basic photography 5

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Photography Tutorials Here are where you will find photography lessons. These are tutorials to help you fix problem areas and to teach new skills to take your photography to the next level. Action Photography Animal Photography - Zoos, Wildlife, Pets, Baby Animals Cold Weather Photography Fireworks Photography Lessons Photo Fun - Fun Ways to Use Your Camera Point and Shoot Camera Tips Action Photography By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide See More About: shutter speed photography exposure photography lessons © 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc. Sponsored Links Start a Photography Bus. Plan, Start and Operate a Photography Business - Bookwww.125aDay.com Robert Adams Robert Adams is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com Professional Webdesign Need a professional website? Choose Lucis Web Solutionswww.lucis.ws

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Page 1: Basic Photography 5

Photography Tutorials

Here are where you will find photography lessons. These are tutorials to help you fix problem areas and to teach new skills to take your photography to the next level.

Action Photography Animal Photography - Zoos, Wildlife, Pets, Baby Animals Cold Weather Photography

Fireworks Photography Lessons Photo Fun - Fun Ways to Use Your Camera Point and Shoot Camera Tips

Action PhotographyBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

shutter speed photography exposure photography lessons

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Start a Photography Bus.Plan, Start and Operate a Photography Business - Bookwww.125aDay.comRobert AdamsRobert Adams is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.comProfessional WebdesignNeed a professional website? Choose Lucis Web Solutionswww.lucis.ws

Photography Ads Photography Backup My Photos Image Backup Backing Up Photography Online Photo Storage

The world around us is in motion. Some things move slowly, like growing plants or turtles. Other things move much more quickly. From birds to cars to children to ocean waves, things around us move. As photography is a still medium we have to seek creative ways of capturing and conveying this motion to

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our viewers. This quest of capturing and conveying motion is collectively called action photography.

Conveying MotionOnce you have selected a subject you must decide how you wish to convey the motion to your viewer.The two main ways of conveying motion are:

Freezing Obvious MotionFreezing motion is most effective when you capture a moment that is obvious motion. For example, a person captured in mid-jump with their feet off the ground or a surfer frozen in the middle of a breaking wave. When the event is obviously something that does not happen without motion, freezing the motion is a great way to show a fleeting moment in time we might not otherwise get a good look at.

Blurring MotionBlurring motion helps to remind a viewer that motion is taking place. Blurring motion works well with less dramatic action such as flowing water.

Freezing motion and blurring motion can also be combined in a single image under controlled conditions. Things like a baseball player striking a baseball are good candidates for this type of blending. When one subject is moving at a dramatically different speed than another subject, it is possible to freeze one while allowing the other to blur.

Shutter speed is the main tool photographers have for controlling motion capture and blur. Shutter speeds needed to freeze action differ greatly based on the subject and the subject's relation to the camera. For example, to freeze splashing water you may need a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second or faster while to capture a dog running towards you a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second may be all that is required.

Subject PlacementOnce you have decided whether you will freeze the action, blur the action, or blend the two styles you must determine the subject placement in your image. While compositional tools such as leading lines, the rule of thirds, and centering still apply to action photography - the main consideration in action photography is not stopping the motion with the frame. If you have an image of a runner and the runner is literally running into the frame of your image, the visual impact is to box in the runner and stop the motion. Your goal in action photography will be to place the subject so that the motion is given room to continue. Make sure the action is far enough away from the edge of the frame that it has room to create a visual sense of continuation. Now, there are exceptions to this rule. If the motion is a short burst motion, like the karate image included with this article, you can place the action focal point where it is near the frame so that the eye stops its motion there. By using this technique you can focus extra attention on the action focal point. Again, this only works well with short burst actions that have a logical point of focus. For the karate image example, the breaking the board is the action focal point, we don't care where the hand goes after that moment.

TimingWith action photography there is very often only one tiny sliver of time in which to capture "the moment" we are wish to record. Although many cameras now have a burst feature (where the camera can take multiple images within a second if the shutter button is held down), this feature is not always a good choice with action photography. Burst images are taken at a steady rate and lull a photographer into a false sense of security. It leads to a habit of pressing the button earlier than you expect the "good" action, and hoping the camera will get the right shot. This type of shooting only works with continual action. For example, a duck might shake a captured fish repeatedly for several seconds. In that type of situation, burst mode will give you several different points in the action for you to select keeper shots from. However, in short action events (such as fruit falling in water or motorcross jumps), burst mode is your worst enemy. These action events happen in short bursts that do not allow the camera to "find" a good shot. In these types of action you must learn to anticipate the action and press the shutter just as it begins to happen. Once the action shows up in your viewfinder, its already gone and can not be captured.

