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6Feb/100

Mastering Digital Photography Lighting



When you are taking photos and the lighting conditions are perfect, then digital photography lighting is not a problem. Unfortunately, most of the time, the conditions are not ideal so photographers have to learn to use light to get the desired results. The first thing you want to be concerned with is the main source of light on your subject. Ask yourself questions such as where the light source comes from, do you require artificial light, is there enough natural light and will your tripod need stabilizing because of low light? You need to master digital photography lighting to get the clarity and detail in your image. Sometimes a flash is all you need, while other occasions require different lighting. Remember that a flash does not benefit all situations.

You do not want a flash to interfere artistically or socially, such as during someone’s wedding vows, as you will end up with a flat digital image. This occurs frequently on digital cameras with a built-in flash and they also only light the subject from the front. Because of this the digital photo depth is compressed, which really decreases and detracts from the digital image. One way to avoid this is by watching exactly where the light falls. Once you learn and understand about digital photography lighting, the task becomes easier as you learn exactly what does and does not work when using a flash. Use a higher ISO to help alleviate a low light problem - this is a sensor that is light sensitive - but remember that there is an increase in noise when using the ISO. Fortunately, some good software programs available on the market today do reduce the noise. Adjusting the ISO to a higher level also works great in situations where a flash is not acceptable, such as someone giving a speech, where a flash would be disruptive.

If you take many sports photographs, try experimenting with and without a flash and your camera settings, to learn what works best. A built-in flash is more effective up close, where an external flash is more powerful. Many sports stadiums remain well enough lit to take pictures without a flash and many do not allow a flash, because it distracts the competitors. One digital photography lighting technique that works well for taking still subjects in very low light is image stabilization. IS or image stabilization allows you to lower your shutter speed, which works great, but this is not suitable for fast-moving images. In any case, read your camera manual, as many digital cameras have a built-in mode for taking sports pictures. This controls the amount of light admitted, the ISO and the shutter speed, so you end up with the best photograph possible, under the lighting conditions you find yourself working in.

By: Terence Roberts

About the Author:
Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about digital photography, visit his website Digital SLR Photography



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25Jan/101

Macro Photography – Digital Photography Tips



Have you ever seen those extremely close photos of flowers where you can see every single detail up close? It's called macro photography and can be very fun and interesting to take part in. It's also a great way to get close photos and catch details missed from far away. You'll know what I'm talking about if you've seen macro photos of insects that most people see as half a centimeter in size.

In macro photography, the cameras lens most have the ability to get really close to small areas and focus them. There are many different things you can take pictures of with macro type photographs. Also, unlike what many people believe, you do not need overly costly equipment in order to do it right.

Macro photography does require some different techniques than with regular photography. One of the important things to do is use a tripod when taking these photos. Be sure to get a good tripod as well because you want your camera to be a still as possible. A shutter release also works good with the purpose of the tripod in keeping the camera still. The shutter release cabale will reduce the movement you would make from pushing the shutter button. A self timer also could be used to replace this.

The aperture is what will affect the field of vision in your macro photos. A small aperture like f/16 can work fine. To achieve a very shallow depth you can use larger aperture settings.

The weather outside when taking macro photos is also very important. Since the exposure will be longer with macro photos you must be sure everything is still. Having wind is as bad as having a tripod that sways back and forth. A day without wind is best when taking photos. I know it can be difficult to find days like this. I live in California and the Santa Ana winds love the sunny days when I want to take photos.

Another important part of macro photography is to make sure the background is nice. Most macro photos will have very blurred background and thus people will simply think they don't need to worry about them. What's better, a bird with a blurred background of cluttered trees and branches or a bird with the blue sky in the background? Be sure to check the color of the background. If you're taking a picture of a blue bird and the sky is blue in the background it'll somewhat put less importance on the bird and make the photo less appealing. Try to make the subject stand out.

By: Al Sanez

About the Author:
Al Sanez has a great program that teaches you how to take better photos He also teaches people how to sell pictures online.



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