Better Digital Photography

You may be frustrated with your photos, or just need to tweak your methods to get Better Digital Photography results. I'm here to help with simple things that are not hard to learn or master. Most people just don't know. *The Best How To Tips,Tutorials, & Reviews of: Equipment, Training, Lighting, Software, Jobs, Flash, Subject, Landscapes, Composition, Color, Camera Supplies, For a Professional or Dummies, & Simple Techniques to make your Digital Photography Better!!!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

“4 Reasons to Switch to JPEG” plus 1 more: Digital Photography School

4 Reasons to Switch to JPEG

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 11:06 AM PST

Last week, photographer extraordinaire Natalie Norton wrote a post here on DPS with 4 reasons not to write off shooting in automatic. And I totally agree that sometimes, as we climb the ladder (which never ends) towards ultimate knowledge (does it exist?) in our journey with photography (which also never ends), we can complicate things so much. Aren’t we all guilty of over thinking and forgetting our roots? The roots which made us fall in love with photography in the first place?

I would say (with complete confidence) that when we found our love for photography for the very first time, we all shot jpegs in automatic. And certainly, we need to move on, move up and learn learn learn. But don’t forget the joy you felt when you just shot because you loved it.

So following Natalie’s lead, here are my 4 reasons you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a jpeg (and why you just might want to go back to it from time to time)

Instant Use – If you want to use your images rather quickly and don’t have time to convert your raw files, you’ll want to go jpeg.
Less work – A well-exposed jpeg will be less in need of TLC than a raw file. The contrast is higher and the focus is sharper because your sensor has made all the important decisions instead of requiring time and brain power on your behalf. Sometimes a plus, sometimes not. You decide when it’s right for you!
Space – if you have a small(ish) memory card or you’re very nearly running out and you HAVE to get in 10 more shots, you might want to quickly switch to jpeg rather than risking the chance of losing the shots. Jpegs take up substantially less space than raw files.
Speed – if you’re shooting continuous (getting that perfect football goal) you’ll shoot faster in jpeg. Raw files take longer to store on your memory card and so the continuous bursts from your shutter will be slower. But switching to jpeg can mean the difference between getting the perfect shot and missing it by a millisecond.

Now, of course, my professional preference is shooting in raw. I’m a heavy editor type (and a control freak) and so I almost always shoot in raw because of the power and control it gives me. But don’t underestimate the times when shooting in jpeg could actually save your butt!

Challenge: If you have a camera that allows you to shoot in RAW + JPEG, give it a try! Take both images into your computer and see what the jpeg file compression did to help (or hurt) your image. This will help you understand the fundamental difference and envision the times you can picture yourself shooting in jpeg.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

4 Reasons to Switch to JPEG

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 Jan-5 Feb ‘11)

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 05:44 AM PST

Weekly Assignment

We finished up our Still Life: Food assignment. Still life assignments are a great photographic challenge when the weather is less than cooperative, or when you’re looking for something to challenge your creativity. Our winners this week really exemplified what we were looking for in a still life. Our winner this week really exemplified a classic and simple photograph. Ender_1982’s Pears had gorgeous lighting and excellent composition. It really showed how a simple subject can be very eye catching. Our first runner up was a more modern taken on a food still life. mshockley’s Oreos was nice and clean and modern. The lighting really made the detail in the cookies stand out, while the milk was nicely balanced. The reflection really added to the shot as well. And last, but not least was Shutterbugdeb’s fruit arrangement. This was a very nice example of a very traditional fruit still life. The glass bowl added another element to the shot, but because it was clear, it didn’t take away from the natural beauty of it. Well done everyone!

Still Life: Flowers is our newest assignment. Flowers can seem overdone when it comes to photography, but yet their beauty draws us to photograph them, and it’s a challenge to do it well. This week, your challenge is to photograph a flower still life. Remember, as a still life, this is not a shot of a blooming garden. You need to consider the design and placement of your subject, your lighting, and your composition. Check the first post in the thread for some helpful information about what a still life is. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 26 January – 9 February 2011. Second, your post must include the words “Still Life: Flowers” to show your permission for it to count in the contest, and the date the photo was taken in order to show that it is a valid entry. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, ISO, aperture, lens, shutter speed, etc. See the thread for the full rules. Next week’s assignment will be The Weather Outside. Show us what the Mother Nature is doing in your neck of the woods. Good luck everyone!