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How to Take Great Animal PhotographsBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

photography lessons animal photography bird photography wildlife photography

Animal photography is a favorite pastime of many photographers, both amateur and professional. Whether it be a family pet, livestock such as horses, tiny insects, brightly feathered birds, or wild animals such as deer - the fascination with animals remains a constant for photographers.

Animal Photography

© Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Animal photography is a favorite pastime of many photographers, both amateur and professional. Whether it be a family pet, livestock such as horses, tiny insects, brightly feathered birds, or wild animals such as deer, the basics of animal photography are universal across subject animal type...

Animal Photography

How to Take Great Animal Photographs

By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

animal photography wildlife photography

© Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Page 4: Basic Photography 5

Sponsored Links

Learn Photography OnlineImprove your photography skills by watching the experts on videos.www.FotoTV.comNan GoldinNan Goldin is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com

MAVRON Animal TransportMAVRON manufactures quality animal transport vehicles.www.mavron.com

Photography Ads

Animal Photography Photos Free Pictures Wild Life Photos Ask a Vet

Animal photography is a favorite pastime of many photographers, both amateur and professional. Whether it be a family pet, livestock such as horses, tiny insects, brightly feathered birds, or wild animals such as deer, the basics of animal photography are universal across subject animal type.

Safety FirstWhether you are shooting a domestic or wild animal, safety must be your first concern. Not just your safety, but that of the animal as well. When working with domestic animals, be sure to never put them in harm’s way. Also, even domestic animals can become dangerous when frightened. Flashes and loud shutters can startle even the tamest of animal at times. When working with wild animals you must always remember that getting too close to the animal not only endangers you, it risks the animal as well. Many species will abandon homes and offspring if bothered too much. Certain species are also protected from intrusion by law. When in doubt, check with local wildlife authorities.

Fill the Frame but Give Them Room to BreatheWith the exception of expansive portraits (where the landscape is as much the subject as the animal), filling the frame is important in animal photography. Many of the animals we photograph are smaller than humans. To see detail of the animal they need to be large in the frame. However, remember to leave some room in front of the face. As we learn in studying action photography, this is prevents viewer from feeling the animal is “boxed in.”

Treat it Like a Human PortraitYou may have heard the saying “animals are people too.” When it comes to photography, that statement is very true. The best way to get a great animal photograph is to treat it like a person in terms of lighting and composition. I am certainly not suggesting you expect the animal to act like a person but you should strive to photograph the animal like you would a person. Watch body position, shadow locations, and composition in frame just like you would with a human subject.

The Eyes Have ItEyes are where human beings tend to make the most connection with another living creature. Eyes can convey every emotion and the presence of intelligence. Make sure that the animal’s eyes are in sharp focus to maximize impact. Also, when shooting a partial body portrait – try to position the eyes at an intersection point using the rule of thirds.

Behavior Shots Are PowerfulWhile animal portraits can often be amazing, behavior shots can take the breath away. Just like we use props and posing in human portraiture, catching an animal in the middle of an activity or interacting with its surroundings can create a powerful image.

BackgroundsJust like human photography, animal photography can be ruined by a bad background. Litter, roads, and other manmade objects often detract from animal photographs. While carefully selecting shooting

Page 5: Basic Photography 5

angles and locations can help with these issues, shallow depth of field is your most powerful weapon in avoiding bad backgrounds.

Surviving Cold Weather Photography

How to Keep Your Equipment and Yourself Intact During Winter Shooting

By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

photography equipment cold weather photography photography safety

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Online Photo CompetitionThe International Pano Awards Competition now open. Enter to win!www.thepanoawards.comDie Casting Machine}Specialized in die casting machine CE approval, Export EU. Order now!en.zszhenli.com

Nan GoldinNan Goldin is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com

Photography Ads

Wedding Photographs Wedding Photos Photography Photos Video for Wedding Wedding Pictures

Cold weather presents numerous challenges to photographers and their equipment. From drained batteries to frostbit fingers, cold weather photography is a completely different prospect than hot weather shooting. While there are some simple solutions to most cold weather problems, these solutions may not be the ones you would first think about.

