far away, like a telephoto lens, but are instead designed for the photographer to be close to the subject. Macro lenses are ideal for nature photography, photographing collectibles and science photography.

For more information on SLR cameras, visit the hobbies section of Life123.com.

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Have you found which one to use now?

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500 Digital SLR Hints, Tips and Techniques

500 Digital SLR Hints, Tips and Techniques.

That is the next book that I am reading. I mean, I've read a dozen or more books before I even got my hand on my Nikon D5000 camera unit. I even did download a non-printable copy of the camera's manual, but of course, it only added to my misery of trying to learn the unit's ins and outs while it is still a non-tangible property to me...

That is how I do my homework, my advance learning. I proved that to myself 15 years ago or something, when I read a thick book on Corel Draw, whic was around 1995, and then after going through the book from cover to cover, I was able to recall and apply what I have read!

Or maybe that was true 15 years ago...

Anyway, I still carry the habit of reading, and reading voraciously.

So one day, maybe sooner that I think, I'll be putting in a post and telling about that I learned from this book that I have started to read about.

Till then!

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DSLR Photography Book

Image via Wikipedia

I have just finished one book about DSLR Photography which I borrowed from the library, and it is very basic and gets me into the world of digital SLR photography.

The good points is that this is very graphical, especially when it comes to the explanations on the camera features and technical aspects - even a primary-level pupil will definitely grasp the idea. Yap, as I said it, may be able to grab the idea, but not totally the concept - yet.

That is how very basic and down-to-earth this book is, and while I have read many other books on DSLR, some very technical, and some others in plain English, where the focus is 'what to do to get a particular shot' and altogether swerving away from any technical explanations, still this other book is quite informative in that the technical side of DSLR is explained in a very basic manner that will interest even the layman.

What book is that again?

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials.

And many a times I have read books under the 'Dummies...' and 'Idiot's Guide...' categories, and mind you, they are quite for people that are not dummies or idiots... you know what I mean.

Frankly, I want to lift from that book the websites that offer help, assistance and tutorials, and the likes, which will be of great value to aspiring photographers like me, a novice and beginner who will need all the help I can get. And I'm happy to have enrolled/subscribed already to one of the sites listed below before i even came across it in the book.

Here goes:
1. Photoworkshop.com, www.photoworkshop.com
2. Adobe, www.adobe.com
3. Sports Shooter, www.sportsshooter.com
4. Digital Photo Review, www.dpreview.com
5. Editorial Photographers, www.editorialphoto.com
6. Strobist, www.strobist.com
7. Digital Photography School, www.digital-photography-school.com
8. Phtojojo, www.photojojo.com
9. SeeSaw, www.seesawmagazine.com
10. Capricious, www.becapricious.com
11. Young Photogrpahers United, www.ypu.org
12. Luminous Landscape, www.luminous-landscape.com
13. Cambridge in Colour, www.cambridgeincolour.com
14. Photocrew.com, www.photocrew.com

Hope this helps you as well.
Till then...

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