slr photography guide - december edition 2015

Camera SoftwareGrandfather’s Cameras

2015 ISSUEDECEMBER

GUIDEPHOTOGRAPHYSLR

http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/online-courses.shtml

THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT SLR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

DECEMBER EDITIONDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE EDITOR TANYA PUNTTISLRPHOTOGRAPHYGUIDE.COM

2015

Cover Photo © Amanda Therien (Canada)Shutter Speed 1/1250 | Aperture f/2.8 | ISO 800

in this issue

Student image © Ericha Lynn (USA)

Student image © Pam Shoemaker (USA) ISO 100 | Aperture f/11 | Shutter Speed 1/250 | Focal Length 179 mm

Student image © Christine M. Solum (USA) Aperture f/5 | Shutter Speed 1/80 | ISO 12800

Student image © Pat Chaney Raglin (USA)ISO 500 | Aperture f/2.8 | Shutter Speed 1/200

Why you should install it even if you have Adobe

Beginners are often unaware that cameras come ready packaged with editing Beginners are often unaware that cameras come ready packaged with editing software! This is especially true for all leading camera brands. If yours didn’t come with a DVD full of goodies, or you purchased it second hand, chances are you can still download it from the companies website. A quick Google search of your camera brand / model, along with the keyword ‘software’ should find quick results. Otherwise do a search on the company website for your camera brand and look for a link that says ‘Drivers & Downloads’, followed by ‘Software’. Even if you already own Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom editing software, I still highly if you already own Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom editing software, I still highly recommend downloading the tools that came with your camera for the reasons listed on the next page.

Camera Software

1. Similar to computers, cameras also need software updates. Software developed specifically for your camera, makes it easy to update the firmware.

2. Have you ever noticed Adobe software isn’t always compatible with your camera’s RAW files? You can guarantee the software that came with your camera will be able to read the files that are captured.

3. I find transfering images from my camera to PC is much faster when using 3. I find transfering images from my camera to PC is much faster when using Canon or Nikon software verses Lightroom. Truth is I find Lightroom tediously slow!

4. As you continue on through our online photography course, you’ll learn about 4. As you continue on through our online photography course, you’ll learn about customising your camera settings. You can increase color saturation, sharpness, contrast and many other settings in camera. If you also shoot in RAW file format (highly recommended, see last magazine) then you’ll also lose these customisations when opening the files in Adobe software. Photoshop and Lightroom ignore these settings, leaving images quite flat looking. This means you’ll need to redo the edits in post processing which takes time. The software that came with your camera does not ignore custom settings. Get it right in that came with your camera does not ignore custom settings. Get it right in camera, and all you need to is export files as JPEG, ready to upload to your favourite image gallery.

5. Software that came with your camera may allow you to remotely control settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO and shutter button from your computer. This is especially useful if you’re shooting in a studio and want to preview your tethered camera’s images on a larger screen in real time. I’ve learned over the years not to fully trust the results seen in the back LCD screen!

Light Painting

Student image © Yvonne Warriner (UK)Aperture f/10 | Shutter Speed 1.3 sec | ISO 100

The Electric ManStudent image © Fiona Horne (UK) Bulb Mode | Aperture f/8 | Shutter Speed 123 secs | ISO 100

Twirling Christmas LightsStudent image © Kathi Morouse (USA)Bulb mode | Aperture f/5.6 | ISO 200 | Shutter Speed 10 seconds

Student image © Niki Fulton (Australia)Shutter Speed 22.1sec | Aperture f/5.6 | ISO 200

Student image © Kristy Tink (Australia)Aperture f/5.6 | Shutter Speed 30sec | ISO 100

Written by Bree Shnurman

My great grandfather, Dale Spradling, was born in 1906 and passed away in 2006 just one month shy of his 100th birthday. His son, (my grandfather Don Spradling) was born in 1932 during the Great Depression, it is he who I spoke to about his father’s video camera and two film cameras that have now been passed down to myself.

