slr photography guide - january edition 2016

Old Rules Post Processing Tip

2016 ISSUEJANUARYGUIDE

PHOTOGRAPHYSLR

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

THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT SLR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

JANUARY EDITIONDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE EDITOR TANYA PUNTTISLRPHOTOGRAPHYGUIDE.COM

2016

Cover Photo © Gary Wright (Australia)Aperture f/7.1 | Shutter Speed 1/160 | ISO 100 | Exposure Compensation +0.7 Focal Length 105mm

in this issue

Student image © Lutricia Whitlow (USA) ISO 6400 | Shutter Speed 1/500 | Aperture f/4

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things,

trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something. and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes.

Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough,

or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, this year, next year and forever.” Make your mistakes, this year, next year and forever.”

Quote ~ Neil Gaiman

Student image © Tianna Smith (Canada)

Student image © Allan Hack (USA)Shutter Speed 1/1250 | Aperture f/5.6 | ISO 800

Old rules that still work

Here are a couple of quick go to settings that are useful to have in mind when photographing two common scenarios.

1. Early Sunset

When photographing a subject against a sunset, set your camera to manual When photographing a subject against a sunset, set your camera to manual mode with an f/4 aperture. Then choose a matching ISO / Shutter Speed combination. For example, if you choose ISO 400, set a matching Shutter Speed of 1/400 second. If you choose ISO 800, set a Shutter Speed of 1/800 second and so forth.

Quick Go To Settings

When using this technique, ignore the exposure line. If you are hand holding your camera, remember to choose a combination that is faster than the length of your lens. For example, if you use a 70mm focal length, choose ISO 100 and Shutter Speed 1/100sec combination. If you are using 200mm focal length, choose the ISO 400 and 1/400sec combination to avoid camera shake.

2. Overcast Day In The Garden (sun completely covered by cloud / fog etc)

For these kinds of lighting conditions I use the same method as perviously with For these kinds of lighting conditions I use the same method as perviously with the sunset, the main difference being, I set an aperture f/5.6 with a matching ISO / Shutter Speed combination.

Student image © Kelly Hand (UK)ISO200 | Aperture f/8 | Shutter Speed 1/25

Student image © Jane Gray (USA)Aperture f/4.8 | Shutter Speed 1/80

Student image © Terri Anderson (USA)Aperture f/4.5 | ISO 800 | 1/50

Student image © Jules Person (NZ) Aperture f/10 | Shutter Speed 1/2000 | ISO 400 | Focal Length 500mm

(student profile)

https://www.facebook.com/Stephanie-Perlick-Photography-1575644196037684/

Even though Stephanie may argue otherwise, it was clear to me from the outset Even though Stephanie may argue otherwise, it was clear to me from the outset that she had developed her Father’s eye for photography. Over this past year she has also grown to have a great understanding of natural lighting, using it consistantly to her advantage. I always say you can tell a photographer’s personality through their images. You can clearly see the care Stephanie puts into each image, taking time to truly note each clients best trait, then bringing that forth into the image she captures. Such a person will no doubt become a great portrait photographer to watch for in the future. portrait photographer to watch for in the future.

Stephanie Perlick

How did you first become interested in photography?

I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. My dad is a hobbyist and I can remember coming along with him when he would go on photography journeys. I used to love looking at the albums of his images. At a fairly young age I was given my first camera, but it was more for documenting memories, I didn’t have the creative eye of my dad. As I grew up, I continued to love taking pictures of events, vacations and people and then I loved to compile them in a scrapbook, making a yearbook of every year. My family bought me my scrapbook, making a yearbook of every year. My family bought me my first DSLR for my birthday about a year and half ago and everything changed for me. My eyes were opened up to the world of photography and how fascinating it was. I became immediately immersed in learning how to use the camera and I was obsessed. Photography for me became an art, not just a way of documenting memories.

What do enjoy most about being a photographer?

