RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod

27 Sep

Are you frustrated by the inconvenience of a tripod and you prefer shooting handheld? Do you want to take sharp images, but without having to lug around such a large piece of equipment?

Fortunately, it is possible to get stunning images, even images in low light, without using a tripod. In fact, tripods often limit your flexibility.

5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - dunlin

I rarely use a tripod, myself. While I do appreciate the added stability a tripod provides, I find myself struggling to compose images. I prefer the ability to quickly flow from composition to composition. I also like to shoot from angles that tripods struggle to cover. Hence, I have a lot of experience in photographing handheld.

In this article, I discuss various ways you can shoot without a tripod while still getting sharp images. I will show you how, with very little work, you can take your handheld photography to the next level.

5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - golden retriever and woman

1. Stabilize Your Body Against an Object

I’ll start with the least technical tip for shooting handheld, that is to become a human tripod!

By this, I mean that you should seek to stabilize your body and arms against an object. I find that the ground is an excellent choice (after all, it’s reliably present).

So, when shooting handheld, I often get down on the ground. I’ll lie on my stomach and press my elbows firmly against the soil. Then I can feel fairly confident when taking my image that things will remain sharp.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - aster

I stabilized my elbows against the ground in order to photograph this aster.

If you don’t want to get down on your stomach, that’s okay. You can also try out several other positions.

For instance, you can crouch down and put your elbows on your knees. Or you can tuck your elbows into your body.

You can also find some other object to stabilize yourself against. I sometimes use large rocks or fallen trees when shooting flowers. It pays to be creative.

2. Use Your Camera or Lens’s Built-In Image Stabilization

Does your camera or lens possess image stabilization technology? If so, switch it on!

You see, image stabilization technology is built in by clever camera manufacturers. It reduces (or eliminates) camera shake using image stabilization.

Image stabilization technology generally works in one of two ways. If it’s built into the camera, the sensor physically moves to counteract any camera shake that the camera has experienced. If it’s built into the lens, an optical element inside the lens is what moves.

Regardless, here’s the key takeaway: Image stabilization technology help to minimize or eliminate camera shake.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - urban abstract

Without image stabilization, getting this urban abstract would have been very difficult.

The downside of image stabilization technology is that it’s expensive. Only some cameras and some lenses possess it, and they tend to be on the pricier side of things.

For those of us who dislike shooting with a tripod, however, image stabilization is a worthwhile investment.

3. Shoot with Shorter Lenses

An oft-cited rule in photography circles is this: you can handhold your lens at a shutter speed that is the reciprocal of the focal length (that is, 1/focal length).

This may sound complex, but it’s really not. To find an acceptably fast shutter speed, take the focal length and make it into a fraction with a one on top.

For instance, if you’re shooting with a 100mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second or faster. When you’re shooting with a 400mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/400th of a second or faster. Finally, if you’re shooting with a 25mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second.

Do you see the pattern? The longer the lens, the faster your shutter speed must be. Conversely, you can use a longer shutter speed when using a short lens.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - golden retriever

I used a wide angle lens to capture this golden retriever in low light.

This is for a couple of reasons. First, long lenses tend to be bigger and heavier, causing more camera shake. Second, longer lenses magnify camera shake, resulting in blurrier pictures.

Therefore, if you don’t have a tripod to cut down on camera shake, you should use a lens that is more forgiving of the rule (based on the 1/focal length rule).

So if you’re shooting handheld, use shorter focal lengths for more success.

4. Shoot in Burst Mode

Another tip for photographing without a tripod is to shoot in burst mode (high-speed drive mode).

To activate burst mode, you simply have to set the camera to high-speed drive mode and hold down the shutter button. If you have a camera with this capability, you’ll hear the rapid-fire sound of images being taken.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - white-morph reddish egret

Burst mode was essential for getting this early-morning shot of a White-Morph Reddish Egret.

This mode helps with handheld photography for two reasons.

First, when you jab the shutter button with your finger, it generates camera shake. When you use burst mode, however, you only press the shutter button at the beginning of your image sequence. This means that later photographs are taken with very little camera shake because the shutter button is not actually pressed just before the image is captured.

Second, when you shoot in burst mode, the mirror doesn’t cause extra vibrations. You see, many cameras (DSLRs) have mirrors in front of the sensor. When the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips up, briefly exposing the sensor to light (to capture the image).

When the mirror flips up, this causes small vibrations throughout the camera, another form of camera shake. Yet when you activate burst mode, the mirror only flips up only at the beginning of the burst. The later shots aren’t affected by the vibrations caused by the mirror and as a consequence, they are sharper.

NOTE: This last point doesn’t apply to mirrorless cameras as they do not have a mirror, hence the name!

5. Use the self-timer

My final tip for photographing without a tripod is to use your camera’s self-timer.

The self-timer allows you to press the shutter button, and then it waits a specified number of seconds before the image is taken.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - cosmos

I love using the self-timer when photographing flowers.

This useful for the same reason cited above in favor of burst mode. It prevents the camera shake generated when you press the shutter button.

So, next time you’re out in the field and you’re struggling to get sharp images without a tripod, try using the self-timer to reduce your camera shake.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - purple abstract

Conclusion

Many photographers think that tripods are a necessity, but this isn’t necessarily the case. There are methods that you can use to shoot without a tripod while still capturing stellar images.

Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod - architecture ann arbor

  • First, steady yourself by placing your elbows against the ground.
  • Second, switch on your camera or lens’s image stabilization software.
  • Third, shoot with shorter (e.g., wide-angle) lenses.
  • Fourth, photograph using burst mode.
  • Fifth, use your camera’s self-timer.

photography without tripod yellow flower

photography without tripod cosmos

If you follow these tips, your tripod will become far less important, and you’ll take fantastic handheld images.

Have any more tips for photographing without a tripod? Please share them in the comments below.

photography without tripod little blue heron

The post 5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod

Posted in Photography

 

Tips for Getting Started in Street Photography

27 Sep

This article will help you with those all important decisions for getting started in street photography. Including the best gear to use, settings to apply, and what to do about the tricky topic of photographing people in public.

Any image of a street that can be used to tell a story about the location it shot could be defined as a street photograph. It could be a large city or a small village.

Getting Started in Street Photography - artists in a street market

Gear

As a street photographer, you want to be able to blend into your surroundings. By blending in, you stand a better chance of going unnoticed and capturing candid moments. This means you will want to keep your gear small and light.

Camera

The big question these days is around the DSLR or mirrorless choice. My advice for street photography is the latter.

There is nothing wrong with using a DSLR if that is what you prefer or have already. However, mirrorless cameras will simply save you space and weight. Your street photography adventures will be much more enjoyable if you’re not arriving home to find one arm longer than the other after carrying around a DSLR all day.

Another benefit to mirrorless is that the electronic viewfinder (EVF) will provide you with an accurate representation of the exposure for your image before you even press the shutter.

If you find yourself without your camera and get the urge for street photography, there’s nothing wrong with using the camera on your phone.

Shot and edited on an iPhone - street photography

Shot and edited on an iPhone.

Lenses

If you’re getting started in street photography, you will want to use a zoom lens, rather than a prime. An 18-55mm kit lens (or similar) will be fine to start. I recommend planning to move to a prime lens once you have more experience.

The reason for this is that they are (usually) sharper than zoom lenses and shooting consistently at one focal length will help you to develop your own style.

When you’re ready to invest in a prime lens, you can look back at the metadata of all the street photos taken with your zoom lens and observe what focal length you used most often. This will help inform your decision making for which focal length to choose when buying a prime lens.

Settings

When shooting street photography, your camera should be ready to take the next shot at a moment’s notice. This means you’ll need to have your settings dialed in as much as possible.

