SnapShot Archives - 03/27/2000
SNAPSHOT - PHOTO NEWS FROM BETTERPHOTO.COM
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Welcome to SnapShot, the weekly newsletter on the art
of photography from http://www.betterphoto.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Monday, March 27, 2000
* SPOTLIGHT: Win up to $5000 at OnlinePhotoContest.com
* BETTERPHOTO: New Photo Gear at the BetterPhoto Camera Center and Store
* WEB NEWS: Great PhotoShop 5.0 Instructional CD
* WEB NEWS: Top Ten Digital Camera Secrets
* WEB NEWS: Learn About Ansel Adams
* THIS WEEK'S TIP: Avoid Using On-Camera Flash
* PHOTO Q&A: Purchasing an Optional Speedlight vs. Studio Kits
* PHOTO Q&A: Sports Photography
* PHOTO Q&A: Sunset, Landscapes, and Photos of Pets & Horses
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Enter Pics of Blooming Flowers at OnlinePhotoContest.com
Grand Prize in the "Flowers in Bloom" category is $1000. The Grand Prize
in the OnlinePhotoContest Spotlight category, "My Best Pal - Human or
Animal," is $5000! The deadline is April 15 so don't delay. Other prizes
include Epson PC650 digital cameras and Tamrac 5201 bags. Other
categories include Australia, National Parks, and Photographer's Choice:
http://www.onlinephotocontest.com
Enter their fun daily Photo Trivia Contest:
http://www.onlinephotocontest.com/trivia.asp
Buy the Epson PC 650 for as low as $349.95:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=401
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WHAT'S NEW AT BETTERPHOTO.COM
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New Photo Gear at the BetterPhoto Camera Center and Store
SLRs, digital cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, and more... All have been
added to the BetterPhoto Camera Center and Store. Comparison shop to find the best deal. Read
or write reviews of cameras and equipment:
http://www.betterphoto.com/store.asp
Special!!! The awesome Nikon Coolpix 950 for a low price:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=174
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PHOTOGRAPHIC HAPPENINGS ON THE WEB
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Great PhotoShop 5.0 Instructional CD
Nutshell media has come out with a PhotoShop instructional CD that packs
over eight hours of training on a single affordable CD. Like taking a night
class at your local college, it gives you detailed explanations of every
tool, samples of filter use, a glossary of terms, and more. Even if you
don't own PhotoShop yet, you'll learn a lot about the cool things you can do
with such a powerful image editing tool:
http://www.nutshellmedia.com/index.php3?ref=20000226114051
Get yourself a copy of Photoshop 5.5:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=261
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Top Ten Digital Camera Secrets
Photoshop guru Deke McClelland shares ways to make yourself a better digital
photographer:
http://home.cnet.com/consumerelectronics/0-3622-7-121360.html
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Reminder: Photopoint Million Dollar Deadline is April 2, 2000:
http://www.photopoint.com/gomillion/pc_main.html
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Learn About Ansel Adams
Britannica offers a quick introduction to Ansel while the Modesto Bee gives
us a fun little bio. Both shed insight on the man behind the images that
fueled environmentalism and inspired many with their awesome representations
of the weather and the landscape:
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,3698+1,00.html
http://www.modbee.com/yosemite/YoAdams.htm
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THIS WEEK'S TIP
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Unless You Absolutely Have To, Avoid Using On-Camera Flash
Don't be fooled by the camera manufacurers' claims; on-camera flashes are
terrible and to be avoided at all costs. The main reason most cameras have
them is market competition; some daring camera company executive needs to go
out on a limb like Steve Jobs did by eliminating the floppy disk. In the
meantime, buy an external flash for your camera. If that is not possible,
try to use natural light as much as possible. If you have no other choice
but to use it, keep relatively close to your subject and understand that it
(or they) will come back looking pasty white.
