Welcome to the 14th issue of PhotoFlash
Hi
Springtime is rolling along beautifully here at BetterPhoto.com. First off in this latest issue of PhotoFlash, you'll want to check out the Featured Photo for a refreshing splash of family fun! Also this month, the Featured Article shows how you can work with a "boring" sky to create some exciting images.
Once again, BetterPhoto members demonstrate a variety of shooting techniques for creating some wonderful photographs - with subjects ranging from selective focus, star trails, and wildlife to homemade backgrounds, outdoor portraits, photojournalism. See the outstanding photo discussions below.
In other May news, sign-ups are well under way for summer photo school. Review BetterPhoto's excellent lineup of online courses at:
http://www.betterphoto.com/online-photography-courses.asp
To read the online version of PhotoFlash at our Web site, visit http://www.betterphoto.com/photoflashes/
Have a great month!
Jim Miotke
http://www.betterphoto.com/MG.asp?ID=124
In This Issue: Sunday, May 02, 2004
Featured Photo: Cooling Off
Cooling Off
This was one of those special moments between father and son. Lighting, everything perfect. I raced to get my camera and with only 2 shots left (of course) and ISO 100 (oh, no), I captured one of my most treasured memories!
© Melisa R. McKolay
Canon EOS Rebel 20... |
Featured Article: "Bad Sky," Good Pictures
Nature's great white umbrella - also known as an overcast sky - produces beautifully soft and even light. It’s just the thing for making colors and details come alive. Despite the benefits, though, there also can be drawbacks. For all the details, including shooting tips and tricks, read BetterPhoto instructor Kerry Drager's illustrated article.
Read more...
Where in the World?
Can you guess where this picture was taken? If you think you have a clue, try offering a response.To learn the correct answer to the last quiz - and see who came the closest, visit the previous Where in the World quiz.
Books by Instructors at the BetterPhoto Store
| |
| Some terrific resources on photography are available at the BetterPhoto store. Authored by BetterPhoto instructors, these books make perfect companions to our online photography courses. Each book is also autographed by the author. For instance, check out titles by Vik Orenstein, George Schaub, Jim Zuckerman, Brenda Tharp, Kathleen T. Carr, Tony Sweet, Bryan F. Peterson, Jim Miotke, and Kerry Drager. Learn more... |
New Photo Discussions
New Photo Discussion 1: Easter Eggs
Nice image, Erik!
- Kristen W
See Kristen's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Great shot, Erik. The line, colors, repetition, DOF - all very eye-catching.
- Carol L. Engstrom
See Carol's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 2:Thanks! I actually had a lot of fun doing this (perfect for a rainy day...). I did it as an experiment and tried the picture with every aperture the lens allowed me (from 5.6 to 32). Try it, I assure you it's interesting no matter how well you know how your camera works. It's always nice to see a practical example.
- Erik Ahrend
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 2: Drenched
Very pretty. Did you use a macro lens or extension tube?
- Cathy Gregor
Response 1:Thanks, Cathy. Actually, I just used my Canon 70-300mm lens and stood about 5 feet away. I really like using that for my close-up shots. I used to have a Quantaray 70-300 with a macro button, but the only difference with the macro button was that it allowed me to stand closer to the object and thus make it even larger. I find I can fill the frame usually even standing 5 feet away if I zoom all the way.
- Kelly Andrews
Visit thrukellyseyes.com - Kelly's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Response 2:I have a Tamron 28-300mm, so I should be able to do the same thing! Thanks.
- Cathy Gregor
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 3: Selective Focus
Thanks, Michael, for your comment on my photo "morning mist". Your macro is amazing. Are you using any filters or extension tubes with that? Thanks.
- Elena Loukianova
Response 1:Thanks, Elena! With this shot, and some of the others in the gallery, I used the 100mm macro and then attached a old Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens in reverse onto the macro, which gets me in even closer. It's very easy to do, and I often get the soft and dreamy macros that I long for while using this setup. With this particular shot, I used the 100mm macro, an extension tube, the 50mm added in reverse, 2 reflectors, and a macro slider on a tripod. Don't have the other exposure specs, because I am posting from a different computer right now. Will add the rest of the needed info to the rest of the gallery hopefully this weekend. Again Elena, thanks for the comments and looking to seeing much more of your work also!