I recommend starting in full Auto. This will allow you to concentrate on your surroundings and nail the composition. When you are more confident, you could move on to aperture priority.

Here’s some advice for when you start looking at those manual settings.

Aperture

The best street photos make use of the entire frame. This means you’ll want a good depth of field, which means that the image is in focus from the nearest point in the photograph to the furthest point. I recommend shooting between f/5.6-11.

Good depth of field street photography - people on a bridge

Shutter speed

For any kind of handheld photography, a good rule of thumb is to use a minimum shutter speed that is equal to or greater than one over your focal length. This is to avoid blurry photos caused by camera shake. For example, if you are shooting at 50mm, your shutter speed should be at least 1/50th of a second.

If you are including people in your photos, you have two options.

First, use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze their motion. Anything faster than 1/100th should do it, for walking pace. A faster shutter speed will be needed for joggers and cyclists and will vary depending on how fast they’re moving.

Freeze motion man riding a bike - street photography

Secondly, if you want to get creative and blur their motion slightly to project a sense of movement in your image, you can use a slightly slower shutter speed. But make sure you still use one that’s fast enough to avoid camera shake.

Sense of movement

ISO

Keep ISO as low as possible while still achieving the points mentioned above for aperture and shutter speed. This will reduce the amount of noise (grain) in your photos.

Focus

If your lens has a focus ring that stops at infinity, use it and switch your camera to manual focus. If not, you’ll need an autofocus setting that allows you to track your subject, as it’s likely to be moving if it’s a person.

Focus tracking man walking - street photography

Metering

When you’re first getting started with street photography, you’ll want to use a metering mode that measures the whole frame. This will help you to prevent under or overexposure. Different camera manufacturers have different names for this metering mode. For example, Nikon refers to it as “Matrix Metering” and Canon refer to it as “Evaluative Metering”.

Composition

The rules of composition are an article in themselves. You can read more about it in this article.

Good composition is one of the most important elements of any photograph, but try not to get too hung up on it. As mentioned a few times in this article, you don’t have long to see and capture an image when practicing street photography.

While I agree that you should always try to get things right in-camera, sometimes this just isn’t practical. It’s better to get the shot and crop it later if you need to, rather than not get the shot at all.

When looking around you, don’t forget to look up or down. You never know what opportunities you might be missing.

Looking up

Looking down

Blending In

At the beginning of this article, I talked about how important it is to blend into your surroundings. There are a couple of ways you can do this.

Environment

If you go to tourist hot spots for your street photography, you’ll just look like another tourist. This means that when you hold your camera up to look through the viewfinder, you’ll just be another person with a camera. It’ll be white noise to everyone around you so it’s a great place to start off with and build your confidence.

Tourists street photography

Camera Position

By holding your camera down by your side, or in front of your torso, you can make it look like you’re not even taking a photograph. It can be particularly helpful in this scenario if your camera has a tilting screen.

For this technique (called shooting from the hip), you’ll want to use a wide-angle lens to maximize your chances of capturing the shot. I took the shot below while continuing to walk and holding my camera by my side.

Camera by my side street photography

Clothing

Wearing bright clothes will instantly make you more noticeable so be sure to wear dark or neutral colored clothes.

Confrontation

One of the hot topics of street photography is how to avoid confrontation when photographing people in public. Or what to do if someone takes offense when you have just taken their photograph without permission.

This section is not intended to put you off, but prepare you in the event that you are confronted. It’s only ever happened to me once. A security guard asked me to move on, so I did.

Here’s a quick summary of the different kinds of confrontational situations you may find yourself in and what to do if they arise.

Authorities

A common experience for street photographers is being approached by security guards or the police, in particular when taking photographs of buildings in big cities. The bottom line in this situation is that you are in a public space and therefore are allowed to be there.

However, you’re not likely the first street photographer that security guard or police officer has encountered, and you’re even less likely to be the last. Don’t give street photographers a bad reputation by being difficult. No photograph is ever worth the aggravation. Just move on.

Members of the public

With the ubiquity of social media and people growing ever more aware of their privacy, you can understand if someone doesn’t like it when their photo is taken without permission. Particularly if they have no idea where that photo might end up.

I liked this pop of red in the shirt against the subdued tones of the building. Unidentifiable subject. 

The same rules apply here as in the previous section. If you and your subject are in a public place, you are within your rights to take their photograph. If a person confronts you and wants you to delete the photo you took of them, there’s a couple of ways you can approach it.

If they’re not a major part of the photograph, politely remind them of your rights. Inform them that they’re barely noticeable and you intend to keep the photograph. However, if you sense that they might turn aggressive, it’s always best to do as they ask. Again, it’s not worth the aggravation.

If the person that has approached you is a major part of the frame, it is best to respect their wishes and delete the photo.

Clearly identifiable subject.

Summary

Street photography is meant to be fun. Try not to get too hung up on gear and settings in the beginning and just enjoy yourself. Keep practicing and the ability to spot a photo opportunity developing in front of you will become instinctive.

Over to you. Let me know in the comments if you think there’s anything I missed or would like to know more about.

The post Tips for Getting Started in Street Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Tips for Getting Started in Street Photography

Posted in Photography

 

12 Tips for Overcoming Common Wedding Day Setbacks

23 Sep

Weddings are filled with love, laughter, and a lot of pressure. Brides and grooms put a lot of thought into every detail of their day and even the most perfectly planned wedding can encounter problems that can affect you, the photographer. There are no two weddings alike, however, there are common setbacks that can happen at any wedding or event that you may be photographing.

wedding portrait couple on by the ocean

1. Running short on time

The photography timeline is set out so that everyone involved can stick to a schedule. That allows all of the important details and people to be photographed. Unfortunately, running late or short on time because of any reason can be a cause of stress to everyone involved. 

wedding day photography - groom getting ready

If you are caught with less time, the first thing you should do is to assure your client that everything is okay and these setbacks are really common on the wedding day. Make sure that you mention you can make up time later and offer suggestions to the problem.

For example, if the bride has taken a little longer than was originally planned to get ready and now you only have 10 minutes for family photos, suggest to the bride that you can snap a few in that 10-minute window and also after the ceremony.

wedding day photography - 2 bride photos

If you are waiting for someone to arrive for photos, make use of the time and photograph details, other people with the bride and groom, individual photos, or more photojournalistic photos. It’s important to keep taking photos no matter the setback, this will keep the bride and groom calm knowing that you aren’t missing any detail and it can distract from the problem.

Usually, you can make up the time later and get the photos you need either during cocktail hour or during the reception. You can photograph details, portraits, and even get some interesting lighting using flash during the reception.

bridal party - wedding day photography

Photos of the bridal party during the reception because we ran out of time beforehand. You can always try and take photos later in the day if the time runs short.

2. Having too much downtime

It is rare to have downtime when photographing a wedding but it can happen. Having downtime usually occurs during the getting ready phase, waiting for the bridal party, or reception parts of the day. It’s okay to have downtime, however, there is nothing worse than seeing vendors, especially photographers, sitting down and waiting it out during these times.

Sure, it’s perfectly fine to use this time to go to the bathroom or take a snack break. Your break just shouldn’t be more than 10 minutes.

wedding dress hanging up - wedding day photography

Make sure to use the downtime wisely. Prep for the next round of photos, check batteries or set up off-camera lighting. You can also do test shot in the next location where you’ll be photographing.

Even though you’re waiting for the next event to come, never stop photographing any and all of the little details. In short: there is always something to photograph and do while you’re waiting.

3. The bride is full of emotions

I will not use the term “bridezilla” because I don’t believe it’s fair to the bride. Wedding days are high pressured days and brides are usually nervous and full of emotions before walking down the aisle.

