5.8 Of Tony’s Collection of Photography Tips and Tricks

It’s that crazy time of year again, trying to start off a new year (hopefully with new toys from that jolly Santa dude) and figuring out which, if any, resolutions to make or even keep.

But in between tearing down and disposing of the tree and all it’s trimmings (you did recycle your tree didn’t you?), cleaning up after the long holiday weekends and getting back to work - Don’t forget to take time for, what is among my favorite hobbies, and should be yours too - Photography.

As I study more photography related things and talking with those learning this fun hobby, I keep coming across a handful of important basic tips & tricks that every photographer that’s been at it awhile should already know, but may have forgotten, and those that are just starting out should learn now.

So, as my mind starts to wander off for awhile, I’ll start thinking to myself, “...These basic ‘tricks’, this is what people just beginning REALLY need to know. I haven’t posted anything new for awhile, so I should put some of these ideas/tips onto my blog today…”

Then, shortly after that, as usual, my mind started to wander off somewhere else again. It’s a curse I tell ya. One of many that I live with.

Hence, only 5.8 tips for today. But I’ll get to the others soon.

So, if you unwrapped a shiny new digital camera, and started wondering “what now” - Read on.

While these tips apply to “point-n-shoot/happy-snappy” cameras, if you’ve got a shiny new DSLR, you can play along too.

THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TRICK OF ALL TIME -

FOR ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING CAMERA ISSUES OF ALL TIME -

SHUTTER LAG

Tip #2; Think Like A Pro; Work the “Magic Hour” - Dinner and/or breakfast can wait.

Hey, if you want those great shots you see the pros make, you’ll soon realize, you may lose a lot of sleep. If you drool over those award-winning, breathtaking landscapes, be it a mirrored lake with shimmering colors in the woods or golden clouds painted across the sky... just remember, someone got up long before the rooster crows to be ready and in place with their tripod as that sun rose. If you’re like me, not one for getting up early, you’ll miss out on a lot of beautiful sunrises.

There’s an hour during sunrise, and then another hour while the sun sets, that are known as the “Magic Hour”. This lower angle of the sun, shining thru a larger, denser portion of the atmosphere creates those rich, saturated tones, plus something photographers call “Golden Light”. It’s an amazing how this golden glow makes everything (and everybody) look beautiful. Normally dull and metallic-gray grain silos, as well as glass high-rise buildings look enchanted and every mountain and valley look breathtaking.

It’s a complete opposite once it becomes midday sun. Once the sun gets up high in the sky, and if there are no clouds, it creates much harsher shadows and more severe, blown-out highlights that your camera can’t deal with. Besides, your photos won’t be quite as exciting either. Landscape shooting can be a terrible experience unless just the right amount - and type, of clouds are helping diffuse that bright light.

That’s what many photographers call “Siesta Time”. You’ll either need to take a nap (since you were up so early), find some interesting shaded areas, or move inside for awhile, anticipating the coming sunset.

Now, sunsets seem to have a different color range to them. Some say it’s because in the morning, the dust (and smog if you’re in the city) haven’t had a chance to get stirred up yet, which creates more ‘stuff’ in the air for the sun to shine thru at night. I’ve also found that the clouds are generally different at the end of the day too - Or, it could just be me. As I said, I’m not a morning person, so I haven’t compiled a whole lot of data on this. I also live on an island that has the mountains of the mainland to the East and an ocean to the West, which in itself will create different looks during the “Magic Hour”.

Tip #2.6; One other tip that helps earn it’s extra 0.6th of a point. Don’t only look at the sunrise/sunset direction - Turn Around! You’ll find amazing things being lit up in all those hues too. I’ve had numerous occasions that the sunset was kind of boring, but turned around and was awarded with a fantastic light show across snow capped mountains, forests or bridges to photograph. And, just because the sun has dipped below the horizon, don’t pack up and leave yet - Many times, there’s lots more to see still to come. Let everyone else pack-up & go, you’ll have the best for yourself.

Tip #3; For that cool, professionally blurred-background look - Shuffle yourself back a bit more - OK, now zoom back in until you’ve got your original composition.

In photo-geek terms, what you’re creating is a limited depth of field.

What you’re doing as a photographer, is deciding - Which part of the scene, front-to-back, is in focus. Subject Yes; background trees/buildings/fences, etc., No.