What I enjoy most about photography is taking portraits of people to create a work What I enjoy most about photography is taking portraits of people to create a work of art, something more interesting than a standard portrait. It is very rewarding to bring out the inner beauty of a person and capture their personality through a photograph. My goal with every photo session I have, is to establish a connection with my subject through my lens that allows me to create an artistic image, along with using natural light and interesting composition. It brings me such joy when I can look at a photograph I’ve taken and see that I’ve accomplished that. Since becoming a photographer, I notice I look at people in a whole new way than I did becoming a photographer, I notice I look at people in a whole new way than I did before. I find beauty in every person I see, whether it be something about their hair, their smile or their expression when they don’t smile, or the way their personality comes through in their eyes. I believe that every person has a dominant characteristic that can be expressed beautifully in a photograph.

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

My favorite photograph I’ve taken is the image I took of my daughter where she My favorite photograph I’ve taken is the image I took of my daughter where she has her eyes closed and her head resting on her hands. There are a multitude of reasons why this one is my favorite. First and foremost, this captures my daughter’s personality perfectly and beautifully. She is the sweetest person with the kindest heart and I believe this image portrays her as a soft, sweet soul. This image also taught me that sometimes the best images are not the ones you planned. This was taken when I was using her as a model to practice portraits using indoor natural light from a window. She was tired of ‘posing’ and asked to close her eyes to rest, light from a window. She was tired of ‘posing’ and asked to close her eyes to rest, all the while I continued to snap and captured this timeless image. I was so thrilled with this image because of these reasons and also in love with the lighting and composition that I decided to enter it in the county fair. Having never entered a photo contest before, I was surprised that I actually won a first place ribbon in the portrait category! This image really helped boost my confidence and fueled my creative energy to keep working and become a better portrait photographer.

How has our photography course helped you?

This course has taught me everything I know about photography! After This course has taught me everything I know about photography! After owning my DSLR for only a few days, I came across this course while searching online for photography classes. It was the best decision I ever made in my photography journey. As I made my way through the lessons, I was shooting in manual within a month of owning my camera. I have taken other classes in person in the past year, but nothing has compared to the knowledge I have gained from this course. In addition to all the helpful material from the lessons and cheat sheets, the to all the helpful material from the lessons and cheat sheets, the support of the Facebook group has been priceless. I have learned so much from fellow members of this group about both shooting and editing through the critiques I receive on the images I post and also with the images they share.

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

Currently I have been working on establishing myself as a portrait Currently I have been working on establishing myself as a portrait photographer in my area. I just finished a very busy season of family sessions and look forward to what this next year brings. While I do enjoy photographing families, my real passion is photographing individual subjects, whether it be children or graduating seniors. I plan on spending all my time learning as much as I can about portraiture so that I continue to improve and create portraits that are unique pieces of art. My dream is to find my style that sets me apart from other art. My dream is to find my style that sets me apart from other photographers to enable me to run a successful portrait business, but will also keep me enjoying what I do, so that my passion for this never turns into a ‘job’.

To view more of Stephanie’s images visit: https://www.facebook.com/Stephanie-Perlick-Photography-1575644196037684/

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

Simple editing tip that will make your images pop

Have you ever used perfect camera settings to capture the best exposure possible to find the results looking quite flat and washed out? Setting the black and white points will allow you to control the very brightest and darkest parts of your photo, resulting in a more vibrant image. Personally I do this early on with a RAW file editor.

Take this photo below for example. On the morning I took this photo, the sky Take this photo below for example. On the morning I took this photo, the sky was moody and dramatic. When I looked back at the image on my monitor it seemed really flat compared to what I had remembered of the lighting that morning.

Setting Your Black and White Point

When you first open your image in a RAW file editor, look for sliders that refer to Blacks / Whites as seen in the image below. This example is from Adobe Camera Raw for those using Photoshop.

Those using Lightroom will see them down the right hand side of the screen (other editors also have them). Now there’s no set rule when it comes to using these sliders. Move them left and right until you are satisfied with the result.

I recommend using the Black slider first, just bump it a touch to the left. You’ll I recommend using the Black slider first, just bump it a touch to the left. You’ll notice the image will become darker. If it’s too dark for your liking, bump up the Whites slider until you like what you see.

Did you know our online photography course

now comes with downloadable cheat sheets?

"If you haven't taken advantage of printing the cheat sheets, I strongly suggest you take time to do so. These alone are worth

the price of the course." ~ John Smith (student)

Check out our online photography course over at

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

slr photography guide - january edition 2016

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