It doesn’t matter if the couple is doing a first look or are getting ready in the same room, some brides are more nervous than others.

bride and her girls having fun - wedding day photography

If this is the case, don’t mention anything! Even if the bride is nervous, anxious, or even angry, just redirect the focus on something else like her dress or that she looks beautiful. Reassure her that everything will be okay and tell her to just enjoy the moment now.

As the photographer, it’s your responsibility to help the bride relax and feel very natural as the day unfolds. Always keep a positive attitude and try to transmit that same vibe to the bride and groom. If they feel like you are there for them, it will make all the difference in the photos. If you’re excited about the wedding, then they’ll be excited.

4. Family telling you how to do your job

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been photographing weddings, you will encounter a family member or friend who wants to tell you how to do your job at least once.

wedding couple in the grass - wedding day photography

When you encounter this type of setback, don’t make any negative or sarcastic remarks. Thank them for the idea they offered and move on. You can also comment that you’ve been photographing weddings for X number of years and are experienced in taking photos. Better yet, just go along with what they are saying and don’t say anything in return.

If they are asking for a particular photo, take the photo. If you already have, kindly let them know that you got the shot earlier in the day. This will keep them at bay knowing that you are taking all of the most meaningful photos.

wedding rings and hands - wedding day photography

At the end of the day, the guests will remember you more than you realize and if you make snarky or sarcastic remarks it may result in a negative view of your professionalism. You are there to photograph your bride’s day and that also means tending to the requests of her guests (they’re well-meaning).

5. When there is no planner or coordinator

If the couple has opted to not have a planner or coordinator, it is up to you to make sure to assist the couple during the wedding day.

Technically it isn’t your responsibility, however, helping with putting on boutonnieres, adjusting centerpieces, and placing the veil will always help you to capture the best photos possible.

girls wedding party - wedding day photography

Work with your couple before the wedding to make a schedule of the most important parts of the day that you’ll be covering. This way, everyone knows what time the family photos are happening, what time the dance starts, and what time you’ll be photographing the dress. Knowing when and where all the events will take place will give your couples peace of mind.

Having a schedule, or itinerary, will also help to move things around. For example, if the bride is late for her bridal party photos, you can take photos of the people who are there so switch to the groom’s family photos.

wedding couple leaving the church - wedding day photography

Photography is service based and as such, you should always strive to give your clients the best service possible. If that means acting as coordinator for the day to capture the best photographs possible, by all means, do it.

You can also have a family member or member of the bridal party to help to coordinate and fix any problems that may come up during the day.

6. Vendor Meals

There is nothing worse than working a wedding and having to eat a vendor meal during dinner. Everyone works differently, yet vendor meals can be a huge setback, especially if it consists of a sandwich and an apple. 

You can prepare for this by taking snacks or even a full meal. Pack an icebox or lunch bag with your favorite snacks and perhaps a little something more just in case you will be having a vendor meal.

wedding day photography - wedding cake

Try asking the couple if they are okay with you taking an empty seat during the reception or getting in line for the buffet at their event. Most guests won’t mind because, by that time, they will have seen how hard you’ve been working all day. Luckily, most couples now invite their vendors to eat dinner or make sure that they’ve had something substantial.

In any case, take your snacks and water because you’ll need them throughout the day, whether you get a vendor meal or real dinner.

7. Little time with bride and groom

Sometimes, wedding day timelines can get a little compressed leaving less time for the most important photos (next to the ceremony). However, you can create stunning photos of the bride and groom all in one spot without having to move them to different locations.

To achieve this, download 10 of your favorite poses for couples onto your phone and photograph each one from different angles. Take individual photos of the bride and groom, including details of their wardrobe.

6 wedding couple poses - wedding day photography

Without moving the couple very much, you can get many different poses and photos in a short amount of time.

When you take advantage of posing in one spot, you can get lots of different photos from different angles in less time. Subtle changes to posing like facing the bride toward the groom and then facing the bride away from the groom can offer more variety.

Using one location can maximize the time you have for photos because moving from one location to another can often waste time. This way you can focus on them and getting great expressions.

wedding couple - wedding day photography

For example, pose the couple in front of a plain wall, facing each other, hands around the bouquet. Take one photo of them in this pose full length. Take another mid-shot asking the groom to kiss the bride on the cheek while the bride smiles and looks down at her bouquet; that’s two photos.

In this same pose, get close and take a photo of the kiss. Next, go behind the couple and photograph mid-shot. Still in the same pose, get a close-up of the groom’s hand around the bride’s waist from behind the couple; the makes five photos without moving the couple.

After you have worked through one pose, choose another and work through it until you have all possible photos. This technique will ensure you get the most photos out of each pose in little time, without moving the couple.

8. Rain

Depending on where you live, what time of the year you’re photographing, and weather conditions, it could be that you get hit with rain on the day of the event. If this does happen, maintain a positive outlook and always try to help find solutions to work around the rain.

wedding day photography - b/w bride

When rain strikes, switch to an indoor location or a location with covered walkways.

Change locations for photos. If you were going to do the family photos outside of the church, try moving the family inside the church or better yet, to the reception location. Look for options where you have awnings, covered walkways/breezeways, and inside a home or venue. 

two wedding photos - wedding day photography

Sometimes, the weather clears and you’re able to go outside for the remaining portraits.

You can also take advantage and get creative with the wedding photos. Ask the couple if they are willing to pose in the rain under an umbrella. You might be surprised how many are willing to get something a little different!

9. Drunken guests

It’s not uncommon for wedding guests to want to start the party early. Work with the coordinator or the bride and assign a family member to take care of the drunken guest. If they are part of the family, try and keep them away until it’s time for them to be in photos.

shot of alcohol - wedding day photography

Try as best as you can to be nice and not comment on their state of being. Drawing attention to their behavior can upset the couple more and ruin the time you have for photos. Be really direct in posing and communication and always stay positive.

10.  Clashing with the wedding coordinator/planner

Although it is rare when vendors don’t see eye-to-eye during an event, it is really important to stay close to the couple. If you need something particular make sure to run it by the couple first. They have the final say on everything that goes on during the day.

couple poses - wedding day photography

Always maintain a high level of professionalism and make sure that you aren’t seen being rude or speaking rudely to the other vendors. If the clash worsens, tell the bride that you and the coordinator/planner have differences and suggest options to help maintain order.

Communication is key and it’s always best to go to the couple if you experience backlash or trouble with another vendor.

11. Other photographers/weddings at the same portrait location

This is probably the most common setback in the wedding industry. Many couples tend to choose the same locations for the portrait session.

If there are other photographers at the location before you arrive, simply introduce yourself and let them know that you’ll also be photographing a wedding. Ask them if they plan on using another location for photos and if they’d be willing to switch it up after a certain amount of time.

wedding Pasadena - wedding day photography

This location in Pasadena, California is really popular for bridal portraits. There were at least 3 other photographers there at this time.

If there are a lot of photographers and events, simply choose a spot at the location that is free of people. Staying clear of other photographers’ background and watching out for people walking into your frame will keep the portraits clean.

12. Guests taking photos during the ceremony

Keep in mind that the wedding guests are an important detail in the couple’s day. Each was given an invitation to share and be a part of the wedding.

Having said that, some guests will take it upon themselves to take photos of the most important parts of the day, namely, the ceremony.

lady taking a photo at a wedding ceremony - wedding day photography

When this does happen, gently tap the guest on the shoulder, with a smile and motion to them that you need the spot in order to take a great photo of the couple. Most guests will move out of the way and not be bothered by this gesture.

This also asserts that you are the main photographer while staying positive and professional with guests. This non-verbal gesture also works with other vendors like videographers.

bride's maid and bride selfie - wedding day photography

It’s also a good idea to let the guests take their photos first and then position yourself to take the profession photos afterward. This way, you’re letting guests take and share their own shots but also letting them know that you need to take these important photos as well.

couple kissing - wedding day photography

The more photos the couple has of their day, be it from your camera or from their guests, the better. They’ll appreciate you for letting guests enjoy themselves by taking their own photographs.

