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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND TRICKS

>>>>>Nature Photography in National Parks:

Even though national parks are just like other natural environments, the difference in scale can add a number of new obstacles and challenges. Here are a few pointers to help you overcome those obstacles!

So you've got into nature photography, and now your interested in taking on a national park. While such a project bears strong resemblance to other nature photography projects, the size of the task introduces new elements, as well. If you are serious about taking on such an endeavor, keep these factors in mind while you do it.

One characteristic that can make your photographs standout is knowledge- A true knowledge and understanding of your subject, your surroundings, and the limitations inherent therein. Part of this is knowing the laying of the land, and this means having a good map. A basic knowledge of natural history can be of immense help, as well, as it can allow you to identify potential sites without actually visiting them; with experience, you can also suggest conditions and locations necessary or ideal for achieving certain effects. The map will also determine how you travel between your sites of interest. Some of the best sites may have restricted access to vehicles. While you can always hike, hiking will also reduce the amount of equipment that you can realistically carry with you.

One often untapped resource to keep in mind is Parks personnel; since they are on site every day, they may be able to point you to phenomenons and locations that you would otherwise miss. Chat with the staff and/or volunteers at the visitor's center; it certainly creates more awareness of your work, and might even result in a display of some sort.

You may not be much of a planner, but proper planning does indeed prevent poor performance. While it is certainly possible to wander around and stumble across some good photo opportunities, the best shots will still incorporate a knowledge of the terrain, natural surroundings such as flora and fauna, lighting, and weather. To take your photography to the next level, introduce intentionality into the process. Ask questions about how you can improve on your performance, or how you can make your photographs standout from the pack. Also, take your own limitations into consideration - after hiking a mile and a half up a mountain trail, you may well need to have some kind of camera support with you!

While the scene and conditions may determine the outer limits of what you can achieve, the tools available to you and the techniques at your disposal are what turns that potential into a finished photograph. Obviously, command of basic photography skills and techniques is essential in order to achieve the desired results, but techniques such as high dynamic range photography and panoramic imaging can allow you to extend the range of what is possible. Make sure to invest in the necessary - a tripod, map, spare batteries, and a good pair of shoes is a must.

If I had to sum it all up, I would say to take the best pictures at National Parks is about equipment, knowledge, and tools. Despite popular belief, planning doesn't mean the rejection of the spontaneous and unexpected; in fact, it does quite the opposite by allowing your mind to rest easy about the things you can control. Don't forget basic landscape photography and outdoor phototgraphy rules, either!

>>>>>5 Tips on How to Eliminate Camera Shake to Take Better Photos:

One dramatic difference between professional digital images and those of "amateurs" is the quality of sharpness in the image. You can use these five tips to help you learn how to eliminate camera shake, a principal cause of blurred or out of focus images.

Have you ever heard the expression, “It must be jelly, ‘cause jam don’t shake like that”? Does this apply to your photographs? One of the things which greatly separates the amateurs and pros is the sharpness and clarity of their respective images. You must do all you can to eliminate camera shake for sharper, more professional images.

Here are five how to tips to eliminate “camera shake”:

1. Use a tripod or camera support: You can probably only hand-hold a camera down to around 1/30 of a second at best. After that movements from your body will take the sharp edge of focus off of everything. With many automatic digital camera settings, you can’t be sure what shutter speed you’re shooting at so using a standard tripod, a flexible “Gorillapod” tripod (shown here “hanging” on the back of a chair), a mono-pod like "Monostat’s Unipod", or other camera-steadying technique and tool such as an arm and shoulder-mounted “Bush Hawk” is essential. You could also use a bean-filled bag, gyro-stabilizer or clamp-on style camera holder to shoot from. When shooting long-range, telephoto or macro, close-up images, camera stability can be especially critical. You must be diligent, doing all you can to eliminate camera shake.

2. Brace yourself or your camera when shooting: There are occasions when you can’t or shouldn’t use a tripod, such as when you’re shooting in tight quarters, in heavy crowds or in places which specifically prohibit the use of tripods. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use external means to steady the camera while shooting. It simply calls for a little more creativity when doing so. Try setting the camera on a stable surface like a table, desk, wall or floor. Use yourself as a human tripod by bracing yourself, your arms or elbows against a wall, tree, fence or other object with your legs spread and locked. A seated position also works where your butt and two feet represent a three-point stance for maximum stability.

3. Use the fastest shutter speed and smallest apertures possible: When you can use manual settings when shooting images, try to always use the fastest shutter speed and the smallest aperture that you can in order to minimize the effects of minor camera shake or movement. It will also help with depth of field and blur from any moving objects in your image. 1/500 to 1/1000 of a second or faster will effectively eliminate some blur caused by hand-held camera movement much of the time. This can be especially true when care is taken to restrict camera movement using additional means as well. This is another reason I like to use a Gorilla-Pod flexible tripod (shown here “hanging” from the top of a metal door). You can position it in the craziest ways, set the shutter timer or remote fire the shutter to take images and videos from unique angles.

4. Try taking shots using auto-focus, then manual focus: In addition to using the auto-focus settings on your digital (or film) camera, if at all possible, try using manual settings which should give you more control over virtual shutter speed and camera apertures (lens stops). This is yet another way to reduce or eliminate camera shake when shooting images on the fly or outside of an indoor or “studio” setting.

5. Learn how to hold a camera rock-solid steady: This may seem rather basic, but from what I’ve been seeing of late, many photographers just have bad practice in the way their camera is held. If you are right-handed, your left hand, palm, wrist and lower forearm all help to brace and steady the camera for shooting images. This is while your right hand cuddles the front and back of the camera body with your trigger finger in the “ready” position. Remember to wrap your left arm through the camera strap too; you know, something like you do with the sling on a rifle. With many of the awkward grips I’ve seen, you almost can’t avoid camera shake when you press the shutter button. The more weight your camera has, the more a good, steady, bracing camera grip is called for as an aid to eliminate camera shake.

Hold It Steady: If you’re a belly-dancer or a bowl of flavored gelatin dessert, then shake all you want. But when shooting for saleable-quality digital images, hold still and keep that camera steady. Use these five tips to develop stances, positions and rock-solid camera holds that will help ensure that you eliminate camera shake for sharper, more professional images.

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64,192 photos | 4,388 members | 08 Jun 07

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