Equipment Problems

Condensation

What is Condensation?Condensation is a photographer's nightmare. Just like a pair of eyeglasses fogging up when changing temperatures rapidly, a camera lens (and the inside of the camera) can fog up with condensation. Condensation is water forming on surfaces that are significantly colder or warmer than the air surrounding it. Technically, this means that if your camera goes into an area where the air is warm condensation will form if the camera is colder than the dew point. The opposite is also

Page 6: Basic Photography 5

true. If your camera goes into a cold air area and the camera is warmer than the dew point then condensation can form.

(Article Continues Below)

How to Avoid Condensation?The basic way to avoid condensation is to gradually bring your camera through these extreme temperature changes by sealing it inside a bag containing air the same temperature as the camera is acclimatized to. This way, any condensation forms on the bag instead of the camera as the air and camera gradually equalize to the new environment. In practice, this usually results in the photographer freezing in his/her car because he/she doesn't want to wait for the camera to cool off when he/she gets to the photo location.

Hidden Condensation CauseAnother source of condensation is the photographer. If you breathe on your camera you risk fogging it. The heat from your eye could also cause problems on the viewfinder. If your viewfinder fogs due to photographer body heat it is almost always only an inconvenience that does not affect the rest of the camera. You should, however, refrain from putting your camera in your coat as this could raise the temperature of the camera and lens itself enough to create problematic condensation.

Remember that condensation can form inside the camera as well. Beyond the moisture not agreeing with any electronic parts, the moisture could freeze in very cold conditions and completely ruin the camera.

Drained BatteriesBatteries lose their charge more quickly in cold weather. When shooting in cold weather it is essential to carry spare batteries for all of your equipment. Lithium batteries are a good choice as they are better at holding a charge than the older chemical compositions to begin with. You can also keep the spare batteries in your coat pocket or other relatively warm spot. However, be extremely careful not to let the batteries be too warm as this could cause condensation when they are placed back into the cold equipment.

Photographer Problems

Exposed Skin

What is in Danger?We all know to wear a coat when we go outside in the cold, but we often forget about our hands and faces. For your face, consider a ski mask to reduce the amount of skin exposed to the wind and cold. This can also help reduce the amount of water vapor you breathe onto your camera. A photographer's fingers and face are the most endangered in cold weather shooting. Often a photographer will take off his/her gloves while shooting in order to better handle the camera. This exposes your fingers not only to the cold but also the wind. Even if the ambient air temperature is not below freezing, the wind chill may be cold enough to cause frostbite.

Page 7: Basic Photography 5

Protecting Your FingersFingers cause a bit more problems for photographers. Fear of dropping the camera and difficulty in managing the controls with heavy gloves often leads photographers to forgo gloves altogether. This leads to quickly numb fingers and is a fast track to frostbite. Depending on how cold the conditions are, you may even be at risk for your fingers freezing to the metal on the camera. Layering your gloves is an excellent solution to frozen fingers. Wear silk or other fine mesh gloves first (even women's nylons with a few extra seams make great first layer gloves). Over these gloves add a pair of fingerless crafter's gloves. These not only add warmth, but can also help cut down on hand fatigue. The final layer are your normal cold-weather heavy gloves. These will be removed whenever you are shooting so a cord to hang them around your neck is needed to prevent loosing them. Your fingers will still get cold with the crafter's gloves and under gloves (but more slowly). Try keeping a hunter's chemical heat pack in your coat pocket for quick reheating of your hands in between frames.

Wet FeetEven when wearing very well insulated boots, your feet can become damp from perspiration or a poorly placed step that puts you in snow higher than your boot tops. Wet skin is in major danger of damage from cold. Keep extra socks with you at all times for emergency changes. Keeping a couple of kitchen dish towels with you will also allow you to dry off your feet before changing socks.

SlippingIn cold conditions, almost any surface can be covered in ice. Photographers are notorious for not paying attention to their surroundings while they are focusing on a subject. Be sure to pay attention to where you are stepping and wear footgear with good traction in order to avoid a nasty fall.