This professional looking effect is easy to get if you have a DSLR, as you have different lens options and full aperture control, allowing you to set-up a wide aperture (a low f-stop number like f4) to accentuate the effect, while only a handful of point-n-shoots allow it.

So, on a pocket cam, choose the Portrait mode pre-set. Now, have your subject move away from the background - the farther, the better. OK, now stop them there and say ‘stay’. Now it’s time to use the ‘ole “walk-backwards-and-zoom-back-in trick”. Here’s how - Standing further away from your subjects (the farther, the better), and then using the camera’s zoom to “bring you” back up close - This creates this “shallow depth of field, background out of focus” trick.

It’s all because of some weird optics quirk, that, even if I understood it myself, I wouldn’t be able to describe here. It’s all magic I tell you, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one and give it a go. Now, also beware that when you’re looking thru your view-finder or the LCD screen on the back; you won’t see the effect yet. It’s not until you take the picture that you’ll see it. So, practice, review, practice, review & practice again - pixels are free. You don’t have to worry about how much film you’re wasting. Get out and play.

Don’t worry about the strange looks you may get, backing way up, and all that. Strange looks are just part of being a photographer, you’ll get caught doing plenty of other odd things in an attempt to get that great photo. Me, as a landscape photographer, which likes the “low-level” look, I spend a lot of time lying on the ground with knee-pads. Imagine the looks and ribbing I get.

Tip #4. Blast that flash outdoors.

I know, I know, many of you think of your flash for only use inside at parties. It’s probably never occurred to you that you can also use the flash when you’re taking pictures of people outside on a bright, sunny day too. It wouldn’t occur to the little guy inside your camera either. So you’re going to have to trick him a bit.

Here’s how it works, the camera’s little guy inside, you know, the one that figures out everything need for a perfect photo (and creates that shutter lag) “measures” the scene in front of the lens and goes “Whoa, there’s tons of sunlight” and won’t use the flash. But, he’s not smart enough (except on some of the newer, whiz-bang “face recognition” models and DSLR’s with different meter modes) to realize that the face you’re photographing is in the shadow. You’re just going to wind up with a dark, silhouetted person now.

Here’s the secret, that’s a very common photographer’s trick. Force the flash on. Your flash can now provide just the right amount of “fill light” to your subject’s face - without changing the exposure of the background.

This neat trick will not only eliminate silhouettes, it also provides a very flattering light, which softens smile lines and wrinkles, while putting a nice little twinkle in the their eyes.

Tip #4.2; Though, if a silhouetted person looking into a sunset is what you’re looking for, then please disregard Tip #4, as those can be great compositions too.

Tip #5 Buy some elbow macaroni - Leave your tripod at home.

A problem with every camera is that “getting blur from camera motion” syndrome. We all know - “Use a tripod.”

But, if you didn’t feel like dragging it thru multiple airports while on vacation, try this - We all know the trick about using a wall, parked car, tree, pillar, door frame, or any other stationary object, but the problem that often comes up is - They’re never angled that direction you need to point your camera.

But here’s a great trick: Either bring a bean-bag or once you get to your destination, buy a bag of elbow macaroni and use it as a bean-bag. I even know of some travelers that will bring a little, empty bean-bag ‘pillow case’ that packs flat. Then they’ll either buy some beans when they get where they’re going, or slide the bag of beans or macaroni inside. It looks nicer that way and you don’t have to worry about it breaking and spilling.

Set your new, high-tech camera holder on whatever solid object you have handy, set you camera on top, tilt and aim as needed and fire away - Well, actually, when you push the shutter with your camera on this “bean-bag”, you may still cause motion. So, you’ll get better results if you use the built in “shutter-timer”. Set it to the 10-sec (or 2-sec if you’ve got it) option, aim, press the button (run over to join your friends) then in 10-sec, without you disturbing the movement of the camera, your camera will take a perfect, blur-free image.

People might think, seeing you with your macaroni, you’re a genius, a nut-case, or a genius nut-case, but never mind. It works.

There actually are now, bean bags made with a tripod screw on them for attaching your camera. Most any camera supplier will have them. Great idea.

Tip #5.3 This is actually a quick, little tip;

When you’re finished with that bag of macaroni, and you’re packing to head home - donate it to a local food bank or church.

There you have it folks; I actually came up with a little more than Five tips, and my mind only wandered off a couple times.

Now go shoot something!

Again, Thanks for playing along. Hope I did a good job of proof reading.

Tony D. Locke, MM

Still reigning - Master of Madness