composition: finding the perfect background for photographs
Photographers and clients alike regularly comment on this photograph in my portfolio, and the question invariably asked is whether this is a Photoshop effect. Far from it - this image is straight out of the camera ... Read more inside...
photography: using interesting found light / available light
Photographing Kerri in an alley that I've used a few times before, I was looking for other interesting angles and backgrounds. This one stretch of white-washed wall was particularly bland ... but then I noticed small splashes of light ... Read more inside...
Photographing wedding portraits in bright sunlight
Hard sunlight overhead is some of the most difficult light that you can find yourself shooting in. When you aren't able to position your subjects, then your options are limited - fill-flash or working with the RAW file in post-processing.
However, when you're able to move your subjects, but don't have the opportunity for off-camera lighting, then your best two options are:
- have your subjects turn their backs to the sun,
- use the light from the sun so that there are no harsh cross-shadows.
Here are typical examples of Read more inside...
exposure metering - shifting your exposure settings by counting the clicks
When shooting in consistent light, and I have a specific exposure setting that is correct - then changing settings to a an equivalent exposure is as easy as counting the clicks. These clicks on your digital camera - whether aperture, or shutter speed or ISO - change the exposure by 1/3rd of a stop. You can then simply count these up and down to get to an equivalent exposure with a different combination of settings. Read more inside...