- Michael Brown
See Michael's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 4: B-Side
What a GREAT B/W photo. I've thought about doing something just like this. Great use of perspective ... hope to see this in the winner's circle.
- Nancy Grace Chen
Response 1:Thanks so much. This old bookstore I found was BEGGING to be photographed. It was endless, floor to ceiling displays of every book you could ever imagine. I shot two rolls in the store and could have stayed for hours. It was amazing.
- Ryan P. Booth
See Ryan's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 2:Great shot, Ryan!! You used your space effectively to show off each person. B/W tones are good too.
- Pat Borowicz
See Pat's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit p-bphotography.com - Pat's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 5: Reaching for the Sun
Great color, light and composition - very interesting flower! Well done:)
- Alisha May Furbish
See Alisha May's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:I love this. The flower is stunning. How did you create this background? It is wonderful.
- Cathy I. Barrows
See Cathy's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 2:I too wonder how you did this, Elisabeth. Gorgeous! It's a winner in my book! :-)
- Patricia Marroquin
See Patricia's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 3:Thank you! My good fortune was to come upon this very beautiful garden by the ocean. In it, I found a huge bush probably 8 feet long and three or four feet wide filled with these flowers. I simply selected a single flower that was far enough away from the others for me to be able to isolate it. I chose my focal point to be 300mm (450 because of digital) and shot.
- Elisabeth Haug
See Elisabeth's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 6: Magical Oaks - Infrared Photography
That's sweet, I have a roll of black and white infrared sitting in my freezer. I'm scared to use it! Any suggestions on what to do, or not to do? Thanks.
- Doug Schmidt
Response 1:This is beautiful. I am right there with Doug: I have a roll of it, too, and have hesitated to use it. I only have a dark orange filter, I don't know if that would work. I would love to hear your techniques, too!
- Alisha May Furbish
See Alisha May's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 2:Thank you, Doug and Alisha. I took this many years ago. If you want this effect you would use a red filter. I would suggest that you bracket and keep track of everything you do - f/stops and shutter speeds. Then just experiment. I took this with a 4 x 5 camera. Good luck and have fun!!!
- Donna Pagakis
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 7: The Magic Lantern
It is magic! I can't imagine how you accomplished this, it's like a vortex of stars!
- Deborah Sandidge
See Deborah's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thanks, Deborah. The time involved in any good star trails shot is daunting. I mean, how does one pass the time waiting while the sky turns for two hours? It helps to have company.
- Art Rosch
See Art's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit artsdigitalphoto.com - Art's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Response 2:Astounding shot, Art!! This is just wonderful!!
- Carolyn Fletcher
See Carolyn's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit PickYourShots.com - Carolyn's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 8: Birdhouse Silhouettes
Very nice.
- Jinel
Response 1:Hi Jinel: Thanks for commenting ... I'm pleased you like it! Just a few words on the making of this photograph:- Exposure: I took a meter reading on a middle-toned part of the sky (not the brightest, not the darkest). Then I locked in those settings, re-composed, and fired away. - Composition: We have a big collection of birdhouses, but I decided here to zero in on just three. I picked one to be the dominant foreground subject, then let the other two serve as "secondary" subjects in the background. - Depth of Field (the range of sharpness from front to back in a picture): Although I usually photograph these birdhouses with a deep depth of field (small aperture/large f-stop number), I decided to go for a selective focus effect (sharp main subject, blurred background). That was accomplished by a combination of a telephoto lens, a fairly close-up subject, and a large aperture (small f-stop number). - Tripod? Absolutely, in order to keep my camera good and steady, and also to help me carefully compose this image.
- Kerry Drager
See Kerry Drager's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit Kerry Drager's Deluxe BetterPholio™ - KerryDrager.com
Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Kerry Drager:
Beyond Snapshots
Field Techniques
Course Extension
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion
|
| |
New Photo Discussion 9: Surreal Flight
Terry, excellent! A very creative image - I would love to know how you did this.
- Greg McCroskery
See Greg's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thanks, Greg. This was taken at Niagara Falls yesterday afternoon. Part of the ice bridge that forms below the falls was still there, so I merely waited for a seagull to fly over that area. I really didn't do anything special. This is just how it appeared.
- Terry Cervi
See Terry's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 2:Terry, I figured you had used a bunch of PS magic to produce this image. The fact that it's a captured image really blows me away! I love the format and composition. Wow - keep up the great work!
- Greg McCroskery
See Greg's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 10: Mercury Eight, Ontario
Mercury Eight, Ontario
Taken with 28-105 USM Canon lens, Camera on Program, I got down on my knees as low as I could and pointed the camera upward to try to create a different perspective.
© Paula M. Showen
Canon EOS Rebel 20... |
Cool car!!
- Donna J. Taff
See Donna's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:A classic Car, a personal plate, and a terrific photo, Paula, what more could any one ask for? Exceptionally well done, my dear friend, great job.
- Allan L. Whitehead
See Allan's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit ArrowheadFotos.com - Allan's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Response 2:Great perspective, Paula, it really makes that nose stand out! Very nice!
- Dale Ann Cubbage
See Dale Ann's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 3:Thanks, everyone! Allan, I actually edited that plate number. That is not the number that is actually on the plate. I wasn't sure that I should be putting the license number on the Internet.
- Paula M. Showen
See Paula's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 4:Nice looking, Paula!!
- Terry R. Hatfield
See Terry 's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 5:Thanks, Terry! I read Kerry Drager's article for tips on shooting antique cars! Here's the link: http://www.betterphoto.com/article.asp?id=8
He has some really interesting tips!
- Paula M. Showen
See Paula's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 11: Great Egret 2
Absolutely beautiful, Laurie! We see the Great Egret here near Lake Macquarie (NSW, Australia) too ... and my husband Phil and I know how hard it can be to get images like this of them! Excellent capture - love the lighting, clarity, composition AND the reflection! Was this an early morning shot?
- Carolyn J. Connolly
Response 1:Thanks, Carolyn. Yes, this was an early morning shot. I must confess, getting shots of these birds isn't really that difficult. This was taken at Ft. Desoto Park near my home. There are always people fishing in the same area where the birds like to congregate. When someone catches a fish they don't want to keep, they will often offer it to the birds. So, the birds have not only become accustomed to people, they seek them out. This particular bird followed me up the beach after I was done shooting. I have found that most of the fishing piers in the area also make great spots to get bird close ups for the same reason. I have literally seen pelicans begging for fish by poking people with their big beaks.
- Laurie Meehan-Elmer
See Laurie's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit LMEimages.com - Laurie's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 12: Tulip with Shadow
Excellent ... I like this one better then the other one, but both are beautiful!
- Kristen W
See Kristen's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thank you. I like this one better also. I took the photo of this one first and had an annoying stem from a weed flapping in the wind. So on the second picture I pushed it back behind the homemade background. The tulip is in front of a chain-link fence. So I took a piece of foam poster board and sponge-painted it green.
- Rose Badasch
See Rose's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 13: An Easter Bouquet
An Easter Bouquet
Taken in my home, using black velvet for a background and window light as the light source. Aperture priority; ISO 100; f/8.0, ss1/8. Hand held.
© Gerda Grice
Minolta Dimage A1 ... |
This is a beautiful image, Gerda! Love the beautiful colors against the dark background!
- Evy Johansen
See Evy's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thank you so much, Evy. These flowers are part of a really big bouquet that my husband and I bought on our way home from church yesterday, and I've had hours and hours of pleasure so far photographing the flowers singly and in groups. I'm very glad you liked this image. Hope that you and yours had a very happy Easter!
- Gerda Grice
See Gerda's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 14: Warm Glow in the Rule of Thirds
I love the light. Was this taken in the late afternoon? The rule of thirds does work well with this pic.
- Jenna M. Anderson
See Jenna's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thanks for your comments. Yes, this was taken around 5:45 on a summer afternoon. I actually had planned on getting photos of the sunset, but the sunset was not that great that day. Then my friend's dog decided to be a ham, and I was able to get some decent shots! Thanks again :)
- Elaine Burroughs
See Elaine's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 15: Lighthouse, St. Michael's Maritime Museum
Lighthouse, St. Michael's Maritime Museum
f 5.6, 30" exp. sunrise, Eastern Shore of Maryland
© Robert H. Diefenbacher
Minolta Maxxum 7 S... |
The thumbprint makes it look like a rocket upon ignition! This is really a pretty, pretty shot.