My Great Grandfather’s Cameras

images © Bree Shnurman and family

My great grandfather needed a job to feed and support his family of 4 (wife and two children) during the Great Depression but like countless others, was unable to find work. After some time, he was lucky enough to be offered a job – however, it required that he and his wife and children move overseas to Palestine. In 1939 he accepted a job as a pipe superintendent for the MW Kellogg Construction company in Haifa, Palestine where they embarked on a large project to build an oil refinery. My great grandfather wanted to capture his family’s travel overseas and began taking pictures. He and his camera were soon family’s travel overseas and began taking pictures. He and his camera were soon put to use by his employer to take pictures of the progress of the oil refinery construction progress. The images he took were then sent back to the company owners in the U.S. as documentation of their progress.

My great grandfather was a self-taught photographer and did not have access to a dark room to develop his own negatives. The images he took are a part of history and I am so honored to have the very same cameras he took those images with! If only they could talk!

My grandfather was 6 years old when his family made the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean and through the Mediterranean Sean on a freight ship to their final destination – Haifa, Palestine. They lived there for one and a half years while his father worked to build the oil refinery.


During their time in Palestine, frequent fighting and war amongst the native people made for a hostile environment. He said that the town had sirens that would go off to warn the local townspeople when fighting erupted and bombs were being dropped.

My grandfather spoke of a vivid memory where he (6yrs old) and his sister (11 years My grandfather spoke of a vivid memory where he (6yrs old) and his sister (11 years old at the time) walked to the local bakery in town one evening to buy a loaf of bread for their family. They waited ever so patiently for the next loaf to come out of the baker’s oven. The memory of how precious that single loaf of bread was to his hungry family brought him to tears as he recollected the delicious aroma and mouthwatering taste of that simple loaf of bread. While he and his sister walked back home with their warm loaf of fresh bread, the sirens went off warning them of the immanent dangers of war. They quickly found shelter in the only thing they the immanent dangers of war. They quickly found shelter in the only thing they could find along the side of the road – a single wagon filled with hay. They crawled under the wagon while the sirens kept blaring as bombs were dropped in the distance. They waited and waited – and were finally able to make it back home safely.


My great grandfather worked in Palestine for a year and a half working on the construction of the oil refinery. Once it was completed they were able to make the long journey back to America. They made a stop in Naples, Italy along their trip home on a cargo ship - the S.S. Excalibur. During their brief stop in Naples they had to make a speedy departure from the dock as tensions were high due to the beginning of World War II. My grandfather recalled going down into their cabin while the ship was docked, looking through the port hole window in their room and seeing a war submarine at the water’s surface with their guns pointed room and seeing a war submarine at the water’s surface with their guns pointed directly at the ship he was on to make sure they didn’t pull any “funny business” to aid the war effort. The ship left hastily and continued to its final destination – New York City.

After arriving in New York City, my grandfather said his picture was taken as he stood with a few other young boys that were on the ship that was later published in the New York Times in an article about the orphans of the war. (He was not an orphan, however the other boys he stood by were presumably orphaned by the war)

My grandmother said that she thinks they might have a copy of picture of the image that was taken of him that ended up being published in the New York Times, but she hasn’t been able to find it. I tried looking up old articles from the New York Times during the the New York Times during the war but there are over 103,000 different articles. I haven’t had any luck finding anything on it yet …


Even after my great grandfather was finished with his job in Palestine, he continued to take his camera everywhere he went. He even purchased a Bell & Howell 8mm “movie maker” (video camera) a few years later and took frequent videos (which was passed down to me as well) My family had dozens of videos that he took with it and combined them all into a DVD.

~ Bree Shnurman

Student Image © Jessica HathcockCanon EOS Rebel T3 camera | Focal Length 300mm ISO 320 | Aperture f/7.1 | Shutter Speed 1/400 sec

Student Image © Teresa Wilson (USA)

Student image © Carol Clugston (UK)Aperture f/16 | Shutter Speed 4 secs | ISO 500 | Focal Length 26mm

Student image © Becky Hetherington (UK) ISO 640 | Focal Length 18mm | Aperture f/4.5 | Shutter Speed 1/250 sec

(student profile)

https://www.facebook.com/SusanCYatesPhotography/

Being a teacher, Susan was naturally drawn to photographing portraits. Like may Being a teacher, Susan was naturally drawn to photographing portraits. Like may beginners, she initially stayed in Auto mode, knowing she could be more creative if only she’d learn how to better use her camera. It’s been a pleasure watching on as Susan improved over time as she continued through the course lessons, asking plenty of questions and practising her new found skills.

