Auto FocusChristmas Lights

2014 ISSUEDECEMBER

GUIDEPHOTOGRAPHYSLR

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

THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT SLR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

DECEMBER EDITIONDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE EDITOR TANYA PUNTTISLRPHOTOGRAPHYGUIDE.COM

2014

This month cover photo © Jennie Nolen Vaughters (USA)

One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make when rst starting out in photography, is to presume manual focus is better than autofocus. The truthis, focusing has never been so simple! Half press your shutter button withyour lens set to autofocus, 99% of the time the camera will focus in a split second, ready for you to take the shot.

If you nd your camera is focusing on something other than the main subject,it is purely because you are yet to learn how to properly use your focalit is purely because you are yet to learn how to properly use your focalpoints (Lesson 3 for those taking our online photography course over athttp://www.slrphotographyguide.com/online-courses.shtml )

Personally, the only time I switch to manual focus (MF/ M) is if my lens is having trouble focusing itself and is swimming back and forth for something to lockonto. For example, in low light or low contrast scenes the lens may have trouble focusing. Otherwise I’m more than happy to make it easier on myselfand keep it on autofocus. and keep it on autofocus.

Of course every photographer will have their own opinion on the matter, but if you are using manual focus and wondering why your images are not as sharpas you’d like, why not try autofocusing and compare the results?

Cheers!Tanya Puntti

If you are using manual focus (MF /M) and your images are not as sharp as you’d like, switch to autofocus and compare the results.

image © Cheri Pavao Valine (USA)

image © Kristy Tink (Australia)

image © Tanya Pun

Did you know an overexposed image is harder to save (if at all) than an underexposed shot? If highlights are blown out, they will not hold any detail that is recoverable in post processing and there is usually nothing you can do to save the image. On the other hand, an underexposed image oen contains much detail that is recoverable in post processing.

The ideal situaon is to wait for the right light. This may mean ge ng up well The ideal situaon is to wait for the right light. This may mean ge ng up well before sunrise to be at the desnaon before the sun becomes a problem. Likewise in the evening at twilight, where the fading light is perfect.

Yet there are mes when you will undoubtably be in the right place at the wrong me of day. Do you miss the shot because the lighng isn't perfect? Of course not. There will be mes when a landscape photographer must underexpose the foreground to ensure that the sky is not overexposed or blown out.

Firstly, you can manually set your exposure one or two stops under zero and Firstly, you can manually set your exposure one or two stops under zero and lighten the darker area later on in post processing, drawing out the shadows.

You can also ensure a good exposure by using the brackeng funcon that most You can also ensure a good exposure by using the brackeng funcon that most cameras have built in, where the camera takes 3 shots at -1, 0, +1 exposure increments and you merge the images in post processing. When using brackeng you must ensure your camera is on a tripod as the smallest movement between shots will be noceable. Brackeng therefore gives one exposure for the highlights, one neutral exposure and lastly an exposure for the darker areas of the scene.

Another opon for the photographer is to compose the scene so that you don't Another opon for the photographer is to compose the scene so that you don't include the sky in the image. You can also use a polarizing filter or graduated neutral density filter to darken the sky.

The important thing to remember is that blown out highlights will aract the viewers eye to that area of a scene. This is not usually where the landscape photographer wants the viewer to look.

Keep detail in highlights by exposing for the highlights which may mean Keep detail in highlights by exposing for the highlights which may mean underexposing other areas of an image.

Keeping Detail In Highlights

image © Cindy Camp Spain (USA)

image © Lauren Sharkey (Australia)

Photography can be a lonely business. While you may take photographs of lots of people at weddings or other group work, there are long hours alone, just you and the computer, sorng, eding, prinng.

It can also be lonely because it's a very opinionated medium and one where an over It can also be lonely because it's a very opinionated medium and one where an over reliance of your own opinion can cause you to stumble, or be unsure as to the quality of your work. Art, or anything involving creavity, is highly subjecve to praise or cricism. Most every photographer regards themselves as being an arst, which leaves our work open to crical evaluaon.

One of the challenges is to find a mentor who's opinion you would respect and accept, One of the challenges is to find a mentor who's opinion you would respect and accept, no maer what. One who is encouraging, yet honest. Crical yet helpful. Brutal when necessary in poinng out the bleeding obvious you may have overlooked, yet a rod to lean on and learn from, in order to improve your cra.

Where do you find such a person?

You can join a group that has members that are much more advanced than where you You can join a group that has members that are much more advanced than where you are now. Go to each of their meengs and group oungs. Become involved and it won't be long before someone in that group will take you under their wing.

Most cies and towns have some type of camera club which is a great place to start the hunt for a mentor.

Remember, there will be mes when you take a shot you really like, even though you Remember, there will be mes when you take a shot you really like, even though you know that technically and aesthecally it is quite poor. You like it! You may be the only person on earth who likes it, and it’s important to know, that is ok.

Finding A Mentor

© Alisha Starr Priddy (USA)

© Kristy Moore Oaks, Southern Charm Photography (USA)

© Kodak Kev (UK)

(quick tip for those in snowy wonderlands)

Did you know you run the risk of damaging your camera gear, not while you are outside shooting in cold weather, but when you come back into a heated area?

A heated room usually contains moisture. When this moisture A heated room usually contains moisture. When this moisture condenses on internal parts of your gear, it can easily turn to mold and promote corrosion. The good news is, the moisture will eventually evaporate if the equipment is allowed to warm up to room temperature.

Before bringing your gear inside, it’s best to seal it in an airtight Before bringing your gear inside, it’s best to seal it in an airtight plastic bag, for example a simple garbage bag. Then after coming inside, leave it in the bag for a few hours until it returns to room temperature before opening.

PROTECTING YOUR GEAR IN WINTER

images © Tanya Puntti - SLR Photography Guide

image © Debbie Coady (Australia)

image © Anita Gowing

image © John Hodgkin (Australia)

Set your camera to Bulb Mode with an aperture F4.6 and ISO 200. With your camera sitting on a tripod, click and lock the shutter open. Wait roughly 5 seconds then unlock the shutter and view the results. If you’re photographing one of those houses that have a wide sequence of lights dancing in a specic order, you may also want to simply hold and lock the shutter when they start, then release in a few seconds time when the light show is over. Very similar to light painting.

If you don’t have a remote release that allows you to lock the exposure, use manual mode If you don’t have a remote release that allows you to lock the exposure, use manual mode and simply set a 5 second exposure, ignoring the exposure line prior to taking the shot.

If you nd the image too dark, or you didn’t get enough lights into the shot, try again with a longer shutter speed. Or if you nd the result too light, then choose a shorter shutter speed with your next photo.

It will only take a couple of shots to nd the perfect balance.

As Christmas lights are usually very dark scenes, you may need to manually focus your lens.

Cheers!Cheers!

image © Daphne Stevens (Canada)

image © Meryle Stanley (Australia)

image © Darren O'Sullivan (Australia)

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

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