Learn Digital Photography - How to Shoot Great Close-Ups of Flowers

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If you are someone who loves flowers and photography then you probably want to take photos of flowers. The best way to appreciate flowers is by shooting them close-up. They have magnificent details and their colours are amazing. The great thing about flowers is that you can shoot them indoors or outdoors. Some of my most successful photos have been taken inside. Here are some tips that will help you take great flower shots.

1. Know your equipment

There's nothing worse than working hard at taking a really great flower image only to find out that what you had in mind and what your equipment can deliver just doesn't tie up. Frustration sets in and if you are anything like me will put it on hold till you come up with a solution. Find out how close your lens or compact camera will allow you to shoot the flower. Once you know these distances you are away. Also ascertain what equipment you need in order to shoot the idea.

2. Learn the techniques

There are a number of basics you need to have a grasp of before you can shoot flowers. For example, depth of field. When you are working at such a close working distance you will find that you need to either blur out the background, using a small aperture f-number, or a large f-number to get maximum focus. These both cause problems of their own so master the use of depth of field.

3. Use a tripod

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment when shooting close-up. A stable platform is necessary as movement is one of the major problems when shooting a close-up photo. Movement is accentuated when working very close to a subject.

4. Shutter speed

Understanding shutter speed is coupled with point 3 as you use it to limit movement by choosing a fast shutter speed. This also compensates for any camera shake from either hand holding the camera or the subject moving too fast.

5. Time of day

Bright overcast days are perfect, especially when there is a little indirect sunshine. An overcast sky acts as one big diffuser creating soft lighting conditions. With close-up photography you don't want light that is too bright or not enough.

6. Watch your backgrounds

This is so important because you want to accentuate the flower and not the leaves or weeds in the background. If necessary use a piece of coloured card. By using a shallow depth of field you will be able to blur out most of the background and lift the colourful flower thereby isolating it. If the background is too busy it may still distract despite the use of a shallow depth of field.

7. The oldest trick in the book

A small atomising spray bottle is a great trick for flower photography. Those little droplets of dew are often just a quick spray of the flower with water. Try it next time you take a flower. Don't overdo it until you have finished then add a little more to create some larger droplets.

Flower photography is an art and cannot be summarised in one article. These tips will get you going and hopefully inspire you to go the whole distance. Happy shooting!

Review Feature Office 2010

Photography at Birthday Parties

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Birthday parties are times of great fun for kids (and adults!) but can be a source of stress for the photographer. Luckily they are informal occasions which can help you to relax a bit with the camera, but it is always nice to receive - and intend to keep - images that are of good quality.

Many images are given away or shown to others and what better outcome than having images worth showing and which have that "wow!" factor.

The key is in preparation. What shots do you wish to take and when?

- the arrival of guests and the "special" person

- opening of gifts

- blowing candles out on the cake

- group photos with friends and relatives

- informal shots

- activity time

- partying!

Try and visit the place where you will be taking the photographs. What is the lighting and space like? Where would you be best placed to take photos? Check out backgrounds, colours and clutter.

Are you going to use flash or natural light? This will depend on the circumstances of course but remember that flash will give a flatter, often harsher, image. Consider using natural light and increase the ISO on your camera to minimise camera blur. If you do use flash, bounce it off a ceiling to reduce the intensity and diffuse the light. Don't stand people too near to backgrounds when using flash.

You may wish to bracket your exposures and take several shots of the same scene (to reduce the chances of a poor image, for example having someone with their eyes closed or looking away)

Don't forget to make sure batteries are charged and that you have a spare one handy. Similarly, ensure you have enough memory cards available for your images.

Ask the special person if there are any particular pictures he or she would like. If the birthday person is a child, ask the parents their views. Consider taking candids as well as the usual formal shots.

Children love to smile, giggle and pose. Give them props and you will get a great picture. Capture them when they are active as well - children have few inhibitions and will gladly do as you ask of them.

Review Feature Office 2010

Photography - How to Use Aperture Priority Mode

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Many people that take the plunge and buy a digital slr camera soon become disillusioned and disappointed by the fact that the images they are taking with their SLR camera are better than they may have taken with a compact camera but are far less impressive than expected. It is also common for people to feel like they are unable to make the move from using their cameras automatic settings to manual mode.

This article will explain why the above problem is common and will go on to explain how using aperture priority is likely to give your photographs a massive boost in quality. If you are looking to take your photography to the next level then this may well be the best article you have read in a long time.

All digital camera consist of two things: hardware and software. Obviously the hardware in a SLR camera is far superior to a compact camera enabling to take better pictures. When you are using the fully automatic modes on your SLR you are relying on the software inside to measure the light, composition and subject matter of your photograph and apply what it thinks are the best settings in order to get the best shot. Most of the time the camera will do a good job however it does get it wrong and obviously cannot tell by looking at the end result like a human can.

In order to take better picture you need to start over-riding what the camera wants to do. One of the easiest and most powerful ways to achieve this is to use your cameras aperture priority mode. Aperture refers to the size of the whole in the lens. More aperture means a bigger whole and more light can get into your camera. Why will having more light improve your pictures? Well it lets you blur the backgrounds of your photos making the main subject seem much sharper and it also lets you take sharper images in low light conditions such as indoors.

Review Feature Office 2010

Photography Tips on Understanding Light - Photography Tips by Karl Taylor

Photography Tips on Understanding Light. Get More FREE Training at my website: www.photography-tips-online.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9prcUCHlqM&hl=en

Review Feature Office 2010