In Conclusion

couple dancing - wedding day photography

Wedding photography is the most important take away from a couple’s wedding. However, it is not free from mishaps during the day of the event.

Each wedding can have one or more setback, it’s up to you the photographer to work around them and find solutions quickly. Maintain a positive attitude and always reassure the client that everything is photographing beautiful.

Have you experienced any of these or other setbacks at a wedding you photographed?

The post 12 Tips for Overcoming Common Wedding Day Setbacks appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 12 Tips for Overcoming Common Wedding Day Setbacks

Posted in Photography

 

5 Road Trip Photography Tips – Come Home with Great Photos

23 Sep

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? You pick a destination, plan your route, pack up your stuff in the car, and hit the road. For many, the open road signifies freedom, opportunity, exploration, and adventure. As much time as you spend planning out a road trip, you never know what surprises may be out there waiting.

It’s exciting! It’s truly an iconic American experience. There will be moments and memories you plan to capture and a whole host of others you won’t want to forget.

Road trip photography tips 01 - old swing set

On every traveler’s packing list is a camera. Whether that’s your phone, a simple point and shoot, or a DSLR, you want to make sure you’ve brought something to capture your experience. So, how do you make sure you’re getting the best possible photos?

What are some tips and pointers for capturing all of those memories? Here are a few quick tips that you can use to make sure you can do the best road trip photography possible.

Road trip photography tips - b/w person taking a photo

1. Research Your Spot

Thanks to the internet and social media, you can search for any destination online and see photographs others have taken. This is a great way to see what attractions, large or small, await you. A quick search of the highway or road you’re going to take, the cities you’re going to pass through, may bring up unexpected and worthwhile stops.

Another really helpful tip is to research your destination on social media. A quick search on Instagram or Facebook will reveal all of the top spots that other photographers have found. This will be helpful to make sure you don’t miss a monument, historical landmark, or site along the way.

Road trip photography tips - sunset and mountains

But, it’s also really helpful to find all of those hidden gems that only the locals or seasoned travelers might know about.

2. Plan and Pack

If you’re a photographer hitting the open road, packing your camera gear is almost as important, if not more so, to you than remembering your toothbrush. Depending on the trip, you may have enough room to bring all your gear or you might have to limit yourself.

Take note of important things like the locations you’re going to be driving through, the time of year you’ll be driving, what kind of photographs you’ll want to take, and the weather. All of these components will affect what kind of gear you will need to bring with you.

It can be easy to get carried away or get overwhelmed and not pack the right things. So, take a minute and think through what your most useful and crucial gear might be given where you are traveling. What is going to help you capture those can’t miss moments the best?

It is always better to have a few extra pieces of gear to ensure you have what you need rather than miss a moment.

A quick list of things to consider as you plan and prep:

  • Will you be walking a lot at your destinations?
  • Will your gear be safe at your destinations?
  • What time of year is it?
  • What will the weather be like where you’re going?
  • Do you need any accessories (i.e. tripod, filters, reflectors)?
  • What is the one camera/lens combo you can’t live without?

Road trip photography tips - curves in the road sign

3. Prepare a Go-Bag

Any time you’re on a road trip it is vital to have a setup close-by and ready to go. This means a versatile lens, your camera, a fully charged battery, and your settings already set up.

You can pack up the bulk of your gear elsewhere in the car but keep your camera bag or an additional bag with all of these necessary items next to you. It will help you in a pinch. You never know when you might see a great scene out the window as a passenger or when you’ll want pull over to capture an unexpected sight or beautiful landscape.

It is helpful to keep a short list of must-have gear for your go-bag so you can quickly pack one at any time. Some of these items may include:

  • Camera bag
  • A tripod
  • Fully charged batteries
  • Camera body and lenses
  • Dust cloth, air blower, or any tool you use to remove dirt and dust from your gear
  • Filters
  • Memory cards

Road trip photography tips - scenic telescope viewer

4. Slow Down and Expect the Unexpected

You can plan, and you can prepare. You can have a list of all of your top spots ready and marked on your route. As important as all of these tips are, being ready for the unexpected is just as important.

If you see something cool or unique, stop and take a photograph. If you pull off into a little town, take some time to walk around and keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss an interesting photo opportunity. Don’t let the excitement of heading to the next destination keep you from missing out on a great photograph.

Remember to carve out time to slow down and see the sights both with and without your camera.

Road trip photography tips - dirt road

5. Never forget to have fun!

Finally, never forget to have fun doing it.

Do you have any other road trip photography tips? Have you done any good road trips lately? Please share your tips and images in the comments below.

Road trip photography tips 07

The post 5 Road Trip Photography Tips – Come Home with Great Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 5 Road Trip Photography Tips – Come Home with Great Photos

Posted in Photography

 

Tips for Dodging and Burning with Lightroom

21 Sep

In this video from Johny Spencer, learn how to use the local adjustment tools inside Lightroom to do dodging and burning. The idea behind this technique is about highlighting certain areas of your image and really make them pop.

You don’t have to be a Lightroom or processing master to d so this. Just follow along and watch the video below:

?

Did you learn some good tips? Did the video make you want to go to the beach? I did for me! Well now is the time to put your new skills to use and try it out on some of your images.

Need more Lightroom help? Try these dPS articles:

  • 10 Lightroom Tricks That Will Make Your Life Easier
  • Lightroom Local Adjustments – Radial Filter Versus the Adjustment Brush
  • Unlocking the Power of the Basic Panel in Lightroom
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Lightroom for Beginners
  • 5 Lightroom Tips and Tricks for Beginners
  • How to Make Custom Camera Raw Profiles for Lightroom & Photoshop

 

The post Tips for Dodging and Burning with Lightroom appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Tips for Dodging and Burning with Lightroom

Posted in Photography

 

Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session

21 Sep

A portrait session can be a nerve-racking event. There’s so much to remember and prepare before the actual press of the shutter button. It takes a lot of prep work. People don’t always realize what goes into being ready.

Even if you’re an amateur taking pics of your family and friends, there are some important steps to take if you want to capture some really beautiful images. Here are some tips to help you out.

Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session - girl jumping into the water

In some cases, planning for a shoot is really simple. In this case, we took the kids to the beach at sunset to shoot some pics we could share on social media.

Logistics and Planning

This is the part where you discuss the portrait session with your friends or clients. You need to pick a date, location, and a time. You should also discuss backup dates in case the original plan doesn’t work.

If you’re shooting professionally, you need to get the contract signed, collect a deposit and ensure that clients know under which circumstances their deposit (retainer) is refundable.

Image Sharing

If you are taking family pics at a reunion and you intend to share these photos with everyone, consider setting up an online photo album you can send to everyone. It’s much easier to share the pics this way.

Make sure you have everyone’s email so that they can all download the images afterward. It’s a huge pain to email people separately. You’re taking the pictures to stay in control and don’t overwork yourself sending them to everyone. They can take some of the responsibility.

If there are older family members, consider printing out a set of instructions they can use for accessing and downloading the images. I’ve run into that issue before and found myself driving an hour to click download on someone’s computer.

kids running in the water - Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session

Another from the sunset shoot of informal family pics.

The Style and Portrait Session Design

It’s also a good idea to discuss the type of look and feel you want to create in the portrait session. If you’re working professionally, this is really important. Make sure you and the clients are on the same page.

Do they want relaxed, candid images or do they prefer something more formal? Clothing can affect the look of a photo shoot so be sure to discuss attire. If you’re snapping pics at a family event, you probably won’t have much control over the look of the images unless you plan and get everyone on board.