Surviving Cold Weather Photography

How to Keep Your Equipment and Yourself Intact During Winter Shooting

By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

photography equipment cold weather photography photography safety

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Online Photo CompetitionThe International Pano Awards Competition now open. Enter to win!www.thepanoawards.com

Page 8: Basic Photography 5

Die Casting Machine}Specialized in die casting machine CE approval, Export EU. Order now!en.zszhenli.com

Nan GoldinNan Goldin is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com

Photography Ads

Wedding Photographs Wedding Photos Photography Photos Video for Wedding Wedding Pictures

Cold weather presents numerous challenges to photographers and their equipment. From drained batteries to frostbit fingers, cold weather photography is a completely different prospect than hot weather shooting. While there are some simple solutions to most cold weather problems, these solutions may not be the ones you would first think about.

Equipment Problems

Condensation

What is Condensation?Condensation is a photographer's nightmare. Just like a pair of eyeglasses fogging up when changing temperatures rapidly, a camera lens (and the inside of the camera) can fog up with condensation. Condensation is water forming on surfaces that are significantly colder or warmer than the air surrounding it. Technically, this means that if your camera goes into an area where the air is warm condensation will form if the camera is colder than the dew point. The opposite is also true. If your camera goes into a cold air area and the camera is warmer than the dew point then condensation can form.

(Article Continues Below)

How to Avoid Condensation?The basic way to avoid condensation is to gradually bring your camera through these extreme temperature changes by sealing it inside a bag containing air the same temperature as the camera is acclimatized to. This way, any condensation forms on the bag instead of the camera as the air and camera gradually equalize to the new environment. In practice, this usually results in the photographer freezing in his/her car because he/she doesn't want to wait for the camera to cool off when he/she gets to the photo location.

Hidden Condensation CauseAnother source of condensation is the photographer. If you breathe on your camera you risk fogging it. The heat from your eye could also cause problems on the viewfinder. If your viewfinder fogs due to photographer body heat it is almost always only an inconvenience that does not affect the rest of the camera. You should, however, refrain from putting your camera in your coat as this could raise the temperature of the camera and lens itself enough to create problematic condensation.

Page 9: Basic Photography 5

Remember that condensation can form inside the camera as well. Beyond the moisture not agreeing with any electronic parts, the moisture could freeze in very cold conditions and completely ruin the camera.

Drained BatteriesBatteries lose their charge more quickly in cold weather. When shooting in cold weather it is essential to carry spare batteries for all of your equipment. Lithium batteries are a good choice as they are better at holding a charge than the older chemical compositions to begin with. You can also keep the spare batteries in your coat pocket or other relatively warm spot. However, be extremely careful not to let the batteries be too warm as this could cause condensation when they are placed back into the cold equipment.

Photographer Problems

Exposed Skin

What is in Danger?We all know to wear a coat when we go outside in the cold, but we often forget about our hands and faces. For your face, consider a ski mask to reduce the amount of skin exposed to the wind and cold. This can also help reduce the amount of water vapor you breathe onto your camera. A photographer's fingers and face are the most endangered in cold weather shooting. Often a photographer will take off his/her gloves while shooting in order to better handle the camera. This exposes your fingers not only to the cold but also the wind. Even if the ambient air temperature is not below freezing, the wind chill may be cold enough to cause frostbite.

Protecting Your FingersFingers cause a bit more problems for photographers. Fear of dropping the camera and difficulty in managing the controls with heavy gloves often leads photographers to forgo gloves altogether. This leads to quickly numb fingers and is a fast track to frostbite. Depending on how cold the conditions are, you may even be at risk for your fingers freezing to the metal on the camera. Layering your gloves is an excellent solution to frozen fingers. Wear silk or other fine mesh gloves first (even women's nylons with a few extra seams make great first layer gloves). Over these gloves add a pair of fingerless crafter's gloves. These not only add warmth, but can also help cut down on hand fatigue. The final layer are your normal cold-weather heavy gloves. These will be removed whenever you are shooting so a cord to hang them around your neck is needed to prevent loosing them. Your fingers will still get cold with the crafter's gloves and under gloves (but more slowly). Try keeping a hunter's chemical heat pack in your coat pocket for quick reheating of your hands in between frames.

Wet FeetEven when wearing very well insulated boots, your feet can become damp from perspiration or a poorly placed step that puts you in snow higher than your boot tops. Wet skin is in major danger of damage from cold. Keep extra socks with you at all times for emergency changes. Keeping a couple of kitchen dish towels with you will also allow you to dry off your feet before changing socks.