Susan Yates

How did you first become interested in photography?

I felt bad, being one of those moms who didn't take pictures of her kids I felt bad, being one of those moms who didn't take pictures of her kids at games and on special occasions. So I asked my hubby for a point and shoot one Christmas. The following summer, I traveled to San Antonio, TX for a conference. One of the students who traveled with me brought her dslr. Sadly, it broke while we were there. So I offered her my camera. I was amazed by her work and it inspired me.

What do you enjoy the most about being a photographer?

I enjoy two things, the first being that it is my therapy, my chance to I enjoy two things, the first being that it is my therapy, my chance to unwind and be in my own little world. My eyes are open and I see beauty that I have never seen before. I also enjoy doing portrait sessions. I love interacting with others one on one, getting to know them better. I love their reactions when they see their pictures ready to go. It is very rewarding.

How has our photography course helped you?

When I first got my DSLR, I stayed in Auto mode. I knew the camera was capable of When I first got my DSLR, I stayed in Auto mode. I knew the camera was capable of more and that I wasn't really getting my money's worth. In May of last year, I saw the ad for the class on Facebook and was impressed by what I saw, the price being the best part! I slowly delved into the course, taking my time and practicing a lot. The lessons, with assignments, were well written and easy to understand. As a teacher, I appreciated that. Tanya and everyone in the Facebook group have been so encouraging and helpful. The support is amazing and can't be matched anywhere else. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be where I am anywhere else. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be where I am now, I would have said no. My learning was slow, until it clicked! I would have to say that the BIG AHA moment happened at the end of this summer. I finally get it. But I wouldn't have if I didn't enroll in this class and if Tanya and the classmates didn't believe in me.

What’s your favourite photograph you’ve taken and why?

Wow! That is a tough one. I have many favorites for different reasons, but there is one that keeps coming to mind. I want to capture the true being of my clients. I asked Rachel how she stood around when she was hanging out with friends. The image on the right is what she gave me and I love it.

images © Susan Shields Yates

What plans do you have for the future of your photography?

I definitely want to get my outdoor portrait photography business up I definitely want to get my outdoor portrait photography business up and running. I would love to be able to go full time, but my focus is on just getting it up and running. I would like to specialize in senior portraits, but have also been doing family portraits recently and enjoy them as well. As long as I continue to enjoy what I do, that is what matters.

Anything else you’d like to share with everyone?

I don't pick up my camera every day. But that doesn't stop me from I don't pick up my camera every day. But that doesn't stop me from growing as a photographer. I read articles and ask lots of questions (thank you Tanya). I read posts on Facebook and try to help classmates when I can. Recently I started studying the effects natural light has on my surroundings. I study photos (whether they are mine or someone elses). I continually challenge myself to improve. Two things I am working on right now are figuring out skin tones when editing and how to use my external flash most effectively. I encourage you to find ways to use my external flash most effectively. I encourage you to find ways to continue growing as a photographer, even when you are away from your camera.

Thank you, Tanya, for the class and your continuous support. I really appreciate you!

To view more of Susan’s images visit: https://www.facebook.com/SusanCYatesPhotography/

Not yet enrolled in our Online Photography Course? Read more about it over at http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/online-courses.shtml

Student image © Traci Kuykendall (USA)ISO 100 | Focal Length 70 mm | Aperture f/4 | Shutter Speed 1/180 sec | Flash 430 ex ii

Student image © Lynette Skirving (Australia) ISO 2000 | Aperture f/2.0 | Shutter Speed 1/80 sec | Focal Lenth 50 mmManual Mode | Light Source iPad

slr photography guide - december edition 2015

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