I’ve seen families choose themes like “Old West” for a fun afternoon of photos. At some reunions, I’ve seen groups create a t-shirt they all wear to commemorate the pics.

A friend of mine set up a photo booth at a Christmas party. Everyone was asked to bring one piece of “bling” for their photo. When paired with the props and the background she created, it was a ton of fun.

portrait of a boy by a tree - Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session

In this case, I was working with a family. Prior to the shoot, I visited the home and we discussed possible locations.

Location Matters

The chosen location can also affect the look and feel of a shoot. Consider a big comfy couch in a brightly lit room versus wooden dining room chairs on a studio backdrop. The background can considerably change the feel of an image so plan carefully.

Props

Collect some props for the portrait session. If you’re working with really young people like toddlers, it is really helpful to have things to distract the kids. Teenagers love goofy items they can hold and use for posing.

If you’re working with your own kids, it can be a huge battle to get them to cooperate. I find other people’s kids far more flexible, but if I want to photograph my kids, it’s a huge ordeal.

So think about styling the shoot in such a way that your little ones will cooperate. This might mean including their favorite toy is in the image. That’s okay! Go with it because it’s far better to get a positive, happy image than a forced angry looking smile.

Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session - 3 ladies smiling and laughing

This was another paid session. The family had gathered for a 50th-anniversary celebration. They were dressed semi-formal for the occasion.

Be Informed and Plan Ahead

Make sure you do your research. Know the area in which you are going to be shooting. It’s helpful to visit the site before the shoot so you can be familiar with all the little nooks and crannies.

Plan your route to the photo shoot if you can’t visit before the big day. Download offline instructions to your phone in case you lose your connection. It’s happened to me once that I lost the signal and drove around for ages before I could find the location.

Get Permits if Needed

Double check to be sure you don’t need a permit for shooting at a specific location. Some places require you to buy a permit. So don’t get caught without one.

I know of a family that planned to do photos in the Distillery District here in Toronto only to learn they could not photograph each other when they were halfway through the shoot. I’ve also seen a family get in a lot of trouble for trespassing on private land. All they wanted to do was take a family pic for their Facebook profiles.

So double check that you can visit and use the site you want for the session. If you’re shooting professionally, permits and property releases are a must so be sure to take care of the entire nitty gritty well before the day of the shoot.

Backup Plans are Essential

Have a Plan B. Always! Have an alternative plan at the ready. You never know what may go wrong. Have a family member bring an extra camera (or rent or borrow one) in case yours breaks. Choose an alternate site if the first won’t work.

Just be prepared. The reality is that when things go wrong, they usually go horribly wrong. So try to plan for every possible road bump in advance.

girls in the snow doing a selfie - Tips for Preparing for a Portraits Session

This shoot was planned for months. Friends were happy to join me for a day of photographs in the winter.

Day of the Portrait Session

Always make a checklist of items that you can use to help you pack up and be ready for the photoshoot. It’s really frustrating to leave equipment at home.

Arrive early! This should go without saying. You don’t want to make people wait.

Check the weather forecast and make sure you can contact people in case of emergencies. Get contact numbers from folks.

Be prepared to have fun! Just before everyone arrives or your clients show up at the studio make sure you’ve relaxed a little. I know some photographers who take 5 minutes to have a coffee before shooting. Others will sit and meditate for a few minutes beforehand.

Whatever works for you, just make sure you are confident and enthusiastic before you begin shooting. Your nerves will affect the quality of your work so don’t let them control you.

Conclusion

Photography is so much more than picking up a camera. To take memorable images, you need to put in some effort and plan out the event. So think carefully about the shoot and make sure you have everything ready.

If you are prepared and relaxed you will enjoy the event more, and so will those you are photographing!

girl blowing snow off her hand - Tips for Preparing for a Portraits Session

We wanted to create some of those images where you make snow dust. Of course, there was just too much white space around our chosen location. So sometimes your plans won’t work.

Tips for Preparing for a Portraits Session

We tried a lot of different locations.

Tips for Preparing for a Portraits Session

Eventually, we chose to shoot portraits that were much different from our initial plans.

Finally, make sure you share with us some of the ways you prepare for a photography session. Let’s get a good base of tips together we can use to our benefit.

The post Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session

Posted in Photography

 

7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

20 Sep

It’s difficult to define travel photography these days. I see the same photos on Instagram all the time. Overly processed landscapes and sunset shots, the same pictures of a famous landmark over and over again and thousands of posed selfies on a beach swing. Most of these photos are considered to be travel photography but for me that’s not what it’s about.

How to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again - camel safari

A camel safari in Jaisalmer, India.

Travel photography is about showing a country and its culture, people, and natural wonders. For me, travel photography is National Geographic and Steve McCurry and not the photos intended to lure people to a destination. These photos are often fake and don’t represent the real thing.

Good travel photography, I believe, needs a hint of photojournalism to be honest and real. Here’s my advice and tips to make your travel photography more interesting and stand out from all the rest.

1. Include tourists

Traveling has never been easier and cheaper so it’s hard to avoid bus loads of tourists, especially around landmarks and famous attractions. So why not include them in your shots?

I know an empty Taj Mahal or beach looks amazing, but let’s face it, it’s just not reality anymore and including tourists is a creative way can make your photos more interesting. You can try to create a sense of place or size by adding a person in a photo of a landmark. It will change how your audience looks at the picture dramatically because suddenly they can, for example, feel the real size of a structure compared to that person in the photo.

Include tourists - How to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

Mount Ijen in Indonesia. The tourists that look like ants on the ridge give the viewer a sense of how majestic this place is in person.

people in a pond by waterfall - How to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

Kuang Si Waterfalls. The tourists make the place feel real and touchable.

You can also look for interesting or funny scenes. Tourists can act strange or do remarkable things so adding them in the frame together with the subject you want to show creates an extra storyline in your travel photography. Tourists also make interesting subjects by themselves. I always love to observe groups visiting famous landmarks.

tourists taking a photo at Batu Caves Malaysia

Tourists taking a photo at Batu Caves Malaysia.

tourists on a boat in India - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

2. Do portraits of real people and get their story

There are lots of portraits around of locals working in tourist destinations dressed in traditional clothing but we’ve all seen those before. Why not try to take a portrait of a real local. Someone who’s working or that you meet on the street.

Do you go to a bar every night and talk to the same guy who serves you a beer? Why not take his portrait and ask about his life. Most people love it if you’re interested in their life and including a story to a photo adds a lot of value.

Portrait of a guy - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

I met Lek on a beach in Koh Lanta. He owns a beach bar where I went every night for a drink. He told me about his life and his plans for the future.

Always try to approach people and ask to create their portrait. You can only make a good portrait when there’s some kind of interaction with your subject. Don’t shoot a portrait from far away with a big zoom lens. It shows.

Portrait Indian man - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

A guide we hired in Jaisalmer, India.

3. Point your camera in the opposite direction

Famous landmarks and natural wonders make great travel photography but what’s on the other side? People often take the same obvious pictures or try to find a new angle at best. But it’s also really interesting to see what’s on the other side of where everyone’s pointing their camera.

Is there a similar view close by or is there a nice contrast you can shoot? Shooting with a different point of view is great when you want to try and make a photo story or series about a place. Don’t just get different angles of the same location or building. Get a sense of the surroundings too.

volcano at sunset - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

The obvious view.

town opposite the volcano - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting AgainAn equally interesting view of the town where I stayed on the other side.

4. Make an effort, don’t fix it in post-processing

This is a real issue with photography, in general, these days when it’s so easy to digitally enhance your pictures. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do some post-processing but out there are tons of pictures where people have replaced skies, taken out objects or added sunlight.

This has nothing to do with travel photography because then you’re just showing something that’s not real. Remember the “hint of photojournalism”? Why would you show something that wasn’t there?