Hot Threads

Who Inspires You?: Having photographic inspiration can be a real help when you’re struggling to move forward or when you’re just starting. But that doesn’t mean that we lose that inspiration as we move forward ourselves. Who are the people that influence you when it comes to your photography? Come share your favourite blogs and books over in the forum.
Poses: Ever Get Stuck?: Do you ever run out of ideas for posing your clients? Have you checked every site that you can think of and you’re still feeling lost? What do you do? Come share your ideas for when you’re feeling photo-blocked and need new poses for your subjects.
What Would You Do: If the weather outside is frightful, you might be interested in practicing your post-processing skills in our What Would You Do threads. These threads are a chance for you to practice your post-processing skills on someone else’s photograph. Not only do you get a chance to practice, but they might also get a chance to learn something from your edit.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 Jan-5 Feb ‘11)

Saturday, February 5, 2011

“Where I Live: Weekly Photography Challenge” plus 1 more: Digital Photography School

Where I Live: Weekly Photography Challenge

Posted: 04 Feb 2011 10:41 AM PST

This week your photography challenge is to take and share an image that shows us something about where you live.

This theme came out of a number of people suggesting on our facebook page that we do something about our country of origin. I thought we could broaden it slightly to give people scope to do something about anything to do with where they live.

You might choose to do something to show us something about your country – but you might also choose to show us something about your house or something else that symbolises where you call home/live.

There’s lots of scope here for different types of photography – so be creative and get to work!

Once you’ve taken your ‘Where I Live’ photos – choose your best 1-2, upload them to your favourite photo sharing site either share a link to them even better – embed them in the comments using the our new tool to do so.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag them as #DPSWHEREILIVE to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

Also – don’t forget to check out some of the great shots posted in last weeks Beauty challenge – there were some great shots submitted.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

Where I Live: Weekly Photography Challenge

Why We Photograph

Posted: 04 Feb 2011 05:52 AM PST

Photography is a part of the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. The widespread availability and ease of owning a camera is a product of the digital age – and aren't we all so fortunate for it. Whether you have a simple point and shoot to capture family moments and day to day ramblings or a multi-thousand dollar medium format with a digital back for large production advertising, photography touches all of us. It begs the question, why do we photograph?

For some it's as necessary as breathing. It's as much a part of who we are as the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the friends we associate with and the values we hold dear. It's who we are. To others it's an enjoyable hobby or past-time – a great way to spend some free time or a way to capture little family moments. Whatever your personal level of involvement in photography is, taking photos is something we all love to do.

Perhaps there is a deeper psychological explanation. Our time on this earth only lasts for so long, and a camera allows us to preserve memories far past when they might have slipped our mind. It helps us pass those memories into the hands of future generations. Our photos are little legacies of the life we have led – our travels, experiences, food, family, friends, work relationships and more. Each photo is a window into a moment, and the collections of images we take over the years are a window into who we were and what we valued. Ultimately it comes down to a simple truth – seeing that moment captured makes us genuinely happy.

Photography should make you happy. Never let someone impede on your personal happiness. You love HDRs and someone else doesn't – who cares? You are enamored with landscapes but your friends think they're droll – don't let it bother you. You're a fashion nut but no one gets your style – just keep being you. Enjoy your photography for what it is – your own. Know that not everyone will appreciate it, but if it personally fulfills you, that's all that truly matters. Be true to yourself and you'll never regret a day of your life.

Share with us, why it is you photograph.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

Why We Photograph

Friday, February 4, 2011

“How To Tap Into Your Creative Mojo” plus 1 more: Digital Photography School

How To Tap Into Your Creative Mojo

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 10:02 AM PST

A Guest post by by Annie Tao

Whether you're a newbie or you've been a pro for years, there may be a point when you need a little help tapping into your creative mojo! Hey, even us right-brainers need to refresh our creativity from time to time!

Here are a few ideas to help boost your creativity:

Your camera is your friend

So take him (or her) everywhere with you!I know you've heard this before, but here's the thing:it is easy to remember to bring your camera to scenic places or special events.Try taking it to places that aren't obviously photogenic.This will train your eye to look out for beautiful things – light, patterns, mood, expressions, compositions – no matter where you are. Finding the best way to photograph different kinds of scenes, light and people is a great experience.

A 365 Project (one photo a day) or weekly photo project may be a great way to do this. Here are some tips, if you want to get started. There are also many dedicated websites, such ashttp://365project.org, where you can share your photos, find inspiration and get encouragement from others.

Blog stalk

It's an awful term, but it gets the point across! Research photographers from around the World and check out their recent work on their blogs. Photographers seldomly update their websites, but most update their blogs regularly. Bookmark the blogs you like or sign up for the RSS feed, so you can go back to them from time-to-time.