SlippingIn cold conditions, almost any surface can be covered in ice. Photographers are notorious for not paying attention to their surroundings while they are focusing on a subject. Be sure to pay attention to where you are stepping and wear footgear with good traction in order to avoid a nasty fall.

Page 10: Basic Photography 5

Surviving Cold Weather Photography

How to Keep Your Equipment and Yourself Intact During Winter Shooting

By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

photography equipment cold weather photography photography safety

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Online Photo CompetitionThe International Pano Awards Competition now open. Enter to win!www.thepanoawards.comDie Casting Machine}Specialized in die casting machine CE approval, Export EU. Order now!en.zszhenli.com

Nan GoldinNan Goldin is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com

Photography Ads

Wedding Photographs Wedding Photos Photography Photos Video for Wedding Wedding Pictures

Cold weather presents numerous challenges to photographers and their equipment. From drained batteries to frostbit fingers, cold weather photography is a completely different prospect than hot weather shooting. While there are some simple solutions to most cold weather problems, these solutions may not be the ones you would first think about.

Equipment Problems

Condensation

What is Condensation?Condensation is a photographer's nightmare. Just like a pair of eyeglasses fogging up when changing temperatures rapidly, a camera lens (and the inside of the camera) can fog up with condensation. Condensation is water forming on surfaces that are significantly colder or warmer than the air surrounding it. Technically, this means that if your camera goes into an area where the air is warm condensation will form if the camera is colder than the dew point. The opposite is also true. If your camera goes into a cold air area and the camera is warmer than the dew point then condensation can form.

Page 11: Basic Photography 5

(Article Continues Below)

How to Avoid Condensation?The basic way to avoid condensation is to gradually bring your camera through these extreme temperature changes by sealing it inside a bag containing air the same temperature as the camera is acclimatized to. This way, any condensation forms on the bag instead of the camera as the air and camera gradually equalize to the new environment. In practice, this usually results in the photographer freezing in his/her car because he/she doesn't want to wait for the camera to cool off when he/she gets to the photo location.

Hidden Condensation CauseAnother source of condensation is the photographer. If you breathe on your camera you risk fogging it. The heat from your eye could also cause problems on the viewfinder. If your viewfinder fogs due to photographer body heat it is almost always only an inconvenience that does not affect the rest of the camera. You should, however, refrain from putting your camera in your coat as this could raise the temperature of the camera and lens itself enough to create problematic condensation.

Remember that condensation can form inside the camera as well. Beyond the moisture not agreeing with any electronic parts, the moisture could freeze in very cold conditions and completely ruin the camera.

Drained BatteriesBatteries lose their charge more quickly in cold weather. When shooting in cold weather it is essential to carry spare batteries for all of your equipment. Lithium batteries are a good choice as they are better at holding a charge than the older chemical compositions to begin with. You can also keep the spare batteries in your coat pocket or other relatively warm spot. However, be extremely careful not to let the batteries be too warm as this could cause condensation when they are placed back into the cold equipment.

Photographer Problems

Exposed Skin

What is in Danger?We all know to wear a coat when we go outside in the cold, but we often forget about our hands and faces. For your face, consider a ski mask to reduce the amount of skin exposed to the wind and cold. This can also help reduce the amount of water vapor you breathe onto your camera. A photographer's fingers and face are the most endangered in cold weather shooting. Often a photographer will take off his/her gloves while shooting in order to better handle the camera. This exposes your fingers not only to the cold but also the wind. Even if the ambient air temperature is not below freezing, the wind chill may be cold enough to cause frostbite.

Page 12: Basic Photography 5

Protecting Your FingersFingers cause a bit more problems for photographers. Fear of dropping the camera and difficulty in managing the controls with heavy gloves often leads photographers to forgo gloves altogether. This leads to quickly numb fingers and is a fast track to frostbite. Depending on how cold the conditions are, you may even be at risk for your fingers freezing to the metal on the camera. Layering your gloves is an excellent solution to frozen fingers. Wear silk or other fine mesh gloves first (even women's nylons with a few extra seams make great first layer gloves). Over these gloves add a pair of fingerless crafter's gloves. These not only add warmth, but can also help cut down on hand fatigue. The final layer are your normal cold-weather heavy gloves. These will be removed whenever you are shooting so a cord to hang them around your neck is needed to prevent loosing them. Your fingers will still get cold with the crafter's gloves and under gloves (but more slowly). Try keeping a hunter's chemical heat pack in your coat pocket for quick reheating of your hands in between frames.