Berastagi in Sumatra - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

I wanted to show the beautiful colors of the town of Berastagi in Sumatra. I went to the same spot three evenings in a row to capture the perfect light.

Always try to make an effort to get the best shot possible. If you weren’t able to get the shot you had in mind, try again the next day or even a few hours later. Weather and light change fast sometimes and that can work to your advantage.

It’s so much more rewarding when you finally get a great photo of what you actually saw.

5. Go to lesser-known areas or destinations

Especially when you want to shoot portraits, it’s a good idea to get far away from popular tourist areas. The locals will be much nicer to interact with and you’ll more likely be able to ask for a portrait without being asked for money.

Another advantage is that you can discover new and interesting locations that may have never been photographed before. A small temple in a back alley where the locals go to pray or the favorite fishing spot of a local community. Those are the pictures that will stand out and make an interesting story afterward.

many with bags of cotton candy - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

I accidentally came across Marina Beach in Chennai, India. There were no other tourists anywhere and it was the perfect place to approach locals and shoot portraits.

6. Street photography is travel photography and vice versa

I don’t like keeping these two genres of photography in different categories because when you’re traveling, you will most likely walk the streets – a lot! The street is where you can find the essence and soul of a country. The real locals with their real jobs and daily life going on around every corner.

I love to explore the streets of cities and towns to find interesting scenes and good stories. A lot of times when I visit a destination I don’t go to the popular locations at all and I try to stay in the quieter neighborhoods where I can see how the locals live.

The best travel photography is shot right on the streets, far away from any tourist destinations. You just have to look for it. Travel photography needs street photography and vice versa.

woman grilling fish on the street - https://digital-photography-school.com/top-street-travel-photography-tips-2017/

Grilling fish on the streets of Hat Yai, Thailand.

family on a motorcycle

7. Don’t be afraid of the dark

I’m not talking about shooting a building using a tripod. Cameras are so good these days that you can easily kick up the ISO to 3200 or even 6400 and shoot handheld. Yes, there will be more noise but I think people are too scared of it.

Good photos will still be good with a reasonable amount of noise. When you go out at night, just leave your tripod behind for once and try to shoot handheld. You’ll get a different and often surprising result. I’ve shot some of my best photos at night, handheld.

Don’t worry if the resulting frame is not tack sharp. This doesn’t make a good photo look bad all of a sudden.

Dark evening scene - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

A night scene I encountered while walking around in the streets of Hat Yai, Thailand.

Dark scene - 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

Conclusion

I hope you found these tips helpful. If you apply them and practice, you can make your travel photography more interesting than the average images. Please share your comments, questions, and images in the section below.

The post 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again

Posted in Photography

 

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

20 Sep

Creating attention-grabbing wildlife photography that makes a lasting impression is a difficult and demanding challenge. Typically you’re battling a number of uncontrollable and unpredictable elements, not least your subject’s behaviour, the weather, the environment and lighting.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

But, when it all comes together it’s truly magical! To ensure you maximize every opportunity and extract the most out of your wildlife encounters, there are a number of approaches that you can adopt to help you get ahead.

Here are seven tips to help you take your wildlife photography to the next level.

1 – Know Your Camera

Wildlife’s special moments are often fleeting. Subsequently your camera needs to become an extension of you. Learning to adjust the focus point, shutter speed, aperture and other settings while continuing to look through the viewfinder, for instance, should become second nature. Leaving you to concentrate on being creative with what’s happening in front of you.

Tips for Improving your Wildlife Photography

If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of your camera, then you may not be exploiting its full potential and therefore limiting yourself. Take some time out to learn as much as you can about your camera’s features and practice, practice, practice.

If reading the user manual is too much like hard work or you’re a visual learner, search for related video resources online.

2 – Shoot at Eye Level

One of the best ways to ensure your audience is able to feel connected with wildlife through your images is to shoot at eye level with your subject. That often means getting low.

Looking down on your subject can feel unnatural and controlling. Shooting at eye level allows you to create images that are much more intimate, and because the viewer is seeing what they expect to see, there is a real sense of familiarity.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

From a technical perspective, there are also a number of advantages to adopting this approach.

For instance, by positioning yourself, and more importantly your camera, on a parallel focal plane to your subjects’ eyes you will increase the likelihood of your camera’s sensor picking up, and locking focus on, the sharpest part of the image. This is partly dependent on the depth of field of course.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

Another benefit of interacting with wildlife at their level is the ability to separate your subject from what’s behind the animal to achieve wonderful, unobtrusive backdrops.

So, be prepared to get down, get wet, and get dirty in order to get the best shots!

3 – Keep Backgrounds Simple

Imagine the scene. Your subject is sitting pretty; you’re at eye level and just about to capture the moment. What you haven’t noticed is a tree protruding out of your subject’s head!

The adrenaline rush is part and parcel of wildlife photography and we’ve all been there. We’ve all been caught up in the moment, but it’s important to remember to take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture. Literally!

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

It only takes a moment to run your eye around the edge of the frame to spot unwanted distractions in the scene and then take the appropriate action. Shifting your position by moving to the left, right, up or down, often only as little as a couple of inches may be all that’s required to craft a more pleasant scene.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

4 – Know Your Subject

Research as much as you can about the animals that you’re going to photograph. It really does pay to be able to envisage what your subject is likely to do in given situations.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

Animals are habitual and most lead relatively straightforward lives with uncomplicated daily routines. Once you’ve tapped into the characteristics of a particular subject such as its preferred habitat, how and when it feeds, mating displays and so on, the more likely you will be able to predict what’s going to happen next and be ready to capture it.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

By becoming intimately acquainted with your subject species will result in distinctive, evocative images.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

5 – Be Prepared

Some of the most iconic wildlife photography images have been captured by photographers who were able to make the most of spur-of-the-moment opportunities. By ensuring they had already dialled-in some baseline camera settings before heading out into the field, they were ready when the action occurred.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

Nature’s flashes of magic are short-lived and second chances are rare. So checking the available light and firing off a couple of test shots before setting out, will ensure that you’ll be ready at a moment’s notice. As well, this will safeguard you against mistakenly using previously loaded settings from the day before.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

Even the slowest animals can react suddenly. So try and set your shutter speed as high as possible given the available light and your ISO setting.

6 – Break the Rules

Understanding the fundamental rules of wildlife photography with regards to lighting, camera settings, and composition is essential. Regardless of camera brand, manual or aperture priority, back button focusing versus front, you have to do what works for you.

It’s okay to play it safe. But then again your camera is a tool, and like an artist’s brush, it’s what you do with it that will set you apart from your peers. Try experimenting with side lighting, backlighting (or rim lighting), test different viewpoints, close-up versus wide angle, look for patterns, trial alternative lenses, and settings.

Stretch yourself and you’ll grow as a wildlife photographer.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

7 – Take Care

Finally, never forget that for us [photographers] it’s just about obtaining an image. But for wild animals, every day is a fight just to survive. No photograph is ever worth more than your subject’s welfare.

Share your wildlife tips and images in the comment area below. If you have any questions, please ask.

7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

The post 7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 7 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

Posted in Photography

 

Tips for Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

19 Sep

Neutral density filters (ND filters) are essential tools when it comes to shooting cityscapes at blue hour. Even without an ND filter, you could shoot for a few seconds of exposure (using a small aperture like f/13) when the light falls towards the end of dusk.

But those opaque filters let you take even longer exposure photos (minutes, not just seconds), and create beautiful effects such as light trails, silky smooth water, rushing clouds, etc., by slowing down the shutter speed by a certain number of f-stops.

Singapore - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

This Marina Bay (Singapore) photo was shot with a 2-second exposure (at f/13) without using any ND filter. The sky looks good, but the water isn’t smoothed out at all, as that exposure is way too short to create silky smooth water effect that is seen in the photos to follow.