- Bonnie Lackey
See Bonnie's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thanks, Bonnie. Now that you mention it, it does have the "rocket" concept. The sky kept changing, of course, as the sun crept up to the horizon, and the pink in the clouds became stronger. I have several exposures, all 30 seconds, so there is a lot of variation in the sky.
- Robert H. Diefenbacher
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 16: Can't Stable This Filly!
Nice shot, Josh!!
- Gordon J. Evans
See Gordon's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit pdximaging.com - Gordon's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Response 1:I usually don't like people pictures, but I do like this one. The model is very pretty, and the thing that catches my eye is how all the colors connect. The jeans stand out, and that is an attractive feature. The pose and framing is very good as well.
- Ellen A. Crownover
Response 2:Thanks for the great comments. I spend as much time planning the colors for clothes as I do scouting locations, planning lighting and composition. I spend WAY too much time on complementary colors to the background.
- Josh Hudson
See Josh's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 3:Josh, real nice. Can you tell me anything on your lighting for this?
- David j. Brewster
Response 4:Sure, Dave. I put an Alien Bee 1600 light shooting through an umbrella about 30 degrees to the right of the model and about 8 feet away. I then shot through another umbrella with an Alien Bee 800 light directly to her left in the stall about 6 feet away. The 1600 was at 1/2 power, and the 800 was at 1/3 power. Normally I would get a third light in someplace or a reflector, but I thought this lighting was balanced to create good strong shadows.
- Josh Hudson
See Josh's Premium BetterPholio™
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
New Photo Discussion 17: Rescued!!
Rescued!!
They're calling him a hero - he steered his rig and 25-ton load over a 40-ft. embankment, stopping just 6 ft. from the water's edge, to avoid taking out a string of oncoming traffic. More later!
© Len Pierce
Canon EOS 10D Digi... |
Great capture here, Len!! Is this for real or one of the staged rescue thing?? Looking forward either way to more of your images!!
- Shirley L. Carpenter
See Shirley's Premium BetterPholio™
Visit scarpenterphotos.com - Shirley's Deluxe BetterPholio™
Response 1:Thanks for the comment, Shirley! Yes, this is for real. I have some more images of the rig and the rescue in progress, which I will post in the days ahead. I try to take my camera with me where ever I go - just in case!
- Len Pierce
Response 2:Great capture, Len! Did you get any of these to the local papers?
- Dale Ann Cubbage
See Dale Ann's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 3:Thanks Dale! Actually I was in there shoulder to shoulder with newspaper photographers and TV news crews, and they all got their share of shots. It is really a thrill doing this kind of photography - you have to think and react quickly and stay ahead of the action. Really a challenge!! When I get a little better and a little more confident, I might try doing some part-time work for the newspapers.
- Len Pierce
Response 4:Great picture Len! Gee there really is something in taking your camera everywhere you go! Sure paid off for you on this day. Hope the driver was OK?
- Karen Lewis
See Karen 's Premium BetterPholio™
Response 5:Hello again, Karen! Thanks for stopping by, and yes, the driver was OK. He was trapped in the rig and got some bumps and bruises, but at least he didn't get crushed by his load. Lately, if I leave the house without my camera, I go back and get it!!
- Len Pierce
Read this discussion online
Respond to this discussion |
| |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
If you would like to be featured in PhotoFlash, we look for photo discussions that educate, inspire, and encourage BetterPhoto members. In the spirit of helping others become better photographers, we encourage you to share details, tips, and techniques in your discussions... after all, that is what BetterPhoto is all about - honest answers for budding photographers.
Until next time, thanks for reading and keep having fun with photography!
Jim Miotke
BetterPhoto.com, Inc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would rather not receive PhotoFlash, you may unsubscribe at:
http://www.betterphoto.com/subscribeun.asp?e=
To change your email address, visit:
http://www.betterphoto.com/subscribeCOA.asp?e=