Wet FeetEven when wearing very well insulated boots, your feet can become damp from perspiration or a poorly placed step that puts you in snow higher than your boot tops. Wet skin is in major danger of damage from cold. Keep extra socks with you at all times for emergency changes. Keeping a couple of kitchen dish towels with you will also allow you to dry off your feet before changing socks.

SlippingIn cold conditions, almost any surface can be covered in ice. Photographers are notorious for not paying attention to their surroundings while they are focusing on a subject. Be sure to pay attention to where you are stepping and wear footgear with good traction in order to avoid a nasty fall.

Fireworks Photography LessonsBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

night photography fireworks photography holiday photography

Fireworks photography is a daunting prospect for many photographers but it really isn't as difficult as it sounds. With the right information and a little bit of practice your fireworks images will shine. Give us just a few minutes and we'll show you how to photograph fireworks.

Fireworks Photography Basics

© 2007 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Ask any kid what they like about the Fourth of July and chances are the answer will be fireworks. Ask any photographer what they want to take pictures of during the Fourth of July and you will probably get the same answer. While everyone loves the food, festivals, and general craziness that goes on around Fourth of July celebrations; it is what happens after the sun sets that really gets photographers excited and nervous. Fireworks photography is notorious for missed shots, shaky images, bad

Page 13: Basic Photography 5

exposures, and out of frame subjects. However, fireworks photography really is not as hard as you have been led to believe... More Info

Basic Fireworks Photography

Getting Started with Fireworks Photography

By Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

film photography digital photography photography troubleshooting common photography problems photography lessons

© Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Fireworks Safety IgnitersFireworks Safety Igniters and Wireless Fireworks Firing Systemswww.usfc-PyroWorks.comNan GoldinNan Goldin is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New Yorkwww.matthewmarks.com

Start a Photography Bus.Plan, Start and Operate a Photography Business - Bookwww.125aDay.com

Ask any kid what they like about the Fourth of July and chances are the answer will be fireworks. Ask any photographer what they want to take pictures of during the Fourth of July and you will probably get the same answer. While everyone loves the food, festivals, and general craziness that goes on around Fourth of July celebrations; it is what happens after the sun sets that really gets photographers excited and nervous. Fireworks photography is notorious for missed shots, shaky images, bad exposures, and out of frame subjects. However, fireworks photography really is not as hard as you have been led to believe. Once you have the basics of night photography down there are only a few things to keep in mind with fireworks.

FramingFireworks do not explode in the exact same spot every time. Because of this plan on taking a wider shot than you would normally do. You will need to crop the image or have your lab crop the image for you to correct framing.

Page 14: Basic Photography 5

FocusFireworks move fast and your camera's autofocus may have trouble with them. It is best to either prefocus or set your camera to manual.

ExposureFireworks are very bright but the amount of light created during a fireworks show varies greatly. The first few explosions are generally far enough apart that a relatively long exposure time is possible. The space between explosions will also allow you to capture the shell flying into the air, the explosion, and the full extent of the explosive display. When the display reaches its finale there will be much more light and the shells will explode rapidly. In order to make an image from this situation you will have to increase your film speed in order to decrease the exposure time. Leave your aperture on a high setting so that the entire explosion will be in focus.

Suggested settings for first few explosionsShutter Speed = 2 secondsAperture = 14Film Speed = 200

Suggested settings for rapid explosionsShutter Speed = 1 secondAperture = 14Film Speed = 400

Fun Photography LessonsBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

fun photography photography lessons

The Fun Photography series is all about having fun with your camera. This series focuses on seemingly hard to capture or out of the ordinary situations and shows you how to take some great fun photos.