How ND Filters Make Your Exposure Longer

ND filters come in different strengths, some popular ones are 3-stop, 6-stop and 10-stop. The bigger the number, the darker the filter (i.e. the less light that is let through) and the longer the exposure will be.

For example, a base shutter speed of one second (i.e. when no filter is attached) can be extended to as long as 1024 seconds (over 17 minutes) with 10-stop ND filter attached, as each “stop” doubles the exposure time:

 

1 second > 2 seconds [1 stop] > 4 seconds [2 stops] > 8 seconds [3 stops] > 15 seconds [4 stops] > 30 seconds [5 stops] > 64 seconds [6 stops] > 128 seconds [7 stops] > 256 seconds [8 stops] > 512 seconds [9 stops] > 1024 seconds [10 stops]

 

It’s easy to calculate when a base shutter speed is a simple number like one second, but what about starting with, say, 1/15th of a second? This is where the Long Exposure Calculator app (for iOS) comes in handy and makes your life easier, as it automatically calculates a required shutter speed for you (look for an Android equivalent here).

ND filter and app - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Neutral density (ND) filter (left) and Long Exposure Calculator app (right).

Using Different Strengths of ND Filters for Your Desired Effect

In this article, we’ll take a little deeper look at when to use which ND filter for your desired effect at blue hour.

3-Stop ND Filter

I don’t use 3-stop ND filter when taking cityscapes at a waterfront, as the strength is too mild to create a silky smooth water effect. Hence, my use of 3-stop ND filter is limited for scenes that have no water to be smoothed out, such as the photo below with light trails of moving cars, which doesn’t require a very long shutter speed.

Shanghai skyline - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Shanghai skyline (China) shot with a 25-second exposure (f/8) using a B+W 3-Stop ND Filter (77mm). The base shutter speed was 3 seconds, ISO 100.

Singapore - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Singapore skyline shot with a 10-second exposure (f/13) using the same 3 -stop ND filter. The base shutter speed was 1.3 seconds, ISO 100.

This mild strength 3-stop ND filter (i.e. not so long exposure) isn’t all bad, though. It allows you to take a number of photos during blue hour, unlike more dense filters like a 6-stop ND filter where you can take no more than a few photos due to a longer exposure time required per photo.

6-Stop ND Filter

I almost exclusively use a 6-stop ND filter when shooting cityscapes at a waterfront. To create silky smooth water effects, slowing down 3 stops isn’t quite enough, but a 10-stop one is way too strong. For example, a base shutter speed of 2 seconds (i.e. with no filter attached) gets extended to 15 seconds (with 3-stop ND filter), 128 seconds (with a 6-stop ND filter) and whopping 34 minutes and 8 seconds (with a 10-stop ND filter) respectively.

Shanghai - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Shanghai skyline (China) shot with a 164-second exposure (f/11) using a B+W 6-Stop ND Filter (77mm) in order to achieve my desired effect of silky smooth water. Had I used a 3-stop ND filter, the water wouldn’t have been smoothed out this much (base shutter speed: 2.5 seconds, ISO 100).

Singapore - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Marina Bay (Singapore) shot with a 163-second exposure (f/13) using the same 6-stop ND filter (base shutter speed: 2.5 seconds, ISO 100).

I typically aim to shoot with a base shutter speed of 2-3 seconds when using a 6-stop ND filter, which extends the exposure to 128 -192 seconds respectively. In order to create a silky smooth water effect, 2-3 minutes of exposure seems just right.

By the way, if you’re planning to buy only one filter for cityscape photography at blue hour, I’d recommend nothing but a 6-stop ND filter. I’ve probably photographed 90% of my cityscapes at blue hour using a 6-stop ND filter. It’s really a game changer if you are interested in doing this kind of photography.

10-Stop ND Filter

A 10-stop ND filter is a kind of special filter that lets you expose extremely long (longer than necessary in most cases!). Personally, I don’t really find 10-stop ND filter useful for shooting cityscapes at blue hour, as the exposure goes too long (even starting at a base shutter speed of 1/2 second gets extended to 8 and a half minutes), and digital noise caused by long exposure becomes too unbearable (even with in-camera long exposure noise reduction turned on).

So, this extreme filter’s use is rather limited to pre-dusk or even earlier in the day, not towards the end of dusk. In fact, one big advantage of a 10-stop ND filter is letting you take long exposure photos while the sky is still bright, which is something 3 and 6-stop ND filters aren’t up to the task of doing.

With a 10-stop ND filter, I usually aim to shoot with a base shutter speed of 1/4 or 1/3 second which is extended to 256 and 341 seconds respectively. I tend to avoid an exposure that exceeds 6-7 minutes, as long exposure noise starts to creep in.

Such a base shutter speed (1/4 or 1/3 second) can normally be achieved around sunset time or before, therefore you don’t really see deep bluish hue that’s typically seen at the prime time of the blue hour. Instead, your photo will have a surreal look that is very unique and distinctive to 10-stop ND filter.

Singapore - Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Singapore skyline shot with a 258-second exposure (f/8) using B+W 10 Stop ND Filter (77mm) with a base shutter speed of 1/4 second, ISO 100.

Singapore Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Singapore skyline shot with a 259-second exposure (f/7.1) using the same 10-stop ND filter (base shutter speed: 1/4 second, ISO 100).

Conclusion

I hope this post helps you get started with shooting cityscape photos at blue hour using neutral density filters. I’m sure that you’ll be hooked in no time and can no longer shoot cityscapes at blue hour without one!

If you have any questions or tips to share, feel free to do so in the comments below.

The post Tips for Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Tips for Using Neutral Density Filters for Cityscape Photography at Blue Hour

Posted in Photography

 

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

14 Sep

There are the stories, I’m sure you’ve heard them. Annie Leibowitz hanging out with the Rolling Stones. Bob Gruen photographing John Lennon on New York rooftops.

Let’s face it, second to being an actual rock star (we’ve all used a hairbrush as a microphone at some point, right?) being a music photographer and capturing all of the action, has a certain allure to it that for many of us, is hard to shake. But how do you actually do it? How do you photograph a rock concert or show?

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show - wide shot from the stage

Let’s start by getting one thing straight, your first show is not going to be a recording artist at the height of their fame. Even if it was, you will not have the skills you need to be able to do it justice. These shows come with time, effort and a good portfolio. The best thing to do is start with lower expectations.

Step 1. Find a band to shoot

Although it may seem a little daunting, this is pretty simple. There are two ways to go about it.

Firstly there is Social media. Search for musicians in your local area. Many towns and cities will have Facebook groups for live music, which is a great place to start, and most bands will have some sort of Social Media presence. You can check out their music, see what photos they already have and find out where they are playing. From here, you can simply send them a message and see if they would be happy for you to take photos at their next gig.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

The other way is to go to venues in your local area that put on bands. Get out there, talk to the bar staff, talk to the locals. Ask if they have any restrictions on photography in the venue, etc. This way you can see what the venue has to offer in terms of lighting, as well as being able to approach bands directly and build relationships with people who can help get you in front of bands you want to photograph.

It is simply is a case of speaking to people. Being an introvert myself, I know this can be hard, but sometimes you need to suck it up and put yourself out there.

Step 2. Know your camera

This is the key technical thing you need to be aware of. Do you know how to change your ISO with your eyes closed? If not, you should so practice until you can. Shooting live music means you will generally be in very dark conditions and unless you are able to access things quickly, you may miss the perfect shot.

It might seem pretty boring learning this stuff and, to be honest, it is, but consider it the homework you need to do in order to begin your journey into music photography. Imagine the lead guitarist hitting their rock god pose only to find that you have been staring at your camera, trying to remember how many clicks you need to change your ISO by one stop and completely missed it.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

While we are on the subject of knowing your camera, you really need to shoot in RAW. Live music images generally need to be processed to get the best color from them and RAW gives you the largest amount of data to work with.

