A long exposure works because most people don't stand in one spot for more than a few seconds, so the camera doesn't capture them. For them to be captured, they would have to stay in one spot the entire time you are taking the photo. You will notice a little ghosting of people that stood a little longer. If it's a high traffic area, take a couple of shots and fix it in Photoshop. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Easily Remove People from a Photo" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a long exposure to remove people in a scene
QTField
Quick Tip: How to hold a camera super steady
When you hold your camera, especially with a long telephoto lens, cup the barrel and bring your elbow tight into your body. Look through the eyepiece as you firmly press the camera to your forehead. You just made a steady tripod. This will reduce the risk of camera shake, which causes blurry photos. Want to learn more? Check out this article along with a short video, "For God’s Sake, Hold Your Camera Correctly!" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: How to hold a camera super steady
Quick Tip: Daylight saving time has ended; rethink what you plan to photograph
The time change time means you should rethink what you plan on photographing. I find during the fall season, I shoot later in the day than I do for springtime. The spring season lends to more sunrise shoots and morning portraits because the sun rises later in the morning. Now that the sun will rise at 6:30 a.m. on Florida's east coast, I find it harder to get clients — especially models — to meet that early. Instead, I may focus on landscapes and sunsets. Think how the time change will affect your photography and adjust your shooting. Want … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Daylight saving time has ended; rethink what you plan to photograph
Quick Tip: A landing pad might save your drone from damage
A few weeks back I had an incident with my DJI Inspire 2 drone. While I was taking off from a very gravelly location, I had one of the propellers detach. Because I was on a large landing pad, I was able to power it down and all that happened was that it rolled over and powered off. Had I not been using a landing pad, the drone would have sustained substantial damage. Even though I am very careful and double check this, this kind of incident can happen. Want the full story on landing pads for drones? Read it here. Fly safe and have fun! … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: A landing pad might save your drone from damage
Quick Tip: Use a white card to brighten shadows
When you're shooting on-location, it can sometimes be challenging to control the light and shadows in a scene. At a recent food shoot, I used a white card to help to brighten the shadows that were visible around the pizza, pepperoni tomatoes and basil. You can pick one up really cheap — I got this 28x40" tri-fold one card from Walmart for just $7.97. The difference is subtle, but you'll see elements of your photograph pop more and you'll have less dark areas in your image. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a white card to brighten shadows
Quick Tip: Use a Black Card While Photographing Fireworks
Firework photos require the shutter be open for long periods. Ambient light can creep in between bursts of exploding visual goodness. Prevent this by holding a black card over the lens until the streak of firework heads into the sky. Remove the card. When the burst is finished cover the lens once again. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a Black Card While Photographing Fireworks
Quick Tip: Use Sparklers to Get Exposures Right for Fireworks
Fireworks and the Fourth of July go together like hot dogs and apple pie. Thing is getting the exposure right for fireworks is anything but simple as pie. Here's an easy way to make sure your settings are perfect. Buy some sparklers Give them to your kids Make photos of the lit sparklers After the fun, review the photos to see which setting give the best detail in the brightest parts of the photo. More fast and easy tips for photographing fireworks. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use Sparklers to Get Exposures Right for Fireworks
Quick Tip: Shooting On A Grey Day – Black and White
A comment on one of my recent articles got me to thinking that I need to write some tips on how to make good looking photos on a grey day. This is the second in a series of challenges to get out and shoot even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Think In Black and White Even on the best of days, it can be difficult to find the time or motivation to get out and shoot, compound that feeling with grey skies and the gloom can seem palpable. So, here’s my next assignment for you: The next grey day, go out thinking in black and white. You … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Shooting On A Grey Day – Black and White
Quick Tip: Use the Moon to Find the Sun
The other morning I was in the mountains waiting for the sun to rise and looking for the right composition. The moon was helping me because it was indicating exactly where the sun would be rising, which was great because the layers of hills made it hard to see the center of the sun's glow. Anytime the moon is not full, the thickest part is pointing toward the sun, and you can use this to know where the sun will be. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use the Moon to Find the Sun
Quick Tip: Shooting On A Grey Day – Color
A comment on one of my recent articles got me to thinking that I need to write some tips on how to make good looking photos on a grey day. This is the first in a series of challenges to get out and shoot even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Think In Color Assignment number 1 - On the next grey day, when you think there couldn’t possibly be anything pretty or compelling to make photographs of, go out and find color in your world. Muted colors can be nice, but I’m thinking big, bold and beautiful colors like Calder Red, Blue Bridge Blue … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Shooting On A Grey Day – Color
Quick Tip: Get Close to Achieve a Shallow Depth of Field
Love that blurred background look, but don't have a lens with a wide open aperture? Even if you're limited to something like a kit lens, you can still achieve the same effect. Both of the above photos were shot with my Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 lens at the same 40mm focal length, with an aperture of f/4. The only difference was that I physically moved closer for the photo on the right, which helped to shrink the area of focus. This in turn helped to blur the background more than it was. The same trick can work for any type of shot — try it at your … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Get Close to Achieve a Shallow Depth of Field
Quick Tip: Cool Your Winter Photos with the Kelvin Scale
When shooting winter landscapes, I often want to show the cold temperatures I'm fighting through in my photographs, by having a cooler white balance. Using the Kevin color temperature scale, the normal temperature is 5500, known as "Natural Daylight." But if I want to show just how cold it was when shooting this, I take it down to 4800, which brings a cooler temperature into the photograph. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Cool Your Winter Photos with the Kelvin Scale