Fruit Falling Through Water

© Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

There are certain types of photographs that tend to make viewers shriek "Oh that's cool!" Fruit splashing into water is one of those fun photos that leave everyone... More Info

Fun With Photography - Fruit In WaterBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

Page 15: Basic Photography 5

See More About:

shutter speed fun photography

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Municipal waste waterNew Wastewater Treatment Technology At Higher Performance & Lower Cost!All-About-Wastewater-Treatment.comAmici Water HeatersPhilippine Provider of Hot Water. Find the heater right for you!www.amici.com.phLearn Photography OnlineImprove your photography skills by watching the experts on videos.www.FotoTV.com

There are certain types of photographs that tend to make viewers shriek "Oh that's cool!" Fruit splashing into water is one of those fun photos that leave everyone scratching their heads and wondering how you did it. This photo genre is actually a very simple photograph.

Items Needed

Small clear tank (fishtank, vase, anything with clear, straight sides) Water (or carbonated water for extra bubbles) Aluminum foil Chair or small table Assistant or tripod Fruit Blue fabric or paper

Step oneMake sure your tank or vase is free of scratches and attach the blue fabric or paper to the backside of the tank.

Step twoFill the tank with water or carbonated water

Step threePlace aluminum foil on top of the small table or chair. This will reflect the sunlight onto the bottom of the fruit for extra light.

Step fourPlace table/chair outside in bright sunlight and place tank on top of foil. Note - position tank so that there will not be a shadow from your hand when dropping the fruit

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Step fivePosition camera on tripod and prefocus on inside of tank. If you have an assistant, holding the camera is fine but be sure you are seated in a stable position.

Step sixDrop the fruit. If you have an assistant, count down to release for them so you will have a better chance of tripping the shutter at the right moment. If you are using a tripod and shooting alone, you will have one finger on the release button and the other hand will drop the fruit. It will take practice to trip the shutter at the right time. Even very experienced photographers have many bad timing shots for this type of image.

Hints

Use a taller tank to help prevent splashes from hitting your camera. Use a rag to wipe splashes off of the tank between shots. You want the tank to be invisible, not

highlighted by waterdrops. Use the fastest shutter speed possible. Water and falling fruit are fast. You will need a shutter speed

around 1/1000 of a second or more to sufficiently freeze the action. Relax. This will take practice at first. Once you get the hang of the timing it is very easy though.

Fun With Photography - Fruit In WaterBy Liz Masoner, About.com Guide

See More About:

shutter speed fun photography

© 2008 Liz Masoner licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sponsored Links

Municipal waste waterNew Wastewater Treatment Technology At Higher Performance & Lower Cost!All-About-Wastewater-Treatment.comAmici Water HeatersPhilippine Provider of Hot Water. Find the heater right for you!www.amici.com.phLearn Photography OnlineImprove your photography skills by watching the experts on videos.www.FotoTV.com

There are certain types of photographs that tend to make viewers shriek "Oh that's cool!" Fruit splashing into water is one of those fun photos that leave everyone scratching their heads and wondering how you did it. This photo genre is actually a very simple photograph.

Page 17: Basic Photography 5

Items Needed

Small clear tank (fishtank, vase, anything with clear, straight sides) Water (or carbonated water for extra bubbles) Aluminum foil Chair or small table Assistant or tripod Fruit Blue fabric or paper

Step oneMake sure your tank or vase is free of scratches and attach the blue fabric or paper to the backside of the tank.

Step twoFill the tank with water or carbonated water

Step threePlace aluminum foil on top of the small table or chair. This will reflect the sunlight onto the bottom of the fruit for extra light.

Step fourPlace table/chair outside in bright sunlight and place tank on top of foil. Note - position tank so that there will not be a shadow from your hand when dropping the fruit

Step fivePosition camera on tripod and prefocus on inside of tank. If you have an assistant, holding the camera is fine but be sure you are seated in a stable position.

Step sixDrop the fruit. If you have an assistant, count down to release for them so you will have a better chance of tripping the shutter at the right moment. If you are using a tripod and shooting alone, you will have one finger on the release button and the other hand will drop the fruit. It will take practice to trip the shutter at the right time. Even very experienced photographers have many bad timing shots for this type of image.

Hints

Use a taller tank to help prevent splashes from hitting your camera. Use a rag to wipe splashes off of the tank between shots. You want the tank to be invisible, not

highlighted by waterdrops. Use the fastest shutter speed possible. Water and falling fruit are fast. You will need a shutter speed

around 1/1000 of a second or more to sufficiently freeze the action. Relax. This will take practice at first. Once you get the hang of the timing it is very easy though.