Although there is technically no pressure to deliver amazing images for a shoot like this, you should approach every shoot like a dream assignment and deliver the best images possible. Seeing the band members reactions to your amazing photos will make all the memories of the boring stuff fade away.

In the same way, learning the exposure triangle is never the most fun but it is the thing that really helps you cope with the demanding situations you will face when shooting live music. Which brings me nicely to my next point.

Step 3. Learn to shoot in Manual Mode

Lighting in live music is complicated at best. At worst it is downright terrible. Camera meters will generally struggle with the type of lighting you are going to be facing. While aperture or shutter priority is great, what happens when those fail you?

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

Shooting in Manual Mode means that if you find there is heavy backlight on the performer, you know how to move past it. It is the difference between looking at the back of your camera and wondering what is going wrong, to looking at the back of your camera and knowing how to fix it.

Manual Mode is something that will really help you up your photography game no matter what you shoot. It is the basic principle of photography that you really should take the time to learn. There are so many great resources available for this, it simply needs practice and isn’t as hard as it seems at first.

Having the knowledge to be able to fix exposure problems is something that takes your photography game to the next level. Why? Because you have the confidence to be able to handle the lighting, rather than hope that it is going to be okay.

Step 4. Gear

While I am no means a gear nerd, or an advocate of buying gear for the sake of it, if you are wanting to do this regularly you really need to consider a lens with a fixed f/2.8 aperture.

Most music photography means almost exclusively low light shooting situations and having a lens with a wide aperture means you can get more light into your camera. In terms of focal length, the 24-70mm (or 17-50mm if you are on a crop sensor camera) is the most used lens in almost every music photographer’s bag. The wide aperture also has the advantage of blurring the background, which is useful in venues that don’t have the most attractive backgrounds.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

You can purchase these lenses reasonably second hand, or you could always rent them. A cheaper alternative is the legendary Nifty Fifty lens, but it has big limitations for shooting music and even more if shooting in a small venue. While I love the 50mm lens I can’t really recommend it as a one to purchase for music photography when starting out.

I must stress though, these lenses are nice to have. You can shoot a show with any lens and any camera, but if you are considering this in the longer term, it will be a worthwhile investment.

Step 5. Shoot Day

It’s here. You’ve found a band to photograph, you know your camera and have learned how to shoot better in Manual Mode. It is time to go to the show.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

The first thing is to make sure you get to the venue in plenty of time. This means you will not be rushing around and it also means you can check the venue, say hello to the band, and get yourself prepared. You may be tempted to have a drink for some liquid confidence, but I would advise against that. You need to be at your best and a few drinks aren’t always helpful.

It is always a good time to check the basics. Format your memory card in the camera. Make sure you have a spare card at hand, check your camera is in the right mode and the lens is clean. It sounds really simple when you are reading this, but honestly, this is the sort of thing you will easily forget due to nerves.

On one of my first shoots, I forgot to put a memory card in the camera, so when the show started, I had to rush into my bag and sort it out. Luckily nobody noticed and the shoot went well, but this mistake is the reason I am so anally retentive in my pre-shoot ritual and you should be too.

Step 6. Etiquette

This is a big one!

You need to make sure you behave appropriately. The most obvious thing is to be mindful of those who are watching the show. You need to be aware of them and make sure you are courteous. A general rule of thumb is to not stay in one place too long. People generally want to see the band, not just the back of the photographer’s head.

Some fans will also be quick to let you know. I have been sworn at, had beer thrown at me and been threatened with violence. While you want to tell them off or snap back, you must remain professional and rise above it. To the band, their fans are number one, so make sure you treat them the same way.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

If there are other photographers shooting the show, always say hello and be polite. It is nice to see people you know when shooting shows and having friends to bounce ideas off, etc., is always a great thing.

When shooting the show, the general rule of thumb is if you want to go behind someone while they are taking photographs, gently tap them on the back and carefully walk behind them. It is a simple gesture, but one that people always appreciate. Again make sure that you don’t stick in one spot, make sure the other photographers can shoot from the same place as you. Get your shot, move on, and let others have their chance.

Now we come to one of my pet peeves. Please, pretty please with a cherry on top, don’t hold your camera over your head and blindly take photos. While it may get you a shot you like, it is the most annoying thing for the fans, for the other photographers, and for the band themselves. It also screams “I don’t know what I am doing”. Just don’t be that person, please.

Step 7. To flash or not to flash

The next thing to consider is using your flash. Now many smaller bands will not mind this, or at least they will say they don’t. But imagine being in a dimly lit space and having someone fire off a camera flash at you 10 times a minute. It soon becomes annoying!

The best solution is to try and avoid flash wherever possible. Modern cameras hold up really well at higher ISOs, so you should not have a problem. Photographing live music, generally means shooting at ISO 3200 or even 6400, but this is something most newer cameras can handle well enough.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

Shutter speeds should be 1/125th or higher and your aperture will generally be as wide as your lens will go.

Now having said all that, what if you do need to use flash because the lighting is just that bad? Firstly be frugal. As tempting as it is to fire off hundreds of shots, it will just annoy everyone. Pick your shots carefully and shoot sparingly.

The other thing when shooting flash is to make sure you pick up some ambient light or your shots will lack atmosphere. Start with an exposure that gets close to where ambient would be, then add flash as a small fill. This not only means you get more atmosphere in your shots, it also lessens the flash power, which is better for the artist you are photographing.

Don’t be afraid of slowing your shutter speed down when using this technique. 1/30th of a second or even slower can add some cool effects to your shot and will help keep the atmosphere.

Once you move into bigger bands, it is a simple rule, first three songs, no flash allowed. Break this rule and not only will you be removed from this show, but you will find it hard to get your next pass. The music business is a small world and lots of promoters know each other, lots of tour managers talk and if you annoy one, your name may spread. Practice not needing your flash now, then when you move onto bigger bands, you will be more confident and be able to do the show justice.

Step 8. Composition

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

Composition is incredibly important in music photography. Simply put, there are shots to get and shots not to bother with. The most common shot that I see from those starting out in music photography is one of the singer’s face covered by the mic. This shot is considered a no-no in professional music photography, simply because it hides the singer’s expression.

When shooting, you need to pick your moments and move around frequently to be able to capture the best images possible. Do your research before the shoot. Look at popular music websites, look at professional music photographers and see what the best in the business are doing, then apply this to the band you are photographing.

Every band wants to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. While you can’t provide them with this, you can give them photographs that look like they could be in the magazine.

Step 9. Post-Processing

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

This could be a whole tutorial in itself, so I will keep it brief. You will need to work with the color. By shooting in RAW this will give you the best data to work with later. You generally will need to tweak live music images, especially the color balance and JPEG simply does not give you enough scope to do this.

The most important thing is getting the images out quickly. When shooting professional bands, this means as soon as possible after the concert. When you are just starting out it is still a good idea to get the images to the band while the gig is still fresh in their minds.

Step 10. Practice

You’ve done it. You’ve now photographed your first show. I am sure you had a blast and the band loved the images. So what now?

Do it again and again, and again. Get out there and shoot! This will make sure you are constantly improving, but also allows you to start to build a reputation in your local area and building up a portfolio. This is key in moving to the next level and shooting bigger bands. They want to know you will take photos that make them look good.

Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

So how do you shoot bigger bands? Well, that’s a story for another day. For now, you need to get out there and practice. What’s stopping you? I can’t wait to hear how it went. Please share your rock concert photos and questions in the comment area below.

The post Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Tips for How to Photograph a Rock Concert or Show

Posted in Photography

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »