In outdoor portraits, we love shallow depth of field. We love to see the background nicely out of focus so that our subjects stand out better. In fact, we are easily convinced that we need to pay a lot of money for very bright lenses with big apertures so that we can get that beautiful shallow depth of field. The truth is that you can do with an inexpensive zoom lens — even the second lens that came with your camera kit can get it done well. Many kits come with a 55-200mm zoom, and you can also buy a 70-300mm lens for a couple of hundred … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Save money, use a long lens for shallow depth
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Macro photography with the Nikon VR 105mm f/2.8 and D850
The Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 IF-ED lens was released in 2006 but continues to be one of the best macro lenses on the market. I love shooting with this lens and regularly use it for my professional work as both a closeup (macro) and portrait lens. Video and field use In the above YouTube video, I demonstrate photographing bees and insects in the branches of a maple tree and a cherry tree. I do a lot of my field macro work hand-held and have regularly use the VR image stabilization system. Nikon claims the lens’ vibration … [Read more...] about Macro photography with the Nikon VR 105mm f/2.8 and D850
Why focus stack when I can just use f/22?
I've got three good reasons why using f/22 won't get you a sharp picture. However, even though I've proven these reasons in my own work, you should go try it yourself. The other day, I wrote a brief introduction to focus stacking (check it out here) and it has spurred a lot of questions and discussion on my Facebook page (including some guest pictures below). The major question posed there is "Why not simply use a small aperture to create a photo with great depth of field and get everything in focus instead of a process like focus stacking … [Read more...] about Why focus stack when I can just use f/22?
What Is focus stacking?
When you buy a fast lens with a bright aperture, like f/1.8, you go crazy making photos with a super-shallow depth of field. You photograph flowers where only one stamen is in focus, and you shoot people with super blurry backgrounds, and it's lots of fun using the thin slice of focus. However, there are many times when that thin slice just doesn't cut it. Sometimes you just need everything in focus, and even if you stop down to the lens's smallest aperture you still may not be able to get everything in sharp focus. That's where focus stacking … [Read more...] about What Is focus stacking?
Portrait Tips: Deep Drama With One Light
Every time you make portraits you should make one shot that pushes your limits or gives you a little thrill. The client may not like it, but it will help fill your soul. I usually use one light from the front to make portraits, but it's amazing how much impact moving the light can have, and that's the case with the following picture. It's made with just one light, and it's the kind of portrait I love to make even though I know my client probably won't love it. Big Light To make this kind of lighting, you just need to get your subject very … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Deep Drama With One Light
Mirrorless Maniac: Shoot TeleFlorals
There are many lenses emerging for our mirrorless cameras, including macro lenses. The thing is about macro lenses that they are often a very good portrait length, and they often offer incredible edge-to-edge sharpness and contrast, but they are usually not as fast and bright as similar lenses intended for portraiture. I used to use Nikon's 105mm f/2.8 Micro for everything, and it's a terrific lens, but now I'm used to the shutter speeds I get with the Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 Nocticron, and shooting at f/2.8 just seems so slow. Which is the main … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Maniac: Shoot TeleFlorals
Shooting and Seeing Art in Automobiles
I thought I would build on (pun intended) my last article Seeing Art in Architecture. It’s car show season here in the Midwest and shooting them can be quite fun, yet they pose some unique challenges. Many of the techniques and principles used in photographing architecture can be applied to shooting vehicles. Put Your Camera Down It can be overwhelming when you first walk onto the grounds of a car show, so many cars, so many shiny objects, and so many people. Walk around first and get the lay of the land. Are there groups of certain … [Read more...] about Shooting and Seeing Art in Automobiles
How to Light Close-up Flower Photos with a Flashlight
Summer is Here - Time for Flower Photography I just thought I'd share a quick little lighting technique for your flower photography. Now that spring is past and summer is here, it is almost mandatory that, as photographers, we document the emergence of dormant life in the form of flower portraits. I have some lovely Amaryllis, just now blooming at my windows, and these make great subjects for close-up photography... It is very easy to get great close-up shots with limited depth of field, soft pastel colors, and gorgeous semi-abstract … [Read more...] about How to Light Close-up Flower Photos with a Flashlight
Photographing Wildlife Up Close… the Right Way
Usually, my articles have a lighthearted note, full of photography wit and wisdom (bite your tongue, let me cling to my illusion.) But, I’m going to get a little serious in this one. I am a firm believer that to be a better nature photographer, you have to be a better naturalist - a continuous student and passionate observer of the natural world and all its creatures. To do so requires a core code of ethics; there are lines that you just do not cross in pursuit of your nature pictures. With wildlife, it is very tempting to try to get closer … [Read more...] about Photographing Wildlife Up Close… the Right Way
Lightroom Hangout: Fine Art Flowers with Anne Belmont
You gotta join us live for our next Google+ Hangout, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday July 18th at 12:00 pm Eastern, 11:00 am Central, 10:00 am Mountain, and 9:00 am Pacific. 1:30 pm in Newfoundland. RSVP here and it'll show your local time. This Month: Fine … [Read more...] about Lightroom Hangout: Fine Art Flowers with Anne Belmont
Lightroom Hangout: Fine Art Flowers with Anne Belmont
You gotta join us live for our next Google+ Hangout, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday July 18th at 12:00 pm Eastern, 11:00 am Central, 10:00 am Mountain, and 9:00 am Pacific. 1:30 pm in Newfoundland. RSVP here and it'll show your local time. This Month: Fine … [Read more...] about Lightroom Hangout: Fine Art Flowers with Anne Belmont
Photographer of the Day: Mark “Machine” Graham
Category: Nature Photographer: Mark "Machine" Graham Title: Still Scott Bourne tells a great story about the photographer who brought $20k of gear to a seminar in a major national park and then complained there was nothing to photograph. The lesson roughly equates to … "there is always something worth shooting if you know how to see". This photo is a perfect illustration of this point. Many would have passed this water lily by without a second thought, but not Graham. He found and composed a lovely detail shot, complete with subtle … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Mark “Machine” Graham
Close-Up with a Tilt Lens: Lensbaby Edge 50 Mini Review
I really enjoy close-up photography, so when my daughter had a dance recital recently, I had ulterior motives for buying her a bouquet of flowers. Right after she was in bed, I set about photographing her flowers. In this case, I wanted to put a new lens through its paces, and this lens is uniquely qualified to photograph closeups of tulips. The Lensbaby Edge 50 is both marvelous as a closeup lens, and its tilt feature makes it ideal for focussing on long things and maintaining sharp focus. The Edge 50 Optic Firstly, the lens is a marvel. It's … [Read more...] about Close-Up with a Tilt Lens: Lensbaby Edge 50 Mini Review
Macro Photography: Finding the Minimum Focus Distance for a Lens
Macro photographer Mike Moats was one of our guest instructors on our Vanelli & Friends Photography Cruise to Cozumel Mexico. Earlier in the day I heard him say you don't need a dedicated macro lens to shoot macro photography. You can use a zoom lens to shoot close-up photography which looks a lot like macro photography. Intrigued, I met up with him to ask a few questions about the difference between a dedicated macro lens and a zoom lens. True Macro Lens A macro lens that has a magnification of 1:1 means the subject appears as life size … [Read more...] about Macro Photography: Finding the Minimum Focus Distance for a Lens
