laughter fills the room
like smiles from the past
I see them on my mantle
framed in wood and glass
in the morning and evening
and sometimes I wish
you hadn't grown up so fast
- RLB 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Memories of You
Memories of you in photographs
laughter fills the room
like smiles from the past
I see them on my mantle
framed in wood and glass
in the morning and evening
and sometimes I wish
you hadn't grown up so fast
- RLB 2015
laughter fills the room
like smiles from the past
I see them on my mantle
framed in wood and glass
in the morning and evening
and sometimes I wish
you hadn't grown up so fast
- RLB 2015
Monday, November 16, 2015
Ten Myths About Photography
All photos COPYRIGHT RLB2015.
Myth #1
Expensive gear guarantees great photos.
Nope...
The idea is widespread. Most folks assume I get better shots with the professional 5D than with the consumer T3.
Not so fast...in the right hands, with light and a lens, the very affordable T3 will perform very well.
Myth #2
One shot will do.
Generally, a few shots per setting are required, and that number goes up as the number of subjects goes up. If a group of ten can face me, smile, and not blink, that is lottery luck.
Myth #3
Photographers just "get" photos.
Not always. A lot depends on the subject. I have had family portraits where mom and son were wonderful, but the 18-year-old daughter was horrible.
It is ultra-important that customers of photographers understand the need for groups to be focused.
Myth #4
DSLR cameras are night-vision binoculars.
The fact is, great lighting is needed for photography, plain and simple. In regard to zoom length, a common misconception is that a 300mm lens can photograph that blue-jay across a field of corn.
Photography is a light proposition and wildlife photography is a hunter's stalk-like approach. The odds are stacked against us, surely.
Myth #5
Entry-level DSLRs have Auto Mode, which is good enough.
Sure, functionality and user-interface is important, but it is not the road to iconic photographs. Automatic modes are great if you only want great snapshots.
If you want timeless photos, get out of Auto Mode.
Myth #6
Photography is easy, now that it is a digital medium.
Ha! Go shoot a wedding, it's as tough as roofing a house. I would know...
Myth #7
One lens is good for everything.
If you only are after vacation photos, you might get by with one medium range zoom lens. But, if you want wide angles at the beach and elk in the mountains, and macro shots of your garden flowers, one lens will not do all of those things.
Myth #8
It's easy to make money as a photographer.
Ha! All kinds of factors blow this idea away. Yes, the digital age has eliminated the obstacles of developing and printing, but the gear remains expensive.
Prices of very capable cameras has decreased significantly in the last five years, and the market is saturated with photographers. There is a lot of competition...
Myth #9
"I don't edit my photos."
Editing is absolutely a must. I use Adobe Photoshop CS5, but many free programs exist. Gimp, Picasa, and even WindowsLive are programs that offer powerful editing.
The cameras are pretty good, but they are far from perfect. Subtle editing is often the only edit. Realistic images should be the goal. Using the camera to its fullest and editing correctly will help you achieve timeless and natural looking photos.
Myth #10
"Man, your camera takes great photos."
It is not the camera. I guarantee that.
Myth #1
Expensive gear guarantees great photos.
Nope...
The idea is widespread. Most folks assume I get better shots with the professional 5D than with the consumer T3.
Not so fast...in the right hands, with light and a lens, the very affordable T3 will perform very well.
Myth #2
One shot will do.
Generally, a few shots per setting are required, and that number goes up as the number of subjects goes up. If a group of ten can face me, smile, and not blink, that is lottery luck.
Myth #3
Photographers just "get" photos.
Not always. A lot depends on the subject. I have had family portraits where mom and son were wonderful, but the 18-year-old daughter was horrible.
It is ultra-important that customers of photographers understand the need for groups to be focused.
Myth #4
DSLR cameras are night-vision binoculars.
The fact is, great lighting is needed for photography, plain and simple. In regard to zoom length, a common misconception is that a 300mm lens can photograph that blue-jay across a field of corn.
Photography is a light proposition and wildlife photography is a hunter's stalk-like approach. The odds are stacked against us, surely.
Myth #5
Entry-level DSLRs have Auto Mode, which is good enough.
Sure, functionality and user-interface is important, but it is not the road to iconic photographs. Automatic modes are great if you only want great snapshots.
If you want timeless photos, get out of Auto Mode.
Myth #6
Photography is easy, now that it is a digital medium.
Ha! Go shoot a wedding, it's as tough as roofing a house. I would know...
Myth #7
One lens is good for everything.
If you only are after vacation photos, you might get by with one medium range zoom lens. But, if you want wide angles at the beach and elk in the mountains, and macro shots of your garden flowers, one lens will not do all of those things.
Myth #8
It's easy to make money as a photographer.
Ha! All kinds of factors blow this idea away. Yes, the digital age has eliminated the obstacles of developing and printing, but the gear remains expensive.
Prices of very capable cameras has decreased significantly in the last five years, and the market is saturated with photographers. There is a lot of competition...
Myth #9
"I don't edit my photos."
Editing is absolutely a must. I use Adobe Photoshop CS5, but many free programs exist. Gimp, Picasa, and even WindowsLive are programs that offer powerful editing.
The cameras are pretty good, but they are far from perfect. Subtle editing is often the only edit. Realistic images should be the goal. Using the camera to its fullest and editing correctly will help you achieve timeless and natural looking photos.
Myth #10
"Man, your camera takes great photos."
It is not the camera. I guarantee that.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Finding Light, Five Tips For Cheap Photography Gear
I have a Canon T3. It is the bottom-of-the-line for Canon DSLRs. However, it is plenty capable. Shelly's son, Tyler, also has a T3. And, Tyler has a zoom lens, the ultra-affordable EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 II. It doesn't have Image Stabilization(IS) or the fast motor, and it won't shoot in any low-light situation very well.
But, for a lens that retails for less than $200, you can't go wrong. Just go find light.
Tip #1
The saying is, "Get out early and stay late." Not this time of year. These days, mid afternoon might have the best light. Especially if you are shooting entry-level gear, which tends to be slower.
Tip #2
Fast shutters are the sharpeners in the field, not Photoshop. The cheap Canon T3 kit usually comes with two lenses, the EF 18-55 with IS, and the 75-300 without IS. I have always said that crisp photos mean the shutter is 2x the focal range. And the math gets bigger as the zoom range gets longer. This means that at 300mm, our shutter should be 1/1000 second as much as possible.
Tip #3
Contrasts between light and dark can wreak havoc on your photos. Find light that is soft and full.
Tip #4
Use windows and sunsets to illuminate subjects. Flash is also an underused commodity. Use even the on-board flash when needed. Learn how to mix flash with ambient light.
Tip #5
Shoot at deeper apertures. Using a kit lens like the EF 75-300, stopping down the lens to f9 will get you sharper and better photos. Don't be afraid to shoot ISO 1600 to do this.
But, for a lens that retails for less than $200, you can't go wrong. Just go find light.
Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm
Tip #1
The saying is, "Get out early and stay late." Not this time of year. These days, mid afternoon might have the best light. Especially if you are shooting entry-level gear, which tends to be slower.
Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm
Tip #2
Fast shutters are the sharpeners in the field, not Photoshop. The cheap Canon T3 kit usually comes with two lenses, the EF 18-55 with IS, and the 75-300 without IS. I have always said that crisp photos mean the shutter is 2x the focal range. And the math gets bigger as the zoom range gets longer. This means that at 300mm, our shutter should be 1/1000 second as much as possible.
Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm
Tip #3
Contrasts between light and dark can wreak havoc on your photos. Find light that is soft and full.
Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm
Tip #4
Use windows and sunsets to illuminate subjects. Flash is also an underused commodity. Use even the on-board flash when needed. Learn how to mix flash with ambient light.
Canon 5D, EF 24-105mm f4 L, 430EX Speedlite
Tip #5
Shoot at deeper apertures. Using a kit lens like the EF 75-300, stopping down the lens to f9 will get you sharper and better photos. Don't be afraid to shoot ISO 1600 to do this.
Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm
All photos COPYRIGHT MOMENTS TO MEMORIES 2015
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