Using the histogram to determine exposure
How to use the camera's histogram for exposure metering
Histograms display the relative levels of the darker to brighter tones. As the histogram stands, it isn't of much direct use to us, since the tonality of the scene that was captured will dictate what the histogram shows us .. without a direct indication of whether exposure is correct. Some will say that a histogram should have an even bell-shaped curve, but this is too simplistic. A light toned subject against a white wall will show a much different histogram that a dark toned subject against a dark wall .. even though the Read more inside...Flash photography & Fireworks
Photographing fireworks, using flash
Generally, you wouldn't use flash to photography fireworks. But when you have someone in the foreground, then it becomes useful to have your subject lit up with flash, to balance them with the background (the fireworks display.) Photographing people with fireworks in the background, is just an application of the technique known as dragging the shutter. I had the couple in an area where there wasn't much ambient light, so that I could light them mostly with flash. The strobe was a Quantum T2 with an umbrella, used in manual. My flash exposure Read more inside...Tightening the hotshoe on the Canon 1D series camera
Tightening the hotshoe on the Canon 1D series camera
If your hotshoe on your Canon 1D series camera has become loose, it is an easy fix! Somehow the 4 little screws that hold the hot shoe to the camera body can wriggle loose over time, causing the flashgun to wobble. This can even lead to poor contact between the flashgun and the camera. Fortunately, to fix this, all you need is a set of jeweler's screwdrivers. Read more inside...Repairing the Canon 580EX hotshoe foot
Repairing the Canon 580EX hotshoe foot
Since the 580EX has a plastic foot, it is very easy to snap it off in the camera's hotshoe. The photo above shows the typical damage sustained. The repair is simple, and the cost of the part from Canon's Service Center. The part nr is: CY2-1227-000 Replacing the broken foot is relatively easy: Read more inside...Using filters to protect your lenses
Using filters to protect your lenses
This, ladies and gentlemen, is why using a UV filter on your lens is a good idea. Usually. Some times. The strange thing is, I have NO idea when this happened during a shoot at a reception venue where I was doing room shots and detail shots. Most of the times I was using two cameras, with the other one slung over my shoulder. At some point I lifted the camera to my eye and noticed rainbow colored diffraction patterns across the image. My immediate reaction was .. huh? My lens is THAT dirty? And then I checked and saw the actual Read more inside...Photographic composition – Tilted compositions / Dutch angle
Tilted compositions / Dutch angle
I am not a huge fan of tilted images, and I see it as an unfortunate visual 'tic' when I notice entire wedding galleries by other photographers where pretty much all the images are tilted at a very specific angle. That just means that little thought went into composition, and that composition and holding the camera has become a reflex action .. which just happens to include a 30' tilt to the camera. There is a rationale though behind tilted compositions / the Dutch angle - the balance of the photo. I tend to keep horizontal and vertical lines Read more inside...Photographic composition – Rules & guidelines
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." - Ansel Adams