Don't blog stalk to copy someone else's creative eye; blog stalk to gain inspiration and develop your own creative vision.

And remember, you don't have to limit yourself to photography blogs.You can look at design blogs, food blogs or just about any site that has photos.

Photo Walk

A Photo Walk is just as it sounds:you walk around and shoot whatever you see.You can either join a Photo Walk group, start a group, or just do this with a friend.Challenge yourself by going to different types of locations and going at different times of the day to get different types light.I prefer locations that make me have to search for art, like an abandoned construction site or a subway.

When you're on a Photo Walk, you can see how someone else shoots – such as, what catches their eye, what angles are they shooting from, how are they composing the shot, what settings do they use, and what are they shooting?

After the Photo Walk, share your best shots with each other to see how you interpreted the same location or subjects.

I like doing photo walks with friends, but there are organized photo walks just about anywhere.You can start withhttp://worldwidephotowalk.com/ or do an online search for one close to you.

Photography Clubs

Mingling with fellow photographers and "talking shop" helps you learn.Don't think of them as competition.We all share the same interest, the same passion.

Some clubs offer discounted courses, monthly meetings, guest speakers, or publications.They are definitely worth the small membership fee!

If you're anything like me – where your love of photography runs through your veins – you will enjoy these activities and learn a-plenty!So bring on the creative mojo, baby!

Annie Tao is a lifestyle, commercial and event photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can view her work atwww.annietaophotography.com and see what she's been up to at www.annietaoblog.com. Connect with Annie at http://www.facebook.com/annietaophotography

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

How To Tap Into Your Creative Mojo

An Update on our New eBook: dSLR Winner and a Chance to Win a Sony a55 and Lens

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:43 AM PST

What a week… I knew our brand new eBook, Photo Nuts and Shots was going to help photographers improve, but I didn’t predict how many of you would agree.

It’s set a new DPS record with 3777 downloaded in just the first week! Both Neil and myself are thrilled that this book is going to help so many people become better photographers…

On that note I’ve got two announcements:

the winner of the Canon DLSR
a new prize up for grabs from our friends at SONY who are putting up a Sony a55 and 18-55mm lens combo for someone who buys Photo Nuts and Shots in our launch period.

This means if you’re yet to buy – you’ve got just one more week to get yourself in the running. If you’re one of those who’ve already snapped up a copy, you’ll automatically have another chance to win a great camera. All the details are below.

How this eBook has Impacted Aspiring Photographers Like You

While it’s only been out for a week – the response from those who’ve read Photo Nuts and Shots has already been very positive.

Here’s my favourite bit of feedback from a reader so far:

My Flickr Stream has come alive since reading this eBook. The advice is practical and easy to understand but even better than that is that I feel like my creativity has been reborn. – Samantha Romney

We’ve also added a bunch of other reader feedback on the Photo Nuts and Shots info page.

The Winner of the Canon DSLR is….

All 3777 previous buyers of the Photo Nuts and Shots eBook have been placed in a draw to win a Canon EOS T2i and 18-55mm lens. This prize was sponsored by dPS directly. In the last hour we’ve drawn the winner and they are………… Shari Wells! Congrats Shari, we’ve just emailed you with details of how we’ll get the camera to you.

If that’s not you, you’ve still got a shot to win a Sony a55 with 18-55mm lens

The feedback from readers about our eBook has been great – but the excitement has not just come from readers – we even had an email from Sony this week in response to it!

They’ve offered to give us a Sony a55 and 18-55mm lens combo to give away to one buyer of Photo Nuts and Shots.

The a55 is a 16.2 megapixel SLT camera and part of their revolutionary Translucent Mirror range. It shoots at 10 frames per second, HD movies and with live view and is getting some great reviews.

Check out the a55 and other cameras in Sony’s expanding range out here.

If you’ve already bought a copy of Photo Nuts and Shots – you’re already in the draw to win this A55 and lens
if you’ve not picked up a copy yet - you’ve got exactly 1 week to do so and put yourself in the running to win.

Will randomly draw the winner next Wednesday night at midnight US Eastern time.

Grab a Copy Today

Photo Nuts and Shots is ready for your download right now for just $14.99 USD (25% off). To secure your copy simply click the download it now button below or for more information on it check out the Photo Nuts and Shots information page.

PS: don’t forget that Photo Nuts and Shots is 25% off for one more week before it returns to it’s full price. It also comes with a 60 day no questions asked money back guarantee.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

An Update on our New eBook: dSLR Winner and a Chance to Win a Sony a55 and Lens