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CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHY Q&A
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Q. Purchasing an optional speedlight
I have a Nikon N60 camera. I like to do some studio type portrait shooting
in my custom-made garage studio. I do not have any professional lighting
equipment and am only now in the process of purchasing an optional
speedlight. The garage has very good lighting so I am able to shoot with
daylight only during most daytime hours. I would like to be able to get a
little more creative with the use of artificial lighting. I don't know the
best route to go. I asked the opinion of a couple of the photo shops in town
and have gotten conflicting opinions. One store told me that for economics
sake and the fact that I am an amateur, I could purchase the flash, a sync
cord a light stand and an umbrella and use the flash off-camera to get the
lighting and effect that I need. The other store told me that it would be
more economical to purchase a lower end beginners studio flash/light set.
HELP! I have about $500 to spend. What do you suggest I do?
Nikon N60 Camera with 35-80 Zoom Lens:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=390
A. I have come to avoid flash as my main light if possible. I would
recommend getting an economical starter kit with one studio light/power
combo and umbrella or reflector. The two below are recommended options under
$500.
You will need to also get your hands on a flash meter if you don't already
have one - try renting one if the prices are out of your budget. You can
then use this light with some creative reflecting to start playing around.
Later, you could add a flash unit or another studio light to your set up.
Enjoy!
Speedotron 206VF/CC Black Line Light Unit:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=485
Photoflex Starlite Kit with light, stand, and softbox - very cool:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=486
Sekonic L-508 Light Meter- everything but the kitchen sink:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=487
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=501
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Q. Prints from Slides
What's the best process for getting your slides to prints? I don't care
about the cost or time it requires. I want the best! Already tried digital
scanning and it didn't cut it.
-Carlos
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=502
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Q. Sports Photography
I'm going to cover a triathlon competition for a friend's magazine. Can you
give me any advice about how to ensure the best prints. How can I take good
pictures of the bicycle race, considering both velocity and depth of field?
How can I ensure good light metering in such conditions? Any tips on what
parts of such a competition are the most likely to give you good photo
opportunities?
-Raul
A. The depth of field requirements will depend upon the effect you are
after; I'll bet, though, most of your shots will require relatively fast
shutter speed. You might often find yourself shooting wide open (shooting a
the lowest f-stop number, with the widest aperture). One exception to this
general practice might be attempting to get a cool panning shot. For this,
you will want to lower the shutter speed. I like to shoot with a slow 50
speed film to help reduce the shutter speed to create the blur effect.
I would rely on a good 35mm SLR's camera meter for this kind of fast moving
action photography. If you have only a point and shoot, beg, borrow, or buy
a 35mm SLR ASAP; the point and shoot will probably not give you magazine
quality results.
For 35mm SLRs, check out the Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Kit w/EF 28-80 lens:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=228
Or the Canon EOS Elan II with EF28-80 V USM:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=238
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=496
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Q. Sunset, Landscapes, and Photos of Pets & Horses
How do I take better pictures of my horse so he looks clear and not
distorted? How do I take pictures of sunsets so that trees look good in the
pictures? How do I take pictures of landscapes so it looks like a landscape
and not a ugly piece of land?
-Scott
A. As for horses and pets, avoid a wide angle lens. Shoot with a lens that
is as close to 105mm as you got. Physically back up if you need to.
For sunsets with nicely silhouetted trees, meter off the sky. Do not point
right at the sun or at the trees when taking your reading. Also, consider
just shooting the trees as they appear beautifully lit by the setting sun.
If this is the thing that interests you most, shoot it.
Your landscape question is a tough one and an issue all artistic
photographers wrestle with. One thing to remember is that most of the best
landscape art is shot with medium and large format equipment. This is not
only because the film is so much larger; it also has much to do with the
fact that these diehard photographers often spend 30 minutes at a time
working on one shot. However, us 35mm photographers do have hope; we can
make beautiful landscapes as well. In short, wake up really early to catch
the morning light and shoot in the late afternoon. Obey the laws of
composition. And have fun!
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=503
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Ask a question or answer a few from your fellow photographers: http://www.betterphoto.com/qnaTOC.asp
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Until next week, enjoy shooting!
Thank you,
Jim Miotke
BetterPhoto.com
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