Spring is in the air….

Since spring is just around the corner I thought it would be fitting to brighten up the blog with some beautiful floral photography. We’ve all had enough of the ugly, terrible, cold winter we have been having. Who cannot wait for the leaves to bud and the flowers to bloom? *raises hand*

The photos on the blog have been taken (by me) using the tips I’ve discussed in previous posts. 

Use natural light (where possible). Move your subject to a natural light source if you can. It’s the best way to capture it in all its glory. You don’t have to be confined to taking pictures in your home, get out of the house and explore other possibilities.

Lighting. There are certain times of day that are just better to shoot than others. If you’re outside on a sunny day you will know what I mean. There can be shadows and harsh bright light. One way to overcome this is to have reflectors, or simply have your subject face the right way. 

Get up close and personal. Get in close, as close as you can while still remaining in focus. The best way to accomplish this is with a fixed lens (one that doesn’t zoom), also affectionately known as a macro lens (usually 50mm). 

I hope you have enjoyed all the tips and photos I have shared. Please check out my photo board of tips on my Pinterest page for more in depth tips. 

For anyone further interested in taking their skills to the next level Improve Photography has some great online classes that I highly recommend. 

Get out there and practice and thanks for reading! 

Picture perfecting…..

Let the editing begin!

There are many ways to edit a photo and there are a multitude of programs available to do so. Within programs there are actions, filters and many other tools that can aid in the manipulation of photos.

Editing photos is a personal choice. Everyone has a different style. Most photos should be edited (if needed) for exposure, sharpness and cropped for composition as not everything turns out SOOC (straight out of camera).

There’s a lot of things that can be done to photos. Here are just a few examples: 

 

Simple black and white

 

Textured filters and overlays

Removing colour from certain parts of the photos

These are only a few examples. There are a plethora of different effects that can be achieved with photo editing. People can be completely added or removed from photos and objects (or even an entire person) can be cloned.

Follow my “s photo tips” board on Pinterest for more tips and tricks on photo editing. Everything from beginner to more advanced tips are there! 




Happy learning!

We all have a little foodie in us…

Today’s discussion and tips…. Food photography!

Who doesn’t love food? I’m sure we’re all guilty of pulling out our phones and taking a snapshot of something delicious we’ve eaten at one point or another. Today I will be discussing a few tips (with some of my pictures below) for those foodie’s who want to take food photos to the next level.

Minimize background. Remove all the clutter around your photo. Push away that toaster, clear those dishes and wipe the surface of the space you’re using. The focus is on the food, and nothing should distract from it. 

Eggnog snowflake cookies

Use natural light (where possible). Move your dish to a natural light source if you can. It’s the best way to capture the food in all its glory. Using a flash (even if you’re bouncing the flash) can create harsh light, and depending on what you’re photographing, the colours may get distorted. You don’t have to be confined to taking pictures in your cooking space, get out of the kitchen and explore other possibilities. 

Breakfast of champions. #eggcup

Try different angles. Try it all. Directly above, from the side, from the other side. Rotate the dish, move the food around to find an interesting point of view. 

Wedding plates

Use props! Grab that silver spoon, or that interesting ladle that was passed down to you through generations. Try adding different elements to add interest to your photos. Tip: try to use plates and bowls that are clean in simple so that if your dish is multicoloured or complicated, it doesn’t take away from the food. 

Pierogies

Get up close and personal. Get in close, as close as you can while still remaining in focus. The best way to accomplish this is with a fixed lens (one that doesn’t zoom), also affectionately known as a macro lens (usually 50mm). Now I know what you’re thinking. Not another lens! I have no money! Don’t fret. Depending on the brand of DSLR you own, you can find a decent one for around $100. 

Sprinkle time!

For more food photo tips check out the link below. 

 http://digital-photography-school.com/11-quick-food-photography-tips-to-make-mouth-watering-images/

Couldn't help but include this photo. Best. Ladle. Ever. Unfortunately back ordered until May :( 

Nessie! Photo Courtesy of: http://www.boredpanda.com/loch-ness-monster-soup-ladle-ototo/

I wear my sunglasses at night....

Here are a few night time photo tips! 

·         Shoot in RAW format. RAW images take up more memory than Jpg files, but they also contain much more information. Shooting in RAW allows much more manipulation of photos with post processing software.

·         Use a tripod! If you don’t have a tripod, use a ledge. Use anything stable that is near you. Most nighttime shots use a long exposure, and one little movement can result in a ruined photo. Even depressing the shutter may result in a blurry photo.

·         Use manual mode. Using manual mode allows you to control all the aspects of your camera. You’ll need to set a longer exposure on your camera depending on what you’re trying to capture. Fireworks can require up to 30 seconds. The best method is trial and error, change your settings, and see what works and what doesn’t. Note: keep in mind your camera takes longer to process the longer the exposure. You may think your camera is slow or broken, but it’s just like a computer, sometimes you have to wait for it to process.

·         Bring a flashlight! You never know when you’ll need to illuminate a part of your photo. It may also come in handy for finding your gear once you’re done for the night!

·         Use your imagination. This is one thing many people tend to forget! Try a different angle, add someone or something to the shot, do something out of the “norm.” Don’t forget to practice, practice, practice.

I've included some of my own night shots. These were taken WITHOUT a tripod (i used my face) and all have a 10-30 second exposure.

Scroll down to get more tips!

Light "painting" with sparklers. Set a long exposure and have your subject move the sparkler

Here are some other great night time photography tips from Improve Photography and a video with more tips from http://learnphotographytricks.com